The last outdoor market of the season is from 4-6 this afternoon at Aljoya Thornton Place.

Last month’s market, pictured above, appeared quite successful, with fresh, inexpensive produce and cooked goods.

Aljoya is catering to both residents of the senior living facility there and commuters from next-door Northgate Transit Center. It is located at 450 N.E. 100th St., outside the Bistro patio at Fifth Avenue Northeast and Northeast 100th Street.

From Aljoya:

“We are hosting the final Outdoor Market of the season for Aljoya Residents & the Northgate and Maple leaf communities. Items available include: Homemade Baked Goods, Fruits & Vegetables. Don’t miss your LAST CHANCE of the year to pick up some of the very finest produce and baked good available. Do your shopping at Aljoya this week. Please bring cash or a credit/debit card to pay for your fresh goods.”

It may come as no surprise that the Washington Poison Center — which provides free emergency assistance to more than 75,000 callers statewide each year — is located in Seattle. What may be more surprising is that the emergency call center isn’t located downtown, but in our own neck of the woods, just south of Thornton Place on Northeast 100th Street.

And although the Washington Poison Center is an important service (available by calling 1-800-222-1222) that many residents will depend on in some point in their lives, it’s not actually a state agency but a nonprofit that needs your help.

Next week it’s inviting you to “An Evening of Fine Wine and Friends,” from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Fremont Studios, 155 N. 35th St. The $45-per-person fundraiser features wines from around the world and hors d’oeuvres, not to mention a visit from the nonprofit’s well-known mascot, Mr. Yuk.

“It’s like a great big cocktail party at a movie theater,” said Terri Suzuki, development manager at the Washington Poison Center. “I just took Mr. Yuk to get fitted for his tux. He’s wearing a white tux with tails this year.”

She added that the need to raise funds is great this year, after the state cut $11o,000 from its contract with the Poison Center, followed by an unexpected equivalent cut from the federal government.

He’s more than just a sticker

If you do make it to the event or any of the nonprofit’s others that are attended by Mr. Yuk, don’t take his appearance there for granted. The Washington Poison Center is actually the only poison center in the nation that is an independent nonprofit (most that are nonprofit are connected to a university or hospital, Suzuki says), which means it’s also the only one that features Mr. Yuk as more than just a sticker, but as a mascot.

That standing also allows the state poison center to invite kids to enter the Poison Prevention Week poster contest, an annual contest that awards an artist between the ages of 6-12 by posting their creation all around the state. Depending on the amount of money raised, that could mean posters throughout schools and other locations, or even billboards statewide if enough money is raised, said Suzuki, pictured at left with posters of previous winners.

The winning student also is awarded $500, with four runners-up each receiving $100. Participants have until Jan. 6 to send in their poster (rules and tips).

‘Our only job is to save lives’

However, one of the most important aspects about the Washington Poison Center being independent is that callers never need to worry that any question or concern they have will be reported to the police or any other government agency. (more…)

The magazine sale is on at St. Catherine School! The annual fundraiser for the Maple Leaf school, located at 8524 Eighth Ave. N.E., benefits equipment, materials, books, and educational and cultural activities for students.

Through Oct. 14, supporters are asked to order magazines online by going to www.aphearst.com, clicking on “Shop Now” and entering the St. Catherine School code, WC5337. For more information, email [email protected].

The fully accredited Catholic School, which teaches pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, also is inviting parents to schedule a tour or to attend two upcoming open houses: The kindergarten open house is from 6:30 -8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, and the all-school open house is from noon to 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29.

Have you ever considered sending your children to St. Catherine School? Do you want to learn more about a wonderful neighborhood school, but don’t know where to begin? … In addition to an excellent academic program in the core subjects we offer a wide array of specialist classes including Spanish, Art, PE, Music and Technology.

The school is accepting applications for all grades. For more information, contact Kathleen Sanders at [email protected], or call the school at 206-525-0581 to schedule a tour and to find out more about the admissions process.

In addition, the school’s parent club is sponsoring a talk at 6:45 p.m. Monday, Oct. 10, in its gymnasium, called “Creating Healthy Families: Putting Yourself and Your Relationship First“ by Melissa Benaroya, a Certified Gottman Educator.

Based on the research of Drs. John and Julie Gottman, Melissa will share simple steps that are scientifically proven to strengthen relationships, enriching your life through your connection to your partner and child(ren). Learn why getting your needs met and meeting the needs of your partner allows you to be the best possible parent and makes a significant difference in the lives of your children.

For more information, email [email protected].

Twice in the last dozen years we had our cars broken into while parked outside our house. (Another time we had the entire car stolen.)

This week makes the third time we’ve had a car prowled. The first two times they just jimmied the locks. This time the car had an alarm - so they busted both rear windows. We found it just as Monday’s rainstorm started.

Getting this fixed took the rest of the day - plus $373.76.

We had neighbors report several different types of incidents over the weekend.

Dawn wrote:

We wanted to alert the neighborhood that there are some adolescent pranksters making doorbell ditch attempts and if that fails, they will pound aggressively on the door. We experienced this last night (Saturday). Three adolescent girls and one adolescent boy rang the doorbell and when we didn’t respond they pounded aggressively on our front door ( next to our sleeping baby’s room) then ran down to the next house and hid behind parked cars and in driveways to watch.

That same evening Elizabeth emailed: “There were two cars speeding down 97th to Roosevelt, turned on Roosevelt and sped back down 98th heading down toward Lake City. I saw one of the license plates since they just about hit me as I was walking. Any idea how to report this type of thing? The cars were full of young people….”

(The answer to that, according to Terrie Johnson at the Seattle Police Department, is “call 911 immediately.”)

But the most common crimes appear to be against cars. Either prowling them or stealing them.

The map shows prowled and stolen cars in Maple Leaf for the first four weeks of September. It shows more than 20 reports, including three on my street (not yet including mine).

That’s approaching a car a day, right here in our neighborhood. For some of July, it was more than a car a day. (Some of the icons, especially up around Northgate, stand for three or even five reports.)

They are so common that unless you have more than $1,500 in damage and loss, the police department wants you to report them online, but says it likely won’t do more than keep statistics on hot spots. From the Community Online Reporting Program website:

Filing a CORP report online is the easiest way to get a free report to submit to your insurance agency. When you file a report with CORP, it will be reviewed. Unfortunately these types of crimes usually have limited solvability so most cases will not be investigated.

I will say the online form has its moments. The menu of items that might have been taken from the car includes : “Cape? Casket or funeral urn? Handcuffs? Bullet-proof vest? House-arrest bracelet?”

While we’re on the subject of The Wandering Cafe, where you can pick up lollipops from This Charming Candy and empanadas from Pampeana on Monday evenings, we should let you know that the seven-year-old catering company is giving you another reason to stop by its Maple Leaf location at 7533 Lake City Way.

This month, The Wandering Cafe has been staying closer to home by swinging its doors open to the public for its Chef’s Dinners every Wednesday. They’ve been such a hit, this week’s Singapore Crab Feast sold out three weeks ago, which gives owner Kristine Pottle reason to have yet another Chef’s Dinner this Thursday, Sept. 29.

“We always have a great time,” Pottle says. “A lot of the time, the people don’t know each other, so we start the night off with cocktails and hors d’oeurves.”

From the website:

As some may know by now, we have a terrific new gal in our kitchen. chef heather immoor can not only cook and bake up a storm but is also our very own lady butcher. we are hoping to butcher a lamb this month and a pig next month. watch the site for updates on fresh cuts available and dinners featuring these products.

this month will be one of the better harvest seasons our area has had, so we want to kick off our NEW chef’s table dinners by celebrating what we have available right here in the pacific northwest. each dinner will have multiple courses and wine pairings available. as always you are welcome to bring your own or sign up for our selections for the evening. we’re proud to source as many ingredients as possible from local farmers, who will be featured each week as their products become available. for us this is not a trend, it is a way of life we hope to share with our guests. please watch for updates on the menus as they develop with our friends at the markets. feel free to contact kristine pottle or heather immoor with any questions, suggestions or to book your spot.

Pottle expects to have two more Chef’s Dinners next month, so keep an eye on The Wandering Cafe calendar for updates on upcoming events. Or make a reservation for Thursday’s Singapore Crab Feast by calling (206) 367-3676 or emailing [email protected] or [email protected].

Lollipops aren’t just for kids anymore.

Susan Dziadosz, co-owner of This Charming Candy, is selling her gourmet lollipops from 4-6 p.m. Sundays and from 4-7 p.m. Mondays at The Wandering Cafe, 7533 Lake City Way N.E.

With gourmet flavors like Watermelon Basil, Black Pepper Melon, Vanilla Cardamom and, of course, the always-popular Salted Caramel, Maple Leaf/Roosevelt resident Susan Dziadosz is re-introducing adults to the world of lollipops through her company, This Charming Candy.

Although the company already has an international following after an article last year in Martha Stewart’s Real Simple magazine, Dziadosz is hoping to make it easier for her local customers to shop for her Charming Candy by now selling to walk-in customers from 4-6 p.m. Sundays and from 4-7 p.m. Mondays from the kitchen where she makes her goods, The Wandering Cafe, at 7533 Lake City Way N.E. in Maple Leaf.

“It helps me meet the customers and it lets the customers meet the candymaker,” Dziadosz said. “It helps us foster that relationship.”

She expects most of the local customers who stop by will be picking up orders to save on shipping costs, but This Charming Candy also will have some of its more popular collections for sale for walk-in customers.

“What I’m trying to do here is grow a a pickup business for the Seattle area,” Dziadosz said.

As the holiday season approaches, you also can expect to see This Charming Candy at many of the bigger craft sales throughout the area, such as Urban Craft Uprising. In addition, the company could soon be expanding its craft fair sales into Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area, where the company’s co-owner, Kate Degelau-Pierce, lives.

Although Dziadosz is the chef who makes and ships the candy, it might never have happened without the push from Degelau-Pierce. At the time, Dziadosz was working at Microsoft and making lollipops for fun for friends and family across the nation, when Degelau-Pierce proposed the idea of them trying their hand as entrepreneurs.

“She said, ‘I belive in your candy and I think it’s really good,’” Dziadosz said of her old college friend. “‘Let’s see if we can take it from being a hobby into being a living.’” (more…)

Update: KIRO is reporting: “Seattle fire chief confirms there was a gas leak involved in the explosion, fire.”

On Sunday afternoon dozens of fire and police units were searching for a natural gas leak nearby, shutting down traffic for several city blocks. The Seattle Times is updating here.

Photo Tweeted by KIRO TV’s Chopper 7 of fire near Interstate 5.

Two early morning fires are being fought just north of Maple Leaf.

One was easily visible to rush hour traffic on Interstate 5. From our news partners The Seattle Times:

The fire is located in the 12300 block of Fifth Avenue Northeast. Two people, a man and a woman both in their 50s, were taken to Harborview Medical Center. One in critical condition and one in serious condition, said Kyle Moore, the Seattle Fire Department spokesman.

TV station helicopter videos show a fully involved structure fire and neighbors reported hearing an explosion more than a mile away.

A second, smaller fire was reported at 15th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 107th Street (below).

Who can say where this pumpkin patch is in Maple Leaf?

Sun’s out right now but the autumnal weather change arrived overnight.

The forecast is for showers/sunbreaks/thunderstorms this afternoon, changing to more serious rain on Monday, with continued wind.Then a break back to sun on Wednesday and Thursday - but temperatures won’t break 70 degrees.

All those sirens you’ve been hearing since a little before 2:30 p.m.? They’re fire and police units heading to reports of two natural gas leaks just to the north of us.

This photo was taken at the intersection of 8th Avenue Northeast and Northeast 120th Street. The fire engine that’s blocking traffic is one of over 20 fire department units dispatched to the area over the last hour.

All intersections for several city blocks are blocked by fire trucks or numerous Seattle Police Department cruisers.

The incident is being treated as a “natural gas leak - major.”

Saturday’s outage included this signal at Northeast 80th Street and Lake City Way Northeast.

Update 2 p.m.: The National Weather Service in Seattle just issued a wind advisory for gusts to 50 mph this afternoon.

TREES ARE PARTICULARLY PRONE TO DAMAGE THIS AFTERNOON SINCE IT

HAS BEEN SINCE LAST SPRING THAT WINDS HAVE BEEN THIS STRONG. TREES

STILL HAVE THEIR LEAVES SO WILL BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE WIND…

TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES WILL BE KNOCKED OFF OF TREES.

SOME TREES MAY BE KNOCKED DOWN. FALLING BRANCHES MAY HIT POWER

LINES CAUSING POWER OUTAGES.

————————————————————————————————-

This afternoon Seattle City Light is reporting that winds have knocked out power to about 5,500 customers in the city - with over 3,000 of them in Maple Leaf.

About 5,500 customers are without power in scattered outages caused by windy weather.

One outage is near Ridgecrest Park in Shoreline, affecting about 2,474 customers. It was caused by a downed wire.

Another outage is near the Mapleleaf neighborhood, affecting 3,017 customers. It was also caused by downed wires.

TREE LIMBS AND BRANCHES WILL BE KNOCKED OFF OF TREES.
  SOME TREES MAY BE KNOCKED DOWN. FALLING BRANCHES MAY HIT POWER
  LINES CAUSING POWER OUTAGES.

Update: As Miriam notes in comments, below, an off-duty firefighter who lived in the four-story condo was the first to fight the fire. From the Fire Department’s Fire Line website:

Seattle Firefighter Daniel Hess who lived in the building was asleep when the fire alarm sounded.

The firefighter ran to his car and grabbed his firefighting gear. Hess checked the apartments below the fire and realized the flames were centered on the rooftop deck. He tried using a garden hose which didn’t pump out enough water so he grabbed the building’s one-inch standpipe hose and began dousing the 20-foot-high flames.

Read the full story at the website.

——————————————————————————————-

Police officers went from door to door during a structure fire just north of here Thursday night, alerting the residents and assisting an elderly woman to safety, officers say.

The fire was reported just after 11 p.m., according to police.

North Precinct patrol officers were flagged down by a citizen advising them of a structure fire in the 11500 block of 15th Avenue Northeast. The officers could see flames shooting from the roof of the building and quickly notified the Seattle Fire Department.

Three officers entered the building and began alerting the sleeping residents to evacuate the building. The officers went floor to floor knocking on doors and assisting in getting everyone out. Two officers had to force open a door after being advised that there was an elderly tenant inside who was very hard of hearing. The officers were able to successfully get her to safety.

Then the fire department arrived to battle the blaze.

Candidates for four positions on the Seattle School Board are expected at an election forum hosted by Olympic View Elementary School. Discussion of the proposed Families and Education Levy is also on the agenda.

The forum is from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the school’s cafeteria at 504 N.E. 95th St.

“Meet the candidates and learn more about the issues—including pros and cons about the levy. Bring your questions!” states the sponsor, the Olympic View Parent Teacher Association. Free child care is provided.

For more information contact the PTA’s Carolyn Leith ([email protected]) or (206) 375-2441. The election is Nov. 8.

And don’t forget about the candidate forum at the Maple Leaf General Community Meeting the following week, from 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the same location.

Although the school board won’t be represented at the meeting (the board has its own meeting that night), nearly all of the Seattle City Council candidates have confirmed; incumbent Sally Clark won’t be able to make it and Dian Ferguson hadn’t responded as of Sept. 21.

The community council has surveyed city council candidates here.

Tim Eyman also is expected to attend the Oct. 19 meeting. An Eyman-sponsored measure that would restrict the use of transportation tolls was leading 50-31 percent in a recent statewide poll.

Maxine’s Floral and Gift is in the running for “best flowers” on King 5’s Best of Western Washington, and needs your vote to win.

The flower store, at 8811 Roosevelt Way N.E., is described on its website as “one of the coolest flower shops in Seattle since 1983. The shop is kind of like walking into munchkin land in the Wizard of Oz. People come in just to get there happy fix.”

Maxine’s won first place in the contest two years ago, but last year slipped to seventh place. (First was taken by the flower shop inside the Tulalip Resort and Casino.)

The contest runs through Oct. 9. You can vote for Maxine’s here.