Coe Elementary’s new principal, Stacey Loftin (also known by her nickname Tate) is inviting the community to swing by and meet her at series of weekly drop-in socials the district is calling “Tuesdays with Tate.” Loftin is replacing Coe’s longtime head David Elliott, who is leaving to become the principal at the new Queen Anne Elementary this fall. Current and incoming Coe families are invited to stop by the school, located 2424 7th Ave. W., from 9 to 11:30 a.m. every Tuesday through August 3 to meet Tate. No RSVP is necessary.

Local non-profit Rebuilding Together Seattle is accepting applications from low-income homeowners—including elderly, disabled, veterans, and/or families with children—that need help completing work on their homes, and non-profit or community organizations in need of facility repairs.

RTS is connecting with health facilities, government agencies, shelters, senior centers, and community centers to inform others about our program.  RTS is need of community leaders to share the word about our program to those in need, with a goal to assist more clients each year.

RTS recently began a Veterans Program, in an effort to bring veteran community members together to help low-income veteran homeowners and their families. RTS also launched an Annual Repair Program that will focus on helping qualified homeowners with quick safety fixes around the house. These fixes include installing grab bars, handrails, skid strips, and updating to energy efficient light bulbs.

Those interested in applying may call the RTS office to request an application, or view and print one online here. For more information, check out the RTS blog, or contact the RTS office at 206-682-1231 or via email at info@rtseattle.org.

We got our annual phone book delivery from Dex on Saturday and were reminded that Councilmember Mike O’Brien is proposing ways to eliminate those pounds of paper from the waste stream. He’s collecting unwanted phone books at his office to make the point visually.

Here’s an overview of the issue from KING 5:

A staffer at O’Brien’s office said that he’s meeting with a Dex lobbyist today, and people are welcome to drop off books through the end of the day (Tuesday) at O’Brien’s office on the 2nd floor of City Hall, 600 4th Ave. Just give any books to the receptionist.

One of our readers wrote in wondering if anyone else heard or knew what caused some pretty strange noises on the hill Sunday night. They wrote,

I just cannot figure out what the insane noises I heard last night between 11:30pm-1am. (Watched news all morning, looked through Seattle Times, etc.) I live on the 9th and Crockett and between that time period, it was like I was sitting in a construction zone. There were TONS of trains going through at the bottom of the hill and what sounded like the HUGE dumping of something very, very heavy over and over…. and over again!. Any idea what it was?

Did anyone else hear the same loud noises Sunday night? Any ideas on what it might have been?

At approximately 3:17 a.m. on Sunday, July 11 Seattle police and fire departments responded to a 911 call reporting smoke coming from the alley in the 600 block of 1st Ave W in Lower Queen Anne. According to the SPD Blotter, officers found that the cause of the smoke was a mattress that had been set on fire in a dumpster outside the back door of an apartment complex. The fire damaged three dumpsters and a railing at the apartment building. There are no current suspects, though arson detectives are investigating the incident.

Though we’re taking a break from the crazy heat and having a cool day today, this weekend was filled with high temperatures and summer photo ops.

At the Queen Anne Farmers Market Thursday afternoon kids escaped the whopping 97 degree heat by playing in the sprinklers.

And adults made eco-friendly smoothies, blending the fruit-filled mixed drinks with cycle power.

On Saturday families gathered to march in and watch the Queen Anne Children’s Parade, with Queen Anne Cub Scouts Troop 70/72 leading the way.

(Photo provided by scout mom and QA Chamber of Commerce representative Mary Chapman).

Do you have pictures of Queen Anne-ers enjoying the summer fun this weekend? Send them to tips@queenanneview.com to share!

It’s been a crazy week and I haven’t had time to publish our usual weekend calendar yet. But considering how great the weather is, I want to make sure no one misses out on a fun community event over this sunny Saturday and Sunday. So, without further ado, check out what’s going on in Queen Anne this weekend:

Saturday, July 10

• Join 500 others at the Crown of Queen Anne Fun Run and Walk, 8 a.m. Saturday. The run will begin at 5th Ave W and W Halladay St., and follow a 3.3-mile course along Queen Anne Boulevard, ending at Coe Elementary School at 7th Ave W and W McGraw Street.
• Takes your kiddies to the Queen Anne Children’s Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday. The parade starts at Queen Anne Community Center at 1st Ave W and  W Crockett Street, then goes south on 1st to W Blaine St; west on Blaine to 3rd Ave W; north on Third Avenue  to W Howe Street; and east on Howe into the Community Center playfield; Seattle Police will escort.
• Celebrate the best of Seattle’s “curbside cuisine” at the fourth installment of Mobile Chowdown, at Seattle Center’s former Fun Forest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
• Head down to Pier 57 for Seattle’s Free Outdoor Summer Concert Series every Saturday through August 28 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. They’ll be food, entertainment, and the Miner’s Landing arcade!
• Join the Queen Anne Movie Guild for the Second Saturdays free screening series at 7 p.m. at the Queen Anne United Methodist Church. This month they’ll be showing “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music.” Details here.
• Trek up and down Queen Anne Ave for the summer sidewalk sale all day, Saturday and Sunday!

Sunday, July 11

• The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods has awarded a Small and Simple Grant for the repair of the Dexter Way North Mural (under the Aurora Bridge). Community members will be prepping the surface from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, and volunteers are welcome! Wear something you don’t mind getting dirty, and don’t forget to bring a water bottle!
• Trek up and down Queen Anne Ave for the summer sidewalk sale all day, Saturday and Sunday!

Have more events to add to the calendar? Email us at tips@queenanneview.com and we’ll put ‘em up quick! Happy sunshine Queen Anne!

If you have an idea for a community project in our neighborhood, be sure to try for matching funds up to $20,000 through applying for the Small and Simple Projects Fund, a fund of the Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Matching Fund Program. The deadline is Monday, July 12.

Past Small and Simple projects have included creation of murals, playground improvements, and youth programs. To learn more about the funds or to apply, visit this website.

The Neighborhood Matching Fund (NMF) program was created in 1988. All projects are initiated, planned and implemented by community members in partnership with Seattle Department of Neighborhoods. Every award is matched by neighborhoods’ or communities’ resources of volunteer labor, donated materials, donated professional services or cash. Since the program was created 22 years ago, the Neighborhood Matching Fund has awarded over $45 million with a community match of more than $68 million. Projects have involved a total of more than 80,000 volunteers who have donated over 560,000 work hours.

Thursday is going to be hot. The National Weather Service (NWS) is expecting record-breaking temps to reach the mid-90s so a heat advisory has been issued from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“As temperatures climb into the 90s… sunstroke… heat cramps and heat exhaustion are possible with prolonged exposure and/or physical activity. This is especially true for the elderly,” states the NWS Special Weather Statement. “Some precautions that will reduce the risk of heat related illness include but are not limited to… reducing strenuous activity… wear lightweight and light colored clothing… and drink plenty of water or other non-alcoholic fluids. Also… never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles during hot weather.”

The current record high for Thursday is 88 degrees set back in 1953, for Friday the record is 87 set in 1985 and 1952. After Friday, temperatures will start cooling back into the 70s and 80s for the weekend.

This week might end up being one of the hottest Queen Anne Farmers Markets to date (with temperatures estimated to reach a high of 92 degrees!) but that won’t stop us from enjoying fresh food, live music and some outdoor festivities! It’s Family Day at the market this week, so there will be lots of fun games and extra goodies for all ages. Check out the schedule for the market this Thursday, July 8:

• 3 to 7 p.m.—Dress up and strike a pose at the vintage photo booth. (And as if that weren’t enough, vegetable props will also be available.)
• 4 p.m.—Chef Demo with Kaspar Donier of Kaspar’s Special Events and Catering
• 5 p.m.—Book Signing with Edible Heirlooms: Heritage Vegetables for the Maritime Garden author Bill Thorness
• 5 to 7 p.m.—Music performance by Snake Suspenderz
• 5 to 7 p.m.—Facepainting for the kids (in true summer fashion) with Emi Halvorson and Kristina Doherty
• 6 p.m.—Chef Demo with Emmer and Rye‘s Seth Caswell

QueenAnneView is the featured sponsor this week, while the Queen Anne Helpline is the featured nonprofit.

As always, the Queen Anne Farmers Market will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. on W Crockett St. at Queen Anne Ave N.

Seattle’s original curbside cuisine celebration, Mobile Chowdown, will be back for the fourth installment of the street food festival (and the third right here in Queen Anne) this Saturday, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the former Fun Forest site (now known as Center Square) at Seattle Center (just across from EMP and beneath the Space Needle).

The first Mobile Chowdown held in Interbay last October was a big hit, despite the long lines, food shortages (due to the high volume of attendees) and lack of bathrooms. But the festival took suggestions from the public, and improved its organization for the second round in January, adding covered seating areas and more vendors. The third time around (though not in Queen Anne), the festival challenged Portland mobile vendors to a regional street food-off, and added live music to the mix. So I think it’s safe to say we can expect bigger and better things from the fourth Mobile Chowdown fiesta!

In the biggest lineup yet, Mobile Chowdown 4 will include Anita’s Crepes, Hallava Falafel, El Camion, Kao Samai Thai, Marination Mobile, Dante’s Inferno Dogs, Here & There Grill, Parfait Ice Cream, Got Soup?, Al’s Sausage, Koi Fusion (PDX), Whiffies (PDX), Potato Champion (PDX), The People’s Pig (PDX), Maximus/Minimus, Skillet, Top Pot Doughnuts and Street Treats.

DJ Joy will be back by popular demand to play music for the crowd. And new to the event this time around: a beer garden sponsored by Pyramid Breweries.

Mobile Chowdown is co-sponsored by Seattle magazine and Suzuki Chou Communimedia.

There’s going to be an open house and community meeting on the proposals for the south Fun Forest replacement tonight, Wednesday, July 7 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Seattle Center’s Center House main stage.

The open house will be held from 4:30 to 6 p.m., when attendees will have the opportunity to meet with the various project proposers and talk one on one. The meeting will follow from 6 to 8 p.m.

The south side of the Fun Forest, not to be confused with the north area (which the Center has also been seeking redevelopment project proposals for) has been the center of a heated discussion over the last few months, mainly in regards to whether or not the site should house a 44,000 square-foot “glass house” with Dale Chihuly exhibit space. After a rash of reactions on both sides, the Center asked the public to submit alternative bids. The resulting alternate proposals include a Native American cultural center, Museum of Mysteries, KEXP studio and open space park, among others.

The Center invites anyone interested in learning more about these proposals to attend the meeting tonight.

Members of the public are strongly urged to review the proposals in advance. There will be no formal presentations by proposers at the 6 p.m. meeting.

For more information on the meeting or the RFP review process, see the Seattle Center release here.

Two of Queen Anne’s own, Sarah Brice and Bethany Juchem, will be receiving Greater Seattle Local Humanitarian Awards from the Hope for Many Foundation for their “leadership and discovering new ways to serve and promote giving” in 2009. Hope for Many representative Brendi Amarcotti said that five award recipients citywide have been selected because they have all  “either raised a substantial amount of money for their charities through creative resources, started non-profits and/or involved themselves in Film Making to advance their cause.”

“Sarah Brice and Bethany Juchem (both of Queen Anne) together collaborated on a black and white short film about Seattle Homelessness entitled, ‘Isolation.’ Bethany Juchem founded a non profit in 2009 called Help for Heroin, which is making steps to provide education to Seattle School Districts about Heroin abuse and is lobbying on a State Level to have the rehab laws changed for Opiate Abusers from 28 days to a more useful 90 days. Sarah Brice wrote a play entitled ‘My Seattle’ which has been performed by non actors in Pike Market over the past 3 months, every 2nd and 4th Sunday portraying the need to help and support our fellow Seattlites, Homeless, Handicapped, Rich or Poor,” Amarcotti said via email.

Humanitarian awards will also be given to Marcie Ayala from Ballard, Aimee Carpino from Capitol Hill, and Trin Ma from the International District. All five recipients will be awarded plaques acknowledging their giving, “even if on a small scale,” according to Amarcotti, at a ceremony to be held at Seattle Center in mid-July alongside an outdoor showing of two documentaries made by one of the recipients. (We’ll keep you posted as soon as we have the date and specific event information).

The Seattle’s Hope For Many Foundation’s website is still under construction, however Amarcotti says the organization is actively geared toward “helping businesses live up to their Charitable Potential.”

It looks like an off-leash dog area in Queen Anne has new life.  Four years ago, there was a plan to add the area to Lower Kinnear Park.  After several community meetings and site selections, the plan sat on the shelf.  But we’ve learned that funding for design and planning will become available in late 2011, and construction could start in 2012.

The 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy allocates funding for the project.  The parks department has worked closely with Friends of Lower Kinnear Park on the 5400 square foot site, which can be seen as #2 on the map below (click the map to enlarge).

Another off-leash area has been designated at Magnolia Manor Park in Magnolia.  The parks department tells us that both projects will go through another full public process.  For background on the site selections that took place back in 2006, click here.

Over 500 foreign-born Pacific Northwest residents became naturalized U.S. citizens on Sunday, July 4 at a mass ceremony held at the Seattle Center’s Fisher Pavilion. The 514 candidates, from over 80 countries, were among 3,800 people to be granted citizenship on Independence Day this year at over 55 similar ceremonies nationwide.

Our news partner, The Seattle Times, had a nice story on the 26th Annual Naturalization Ceremony, hosted by the Ethnic Heritage Council, yesterday. The full story can be read here.

From the Times piece:

“We are proud that you are woven into this tapestry we call America,” U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell told Seattle’s crowd of candidates, families and supporters. “You are not only declaring your freedom; you are making a commitment to uphold freedom.”

It’s true when they say that summer doesn’t start around here until after the 4th of July. Well it’s July 6th and summer is here. Right on time.

The 5-day forecast from King5.com

Cliff Mass explains why there is a sudden shift in the weather pattern, “Two reasons: high pressure aloft is producing general sinking and warming of air (by compression) is the first. And there is easterly flow developing over the Cascades, which produces enhanced sinking (warming) on the western slopes.” You can read his entire explanation, complete with maps highlighting the weather over the next few days, on his blog.

One of our readers wrote in to report that two of his bikes were stolen on Sunday, July 4 from his off-street shared balcony at an apartment complex located at Queen Anne Ave N and Highland Drive. Though the balcony is not open to the public, Seàn says it is “technically publicly accessible” as the hallway doors don’t lock, leading him to believe that the place was cased.

He wrote:

One of these is a dangerous, experimental, engine-powered bicycle I was working on. Due to the swiftness of execution and the weight of the bikes, it was possibly multiple people with a truck or something. Worryingly, they probably cased the place (I went to the grocery store for less than 10 minutes and returned to their absence).

Suffice it to say, if someone tried riding the motorized bike they’re in for a potentially lethal shock since the throttle cable is stuck and I was working on the brakes. There’s also no way in the world another similar bike exists, since it’s a home-brew (and really looks it!) contraption.

Seàn says he didn’t want to bother police on the 4th, “since they have bigger priorities than less than 2k worth of burglary on this explosive holiday.” He did call yesterday, however, and was told that it would be “quite a while” before an officer could stop by and take a report.

In the meantime, he thought he’d see if anyone in the neighborhood had any information on one or both of the bikes.

This is a ~$1,200 loss for me, and my main mode of transportation. I fear in the meantime, my bikes will be long gone. The gas powered one, precious to me (and possibly useless to anyone else in that condition) might have been ditched in the bushes somewhere and could be hauled off as trash by a passerby.

Please comment below if you have any more information.

Hopefully this type of thing doesn’t become more common in this neighborhood. My bikes haven’t been locked up in over 3 years, and I’ve never had a problem until now.

Wow, what a show! First, the rain soaked thousands of people to the bone at Gas Works Park in Wallingford. Then just before 10 p.m., the rain stopped, the skies cleared, and the fireworks lit up the night.

Photo from Joey Anchondo, Seattle Times. See more photos here.

“That was the best ever!” said KING 5 anchor Dennis Bounds, who has presided over many fireworks shows at Lake Union. Our sister blog in Wallingford has all the coverage, from the spectacular show to the scene in Wallingford.

Update: One Reel says the attendance was much lower than anticipated, thanks to the rain. Also, cleanup crews picked up a mountain of trash after the event.