Area community centers are holding open houses this week to give residents a chance to see what they have to offer and meet some of the people behind the programs.

The first open house in the neighborhood is tonight (March 20) at the Garfield Community Center from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Yesler will be Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. and Miller will be Thursday from 10 a.m. – noon and 6-8 p.m.

From Seattle Parks:

At these events, the Community Centers will showcase their fun, exciting and educational programs.  This is an opportunity for the neighborhood to meet community center staff and instructors, gather program information, provide input and observe some of the classes. 

·         Garfield Open House

Tuesday, March 20

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.

  

·         Miller Open House

Thursday, March 22

10 – Noon and 6 – 8 p.m.

  

·         Yesler Open House

Wednesday, March 21

5 – 6 p.m.

 

In January, Community Centers changed to a new tiered system for operating that reduces operating costs, while maintaining essential services. In the new system, community centers are grouped into five geographic areas of five centers each. They are managed and programmed in a coordinated fashion. The new system partially or fully restores the current limited use sites. Five limited use sites were established in 2011, which involved a significant drop in public operating hours. The new tiered system for 2012 saves approximately $1.23 million in the 2012 budget.

The area around 21st and Jefferson was shut down for a bit yesterday evening as police searched for two people suspected of armed robbery, according to police.

The suspects met the two victims at 23rd and Jackson after arranging through Craigslist to sell the victims an iPad for $300. When they met, however, the suspects got into the victims’ car, saying they needed to pick the item up at 21st and Jefferson.

When they arrived, the suspects left the car to retrieve the item. When they returned a few minutes later, one suspect pulled a gun, and the pair demanded money and phones from the victims.

From SPD:

On March 19th, at approximately 7:35 pm, East Precinct officers responded to a report of an armed robbery in the 2100 Block of East Jefferson Street.  Officers responded and met with the victims.  The first victim told officers that two weeks he responded to an online advertisment and purchased an iphone from the suspect.  On March 19th,  the suspect called the victim and asked if he wanted to buy an ipad for $300.  The victim agreed to meet the suspect at 23rd Avenue South and South Jackson Street.  The victim and a friend arrived and met up with two suspects at the arranged meeting place.  The suspects then got into the victim’s car and drove to a location in the 2100 Block of East Jefferson Street to “get” the ipad.  The suspects got out, walked down the street,  and returned after about 10 minutes.  The suspects then sat in the backseat of the victim’s car.  The first suspect produced a gun and demanded money and phones from the victims.  One of the victims was punched in the head by the suspect.  The suspects then fled the car, running down the street and then entering  the building in the 2100 Block of East James Street.  The victims were able to call 911 and police arrived.  A K9 team and the East Precinct officers responded and assisted with checking the building.  Unfortunately, the suspects were not located. 

The suspects were described as:  1) black male, 16-19 years of age, 6-1, 140 pounds, short hair, black shirt, dark jeans, backpack.  Armed with a gun.

  2) black male, 20-24 years old, 6-1, 140, white shirt, longer length hair, jeans.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation.

The Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center is nearly ready to reopen its doors after being closed for two years while the city rehabilitated the 1915 building. The $3.3 million project covered seismic and electrical work for the 17th and Yesler building, which is set to open in April.

The opening comes in time to host the 9th annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival, which runs April 14-22. The LHAAFF has announced the opening and closing films for the 2012 festival.

The festival will be dedicated to Charles Rolland, who passed away earlier this month. LHPAC Artistic Director Jackie Moscou was married to Rolland. Services for Rolland are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. March 23 at Mount Zion Baptist Church.

From the LHAAFF:

The Langston Hughes African American Film Festival has a knack for introducing Seattle audiences to up-and-coming African American directors – today Seattle, tomorrow Sundance! Alrick Brown (KINYARWANDA), Charles Officer (NURSE.FIGHTER.BOY) and Ava Duvernay (I Will Follow) have all been part of past festival events. The filmmakers behind this year’s opening and closing night film events, Matthew A. Cherry and Andrew Dosunmu, will not disappoint and both will be in attendance. All screenings and panel discussions for the 9th Annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival will be held at the recently reopened Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center in Seattle’s Central District. This 9th Annual Langston Hughes African American Film Festival is dedicated to esteemed colleague Mr. Charles W. Rolland who passed on March 12, 2012. 

The Last Fall is a coming of age sports drama about the difficulties an NFL journeyman faces when trying to transition after his playing days are over. Former NFL player turned writer/director, Matthew A. Cherry visits Seattle for the Opening Night screening of his film, The Last Fall. Cherry got his start in 2007 on the CW show Girlfriends after retiring from the NFL (playing for the Jaguars, Bengals, Panthers and Ravens). From there he transitioned into directing music videos for the likes of Jazmine Sullivan, Kindred The Family Soul, Snoop Dogg and Bilal. This is Cherry’s first feature film.

 

Restless City tells the story of a West African immigrant surviving on the fringes of New York City where music is his passion, life is a hustle, and falling in love is his greatest risk. Fashion photographer turned director Andrew Dosunmu will visit Seattle for the closing night screening of this, his first feature film. Besides a flourishing career in photography,Dosunmu has received awards for his documentary film, Hot Irons (1999). He has  served as creative director for album covers (for Erykah Badu and Public Enemy), and, likeCherry, has directed music videos for musicians Isaac Hayes, Angie Stone, Common, Wyclef Jean, Kelis, Aaron Neville, Maxwell, Tracy Chapman and Talib Kweli.

 

This nine day festival from April 14 – April 22, 2012 features a powerful lineup dozens of films that include Seattle premieres, local directors, a LGBT focus, Weekday Happy Hour Films, Ladies Night, Teen Fest, talkbacks and panel discussions. A complete list of films, visiting filmmakers and panels will be posted on the websitewww.langstonblackfilmfest.org on Monday March 26, 2012. There will be new and seasoned filmmakers in attendance, some with recent awards and accolades in tow. LHAAFF always offers a unique blend of returning filmmakers  and each year the festival sparks memorable and provocative discussions from across the aisle and across neighborhoods.

 

This annual African American Film Festival is expected to draw more than 2,500 people passionate about creating and appreciating films by and about Black people in the world. The festival spotlights dozens of feature-length and short films by independent filmmakers, and the rare opportunity to chat face-to-face with filmmakers, industry professionals and Seattle leadership. Tickets to just the opening or closing night film events are $20. All other LHAAFF screenings are $8 for adults and $5 for youth younger than 16 and seniors. The All-Access Langston Pass, which includes access to both the opening and closing night films, is $50. All film details, including show times, locations and ticketing information are available at www.langstonblackfilmfest.org or by calling 206-326-1088.

Trailers for The Last Fall and Restless City:

Work on the new Alleycat Acres farm at MLK and Cherry is under way. Volunteers worked recently to lay down mulch and outline paths for the circular garden.

When current plans are finished, there will be an information area so people can learn about the farm, chickens and a shed space. And lots of veggies, of course!

The next work party is March 24 at noon. Check out the Alleycat Acres work party calendar for chances to get involved with either of their Central District farms.

After allegedly threatening someone with a handgun near 12th and Jefferson, a six-time felon led police on a car and foot chase that ended in a fight on Seattle University’s campus late Thursday.

From SPD:

On March 15th, at approximately 10:45 pm, East Precinct officers responded to a call of a man who had menaced another with a handgun at 12th Avenue and East Jefferson Street.  The victim was able to provide a description of the suspect car and a partial license plate description after the suspect had left in that car.  Officers arrived in the area and located a car matching the description in the area.  Officers attempted to stop the car and it finally did stop in the 1500 Block of East Jefferson.  As officers were getting ready to approach the car,  it suddenly took off again at a high rate of speed.  A short pursuit ensued, but was terminated shortly thereafter.  Officers in the area observed the suspect vehicle return to 12th Avenue and East Marion Street, where it turned to enter the Seattle University campus.

Officers followed into the campus parking lot  and observed the suspect driver get out of the car and begin running.  The male suspect ran up the stairs, with an officer pursuing him on foot.  As the officer reached the top of the stairs, he saw the suspect crouched down along a path.  The suspect had a silver, 9mm semi automatic handgun in his waistband, which he removed and raised.  The suspect then fled on foot again, with the gun in his hand.  The suspect ran around the corner of the chapel on campus and tossed the gun into the reflection pool located along the south side of the chapel.  The officer was able to catch up to the suspect as he was entering the reflection pool.  As the officer reached out to take hold of the suspect, the suspect turned and struck the officer in the head.  The officer was able to maintain his hold on the suspect, but the suspect continued to fight.  At one point during the fight, the suspect attempted to grab onto the officer’s holsted service pistol.  Additional officers and a Seattle University Security Officer arrived and assisted in taking the suspect into custody. 

The 29 year old suspect was taken into custody and the tossed gun was recovered.  The East Precinct officer was transported to Harborview Medical Center for injuries he sustained during the fight.  He was treated and released several hours later.

A check of the suspect’s name revealed that he is a six time convicted felon and thus prohibited from possessing a firearm. 

The suspect was later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Violation of the Uniform Firearms Act (VUFA), Investigation of  Felony Eluding, and Investigation of  Assault.

King County Sheriffs had a lane of traffic on 23rd Ave blocked near Columbia St the afternoon as they pursued a suspect who fled officers on foot.

Officers on the scene had one man in handcuffs, and Seattle Police were heavily patrolling nearby streets.

We are working to get more details.

Police have arrested a 26-year-old man early Thursday morning on suspicion of spray painting a wall at 23rd and Jackson with a political event notice.

Similar spray paint event notices caused a big stir in the neighborhood a few months ago after someone (or several people) painted information about Occupy Seattle’s Shut Down the Port action on many properties in and around Judkins Park. It’s not clear if the two incidents are related.

From SPD:

Seattle Police Department officers arrested a vandal in the Central District early this morning.

On March 15th, at about  2:30 am, officers from the East Precinct’s Anti-Crime Team spotted freshly sprayed painted graffiti, promoting an upcoming political event, on the wall of a shopping complex at 23rd Ave. and S. Jackson St.

Officers stopped a 26-year-old man near the scene and saw he had a can of spray paint tucked inside his jacket. The man also smelled of paint and had black paint on his palms. Officers arrested the man and searched his backpack, which contained a number of items commonly used for vandalism, including homemade paste, superglue and more paint.

Officers then booked the man into the King County Jail for investigation of property destruction.

You can find more information about how you to prevent and report graffiti in your neighborhood on the SPD Blotter.

If you were guiltily watching America’s Next Top Model, hoping nobody would walk in the room and catch you weeping with Tyra, you now have a legitimate excuse. Central District native Ebonee Davis is one of the models going through the emotional ringer on this season of the show, which broadcasts Wednesdays at 9 on the CW.

Seattle Met chatted with Ebonee (spelled Eboni on the show). From Seattle Met:

Ebonee Davis (Tyra and company have her has Eboni—not sure what’s up with that) is a local talent with Seattle Models Guild and one of 14 girls submitting to Tyra rants and reality show editors in an effort to boost their careers.

I chatted with the Central District native yesterday and asked her if, at the onset of the show’s taping, she wasn’t a little dubious about prior top models and their post-show track records. My point being: We haven’t actually seen any ANTM stars catapult on to Chanel runways or Vogue pages.

‘They didn’t have modeling experience or the background to fall back on,’ said Davis of the show’s past-season where-are-they-now candidates. ‘They don’t see that the experience of the show isn’t correlated to the real world of fashion modeling. I was modeling before the show, I already had career before I went on the show,’ she continued, relating that she feels prepared to use the irreality to further what she’s already got going on (clients in Miami, at Nordstrom, and local shoots with our friends at Jenesequa).

As Coyote Central continues to settle into its new location at 23rd and Cherry, the youth arts and education organization is expanding it’s backyard workshop building and has plans to beautify its campus.

Within the first couple months following their June 2011 move, art started popping up around their building. Of course, this makes sense for a youth organization that has been creating professional-quality public art around the neighborhood for nearly two decades.

Coyote Central plans to redesign their campus near this 23rd Ave bus stop

This year — among many other classes and projects — the organization will work on the 23rd Ave face of their campus, creating more space for art and working to make a more comfortable area for people waiting at the popular bus stop in front of their building.

“I really look forward to improving the streetfront,” said Claudia Stelle, Executive Director of Coyote Central. Final plans could include a recessed fence, space for a mural and even a bench for people waiting at the bus stop. They are also working with King County Metro to get an awning for the stop. “This will look better,” Stelle said.

However, the streetfront changes are the last step in a summer’s worth of work on the Coyote Central property, and will not likely be finished until August.

First, they will double the size of their current backyard workshop to 2,000 square feet. The increase in space will give them “a more comfortable space for the woodworking and metalworking classes,” said Stelle. Having more shop space will also allow them to host more of their classes on-site rather than at professional shops all around town.

The current shop space will be expanded

In addition to the expanded workspace, Coyote Central is also creating garden space to not only beautify their campus, but also to grow food for use in some of their culinary classes. They also have plans to get chickens and to create a “serious composting setup,” on the property.

All Coyote Central programs are taught by working professionals. Tuition is priced on a sliding scale, and more than 40 percent of students have scholarships of some kind.

Winter classes are wrapping up later this month, and spring classes get underway in April. For more information or to register for the spring, check out the Coyote Central website.

King County Deputy Executive Fred Jarrett, Presiding Superior Court Judge Richard McDermott, and Jim Burt of the County’s Executive Services Facilities Management Division met with the 12th Avenue Stewards committee on Tuesday night to outline the most recent proposal for improving the Youth Services Courthouse, detention center,  and the surrounding nine acre site in the heart of the 12th Avenue neighborhood.

Last week the King County Council was presented with legislation that, if passed, would put a property tax levy proposal on the August, 2012 ballot.  The “levy lid lift” would raise about $200 million for construction of a new courthouse and office building, and a new juvenile detention center.

Unlike earlier proposals which would have replaced only the “tower building”, the four-story courthouse and office building, this proposal would also replace the detention center.  While, as recently as last year, the County said the detention center did not need to be replaced, newer studies have persuaded the County it could save money, over the long run, by replacing the detention center with one of a newer design with operational efficiencies.

By constructing a new taller courthouse-office building and concentrating parking in a parking garage, replacing the current large surface parking lot, The County would be able to make a portion of the nine acre site available for neighborhood-serving development.   Although site planning is at a very conceptual stage, Jim Burt described a plan that the County believes responds to long-standing community interests.  The County buildings would be located in the middle of the site, making available about half of the 12th Avenue front and all of the Spruce Street (south) front for residential and/or commercial development.  Residential development  capacity could be approximately 430 housing units.

The site is currently zoned to allow  neighborhood commercial development  up to 65 feet  high along 12th Avenue while much of the site is zoned for lowrise residential development.  The current concept would require the County to seek approval from the City Council for a rezone to allow buildings to rise up to 75 feet.  The plan acknowledges the sensitivity of the smaller scale residential development on 14th Avenue east of the site with setbacks along that edge.

Currently the northeast portion of the site is the location of the Marvin Oliver sculpture “Spirit of our Youth” — a bronze whale fin and sculpted earthworks surrounding it.  While the concept for redevelopment of the site includes some green space at that location, it’s smaller than the existing  one acre sculpture site. The County is considering the possibility that the sculpture would be moved to a different location — a move which would require approval of the artist. Overall, Burt said, the plan, as envisioned now, could result in more than one acre in green space on the redeveloped site in several locations.

Some of the street grid that was destroyed when the site was developed by the County for its current use could be restored.  East Alder Street could become a pedestrian route through the site if not entirely restored as a vehicle route.

While the plan includes a proposal for a new parking garage of over 440 stalls to serve the County facilities, current thinking does not include provisions for better transit service to the neighborhood, a key community concern.

If the levy proposal is placed on the August ballot and is passed, the new buildings would be built alongside the existing tower building and detention center and completed by 2018.  Then the existing buildings would be demolished, the parking garage built, and the remainder of the site could be available for development.