Update 3 p.m.: Three-quarters of an inch on the official Maple Leaf Life snow-measuring car. Sun is now shining here. Snowing heavily just to the north in the convergence zone. Cliff Mass has posted a Nowcast with forecast for Sunday, Monday and even Wednesday.

Short-term forecast from the National Weather Service:
.NOW...
A PUGET SOUND CONVERGENCE ZONE HAS DEVELOPED OVER SOUTHERN
SNOHOMISH AND NORTHERN KING COUNTIES...AND WILL LIKELY PERSIST
FOR THE NEXT FEW HOURS. SHOWERS MIXED WITH SNOW...OR PERIODS
OF WET SNOW WITH ACCUMULATIONS LESS THAN AN INCH ARE EXPECTED.

Seattle has posted an online map of our “urban forest,” including specially recognized “heritage trees.”

Maple Leaf has three of them, including this Akebono Cherry, which the city says has a diameter of 32 inches.

Heritage trees, first recognized here in 1996, must meet these criteria:

Specimen: A tree of exceptional size, form, or rarity.

Historic: A tree recognized by virtue of its age, its association with or contribution to a historic structure or district, or its association with a noted person or historic event.

Landmark: Trees that are landmarks of a community.

Collection: Trees in a notable grove, avenue, or other planting.

Interestingly, the grove of trees at the old Waldo Hospital along 15th Avenue Northeast is not included in the program. The Maple Leaf Community Council and the Menachem Mendel Seattle Cheder Day School, which currently occupies the property, won an Audubon award for preserving those trees.

Want to nominate a tree? Online Format

Cliff Mass is promising to update his weather blog tonight with further details, but he’s already saying:

It really looks like there will be some lowland snow late Saturday into Sunday…but not the heavy, widespread variety.

Because Maple Leaf is the third-highest hill in Seattle - 466 feet outside the Blue Saucer on Roosevelt Way Northeast - and because we’re not far from the convergence zone that often forms around the King-Snohomish line, that likely means us.

Here’s part of the special weather statement the National Weather Service/Seattle released this afternoon:

A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS WESTERN WASHINGTON EARLY
SATURDAY MORNING. THE AIR MASS IS EXPECTED TO
BE COLD ENOUGH SO THAT SNOW LEVELS WILL LOWER
BELOW 500 FEET. SCATTERED RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS
WILL BECOME MORE PREDOMINANTLY SNOW SHOWERS
SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY. THESE HIT AND
MISS SHOWERS WILL LIKELY PRODUCE SPOTTY SNOW
ACCUMULATIONS OF TWO INCHES OR LESS ACROSS
WESTERN WASHINGTON.
AREAS WITH MORE PERSISTENT SHOWER ACTIVITY
LIKE THE PUGET SOUND
CONVERGENCE ZONE COULD HAVE LOCALLY HIGHER
 ACCUMULATIONS AS WELL
AS AREAS WITH A LITTLE ELEVATION.

In true neighborhood style, a Maple Leaf family with a young child and dog is reaching out to the community to gauge interest in their proposal to create the Maple Leaf Brewery.

The brewery would be located at 849 N.E. 94th St., behind A.W. Hoss & Son, and would include a child- and dog-friendly tasting room (but not a restaurant).

They hope to move forward with leasing the space in the next couple of days, but would like to get your feedback first. They’re distributing the following flier to neighbors:

Land Use Proposal for Your Neighborhood: 94th and Roosevelt

Maple Leaf Microbrewery & Family-Friendly “Beer Garden”

Hello Neighbors,

We are a young family who reside in Maple Leaf. We would like to lease the warehouse at 849 NE 94th Street and establish a small beer brewery and tasting room there. The Department of Planning and Development has assured us that a micro- or “nano”-brewery is an approved use of that space.

We wanted to take this opportunity to explain our idea to you, our neighbors; and answer any questions you might have. We are, of course, open to your feedback and commentary as well. Our goal is to make this business a positive contribution to the community, and your opinion is important to us. (more…)

More than 50 people gathered at Northgate Community Center on Wednesday night to discuss the future of Beaver Pond Natural Area, and how best to spend $500,000 on a restoration project to protect the green belt while still meeting the needs of the community.

Safety was on the minds of many of the attendees after nearly 50 trees were illegally pruned in the southwest side of the park last month, with opinions running strongly on both sides of the issue. A neighbor who lives adjacent to the park on Northeast 104th Street says although he realizes that the tree trimming was illegal, he and his neighbors like it that people can see better into the park.

“Before it was completely sheltered from any sort of observation,” he said. ”I think that really encouraged the activity that was going on there. I like nature, but there’s a balance.”

In contrast, multiple attendees seemed more supportive of the natural area remaining natural. A few urged those who believe criminal activity is taking place in the park to be proactive about putting a stop to it by forming watch groups that coordinate with the police and Parks.

Janet Way, who has been involved with the creek’s restoration since the Thornton Creek Alliance was formed in 1994, says she has dealt with many of the same issues in her section of the watershed in Shoreline.

All it took was a few months of regular patrols that reported their findings to police, and the illicit activity quickly disappeared, she said. “If you see a problem, call 911,” she added, a theme that was repeated throughout the night.

The safety theme also remained a constant, with Parks arborist Mark Mead explaining that this is the community’s opportunity to shape the natural area into a space that makes them comfortable. He noted, however, that it’s doubtful the trees are the cause of any crime that could be linked to the neighborhood.

“The reality is that the topography is what is causing the problem, not the trees,” Mead said. “I haven’t heard of a tree yet causing a crime.” (more…)

The man arrested this week for a home invasion robbery was charged today, a year after a woman was bound inside her Maple Leaf house.

In court documents, police say DNA evidence from the duct tape used to bind and blindfold the 52-year-old victim was the key to arresting Christopher Jacque Petersen, who was still living directly across the street from the crime scene.

In the court documents, prosecutors charge Petersen, 54, with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary. He will make a court appearance Jan. 25.

According to the charging documents, the victim said she was asleep in her bedroom about 2:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, 2011, when she heard a loud smashing sound. She turned on a light and found a large, masked man standing at the foot of her bed wielding a croquet-like mallet.

Detectives say the woman pleaded with the man not to hurt her. According to the documents, he took her debit card and demanded to know her PIN, then pulled out a roll of duct tape and bound her ankles and wrists, and blindfolded her.

After he left, she freed herself and called police, according to the charging papers. On their arrival, officers found a smashed sliding glass door and observed that lights were on in the home across the street, in the 200o block of Northeast 96th Street. They also noticed a vehicle in the driveway across the street was driven off shortly after police arrived.

The next week detectives interviewed the heavy-set resident of the home - Petersen, according to the documents. He said he didn’t see or hear anything, but that he was awake that night and drove to QFC to buy cold medicine.

Detectives knew the debit card was used twice shortly after the robbery, at Wells Fargo ATMs in Lake City and Wedgwood. They sent the duct tape to the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab - the DNA tests came back this November as belonging to a white male, according to the documents.

In mid-November detectives took DNA samples - cheek swaps - from Petersen, the court papers state. A crime lab report dated Jan. 5, 2012, shows the DNA recovered from the duct tape matches the samples from Petersen, the charging documents state.

On Tuesday, Jan. 10, detectives served a search warrant on Petersen’s home and found clothing resembling the ATM surveillance videos showing the robber was wearing minutes after the attack, according to the court documents.

Want to meet an owl? Maybe watch a mama grizzly and her cubs at Yellowstone?

How about a Magic Quest? Some dancing mice? A campfire? A raccoon? Life at Lake Chelan, or in China?

Students at Maple Leaf’s Perkins School, 9005 Roosevelt Way N.E., have just published a booklet of two dozen-plus stories - about themselves.

“For me, as a teacher, the most frightening part of releasing an anthology of personal narratives written by fourth- and fifth-graders is the sense of loss of control,” writes their teacher, Rebecca Peterson.

“‘It doesn’t have to be perfect,’ I tell my students many times a week, but today they’re the ones reminding me.

“I think you will find something to be amazed by in each of these stories.”

After printing the anthologies, the students walked copies up and down Roosevelt to the Blue Saucer and Cloud City Coffee.

Both cafes have now run out of copies of Spark, but Rebecca says if folks want to read it she’ll print more up. Just email her at the Perkins School- rpeterson (at) perkinsschool.org

Notice posted this morning at Maple Leaf’s Dog Oasis.

(Could this be Bob again?)

Seattle Police this afternoon announced they made an arrest in a home invasion robbery from slightly over a year ago.

On Jan. 7, 2011, a woman was tied up inside her home in the 2000 block of Northeast 96th Street by a robber who demanded her debit card and PIN, police said. The man, wearing a ski mask with the eyes cut out, broke in around 2:30 a.m., police said.

At that time, police today said:

The immediate neighborhood was canvassed by robbery detectives and the suspect, who lived across the street from the victim, was briefly interviewed (at the time of the interview, detectives did not realize that they were interviewing the suspect).

Also, the police released a photograph of the suspect using the woman’s card at an ATM in Lake City.

During the course of their on-going investigation, robbery detectives continued to develop new information.

On January 10, 2012 robbery detectives served a search warrant on the suspect’s residence in the 2000 block of N.E. 96th Street. The suspect was placed under arrest and transported to the robbery office. After being interviewed the suspect was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery.

Update Jan. 14: Channel 13, Q13Fox.com, has covered NEST’s launch. Click here for the video.

—————————————————-

Watch video to see what NEST will do

North East Seattle Together - the new “virtual village for seniors” - has hired an executive director and opened its office in the Ravenna-Bryant neighborhood.

It is now recruiting Founding Members who will be the first to benefit from the community and support services that NEST will provide to keep seniors safe in their own homes. Founding Members can begin enjoying NEST’s services on February 14, 2012, with the full public launch occurring on May 1.

Many neighbors have followed NEST’s progress for more than a year, watching as it organized, became a 501(c)3 and started significant fundraising. It was featured in the Seattle Times and by KUOW Public Radio. More than 650 people asked to be added to its mailing lists, and over 150 volunteered to help NEST help seniors as it prepared to launch.

NEST is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization that will be supported primarily by membership dues. It will serve 14 neighborhoods in northeast Seattle - including Maple Leaf, Wedgwood, View Ridge and the University District - with a wide assortment of services, including transportation, simple household tasks, shopping and many, many more activities that are described on its website.

NEST’s new executive director, Judy Kinney, has worked for decades as a community builder, social services leader, business owner and life coach. She is deeply committed to NEST’s mission. Earlier this month Judy opened the first NEST office, at 5751 33rd Ave. N.E., inside Ravenna United Methodist Church.

For more information email NEST or call Judy at 206-525-6378.

Disclosure: Mike, the author of this post, is also a NEST board member.

After the unprecedented number of comments from our readers (90 as of Monday morning), it’s safe to say that there’s plenty of interest in the future of Beaver Pond Natural Area, which is located at the north end of Maple Leaf and just east of Northgate Mall.

Want to help guide the future for the park? You’re invited to add your 2 cents at a planning meeting for the park’s restoration project from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 11, at Northgate Community Center, 10510 Fifth Avenue N.E. Even if you aren’t ready to state your opinion, the meeting will offer a good opportunity for you to learn more about the plan with presentations on background studies and site analysis from Seattle Parks and Recreation and The Watershed Company. From the meeting announcement:

This project modifies the existing park, refines and completes channel work in portions of the park by relocating two portions of Thornton Creek, removes invasive plants and restores native habitat.

Beaver Pond Natural Area on Thornton Creek consists of several contiguous parcels located near the Northgate Community Center and continues northeasterly into the Maple Leaf neighborhood. It is bordered by NE 103rd and NE 107th streets to the south and north, by 5th Avenue NE to the west, and by Roosevelt Way NE to the east. The park includes the South Branch of Thornton Creek, wooded areas, wetlands, and several trails. Visitors will see a wide variety of wildlife including an active beaver pond. There are several major access points located at the south end of the park, on NE 105th Street, and at the corner of NE 106th Street and 9th Avenue NE

This project is one of 15 projects to receive funding through the first round of the Parks and Green Spaces Levy Opportunity Fund. The Opportunity Fund provides $15 million in funding for community initiated park development or property acquisition projects. To view other projects that received funding please visit http://seattle.gov/parks/levy/opportunity.htm

A second meeting that will incorporate feedback from this initial meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 14.

For more information, visit the project website or contact Emily Lofstedt, parks planner, at 206-684-7047 or [email protected].

UPDATE: Because of the recent illegal tree-trimming that took place at the park, believed by some to help decrease area crime, Seattle Parks has added to the agenda plans to address safety concerns in the Natural Area.

It’s not just North Seattle-area Little Leagues that now are looking for players to register.

Photo courtesy Seattle Vikings Rugby.

Craig Wicks, the director of coaching for the Seattle Vikings Rugby, asked us to let our readers know that his program also is now looking for boys and girls ages 7-18 to register for the season. He writes:

Rugby is one of the fastest growing sports in the US for boys and girls and will be included in the Olympics in 2016. The Seattle Vikings have been operating in Seattle for over 20 years and introduce kids in Seattle to rugby every year.

Practice runs from January to May at Magnuson Park, and Wicks says new players are always welcome.

Find out more at www.seattlevikings.com or [email protected].

Update 3 p.m.: Seattle Police now say this morning’s fire was arson.

Firefighters informed the officers that this was an arson, and that the suspect had been transported to Harborview Medical Center for injuries he sustained in the fire. Arson Bomb Squad (ABS) detectives also responded to the scene. The adult male suspect was treated at HMC for his injuries (non life threatening) and then released Upon his release, he was taken into custody by officers and later booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Arson.

Update 10 a.m. Audrey has talked with the public information officer (who appears to have arrived after we left).

Per Seattle Fire Department PIO officer, it looks like the fire started in one of the upstairs bedrooms, and there were 3 people inside the house when it started. All got out safely.

With firefighters on the roof and through the front door of the house, the fire, from what looks like a air vent for a dryer or kitchen fan, was under control at about 9 a.m. Right now, news cameras and the police are setting up for what looks like will be a long morning.

Thanks, Audrey!

——————————————-

Seattle firefighters knocked down a blaze in a Maple Leaf single-family home this morning. Everyone inside is OK.

The initial call came in at 8:39 a.m. for a fire at Northeast 88th Street and Second Avenue Northeast, and 14 fire engines, medic vans and other units were dispatched.

Before the call was over, another five units arrived, including a public information officer.

Seth Howard, owner of the Last Drop Bottle Shop, emailed us this morning to let us know that somebody smashed through the glass door of the store at 8016 15th Ave. N.E. between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

He tells us:

Follows same crime at little Caesars last week. Who next? Coopers? All about pets? (Editor’s note: All The Best Pet Care was burglarized last February.)

Last month the front door at Cafe Piccolo, 9400 Roosevelt Way N.E., was smashed. In November it was the Hudson New American Public House, 8014 15th Ave. N.E. (next door to the Last Drop and also owned by Howard). Those reports are here.

Tomorrow night, Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave. N.E., is launching a new series dedicated to puppetry on the silver screen, starting with a showing of the film “Quixote” at 8 p.m.

This film of “Quixote” was envisioned by Steven Ritz-Barr who gathered a team of artists together for the project. After the film, he will be available for a Q-and-A.

Admittance is free, although donations are appreciated. Guests are asked to RSVP on the Northwest Puppet Center Facebook page.