Neighbor Nick writes:
“Hi, we live on the corner of 15th and Hinds and recently (last night?) had two toolbags stolen, and some cordless drills. They are Veto Pro Pac XL toolbags. One is filled with wood and metal-working tools, the other is mostly electrical tools. There is a Makita 18v lithium ion cordless drill as well. If anyone tries to sell you tools with purple and silver paint on them or with a ‘Q’ written on them, please call Nick at 206-718-7358. Thanks!”
Today is Bike to Work Day, but if you participate, don’t forget to lock up your bike! Neighbors on the Beacon Hill mailing list have reported several bike thefts recently. The thefts were from the areas of 19th and Waite, 19th and Horton, and 18th and Horton. One neighbor reported “two bikes [were] stolen from our garage while we were doing yardwork.” Another bike was stolen while parked in an alley. “I haven’t been able to keep a bike more than a season,” added another neighbor. “It’s cheap bikes and security cameras from now on for us.”
If your bicycle is stolen and its value is less than $500, you can file a police report online here. If the bicycle stolen is worth more than $500, report the theft by calling the police non-emergency number, 206-625-5011.
Neighbor Jonathan sent us this tale of theft and recovery:
“On Wednesday, November 23rd, I left my messenger bag in the Beacon Hill Light Rail Station as I absent mindedly boarded the northbound train. As soon as I realized what I had done, I switched trains at the International District station and headed back. By the time I got there it was gone. It was either turned in or stolen.
“I called Link Light Rail and talked to the security guard on site, neither were of any help and so I waited, just hoping it was turned in to the next train operator. Turns out it was stolen. However, the taker or takers ultimately were not interested in the bag, only the computer in it. The bag was dropped on my front lawn/sidewalk on 16th Ave at around 10:00pm or so. At that point, I knew it was stolen of course and so gave up hope of finding it. I started checking Craigslist for computers of my specs to see if it was being turned around for a quick buck.
“However, the next morning, Thanksgiving Day, my computer was sitting safely on my front porch chair. There was still a lot of juice left in the battery and a note written on the back saying, ‘God did not return your computer, I did. Ha!’ During the day on Wednesday, I was able to use the Find My iPhone app and remotely wipe and lock the computer, which rendered it useless and unmarketable. So they brought it back. No harm, no foul as they say. And I got a good laugh out of the note too.”
Glad to see it came back!
Neighbor Tiffany sent us the following warning:
“I thought I would warn my fellow Beacon Hill neighbors about the recent incidents that have occurred at my house (on 14th Ave. S. and S. Hanford) in the last 3 days. First our BBQ was stolen out of our backyard (in broad daylight mind you, around 3 or 4 p.m. on Monday, 8/15), then last night (8/18) between 2–6 a.m., one of our cars was stolen from in front of our house. I have lived on Beacon Hill for the past 2+ years (my family—dad, aunts, uncles, grandparents—have lived on Beacon Hill for 40+ years) and have never had any problems like this so close together (besides two of our cars’ tires getting punctured when everyone else’s did a few months ago).
“So in an effort to warn everyone, I wanted to advise that people chain down their BBQs and set the alarms on their cars, so that no one else has to go through this.”
Apologies to everyone. We are way behind on posts this week. Here’s a catch-up edition of Beacon Bits to fill you in on the latest.
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Notice the newspaper up in the windows of the old Beacon Pub? According to the Bar del Corso blog, they have started work on the building, where their pizzeria will be opening later this year.
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Just south of the former pub, another change is about to take place: ROCKiT space is moving. Betty Jean Williamson reports that ROCKiT will continue regular hours of operation at the current location, 3315 Beacon Avenue South, through January 31. After that, Open Mic moves to Kusina Filipina (3201 Beacon Avenue South) on Saturday, February 5. The event starts at 8:00 pm and costs $5. Tots Jam is moving to El Centro de la Raza room 310 (2524 16th Avenue South) on February 2 at 9:00 am. Classes are $7.
In the meantime, the ROCKiTeers have a lot of work ahead before vacating the building at 3315 Beacon and moving their activities into other locations. It sounds like they will need some volunteer help, including cleaning, repair, and moving. Contact Betty Jean at 206-658-0187 or bjwlmp@msn.com if you can help.
There will be a ROCKiT space moving sale on January 29 from 9:00 am – 6:00 pm. If you have loaned ROCKiT anything, please pick it up soon or let them know if you want to donate to the sale.
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Travis Mayfield at KOMO points out that Edwin Lee, the new mayor of San Francisco and the first Asian-American mayor of that city, was born on Beacon Hill!
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On the less-happy side of things, you may have heard that some very bad people were out and about last week, posing as Water Department workers to convince neighbors on Beacon Hill and in Columbia City to let them in their homes for a “water quality check,” but stealing their stuff instead. Here’s a Seattle Times (BHB news partners) report. The Seattle Police South Precinct Email Community Newsletter went out yesterday with their own take on the subject:
“For those of you who are ‘seasoned’ enough to remember the song ‘Let ’Em In’ by Paul McCartney & Wings from 1976 (I know, so last century), it should not be a surprise that we disagree with Sir Paul. Just because someone knocks or rings at the door does not mean that you let them in.”
The SPD reminds you that City employees will have laminated picture ID that includes a name, department, and serial number. If you see a suspicious person come to your house, and that person can’t produce a City of Seattle picture ID, call 911 to report the situation immediately.
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The Nova High School Book Night is coming on January 26. We are told it’s a “book fair/book exchange with books of all kinds, free for all!” Beacon Hill neighbor Levecke Mas is collecting books for the the book exchange; contact Levecke at leveckeinseattle@gmail.com. You can also drop off your book donations at the Nova office, in the Meany school building on East Capitol Hill (300 20th Avenue East).
The event is from 6:30-8:30 pm on Wednesday, January 26, and it is open to all.
Learn more about Nova and the Book Night at http://novaproject.my-pta.org.
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Rainier Valley Cooperative Preschool invites the community to learn about the school at an open house on Saturday, February 5, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, and Thursday, February 10, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
The parent-run preschool is located in Beacon Hill Lutheran Church at 1720 South Forest Street. More info at their website.
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Cass Turnbull of Plant Amnesty doesn’t approve of Beacon Hill-style yard topiaries. Joel Lee begs to differ:
“I can certainly appreciate wanting to protect plants from senseless mutilation but Plant Amnesty seems to have nominated themselves the arbiters of taste with comments like ‘When the inherent beauty of a plant is compromised, it’s painful for those of us who know what it should look like.’ Who gave Plant Amnesty the authority to decide what plants should look like?”
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While it’s not Beacon Hill-specific, I can’t resist posting this link to a photo of former City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck with a man in a heron costume. Thank you, Seattle Municipal Archives.
As SeattleCrime.com reports, a man forced his way into a Beacon Hill home and stole a laptop on August 1. When one of the residents chased him, the man pulled out a handgun. The victims told police they recognized the man (white male, 30-35 years old, with short blond hair and stubble)Â and believe he lives nearby.
Be careful when you answer the door, neighbors.
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Some Beaconians might be curious about what happened to former Culinary Communion operator Gabriel Claycamp and his pork emporium, The Swinery, after Claycamp decamped from Beacon Hill back to West Seattle last year. It turns out the road has not been entirely smooth (some of the comments on that post are interesting, to say the least), but Claycamp and the Swinery did get a positive write-up from the New York Times’ T Magazine Blog recently.
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Elliott Jones of El Centro writes with more news about tasty tamales:
Have you been one of the lucky attendees of El Centro de la Raza’s tamale classes? Chances are, you haven’t – they have been wildly popular and have been selling out quick! Here’s a link to sign up for the next one, on May 15th (they are every 3rd Saturday, by the way).
Our April class is this Saturday, so that means that even though you might not be able to learn how to make them yourself, this month, you can still purchase some! Tamales are $12/dozen and you must order by Wednesday at 5pm.
To order, call Ashley Haugen at 206-957-4611 or e-mail development@elcentrodelaraza.org.
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The Dana Lupinacci Band is playing blues and jazz on Thursday night at the Beacon Pub, 3057 Beacon Avenue South. Show is at 8:00, and there is no cover charge.
Also in musical news on the Hill: We neglected to mention that Beacon Hill’s own Blue Scholars were featured in The Stranger a couple of weeks ago.
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Some lowlife stole a couple of kids’ bikes right off their front porch. “1 royal blue/silver/black 20″ mongoose, BMX style with pegs. Right handbrake is cracked. 1 lime green/silver 20″ Next, BMX style with pegs.” If you’ve seen them, please contact the parents.
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Denise Louie Education Center is holding their Fifth Annual Children and Families Festival on Saturday, May 22 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at their Beacon Hill location, 3327 Beacon Avenue South. The event is free and open to the public, and will feature food, music, crafts, and community resources. Volunteers are needed. For more information or if you are interested in volunteering, please contact Frances Lin at 206-792-9771 or email flin@deniselouie.org.
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The Rainier Valley Cooperative Preschool is hosting a rummage sale this Saturday, April 24.  The school is located at the Beacon Lutheran Church, 1720 South Forest Street (just across Beacon from the library).
Sunday, a 10-month old ‘intoxicated’ baby was taken into protective custody near 15th and Nevada. — Seattle Times Blotter
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Metro bus purse snatcher arrested near I-90 and Valentine Pl — SeattleCrime.com
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Here are some selected reports sent to us, appearing on the mailing lists, or in the scanner logs at bhnw.org.
Assaults:
Burglaries:
Vehicle break-ins:
Vehicle thefts:
I live on Beacon Hill and just had my car stolen. If anyone sees a 1991 black [Acura] Integra with license plate 750-YNW please email me at straussss@gmail.com or call 510-333-9633. The car was not in great condition, didn’t have a working stereo, and may have been ditched somewhere… I hope 🙂
3/8 3:30pm, 15th and Lucile — 1993 Burgundy Dodge Caravan
Other:
Selected scanner items from bhnw.org:
1/13 10:30pm — Burglary: 22nd and Kenny
1/14 1:30pm — Burglary: 35th and Graham
1/15 7:15pm — Vehicle Theft: 15th and Lucile
1/18 3:00pm — Vehicle Break-in: 12th and Atlantic
1/25 9:30pm — Shooting / Weapons: 12th and Atlantic
1/27 1:45pm — Robbery: Beacon and Alaska
1/29 10:30am — Other: 32nd and Myrtle
1/29 12:30pm — Other: 13th and Atlantic
1/31 5:30pm — Vehicle Theft: Beacon and Morgan
2/1 3:45pm — Robbery: Beacon and Brandon
2/4 1:15pm — Vehicle Break-in: Beacon and Horton
2/5 2:30pm — Vehicle Break-in: 17th and Plum
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Collen wrote to the mailing list about a daytime break-in on January 21st at 18th and College where they smashed the bathroom window and took a computer, several iPods, and a camera. He also mentioned that his girlfriend’s car window was smashed a few nights later nearby.
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John Wright also wrote to the list about a car theft and recovery:
Just wanted to let you know that my friend’s car was stolen on Saturday, 1/23, between 10:30 p.m. and Midnight. It was a red 1998 Honda Civic 4-door. It was parked on 17th Ave S near Holgate. We didn’t hear anything, and our dogs (who bark at just about everything) did not make a peep.
It was recovered Sunday morning in the Bryn Mawr area of Renton. It was sitting in a ditch, stereo stolen, steering console trashed, windows open. Rear passenger door was tagged on the inside with a gang sign. They stole the De La Soul CD, but left behind the Nirvana and Nada Surf. 🙂
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From SeattleCrime.com‘s Robbery Round-up:
January 15th, South Seattle: A man ran inside Cleveland High School and told officers working off-duty at a basketball game that he’d been carjacked at gun point. The man told police he was parked outside the school’s gym when two other men approached him, put a gun to his head and demanded his vehicle. The report says the victim told the robbers “he was ready to die” and to “go ahead and shoot if he was going to kill him.” The victim eventually handed over the car and the suspects drove off.
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After the jump, two lists of very good advice from Felicia and Craig via the mailing list.
Continue reading Crime notes: Tips, burglaries, and more tips
The meeting will be next Wednesday, September 30, at the Rainier Vista Boys and Girls Club, 4520 Martin Luther King Jr. Way South. The site is only one block north of Columbia City Station. The public is invited to meet with Councilmembers at an informal reception starting at 6:00 p.m. The Town Hall will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Further info is on kingcounty.gov.
(Thanks to Warren Yee for the info!)
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A set of bagpipes have gone missing on Beacon Hill, taken from a curb. Have you seen them? There is a $400 reward for their safe return.
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The Green City Partnerships blog has a story about Andrea Ostrovsky and Mary DeJong, who have worked hard to improve the Cheasty Greenspace over the last couple of years, including hosting community work parties in Cheasty on the first Saturday of every month. In Ostrovsky and DeJong’s vision, the Greenspace is “a potential link between Beacon Hill’s Lockmore neighborhood and Columbia City,” among other things.
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Maria on the mailing list writes,
“Earlier tonight (09/23/09) I found a emaciated grey cat on 20th and Lander. She is very friendly, obviously not feral, no collar, grey with white paws and white diamond-shaped marking on neck and gold eyes. She was extremely thin and hungry. I gave her some food and took her to the Seattle Animal Shelter where they checked her for a microchip (she didn’t have one). They are holding her for four days as a stray before she’s put up for adoption. Her case number is 13021. Does anyone know whose cat this may be? If you do, please call the SAS at 206-386-4294. I would have kept her at my house but my cats would have really freaked out.”