Congratulations to Magnolia resident Hazel Carr.  The 14 year old placed first in the 19 and under category and third overall in the Seafair Torchlight 5k on Saturday. 

Despite some obvious pacing challenges, the Magnolia parade brought smiles to the faces of young and old on a picture perfect day.

The Grand Marshall of the parade was Magnolia’s own Kathi Goertzen, KOMO TV anchor. 

The Seattle Police Motorcycle Drill Team made a return to the parade after a long absence and thrilled the crown with precision moves…

Summerfest seemed bigger than ever with lots of new participants…

Rudy’s Place restaurant on 34th Ave. W. is for sale, according to the listing agent, Melanie Smith. “There has been lots of interest,” she adds.

(photo by Brian Gregory)

Magnolia Voice has learned that Rudy Finne, owner of Rudy’s, is retiring from the restaurant profession.  He is selling the building and land for  $599,000. It has been previously assessed at $585,000, before major renovation work was performed. In addition, the restaurant business, signs, and equipment are offered for sale at $75,000.  The business is offered with liquor licenses and permits included.

Many restaurants have tried to make it work at that location, including the  Limelight Cafe and Magnolia Ristorante.  You can contact Smith at John L. Scott at 206-369-3404.

Thanks to contributor Steven Smalley for this story.

A car ran through a planting strip, over a sidewalk and off an embankment before smashing into a building at 333 Elliott Ave W., the home of Seattle-based Big Fish Games on Wednesday afternoon.

(Thanks to Magnolia Voice reader Elizabeth who snapped this photo.)

This photo was taken by Jai who works in the building and sent it to our sister site Queen Anne View.  Reports indicate that the driver fell asleep at the wheel but that has not been confirmed by Seattle Police.  The driver of the Honda was not injured.

A son got a big surprise when he was cleaning his parents basement this week.  SeattleCrime.com reports that the Seattle Police Department bomb squad was called to a Magnolia home near 38th Ave West and West Armour after the man  found a World War II-era mortar round.  You can read the entire story here.

A suspect that is believed to be responsible for recent burglaries in Queen Anne and Magnolia has been arrested.  

This is the same person we told you about last week who was arrested following a reckless driving spree.

Turns out the driver of this car, who crashed after driving at high speeds and damaging other vehicles, had items from a recent burglary in the car.

Seattle Police community officer Francisco Tello gave us this rundown:  On July 18, at about 11p.m., officers responded to the area of Thorndyke Ave N and West Blaine Street to investigate a recklessly driven vehicle. With good vehicle description and direction of travel by the caller, the responding officers were able to locate the vehicle that crashed a few blocks away. The officers located the driver who was taken into custody. Further investigation by the officers revealed that the vehicle was reported stolen. West Precinct detectives processed the vehicle and found suspected stolen items taken from a previous burglary. Because of great work by alert citizens, responding officers and detectives, the suspect is in custody and facing multiple charges, including auto theft. The property found in the vehicle has been returned to the rightful owner, and no additional property has been recovered at this time. West Precinct detectives are still analyzing evidence to link the suspect to additional burglaries in the area and will contact victims once such evidence is received.

Tello reminds everyone that Night Out is Tuesday, August 2 and you can register at the Seattle Police website. 

It rained last year but the weather forecast is looking good so far for the annual Magnolia Summerfest & Art Show this weekend.  The action starts on Friday a (7/29) and runs through Saturday (7/30) night.  The festival runs from 11a.m. to 10p.m.   In addition, the Arts Festival will feature lots of great art on the Magnolia playfield on 34th Ave West near Smith.

On Friday there will be pony rides and a giant slide for kids on 33rd Ave West.  At the community center that night is the youth talent show followed by the  free outdoor movie.  This year they will be showing ET.   

On Saturday the day begins with the Magnolia Seafair Parade & Kid’s Parade at 10 a.m.   All kids are welcome to be in the parade, just grab a costume and show up at 9:45a.m.   Bring some candy to throw to the crowds too!  The parade starts on 34th Ave West and comes down McGraw Street.

If you would like to be in the main parade you can join PJ’s Paws and Claws as they partner with the Seattle Animal Shelter mascots and volunteers to raise money for the Help the Animals Fund. Pets and their people who dress up in costume can win some fun prizes. Register here, they are asking for a $5 donation per human.

The festival will also include a sidewalk sale from shops in the Magnolia Village and live music. 

Fort Lawton in Discovery Park may be considered for inclusion in the national park system.  Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash., is sponsoring an amendment to the FY Interior-Environment Appropriations bill calling for a U.S. Interior Department study “to determine the suitability and feasibility” of designating the site as part of the Park System.

In an article in the SeattlePI.com, a McDermott aide says the park is in “good condition . . . We’ve talked to the City and they are on board.  The study would simply determine if there is anything at the park that is of national importance or significance that needs to be honored/protected/maintained . . .”

There are other National Park System historical units in our state, including the San Juan National Historic Park. 

The United States Postal Service released the list of possible office closures today, with 3,653 offices under consideration.  We checked the list and the Magnolia Post Office is not being considered for closure.

Through the years there has been speculation that the Magnolia branch could be vulnerable as the financially troubled agency looks to trim costs.  You can see the full list of offices that are being studied for closure here.  

A big fundraiser for Ballard High School’s music and athletic programs is coming up next month.  The 11th Annual Ballard High School Golf Classic will be August 1 and 2 at the Golf Club at Newcastle.  There will be a dinner and auction the night of August 1st, and golf on the 2nd. There are many ways to be involved by playing in the tourney, donating to the auction or becoming a hole sponsor.  For more information, or to register, go to the Tournament website.

At BHS over 850 student athletes participate on 35 different teams in 21 sports and more than 200 students are involved in music programs.  This fundraiser, put on by the Ballard High School Foundation, is the single largest fundraiser for athletics and music at Ballard High School.  The dinner and auction will be emceed by Ballard alum Bob Flick from the class of 1951.  For more information contact Sue Verduin or Billy Rodgers at bhsgolfclassic@gmail.com. 

The Magnolia Farmer’s Market will give people a chance to belt out a tune at what they are calling a ‘community rounds sing’ on Saturday (7/23) from 12 to 1:30p.m.   On Thursday (7/21) there will be a preview at 7p.m to give participants a chance to get familiar with the rounds, pick the best keys and have fun singing. Contact Cathy Britell cathy@larkpoint.com if you want to attend. On Saturday, the singing will start at noon on the corner of Wheeler Street and 33rd Ave.  If all goes well, they may have another singing event in September.

A three day walk, organized by Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Sound Steps Walking Program for walkers 50 and better will highlight the historic Olmsted park plan and some improvements made possible by the voter-approved 2000 Pro Parks Levy and the 2008 Parks and Green Spaces Levy.  Here is the walk schedule:
Thursday, August 4: Meet at Seward Park’s Caffe Vita (5028 Wilson Ave. S). The walk proceeds from Seward Park to Capitol Hill by way of Genesee Park, Jefferson Park, Cheasty Blvd, Mount Baker Park, and the many other parks along Lake Washington Blvd.   

Friday, August 5:  Meet at Victrola Coffee (411 15th Ave. E). Walk from Capitol Hill to Ballard, by way of Volunteer Park, Interlaken Blvd., the Washington Park Arboretum, the University of Washington campus, Ravenna Park, Green Lake Park, and Woodland Park.

Saturday, August 6: Meet at Aster Coffee (5615 24th Ave. NW). Walk from Ballard to Queen Anne by way of Discovery Park, Magnolia Blvd, Kinnear Park, and Queen Anne Blvd.

The total distance for each day is between 12 and 13 miles. Each day will begin with coffee at 8:30 a.m. and will include stops for lunch, afternoon cold drinks, and an early dinner. The walk itself is free, but you’ll need to pay for your own food and beverages. Although many rest stops are included, the walk pace is moderately brisk.   You can join the walk for one, two, or all three days. It’s one way, so walkers should plan to use Metro, or have an accommodating friend or family member to deliver them each morning and pick them up later in the day.
To join the walk, respond by Tuesday, August 2 to Mari Becker at sound.steps@seattle.gov or 206-684-4664.

Magnolia Voice reader Kelly wrote to tell us about a driver who was smashing into cars in Magnolia on Monday night. 

She writes: On Monday night a beige, middle 2000′s model Subaru wagon on 28th Ave was driving at high speeds and uncontrollably hitting cars and other objects.  My boyfriend and I ran out when we heard squealing tires and multiple loud crashes. By the time we made it outside the Subaru was speeding off, fish-tailing uncontrollably and headed south down 28th towards the Magnolia Bridge.

The driver had t-boned my boyfriends car on the left side and hit it so hard the right side back and front wheels and tires bent into the curb.

My car was parked directly across the street from my boyfriends and it was only hit a little in the front, but it did scape the front bumper, smash the glass and bend the front corner of the car.

Kelly says that the Subaru made its way down the hill to Thorndyke and they could still hear the squealing tires and the sound of more crashing.  The driver eventually smashed the Subaru into a telephone pole on Thorndyke and West Crockett Street.

Kelly says the Subaru had multiple paint scrapes on the body so it may have hit other cars before it crashed.  The driver of the Subaru was arrested by SPD at the scene. 

Thanks to Kelly for the information and photos!

A giant arctic drilling rig Kulluk made its way into Puget Sound today, after a long journey from Dutch Harbor. Western Towboat Company has been pulling the rig since July 1st and will get technical improvements in Elliott Bay.

These are some pictures sent to us by Rachel Shrewsbury of Western Towboat Company as it passed by Magnolia.

To read more about the Kulluk, check out the West Seattle Blog write-up.