A week ago, a prisoner escorted by two deputies at King County Jail facilities near Harborview escaped into thin air. The suspect — last seen heading toward the Yesler Terrace neighborhood — was still wearing handcuffs as he made his run for freedom while police units and King County’s Guardian One helicopter circled the area.

We haven’t seen another mention of the case by Seattle’s big media since last Monday even as the suspect remains at large.

Authorities are still searching for Alan Polevia. The 31-year-old is approximately 5’7″ and 160 pounds and was described as Samoan by police during Monday’s manhunt. We’ve asked King County Sheriff, the agency charged with rounding Polevia up, for a photograph but have not yet heard back.

Polevia was in custody for two theft warrants stemming from his December arrest for investigation of burglary. He also was convicted of third degree assault in 2006.

The Golden Wheat Bakery opened on March 1st at 2908 E. Cherry Street in the old King Creole space between 29th and 30th.    They open at 7am each day and have cookies, breads, juices, tarts, pies, coffee and pastries.   They should be able to accept credit cards starting tomorrow Monday the 4th.  Stop in and welcome them to the neighborhood!

It may not look like it, but the the Judkins Park Skatespot is open for grinding.

Though people have been skating there for quite sometime, the $600,000 mini skate park quietly opened officially President’s Day weekend.

The park is still surrounded by fencing, but the entrances are open. Final landscaping work is dependent on warmer weather and should be completed in March.

The city expects to hold an opening event in late May to kick off the summer.

More (rainy) photos: Continue reading →

Today is the deadline to apply for the 23rd Avenue Action Plan Advisory Core Team.

What is the 23rd Avenue Action Plan? The Department of Planning and Development is working to develop a community vision to “improve the health and equity” in the neighborhood’s main commercial cores along 23rd Ave: Union, Cherry and Jackson.

This is separate from the upcoming repaving and complete streets redesign (an open house about that project is Saturday), but will certainly tie into the road work.

We’ll have more on the project soon, so stay tuned.

From the application document:

The purpose of the 23rd Avenue Action Plan project is to establish a city-community collaboration that creates a shared vision and action plan to improve the health and equity of three Central Area community cores: 23rd Avenue & E. Union Street; 23rd Avenue & E. Cherry Street; and 23rd Avenue S. & S. Jackson Street. The 2013 project will focus on these community cores to: Continue reading →

The Friends of Jimi Hendrix Park (FOJHP) is seeking 1 to 2 committed, enthusiastic, collaborative people to serve on its volunteer Advisory Committee to help develop Jimi Hendrix Park. In involving our Members we are looking for candidates with expertise in:

• Marketing/Communication
• Event Planning/Sponsorships
• Community Outreach/Volunteer Management

Continue reading →

Image from The Bikery

With a focus on being inclusive and affordable, The Bikery has operated its volunteer-run bike shop out of a storefront at 14th and S Main Street for years.

After successfully raising enough money to dig out of a financial crunch one year ago (thanks in part to many of you), the Bikery has reorganized and is moving its operations to Hiawatha Place and S Charles Street, filling a void left by the closing of Working Dog Bicycles.

That move starts today and will go through the weekend, and they could use a hand.

Details from the Bikery newsletter:

We found an awesome new space at 845 Hiawatha Pl S, the old Working Dog Bikes space.

We’re moving this weekend, 2/28-3/1, and we need your help to get there. Heck yeah, all volunteer hours will count towards shop credit!

Shifts

We’re looking for folks to sign up for the following shifts, 4-5 people per shift: Continue reading →