View from the north entrance to Maple Leaf Reservoir Park. The entrance will be at Northeast 88th Street and 12th Avenue Northeast.

Some - but probably not all - of the new Maple Leaf Reservoir Park will open this fall as expected, according to Seattle Parks and Recreation.

The difficulty appears to be that some of the grass has not taken root firmly enough. That will likely preclude opening the re-seeded sports fields.

Here’s the current plan, in an email today from Kim Baldwin, a parks contact on this project.

We’ll open a portion of the park for use this fall but leave other areas fenced in where the turf isn’t well established. We’ll definitely keep the fields fenced until spring since they were seeded last and will probably get the heaviest use. One thought is to have an opening event this fall with some areas still fenced off and the other is to wait until all the fencing is down and have an event in the spring.

Update Aug. 21: KOMO-TV did a story today on this disquieting issue.

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We’ve an answer back from Andy Ryan of Seattle Public Utilities (he was out of the office late last week) about “exploding toilets” here Thursday as maintenance was being done by the utility.

Thanks to the folks who provided 15 illuminating comments on the original story.

For those wanting more background on Annie’s and David’s comments on a Seattle woman who died in a flooded basement, our news partner The Seattle Times has more here and here. (If this is the correct incident, the victim was a 41-year-old women in Madison Valley in 2006.)

Here’s the reply from the utility:

We have been in contact with two customers who were affected by maintenance operations last week in the Maple Leaf neighborhood.

As you may know, we clean sewer mainlines with high-pressure jet nozzles, and on rare occasions this causes high pressure air or water spray to enter side sewers. If a customer’s vent stack is plugged, the air or water pressure can burble up in the toilet. This is a good reason for keeping your toilet lid down, which will prevent the “toilet burp” from spraying into the bathroom. We think this is probably what occurred in the Maple Leaf neighborhood last week.

Following up, we put one of the customers in contact with our claims inspector because dirty water sprayed on her bathroom floor. In the case of the other customer, it was clean water on the bathroom floor—which she mopped up with a T-shirt.

In the unlikely event that something like this happens to one of your readers, they should call SPU operations, at 206-386-1800.

Just now we received the second report of what, for lack of a better headline term, we’ll call exploding toilets.

We live just off Roosevelt Way Northeast on Northeast 94th Street and noticed when we returned from going out to dinner last night that both toilets (one upstairs and one downstairs) had, for lack of a better term, blasted the toilet bowl water out and onto the floor. We’ve no idea what could have caused this apart from a serious back pressure source somewhere in the city system. Anyone else reported such an event?

Yes. On Thursday we received this report:

Please let the other Maple Leaf neighbors know what happened to us when the Seattle Public Utilities vacuum truck was on our street this morning (Northeast 92nd Street).

They blasted air into the sewers with such force that water shot up from the toilets and shower drains, on every floor from the basement to the second floor.

Fortunately, all our toilet lids were in the closed position. We still had puddles around the toilets, but it would have been much worse if the lids had been up. So, if you see water on your toilet seat or lid, or around the toilet, you may want to get out a disinfectant because it’s likely that it’s sewer water courtesy of a blast from the same truck.

We have an email into Seattle Public Utilities, but probably won’t hear back until Monday. Both incidents occurred on Thursday, Aug. 16.

Does this sound familiar to other neighbors?

We are vaguely aware that “snorkel trucks” are used to clear leaves and other debris from storm drains. We can also remember an incident a couple decades ago when the toilets in the downtown King County Courthouse suddenly behaved in exactly this fashion. (Further, we think it was somehow construction related.)

At the Maple Leaf Summer Ice Cream Social, we attracted plenty of attention with our Best Maple Leaf Garden contest, although we started out with just one entry from Gayle Holm at 8241 15th Ave. N.E., which won hands-down by you, our voters:

However, the Fairy Garden on Northeast 97th Street came in at a close second after it was submitted at the start of the Summer Social, which took place July 31 at Olympic View Elementary:

We also received a number of even later entries in the form of addresses posted to our contest board:

We’ve since taken photos of those late entries and included them below: (more…)

A man with a handgun threatened people at the Green Lake Community Center basketball courts this weekend, police report.

And, somebody torched a photo booth at Northgate Mall, police add.

Both events occurred on Sunday, Aug. 11.

At approximately 9:15 a.m. police were dispatched to the community center, 7201 E. Green Lake Drive N.

Twelve minutes later the suspect was in custody. No one was shot, police said.

“There are no additional details at this time. This remains an active and on-going investigation.”

About a quarter-hour later officers responding to a reported arson at Northgate Mall found somebody set fire to a curtain on a photo booth at the mall’s south end near the food court.

From police:

A witness saw the fire and notified a nearby store employee. They then flagged down a security officer who extinguished the fire.

Security camera footage was checked and showed the suspect exiting the mall and heading south on foot. Officers conducted an area search however, the suspect remains at large.

Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identity or whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call 911 or Seattle Police and refer to this incident. Anonymous tips are welcome.

Update 11 a.m.:

Seattle police and transportation officials indicate the investigation may continue into the evening commute. Check to make sure you can get where you need to go - a three-block radius around Second Avenue and Seneca Street could be closed.

Tweets from police:

Dwntwn workers:If yr office is behind police tape, plz contact officers near police line/show work ID if u can & ask 2pass thru 2 yr office

We’ll have updates on street closures throughout the day and will work with @seattledot to get you info for eve commute

Update 9:45 a.m. from Seattle Police:

A man suspected of shooting a bus driver multiple times Monday morning was shot by police after he fled through downtown Seattle.

Just after 8:45 this morning, Seattle police began receiving a flood of reports that a man had shot a Metro bus driver on the Route # 27 bus near 3rd Avenue and Seneca Street.

The male suspect reportedly stayed on the bus for a short time after the shooting, before he fled on foot through downtown.

Officers spotted the suspect near 2nd Avenue and Seneca, where they shot the man.

Homicide/Assault detectives are currently handling the investigation.

The 67-year-old Metro driver’s injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

The suspect—who is in his 30′s or 40′s—is in critical condition and is being transported to Harborview.

A 32-year-old officer also sustained minor injuries in the incident, possibly from broken glass (more…)

This week two Maple Leaf institutions made the Seattle Weekly’s Best of Seattle list.

At least, we think they have.

We can find the link to Judy Fu’s Snappy Dragon, voted Best Chinese Restaurant. “Clay Pot Stews. Enough said.”

And Math ‘n’ Stuff has posted on its Facebook page that it was voted “Best Geeky Store.” Congrats! But, we can’t find that link. Help?

Found it! On page 95 of the hard-copy Weekly:

We mustn’t forget forget the archeology beginner’s kit; that area in your backyard looks suspiciously old and probably contains lots of dinosaur bones.

Incidentally, Math ‘n’ Stuff has a 20-percent-off sale through Saturday.

2013 marks Math ‘n’ Stuff’s 20th Anniversary in business!

We are quite proud of this milestone, and to celebrate, we have decided to do a 20/20 SALE!

Last week the city officially kicked off the Northgate Way/North 105th Street Project that we warned you about in February, when the road construction project that snarled traffic around Northgate Mall finally ended.

This time, the project extends 1.3 miles away from Maple Leaf, from Corliss Avenue North to Greenwood Avenue North, and involves completely paving North 105th and Northgate Way along that stretch, constructing new sidewalks and curb ramps, upgrading and adding street lights, and installing drainage improvements. Work on signals will continue all the way to Lake City Way with the project including upgrades to traffic signals and other “Intelligent Transportation System” components, which include electronic message boards and traffic cameras.

The project is expected to cost $9.2 million, and improve (eventually) nearly 27,000 trips each day. From the news release:

“Focusing on the basics like pavement and sidewalks is part of our Transportation Action Agenda,” said McGinn. “This project will help improve conditions on one of the major arterials in North Seattle.”

Demonstrating SDOT’s ongoing commitment to environmentally conscious design and construction, this major infrastructure project features several environmentally friendly elements. Over 20 percent of the new sidewalks will be pervious, allowing rainwater to be absorbed into the ground instead of running off. Additionally, the project will make significant drainage upgrades and use environmentally friendly paving materials.

Hannah emails overnight:

Yesterday my coworkers and I found a lost dog in Evergreen Washelli Cemetery. My coworkers said they have seen it running since last Tuesday.

She is a female, Cardigan Welsh corgi mix, was wearing a pink camo collar; has a tail with a white tip. She is very sweet!

Contact Hannah at 206-450-1884 or [email protected]

She is in my care now.

Maple Leaf is taking the party to the streets from 6-9 tonight, so expect plenty of nonarterial road closures, along with the smells, sounds and sights of summer wafting through the air: barbecues, music and children playing in the (closed) streets.

Tonight is National Night Out, a Crime Prevention event designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, increase neighborhood support in anti-crime efforts and unite communities.

According to the city of Seattle’s Night Out page, more than 1,300 neighborhoods in Seattle participated in the event last year, including this rager on Northeast 84th Street in Maple Leaf. More from the Seattle website:

The event is a unique opportunity to bring your neighbors together, welcome new neighbors, talk about crime prevention and Block Watch efforts, and mainly just have a great time with food, music, games - whatever you want. The creativity we’ve seen of what neighborhoods come up with is amazing. Some gatherings are just a few households; others expand into large block parties.

Night Out Against Crime is an opportunity for individual neighborhoods to renew their commitment to the following:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
• Send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

So have fun with your neighbors tonight, and feel free to send us photos of your event!

In case you missed the most recent newsletter from the Maple Leaf Community Council, the executive board is on the hunt for your memories of Maple Leaf.

You have until Aug. 15 to write up to 300 words in short form (essay, poem, flash fiction, etc.) on “Maple Leaf Memories” for the newsletter’s first Maple Leaf Writing Contest. Editor and executive board member Charles Harper wanted to make sure we let you know that the deadline has been extended, and he adds, “If you’ve had trouble with the email we listed, please submit again; the technical problem should be fixed now.”

Only one entry is allowed per writer, and winners will be selected by the editor and the executive board. The essays will appear in the October-December issue of the newsletter in the categories General and Young Writers.

Send your submission by Aug. 15 to [email protected] or:

MLCC
c/o Newsletter Editor
P.O. Box 75595
Seattle, WA 98175-0595

Good luck, and we look forward to reading the winning Maple Leaf Memories!

The Maple Leaf Summer Ice Cream Social is a good way for us to get to know neighbors old and new, including newcomer Ev Stern’s Jazz Workshop.

For two decades, Ev Stern has been teaching jazz around Seattle and he told us at the social that he’s excited to now be in his biggest location yet, which just happens to be in Maple Leaf at 1060 N.E. 100th St. We plan to check out the space soon, but in the meantime wanted to make sure the community knew about his upcoming Summer Camp from Aug. 12-17, including Stern teaching bass, Eric Verlinde on piano and Jeff Busch on drums.

In addition, Stern’s 20th annual Summer Jazz Workshop is also continuing through Aug. 31. All ages, levels and instruments are invited, and instructors include Karen Moitoza, Darrius Willrich and Jeff Busch. Activities include ensembles, concerts, classes, jazz camp, lessons and jazz sessions.

For more information, email Stern at [email protected], call him at 206-661-7807 or go to his website EvSternsJazzWorkshop.com.

Overnight update from Seattle Police:

Seattle Police successfully negotiate the peaceful surrender of a man involved in a domestic disturbance.

At approximately 3:46 p.m. officers responded to a domestic disturbance at a residence in the 9500 block of 15th Avenue NE. Preliminary investigation indicates that the adult male suspect, who lives at the residence with his parents, threatened to inflict great harm upon his parent’s property and also expressed suicidal intentions. Responding officers quickly surrounded the residence, evacuated the parents and attempted to contact the suspect. Although the suspect was believed to be the only one inside the residence at that point, he was believed to be in possession of weapons.

When officers attempts to contact the suspect or get him to come outside were unsuccessful, negotiators and the SWAT team were called to the scene.

Negotiators were able to establish contact with the suspect and arrange for his peaceful surrender without further incident. The suspect came outside and was taken into custody. He was subsequently transported to an area hospital for a mental health evaluation.

The incident report will be forwarded to the prosecuting attorney’s office for a review of potential charges.

(more…)

Seattle better start listening to Maple Leaf.

That’s the thrust of a story this week in the Seattle Weekly.

Specifically, Seattle politicians better start listening to our neighbors who live roughly between Northeast 89th and Northeast 92 streets, from 15th Avenue Northeast to Lake City Way Northeast.

Seattle Weekly reporter Ellis E. Conklin, on the trail of the campaign for Seattle mayor, spent time with King County Elections and a politics guru and determined that “few pockets of Seattle are as representative and predictive of the electoral behavior of the city at large” as these 10 or so blocks.

There are about 500 registered voters in Precinct 46-2292, and Conklin went door to door until he’d talked to 61 of them in what he told Crosscut.com was a “totally and absolutely non-scientific” poll.

From this he determined that Peter Steinbrueck and incumbent Mike McGinn are the likely winners of next week’s mayoral primary election. (That is NOT conventional political wisdom.) Conklin’s full story is here.

What we really like is the notion that as Maple Leaf goes, so goes the country.

In addition to predicting the last several mayor’s races here:

In the 2012 general election, Precinct 2292 gave 85 percent of its vote to Obama, the precise percentage that all Seattle voters handed the president.

In the gubernatorial race, the Maple Leaf neighborhood went 80 percent for Jay Inslee, compared to 79 percent citywide. On the legalizing marijuana initiative: 70 percent in 2292, 74 percent citywide. Gay marriage: 84 percent in 2292, 82 percent citywide.

Are you listening yet, Seattle?

These photos courtesy of Dane Doerflinger, a Maple Leaf resident and professional photographer.

As we wrote Wednesday night after the social wrapped up, it was successful despite the change of venue, thunder and a little rain, AND the automatic sprinklers going off in the Olympic View Elementary School playground.

Pretty much everybody got wet feet, and had a good time anyway.

David Miller, Maple Leaf Community Council president, and Donna Hartmann-Miller (shown here), also a council member and its point person on the Maple Leaf Reservoir Park, did much of the work.As did Grace Seidel. Thanks!

See more photo from Dane here. You can also see his photos from previous social years, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Incidentally, a number of visitors to the Maple Leaf Life table nominated neighborhood yards for our Best Garden in Maple Leaf contest. We’ll be visiting those gardens soon, and taking photos!