Public hearing for Fircrest nursing facility “Grudgingly Accepted” by some

The Fircrest plan calls for a new nursing facility to replace the badly outdated buildings like this one.
 Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Oliver Moffat

A stroll along the meandering pathways of the forested 65 acre Fircrest campus provides a quiet and peaceful break from the busy car traffic of 15th Ave NE.

Despite the peaceful setting, the future of the Fircrest campus has long been the focus of controversy with some advocates calling for the facility be closed while others seek upgrades.

The Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) has applied for a permit to proceed with the Fircrest School Master Development Plan - a twenty year plan for the campus. A public hearing on the plan will be held on Wednesday night March 6, 2024 at Shoreline city hall.

The plan calls for the demolition of aging buildings that have fallen into disrepair. In their place, new residential cottages, and a commissary.

The southeastern quadrant where the dog park is today will be redeveloped into commercial spaces. In the center of the campus, the historic chapel will be preserved and the plan calls for retention of as many significant trees as possible. A new public, forested trail will connect the chapel to Hamlin Park to the north.

A rendering from the Fircrest plan shows the proposed nursing facility that has drawn criticism 

A controversial 120-bed nursing facility is also planned that would replace the dangerously aging “Y buildings”.

Originally a Naval Hospital during World War II, the site was used as a tuberculosis sanatorium before Fircrest opened in 1958. By the middle of the 1960s Fircrest was home to over a thousand residents with mental and physical impairments. 

Since then, the population has declined to about two hundred residents thanks to advances in rights for people with disabilities that moved people out of isolated institutions and helped parents support family members at home.

Some of those residents now live in the Fircrest nursing facility in the northwest quadrant of the campus in six Y-shaped buildings dating from the 1960s. These structures do not meet current seismic codes according to the plan and virtually everything needs to be replaced including heating, plumbing and electric.

Current view of Fircrest from Google Earth shows the Y shaped buildings.

After decades of conflict between advocates, families and caregivers, the State Legislature tasked a workgroup to broker consensus between stakeholders and make a specific set of recommendations.

According to the workgroup report, most adults with developmental disabilities live at home with their aging parents acting as caregivers. As their parents age and are no longer able to care for them, they need long-term supportive care.

After listening to over 135 people including residents, parents, and caregivers, the workgroup made a series of twenty recommendations five years ago.

One of those recommendations was for the state to build a new 120-bed nursing facility replacement on the Fircrest campus.

To many disability rights advocates, Fircrest is a relic of a bygone age when people with disabilities were segregated from the community. Advocates including The Arc of Washington and Disability Rights Washington have called for shutting down the facility arguing that residents can receive better care within the community.

An alternative preferred by some advocates was a plan to build multiple 6-bedroom homes across the state that would site residents closer to their communities of origin while allowing them to live in a non-institutional home.

According to a follow up report published by the workgroup early this week, the Fircrest recommendation is still contentious with some while others have “grudgingly accepted” that the facility will be built; like it or not.

DSHS is also seeking a special use permit to build a new 48 bed behavioral health facility on the campus that would provide urgently needed capacity to serve people who have been involuntarily committed to receive mental health treatment in a secure environment for up to six months. The facility will have large spaces for activities, exercise and life skills instruction to help transition patients back into the community.

Some neighborhood residents have expressed concern over the development of the campus, preferring preservation of open space and historic buildings instead of new buildings and commercial space.

In September of 2023, the Naval Hospital Chapel on the campus was listed on the Washington State Registry of Historic Places. (See previous articles about the Chapel and Fircrest)

A locked gate separating Fircrest from Hamlin Park could be removed under the plan.
Photo by Oliver Moffat

According to the proposed plan, the chapel and its surrounding forest will be preserved and a new network of trails will connect the chapel to Hamlin Park to the north. Currently, access to Hamlin Park is blocked by locked gates, preventing Fircrest residents and caregivers from waking north into the 80 acre forested park. The plan also includes badly needed sidewalk and bicycle lane improvements along 15th Ave NE to the west and NE 150th St to the south.

A study in 2023 recorded 2,258 significant trees within the Master Development Plan boundary. It is unclear at this point which trees will be retained: the plan says a minimum of 60% of significant trees will be retained while city staff are recommending that 80% of trees be retained.

A map from the Fircrest plan shows the location of the proposed nursing facility and walking trails connecting the historic chapel to Hamlin Park.

On a typical Saturday afternoon, the noisiest thing on the peaceful campus is the Eastside Off-Leash Dog Area located in the southeast quadrant of the campus. The city currently has a month-to-month lease to use the site which is expected to end when dog parks at Ridgecrest Park and James Keough Park funded by the 2022 Park Bond open. According to the proposed plan, the dog park will be redeveloped into commercial or office space and will include publicly accessible open space.

The Fircrest Master Development Plan does not include the southwest quadrant of the campus where the COVID testing site was located during the height of the pandemic. 

A proposed amendment to the city’s Comprehensive Plan would rezone that parcel which is owned by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). A bill (House Bill 2003) that would provide tax exemptions to incentivize affordable housing on DNR owned lands is on the way to the Governor’s desk after sailing through the House and Senate with broad bipartisan support in this year’s legislative session. State Representative Cindy Ryu has championed a proposal for an affordable housing development on the parcel.

Read more...

School District supports Senate bill to end school-age placements at Fircrest

The Shoreline School District is supporting a bill in the Washington State Senate that children in the state’s care should be served in residential settings near their families, friends, and schools, not in institutions, including the Fircrest School in Shoreline.

Senate Bill 5132 would change state law to prohibit children under the age of 21 from being placed in Residential Habilitation Centers (RHC) like Fircrest.

"The continuation of the current state policy to segregate disabled children in the RHCs, of which the overwhelming majority are sent to Fircrest School in Shoreline, is bad for children and for all communities in Washington," Shoreline Superintendent Sue Walker told the Senate Health and Long Term Care Committee at a public hearing on the bill Monday.

The District agrees with Governor Chris Gregoire's belief that when students must be served outside the home, it is critical that they be placed in their home communities close to their schools, families, and friends. Currently, only 1 of the 24 student residents at Fircrest has family residing within the Shoreline School District, the remaining 23 come from other communities.

Despite the Governor's pronouncements and clear written directives, the number of school-aged children placed at the Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center (RHC) continues to grow. Since 2005, the population has grown from one child to 24 at Fircrest. Since spring of 2010, six school-aged clients have moved into Fircrest RHC.

The majority of students currently enrolled are designated by Fircrest as "permanent placements," and one of these children is only 10 years old. Nearly every one of the "short-term stay" students has been there longer than 90 days.

"Closing the Frances Haddon Morgan Center in Bremerton or other RHCs will only exacerbate the problem of the continued institutionalization of children at Fircrest. Senate Bill 5132 will stop this trend," Superintendent Walker said.

The state's educational funding formula for Fircrest RHC students does not reimburse the Shoreline School District or our community for the actual costs associated with the program.

The result is that the Shoreline School District is held responsible for providing education to all students in the least restrictive environment without adequate financial resources and infrastructure to do so.

"This creates an unfair burden on the citizens of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park by requiring that local levy dollars be used to supplement the costs of educating residents of Fircrest," Walker said.

Given the estimated number of institutionalized students at Fircrest for 2010-2011, Shoreline's out-of-pocket expenses for the school year will be approximately $200,000.

"Moving school-aged residents out of Fircrest will not magically solve funding issues for the education of students with disabilities, but it will distribute the costs more equitably across the state, rather than burdening one particular community, such as Shoreline," Walker said.

--from Shoreline School District

 

Read more...

Reps. Kagi and Ryu respond to major fire at Fircrest facility

Smoke fills the sky from the fire
at Fircrest
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Reps. Kagi and Ryu respond to major fire at Fircrest facility 

Statement by Rep. Ruth Kagi (D-32nd District)

“This morning there was a substantial fire at Fircrest. Fircrest is a vital part of our community and performs critical work taking care of individuals with serious developmental disabilities from around the state.

“We have consulted with the Department of Social and Health Services about the safety of clients and staff at Fircrest, damage caused by this fire, and what happens next.

“The Department has assured us that there is a plan for continuing operations in the short term and will address the fire damage in the long term.

“We will continue to work, as lawmakers and representatives of the district, to make sure that the people at Fircrest won’t see a disruption in their care.

“I appreciate that the staff at Fircrest and firefighters responded quickly and safely evacuated very vulnerable clients.”


Statement by Rep. Cindy Ryu (D-32nd District)

“This was a serious fire—and the response by Fircrest staff and firefighters to safely evacuate everyone was seriously heroic.

“If this building is a total loss, it needs to be rebuilt or its function restored elsewhere. Additionally, we need to address ongoing infrastructure problems at Fircrest. That would require funding in the state capital budget and we will work together for one that funds construction projects for Residential Habilitation Centers like Fircrest, schools, colleges, parks, community services, and the environment around the state.

“I want to thank the staff and firefighters for their stellar efforts in the face of what could have been a terrible tragedy and ask for community support during these difficult times for Fircrest staff and clients.”

Read more...

Shoreline Preservation Society receives grant to fund feasibility study about moving a barracks building to create a museum at Fircrest

Shoreline Preservation Society is proud to announce it has received a $25,000 Special Projects Grant from King County 4Culture.

The grant will fund a Feasibility Study on potentially moving one of the historic Naval Hospital Barracks at Fircrest to the “gateway” area of Fircrest Campus, for it to become a History Museum with Public Gathering Places.

The Fircrest School site is the home of some of the most significant historic places in Shoreline. Shoreline Preservation Society (SPS) had previously nominated the Naval Hospital Chapel and succeeded in having it Landmarked and designated on the National Register of Historic Places.

The campus was developed originally as a huge Naval Hospital during World War II, where thousands of active-duty sailors and marines received care. This led to the future development of the neighborhood. 

Later the site became the home of Firlands the site of the Tuberculosis Sanatorium which had relocated from its original site across town. 

Groundbreaking treatments were tried and evaluated in these care facilities. Eventually Washington State created the Fircrest School RHC (Residential Habitational Center) there, a home for disabled people.

The barracks were part of the Naval Hospital and were later used as offices and training buildings for staff and residents at Fircrest. They are very large and quaint in style and architecturally similar to many US Military barracks constructed during WWII but represent the unique history that Shoreline has contributed.

King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski stated in a letter about the proposal in November 2025,

“Each chapter of its history reflects the enduring spirit of care, service and healing that defines Fircrest, Relocating the World War II Barracks to the front of the campus will preserve these rare historic structures while creating a welcoming space that highlights the area’s heritage, environment and arts.

"The vision includes establishing a community museum and gathering place where Fircrest families, residents, staff and the broader Shoreline community can come together to learn and reflect. ….. I wholeheartedly support the vision of the Shoreline Preservation Society.

"Preserving and showcasing this history at Fircrest will not only honor our veterans, but also strengthen community identity and pride for generations to come.”

Shoreline Preservation Society is excited and looking forward to working with technical experts and members of the community, City, County and State who want to preserve the remarkable stories of history, telling what everyday heroes have done at Fircrest for many decades.

Read more...

Working to open the Fircrest Recreation Building for the community

Fircrest Activity Center

By Denny Sargent

There is an amazing resource in our Shoreline community that is in limbo and a number of us in the community are seeking to revitalize it and reopen this possible community center, including meeting rooms, a kitchen and beautiful pools that could become an important resource for all of us, including Fircrest residents. Closed due to budget issues, we are seeking to reopen and renew this recreation building.

A recent tour of the Fircrest Recreation (or Activity) Building was a huge success. Over 32 people attended to take a peek around what is inside this gem of a building which is such a potential community asset for us all in Shoreline. For those of you who were not able to attend, here is a synopsis. Please keep in mind that there will likely be opportunities to view the building in the future.

The vast building holds the following rooms which we all saw; A huge space containing 2 pools and 2 large dressing room and support areas.

These pools are also equipped for people with all kinds of handicaps and that is a unique fixture. The pool area has a beautiful wall of windows as well.

There is an activity room, currently used by Fircrest residents, with a full kitchen and dining area. There are a number of empty offices and meeting rooms and a large gym with pull-out bleachers that can fit hundreds and a hidden full stage that opens up when in use for entertainment.

About the building are open, rolling fields with full sun just waiting for a p-patch or other gardens!

There are a number of other features but those are the main ones.

We had a wonderful and exhaustive and inspiring tour with frequent explanations by Jeff Fleshner, The Superintendent of Fircrest RHC and we all left feeling that this was a resource 'in limbo' due to funding cuts that would very much benefit the whole community for decades to come.

There will be an open meeting for interested people from the community on March the 3rd from 7-8:30 pm  at the Fircrest Recreation (Activity)  Building, just show up. the address is: Fircrest School RHC, 15230 15th NE, Shoreline 98155.

To get to Fircrest Activity Building, drive through the main entrance (off 15th ave NE, where 155th St hits it) take a left and it is the first building on the right, up on a small hill. Everyone interested is welcomed to join us, see you there!

Read more...

Notes from Shoreline City Council meeting Feb 4

Shoreline City Hall
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

SHORELINE CITY COUNCIL MEETING

FEBRUARY 4, 2019
By Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm.

In spite of the snowy weather, all Councilmembers were present.

City Manager’s Report

Debbie Tarry began by commenting on the inclement weather. More freezing temperatures are expected tonight so there may be changes to some schedules tomorrow. Check the City website for the latest information.

Saturday Feb 9th is Tween Night at the Richmond Highlands Rec from 6:30 to 10:30pm. This is a free event for 5th and 6th graders. Parents must sign the attendees in and out at the door.

Sunday Feb 10th is the meeting of the Shoreline Social Justice Book Club from 2:00 to 4:00pm. The book is The Leavers by Lisa Ko.

Public Reminder: the Planning Commission will meet Thursday Feb 7th at 7:00pm in the Council Chamber.

Council Reports

Councilmember McGlashan and Deputy Mayor McConnell attended the SeaShore Transportation Forum. It appears that the 145th interchange over I-5 is on the WSDOT radar. Sound Transit did an update on the 522/523 BRT. The bus stop at 25th on 145th is back for review. There were no other real changes. ST is working with all the cities to get the best outcomes possible.

Public Comment

John Hibbs, ND feels there is a real need to move the Senior services into the new Community /Aquatics center. Their social needs cannot be met by keeping them isolated. Other cities are adopting this practice and studies support this practice.

Ginny Scantlebury spoke in favor of a dedicated space for seniors within the new community center. The current senior center is leased from the School District and therefore temporary. It would be easier to coordinate and avoid duplication of some activities, and cross-generational services could be offered if the senior center moved to the community center. She would like Shoreline to be a good place to grow up, and a good place to grow older.

Janet Way commented on the planned use of the Fircrest property. She would like to delay any decisions in order to offer more time for public comment. It is a very complex plan and the vulnerable residents of Fircrest need our support. Changes to the property will affect the residents, neighbors and Fircrest. First and foremost, we need to protect the residents.

Indira Vemuri spoke as a property owner regarding Ordinance No 849 Action Item (a). She asked that Covenants restricting new construction to single family residences be removed. (The City has no control over neighborhood Covenants. These are considered contracts between private parties/pac).

Nathan Wayne commented on the need for sand trucks to make the streets more passable in the snow.

Ray Burns spoke to the delay in development of his property due to title restrictions. He is in favor of Ordinance No 849 in order to remove some of these arcane restrictions.

Eric Hatcher also requested the lifting of the restrictions on the development of his property on 145th. These restrictions date back to the 1940’s and are no longer relevant.

The Agenda was approved unanimously.

The Consent Calendar was approved unanimously.

Action Item 8(a) Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 849 - Adopting Interim Regulations for Plat Alterations

This is a required hearing on an Ordinance the Council has already adopted on an interim basis. Unless Council decides on another Action, the Ordinance will remain in effect until this spring when they adopt permanent regulations.

The Staff report was provided by Julie Ainsworth-Taylor, Assistant City Attorney, by phone.

The Interim Ordinance was adopted at the Dec10, 2018 meeting and was summarized by Ainsworth-Taylor. The interim regulations were amended from notification of changes to everyone within 500’, to notification of all property owners of the plat. They would be the ones who could call for a public hearing to decide whether the plat change should be made or not. A couple of administrative changes were made as well.

After tonight, this will move to the Planning Commission Public Hearing Feb 21, 2019. It will then return to Council for final review and adoption.

Council had the following request: for clarification for the Council and as part of public education, it would be helpful for staff to develop a one-page document explaining the difference between plat alterations and changes to a covenant, as well as the City’s role in each. This document could also include what the City does versus the State or Federal regulations regarding restrictions on race or other discriminatory limitations (terminated by operation of law). Staff will prepare this.

Study Item 9(a) Discussing Fircrest Master Plan and Underutilized Property Land Use Options

The staff report was presented by Nathan Daum, Economic Development Program Manager and Rachael Markle, Planning and Community Development Director

This is just the beginning of the overall discussion of the potential underutilized property at Fircrest. Tonight’s meeting is to identify Council’s initial preferences and direction. Staff will provide an update of discussions with State Agencies regarding this property.

There is interest in the State Legislature, specifically Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, to repurpose some of the Fircrest Campus property for affordable housing. It should be noted it has not yet been formally determined to be underutilized property. Assuming it is determined to be underutilized property, current City policies that come into play include the Comprehensive Plan goals for protection of the Fircrest residents, evaluating property along transportation corridors for multi-family, mixed-use, and commercial uses, and use of the excess property to create long-range jobs, annual goals to develop a Fircrest Master Plan in partnership with the State to expand economic development by creating jobs, and the PROS plan to ensure adequate park land for future generations.

Ownership of the land is divided between State DNR , State DSHS, and State Dept. of Health.

Fircrest has a land use designation of Campus. The purpose of “Campus” designation/zoning is “to provide for the location of charitable, educational, health, rehabilitative and other institutions and ancillary or compatible uses to the primary institution.” Affordable housing does not fall within this description. It is possible Fircrest may be selected as one of up to nine locations for Behavioral Health Facilities. We won’t know what the State decision for the BHF will be until after this Legislative Session that ends in April. There are multiple ways to change this zoning. But before anything can happen, there has to be a Master Plan

Council Discussion

Does the City have any say in locating the Behavioral Health Facility? No. Once the State decides on property, the Hearing Examiner will make the decision.

This is going to be a long process and we are at the very beginning stages. At this point, many things are vague. There was a long discussion of the degree to which the City want to be in control of this project.This is a very large property, with potentially conflicting interests, that Council needs to be on top of this to make sure we get it right. And we need community involvement.

Do we want the Council to to act as gatekeeper? If so, then we can’t have the State apply for a Master Development Plan Permit that would be approved by the Hearing Examiner instead of the Council.

Or, underutilized property could be subdivided off and treated like any other property (since no longer a “campus”). For the Fircrest Campus, the MDP will apply just like it did for Crista and Shoreline CC.

If the State decides part of the property is “surplus” then the City can be a part of the discussion of the property that has nothing to do with Fircrest. However we still need to be attentive to developments in order to avoid being blindsided. We need to keep our goals and vision as part of the conversation. But a year could go by and the state comes back with something everybody hates.

Does the state really want to partner with us to develop affordable housing? Or does the State see this as any business would with the bottom line first and foremost. What we really need to do, is wait for the State to decide what they’re doing with this process.

9(b) Discussing the 2019 Federal Legislative Priorities

James Hammond, Intergovernmental and Communications Program Manager, presented the staff report.

We now have a new congress, and the government has reopened, He works with a consultant, Jake Johnston, who has represented Shoreline in Washington DC since 2003. He worked to bring federal funds to support the Aurora Ave Corridor project and to construct the Interurban Trail through Shoreline. Currently funding and support for the NE 145th corridor has been a major area of emphasis. He works to support program changes for federal funding. We are not a rural area, so we must compete with large cities (Chicago, NYC for example) for federal funds.

Currently, there are a lack of federal funding programs that the City can use for its transportation goals including ongoing support for the Lynnwood Link and other regional transit projects. We continue to seek support for community and economic development programs - for example, preserving access to internet-based sales taxes and supporting other municipal tax authority.

Congress is considering restoring earmarking of funds only for public entities. (Comment from Council: the problem is, this doesn’t create new money, it just sets it aside. We should take advantage of it, but refrain from being a big proponent.) Finally there is talk of a new federal program to strengthen federal tools for addressing culvert and stormwater issues. (Council: it is appropriate for the federal government to be funding culverts and stormwater issues since most of what we do is in order to comply with federal laws/policies.)

8:53 Council retired for an Executive session Litigation Update

8:55 Adjournment

Read more...

Hearing Examiner wants more information on Fircrest behavioral health facility

A screen shot from the March 6 public hearing shows
Hearing Examiner Gary McLean asking for more information
from DSHS and Shoreline city staff. 

By Oliver Moffat

At a public hearing on March 6, 2024 Hearing Examiner Gary McLean told the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) to release more details about the behavioral health facility planned for the Fircrest campus. 

He told DSHS to engage with the Shoreline School District on the plan and gave DSHS more time to solicit input before he makes a final decision. 

McLean said he could issue a ruling on the overall Fircrest Master Development Plan sooner if it were separated from the behavioral health facility plan.

As previously reported, DSHS is seeking permits to move forward with redevelopment plans on the Fircrest campus.

One plan - called the Master Development Plan - outlines redevelopment changes for the overall campus including a new skilled nursing facility to replace the dangerously outdated “Y” buildings.

At the same time, DSHS is seeking a permit to build a new 48 bed behavioral health facility on the campus that would provide mental health treatment in a secure environment for civilly committed individuals.

A map from the Fircrest Master Development Plan shows the proposed location of a behavioral health facility in the northeast quadrant of the Fircrest campus.

The facility will have large spaces for activities, exercise, and life skills instruction to help transition patients back into the community. According to the plan, “these facilities would give the state a unique opportunity to improve access to behavioral health services by providing more capacity and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness by creating a more effective treatment model.”

Hearing Examiner McClean heard public comments on both permit applications at the March 6th meeting, but his concerns focused on what he considered insufficient public engagement on the behavioral health facility.

In remarks about the proposed facility, Examiner McLean issued the finding “that I don’t think a lot of people had any idea what the individuals might be…” who could be involuntarily committed at the facility. “And I dare say the school district doesn’t have a clue either,” he said.

The Shorecrest campus is adjacent to the Fircrest property.
Kellogg Middle School is north of Shorecrest.
Photo from Google satellite view.

In an emailed response to questions, a spokesperson for the Shoreline school district said, “DSHS has reached out to the school district, and we are in contact and working with them to learn more about the project and move forward together.”

According to the plan, the project will be licensed as a residential treatment facility, will be secure and locked in compliance with state law, and will comply with nine other codes and guidelines for such facilities.

The 198-page plan includes detailed descriptions of security measures from architectural floor plans that maximize safety for patients and staff to the kinds of locks used on the doors.

Executives from DSHS testified and answered McClean’s questions at the public hearing about the patients who might be treated at the facility and the security measures that will ensure the safety of staff, residents and the community.

McLean gave DSHS until March 20 to post additional information about the plan for the facility on the city’s website so that “parties of record” could provide written responses via email. “That’s not everybody. That’s the people that came and the people that spoke…” at the public hearing said McClean. He also named the school district a party of record.

In a concession, McClean will allow DSHS to “bifurcate” the two permit applications so that he could rule on the Fircrest plan separately from the behavioral health facility permit. If McClean approves the Fircrest plan, this would allow DSHS to start work on the skilled nursing facility without having to wait for the time consuming public engagement process he is requiring for the behavioral health facility.

Behavioral Health Facilities have faced controversy in King County.

The King County Department of Public Defense argues against the use of involuntary commitment, according to their website. “Our goal is to see resources diverted away from an expensive, court-based system that strips people of their liberty and dignity and to instead put resources into community-based programs that can provide housing, health care, and other supports to people living with chronic mental health disorders.”

As reported by The Seattle Times, one of the region’s largest behavioral health facilities unexpectedly stopped accepting new patients last summer. The move reduced the number of available beds for treatment of people suffering from acute psychiatric symptoms and followed allegations of safety lapses.

Read more...

Fircrest nursing facility earns Five-Star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

Fircrest RHC staff celebrate their Five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

DSHS is thrilled to announce that the Fircrest Nursing Facility earned a prestigious five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, placing it among the top 10% of nursing homes in Washington state.

DSHS Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center is located in Shoreline and serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It offers services partially funded through two different programs regulated by CMS. One of these programs includes our nursing facility, which provides personalized healthcare and engaging activities for those with unique medical needs.

Fircrest Superintendent Ramanjeet Singh credited this extraordinary achievement to the nursing home team. “I want to extend heartfelt kudos to our incredible team,” said Singh. “This accomplishment reflects collective effort. It’s not just one person — the team working together with dedication and compassion.”

Singh emphasizes the importance of a positive mindset in achieving this recognition. “Attitude matters. Our staff are open to change and are always looking for ways to serve our residents better; that mindset is essential,” Singh noted.

The annual CMS survey evaluates health inspections, quality management and staffing, ensuring that nursing homes meet federal standards and facility policies. 

In addition to the CMS rating, the nursing facility received a commendation from the King County Public Health infection control team, who praised the facility for exceeding the infection control measures. 

“They told us we’re doing more than expected. That was incredibly affirming,” Singh shared.

In recent years, especially during the challenges posed by the pandemic, Fircrest staff have worked diligently to strengthen policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.

Singh praised our team’s commitment to safety and strong relationships with residents’ guardians. “Our staff work tirelessly to ensure every resident feels safe and supported in the environment they call home,” said Singh. “Timely assessment and personalized care planning are vital parts of what we do.”

From the moment a resident arrives, staff focus on involving families and guardians. They start by understanding their medical background and continue with ongoing, meaningful conversations throughout their care journey.

“Many of our guardians tell us they feel peace of mind knowing their loved ones are at Fircrest,” Singh explained. “That trust comes from the deep compassion our staff show every day. They don’t just care for residents — they build meaningful connections that truly feel like family.”

DSHS is proud of its achievements and grateful for the dedication of its staff, residents, and families. Together, we will continue to uphold the highest standards of care and support at Fircrest Nursing Facility.

Read more...

Fircrest Urban Forest

Fircrest master development plan

By Kathleen Russell

Save Shoreline Trees, Co-chair

Last week, 18 public right-of-way trees were cut down along 15th Ave NE, north of the Fircrest entrance at NE 155th St. (See article)

Remaining trees along 15th NE to Hamlin Park Rd are on the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) site and approximately 15 trees will be cut down. 

While these tree removals will be visible from 15th, tree removal placards are not required. 

In addition, a Clearing and Grading permit has been issued to DSHS. 

This allows 175 trees to be cut down for the construction of the new 120-bed skilled nursing facility, laundry and parking area.

Due to project size, DSHS is required to fund the frontage improvements along 15th NE at the Fircrest entrance north to Hamlin Park Rd including tree replacements, a 10-foot- wide path for pedestrians and bicyclists, separated from vehicle traffic by a buffer of at least three feet where feasible, and pedestrian trails.

As stated in the Hearing Examiner Decision, issued May 3, 2024, there is the requirement that 80% of the trees on the Fircrest campus must be retained and an annual inventory of trees be submitted to the City of Shoreline. 

There are approximately 2,444 trees on the Fircrest campus. No trees will be removed within the boundary of the protected historic Chapel area unless trees are determined as hazardous. The Chapel is a City of Shoreline Landmark recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. (See previous article)

With all of the upcoming changes, Fircrest will retain its urban forest. An example of how trees and development can co-exist.

I appreciate the time Shoreline Planning Manager Elise Keim spent answering my questions about tree removal at Fircrest.

Read more...

Notes from Shoreline council meeting October 7, 2019: Fircrest and Point Wells

Shoreline City Hall and Council Chamber
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline City Council Meeting 

October 7, 2019
Notes by Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm
All councilmembers were present.

Report of the City Manager Debbie Tarry

Last Saturday, there was an enthusiastic group at Monster Mash Dash 5K. Thanks to our sponsors and everyone who attended.

Volunteers are needed for Shoreline’s first Emergency Weather Shelter. Volunteers over 18 years old are needed to be on call for a certain number of nights from Nov 1st to Mar 30th. Training provided. For information email staff@nuhsa.org or call 206-550-5626

Oct 12 from 10:00am - 2:00pm Celebrate Arbor Day by volunteering to help plant and maintain trees and shrubs in Darnell Park. No experience necessary. More information available online.

Public Reminders

Oct 9 There is a public hearing held by the Hearing Examiner, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm in the council chamber regarding Sound Transit’s petition to vacate portions of 7th Ave NE and 185th right of way

Oct 17 The planning commission will hold a hearing on the Comprehensive Plan Amendment (IronsBC rezone). We have instructed staff to follow up with the planning commission to confirm that the hearing will need to be continued to a date in November that will accommodate attendance by the IronsBC.

Council Reports

Deputy Mayor McConnell attended the Seashore Transportation Forum meeting. There was a report from Metro regarding the additional 65,000 annual service hours they put in last month while working on expansion routes, overcrowding and increased reliability.

There was a powerpoint presentation on the Pioneer Square Platform in preparation for the turning area for light rail.

Also there was a presentation regarding Initiative 976 which Shoreline Council already rejected. This is Tim Eyman’s initiative to bring back the $30 car tabs. It’s important for voters to recognize the impact this will have passed. We are one of the 60 cities that will see a big loss of money for road maintenance. There will be a loss of $1.9B revenue over 6 years in this area. Whatever road maintenance you thought we weren’t doing, we will be doing even less if this initiative passes.

Councilmember Scully. There is a late change in the Regional Homelessness Authority. The original plan had an organization something like a corporation: a board at the top that was comprised of elected officials, and then others who set policies. But another step has been inserted. The top level (elected officials) has little authority, the next level, comprised of a panel of experts, makes most of the operations decisions and steers the money. Councilmember Scully is not happy with this because he doesn’t feel comfortable turning decision making and money allocation over to a non governmental entity that is not accountable to voters. He will continue to follow this.

Councilmember Chang met with Katya Fels Smyth who is director of the Full Frames Initiative. It looks into how we can help a homeless person in a more complete way, rather than just offering housing or just providing drug treatment because choices offered may be untenable. This approach is something we need to implement as we move forward with Community Court.

Mayor Hall noted that they had the last meeting of the Governor’s OrcaTask Force. Draft recommendations were finalized for the second year of the work to try to protect the orcas, and it will be available for public review and comment in about a week. All recommendations were adopted unanimously which was a challenge with 40 people on the Task Force.

Council had a dinner meeting with the school board before this meeting and they talked about various issues of mutual concern, including how our community and our schools are changing.

Public Comment

Item 8a is Public Hearing and comments regarding it will be heard later.

Janet Way, Shoreline, mentioned that Seattle City Council wants to get rid of SEPA but she offers thanks to Shoreline for using this tool, the state environmental act, for issues like Point Wells (Item 8a) on agenda.

Joseph Irons, Shoreline, owner of IronsBC spoke regarding the amendment to the Comprehensive Plan. The notice of the public hearing was given to them late which put a two week delay in the process and he hoped they wouldn’t be penalized for this. However he did just learn that the hearing date will be changed (see comments by Debbie Tarry, City Manager).

Alley Johnson, Shoreline, is a student at Einstein. IronsBC came to the school and made a presentation that said you can pursue your dream and that anything is possible.

Venitia Irons, Shoreline, daughter of Joseph and Melissa. There are a number of people opposed to their amendment so they brought a lot of people with them tonight to show that there are a lot of people who support them and the amendment.

Neil Kappen, Edmonds, does business in Shoreline. He supports IronsBC and the quality of their small business. He talked about their contributions to the City of Shoreline.

Jack Malek, Shoreline, serves on the Planning Commission. Today he is here representing his own interests and his own thoughts on this issue.

He provided a North City sub area plan 2001 to Council. It appears that some commercial extends south of 172nd Street (the location of the IronsBC properties). The planned pedestrian city plan goes north from 175th. The city has grown since then, and it’s a lovely area. He is not a proponent for spot zoning but thinks it’s worth considering this segment on a broader scale, on a bigger plan. To go back and study it.

Cheryl Anderson, Shoreline. Things are happening that we have no control over such as Sound Transit and related rezones, building and remodeling schools, and tearing up Ronald Bog. She does not know the Irons personally, but sees their community contributions at various City events.

Melissa Irons, Shoreline, asks Council to review the facts of the case and the support they have garnered, that has been, in her opinion, overshadowed by emotions and objections by a few vocal neighbors. She asks Council to create a solution for their property that supports harmony for small business and residential neighborhoods.

The agenda was approved unanimously.
The Consent Calendar was adopted, without discussion, unanimously.

Action Item 8(a) Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance No. 868 – Establishing a Citywide Moratorium on the Filing, Acceptance, Processing, and/or Approval of Applications for Master Plan Development Permits and Applications for Essential Public Facility Special Use Permits

Staff report presented by Rachael Markle, Planning and Community Development Director

The Department of Social and Health Services is currently developing a Fircrest Master Development Plan permit application that includes expansion of existing uses and that may include new uses and the siting of a behavioral health facility which is considered an *Essential Public Facility (EPF). The Development Code identifies both the Special Use Permit and the Master Development Plan permit as processes to be used for the siting of EPFs.

*RCW 36.70A.200

(1) Essential public facilities include those facilities that are typically difficult to site, such as airports, state education facilities and state or regional transportation facilities as defined in RCW 47.06.140, regional transit authority facilities as defined in RCW 81.112.020, state and local correctional facilities, solid waste handling facilities, and inpatient facilities including substance abuse facilities, mental health facilities, group homes, and secure community transition facilities as defined in RCW 71.09.020.

(5) No local comprehensive plan or development regulation may preclude the siting of essential public facilities.

This was last discussed at the September 16, 2019 Council meeting.

Why is staff recommending a moratorium?

1. The City’s Master Development Plan permit decision criteria may be outdated
2. The Master Development Plan permit criteria may not be adequate for siting an “Essential Public Facility”
3. The Master Development Plan permit process may not be the best method to conduct multi-agency planning
4. New uses from the State Legislature not yet defined and regulated locally
5. City’s process for siting an Essential Public Facility is unclear
6. Clear and robust decision criteria as a guide for the Hearing Examiner

This Moratorium will provide the City Council time to review these regulations and policies.
No questions from Council.

Public Hearing is opened
Public Comment

Janet Way, Shoreline, lives just a few blocks from Fircrest. She is an advisory board member for Friends of Fircrest and is well acquainted with the history. She has been an advocate for preserving Fircrest because of the unique needs of the residents.

Janet Way attended a meeting in Olympia where they talked about the draft Master Plan for Fircrest. She said they thought it was a pretty good plan. It showed development all over the grounds and all appropriate for current Fircrest residents. Fircrest should not be broken up.

Reverend Kristin Ellison Oslin, Pastor at Fircrest Chapel. Lives nearby in Lake Forest Park and grew up in Shoreline.

Friends of Fircrest have a statement where they have advocated for the betterment and enrichment of lives challenged with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We want to support the City of Shoreline as well as Fircrest. The Fircrest Master Plan has been an ongoing project since the 90’s. The current one comes principally from the. Governor’s office. We understand that possible addition of the Behavioral Health Facility may be a cause for some review - but 6 months? Washington State is 47th in the nation for care of people with mental crises. 3 or 4 months will be better.

Michael Abate, North Seattle, just one block from Shoreline. He is the representative of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). We have this conversation every few years. We haven’t endorsed the State’s Master Plan for Fircrest, we do not want to limit options of the State to serve the residents. The land should be used to help people and not be limited by the City of Shoreline or private interests.

Rod Palmquist, Seattle, is the organizing director of the Organization of Washington Federation of State Employees, the largest public employee union in Washington. We do not support the limitation of options for land use at Fircrest.

The Public Hearing is closed.

Discussion

There was a move and second to adopt the ordinance as stated.

The last plan we heard included a behavioral health facility without any description of what that is. We need to know what, exactly, is a “behavioral health facility” This is new to us. Who will live there? What services will be provided? And where in our City would we want it to be located. We need clear guidelines before we can consider. We should have the option of deciding where in Shoreline we want this and also we need to know how the community feels about it.

The State should have talked to us about it. The State legislature didn’t know about it either. There are multiple state agencies working on multiple things. We need to partner and work out any difference, if they exist, rather than be told “here’s what’s going to happen” without any input. Sometimes small changes can better integrate changes into the community. The State took a right turn from where our staffs were discussing the possibilities for the property. All of sudden, there is a new map. At this point we can’t trust our partners to know what the plans are going to be and how much is left for the City’s role

This is not a vote against behavioral health or anti mental health. But Shoreline should be able to use its usual process.

It is frustrating that the State agencies are not on the same page. A year ago we were approached by the State to use part of the land for affordable housing, and just a few months ago the plan showed Fircrest meeting all of its needs without including a lot of the land. Then, with a couple of days notice, we are given this new map that shows Fircrest using all of the property. Like it or not, the State gives local government use authority. That means Shoreline has the legal right, and the responsibility, to zone our city in a way that locates uses in places we have deemed appropriate for those uses.

This most recent map that occupies the whole site with new uses thwarts a budget proviso adopted by the state legislature and signed by the governor that calls for the allocation of some of that land to be available for open space and affordable housing.

Yes, we have a mental health crisis, and it’s embarrassing how Washington State is doing. But we also have an affordable housing crisis. But we need local government to have authority over it.

Two state agencies (DNR and DSHS) still meet with us separately - they won’t all sit down together. We need to know what everyone wants out of this site. We need to all sit down together. It is 85 acres and that is plenty of land to meet everyone’s needs.

Is a moratorium the right way to go? With multiple agencies, that may be the best option. This is a large part of our community and we have to be part of the decision making. While it appears they quietly have moved in a behavioral health facility, we are not getting feedback that we need.

Will another idea come back in a year or two? The staff report uses the work “may” frequently. This “may be outdated”, “may be inadequate”. A moratorium may become a way to stop a project that we don’t like. Could it be a bad precedent?

Vote in favor of citywide moratorium:
Passed by a vote of 5 to 2, with Councilmember Roberts and Mayor Hall dissenting.


Action Item 8(b)Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Settlement and Interlocal Agreement Between the City of Shoreline and Town of Woodway
Margaret King, City Attorney, presented the staff report

The Council discussed the draft Settlement and Interlocal Agreement, regarding Point Wells, at its September 23, 2019 meeting.

The proposed Settlement and Interlocal Agreement provides for clarification of SEPA responsibilities for the two cities and clarification related to Shoreline’s and Woodway’s roles in the provision of sewer services. Woodway is opposed to making changes to the agreement regarding the access road which would give any third parties an implied or perceived right to require that Woodway approve an access road. Woodway is also opposed to any change related to their traffic level of service

Staff Recommends Council authorize entering into interlocal agreement
Motion and second to authorize

Discussion

We’ve done a good job. Refined and retooled and improved upon. There is overwhelming support from the community. It will never be exactly perfect and it’s time to move on to the next stage.

What about the purchasing of property by Woodway for the access road? Isn’t that the responsibility of the developer? Yes, Woodway wanted to confirm they will not be condemning or acquiring property on behalf of the developer.

If Snohomish County rules to develop this property, then neither Woodway nor Shoreline will have their interests protected so the best approach is to do everything we can do to help provide annexation into a city to protect our interests.

Vote to authorize interlocal agreement
Agreed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:06pm

Read more...

Rally to save Fircrest Saturday

By Diane Hettrick

Friends of Fircrest, Council 28 AFSCME employee's union, and community members will rally in front of Fircrest's front gates on Saturday, May 20 from 11am to noon to protest proposed plans to close most of the facility and sell the land.

Earlier this year, DSHS prepared a Master Plan to upgrade the aging facilities and open the activity center and pools for community use. Rep. Ryu's office was deeply involved in the plans to turn over part of the facility for community use and her office was working on funding.

In the recently completed session of the state legislature, Sen. Dino Rossi introduced legislation, with bipartisan support, to make different renovations to the facilities on the property. The bill went through many revisions, amendments and committees and was not completed when the session ended.

In its current form, (see summary document) it phases out patient care, transitions patients to residential facilities, and sells the property.

Sen. David Frockt was an original sponsor of the bill. However, he no longer supports it in its current form.

The original bill would have renovated one building on the Fircrest campus to a nursing home facility. This facility would have been available to those currently living on the Fircrest campus as well as to individuals from the community at large. 

It also provided for a couple of buildings on the campus to be consolidated and renovated to provide current residents with an option of staying on the campus. I viewed this original version to be in keeping with the longer term Master Plan for the Fircrest campus. That is not the case in the amended version that is now pending.

The legislature is now in special session, called back by the Governor to complete their job of funding education. Sen. Rossi has revived the Fircrest bill in the special session.

Read more...

Monday's Shoreline City Council meeting will study Fircrest Master Plan

The agenda for Monday’s February 1, 2019 Shoreline City Council meeting includes two Study Items. 

(a) Discussing Fircrest Master Plan and Underutilized Property Land Use Options.

Staff is bringing this item to Council to better understand the Council’s preference for the City’s participation in discussions and actions that could lead to land uses, zoning, and/or development of underutilized property at the Fircrest Campus.

The State is interested in maximizing the number of affordable housing units that could be built. City staff has continued to advocate for mixed-market housing, which is reflective of the City’s adopted housing policies. There are various options on how the City can work with the State to address the State’s interests in repurposing portions of the Fircrest Campus.

The location of the Governor’s requested BHFs (Behavioral Health Facility) has not yet been decided but, DSHS expects that the Fircrest Campus could be considered. 

DSHS indicated that if the Fircrest Campus is considered, then DSHS would anticipate that the focus would be on Area 5 (Attachment E) of the Fircrest Campus for either a 16-bed or 48-bed facility. The south-west corner would be the only area on the campus to support a 150-bed facility.

A BHF is a state-owned and state-run community-based mental health facility providing services for clients that currently are (or would theoretically be in the future) served by Western and Eastern State Mental Health Hospitals (Hospitals). The Governor’s proposal would reduce clients in the Hospitals that are civil in nature, leaving the “forensic” cases coming from the criminal justice system and the more complex civil cases at the Hospitals.

Staff report HERE

(b) Discussing the 2019 Federal Legislative Priorities

For 2019, staff proposes a continued focus on funding and support for investments in the NE 145th Street Corridor and the associated I-5 Interchange. This supports our goals for the 145th Corridor, the interchange replacement, a pedestrian overpass serving the light rail station and redevelopment of the station area for housing and economic development.

Comments above are taken from the staff reports available online.

Read more...

Join community members who want to reopen pool and activity center at Fircrest

Swimming pool at Fircrest is currently closed

Would you like to see a community recreation center open for the Shoreline community?

Join a group of concerned community members who have been working for some time to reopen the pool and activity center on the campus of Fircrest  to benefit the whole community including the residents of Fircrest.

The closed activity center contains two pools, a gym with bleachers, a performance stage, several meeting rooms, a kitchen and banquet room and outside of the center is a large natural space that would be a fantastic garden area.

The agenda of the meeting will include discussion of our objectives, review some previous master planning ideas and will be open for general comments, questions, interests and concerns.

The open meeting will be held April 13th from 7- 9pm at the Fircrest Activities building, Fircrest Campus, 15230 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155.

Directions: The entrance to Fircrest is where 155th meets 15th Ave NE, enter the campus, make a sharp left and then the first right. The Activity Center is on the hill, there is parking there in front of the building.

Read more...

DSHS community meeting highlights change of plans for Fircrest site

Fircrest Activity Center

By Jean Hilde

DSHS is hosting a community meeting at the Fircrest Activities Building next Wednesday, March 29 from 7:00 to 8:30pm to present its update on the proposed master plan for the property.

DSHS has some very different ideas for Fircrest than were expressed in earlier community meetings.

It appears that DSHS now intends to implement numerous suggestions from the proposed 2010 master plan (which never went anywhere) including reducing the Fircrest Center's footprint while using 20-plus acres of "excess property" for such things as "mixed-income residential", "townhouses", "governmental offices" and "public service uses."

What DSHS is proposing could result in some very substantial changes to Fircrest and to the surrounding neighborhoods. I encourage you to attend this meeting to learn what DSHS has in mind as well as to voice your opinion about changes being proposed for our community.

Fircrest is located at 15230 15th Ave NE Shoreline 98155

Read more...

Future use of Fircrest facilities - presentation Wednesday evening from DSHS

Fircrest Activity Center

Residents are invited to come hear about the proposed master plan for the Fircrest Residential Habilitation Center (aka Fircrest School.)

After previewing the draft plan with a smaller group of neighborhood representatives in early November, Casey Moore, DSHS Project Manager, would now like to present it to the wider community.

DSHS is the Department of Social and Health Services, the state agency in charge of Fircrest.

Although this meeting isn't meant to be a workshop, there will be time for questions and answers.

Casey's presentation will be on Wednesday, November 30 from 6:00 to 8:00pm in the gym at Fircrest in the recreation and pool building.

Enter the Fircrest property at NE 155th Street, off 15th NE, turn left, then look for the rec building on the hill to your right.

Questions? Contact Jean Hilde

Read more...

Public invited to a tour of Fircrest

Fircrest Activities Building

The public is invited for a tour of The Fircrest activities building. Jeff Flesner, the new Superintendent at Fircrest will be showing us what is inside this gem of a building, and answering any questions we may have about being able to use it.

Inside will be a rare chance to see the basketball court, gym, stage, bleachers, meeting rooms, kitchen, banquet room, and the two swimming pools (currently closed).

A large field is next to the building

Also, next to the Activities building is a very large field that could make a beautiful garden.

February 9th at 4:00pm - Meet in front of the activity building.

Directions to the Fircrest activities building: go straight through the main gate of Fircrest, take a sharp left and the activities building is on the right.

FIRCREST RHC, 15230 15th NE, Shoreline 98155.

Read more...

Shoreline Preservation Society awarded grant to research Fircrest Chapel

Fircrest Chapel
Photo by Janet Way

The Shoreline Preservation Society is proud to announce they have been awarded a Special Projects Grant by 4Culture to research and nominate the Fircrest Chapel for Landmark Status!

The Fircrest Chapel (historically known as the Seattle Naval Hospital Chapel) was, according to U.S. Navy records, the very first freestanding Naval Hospital Chapel in America. It was built 1945 while the war still raged in the Pacific. It was designed largely by staff and situated on a peaceful hillside surrounded by fir trees.

Shoreline Preservation Society will be working closely with professional historians from Northwest Vernacular Northwest Vernacular, as well as others with expertise such as the Shoreline Historical Museum and Friends of Fircrest. They will be seeking input from the US Navy historians and members of the community who may have had family members who were staff or patients there during World War II.

The building is particularly beautiful and is largely intact from its original design. It is set off by its location amidst a lovely forest setting.

Fircrest School is now the home of many disabled people who receive services there and was also previously the TB Sanatorium after being relocated from Firlands (now CRISTA) in the late 1940's and early 1950's.

The property is owned by the the State Department of Natural Resources and Fircrest School is run by DSHS.

Shoreline Preservation Society is an all volunteer WA State Non-Profit that strives to work for preserving Shoreline's cultural and environmental assets for the benefit of current and future residents.

Read more...

DSHS and DNR challenge portion of Fircrest Chapel landmark status

Fircrest Chapel's wooded setting is part of its landmark
status - but DSHS wants to expand a parking lot.
Photo courtesy SPS

DSHS has filed an application for a Reconsideration of the Landmark Status of the Naval Hospital Chapel at Fircrest,  just secured by Shoreline Preservation Society and their many supporters in January of this year.

The Chapel is a nationally significant site since it was the very first freestanding, non-denominational Naval Hospital Chapel. It was built at the Naval Hospital Base in 1944 at what is now Fircrest School in Shoreline.

A hearing is scheduled this Thursday, March 25, 2021 starting at 4:30pm on Zoom to hear a challenge from DSHS to the recent landmark status for the historic Fircrest Chapel. 

At issue is not the chapel itself but the amount of forested land landmarked with the chapel. DSHS wants to adjust the boundary to allow them to expand the parking lot at Fircrest School.

This would be done in a section of native forest designated as a part of the Landmark landscape. This forest was originally highlighted by Captain Boone, the Commander of the Naval Hospital as his inspiration for building the Chapel.

  

The Shoreline Preservation Society invites the public to weigh in to protect this unique community asset, one of the few Landmarked elements in Shoreline.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER CERTIFICATES OF APPROPRIATENESS; SPECIAL TAX VALUATION APPLICATION; REQUEST TO RECONSIDER LANDMARK DESIGNATION BOUNDARY DATE, TIME, PLACE:

Thursday, March 25, 2021, 4:30 p.m. Zoom Conference Access Link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89692471595... 

Meeting ID: 896 9247 1595 

Passcode: 494361

If you have questions, please email or call Chair Janet Way janetway@yahoo.com, 206-734-5545.

Read more...

Artist-in-Residence at Fircrest School teaches communication skills through music

Since 1993 the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council has run an Artists-in-Residence program that has been bringing together artists, teachers and students in Shoreline Public Schools. Last year 26 projects were funded, totaling over $18,500.

One project that they fund is different from the others, serving students who have unique challenges and barriers to learning. It is a music program for students who attend the Fircrest School, and this residency runs for months rather than just for a few short weeks.

Wendy Zieve assists a Fircrest student with an autoharp.

Fircrest School serves students who have behavioral challenges due to autism and other complex disorders. Wendy Zieve, Shoreline resident and the Fircrest Artist-in-Resident, is also a board certified music therapist and has a long list of non-musical goals that she has targeted for these students. She teaches communication skills through music, even the most basic skills, like listening and sitting with others.

Research shows that music is an effective way to reach autistic students and those with developmental disorders, because the brain processes music differently than speech. 

"I've seen so many kids that if you sing something, they understand what to do, but if you say it sometimes there's no comprehension," Zieve said. 

She sings, rather than speaks, most commands. When it's time for students to clap with the beat, most need adult help. 

State Representative Cindy Ryu recently came to observe a session, partly to understand what population was being served at Fircrest School and also to increase her awareness of the profession of music therapy.  Here is what she saw:

"Within the 30 minute session, I saw the positive effect this time had on these teens. They are severely autistic, etc. yet they participated at their levels. It was obvious they thoroughly enjoyed the session (as I did also) and one particular young man who was very shy hid less and less behind his clothing as the session went on. I saw socialization, expression of individual opinions, dexterity exercises, following directions, and most impressively, they knew when to STOP. These weekly sessions have a positive outcome on the rest of their week."

The Artist-in-Residence program is currently accepting grant applications from Shoreline School District teachers to bring visual and performing artists to their classrooms this winter and spring 2012. The grant applications are due on November 10th. To find out more, go to the Shoreline Arts website   

Read more...