By Katie Melton

Want to make your voice heard on the proposed street mural on the corner of 12th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 96th Street? There will be a meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at the residence of Stacy Brewer, 1050 N.E. 97th St., to discuss the project.

To move forward, the project needs the approval of 60 percent of Maple Leaf residents on the adjacent streets, according to the Seattle Department of Transportation. The street painting would be completed by Maple Leaf children and adult volunteers, with the help of Rachel Marcotte, the Maple Leaf artist behind this project and the Wallingford turtle painting, shown above.

The meeting will provide attendees the opportunity to look at design proposals, as well as ask questions about the process and impacts of the project.

If you cannot attend the meeting but still have comments or questions, contact Marcotte at [email protected] or 206-522-4883.

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

Is it a sign of the changing economy? The former Northwest Gold Exchange at 837 Northeast Northgate Way appears to have closed, with a Sally Beauty Supply expected to open.

This post thanks to Amy at My Green Lake.

Seattle Parks and Recreation’s spring northeast brochure is now available. You can view a PDF here.

The brochure details class, program, and facility information for the Green Lake, Laurelhurst, Northgate, Magnuson, Meadowbrook, and Ravenna-Eckstein Community Centers, as well as the Evans Pool and Meadowbrook Pool.

Registration for spring classes begins on Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 12 p.m.

Here’s a related update from parks:

Gymnasium Drop-In Sports Activity and Fitness Room Fees will increase to $3 for adults and $2 for senior adults per session as of April 1, 2011.

This includes adult basketball, volleyball, badminton, pickleball, and other drop-in activities.

The Blue Saucer has announced on its Facebook page that it’s celebrating its third birthday this month.

The Saucer, at 9127 Roosevelt Way N.E., will celebrate on Saturday, March 12, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Stumptown Demonstrating and brewing FREE COFFEE tastings! Parfait Ice Cream truck here 11-3 and Cake from Boracchini’s Bakery! Enter the drawing for free yum-yums !!!

Many of the students at Northgate Middle College High School have tried to fit in at other high schools, some of them multiple times, and it just didn’t work out. Until they found the alternative public school nestled in Northgate Mall, which introduced those students to the community Thursday night at its Spring Fling Silent Auction.

Photo courtesy Rachel Nelson with Northgate Mall.

Some of the students, who range in age from 16 to 20, shared stories of their struggles both at school and at home, and how they’ve now found a second home at Northgate Middle College High School. Joe Lee, who comes from a broken family and has dropped out of high school twice, was among those students:

“My name is Joseph Lee, a student here at Middle College, and without this program I would not be graduating. Not only will I be graduating, but I have plans of attending The Evergreen State College to study the environment … . The opportunity I’ve had here at Middle College is very special to me as I am finally earning my diploma and on my way to beginning a new opportunity where the rewards will last a lifetime.”

Those words touched the 50-plus people in attendance at the event, who donated $8,000 at the silent auction that featured gift cards, jewelry, theater tickets and more that were donated from mall stores and others.

“When the students got up and spoke, that was really compelling,” said Sandy, a friend of a student and a self-proclaimed “fan” of the school. “I think it’s really important that people that didn’t fit in at other schools were able to build their skills here.”

One of the goals of the auction was to raise enough money for the school to keep its part-time life coach, but any extra money also will help with day-to-day needs such as school supplies, food and field trips. (more…)

By Katie Melton

Looking to avoid the rainy weather this weekend, but still do something fun with the family? Stop by Maple Leaf’s Northwest Puppet Center, 9123 15th Ave. N.E., which will feature “Adventures of Monkey King” at 1 and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The story of the “Monkey King” is a tale from classic Chinese literature, and the theater will be hosting sixth-generation puppeteer Jen Yang for the debut performance.

This show will be held at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from March 5-20. Admission is $8.50 for children, $10.50 for adults and $9 for seniors.

You may purchase tickets online or at the door.

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

A reader in neighboring Pinehurst wrote to ask us to remind all of our readers to never leave anything in your car, even if just for a few minutes. Elizabeth shares her account from Thursday night when she was parked at Bark! Espresso, which is north of Maple Leaf at 11335 Roosevelt Way N.E.:

I wanted to let you know about a car prowl last night and to WARN other people. Last night at 5:45 pm (it was still very light out at that time) I left my work bag (containing my wallet, cell phone, purse, ipod, library books etc) on the front seat while I ran into Great Dog for literally 5 minutes. I parked in the small “lot” next to Bark Espresso. By the time I got back out to my car someone had smashed the passenger side window and stolen my bag and contents which total over $1K to replace. I scanned the area and saw NOTHING and NOBODY. I am simply amazed that in the short amount of time I was gone someone was able to silently break my car window, grab my things and disappear. Apparently, someone in Bark was sitting right by the window nearest my car and they saw and heard nothing. I have always believed MapleLeaf/Pinehurst are relatively safe and so have often left a bag in my locked car while I ran a very quick errand. NEVER Again! Please remind people that leaving items in your car for even a very short period is not a good idea.

Update: Seattle police have issued a release on this incident:

Investigation later determined that there was no female involved in the disturbance nor was there any evidence that an axe was used as a weapon. Several subjects fled the residence in question prior to the arrival of officers and those subjects remain at large.

One subject sustained possible life-threatening injuries from an unknown blunt object. The other subject sustained a non-life-threatening injury. He was treated and released to the custody of Department of Corrections (DOC) officers, who subsequently booked him into the King County Jail for parole violations.

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We received an e-mail earlier today from Diane:

Something was going on with fire trucks, medic units on the east side of Roosevelt at 93 or 94th around 11-12n on Thursday.

I just saw a medic unit head south at a pretty good clip but no sirens. Closely followed by a police car.

A half-hour later there was nothing to see, but the 911 log has this: “Assault w/Weap 7 per Rule.” Which is a way of saying the Seattle Fire Department has a protocol that for this particular report, they send a lot of units.

Now KIRO-TV has this (somewhat confusing) report (thanks, MapleleafJill, for pointing it out):

Police received a call at about 11:21 a.m. that sounded like an open line, police said. The operator could hear a woman breathing in the background. The woman said she was dizzy and that her head was bleeding, police said.

Police scanner audio indicated that the woman may have been attacked with an axe.

Seattle police went to the scene and found a man staggering away, police said. Police said they didn’t make contact with the man, though it is unclear why.

In casual conversations about the neighborhood over the past few weeks one topic kept coming up. Often. And with feeling.

It wasn’t about crime in the neighborhood, nor about whether we should or should not acknowledge crime in the neighborhood.

It wasn’t about snow, or lack thereof.

It wasn’t even about neighborhood chickens (though expect more chicken updates soon).

It’s about the maddening fact that the yellow center line on Roosevelt Way Northeast is no longer a straight line, but abruptly jogs a couple of feet to one side as you’re driving along.

The effect is that you can drive in a straight line, and suddenly wonder: “Who moved my lane?” You’re something like a third of the way into the oncoming lane.

It’s most obvious between Northeast 85th and Northeast 89th streets, with another bobble at Northeast 92nd Street. (It’s also maddeningly hard to take a photo of.)

People are telling us they feel downright unsafe, and wondering why this happened. The situation is similar on Fifth Avenue Northeast, especially between Northeast 89th and 91st streets.

We remembered it’s related to the bike lane/parking issue on Roosevelt. A couple days ago we asked the city specifically about the yellow strips. Here’s the response, from Carol McMahan, of the transportation department.

We have plans to make adjustments to the tapers on Roosevelt Way NE at NE 85th Street, NE 89th Street, NE 92nd Street and on 5th Avenue NE at NE 89th Street and NE 91st Street to assist drivers in making these transitions. This work should be done later this spring as the weather improves and we get back into our painting season.

These shifts in the centerline were installed to accommodate the new uphill climbing lanes that have been installed for bicyclists on these two roadways. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or concerns about the bike facilities.

At least one neighborhood home is holding onto the holidays - and with good reason.

Temperatures remain below normal, additional snow in the mountains can be measured in the yards, and the forecast here calls for rain and sleet today and tonight.

It’s supposed to be 52 degrees today, not the forecast 47 degrees. And tonight? Just three degrees above freezing.

According to preliminary records, February brought 22 days of rain.

North Helpline, the food bank that has served Maple Leaf and much of north Seattle for two decades, is holding a recycling event for electronics on Saturday, April 2.

The event is free, but donations are accepted to help the food bank, which saw demand grow by over 37 percent last year.

It will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lake City Christian Church, 1933 N.E. 125th St.

Safe recycling of appliances, electronics, cell phones and printer cartridges, as well as metal objects, i.e. anything with a plug - anything metal, working or not. Pick up service for appliances and electronics available for a fee with prior arrangement call 206-376-3477.

For more information e-mail [email protected]. Or there’s a poster here: North Helpline Recycle Event.

Incidentally, the food bank is reprising its successful Empty Bowls fundraiser on May Day this spring.

Seattle Police, in a release this morning, said they were called overnight to a report of a naked man “growling like a dog” on a man’s front porch.

Officers contacted the naked man, who was clearly under the influence of narcotics. The man continued to scream that he was “the devil” and that “everyone was going to die.”

Officers ordered the man to lie down, but he instead continued to scream and started punching windows, breaking them and cutting himself.

At that point, officers were forced to use non-lethal force to control him. He was then handcuffed and Seattle Fire was able to treat the cuts to his hands.

The 20-year-old suspect was taken to Harborview Medical Center for further treatment. The incident occurred about 10:50 p.m. on March 1 in the 2000 block of Northeast 105th Street.

Update 5:50 p.m. The National Weather Service has issued a short-term forecast calling for hail and slick roads this evening:

SHOWERS QUICKLY MOVING FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST WILL

CONTINUE TO IMPACT WESTERN WASHINGTON THROUGH THE EVENING. DUE TO

LOW FREEZING LEVELS AND A MODERATE AMOUNT OF INSTABILITY SOME

SHOWERS WILL PRODUCE SMALL HAIL…GENERALLY AROUND PEA-SIZED.

SMALL HAIL PRODUCED FROM HEAVIER SHOWERS MAY TEMPORARILY PRODUCE SLICK

ROADWAYS AND CAUTION WHILE DRIVING IS ADVISED.

Update 2:35 p.m.: Hailing hard now. (Actually, it’s graupel.) Wind gusts 32 mph.

This morning’s windstorm has so far produced gusts topping 28 mph here at Maple Leaf Life.

More is expected through the early afternoon, possibly with gusts to 50 mph. From the Seattle office of the National Weather Service:

A WIND ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS OF 30 TO 39 MPH OR

GUSTS OF 45 TO 57 MPH ARE LIKELY. WINDS THIS STRONG CAN SNAP

SMALL TREE BRANCHES…TOPPLE SMALL OR SHALLOW-ROOTED TREES…AND

CAUSE LOCAL POWER OUTAGES.