Showing posts with label small business. Show all posts
Showing posts with label small business. Show all posts

City of LFP Grants for small businesses

Thursday, November 19, 2020

The Shoreline Chamber of Commerce has received money to distribute from the City of Lake Forest Park to help support small businesses in Lake Forest Park impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Please see criteria set forth by the City of Lake Forest Park below:

Fill Out the Application: https://forms.gle/ZBeCcV2uP7yxZjqm9

Applications are due December 4, 2020.
  • Grant awards may be up to $2,500, based on allowed COVID-19 related expenses (see eligible expenses).
  • Grant applications will be reviewed by staff with a recommendation to the Shoreline Chamber Executive Board.
  • The Executive Board will make the final determination of grant awards.
  • Eligible expenses must be within the time period of March 1, 2020 to November 30, 2020.
  • Grant applicants are required to submit receipts for all eligible expenses into the Google Form application page for consideration and review prior to awarding Grant money.
  • Grant recipients must also submit a W-9 (https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf). A 1099 will be issued to a grant recipient as required by the IRS no later than January 2021.
ELIGIBLE EXPENSES:
  • Rental/purchase of materials to increase the outdoor seating capacity for restaurant businesses.
  • Marketing material for businesses.
  • Business interruption costs not previously satisfied by other funding source.
  • Personal protection equipment and consulting services such as business surveys and training related to COVID-19.
ELIGIBLE BUSINESSES:
  • If awarded the grant, businesses will be asked to join the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce if they are not already a member: https://shorelinechamberofcommerce.wildapricot.org/join
  • Businesses must be located in the City of Lake Forest Park city limits.
  • Businesses of Twenty-Five (25) or fewer employees.
  • Loss of business income related to COVID-19, year-over-year 2019 to 2020, of at least 25% (e.g. 3 months revenue in 2019 versus 3 months in 2020 after COVID). Documentation must be provided.
  • Business in good standing (e.g. have current business license, City taxes and fees paid, current on all State and regulatory requirements, not facing pending litigation or legal action, including Lake Forest Park code enforcement).

If you have any questions, or cannot access the Google Form, contact the grant administrator at
lfpgrant.shorelinechamber@gmail.com




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Local business owners help preserve small business district in face of development

Sunday, August 2, 2020

Frank Lumber: The Door Store
and Shane's Foot Comfort on 15th NE
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Cynthia Sheridan

As developers and the City of Shoreline keep their eye on increased revenue through high rise apartment construction, John Simms is determined to maintain the retail community snuggled between Safeway to the south and Subway and the Indian Sweet Shop to the north on 15th NE in Shoreline, known as the North City business district.

Photo by Cynthia Sheridan
Most recently John, owner of Frank Lumber the Door Store, has purchased the building housing Shane’s Foot Comfort. He immediately reduced the rent to keep the retail business going.

Last year he purchased the building on 177th (east of 15th) that currently houses The Style Chalet beauty salon and a creative art space. Another recently purchased warehouse is now home to his discount door outlet. Every building purchase includes quality upgrades to improve property function and appearance.

John grew up in Lake Forest Park and attended Shorecrest High School. He and his partner Laurel Kelly are devoted to supporting their community, quietly helping with college funds for students, housing for employees, jobs for high school kids and an ongoing street clean-up crew. 

They were also instrumental in eliminating a plan to make 15th NE a two-lane street in North City. Laurel and John continue to run the Door Store but also are taking more time off to enjoy traveling.

Frank Lumber: The Door Store

Originally known as Frank Lumber, the company was established in 1948, supplying building materials and hardware to the North Seattle area. 

Frank Lumber began selling doors during the 1960’s to satisfy demand by local contractors. 

The old Frank Lumber store

Doors became an ever-increasing part of the business and today the Door Store specializes in doors and door hardware.

In spite of the pandemic, business is booming as customers catch up following the COVID-19 construction shut down. People queue up outside for orders and deliveries so the store can retain social distancing. The showroom of doors is open with a limited number of people at any one time. 

Frank Lumber the Door Store is located at 17727 15th Ave NE in Shoreline.



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County Assessor calls on legislature to fix state laws to help small businesses hit by COVID-19 pandemic

Saturday, June 6, 2020

John Wilson
King County Assessor

Citing substantial drops in property values for some commercial sectors hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic, King County Assessor John Wilson called on the legislature to amend state law to give assessors more tools to set values on commercial properties affected by the pandemic accurately.

The King County Assessor’s office is about to begin the annual process of mailing out re-valuation notices to taxpayers.

“The world today is radically different than it was on January 1 when state law has us set assessed values for next year’s taxes,” said Wilson. 
“While residential values have been relatively steady, many businesses have been either temporarily closed or their operations dramatically constrained. And thousands of workers have been laid off or furloughed. 
“But we don’t have the legal authority to adjust property values to reflect this reality. That is not fair or equitable,” said Wilson.

Each year, County Assessors appraise every commercial and residential parcel in the state. These values – set effective of January 1 by state law – are then applied to the next year’s tax bill. Property values are being set on January 1, 2020, for taxes due in 2021.

Data indicates that home sale prices and overall home values have been relatively flat in the aggregate compared to last year. As always, values vary from city to city and neighborhood to neighborhood – some are up, and some are down. One significant factor in residential home values in King County is the increase in values in suburbs around Seattle, especially in the south end.

Certain sectors of commercial properties, such as restaurants, mid- and small retail, recreational centers like gyms and yoga studios, plus hospitality properties like hotels, have been dramatically impacted by Gov. Jay Inslee’s “stay home” order.

The assessor’s office has been consulting with the Department of Revenue on possible tools in state law to adjust commercial values – and, most importantly, help people get back on their feet – by allowing values to reflect the current situation.

“If we’d been hit by a massive earthquake, flood or tsunami, state law would give us tools to reset fair values, but the law doesn’t cover a pandemic like COVID-19,” said Wilson. 
“It’s just not fair to smack some of these hard-hit businesses and landlords with values set well before COVID-19 raced through the community."

Wilson is asking the state legislature to amend state law to allow counties to adjust values to account for today's situation accurately. He has identified two options for the legislature to consider if there is a special session this year:

  • The law currently allows property owners to petition to have their value adjusted if a governmental restriction has an impact on the property. It is unclear whether COVID-19 government-imposed restrictions could be applied, so Wilson is proposing clarifying language.
  • State law allows assessors to adjust taxable values if the property is damaged by a natural disaster, but not because of a pandemic. Wilson wants to expand the law to cover impacts as a result of governmental restrictions enacted during a public health pandemic.

Roughly 55% of King County taxpayers pay their property taxes through their mortgage account on April 30. For the remainder who pay the property tax directly themselves, King County delayed the first payment deadline to June 1 without penalties or interest.

“This is simple,” said Wilson. “If your property values have been affected, you deserve to have that reflected in your 2020 valuation. If there is a special session, I hope the Governor and Legislature give us more tools to assess values accurately. 
"Also, I call on the federal government to continue and increase relief to all citizens and businesses struggling during this historic pandemic.”



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Inslee, Department of Commerce announce support for small businesses

Friday, April 10, 2020

Help for businesses to weather the storm

Gov. Jay Inslee announced additional steps to help mitigate the economic impacts of COVID-19.

“We know this isn’t everything we need to recover. We know we have a long economic recovery ahead of us," Inslee said. "The work ahead remains intense, and we are going to roll out every tool at our disposal while also expecting the federal government to live up to their obligations to our state."

The new actions aim to help small businesses in Washington, and include:
  • The Working Washington Small Business Grant, through the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund and administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce with the help of county economic development organizations. The grants will provide up to $10,000 for small businesses under 10 employees. Businesses can use this money to pay for rent, utility bills, supplies, inventory and other operating expenses. To apply for an emergency grant, visit coronavirus.wa.gov.
  • Business resiliency assistance, through the Washington State Department of Commerce by partnering with organizations that serve economically disadvantaged communities across the state.
  • Forgivable loans, through the U.S. Small Business Administration. Small businesses, non-profits, independent contractors or a self-employed individuals in need of financial help may be eligible for a forgivable loan from the SBA. Beginning last Friday, local banks began taking SBA applications and issuing forgivable loans. For more information go to sba.gov.

Inslee also encouraged individuals and businesses to take advantage of legal assistance through the state’s Office of Civil Legal Aid. State legal aid programs can help with unemployment compensation, eviction and foreclosure, family safety and domestic violence, debt collection, consumer protection and other issues. You can find more at ocla.wa.gov.

"These are immediate options to help small businesses weather the storm, but we know there is much more to do," Inslee said. "We will continue to find ways to support businesses and workers as we continue to battle this virus."


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Grace period for payment of workers' comp premiums

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

The Department of Labor and Industries (L/I) is providing emergency relief through the Employer Assistance Program to help employers struggling to pay their workers’ compensation premiums during the coronavirus outbreak.
 
L/I is now offering a grace period for premium payments, along with payment plans for employers facing financial difficulties during the pandemic.



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Governor's assistance for small businesses

Friday, April 3, 2020

Gov. Inslee

Up to $5 million of the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Funds will be made available as small grants to small businesses across the state to help prevent closure due to COVID-19. The state Department of Commerce will coordinate an application process.

“Businesses across our economy are impacted by closures and social distancing requirements right now,” Inslee said. 
“While taking the necessary precautions to halt this virus, we do not take lightly the impact this has on businesses.”

The governor previously announced the federal Small Business Administration has approved his request for a disaster declaration, and it is anticipated that all counties in the state will be eligible.

This approval unlocks low-interest loans that will help small businesses meet their financial obligations and cover operating expenses during this difficult time. 

Congress recently approved up to $7 billion in SBA disaster loans for businesses impacted by COVID-19. Small businesses can learn more HERE.




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Disaster Assistance now available to all Washington Small Businesses Economically Impacted by COVID-19

Tuesday, March 24, 2020

SBA Disaster Loans
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has amended its original disaster declaration to apply to all Washington small businesses, regardless of county.

These low-interest loans for working capital are now available to any small businesses suffering economic fallout from the COVID-19 outbreak.

SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process.

Small businesses, private non-profit organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been financially impacted as a direct result of the COVID-19 since January 31, 2020 may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet financial obligations and operating expenses, which could have been met had the disaster not occurred.

Loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can’t be paid because of the disaster’s impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing.

Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the financial impact of the COVID-19. The interest rate is 3.75% for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profit organizations is 2.75%.

SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the financial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship.

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications here

Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance.

Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is December 16, 2020.

Other resources:



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Rob Oxford: How sweet it is at the Sweet Pearl Bakery

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Nichole Stowers and the Sweet Pearl Bakery


By Rob Oxford

Who doesn’t love fresh-baked goods during the holidays or anytime for that matter?

I have several favorites myself. Among them shortbread cookies, haystack cookies using chocolate AND butterscotch, Nanaimo bars, Almond Joy cookies and pies of any kind, except pumpkin and mincemeat. Especially considering there is absolutely no “meat” in a mincemeat pie.

I also have a soft spot for cupcakes and fresh breads. Olive loaf, Sourdough, it doesn’t matter, as long as each is accompanied by real butter which I can then spread.

My mother-in-law, who is retired, bakes enough goodies during the holidays to feed a platoon. She also prepares the most delicious holiday meals for which my taste buds and waistline are most grateful.

Disguised as an espresso stand, Sweet Pearl is located
in the 4-Corners Business District
Photo by Rob Oxford

For some, baking is a passion. For a fortunate few, that passion can become a successful business.

Several months ago, as I drove down to Richmond Beach in search of my morning coffee, I discovered a tiny bakery not necessarily visible to those who randomly pass by, but a favorite to many locals in the area.

Disguised as an espresso stand, the Sweet Pearl Bakery has been churning out delicious baked goods for just over a year, and six days a week its owner and lone employee Nichole Stowers cheerfully greets every customer with a smile.

Menu board at Sweet Pearl
Photo by Rob Oxford
As I approached the walkup window, the first thing I noticed was the certificate prominently displayed in the window signifying the establishment had received a Food Safety Rating from King County of “Excellent”. You can’t possibly get any better than excellent.

Having run a commercial bakery prior to opening Sweet Pearl, Nichole's desire to open a storefront landed her at 641 NW Richmond Beach Rd where she specializes in delicious baked goods for all occasions.

Using only the finest ingredients like locally sourced Shepherds Grain, a premium pastry flour grown in the Northwest, one bite of a fresh-from-the-oven molasses cookie is all the proof you need that homemade beats store bought every time.

She also serves Caffe Appassionato coffee which is freshly roasted in the Magnolia area of Seattle.

In other words, if buying local is as important to you as it is to me, Sweet Pearl Bakery has you covered.

Nichole is available to cater your special event and is happy to design a beautiful wedding cake based on your personal specifications.

Available until Christmas
Photo courtesy Sweet Pearl

Currently accepting holiday orders, Sweet Pearl is offering Baker’s Dozen cookie boxes decorated with festive Christmas Trees, Rudolph and his red nose or a beautiful poinsettia. Gluten free options are always available by special order. 

Whether you pretend to have spent all afternoon in the kitchen preparing these delicious holiday treats yourself or choose to give credit where credit is due, a plate of Sweet Pearl Bakery cupcakes or cookies at your holiday gathering is sure to impress those in attendance. 
If you decide on the former, before your guests arrive, dab a little flower on the end of your nose for effect.

Like Sweet Pearl Bakery on Facebook or find them on the web.

Before concluding our interview, I had one final question for Nichole to which she replied, “the only Fruitcake Sweet Pearl Bakery has served since our opening is you Rob”. Well played Nichole, well played.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!



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The Stocking Stuffer Show at The Gallery at Town Center - through Dec 28

Thursday, November 28, 2019



The Stocking Stuffer Show
November 12 – December 28, 2019
Small Business Saturday, November 30!


Shop your favorite local gallery on Saturday, November 30 from 12-5pm during Small Business Saturday. Take pART in your community and support the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, your local not-for-profit arts organization.

The Gallery at Town Center has a large selection of handmade art items by Pacific Northwest artists, including jewelry, ceramics, glass, fiber, and wood. We are always on the lookout for new and interesting inventory. Stop by and discover our most recent finds.

On the walls will be 12”x12” (or smaller) paintings, mixed media, prints, and photography – the perfect gift size. Plus, boxes and bags are available for most small items helping to make your gift-wrapping a breeze.

Featured Local Artists: Carol Austin, Elsa Bouman, Jennie de Mello e Souza, Salyna Gracie, Lynne Greenup, Cheryl Hufnagel, A.C. Kandler, Angie Ketelhut, Sonya Lang, Jeanine Langerud, Beth MacLaren, Jennifer Munson, J. Magda Petrou, Sylvia Portillo, Gena Reebs, Rebecca Shelton and Shirley Shores.

Extended Holiday Hours:
  • Every Tuesday – Saturday, 12-5pm
  • Sundays, November 24 – December 22, 11am-4pm
  • Mondays, December 2, 9, 16, and 23, 11am-4pm

While at the gallery, you can sign up to become a member of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council and save 10% on all of your gallery purchases throughout the year!

The Gallery at Town Center is a program of the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council and is located inside the Lake Forest Park Town Center on the lower level. 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate creativity and inspire our community through the arts.



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Did you shop at a small business for Small Business Saturday?

Saturday, November 24, 2018


By Diane Hettrick

Did you shop at a local Small Business on Saturday? The day after Black Friday has been chosen as the day to remind people that there are a lot of small, local businesses right where they live.

You can shop at these businesses any day of the year. Have you explored all the local opportunities? Most of us have regular routes - home to work to usual businesses - and shop online in the middle of the night.

Try exploring a neighborhood you don't know well. Get out of the car and look around. We have business districts in many places.

North City Business district is one of the oldest. Most of the businesses are on 15th NE from 175th to 180th, with a brewpub and Japanese food south of 175th.

Ballinger Village on Ballinger Way has small businesses, a local grocery, a chain massage franchise, and a juice bar.

Town Center in Lake Forest Park has a lot of places to eat and some unique small shops. They have an upper level, lower level, and a lower wing - don't miss anything.

Sky Nursery on Aurora is hardly small, but it's ours. A local business still owned by the family that started it.

There are odd little strip malls all the way down Aurora with places to eat and small businesses. Try pulling in to one some time.

Central Market at Shoreline Place has some company both on the upper and lower levels and will have a lot more when Merlone Geier starts development.

4 Corners is the business district to the west, down Richmond Beach road. It sits where four neighborhoods touch - Hillwood, Richmond Highlands, Innis Arden, and Richmond Beach. Most people think it's Richmond Beach but the north side is Hillwood and the south side is Richmond Highlands. Check out the new bakery on the south side.

Play tourist in your own neighborhoods!


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Small Business: CedarSchemes - handcrafted cedar planters and bee houses

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Handcrafted cedar planter by CedarSchemes

CedarSchemes specializes in creating handcrafted cedar planters and mason bee houses. A local small business based in Lake Forest Park, they build custom size planters to fit your space and design.

Don Beacom, woodworker
Owners Don and Darci Beacom moved here from Wheaton, Illinois four years ago to be near their daughter.

Don (the talent) loves woodworking and has been creating for years. He started building planters when he realized he could do a better quality job than anything he saw in the stores. They started selling their planters at the Farmers Markets two years ago.

What makes us unique is our ability to modify any planter design so it fits what the owner has in mind, to do it affordably with quality. 
We use long lasting untreated western cedar, so gardeners who want to grow vegetables, fruit or herbs can do so without worrying about toxins getting into their edibles.

Prices vary based on size and style.

We’ve modified our designs and created new ones thanks to customer suggestions. 
In fact, one of our most popular planters, the patio planter on a stand with a removable drip tray, was created after a customer asked for one that would work for her condominium deck!

They love working with home gardeners and local landscapers who want to incorporate beautiful and functional cedar planters in garden, deck and landscaping plans.

Their website features many pictures of their standard planter designs, with a separate tab for some of the custom planters they’ve built over the past couple of seasons.

It also talks about the way they build the planters. 

Planter bench
They hope to be at a few Farmers Markets this spring, but they’re now finding most of their orders are coming through referrals and repeat customers.

For more information, pricing and to see some of their planters, visit their webpage Cedar Schemes.

They also have a Facebook page; and if you have questions, you can email them



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Paul Lewing’s Annual Holiday Studio Sale

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Paul Lewing studio sale and open house this weekend Saturday and Sunday, December 2nd and 3rd, from 10 am to 5 pm at 105 N 200th St. Shoreline 98133.

The show features two new artists this year. Rupa Palasamudran will show her functional ceramics for everyday use, and Stephanie Benson will present handcrafted gold and silver jewelry.

Paul will display his ceramic tiles, trivets, and ornaments, as well as acrylic paintings. For more information or directions, call 206-801-7332.



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CPR and Fire Aid class in Shoreline - pay on Saturday and take a friend for free

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Learn CPR and first aid

WestCoast CPR Training in Shoreline is offering a Buy 1 - Give 1 special for a Certified CPR/AED and First Aid Class at their facility, a $99 value.

They offer 1-Hour CPR Classes/ 7 Days a Week, but this offer is Valid for Purchases on Small Business Saturday November 25, 2017. Register by phone 206-629-5295.

Call Saturday, but your class can be scheduled anytime before January 31st. Class details and schedules here.

Both participants will receive certification cards in Adult/Child/ Infant CPR/ AED and Basic First Aid. Offer does not include Healthcare Provider BLS CPR.
Learn how to safely and calmly handle a medical emergency with CPR and First Aid training.

Blended CPR classes are part online video course, and part in-class practice at WestCoast CPR Training in Shoreline. The online course takes about 1.5 hours, and the hands-on practice class is just 1-hour or less in class.

Great “Peace of Mind” Gift for the Holidays! Thank you for supporting your local Shoreline Small Businesses!

CPR Classes in Shoreline at WestCoast CPR Training, 17544 Midvale Ave N. Suite 201, Shoreline, 98133, 206-629-5295.



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Patty Pan Cooperative brings local foods, community to Shoreline

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

A Shoreline community member tries out a variety of dishes at Humble Feast, a prix fixe dinner event hosted monthly at the Patty Pan Cooperative, on November 6. This month’s items included locally sourced pilaf, lamb and chickpea stew, kale slaw, candied squash, and more. (Photo by Blake Peterson)


By Blake Peterson

A few years ago, farmers market vendor and chef Devra Gartenstein noticed a strange phenomenon in the food community.

“I’d get asked sometimes to be one of the chefs at upscale, local foods dinners,” she said. 
“I was at one of those dinners, and I was looking at the food, and it was all really expensive and fancy. 
"I thought: ‘This is not the idea of local food that I want to get out in the world.’”

For nearly two decades, Gartenstein has been combating this exact problem. In 1997, she started a farmers market concession that aimed to showcase different regional foods and flavors unique to the Pacific Northwest. That business, the Patty Pan Grill, has since made locally sourced meals enjoyable and inexpensive for the public – and has now become the oldest concession of its kind in the Seattle area.

Currently, it sells food at more than 15 Seattle-area markets during the summer and winter seasons, with menu items including hot, ready-to-eat tamales and quesadillas, as well as zesty tomatillo and smoky ancho handcrafted house salsas. Most meals are supplemented by fresh, locally grown vegetables that range from season to season but frequently include squash blossoms, spring onions, asparagus and brussels sprouts. You can wash down a meal with spicy ginger-mint iced tea or homemade lemonade depending on the time of year.

The secret to Patty Pan’s success?

“Perseverance … tenaciousness, and some insanity,” Gartenstein said.

Devra Gartenstein, the founder of Patty Pan, prepares food for the monthly Humble Feast dinner event on Nov. 6. Gartenstein has hosted Humble Feast events around the Seattle area for several years, but found a permanent home in Shoreline in 2014. (Photo by Blake Peterson)


Around 2013, Gartenstein knew she wanted to expand Patty Pan. There was both an urge to have an official space to do prep work for the concession and a desire to have a designated space to host community dinner events. 

“I realized that I’m not getting any younger,” she said. “I have a great group of people here … So I asked if they were interested in starting a cooperative.”

In 2014, Gartenstein attained a space in Shoreline’s Briarcrest neighborhood. Though it was affordable, what appealed to Gartenstein most was how welcoming the community sounded. Alongside information about the property, the realtor had posted a message from the neighborhood that encouraged local food vendors to buy the building.

Since Patty Pan opened its kitchen, itself run by a total of seven co-owners, the cooperative has become a major part of the Briarcrest community. In addition to housing every neighborhood association meeting, the business has also become renowned for its monthly Humble Feast community dinners.

Usually occurring on the first Monday of every month, Humble Feast is a prix fixe dinner event that highlights local ingredients primarily sourced from neighboring farmers. Though it’s only recently become a hit in the Briarcrest community, Humble Feast events have been happening as early as 2010, with Gartenstein and her fellow co-owners hosting them in various locations around the Seattle area.

“We rented a community center once or twice,” Gartenstein said. “We did it as a pop-up restaurant. Some of those were more successful than others.”

Shoreline community members dine and chat during this month’s Humble Feast dinner event. Most people who attend Humble Feast are from the neighborhood and use it as an avenue to catch up with old friends. (Photo by Blake Peterson)


So she, along with other members of the community, has been delighted to find that the monthly dinner program has become so successful in Shoreline.

“There’s been nothing like the way it’s been in Briarcrest,” Gartenstein said.

Neighborhood association member and long-time community leader Alice Keller appreciates the way Patty Pan, as well as Humble Feast, has had a favorable impact on the area.

“We didn’t have any gathering spot before,” she said.

 Foods are all locally sourced from area farms and food producers. (Photo by Blake Peterson)



Keller loves the array of local foods offered at Humble Feast, but another reason she keeps coming back every month has to do with the event’s welcoming atmosphere.

“You see people greeting each other as neighbors,” she said. “It’s a place Shoreline really needs.”

Bettelinn Brown, another community leader and association member, considers the Patty Pan space to be a hub. Having lived in, and served, the Briarcrest neighborhood for more than 30 years, the self-described activist has noticed that Humble Feast in particular has had a positive effect on the area.

“It’s brought us together,” she said. “No one comes in with their phones.”

A fervent supporter of the business, Brown eagerly said that she will soon be reserving a space in the neighboring elementary school to celebrate her 80th birthday — and that Patty Pan will be doing the catering.

The menu board for the Humble Feast tells where the food was produced.  (Photo by Blake Peterson)

The treasurer of the neighborhood association, Sarah Kaye, always looks forward to Humble Feast and attends regularly. Like Keller, she likes how sociable the event is.

“Everyone sits and chats,” Kaye said. While there is a core group of regulars, Kaye said that it’s not uncommon to befriend strangers.

Because Humble Feast has made such waves in Briarcrest, Gartenstein said she hopes other neighborhoods will do something similar.

But she still believes that the cooperative has room to grow. Within the next five years, Gartenstein primarily intends to achieve stability.

“We just want to be creating good jobs people stay with,” she said. “We want to keep making great food, and we want to keep exploring new avenues.”


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Shop Local at the 2nd Annual Shop Hop Tour Saturday

Friday, September 15, 2017



Shop Local at the 2nd Annual Shop Hop Tour
Events, Prizes, Gifts, Fun!

Saturday, September 16, 11am - 6pm • Free

Take pART in the second annual Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Shop Hop, a store tour featuring locally owned, art-focused shops in our community. Pick up a “passport” at any of the participating stores, have it stamped at all four locations, and enter for your chance to win one of four fabulous prizes: 

  • A special beach themed entertainment gift basket donated by Beach House Greetings
  • A partial shade container with evergreen plants that will last for years, donated by Garden Essentia
  • A mystery box of 12 chocolates, donated by the Chocolate Man
  • An Arts Council swag box full of goodies and a $25 Gallery gift card, donated by the Gallery at Town Center
Each visitor to Garden Essentia gets a glass ladybug


In addition to the great prizes, Beach House Greetings will be having an in-store event with a local artist showcasing fall entertaining ideas with succulent plants and other table top ideas.

Garden Essentia will be offering in-store appetizers, workshops in alcohol ink painting and botanical printmaking and each Shop Hop participant will receive a free glass ladybug!

The Chocolate Man will be organizing in-store chocolate tastings throughout the day.

The Gallery at Town Center will be providing snacks and beverages for Shop Hoppers throughout the day as well as a Shop Hop Photo Op with the Rooster Tail Chair by local artist Monica Bretherton!

PARTICIPATING STORES

Win this gift basket from Beach House Greetings
Beach House Greetings:

A unique card and gift shop specializing in selection and service. Offering a large selection of unique greeting cards as well as gifts, stationery, party goods, gift wrap and ribbon, and other seasonal items.

626 NW Richmond Beach Rd, Shoreline, WA 98177, phone: 206-542-2773

Chocolate Man:

Premium grade couverture chocolate is right at your fingertips, with over 70 chocolate varieties!

17171 Bothell Way NE (Lower level of the Lake Forest Park Town Center across from the gallery)

Lake Forest Park, WA 98155, Phone: 206-365-2025

One lucky winner will get this
collection of shade plants
Garden Essentia:

An elegant retail shop, learning center, and art gallery featuring ‘all things garden.’

20152 Ballinger Way NE Shoreline, WA 98155, phone: 206-453-3920

The Gallery at Town Center:

A program of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, the Gallery at Town Center is located inside the Lake Forest Park Town Center, on the lower level. It features handmade jewelry, pottery, glass, textiles, greeting cards and wall art by 90+ local artists.

17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155, phone: 206-588-8332

Shop Hop map

For more information visit the event page here. We look forward to seeing you there!

This event is sponsored by the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council.



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Small Business: Emerald City Doulas

Friday, February 3, 2017

Christi Nixon and Paula Gustafson
Emerald City Doulas is a majority woman-owned business launched in June 2016.

Business partners Christi Nixon and Paula Gustafson both live in Shoreline.

They run a premier full-service Doula Agency serving King County and South Snohomish County, with eight doulas.

A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous support before, during, and after a birth. 
They provide physical, informational, and emotional support to the mother, as well as family and others. Postpartum doulas provide postpartum support to the family during the first year after birth.

Their mission is to provide families with outstanding judgment-free support throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period – the first year of a baby’s life.

Studies show that having prenatal access to doula care can reduce the incidence of preterm birth and cesarean delivery.

Another study concluded “Continuous support during labour has clinically meaningful benefits for women and infants and no known harm. All women should have support throughout labour and birth.”

Emerald City Doulas offers:

Labor support
Postpartum care
Childbirth education
Postpartum placenta encapsulation
Belly binding

Emerald City Doulas also holds retreats for parents. A Labor and Love weekend retreat is scheduled for March 4-5 in Mountlake Terrace.

Labor and Love Weekend Retreat: Childbirth Education With Emotional Guidance, March 4 - 5, 2017, 9 am to 6 pm. Get yourself baby-ready in a single weekend!



This unique weekend retreat combines childbirth education with emotional guidance to provide expectant parents with the tools, skills, and information they need to create the best experience possible as they grow their family.

Topics and activities include:
  • Childbirth Education
  • Strengthening your Relationship
  • Building a Birth Plan
  • Attachment and Attunement
  • Newborn Care
  • And much more!
Space is limited. For more information and to register email or call 206-939-6109. Information is also online.

This retreat is designed for expectant couples. Cost is $500/couple. Breakfast and lunch provided both days. It will be held at Seattle Midwives, 23406 46th Ave W Mountlake Terrace 98043.

Christi Nixon, Emerald City Doulas, Certified Childbirth Educator will be joined by Shanna Donhauser, Family Therapist, Happy Nest Therapy.



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Small business: Mad Cow Yarn Shop

Thursday, January 26, 2017

A large, comfortable area for people to relax and knit

Photos and text by Jerry Pickard

Molly Brusewitz opened the Mad Cow Yarn Shop in September of 2016 on the upper level of Lake Forest Park Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way. She had been in business in Bothell since 2012.

A rainbow of skeins covers the walls

It's a deliberately cozy shop, where people are encouraged to sit and knit.

Work table or break room depending on the day

There's a work table for large projects, complete with snacks.

Molly made it easy for women coming in looking for
pink yarn for pussy hats

Molly rose to the occasion for the Women's marches and gathered all the pink-hued yarn left in the shop on a big table in the front of the shop.

The shop is on the upper level of Town Center

Phone 425-415-6981, email, and website

Molly offers classes and one-on-one instruction.



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10,000 lights for the community

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

More books than many libraries are for sale
at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park

By Donna Hawkey
Photos by Jerry Pickard


Over 18 years ago, Third Place Books opened its doors to intentionally create a community around books. Lake Forest Park Town Center was revitalized and Third Place Books was a nucleus for the non-profit organization, Third Place Commons.

Today, “The Commons” hosts over 900 free events a year and oversees a vibrant Farmer’s Market. And while Third Place Books is a neighborhood bookstore treasure, its reputation has become especially known for that “third place” they have created in communities: everyone is welcome, and social and economic status is not a factor.

Everyone's favorite place - the reading nook

Recently I talked with Third Place Book Company managing partner and Lake Forest Park resident, Robert Sindelar. He was actually destined for theatre performance arts while in college in Coral Gables, Florida. But after working a part time job at Books 'n Books in Coral Gables, he began to really fall for books.

Robert looks back, “it was an amazing experience and getting a chance to work so closely with Mitchell Kaplan is something that definitely influenced my career, though I did not know it at the time.” Mitchell Kaplan has a worldwide reputation for helping to promote Hispanic literature and authors through his bookstore, Books 'n Books.

After college, Robert moved to Seattle and landed a job at Elliott Bay Book Company and continued to learn about independent bookselling. Third Place Books opened in 1998, right when he was trying to figure out what to do next with his career to take his love of bookselling to the next level and make it a long time career.

This way into the stacks from the food court.
Third Place Books shelves used books with new
so you have buying options.

Robert feels very lucky he had the unique opportunity to open a new store, and eventually became managing partner of the company, which now includes three Third Place Book stores in total. Sindelar also decided to settle into Lake Forest Park in 2001.

The first time Robert and his wife Patti drove up Perkins Lane, it was one of those magical days when the sun was creating rays between the mature 100 foot stands of Douglas Firs. All Robert and Patti saw were rows and rows of trees - no houses – but then suddenly a home appeared and they felt like they saw an adult size treehouse.

“When we finally arrived at the house for sale, Patti got out of the car and she grabbed my arm and said. “Did you hear that, there’s a creek across the street. 
"So that moment and the drive up was it, we were pretty much hooked, and bought the house,” Robert reflects. 

Patti and Robert now have two children and both attend Brookside Elementary. The Sindelar family shows its high regards for the Shoreline-LFP School District as involved PTA parents. Patti is also a volunteer art docent and a teacher and a book lover.

I asked Robert to tell me how Amazon, and other online services, have affected Third Place Books. 

First he told me that overall the book business is in a good state. E-books have not taken over the market like some predicted, although they have their place. And cookbooks have become a type of art book. The proliferation of internet recipe sites has actually spurred this cookbook revolution through its inherent competitive nature.

The children's section is extensive
and staff are very knowledgable

Children’s book publishing is still going strong and this is an area where Third Place Books’ staff really excels in the difficult search for just that right book for a child or a teen.

What’s not so great is the economic reality of being an independent bookstore.

This is a heartbreaking moment when Robert relates, that when he works at the information desk, 
“Easily a few times per hour, someone comes to the desk and asks for a book that we don’t have in stock. I tell them we can order it and it will be here for them in just one to two days. That’s the average time it takes to get any book in the store for a customer. 
"And then, right in front of me, they get out their cell phone, tell me they don’t want to bother me, and place the order through Amazon. 
"You multiply that moment times 20-30 a day and it really adds up. 
"Picture there are 10,000 lights over my book store. Each time someone comes here and instead of buying from the store,  orders online, or goes outside the community, a light slowly gets put out, and eventually that kind of thing could make all the lights go out.”

The Customer Service desk is by The Commons entrance
Mark Zimmerman is one of the staff who will be happy
to research and order a book for you to pick up at the store


So here is a challenge for all of you in Lake Forest Park and Shoreline - let’s show our gratitude to this business - and keep those 10,000 lights burning bright this holiday season and beyond for the health of our whole community. There really is no substitute for the presence of a vital community store like Third Place Books!

Check out counter handles books and the unique gifts from
the in-store gift shop.


Besides ordering online from Third Place Books, you can even phone in your order at 206-366-3333 and talk to a human, avoid shipping fees and enjoy Third Place Commons when you pick up your book.

Don’t forget, it only takes a day to order a book if they don’t have it and it’s absolutely no bother! 

Gift wrapping gratis.

~~~~
Donna Hawkey is a 20-year resident of Lake Forest Park who remembers how many lights were out at the Town Center when she moved here, and gives thanks this holiday season for the many things we can sometimes take for granted, especially books and community!

If you have any other gratitude ideas or thoughts about the Lake Forest Park community, please contact Donna.




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Small business: Sultan Gyro & Shawarma Grill

Monday, August 8, 2016

Sultan Gyro and Shawarma Grill now open in Shoreline
Photo by Dan E.

The Sultan Gyro and Shawarma Grill is now open for business at 175th and Aurora, offering food from the eastern Mediterranean. 

Hummus, falafel, gyros, shawarmas, vegetables, and dinner platters with combinations of all of those.

Mohammad Almuti
Photo by Dan E.
You can eat in - there are half a dozen small tables and counter space. Or you can order to go. The days I was there, I saw a steady stream of people dropping in to pick up food to go.

They are open for lunch and dinner.

This is a family business. The original restaurant is still open in the U District.

Mohammad Almuti is owner and chef for the Shoreline location.

I had the Arabic shawarma in a wrap and my husband had the Gyro dish platter. We loved both items.

Here's why I don't usually write restaurant reviews: we went in a second time and had exactly what we had the first time! It was too good to pass up.

Sultan Gyro and Shawarma Grill, 17505 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline 98133. 206-629-4770.

--Diane Hettrick



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Westlake Dance Center moves to Shoreline - drop in classes for age 12+

Monday, June 13, 2016

New location for Westlake Dance Center, looking north
on Bothell Way

On May 1, 2016, the Westlake Dance Center left its location at Northgate and moved into Shoreline, near Lake Forest Park's Southern Gateway at 14713 Bothell Way NE (roughly between 145th and Acacia).

Looking south on Bothell Way

They are an adult drop in dance studio for ages 12 and up, teaching beginning through advanced students. Adult drop in means that anyone over 12 can start at any time in any class.

Just for fun - recent shot from a Master Class
in the new Shoreline location

Morning classes consist of Zumba, yoga, on the ball, and Pilates. Owners hope that people in the neighborhood will see them as a fun alternate to the gym. These classes are offered on weeknights and weekends, as well.

They also offer classes in hip hop, jazz, ballet, contemporary, ballroom, burlesque, and more. The class schedule is extensive.

Students can start at any time.

Center - Macklemore from his video Dance Off.
All the dancers in the shot are teachers from Westlake Dance

Many of our dancers are working professionally, on tour with big name artists like Justin Timberlake, Macklemore, Pharrell, Ricky Martin, Beyoncé and more -- but also we have an amazing community of dancers all ages that just come for fun.


Westlake Dance Center, 14713 Bothell Way NE, Shoreline 98155. 206-621-7378. Open Weekdays 5:30pm - 8:30pm, Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm, Sunday 10:30 - 4:00pm. Facebook.



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