Arson Suspected During Burglary On 20th Avenue NE

From the Seattle Police Department Blotter:

Neighbors observed smoke coming from a North Seattle home and called Seattle Fire Department (SFD).  On 5/26/13, just shortly after 9:00 p.m., officers responded to a home in the 11000 block of 20 Av NE . SFD was already on scene and advised officers that when they arrived they found the front door open with its window broken out.  SFD contained the fire which appeared to have been started in a back bedroom closet.

After further investigation, it was determined that the residence had been burglarized and then a fire started.  The suspects attempted to enter via a basement door and when that didn’t work they entered through the front by breaking the window.

It is unknown at this time if anything was taken. Arson Bomb Squad (ABS) responded and took over the scene.  CSI responded also and processed the scene.

 Anyone with information about this crime is asked to call 9-1-1. Anonymous tips are welcome.

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Report Graffiti For Removal Saturday

Seen any graffiti around Victory Heights? A Spring Clean party of volunteers will be going around the neighborhood on Saturday morning, picking up trash and removing graffiti. If you know of a “tag” somewhere, please let the organizer know so someone can deal with it.

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Community Council Seeks Emergency Block Captains

Last night’s meeting of the Victory Heights Community Council included a presentation from the Emergency Planning Committee about how our neighborhood should respond in the event of a catastrophic disaster that shuts down the normal means of communication and travel. To that end, a map has been created with each block in Victory Heights broken down into “zones” with the hopes of finding a Captain for each zone who would first liaise with residents in their zone in coming months, distribute city brochures on emergency preparedness, and in the event of an actual emergency, contact their neighbors, and be responsible for relaying information to a central location.
Read the full minutes of the May Meeting.
The city and emergency planning experts advise that every household should be prepared to be self-sufficient for up to three weeks before outside aid, food, electricity or water might be restored in case of a disaster. The purpose of the Planning Committee is to make residents aware of what they should do beforehand, as well as letting them know what plans for the community have been put in place. If you would like to volunteer as a Captain for your block, please let us know. The Committee will train Captains for doing outreach as well as supply all the brochures and information they will need. We all hope of course that such a disaster never occurs but we want to be ready if it ever does.
Other items discussed at last night’s meeting included the Spring Clean scheduled for Saturday, the recent break-ins in the area and how to let the police know about suspicious activity (we are their eyes and ears, call 911 if you see something that looks wrong), building a Little Free Library near the park so folks can exchange books, and organizing the picnic/Night Out in late July or early August for the entire neighborhood.
The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 18th, at a location to be determined (the Pre-School doesn’t have use of the building in the park during the summer months).

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Join In On Neighborhood Cleanup May 25th

Ardith Lupton, President of the Victory Heights Community Council, is organizing a neighborhood cleanup on Saturday, May 25th.  She has ordered supplies for one dozen volunteers to help clean up the neighborhood.  The kits include paint for graffiti removal, grabbers to pick up trash and trash bags along with vests.
Despite being over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, she says, “Hopefully there will be plenty of neighbors who will stay ‘in Town’ and want to participate.”
Unfortunately, it does not include improving the traffic circles and replanting flowers, etc., although residents could vote at Tuesday’s meeting about spending some money from the treasury to purchase flowers for select circles if someone wants to do some planting.
Ardith will be the point person and will meet volunteers in front of the Pre-school building in Victory Heights Park at 9 am on the 25th to get started.

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Community Council Meeting May 21st

The Victory Heights Community Council will have its next meeting on Tuesday, May 21st at 7 PM in the Pre-School building in the park. All residents of Victory Heights are encouraged to attend and help improve our neighborhood.
Unfortunately, the planned speaker from Sound Transit won’t be able to make it this month. But we will be discussing the efforts of the Emergency Preparedness Committee to assemble block watch captains for every street in Victory Heights. Also, planning a pot luck in August during the annual Night Out, and building a free lending library station for the neighborhood.  There have also been a rash of break-ins recently, including one of the Community Council’s board members! Police response has been good, but we still need to keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Find out how you can help.

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Tree Trimming Along 20th Avenue NE

treecutToday, contractors for the city were trimming trees along 20th Avenue NE, presumably as preventative maintenance for the power lines that run along the street.

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Mac 'n Cheese & Magic Tomorrow at Northgate Community Center

The Seattle Park and Recreation Department is sponsoring an event Friday night at the Northgate Community Center. Bring the family and turn your macaroni and cheese into a magical evening of dinner and entertainment! From 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the Center will offer basic macaroni ‘n’ cheese and you can add your favorite toppings. Choose from bacon, sausage, hot dogs, sun dried tomatoes, onions, bread crumbs and more.
Xakary the Magician and his pet rabbit will mesmerize and dazzle guests with their magic!
Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. Please register ahead of time at 206-386-4283.
Northgate Community Center is located at 10510 5th Ave. NE.

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Thornton Creek Alliance Meets Thursday

thorntoncreekalliancelogoThe monthly meeting of the Thornton Creek Alliance will be Thursday, April 25th and will feature Seattle Public Utilities’ plans for the Mayor’s new storm water goals, a Department of Transportation presentation about repaving NE 125th Street, and the Alliance’s past year’s accomplishments. They are also looking towards the future and want you to bring your ideas.
Everyone is welcome, the meeting is 7:15 PM to 9 PM at the Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Avenue NE.
 

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Hearing Monday For Sacajawea Project

sacajaweaThe Parks and Green Spaces Levy Oversight Committee is hosting a public hearing to gather public comments on the proposed second round Opportunity Fund projects on Monday April 22, 2013. Among the 12 proposals are  Sacajawea Elementary School’s Playground Renovation.
In January,  the Committee heard more than 40 group project presentations. They made a draft recommendation of projects for the second round of funding.  The list of twelve projects represents two projects from each geographical sector of the city (the other Northeast Seattle nominee is a Lake City Skatespot). The Committee is holding a public hearing to gather input before finalizing the list of recommended projects it submits to the Mayor and City Council.
The hearing is at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E, from 6 – 9 p.m, Monday.

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Insurance Requirements Vex Community Plans

You would think something as easy as “Hey, let’s all have an organized picnic in the park” would be simple, but insurance, fees and liability have proven to make such plans anything but. Last night’s Victory Heights Community Council meeting discussed a proposed neighborhood picnic in July to be held at the park until it was realized it would cost a minimum of $455 just for a four hour event (Park permits, plus $300 in required insurance). Instead, the Council is planning on an informal block party during the City’s annual Neighborhood Night Out on August 6th.
Read the complete Minutes of the April 16th meeting.
Insurance requirements also reared their ugly head when it was realized by the Victory Heights Co-operative Pre-School that their insurance does not extend to adults in the building they lease from the Parks Department, not even to their own staff! Questions about liability when we use the building for meetings have come up, and the Community Council may need to pony up for insurance or else face having to meet somewhere else (though there is no other suitable place in the neighborhood).
Other items discussed at the meeting included the city’s Spring Clean, reports from the Emergency Preparedness Committee, and the recent victory at the North District council to get a new traffic circle put in on 23rd Avenue NE.
Next month’s meeting agenda (Tuesday May 21st) will include a presentation from Sound Transit about the Link Light Rail south of Northgate, planning for the Night Out, and installing Little Free Libraries around the neighborhood similar to what Pinehurst has done.

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