Wednesday when I went to the Seattle Schools Community Forum, I was pleasantly surprised to find information a great program at Garfield High School and on how our community can support and vote for Garfield High School, while at the same time giving a boost to great school libraries. Garfield High School has entered the Follett Challenge, which recognizes school libraries:

“The Follett Challenge was designed to reward school libraries for their work applying technology, content and creativity in ways that engage students, foster literacy and promote critical thinking. “

The Garfield project “One Book, One School; Community Wide Reading for Plugged-In Teenagers” demonstrates how students can learn to bring history in of their communities alive.
View the video here and VOTE for it: http://www.follettchallenge.com/video.cfm?id=231
Librarian Janet Woodward has been a real leader for the Garfield High School Library before my children graduated in 2003 and 2004. Take a look at the video for yourself. I believe that you will be inspired to vote for Garfield.
The Seattle Schools Forum link is below:
http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2013/03/garfield-library-needs-votes.html

With transit speeds and safety improvements as their guiding principles, the city presented early ideas for design changes to 23rd Ave as part of the upcoming repaving and complete streets project stretching from E John to Rainier Ave.

Residents packed Garfield Community Center to see some early concept images and see a presentation from SDOT planners about the challenges and opportunities for the project.

The biggest focus, according to presenters, is transit speed. In addition to paving funds for the section of 23rd Ave between E John and S Jackson, the entire corridor will get transit signal prioritization work intended to get buses (especially Metro’s workhorse Route 48) through quickly and with fewer delays.

There is also money to repair existing sidewalks, which are in awful condition for much of the street, and for bus stop improvements. Continue reading →

A Central District shopkeeper says he suspects a man stole $500 while an overly friendly woman distracted him just before closing time last month, according to Seattle Police.

The shopkeeper told police a suspicious man entered his 2000 block E Union store February 18th and asked to use the bathroom.

Later that evening when the store was closed, a woman knocked on the front door and began asking the shopkeeper about items for sale, according to police. After the woman left, the shopkeeper walked to the back of the store and realized his cash drawer was open, and an envelope with $500 was missing.

Though he never saw the man enter the store, police say the shopkeeper suspects the man who used the bathroom earlier that day unlocked a back door to the business and used it to enter while the woman distracted him. Police were unable to locate the thief or his possible accomplice, but were following up by checking the store’s surveillance cameras.

The suspect was described as a black male in his late 40s to 50s, about 6’2″ and 200 pounds with short hair and a scruff beard. The possible friendly accomplice was a black female in her 40s, about 5’4″ and “average” build. She was wearing “pink striped” glasses and “big earrings” on the day of the crime.

The shopkeeper told police that the thief stole an envelope containing $500 and several ones and fives but left behind hundreds of dollars in the till.

Cappy’s Boxing Gym is partnered up with Swedish Hospital to promote Community Health and Well-Being in the Central District. The Project, launched by Cappy’s Gym in February, is engaging community experts, local businesses, and area Youth Boxers to highlight different aspects of Community Health.

The Gym is looking for assistance in documenting and broadcasting the incredible community stories that they are collecting. Volunteers with experience in film, audio and media distribution are sought. Contact [email protected] if you are interested!

by Dikla Tuchman

Inside the original Chuck’s (Images: Dikla Tuchman for CHS)

North Seattleites — who have long enjoyed the convenience of a small corner store which also provides over 30 craft beer taps, reasonably priced growler fills to-go, and a wide selection of nearly 1,000 craft beer bottles (with an emphasis on local beer) — will now be sharing the wealth with Capitol Hill and the Central District.

Last week, Chuck Shin, owner of the above described Chuck’s Hop Shop — aka, Chuck’s 85th Street Market, signed a 10-year lease to open another venture at 20th and Union, across the street from Katy’s Corner Café and replacing the empty Copymaster building at the corner.

While the new construction will not begin until April of this year, Shin anticipates a quick buildout and hopes to open Chuck’s Hop Shop CD to the neighborhood by May 2013. Continue reading →

Photos by Sebastian Garrett-Singh

The fire that caused extensive damage to an under-construction townhouse project at 24th and Norman last week was intentionally set, fire department investigators say.

Now a post signed only by “Some Anarchists” on the Puget Sound Anarchists website claims responsibility for the arson.

The townhouse project developer Benjamin Custom Homes describes the homes as “efficient green homes with approximately 2500sf of modern living, attached parking and private roof-top deck with views of the Seattle skyline.”

The case is under investigation by SPD’s arson team. We have attempted to contact SPD to ask them about the PSA post and will update when we hear back. (UPDATE: Seattle Police said investigators are aware of the post, but have no additional information on the investigation at this time.)

Details from SFD: Continue reading →