You’ve still got time to pay your outstanding parking tickets during Seattle Municipal Court’s “Collection Reduction Program.” The program, which allows people to pay parking tickets without interest and fees, has been extended through July 15th. Despite this extension, the new scofflaw program launches on Tuesday, July 5th. That means if you have four or more overdue, unpaid tickets, your car could get booted if parked on a city street.

From the scofflaw website:

With warm weather in the forecast, it looks like it’s going to be a nice day. Combine that with tonight’s Independence Day festivities and it should be a fantastic Fourth.

Couple notes from the SPD and SFD to get you on your way today…

The Seattle Police Department and Seattle Fire Department would like to remind the public that fireworks are illegal in the City of Seattle.

The possession, manufacture, storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited. Fireworks offenses are gross misdemeanors punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a $5,000 fine.

Any fireworks-related fires or injuries should be reported directly to 911. Other fireworks violations may be reported by calling the Seattle Police non-emergency number at (206) 625-5011.

As a heads-up as to what’s open, what’s on and what’s not happening today…

• CleanScapes garbage, food and yard waste, and recycling collections will be on normal schedule. The North Recycling and Disposal Station will be closed, but the South Recycling and Disposal Station will be open.
• All Neighborhood Service Centers will be closed.
• Metro Transit bus routes will be operating on a Sunday schedule.
• Libraries will be closed. Book drops at the Queen Anne library will be open, but the one at the Central Library will be closed.
• The post office will be closed and there will be no regular mail delivery.
• The liquor store in Queen Anne (515 1st Ave N) will be open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Rebecca was walking to her Lower Queen Anne home alone around 1 a.m. last Tuesday when she was assaulted by a man who was not interested in robbing her, she says. The incident, which took place in front of the Iris Apartment building on Roy Street near 4th Ave W, shook her. She writes,

The assailant did not take my purse, and it is clear that his intention was sexual assault. I screamed and fought and someone in the Iris apartment building shouted that they were calling the police, and the guy ran off into Kinnear Park. I managed to walk away with just a fat lip (and some stitches and bruises) – but it could have been much, much worse.

Rebecca filed a police report before going to the hospital, but as of last Friday the suspect had not yet been caught. She provided this description:

It was dark and I can’t be certain, but I think the man was a homeless guy I’ve seen in the neighborhood before: white male, 5’10″, 170 pounds, dark chin/shoulder length hair that is wavy/matted, full beard.

Rebecca hopes that her experience will serve as a reminder to those in the community to be aware of their surroundings, and cautious for themselves and their neighbors, especially at night. She wrote,

I still feel that Queen Anne is a wonderful place to live (the fact that neighbors responded within seconds when I screamed is testament to that) but we shouldn’t be complacent about safety. Gentlemen, please consider walking ladies to their cars/homes late at night. And ladies, trust your instincts – if someone looks sketchy, walk away and go to a well lit place (like Bartell’s) or carry something like pepper spray in your purse.

Also, for those of you in the neighborhood, if you hear a scream or tussle outside late at night, please don’t hesitate to call out and say you’re calling the police. I am so fortunate that the residents of that building didn’t just roll back over and go to sleep, or call the police silently and hope for the best; the reason the guy ran off is because someone shouted “I’m calling the police, and coming right down.”

In February of last year another Uptown resident, also on her way home alone, was pushed down and kicked in the face and chest repeatedly just a block away from this recent incident, at Roy and 3rd Ave W. In this case the suspect was after her purse, but the crime startled both the victim and many of her neighbors, who organized an Uptown block watch program in response. This most recent attempted assault is a testament to the need for continued neighborhood safety programs, such as block watch groups, especially in corners of the neighborhood that are poorly lit at night and susceptible to crime.

If anyone has any information on this incident, please contact Seattle Police right away as the suspect is still at large.

Update 11:40 a.m.: We just received an update from Rebecca, who says her injuries are healing up well. Since the incident she’s been working on ways to improve safety in the neighborhood. She writes,

I’m speaking with a reporter who might do a piece on it, and I’m going to try and have him focus on the response of my neighbors, but also the need for street lighting at the end of West Roy Street and the city/county/state to cough up the rest of the funds to make Kinnear Park safe. It has helped that they cleared out so much of the underbrush, but it needs lighting and the other safety features that are part of the new park design. It would also be great if the city would allow us RPZ zone parking (we keep asking and they keep brushing us off) so that residents on the West Mercer/Roy corridor can park their cars near their homes at night; I often have to park 5 or 6 blocks away if it’s a night that people are out at the bars, or there’s an event at Seattle Center.

I haven’t heard anything from the police, but my hope is that he’ll be spotted now that so many people are on the lookout. I definitely want to make sure that women in the neighborhood are smart and safety conscious late at night.

Thinking of crossing over the neighborhood line tonight to celebrate the 4th at Gasworks? Our sister site, MyWallingford.com has a primer of what to expect, what not to bring and a timeline for the day.

The soggy 2010 Fourth of July festivities. Thankfully this year is expected to be much nicer!

Click here for all the information.

At the Queen Anne View booth at the Queen Anne Farmers Market yesterday tons of neighbors joined in the fun and shared what they love most about our community–creating a living mural of Queen Anne.

Some of the more popular favorite things included the friendly, close community, the local parks, and Menchie’s (which appeared on the mural not once or twice, but three times).

We also conducted a Queen Anne Farmers Market themed coloring contest, and over 50 kids participated–many from the community, but some visiting from as far away as China! While all of the drawings were absolutely beautiful, after careful consideration we’ve selected four stellar winners. The prize: having their original artwork published right here for the whole community to enjoy.

So without further ado we would like to commend our four winners, in order of youngest to oldest (but equal in awesomeness).

Logan, age 5, whose family lives in Green Lake but loves visiting Queen Anne and the farmers market!

Maya, age 6 (and a half), and her younger sister Stella, both Queen Anne-ers.

Celia, age 7, also from Queen Anne.

And last but certainly not least, Hannah, also age 7.

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who came by to say hello at the market on Thursday. Hope you all enjoy the sunshine here on the hill this weekend!

Tickets are now available for the P-Patch Trust’s annual Chef in the Garden event on Wednesday, July 13 at 6 p.m. Held at the Interbay P-Patch (2451 15^th Ave W), the evening will feature renowned Seattle chef Tom Douglas preparing an array of dishes that emphasize locally sourced, garden-fresh ingredients. Some of the ingredients for the dishes will come from P-Patch community gardens and the courses will be paired with Northwest wines. There will also be food and garden-related silent auction items.

The Chef in the Garden event, which is limited to 100 diners, is the Trust’s primary fund-raising effort. All-inclusive tickets are $119. They can be purchased online. Hurry because last year’s event sold out well in advance.

The P-Patch Trust is a nonprofit organization that works to acquire, build and protect community gardens in Seattle’s neighborhoods. For more details visit the Trust’s website or call 425-329-1601.