May 2009

Today, May 21, at about 11:20 a.m., a suspect connected to a robbery that occurred last week was observed leaving a residence in the 7500 Block of 21st Avenue Southwest.

That suspect, a 24 year old male, was taken into custody by SWAT. A search warrant was also served on the residence by robbery detectives. The suspect was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of robbery.

The Robbery Unit continues to actively investigate this case.

The Phinney Neighborhood Association purchased the former John B. Allen Elementary School from the Seattle School District earlier this spring, becoming the official owner of the Phinney Neighborhood Center and they want to invite the community to celebrate that milestone with them on June 28.

The Phinney Neighborhood Center bills itself as an independent, non-profit community center run by and for the Phinney-Greenwood neighborhood.

On Sunday, June 28, the center will host a community party complete with live music, aerialists, jugglers, chalk art, the Bubble Man and more. The party begins at 2 p.m. in the center’s parking lot at 6532 Phinney Ave. N.

At 3 p.m., the festivities will move into the building where local dignitaries will “toast” the PNA and cake and cookies will be served. There will also be a photo display featuring the center and its programs and activities, as well as materials and information about plans for upgrading and improving the center buildings and site.
If it rains, activities will be moved inside.

On Monday, May 25, Memorial Day, Metro Transit will be operating on a Sunday schedule. Holiday/Sunday fares will be in effect.

Also, on Friday, May 22, most Metro and King County offices will be closed for the fourth of 10 scheduled 2009 cost-saving furlough days.

Metro's Customer Information Office will be closed from May 22 through May 25, Memorial Day.

Metro will operate regular weekday bus service and regular fares apply on Friday. All Metro offices will be closed on Monday.

The King County Water Taxi will operate on a Saturday schedule. View the Water Taxi schedule here,

The Water Taxi land shuttle, Metro Route 773, will also operate on a Saturday schedule.



For more details on the holiday weekend service, click here.

The Greenwood-Phinney and Magnolia chamber of commerce's each were awarded a grant from the city when Mayor Greg Nickels presented funding awards totaling $128,384 to 22 Neighborhood Business District Associations throughout Seattle.

The monetary awards are given to "continue the city’s investments in building healthy communities and supporting our local economy," according to a press release from the city.

The Greenwood-Phinney Chamber will use its $5,000 grant toward reducing business carbon footprint and operating costs.

The Magnolia Chamber will get $2,600 to go toward its "Girls Night Out Shopping Event," which they plan to develop into a re-occurring shopping event in the business district.

“Our business districts are the economic engines that provide jobs and create the unique character in our neighborhoods across Seattle,” said Nickels, who presented the awards at a community event in Columbia City May 21. “This is one more way the city continues to invest in our local business districts, joining neighborhood chambers and merchants associations to support Seattle’s small businesses.”

On Monday, May 25, Memorial Day, Metro Transit will be operating on a Sunday schedule. Holiday/Sunday fares will be in effect.

However, the King County Water Taxi will operate on a Saturday schedule. View the Water Taxi schedule here,

The Water Taxi land shuttle, Metro Route 773, will also operate on a Saturday schedule.

 Also, on Friday, May 22, most Metro and King County offices will be closed for the fourth of 10 scheduled 2009 cost-saving furlough days.

Metro's Customer Information Office will be closed from May 22 through May 25, Memorial Day.

Metro will operate regular weekday bus service and regular fares apply on Friday. All Metro offices will be closed on Monday.

For more details on the holiday weekend service, click here.

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the White Center Community Development Association each were awarded $5,000 from the city when Mayor Greg Nickels presented funding awards totaling $128,384 to 22 Neighborhood Business District Associations throughout Seattle.

The monetary awards are given to "continue the city’s investments in building healthy communities and supporting our local economy," according to a press release from the city.

The West Seattle Chamber says it will use its funds toward “sustainable tourism" by producing a tourism video to market West Seattle as an urban recreational destination.

The White Center Community Development Center will develop a business district branding campaign.

“Our business districts are the economic engines that provide jobs and create the unique character in our neighborhoods across Seattle,” said Nickels, who presented the awards at a community event in Columbia City May 21. “This is one more way the city continues to invest in our local business districts, joining neighborhood chambers and merchants associations to support Seattle’s small businesses.”

Instead of the regularly scheduled Highland Park Action Committee meeting this June, community members will be gathering on June 22 for a Westcrest Park "mini summit."

"Our goal is to come up with a plan of what we think is best for the park and the neighborhood and we will submit it to the Seattle City Council and to the Parks and Recreation Department," said Dan Mullins, chair of the action committee.

Issues to be discussed at the summit include: illicit activity on the south end of the park, parking concerns, problems occurring in the off-leash dog park, future plans for the reservoir lid and methods to restore the Duwamish Green Belt.

Seattle City Council President Richard Conlin is scheduled to attend.

The Westcrest Park Summit will be held on June 22, 7 p.m. at the Highland Park Improvement Club, 1116 S.W. Holden Street. All are invited to attend.

A suspect has been arrested for the May 1 shooting on Alki beach that left a 19-year-old victim partially paralyzed. The suspect has been identified as 17-year-old Anthony Riccardo Verzola, a resident of Federal Way. He has been charged with first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful weapon possession.

Verzola was arrested on May 12 in Kent after police received several tips on the case and a positive identification from the victim. The suspect told officers he was on Alki beach that day but did not shoot the victim.

Verzola is currently in custody with $250,000 bail and expected to respond to the charges at an arraignment on May 28.

Police say they are still looking for a third suspect involved in the crime.

On May 1, the 19-year-old victim was on Alki Beach just across the street from Pepperdocks restaurant when the suspect fired five shots, hitting him in the back. Gang units investigated the incident, aware that the victim was a gang member himself.

The victim is currently at Harborview Medical Center in serious condition and partially paralyzed.

Kappel said it appears there was no dispute before the shooting, and that the act was very sudden.

The Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association is hosting its sixth annual Seven Hills Walk Saturday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Walk the Seven Hills of Seattle with sister city association. The event is modeled after a similar tradition in Bergen, Norway.

Sites include:

- A view of Seattle from Queen Anne Hill

- The old Norway Hall on Denny Hill

- Capitol Hill

- A Swedish retirement home on Renton Hill

- Swedish Hospital on First Hill

- Yesler Community Center on Profanity Hill (Yesler Hill)

- Amazon.com campus on Beacon Hill

The association invites walkers to join the seven-mile 900 foot elevation gain walk, which will convene at Kerry Park on Queen Anne at West Highland Drive between 2nd Avenue West and 3rd Avenue West.

Guides will discuss Seattle's history and point out Scandinavian landmarks as we climb all seven hills.

Lunch is at Swedish Hospital cafeteria or bring your own. The tour will finish on Beacon Hill, where a Metro bus will take participants back to Kerry Park.

For more information, contact Olaf Kvamme, president of the the Seattle-Bergen Sister City Association, 206-363-3966 or Nancy Olsen, 206-760-2666.

Seattle City Council member Tim Burgess is seeking candidates to fill two council positions on the Families and Education Levy Oversight Committee.

Passed in 2004, the levy provides funding for early childhood developments, school-based student and family services, out-of-school activities, middle school support, and student health services.

The Levy Oversight Committee reviews and advises the implementation and evaluation plans, the City of Seattle/Seattle School District Partnership Agreement, expenditures and allocations of levy funds and makes recommendation on the implementation of particular programs.

These positions are open to Seattle residents who are interested and have a background in education, youth and family services.

Applications, resume and cover letters can be sent to council member Tim Burgess at tim.burgess@seattle.gov and will be accepted until 5 p.m. on Friday, June 12.