Python loose in the park! But which park?

August 13, 2012 by 11 Comments

We got a voice mail from North Precinct Crime Prevention Coordinator Terrie Johnston this afternoon at 2:50 PM, saying, “I hope you’re not at Cowen Park playfield…uh playground. A seven-foot yellow python got loose and he’s headed for the playground.”

Now, that’s an amusing story, but Cowen Park is not in Ravenna. So I just mention the missing snake on twitter, like this:

A few minutes later, the official Seattle Police Department twitter feed says this:

Oh no! Wrong neighborhood! And wrong park! Lower case “p” or not, people are going to get confused!

But I check with Terrie Johnston again, to make sure. “61st and Brooklyn Cowen Park” is the email reply.


View Snake on the loose! in a larger map

Decidedly NOT Ravenna Park.

But the damage has been done. The SPD tweet has now been REtweeted over 300 times (probably because of that “Snakes on a Plane” movie reference being clever and all).

And, of course, someone has started a new twitter feed…FOR THE SNAKE:

Thankfully, the SPD just updated the story on their blog, and you can read it here (“Officers On Python Patrol After Snake Escapes In Ravenna Neighborhood“).

An excerpt for you:

As police officers and officials from Seattle parks department and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife search the neighborhood and Cowen/Ravenna Park for the snake, you and your small pets should keep to the trails, and stay away from drainage ditches, thick foliage, and hollow logs, according to Seattle’s resident snake expert, Peter Miller.

Miller, reptile keeper at Woodland Park Zoo, estimates the snake is around 15-20 pounds and says it “has the potential” to be dangerous. ”These guys are ambush predators,” he says. “They find a well protected covered area and they sit and they wait.”

KING 5 news Reporter John Langeler got the location right, though:

And it looks like Seattle Parks and Recreation has put up signage.

John Langeler / KING 5

If Timid the Albino Python is found (yeah, his name is Timid), we’ll let you know here.

Filed Under: Cowen Park, Lost/Found, Ravenna, Ravenna Park, Roosevelt, Seattle Police Department Tagged With:

Red Card: Luna the Soccer Dog stolen Saturday night (FOUND)

March 4, 2012 by 4 Comments

UPDATE (Monday, March 5, 2:42 PM): Confirmation from Anita that Luna has been found!

Yes — the fliers and announcements worked and someone took the dog away from the woman who had stolen her — called us and we got her back on the Ave this morning.

UPDATE (Monday, March 5, 9:21 AM): We now have a description of Luna’s abductor (via email from Anita):

The SPD has confirmed that Luna was spotted with a known transient female — Renee Gundersen — on the ave today. Ms. Gundersen is a known addict and has reddish hair, freckles, is very gaunt and wears clothes that are too big/look like they are hanging off of her. She and her boyfriend move between the U District and Capitol Hill. They do hang out around the U District Safeway, Jack in the Box, around 50th and the Ave.

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Luna the Soccer Dog / Photo courtesy Anita Ramasastry

Sounders fans may already be familiar with Luna the Soccer Dog, but now her owners are asking everyone to keep an eye out for her (emphasis mine):

Bring Luna home.  Luna the Soccer Dog appears to have been stolen from outside her Seattle university area home about 5.30 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2012.  Female Kelpie mix (border collie with dingo ears), black coat, white vest, four white socks, 30lbs.  Wearing tag showing her address (5810 16th Ave, N.E.) and phone (206) 729-8322.  She responds to her name – Luna   Responds uniquely to commands including “Pass the Soccer Ball” and “Let’s Play Soccer, Luna.”

An eyewitness saw Luna the Soccer Dog being taken by a young white woman, brown hair, in her 20s, who led her in the direction of Ravenna Park.  GENEROUS REWARD For information leading to Luna’s safe return, no questions asked.  Contact above phone (206) 729-8322 or address or email ramawawa1@msn.com.

Luna’s amazing soccer skills have thrilled thousands before Sounders games and in countless other exhibitions (Seattle Weekly YouTube video). Described as World’s Greatest Four-Legged Soccer Player.  BRING LUNA THE SOCCER DOG HOME!

Here’s a map of the area around Luna’s house:


View Luna the Soccer Dog stolen in a larger map

And here’s that Seattle Weekly video she mentioned (from this 2009 SW story):

Filed Under: Crime, Lost/Found, Ravenna, Roosevelt, University District, Updates Tagged With: , , ,

UW professor’s propeller, bound for park, winds up stolen instead (UPDATE)

February 1, 2012 by 2 Comments

UPDATE (Friday, February 3): The propeller has been found! Via Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Parkways blog:

Seattle Parks has possession of the propeller that was stolen earlier this week from the University District. After discovering the stolen propeller at the Northwest Corporate Park in Kent, a security guard contacted the Kent Police Department.

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Seattle Parks and Recreation is asking for the public’s help in finding a stolen object bound for installation at a north end park.

The missing object in question: A 70-inch diameter 1,260-pound stainless steel propeller.

Details from Seattle Parks and Recreation’s Dewey Potter (via email):

The University District Community Council and Philip Thiel, naval architect and Professor Emeritus of Architecture and Urban Design and Planning at the University of Washington, were preparing to donate a 70” diameter, stainless steel propeller to Parks as an installation in a north end park.

Unfortunately, thieves drove up an alley in the University District this morning and, managing to overcome the obstacles of both a retaining wall and a fence, lifted the 1,260 lb. propeller onto a truck and drive away with it. There were no witnesses. Neighbors heard a commotion and called the police, but the thieves were long gone.

Professor Thiel and the missing propeller (pre-theft) / Photo courtesy Seattle Parks and Recreation

The propeller is/was to be used in North Passage Point Park in the Northgate area.

The public is asked to keep an eye out for the missing propeller. If spotted, please call the Seattle Police Department’s non-emergency number (206-684-5011) and contact Seattle Parks and Recreation (206-684-7241).

Filed Under: Crime, Lost/Found, Northeast Seattle, Seattle Parks and Recreation, University District, University of Washington, Updates Tagged With: , , , ,

Ravenna Blog – Sunday Edition

January 29, 2012 by Leave a Comment


Filed Under: 911, Businesses, City Council, Food, Lost/Found, Sunday Edition, Traffic, University District, University of Washington, University Village, Video

A lost white cat appears! Is he yours? (UPDATE)

December 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment

UPDATE (Tuesday, December 13): We’ve just heard the good news from Anthony (via email): “Just an update, we got in touch with the owners of the white cat last night! He is from a home around 56th and 12th. Thank you again so much for posting that on the blog!”

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Readers Anthony and Julia may have found your lost kitty (via email, emphasis ours):

We were just opening the door to leave the apartment and the crafty little guy just snuck inside! We’re on the 1300 block of NE Ravenna [Blvd], so just across from Cowen Park. He’s an all-white adult male, extremely curious and friendly to humans, which leads us to believe he might belong to someone (no collar or microchip, however). We think he may have been missing for a while because he was a bit dirty and had a minor infection around one of his eyes. I have attached a photo that we took. We had to take him into the Seattle Animal Shelter, because our lease doesn’t allow for pets, but we really want to find his owners who must miss him very much!

 

Anthony and Julia live in the neighborhood nexus of the Ravenna, Roosevelt, and University District neighborhoods, so Lost White Kitty could be from any one of those.

Filed Under: Lost/Found, Ravenna, Roosevelt, University District, Updates Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Lost White Ferret APB – More info (sort of)

October 8, 2010 by Leave a Comment

White ferret mug shot (approximate)

If you live near 27th Avenue NE between NE 65th and 60th Streets, be on the lookout for a LOST WHITE FERRET.

Varmint last seen approximately here

Any leads? Contact me here (rebecca [at] ravennablog.com), in the comments below, and/or the twitter feed (twitter.com/RavennaBlog).

Thanks to Nazila for the tip.

UPDATE: More info from a craigslist post:

HALEN got out in the morning on Friday, 10/8. She was last seen on 27th Ave NE. She is albino and about 2 pounds. She is very friendly and curious and will come up to you if she sees you. She won’t bite.

If you have any information, please call Molly at [see below].

I found the post through EveryBlock, but it has since been deleted.  I’m leaving off the contact phone number until I hear back from my source*.

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*Yeah, I have a #lostwhiteferretwatch2010 source. U MAD?

Filed Under: Lost/Found, Photos, Ravenna, Updates Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Contest! WIN Hyperlocal Oregano!

September 3, 2010 by 4 Comments

I was pulling up my carrots in the backyard (to make way for overwintering broccoli), when I found an oregano plant growing in between the rows. Huh!

I already have an oregano plant elsewhere in the backyard (probably the mama of this new one), so I’m looking to find a home for the little guy.

I can haz a home?

CONTEST TIME!

The FIRST Ravenna/Bryant neighbor to email me the answer to the following question (in the comments below) will have Oregano Jr. here delivered to his/her doorstep!

  • What was the name of the first postmaster at the Ravenna Post Office?

Good luck!

Filed Under: Bryant, Food, Lost/Found, Ravenna

Lost and Found

August 15, 2008 by Leave a Comment

For some reason, the intersection of 21st and 70th is a bit of a Bermuda Triangle.  Or perhaps a localized Cosmic Karma Pot equalizer.  Observe…

Huxley the cat has gone missing.  In fact, he is missing cat flyer number two for this particular telephone pole.

No word on cat number one’s whereabouts, but from the weathered patina of the flyer, it doesn’t look good.

A close up of the text reveals that Huxley is both well-loved and well-named:

In the Found category, we have the following fetching AND utilitarian bed frame and headboard, which are available for FREE dollars and FREE cents:

My educated guess is that this would fit a twin-size mattress.  It’s perfect for someone who would rather not have a nightstand cluttering up the bedroom.  Mount a reading light on top, put your teeth grinding mouth guard in one of the handy drawers, and you’re good to go!

Now if this IS INDEED the Cosmic Karma Intersection of Ravenna, will Huxley be found if someone picks up the bed frame?  Only time will tell.

Filed Under: Lost/Found