The man who allegedly shot and killed Officer Timothy Brenton in Leschi Halloween night 2009 will face trial September 13, 2013, the Seattle Times reports. Christopher Monfort has been charged with the murder of Brenton and the attempted murder of Officer Britt Sweeney.

Monfort has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in the case. If the trial does start on the stated date, it will be nearly four years after the alleged murder.

Officer Brenton, a veteran of the force, was training Officer Sweeney that day. Monfort—who is also charged with firebombing police vehicles days before the Halloween shooting—allegedly pulled up next to Brenton and Sweeney's police cruiser as it sat near 29th and Yesler and fired several rounds. Brenton was killed, and Sweeney was grazed.

The community has honored Officer Brenton with a memorial near the scene of the shooting.

After the shooting, Monfort was on the loose for nearly a week before officers confronted him in a Tukwila apartment complex. Monfort allegedly tried to shoot a pursuing officer, but his gun misfired. Officers shot him in the abdomen and face, but his injuries were not fatal.

A "very intoxicated" man led police on a dangerous car chase around Leschi May 18, according to police. The man, a convicted felon, was arrested and in illegal possession of a firearm, but not before crashing his car into multiple parked cars and nearly striking a couple people walking on a sidewalk.

The suspect allegedly showed up at a home near 26th and King around 11 p.m. armed with a handgun and demanding to speak to a woman there. The woman's parents told him to leave, and he began making threats at them and smashing bottles from a nearby recycling bin.

When police arrived, he hopped into a car and sped off. From SPD:

As officers arrived at the scene, they saw the suspect speeding away in a silver Hyundai. The suspect drove up onto the sidewalk, nearly hitting two people, then veered back into the street, where he slammed into a parked car. Undeterred by the crash, the suspect kept on driving.

With officers in hot pursuit, the suspect sped down 26th Avenue S, where he struck a second parked car,...

A 27-year-old man went to the hospital with significant injuries to his face after his moped collided with a car near 25th and Spring early Saturday morning.

The car's 51-year-old driver was assessed for DUI, but officers found no signs of impairment. They do, however, suspect the moped rider was intoxicated, according to a post on the SPD Blotter.

The man's injuries are not considered life-threatening.

From SPD:

At approximately 1:30 am this morning a 27 year old male was riding his 1979 Puch (Austrian made) moped northbound on 25th Avenue approaching East Spring Street.  At the same time, a 1989 Chrysler New Yorker driven by a 51 year old was eastbound on East Spring Street approaching 25th.  The two vehicles collided in the intersection and the moped driver was thrown to the street.

The 27 year old sustained substantial facial injuries.  He was wearing a helmet, but no face shield.  Seattle Police and Seattle Fire responded and the medics treated and transported the...

From Alleycat Acres:

"We're itchin' to grill. So grill we will. And we hope you can join us!

We'll be serving up some tasty burgers and what not that will go GREAT with whatever you decide to bring -- salads, pies, beer.... If you're able to bring something tasty to share, please do! If not..no sweat (we'll leave that to Mother Nature). Between eating, drinking and being merry, you can explore the new farm site, get dirty, toss some waterballoons, paint the sidewalks with chalk drawings of your favorite vegetable, and help us bid farewell to Krystal, one of the folks who has been key in making this farm possible.

And please, bring your chickens (if they are well behaved). Kids are great, too. And so is crazy uncle Ted.

See you Saturday!

Where: MLK + Cherry & Columbia
Time: 12-4 PM
What To Bring: You! Pie! Shovels! (for digging, not eating pie).



Come on down to the newly renovated Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center for the closing of the breathing taking film Restless City!!  Watch the Trailer

Buy Tickets:

The Oromo Community of Seattle is organizing a protest Friday afternoon from the CD to the Federal Building downtown. The "Protest Against Ethiopian Massacres" will gather at Bailey Gatzert Elementary at 2:30 p.m.

They will then march down Yesler toward the Federal Building Plaza, where they will hold a rally.

Bee populations are falling. Our neighborhood needs more greenery. The Pollinator Pathway Project on Columbia Street aims to address both these issues at once, and it needs your help.

The Pollinator Pathway aims to create a corridor of pollinator-friendly plants on Columbia Street from 12th to 29th Avenues to help pollinators like honey bees, butterflies and humming birds move through the neighborhood and between our growing number of urban farms.

If you live on Columbia, you can help by planting pollinator-friendly plants in your own yard. The Pollinator Pathway website has an extremely helpful guide for choosing and planting such a garden.

If you want to help with the work party, meet at 25th and Columbia May 26-27 from 11-4. More details from organizer Sarah Bergmann:

Come help build the next 4 gardens on the Pollinator Pathway! The Pollinator Pathway is a plan for a corridor of pollinator-friendly gardens in planting strips along one mile of Seattle's Columbia Street, between 12th and 29th avenues (the project aims to create a corridor of plants between Seattle U's campus and Nora's Woods). The project now has 13 gardens in place along the corridor. Come dig in the dirt and help grow the project!

Bring gloves and shovels if you have them (and we could use extra wheelbarrows, too)- or just show up, there are tools there. No experience necessary.

EastPAC Community Meeting 

Thursday, May 24, 6:30 TO 8 PM 

Seattle University's Chardin Hall, Room 142 

1020 East Jefferson-

(enter on 11th and Jefferson, park free in front of building)   

In March of 2011, the US Department of Justice began an investigation of the Seattle Police Department, focusing on whether SPD “engaged in a practice of unconstitutional policing through the use of excessive force and/or discriminatory policing”. DOJ’s findings conclude that these deficiencies do in fact exist, particularly within a “subset of officers who use force improperly”.  For the entire report, see:  http://www.justice.gov/crt/about/spl/documents/spd_findletter_12-16-11.pdf

In response to the DOJ findings, the Mayor’s Office and Police Department released it’s own reform plan, “SPD 20/20 –“A VISION FOR THE FUTURE”, identifying 20 changes to be implemented in 20 months.

SPD’s Assistant Chief Mike Sanford will be presenting the 20/20 plan at our May 24^th EastPAC meeting. Please... (more)

Thanks to all who voted! Check out the city's schedule - PB wading pool will be open Saturdays this summer thanks to sponsorship by ask.com! Perhaps next year we can get two days/week...?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2018220336_seattle_gets_wading_pool_grant.html

Today, I became aware of a trio of drug dealers( crack dealers) working out of sam smith park and the bus shelter nearest to sam smith park @ the traffic light. (between massachusetts and Irving st.) I notified the SPD.  I encourage this community to plz  take the time to call 911  and report all illegal activity you may witness  @ this public place . It is our responsibility to protect our own community  .Because of the proximity to the elementary school and daycare  and a public park  I belive this is a very urgent issue  and we must heighten our awareness and notify authorities to assist in to nipping this activity in the bud right now, to prevent  future potential injuries to innocent bystanders esp. the children in those schools. STOP ACCEPTING DRUG DEALING AS A NORM IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT. STAND UP FOR DRUG FREE PUBLIC AREAS AND YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD..CALL 911. AND KEEP CALLING INTO YOU GET RESULTS.

Friday is Bike to Work Day, and there will be bike commute stations set up all over the region to give people passing by a little boost or a place to rest.

Many commuters will make their way to City Hall for an 8 a.m. rally. For more details on Bike to Work Day festivities, see my post over at Seattle Bike Blog.

The Hiawatha station in 2010

In the CD, Hiawatha businesses are hosting a station including snacks from Cafe Weekend and friends:

Café Weekend, Working Dog Bicycles & Ashoka Youth Venture Seattle host the BIKE TO WORK/ SCHOOL DAY station for the Jackson Place Business Association @ THE HUB - Hiawatha Place Urban Business district in the Jackson Place Community neighborhood from 7am - 1pm. Ride your bike down & follow the BIKE BUZZ & PERK UP signs.....treats for bikers only while supplies last.

We will also have an interactive community board up & sharing ideas about up & coming Neighborhood events....such at the Hiawatha Flea, Neighborhood Night Out + more community fun with the Jackson Place...

It's finally farmers market time again. The Madrona Farmers Market opens Friday for its first day of the season. As usual, it will be located in the parking lot of Grocery Outlet at MLK and Union.

Highlights of opening day include a cooking demonstration by St. Clouds chef Michael King and, of course, fresh veggies!

From the Seattle Farmers Market Association:

Madrona Farmers Market Returns This Friday, May 18th, at 3 p.m.!  We’re excite to get the 2012 season going in the Madrona Grocery Outlet parking lot, at the corner of MLK Way & E. Union Street – the confluence of the Central District, Madrona, Capitol Hill and Madison Valley neighborhoods, for its 10th season.  Chef Michael King of St. Clouds, kicks off the season with another of his brilliant cooking demonstrations on opening day, May 18th, at 4 p.m., followed by Chef Carolin Messier of The Harvest Vine in Madison Valley on Friday, May 25th, with a great lineup of chefs from the surrounding neighborhoods throughout the season....

Next week, a popular all-women fitness center gets booted from Leschi location. The club's well loved owner has fallen on hard times. As more than 150 paid members (Capitol Hill, the Central Area & Madison Park) hustle to find new digs, panic is mounting. Suitable space to lease is needed by May 25!  Yikes. That's soon! Being tossed out, members are in fear of breaking exercise habit, not seeing long-time friends, losing muscle tone and hello weight gain.  New space must haves: min. 1200 sq. ft., parking, bathroom, reasonable rent, neighbors not bothered by loud music starting at 6:30 AM & ending at 7 PM, must be available by end of May. Temporary is okay. Contact 206-322-8613 or atbier@msn.com

Anyone know what happened?  Beginning about 20 minutes ago, racing police cars, racing police boat and helicopter overhead.  Reminding me of the Clemmons event.

EDITOR'S UPDATE: According to Seattle Fire, a teenager is in serious condition after nearly drowning:

We responded to the pier at 102 Lakeside Avenue for reports of a child in the water who could not swim. Engine 6 arrived to find citizens had pulled the teenage male out of the water and began CPR efforts. Firefighters found the patient had a pulse but was unconscious and unresponsive. Paramedics transported the patient to Harborview Medical Center with life threatening injuries.

UPDATE 5/17: The 15-year-old is in stable condition, police say. They credit a witness with saving the boy's life by jumping in, pulling him out of the water and beginning CPR:

Officers were dispatched to a report of a child in the water in the 100 Block of Lakeside Avenue South at approximately 3:30 pm on May 15th.  The first arriving Seattle...

A dog was found near Garfield High School on Wednesday morning.  If you lost a dog in this area please call me so we can talk.  Please be ready to give information about the dog - description, gender, breed, etc., so that I can verify it belongs to you.  Thanks!

Kris  206-252-2362 

Our neighborhood youth swim club, the Central Area Aquatics Team, is offering a chance for neighborhood youth to try the team free this month.  CAAT offers a variety of programming for children five and older, with practice at the Medgar Evers and Seattle University pools.  

"Get Wet" FREE kids' swim team experience!

The Central Area Aquatics Team (CAAT) has a great opportunity for you. It's called "Get Wet" and it's a great way to learn more about swimteam.  Even better it's fun and FREE at the Medgar Evers pool Thursdays and Fridays in May.

JUST SHOW UP AND SWIM* program

May 17, 18, 24 & 25 - 4:10-5:00
Medgar Evers Pool

CAAT offers topnotch coaching and gives young swimmers at taste of swim team. No tryouts needed; you just must be able to swim across the shallow pool to join. Many scholarships are available so that everyone who wants to swim can.

*Parents will need to sign a waiver form similar to that required for school sports.  Registration forms must be completed prior...

The water from some of the 12th and Alder Youth Services Center drinking fountains is truly nasty. Also, the place smells. Really bad.

The County Council recently decided to place a $210 million levy on the November ballot for public approval. If it passes, the area bounded by 12th, 14th, Remington Ct and Spruce St could see some dramatic changes as new areas open for private development and public space. The plans would replace both the detention and judicial facilities.

The levy would cost the average homeowner $25 per year for the next nine years.

Seattle Channel's City Inside/Out recently dove into the debate over the center, and several people involved with it made the case for a new facility:

The program gives a look inside the failing facility, with it's uncontrollable heating system, brown and gray water and lack of spaces for private family consultations. The panel attempts to make the case that even repairing the building's biggest problems, which could cost as much as $40 million, the center... (more)

After winning two fights at the Women's World Championship Tournament in Qinhuangdao, China, Garfield alumna Queen Underwood lost by one point to Norway’s Ingrid Egner. The tournament is also the 2012 London Olympics qualifier, so Underwood's chances of making it to the games are now slimmer.

Underwood must now wait to see if the Olympic Tripartite Commission will grant her a spot in the games. (UPDATE: Emmanuelle Moreau at the International Olympic Committee says the Tripartite Commission will meet "sometime in June.")

Girlboxing reports that the Queen of the Ring lost the bout 26-25 after a big fourth round comeback. After losing the first two rounds 6:4 and 8:5, Queen tied the third 6:6. Then she had a thunderous comeback in the fourth, scoring 6:10, just one point shy of tying the bout.

The Queen has been training hard with her eyes on the prize for years. Training at Cappy's Boxing Gym at 22nd and Union, Underwood fought her way to the number 1 spot in the country, a position she still holds five... (more)

I wanted to let everyone know that my brother had some high end cycling

equipment stolen out of his condo storage unit up on the Sammamish plateau

recently. I'm passing the word on as there is a large cycling community here in

Seattle and so I'm hoping someone has suggestions or can at least keep an eye

out for any of the following items:

1. Zipp 900 Carbon Fiber Disc-wheel

2. Davidson Custom Built-Track Bike (Blue fade to blue with name painted on

frame)

3. Cannondale R600 Road Bike (Purple and black, 1995, Shimano Integra parts,

speedplay sticker on frame)

4. Set of Mavic Cosmic Carbon Fiber Hybrid Road Wheels (Shimano Ultegra

cassette)

5. Set of Specialized Carbon-Fiber Tri-Spoke Race wheels (Track hubs)

My brother used to compete so there is a lot of sentimental value attached for

him as well. We are really hoping that it will show up in a pawn shop or

someone will recognize that this likely doesn't belong to those trying to sell

it. If by any chance someone recognizes these bikes, my email is

leanneprince@...

 and phone... (more)

Bernard Mustafa III had an estimated $200,000 worth of suspected Fentanyl, loads of cash and a rifle attached to a tripod on the kitchen table aimed at the street below his 18th and Spruce apartment, according to court documents posted by Seattle Weekly. He was arrested April 19 and is now facing drug and weapon charges in US District Court.

DEA agents say they found about 20 grams of Fentanyl in Mustafa's apartment. While that may not sound like much, Fentanyl is an extremely potent narcotic — 80 to 100 times the strength of morphine — and is typically measured in micrograms. One gram can make about 4 ounces of sellable mix, and each ounce of mix can go for $1,000 on the street, the documents say (an excellent 2011 story by the Stranger notes a much lower selling point).

Though Fentanyl is still rare in comparison to herion, it is sometimes cut into heroin. This can have deadly results because the strength of hits can vary dramatically depending on how much Fentanyl is in each one.

In addition to the rifle pointed... (more)

The Tenth Central District Garden Tour (GT12) will be from 11 am to 4 pm on June 9, 2012. Our theme is urban gardens, community/kids’ edible gardening and public art. The CD is one of Seattle’s oldest neighborhoods, and many unique, community-friendly happenings are quietly sprouting and thriving in our midst. We will publicize some of these by listing them as “Check It Out” features. One is Green Plate Special (GPS), an independent garden-to-table pilot program, designed for at-risk and under-served youth, grades 6-8. The initial pilot program is located in the Madrona-Central district, on the corner of East Union Street and Martin Luther King Junior Way. “Our mission is to be part of a movement that provides access to and tools for our low income Seattle youth to become the healthiest next generation, breaking the cycle that surrounds inadequate diet, poor eating habits, and the lack of access to and knowledge of healthy whole foods.”

GT12 HQ plaza at 23rd & Union will be lively with local performing art including... (more)

You really couldn't ask for a better day for a neighborhood fair. Hundreds of families showed up for Saturday's Madrona Mayfair, which kicked off in the morning with a kids bike and tricycle parade down 34th Ave.

Festivities at Madrona Playfield continue until the evening. See our previous post for a schedule of events.

Attached are some photos from the fair. Feel free to add yours in the comments!

Middle and high school students need to register by June 1 if they want to take Hollow Earth Radio's August radio play and circuit bending classes.

Registration is $100, but there are some scholarship opportunities.

Details, from Hollow Earth Radio:

Hollow Earth Radio will facilitate Around the Bend, a Circuit Bending Camp on August 6-10th 1-4pm for high school aged youth. Around the Bend Circuit Bending Camp will explore this electronic art by giving youth opportunities to experiment with bending circuits on battery-powered toys to make their own musical instruments. Circuit bending is an electronic art that explores short-circuiting electronic devices, often children's toys, to create new musical instruments and sound generators. Youth will do hands-on experimentation and will learn about basic components of electronic design, soldering techniques, visual & interface design theories, and tactile manipulation of electronically produced audio. This camp will provide youth with knowledge and experience to venture further into this art-form on their own. The registration fee is $100, and there are a few scholarships available. To register for this camp, email info@hollowearthradio.org by June 1st.

Hollow Earth Radio will facilitate On the Air, a Radio Play Camp on August 13-17th, 9am-12pm for middle school aged youth. On the Air Radio Play Camp will give youth the opportunity to learn about the history of radio drama, making sound effects, writing radio plays and acting out their own creations. Youth will work together in groups to produce their own radio plays that will be broadcast on HER. The registration fee is $100, and there are a few scholarships available. To  register for this camp, email info@hollowearthradio.org by June 1st.

Both Camps will take places at Hollow Earth Radio (2018A East Union Street) in the Central District of Seattle!

Saturday, May 12 – Family Fun Day, Pier 66 and Bell Harbor Marina

• U.S. Oil & Refining Seattle Tugboat Race Championships, Noon - 3pm 

27

The races:

   Class C Limited Tug Race                                                2:00 pm

   Class B Harbor Tug Race                                                2:30 pm

Related events:

   Fire... (more)

Ambitious plans to redevelop Yesler Terrace are set to go before the City Council this summer as residents and planners prepare for the sweeping changes to the neighborhood.

In order to fund the creation of new subsidized housing units, the Seattle Housing Authority ("SHA") intends to sell some of the land it owns in the neighborhood to private developers. The full redevelopment is anticipated to take 10-20 years.

The plan includes 661 "extremely" low-income units to replace the 561 currently in the neighborhood as well as 290 "very" low-income units and 850 "workforce" units. In addition, the plan calls for 3,199 market-rate units, mostly in high-rise condo and apartment buildings.

The changes will likely mean that Yesler Terrace will shift from being one of the lowest-income neighborhoods in the city to having an affluent majority. Residents will also lose the front yards that adorn the current homes.

One sticky issue with many current residents is fear that they will not be able to return to... (more)