After last week’s busy week for street food vendors in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, this week’s activity is notably lighter because of Thursday’s Thanksgiving holiday.

Got Soup? is the only vendor expected to visit the Washington Dental Building at 9706 Fourth Ave. this week during its regular Tuesday stop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. And what could be more perfect if today’s snowy weather persists?

The visit is also convenient for those of us who might not be as prepared for Thanksgiving as we would like to think. In addition to piping hot soups, Got Soup? also offers frozen soups that would be perfect to take home. The menu this week follows: [Read more →]

Noon update:

Fifth Avenue Northeast is good to go, as is Northeast Northgate Way - unlike two years ago, when we were skidding through foot-high drifts in the middle of Northgate while listening on the car radio to then-Mayor Greg Nickels assure us that “every arterial in the city is clean and bare.”

Roosevelt Way Northeast and 15th Avenue Northeast are now in much better shape, with cars traveling (unwisely) at the speed limit. Some side streets are still icy.

Total snow at the official Maple Leaf Life snow-measuring car is now 2 inches. Wind storm still expected this afternoon.

Seattle Parks and Recreation is closing down at 6 p.m.:

• All community center programs scheduled after 6 p.m. are canceled.

• All pool programs scheduled after 6 p.m. are canceled.

• Pools and community centers will be open for drop-in use until their regularly scheduled closing times: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/centers.asp and http://www.seattle.gov/parks/pools.asp.

• All athletic fields are closed. All evening recreation programs are canceled.

• Golf courses are closed but not open for sledding because there is not enough snow.

School update 10:52 a.m.:

Since weather conditions are predicted to continue to change throughout the day and additional snow is expected, we have decided to end all Seattle Public Schools activities as of 12:35 p.m. today.

That means:

1. Middle school and high school students will be dismissed at 12:35 p.m. as announced early this morning.

2. No parent-teacher conferences will be held at elementary and K-8 schools after 12:35 p.m.

3. No after-school or evening activities.

4. Tonight’s Student Assignment Transition Plan Northwest region meeting at Ingraham High School tonight has been canceled.

We will monitor conditions closely overnight and make a decision by 5:30 a.m. tomorrow morning about operations for Tuesday.

From personal experience this morning (it’s now 8:45) Lake City Way is bare and wet - and moving nice and safely slow.

But 15th Avenue Northeast is icy. Cars there are moving less than 20 mph, and for good reason - their ABS brakes keep slamming on.

Roosevelt Way Northeast is a little less icy, but still dangerous.

Side streets are icy.

Here’s the snow total as measured atop the official Maple Leaf Life snow-measuring car. (Need to get a Maple Leaf Ace Hardware ruler.)

Seattle Public Schools is closing middle and high schools early today, at 12:35 p.m., because of possible snow accumulation. Elementary and K-8 schools are closed this week due to parent-teacher conferences, which will go on as scheduled.

Metro just announced (5 p.m.) that all bus service during Monday morning’s commute will be on snow routes.

The Monday forecast from the National Weather Service indicates that cold temperatures and more moisture could cause snowfall in King County starting in the morning and lasting throughout the day.

The local forecast includes the possibility of 1 to 2 inches of snow, plus north winds gusting up to 37 mph.

Check Metro Online at www.kingcounty.gov/metro/snow. The link is a little confusing, but it shows both transit alerts and, by scrolling down, the snow routes for buses.

Here’s a local traffic problem that might find a solution, thanks to a $4.5 million grant from the state.

Seattle’s Department of Transportation blogs:

As many of us know, the intersection of NE Northgate Way and Fifth Ave NE has significant traffic congestion during peak periods due to the high volume of westbound vehicles turning left to go south. Queuing from this traffic regularly blocks driveways and through traffic, delaying significant numbers of buses and trucks, and prevents easy access to retail establishments throughout the Northgate area.

The state money, combined with $4.65 million in levy funds, is intended to:

• Widen the intersection of Northeast Northgate Way and Fifth Avenue Northeast to accommodate an additional westbound to southbound left-turn lane.
• Extend the right-turn lane on Fifth at Northgate for northbound traffic turning east.

• Rebuild 1.4 miles of pavement on Northeast 105th Street/Northgate Way from Greenwood Ave North to First Ave Northeast.

• Build two landscaped medians on Northgate between Meridian Ave North and Interstate 5, and one west of Fifth Avenue.

• Upgrade 12 signalized intersections along the corridor with new controller cabinets and pedestrian countdown signals.

• Add dynamic message signs, roadway cameras, vehicle detection and travel time readers, and linking them to SDOT’s Traffic Management Center.

The work should be finished by the end of 2013.

SUNDAY 1120 HOURS: First snow flakes of this winter started within the past 15 minutes in Maple Leaf. Photos to come (if we’re lucky).

Take time to read through the four pages of burglaries in the Maple Leaf, Roosevelt and Ravenna neighborhoods that Diane Horswill, police community coordinator for the North Precinct, brought to this week’s burglary forum.

They summarize 35 break-ins in the past few weeks. Of those, 18 involved breaking a window (or a glass door panel):

• “The suspect(s) had broken a ground level window, reached inside, unlocked it and entered.”
• “They discovered a broken basement window.”
• “She came home to find a kitchen window broken and the house rifled.”
• “An unknown suspect used an axe head to break a kitchen window and enter this house, the homeowner’s 15-year-old son was asleep upstairs and was awakened by breaking glass….”
• “The victim came home to find that the suspect(s) had used a brick to break out her kitchen door window and then reached inside to unlock the door.”
• “The suspect(s) threw a brick through the glass in his back door and rifled his wife’s jewelry box and smashed a child’s piggy bank.”
• “When they returned they found that someone had thrown a cement brick through their basement window and stole some cash.”
• “He found that someone had broken out the glass in his back door, reached in and unlocked it.”
• “When the victim arrived home he found a kitchen window smashed and a number of guns, cash, jewelry, camera and iPod were stolen.”
• “When they came home they found a kitchen window broken out, jewelry and video games had been stolen.”
• “The 15-year-old son of the homeowner was upstairs working on his computer when he heard the sound of breaking glass.”
• “The victim came home to find that the glass window in her basement door had been broken with a brick.”
• “When the victim came home he discovered that someone had broken his backdoor window and reached in and unlocked the door.”
• “The victim came home to find her kitchen window broken out and two laptops, video players and games had been stolen, the house has an alarm but it was not set.”

It was a broken window that alerted neighbors to the burglary that ended in the arrest of six teens in Maple Leaf.

But there are other tricks: “The victim came home to find his home broken into by accessing the cat door.”

Take time to read through the four pages of burglaries in the Maple Leaf, Roosevelt and Ravenna neighborhoods that Diane Horswill, police community coordinator for the North Precinct, brought to this week’s burglary forum.

They summarize 35 break-ins in the past few weeks. Of those, 18 involved breaking a window (or a glass door panel):

• “The suspect(s) had broken a ground level window, reached inside, unlocked it and entered.”
• “They discovered a broken basement window.”
• “She came home to find a kitchen window broken and the house rifled.”
• “An unknown suspect used an axe head to break a kitchen window and enter this house, the homeowner’s 15-year-old son was asleep upstairs and was awakened by breaking glass….”
• “The victim came home to find that the suspect(s) had used a brick to break out her kitchen door window and then reached inside to unlock the door.”
• “The suspect(s) threw a brick through the glass in his back door and rifled his wife’s jewelry box and smashed a child’s piggy bank.”
• “When they returned they found that someone had thrown a cement brick through their basement window and stole some cash.”
• “He found that someone had broken out the glass in his back door, reached in and unlocked it.”
• “When the victim arrived home he found a kitchen window smashed and a number of guns, cash, jewelry, camera and iPod were stolen.”
• “When they came home they found a kitchen window broken out, jewelry and video games had been stolen.”
• “The 15-year-old son of the homeowner was upstairs working on his computer when he heard the sound of breaking glass.”
• “The victim came home to find that the glass window in her basement door had been broken with a brick.”
• “When the victim came home he discovered that someone had broken his backdoor window and reached in and unlocked the door.”
• “The victim came home to find her kitchen window broken out and two laptops, video players and games had been stolen, the house has an alarm but it was not set.”

It was a broken window that alerted neighbors to the burglary that ended in the arrest of six teens in Maple Leaf.

But there are other tricks: “The victim came home to find his home broken into by accessing the cat door.”

Looking for a way to help those in need this holiday season? You can do your part by helping fill the bin for North Helpline located at Blue Saucer, 9127 Roosevelt Way N.E., and in exchange you’ll get more than just that warm, happy feeling. You can also, have a warm, happy belly.

If you bring in a grocery bag full of non-perishable food items such as canned or dry goods for the donation bin, the Maple Leaf cafe will give you a free drink of your choice. Owner Billie Bryan writes:

Heck of a deal in exchange for helping someone who needs it, right?!

Bryan said she’s hoping to fill the bin twice before Thanksgiving, which means this offer is good starting immediately and continuing through Wednesday, Nov. 24.

North Helpline, 12736 33rd Ave. N.E., also is in need of extra turkeys as Thanksgiving approaches, and is asking community members if they can spare an extra bird for their neighbors in need. So far they are running well behind the known demand:

This Thanksgiving, millions of people in our community will gather with family and friends to enjoy a delicious meal and give thanks for their many blessings. Unfortunately, in those same communities, thousands of those less fortunate will have no food on their tables.

That’s why we need your help. In 2009, our food bank provided 750 turkeys to families in need. Due to tough economic times, this year the need is much greater. But with your help, we are confident we can distribute even more.

As you prepare for your holiday feast please consider picking up an extra 10, 12 or 14 lb. turkey for your neighbors in need. You can drop it by the food bank Tuesday – Friday from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM or Saturday from 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM. Your generosity will ensure that more families will be able to enjoy a plentiful meal on Thanksgiving Day.

Magnuson Park’s Building 30, 7400 Sand Point Way N.E., will once again be the site of the Friends of the Seattle Public Library’s holiday book sale. It take place this Saturday, Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. You’ll find books, CDs, DVDs and gift items.

The sale comes just a few days after word that Friends may not be able to use Building 30 for the event beyond 2011. The building doesn’t meet city standards and budget woes may prevent further improvements. You can read more on the Friends website and a more detailed story from our news partners in The Seattle Times.

Photo courtesy Maple Leaf Life reader Dawn Siegel.

When the 15th Avenue Bridge opens back up again this spring, all of the commuters who fled the 15th Avenue Northeast corridor during the bridge’s construction are in for a few new sights.

We now have the above solar-powered speed sign for northbound drivers at Northeast 86th Street, and the new sidewalks from Northeast 94th to 97th streets, shown below, also have recently opened up to pedestrians.

Unfortunately, it looks like some of the hydroseeding that was done last month may already be destroyed, at right, by a driver who apparently used our new sidewalk as a U-turn pullout.

In addition to improvements on 15th Avenue, Maple Leaf also has been promised a few crosswalks on Roosevelt Way Northeast, at Northeast 90th, 92nd and 97th streets. In mid-October, the intersections were prepped for the crosswalks, but still no sign of them a month later.

Well, the Seattle Department of Transportation Blog says they’re coming “before the winter rains,” so any day now ….

UPDATE: Brian Dougherty with SDOT says the tentative date for our new crosswalks is Dec. 9, weather and other factors pending. Rain, snow stay away!