Seattle's Magnolia Neighborhood News Blog

Discovery Park Beach Shuttle and Fall Programs

Take advantage of the last weekend of the Discovery Park Beach Shuttle.  This FREE bus picks up passengers from the Visitor Center and North Parking Lot beginning at 10:00am on Saturday, Sunday AND Monday of Labor Day weekend.

Fall program registration is available now.  Please call 206.386.4237 to register for the ever popular seasonal favorites – Mushroom and Spider programs and brand new programs such as Winter Wander Along Longfellow Creek and Writing in the Wild. Click here for more information.

Port of Seattle: Tent City under Magnolia Bridge

By reporter Steven Smalley

A recommendation by the Port of Seattle (POS), in conjunction with the City of Seattle and other community groups, is in process to locate Tent City 5 on Port property adjacent to the eastern side of the Magnolia bridge. Called the “Tsubota Property,” at 1601 15th Avenue West, the proposed encampment would be situated on the northwest corner of 15th and the bridge. 

The Port of Seattle Commission takes up the issue at its September 12 meeting. If approved the current tent city, made up of 70 residents, their small structures, and tents will move from its current location behind the Dravus QFC and relocate for up to two years, according to a POS website document.  

A public meeting in Magnolia is scheduled for this Wednesday, September 6 at the Magnolia Community Center at 5:30 p.m. The public can ask questions and make statements, according to a Port representative who spoke with Magnolia Voice.

For more information email: homelessness@seattle.gov

Stolen bike

MV reader James is looking for your help.? He writes:

My son’s 2008 Trek MT-16 children’s bicycle was stolen, we believe from our yard in Magnolia, on or around Easter. The bicycle has the following features: Blue and silver paint, 16 inch wheels, an aftermarket black rear handbrake and lever,?a blue underseat bag from the 2011 RSVP ride, and a?sticker from Bicycle Center of Issaquah.

If you know anything about this?theft, please email Magnolia Voice, and we will pass the info along.

Median in full bloom

All of the hard work has paid off- spring has sprung in this magnificent median.

Thanks, Jennifer and Sue!

photos by Steven Smalley

Stroll around Magnolia on National Walking Day

Seattle Parks and Recreation joins the?American Heart Association?s National Walking Day?by hosting walking events at more than a dozen parks on Wednesday, ?April 4th, including one in Magnolia. The 30 minute walk begins? at the Magnolia Community Center at 9:30 a.m.??On this day, along with people throughout the U.S., Magnolians?of all ages can lace up their tennis shoes and come together to help fight heart disease, the nation?s No. 1 killer.

Vote for the Magnolia project you like best

Say ?thank you? to your neighbors on Saturday

This Saturday is Seattle?s 18th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day, ?a special day to reach out to neighbors and express thanks to all who make your neighborhood a great place.? Neighborhoods all over the city will be hosting special events like work parties and potlucks to celebrate. The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods says the day is a homegrown observance:

The celebration began in 1995 when Phinney Ridge activist Judith Wood suggested that the City designate ?a special day to celebrate the goodness in those around us and to reach out and strengthen our bonds to each other.? Mayor Norm Rice proclaimed the Saturday before Valentine?s Day as Neighbor Appreciation Day. The observance has grown every year since.

The Department of Neighborhoods lists city-wide events here.?Be sure to check out these Magnolia-area events:

Magnolia’s Fire station #41 will host an open house on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

A community clean-up event?at Counterbalance Park ?from 9 am to noon.?For more information, contact Ann Pearce at 206-284-0604.

Thanks, neighbors!

Say “thank you” to your neighbors on Saturday

This Saturday is Seattle’s 18th annual Neighbor Appreciation Day, “a special day to reach out to neighbors and express thanks to all who make your neighborhood a great place.” Neighborhoods all over the city will be hosting special events like work parties and potlucks to celebrate. The Seattle Department of Neighborhoods says the day is a homegrown observance:

The celebration began in 1995 when Phinney Ridge activist Judith Wood suggested that the City designate “a special day to celebrate the goodness in those around us and to reach out and strengthen our bonds to each other.” Mayor Norm Rice proclaimed the Saturday before Valentine’s Day as Neighbor Appreciation Day. The observance has grown every year since.

The Department of Neighborhoods lists city-wide events here. Be sure to check out these Magnolia-area events:

Magnolia’s Fire station #41 will host an open house on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

A community clean-up event at Counterbalance Park  from 9 am to noon. For more information, contact Ann Pearce at 206-284-0604.

Thanks, neighbors!

Aggressive solicitors in Magnolia- officers say ?trust your gut?

Over the last couple of days, neighbors have experienced a rash of unwanted solicitors, often knocking loudly on doors and repeatedly ringing doorbells.? The Magnolia Moms and Dads group?was inundated with?posts?yesterday about?a person or pairs of people aggressively approaching homes, some blatantly?ignoring “no solicitors” signs.?

Magwife, A Magnolia Voice tipster posted this last night:

“Over the past 2-days, two men have come to my door 3 different times, claiming to be seeking opportunities to practice social skills/public speaking. I answered the door just once but didn’t let them get far into the speech because I fell for an identical scenario about 6-months back – the guy tied the story in with magazine sales. I bought some mag subscriptions but never received anything. I later read on Magnolia Voice that this was a nationwide scam, potentially tied into home invasions. Anyway, it seems really weird that they keep returning even though my husband and i both I told them we aren’t interested. They have been here during the middle of the day and later at night…”

Among the?more than 15 related posts yesterday on Magnolia Moms and Dads, residents reported:

• A man lurking in the dark?near a?duplex on 33rd ave?w between Bertona and?w Ruffner
• Solicitors?banging?on doors and?repeatedly ringing doorbells on Smith and 29th
• 2 different groups of people soliciting?the same house twice in 5 days near the?Howe St. tennis courts
• 2 guys on Viewmont knocking on doors selling magazines

In one post,?the homeowner called the police, and they came to take a statement.? The?officer?told her that she had done the right thing by calling 911.? He said that if you see anything out of the ordinary or suspicious to call 911, not the non-emergency number.?? That way they can track the complaints and keep our neighborhood safe.?He reiterated that even if it does not look like a crime, call 911 and let them know what you see. It may be just the?detail they need for a case they are working on.? As of press time, the police?are in pursuit of the person of interest, and had an idea of where the person?might be,?because of calls and tips from our neighbors.

Former West Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnston?said in a recent?note:

I think I speak for the entire Community Police Team when I tell you that every day in our e-mail inbox, or on our telephone?s voicemail inbox, we find messages from the community that say something like this, ?I wanted to let you know that I just saw something suspicious???.but I didn’t think this merited a 9-1-1 call?. Almost always the information is detailed, withgood descriptions and refers to something that may or may not have been criminal, but certainly seemed odd. And almost always it is too late for SPD to do anything with that information. I am now hoping to encourage you to trust that gut feeling of yours. If you get the sense that something weird is happening, even if it isn’t an emergency, please call 9-1-1 and simply state what you are reporting. The call taker will decide whether your call should be transferred off the primary line onto a secondary line. You don?t know what you prevent by getting a patrol cruiser coming into your neighborhood.

Aggressive solicitors in Magnolia- officers say “trust your gut”

Over the last couple of days, neighbors have experienced a rash of unwanted solicitors, often knocking loudly on doors and repeatedly ringing doorbells.  The Magnolia Moms and Dads group was inundated with posts yesterday about a person or pairs of people aggressively approaching homes, some blatantly ignoring “no solicitors” signs. 

Magwife, A Magnolia Voice tipster posted this last night:

“Over the past 2-days, two men have come to my door 3 different times, claiming to be seeking opportunities to practice social skills/public speaking. I answered the door just once but didn’t let them get far into the speech because I fell for an identical scenario about 6-months back – the guy tied the story in with magazine sales. I bought some mag subscriptions but never received anything. I later read on Magnolia Voice that this was a nationwide scam, potentially tied into home invasions. Anyway, it seems really weird that they keep returning even though my husband and i both I told them we aren’t interested. They have been here during the middle of the day and later at night…”

Among the more than 15 related posts yesterday on Magnolia Moms and Dads, residents reported:

• A man lurking in the dark near a duplex on 33rd ave w between Bertona and w Ruffner
• Solicitors banging on doors and repeatedly ringing doorbells on Smith and 29th
• 2 different groups of people soliciting the same house twice in 5 days near the Howe St. tennis courts
• 2 guys on Viewmont knocking on doors selling magazines

In one post, the homeowner called the police, and they came to take a statement.  The officer told her that she had done the right thing by calling 911.  He said that if you see anything out of the ordinary or suspicious to call 911, not the non-emergency number.   That way they can track the complaints and keep our neighborhood safe. He reiterated that even if it does not look like a crime, call 911 and let them know what you see. It may be just the detail they need for a case they are working on.  As of press time, the police are in pursuit of the person of interest, and had an idea of where the person might be, because of calls and tips from our neighbors.

Former West Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnston said in a recent note:

I think I speak for the entire Community Police Team when I tell you that every day in our e-mail inbox, or on our telephone’s voicemail inbox, we find messages from the community that say something like this, “I wanted to let you know that I just saw something suspicious……….but I didn’t think this merited a 9-1-1 call”. Almost always the information is detailed, withgood descriptions and refers to something that may or may not have been criminal, but certainly seemed odd. And almost always it is too late for SPD to do anything with that information. I am now hoping to encourage you to trust that gut feeling of yours. If you get the sense that something weird is happening, even if it isn’t an emergency, please call 9-1-1 and simply state what you are reporting. The call taker will decide whether your call should be transferred off the primary line onto a secondary line. You don’t know what you prevent by getting a patrol cruiser coming into your neighborhood.