Showing posts with label people. Show all posts
Showing posts with label people. Show all posts

Elsa Bouman - an artful life

Monday, December 25, 2023

Artist Elsa Bouman
Photo courtesy ShoreLake Arts
"When you buy a piece of art, a ticket to a concert, theatre, or dance event, you are saying 'yes' to artists and the organizations that encourage their efforts. 
"Shorelake Arts is one of those caring organizations that has been celebrating the arts for 35 years. 
"The ShoreLake Gallery is one of their key programs and showcases a small, but elegant collection created by local artists. I am proud to sell works in this sparkling gem of a gallery."

--Elsa Bouman

A full-time mixed-media artist living and teaching in Lake Forest Park since 2007, Elsa Bouman worked as a graphic designer in the music industry and taught folk art in the Bay Area for 30 years. 

Elsa's personality shines through in her work (available at the ShoreLake Arts Gallery). Her curiosity, sense of play, and focus on communication are visible in both her art and her personal style.

giraffe print, 1/3 - 5” x 7”, sold
"I work hard and experiment a lot, and get such joy from my art. I am grateful to share my visions ... I want art, mine or someone else’s, to evoke a feeling. 

"I have no formula, and realism eludes me. A fresh perspective, an odd view, or a focus on shapes -- the Dutch have a saying that translates into “Do normal, it’s strange enough.” 

"Whether creating or teaching, my art is a spiritual testimony where I find my truest self." -Elsa Bouman

Shoreline students' "Fiber Meetup" led by Bouman, Third Place Commons

She's also taught fiber and mixed media workshops for students of all ages (many through ShoreLake Arts), and led teacher training in art education. While no longer teaching regularly, Elsa still shares her collage techniques and other art with the community in free, hands-on workshops sponsored by the Gallery.

In addition to the ShoreLake Arts Gallery, Elsa's work can be seen in exhibits throughout the region. "We're fortunate that Elsa chooses to show and sell her work with us." 

Sheep, 11” x 11”, mixed media, available
For images of Elsa's current work, visit her Instagram at elsa_bouman, and see her iconic concert posters on Wolfgang's.

The ShoreLake Arts Gallery, which sells work by more than 120 local artists each year, exists because of your support. 

Your contributions help power the Gallery, the 6x6NW Art Exhibit & Sale, and other programs showcasing local artists like Elsa.

Give ART this year - visit the ShoreLake Arts Gallery, located on the lower lobby of Town Center Lake Forest Park, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE.

Open Tuesday - Saturday from 12/26-12/30, 12 pm - 5 pm


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Shorecrest coaches name top athletes of Fall sports season

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Quinn Whorley, Alan Bruns, Gus Hamilton
Photo courtesy Shorecrest Athletics

From Athletic Director Alan Bruns

At the Winter Pep Assembly on Tuesday we announced the top athletes of the Fall sports season. Varsity athletes from each Fall sport are nominated by their coaches and then all of the SC coaches vote to determine the two winners. Congratulations to these fantastic athletes!

Quinn Whorley (Junior, Girls Swim) 
She was 1st Team All-League in each of her four events; set two school records - one in the 200 Medley relay with Owan, Miranda, and Aila (it was also District meet record) and the other in the 500 Freestyle, which was previously set in 1996; Qualified for State in all 4 of her events, and finished a team best 4th in the 500 - the best finish for SC swim since 2005

Gus Hamilton (Senior, Football) 
Gus earned 1st team All-League honors as a tight end and was named as the 2023 Offensive MVP of the team; He had over 200 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns this season, was a key blocker offensively, a major piece of the defense as a safety, and also the punter and kicker for the team; he was described as the "pulse" of the team.


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Wally Webster to be featured speaker at tribute to Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15, 2024

Friday, December 22, 2023

Wallace “Wally” Webster II
Lift Every Voice Legacy (LEVL) announced today that longtime and honored South Snohomish County civic leader and community engagement activist, Wallace “Wally” Webster II, will be the featured storyteller in the “Reclaim the Dream” 6th Annual Tribute to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. - Inspiring a Beloved Community in Song, Spoken Word and Dance on January 15, 2024 at 6pm at Edmonds Waterfront Center 220 Railroad Ave Box 717, Edmonds, WA 98020

The event is produced in partnership with the Edmonds Waterfront Center and with major funding from the Hazel Miller Foundation. General Admission tickets are $15. 

Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite

A Beloved Community – Morning Program for children and families will take place from 9:30am to 11:30am also on January 15th at the Edmonds Waterfront Center. Admission to the Morning Program is free and will feature local performers in addition to a variety of fun activities specially designed for children and families. The 2023 January morning event saw more than 750 participants.

Both Morning and Evening Programs are designed by the Edmonds, WA. non-profit LEVL team to inspire Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community – a local living environment free of hatred, injustice, and poverty. 

Webster's personal story of “Reclaim the Dream” became embedded deep in his soul at a very young age. 

“I was a nine-year-old boy in Alabama when Emmett Till was murdered in a racist attack August 1955 in Money, Mississippi. It shocked the nation and traumatized the community where I lived just 70 miles away,” the retired Bank of America executive said. 

The longtime community activist and leader has since dedicated more than 40 years of his life elevating the quality of life of marginalized communities and building bridges between the 'haves' and 'have-nots.' 

Webster, the 2023 recipient of the Snohomish County NAACP Carl Gipson Lifetime Achievement Award, currently serves on the Edmonds College Board of Trustees; the Lynnwood Public Facility District Board of Directors and a member of the Snohomish County Multiple Agency Response Team (SMART). 

He is also a founding voice of ACCESS (Association of Collective Community Engagement for Safety and Security), a non-profit recently created to address some of the root causes of youth violence, as well as fill gaps in how it is handled.

For a sixth straight year, returning performances by Pacific Northwest renowned Gospel, R&B and Jazz vocalist Josephine Howell and her Band will be highlighted with a special performance of her favorite songs. 

Robert Taylor Jr., an Edmonds author, mental health advocate and highly sought-after national speaker, will again serve as a co-host of the event. The Greater Everett MLK Celebration Ensemble also will be featured in the program with special opening and closing performances.

Donnie Griffin, LEVL’s Founder and President, calls this year’s event “an examination of hate versus love and how we are personally affected by both. 

Our inspiration comes from Dr. King who said ‘By its very nature, hate destroys and tears down; love creates and builds up.’ We can never lose focus of this higher goal of “love creates” and our program is designed to lift that value up in song, storytelling, and dance,” Griffin said.
He continued, “It is a message we need right now as hate is increasingly showing its ugly face and destructive ways in churches, synagogues, mosques, airplanes, schools, social media and in public gatherings usually associated with fun and celebrations. As Dr. King has taught us, ‘Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.’”


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King's High School retires jersey of NBA player Corey Kispert in pre-game ceremony December 20, 2023

Thursday, December 21, 2023

Corey Kispert speaks to the crowd during his jersey retirement ceremony at King's.
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

NBA sharpshooter Corey Kispert returned to the King's High School campus in Shoreline on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 for a special ceremony in which his iconic #24 jersey was retired prior to the Knights’ boys basketball game versus Bear Creek.

Corey with young fans. Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The sold-out game and ceremony took place at Mike Martin Gymnasium 330 N 190th St, Shoreline WA 98177 on the CRISTA Ministries campus.

Kispert was a four-year letterman at King’s from 2013-2017, and was an integral part of 1A state championship squads in both 2015 and 2016. He joined his former teammates in a halftime ceremony honoring the back-to-back title teams.

Corey and Jenn Wirth Kispert. She is a basketball player he met at Gonzaga. They were married in July of 2023. Photo by Wayne Pridemore.

After graduating from King’s in 2017, Kispert went on to a stellar four-year career at Gonzaga University in Spokane with coach Mark Few. During his senior season in 2020-2021, Kispert was both a preseason and end-of-season selection to the Associated Press All-American First Team, recognizing the five best players in the country. 

Kispert's #24 jersey now hangs on the wall of the Mike Martin gym at King's
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

He went on to lead Gonzaga to the national championship game and a 31-1 overall record while capturing the Julius Erving Award as the nation’s top small forward.

Kispert is currently in his third season with the Washington Wizards after having been selected as the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. 

Following the December 20 ceremony and game at King’s, Kispert will be back in action tonight when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Wizards at the Moda Center.


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Heidi Daniel to become new King County Library System executive director

Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Heidi Daniel named Executive Director of King County Library System

ISSAQUAH, WA — December 19, 2023 — The King County Library System (KCLS) Board of Trustees has selected Heidi Daniel to become KCLS’ new executive director. Following a nationwide search after Lisa Rosenblum’s announcement to retire, the Board of Trustees voted to extend an offer of employment to Daniel at the board meeting on December 13. Daniel accepted the offer, and she will begin her leadership role on March 11, 2024.

"Our search firm and committee conducted a rigorous interview process, with input from a diverse panel of staff, trustee and community stakeholders, to find KCLS’ next executive director,” stated KCLS Board of Trustees President Harish Kulkarni. 
“Daniel emerged as the most qualified and competitive candidate. She will bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and an impressive track record of innovation and community service to KCLS."

Daniel joins KCLS from the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland where she has served as president and CEO since July 2017. Under Daniel’s leadership, the Pratt became one of the first fines-free public libraries on the East Coast. 

Daniel also oversaw the completion of the Central Library renovation, and helped spearhead plans for a new Park Heights Library, the Pratt’s first new building in more than 15 years. She helped launch the library’s Office of Equity and Fair Practices, steered the organization through the start of the unionization process, led new and innovative public service strategies through the historic COVID-19 pandemic, and kickstarted a new Master Facilities Plan to help ensure the Pratt’s ability to serve generations to come.

Prior to working at the Pratt, Daniel served as executive director of the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County in Youngstown, Ohio for nearly five years. Daniel, the 2015 recipient of the Ohio Librarian of the Year award, oversaw 15 library branches throughout Mahoning County, worked on several major building projects and spearheaded innovative new services, including a Pop-Up Library and the circulation of mobile Wi-Fi hot spots.

“I am deeply honored to take the helm of the King County Library System,” said Daniel. “I’ve been impressed with KCLS, its staff and the Pacific Northwest. KCLS is nationally known for its excellence, commitment to community and welcoming atmosphere, and I am thrilled to build upon its foundation while moving KCLS into the future.”

The daughter of a factory worker, Daniel’s parents did not go to college, but used the library in her Michigan hometown to impress upon her the importance of education. Daniel earned her bachelor's degree in women’s studies at DePaul University and her master’s degree in library sciences at Texas Woman’s University. She began her career in children’s and teen programming in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Houston, Texas before moving into library administration.

About the King County Library System:
 
Founded in 1942, the King County Library System (KCLS) is one of the busiest public library systems in the country. Supporting the communities of King County (outside the city of Seattle), KCLS has 50 libraries and serves nearly 1.6 million people. 

Richmond Beach, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and Bothell are King County Libraries

In 2022, residents checked out 7.9 million digital eBooks and audiobooks through OverDrive, making KCLS the second-highest digital circulating library system in the U.S. In 2011, KCLS was named Library of the Year by Gale/Library Journal.


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Battalion Chief Andy Sawyer retires from Shoreline Fire after a 25 year career

Battalion Chief Andy Sawyer
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire
On December 19, 2023 Battalion Chief Andy Sawyer will work his last shift of an over 25-year career. 

Andy entered the fire service in 1995 as a firefighter with Mount Vernon Fire Department. In 1998, he was hired as a full-time firefighter with Shoreline Fire Department. Five years later, Andy was promoted to Fire Apparatus Technician (aka Driver/Engineer) and in 2013 to Lieutenant. 

In 2019, Andy was promoted to Battalion Chief where he has proudly served for the last four years. 

During his tenure, Andy has held a variety of roles including Technical Rescue Team Member, Training Officer, and Wildland Team Member. 

BC Sawyer has performed professionally and passionately throughout his career. Thank you for your service to our residents and we wish you the best of luck with your retirement, BC Sawyer!


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Mayor Jeff Johnson and Councilmember Phillippa Kassover honored in their final LFP council meeting

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Mayor Jeff Johnson and Councilmember Phillippa Kassover
Photo by Mike Remarcke

At a special city council meeting on Thursday December 14, 2023, the Lake Forest Park City Council, staff, and guests honored departing Mayor Jeff Johnson and Councilmember Phillippa Kassover.

The city issued proclamations and presented them with plaques.

Mayor Johnson and LFP City Council (l-r) Semra Riddle, Tracy Furutani, Tom French, Mayor Johnson, Philippa Kassover, Lorri Bodi. Photo by Mike Remarcke


PROCLAMATION 
Honoring and Thanking Jeff Johnson 
Lake Forest Park Mayor 

WHEREAS, as a resident of Lake Forest Park since 1983, Jeff Johnson began his service on the Lake Forest Park City Council in 2012; and 

WHEREAS, Jeff Johnson began his service as Mayor of Lake Forest Park in 2016; and 

WHEREAS, during his time as Mayor, he oversaw the acquisition of Five Acre Woods, Brookside, and Lakefront Parks and the rebuild of Eagle Scout Park; and 

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson has been a strong advocate for replacing city culverts and improving fish habitat; and 

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson served as a member of the Lake Ballinger Forum, ensuring that Lake Forest Park had an active voice in this regional effort; and 

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson worked tirelessly during, and lead the city through, the pandemic and the new hybrid Council Meetings; and 

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson was tasked with hiring an entirely new leadership team, police chief and municipal court judge; and 

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson leaves office with the satisfaction of knowing he has built a dedicated and respected administration; and 

WHEREAS, Mayor Johnson through all his efforts set the City of Lake Forest Park on a path for a better tomorrow for future generations. 

NOW, THEREFORE, the Deputy Mayor and City Council of the City of Lake Forest Park, do hereby thank 

Jeff Johnson 
Lake Forest Park Mayor

And wish him all the best in his future endeavors. 
December 14, 2023

CM Kassover and Lake Forest Park City Council
(l-r) Tracy Furutani, Tom French, Mayor Jeff Johnson, Phillippa Kassover, Lorri Bodi, Semra Riddle. Photo by Mike Remarcke

PROCLAMATION
Honoring and Thanking Phillippa Kassover
Lake Forest Park Councilmember

WHEREAS, as a resident of Lake Forest Park since 2007, Phillippa Kassover began her service on the Lake Forest Park City Council in 2016; and

WHEREAS, during her tenure, Phillippa Kassover served as the Deputy Mayor, and Council Vice Chair, bringing to bear her expertise in communication and leadership; and

WHEREAS, she has represented the city on the Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee, the North Urban Human Services Alliance, the Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board, King County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, SeaShore Transportation Forum, and K4C Outreach Committee; and

WHEREAS, Phillippa Kassover brought to Lake Forest Park a deep expertise in policy and budgeting from her broad career experiences; and

WHEREAS, Phillippa Kassover consistently defended the character and quality of the city from the dais and at regional and state level; and

NOW, THEREFORE, the Mayor and City Council of the City of Lake Forest Park, do hereby thank

Phillippa Kassover
Lake Forest Park City Council

And wish her all the best in her future endeavors.
December 14, 2023


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Shoreline Council bids farewell to Doris McConnell

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Doris McConnell delivering parting remarks at her last City Council meeting.
Screenshot from council recording

The Shoreline City Council’s final regular meeting of 2023 on Monday night, December 11, 2023, had a fully packed agenda, but found time to honor one of the city’s longest serving elected officials. The Council bid farewell to longtime Councilmember Doris Fujioka McConnell.

Monday night’s short ceremony - juxtaposed against actions by the council to address regional challenges - was emblematic of the changes (and growing pains) our city faces in the coming decades.

Mayor Keith Scully presented Doris with a plaque.
Screenshot from council recording.

As a City Councilmember, she served on the King County Regional Water Quality Committee, the Domestic Violence Initiative Regional Task Force and Seashore Transportation Forum. For the National League of Cities, she served on the Asian Pacific American Municipal Officials (APAMO) board, and the Advisory Council on Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee (TIS).

Before and during her time on the Council, McConnell played a key role in significant accomplishments for the City. In 2006, she helped pass the first parks bond and recently helped to pass a renewal of that bond. She worked to complete phases two and three of the Aurora Corridor Project, and worked with Sound Transit and many other partners on making light rail a reality for Shoreline.

Doris was active in Shoreline PTAs and the Richmond Beach Community Association.
In prepared remarks, Mayor Keith Scully said “It is fair to say that the Shoreline of today is a very different Shoreline then when she first joined the Council and she could and should take credit for many of those accomplishments.”
Doris Fujioka McConnell was elected to the City Council in 2007, 2011, 2015, and 2019 and served as Deputy Mayor in 2019. Photos courtesy City of Shoreline

A slide show was presented that included the highlights of CM McConnell’s 16 year career as a member of the Shoreline City Council. She was first elected in 2007 and served as Deputy Mayor in 2019.

Doris was well connected, available to the community, and was known to drive out to locations that were being heatedly discussed in council meetings.

She presented the voice of the community whose members may have been unable to attend council meetings.

In her parting remarks, she lavished praise and appreciation on the staff of the city, commenting that Shoreline is fortunate to have such capable people.

--Story by Oliver Moffat and Pam Cross


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Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm announces she is leaving the agency

Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm at a public meeting in Lake Forest Park.
Photo by Mike Remarcke

Sound Transit CEO Julie Timm announced Tuesday, December 12, 2023 that she will be leaving the agency in order to return to the East Coast to take care of family matters.

Since joining Sound Transit in September 2022, Timm has overseen a renewed emphasis on the rider experience as Sound Transit approaches the opening of several new extensions, starting with East Link next spring.

Her focus and leadership in centering current and future riders in the agency’s capital and operating programs will benefit the region for years to come.

Timm’s last day with Sound Transit will be January 12, 2024.

The board and staff leadership will form a transition team to navigate the agency through the leadership transition. The board is expected to appoint an interim CEO in the weeks ahead.


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Tim Dellit named CEO of UW Medicine

Sunday, December 10, 2023

Dr. Timothy H. Dellit has been at UW Medicine for 22 years
Photo courtesy UW

Following a national search, Dr. Timothy H. Dellit has been appointed to lead UW Medicine and the University of Washington School of Medicine, UW President Ana Mari Cauce and Provost Tricia Serio announced November 28, 2023.   

Dellit will serve as the CEO of UW Medicine, the Paul G. Ramsey Endowed Dean of the UW School of Medicine and the university’s executive vice president for medical affairs, positions he has held on an interim basis since July 2022.  

“Tim has proven himself to be a leader in the most difficult of times, including during the COVID-19 pandemic and as UW Medicine addresses the challenges caused by the changing healthcare landscape. He is an adept listener and communicator who is dedicated to serving all communities,” Cauce said. 

“Tim is also committed to advancing excellence and equity in education and our workforce and healthcare outcomes, all of which are core to UW Medicine’s mission to improve the health of all people.

“And even as someone who has more than two decades of service to UW Medicine, Tim still brings new perspectives. I’m so pleased that he’ll be the one leading our healthcare enterprise into a new era.”  



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Armed repeat offender, who triggered lockdown in North Seattle neighborhood, sentenced to six years in prison

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Photo courtesy Seattle Police
Seattle – A 42-year-old Seattle man was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to six years in prison for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute, and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. 

Pedro Fernandez Kent triggered a neighborhood lockdown in January 2023 when he fled police in North Seattle after a woman called to report he had assaulted her with a handgun and threatened to kill her. 

At the sentencing hearing U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez noted that firearms coupled with drug dealing often lead to deadly results “Everyone recognizes first of all how dangerous the particular conduct was in this case…”

According to records filed in the case, on January 15, 2023, Seattle Police were responding to a domestic violence report in North Seattle when they spotted the distinctive car driven by the suspect, Pedro Kent. 

Kent attempted to flee from police, crashing his car into two curbs, rupturing the tires. Kent abandoned the car and ran into the yards of neighboring homes. Video from area cameras show Kent with a handgun in his hand as he ran into a backyard. 

Police converged on the area, alerting residents to stay in their homes with the doors locked. One couple called police reporting that the defendant appeared to be hiding in their backyard near Evanston Ave N and N 97th St. A K-9 officer helped take Kent into custody.

In addition to the gun Kent carried when he ran from the car, police located a carbine rifle in the car as well as distribution amounts of fentanyl, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine. Kent also had a hatchet and a dagger in the car as well as scales and plastic baggies for drug distribution.

Kent was prohibited from possessing firearms due to previous King County convictions for burglary, theft, assault, and trafficking in stolen property.

The case was investigated by the Seattle Police Department with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF).

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. 

On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.


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Shorecrest student received YoungArts award for accomplishments in Musical Theatre

Friday, December 8, 2023

Logan Yao
Photo by Jeff Berryman
Logan Yao of Lake Forest Park, WA, from Shorecrest High School, has received a 2024 YoungArts award in Musical Theatre. 

Yao has been recognized for his caliber of achievement and joins nearly 700 of the most accomplished young visual, literary and performing artists from across the country, heralding the next generation of artists to watch. 

YoungArts award winners are selected through a highly competitive application, which is reviewed by panels of esteemed, discipline-specific artists in a rigorous adjudication process. 

2024 YoungArts award winners join a distinguished community of artists who are offered creative and professional development support throughout their careers. A complete list of the 2024 winners, all 15–18 years old or in grades 10–12, is available online at youngarts.org/winners.

“It is an extraordinary privilege to welcome these brilliant young artists into the YoungArts community,” said YoungArts President Clive Chang. 
“We’re honored to recognize and encourage these artists at this critical stage in their careers, and we’re looking forward to playing an active, ongoing role in what will no doubt be an incredible artistic journey for each of them.”

All YoungArts award winners have demonstrated exceptional technique, a strong sense of artistry, and an extraordinary commitment to developing their crafts. This year, winners were selected from more than 9,000 applications across 10 artistic disciplines – classical music, dance, design, film, jazz, photography, theater, visual arts, voice, and writing. Each award winner will receive a monetary award of $250.

For the duration of their career, Yao is eligible for exclusive creative and professional development support; microgrants and financial awards; presentation opportunities in collaboration with major venues and cultural partners nationwide; and access to YoungArts Post, a free, private online platform for YoungArts artists to connect, collaborate and discover new opportunities. 

2024 YoungArts winners also have the opportunity to participate in YoungArts Labs, all-expenses paid learning intensives with field-defining artists working in New York and Los Angeles.

As a YoungArts award winner, Yao joins a distinguished group of accomplished artists including Daniel Arsham, Terence Blanchard, Camille A. Brown, Timothée Chalamet, Viola Davis, Amanda Gorman, Judith Hill, Jennifer Koh, Tarell Alvin McCraney, Andrew Rannells, Desmond Richardson and Hunter Schafer.

The YoungArts competition is open to artists 15-18 years old (or in grades 10 – 12). For more information about becoming a YoungArts award winner click here.

About YoungArts
YoungArts — the national foundation for the advancement of artists—was established in 1981 by Lin and Ted Arison to identify exceptional young artists, amplify their potential, and invest in their lifelong creative freedom. YoungArts provides space, funding, mentorship, professional development and community throughout artists’ careers.


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2023 NUHSA Human Services Awards to be presented at public ceremony on December 13, 2023

Thursday, December 7, 2023


The North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUHSA) is proud to announce its 2023 Human Services Award recipients and nominees! All have made a significant contribution to the health and welfare of our North King County community and have supported or advocated for a strong and accessible health and human services system, strengthening our community through their initiative and leadership.

Recipients and nominees will be honored at NUHSA's 2023 Human Services Awards celebration on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Shoreline City Hall 17500 Midvale Ave N.

To join this community celebration, please RSVP by emailing staff@nuhsa.org.

NUHSA’s Annual Human Services Awards have been celebrating the accomplishments of local individuals and organizations since 2008. 

NUHSA is an alliance of non-profit agencies, faith communities, city and county leadership, school districts and members of the community who advocate for a strong and accessible health and human services system in North King County, encompassing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville. Through partnership and collaboration, 

NUHSA supports providers, funders and the community to enhance existing resources and build our capacity to effectively respond to community needs.

Human Services Champion

Bill Bear
A longtime Shoreline community member and advocate, Bill Bear is deeply invested in Shoreline and the health and well-being of its residents. He is a Celebrate Recovery and Shoreline Community Court Resource Center Navigator volunteer and a member of the Regional Crisis Response Agency (RCR) Community Advisory Board. He also leads Shoreline Community Care, an all-volunteer faith-based organization that has been helping Shoreline residents with rent and utility bills for over twenty years. Particularly during the pandemic, Shoreline Community Care played a vital role in distributing gas and grocery cards and other assistance. Bill also works with United Shoreline Organized Against Racism with The Peoples’ Supper, bringing about healing of divisions in Shoreline, and volunteers with the Power of One in a first-grade class.

Nominees:

Brittany Miles
Brittany Miles is an effective advocate for people with behavioral health conditions, and specifically for those who experience high-acuity crises. As a mother of a teen with early onset schizophrenia, she has tirelessly fought for system improvements and elevated the voice of individuals experiencing these systems. As a skilled writer, Brittany shines a light on how systemic racism and systemic failures have impacted people with behavioral health conditions, especially those with marginalized identities. Her work has appeared in the Seattle Times, PubliCola, Seattle Child and NAMI blog, and she serves on the Regional Crisis Response Agency (RCR) Community Advisory Board, which supports mental health crisis de-escalation. Brittany also serves on the Technology subcommittee for the Washington State Legislature's HB1477 implementation of the national 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline and connection to care. She and her daughter live in Bothell with their feisty pet chihuahua.

Tanya Laskelle
Tanya Laskelle is the Family Support Department Director for the Center for Human Services (CHS), an area behavioral health and family support non-profit agency that strengthens the community through counseling, education and support to children, youth, adults and families. With local roots and over 20 years’ experience and leadership at CHS, she has been an extraordinary advocate for the health and well-being of youth and families and has been a persistent voice in urging increased funding for CHS and all north-end human services providers. Whether it is conversation with local, county or state officials and funders, Tanya’s clear, constructive messaging effectively makes the case for increased focus and funding for the human services infrastructure in North King County, and through her work, helps build the capacity to serve residents and create healthier, stronger communities.

Bryan & Christie Streit
Bryan and Christie Streit, owners of Woodinville’s Pizza Coop & Ale House, have been deeply involved in supporting families in need for many years, including hosting an annual fun run and a very popular annual golf tournament to help fill the Woodin Elementary Summer Food Bank; coordinate and provide gifts during the holidays with a Giving Tree; and host Shop with a Cop, giving local kids the opportunity to shop for holiday gifts at no cost to the child or family. Their compassion and kindness significantly affect the community, and through a newly established foundation, they are able to grow in their reach and impact.

Sally Yamasaki, Donna Hawkey & Michael Troyer
Over the last four years, Lake Forest Park residents Sally Yamasaki, Donna Hawkey and Michael Troyer have led a grassroots effort to explore Community Land Trusts (CLTs) as a viable tool for increasing housing diversity and affordability in Lake Forest Park and throughout our north-end communities. Working in partnership with Homestead Community Land Trust, this dynamic trio has presented to city planning commissions and city councils, hosted a very successful bus tour of area CLTs, and as active NUHSA members, provided a presentation during Affordable Housing Week. Through their advocacy, CLTs are now more broadly recognized as not only an option for creating permanently affordable housing, but also as a way to build generational wealth and stability and ensure families may live and work in the same community.

Outstanding Human Services Program

Northshore Nourishing Networks
In 2010, Nourishing Networks was created through Hopelink as an intriguing new model of engagement and action to address hunger. Local volunteer networks brought together people from diverse sectors and cultures to leverage resources and serve the community in new and deeply personal ways. In 2012, Nourishing Networks became an independent entity and now serves seven communities in north and east Puget Sound. Terra Droney and Elise Harris are the Conveners in Bothell/Kenmore and Woodinville. Through monthly virtual meetings, they connect dozens of volunteers and advocates with specific needs in the community - filling food pantries, assisting families in times of crisis, promoting human services events, and creating collaborative partnerships to address immediate and emerging needs in our community. Through the Nourishing Networks framework and with the dedicated local leadership of Elise and Terra, a strong web of providers and advocates has been created to effectively address hunger and other needs, such as diapers and school supplies. They have become the go-to place in Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville to fill in the gaps and reinforce the safety net.

Nominees:

Shoreline PTA Council Mental Health Committee
Since its inception in early 2022, the Shoreline PTA Council Mental Health Committee has steadily raised awareness of mental health issues and resources within the school district and broader community and reduced negative stereotypes and stigma around mental health for families and students. Under the leadership of Missy Liu and an active Steering Committee, the group has created and distributed a comprehensive mental health resource list, provided education through in person and virtual speakers and community meetings, and created a grant program to promote mental health initiatives in the schools. The Committee has also advocated for increased mental health support and funding at the local and state level, and most recently, hosted a regionwide Mental Health Symposium that elevated student voices and shared resources. Success for this group is defined by a school culture where students feel safe when talking about their mental health and know how to seek solutions – and through its many efforts, the Committee has made great strides in achieving this goal.

Center for Human Services Board of Directors
With a recent study showing wage gaps of 30% or more between human services workers and those in non-care industries, the Center for Human Services (CHS) was the first in North King County to respond and significantly raise wages for staff. Last year, a $4.00 an hour salary adjustment was implemented for all positions, in addition to annual raises, and a $1,500 (net) bonus was provided for all employees. The Board of Directors and staff leadership then implemented another 6% raise per employee, plus an across-the-board bonus of $1,500. This fall, the Board approved an additional 5% raise across the board effective January 1st, beating inflation significantly. Turnover has reduced notably - from over 30% a few years ago to a rate now below 10% - and that is good for both business and for clients. As turnover falls, pay increases may no longer be largely covered by increased productivity, so increasing contract reimbursement rates will be critical in ensuring organizations can pay well enough to entice workers to stay in the human services sector. Regardless, the CHS experience demonstrates that adequate wages are essential in maintaining an effective service delivery model that reduces staff turnover, increases morale, and provides more stable, high-quality services for clients.

Lifetime Achievement Award Rob Beem (see previous story)


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Rob Beem to be presented with NUHSA Lifetime Achievement Award

Monday, December 4, 2023

NUHSA Lifetime Achievement Award
Rob Beem
As one of NUHSA’s founders and a staunch advocate for human services funding and support in North King County (NKC), Rob Beem leaves a legacy of extraordinary leadership and impact on our north-end communities. 

Throughout his 20 years at the City of Shoreline (and in the first few years of his retirement), Rob has worked tirelessly to engage local and regional partners in addressing human services needs and building the capacity to fund and support services for North King County’s residents. 

This work involved bringing North King County’s voice to many King County planning and review panels, building local capacity through the Community Public Health and Safety Network, representing North King County on the United Way Board, and joining with other cities to coordinate funding processes. 

His gracious ease in bringing together people, agencies and governments who were ‘doing human services’ also saw him engaging with schools and local service clubs, as well as other cities and funders.

Seeing a need for a regional alliance of human services providers and governments, Rob was critical in the formation and ongoing operations of NUHSA, pulling together local agencies and leaders to connect people engaged in human services work and to expand agencies’ presence and services in North King County. 

Under Rob’s leadership, NUHSA grew from an informal lunchtime all-volunteer networking group to the organization it is today which represents all of North King County and is a sought-after partner by agencies, governments and funders.

Over a career in service to the human services community, he has had the opportunity to champion and/or lead the development of numerous initiatives, services and organizations. 

These include:
  • NUHSA
  • Shoreline and Bellevue’s human services and affordable housing programs
  • Northshore Shoreline Community Network
  • Shoreline’s DEI program
  • Bellevue YouthLink
  • ARCH (A Regional Coalition for Housing)
  • Ronald Commons
  • Hopelink’s permanent presence in Shoreline
  • United Way North Community Council
  • NE Funders
  • It’s About Time for Kids
  • King County Human Services Roundtable
NUHSA staff, Board of Directors, members and partners are deeply grateful to Rob and the tremendous work he has done to benefit residents and communities throughout King County. His wisdom, humor and gracious leadership will be missed and NUHSA wishes him well as he embarks on a new chapter.

NUHSA is an alliance of non-profit agencies, faith communities, city and county leadership, school districts and members of the community who advocate for a strong and accessible health and human services system in North King County, encompassing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell and Woodinville. 

Through partnership and collaboration, NUHSA supports providers, funders and the community to enhance existing resources and build our capacity to effectively respond to community needs.


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Local student receives doctorate from UW-Madison

Friday, December 1, 2023

University of Wisconsin Madison
Photo courtesy UW-Madison
MADISON, Wis. (December 1, 2023) - Just over 1,300 students received doctoral, bachelor's, master's and professional degrees in August 2023 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

While there is no commencement ceremony in August, many of the graduates take part in the ceremonies the previous spring or in December.

HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, COLLEGE1, DEGREE, MAJOR,

Shoreline, WA

Shan Lu, College of Letters and Science, Doctor of Philosophy, Statistics

More information about UW-Madison, here.


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King's High School to retire jersey of NBA player Corey Kispert in sold out ceremony December 20, 2023

Photos courtesy CRISTA

King’s High School has announced that NBA sharpshooter Corey Kispert will be returning to campus on Wednesday, December 20, 2023 for a special ceremony in which his iconic #24 jersey will be retired prior to the Knights’ boys basketball game versus Bear Creek.
 
The game and ceremony will take place at Mike Martin Gymnasium (330 N 190th St, Shoreline WA 98177) on the CRISTA Ministries campus. The event is sold out.

2016 King's
Photo by Geoff Vlcek

Prior to reaching professional basketball’s highest level, Kispert was a four-year letterman at King’s from 2013-2017, and was an integral part of 1A state championship squads in both 2015 and 2016. He will join his former teammates in a halftime ceremony honoring the back-to-back title teams.

Corey at Gonzaga
Photo by Geoff Vlcek
After graduating from King’s in 2017, Kispert went on to a stellar four-year career across the state at Gonzaga University in Spokane. 

During his senior season in 2020-2021, Kispert was both a preseason and end-of-season selection to the Associated Press All-American First Team, recognizing the five best players in the country. 
He would go on to lead Gonzaga to the national championship game and a 31-1 overall record while capturing the Julius Erving Award as the nation’s top small forward.

Kispert is currently in his third season with the Washington Wizards after having been selected as the 15th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. Following the December 20 ceremony and game at King’s, Kispert will be back in action the following night when the Portland Trail Blazers host the Wizards at the Moda Center.

Stated Kispert: “When King’s reached out about this night, I was really excited. It’s going to be great to go back to my school, as I still have a lot of really good friends and people that I consider family on the coaching staff that work at King’s. I can’t wait to get back to see everybody.”

Stated King’s High School Director of Athletics, David Gerig: 
“On behalf of the King’s community, we could not be more excited to welcome Corey back for ‘24Ever a Knight.’ He was an incredible student athlete, and an even better person throughout his many years at King’s. 

"We are looking forward to a special evening on December 20 to honor Corey and his teammates on two state championship teams. Corey’s #24 jersey will hang prominently in our gym, where it will be able to inspire countless other student athletes in the future.”

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LFP Mayor’s Corner – Reflection

Thursday, November 30, 2023

LFP Mayor Jeff Johnson
With this being my last Mayor’s Corner message to the LFP community, I would like to use it to say what an honor it has been to serve as your Mayor the last eight years and as a city council member for four years before that.
 
Over the last 12 years, we have accomplished a lot, including the following:
  • We weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and maintained balanced budgets throughout the economic downturn
  • Moved to hybrid city council and advisory body meetings, expanding public access to the legislative process
  • Moved the culvert replacement plan forward by completing the culvert on NE 178th Street and preparing the next replacement at NE 185th Street
  • Built a picnic shelter at Pfingst Animal Acres Park
  • Purchased the Lake Front Park property and began the public planning process
  • Held Coffee with the Mayor events
  • Welcomed a new Municipal Judge
  • Held the annual Picnic in the Park event each year and the popular Battle of the Bands
  • Created the Climate Action Committee
  • Said goodbye to some long-term staff who retired, and welcomed new hires

If I had to pick the one thing I am most proud of during my tenure as mayor, it is the city’s purchase of the Lake Front Park property. Once complete, our community will have free waterfront access to Lake Washington. Our name is Lake Forest Park, after all.

If I had to pick the biggest ongoing challenge to the city, it would be finding funding to maintain and update our public amenities like parks and sidewalks. 

When presented with a proposition on the November 2021 ballot to help fund sidewalks, parks, and multimodal connections, voters said no. Without the community’s support for funding of these types of improvements throughout the city, future city leaders will be faced with tough choices when developing budgets— how to maintain the current levels of service and improve and maintain infrastructure in the face of inflation and staffing limitations. 

If park and sidewalk development and maintenance is truly a desire of the community, the community will need to support funding options.

I would like to thank all the city staff members for their hard work and dedication to the LFP community. I always enjoyed seeing you at council meetings, events, and around city hall.

Lake Forest Park is a great place to live and work and it has been an honor to serve as an elected official during these past 12 years.

Happy holidays to you and yours, and may the new year bring blessings to all.

--Mayor Johnson


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Celebrate Anne Stadler: An Online Memorial, December 8 or 9

Please join friends and family of Anne M. Stadler to honor and remember her love of life and the human spirit

December 8*
  • 5:30pm Hawaii
  • 7:30pm Seattle
  • December 9, 9am India
OR

December 9*
  • 7am Hawaii
  • 9am Seattle / Noon New York / 5pm London
Zoom link**  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81632260735

Our purpose:

To share what Anne meant to us through our stories and other creative expressions.

Add your pictures, links to videos and messages here: Send Anne Love

We’ll hold two online celebrations to welcome Anne’s friends from around the world. Both sessions will be recorded for the family.

With love,
Peggy Holman, Anil Sachdev, Matthew Stadler, Annick Corriveau, William Aal

P.S. Please spread the word.
-----

** Zoom Dial In Information

Meeting ID: 816 3226 0735

One tap mobile
  • +12532158782,,81632260735# US (Tacoma)
  • +12532050468,,81632260735# US
---
Dial by your location
  •  +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
  •  +1 646 876 9923 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 816 3226 0735

Find your local number here


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King County Library System (KCLS) Board of Trustees has appointed KCLS Deputy Director of Public Services Angie Miraflor as interim director of the library system

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Angie Miraflor named interim director
of the King County Library System
ISSAQUAH, WA — The King County Library System (KCLS) Board of Trustees has appointed KCLS Deputy Director of Public Services Angie Miraflor as interim director of the library system, effective December 19, following the retirement of current KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum.

Miraflor joined KCLS in November 2021. She brings over 20 years of experience working in diverse communities throughout the country. Before coming to KCLS, she served as the director of central services at the St. Louis Public Library. 

Miraflor has also served as the director of customer experience at the Brooklyn Public Library, associate director of the West Bronx Library Network at the New York Public Library, and division manager for literacy and learning at the San Jose Public Library. 

Angie holds a master’s degree in library and information science and a bachelor’s degree in public relations from San Jose State University.

“I’m proud to say KCLS has been my library home for the last two years,” stated KCLS Deputy Director of Public Services Angie Miraflor. “I’m excited and honored to lead such an innovative and community focused organization during this time of transition. KCLS’ devoted staff will continue to provide excellent programs and robust collections.”  

The KCLS Board of Trustees is charged with hiring the new executive director. They are conducting a national search for the position, and they expect the effort to take several more months.

"The Board of Trustees is happy that Angie Miraflor has graciously agreed to fill the role of the interim director,” stated KCLS Board of Trustees President Harish Kulkarni. “We are confident that the library and its patrons will be in able and experienced hands until a new director can start their duties."

Rosenblum announced her retirement in July. A distinguished librarian, she has spent the past 35 years working for public libraries. Since Rosenblum joined KCLS in January 2018, the library system has received numerous awards and accolades for outstanding services and innovation, including being named a National Medal finalist by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) this year — a first for KCLS.


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Washington State man found guilty of assaulting law enforcement and other charges for actions during Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Sunday, November 26, 2023

Taylor James Johnatakis
convicted of three felonies and 
four misdemeanor charges
Defendant Interfered with Officers Attempting to Block the Mob

WASHINGTON – A Washington state man was found guilty in the District of Columbia today of assaulting law enforcement and other felony and misdemeanor charges related to his conduct during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. 

His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Taylor James Johnatakis, 39, of Kingston, Washington, was convicted of seven charges, including three felonies, by a federal jury in Washington, D.C.

Johnatakis was convicted of obstruction of an official proceeding, civil disorder, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers, all felony offenses. 

In addition to the felonies, Johnatakis was convicted of four misdemeanor charges, including entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; and engaging in an act of physical violence in the grounds of any of the Capitol building.

U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth will sentence Johnatakis at a later date.

According to evidence presented during the trial, Johnatakis led a mob of rioters up a staircase on the West Front of the Capitol. 

He came to the Capitol with a megaphone strapped to his back. He joined the riot at the base of the southwest staircase when the mob was overwhelming police officers, who were forced to retreat toward the Capitol. 

Johnatakis followed right behind those retreating police officers, underneath the scaffolding of the Inaugural Stage. He was one of the first rioters to reach the top of the southwest staircase, where he was confronted with a line of police barricades and police officers protecting the Capitol.

Johnatakis organized and coordinated other rioters to assault the police line at the top of the southwest staircase. Specifically, using his megaphone, Johnatakis directed rioters to move up to the police line and yelled at the rioters to “pack it in! pack it in!” 

Johnatakis then instructed the crowd through the megaphone that they were going to push the bike racks “one foot” at a time and counted, “one, two, three, GO!!” 

Johnatakis and his fellow rioters— including co-defendants Isaac Steve Sturgeon and Craig Michael Bingert— grabbed the bike racks in front of them and pushed them forcibly into the line of police officers. 

Numerous police officers ran to reinforce the line as the rioters thrust the metal bike racks forward into the officers. As a result of this attack, at least one police officer was injured.

Johnatakis was arrested on Feb. 11, 2021, in Washington state by the FBI.

Sturgeon and Bingert were both previously sentenced for their roles in the January 6th Capitol breach.

This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.

This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Seattle and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

In the 34 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,200 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 400 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov


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