The Seattle Times looks at Candy Cane Lane, past and present

December 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Looking for information on how to negotiate Ravenna’s famous Candy Cane Lane? And maybe a bit of its history to boot?

Our news partners at the Seattle Times have the answer.

Seattle Times Candy Cane Lane article from December 15

The picture above links to an article about the neighborhood-within-our-neighborhood that has been putting on an annual holiday show since the 1950s. Also found within are directions, instructions, and a reminder to bring along your canned-food donations to Northwest Harvest.

Candy Cane Lane runs from 4pm to midnight, daily, through December 31st.

Filed Under: Everything counts in large amounts Tagged With: , ,

Ravenna Blog joins the Seattle Times Local News Partnership (updated)

December 1, 2010 by 11 Comments

Exciting news!

The Ravenna Blog has joined the Seattle Times Local News Partnership!

The announcement on the Seattle Times' site this morning (click to read)

Stories from this site will now be in regular rotation on the Seattle Times Local News Partners page and occasionally on the newspaper’s homepage (scroll down to the Local News Partners section).

All this exposure is great for the site, of course, but what do YOU get out of it? Here’s a small list:

  • The ability to publish photos from the Seattle Times when appropriate – like the one from the Seattle Sketcher, Gabriel Campanario, that was used in our interview with Harissa’s Walid Alabtan
  • The potential to work on collaborative projects – “Invisible Families” was one of these projects
  • Greater communication and coverage about local events and news in our area that may be of interest to a wider audience
  • Educational opportunities for yours truly to learn more about journalism, media, and the like, as an investment in the work the Ravenna Blog is already doing
  • and probably more!

Even though the Local News Partnership project has been around since August 2009, it is still evolving. I’m very pleased (and a bit proud) that we’ve been included in it (WE meaning you, too, dear reader), and look forward to the future of this partnership.

UPDATE: The Seattle Times Local News Partnership map has also been updated.

Click the map to see the full version at the Seattle Times

So happy to help fill out the coverage in Northeast Seattle.

Filed Under: Everything counts in large amounts Tagged With: , , ,

Newspaper sales force in our area confirmed

November 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I heard back yesterday from Griff Tilmont, the Seattle Times’ circulation district manager for our area of Seattle.  He confirmed that there has been a “huge sales force” in our area recently.

In his phone message, Griff said that salespeople work their way through neighborhoods, knocking on doors, and asking if homeowners take the paper. If the answer is, “Yes, we do,” then the salespeople ask how your service has been. If the answer is, “No, we don’t,” then they try to sell subscriptions.

My in-laws over in Laurelhurst also mentioned greeting a salesperson at their door, asking these questions.

Thanks to all who shared their concerns in the comments on the Ravenna Blog about this activity. Glad we were able to solve this one. Thanks also to Seattle Times circulation for their help.

Filed Under: Everything counts in large amounts Tagged With: , , , , ,

Police reports for two more property crimes, plus contact information (and an update)

October 29, 2010 by 4 Comments

UPDATE (11:15 am): Called Seattle Times circulation, where I was told that the district manager for our area can occasionally check up with subscribers on their delivery service. However, the woman I talked to had no information on recent activity in our area. I have left a message for our area’s district manager regarding these house calls.

This afternoon/evening, two more police reports for recent burglary activity became available online. I have summarized both below:

  • 1600 block of NE 73rd Street – Victim leaves home at 7:30 am, returns at 4:45 pm to a broken into back door (glass panel broken, deadbolt unlocked). Home has been rummaged through. Missing items reported at the time include a digital camera, laptop, and approximately $100 of coins from a coin separator.
  • 7000 block of 14th Avenue NE – Homeowner reports that her housekeeper noticed a window in the basement of the house had been pried away from the frame. A pry mark was found on another window as well. However, no entry was made.

____________________

It has been mentioned by a few Ravenna Blog commenters that someone has been knocking on doors during the day, and when presented with an occupant, says something to the effect of, “Did you receive your paper in the usual spot today?”

I have just sent off an email to the Seattle Times circulation folks to see if this is a quality control tactic they use. I have a feeling that the answer is going to be, “No, we don’t do that,” but I want to be sure. Will update post when I hear back.

Let this just be a reminder for all of us: If you see something suspicious, CALL THE POLICE. We all know the emergency number (9-1-1), but there is also a non-emergency number you can call (206-625-5011).

The Seattle Police Department suggests you call the non-emergency number when (from their website; emphasis mine):

  • You want to report a nuisance, such as a noise or parking complaint.
  • To report a non-emergency crime – one that did not just occur, and the suspects are not in the immediate area.
  • You have questions about something suspicious occurring in your neighborhood, and you are not sure it is criminal activity.

    • The calltaker will determines how best to handle your call. In some cases, your information will be taken and you will get a call back from the telephone reporting unit, and your report may be taken over the phone.

Might I suggest we all keep that 206-625-5011 number handy, in case of non-emergency?

Filed Under: Everything counts in large amounts Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,