Travels with Charlie: Walking off Thanksgiving dinner

Caught this view with Charlie. 

Walking off some of Thursday's Thanksgiving Dinner at Log Boom Park…

Always worth giving a look to the west. Sunsets are coming earlier this time of year. 

Cheers,

Gordon Snyder

 

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December 2024 calendar for the Shoreline Teen Center

The Shoreline Teen Center is still open during regular program hours during Richmond Highlands Park upgrades!

Hours

• Free drop-in, middle school - 18 years Mondays - Fridays 2:30pm - 6:00pm
• Wednesday Early Release 1:00pm - 6:00pm
• Friday Late Nights 6:00pm - 9:00pm
• Saturday Late Nights - Middle School Night! 6:00pm - 10:30pm

All Free!

The Shoreline Teen Center is a free teen center located at 16554 Fremont ave N Shoreline WA 98133 for youth aged middle school-18 years old. 

We provide hot food as well as many activities. We have basketball, pool, ping pong, foosball, video games, and art daily. All activities are free of charge. 

All Calendar Activities start at 3:30pm, daily activities are subject to change. For more information email aelliott@shorelinewa.gov

Updates on the Shoreline Teen Center activities, events, and hours can be found at shorelinewa.gov/teens under the Teen Program Updates drop-down menu.

Upcoming program closures: December 6th, 24th, 25th, 31st, and January 1st

Learn more at shorelinewa.gov/teens or on instagram at @shorelineteenprograms

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Will natural gas initiative impact cities in North King County?

Natural gas pipes at Shoreline Place - photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

Voters and city councils in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore opposed the pro-natural gas initiative. But little progress has been made reducing pollution from natural gas

Statewide, voters approved Initiative 2066 (the pro-natural gas measure) with 51.7% of the vote, but the measure was not popular in North King County. In Shoreline and Lake Forest Park, only 36% of voters voted “Yes” while in Kenmore 42% supported the measure. 

Amongst other new rules the measure forbids cities from discouraging the use of natural gas. In October the city councils of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore all unanimously opposed the initiative. Kenmore’s 2022 Climate Action Plan set a goal to reduce fossil fuel use in buildings 20% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. 

While Shoreline’s 2022 Climate Action Plan set a goal to reduce natural gas usage 60% by 2030 and 98% by 2050. And the 2024 Lake Forest Park Climate Action Plan says the city will “eliminate natural gas usage in LFP” but does not set a date.

A spokesperson for Shoreline said that like other agencies across the state, the city is still in the early stages of analyzing what impact the initiative would have on building codes, incentive programs and the city’s Climate Action Plan. The city’s Energize Shoreline program provides education about heat pumps and promotes discounts on heat pumps.

Shoreline's 2022 Climate Action Plan says energy use in buildings and homes is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the city after transportation. 

The city set a target to reduce natural gas usage 60% by 2030 and 98% by 2050 and named eleven actions to either encourage building efficiency and electrification or discourage the use of natural gas appliances and heaters. 

However, the 2023 Climate Action Plan status report says the city had only begun work on three of those eleven actions.

In 2006, the Shoreline council signed the U.S. Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement committing to “make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements.” 

The city’s 2013 Climate Action Plan said the Shoreline pool accounted for almost 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from city-owned facilities yet despite the city closing the pool in 2020, the city said natural gas pollution has increased by 7% compared to 2019.

Charts from the Climate Action Plans of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore show the percentage of greenhouse gas pollution from various sources

The Lake Forest Park Climate Action Plan (adopted by the city council earlier this year) says natural gas is the second largest source of emissions and that 75% of buildings in the city use natural gas. 

The plan says the city will encourage a transition from gas to electric and solar, pass building codes requiring electrification and restrict the addition of new gas lines. 

On November 14, the Lake Forest Park city council amended a policy in its draft Comprehensive Plan to avoid legal issues from I-2066.

In an emailed response to questions, Lake Forest Park council members Larry Goldman and Tracy Furutani said “It's worth pointing out that while I-2066 prohibits cities from discouraging natural gas, it doesn't prohibit cities from encouraging other energy sources and appliances. 

"We will consider how the city might be able to continue to educate residents about the benefits of heat pumps and other appliances in a way that is consistent with I-2066.”

Kenmore’s 2022 Climate Action Plan said the city would incentivize a full transition to electric or solar and enact building codes to phase out fossil fuel infrastructure in new construction. 

Kenmore’s website promotes heat pumps, solar and building efficiency. 

Kenmore’s Mayor Nigel Herbig said, “I question whether we could even host events encouraging people to solarize or things like that under the language of this initiative. I worry that that could be construed as discouraging the use of gas even if that’s not the actual case. Nobody is shutting off anybody’s gas. Nobody is coming for your stove.”

Opponents of the I-2066 have said they plan to sue to stop enforcement of the measure because it is overly broad and misled voters and Governor Inslee said he expects the courts to overturn the initiative. 

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Blake Snell signs with the LA Dodgers

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Shorewood grad and star pitcher Blake Snell has just signed a five year, multi-million dollar contract with the LA Dodgers, according to an article in The Seattle Times.

Scouts filming Blake at a Shorewood game
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Snell is the winner of two Cy Young awards, from two different leagues.

The Snell brothers. From left: Blake, David, Tyler.
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

In January 2024, he was honored during a half-time ceremony at Shorewood. (See article here)

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FAFSA now available for 2025-26 applicants

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has announced that the 2025-26 FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is now available. 

Applications typically open on October 1 for people wanting to start college the next fall. This year the application was delayed as DOE carried out a series of beta tests to mitigate problems experienced during the 2024-25 FAFSA cycle.

In Washington State, there are two ways to apply for financial aid for college or career training. U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens can apply for federal and state aid with the FAFSA. 

People who can't file the FAFSA due to immigration status can apply only for state aid with the WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid), as can people from mixed-status families who prefer not to file the federal form. 

Both FAFSA and WASFA are pathways for Washington State residents to apply for Washington College Grant (WA Grant)and other financial aid.

The 2025-26 WASFA will be available in early December. More information and resources for Washington financial aid applicants will be available at that time.

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25th Annual Tree Lighting in North City December 7, 2024

Santa will be at the North City 25th annual Tree Lighting Festival on Saturday,

December 7, 6:30pm – 7:30pm

Where: Les Schwab, 17754 15th Ave NE

Free fun for the entire family, including live music, warm beverages, and photos with Santa Claus. We hope to see you all there!

The Tree Lighting Festival is produced by the North City Business Association in partnership with the North City Neighborhood Association and the North City Water District. Generous in-kind contributions have been made by the local Les Schwab, and North City Business Association members

Looking forward to this special moment every year—when hundreds of colorful lights in the shape of a giant Christmas tree suddenly light up the night sky, installed by the North City Water District crew on top of the 3.7 million gallon reservoir.

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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Too Much

Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter here

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One year later at the Miyawaki Urban Forest

The first publicity banner

Story and photos by Sally Yamasaki

"LOOK WHAT'S GROWING" on our first banner has been prophetic.

Just over a year ago, the idea of planting a Miyawaki Urban Forest was just a vision.

Instead of a traditional brick and mortar museum building to showcase exhibits, the idea was to build forest walls. This forested section of the Shoreline Historical Museum would incorporate local history, educational programming, help the environment with the intent to build community.

A year later, a Forest has been planted and we have had many programs, library talks, school tours and a lovely Forest community formed.

MFF Volunteers tending the Forest. In three years, the Miyawaki Forest will be completely sustainable and not need weeding or watering.

Starting from the barren field of 20 years to the tender starts we planted a year ago, today many of the plants tower way above 5 feet tall. Traditional Miyawaki Urban Forests grow ten times faster than conventionally planted forests. The Forest at the Museum seems to be no exception.

From the beginning, the Miyawaki Urban Forest History Project at the Shoreline Historical Museum seemed to have a magnetic force that pulled together an amazing community of volunteers and funders.

Char Erickson, a volunteer is a retired teacher that joined the Miyawaki Forest Friends (MFF). MFFs are the volunteers for the Forest at the Shoreline Historical Museum.

"When I heard about Miyawaki Forest Friends, I knew I had to engage with this small but immensely hopeful and innovative 'bloom where you are planted' effort. In the midst of my grief about the challenges ahead for our planet, I feel joy in working with positive, like-minded people to restore native forest to one small patch of land right here in my community.

I realize that the only place to begin the work is right here, right now, with myself and my neighbors. My hope is that this tiny native forest will be an inspiration and example for many, many more, will become a beloved gathering place to celebrate life in all forms, and remain a place to honor and thank the native Coast Salish people who have lived in harmony with the land for millennia,” said Char Erickson.

MFF Volunteers setting up refreshments for an event

As with Char, many of the MFFs come with a desire to do what they can to give to back to the earth and create a brighter just future. 

 "We often work together to put on programs, make exhibits, and care for the Forest, and of course, we have a lot of fun doing so," according to MFF Connie Barnes.

On Sunday, December 8, 2024, join the party on the Museum field to celebrate the Miyawaki Forest's First Birthday. Artist Roger Fernandes will give a dedication of his Forest entrance art piece titled: "The Welcome Rock: The Rocks Hold the Memories of Our People." There will be live music, refreshments, activities, forest walks, song, and, of course, cake!

Shoreline School Field Trip of 2nd and 3rd graders visit and learn about the Museum and the Miyawaki Urban Forest

All are invited to see how much the Forest has grown and acknowledge how when we work together, we feel good and can make a difference.

First Miyawaki Forest Birthday Celebration at the Shoreline Historical Museum
Sunday, December 8, 2024 from  3:00 – 5:15pm
Shoreline Historical Museum, 18501 Linden Ave. N, Shoreline

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4th Annual Holiday Craft Market at Vault 177 Saturday November 30, 2024

Well it's that time of year again!

Time to get your holiday shopping going and no better way than to shop local and craft right here at the 4th Annual Holiday Craft Market at Vault 177 TODAY Saturday November 30, 2024 from 3-7pm. 

We will have our resident amazing crafty lady Christa Hendrickson from Hendrickson's Handmade selling her custom tumblers, handmade candles, soaps, bath bombs, coasters and more! 

New this year we will have Cori's CuriosiTeas, where passion for herbal wellness meets the art of tea crafting as well as Sand Dollar Style by Rebecca Montague, art formed from the beaches of the Pacific Northwest and many varieties of Air Plants, and Kreations by Kaydra who specializes in crafting unique handmade items including eye-catching earrings and stylish glasses chains. 

Our craft market supports local businesses by being FREE to both vendors and guests. There will be drink and food specials so have a tasty beverage and check some names off your Christmas list!

1430 NW Richmond Beach Rd, Shoreline WA 98177

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Veterans Day Celebration held at Shoreline City Hall, November 11, 2024

Deputy Mayor Laura Mork's Welcoming Remarks

By Doug Cerretti

With photos by Pam Barrett

The 14th annual celebration of Veterans Day was held at Shoreline, WA city hall on November 11, 2024. 

Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day, marking the end of hostilities of WW1 on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. 

Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 and is held on the 11th day of the 11th month, November 11 of every year. 

The Shoreline Veterans Association (SVA) organized the first Veterans Day celebration in 2010 and has continued this duty to this day. The SVA was formed in 2010 to create the Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza which was dedicated in 2016.

The Around the Sound Community Band

The day’s activities started with Prelude by the Around the Sound Community Band under the direction of Dr. Marcus Pimpleton.

Welcoming remarks were made by Deputy Mayor Laura Mork, City of Shoreline, an Invocation by Chaplain Tiffany Bothell was followed by the Presentation of Colors by the 103rd Brigade Coordination Team under command of MG Tim Miller, US Volunteers-Joint Service Command.

Shoreline Veterans Association member Doug Cerretti and King County Councilmember Rob Dembowski with the King County Proclamation for Veterans Day.

A breath-taking rendition of the National Anthem sung by Miss Symphony Ames followed. Charles Grenard, Commander of The American Legion Post 227, led the over 100 attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance and fellow Legion member Larry Fischer recited the history of Veterans Day. 

Both King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski and Shoreline City Deputy Mayor Mork gave remarks about Veterans Day and presented Proclamations from King County and the City of Shoreline. A last-minute cancellation left us with no presenter for In Flanders Field.

American Legion Post 227 member Larry Fischer reciting In Flanders Field.

However, it turns out that students in rural North Dakota where Larry Fischer was raised had to learn In Flanders Field by heart and Larry recited the poem as he did as a school boy. 

Jim Armstrong and Larry Fischer then recited the POW/MIA Table Poem that explains each element on the table. 

The Around the Sound Community Band then played a medley of the US military brand songs with each veteran standing when their branch song was played. 

I had the honor to talk about Shoreline Veterans Recognition Plaza and the engraved bricks that honor those who have served our country and I suggested that we should spend time at the Plaza and hear the stories of those honored “If The Bricks Could Talk.”

Keynote Speaker LTC John Hosey, US Army

Larry Fischer then introduced Keynote Speaker LTC John Hosey, US Army who talked about his remarkable military career. Enlisting in the US Army in 1951, he had his older brother Moses sign a form because he was under 21-years of age. Moses asked, what’s this for?” and John said, “it’s for a government job.” The next day John called his brother and said, “guess where I am? I am at boot camp.” 

Moses replied, “Mom and Dad are going to kill us.” 

John completed boot camp and decided he wanted to jump out of perfectly good airplanes and received his parachute wings and then joined the 82nd Airborne. John, how should I say this, was not forthcoming about his age when he enlisted and as he joined the 82nd Airborne he was 16-years-old! 

John was sent to Korea where he received a Purple Heart Medal. Afterwards, he joined the Army National Guard as a missile man in Puget Sound. 

In the 1960s John became an officer and earned his wings for fixed wing aircraft and helicopters eventually being sent to Vietnam where he was one of the most decorated helicopter pilots. 

John retired from the Army in 1982 at the rank of LTC having received two Purple Hearts, Bronze Star, Silver Star and the Distinguished Flying Cross. 

He returned home and became a King County Deputy Sheriff for 22 years. 

Throughout his talk John mentioned his lovely wife Sandra who was an equal or maybe more than equal partner in his life’s decisions. They have been married for 69 years. John answered many questions which could have gone on for hours. 

Thank you, John, for your service to our country. 

God Bless America sung by Symphony Ames accompanied by her father David Ames.

After John’s talk Miss Symphony Ames sang God Bless America accompanied by her father David Ames on guitar. The ceremony ended with a Benediction by Chaplain Bothell and a Postlude by the Around the Sound Community Band.

The SVA would like to thank the City of Shoreline, especially Pam Barrett for help in organizing this Celebration of Veterans Day, The American Legion Post 227 Auxiliary for refreshments and Aurora Rents, Starbucks Coffee #10990 and Town and Country Market for their support. 

Please join us November 11, 2025 for the next Veterans Day Celebration at Shoreline City Hall.

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Shoreline Fire toy drive December 7-13, 2024

Join Shoreline Fire Department’s Toy Drive and help brighten the holidays for our community.

Drop off your new, unwrapped toys at:

• Shoreline Fred Meyer on Saturday, December 7, 2024 from 8am - 6pm
• At any Shoreline Fire Station or Dale Turner YMCA through December 13

Let’s come together to make this holiday season an extra special one for our local kids and families.

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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Turkey Dressing

 

Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter

From all of us at the Shoreline Area News - we hope you had a lovely Thanksgiving!

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RBCC Players presents Call Me Mr. Scrooge: A Musical - December 13-14, 2024

RBCC Players Presents Call Me Mr. Scrooge: A Musical

By Murry J. Rivette

December 13 – 7:30pm

December 14 – 2:00pm & 7:30pm

Tickets on sale now for the RBCC Players Holiday Show: Call Me Mr. Scrooge: A Musical. 

Inspired by the classic tale by Charles Dickens, this updated light musical version will have you laughing as you watch how this modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who are not what you expect. 

As they try to convince Scrooge to give Bob Cratchit a raise, a light over his desk, and his own key to the men's restroom you begin to see that perhaps Scrooge is not such a bad guy after all. A hysterical holiday show to remember!

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) wrote A Christmas Carol in just six weeks, and it has remained his most popular work. After suffering from hardship and poverty as a boy, Dickens sympathized with the plight of the poor and felt strongly that social reform was needed to eradicate social inequity.

Purchase Tickets ( $10 )

• At this link
• or by using the QR code

Theater Location: 

• 1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline WA 98177
• Entrance: Lower Level/West side: Richmond Beach Congregational Church, UCC

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King County Emergency Management wants to know if last week’s windstorm caused you any damage

Photo by P Cross

King County Emergency Management wants to know if last week’s windstorm caused you any damage. 

This information may help Washington request state and/or federal government disaster assistance. 

If your primary residence or your business was damaged by the weather, we’d like to hear from you. Here is the link to report your damages.

Frequently asked questions on damage assessments and assistance

• Why are we conducting damage assessment?
• To assess whether there has been sufficient damage for the county to receive assistance via state or federal programs.
• Access to the survey can be found at the following: KCOEM DA Survey
• When is the survey due?
• There is no due date for the survey. We want individuals and businesses to report as soon as possible, which will help us to make the case for any federal (or state) disaster assistance.
• What if I was impacted by the disaster but I do not think I qualify for assistance?
• We encourage everyone to submit, even if they have minor damages, and even if they have insurance, because it helps us to get a more comprehensive picture of the situation, adding to the totality of circumstances.
• What if I do not respond to the survey? Will that keep me from receiving assistance?
• If you do not answer the survey, you are NOT excluded from any disaster assistance that may be awarded. The survey is only to collect information to support our application/request for assistance. In addition, if they submit the survey, they’ll be added to our list to get direct notifications about the status of our requests for assistance and any grant programs that may become available.
• What is the difference between public assistance and individual assistance?
• Public assistance is support for government buildings, public good/infrastructure, and other government related operations in response to a disaster.Individual assistance is made available for a private person to receive assistance by state or federal programs should the disaster qualify.
• Is there assistance to support replacement of food?
• Unfortunately, no direct replacement is available by King County or the state. 
• If a person qualifies for food assistance through WA DSHS then there is a program to reload benefits if the person was impacted by a power outage for longer than 4 hours, and it has been reported within 10 days of the outage.
• Food Loss due to Power Outage and SNAP? Good News! There is a one time resource for food loss due to power loss/flood/ fire/or wildfires. 
• Follow These Steps: 
• 1) Call DSHS within 10 days.
• 2) Report and request replacement for food loss related to *Household Disaster* and the type: Bomb Cyclone Adverse Weather Even, Power outage. 
• 3) You may be asked on what day you lost power, and when power was restored. 
• Note: Reminder you only have 10 days from the time your power was lost to report
• 211 has information on food banks and other resources which could help in providing food assistance.

• What is the Small Business Administration?
• The Small Business Administration (SBA) is an organization which can offer low interest disaster loans to individuals and businesses impacted by disasters

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Restaurant Review: Spiro's Pizza & Pasta

Spiro’s Pizza & Pasta

18411 Aurora Ave N

Shoreline WA 98133

(206) 546-2900

‘Spiro’ is a Latin word for respiration, in this case quite apt for a place that lives, breathes, and eats pizza/pasta.

This Shoreline institution has been present for almost 30 years, next to but not overshadowed by Fred, as in Fred Meyer. 

It is a family-owned and family-run restaurant, namely the very Greek Voltsis family. This is your down-home basic pizza & pasta joint, serving Greek-Italian comfort food - no kale, quinoa or arugula here! 

You have expectations, and they will fulfill most if not all of them, that is delicious and satisfying. They have a basic salad of lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mozzarella, olives, that you can tweak with onions, feta, Greek olives, antipasto, chicken, spinach, and pepperoncini. 

Let’s start with the pizzas – all you really need are the specials – either House or Vangellis, which are a good mix of meats, veg, and cheese, and a garden special for the vegetarians. 

Then you need to know pizza numbers, namely 2, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 19, 22, 24 – essentially cheese, Greek veg, Italian sausage, Hawaiian, Hawaiian plus, pepperoni, meat-lovers (aka The Blake Snell), Canadian-Greek, and pep-sau, with likely sprinkles of feta/mozzarella. 

For your pasta, you have spaghetti, penne, cheese tortellini, lasagna, fettuccini, to be accompanied by meat sauce, marinara, alfredo, pesto (or any combination thereof), ricotta, butter, mizithra, with optional addition of chicken or sausage, and extra feta/mozzarella always an option. 

The red, white & green Brent’s Special combo is a popular favorite. 

For balance, there are a variety of eleven vegetables used in the pizzas/pastas. Calzones are essentially a stuffed turnover, available with any two pizza ingredients named above. 

Why you would come to a pizza/pasta joint for a sub is beyond me, but for you outliers, there are mozzarella sandwiches with pepperoni, salami, meatball, Canadian bacon, meat-lovers, and vegetables. 

Seafood? Fuhgeddaboudit! After this feast, it seems redundant to suggest cake and ice-cream, which they will serve, if asked nicely. 

Their ace is a large banquet room available for meetings, parties, large groups, etc. They serve it hot, fast and good, a regular community gathering place, where they treat you like family. Opa!

--TCA

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Public Hearing on LFP 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update - December 2, 2024

City of Lake Forest Park
PUBLIC NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2024 – 7PM
ADOPTING THE 2024 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE

The City of Lake Forest Park City Council will consider the adoption of the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update as the Comprehensive Plan for the City of Lake Forest Park. 

The Growth Management Act requires cities to review and evaluate comprehensive plans by December 31, 2024. The public hearing is intended to provide an opportunity for public testimony regarding the proposed 2024 Comprehensive Plan, which is available on the city website at www.cityoflfp.gov.

The public hearing will be conducted during the City Council’s special meeting on December 2, 2024. The meeting will begin at 7:00 P.M., and the public hearing will commence thereafter. 

The public hearing will be held in person. Instructions for how to participate in the public hearing may be found on the agenda for the meeting. Written testimony will be accepted prior to the meeting and distributed to the City Council, and verbal testimony will be accepted during the public hearing in person.

Written comments should be submitted to City Clerk Matt McLean at mmclean@cityoflfp.gov no later than 5:00 p.m. local time on the hearing date. Alternatively, a request to speak can be made by phone directly to the City Clerk at (206) 368-5540 before 5:00 p.m. on the meeting date.

Matt McLean
City Clerk
November 25, 2024

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Small business Saturday November 30, 2024

Small Business Saturday is on November 30, 2024, and it's the perfect time to support the amazing small businesses that make our community thrive. 

From unique shops to delicious eateries, every purchase helps fuel our local economy and keeps Shoreline vibrant.  

Let’s make this holiday season count by shopping small and making a big impact!

Need ideas? Check out the Chamber of Commerce Member Directory 

--Shoreline Chamber of Commerce

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Op-Ed: A note to community from the Managing Partner of Third Place Books

Robert Sindelar is the Managing Partner of Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park Town Center

Dear Third Place Customers,

Like many of us in the greater Seattle area, our Lake Forest Park store lost power last week after the powerful bomb cyclone that swept through Western Washington. We had to close for almost four days during a critical season for retailers—bookstores in particular.

Those lost sales are always tough. But at this time of year, when holiday shopping is kicking into gear, losing those four days is devastating to a local business.

Some customers and friends of the store have asked if there are ways to help. Here's what you can do.

• Buy a gift card for yourself, a family member, or your favorite teacher
• Make a donation to our Books to Students Fund. This fund supports students by donating books to Shoreline, Northgate, and Seattle public school districts as well as local literacy nonprofits organizations.
• Or simply come into the store to shop—we'd love to see you.

Also, if there are other local stores that you love and care about that lost power for days this past week, please consider supporting them with gift card purchases as well.

Restaurants that closed were hit particularly hard. Their employees lost days of tips. Many lost all their inventory and are still struggling to recover.

Here are some restaurants at the Lake Forest Park Town Center that we love and support :

• Honey Bear Bakery
• Gyro Boss
• Vulpine Taproom
• Lake Forest Park Bar and Grill

As we all reflect on things we are thankful for this week, I will be thinking about how lucky I am to work and live with such an amazing community of readers.

All the best to our Third Place Community,

Robert Sindelar, Managing Partner of Third Place Books

PS - If you're looking for your next great read, here is my personal top 10 favorite books of 2024.

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Lynnwood Link project recognized for excellence by Northwest Construction Consumer Council

The Northwest Construction Consumer Council (NWCCC) has awarded Sound Transit’s Lynnwood Link Extension project two awards in recognition of the project’s achievements. 

The awards, the Best Public Project over $10 Million and the award for Innovation & Achievement in Sustainability, exemplify excellence in project delivery in the Pacific Northwest. 

NWCCC’s Distinguished Project Awards program recognizes excellence in the engineering, design and construction of projects completed or nearing completion by NWCCC members during the prior two years.

“We’re honored to have the Lynnwood project and its sustainability accomplishments recognized by leaders in the construction field,” said Terri Mestas, Sound Transit’s Deputy CEO for Capital Delivery.

“The outstanding work on this project is a testament to the strong collaboration between the construction teams and Sound Transit staff who labored for years to make this project a reality.”

The Lynnwood Link Extension, which opened on August 30, 2024 added 8.5 miles to the existing 1 Line. The $3.1 billion project includes four stations, one at Lynnwood City Center, one at Mountlake Terrace, and two in Shoreline, as well as three new parking structures. The extension connected the light rail system, which had previously only served King County, with Snohomish County.

The Lynnwood Link Extension project includes a variety of sustainable features. 

• Lynnwood City Center Station and its garage achieved LEEDv4 Gold certification for green building design. 
• Key initiatives included low-impact development for stormwater management to upgrade and relocate part of Scriber Creek Trail, drought-tolerant landscaping, salvaged plants and vegetated walls to improve access, reduce flooding and improve site hydrology. 
• In addition to the energy and water-efficient designs at Lynnwood City Center Station, the agency also worked with Skanska to pilot the use of low-carbon concrete for the parking garage structure. This effort reduced the carbon content of the most carbon intensive material used by the agency—concrete—by 20% compared to regional averages.

Thanks to the foresight of cities that rezoned near the transit centers, there are currently more than 10,000 units of transit-oriented development adjacent to Lynnwood Link Extension stations.

The Lynnwood Link Extension is the latest example of Sound Transit’s broader sustainability strategy, where all new stations will be certified (at a minimum) to LEED for Transit at the gold level, and the entire alignment will be certified to the Envision green infrastructure certification at the platinum level. 

Additionally, we continue our commitment to clean energy by powering the entire 1 Line, including the Lynnwood extension, with 100% carbon-free electricity.

Stacy & Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman L200 JV and Skanska Constructors L300 JV executed the civil construction on the extension. 

Mass Electric completed the systems work, which included the overhead catenary, traction power, signaling and communications. 

HNTB-Jacobs, JV did the civil design, and Hatch did the systems design. 

PGH Wong was responsible for civil construction management and Northwest Transit Systems Partners for systems construction management.

The project budget included up to $1.17 billion from a Full Funding Grant Agreement executed by the Federal Transit Administration. In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau executed a $658 million low-interest loan supporting the project, including new light rail vehicles and support facilities.

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Sam Scott’s Holiday Studio Opening this weekend November 30 - December 1, 2024

Sam Scott holiday pottery sale this weekend

Shoreline ceramic artist, Sam Scott, will be opening his studio for his 2024 Holiday Studio Opening.

It will be this weekend, Saturday, November 30th, 10-5pm and Sunday, December 1st, 12-4pm.

18502 6th Ave NW, Shoreline, WA 98177

He will have lots of work available!

To set up an appointment if you cannot make it or if you have any questions, contact Sam at cheerspots@yahoo.com, go to his website www.samscottpottery.com or call 206-542-1944.

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WSDOT Northwest Region Deputy Communications Manager (WMS Band 2)

WSDOT

Northwest Region Deputy Communications Manager 

(WMS Band 2)
Shoreline, WA- Northwest Region
$89,258 - $114,471 Annually

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is currently seeking a skilled professional Deputy Communications Manager in the Northwest Region. The Northwest Region Deputy Communications Manager leads and manages a team of design communicators who support projects in the design phase that are focused on delivering environmentally conscious, sustainable, context-based work that achieve the purpose and need for the lowest cost while considering all users, fostering livable communities and modally integrated transportation systems. This position also works to support the Management of Mobility planning work within Northwest Region.

This position plays a pivotal role in delivering on WSDOT’s advancement of environmental justice by supporting ongoing opportunities for public involvement, community engagement and outreach on agency work before delivering a project to construction. As such, this position will support regional planning work performed by Management of Mobility under the Urban Mobility and Access Megaprograms (UMAM) in delivering HEAL Act, Complete Streets and EJ requirements.

Additionally, this position plays a lead role in transforming how the region communicates and engages with employees and is responsible for developing and delivering a robust internal communications program. This position will lead, plan, organize and provide subject matter expertise on internal communications for the regions 1,300 employees.

Job description and application

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