And we won’t have to much longer! Be sure to swing by this Friday to check out the Village’s newest art space. Welcome, Westerly!
Start cleaning out your houses! All Magnolians are invited to Clean up! Clean out!, A free shredding, electronics recycling, and Goodwill event put on by the Windermere Magnolia office. Check out the flier below for accepted donations.
Seattle Swim Academy is gearing up for its first summer! Owner Sam Sandquist grew up lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons since 2006. He started Seattle Swim Academy after watching many families struggle to find appropriate swim lessons for their kids. Located in Magnolia, lessons are available from 9 am to 6 pm Monday through Thursday and can be booked directly here. What makes SSA unique is their intensive class, giving children 8 lessons in a two week span. This allows children to learn at an accelerated pace whether they are just beginning or mastering the four strokes.
Welcome, Seattle Swim Academy!
By reporter Steven Smalley
For the second time, an arsonist torched shrubbery adjacent to a home under renovation on the corner of 30th Avenue West and West Grover Street. Magnolia Voice reported the first fire here set May 12. Then last Thursday night at 10:30 p.m. an arsonist torched the same bushes some 50 feet east of the first fire.
With seemingly similar fires occurring in Magnolia, particularly at the Magnolia Court Apartments on 32nd Avenue West near Albertson’s, some neighbors are asking if we have a serial arsonist(s) working the area. Seattle Police say, no.
“We have no pattern of arson cases in Magnolia that I know of,” says a police official in the bomb squad who spoke with Magnolia Voice.
Neighbors we spoke with near the Grover Street fires are fearful, especially since an “Arson” sign was erected with the offer of a $10,000 reward. Seattle Police say it’s not their sign. It reads: “Presented by the Arson Alarm Foundation and Washington Insurance Council.”
A surveillance video taken from Albertson’s shows older children running away from the fire on 32nd pointing and laughing, according to a report on KIRO 7. Seattle Police officials say they can not make the video available at this time citing laws regarding the protection of minors.
Anyone with pertinent information is asked to call the Bomb Squad at 206.684.8980.
By reporter Steven Smalley
Actress and Magnolia native, Clare O’Connor stars in ABC television’s 2-hour season premiere of 20/20: IN AN INSTANT this Saturday night. Clare – the daughter of John and Patricia O’Connor – moved to Chicago to pursue her acting career in productions such as Chicago Med, Easy, and Thrill Ride.
A product of The Waldorf School and ten years professional dance training at Pacific Northwest Ballet, O’Connor decided to attend the Second City Conservatory training program in Chicago where she sharpened her comedic skills.
“I always loved performing. I really loved, loved being on stage,” O’Connor tells Magnolia Voice in an exclusive interview. “I decided to move to Chicago where I launched my career as an improv comedy performer.”
Within her versatile dramatic role in the ABC docu/drama episode called “Whiteout” (KOMO channel 4, Saturday 9 p.m.), O’Connor portrays Jennifer Stolpa in a true story of survival. Along with her husband and new baby, they take a wrong turn and are trapped in the wilderness on the way to a funeral. Life and death decisions are made as heavy snow has them stranded.
Growing up in Magnolia, O’Connor has vivid memories of her childhood here, particularly the day Pop Monger Pool opened. She remembers spending every day swimming during the summer.
“I spent lots of time in the Village and Discovery Park with my two dogs,” O’Connor recalls.
She did not actually go to school for acting. She attended art school in Chicago taking classes in painting, drawing, and writing fiction.
“I really loved being on stage,” O’Conner says. At PNB she danced in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“In the future I will continue to work and hone my craft,” O’Conner explains. “I’ll audition for as many projects as I can.”
“Each episode of 20/20: IN AN INSTANT follows one single life-changing event in the life of a person as they come back to relive the moment and reconcile with what has happened. The dramatic events that are chronicled are of a tragic nature and are retold using reenactments and interviews with those whose experience is at the center of the story,” explains a promo from ABC.
Finally, Clare sends a shout out to her old friends at Sunshine From Polynesia hula group in Magnolia where she elegantly graced their Hawaiian dance productions for several years.
O’Conner asks everyone to watch Saturday night at 9 p.m. on KOMO 4.
Link to season three trailer of IN AN INSTANT
https://www.facebook.com/committeefilms/videos/1537210086297962/ <https://www.facebook.com/committeefilms/videos/1537210086297962/>
By Meghan Walker at our sister site My Ballard
United Way of King County’s Summer Meals Program is looking for workers to help children and teens access healthy meals throughout the summer.
Workers will be assigned to one or more Summer Meals sites – parks, libraries and community centers around King County – where teams will lead educational activities and deliver free meals to children. The full-time position will run from June 20 to August 26, and applications are open to those 18 years of age and older.
From the job description:
“You will plan and lead activities, serve meals, and conduct grassroots community outreach to get the word out. As a part of a federal program, you will ensure that the policies and procedures are followed, meals are accurately counted, and meals are prepared correctly. You will gain experience working directly with the community and in support of a respected and influential nonprofit. Training will be provided in site management, marketing, youth engagement and data tracking – hard skills that will make your summer work influential on your resume.”
The position pays a monthly stipend of $1,222, and a $1,194 AmeriCorps Education Award for student loans of future education.
According to United Way, in King County, 100,000 low-income children and teenagers rely on free or discounted meals during the school year, but less than 20% access free meals during the summer. There are 250 Summer Meals sites around the county; if you’re looking for free summer meals for kids in your neighborhood, text “food” to 877-877 (or “comida” for a reply in Spanish).
For more information and to apply, click here.