On May 3, the Seattle Hearing Examiner decided in favor of the Department of Planning and Development (DPD) and El Centro de La Raza when reviewing the appeal filed in late January by Frederica Merrell against the DPD regarding the Determination of Nonsignificance (DNS) of the North Beacon Hill neighborhood plan update process. (Previous coverage and discussion of the appeal can be found here.)
The full text of the decision is here. The decision is based on findings that DPD environmental reviews were adequate in regards to the proposed update to the North Beacon Hill Neighborhood Plan. It also states that the proposed updates do not significantly change growth targets or other aspects of the City of Seattle Comprehensive Plan with regards to Beacon Hill:
“There is no evidence in the record that the Plan Update would result in increased density within the North Beacon Hill Residential Urban Village beyond that anticipated in the Comprehensive Plan. The proposed goals and policies in the Plan Update and those in the existing Neighborhood Plan both anticipate greater density in the town center area and near the light rail station. The Plan Update is a document that begins the process of determining how the growth that is already anticipated by the Comprehensive Plan’s existing growth targets for the Residential Urban Village will be accommodated and shaped.”
Victrola is looking for a "Barista w/BeaHill love & skills." Is that you? Photo by Wendi.Beacon Hill International School is hosting their annual Beacon Bazaar on Saturday, June 12 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm, on the 14th Avenue South sidewalk in front of the school. If you would like to rent a table to sell items, you can find a registration form at the above link.
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Also in Beacon Hill International School news, two members of the school’s Chess Club competed in the 2010 Washington State Elementary Chess Championships on April 24 in Tacoma. Congratulations to first-grader Jay Zinschlag and fourth-grader Paul Wickward who each won two of five games in their tournament.
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Victrola recently posted a help wanted ad for a barista, and said “interests in coffee processing, roasting and cupping and the BeaHill/SouthSeattle area are important.” Know your way around an espresso machine and Beacon Hill? See the ad for more info.
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The Seattle school district has been awarded grants totaling $5.76 million over three years for three schools under the School Improvement Grant program, including Cleveland High School on Beacon Hill. The three-year grants, awarded by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) with funding from the federal stimulus package, will support school improvement plans at Cleveland as well as at Hawthorne and West Seattle elementary schools.
The additional resources will be used to support the transformation of Cleveland High School into a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) school.
Joaquin Uy writes, “A few of us were wondering what happened to the giant teepee that used to be seen driving down McClellan. I believe there were protest signs by the teepee too.” Anyone know?
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Franklin High School is taking it to the streets for the Franklin Arts Festival on Saturday, May 15 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm in front of Franklin High School, 3013 South Mount Baker Boulevard. There will be music by the Nyamuziwa Marimba Ensemble. Franklin’s Marching Band, Lion Dancers, and other talented student groups will be there too, and there will be displays of the visual arts and crafts including ceramics, drawing, woodworking and painting. The event is free.
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The City of Seattle Office of City Auditor is conducting a review of the City’s response to graffiti, and has set up a questionnaire to help gather information from individuals, businesses, and organizations about how graffiti affects them.
There have been more recent sightings of the serial masturbator/flasher in the North Beacon Hill area — at least eight reported incidents so far, we’re told. He appears to still be driving the newer-looking navy blue [Chevy?] truck with tinted windows as previously described, and is obscuring the license plate in an attempt to elude identification. If you spot a truck matching this description, especially if you notice the license plate is hidden, please consider notifying 911.
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Aaron G. was robbed Sunday night. He wrote in with this account and asked us to share it:
I was on my way home from the Valero store around 11:30 pm on Sunday night when two guys approached me from behind. They asked for my bags repeatedly before shoving me and demanding that I give it to them. Once handing it over, they started screaming at me, asking what else I had on me. They reached into my jacket pocket, grabbed my cigarettes, took my wallet from my back pocket, and ran off as a car approached. I chased them down to the Shell station where they jumped into a car waiting with a few other guys in it and they peeled off.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT! This happened near 15th and College. They were young, maybe 18 or 19 years old, black men, Ethiopian accents. Hooded sweatshirts, and they seemed nervous.
A car was stolen from Chris B.’s house near 18th and Lander last week. Something else to keep an eye out for:
The woman who is staying with us had her car stolen [April 25th] between 10:30 and 11:15 am. The car is a 1997 dark teal Honda Civic, license plate 244-YVO. There is a car seat in the back. … If you see it, please call the police.
Lawn bowling or “bowls” is a game originating in the 13th century, distantly related to bocce, providing competition and a test of skill for everyone from teens to seniors.
This Saturday, the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club and numerous other clubs across the country are having open houses and inviting people to come learn more about the game. An introductory lesson is free — bring friends! (And to keep the playing surface in good repair, please remember to wear flat-soled shoes.)
Stop in and give it a shot this Saturday, May 8, from noon to 4:00 pm at the Jefferson Park Lawn Bowling Club, 4103 Beacon Ave S, just west of the driving range.
Thanks to Nita Chambers from the club for the photos and notice.
BeaconArts sent out a notice today that they will be meeting tonight at ROCKiT space, 3315 Beacon Avenue South, from 7:00 until 8:30 pm. All are welcome. BeaconArts describes themselves as “a community organization dedicated to enriching our neighborhood through arts and culture. Members get together regularly to plan, promote and advocate for the arts on Beacon Hill, and to build stronger local connections between artists of all disciplines.”
7:05 – City Councilmember Mike O’Brien, Chair, Seattle Public Utilities and Neighborhoods Committee: Plans for North Beacon Hill, how we can be of help to Mike, how Mike can be of help to us, followed by questions and answers
7:40 – Brian Dougherty, Seattle Department of Transportation: Update on 15th Avenue parking/bicycle lanes, followed by questions and answers
7:55 – South Precinct Seattle Police Department report – Shelly Bates
8:00 – Election of new North Beacon Hill Council Board Members
8:10 Neighborhood updates
Beacon Rocks
Beacon Hill Business Association
Jefferson Park Festival (volunteers needed)
Other announcements, events
June meeting, Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, celebration of park renewals and pizza!
It's not every day you see someone cycling down Beacon Avenue with a tuba on his back, but this fellow did it on Saturday. Photo by Wendi.Tasha’s Bistro Café will be opening soon at the former Culinary Communion house on Beacon Avenue South. We spoke on Saturday with owner Tasha Sawabini, who also operates the Elegant Gourmet Catering company. She told us that the restaurant will be serving Northwest cuisine, and that she hopes to be able to open by Memorial Day weekend. The current plan is for the café to offer brunch on Saturday and Sunday and dinner on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
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The Seattle Office of Emergency Management is hosting a disaster preparedness workshop at the Beacon Hill Library, 2821 Beacon Avenue South, on this Tuesday, May 4 from 6:30-7:45 pm. At the “Seattle Neighborhoods Actively Prepare” workshop, you’ll learn simple steps to safeguard your home before disaster, take a quake-safe action wherever you are, and create a neighborhood team. The workshop is free, and no pre-registration is necessary.
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The PTA at Dearborn Park Elementary will host its first Dearborn Park Bazaar and Festival on May 22 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. They will sell garage sale items, arts, crafts, plants, and food, and have games and performances. For information on renting space to sell your own items or performing at the event, please contact Nelrica Mosqueda or Angela Sheffey at 206-252-6930 or email dearbornparkpta@yahoo.com. The group also needs monetary and/or gift certificate donations to make the event happen.
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Some of the treats that were served at A Touch of Sweden's open house on Saturday. Photo by Wendi.The open house for A Touch of Sweden was at the former Culinary Communion house (soon to be Tasha’s Bistro Café) this weekend. Baker Kajsa Soderlund told us the event was a big success, and while we were there we saw quite a few people come in to try out the baked goods, which included cinnamon rolls, “Dream” cookies, and other treats. (The items we tried were tasty, and we hope there will be a storefront on Beacon Hill someday for A Touch of Sweden—which is currently open only for advance ordering.)
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The Beaconettes, an all-women a cappella singing group who “cleverly satirize Seattle’s icons, issues and celebrities with a specific focus on Beacon Hill and neighborhoods south of the ship canal,” will be performing at the Mount Baker Community Center on Thursday, May 13 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm to help raise money for Kimball Elementary’s Annual Fund.
The suggested donation is $15 per person. Contributions will help support Kimball’s Annual Fund which pays for arts and afterschool programs, bilingual translations, field trips, books, school supplies and more.
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State Senator Adam Kline (D-37th District) will stop by Quarters 1 at the PacMed Campus on May 11 to meet with community members and hear what his constituents have to say. The meeting is scheduled for 7:00 pm on Tuesday, May 11, in Quarters 1 at the northwest corner of 14th Avenue South and South Judkins Street. If you are driving, please park on the street.
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If you didn’t get your Census form mailed in, you should expect a knock on the door soon. Census takers are out and about this month visiting households that didn’t return their census forms. In most cases, census workers will make initial visits during afternoons, early evenings and weekends.
If a 2010 Census worker knocks on your door, here are some ways to verify that person is a legitimate census taker:
The census taker must present an ID badge that contains a Department of Commerce watermark and expiration date. The census taker may also be carrying a black canvas bag with a Census Bureau logo.
The census taker will provide you with supervisor contact information and/or the local census office phone number for verification, if asked.
The census taker only will ask you the questions that appear on the 2010 Census form.
The 2010 Census taker will not ask for social security number, bank account number or credit card number and will never solicit for donations or contact you by email.
Congratulations to the Pacific Asian Empowerment Program, M C Foodstore, Graham Street Grocery, and Beacon Hill Foods for getting perfect scores of zero!
