Seattle's Magnolia Neighborhood News Blog

Serial scammer fined $2,250

The law has caught up with Magnolia landlord Diana J. Delaney ? sort of.

The serial scammer who, for three years stole as much as $36,000 in deposits from would-be renters, was found guilty of felony theft Nov. 18 and ordered by Judge Sharon S Armstrong of King County Superior Court to pay $2,250 in fines.

Yet just prior to the sentencing, some Magnolia Voice readers said Delaney continued posting on Craigslist the availability of her property on the 3800 block of 34th Avenue West. Those listings were reported as fraudulent and have since been deleted. However, one reader, unaware of Delaney?s doings, responded to the ad and? paid Delaney two-months? advance rent of $1,200.

Yet, the reader writes:

Diana showed me the room while it had been occupied by the renter (a lawyer). ?I told her that I was about to put my things [there] in advance during the weekends but then she told me that the room was not available due to broken sewer line and [the] house is all wet and the workers have to do it for weeks so I won’t be able to move in by November 1 – and few days after – she told me I could still move [in].

The renter found out about Delaney but Delaney still has her deposit.

Another reader had dealings with Delaney in October when Delaney inquired about a room the reader was renting on the Eastside, and touting her skills as an experienced ghostwriter. But, writes the reader, things soured immediately:

When I did preliminary Internet background checking on her, I discovered, among other things, that she had just pled guilty in King County Superior Court on an Alford arrangement to some $36K rental fraud on her own rented house in Magnolia. She then denied any wrongdoing, and got quite indignant?when I confronted her with these reported facts.

Delaney still has the right to an appeal. But court documents show one has yet to be filed.

Car prowler spotted

An alert reader reported the following this aftnernoon:

While leaving home at 5:30 p.m. tonight, we spotted a stocky
built man (probably in late 20s-mid 30s dark complected with a black
backpack) attempting to find an unlocked door on multiple cars
parked along the west side of West Government Way. Perhaps he’s
looking for one unlocked vehicle to either steal the contents or the
car itself or a place to sleep? Please be alert and report him to SPD
if you spot him.

If you see any suspicious people in your neighborhood whose actions have the appearance of criminal intent, don’t hesitate to call 911. If the matter appears less urgent, if it is a nuisance, if suspects are not in the immediate area or you have questions about something suspicious going on in the neighborhood, call the non-emergency line at ?206-625-5011.

Meet Manny

Manny is a 2-year-old, pit bull terrier that loves people. When he was at the shelter, he loved everyone he met there. And now that he?s in a foster home, there’s nothing he likes better than snuggling up to his foster mom or dad and getting petted!
Manny has excellent house manners, he doesn?t bark or chew (except for his toys) and he is housebroken (even when his foster parents are gone all day at work). He sleeps nicely in his crate, though he?s trustworthy outside of his crate, too.

 

Manny has good leash manners and rides nicely in cars, even waiting quietly while his foster mom does an errand. Manny is a real fast learner, especially if treats are involved. He learned ?sit,? ?down? and ?come? in no time. He’d love to keep learning new tricks, and would do well taking some classes. When it comes to play time, Manny?s great love is balls! He likes to chew em’ and chase em’, and it seems that he could do this all day long. He recently had ACL surgery, and the vet says he?ll be good as new once his knee heals. Everyone at the vet’s office loved Manny, and they couldn’t believe he hadn’t found his forever home yet.

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Guy in red suit returns

Ever since Jen and Nanette opened Serendipity Cafe three years ago, they’ve invited Santa Claus to come visit Magnolia children and make sure he got all of their requests. And now, Santa returns.
The big man in red will be available to take photos with children (and childlike adults) during the next two weekends:

Sat 12/3 from 12-4 p.m.
Sun 12/4 from 12-3 p.m.
Sat 12/10 from 12-4 p.m.
Sun 12/11 from 12-3 p.m.

You can find out more at www.magnoliasantaphotos.com

Ballard High School fundraiser this weekend

Parents of Ballard High School students may already know, but for those that don’t, the school’s performing arts department is having an annual fundraiser Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 3 and 4 at the Northgate Barnes & Noble. Anyone who mentions Ballard High School when making a purchase on these days, will get 25 percent off.

BHS Performing Arts Department is having its annual Barnes and Noble Fundraiser Book Fair Saturday, Dec 3 and Sunday, Dec 4 at the Northgate Barnes & Noble. On these days, for every purchase you make, if you mention Ballard High School at checkout, a percentage of the sale will go to the Performing Arts Department.
That Saturday is also Educator Appreciation Day at the bookstore, so all educators get 25 percent off all their purchases (purchase totals will apply to our book fair totals).

The musical groups in the performing arts department will perform all day Saturday.

Is your house all aglow? Let us know!

When the holidays come around, do you decorate your home so much that even the homeowners association in Candyland would grant it unanimous approval? If so, The Voice would love to share the view with readers. Please send a note to The Voice at tips@magnoliavoice.com and include a photo and we’ll post it. We’ll have readers rate their favorite.

Biggie has been found

Biggie, the little dog that the Voice reported missing last week, has been found. The?Chihuahua-Dachschund mix with a curly tail and weighing in at roughly 13 pounds, was found near his residence close to 29th and Tilden streets.

Tree sale at Lawton is here

The Lawton Elementary PTA Christmas Tree Sale is back. This year, the elementary school’s tree lot will offer Noble Firs, Fraser Firs, Grand Firs and Douglas Firs. There will be free cider available and all proceeds will benefit the programs funded by the Lawton Elementary School PTA.

The sale continues through Sunday, Dec. 11 at the Lawton LawtonElementary School parking lot at 4000 27th Ave. W. The hours of the sale are as follows:
3-7 p.m., Dec. 2
10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Dec. 3
10 a.m., to 6 p.m., Dec. 4
3-7 p.m., Dec. 9
10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Dec. 10
10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Dec. 11

Car thefts/prowls in Magnolia

The holidays may be upon us but so is car theft and prowls in Magnolia. There was a car prowl at the 2300 block of West Newton Street on Nov. 18; a car prowl at the 3800 block of Discovery Park Boulevard and another at the 2800 block of Thorndyke Ave. W., on Nov. 21. Yet another prowl at the 2600 block of 22nd Ave. W. on Nov. 22. But Magnolia is one of the safest neighborhoods in the city, according to Seattle Police statistics. In the space of one day in November, there were only five minor incidents in Magnolia compared to dozens in Pioneer Square and Belltown.

Bartell Drugs, Salvation Army want toy donations

Bartell Drugs at 2222 32nd Ave. W. in the Village is partnering with the Salvation Army in asking neighbors to donate new, unwrapped toys for kids who otherwise won’t have much of a holiday.
The 8th annual Salvation Army “Toy ‘N’ Joy” drive continues at all Bartell locations through Dec. 11. Once the toys are collected, at all 58 Bartell locations, the toys will be distributed to low-income children by way of the Salvation Army’s toy warehouses.