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Police reports for Eastlake this week include two burglaries, a vehicle theft and more:

• Dec. 28: Burglary, forced, residential, 2000 block of Boylston Ave. E., 9:30 a.m. A resident returned to his apartment to find the front door smashed in. A responding officer found that the door had apparently been kicked or otherwise forced in. Drawers and closets in the hallway, kitchen, bedroom and living room had been opened and rifled through. Items were thrown on the floor. A flat-screen TV, men's watch, laptop computer, checkbook, passport and part of an Ikea silverware set were...

One section of the outside wall of Eastlake Gardens (2225 Eastlake Avenue E) was marred with graffiti sometime in the wee hours of New Year's morning.  A short... (more)

It's almost 2012 and Eastlake is getting ready to celebrate!

Here are the local businesses that will be open on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. This list isn't definitive. Businesses not listed may be open. Call to check ahead.

If I've missed your business, please add yourself in the comments or email me at curtmilton@comcast.net and I'll add you to the list. I'll be updating the list this afternoon.... (more)

UPDATE: A more detailed appreciation of Christina Choi, written by Susan Gilmore and Nancy Leson, is online at the Seattle Times. It's worth reading.

Services for Christina Choi will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 2702 Broadway Ave. E.
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Christina Choi, an Eastlake native who went on to run a popular local restaurant and a business dedicated to foraged food, has died. She was 34.

Choi died Wednesday of complications from surgery for a brain aneurysm.... (more)

Highlights from Seattle Police reports for Eastlake this week include a burglary at Louisa's Cafe Bakery, a house burglary and more:

• Dec. 21: Vehicle theft, Fairview N. and Eastlake E., 12:24 a.m.
• Dec. 21: Boat taking on water, 1500 block of Fairview Ave. E., 5:08 a.m. A 200-foot boat was taking on water at the Lake Union Drydock when the Seattle Fire Department was called. Fire Department crews were able to pump out the boat. More details at SeattleTimes.com.
• Dec. 22: Disturbance, 1800 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 6:24 p.m.
• Dec. 22: Burglary, forced, residential, 800 block...

Lolita's tree, decked out for the holidays.

Happy Holidays (Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa) from Eastlake Ave., your Eastlake news source! Nothing says "Eastlake Christmas" better than a photo of Lolita's tree, all decked out in its holiday finest. ... (more)

The Christmas holiday is upon us and many Eastlake businesses will be closed. Since the holiday is on a Sunday, many businesses have chosen to also be closed on Saturday, Christmas Eve, in addition to Christmas Day. 

If you need supplies or want to go out for a meal or a drink, your best bet is to do it on Saturday. Two businesses (Eastlake Bar and Grill and the Eastlake Zoo) will be open on Christmas Day and one (Flower Lady) may be.

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A team of suspected car prowlers fled from police Tuesday morning, Dec. 20, after they were seen breaking into vehicles in the streets around Eastlake.

The manhunt fanned out across the neighborhood after the duo fled the 2800 block of Franklin where the two were allegedly breaking into cars around 6 a.m. A neighborhood resident saw the pair, yelled at them and then called police. Four cars were broken in to.

Police reports for Eastlake for the week include car prowls and several disturbances:

• Dec. 14: Trespass, 2300 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 7:29 p.m.
• Dec. 14: Disturbance, 1900 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 8:45 p.m.
• Dec. 15: Theft, 2200 block of Minor Ave. E., 11:14 a.m.
• Dec. 15: Disturbance, 2000 block of Fairview Ave. E., 1:57 p.m.
• Dec. 15: Fire, 2300 block of Yale E., 4:32 p.m.
• Dec. 16: Disturbance, 2200 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 4 p.m.
• Dec. 16: Disturbance, 2800 block of Franklin Ave. E., 8:30 p.m.
• Dec. 17: Disturbance, 1600 block of Fairview Ave. E., 2:28 a.m.
• Dec....

The holidays are upon us and it's time for Eastlake Ave.'s annual lists of which businesses are open here on Christmas and New Year's.

Will your Eastlake business be open on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? If so, will you be offering any holiday specials? Will your hours be different from usual business days?

And what about New Year's Eve and New Year's Day? Local restaurants and bars: I'm looking... (more)

News from around Eastlake:

Wards Cove moves offices: It's the end of an era as the Wards Cove company has moved out of its offices in the 2800 block of Fairview Avenue E. The company, which operated a fishing fleet in Alaska, has occupied space on the Lake Union waterfront in Eastlake for decades. In the last few years, the firm has redeveloped its location into commercial office space, a marina and a dock for houseboats.

(more)

Capitol Hill Seattle has all the details ont the lockdown of Lowell Elementary, 1058 E. Mercer, this afternoon (Wednesday, Dec. 14).

From CHS' report:

Seattle Police swarmed the blocks around Capitol Hill's Lowell Elementary and locked down the school Wednesday afternoon after a parent escorting his child on a field trip recognized a wanted fugitive on the outing.

The suspect, Donald Vasser, 39, fled after police were called. SPD says he turned himself in to the King County Jail shortly before 6 p.m.. ... (more)

Seattle Police reports for Eastlake this week include several burglaries and disturbances:

• Dec. 6: Burglary, residential, 2600 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 11:18 p.m.: This home was entered sometime between 3 and 6 p.m. Numerous items were taken. A bag containing a crowbar and wire cutters was found in the living room.
• Dec. 6: Theft, miscellaneous, 2200 block of Eastlake E., 11:28 p.m.
• Dec. 7: Liquor violation, 2300 block of Minor E., 2:06 a.m.
• Dec. 7: Burglary, residential, 2000 block of Yale E., 3:05 p.m. Tools belonging to contractors were missing from a tool shed inside...

Investigators from the Seattle Police Department and the King County Medical Examiner are investigating human remains found in the 3100 block of Fairview Ave. E. in Eastlake.

The Seattle Police Department says that at approximately 9:55 a.m. Saturday morning, people conducting a census of the homeless found what appeared to be a decomposing human leg bone on a wooded hillside on the east side of Fairview. The site is adjacent to the I-5 Ship Canal Bridge.... (more)

SeattlePI.com is reporting that an Eastlake apartment building is among five settling with the city of Seattle in a case of discrimination charges.

Eastlake 2851 was among six apartment buildings accused in October by the city's Office of Civil Rights of discriminating against black and disabled people. Five of the cases have been settled; the sixth has not settled.

The city tested 56 properties,... (more)

Eastlake police reports for the week include burglaries, car thefts and more:

• Nov. 30: Mischief, nuisance complaints, 1500 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 7:58 a.m.
• Nov. 30: Liquor violation, 2200 block of Eastlake Ave. E., 1:43 p.m.
• Nov. 30: Auto theft and recovery, E. Boston and Eastlake E., 2:25 p.m.
• Dec. 1: Burglary, no force, residential, 2700 block of Fairview Ave. E., midnight. Entry was made to a parking garage. A garage door opener was stolen from an unlocked car and that was used to gain entry. Two of four security cameras were stolen and one was turned to the wall....

Many in Eastlake will remember the story of David "Squirrelman" Csaky, a homeless man who built an elaborate treehouse just off the north end of Eastlake Avenue.

He lived in the treehouse, which came complete with a pot belly stove, until he was forced to move by the city in April 2008 after the treehouse was torn down.

Kevin Heutink knows Csaky's story well. Heutink worked at a nearby catering company as Csaky's treehouse took shape. He watched the treehouse grow and eventually met and befriended Csaky. An aspiring filmmaker, Heutink decided to tell Csaky's story in a documentary.... (more)