According to Marybeth Turner at the Seattle Department of Transportation, sidewalk construction along 3rd Ave W, between W Smith and W Raye streets, may take a little longer to complete than previously reported.

In response to our story posted Monday, Turner send out an update confirming that SDOT crews are indeed constructing and paving a sidewalk on the west side of 3rd Ave W, “filling the gaps in the existing sidewalk network.” According to the paving crew chief, the work is estimated to be completed by Monday, May 24 (rather than this Friday, May 7 as we originally wrote).

“The provision of a continuous sidewalk will increase safety and make it easier and more pleasant to walk in the area,” Turner wrote. “The top ranked sidewalk projects are ones that fill in gaps in existing sidewalks on busy streets and that are located in high priority areas for pedestrian improvements.”

This particular location is part of SDOT’s 2010 sidewalk improvement program, and was selected from Seattle’s Pedestrian Master Plan, which aims to help make Seattle “the most walkable city in the nation.”

In the meantime, remember that construction takes traffic on 3rd Ave W down to one lane from time to time, so allot yourself extra travel time.

Cyclists–both those who bike regularly and those who haven’t dusted off their wheels in awhile–are invited to Via Tribunali to partake in free pizza in return for using pedal power to get to the weekly pick of the popular pie-maker’s five Seattle locations for the next 5 Wednesdays between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., starting May 12.

Via Tribunali, in association with Caffe Vita, Peroni Beer, The Stranger and The City of Seattle’s Bicycle Program, present “5@5,” a campaign focused on raising funds for the Seattle biking community.

The restaurant will be giving away free margherita pizzas and selling $3 Peroni Beer to anyone who rides their bike to the Tribunali participating in the program from 5 to 7 p.m. on the given Wednesday. The $3 from beer sales will be donated to the selected biking community partner that week.

Queen Anne’s Via Tribunali outpost, located at 317 W Galer, will be participating on Wednesday, May 26. Luckily, for all you cycling enthusiasts who don’t feel like waiting that long for free pizza, Queen Anne is centrally located and has access to many citywide pedaling paths!

Each week “5@5” will take place at a different Via Tribunali location (the biking community partner for each week is also listed below):

• Wednesday, May 12, 5-7 p.m.
  Georgetown, Bike Works
• Wednesday, May 19, 5-7 p.m.
  Capitol Hill, The Garage Cycling Team
• Wednesday, May 26, 5-7 p.m.
  Queen Anne, Trips for Kids Seattle–a Cascade Bicycle Club Program
• Wednesday, June 2, 5-7 p.m.
  Belltown, Bicycle Alliance of Washington
• Wednesday, June 9, 5-7 p.m.
  Fremont 5, The Bikery

One week ago, on Tuesday, April 27, a Seattle man told police that he lit the Lower Queen Anne based Ride the Ducks building on fire in an attempt to dissuade two men who he claimed were chasing him from following him into the building. This week the King County Prosecutor’s Office charged Dean Robert Oleson with second degree arson, stating that he “knowingly and maliciously” started a fire and explosion that caused an estimated $70,000 in damage to the building.

(Photo courtesy of KING5, reposted with permission).

As we reported last week, Oleson, 50, told police that he ran into the building where he is employed (located at 516 Broad St.) early in the morning on the 27th because he was being chased by two unknown men who had followed him from his apartment several blocks away. According to the SPD Blotter, Oleson told police that he immediately locked the door and set the alarm after entering the building, but that the two men continued to break in through the windows and one went onto the roof to cut the telephone lines (explaining why he couldn’t call 911). Oleson then told police that he intentionally set a fire on the second floor in the hopes of setting off the fire alarm, which would alert the Fire Department and police, who would then come to help him.

The suspect stated that plan wasn’t working fast enough, so he jumped out the second story window and ran to the 200 Block of 5th Avenue North where he called 911.

The SPD report stated that “there was no indication that the phone lines had been cut or that any windows had been broken,” and one witness who was at a nearby bus stop at the time of the incident reported that “he heard or saw no one trying to get into the business and he heard nothing else unusual.”

Oleson reiterated the story to detectives investigating the incident, and further details in the charging documents reveal that he may have been truly under the impression that he was being chased. From the charging documents:

“Oleson said he first saw a shoe sticking out from under his bed. Oleson yelled at them, telling them to leave. Oleson left the aparment. Oleson returned and said he saw two people under his bed and then two people hiding under clothes in his closet. Oleson said he left his apartment telling them he was callng the police. Oleson said they chased him into the Ride the Ducks business where they continued to pursue him, so he set the fire to call the fire department. When questioned about drug use, Oleson eventually said he had smoked Meth earlier in the day.”

Oleson’s arraignment is currently set for Friday, May 14. In the charging documents Deputy Prosecutor Tuyen Lam requested that bail be set at $125,000, noting Oleson’s prior criminal history: convictions for Attempted VUCSA, Property Destruction, and a DUI which was amended to Negligent Driving.

“There is great concern he may have mental health or substance abuse problems given his admissions made to law enforcement,” Lam wrote. “The defendant has had 5 warrants since 1985 issued in King County alone.”

One day after our sister site Phinneywood was honored with the SPJ award for its coverage of the devastating Greenwood arsons, we’re proud to roll out the fourth in a series of stories partnering Next Door Media sites with the nonprofit Common Language Project and students of the University of Washington’s Entrepreneurial Journalism class. “After the Arson” takes a closer look at what happened in the aftermath of the Greenwood fires and the people still dealing with the fallout today. In addition to the story, this student project also includes two videos. Click here to read “After the Arson.”

Over the last year FOLKpark has been awarded two city grants, held a number of community meetings and park clean-ups, and helped develop a conceptual plan for the redevelopment of Lower Kinnear Park. Now the organization is preparing to take the next steps: raising the funds necessary to actually instigate the enhancement plan.

This Thursday, May 6 at 7 p.m. FOLKpark invites community members to participate in an informal meeting and help brainstorm fundraising and event ideas for the next phase of the park’s redevelopment. The meeting will be held at the Ten Mercer restaurant, located at, you guessed it, 10 Mercer St. in Lower Queen Anne, and will last approximately one hour.

“Now that the enhancement plans to Lower Kinnear Park have been finalized, our fund raising efforts will now move into full swing. Your help is now truly needed!” said FOLKpark Volunteer Coordinator Phil Prahst.

Phil asks that anyone planning to attend please RSVP by either emailing him at philprahst@gmail.com, or joining the event on Facebook.

Mobile Chowdown participant and two-time Seattle magazine “best of” Marination Mobile will be making a special one-time appearance in Lower Queen Anne today, Tuesday, May 4. From 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. the Hawaiian/Korean-inspired curbside cuisine cart will be set up at Seattle Center (specifically Republican St. and Warren Ave N. near the Northwest Rooms and the Vera Project).

Marination says it will be back in Belltown, its usual Tuesday spot, on Tuesday, May 11.

The Seattle Design Commission is looking for ideas to temporarily take the place of construction projects that have been stalled by the economy.

The hope is to convert the eyesores into opportunities, so they’re asking the community to submit ideas for ‘Holding Patterns,’ interim uses for stalled project sites. “Whether a concert space or a bumper car track, basketball hoops or a fleeting performance stage, from temporary to semi-permanent, wacky, practical or both, the Design Commission is welcoming any and all ideas. Artists, designers, non-profits, businesses, developers, students, astronauts, everyone is invited to contribute ideas,” states the Design Commission website states (.pdf).

The deadline for submitting ideas is Monday, May 24.

Your submission should include the following:
A brief narrative including rationale, goal, purpose, program, and design intent the location, if specific (all city-wide locations are acceptable) a site plan and/or images that communicate your ideas. Maximum of four 8.5” x 11” single-sided pages per site category. There will be a follow up implementation workshop for selected ideas, so please be prepared to make a two minute pitch for potential partners who are able to help make your ideas a reality.

Submit a pdf formatted file via e-mail to Valerie.Kinast@seattle.gov. In the body of the email include the names/backgrounds of participants and contact information for one person. Please put “Holding Patterns” in the subject line. Six MB maximum file size.

Graffiti vandalism on both public and private property has been a large and ongoing discussion in Queen Anne and citywide, especially recently.  Though not everyone can agree on how vandalism should be handled, most do agree that the issue is an important one that affects many residents, business owners and local organizations on a daily basis. The City of Seattle joined in on the discussion this week, asking community members to let them know how they’re doing in terms of graffiti response.

Photo of graffiti watch group on Queen Anne Ave N. in April 2010.

City Councilmembers Tim Burgess and Tom Rasmussen have asked the Office of City Auditor to review and evaluate the current response to graffiti and then make recommendations to the Mayor and the City Council. As part of the review process, the City Auditor has come up with a ten-question survey asking community members if graffiti (both public and private) is an issue for them, how often their property has been marked with graffiti and what improvements can be made in the city’s graffiti response.

Residents interested in participating may follow this link to the questionnaire, which will be open until Monday, May 10.

Need a review of the graffiti issues citywide? Check out the collaborative project between the Seattle Times and many neighborhood blogs around town.

El Diablo Coffee, a Queen Anne Ave N staple for almost ten years on the dot, is celebrating its anniversary all month long, with daily drawings for $5 gift cards and a new limited edition drink called the “Diablito” (two shots of espresso sweetened with condensed milk).

But the party’s only getting started! On Wednesday, May 5 (aptly Cinco de Mayo), El Diablo will host the main celebrations, an all day party in honor of the actual 10th anniversary of the devilish coffee spot’s home on the hill.

The El Diablo crew is planning fun and games all day long, including dessert giveaways (yum!), door prizes (yay!) and live music from 2 to 10 p.m. Want to make sure you remember to swing by? Add the event on Facebook.

A couple of weeks ago we reported that Merrill Gardens was named the winner of the 2009 Large Business Award by the Queen Anne Chamber of Commerce at their 4th annual awards luncheon on April 22. But Merrill Gardens wasn’t he only neighborhood business to be honored.

(Photo courtesy of the QA Chamber. Left to right: Evan Perrollaz, General Manager, Merrill Gardens at Queen Anne; R.W. Clay, newly retired Executive Director, Swedish Cultural Center; Craig Wilson, owner of Video Isle; Ann Pearce, Church of Scientology).

In fact, annual awards were handed out to four “businesses and organizations that have supported both the Chamber and the greater Queen Anne Community during the past year.”

In addition to Merrill Gardens’ award, the Swedish Cultural Center received the President’s Award, Video Isle received the Small Business Award and the Church of Scientology of Washington State was given the Community Service Award.

“We are pleased to honor the recipients of this year’s Chamber awards for their outstanding contributions to the Chamber and to the greater Queen Anne community,” said Chamber president Dave Peterson.

Congratulations to the winners!

Construction delays on the new suicide prevention fence across the Aurora Bridge continue to grow. It now appears that work won’t begin until mid-May. The project, which was supposed to start April 19, has been delayed by construction equipment problems. You can track the project here.

KCTS and the Pacific Science Center are hosting a free talk on the “Great Windstorms of the Pacific Northwest” with Cliff Mass, writer if the Cliff Mass Weather Blog, at the Queen Anne Science Café on Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30 p.m. The discussion is being held at T.S. McHugh’s Irish Pub & Restaurant, located at 21 Mercer St.

Who says talking about the weather is boring? Dr. Cliff Mass, professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington, joins the Queen Anne Science Cafe to discuss major storms that have pummeled the Pacific Northwest, some equivalent to category 2 or 3 hurricanes.

Dr. Mass studies weather with the Mesoscale Analysis and Forecasting Group. He received his BA in physics from Cornell and his PhD in atmospheric sciences from the University of Washington. He is the author of Weather of the Pacific Northwest, and he blogs about weather at cliffmass.blogspot.com.

KCTS 9, the Pacific Science Center and Science on Tap present free monthly Science Café discussions on the first Tuesday of each month in an effort to bridge the gap between the world of science and the community in a casual, laid back, social way. See a schedule of upcoming Science Café events here.

This event perfectly coincides with our own changing weather patterns here in Seattle. Just this morning the Seattle division of the American Red Cross sent out a press release urging residents in the Pacific Northwest to prepare for strong winds and potential power outages (not uncommon here in Queen Anne). See the full press release below:

American Red Cross Urges Preparations for Strong Winds and Potential Power Outages

SEATTLE, May 3, 2010 – With a spring storm bringing wind gusts of up to 50 mph and scattered power outages throughout Western Washington today, the American Red Cross reminds individuals and families to stay safe and be prepared.

“Spring weather is unpredictable,” said Susan Pelaez, Director of Preparedness and Community Engagement. “We are seeing communities dealing with the effects of Mother Nature across the country today, and Washington is no exception. We want to help Puget Sound communities to be safe and prepared for whatever comes their way.”

Tips from the Red Cross on preparing for high winds and possible power outages:

Prepare for High Winds

• Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile.
• During the storm, draw blinds and shades over windows. If windows break due to objects blown by the wind, the shades will prevent glass from shattering into your home.

Top Safety Tips for a Power Outage

• Assemble essential supplies, including: flashlight, batteries, portable radio, at least one gallon of water, and a small supply of food.
• Only use a flashlight for emergency lighting. Due to the extreme risk of fire, do not use candles during a power outage.
• Use the phone for emergencies only. Listening to a portable radio can provide the latest information. Do not call 9-1-1 for information – only call to report a life-threatening emergency.
• Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. If you use a generator, connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator. Do not connect a generator to a home’s electrical system.
• Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power went out. Leave one light on so you know when the power comes back on.
• Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.
• If you use medication that requires refrigeration, most can be kept in a closed refrigerator for several hours without a problem. If unsure, check with your physician or pharmacist.
• Stay focused on the risks of smoke and carbon monoxide. Buy a carbon monoxide alarm if you do not already have one. They are available at most hardware stores. If you have one, check the battery to make sure it is working. If the alarm sounds: get to fresh air by going outside. Contact the fire department before you go back inside your home.

The American Red Cross is a non-profit, humanitarian agency dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. For more information about emergency preparedness or Red Cross Chapters in Washington State, please visit www.redcrosswashington.org or www.seattleredcross.org.

Beth Jusino
Interactive Communications and Outreach Coordinator

American Red Cross
Serving King & Kitsap Counties
Voice: (206) 709-4509
(360) 377-3761 x13805
Email: beth.jusino@seattleredcross.org
Web:   www.seattleredcross.org

For the last week and a half crews have been sporadically working on the west side of 3rd Ave W, between W Smith and W Raye streets. Though the work generally stays off the street, it occasionally slows traffic to one lane.

When crews are not working, signs from the Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Public Utilities warn pedestrians that the west sidewalk is closed off. We called both SDOT and SPU to see what the work was and when it would be finished (it looks like crews are digging space for a paved sidewalk where there previously wasn’t one, but we haven’t confirmed this).

Neither SDOT or SPU had any records of ongoing construction at this site, and the last few times I’ve passed by there hasn’t been anyone working to question. But the temporary “No Parking” signs across the street say the work will continue from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. through this Friday, May 7.

If anyone has any more information, please comment below.

Congratulations to our sister site PhinneyWood.com for winning a prestigious national journalism award. The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) announced this morning that PhinneyWood won the Online Deadline Reporting (Independent) category for the devastating arson fire on October 23, 2009, “Three-Alarm Fire Destroys Greenwood Businesses.”

“…We were on the scene moments after the call came in and posted updates throughout the day. We also received dozens of email tips and photos from PhinneyWood readers. So, this award is also a testament to the power of community journalism,” editor Doree Armstrong writes.

The SPJ Sigma Delta Chi awards are judged by veteran journalists around the country. Judges went through more than 1,300 entries for awards covering online, newspaper, magazine, television and radio. Read PhinneyWood’s announcement here.

Mayor Mike McGinn first announced the formation of the Youth & Families Initiative–with the goal to “identify challenges youth and families face and to collectively mobilize towards solutions so that all children in Seattle can succeed”–during his inaugural address. After postponing the public meeting last month, the Mayor will join El Centro de la Raza Executive Director Estela Ortega to talk about the initiative at a community caucus tonight, Monday, May 3 at Ballard High School Library (1418 NW 65th St.) from 7 to 8:30 p.m.

The Mayor hopes these community town hall meetings will help shape his agenda on issues affecting youth and families from a child’s birth to their successful career track. Here is more information about the Youth & Families Initiative.

Did you catch a peek at any of the tall ships going through the Ship Canal this weekend? Daniel emailed this photo of what he called “pirate ships” heading through the Locks to our sister site, MyBallard, on Friday afternoon.

On Sunday morning, Steven sent this photo (below) of two tall ships heading out.

The ships were in town for the Opening Day of Boating Season. Did you see them? Share pics in the comments below or email us at tips@queenanneview.com.