A few years ago, changes were made to the English Language Learner (ELL, formerly ESL) program in Seattle Public Schools. These changes have taken non-native speakers out of one classroom and put them in the traditional classroom with native English speakers. Our sister site, MyWallingford, has more on these changes and how they’re affecting students and teachers at Hamilton International Middle School.

Read: Final bell for self-contained bilingual classes

Last month Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn finished his walking tour of Maple Leaf by saying he had new information about the proposed deep-bore tunnel replacement for the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

“The deep-bore tunnel, with tolls, causes more congestion and delay on city streets than any other option,” McGinn told the March 19th meeting at Aljoya Thornton Place, 450 N.E. 100th St.

Apparently he repeated the claim on KUOW public radio last week, according to Sunday’s Seattle Times “Truth Meter:”

The claim: Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn said last week on a radio appearance that the state’s data show the planned Highway 99 tolled tunnel would cause the worst downtown congestion of all options to replace the 58-year-old Alaskan Way Viaduct.

What we found: half true

We took a look at the same numbers, and the state does predict its tunnel plan would mean more car traffic in the area, which the anti-tunnel McGinn points to as more congestion. But the state’s research also says drivers would reach their destinations sooner compared with the surface-transit option McGinn favors. Because of that, we find McGinn’s statement half true.

You can read the full story here in today’s Seattle Times.

Wild Root Salon & Spa is doing its part for the planet as Earth Day (April 22) approaches. On Saturday, April 23, the Maple Leaf salon, located at 8814 Roosevelt Way N.E., is holding a “Wardrobe for Water” event as part of its Wild Root Earth Month Campaign.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., lightly used clothing, baby clothes, shoes and accessories will be for sale, with all proceeds going to the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance. Wild Root is repeating the event the following weekend, also from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 30, at its location inside of Northgate Mall.

Throughout the month, both locations also are holding raffles for products and services, with proceeds again going toward the Puget Soundkeeper Alliance.

Do you know of any other Earth Day events taking place in the neighborhood that we should know about?

Photo courtesy Bob Iden

This is the famous “who cooks for you” owl, so named for its call. (Play the video below to hear it.)

We last wrote about this owl species almost exactly a year ago, but over the past several weeks three different people have sent us photos of barred owls. All were taken near Thornton Creek between Northeast 98th and 104th streets.

Barred owl video by Aaron Hill

“A very common owl that can often be seen hunting during the day,” Stan Tekiela says in “Birds of Washington.”

Chris C. Fisher, in “Birds of Seattle,” notes:

In our region, the Barred Owl can be found along steep-sloped ravines and bluffs with a mixed wood canopy. This species, which calls throughout the year, has bred for many years in the forests of Discovery Park and it can also be found at St. Edward State Park in nearby Kirkland.

And, clearly, in Maple Leaf!

Photos courtesy Dennis Paulson, who writes: “It’s wonderful how those things come out in the open in the daytime sometimes.”

Check out the “partay” now taking place at Hangfire Design and Frame, 9211 Roosevelt Way N.E.

Owner Mark Hutchins, shown at front right, is hosting an opening reception tonight featuring the art of Northwest artist/musician/entrepreneur Rob Morgan. Don’t worry if you can’t make it tonight, though. Morgan’s “semi-legendary cartoon characters Ivan, George & their ever present bun warmer (aka ‘Two Katz & A Toaster’)” will be on display at the artistic frame store through May 14.

It was supposed to stay closed until 5 p.m. today, but the bridge on 15th Avenue Northeast over Thornton Creek is open for business.

One reader reports: “Went by around 8 and it was open!”

At 10 a.m. crews were still on a side street loading barricades into trucks, but traffic was moving smoothly across the span.

If you still haven’t been to Hangfire Design and Frame, there’s a perfect opportunity to check it out tonight.

The artistic framing store at 9211 Roosevelt Way N.E. is kicking off a monthlong art show featuring new works by Northwest artist/musician/entrepreneur Rob Morgan with a party that we’ll just let Hangfire tell you about:

“OPENING RECEPTION / PARTAY: Friday, April 15th 2011 from 6 PM until… um, it’s over. THIS is gonna be a HOOT, people.”

The art show will be on display tonight through May 14 and is titled “Two Katz & A Toaster: The Art Show.” More on the show:

Featuring full color acrylic paintings in a variety of sizes of Morgan’s semi-legendary cartoon characters Ivan, George & their ever present bun warmer (aka “Two Katz & A Toaster”), this show will surely appeal not only to longtime fans of the comic strip but to anybody who loves comic &/or p…op art in general. Known primarily as the frontman for such Seattle bands as The Squirrels & The Pudz, Morgan has been active in the art & graphics world for decades as well, and has been cranking out bizarre cartoons since childhood. “Two Katz And A Toaster” comics date back to 1974, with the strip reaching the height of it’s popularity so far during the 1980s & ’90s, due to it’s inclusion in Morgan’s own publication Poplust Magazine as well as KYYX’s ‘Wave’ freebie, both of which were fairly well distributed. Many may find it surprising that this is actually the first time Morgan has ever done an art show based on the characters, let alone rendered them larger than life on canvas! Even more surprising is that this is actually Rob’s first “official” solo art show at all. So you could say that this show has indeed been decades in the making. And boy, are you 2KAAT fans gonna dig it.

By Katie Melton

One hundred and thirteen years after its founding, the original aerie of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles is moving to Maple Leaf.

Mother Aerie One is now at 8201 Lake City Way N.E., in a building currently undergoing some extensive remodeling, but which will provide the members with a large social room, a meeting room, offices and a location to display artifacts from the original aerie at Morgan’s Shipyard on the Seattle waterfront.

“The Fraternal Order of the Eagles (F.O.E.) was founded as a club to do good things for society,” said Dan Kerege, president of Mother Aerie One, who has been a member for 18 years.

The Order was established in 1898 by six rival theater owners, who met to discuss a musicians’ strike. According to the aerie’s website: “After deciding what to do on that issue, they decided to bury the hatchet and form an organization dubbed ‘The Order of Good Things.”

The idea was that F.O.E. members would “make life more desirable by lessening its ills and promoting peace, prosperity, gladness and hope,” reads the mission statement.

So, what prompted the move to Maple Leaf? (more…)

Check out today’s Sauced blog on the Seattle Met website, which features Maple Leaf’s own COA Mexican Eatery & Tequileria. The new restaurant plans to open in mid-May at the former location of Divine, 7919 Roosevelt Way N.E.

The blog says COA is just “the latest in a string of local establishments specializing in agave spirits,” although the only other location that’s even somewhat “local” for us is Bandolero in Green Lake, which opened last fall, according to our news partner My Green Lake.

The post muses that COA’s clientele might nickname the restaurant the Hoe Bar, but you’ll have to read the link yourself to figure out why.

Mandi emails to ask if anybody knows what police officers were doing in the 9100 block of Roosevelt Way Northeast last night. So far, we haven’t found out.

Good day. I was coming home last night around 9:45 and saw several police cars in front of Chuck’s Auto. The officers were questioning and looked like about to arrest 2 men. Does anyone know more of this activity and the reason?

There have, incidentally, been only two (2) home burglaries reported so far this month in Maple Leaf. One just showed up on the police map from Wednesday afternoon, April 13, in the 9100 block of Second Avenue Northest.

The other occurred during daylight hours on April 7, in the 1200 block of Northeast 96th Street. Entry was made though a sliding kitchen window and jewelry was stolen, police report.

Ralph emails to say that on Wednesday a lost chicken appeared in the alley between Roosevelt Way Northeast and and 11th Avenue Northeast.

I’m a city boy and don’t know anything about chickens. This one is having a bad hair day. There are plenty of dogs, cats, raccoons and such so I don’t know if it will survive until its owner finds it.

Update: Wyatt is back home!

I woke up this morning and found him sleeping on the bed I left for him in the mud room. Thank you.

Matthew says their dog Wyatt found his way out of the yard on Monday.

Wyatt is a Siberian Husky that we rescued. He is a very loving dog but is cautious of strangers. He gets very nervous if you try to lure him with food. Wyatt has white fur and wears a red collar.

If you find him call (206) 229-5006 or (206) 353-1586.

And thanks to Lori, who also emailed us about Wyatt, saying he’s been seen in both Maple Leaf and Wedgwood.

By Katie Melton

Until recently a park and ride lot, new Hubbard Homestead Park is having a grand opening on April 23 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The event kicks off with an egg hunt, hosted by the Northgate Community Center, and continues with family-friendly activities and music. The park, at Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 112^th Street, is just north of the Northgate Target store.

“It’s going to be a great event. We’re having a DJ there and a local musician, Rodney Dean, is going to play acoustic music,” said Karen O’Connor with Seattle Parks and Recreation.

The park features a basketball court and a future skate park. “The skate park will be built and completed by the end of the summer,” O’Connor said.

The park’s features emphasize the natural history of the site. The property used to be owned by the Hubbard family as a homestead from 1913 to 1968, and the city of Seattle is honoring them as environmental conservationists.

A natural spring once ran through the Hubbard’s homestead property. Artists Laura Haddad and Tom Drugan depicted the spring through a source stone.

“The other interesting thing is that the artists are going to be there. They’re going to talk about the artwork and the mythological message behind the art,” said O’Connor.

Hubbard Park also contributes to the well-being of the neighborhood’s own Thornton Creek. The “wet meadow” feature is located on the east side of the park.

“It’s a feature that helps with the filtration of water before it goes into Thornton Creek,” O’Connor said.

The decision to remove the park and ride and create a park was done in 1993 by the Northgate community after the Northgate Area Comprehensive Plan was complete. Another recommendation was made for the park in 2004.

So, how will Hubbard Homestead Park benefit Maple Leaf and Northgate neighbors?

“It’s a large, open green space, and a gathering place. The area was really in need of some open space,” said O’Connor.

Katie Melton is the intern for Maple Leaf Life. She is a journalism student at the University of Washington.

Update 8 p.m.:

We found Chuck! A good neighbor had him and returned him. (Now we just have to run around the neighborhood and take down all the signs we posted…:)

Thank you so much for your help!

-Elizabeth

Elizabeth writes: “We have lost our cat, Chuck. He has been missing since April 7. He is fat, brown with stripes, fixed, and friendly.”

Chuck went missing from the neighborhood around Northeast 82nd Street and Eighth Avenue Northeast. You can reach Elizabeth at 206-455-1807. (She’s putting up fliers today.)

As local bus riders know, this switch lasted more than a year.

Our thanks to Mat, who in commenting on an earlier post was the first to note here that the bus service that moved to Roosevelt Way Northeast on Feb. 8, 2010, will return to 15th Avenue Northeast next Saturday.

Service change notices were posted at Roosevelt bus stops today (4/8) – the 73 and 77 will return to 15th starting on April 16.

The reason: the bridge over 15th Avenue Northeast, closed since last May, will now reopen the previous evening, April 15.

Be ready for a little more walking: Metro has cut the number of neighborhood bus stops on 15th Avenue nearly in half.

Route 373, to the University District also moves to 15th Avenue, but Route 68 to the U-District remains on Roosevelt.