Early this morning Seattle Police responding to a reported rape in the 1000 block of Northeast Northgate Way used a police dog to find a suspect hiding in nearby bushes, officers said.

The 31-year-old man was booked into King County Jail, police said.

The victim told police she was assaulted by an unknown man about 1:15 a.m.

We heard overnight from J-P, who wrote:

Unfortunately, the rash of burglaries continues. Today, burglars have hit Northeast 80th Street and Fourth Avenue Northeast between noon and 3 p.m. They’ve followed a similar modus operandi to that your article describes and pillaged all my friend’s electronics, silverware, and jewelry.

J-P says that the victim noticed two black males across the street apparently working under a car hood. “That caught the victim’s attention because they had never been seen in the neighborhood before.” Our previous post stated neighbors believed the suspects could be two black men taking jewelry and electronics.

This new burglary has not yet shown up on the police crime map. “Tip of the hat to the police for arriving at the victim’s place in a record three minutes following the call to 911,” J-P writes.

“Feel free to relay that information so as to raise awareness in the neighborhood and get burglars locked up and their ‘booty’ returned to their owners.”

Although Halloween is still more than a week away, you can spread out the festivities starting with myriad events taking place this weekend:

• The fun begins Saturday at Northgate Mall, where little ghouls, goblins and boo’tiful princesses are invited to the annual Simon Kidgits Halloween Bash. The event, from 1-3 p.m. Oct. 22 at Ben Bridge Court, is free for Simon Kidgits Club members; annual membership cost is $5 and is payable at the event or at Simon Guest Services near JCPenney. Activities include making spooky hand-print spiders, lollipop ghosts and a parade around the mall with the Radio Disney Road Crew.

• If the little ones aren’t tired after that, head over to Olympic View Elementary School, 504 N.E. 95th St., for the sixth annual Olympic View Fall Carnival, from 3-7 p.m. Oct. 22 in the school’s gymnasium and parking lot. There will be food, games, prizes and crafts, plus pie-eating contests and a cakewalk. Family ticket packs are available in advance from the PTA or at the door.
• On Sunday, Oct. 23, The Little Gym of Seattle, 7777 15th Ave. N.E., is opening its doors up to nonmembers from 5-6 p.m. for its annual Halloween party. Nonmembers are asked to donate at least $5 per child to treehouse4kids.com. Costumes are requested, as is preregistration by calling (206) 524-2623.
• The festivities continue Halloween weekend at Northgate Community Center, 10510 Fifth Ave. N.E., which has a Twins & Triplets Costume & Play Party from 2-4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, followed by a Toddler Halloween Play Time from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. Both play times are for kids ages 6 months to 5 years, and will include trikes, scooters, bounce houses, balls and more along with a special Halloween treat. Twins & Triplets Costume & Play Party is specifically geared toward twins and triplets. Cost for each event is $3 per child.
• If you’re willing to stray just outside Maple Leaf’s borders, Mystery Machine clued us in to the annual Licton Springs Halloween Party, from 4:30-6 p.m. on Halloween, Monday, Oct. 31, at Licton Springs Park, 9536 Ashworth Ave. N. Just as the sky begins to darken, children follow the paths around the wetland, which is full of adult “Friends of the Forest” holding jack-o-lanterns and giving candy treats to the trick-or-treaters. For more information, contact the Licton Springs Community Council.
• Also on Halloween day, Maple Leaf community members are hoping to continue what would be the third annual Maple Leaf Parade of Costumes. Stay tuned and we’ll get you the details as soon as we have them. If you’d like to pencil it in, the event previously took place from 3-5 p.m. and was centered around the traffic circle at 12th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 91st Street. But Halloween is on Monday this year so the time could change.
• And not to leave out the adults who still like to celebrate Halloween, This Charming Candy is hoping you’ll to stop by The Wandering Cafe, 7533 Lake City Way N.E., for “Grown-up Trick-or-Treating” from 4-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31. Co-owner Susan Dziadosz writes: “How long has it been since you’ve personally knocked on someone’s door and exclaimed, ‘Trick or Treat!’ This Charming Candy knows you deserve a 10-minute treat, so we’re inviting kids of all ages to visit us in our lollipop kitchen. Everyone who stops by gets a free lollipop!”

This just in: Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, who called for a road safety summit after recent bicycling deaths, and Seattle City Council members are convening said summit over the next several weeks. It includes a public forum at the Northgate Community Center, 6 p.m. on Tuesday Nov. 15. Conclusions are due Dec. 12. More information here.

The Summit will center around three basic questions:

1. What do you think are the highest priority safety problems to solve on Seattle roads?

2. What do you think are the most important things to do to make Seattle roads safer?

3. We often talk about what government can do to promote safety. What are the ways that non-governmental groups and individuals can promote safety?

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Here’s some news for the folks interested in our earlier post about the Maple Leaf Community Council acquiring a radar gun and hi-tech speed sign.

The council’s David Miller has now commented on the original post:

We have some woodwork and painting to do in order to get the sign prepped. I’m trying to make time to get that done. We’re also trying to get some info out of SDOT about speed data collection methodology. Once this is all in place, we’ll start working on the list of people who want our help to collect data and provide a visual cue for drivers to slow down.

This was inspired by the frankly surprisingly good outcomes on 15th from the radar signs there.

Miller goes on to speculate on the possibility of getting a lower speed limit in the neighborhood, something that would require the state Legislature to take action. The concept has fed into the supposed “war on cars” in Seattle - the Seattle Times has published a guest column in favor of flexible speed limits here; the Seattle Bike Blog has a look here.

Seattle City Council incumbent Jean Godden and challenger Bobby Forch answer questions from residents Wednesday night at the election forum.

All 10 candidates on the Nov. 8 election ballot for Seattle City Council were on hand tonight for the Maple Leaf Community Council’s Candidates and Issues Night.

So were about three dozen neighborhood residents. So the ratio between candidates (adding in staff) and audience was a hearty 1-3.

Most of the candidates’ positions can be found at the website of the Maple Leaf Community Council (which sponsored the forum) here.

Much of the discussion revolved around jobs, transportation, trust in police, the environment and sidewalks. Plus some issues the Seattle City Council has little control over, such as schools or bus service.

Later in the evening presentations on the Families and Education Levy, the Liquor Sales and Distribution Initiative and the road tolling (Initiative 1125) issues were set.

A highlight of the early evening came from Brad Meacham, who is challenging incumbent Councilman Bruce Harrell. Meacham was intensely critical of Seattle City Light, and in a Q&A said: “I’ve been told that the best way to get something done at Seattle City Light is to make a campaign contribution to Bruce Harrell.”

To which Harrell responded: “Thank you.”

Signs for incumbent City Council members outside Olympic View Elementary School Wednesday night.

Over the weekend we mentioned a nearby block watch keeping a close eye on suspicious activity.

Now Max emails to tell us about a spate of break-ins in what he describes as “north Ravenna/south Maple Leaf/west Wedgwood:

I am one of the block watch captains on the 77XX block of 18th Avenue Northeast and I am writing to let you know about a rash of burglaries that have been taking place in the area: two on our block a few days ago and three in the vicinity (80th and 20th, 72nd and 20th, 80th and 19th).

The SPD crime map also shows a couple more that may or may not be related. The burglars appear to be a pair of black men, usually wearing baggy clothes. They are stealing mostly cash, some jewelry, some electronics, but they are not cleaning people’s houses out or trashing them.

They have contacted the police and block watch program.

We last wrote about burglars on Oct. 5, when police caught two of them. Since then the only home burglary reported by police inside Maple Leaf was on Oct. 11, in the 8300 block of Fifth Avenue Northeast.

All 10 candidates for Seattle City Council have confirmed they will attend tonight’s Candidates and Issues Night at Olympic View Elementary School.

Representatives from the various ballot measures have also been invited to the forum, which runs from 7-9 p.m. at the school, 504 N.E. 95th St.

The event is sponsored by the Maple Leaf Community Council, which notes:

You will be able to ask candidates questions after hearing them give a short (3 minute) presentation. Even if you already know who you are voting for, you can still attend and ask questions of all the candidates. There will be Q&A for the ballot measures, too!

Free child care is provided. To see a the council’s candidate questionnaire, click here. The election is Nov. 8.

A man suspected of at least five indecent exposure incidents in Seattle, including two nearby, was arrested early this morning, according to our news partners The Seattle Times.

Detectives discovered that the suspect had been at participating in the Occupy Seattle protest in Westlake Park. Police circulated fliers at the event, but didn’t locate him, according to Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson.

Detectives alerted other law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the man. Kenmore police went out to his home Tuesday morning and arrested him.

The indecent exposure incidents were reported between Sept. 23 and Oct. 3. Three incidents occurred in North Seattle, one on Capitol Hill and one in West Seattle.

As the community rallies together to keep the Maple Leaf Parade of Costumes going strong for the third year, another fall tradition will continue this weekend: the sixth annual Olympic View Elementary Fall Carnival.

Stop by the school at 504 N.E. 95th St. between 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, for family fun to help raise money for the PTA. From the website:

Old-Fashioned Carnival Fun for all in the Olympic View gymnasium and parking lot. Come Enjoy Food, Games, Prizes and Crafts. Plus Pie-Eating Contests and a Cakewalk! Family ticket packs available in advance from the PTA or at the door.

Reports from around the Maple Leaf neighborhood:

COSTUME PARADE

Several residents and businesses are reportedly discussing a way to save the Third Annual Maple Leaf Parade of Costumes, which needs organizers before Halloween. Stay tuned.

PARKS

Friends for a Greater Maple Leaf Park is raising money for needed equipment before the park opens in 2013. “While we don’t know everything to be included (or what will be left out) of the construction, we DO know the Family Terrace picnic shelter, completed sidewalks along 14th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 82nd Street, and the skate dot are currently unfunded.”

There’s a donation coupon in last week’s Maple Leaf newsletter, or email reservoirpark (at) mapleleafcommunity.org

CRIME

Penny writes: “Burglary and petty theft seem to be on the rise. I personally have had three blankets stolen off my porch and have heard of numerous car issues. This subject should probably be looked into/passed around. Maybe a neighborhood watch group would be useful?”

Jarrett reports, on our Facebook page, another neighborhood exposing incident.

Also on Facebook, Liz reports “everyone should be aware that there seems to be a break-in problem on 15th around 89th.” She adds: “Please, keep your cars clear of anything interesting like bags or wires. Lock your door when you aren’t home. Let’s all keep an eye out for each other to help keep our neighborhood safe.

Andrea passed along a message thread indicating neighbors around Northeast 77th Street and 88th Avenue Northeast are in fact keeping a close watch for strangers and suspicious activity.

BUSINESSES

We’re getting quite a few kudos, both on our post and our Facebook page, for Patty’s Eggnest opening at the Northgate location where the Seattle Crab Co./La Bera Cafe/The Fine Diner used to be.

Doctors Elizabeth Smoots and Moira Fitzpatrick invite you to their Fall Open House at the North Seattle Professional Building two blocks south of Northgate Mall, 9739 Third Ave. N.E., Suite 202.

Their open house provides the opportunity to talk one-on-one with an integrative medical doctor (Dr. Smoots) and a naturopath (Dr. Fitzpatrick). Plus they will be providing live Celtic harp music, healthy refreshments, and free samples of supplements.

The date is next Tuesday, Oct. 18^th, from 4-7 p.m. Simply drop by, no RSVP is required.

North Seattle Community Acupuncture, 11329 Pinehurst Way N.E., announced it has teamed up with an international cooperative, the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture.

In Community Acupuncture, patients rest in recliners in a shared space. Small, thin needles are placed in a patient’s lower legs, lower arms, and head in order to treat everything in between. A low fee allows more patients, regardless of income or insurance, to receive enough treatments to experience relief from chronic and acute stress and pain, as well as improvement in symptoms and root causes of illness and injury.

This one goes out to you, Mapleleafer, and to you, 15th Ave Resident, and to Anon, and Sue and Gwen and Donna and the host of other folks who’ve commented on traffic and speeding since Maple Leaf Life got going.

Late this summer the Maple Leaf Community Council voted to voted to acquire a radar gun so local residents could target speeders in the neighborhood.

They’re getting a speed sign, presumably somewhat similar to the one at right, as well.

The news was in the latest council newsletter, which should have arrived at your doorstep last week.

According to the council:

The cost of speed measurement and display gear has plummeted in recent years. We authorized the spending of a few hundred dollars to acquire the gear. The plan is to use it to measure speeds in problem areas of the neighborhood as well as to deploy it to remind drivers to slow down.

We’re still working out policies, procedures and safety measures, but we expect to be able to start using the gear later in 2011.

Interested? Leave a comment or email the council’s David Miller, David.Miller (at) MapleLeafCommunity.org.

Starting today Seattle Public Utilities is providing free, filled sandbags that can be picked up at Meadowbrook Community Center.

Meadowbrook, and surrounding neighborhoods including Nathan Hale High School, are among the hardest hit when Thornton Creek floods, usually during winter rains.

To see maps of neighborhoods where Thornton Creek and its tributaries flood, including Lake City Way Northeast, Matthews Beach, Meadowbrook, Northgate, and Sandpoint, click here.

The bags can be picked up at the center, 10517 35th Ave. N.E.

Sandbags are heavy (they weigh about 40 pounds each), so be sure either you, or someone you bring with you, can lift, carry and load the sandbags into your vehicle. To make sure there are enough sandbags available for all those in need, please limit your supply to 25 sandbags per address.

More information is available here. For information on stacking and using sandbags click here.

Last October Maple Leaf enjoyed its Second Annual Parade of Costumes on Halloween. It was great.

“It was a great turnout. I’d say we had 200 people come,” says Mandi, one of the organizers. “And we collected TONS of food for the food banks.”

The parade organizers asked for:

Big Kids, Little Kids, Furry Ones too – show off your costume while parading the ML neighborhood with instruments, noisemakers, and freaky sounds. Bring a non-perishable food item (for local food bank) in exchange for a yummy cupcake!

But this year Mandi has two kids in new schools, one starting kindergarten, a new job, and “I just flat out ran out of time. I won’t be offended in the least if someone wants to organize one! ”

So there you have it.

Last year the parade started on Halloween afternoon around the traffic circle at 12th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 91st Street, and made a loop through the neighborhood including Cloud City Coffee and the Blue Saucer.

Mandi also points out that last year the parade benefited from good weather, and from Halloween falling on a Sunday. This year it falls on Monday.

So there’s no third annual parade planned for this year. Unless neighbors pull one together. Perhaps on Sunday?

The candidates are there….but they could use more of us.

There’s still an hour left of tonight’s school forum at Olympic View Elementary School, 504 N.E. 95th St.

The event got off to a slow start (at right is the scene 10 minutes after it was to have started) but the issues are good.

For background on the candidate race, here’s a story from our news partners at The Seattle Times.

For news about today’s dust-up between District 2 candidates Kate Martin and Sherry Carr, take a look at this post from our sister site My Green Lake.

Seattle police today said the same man is a suspect in five exposing incidents, not just the two nearby we reported on last week.

On at least five different occasions between Sept. 29th, 2011, thru Oct.3rd, 2011, the depicted suspect exposed himself to several children. Three of these incidents occurred in North Seattle, one on Capitol Hill, and one in West Seattle. The description of the suspect and vehicle descriptions are very similar in these incidents.

• Sept. 29 at 2:40 p.m., Holman Road Northwest/ Northwest 90 Street

• Sept. 29 at 4:11 p.m., 5800 block of Southwest Lander Street

• Sept. 29, 5:30 p.m., East Aloha Street/23rd Avenue East

• Oct. 2, 5:00 p.m., 12019 14 Ave. N.E. at Pinehurst playfield

• Oct. 3, 3:30 p.m., high-school soccer field in the 14000 block of 1st Avenue Northeast

The suspect was seen driving away in light tan or gold colored 4-door sedan. The first letter of the license plate may be “A.”

Anyone with information about this incident or who may know the identity or whereabouts of the suspect is asked to call the Seattle Police Sexual Assault Unit at 206-684-5575. Anonymous calls are welcome.