Archives for August 2011

Fire at Silver Cloud Inn this morning quickly extinguished

A shot from KING5's SkyKING helicopter of the Silver Cloud Inn this morning. (Photo courtesy KING5)

Just before 7AM this morning, the Seattle Fire Department was called to the Silver Cloud Inn (5036 25th Ave NE) between the Ravenna Neighborhood and the University Village.


View Silver Cloud Inn in a larger map

The hotel was evacuated during the incident. The fire was extinguished quickly, and there were no reports of injury.

Kyle Moore, Public Information Officer for the Seattle Fire Department, had more details (via email):

We received a call at 6:50 this morning. When firefighters arrived most of the flames were knocked down by the automatic sprinkler system in the hotel.

The sprinkler went off in a first inside the first floor room. The occupant went out of the room and pulled an alarm. The sprinklers doused most of the fire but there still was smoke in the bottom level hallway. 130 of the rooms of the hotel were occupied and about 200 people were evacuated from the hotel.

There were no reports of injuries.

The damage estimate is 10 thousand to the structure and 5 thousand dollars to contents.

The fire investigator is still waiting to speak with the occupant of the room to further determine the cause of the fire, which started in or next to his or her bed.

Girl on bicycle hit, injured by car while crossing NE 65th St (UPDATE)

UPDATE (Sunday, 7:25PM): She’s okay.

Michelle, the mother of the two girls, left a couple messages on the Ravenna Blog facebook page, and I share them with you here:

Hello, I am the mother of the little girl that was struck by the car on 65th while riding the bike. She is ok. Her name is Elle Grant and she was riding with her sister Bella. They were headed out for a bike ride around the block (70th) without me and decided it was too hot to wear helmets and took them off after leaving the house. The report Bella gave me was that they were in search for an adventure and somehow (a thought that makes my stomache turn) they decided to cross 65th. I heard the sirens and tried not to overreact. But then i started to panic, and as i headed for the door, Bella was running up the street screaming that her sister had been hit on 65th.

The long and short is that we had a long 24 hours at Harborview but Elle is ok. If anyone knows the driver, i would like to contact her. I feel so terrible for her. Thanks to all of you that helped my daughters yesterday. I am eternally in your debt. The truth is, there really are angels walking this earth and I am lucky to have had them so close to my children at our scariest hour.
Thank you.
Michelle

____________________

Just after 11AM this morning, one of two girls on bikes crossing NE 65th St at 23rd Avenue NE was struck by a car headed west on NE 65th St.


View Accident location in a larger map

Patty Campbell, the editor of Roosiehood, and her fiancé, Dom, were at the Ravenna Varsity (2300 NE 65th St) when the accident occurred.

Here is their account of the accident (via text messages):

Driver was going west, 2 girls, about 6 and 8, were crossing 65th ON bikes at 23rd. We were at the Varsity having breakfast. Dom saw it happen.

Driver saw the older girl dart out and threw on brakes, but the little one went out in front of her sister and I think her tire got hit.

No helmets. Girl’s head hit the pavement. Blood. Screaming. We all went out and blocked traffic. There was a doctor there who helped.

They live […] fairly close, I assume. Older girl ran back to get mom.

As I was writing this post, Corinne left the following comment on the Ravenna Blog’s facebook page:

There was a car/bike collision on 65th and 23rd. Two little girls riding their bikes across the street and one of them got hit by a car. It looks like it was a pretty minor incident; the little girl and her family were taken to the hospital to get her checked out. I was really impressed with how everyone was doing their best to get the little girl help. What a horrible Saturday for everyone involved. All the EMT workers/cops etc kept saying ‘she’s going to be fine, she’s going to be just fine.’ I would love to hear how she is doing if anyone knows anything further.

At this time, I have no information on the condition of the injured girl. I have contacted the Public Information Officer at the Seattle Fire Department for more information and will update this post if/when I learn more.

Libraries CLOSED all next week, but still accessible (sort of)

As is becoming an annual tradition, ALL Seattle Public Library locations will be closed next week (Monday, August 29 through Sunday, September 4) due to citywide budget cuts, in addition to being closed on Monday, September 5 for Labor Day.

This time of year is historically the least busy time for our libraries, which is why it is frequently the target for furlough days.

If you have been meaning to visit our local Northeast Branch (6801 35th Avenue NE), here are the remaining open days before the furlough begins:

    Friday, August 26, 10AM-6PM
    Saturday, August 27, 10AM-6PM
    Sunday, August 28,1PM-5PM

After this weekend, the next day the Northeast Branch will be open is Tuesday, September 6, from 10AM-8PM.

The good news: During the closure, some library services will still be accessible. As is becoming a Ravenna Blog tradition, here is a list of the Seattle Public Library services that WILL work during the closure:

  • The online catalog! But you can’t place holds.
  • “My Account” information!
  • The new online system for paying your fees and fines!
  • Calendar of Events!
  • SPL Mobile! The library system’s mobile phone app.
  • Databases! Who doesn’t enjoy a romp through Consumer Reports?!
  • Downloadable media! Got an e-reader of some sort? You may not even notice there’s a furlough happening.
  • Digital collections! Photos from AYP, historical Seattle, and the like.
  • Library BLOGS! Specifically “Push to Talk” for teens and “Shelf Talk” for adults.
  • Library podcasts!

For the list of services that will be unavailable during the one-week closure, visit www.spl.org.

Dahl Wading Pool season ends TODAY (Thursday)

Thanks to a meteorologically late start to summer this year, the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department extended the seasons of 11 of the city’s wading pools, including the one at nearby Dahl Field (7700 25th Avenue NE).

Today’s wading pool hours of 12-7PM will be you and your little one’s last chance to cool your toes in the wading pool this summer. And with a high in the low 80s forecast for this afternoon (peaking around 4PM), I highly recommend it.

That and a box of popsicles and you got a good time.

Roaring Mouse Arts Studio’s website relaunches

Karen Knutson of Roaring Mouse Creative Arts Studio (7526 20th Avenue NE) let me know that the studio has a newly upgraded website which just launched:

20110824-203719.jpg

So if you haven’t yet checked out the offerings at this Ravenna neighborhood institution, now is a great time.

You can also find Roaring Mouse on Facebook and Twitter.

Another pooch on the loose in Ravenna/Roosevelt/? (Update: FOUND)

UPDATE (August 19): Good news from Matt in the ol’ inbox this morning!

Got him!

A few kids playing soccer at Eckstein Middle School called with the tip, and my wife Susie went and scooped him up.

Thank you to everyone who kept a lookout for Buddy. And three cheers for Eckstein students!

____________________

These are, indeed, the dog days of summer: I’ve another lost dog to report.

From reader Matt:

Our dog Buddy ran away from the dog sitter in Ravenna Wednesday evening August 10th. He’s a small (nine pounds), tan and white male Havanese. He has a brown leather collar with tags, and he’s microchipped too. He was last seen bolting north across 65th towards Roosevelt High School. He’s pretty timid, so please don’t chase if you see him.

If you see him, please call 954-7260.

A cup of joe with Jim (McDermott), this Saturday at Vios

Congressman Jim McDermott has been making the rounds in Seattle with his “Coffee with your Congressman” tour, chatting with constituents, answering our questions, and helping us “with a personal problem [we] may have with the federal government.”

His fifth such stop lands him at Vios Cafe in Ravenna Third Place Books (6504 20th Avenue NE) tomorrow, Saturday, August 13, at 10AM.

You can RSVP to this event on facebook here.

Black Great Dane on the loose! (Update: FOUND)

UPDATE (1:15PM): Rainey has been found!

Via email from Erika:

Whew.. Just want to let you know that we found her up near the Maple Leaf Reservoir a little while ago. Thanks again for your help!

If you kept an eye peeled for this dog at all once she took off last night, that Thank You is for YOU.

____________________

From reader Erika:

Our wonderful black Great Dane bolted from our house on 24th and 75th at 5:30, heading south toward Ravenna. Her name is Rainey, she has tags, but is fairly nervous and not too approachable by strangers. Just a sensitive girl, not aggressive.

If you see Rainey, please call Erika at 802-4111.

Ravenna Blog turns THREE — The year in review

On August 8, 2008, I published the very first Ravenna Blog post. Just a humble little “Hello, World” to get things started.

This past year, I posted a video of the President of the United States’ motorcade driving though our neighborhood that has now been viewed almost 270,000 times.

Last year for the Ravenna Blog’s birthday, I did a reflective year in review post. But in the past year, SO MUCH STUFF HAPPENED that I have decided to expand the review post into more of a review week. I hope you’ll indulge me this look back at the neighborhood news — and I hope you’ll find it interesting, too.

____________________

My aim with this site has always been to cover the big stuff that happens in the neighborhood, and to cover the small stuff, too. Because, to residents, this “small stuff” can be the biggest stuff of all.

An example of what I mean by this can be found in this post from August 10, 2008, “Ravenna Avenue Sidewalk REPAIRED.”

Broken and bumpy sidewalk made new again, in front of the Ravenna-Eckstein Community Center and adjoining Ravenna Apartments (August 10, 2010)


A few dozen square feet of new cement, in front of a building used by the entire community. Parents with babies in strollers would appreciate this news. The elders in the neighborhood would appreciate this news. Kids on bikes, or even smaller tykes just leaning to walk would appreciate this news. I took some pictures, typed up a post, and put it on the site for all to read.

Definitely not a high pageview sort of story. But that was not the point, of course.

The President may not drive down our streets every day, but there are folks who walk that stretch of sidewalk every day. And they live here. And I write for them.

This Weekend in Garage Sales (4)

I know of two THREE FOUR Ravenna neighborhood garage sales this weekend that you may be interested in:

Saturday, August 6

    7006 23rd Ave NE, 9AM-2PM – This one is a group of families/houses in the neighborhood holding a sale. LOTS of UW athletic wear at one of the sales.
    6272 19th Ave NE, 10AM-7PM – Large multi-family garage sale. LOTS of stuff available, including trendy Boho women’s clothing, Harley Davidson Sportster, hunting and pocket knives, art, books, and a netbook. (Check out the craigslist ad for more.)

Sunday, August 7

    6557 19th Ave NE, 9AM-3PM – “Furniture including shabby chic white wood table and four matching cushioned chairs, TONS of clothes including boys and girls mixed ages. Lots of baby toys, exersaucer, playmats, and books. There will be a lemonade stand too!!”

    7047 21st Ave NE, 9AM-1PM – “We are doing some way late spring cleaning and have great stuff for you! There are a lot of nice girl clothing and accessory items (mostly size 6X-8), some boy items (size 8-10) and even some woman items (mostly 1-2X). Everything has been freshly laundered and ironed! Some educational games and instructional tools/books for teachers/homeschoolers. Infant/toddler toys, household decor, DVDs, kid and adult books. Cute Harajuku lovers purse and luggage tag. Several other cute bags. Muddler, shaker, shot measure, bar glasses, and cocktail recipe book–everything you need for entertaining! Box of free items too! My nine-year-old daughter is excited to meet and entertain your little ones (pups too) while you browse.”


View August 6-7 Ravenna Garage Sales in a larger map

Having a sale of your own sometime this summer? I’m always happy to help you get the word out. Just email the details to rebecca@ravennablog.com.