Category Archives: Uncategorized

Key Bank Armed Robbery, Aug 8th, 2011

UPDATED: 9 AM, 08/09/2011 — Added pictures of suspects from SPD blotter and descriptions

UPDATED: 4 PM, 08/09/2011 — the description of the incident on 13th near 100th was clarified based on further information from neighbors and from Terrie Johnston from the SPD.

The Key Bank in Carkeek Plaza was robbed at gunpoint today at approximately 10:45 AM. A number of neighbors reported that the Plaza around the bank quickly filled with police cars, and a helicopter hovered overhead as the police searched for the robbers.

At about the same time police received a call about a possible residential burglar or otherwise suspicious circumstances in a house on 13th, a few short blocks away.   Police blocked NW 100th from 12th Ave NW to west of 13th Ave NW. Neighbors reported that the police surrounded a house near 13th Ave NW and NW 100th, but did not take anyone into custody. One neighbor reported there was “a swat team, at least 10 cop cars, a couple of black vans.” Approximately 2 PM the containment around the house was cleared and traffic flow was restored on 100th.

Additional coverage of the bank robbery can be found on the MyBallard website.

Photos and text from the SPD Blotter article:

On August 8th, at approximately 10:48 AM, two suspects robbed a bank in the 9700 Block of Holman Road Northwest.  The suspect descriptions are: 

1) White male, 20-30, thin, wearing an “Idaho Vandals” hooded sweatshirt, black bandana over the face.

2) White male, 40-50, thin, dark blue-green flannel over shirt, black t-shirt beneath used to cover face.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery or the identification of the masked suspects, please contact the FBI-Safe Streets Task Force at (206) 622-0460.

Local Author Donates Kid’s Books to Page Ahead

We received the following press release from Page Ahead (1130 NW 85th St), a Crown Hill non-profit which promotes children’s literacy:

Local author Keith Baker donated 200 new copies of his children’s books Hide and Snake and On the Go with Mr. and Mrs. Green.  He delivered the books to Page Ahead’s Crown Hill office on Monday Aug. 8th.  In the attached photo, Keith Baker is pictured with Susan Dibble, Page Ahead’s Executive Director.

Keith Baker was a nominee for Page Ahead’s 2011 Best Books for Kids Awards for his alphabet book LMNO Peas, and is the recipient of other children’s book awards including a Golden Kite Award for Big Fat Hen, and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year for The Magic Fan, among others.

Page Ahead is the leading provider of children’s books and literacy services in Washington State, serving 55,000 children in need every year.  Page Ahead provides new books for children in need; literacy support for families; and reading resources for communities.

Keith Baker
Keith Baker

Free Trees from Seattle’s reLeaf Program

The City of Seattle is sponsoring a Trees For Neighborhoods program again this year. The program encourages residents to plant trees in their yards and along their streets. They city will provide residents:

  • Free trees
  • Watering bags
  • Training on proper planting and care
  • Coupon for free Groco compost
  • Ongoing care reminders and workshop opportunities

The list of available species is here.

This is a City program so there are some ground rules:

  • Trees can be planted anywhere in residential yards, but must be planted at the address on the application. 
  • Permits are required if planting street trees – reLeaf staff will coordinate acquiring permits. Receiving a permit is not guaranteed. No permit is required for yard trees. 
  • You must be present at the planting training to pick up your tree(s). All trees should be planted shortly after receiving them. 
  • The number of trees approved for your yard may be fewer than the number requested. Please note that tree availability is not guaranteed.
  • If you do not own your home, you must obtain the permission of the homeowner. 
  • Tree supply is limited and applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis, so apply early!

If you would like to participate, please visit the program website and submit your application. The deadline for applications for street trees this year is September 1st, 2011 and for yard trees is October 24th, but you should apply early because the number of trees is limited.

LED Streetlights are here!

In our earlier article, we published City Councilmember Bruce Harrell’s press release about the new LED streetlights coming to residential streets north of 65th to 145th. At that time, the new lights were installed in Olympic Manor and some areas south of 85th. Shortly thereafter, LED lights graced the enclave of West Crown Hill. A few weeks later, work appears to be complete on the non-arterial streets and we should all be basking in the new moon-glow lights. In a decidedly non-random sampling of folk at some block parties for Night Out Seattle, about two-thirds of us like the seemingly brighter lights. Others indicated they did not like them for one reason or another, such as “too bright,” “shines in my window at night,” “too blue.” Some folk were astonished at being able to discern colors at night.

From a quick, non-exhaustive survey around the neighborhood, it appears that the following streets have yet to be completed:

  • 15th Ave NW south of 95th
  • 8th Ave NW south of 100th
  • 14th Ave NW north of 100th
  • streets in Blueridge with metal light poles

One of the comments in the earlier article inquired about streets that have no streetlights at present. Those streets are not covered by this re-lamping project.

What do you think of the new lights? Add your comments below.

Sodium Vapor Street Light
Sodium Vapor Street Light
LED Street Light
LED Street Light

NW 85th Street Repairs to Start August 2nd

Work crews from Seattle Dept of Transportation will begin repaving and making other repairs to the road surface on NW 85th St between 27th Ave NW and 31st Ave NW.  Though not directly in Crown Hill, 85th is frequently used to get to Golden Gardens, Sunset Hill and the Locks.

Paving crews from the Seattle Department of Transportation plan to start tomorrow, August 2, repairing the concrete roadway at several locations on NW 85th Street between 27th Avenue NW and 31st Avenue NW. The crews expect to complete the work by Thursday, August 11 if weather allows. Eastbound and westbound traffic will take turns sharing a single lane in this area from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the assistance of traffic flaggers. No on-street parking will be allowed and the eastbound bike lane will be closed.  The sidewalks will remain open. Drivers are advised to take an alternate route or allow extra time to move through the construction area.