Currently the Fremont Library is open 50 hours a week for 6 days.  The new changes means it will only be open for 35 hours a week and 5 days.  The new hours will look like this:

Monday and Tuesday:  1-8pm (unchanged) 

Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday:  11am-6pm (currently 10am-8pm W-Th, 10am-6pm Sat)

Friday and Sunday:  Closed

You can read more about the City Council’s latest decision here.

The Fremont Urban Neighborhood Coalition drafted this plan in 1999.  At the time there were four key strategies to the Fremont Plan:  improve traffic circulation, enhance Fremont’s unique character, create a neighborhood community center and develop a unique arts/open space area around the Troll.

187 Fremont residents filled out the online questionnaire to review and comment on changes pertaining to the original neighborhood plan.  After compiling the information, the Neighborhood Plan Advisory Committee and Seattle Planning Commission are going to report back on trends that were noted.  They would also like the community’s input to identify continuing priorities and new issues that should be included in the final status report that will be presented to the City Council and Mayor.

The Neighborhood Status Reports meeting for Fremont will take place today, Thursday, November 12, from 6:00-8:00 p.m., at North Seattle Community College (9600 College Way N) in the Cafeteria (first floor of the College Center).  Click here for a map and directions.  Other neighborhoods that will also be presented are Broadview/Bitterlake, Haller Lake, Aurora Liction Springs, Crown Hill/Ballard, Greenwood/Phinney Ridge, Wallingford, Green Lake, Lake City and the U-District.

A third fire was discovered at 8 a.m. this morning at the Greenwood Quickstop, and was also quickly put out.  In response to all the recent arson attacks, the Seattle Fire Department is conducting arson patrols throughout the neighborhood.  Our sister site, Phinneywood, has complete coverage of the fires as well as a map of all 10 unsolved arson cases in Greenwood.

Kimberly Scrivner of Friends of the Troll’s Knoll tells us they’re hoping to get trees planted this month to allow them to grow over the winter.  Before they can get started, though, they need help to make some quick decisions. 

There will be a community meeting this coming Monday, November 9, from 6:30-7:45 p.m. at the Fremont Library (731 N. 35th St).  Items to be discussed include tree planting (what types, how many, proximity to the Aurora Bridge), how best to mulch and coordinating volunteer efforts.  Everyone is invited to participate and give input.  If you can’t make the meeting but have any suggestions, you can email Kimberly at kscrivner@psrc.org.

The Seattle Police Department has also released this photo in connection with the shooting death of Officer Brenton. 

They are looking for a Datsun B210 car similar to this one shown in an online car advertisement. The vehicle may be connected with Saturday’s shooting.

Contact Seattle Police at 206-233-5000 if you have any information regarding this case.  You can also give an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers at 206-343-2020 or via text message by texting TIP486 with a message, then sending that to 274637 (CRIMES).

• Intiman Theatre brings the play ”Abe Lincoln in Illinois” to History House (790 N. 34th St) tonight at 6:00 p.m.  It’s part of their Front Porch Theater program which takes a play to different neighborhood gathering spots and gets everyone to join in.  Family and friends read the play aloud then talk about it’s themes and ideas.  Cost is free and everyone is welcome to participate or just enjoy.
• It’s the first Friday of the month so that means Fremont First Friday Art Walk from 6:00-9:00 p.m. no matter what the weather.  Art fans can get free tastes of 509 Wine (1300 N. Northlake Way, Suite 509) before starting their trek.  There’s a jewelry trunk show at Fremont Jewelry Design (3510 Fremont Pl N).  And painter Tyson Anthony Roberts has a new opening at Fremont Coffee Co. (459 N. 36th St).  But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.  Click here for an art walk map and a complete list of all showings.
• After admiring Artwalk at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center (4272 Fremont Ave N), you can make your way upstairs and watch Sapience Dance Collective’s fall show “Entitlement”.  Tickets are $15 general admission.  Performances are Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 3:00 and 7:00.
• Dusty Strings Acoustic Music Shop (3406 Fremont Ave N) hosts the 8th annual Folk Harp Symposium starting on Friday.  In conjunction, there will also be two harp concerts.  On Friday, Nicolas Carter, Shira Kammen and Patrick Ball perform at 7:30 p.m.  On Saturday, it’s Kim Robertson, Laurie Rasmussen and Seamas Gagne, also at 7:30 p.m.  Tickets are $18 and can be purchased at the door or by calling Dusty Strings at 206-634-1662.
• Fremont Wine Warehouse (3601 Fremont Ave N) celebrates it’s 1-year anniversary this weekend.  In honor of the occasion, Wind River winemaker Joel Goodwillie returns to pour his wines.  From 3:00-6:00 p.m. on Saturday there will also be food pairings to go along with the vino. 
• The 2nd annual Couch Fest Films goes from 11am-7pm on Saturday.  Watch short films in strangers’ houses.  $10 gets you an all-day festival pass to all 10 homes.  Each house plays the same program all day starting on the hour so you can choose your own schedule.  Click here for a map and movie info.
• OmCulture (2210 N. Pacific St) debuts “Our Dancing Village” on Sunday from 4:00-5:30 p.m.  It’s a dance jam for the whole family that involves hula hooping, freestyling and ecstatic free form movement.  This will happen the 2nd Sunday of every month.  Cost is $3-$8 or $15 for the whole clan.

As usual for live music, check the calendars at High Dive, ToST and Nectar. 

If you have any events to add to our events calendar, email us at tips@fremontuniverse.com.

Twelve semi-finalists will be chosen to perform live over three weekends in February.  The finals will take place at EMP’s Sky Church on March 6.  Past up-and-coming bands have included Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head, Schoolyard Heroes, and The Lonely H.  Complete rules and the online application can be found here.

The new map shows the northern line remains NW 85th St, but the eastern line has moved from Aurora Ave to Greenwood Ave.  There will be two community information meetings to explain the rationale behind the maps.  The first is on November 5 at Roosevelt High School, and the second is on November 7 at Rainier Beach High School.  For times and locations, click here.

The Student Assignment Plan (.pdf), which was approved in June, gave the district the go-ahead to outline boundaries around each elementary, middle and high school.  Under the proposed plan, students would be designated a school based on their home address.  District-wide open enrollment would no longer be an option. 

The School Board will vote on the final boundary map on November 18.  If approved, the changes will take effect for students entering kindergarten, 6th grade and 9th grade in the 2010-2011 school year. 

Bicyclists should use caution when riding along the Burke Gilman Trail through Fremont.  Michael sent us this picture to warn others about pavement work on the trail behind Sound Mind & Body.

I saw at least one cyclist who was repairing a pinch flat after he hit the sharp pavement cut.  This is a hazard and people are better off walking or riding on the dirt through this section until the pavement repair is complete.

No word yet on when the work will be complete but we’ll keep you posted.  Thanks for the tip, Michael!

The 3-year-old studio specializes in “sugaring”, which is an ancient form of hair removal.  The process involves massaging an all-natural sugar paste, which resembles honey (and is even edible), on the skin against the natural direction of hair growth.  It’s said to be more effective and way less painful.  And for the 2nd year in a row, The Sweet Spot also took top honors for Best Waxing in Evening Magazine’s annual Best of Western Washington poll.  Congratulations!