If you felt the earthquake this afternoon (I’m at my office downtown right now), please go to the USGS website and report if you felt it. The information people report to the USGS really helps the scientists in their work studying earthquakes: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsus/

Hey, does anyone know what movie is being filmed in the alley of the Twilight Exit?

Hey, 

Does anyone know what movie is being filmed in the alley at the Twilight Exit?

Word.

EDITOR’S UPDATE:

After @DreamgirlDown alerted us to film via Twitter, we swung by to check in with the film crew:

We spoke with the film’s Producer Greg Brotherton. “Shadowed” is an “ultra low budget” independent thriller with an all-local cast and crew. They are filming two days at Twilight Exit both inside and in the alley. Today is their second day of production, and they hope to wrap up filming at the end of the month.

Mural in the Twilight Exit alley

Brotherton said Twilight Exit owner Stephan Mollmann (a CDN sponsor) has been very supportive of the film, allowing them access to the lounge for filming.

“Stephan is a friend to filmmakers everywhere,” said Brotherton.

The film’s writer and director, Joey Johnson, has been working on the film for a while. You can see some of his previous work at his website Daily Riots.

According to the film’s Facebook page, “‘Shadowed’ is a double-murder mystery, a scary movie fueled not by bloody gore or supernatural creatures, but by the dread we all feel when we believe someone is hiding just beyond the fire’s light.”

The “big bad guy,” as Brotherton described the role, will be played by Sean Nelson, an actor, writer and musician who has recorded and performed with a slew of bands and was lead singer of Harvey Danger. Other cast members include Conner Marx, Tara Simmons, Erwin Galan, David S. Hogan and Alison Monda.

Bruce Nourish at Seattle Transit Blog has been making the case for some changes to Metro bus routes that he claims would improve efficiency and rider experience (including changes to routes 4 and 3, which were noted in earlier posts here and here). Earlier this week, he proposed cutting the 48 in two, creating a south segment from UW to Mount Baker Station and a north segment from Loyal Heights to Bellevue Transit Center via UW. 

The main advantages, he says, would be increased reliability and the potential to put the southern segment (which goes along 23rd Ave in the Central District) on electric trolley wires with relatively little extra cost.

From Seattle Transit Blog:

Talk of splitting the 48 in the U-District probably began when the route was created, and has yet to stop. In general, there tends to be much more transit ridership from residential areas to urban centers, or between urban centers, rather than between residential areas. While reasonably good bidirectional demand exists throughout the route, much of the 48′s ridership is going to or from the U-District, and in that circumstance, splitting the route there has the potential to improve reliability for all riders, while forcing only a minority to make a transfer.  

There’s a another good reason to split the 48: the south section already runs under trolleybus wire (used by the 4 and 43) for much of its length. Were this bus split, only about 1.5 miles of trolleybus wire would be required, between John and Cherry, and Dearborn and Plum. At the current cost of $3 million per mile for trolleybus wire, electrifying this route would probably cost less than $5 million with minimal construction risk or environmental process entailed. Along with the roughly $12 million project to move the 3/4 wire from James to Yesler, this project would be perfect for the $20 million earmarked for trolleybus expansion in the city’s $60 VLF proposal.

Riders going from the north leg of the route to the south (or vice versa) would need to transfer where the segments meet in the U District. But Nourish claims the majority of riders on the route already transfer either at Montlake or the U District, and the split would potentially open up a transit connection from North Seattle to Bellevue that does not exist today.

What do you think of this idea? Would you use the “forty-late” more if it were more reliable? Is the promise of one less diesel bus route in the neighborhood worth the lack of a one-seat ride to North Seattle?

Here’s the route today (from the Metro timetable):

Ms W’s classroom, via DonorsChoose

Leschi Elementary teacher Ms W believes a key to learning to read is listening to others. She wants to lend CD players with audio books to students whose families do not have the time or are unable to read books to them. But she needs help raising the money to buy the players.

Like many others at Leschi Elementary, Ms W has launched a DonorsChoose campaign to raise the $200 she needs to acquire the players. From the project description:

There isn’t a child alive who doesn’t like to be read to. My students and I cherish our read aloud time together, but once a day just isn’t enough!

My school is a Title I school located in a lively neighborhood where many families do not have the funds to provide any financial assistance to their children’s classrooms. We have many families who are newly arrived to the country after fleeing turmoil in various East African communities.

…

We are a beautiful and diverse classroom. My students deserve supplies that will provide them the greatest chance for success in school and beyond.

---

…

Many of my students do not have someone at home who is able to read to them because they are working, taking care of a family or perhaps do not read in English. Additionally, many of the languages that the families do speak at home (Tigrinya and Somali) are expensive and hard to come by in the form of children’s books.

By gaining these CD players and headphones in our classroom, my students will have the opportunity to hear many different stories, voices, and languages read to them on a daily basis. This will provide my students with a model of fluid and expressive reading and will allow them to enjoy books above their level while practicing the important skill of listening.

“Certainly, we’ve got a lot of needs, and not all of them are funded,” said Teresa Wippel at Seattle Public Schools, noting that the state legislature is not fully funding education. “We are always grateful for any support.”

There are 11 DonorsChoose campaigns for Leschi Elementary, including Ms T’s need for a rug so up to 30 Second and Third Graders can sit together during group lessons. In fact, Leschi Elementary leads the city in the number of DonorsChoose projects currently hoping for funding. There is one project currently at Stevens, a request by Mrs. F for items that would help kids get organized.

With most schools now in session, this is one way to give a classroom in your neighborhood a little boost.

Your neighbors at Hidmo want to invite you to a very special family reunion this Saturday:

 IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011 — 2:00-6:00pm
Washington Hall (153 14th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122)

Seattle, WA—Hidmo will host a family reunion to celebrate its unique and non-traditional family of artists, organizers, activists and community members at their new headquarters at Washington Hall.

There will be opportunities to tour the hall and check out the new shared office space and its occupants.  In one room DJs will be trading shifts on turntables and some of Hidmo’s favorite artists will drop by to do special performances.  On the main hall stage, there will be card games, dominos, board games and chess while in the green room, a story time will be taking place with elders and youth.  Children are encouraged to come and take part in activities in the kid’s corner, and everyone can walk away with some new Hidmo swag made at a screen printing station outside.

For more info visit www.hidmo.org, call 206-434-6584 or email [email protected]

It’s back to school time. Here are a few notes from schools around neighborhood:

• The first day of school for Seattle Public Schools is September 7.
• A proposal to redraw the Stevens Elementary boundary to stop at Madison was quickly withdrawn earlier this year. For now.
• Garfield High sports stars should expect to take real Spanish classes this year after last school year’s Athletic Director firing.
• Rudy’s gave free back to school haircuts at the Yesler Community Center September 1:

  Photo via Rudy’s facebook page.

• Lowell Elementary will start the year without it’s usual Accelerated Progress Program, which has been moved to Lincoln Elementary in Wallingford. For neighborhood families with APP-enrolled kids, the change is likely to cause headache. But others, such as Jennifer Brown of the Lowell PTA, say the change could be “an opportunity for Lowell to thrive and grow as a neighborhood school.”
• Seattle Public Schools has created a new three-tiered transportation system for schools. From the district’s FAQ:

Operationally we are moving from a two (2) to a three (3) tiered bus routing system. This means that some buses will drive three (3) routes in the AM and PM instead of just two (2).

A new Transportation Zone system means that an estimated 3,600 elementary students, who received bus transportation in the 2010‐2011 school year, have residences outside of the new transportation zones. These students will be accommodated as follows:

•    Students who live within a half of a mile from the Transportation Zone boundary can walk to a bus stop within the zone. Seats will be allocated on a space‐available basis.

•    Community stops will be created so students can catch a yellow bus near an attendance area school and take it to another school.

•    Students who are no longer eligible for transportation will receive a guaranteed assignment to their attendance area school, if requested.

You can find the transportation zone maps for your school at the SPS Transportation website. You can also check online to see if a school bus is running late. Note: All buses will be running late on purpose for the first two weeks as part of an effort to check kids in as they embark and disembark to ensure they are on the right bus.

Have any other neighborhood back to school news or tips to share? Leave them in the comments.

My 3-year old, Kian, is missing his “fatboy” pedal bike: we’re not sure if it was taken from our porch or if it was left out on the sidewalk, but we really hope to get this bike back. Its a bit of a family heirloom with all the cousins having started out on this bike beginning more than 12-years ago. Its black with a white bike seat and handlebars, colored spokes and it has 12″ sized tires. Please keep an eye out and drop us a line if you find it. [email protected].  Many thanks!

In today’s Neighborhood Snackdown over at the Seattle Weekly, Columbia City takes on the Central District in a battle of cuisine. Hanna Raskin tries to defend Columbia City from the clear superiority of the Central District’s eateries, highlighted by Zibby Wilder:

Starting at one end of the spectrum, there’s the James Beard award-winning Crush, Anchovies & Olives–Ethan Stowell’s song to seafood, Marjorie‘s Southern soul, and Skillet–one of the most red-hot spots in all of Seattle.

Moving through the cuisines of the world you can find the city’s best Ethiopian at Adey Abeba, Mesob and Saba; Southern spice at Catfish Corner and Oprah’s favorite fried chicken at Ezell’s. Teriyaki fans can get a great, cheap dish from the small kitchen inside Union Market (which also boasts the city’s most diverse candy aisle–Pollo lollipops, anyone?) and authentic Mexican at the Tres Reyes food truck stationed at the car repair place in the old Shell station on Union and 21st.

For less-adventurous fare, there’s neighborhood favorite Piecora’s pizza and Central Cinema also makes a mean pie – nicely paired with with a hot bowl of curried popcorn. Beehive Bakery recently opened its doors at 23rd and Union, breathing new life to a sad location once considered cursed, and offering tasty, fresh-baked cookies, pastries, and cakes.

Go vote for the CD.

The Seattle Housing Authority has received a $10.27 million grant to begin work on a low-income housing building east of Boren at 12th. The building is the start to a planned large-scale redevelopment of the neighborhood approved by the Housing Authority in April.

The grant is a Choice Neighborhoods grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the project was competing with several other housing authorities around the country.

From the SHA press release:

Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced today the award of a $10.27 million Choice Neighborhoods implementation grant to the Seattle Housing Authority to be used for redevelopment of Yesler Terrace and the surrounding neighborhood.

“This is a great day for Seattle and the countless families who will benefit from the transformation this funding will bring to the Yesler community,” said Donovan.

The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative looks to transform distressed neighborhoods into sustainable, mixed-income communities by linking affordable housing with quality schools, public transportation, good jobs and safe streets. Seattle Housing expects to use the grant funding to begin the Yesler Terrace redevelopment by building low-income housing on a site east of Boren, and to work with partners to improve outcomes for neighborhood families.

As a “Master Planned Community,” Yesler Terrace’s full plan could take 10-20 years to complete. 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.

Some have raised concerns about what could be lost in the redevelopment. See our feature from earlier this year for more (part 1, part 2).