Leschi Seattle

Sunday will mark the first full year since Officer Tim Brenton was shot and killed with an assault rifle at the corner of 29th & Yesler.

That crime and tragedy has brought the Leschi community together, and the result of that cooperation is the new memorial to Officer Brenton's life and service to the city that has quickly taken shape at the site of the murder.

The memorial will be dedicated on Sunday at 3pm in a sizeable ceremony. A large crowd of neighbors, family members, police officers, and other supporters are expected to be on hand for the official unveiling of the monument.

The city will be closing Yesler to traffic at 2pm, and the dedication ceremony is expected to run from 3:00 until 3:30pm.

It's so impressive to us to see a grassroots project like the memorial to fallen Officer Tim Brenton come together so smoothly and on schedule. Just three months since it was announced to the public, the project is on track for dedication next weekend on the anniversary of the police officer's brutal murder.

This Saturday you can lend a hand to make it a reality, as the public's help is needed to plant the focal tree, spread topsoil, and clean up the area surrounding the memorial.

The work party begins at 11am at 29th & Yesler, and some pizzas will be provided for lunch by All Purpose Pizza.

A burned chair sitting next to the curb gives visual evidence of a fire that occurred at a boarding house in the 2700 block of S. Washington Street last night.

And it appears to have been intentionally set, according to spokespersons for the Seattle Fire and Police departments.

The damage was approximately $11,000, described by the fire department as "mostly damage to contents, not the structure of the home."

SPD spokesperson Mark Jamieson says that it is an active police investigation, and that detectives have information on a possible suspect in hand. He also said that last nights fire doesn't appear to have any connection to the arson in Madrona from earlier in the week.

The big project to rehabilitate the Leschi boat marina is now in its final weeks, as contractors finish up work on rebuilding the breakwater for the north marina.

According to Gary Gibbons, a project manager in the Seattle Parks Department, the work had to take a hiatus during the summer months to comply with a state-mandated "fish window" which limits in-water construction during the salmon migration season. That window ended in September, and since then crews have been working to complete the project.

If all goes according to plan, the work should be finished up within the next few weeks.

The $2,000,000 project rebuilt the breakwaters for both the north and south marinas, created a new walkway in the north marina, repaired floating docks, and added new fire suppression systems. Gibbons says that "overall the project has gone rather well."

Commenters on our story earlier in the year noted the poor condition of the marina, with one saying the city "should have been paying me for helping to hold the dock together with my boat!"

We stopped by 29th & Yesler today to see how the Brenton Memorial was shaping up after last Saturday's big community work party.

The planting strip is fully excavated, and this week workers have made progress in building the border of the memorial using stone pavers. That work is scheduled to be finished in the next few days, and then next week a local memorial company will donate time and materials to build the stone badge that is the key feature of the design.

The memorial is a grassroots community project in remembrance of Officer Tim Brenton, who was murdered at 29th & Yesler on October 31st of last year.

The next opportunity for volunteers will be on Saturday October 23rd, where help will be needed to put the finishing touches on memorial before it's dedication at the end of the month. Stay tuned for more details on that soon.

This morning a group of about twenty neighbors and members of the Brenton family gathered with gloves, shovels, pick axes, wheelbarrows, and jack hammers at the southwest corner of 29th & Yesler and got started building a memorial to Officer Tim Brenton, killed in the line of duty almost one year ago.

The large crowd was making quick work of the big job ahead of them, breaking up the pavement and digging out nine inches of earth to make room for the $25,000 memorial. 

With the soil removed and the site prepared for construction, the next step will happen later this week when a contractor will fill the excavated area with paving stones. Then the next week another company will install the stonework that will form the police badge, all working towards a planned dedication of the memorial on October 31st, the one-year anniversary of the murder.

WIth $25,000 in donations and permits in hand, the Leschi community is preparing to start work on the memorial to Officer Tim Brenton, killed in the line of duty on October 31st last year.

Work will begin on Saturday morning at 10am with a community work party to get the project under way. Memorial organizers are asking people to bring shovels, pick-axes, gloves, and muscles to the corner of 29th Avenue & Yesler. They're also looking for heavy construction equipment such as pickup trucks, a jack-hammer, and a chainsaw.

The work will continue until 2pm, with lunch provided on site by Blu Water Bistro.

Republished from the October Leschi News.

Reflecting on her recent trip to Europe in last month’s News, Diane Snell noted a stark difference in daily life there. In many of the cities she explored, it is “possible to do without cars.” Across that continent, there is a long history of building and maintaining public transit, and the private automobile has never completely taken over. Right here in Leschi, ours was originally a community of transit and pedestrian-oriented development. Former Leschi Community Council President Wade Vaughn documents in his terrific local history, Seattle Leschi Diary, that Yesler cable cars running as often as every three minutes made even some well-to-do businessmen give up their buggy for daily commuting.

When the private automobile came along, things began to change in Leschi and across the United States.  Today, we’re suffering from the abandonment of urban railways, but our city’s blueprint retains the shape of the streetcar and bicycling networks it was built around.

We’re living at the tail end of an era in which the car was king, and we’re paying for it in poorer health outcomes sedentary transportation modes generate and the climate is paying for it as the fumes from ever more difficult and risky fossil fuels overheat the planet. But there is hope in the younger generation, which the U.S. Department of Transportation notes is driving less and owns fewer cars than previous generations. As texting-while-driving crackdowns continue, watch for this trend to grow among a generation more committed to connecting than cruising.

Some of this is why last month the Leschi Community Council voted to join Streets for All Seattle.  We also joined because we ride transit, we walk and we bicycle. Maybe we also hope we can one day become more like the civilized, people-oriented places that Americans can only enjoy as European tourists today.

Along with more than 60 other partner organizations in Streets for All Seattle, we believe that walking, bicycling and transit should be the easiest means of transportation in Seattle. And we are ready to work with our elected officials—many of whom have also said Seattle can do better—on sustainable transportation options. Streets for All Seattle has identified a number of potential funding sources—to the tune of $30 million dollars—for walking, biking and transit infrastructure.

This is the time to make ours the city we all want it to be. Our ambitions are for Seattle to become America’s most walkable city, a place where car ownership is not a prerequisite for gainful employment, where cyclists and transit riders never feel like second class citizens.

Our current situation, however, remains that we face cuts in Metro service hours, threatening to leave our fellow Seattleites stranded, and we’re not funding the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans that give us the options we need for our health and our future.

For more about Streets for All Seattle, and to get involved, contact LCC Executive Committee member Nate Cole-Daum or visit www.streetsforallseattle.org.

Our friends at The Seattle Times have a moving update on the Clemmons family and how they're still in limbo as the city decides whether they will cover the damages inflicted on the Clemmons' Leschi home during the police hunt for their nephew Maurice Clemmons last November:

The windows are boarded up. The walls stripped down to studs, and the floors to exposed, scarred wood, at the city's orders and expense. Everything that represented family and music, travels and tradition has been hauled off to a storage unit because of the tear-gas residue that settled on it that November night.

"I never imagined that this is what I was getting myself into," Chrisceda Clemmons said as we stood inside her Leschi home recently. "And not just myself, but my family."

... 

And yet, 10 months later, the family is still living in a rental home, waiting for their claim to be settled so they can rebuild not just their house, but their very lives.

"We're nervous; we don't know what's going to happen," Chrisceda Clemmons said. "The city could still choose not to do anything and then we would be homeless.

"We did the right thing by protecting the community, and we just want to be back," she said. The Seattle City Council reviewed the family's claim two weeks ago during a closed, executive session. The council is scheduled to meet again on the issue within the next month.

The Leschi community's efforts to build a memorial to fallen Officer Tim Brenton are getting closer to reality, with the group telling CDNews that they are at 60% of their fundraising goal and expecting several other large donations soon.

As we reported exclusively last month, the memorial committee is trying to raise $25,000 to fund a street-side memorial that will mark the spot where Officer Brenton was murdered last Halloween.

Committee member Robert Cipollone tells us that they have raised $4,200 in cash donations and $10,000 in materials and services from area companies, putting them at about $10,000 from their goal. Those numbers do not include donations that have been pledged from the BluWater Duck Derby and the Seattle Police and Firefighters guilds.

The cash and materials donations currently in hand are enough to allow construction to begin on schedule in October, pending city permitting that is currently underway. The balance of remaining donations will be used to set up a maintenance fund to ensure the long-term upkeep of the memorial. Although the committee assumes that much maintenance will by done by volunteers, the city is requiring the establishment of the maintenance plan to make sure the memorial is kept up as neighbors come and go.

Community members who want to support the memorial can make donations through PayPal to LeschiCC@gmail.com (Please reference the Brenton Memorial) or by check to:

Leschi Community Council
Attn: Officer Brenton Memorial 
Po Box 22391 
Seattle WA 98122-0391

This morning we spoke to Elizabeth Williams at BluWater Bistro to get an update on their Duck Derby fundraiser that benefits the Leschi memorial to Officer Tim Brenton.

She said they've sold "tons and tons" of $5 rubber ducks at each restaurant, and are getting close to the halfway point of their $10,000 goal. 

You can get your duck at any of their three locations up until noon on Saturday, when they'll dump them all in the lake in Leschi and give prizes to the owners of the three front finishers. They'll also take duck order by phone at 206-328-2233, or through buying a Duck Daiquiri cocktail at the restaurant bar.

Have you purchased your duck?

Starting Monday, August 30th, all BluWaters began selling mini ducks in-store for a rubber duck charity race to be held on Saturday, September 11th, at the BluWater Bistro in Leschi.   All proceeds benefit the Officer Brenton Memorial at 29th and Yesler, where he lost his life while on duty, that will be dedicated on the first anniversary of his death, October 31, 2010.

BluWater has set a goal of raising $10,000.

Derby Ducks can be purchased individually (ask a hostess) or with a drink special (ask a bartender or server)  An individual Derby Duck costs $5.00, with a drink special Daiquiri Duck costing $7.00.  Ducks can be left in the store of purchase or you can come to BluWater Bistro on race day to enter your duck.

The Rubber Duck Derby will begin at noon on September 11th

Buy a Derby Duck to support a good cause and to participate in the prizes, music, food and fun.  You do not have to be present at the Duck Derby to win the prizes:

1st Place - $1,000 BluWater Gift Card

2nd Place - 1 year of car detailing (once a month) from Final Touch Detail

3rd Place - Ride the Duck Gift Certificate for four

Best Dressed Duck - TBD

The Leschi neighborhood's efforts to build a memorial to Officer Tim Brenton is getting new support from local businesses. Yesterday BluWater Bistro left a comment on CDNews announcing their plans to hold an event on Saturday, September 11th, to raise funds towards the $25,000 cost of building the memorial.

The restaurant will be selling rubber ducks for $5 at each of their three locations, including their waterfront restaurant in Leschi, with the funds donated towards the memorial. Then on September 11th they'll hold a Derby event in Leschi, where the first three ducks that make it to shore will win a range of prizes for their sponsors.

The BluWater program comes one week after the memorial committee announced an $8,000 donation of materials and services from Quiring Monuments, which will provide the sculptural elements of the memorial.

The Leschi community is working to hit their $25,000 goal by October 1st, so that the memorial can be built and then dedicated on the one-year anniversary of Officer Tim Brenton's murder on October 31st.

Update from the planning committee for the Brenton Memorial:

• Quiring Monuments of Seattle is donating the materials and labor for fabricating the sculptural elements of the memorial.
• Other local businesses have also offered to donate materials as well as the use of their equipment.
• SDOT has approved the permit required for the memorial space.  Further discussion will be taking place regarding replacement of the street curb and adjoining sidewalk.
• Community work parties will take place on the 1^st three Saturdays of October.  Additional details will be provided in future updates.
• Cash donations to-date: $1,290; Value of donated materials to-date: $8,000.  Remaining to reach goal: $16,710

Early next week, the CDNews will be displaying a graphic to track the progress of the $25,000 fundraising effort.

You can make your tax-deductible contributions  through PayPal to LeschiCC@gmail.com (Please reference the Brenton Memorial) or by check to:

Leschi Community Council
Attn: Officer Brenton Memorial
Po Box 22391
Seattle WA 98122-0391

Thank you for you support.

Further information about the Memorial can be found at

http://centraldistrictnews.com/2010/08/12/leschi-neighbors-p

It was just over nine months ago that Officer Tim Brenton was brutally murdered as he sat in his patrol car at 29th & Yesler. A huge memorial of flowers and mementos grew on that corner in the days after the shooting, but it was temporary and was removed by police after Brenton's funeral was concluded.

Neighbors around the scene of the shooting have been working since that time to design a permanent memorial to Brenton's life and service to the community. Working with artist Judy Blanco, they've developed a plan that will fit the memorial into the strip of land between the sidewalk and 29th Avenue, just north of the intersection at Yesler. It includes a stone shield with Brenton's badge number, a black sash through that noting his death, the words of Brenton's family engraved in stones around the shield, and a tree and other plants that symbolize the ongoing lives of Officer Brenton's loved ones.

The Leschi Community Council is currently raising funds to pay for the $25,000 memorial, and are seeking community donations to reach that goal. Tax-deductible ontributions can be sent through PayPal to LeschiCC@gmail.com, or checks may be mailed to:

Leschi Community Council
Attn: Officer Brenton Memorial
Po Box 22391
Seattle WA 98122-0391

They're trying to hit that goal by October 1st to allow the memorial to be completed by the time of the 1-year anniversary of Officer Brenton's death on October 31st, 2010.

The Blue Angels were flying and for the 1st time in 30 years of living here I thought maybe there was a crash-a BOOM so severe that pictures flew off my wall.  It was probably a sonic boom but I have never heard anything like this before.  Did they lower the route again?

The Leschi Community Council puts on some of the neighborhood's best events. Their series of concerts at Flo Ware Park last year were terrific.

They've got another big one planned for tomorrow in the historic Leschi Park along Lake Washington, with their Leschi Park Arts & Crafts Fair, scheduled from 11am to 6pm.

They'll have live music from two bands:

• Bakra Bata - The leaders of the steel drum band lived just a few blocks from Leschi Park until they were forced out by a SWAT operation. They're performing for free in Leschi to thank the community for all of the support during the last year. Bakra Bata will perform at noon, and click here for a video of their performance at HONK!
• Greenwood Concert Band - The more than 50 musicians in the band reportedly made a big splash at last year's Leschi Park Centennial celebration. They take the stage at 2:30pm.

The event will also have neighborhood artists and other vendors displaying their work.

It all starts at 11am at the park at 201 Lakeside Avenue.

LESCHI COMMUNITY COUNCIL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SEATTLE PARKS & DEPARTMENT OF NEIGHBORHOODS PRESENTS LESCHI PARK ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR

Celebrate the work of neighborhood artists! 

Enjoy the musisc of Bakra Bata and the Greenwood Concert Band! 

Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Leschi Park (201 Lakeside Ave So.)

JOIN YOUR LESCHI NEIGHBORS AT THIS EVENT CELEBRATING OUR COMMUNITY ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS

Artists & Vendors - Please email carlosarriola@comcast.net to get details on participation.  Seattle Parks receives 10% of sales at the event or $10 whichever amount is greater.

UPDATE:  Bakra Bata is scheduled to play at noon and the Greenwood Concert Band at 2:30.

Sadly, brunch isn't working out as well as we had hoped and the labor to staff APP with sales so low is draining my already financially fragile business.

Thank for the support of those who were able to make it. When things turn around I hope to bring brunch back - perhaps late fall - but right now the economics just aren't making sense.

Thanks a million

Kedra & APP Staff

We just ran across a police report on a burglary in Leschi where a resident's dog got credit from police for preventing an overnight burglary. 

It happened at 1am on June 24th in the 300 block of 32nd, when the resident was awoken by the sound of a loud click followed by a thump. The noises sent the family dog running downstairs, "barking, growling, and causing a stir." The dog then ran outside, apparently chasing someone down the street.

Afterwards the victim looked around and found that someone had opened her back gate and popped a rear sliding glass door off of its track, which is what alerted the dog.

The police report ends with: "I also recommended she give [pet name redacted] an extra treat for a commendable job"

How about an easy silvan hike that doesn't require a long drive or putting up with other holiday-weekend travelers? We've known about Frink Park for years, but had only walked the northern most part of it that leads from Yesler Way down to the water.

But last week we went through the southern part and found a nice trail and some cool stuff to do along the way:

1. Start at Leschi Park on the waterfront next to the Leschi Market. Walk up the sidewalk into the park, staying left, and go past the restrooms and up the steps

2. Veer right at the top of the steps and continue until you cross Lake Washington Blvd. Follow the trail up the hill, staying to the left at any branches.

3. As you get to the top of the hill, you'll run into S. Frink Place. Cross it and pick up the trail on the other side

4. When the trail comes to Lake Washington Blvd again, take a quick right towards the bridge and walk back up the side of the stream. Enjoy the waterfall:

5. Walk back and cross Lake Washington Blvd, and follow the trail on the other side

6. The next time you see a trail to the right, take it and see where the nice little stream drains into a less nice culvert (hey Leschillians! how about a daylighting project?):

7. Go back and follow the trail to its exit on S. King. Walk east on King, cross Lakeside, and check out the pocket park on Lake Washington. Great for a dog swim:

8. Follow the sidewalk back to the Leschi Marina.

View Frink Park Hike in a larger map

One of the girls that died in last weekend's tragic fire was Nyella Smith, a 7 year old that attended Leschi Elementary.  Her sister Samarah, rescued by her aunt, also attends Leschi.  The school has put out a request for donations for the family, who lost everything in the fire.  Below are specific needs, and they can be delivered to the Leschi school office during school hours until June 30.  Please consider making one of the following donations to this grieving family:

Girl's size 6 clothing for Samarah Smith, Nyella's 5 year old sister

Gift Cards for Nyella's Mother, Yordonas Gebregiorgis for clothing and toys (for Target, Gap, Old Navy, etc.) 

Thank you for your help!