All posts by Wendi Dunlap

Editor of the Beacon Hill Blog.
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Shots fired at 15th and Walker; no injuries

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Seattle Police report that multiple shots were fired in the area of 15th Avenue South and South Walker Street on Friday evening at about 6:45 p.m.

According to preliminary investigation the suspect, described as a black male, 25-30, with short dark hair and a medium or husky build, wearing a green t-shirt, was apparently walking on the sidewalk when he fired at the victim, who was getting in his SUV along with his family. (The two are believed to know each other.) No one was hit, but several vehicles and a stop sign were damaged by the victim’s SUV while he fled the scene, and one parked car was struck by a bullet. 

Detectives from the Gang Unit are investigating. More information is at the SPD Blotter. 

Volunteering and Giving

Have you seen a whale lately?

Perhaps you were having a coffee at The Station when suddenly a whale appeared:

Or perhaps you were at Victrola when a whale swam by:

This is all part of the Save the Beacon Whale campaign on indiegogo, to raise $500 to restore the whale weathervane from the historic Garden House. The weathervane was damaged last year in a windstorm. For more information on the fundraiser and how you can contribute, see the website.

Clean and Green, Local Events, Volunteering and Giving

Volunteers to improve Rizal Park today

King5 reports on a special event today on North Beacon Hill:

Jose Rizal Park is one of a few Seattle parks that will be filled with volunteers Friday as part of Volunteer In Parks Day, a project of the Seattle Parks Foundation. Volunteers will plant trees and flowers, clean up litter, remove weeds and more.

The event is from from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, and more volunteers are welcome. You can register here.

See the video report here:

Local Events

What “Bite”? Try the Taste of Van Asselt this weekend instead

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The Bite of Seattle is this weekend, but if you are looking for something a bit closer to home on Saturday, try a Taste of Van Asselt instead. The event is Saturday, July 21 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Van Asselt Community Center, 2820 S. Myrtle St.

There will be music, bounce houses for the kids, face painting, a wading pool, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, crafts vendors, and let’s not forget, lots of food from local restaurateurs.

The Taste of Van Asselt is free and all are welcome.

Meetings, Urban Planning

Presentation on Plaza Roberto Maestas project planned for Saturday

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This preliminary design shows a possible plaza in the PRM development project.

After the Beacon Hill Merchants Association annual meeting this Saturday, July 21, there will be a presentation about the Plaza Roberto Maestas – Beloved Community (PRM) development being planned for the south lot at El Centro de la Raza. The presentation will include time to give feedback and ask questions about the project, as well as to discuss the retail spaces and business opportunities that the project will provide. The meeting is at Kusina Filipina (3201 Beacon Ave. S.), and the presentation, which is open to the public, is expected to start about 1 p.m.

El Centro de la Raza and the North Beacon Hill Council co-hosted a public meeting on June 19 to discuss preliminary designs for the project. Over 60 people came out to the meeting to ask questions and give feedback about the early design ideas (see photos of the meeting here). You can read notes from the meeting here (PDF) and see a PowerPoint presentation about the project here.

The images shown on this page give an idea of the type of development that is being considered, but the project is very early in the design process and still subject to much potential change. Community feedback is vital at this stage to shape the future of the development.

This preliminary view is from Beacon Avenue on the southwest side of the project.
This preliminary view is from the corner of 17th and Roberto Maestas Festival Street on the southeast side of the project.
Clean and Green

The Beacon Hill Garden Club wants you!

Photo by K. Shuyler in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.

The Beacon Hill Garden Club is, as always, welcoming new potential members. According to the group, “We seek to grow a colorful garden of friendships, as well as fruits and flowers! Gardeners of all interests and levels of experience are welcome.”

What do Garden Club members do? In the past, their activities have included movie nights at the Garden House in conjunction with the Beacon Food Forest project, Canning Connections preserving classes (with Rainier Valley Eats), progressive dinners in each others’ gardens, and more.

Currently the group has a few things in the works, including a Save the Whale campaign, to restore the antique whale weathervane to the Garden House roof, and the First Annual “Anywhere but Seafair Caravan”: “Escape the noise, the crowds and the traffic with a field trip to Mount Vernon.” The road trip includes a tour and picnic at Jell-O Mold Farm (flowers) and a visit to the WSU Experiment Station Display Gardens.

The club meets in the evenings on the fourth Thursday of odd months (which would be July 26, this month) at the Garden House, 2336 15th Ave. S. Dues are $12 per year. For more information, contact Christina at gaspari5@msn.com.

Local Events, Recreation

Tony Hawk brings Birdhouse Left Coast Tour to Jefferson Park Skatepark

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Big news for Beacon Hill skateboarders: Tony Hawk and his Birdhouse Crew are coming to the Hill for a demo of world-class skating on Thursday, July 26 as part of the Birdhouse Left Coast Tour. The event will be at 4 p.m. at the Jefferson Park Skate Park (3801 Beacon Ave. S., in Jefferson Park behind the driving range).

Here’s a preview of the tour:

And here’s a recap of the first three days of the tour so far:

The tour is presented by Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD game, which makes its debut on the Xbox Live Arcade today. So if you can’t wait until the 26th for some skateboarding action, you can keep yourself busy with the game.

Local Events

P-Patchers plan party this weekend

A view of the Beacon Bluff P-Patch from 15th Avenue South. Photo by Melissa Jonas in the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool on Flickr.

The gardening neighbors at the Beacon Bluff P-Patch are having a community gathering this Sunday, July 22, from 3-7 p.m. There will be food (including a visit by the Mexidog cart), music from acoustic trio the Lunabees, hatmaking, and general neighborly fun. All are welcome!

The Beacon Bluff P-Patch is located between 14th and 15th Avenues South at South Massachusetts Street.

Local Business

Progress at the Tippe and Drague

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The new alehouse on Beacon Avenue must be getting a bit closer to opening. The new “Tippe and Drague” sign is painted on the front of the building, and the interior is looking pretty close to completion. At least one subset of customers is already getting served there — neighborhood dogs can drink from the doggie dish outside the door.

Photo by Susan Sanders.
Shiny and new. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
The interior looks like it will have a warm and cozy feel. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Dogs are welcome to drink up. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Local Events, Neighborhood Pride, Photos

A busy day at the Jefferson Park Jubilee

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By all accounts, the Jefferson Park Jubilee on Saturday was a success. The neighborhood came out in force to celebrate Jefferson Park’s centennial as well as the completion of the park’s remodeling. Here are some photos from the Beacon Hill Blog photo pool to give you a taste of the day’s events. (Did you take some photos? You are invited to post them to the pool.)

Kiritiki (Samoan cricket) bats await the start of a game. Photo by Freeman Mester.
The event began with a procession. Photo by K. Shuyler.
A tiny skater. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Members of the Greg Ruby Quartet perform. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Skateboard lessons for all ages at the Jefferson Park skate park. Photo by Melissa Jonas.
Kids enjoy the fountains at Beacon Mountain Playground. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
I wish I could show you video for this one. The kiritiki player in front was waving his arms in a victory dance. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.
Waiting in line for food at El Sabroso. The other food carts had all run out of food by this time. Photo by Wendi Dunlap.

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