Happy New Year!

Sunday, December 31, 2017


 See you next year...

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Cartoon: Go cold turkey with bad habits



Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter can be found under Features 
in the first column of the front page of the Shoreline Area News



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Rob Oxford: Happy New Year

Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's
means good luck for the coming year
By Rob Oxford

When I was a youngster, celebrating the new year meant so many different things. Although it rarely happened, it meant being allowed to stay up late and watch Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve.

It meant drinking a "fake" toast of grape juice at midnight with my parents. It meant watching my Dad prepare Black-eyed Peas, a true Southern tradition and knowing I could get away with eating just one single pea on New Year's Day in order to receive the luck it "held". 

It meant school was "out", it meant lots and lots of football and it meant making resolutions and promising the next year would be the best year ever. Then a couple days later, forgetting what it was that you had resolved to change.

It also meant everything from the previous year would be forgotten and erased from memory. I'm so glad that wasn't the case. Today I think back on those memories and realize the ability to remember my mistakes is precisely why I am where I am today. Married, the Father of two bright, loving, respectful children and by my own definition, successful.

When I got older, after the passing of my Mother, New Years Eve meant no matter where I was or what I was doing, be it on stage playing with my band, hosting a radio station event or being the low guy on the totem pole and keeping the radio station on the air, stopping just before midnight and calling my Dad. Usually waking him up from a deep sleep, but knowing that if I didn't call him both he and I would regret it in the morning.

I made so many mistakes growing up, said and did so many things I wish I hadn't, behaved in ways I can't imagine my children ever behaving. Luckily for me and for all of us, we were always forgiven. We were always blessed with that "new year" and the chance to start again.

So what does celebrating the new year mean now at 57 years old? It means trying desperately to stay up late and watch Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve hosted by some guy with whom I have absolutely no connection.

It means now that I am sober, drinking a toast of grape juice at midnight with my wife. It means never having to eat another Black-eyed Pea as long as I live. It means lots and lots of football, letting my children decide how they want to celebrate their own New Year's Eve and looking forward to when school will start again.

It means being saddened by watching the "In Memoriam" segment honoring all those who we lost the previous year and it means wishing I could call my Dad. It also means being intelligent enough not to make resolutions I have the risk of breaking.

Finally, it means waking up to another day of life, being thankful for the air I breathe, the love of my family and friends, the people I meet and the prospects of changing my world for the better.

And most of all it still means sincerely wishing each of you a HAPPY NEW YEAR!



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Friday afternoon at the movies - film classics

Join us for this 1936 film brought to you by Scarecrow Video and the Shoreline- Lake Forest Park Senior Center. Showtime: January 5 at 1:30-4:00pm.

A waitress, a hobo, and a bank robber get mixed up at a lonely diner in the desert.

Leslie Howard, Bette Davis, and Humphrey Bogart star.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Senior Center is located in the southernmost building of the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE #1 in Shoreline, 206-365-1536.

The movie is free but donations are appreciated.



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Two Masonic Lodges merge at ceremony in Shoreline

Two Masonic Lodges merge
MarTeam Photography

By Matthew J. Appel, Secretary, Mill Creek Lodge No. 243

At two pm on Saturday the 30th, at the Scottish Rite in Shoreline, two south Snohomish County institutions merged to move forward into the future as one.

Two Masonic Lodges, Robert Burns No. 243, founded in Alderwood Manor in 1921, and Genesis No. 305, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last summer, merged.

The ceremony was presided over by the state-wide leader of the fraternity, Warren Schoeben, and attended by approximately 250 Brothers and friends from across the state, as well as some who traveled from California and Oregon.

“We are excited that this consolidation will combine the best aspects of both Lodges and enable us to do more together than we ever could apart,” said Brent Arnold, who was installed Master of the consolidated Lodge at the ceremony.

The new Lodge will be known as Mill Creek Lodge No. 243, and will meet at the Edmonds Masonic Center at 515 Dayton St on the third Tuesday of each month.

Brent Arnold is installed as Master of the newly formed Mill Creek Lodge No. 243
Photo courtesy of MarTeam Photography 
 

The consolidated Lodge will have about 200 members, including those in the Snohomish County area and others living throughout the U.S.

Robert Burns Lodge has been known in recent years as the organizer of the Turkey Trot 5k to benefit the Lynnwood Food Bank, and Genesis Lodge hosted an annual golf tournament for its scholarship fund. Both Lodges also participate in numerous other local and state-wide activities. Together the merged Lodge will continue in these efforts, and seek more opportunities to benefit the community, while continuing to make its members better men.

Free and Accepted Masons of Washington was founded in 1858, and teaches and inspires its members to be better men and citizens through its symbols and lessons. Freemasonry is the world’s oldest and largest fraternity.



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Photo: Moon at Noon

Photo by Mike Remarcke

The Wolf Moon made an early appearance Sunday afternoon, over the Cascades. According to Space.com,

The next full moon will be the Wolf Moon, and will peak on Monday, Jan. 1. 
To casual observers, the moon will still appear full the day prior and after the peak. 
January's full moon will be a "supermoon" as the moon arrives at perigee close to reaching its fullest phase.

This spectacular photo is brought to you by Mike Remarcke and a bright, sunny day. The view is to the east, looking at the Cascades from the ridge of North City.




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Authors at Third Place - one for grownups, one for kids

One regular author reading this week at Third Place Books and one story hour for the kids.


Gregory Erich Phillips
The Love of Finished Years (Sillan Pace Brown)
Thursday, January 4 at 7 pm

The story of one immigrant's powerful journey of aspiration and love in early twentieth century New York, this debut novel by local author Gregory Phillips won the Grand Prize for Chanticleer Reviews International Writing Competition.

Special storytime with Lucas Kok
Taima the Seahawk (Mascot Books)
Saturday, January 6 at 10 am

Join us for a special storytime with local children's author Lucas P. Kok, who will read from and talk about his picture book, Taima the Seahawk. And did someone say stickers?!

Third Place Books, Town Center, 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, upper level.



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Skandia First Friday dance Jan 5

Skandia First Friday Dance, Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave W, Lynnwood 98036, January 5, 2018.

Bur-r-r-r it’s cold outside, but the dance class at 7:30pm will feature lively Danish set dances to warm you up.

Frank Brown and Elaine Murakami will teach Danish dances, featuring Firture fra Varde, Den Halve Kaede, Den Toppende Hone, and others. Then, at 8:30pm, it’s the return of the All-Comers Band!

For the fourth year in a row, all musicians are invited to come and play for dancing. Musicians, come prepared to suggest tunes; the list will be open in the basement of the Cedar Valley Grange from 8pm, and musicians may add tune picks to the list.

Please keep in mind that we are best served by tunes that are very common. Class, 7:30pm; dance, 8:30–11pm.

$15 (Skandia members, $10); kids, free. Information425-954-5262.



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Christmas Lights: Fremont Ave N

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Fremont Ave N and N 151st St.



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Shoreline Area News: 2017 in review

The Shoreline Area News has a regular cartoonist - Whitney Potter

The Shoreline Area News has published over 3800 stories so far in 2017. Following is one story from each month of the year, typical of some of the topics we cover.

January - Schools
Echo Lake 5th graders sworn in as Presidents in Olympia
Teachers Karen Nicholson and Allan Rand taught their 5th graders a Social Studies Storypath on the election process, learning about our government, political parties, platforms, the electoral college and culminating with the election of a president in each of the two classrooms. The classes travelled to Olympia where their elected Presidents were sworn in by a State Supreme Court judge and chatted with the governor.

February - Parks and Gardeners
Volunteer Opportunity at Grace Cole Park
An announcement for volunteer gardeners to help remove invasive species at Grace Cole Park was one of many gardening events in parks all over Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. Our parks look better every year because of the hundreds of hours of work put in by volunteers. Groups are formed around specific parks, pathways, and trails. They are led by Master Gardeners, Rotary clubs, neighborhood associations, or individuals with a passion. Victoria Gilleland writes a regular gardening column.

March - Politics
Kagi emphasizes role of early learning in foster care in Democrats' budget
Evan Smith covered politics all year, checking in with city councils and state legislators.

April - Theater
Theater Review: The Drowsy Chaperone receives a well-deserved standing ovation
Doug Gochanour reviewed productions from Driftwood Players, Phoenix Theatre, Shoreline Community College Drama, and Aurora Theatre Company. Jim Anderson covered Seattle Musical Theatre.

May - Sports
Sasha Gaeth and Gunnar Thorstenson save their best tennis for State
High school sports are covered by volunteers associated with an individual team. In tennis, coaches Arnie Moreno at Shorewood and Rob Mann at Shorecrest have been stellar at consistently sending reports and photos of their teams. Other sports had parents who stepped up to provide information about their teams. 2017 had particularly good football coverage from both schools.

June - Photographers
Demo Day - Abandoned buildings at Fircrest come down
We have been blessed with wonderful photographers. Steve Robinson, Jerry Pickard, Wayne Pridemore, Lee Lageschulte, Marc Weinberg, Jan Hansen. Other regulars are Frank Kleyn, Shirley Sidell, Dan Short, Lien Titus, Janet Way, Martin de Grazia, Bruce Hill, Carl Dinse, Seattle Poppy, G M Wiegand, Geoff Vlcek, Mike Remarcke. Then the readers who see news happening, take a photo and send it in. And all the bird photographers who give Christine Southwick permission to use their photos in her popular For the Birds columns.

July - Weather
WeatherWatcher - Heat wave coming
Carl Dinse tracks the weather at his private Shoreline weather station.

August - Letters to the Editor
What NOT to do if you find a dead cat
We welcome letters to the editor, and receive them on a variety of topics.

September - Art
New show opens at the Gallery at Town Center
We also follow the openings of art exhibits sponsored by the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, Galleria Essentia in Ballinger Terrace, Shoreline Community College art gallery. We ran a series on Public Art in Shoreline and are working on other art related stories.

October - Fire and police
Fire calls and Police blotter
Fire and police actions in Shoreline are a regular feature; articles on fires and police action in Lake Forest Park are also published.

November - Neighborhoods, PTA
Pumpkin Pie for Hillwood neighbors
Meetings, event, projects of local PTA units, neighborhood associations, clubs, and groups - and there are a lot in the area!

December - Veterans
Patton's soldier
VFW post events, Shoreline Veterans' Association, Memorial Day, Veterans' Day, Medal of Honor winners, ceremonies at local cemeteries are all part of what we do.

Apologies to those who have not been mentioned. We truly appreciate everyone's contributions.

Free subscription here



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American Legion Post 227 hosts WWII Veteran Bob Harmon as Guest Lecturer

Bob Harmon addresses Post 227
Photo by Jerry Pickard
By Jerry Pickard

On Tuesday December 5, 2017 Starr Sutherland Jr. Post 227 held its monthly membership meeting. The featured speaker was Mr. Charles Robert “Bob” Harmon.

Mr. Harmon was a member of General Patton’s 80th Division, 319th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Army.

Mr. Harmon stated that Gen. Patton was a family friend, he only saw him three times during his tour of duty.

Mr. Harmon said that when his unit landed at Normandy they were afraid that the beach had been mined, but he made it off the beach without encountering a mined area.
The Army Air Force did an excellent job of providing cover against the German aircraft. The P-47’s chased them away.

He came ashore on the 5th of August 1944, and crossed France in about a month’s time. He was impressed by the bombed out buildings they encountered along the way. The allies had done a thorough job on their assigned targets.

Bob was lucky, his only wound during the course of the war was when he cut himself trying to open a can of meat in his rations.

He asked, "How can you kill a man as a Christian? (thou shalt not kill)," but said he had no trouble killing the enemy as he considered it a just war. He related the terror and stress of combat and what is now known as PTSD. Back then it was known as Battle Fatigue.

He related stories of battles along the Siegfried Line. His unit had made three attempts to cross a river and had been repulsed every time by heavy mortar and artillery fire, each time with heavy casualties. He decided he didn’t want to fight anymore, but a sergeant convinced him to go on.

On the fourth try, he and another soldier were the only ones to make the crossing. They found that they were behind a line of five German bunkers. They radioed back to an artillery unit and gave them firing coordinates for each of the first four bunkers - which were promptly destroyed.

They worked their way behind the fifth bunker and as they both could speak German they convinced the Germans to surrender. They marched the prisoners back to their headquarters and arrived in the evening. After turning in the prisoners it was too late to go back to their own unit so they spent the night there. Bob said that it was the first hot meal and dry place to sleep they had in a long time.

Vice Commander Larry Fischer on right and Sergeant-At-Arms
Randall Kehrer present a Certificate of Appreciation
 to Mr. Harmon after his presentation.
Photo by Jerry Pickard
His unit was involved in saving art and treasures the Germans had stolen.

The Germans had hidden the art in ancient Roman salt mines. The soldiers were given carbide lamps to light their way while they searched the stacks. The carbide leaked sometimes and would burn holes in whatever it landed on. Some paintings ended up with tiny holes in them.

They marched into Austria, where Hitler had gone to school. The Austrians didn’t want to admit he had been there.

While traveling through a bombed out town Bob saw an old woman sitting on a stone block. He asked her why she was sitting on the block and she replied that “This is my home”. There was nothing left of her home but rubble.

Near the end of the war they came to the Buchenwald Concentration Camp. The guards had all fled and left the gates open. The inmates were all starving and some had wandered into the town five miles away to look for food. When they first encountered the Americans they were afraid to beg for food but soon learned that the troops were pushovers in sharing their food.

Bob Harmon’s war ended in January of 1946 when he left Europe for home.



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Shoreline Planning Commission end of year report to City Council

Saturday, December 30, 2017

2017 Planning Commission
Pictured front row, from left: David Maul, Donna Thomas, Susan Chang;
Back row, from left: Vice Chair William Montero, Chair Easton Craft, Laura Mork, Jack Malek.

Report from the Planning Commission to Shoreline City Council


Since our last annual report to Council in November 2016, the Planning Commission has reviewed and advised the Council on several projects of note.

In terms of membership, Susan Chang will depart the Commission as she joins the Council starting in January 2018. Donna Moss-Thomas, a valued planning commissioner, will complete eight years of service to the City of Shoreline with her term ending March 2018. Two other Commissioners, Jack Malek and Laura Mork, may be re-appointment for second terms in March of 2018. Both Jack and Laura have submitted applications for your consideration. (See previous article Openings on Planning Commission)

The Commission spent the better part of 2017 studying and evaluating the 2017 Comprehensive Plan amendments and the 2017 Batch of Development Code amendments.

  • Comprehensive Plan Amendments – Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan; Master Street Plan as it relates to the 185th Street Station Subarea Plan; incorporating Ronald Wastewater into the Comprehensive Plan; and incorporating the Shoreline Fire District’s Capital Facilities and Equipment Plan into the City’s Capital Facilities Element. The Comprehensive Plan amendments were adopted by Council on November 14, 2017. 
  • Development Code Amendments – The 2017 Batch of Development Code amendments included 41 administrative, clarifying, and policy amendments. Council will consider the batch of amendments at their January 22 and February 26 meetings. 
  • Deep Green Incentive Program – These Development Code amendments incentivize the most comprehensive green building programs and implement the City’s Sustainability Strategy and Climate Action Plan. These amendments were adopted by Council on April 17, 2017. 

The Commission is looking forward to working with staff in 2018 on the following projects:
  • Annual Comprehensive Plan Docket
  • Annual Batch of Development Code Amendments
  • Vegetation Management Plan
  • Subdivision Development Code Update
  • Community Residential Facilities Development Code Amendment
  • Mandatory Green Building Requirements for all Commercial Structures
  • Shoreline Master Program Update 

The Commission is also interested in pursuing the following topics assuming staff has the availability on their work plan:
  • Update Single-Family Attached Design Regulations
  • Housing Choice in Single-Family Zones 


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Polar Plunge at Green Lake New Year's Day

2016 RBRC at Green Lake
Photo courtesy RBRC


First of the Year Run at Green Lake for Richmond Beach Running Club

8:00 for two laps
8:30 for one lap
9:00 taking the plunge!

For the last several years the RBRC has been meeting at the Evans Pool parking lot for a run around Green Lake, then taking an optional "plunge" in the lake to start off the year.

This is a fun event, maybe a little early for those having too much fun on New Years Eve!

There is no pressure to jump in. For those wishing to get in two laps around the lake, meet at the Evans Pool parking lot, 7201 E Green Lake Dr. N, Seattle 98115.

Be ready to run at 8:00am. Take a lap and meet back in the same spot at 8:30am to meet up for those wishing for either less distance or just a later start. The distance around the lake is 2.8 miles.

At 9:00am gather on the dock for "leg recovery" ice bath! This may be the warmest air and water temperature at Green Lake in years! After quickly drying off we will all head over to Starbucks for a nice hot beverage.



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Trailer fire in Ballinger

Trailer fire on Ballinger
Photo by Dylan Garmon


Shoreline Fire reports a trailer fire in the 19500 block of Ballinger Way NE at 25th NE around 7:30pm Saturday, December 30, 2017.

"Trailer fire fully involved 15ft from structure." The fire was intentionally set.

Fire crews extinguished the fire within seven minutes on scene. One person was taken to the hospital for evaluation. ‬King County and Shoreline investigators are investigating.

Neighbors report hearing a loud explosion.



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Death notices as of December 25, 2017

Obituaries are condensed biographies of people's lives, written by the people who loved them.

Like a memorial service, they tell us things we may not have known about the person, and may leave us wishing we had known them better.

Obituaries extracted from The Seattle Times

Timothy H. Sweeney  1926-2017  Funeral mass at St. Luke for Shoreline resident and proud Navy veteran Sweeney. He worked 40 years for Farmers Insurance. After retirement, he golfed every day until his 90th birthday.

Katharine Ann Shoemaker  age 72  Shoreline High School graduate taught school in British Columbia, American Samoa, Alaska and Micronesia.

Mark Newman  1948-2017  Celebration of life held at Lake Forest Park Civic Club.

Virginia Cruver  1943-2017  Ging loved flying and became a small aircraft pilot during her long time residence in Lake Forest Park. She raised two children and was active in the Presbyterian Church. With her second marriage she began travelling the world, then settled in Indianola WA, later Indio CA.

Anita M. LaViolette Schultz  1931-2017  Services at St. Mark and interment at Holyrood for Seahawks and Sounders fan. She ended her career at Bank of America and Online Banking Report in Seattle.

Alfred A. Bahlkow  1922 -2017  WW II veteran was a sergeant in the Marines. He served in the South Pacific, and while there contracted dengue fever, malaria, and tuberculosis. He spent three years in a military hospital recovering. Memorial service at St. Dunstan's.

Julie Jane McFarlane  age 59  Died after a six month battle with cancer. A 25 year Shoreline resident, she recently retired from the Small Business Administration after 35 years of public service where she last served as deputy district director. Her travels included trips to England, Ireland, Scotland, France, and two trips to Italy.

Elspeth Dautoff Alexander  1929 - 2017  Shoreline resident. Born in Oregon, she had degrees from Oregon State University and Mills College.

Suzanne Maury Philips  1929 - 2017  Born in a Basque hamlet in France which was occupied by Germans during WW II. After the war, she travelled and learned three languages, then went to Paris where she met and married a GI from Seattle. They moved to Lake Forest Park in 1967. She was active at St. Marks, singing in the choir for 50 years and active in the All Saint's Guild. She taught French at St. Mark School. She had weekly lunches with the Le Cercle Français at Cafe de Paris in Edmonds.

Catherine Hazel Henricks  1938 - 2017  She passed away peacefully after a courageous battle against glioblastoma. Funeral mass at St. Mark.

Harold M. Olden  1930 - 2017  A veteran of the Korean Conflict, he was a Boeing engineer for his entire career. Memorial service at First Lutheran Church of Richmond Beach.

Donna Day  1948 - 2017  She attended Auburn Adventist Academy Church during her high school years. After graduation she worked as a medical stenographer. She attended the Shoreline Seventh Day Adventist Church.

"Bill" William B. Scherr  1947 - 2017  Memorial mass at St. Luke. Bill's career was in human resources but he volunteered with volunteered with Filipino Youth Activities, St. Edwards Parish as a Eucharistic Minister and on their Parish Council, and on the Seattle Archdiocesan Pastoral Council.

Arnold Timss  1940 - 2017  Born in Latvia, he came to Seattle when he was 10. A CPA, he and wife Arlene bought a home in Richmond Beach in 1970 and raised their son there. "He enjoyed war novels, Bond films, stretch Cadillacs, the hashbrowns @ the 13 Coins, and the musical works of Neil Diamond. He loved gardening, golfing, the Golf channel, gambling on the occasional horse and spoiling his grandchildren." Services at Richmond Beach Lutheran Church.

Richard James Town  1932 - 2017  Joined the service at 17 and became a medical corpsman who fought in Korea and Vietnam. Graduated as an RN from Shoreline Community College in 1971 and worked at the VA hospital. Services at The Sanctuary Church in Lake Forest Park.



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Christmas Lights: NE 160th

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

800 block NE 160th 



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Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect - Tuesday at LFP Library

Christina's World
Andrew Wyeth
Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect - Lake Forest Park Library, Tuesday, January 2, 2018, 7-8:30pm

Presented by Tamara Moats, art historian and faculty member at the Bush School, Seattle.

Andrew Wyeth is one of America's best loved painters, famous for Christina's World and beautiful impressions of his New England countryside.

To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the artist's birth, the Seattle Art Museum will host Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect from October 19 – January 15.

This lecture and discussion examines key works in the show and outlines the American master's 75-year career, his art and his legacy.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Lake Forest Park Library.



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WSDOT: Fireworks, Festivities & Football

From WSDOT

There are many special events happening in and around the Seattle area this weekend as we ring in the New Year. 

First, the Seahawks are in town for their final home game of the year… and it’s a big one. A win against the Arizona Cardinals (and an Atlanta Falcons loss) means the Hawks are in the playoffs, so you can bet that the 12s are going to show out for this one. Kickoff is at 1:25pm on Sunday.

Also, make sure you plan ahead for congestion on highways entering Seattle on Sunday night as thousands head towards the Space Needle to watch the annual fireworks show. If you plan on going, make sure you leave yourself extra time to get there. And if you happen to just be driving through the city when the clock strikes midnight, please don't stop on the shoulders or ramps to watch the show, it's unsafe.

Out with the old, and in with the new – here’s to 2018! Happy New Year!


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New Year's Day sale at Third Place Books


Third Place Books, upper level
Town Center, Lake Forest Park
Beginning at 9am on January 1




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Delivered: 21 instruments this fall - Needed: clarinets, flutes, violins, trumpets for students in Shoreline Schools

Friday, December 29, 2017

Music4Life
“Music4Life” means different things to different people.

To children, learning to play a musical instrument is a meaningful activity — it’s fun and it builds relationships that can last a lifetime.

To youth, music opens up the world —its history and its many cultures — and provides opportunities for teamwork and meaningful forms of self-expression.

Educators know that music benefits students academically, especially in mathematics, science, history, and world languages.

Our community understands that music education helps a person lead a richer, fuller, more meaningful life — and an arts-rich community is a more desirable place to live.

However, to participate in a music program, students must provide their own instruments. Normally this means renting an instrument. Kennelly Keys is the largest instrument rental company in the area. Their student instruments come in different sizes to fit the student. A typical rental is $22 - 30 a month, with cellos going for $40. (see rental page).

Considering that a quarter to a fifth of students in Shoreline Schools are in families who can't afford food, the likelihood of paying for instrument rental is very low.

Enter Music4Life, which takes donated instruments, refurbishes them, and makes them available for free to students in need. They provide the instruments to the school district, which loans them to income-qualified students.

David Endicott, co-founder, President / COO of Music4Life reports that,

We are very pleased to report that during the first quarter 2017-18 (Sept. 1 – Nov. 30), Music4Life delivered 21 ready-to-play musical instruments having a fair market value of $9,335* to Shoreline Public Schools. 
These 21 instruments included two clarinets, one tenor saxophone, five trumpets, two acoustic guitars, one electric/acoustic guitar, one electric guitar, two snare kits, one trombone, one double French horn, one flute, two violas, one cello and one electronic keyboard.

However, there is still significant need.
We have an ongoing need for clarinets, flutes, violins, trumpets and other musical instruments that people have in their garages or attics. As well as funding to get them repaired, if possible.

What's in your attic?



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Free storm debris and Christmas tree recycling next Saturday for Lake Forest Park residents

Traffic Control plan
Republic Services will be on hand for free Christmas tree collection and recycling on Saturday, January 6, 2018 from 9am to 12 noon in the City Hall parking lot, 17171 Bothell Way NE. 

The Lake Forest Park Youth Council will help to support the free event and raise money for the Lake Forest Park Police Department Nurturing Trust Program Fund.

Bring bare trees and remove all tinsel, lights, and ornaments. No flocked trees.

Secure your loads and bring proof of address in the form of a valid photo ID. 

Only passenger vehicles can enter.



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Co-existing with coyotes in Lake Forest Park

Coyote in Grace Cole Nature Preserve
Photo by Sara Lorimer
Lake Forest Park is suitable habitat for a variety of wildlife including deer, squirrels, mountain beavers, river otters, opossum, raccoons, rats, mice, and coyotes. 

Inevitably, you will have an interaction with wildlife, including coyotes. While coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare, it is not uncommon for coyotes to attack or kill pets.

So, what can you do to prevent protect yourself and your pets? Here are some suggestions from the City’s wildlife management plan:

Never feed coyotes, directly or indirectly
  • Do not feed pets outdoors or outside of secure enclosures
  • Secure garbage and compost cans
  • Keep the area around bird feeders clean
  • Do not leave food for wildlife or feral animals
Keep your pets safe
  • Keep pets on a short leash (6’) when walking
  • Avoid walking pets at dawn or dusk, or at night
  • Secure areas of your yard where pets roam off leash with a tall fence
  • Do not allow pets outside unaccompanied at night or near dawn or dusk
  • Keep a watchful eye on pets left in outdoor secure enclosures
Discourage coyote interactions
  • When you spot a coyote make noise, yell, whistle, use a shaker can (can with coins in it, sealed with tape) or an air horn
  • Throw sticks, small rocks, tennis balls toward coyotes but try not to injure them
  • Spray them with a hose
  • Use a walking stick to scare them

Here are some additional resources that may help you deter negative wildlife interactions:



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WeatherWatcher: Wind Advisory in Effect, Scattered Power Outages

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a High Wind Advisory for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. South through west winds are expected to gust up to 45 mph Friday evening into Saturday morning. The advisory is in effect until 4AM Saturday morning.

There are small scattered power outages in the area as a result of the wind, shown below by the power outage map from Seattle City Light. The link in the caption will take you to an updated map. Central Market's weather station has already picked up a gust of 38mph at 7:59PM. The winds should start decreasing over the next hour or two.
http://www.seattle.gov/light/sysstat

Our office here at Shoreline Area News is part of the small power outage on the map. Regular news will be delayed until power is restored later tonight or tomorrow.

For updates and current weather conditions you can visit www.shorelineweather.com



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Christmas lights: Meridian and N 155th

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

This house is on Meridian, near N 155th.



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Post office retail space and location of blue boxes

Setting up new retail space at Gateway Plaza
Photo by Debbie Kellogg on Wednesday

The North City post office retail space is in process of moving into Gateway Plaza at N 185th and Aurora Ave N (technically Midvale Ave N). They are scheduled to open in the new location on Saturday.

Photos were taken on Wednesday as they set up the new location.

All customer retail spaces will be at Gateway Plaza
Photo by Debbie Kellogg on Wednesday

For those who are accustomed to dropping their outgoing mail in the Blue Box at the post office, here are the locations of Blue Boxes, according to the USPS website. Please let us know if any of these locations are not current.

Except for the Bitter Lake Post Office, you will have to park and get out of the car.

USPS COLLECTION BOX - BLUE BOXES

Mountlake Terrace Post Office - back in the corner of an L shaped strip mall

Lake Forest Market
18498 BALLINGER WAY NE, Lake Forest Park 98155

Subway in Ballinger Village
20238 BALLINGER WAY NE, SHORELINE 98155

Gateway Plaza - currently in front of Health Chiropractic

King County District Court

Ridgecrest 7-11 across from the Crest

Aurora Safeway



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'Speaking of Dying' end of life choices at Senior Center Jan 16

Thursday, December 28, 2017


"Speaking of Dying" - end of life choices
presentation at the Senior Center
Tuesday, January 16 
10:30 - 11:30am





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Sort it Out: New recycling rule starts January 2 at Shoreline Recycling & Transfer Station

Shoreline Transfer and Recycling Station

To help cut waste and reduce the amount of recyclable and compostable materials brought to the landfill, the King County Solid Waste Division, beginning January 2, will ask self-haul transfer station and drop box customers to place selected materials in designated recycling bins or areas.

Starting January 2, 2018, self-haul customers at Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station will be asked to keep cardboard, scrap metal, yard waste and clean wood separate from their garbage and to place these items in marked recycling bins or areas at the facility.

The new rule applies to residents and businesses that haul their own garbage, recyclable and compostable materials to King County transfer stations or drop boxes. Self-haul customers use the public lanes at transfer stations.

“The items we’re targeting in the new recycling rule account for about one third of what self-haul customers bring to our facilities to be disposed as waste,” said Pat D. McLaughlin, SWD director.
“When recyclable materials are put back into the economy, they help create local jobs while conserving natural resources by reducing the need to create new products from virgin materials,” McLaughlin said. “Recycling conserves precious natural resources, including trees, energy and water.”

There will be no change in garbage disposal fees as a result of this recycling requirement, and there is no fee charged to recycle cardboard and scrap metal. While there is a fee to recycle yard waste and clean wood (unpainted, untreated lumber and pallets), that fee is 52 percent lower than the garbage disposal fee.

Other items, such as paper, glass bottles and jars, aluminum and steel cans, plastic bottles, jugs and tubs, and textiles, can be recycled at no cost. Cans, bottles and other containers should be empty and clean (no liquids or food).

To learn more about what is accepted at Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station, visit the website or call King County Solid Waste Division at 206-477-4466.

Additional Information...



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Rob Oxford: "It's Just What I Always Wanted"

By Rob Oxford

The snow has melted and all the packages have been unwrapped. Many have been returned and some stores are already shifting their attention towards February 14th. The greens and reds have been replaced with pinks and purples. Santa Claus, his reindeer and packages of breakable tree ornaments have made way for Cupid, candy hearts and boxes of chocolate.

It's an undeniable fact that anymore, we're hardly given time to recover from the whirlwind of joy that just hit us like a 2 ton lump of coal before we're forced to ask someone to be our valentine.

But before the credit card statement arrives, let's spend these final paragraphs of 2017 reflecting back on the very best part of the Christmas Season.

For some it's baking goodies for neighbors with whom they speak maybe 3 or 4 times a year. For others it's the feigned laughter at a coworkers inappropriate jokes during the office holiday party. Some pretend that singing carols off-key in front of complete strangers at the local pub puts them in the spirit, while others insist it's time spent with family...huh? or simply time off work.

But let's be honest, it's all about the presents...isn't it?

Of course I'm being sarcastic, but unfortunately too much emphasis has always been put on gift giving. "I got the same thing last year", "Oh Boy! Another tie" and "Did you remember to get a gift receipt?" are familiar refrains. But as my 15 year old said recently, who by the way is used to earning his own money and with no help from Mom or Dad picking out and purchasing his own gifts to give; "People worry about the cost more than the value." Wow! That's deep.

There's probably very few of us who if we had the financial means, would give a second thought to how much something costs or how much we should spend on our spouses or children, but we live in Shoreline, not Medina.

So what is the best gift you've ever received? It's not the guitar you told your Mother you "had to have", that you never learned to play. It's certainly not the leather jacket you left behind at the nightclub you have no recollection of even visiting and it isn't the $250 pair of shoes that you'll outgrow in 6 months.

In fact, I'm going to venture to guess that the snowflake mobile made by your 3rd Grader in art class, carefully smuggled home under their winter jacket or the drawing of you and your 1st Grader having tea together or the pair of work gloves purchased by your 6th Grader with birthday money they've been saving since April, just might be the best present you've ever received and really is "just what you've always wanted".



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LFP community responds to blood drive

In response to the great need for blood after the train derailment in Dupont, our communities staged three blood drives for Bloodworks Northwest.

In Lake Forest Park, they ended up registering 25 donors and collected 21 units of whole blood.

Bloodworks staff said that "Since each donation is separated in red cells, platelets, and plasma, the blood collected on Tuesday will help save the lives of up to 63 patients in our community. 
"To top things off, we had four first time donor. This is fantastic!"

The City of Lake Forest Park holds regular blood drives.



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Sno-Isle Genealogy meeting at Mountlake Terrace Library

Jill Morelli
Certified Genealogist
"My Top Ten Tech Tools I Really Use" is the topic for the program presented by certified genealogist Jill Morelli at the Wednesday, January 3, 2018, meeting of Sno-Isle Genealogical Society at the LDS Family History Library, 22015 48th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace.

Short business meeting at 6:30pm, with program at 7pm.

One doesn't need to use every tech toy that comes our way; just a few will save you time and keep your family history data safe.

Guests are welcome. For more info call 425-775-6267 on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday from 11am-3pm.

Free Beginning Genealogy Class is the 1st Saturday of the month, January 6, 10am, at the Sno-Isle Genealogical Society Research Library, 19827 Poplar Way, Heritage Park, Lynnwood.

Start the new year and get to know your "family". For more info call 425-775-6267 on Tuesday, Thursday, or Saturday from 11am-3pm.



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Ballinger dentist charged with unprofessional conduct

Ballinger Dental Clinic
Google Earth
Ballinger dentist Shohreh Khorsandi was charged with unprofessional conduct for failing to comply with an order from her professional board to reimburse 15 patients and account for all fees charged.

See previous article

In December 2017 the Dental Commission charged dentist Shohreh Khorsandi (DE 00007812) with unprofessional conduct.

Khorsandi allegedly didn’t comply with a requirement to account for fees she charged 15 patients.

Her license is currently suspended. This was her practice location: 20036 19th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155






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Jobs: Opportunity for youth aged 16-19 will open in January

The City of Shoreline, in partnership with King County and the Best Starts For Kids Levy, will be implementing a new program starting in 2018.

Youth Outreach Leadership and Opportunities (YOLO) proposes a different approach to reach the youth in our community and connect them to services and programs - work with youth to connect with youth. This program aims to reach youth through the community connections of other youth. 

This will be accomplished in two ways, by providing youth employment through a program called Youth Outreach Leadership and Opportunities (YOLO), and by providing direct access to needed services based on youth input and community need.

YOLO is a job-skill and leadership development program as well as a youth outreach program. It cultivates the ability to connect with youth that have traditionally been challenging to reach or are underserved and provide access to services they may need. YOLO is designed to dynamically respond to the changing needs of diverse youth through proactive peer-to-peer outreach and by removing barriers to their engagement in the community.

This element is centered on reaching underserved populations in our community by creating youth occupied entry-level employment positions. The newly created Youth Outreach Leaders (YOLs) will provide information and support to help youth with the goal to help them access programs and services in their community.

These new positions will provide entry-level job experience through supervision by Youth and Teen Development staff who will provide one-on-one mentoring, leadership training and peer to peer mentorship skills.

These (7) new positions will be open in January to youth aged 16-19 and provide a concrete youth-led connection between the youth in our community and the services available to those young people. If you know of a young person who would be interested in this position or in this program please have them contact the City of Shoreline.

Contact azoller@shorelinewa.gov for additional information.



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Crime in Shoreline week ending 12-19 - intoxication and mental illness

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Selected items from the Shoreline police blotter, week ending December 19, 2017

12-04  Young male with mental issues running into neighbors' garages and backyard, bleeding.
12-04  Suspect stole candy then assaulted store manager at Walgreen's on 175th / Aurora.
12-07  Budget Rent A Truck not returned to Everett was parked in the 18500 block of Meridian for three weeks.
12-09  Person at Shoreline Motel smoked 'brown heroin' and nearly died.
12-10  Burglary at Aurora Square netted $25,000 worth of jewelry.
12-10  Car prowl at Shoreview Park. Rear window broken, purse stolen, credit cards used at Fred Meyer.
12-10  Man found his guitar, stolen in March, at a local pawn shop.
12-10  Caretaker at Fircrest hit in head twice by student with mental issues.
12-10  Domestic violence stemming from debilitating mental illness.
12-11  Car hit a pedestrian at 200th / Whitman; asked her if she was all right and then left.
12-11  Subject with multiple incidents of intoxication picked up at McDonalds and taken for detox.
12-11  Person previously Trespassed from business was back, shoplifting.
12-11  Harassment between two residents of transient camp on 145th.
12-11  Woman at Shoreline Motel who called to report she left her driver's license in a cab was arrested on a $10,000 DUI warrant.
12-12  Burglary at vacant home on 10th NE.
12-12  Subject arrested after shoplifting over $1000 in over the counter meds and supplements from Walgreen's at 175th / Aurora.
12-12  Shoplifting at Costco and Marshalls.
12-12  Suspect seen peering into cars at Costco was picked up and booked on a warrant.
12-12  14 year old sent to Children's for involuntary commitment after taking 17 extra-strength Tylenol.
12-13  Unknown subject impersonates an off-duty police officer and assists Fred Meyer security with shoplifter.
12-14  Suspicious, occupied vehicle held woman who had cut her wrist with a knife. Taken to Northwest.
12-14  Suspects Trespassed from Gateway Starbucks for suspected drug use in bathroom, but no drugs or paraphernalia found.
12-14  Burglary 203xx 30th NE. Broke in through rear French doors.
12-14  19 year old took pills and alcohol; friends called for help 15 hours later when his condition deteriorated.
12-15  BHI unit contacted for man pounding on stranger's door after midnight, screaming to call 911.
12-15  Male pulls car over to talk to girls at school bus stop at 400 NE 160th.
12-15  Bicycle stolen from in front of pawn shop.
12-15  Burglary 15xx NE 147th.
12-15  BHI subject voluntarily goes to hospital after breaking things in apartment because upstairs neighbors were 'radiating' him.
12-15  Vandals break window at Prince of Peace church.
12-16  Burglary at storage lockers at 20065 15th NE.
12-16  Shoplift at Big 5.
12-16  Unknown suspect entered window at Wilson Tiles on Aurora and stole a backpack with some candy in it.
12-16  Attempted shoplift of alcohol; suspect Trespassed.
12-16  Subject who went into employee area at Costco was Trespassed.
12-18  Purse taken from diaper bag in apartment stairway as owner unloaded vehicle.
12-18  Residential burglary at Newcastle Apartments; three suspects taken into custody.


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Photo: Snow on Palm tree

Photo by Dan Short

A bit unusual in this land of Douglas fir, cedar, and pine to see a palm tree, let alone one covered in snow.

However, palms seem to do well in Shoreline. There's an entire row of palms that Harley O'Neil put in front of Spin Alley on Richmond Beach Road and they are thriving.

This palm is in the Briarcrest neighborhood, where Dan Short photographed it on Christmas day.

DKH


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On the Mayor's Mind - reflections on the past year

Chris Roberts
Mayor of Shoreline
By Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts

“It’s a magical world, … let’s go exploring.” - Calvin (from Calvin and Hobbes, December 31, 1995)

After a fresh snowfall, our cedars glisten. Our firs show off with their snow-covered branches as if they are about to walk the red carpet. Looking out at the beauty of nature always brings me a sense of peace, and an opportunity to reflect.

One of the first actions the Council took in 2017 was unanimously declaring Shoreline to be an inviting, equitable, and safe community for all. As leaders in the community, we have a special responsibility not to stay silent in the face of discrimination, harassment, or hate against any of our residents. I strongly believe Shoreline should remain a leader in protecting human rights, promoting equity, and ensuring the public safety and social well-being of all our residents.

I am proud that Shoreline has a plan to expand and invest in our park system over the next six years. This July, the Council adopted our Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan, guiding investments in our parks system for the next six years. Once implemented, Shoreline will acquire five acres of parkland and restore ten acres of urban forest. Over the next couple of years, we will have a community discussion about building a new aquatics and community center in the City, with the goal to send a proposal to voters in 2020.

This October we welcomed the employees of the Ronald Wastewater District as City employees, as part of phase one of our merger. The City and the District signed a service agreement earlier in the year whereby the City will operate and maintain the utility while the Ronald Board of Commissioners will continue to govern the utility and set rates. This merger will lead to one-stop permitting, and ultimately savings, for Shoreline ratepayers.

As part of our budget process, we prioritized public safety by authorizing the hiring of a new police officer. We also made a substantial investment in our surface water utility, which will reduce flooding, address pollution, and remove the Hidden Lake Dam. Our commitment to public safety and maintaining our infrastructure will be beneficial for years to come.

As a Council, I am proud of several positions we took that will promote democracy and the welfare of our residents. Our legislative priorities include support for automatic voter registration in Washington to reduce the barriers to voting. We also called upon the state legislature to pass the capital budget, which includes funding for some surface water utility projects in our City. We expressed our recommitment to meeting the sustainability goals of the Paris Climate Accord and signed onto a brief that supports endorsement of anti-discrimination laws.

This year we saw the beginnings of some notable construction projects that will shape our City for years to come. Our new police station at city hall will open in the middle of next year. The School District started construction of a new early learning center, the first of four new schools that will be built. The Community College is starting work on its first dormitory, and Sound Transit is starting construction of two light rail stations, and we will see significant private investment across the City.

Next year we will have a continued discussion of sidewalk maintenance and construction, as well as how to fund pedestrian infrastructure.

We will also see changes in both the Council and School Board in 2018. I am very thankful for the work that Shari Winstead has done for our community, especially her invaluable contributions to expanding and renovating our parks. While she will no longer be serving as a member of the council, our community will reap the benefits of Shari’s efforts on behalf of our community well into the future.

Debi Ehrlichman has been and will continue to be a tireless advocate for our children. During her tenure as a Shoreline Director, among countless other important contributions, Debi oversaw the construction of new high schools and the passage of a bond that will lead to the construction of new middle schools. I am looking forward to working with our new Councilmember, Susan Chang, and the newest member of our School Board, Heather Fralick.

As the snow was falling earlier this week, I instinctively stuck out my tongue, hoping to catch a snowflake, and later on, I grabbed a sled and found myself speed down the hill. Snow has magical powers - an ability to bring out our sense of wonder and provides that glimpse of a blank canvas, full of unlimited possibilities and opportunities.

Happy New Years!


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