BHB changing servers to reduce outages

You may have noticed periodic outages of the blog in the last couple of weeks. We do know about it, and we have been struggling trying to solve the problem. At this point we believe it is a problem with the server itself and so we are moving to a new server at our ISP. You may see some more down time while the move is occurring, but we hope that will be the last of it. Cross your fingers!

Further details emerge about last night’s assault at 13th and Holgate

KING5 News has posted more information and a video report about the victim in last night’s attack in North Beacon Hill. 25-year-old Sudanese immigrant Dawit Alemu, who was celebrating his upcoming graduation from Seattle Central Community College, was attacked by a group of men, knocked unconscious, robbed, and left for dead on the sidewalk in broad daylight. At least one witness took photos, which led the police to two suspects, aged 19 and 20, who are being held on $200,000 and $250,000 bail on suspicion of robbery pending the filing of charges. The other attackers remain at large. Alemu would have walked in his graduation ceremony tomorrow; instead, he remains in Harborview, unconscious with life-threatening injuries.

Police currently believe the attackers did not know Alemu.

(Post edited at 7:40 pm to add additional information about the bail, the age of the attackers, and that the attackers did not know the victim.)

Beacon Bits: A parade, a market, and a change


View Juneteenth Parade Route, 6/20/09 in a larger map
 
  • This weekend, our neighbors in the Central District are celebrating Juneteenth with a festival at Pratt Park (all weekend) and a parade Saturday afternoon! The Juneteenth Celebration Parade startes at 12:00 noon. The parade route begins at 25th Avenue and East Alder Street, and continues along East Alder, 23rd Avenue, East Yesler, and 20th Avenue South to Pratt Park where the parade ends. The parade will include a Kiddies’ Parade, a Dogs on Parade Fashion Show, and much more! Be aware that there will be street closures in the area around the parade route.
  • While we on Beacon Hill are still waiting for our own farmers’ market, the new Market on Wheels is opening this weekend for our neighbors in South Park. Annie Farber writes to tell us, “South Park residents will be selling a great variety of products ranging from food products and plant starts grown in the neighborhood (more local than any farmer’s market!) to tamales and enchiladas made fresh on site to art, clothing and jewelry they make. Come buy from local Seattle residents working to make an impact on their community through encouraging a local economy!” It’s from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm tomorrow and every third Saturday each month through September 19. The location is 14th Avenue South and South Cloverdale Street, in the Napoli’s Pizzeria parking lot.
  • A land use application has been completed for 4878 Beacon Avenue South, the Grown Folks Coffee site, “to allow a four story, 15 unit residential building above 2,970 sq. ft. of retail located at grade. Parking for 15 vehicles to be located within the structure. Existing structure to be demolished.” Comments may be submitted through July 1 at the site linked above. There have also been some land use decisions in the North Beacon area recently, including two parcel subdivisions in the Urban Village Overlay area: here and here.

Assault near Beacon Hill International School

Around 6:30 this evening, as many as seven individuals assaulted a man in the 1900 block of 13th Avenue South, on the sidewalk near Beacon Hill International School, leaving him unconscious.

Via the Seattle Police Department’s SPDBlotter:

Preliminary investigation indicates that the victim, a male in his 20s, was assaulted and robbed by a group of males who then fled the scene on foot. Responding patrol officers apprehended two suspects and turned them over to Homicide Detectives for further investigation. There are several suspects still at large. SFD Medics responded to the scene and transported the victim to Harborview Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. The two suspects in custody, a 19-year-old male and a 21-year-old male, will be booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery. Homicide Detectives continue to actively investigate.

Scanner reports from Beacon Hill Neighborhood Watch indicated a witness photographed the assault taking place and identified one of the suspects in custody.

Beacon Bits: Another farewell, walking, and pizza

School Board approves new student assignment plan; Cleveland to be science option school?

The Seattle School Board voted this week to approve final recommendations for a new student assignment plan. Under the new plan, students will have initial school assignments based on their home address. They will still have the option to apply to other schools, and open choice seats will be available at all high schools.

Assignment area boundaries have not yet been defined; the assignment maps will be made available for public comment this fall.

A separate motion relevant to Beacon Hill proposed that Cleveland High School be designated as an “option school” under the new assignment plan. Cleveland’s STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program would then be open to applications from students throughout the District. According to the District, STEM high schools “offer a four-year course of study with a focus on preparing students for academing and professional futures in science, technology, engineering and math.”

Since a STEM school would not necessarily be the right choice for all students living in the Cleveland attendance area, designating it as an Option would allow these students to have a comprehensive attendance-area high school option while still having access to Cleveland’s STEM program if they wish.

The Board is scheduled to vote on the Cleveland motion on July 1.

Beacon Bits: Tunnel views, golf memories, and closed wading pools

Have you seen Zoe?

Pretty Zoe is missing. Have you seen her?
Pretty Zoe is missing. Have you seen her?
There’s another lost tabby cat in North Beacon. Erin writes “We’ve lost our female cat Zoe. She is almost 2 years old, is a medium hair tabby, has black, grey and light brown coloring with a white chest and white paws. She was last seen with a multi-colored collar on with a purple heart tag. She has distinctive mackerel markings and a very fluffy tail. We last saw her near 13th Avenue South and Walker Street (near Beacon Ave before it heads down to Holgate).” If you think you’ve seen Zoe, please email meespanola@hotmail.com.

Beacon Bits: Language classes, math classes, and a class reunion

  • Garfield High School Class of 1969 is celebrating its 40th class reunion August 7-9, including bowling at Imperial Lanes, food and entertainment at Yesler Community Center, and a family picnic and potluck at Othello Park. The registration fee is $69 per person for the weekend. For further information, see the reunion website, and RSVP to (206) 499-9624 by July 15.
  • A.C.E. Summer Language Camps in Arabic, Urdu, and Persian language for kids 10-14 are being held on July 13-24 at Northgate Elementary School in Northeast Seattle. Classes are free (with a $25 registration fee), and all teachers are native speakers. For more information, contact Maka Janikashvili by email at makaj@cultural.org, call (206) 217-9644 ext 201, or visit www.cultural.org/wlp/camp.php.
  • The comment period for Seattle’s draft Pedestrian Master Plan has been extended to Friday, June 26. You can view the plan on the web, here. Comments on the plan may be made through an online form, via email to mostwalkablecity@seattle.gov, by phone (206-733-9970), or by mail (Pedestrian Master Plan Comments, Seattle Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 34996, Seattle, WA 98124-4996). There will also be a public hearing on the draft plan on Tuesday, July 21, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, 600 Fourth Avenue.
  • Atlantic Street Center is partnering with Seattle Public Schools in offering a Class of 2013 Math Academy this summer. The Academy will be at Aki Kurose Middle School, July 6-July 30, and is intended for “8th graders-rising-to-9th who struggle in math.” It will include morning math-focused academics, and afternoon enrichment activities. Cost is free to families. For more information, contact Samara Louton, Education/Activities Coordinator, 723-4073 x108 or samaral@atlanticstreet.org.
  • Is this your kitty?
    Is this your kitty?
    Are you missing a cat? This cute tabby was spotted at 13th Avenue South and South Spokane Street at around 11:15pm last night hanging out on a front porch. The neighbor who saw him didn’t bring him inside, but just wanted to get the word out where this cat is hanging out, in case someone’s missing their kitty. (Thanks, Robert!)

Congratulations to a Beacon Hill graduate!

Alison Reese and her proud parents celebrate her graduation from Seattle University School of Law. Photo courtesy of Alison.
Alison Reese and her proud parents celebrate her graduation from Seattle University School of Law. Photo courtesy of Alison.
Congratulations and best wishes to Alison Reese, a Beacon Hill neighbor who graduated this year from Seattle University School of Law with a J.D. degree!

The Beacon Hill Blog would also like to congratulate all of the other Hill neighbors who graduated from high school, college, and beyond. Good work and may you have much success ahead of you!