This city never ceases to amaze.

At about 7 p.m. Sunday evening, our car was struck by a raptor (bird of prey), edit:  apparently a Cooper’s hawk, at 23rd & E Columbia. I was able to track it into a driveway on 23rd and keep an eye on it while my husband looked for info on who to call for a rescue, but after a little while it got spooked and ran off towards E Marion. It turned up a driveway just before Marion and disappeared into greenery and we were unable to find it again.

The bird is injured; its left wing doesn’t work properly (there’s a good chance it’s broken) and it can’t fly. It’s mottled brown and cream along the head, has a brown back, tail, and wings, with a mostly-cream breast. It has a very sharp yellow-brown beak and brownish legs. There are bands on both its legs, and the band on the left leg is blue. The bands indicate that someone is tracking it.

If anyone has any information on this bird or on who to contact in a situation like this, please let us know. And please keep an eye out. While I fear the most likely outcome for this little guy is to be caught by another predator, there’s always a chance we can get it some help.

Edit: We were able to find the number for Sarvey and have left a message with them. Thank you to everyone for your help.

It’s a lovely day for a walk, so I took the Newshound through Madison Valley today to get an update on what’s going on down there.

First up, the expansion of the drainage pond at 30th & Denny has made a lot of progress. The new walking paths are now sculpted into the north end of the property, and excavation continues on the south side. Construction workers have told me that they hauled away as much as fourteen dump trucks of dirt in a single day. They’re working hard to get the construction done before the rain returns in the fall.

The houses that were moved from Madrona last month have also made a lot of progress. Foundations are poured for both, and it looks like it won’t be long until they’re lowered down and fixed to their new locations.

Finally, although this isn’t quite Madison Valley, it was on our way home. Sawdust is flying at the Bottleneck where they’re removing a wall and expanding into the old barbershop space to the west:

Here is a zoning map of the Central Area for your reference:

I live close to the Douglass-Truth library. My roommate says that during the heat wave last week, an older caucasian man called “Brian Donahue” came by to talk about organizing neighborhood watches and was collecting email addresses from people that were interested. Anyone else had a visitor like that? If you’re Brian and reading this, please say hi :)

Richard Conlin will be speaking at the grand opening of the Clean Greens Market on August 15th. Conlin’s speech will be part of the festivities which will start with a fund-raising walk at 9:30am from Spruce Park. 21st Avenue will be closed between Yesler and Fir, and there will be a free community picnic in the park after the walk at 11am.

The market will be open until 4pm with fresh vegetables from the Clean Greens farm along with other vendors. Come out and help support this community based project, working to bring affordable pesticide-free food to the Central District.

Join the Leschi Community Council in celebrating the Leschi Park Centennial

11:00 a.m.

• Tree Walk led by Arthur Lee Jacobson
• Juggling performed by Andy Demetre
• Strolling Banjo Player

12:00 noon

• All City Marching Band conducted by Marcus Pimpleton

1:00 p.m.

• Offficial Program Opening with a Welcome by Thurston Muskelly, LCC President Emeritus 
• The History of Leschi told by Author and Historian Juius Rochester
• The Story of Chief Leschi told by Chief of the Nisqually Tribe, Cynthia Iyall
• Welcoming Words from Mayor Nichols and Tim Gallagher, Leschi Historian
• Recognition of Phil Sanders, Leschi Park Gardener & Wade Vaugh by Richard Conlin
• Introduction of the Centennial Committee by Sharon Sobers, LCC President

2:00 p.m.

• Music of the Era performed by The Sedentary Sousa Band

3:00 p.m.

• Vintage Clothing Show narrated by Lynn Gough

4:00 p.m.

• The Labor History of the Period told in story and song by the Seattle Labor Chorus

5:30 p.m.

• Cornucopia Concert Band

7:00 p.m.

• Silent Movie:  The Goldrush

Ongoing attractions:

• History Tent
• Dragon Boat rides from Leschi Dock 12-4 p.m.
• Antique Car Show 1-3 p.m.

This event was made possible by the generous grants from the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs and the Department of Neighborhoods Outreach Funds and the donation of Leschi residents and businesses.

Just saw big police and ambulance response at 12th and Alder around 10:40ish, so I jumped on the scanner and heard that someone was shot in the hip? and that 2 suspects, 1 black male and 1 black female in a white Chevy Impala (2002ish) were last seen heading East on Jefferson.

Update by scott – from the SPD blotter:

On August 14th at approximately 10:30 a.m., Seattle Police officers responded to a call of shots fired and a victim down in the parking lot of the Youth Services Center. Officers responded along with Seattle Fire and located a male with a non life-threatening gunshot wound. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center for his injury. Preliminary witness accounts indicate that there may have been two or three suspects who fled in a white Chevrolet from the scene following the shooting. Detectives from the Gang Unit, Homicide and CSI all responded to investigate and process the scene. This is an active and on-going investigation.

It’s a big summer weekend in the CD, with several large events to check out. 

Unfortunately, I’ll be on a plane when all of them are happening and our fantastic intern is on vacation. So that means that I need your help to get out and take photos of each event. If you get some pictures, you can upload them directly to the site, or email them to us here. I’ll then organize the photos into stories to document the events.

Here’s what’s happening:

Friday at 8pm – The summer of free music continues at Hidmo with Cristina Orbé 

Saturday at 11am – Back at the turn of the last century there was a cable car that ran from downtown to the lake via Yesler Way. People would take day trips down to the lake and enjoy a lush private park and a boardwalk of attractions. One hundred years ago, that private park was handed over to the city and the Leschi Community Council is celebrating it with a day of history, food, entertainment, and nature. It all starts at 11am.

Saturday at 1pm – The Good Vibe Concert will have free food and music at Blanche Lavizzo Park, which is hidden in the valley about a block north of 2100 S. Jackson. Performances include Theoretics, Isabella Du Graf, with special guests Renaissance The Poet and DJ Rise

Weekend Movie – It’s a Kung Fu marathon! Central Cinema (CDNews sponsors) will have back to back showings of the three original The Street Fighter movies, starting at 7pm each night through the 19th. 

Free Ice Cream OR Better Buildings? Why not both!

The City Council is considering land use and building changes that could provide more affordable housing and open space and greater flexibility in building design.

Come learn more and comment at a City Council meeting at Blanche Lavizzo Park!

Tuesday, August 18
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
(free ice cream at 5 p.m.)
at Blanche Lavizzo Park just South of E. Yesler Way & 22rd Ave S. in the Central Area

This is a special meeting of the Seattle City Council’s Planning, Land Use & Neighborhoods Committee regarding the proposed Multifamily Code Update in our Midrise & Highrise areas. For more information about the multifamily code update, including links to previous meetings visit: http://seattle.gov/council/clark/2009townhomes.htm

Contact Councilmember Sally Clark’s Office with questions
at [email protected] or (206) 684-8802
Interpreters available with advance request.

There’s about to be some extra room for your late night enjoyment. The good folks at The Bottleneck Lounge (CDNews sponsors) sent us a note today announcing that they’re going to be knocking down a wall and taking over the old barbershop space to the west.

They’ll create a new opening between the front windows and the old chimney by the bar. There will be a small step up, an extra bathroom, and they’ll be keeping the old barber chairs for your sitting and drinking enjoyment.

The bar will be closed on Sunday and Monday, and reopening at 6pm Tuesday. They’re also planning a big watch party for the season premier of Top Chef, featuring two Seattle chefs, on Wednesday night at 9pm.