There’s still a lot going on at Siskiyou Square. Multiple contractors are doing multiple projects. Sometimes our parking lot is almost full with all of the trucks. Forms are in place to pour concrete for sidewalks along our road. The zendo floor is almost complete in the Sodo, and the dining room is being worked on. Volunteers and staff are working on the engawa, which is gradually coming along. Here Tai’an, Ikuo, and Zoki check out one of the boards.

The office is up and running, and we are gradually finding space by moving out nonessentials and getting creative. Volunteer Gemmon measures and cuts paper for sending out Ofudas as part of our fundraising process. We are still sharing space with the zendo in Uji until the Sodo is ready, at which point the library will resume functionality.

The sewer and water hookup work along Siskiyou from Fremont to about 86th Ave is largely complete, and curbs are going in along the street. The driveway to our property has been smoothed out. Completion of the street work, including new street lights and trees along the parking strip, is planned for the end of November.

We have work parties most Wednesdays from about 9:30am to about 3:30pm. Park nearby, walk in by the path, and look for people out toward the Sodo. Most of those days we will also be doing zazen in Uji from 11:30am to 12:25pm, followed by lunch at 12:30pm at the 85th house (3155 NE 85th, a block from the main gate).

Please Note: Please do not drive on Siskiyou Street. It is closed for a reason. Some local residents have to drive parts of it occasionally, but traffic on the street is disruptive to construction crews and also dangerous. The best option is to drive down 85th Ave from Fremont Drive. You can drive on to the property directly from there.