New play equipment going in at Jefferson Park looks like a sculpture. Photo by Joel Lee in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.ROCKiT space’s “open mic” Saturdays start tonight from 7 to 9pm. Free, donations welcome, snacks and drinks by donation. BYO beer/wine if desired.
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Beacon Hill and Kimball Elementary schools both had recent health inspections. (Kimball had some problems addressed before inspectors left.)
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United Way of King County is looking for volunteers to read books to kids, one-on-one, for just an hour a week. Increasing a child’s listening vocabulary can set them up for academic success. Readings would take place at United Way’s Beacon Hill location: The Refugee Women’s Alliance, 6230 Beacon Avenue South.
A candlelight vigil was held tonight in remembrance of Jennifer Morgan and her daughter Ema, killed earlier this week. A crowd of dozens had already gathered by 5:30, and more joined over the next hour. Prayers were said and tears shed by the light of individual candles, in remembrance of a daughter and granddaughter lost.
SeattleCrime.com is reporting that a gang of South Seattle teen burglars, possibly responsible for over 60 break-ins in Seattle and Renton since 2007, has been broken up by police and prosecutors.
Things sound like they began to crumble for them with missteps after a couple of Beacon Hill burglaries. From the article (emphasis added):
Police were certainly familiar with the seven young men. Melchor Lucas was arrested in November 2007 following a botched burglary in the 5500 block of Beacon Ave S. When police searched a van used in the burglary, they found a 9mm pistol, which belonged to Lucas, hidden inside of a teddy bear. Lucas was also put on a list of prolific burglars being targeted for aggressive prosecution. The 17-year-old boy was a suspect in at least 10 burglaries, records say; the 16-year-old had been Tased by officers after he was caught breaking into a home near Aki Kurose Middle School; and Lee was also on probation for illegally carrying a loaded handgun.
A candlelight vigil supporting Renee Morgan, mother of Jennifer Morgan and grandmother of Ema, the victims in yesterday’s shooting, will be held near the home where they were found at 13th Avenue South and South Ferdinand Street. The community gathering begins at 5:30.
Additionally, a memorial fund has been established. Contributions may be made to:
Jennifer and Ema Morgan Memorial Fund
Washington Federal Savings Bank
4800 Rainier Avenue South
Seattle, WA 98118
According to the bhnw.org scanner logs, a shooting occurred around 10:15 this morning in the 1300 block of South Ferdinand Street.
In the logged reports, the suspected shooter is described as a mixed race male with a shaved head and tattoo on right forearm, possibly of the City Light emblem. He departed the scene in a white Chevy truck with the license plate A68135Z. If you see this vehicle, please contact police immediately.
10:55 Update: It appears that two people were shot, one fatally. A chaplain has been dispatched to the scene.
11:05 Update: If the tattoo description is accurate, the City Light emblem is the City of Seattle logo, seen at right.
Daniel Thomas Hicks, person of interest in the 12/22 shooting at 13th & Ferdinand. Photo from spdblotter.seattle.gov
Homicide detectives responded and developed information on an adult person of interest, Daniel Thomas Hicks, a 29-year old light-skinned male. Hicks is 6′ 4″, 160 lbs., with brown eyes and short hair. He may be driving a white 2006 Chevrolet pickup truck with a chrome tool box in the bed, displaying Washington license plate number A68135Z. Do not approach Hicks, as he is considered armed and dangerous.
If you have any information about this crime, please call 911 or the Seattle Police Homicide Unit at 206-233-5000.
12/23 14:15 Update: The victim’s name has been released. Jennifer Morgan, age 28. — Seattle Times
12/24 10:30 Update: Also in the Times, “a friend says something changed in the past year. Daniel Thomas Hicks stopped working and, slowly, became possessive and temperamental.”
12/24 18:50 Update:SeattleCrime.com covers several disturbing details revealed in the charging documents, including that the shooter spent an entire clip, reloaded, and continued firing.
They’re also seeking volunteers to help with day-to-day tasks, fundraisers, programming etc. If you’re interesting in helping out, contact Jessie McKenna at 206-323-7115.
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Due to budget cuts, there will be only twoSmall and Simple Neighborhood Matching Fund cycles in 2010. If you have projects that the NMF could help with this spring or summer, be sure to get your applications in by January 11th. Second-cycle applications are due in July.
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Get to know about City Year‘s mission and impact in Seattle and King County at their Breakfast of Champions, 7:30am on Friday, January 8th. For more information about the breakfast, contact Teresa Thomas via email or at 206-219-5002.
The Beacon Hill Playground will see some upgrades soon. Photo by Bridget Christian in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.Improvements are coming soon to the Beacon Hill Playground, with $180,000 provided by the Parks and Green Spaces Levy. According to Seattle Parks’ project page, the plan is to provide access improvements and other site improvements, including bringing the play area into compliance with current play area safety standards.
A 50-year-old driver accused of injuring a man and his son, resulting in the younger man losing part of his leg, in a crash on Beacon Hill Saturday night was charged today with two counts of vehicular assault.
Rodney James allegedly had a breath alcohol content of 0.16, twice the legal limit, according to charging papers filed in King County Superior Court. Police say that James was speeding east in the 1700 block of South Columbian Way when he lost control of his 1998 Corvette. The sports car slid across a sidewalk, into a driveway and into Wah Wong and his son who were standing, court papers said.
Injured were Wah Wong, 67, and Jason Wong, 22. Salina Wong, Wah Wong’s 60-year-old wife, was injured after James’ car struck a car she was sitting in, charging papers said.
Update: Wah Wong runs the Jade West Cafe in West Seattle, and the West Seattle Blog has been covering the situation at the cafe with the Wongs currently at Harborview hospital. I’d like to add our wishes for a speedy recovery. Thanks, Tracy!
The rail grinding machine, shooting out sparks, passes through Mount Baker Station. Photo by Jason.There have been delays on the Link light rail system after 7:00 pm every night for the last week. This photo shows the rail grinding machine that is the reason for the delays. The machine is smoothing the rails to reduce the train noise at certain locations, such as near Mount Baker Station near South McClellan. The delays will continue until December 30; in the meantime, if you need to travel on Link after 7:00 pm, be aware that you may need to wait on a different platform than your usual one, and the wait may be longer.
