IMG_0426, originally
uploaded by blackracer.

Monday afternoon’s forecast from the National Weather Service says to expect a few inches of snow as early as Tuesday afternoon. The drive-time predictions have officials asking people to consider an early commute on Tuesday. Details below.

First, the forecast:

MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH A PACIFIC FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL SPREAD NORTH INTO WESTERN WASHINGTON LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON OR EARLY EVENING. AT THIS TIME…IT APPEARS THE AIR MASS WILL BE COLD ENOUGH SO THAT PRECIPITATION WILL FALL AS SNOW ACROSS THE LOWLANDS. ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL MAY IMPACT THE EVENING RUSH HOUR COMMUTE…AND PEOPLE ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE AN EARLY COMMUTE TUESDAY EVENING BEFORE THE SNOW BEGINS.

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NWS goes on to say that Tuesday’s snow showers should change to rain by Wednesday morning and “wash away” the snow.

Metro is also encouraging you to slack off at work:

There is snow in the forecast for later in the day on Tuesday – and it’s likely to begin falling during the afternoon commute. King County Metro Transit is warning that situation could create very different morning and afternoon travel conditions for bus riders.

Transit users should plan ahead for afternoon and evening trips that could be disrupted, delayed, reduced, or on snow routing. Even though weather in the morning may be clear, leave from a bus stop or park-and-ride that also has service when buses are on snow routes in case travel conditions deteriorate by the afternoon commute.

You can follow the fun at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow

A social services organization is beginning to raise funds to construct a housing facility for armed service veterans on East Spring between 13th and 14th Avenues.

Catholic Community Services, formerly known as the Archdiocesan Housing Authority, is planning the 18 units of “transitional” housing for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for a 7,200 square foot lot on East Spring. CCS purchased the lot in 2002 from Seattle University for just over $320,000, according to King County records. A daycare has been operating at the location.

In the wake of November’s hatchet murder on the corner of 15th and Union, social services that drew both the attacker and the victim to the neighborhood are a point of concern. “I respect the neighbors’ concern. That was a really horrific incident,” said Dan Wise, program director for CCS. “The Vet Administration is really trying to put a lot of services in place for these people,” she said.

Full details on the project from our sister site, CapitolHillSeattle.com.

We’re learning more about the financial issues that have hit Tougo Coffee as owner Brian Wells continues his quest to raise donations to pull his business out of a $10,000 hole. We talked to Wells as he stood under a rain tent in front of his shuttered 18th Ave shop and greeted neighbors who stopped by to show support — as well as confused customers who had only stopped by to grab a cup of coffee. We are also gathering information from the city and others close to the situation to try to learn more about what happened to Tougo and what comes next for the Central District and Westlake shops. Here is what we know so far.

Because of unpaid City of Seattle business taxes going back over multiple two quarters of 2010, the license for Tougo Coffee Inc. to operate its business in the city has been revoked cannot be renewed, CDNews has learned.

But Wells tells us this is not a case of somebody trying to sneak one by the tax man. Wells is cautious about how much he will say about the tax issue because he says his work with the City of Seattle to get Tougo back in business is going well and he doesn’t want to jeopardize the progress. But he would tell CDNews that the unpaid taxes are the result of mistakes made by an accountant being paid to manage Tougo’s finances. “This isn’t a Bernie Madoff situation,” Wells said.

Wells said he needs to raise money to put Tougo back into good standing with the city and have his license reinstated. We are working to get more information from the city’s Revenue and Consumer Affairs but the department is typically reluctant to discuss particulars in cases like this.

Even once the city has agreed to reinstate the license, Tougo will still owe on additional quarters when its taxes went unpaid, CDNews has learned. The question of what happens to people’s donations if Wells can’t re-open is moot — there’s a big financial hole to fill with the coffee shops open or closed.

In the meantime, no word on whether Wells will be back under a tent on 18th Ave on Friday. You can keep in touch with Wells and the Tougo situation via the Tougo Facebook page.

We’re still getting to the bottom of what is going on but Tougo Coffee owner Brian Wells has sent out this plea for help to keep the 18th Ave shop open for business:

UPDATE 10:30 PM: Tougo has provided an updated message that adds additional information. We’re replacing the old message with the updated text:

Good day facebook friends, family, and community supporters.

As you all maybe aware, Mom and Pop coffee houses do not make much money, and in fact more often than not make no money at all. Tougo Coffee Co. is one of them. It’s more about trying to provide a place to call home outside of the home. A coffee house that welcomes all and acts as a place for community gatherings. To encourage, support, inspire, and be inspired.

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There is some confusion with the city regarding taxes for our business and we are working with them to sort it all out. They are very wonderful to work with and we are doing everything we can to get our beloved shop reopened as soon as possible.

We are asking each of our friends in this difficult time to dig deep and make a donation of any amount or the equivalent to your weekly visits coffee consumption or more if you are able too.

Tougo Coffee Co appreciate all the kind words from our community and it’s really heartfelt. This is very, very humbling to me on a number of levels as the past year has been one of trying for sure. Some of you know exactly what I mean :-) but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I am confident that we can all enjoy our beloved Tougo Coffee Co. in the next couple of days with all the kind words, support and encouragement.

Sincerely,
Thank you.

[email protected]

If you want to make a donation we have a paypal account that we will make the link available later today.

We Will provide French Press Coffee for the get together.
10:30 am at 1406 18th Ave… Music provided by the Aaron English project. We hope to see you in the morning.

Tougo Coffee Co has been closed temporarily due to Confusion with the City. We are going to work with the City to… http://fb.me/RYP2fIr7

We are unable to view the Facebook message the Tweet links to. The signs in the pictures on this post were found on Tougo’s window and door Wednesday afternoon.

Wells has operated Tougo on 18th Ave since spring 2007. He also opened a second South Lake Union location at 8th and Westlake at the tail end of 2008. In September 2010, the Seattle Times reported that Wells had put the Westlake location up for sale for $40,000. On a recent CDNews visit, we found Wells still behind the bar at the second Tougo.

Wells has been an important part of the Central District — and Central District News — community, even posting to the site on occasion. He also helped start Cortona Cafe but is no longer an owner as the shop goes non-profit, according to Will Little.

We’re asking Wells for clarification of the current situation and will also start checking with the city to find out what we can.

A woman was struck in the face and injured by a cue ball thrown through the front window of her East Jefferson home just three hours into the New Year, according to a Seattle Police report.

The woman sustained a bump over her eye in the early morning attack in the 1200 block of East Jefferson near Seattle University. A witness who saw the assault unfold said he saw an older gold Toyota pull up in front of the home and a woman get out of the car, rear back and throw the pool table cue ball through the window of the home.

The injured woman was treated at the scene. Photos of the scene — and the cue ball — were submitted into evidence.

Seahawks Play60 Event 050, originally uploaded by Seattle Parks.

The Seattle Seahawks are about to become the first team to enter the NFL playoffs with a losing record. The week of the big game, players were on hand to celebrate a big win for the Garfield Teen Life Center as the team has donated $25,000 to help fund the center’s new fitness program.

“We need solid allies in the private sector to help us achieve that objective. We have found that in the Seattle Seahawks football team,” Seattle Parks head Christopher Williams said in a statement.

The full media release from Seattle Parks is below.

Team donates $25,000 to complete facility for local youth

RENTON, Wash. – The Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Parks and Recreation opened a fitness center at the Garfield Teen Life Center today. The new “Seahawks PLAY 60 Youth Fitness Zone” will provide access to quality fitness equipment and programs to local youth in order to help them obtain 60 minutes of physical activity per day.

“We are excited to partner with two organizations that are committed to providing the resources and expertise to help our youth achieve their goals both on and off the playing field,” said Seahawks president Peter McLoughlin.

A key component to the partnership is a contract with the Austin Foundation to provide dedicated fitness trainers to support the program and monitor the participant’s progress through the existing Garfield Teen Life Centers health and fitness programs. With the support of this donation, Seattle Park’s Teen Express Fitness Program will now operate in the center.

The Seattle Park’s Teen Express Fitness programs focus on exercise routines that engage teens and encourage them to make safe and healthy decisions. These programs also stress family participation by hosting monthly demonstrations on fitness and nutrition. Area youths will be able to register each quarter for a three month fitness program free of charge.

The Austin Foundation provides coaching to youth in cardiovascular conditioning, flexibility, strength training and nutrition. This model allows each student to undergo a positive physical transformation that can carry over into other areas of his or her life. By focusing on individual fitness, each participant develops a sustainable set of skills and motivation to make healthy choices.

“Teaching youth the value of health and fitness is a core goal of our Healthy Parks, Healthy You initiative,” said Christopher Williams, Acting Superintendent. “We need solid allies in the private sector to help us achieve that objective. We have found that in the Seattle Seahawks football team.”

The Garfield Teen Life Center, in Seattle’s Central Area, is well-known for its unique and diverse programs for youth 14 to 17 years old. The facilities include a music studio, technology lab, basketball gym, full kitchen, multi-purpose room – and now a fully outfitted fitness center.

The center hosts the Teen Late Night program, which provides a safe place for teens to hang out between the hours of 7 p.m. and midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. Activities include flag football, basketball, dodgeball, movies, cooking classes, martial arts, dancing, the lyricist lounge, and lots of games.

Some better news, of sorts, from the crime beat, as police were able to arrest two men carrying loot after a December 28th home burglary in the 400 block of 26th Ave South. The details from our sister site, SeattleCrime:

Around 1:00pm on December 28th, police received a report of two men “ransacking” a home in the 400 block of 26th Ave S.

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A neighbor gave police a good description of the suspects, and officers stopped the suspects two blocks away from the home after one of the men tried to duck behind a fence post.

One man, who was carrying a brown paper bag full of video games, told officers “I bet you’re wondering why I’m carrying these Xbox games.” more…

One of the contractor teams hired by Seattle City Light to help inspect thousands of streetlight poles and vault covers for leaking electricity found another Central District area pole seeping voltage this week.

The pole found at Jackson and 12th Ave South joins a companion problem pole at 23rd and Union on the list of dangerous hotspots found in the neighborhood after concerns were raised about leaking electricity when a dog was electrocuted on a Queen Anne street on Thanksgiving Day. Here are details on the Jackson/12th pole from City Light:

a streetlight pole near 12th Avenue S and S Jackson Street with 100 volts. A crew found frayed wiring that was energizing the pole’s ground wire. Temporary repairs were made to ensure safe operations until a permanent fix can be scheduled.

City Light says that of the more than 5,000 poles and vault covers tested so far in Seattle, only 0.22% have recorded “voltage incidents.” That’s 1 out of every 450. City Light says contractors have so far tested only about 18% of the city’s more than 25,000 poles and vaults.

A City Light spokesperson said the agency was concerned that areas like the Central District and Capitol Hill with older infrastructure might have more dangerous poles than other parts of the city.

Meanwhile, another urban danger appears to be prioritized in the New Year. Seattle Times is reporting that the city’s Pothole Rangers have been beefed up after our winter conditions have unleashed an increase in nasty holes across Seattle.

Here are some of the images from our coverage of the neighborhood in 2010. Click any picture to learn more about the story behind it. Thanks for being part of Central District News in 2010. Here is to a safe and happy 2011!

Lila Yoga studio is celebrating 2011 with a grand opening this weekend in their new home on East Madison.

We are busy here at Lila Yoga getting everything ready for our official Grand Opening on January 1-2, 2011.

Kick off your 2011 in health and happiness and help us celebrate Lila Yoga’s opening!

Stop by on the weekend, take a free class, get free bodywork, stay for the free entertainment and receive 10% discounts on all packages and memberships.

You can see a schedule of classes and learn more at http://lilayogaseattle.com/

Lila Yoga is located at 2812 East Madison.