Magnolia Voice - A news blog in the Seattle Magnolia neighborhood

Magnolia woman wins $35,000 in Monopoly

By reporter Steven Smalley

It took only three days for Magnolia resident, Lael Anderson, to collect all the
Monopoly game pieces at Albertson?s and Safeway to win a $35,000 prize towards a new? car. The suddenness of the win took all by surprise.

?She came up through the register and said, ?I think I won,?? explained Jonathan
Hunter, store director at Magnolia?s Albertson?s. ?The whole time I could tell she
was in shock. She couldn?t believe she won.?

Anderson, a student at Seattle Central Community College, could use the money.

?She told us her car was in the shop. So I couldn?t imagine this going to a better
person,? says Hunter.

In anticipation of the in-store award, corporate managers had a giant check printed?and a cake specially decorated for the occasion. Not many takers for the comestibles?as even store employees were still at their stations when the not-so-well-attended?presentation was made.

It mattered not to Anderson, who picked up the actual cashier?s check at the same
time Monday afternoon. Her determination paid off as she worked diligently to
collect all the Monopoly pieces by shopping 4-5 times a day at several stores.

?I went to Safeway. I went to Albertson?s. I went all over,? she said. ?When I put
my mind to something, I really do it. Most people cast [the game pieces] aside. I
decided to go for it.?

How does Anderson feel about the win?

?I was in a state of disbelief. I didn?t think anyone won these things. I was
totally shocked,? she said. ?I was so surprised. I never win anything.?

The store director was elated.

?I?m very happy this is going to a local Magnolia resident,? Hunter said.

For the last year, Albertson?s and Safeway have been owned by the same company.

Contest winner, Lael Anderson and store director, Jonathan Hunter

Magnolia Bridge clean up – a slog through filth

By reporter Steven Smalley

“It’s about time,” says Gretchen Taylor of Neighborhood Safety Alliance, standing aside the pungent detritus of so many scattered lives. “Overwhelming. There’s no other word for it. The stench is something I will never forget.”

Taylor wasn’t the only Magnolian left shocked by the squalid conditions under the east side of the Magnolia Bridge. Today, the Seattle Department of Transportation and other agencies began to remove the mess after so many complaints. Some area residents came to observe the much anticipated activity.

“It was like a scene from a horror movie,” said Cindy Pierce, who has worked to organize opposition to these illegal camps. “The smell was so bad. It was unbelievable. A police officer said it was one of the worst camp sites he’d ever seen.”

A small crew from the Department of Corrections, working off their community service sentences, seemed like a tiny effort when the task of removing tons of garbage came into full view. A Department of Transportation backhoe was brought in, along with an industrial-sized dumpster to hold it all. The project looked like ants vs. mountains.

No one would estimate the time this massive effort might take to complete. Some said it could be accomplished in a day.

The biggest question on many minds: Will the illegal squatters just return once it’s clean again? Not according to Sgt. Paul Gracy of the Seattle Police Department. “They’re going to put up a fence to surround it all,” he said. “It will be clearly posted. Anyone entering will be breaking the law.”

To give the point some credence, a fencing company vehicle was parked near the site. The cost for the enclosure was placed at around $20,000, according to sources.

Magnolia Voice spoke to a few of the campers left in the area about their new situation. One man told a surprising fact about the origin of all the trash.

“It’s the work of one guy. He was a dumpster-diver,” said a camper who was on his way out of the area. “He collected garbage. When we tried to clean it up, he would say, ‘Hey, that’s mine.’ There was nothing we could do.”

Police sources report many of the illegal squatters, who were all asked to leave before clean up began, were seen setting up shop east of the bridge in the green belt area of Queen Anne. Others were witnessed crossing the railroad tracks heading west under the Magnolia bridge. At first it was thought to be Port of Seattle land until reports from Port sources showed the property was actually owned by Seattle Parks.

Now a bit of news unrelated to the clean up – the Interbay QFC has closed their public restroom for good. Customers quote the manager as saying drug use inside the facility took the issue over the top.

Magnolia Bridge clean up ? a slog through filth

By reporter Steven Smalley

?It?s about time,? says Gretchen Taylor of Neighborhood Safety Alliance, standing aside the pungent detritus of so many scattered lives. ?Overwhelming. There?s no other word for it. The stench is something I will never forget.?

Taylor wasn?t the only Magnolian left shocked by the squalid conditions under the east side of the Magnolia Bridge. Today, the Seattle Department of Transportation and other agencies began to remove the mess after so many complaints. Some area residents came to observe the much anticipated activity.

?It was like a scene from a horror movie,? said Cindy Pierce, who has worked to organize opposition to these illegal camps. ?The smell was so bad. It was unbelievable. A police officer said it was one of the worst camp sites he?d ever seen.?

No one would estimate the time this massive effort might take to complete. Some said it could be accomplished in a day.

The biggest question on many minds: Will the illegal squatters just return once it?s clean again? Not according to Sgt. Paul Gracy of the Seattle Police Department. ?They?re going to put up a fence to surround it all,? he said. ?It will be clearly posted. Anyone entering will be breaking the law.?

To give the point some credence, a fencing company vehicle was parked near the site. The cost for the enclosure was placed at around $20,000, according to sources.

Magnolia Voice spoke to a few of the campers left in the area about their new situation. One man told a surprising fact about the origin of all the trash.

?It?s the work of one guy. He was a dumpster-diver,? said a camper who was on his way out of the area. ?He collected garbage. When we tried to clean it up, he would say, ?Hey, that?s mine.? There was nothing we could do.?

Now a bit of news unrelated to the clean up ? the Interbay QFC has closed their public restroom for good. Customers quote the manager as saying drug use inside the facility took the issue over the top.

Clean up begins under Magnolia Bridge

By reporter Steven Smalley

Multiple agencies from the Seattle Department of Transportation to the Washington State Department of Corrections start the herculean task of cleaning up the mess made by illegal campers under the east end of the Magnolia Bridge. Magnolia Voice on the scene with interviews from participants and photographs of it all.

Complete coverage and full story later.

Department of Corrections doing their community service.

before — Clean up is a huge task. Heavy equipment on the way.

Fire set under Magnolia Bridge

Arson: Urban campers say they know who did it
By reporter Steven Smalley

A fire within the encampment under the Magnolia Bridge brought out the Seattle Fire Department today to extinguish a blaze campers say was intentionally set…

A romantically involved couple were fighting all night which ended with one lighting the tent on fire, according to a woman who owned the makeshift residence.

?All my stuff got burned,? she said.

The fighting couple were allowed inside. Others saw the whole thing.

?I was right next door. I know who did it. They were fighting all night. One of them set it on fire,? according to a man who spoke with Magnolia Voice.

Fire Department staff quickly put out the blaze.

Thanks to Erin for the tip.

Scott Ward named Magnolia’s Person of the Year

Please join us in congratulating Scott Ward,?of Scott Ward Art, Current & Furbish and Magnolia United Church of Christ,?on being voted the 2015 Person of the Year!
There will be a?celebratory?dinner in his honor,?Tuesday, February 23rd at 6pm at Rogo’s Restaurant and Bar.
Tickets are $45 and will include a 3 course meal?(choice of appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee/tea).
Buy tickets here.??Space is limited to the first 40 people, so reserve your ticket now.