Something strange happened in Magnolia tonight.
Creatures took to the street! Hundreds of them both big and small, some in masks, others ghoulishly green or with cat eyes and whiskers roamed the streets on what would have been just another Monday.

No one knows exactly what happened. It was as if time stood still. There were no cars. There were no airplanes overhead, just a sickly wind blowing through the Village as creepy crawlers and visitors from beyond wandered the street hungering for who knows what.

The smart ones stayed at home or behind closed doors. And when the creatures came, the living threw candy at the creatures to keep them from clawing their way in. It was a haunting affair by all accounts.

And as darkness settled in overhead, just a crescent moon razor-blading a section of the inky fabric, the strange ones continued their search, slowly walking through the streets trying to fill a void that would never be filled.
Miraculously, professional photographer and crack reporter Steve Smalley was on hand documenting the night. Sadly, only his camera was found the following morning beside a pile of bones. These are the pictures that remained on Steve’s camera.

Preschoolers from Magnolia paid a visit to the Magnolia Community Center today where they were greeted by candy-weilding staffers. Their trick-or-treating endeavors will surely continue from 4 to 6 p.m. today at stores throughout the Village.

The president of the Magnolia Community Club (MCC) has sent a letter to the mayor suggesting his budget has mislabeled the neighborhood’s community center and its level of usage.
Mayor Mike McGinn’s budget for 2012 shows, as it did last year, more cuts into community centers throughout the city. Of the $121,130,643 proposed for a 2012 Parks and Recreation (DPR) budget, $81,274,457 is to be pulled from the general fund – which has been shrinking under the current economy. Hence the need for cuts.

About 67 percent of the DPR budget or $81,677,000 is personnel. So the mayor looked at ways to trim that cost yet keep facilities open. So with a team of consultants, he created service level designations for centers based on physical facilities, current use and demographics. Level 1 means a community center is open 70 hours a week. Level 2a means a center is open up to 45 hours a week and Level 2b means a center stays open no more than 25 hours a week. The latter is the proposed designation for the Magnolia Community Center and what MCC president Diana Dearmin is fighting.
In her letter to the mayor, Dearmin writes:

“We understand that the Magnolia Community Center has not been credited for actual square footage used to conduct its regular scheduled programs when portions of Catharine Blaine School are used daily and that the absence of the actual square footage substantially penalizes Magnolia in the rating system. We therefore request that these inequities be corrected and that the Magnolia Community Center be re-assigned to Tier 2A if tiered service levels cannot be avoided.”

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Kids throughout Magnolia will be roaming West McGraw Street this afternoon in search of treats and ghoulish goblins will be doling it out by the handful. Trick or Treating in the Village takes place today from 4 to 6 p.m. at most participating businesses in and around the Village.

The annual event draws kids by the hundreds and their parents who often spare no expense to get that certain look just right. Last year saw families as characters from Mary Poppins, Dr. Seuss characters, a menagerie of animals and pop culture figures from Pixar characters to classics from the Wizard of Oz.

Only one in three parents talk to their children about being safe on Halloween. Even though so much of the lore around Halloween is indeed lore, it’s always a good idea to play it safe.
Here are some safety tips from the Washington state Department of Health.

 

A male black lab named Credence was lost over the weekend near 31st and Ruffner streets. But the 12-year-old, medium-build dog was found this morning and the owners are couldn’t be happier to have their friend back.

Last week’s celebration to recognize volunteers at Discovery Park was quite the affair.
Seventy-five volunteers from Discovery, Carkeek and North Beach parks joined together for a potluck dinner, some laughs and reflection on the year.
Several volunteers displayed thei paintings, photographs and nature journals all of which drew inspiration from the three parks. Many of the volunteers had focused on specific areas or fields. They were Adopt an Area Volunteers, Bird Tour Leaders, Junior Naturalists, Librarian, Special Projects, Bird Survey teams, Recyclers, Advisory Council Members, Database Entry volunteers, and general gardeners and docents.

Discovery Park volunteers socializing and snacking at last week's event. Photos courtesy of Penny Rose.

Among the list of volunteers was the South Meadowlarks Big Sit Team of Neil and carleen Zimmerman, Kathy and Arn Slettebak and Helen Gilbert. These volunteers sat and counted birds, rain or shine, from 4:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and in the process raised more than $1,000 for the Discovery Park Habitat Fund. They found 55 species of birds.
All volunteers were recognized at the event and each received a prize from one of several supporting sponsors, which included the following:
Seattle Audubon Society, MiniMountain, IMAX, Northwest Outdoor Center, Discovery Espresso, Evergreen Escapes.
Seattle Parks and Recreation is now putting the call out for volunteers for 2012, especially in database entry, bird surveying and adopt-an-area-stewards. If you’re interested, call Penny Rose at (206) 386-4250.

The Magnolia Theater, the children’s theatre in Magnolia, which has performed mainstay musicals such as “The Sound of Music” and “Annie” over its eight seasons, is staging ALADDIN Jr. this November and December.
Veteran director and founder of the theater, Jeannie O’Meara-Polich, will again direct this classic musical which features songs by the prolific Alan Menken. Cast members are largely children from Magnolia. Performances will take place:
4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 10
7 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11-12
4 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1
7 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2
4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 3
Performances take place at The United Church of Christ 3555 W. McGraw St. Tickets are $10, cash or check only.

More than 125 people showed up to this morning’s “Lil’ Spooky Things” pumpkin decorating event held at the Magnolia Community Center. The event was designed for children 4 and younger, and allowed them to decorate pumpkins, play games and jump in a bounce house. There were snacks and juice available, too.

The party drew all sorts of creatures from frogs, princesses, football players, puppies, cute bugs. And there were some kids there, too.

In the coming months, Metro will be gathering feedback on a set of proposed bus service changes that will take place in June and September 2012.

The goal of the proposals is to simplify service and reduce duplication. The changes may mean reduction in services at locations where ridership is low, and more services to areas with many, or the potential for many riders.

Metro wants to make changes to more than 60 bus routs in the county. Metro will hold a public meeting at 6:30-8:30 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7 at Catharine Blaine K-8 at 2550 34^th Ave. W. Click here for more.

 

The Highliner Pub & Grill, which has been a staple for years at the Fishermen’s Terminal, has new owners, a new coat of paint, a new interior and, yes a new menu.

Paula Cassidy, the new co-owner of the Highliner will be using fresh fish from Wild Salmon Seafood Market, her other business with partner Jon Steltz (the other co-owner of the Highliner). Along with owning two businesses in the terminal, Cassidy is the lead organizer of the Fall Fishermen’s Festival. In anticipation of the Washington State Cougars doing battle with the Oregon Ducks at noon on Saturday, the Highliner is giving away free garlic fries to each of the first 25 fans who order a pitcher of beer. Steltz is an alumnus of WSU.

 

Kids 4 and under can have a spooky-good time today from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Magnolia Community Center where plenty of Halloween activities are planned.

The center is hosting the event where children can decorate mini-pumpkins, jump in a bounce house and much more. There will be juice and morning goodies, too. The Magnolia Community Center is located at 2550 34th Ave. W. in the Village. 206-386-4235.

 

In a quaint corner of the Thorndyke Plaza at 2818 Thorndyke Ave. W., Rene Julio was putting the final touches on the Aztecan/Mayan mythological mural that will grace the interior wall of Magnolia’s newest restaurant: Josefina Mexican Grill.

Julio, who is a painter by trade, said he would be finished with the mural in a week or two and that the restaurant would likely open in three weeks time. Construction crews were still at work on electrical system, kitchen and dining area. More details to come.

 

 

Story by Steve Smalley
More than one landscaper has reported recent thefts of equipment taken from trucks parked adjacent to Magnolia homes as workers go about chores.

During daylight hours, thieves have grabbed expensive specialty gear causing hardship and anger among business proprietors.

Mark Kirkland, owner of City Farmer Landscaping, had his $700 backpack blower stolen as he worked near Magnolia Boulevard West and West Howe Street.

“It was the most expensive piece of equipment I had,” Kirkland said. “I had to borrow money to get another one.”

An hour after he found the blower missing, it landed in a pawnshop in West Seattle, according to police who located it three months later. Because Kirkland possessed the serial number and was able to provide it to police, they were able to track down the unit and eventually return it. Now Kirkland has two expensive blowers.

“I don’t leave my equipment out now,” said Kirkland as he blew down the walk near where he originally lost his gear. Born in this area he noted, “you never had to worry about it on Magnolia.”

Another yard maintenance company owned by Tad Anderson was also a victim of this same scam. Working near the 3800 block of Viewmont Way West. Anderson lost his $600 weed whacker in the identical manner as he worked in a yard. This time he actually saw the individuals putting something heavy into a dark-colored pickup.

“All you got to do is stop and grab the stuff. It’s real simple,” he said. “I’m going to be looking over my shoulder the rest of my life,” Anderson said. He added, “I let my guard down. I never had this happen in 30 years. It hurts.”

Both Kirkland and Anderson describe seeing a dark pickup two Caucasian men inside near the scene when the theft occurred.