Seattle Department of Transportation paving crews are making repairs on West Commodore Way this week. They will work between 27th Avenue West to approximately 31st Avenue West daily through Friday, February 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. While they are working, the street will be closed to through traffic from 27^th Avenue West to 40^th Avenue West.  A detour will be provided from West Commodore Way to 27^th Avenue West, West Government Way, and through Discovery Park to 40^th Avenue West.

By 2:30 p.m. each day, one lane will be reopened, shared by both directions of traffic taking turns until the next morning. They plan to reopen the full width of the road by 2:30 p.m. on February 12.  There will still be access to businesses on the route.

The West Point Light Station in Discovery Park  is under wraps as it undergoes restoration. 

Due to high moisture content the lighthouse and the two light keepers cottages are deteriorating.   The  exterior restoration is expected to begin soon and should take a couple of months to finish. The lighthouse exterior will then be refinished with a special mineral coating to protect the lighthouse and allow moisture trapped inside to escape.

When refinished, it will be white with dark trim and a red roof.  After finishing this phase work will begin on the window glazing and roofing around the lens.

Discovery Park staff member Anne Bentley and Seattle Parks representative Charles Ng worked to obtain Capital Grant funding  of $300,000 last year to complete the lighthouse work and start on the cottages if funds allow. 

Thanks to Discovery Park Newsletter editor Mike Greenstein.  If you would like to receive the newsletter, click here and scroll down to the sign up box. The newsletter is sent out bi-monthly at the beginning of February, April, June, August, October, and December.  (Photos courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation)

Our featured pet from the Seattle Animal Shelter is Garcon.  He is just a little guy but he has a very big heart. He came to the shelter as a stray and they are surprised that no one has come looking for him. He’s twelve years old, but he has plenty of spunk and spirit. Garcon is calm and easy to handle, and he’s quite the snappy dresser. 

Garcon is looking for a calm home where he’ll be pampered and loved. He’s gentle and cooperative, and would be good with children at least six years old, as long as they understand he’s a senior–and not a toy–and he must be treated gently.

Garcon is good with some other dogs, and cats too if supervised. Garcon qualifies for the "Seniors for Seniors" program which means that senior citizens or disabled adults with a "Gold Card for Healthy Aging," or a "FLASH Card," issued by the City of Seattle, may adopt him with no fee for the adoption itself, and the licensing fee will be  half-price.

If you are interested in Garcon or any of the animals available at the shelter, click here for more information.

Magnolia’s own Seattle Pie Company has announced plans to open a second store in Tacoma this spring.  Seven months after opening in Magnolia, Seattle Pie owners Alyssa and Patrick Lewis have signed a lease for another pie store in Tacoma’s Old Town.  They had originally planned to expand to Madison Valley but changed plans when they found what they consider the perfect location in Tacoma.

Seattle Pie Company also sells pies in the Western Washington Metropolitan Markets and the Tacoma location is their best customer.  Lewis says they will continue to bake all their pies at the Magnolia location.

Magnolia Voice reader Jennifer wrote to us this morning about some strange noises she heard outside her house:

At around 5am today, I’m pretty sure I heard a bear attacking a small animal.  It was a loud deep constant roar for about a minute along with what sounded like a lil pig squealing. Did anyone else hear this? I live on Gilman and Thurman.

Did anybody else hear anything in that area?  Let us know in comments below.

A reminder that tonight (Friday, 2/5) is the fundraiser that includes a rummage sale, mini auction and bake sale for the Pook family from Magnolia.  The event runs from 6-8:30p.m. at the Magnolia Community Center.  

Organizers want to celebrate nine year old Sophia Pook’s 
successful kidney transplant and raise money to help defray the cost of expensive anti-rejection medications.  The event is hosted by Magnolia Friends of Sophia.

Nine year old Sophia, a student at Lawton, was born with a rare genetic disorder that eventually led to total kidney failure last June. Sophia’s mother, Camille, was a perfect match and doctors at Children’s Hospital and UW Medical Center conducted a successful mother-to-daughter kidney transplant in August. Both Sophia and Camille are recovering but Sophia will be on  the costly anti-rejection drugs for the rest of her life. 

Magnolia Voice reader Carrie wrote to tell us about some break ins overnight in her neighborhood:

I thought I would let folks know that last night there 4 cars broken into on 43rd Ave West between Armour and Barrett. There could have been more as I only know the status of my  immediate neighbors. I suspect they may have hit other cars on the block. We have had quite a few of these lately in this immediate area. The police have been informed.

Did anyone else have a car break in overnight?  Let us know in comments below so we can keep neighbors informed.

On Monday, Feb. 15th, the 36th District legislators invite you to spend the day in Olympia. The day will start at 10 a.m. in Room ABC of the John A. Cherberg Building (driving directions, .pdf) on the Capitol Campus. Upon arrival, visitors will receive a legislative schedule for the day. Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Reps. Mary Lou Dickerson and Reuven Carlyle will meet up with constituents at 1 p.m. in the same room to discuss important budget and legislative issues and answer your questions. For more information contact Adam Cooper at 360-786-7670 or Cooper.adam@leg.wa.gov. (Disclosure: Rep. Reuven Carlyle is a sponsor of Magnolia Voice.)

It was the first day of class at the Asteroid Academy and Tilly already lost her lunch. She got angry and tore up a classmate’s lunch box with her super strength. It wasn’t until Tilly’s mom brought the girl’s lunch – which was left at home – that Tilly realized she made a big mistake: She hadn’t though about her classmate’s feelings and was bullying him.

Anti-bullying and empathy were part of the message the Taproot Theatre crew hoped they could deliver to students at Our Lady of Fatima School this afternoon. Taproot Theatre Company tours social dynamic plays and is based in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood.

As kindergarteners through eighth graders sat in the bleachers, four actors transformed into super heroes for an hour and played out the problems the students face regularly.

Read more...

UPDATE:  There is more information on the arrest of a burglary suspect in the 2900 block of West McGraw in Magnolia on the Seattle Police Department Blotter this morning.  The suspect was described as a white male, mid-thirties, wearing a blue baseball cap and jeans.  By the time the first officer arrived there was another call from a neighbor stating that a person matching that description may have attempted to break in to that residence as well.  Officers located the suspect in the backyard and took him into custody.  The suspect was positively identified by the victims.  The 35 year old man was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Burglary.

If you heard or saw a large number of police cars at 29th and McGraw on Wednesday night, Magnolia Voice reader KKennell just wrote to tell us what was going on:

At approximately 9:40 tonight there were five cop cars on the corner of 29th and McGraw. An alert neighbor of ours saw a young man up to no good and called the police.  They caught the guy breaking and entering a house down the hill from the intersection. From what was overheard it would seem police were familiar with the young man. Who says you can’t get the police here when you need ‘em?  It’s a lesson we all have to keep alert even in a "safer" neighborhood like ours.

No official word yet from Seattle Police about the incident but this does point out the need to call 911 anytime you see anything suspicious in your neighborhood. 

This is a also a good time for a reminder that The Magnolia Community Club general meeting next week will focus on crime prevention in Magnolia.  The meeting will be held on Thursday, February 11 from 7 to 9p.m. in the Blaine cafeteria. Representatives from the Seattle Police Department will share information about the recent burglaries in the area and what residents can do to focus on staying safe.