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.
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.
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.
Santa shares a smile with some happy Magnolia tots. Photo: Steven A. Schimmelman
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
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.
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, 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.
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
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 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.
After a reader noticed the barren interior of Morfey’s Cakes at 110 Denny Way, panic set in. Was the 51-year-old institution a victim of the economy, too?
No chance.
Owners were merely remodeling the interior and will reopen Monday, Nov. 28 with a spanking new floor, according to store rep. Lisa.
Our reader can now exhale.
The Slate: Apartments & Lofts will be coming to Interbay by mid 2013. Rendering courtesy of Unico Properties.
Unico Properties Development is poised to build a seven-floor, 52,155-square-foot, 236-unit apartment building, with ground-floor retail and will keep existing retail tenants Red Mill, Starbucks and Pandasia, along West Dravus Street. The new retail space will be located at the corner of 16th and Dravus streets.
Unico expects to have the building ready by mid 2013. The View will stay abreast of any new developments with this property and whether it will lead to similar plans coming down the pipeline.
Catharine Blaine K-8 Principal Heather Swanson will be hosting two elementary report card parent meetings from 3-3:35 p.m. and 6:30-7:15 p.m., on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
The end of the school’s first trimester is Dec. 2 and report cards will be sent home on Dec. 15. Those who cannot attend either meeting can check it out online at Blainek8.seattleschools.org. There will be a question and answer period after each presentation.
The temperature dipped into the mid ’30s and slushy rain fell at times, but neighbors nonetheless came out to celebrate the annual Holiday Open House in the Village Friday evening.
There were carolers, shoppers, chestnut roasters, and festive merchants and musicians well into the evening. And the annual Holiday Tree lighting took place as scheduled in front of the Magnolia Garden Center hosted by owners Chuck and Margaret Flaherty.
The night air grew cold and by 8 p.m., Seattle Police had reopened West McGraw Street to vehicles. By then it seemed most people had wandered into The Magnolia Pub for a hot toddy. Others visited merchants at Leroux’s or Magnolia Eye Care, Vixen and Museum Quality Framing where musicians played until 9 p.m.
The spirit of Magnolia has only just begun.
David Harrison and Andrew Parker play the hits inside Museum Quality Framing while Jim Anderson and daughter Maddie listen in.
Friends duck into Vixen to check out the boutique’s holiday inventory. They were all smiles.
Greg Carnese of Leroux’s looks like a million bucks.
It was cold out but the charcoal-fired chestnuts kept roasters Aaron and Debbie Miller quite warm.
Ashley at Magnolia Eye Care tries on some fancy specs.
Tiffany and Greg Nance, with daughter Jillian, smile under the garden center’s lit tree.
Stephanie Piché decorates a tree inside Magnolia Garden Center where she is the store manager and buyer.
