Aljoya Thornton Place is inviting the public to an opening reception for a new exhibit Thursday featuring the works of Earl Debnam, a Seattle painter, community activist and three-time stroke survivor.

“Icons of the Soul” by Earl Debnam

The reception is from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the retirement community, 450 N.E. 100th St., and the exhibit will remain open to the public through Dec. 10.

A news release from Aljoya explains that Debnam’s art is inspired by struggle, survival and jazz:

• Political Struggle: Debnam took part in the longest act of civil disobedience in the U.S. history by occupying the Colman School for eight years, with a group of artists. Together, they demanded the city use the abandoned school to house and celebrate African American culture. The space is now the Northwest African American Museum.
• Stroke Survival: Since the Colman School occupation, Debnam has suffered three strokes. He credits the strokes with giving him a surge of creative energy that allows him to capture his inner most thoughts and his ability to transcribe them via paining.
• Jazz: Debnam often listens to jazz music when creating art. He says it moves through his body when he paints, supporting his choices for color and shape.

“We chose to show Earl’s work because it tells amazing stories,” said Aljoya Thornton Place Art Curator June Sekiguchi. “Everything in the show is vibrant, expressive and engaging. It is a perfect fit for this time of year.”

Although the reception Thursday is open to the public, advance reservations are requested by calling (206) 306-7920.

“Big kids, little kids, furry ones too – show off your costume while parading the Maple Leaf neighborhood. Just like previous years, we will be accepting non-perishable food items for local food bank.”

Details have been firmed up for this Sunday’s annual Maple Leaf Parade of Costumes. The route has been changed slightly this year to avoid repeated crossing of arterials.

The parade is Sunday, Oct. 28, from 3-5 p.m.

More details are below, but first a note to Kate, who commented on an earlier Halloween post: “You guys should make a list of houses with neat Halloween decorations. People could do a walking tour like they do for Xmas decor. There’s one on 100th near 5th that’s all dressed up and a few along 8th.”

In previous years we’ve had little luck asking neighbors to send us their favorite holiday decorations or locations. But you can certainly post them in the comments here!

Back to the parade details:

The Parade will wind thru our business districts and neighborhood trick-or-treating and ending at Perkins School where special treats from Peaks Frozen Custard and the Eagles will be available.

Join in the whole route or part of the route (entire route is about 1-1/3 mile and will hopefully take a little over an hour to walk, including the trick-or-treating), whatever works with your schedule and walking endurance.

If you live along the route and want to hand out treats, we ask you bring any goodies to the sidewalk so trick-or-treating can keep moving along the route. How many participants? Plan on 120, although the weather will no doubt affect that number.

We currently could use a couple of volunteers to help with the route. If you have a high school student who needs to get some volunteer/community service time in, this is an easy and fun event to help out with. If anyone is available during this time, please contact Donna ([email protected]).

Looks like David Miller of the Maple Leaf Community Council called it right: The Old Italian Spaghetti House & Pizzeria is becoming Bobs’ Lake City Liquors.

On the other hand, the bikini barista stand there - Headrush Coffee - has disappeared from the parking lot at 9824 Lake City Way N.E.

More information about the liquor store is available on its Facebook page. They are shooting for an early November opening.

Neighbors subscribing to the Seattle Police Department’s innovative “Tweets by beat” were notified of two events this morning in the 9000 block of 12th Avenue Northeast.

The most recent tweet, at 8:30 a.m., called out a “DISTURBANCE, OTHER” at that location.

But earlier, at 5:44 a.m., police were called to the same location for” SHOTS -DELAY/INCLUDES HEARD/NO ASSAULT.”

Anybody know what happened here?

A reminder that the Maple Leaf Community Council’s Candidates and Issues election forum is tonight.

The forum runs from 7-9 p.m. at Olympic View Elementary School, 504 N.E. 95th St. Past forums have drawn from 30-150 neighbors. Free child care is provided on site by Camp Fire.

According to an email from the council, attendees include:

Gerry Pollet - 46th House Seat 1

Sylvester Cann - 46th House Seat 1

Sarajane Siegfriedt - 46th House Seat 2

Jessyn Farrell - 46th House Seat 2

Seattle Seawall Levy - YES

Seattle Seawall Levy - NO

R-74 - Marriage Equality - YES

R-74 - Marriage Equality - NO

I-502 (Marijuana) - YES

I-502 (Marijuana) - NO

I-1240 Charter Schools - YES

I-1240 Charter Schools - NO

In addition to return of the Maple Leaf Parade of Costumes, there are quite a few other happenings taking place to honor Halloween and the abrupt beginning of fall:

• Olympic View Elementary’s annual Fall Carnival returns from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, offering an afternoon filled with games, prizes, food and fun for the whole family. There are creative and fun game-booths where kids of every age can play for prizes, including a cake walk where anyone can win a Halloween cake. The event also has food, drinks and snacks, and don’t forget to come in costume! Proceeds go to the Olympic View PTA, which provides student enrichment programs, scholarships to help students participate in school functions, and family engagement activities.
• This Charming Candy is also bringing back its Grown-Up Trick-or-Treat event from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at The Wandering Cafe at 7533 Lake City Way N.E. Owner Susan Dziadosz tells us,

This Charming Candy had so much fun giving out lollipops last year, we’re doing it again! Whether you’re in costume or not, drop by our lollipop kitchen on Monday Oct 29 between 4-7, exclaim “Trick or Treat!” and pick out the sucker of your choice. We call it “Grown-up Trick or Treat” but all ages are welcome of course!

• Zillow has ranked Seattle No. 4 on the nation’s list of the best places to go trick-or-treating, and within Seattle, our neighbors to the south in Roosevelt were ranked the city’s fifth-best neighborhood to go trick-or-treating. Brace yourself for possible spillover on Halloween!

Earlier this month we wrote about the Great Shake Out preparedness drill for earthquake safety.

Now we want to let you know about a neighborhood workshop to plan everything from communications - when the phone lines go out and cell phones go dead - to being able to survive a week without help from outside.

The workshop is this Saturday, Oct. 20, from 1-3 p.m. at the Northgate Branch Library, 10548 Fifth Ave. N.E. Follow this link for more information.

One of the organizers is John Parnell, a Maple Leaf resident who was also involved in this spring’s Maple Leaf Emergency Drill.

John writes:

What is NOW needed is a coordinated community effort to organize other aspects of our emergency response that go beyond just communications.

The City of Seattle’s Disaster Plan openly states that individual neighborhoods will probably be on their own for a period of 3-14 days following a catastrophic event (such as an 7.0 earthquake or major volcanic eruption).

We will need to be prepared to take care of ourselves and our neighbors by sharing resources and helping those most vulnerable to a loss of basic infrastructure.

The Maple Leaf Community Council has prioritized emergency preparation efforts. What we need now is folks to join us. Please come and check out the October 20 workshop; if you can’t make it, contact me afterwards. We would like to have a kick-off meeting for the Emergency Preparation Committee in the near future and would encourage you to participate in any way that you can.

John can be reached through comments on this post, or at k7hv (at) arrl.net.

This summer, a group of Maple Leaf neighbors and others gathered to create mosaic flowers at the home of Stacy Brewer, author of the Seattle Seedling blog and a Maple Leaf gardener extraordinaire.

Flower mosaics created at summer class. Photo courtesy Stacy Brewer’s Seattle Seedling.

If you like the above mosaics, which are the creation of the group, we’re not trying to taunt you. Brewer is actually offering another mosaic class next month, and she writes about it on a recent Seattle Seedling post:

This summer, a series of serendipitous events led to me hosting the most delightful mosaic class in my dining room (see the post about it here). I didn’t expect it, but I loved every minute of it. It was so much fun and I got so much feedback after hosting the class from people wanting more, I vowed to host another class. Well, I think it’s time to get one on the books. Whether you want to take it to make a gift for someone for the upcoming holidays or you just want to learn something new, I think we’ll have a blast! My experience hosting the last class taught me that this is super fun to do with good friends, so rally your bffs to join you! We’ll get our hands dirty with some creativity and will nosh on yummy snacks and drink good wine while we do it. So who’s in?

The class is from 6:45-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, and costs $50. You’ll learn the basics to making mosaics, plus Brewer will provide everything you need to create the above flower mosaics.

To reserve your spot for this intimate class (limited to eight students), email Brewer at [email protected].

The annual Maple Leaf Parade of Costumes needs to announce a date and time change.

Although in this month’s community newsletter the parade was to be on Oct. 27, it’s actually going to be from 3-5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 28, says Mandi, one of the organizers.

Starting spot will be at Blue Saucer (9127 Roosevelt Way N.E.) at 3 p.m. Finishing spot is TBD. Peaks Frozen Custard is joining us again at the end to serve free custard! Yippee!! I need to get in touch with businesses on 91st and 5th to see who is interested in participating/serving candy.

Here’s last year’s route:

The turning leaves signals a new season for Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave. N.E., which is launching its 2012-13 series with “Sigi the Antelope: Stories of West Africa.”

Carter Family Puppets is working together with Ocheami Drum & Dance Ensemble Music to bring you the dance, puppetry and storytelling that is woven together in many of the West African cultures. The production will include stories from Mali and Ghana that feature live drumming, stilt-walking, puppets and masks.

“Sigi the Antelope” plays from Oct. 13-28, with showtimes at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $10.50/$8.50 child (up to 16)/$9 Senior (65+) and are available at the box office 30 minutes before curtain, by calling 1-800-838-3006 or at Brown Paper Tickets.

Season tickets for $42 also are available at Brown Paper Tickets for the 2012-13 season, which continues with: (more…)

Update Oct. 10: Maud has come home (see comment) but now Shawna emails:

“Hi. We have had this cat come and go from our house for the last couple of weeks. Hoping to find its home! Please let us know if this is your kitty. Thanks!!”

She lives near Northeast 92nd Street and Eighth Avenue Northeast.

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Jessica emails this morning:

“My cat Maud is missing. She is a big female domestic short-haired gray tabby/orange calico mixed cat around seven years old. From afar she looks light gray.”

Maud has been missing since Monday. She lives on Northeast 95th Street between

12th and 15th avenues northeast.

“She’s micro-chipped, but not showing up in any system. She doesn’t have a collar (she knows how to take them off!). She is also very vocal. She is a sweet cat but a bit wary of strangers.

“If you see her or if you find her would you give me a call at 206-234-2788 or 206-517-2962.

“I’m a regular reader and have seen other pets found because of you guys and so I’m really hopeful that this will find her!”

UPDATE: Previously this post was titled “Girls’ Night Out at Northgate Mall on Thursday.” However, we regret to inform you that there was a PR mixup that confused Northgate and Tacoma malls, and this event is actually happening at Tacoma Mall.

Lisa with Simon Properties, who is not responsible for the mixup, says although this event has happened before at Northgate Mall, this year they’re doing something different and are planning “It’s Your Day!” from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 27. We apologize for the confusion!

Are you looking for a good excuse to gather with your girlfriends and shop?

Stop by Northgate Mall from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, for Girls’ Night Out, a free event with makeovers, samples, discounts, fashion tips and advice, and of course, plenty of shopping! In addition, a light meal from Panera Bread will be available at the event for a $2 donation to the Simon Youth Foundation.

Don’t be late! The first 150 participants to check in will receive a reusable bag filled with goodies.

Here’s a crime story featuring diligent police work.

Two weeks ago a woman was walking through the parking lot at the QFC at Roosevelt Way Northeast and Northeast Northgate Way when, police say, a man grabbed her purse.

“A brief struggle ensued as the woman tried to hang onto the purse, but the suspect was able to pull it away and run off. Witnesses observed the suspect get into a black SUV. They also provided a license plate of the vehicle,” according to a police press release this morning.

The suspect in the Sept. 23 incident was identified, but could not be found. Robbery detectives distributed a wanted bulletin, and the 25-year-old man was arrested about 2:30 this morning by Lake Stevens police.

His SUV was impounded and he was booked into King County Jail for investigation of robbery.

Any day the “big one” could hit. After the Maple Leaf emergency drill in May, it appears neighborhood leaders will be prepared if we’re hit with an earthquake of epic proportions, but what about you?

The Great Washington ShakeOut is hoping you will be prepared, and it’s helping you get ready with a statewide drill on Oct. 18:

You are invited to join thousands of people who will Drop, Cover, and Hold On at 10:18 a.m. on October 18th in the 2012 Great Washington ShakeOut!

More than 12.5 million people were registered to participate in ShakeOut drills worldwide in 2011. Participating is a great way for your family or organization to become better prepared to survive and recover quickly from big earthquakes.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, the state is hit with more than 1,000 earthquakes each year. And although predicting when and if the big one will ever hit is difficult, history indicates the state remains at risk.

Go to the Great Washington ShakeOut website to learn more or to register yourself, your family, your workplace or any other organization.

Police Tweet: Beat: L2, THEFT - CAR PROWL at 110XX BLOCK OF 8TH AVE NE reported on 10/2/2012 8:09 PM

Police Tweet: Beat : U1, BURGLARY - RESIDENTIAL, UNOCCUPIED at 80XX BLOCK OF 15TH AVE NE reported on 10/2/2012 10:09 PM

Police Tweet: Beat: L2, SUSPICIOUS PERSON at 12XX BLOCK OF NE 104TH ST reported on 9/29/2012 10:18 P

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In what the New York Times this week called “the most ambitious effort of its kind in the nation,” Seattle Police have begun to push hourly crime updates onto local Twitter feeds.

Anybody can read their local reports by following their neighborhood police beat on Twitter.

This is good, if you want to know what kind of problems are being reported in your neighborhood.

But the Times story quotes an expert saying constant crime news can cause unintended consequences.

“Increased awareness of local crime, he said, could lead people to a greater feeling of vulnerability or to the conclusion that the police are not resolving the local crime problem — even if it is a problem they might not have been aware of had the beat-tweet not informed them.”

That is certainly an area where we’ve been criticized since Maple Leaf Life began reporting in early 2010 - although we’ve repeated pointed out that, so far as we can tell, there is no more crime here than elsewhere in the city.

But in February of 2011 John wrote (in part): ” I don’t understand this website’s obsession with crime reporting. Can’t you find anything else to discuss that is going on in Maple Leaf? I think you need to lay off the crime reports and quit getting people so worried and portraying a negative image of our neighborhood.”

Others defended the reporting: “I personally would rather see these reports so we can have the discussion, raise awareness and take steps to continually make Maple Leaf A Better Place. I think that’s preferable than failing to acknowledge it and pretending the problem doesn’t exist.”

We laid out our philosophy here. But if you want even more local crime reports landing in your Twitter feed, here’s how to do it.

To subscribe to the police Twitter feed, go here.

Maple Leaf generally includes part, but not all, of three police patrol beats:

• Union 1
• Nora 3
• Lincoln 2

In the examples from the top of this post, the car prowl took place in Lincoln (L) 2. The burglary took place in Union 1.

To subscribe to the feeds, pick one or all three: PDU1, PDN3 and PDL2.

The Tweets have a one-hour time delay, to prevent obstructing police officers, and exclude sex and domestic violence reports.