Letter to Residents from Brightwater Manager Gunars Sreibers

Monday, February 22, 2010


Dear Brightwater neighbor:

I am writing to you to let you know about an announcement from King County Executive Dow Constantine. The announcement concerns an important decision to protect the best interests of King County and its regional ratepayers. 

Brightwater’s four-mile west tunnel drive between Point Wells and Ballinger Way has been very successful. It is now within 130 feet of the Ballinger Way receiving shaft and is part of the ten miles of the 13-mile conveyance tunnel that has been completed.

However, on February 18, 2010, Executive Constantine made a decision to replace the central tunnel contractor who is building the Brightwater tunnel between Kenmore and Ballinger Way by pursuing a contract with the west tunnel contractor, Jay Dee, Coluccio and Taisei, to complete construction of this tunnel. The Executive made this decision because he is extremely concerned about construction delays and cost increases associated with completing the central tunnel. This means that work will continue in the west tunnel and at the Point Wells portal for about one additional year as the tunneling continues toward Kenmore.

As a neighbor that we have been working with during this project, we want to keep you informed about this decision. Please see the attached news release.  (separate article)
We will be in touch with you in the near future when we have more information.

If you have questions, please contact Leslie Rankin of the Brightwater Community Relations Team at 206-661-9621 or by email.

Sincerely,

Gunars Sreibers
Brightwater Project Manager

Photo of Gunars Sreibers courtesy of Echo Lake Neighborhood Association

 

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Sen. Darlene Fairley sponsors Grace Brennan as legislative page

 Sen. Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, sponsored Grace Brennan as a Senate page in Olympia for a week in January. Grace, 14, is an eighth grader at St. Luke School in Shoreline.

Students from schools across Washington arrive in Olympia every week to serve in the Senate Page Program at the Washington State Legislature. Senate pages carry mail between offices and relay messages to the Senate floor. Pages attend page school while working at the legislature. Pages also participate in mock hearings, write their own bills, and engage in debates.

Grace is her class's president and enjoys soccer, speech, music, boating skiing and mountain climbing.

Page positions provide valuable civic and employment experiences for Washington state youth. Additional information on becoming a Senate page is available at on the Senate website.

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King County Transportation Committee to hear about Metro safety

In response to a recent assault in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, Metro General Manager Kevin Desmond will be briefing the King County Council’s Environment and Transportation Committee Tuesday, February 23 at 9:30 am in the KC Council Chambers, about safety measures for keeping passengers and transit operators safe:

The Chambers are located on the 10th floor of the King County Courthouse at Third and James Streets.

The briefing will cover:

  • the number of reported assaults/robberies/personal attacks in the tunnel since its opening,  
  • the history of security provided in the tunnel since its opening,  
  • the terms of the Olympic Security contract,  
  • the recent changes to the contract terms that will now allow Olympic security to intervene,  
  • other executed or planned changes to security in the tunnel.

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SL Councilmember Chris Eggen to serve on regional transit task force


Metropolitan King County Council Chair Bob Ferguson (left) sponsored successful legislation to appoint Shoreline City Councilmember Chris Eggen to a transit task force that will address critical transit issues facing King County. 

“As a daily bus commuter, I know how important transit is for King County residents,” said Ferguson. “Councilmember Eggen is a leader in transportation issues and will effectively represent Shoreline and neighboring jurisdictions as we evaluate our transit system and its budget challenges.”

“My participation on other regional committees has provided me with an understanding of the significant transit issues to be addressed,” said Councilmember Eggen. “I appreciate the opportunity to represent Shoreline and Lake Forest Park on the task force and to help craft a sustainable vision for King County Metro Transit.”
Eggen is one of 27 members on the task force, which includes a mix of elected officials, riders, labor representatives, and business and other regional interests. The task force is geographically balanced, with equal representation from each of King County’s three transportation subareas. Shoreline and Lake Forest Park are part of the West King County transportation subarea, which also includes Seattle.

“People tend to forget that Seattle shares the west subarea with Shoreline and Lake Forest Park,” said Ferguson. “I requested that Executive Constantine include Councilmember Eggen on the task force to make sure Shoreline and Lake Forest Park have a voice in this regional discussion.”
The task force will discuss the future of Metro Transit, including developing a comprehensive vision for the future of the regional transit system. Also to be discussed are criteria for systemically expanding or reducing the transit system, depending on revenues available. The task force will make its recommendations by September.

The County Council directed the County Executive to convene the task force in response to ongoing projected Metro Transit budget shortfalls. A sharp drop in the sales tax revenues that support bus service led to a projected $213 million revenue shortfall for Metro Transit over 2010 and 2011. In the adopted 2010 King County Budget, the Council reprioritized property tax revenues and adopted a fare increase for 2011 to preserve existing levels of bus service through 2011. However, a projected shortfall remains in 2012 through 2014, which could require cutting approximately 500,000 annual service hours. 

 

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Shorewood wins State boys’ swimming championship


Shorewood’s boys’ swimming team won the State 4A high school championship Saturday at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way.

Shorewood’s victory came just a week after the Thunderbirds finished third in the Northwest District championships. Kamiak and Snohomish, which had finished first and second in the District meet, were seventh and eighth in the State meet.


Shorewood won four of the 12 events at the State meet.
Shorewood won both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200 freestyle relay.

Thor Stenfjord, Mackey Hopen, Marcus Gill and Colin Bell won the medley relay in 1 minute, 38.20 seconds. Stenfjord, Gill, Leif Danielson, and Hopen won the 200 free relay in 1:28.25.

Stenfjord won the 100-yard freestyle in 47.69 seconds, and sophomore Eddie Young won the 1-meter springboard diving competition with 404.50 points. Young had been fifth as a freshman.

Stenfjord added a second-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley behind Shane Clare of Beamer High school in Federal Way. Stenfjord’s time was 1:56.04 to 1:55.54 for Clare.

Hopen had a second-place finish in the 100-yard breaststroke (58.11 seconds) and third in the 50 freestyle (:21.44). The breaststroke time makes Hopen an all-American, and the 50 freestyle time qualifies him for all-American considerationGill added a sixth-place finish in the 100-yard butterfly (53.46 seconds) and eighth in the 100 backstroke (:55.04).


Shorewood brought just five swimmers and one diver to the state meet, but the T-birds finished with 194 points, edging Gig Harbor's 179. Inglemoor of Kenmore placed third with 173.

Team scores — Shorewood 194; Gig Harbor 179; Inglemoor 173; Beamer 171; Richland 138; Garfield 131; Kamiak 130.5; Snohomish 101; Wilson 100; Marysville-Pilchuck 100; South Kitsap 98; Central Kitsap 86; Stadium 83; Lake Stevens 69.5; Stanwood 62; Oak Harbor 54; Newport 44; Wenatchee 43; Eisenhower 37; Decatur 31; Evergreen (Vancouver) 29; Eastmount 28; Kentlake 28; Mountain View 26; Jackson 24; Cascade 19; Roosevelt 15; Olympia 14.5; Moses Lake 13; Eastlake 12; Skyline 10; Kentwood 9; Redmond 9; Woodinville 7; Kent-Meridian 7; Curtis 6; Lincoln 5; Issaquah 4; Auburn 3.5; Jefferson 2; Auburn Riverside 2.

In Class 3A, Shorecrest, which had won the Northwest District Championship a week earlier tied for 21st. 

Team scores — Mercer Island 396, Bellevue 188, Lakeside 171, Mount Rainier 170, Bainbridge 165, Peninsula 145, Seattle Prep 113, O'Dea 110, Capital 108, Liberty 89, Hazen 73, Eastside Catholic 58, Camas 55, Hanford 52, Kennedy Catholic 52, Lakes 48, Port Angeles 44, Mount Si 35, Renton 26, West Valley (Yakima) 25, Hudson's Bay 24, Shorecrest 24, North Thurston 22, Highline 22, Olympic 21, Sumner 19, Timberline 15, Union 13, Enumclaw 13, Everett 7, Ferndale 4, West Seattle 4, Auburn Mountainview 2, Juanita 1.

Shorewood will join Shorecrest in the 3A classification next year.

Photo courtesy of Shoreline School District

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Dugout shelter roofs for Shoreline baseball fields

Park maintenance staff is in the process of installing dugout shelter roofs at Shoreline Park. The new covers will be 8’ wide and 20’ in length. They will be made of wood for the support structure and the roofs will be metal. The shelters will provide protection for players from sun and rain.

This spring, staff will be constructing dugout covers at Richmond Highlands field #1, Paramount School Park fields #1 and #2, Hillwood Park and at the upper fields at Hamlin Park #5 and #6.

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Shorewood medley relay team leads State qualifiers

Shorewood’s 200-yard medley relay team led qualifiers at the State 4A boys’ swimming championships in Federal Way Friday,

The Shorewood team of Thor Stenfjord, Mackey Hopen, Marcus Gill and Colin Bell swam the distance in 1 minute, 39.17 seconds in the Friday heats, the fastest of the eight qualifiers for the Saturday final.

The Shorewood 200-yard freestyle relay team of Stenfjord, Leif Danielson, Bell and Hopen qualified second with a time of 1:30.49. Gig Harbor led qualifiers in 1:29.72,

Hopen was the second fastest qualifier in the 100-yard breaststroke (59.04 seconds) and third fastest in the 50 freestyle (:21.76).

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Yoga and the special needs community

Speaker Cyndi Kershner, Yoga Instructor and Autism Mom

Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 10:30 am - 12:30 pm
Shoreline Library, Small Meeting Room, 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline, WA 98155.

Directions

Cyndi will speak about yoga and its many benefits for the special needs community and for caregivers.


For more information please view her website
 

The last half of our February meeting will be for general autism related discussion between our members.

RSVPs are always appreciated. Contact: Janelle OR Sarah.

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SL Planning Commission continues discussion of Crista Master Plan process

Sunday, February 21, 2010

By Ann Erickson
Firlands Good Neighbors League

The February 18 Shoreline Planning Commission meeting discussing recommendations for the Crista Master Plan Process has been continued to March 18. This meeting was continued from the January 21 meeting. The discussion continues as Crista Ministries and neighbors express their views to the Commissioners and, in turn, the Commissioners ask probing questions regarding traffic, parking, pedestrian safety, noise, construction disruption, size of the new practice field, usefulness of an on campus access road and access to parking for the planned Early Childhood Center.

Residents still can submit written comments to the Planning Commission about any issues that concern them. Comments should be sent to Steve Szafran, 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133 or by email. The Crista Master Plan and related documents and comments can be seen at the City of Shoreline website, or at Firlands Good Neighbors League website.

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SCC collaborates with Lake Washington Technical College to fill position

By Jim Hills


Shoreline Community College and Lake Washington Technical College are taking an innovative approach to meeting the needs of both schools.

 
“Shoreline and Lake Washington will be collaborating in the area of institutional research,” SCC President Lee Lambert said Wednesday, February 17, 2010. “Institutional research is critical in making the best decisions possible for each school.”

The innovative part is that the colleges are building an institutional research team that will focus on both institutions. On Wednesday, SCC posted a job titled “Assistant Director for Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Planning.” The position will be a member of an institutional research team comprised of staff from both colleges.

While the position will report to SCC’s Vice President of Academic Affairs John Backes, it will also work in close collaboration with LWTC’s Research and Development department which includes an executive director and several supporting positions. An interagency agreement between the schools will enable data sharing so that the team members can serve both schools.

SCC’s position has been vacant since the retirement in 2009 of former Director of Institutional Research, Jim James.

“This is an effort by both schools to improve services,” Lambert said, adding that the cost for each college will be about the same as before.

For more information about the position, please check out this website.

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Brightwater Shoreline tunnel almost complete

The Shoreline Tunnel B4, which runs from Point Wells to Ballinger, is within 130 feet of the portal in the Ballinger business district. Known also as the West Tunnel, the tunnel boring machine named "Elizabeth" has been trouble-free, without the mechanical breakdowns which plagued other machines in other tunnels of the Brightwater project. Residents along the route were occasionally able to hear a low noise if they were outside during times when street traffic noise was minimal. Paul D. Hill, whose property is along the route, said that "It sounded like a sump pump." Brightwater staff confirmed that he was hearing the tunnel boring.
 

 Construction began on the four-mile tunnel at Point Wells. All dirt from the excavation has been off-loaded to barges at Point Wells. The photo shows the conveyance lines, temporary dock, and a barge.


Photos courtesy of King County Brightwater project. Top photo shows the Elizabeth Tunnel in Shoreline.

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SCC Men's Basketball Clinches North Region #1 Seed

By Douglas Palmer
Director of Athletics and Recreation/Wellness
Shoreline Community College


The SCC Men's Basketball Team clinched the #1 seed from the Northern Region for NWAACC Men's Basketball Championship that starts on March 6 in the Tri-Cities, WA. with their 75-70 victory over Edmonds Community College on Saturday night at Edmonds CC.

Shoreline has a two game lead with two games to play over Whatcom Community College. But SCC has defeated WCC twice this season and has the tie-breaker over them because of the Dolphins victories.

Against Edmonds, Alfie Miller-Soukasen led the Dolphins with 18 points, hitting 5 of 9 three point shots. Shawn West and Sean Jones added 17 points each while Jesse Vaughan scored 13 to lead the balanced SCC attack. Shoreline led 38-34 at half-time, but Edmonds came back and took a 5 point lead with about 8 minutes to play, but Shoreline came right back it self and pushed their lead up to 9 points with 2 minutes left, and fought Edmonds comeback off at the end.


Shoreline travels to Peninsula College in Port Angeles on Wednesday night and returns home to play Everett Community College on Saturday to finish the regular season. Shoreline is 18-4 on the season and 12-2 in the region.


Photos by Wilson Tsoi
Sean Jones scores 17
Coach Butch Estes with players

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SCC Women's Basketball Loses Half-Time Lead and Game

By Douglas Palmer
Director of Athletics and Recreation/Wellness
Shoreline Community College



The Lady Dolphins played one of their better first halves of the season, moving out to a 25-20 half-time lead over Edmonds Community College, but the SCC Squad could not hold on to the advantage in the second half as ECC pulled out the game, 52-44.

Ana Haberman scored 17 points and had 10 rebounds in the game for the Dolphins but no other Dolphin could score in double figures. SCC outrebounded Edmonds 48-25 but could not take advantage of their dominance on the boards.

Shoreline is 2-20 on the season and 1-13 in the NWAACC Northern Region. The team travels to Peninsula College on Wednesday and then finishes their season at home on Saturday against Everett CC at 2 pm.


Photo of Ana Haberman by Wilson Tsoi

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The Edmonds Driftwood Players present... Two original plays by local writers.

The Edmonds Driftwood Players present...
Two original plays by local writers.

Spotlight on
Two New Playwrights



Crystal 
by Machelle Allman 
Directed by David Bailey

A homeless young woman with baggage to spare
thrusts herself into Don's apartment just as his own life is falling apart.
Maddening, difficult, yet strangely familiar,
she is everything he doesn't need right now...
or does he?


Small World 
by Keith A. Gehrig 
Directed by Elizabeth Pelham

Eight strangers... (or are they?) stuck on a theme park ride.
Who will survive? Who will be tossed over-board?
Wanna take a ride?


Performances are February 26 & 27 - Friday and Saturday at 8:00 pm

All tickets are $10.

Our 2009-2010 Alternative Stages Season provides a home for the small, the off-beat, the unusual show. Full-length productions with a unique perspective!

For information or tickets call 425-774-9600 or check the Driftwood Players website.




 Named after its architect and late Driftwood Players member and volunteer, the Wade James Theatre is home to The Driftwood Players. Located at 950 Main Street in Edmonds, our 223 seat facility is known for the comfort derived from its spacious aisles. Because our theatre offers such an intimate setting, every seat in the house provides an excellent view of our stage allowing for festival style seating at our performances. Parking is available at the theatre, with ample additional parking along Main Street.

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SCC Homecoming Awards Student Athletes

Shoreline Community College awarded 56 SCC student-athletes with academic certificates on Wednesday night in the SCC Gym during half-time of the men’s basketball game.

The college awarded academic awards for the fall quarter to student-athletes in the Green Club, the Gold Club and the Dolphin Club. Membership to the Green Club requires a 3.00 to 3.49 GPA. Gold Club members have 3.50 to 3.99 GPAs and members of the Dolphin Club have 4.00 GPAs.

There were 25 student-athletes honored in the Green Club, 28 members in the Gold Club and 3 members in the Dolphin Club. Each winner was given a certificate and an SCC hat for their accomplishment. The SCC women's soccer team led the way with 10 members in the Green and Gold Clubs followed by women's basketball with 9 members. On the men's side, baseball had 8 club members.

Members of the Dolphin Club (4.00 GPA) were Carlos Lazo of the SCC baseball team, Andrea Mullan of the softball team and Hoi Yan Tsoi of the women’s basketball team.

A complete list of Green/Gold/Dolphin Club winners can be found here.

Ryan Wong, an SCC student, won a $250.00 scholarship for winning a student shooting contest at half-time of the women’s basketball game. Alumni, students, faculty and staff enjoyed cake and punch in-between games at a reception held in the SCC Gym's lobby. Members of the SCC Foundation and Alumni office provided the cake, punch, decorations, pom-poms for the event and reception.

The SCC men’s basketball team defeated Whatcom CC at Homecoming while the Lady Dolphins dropped their game to WCC. The event was sponsored by the SCC Foundation and Alumni Office and the Athletic Department, which is a part of the Student Success division at the college.


Photos courtesy of SCC Athletics:
1. Green Club Award Winners 
2. Erin O'Hara, a member of the softball team and the Green Club, is congratulated by Shoubee Liaw, member of the SCC Board of Trustees.
3. Hoi Yan Tsoi, a member of the Dolphin Club, is congratulated by Tonya Drake, SCC's VP for Student Success
4. Kevin Alloway a member of the men's tennis team and the Gold Club, is awarded his certificate by SCC President, Lee Lambert.

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Aurora Weekly Construction Update Week of February 21, 2010

Construction hours are 8 am Sunday through 5 pm Friday. There will be no construction on Saturdays.

Regular daytime construction hours
Sunday 8 am to 5 pm
Monday to Friday, 7 am to 5 pm

Night-time construction hours allowed
Sunday to Thursday, 8 pm to 5 am

Temporary signal work (night work)

This week crews will work on the temporary signals at the intersection of N 185th St and Aurora Ave. Switching power from the old signals to these temporary signals will occur at night and with police assistance to maintain safety.

Vault installation on Aurora Ave N
Crews will continue installing underground utility vaults during the daytime at multiple locations on the east side of Aurora Ave between N 165th and N 175th streets and on N 175th St. Each vault is expected to take two to three days to install. Flaggers will be onsite to maintain a safe work zone and pedestrian access.

Temporary lane closures at Midvale Ave N and N 175th St

Crews will continue drainage work at the intersection of N 175th Str and Midvale Ave N, just east of Aurora. This work will occur Monday and Tuesday nights. Traffic may be reduced to one lane in each direction on N 175th St from 8 pm to 5 am. Work is expected to occur at the intersection of Midvale Ave and N 175th St during the daytime on Thursday and Friday.

The entrance to Top Foods at the N 175th St and Midvale Ave intersection will be open over the weekend, but temporarily closed beginning Monday through Wednesday morning. Drivers should access Top Foods from its Aurora entrance off Ronald Place or its east entrance off N 175th St.

Lane striping on Aurora Ave N complete
Lanes on Aurora Ave N between N 165th and N 175th streets have been shifted west to allow construction to begin on the east side. There are still two lanes of traffic in each direction on Aurora, but there is no longer a center turn lane due to lack of space during construction. Drivers are encouraged to take left turns at the signalized intersections at N 165th and N 175th streets.

Questions or concerns about construction?
You can email or call any time on the 24-hour hotline. (206) 801-2485 (hotline)

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House passes measures to jump-start jobs and conservation projects

Saturday, February 20, 2010


OLYMPIA—In an effort to energize the slumping construction industry while promoting energy and water conversation for decades to come, on February 13, the House voted overwhelming for two measures that would make conservation projects more affordable to Washington’s families and businesses. The measures proposed by Rep. Maralyn Chase (D-Shoreline) would double the allowable payback period for energy- or water-conservation loans provided by public utilities or water districts.

“The construction industry has always led the way to recovery,” said Chase, who serves as Vice-Chair of the House Committee on Environmental Health. “Financing is often the only or the biggest barrier to energy- conservation and water-conservation projects. By helping to tear down those barriers, these measures will put contractors back to work and construction workers back on the job.”

House Bill 2676 makes financing energy projects more affordable by doubling the payback period for energy-conservation loans provided by a public utilities or irrigation districts from 10 years to 20 years. Chase’s House Bill 2677 does the same for water-conservation projects, allowing loans provided by water utilities and water districts to be paid back over 20 years instead of the current 10 years.

Washingtonians have historically been wary of loaning public money, but voters changed the State Constitution in 1979 to allow loans of public money for conservation.

“Washington values conservation and our families are trying very hard to conserve water and leave a better world with clean water for our children and grandchildren,” Chase said when addressing the House on her water-conservation bill. “This financing permits substantial construction projects to revitalize our economy, conserve our water resources, and create projects for our contractors and jobs for our workers.”

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To the Editor: Change Aurora to Shoreline Boulevard


I have made a proposal to the Shoreline City Council that we change the name of Aurora Avenue to Shoreline Boulevard. There are many reasons why to do it and over the past 15 years there have been many discussions about making the change by groups that include past City Councils and the Shoreline Chamber. However, for whatever reason, it has never happened. It is a perfect time for the City of Shoreline to prepare for it now and to dedicate the new name at the time the celebration takes place at the completion of the current Aurora Avenue construction. Two parties in one!

By starting now, as the construction takes place, the businesses could change their stationary when it comes time to reprint. If they continue to use the old name, the mail still gets delivered. The new signs that will go up on the cross arms and street corners can all be changed at once to the new name of Shoreline Boulevard.

The advantages are:
  • The name change gets rid of the old negative connotations associated with the name of Aurora.
  • It will be an aid to Economic Development.
  • It will strengthen the sense of Community.
  • It will tie in with the new City Hall
  • It will tie in with the work being done to create a new “ City Center.”
  • It only requires a Resolution by the City Council

Many cities have made similar changes. It can be done by a “Resolution” by the City Council. According to the Washington State Department Of Transportation, the City has the right to make that change. It is not under WSDOT jurisdiction for the name.

Cities near us have made similar changes. They include:
  • Everett renaming Highway 99 to Evergreen Way
  • Sea-Tac renaming Highway 99 to International Boulevard
  • Edmonds renaming Edmonds Way to Roslyn Summers Way
  • Seattle renaming many streets ie: Martin Luther King Way, and Lake City Way
  • Kirkland renaming their highways to Central Way and Lake Washington Boulevard.

I have talked to a large number of people, in many circumstances, and they all have liked the idea. So I am asking the Shoreline City Council to support this idea and make Aurora Avenue into Shoreline Boulevard.

Gretchen Atkinson
Shoreline

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Shorewood medley relay swim team leads State qualifiers

Shorewood’s 200-yard medley relay team led qualifiers at the State 4A boys’ swimming championships in Federal Way Friday.

The Shorewood team of Thor Stenfjord, Mackey Hopen, Marcus Gill and Colin Bell swam the distance in 1 minute, 39.17 seconds in the Friday heats, the fastest of the eight qualifiers for the Saturday final.
The Shorewood 200-yard freestyle relay team of Stenfjord, Leif Danielson, Bell and Hopen qualified second with a time of 1:30.49. Gig Harbor led qualifiers in 1:29.72,


Hopen was the second fastest qualifier in the 100-yard breaststroke (59.04 seconds) and third fastest in the 50 freestyle (:21.76).


Stenfjord was the fourth fastest qualifier in the 100-yard freestyle (49.25 seconds) and fifth in the 200 individual medley (1:58.08). Gill qualified sixth in the 100 butterfly (:53.34).

In the 3A meet, Shorecrest qualified two individuals and two relays for Saturday’s consolation finals. Shorecrest’s Carter Osborne was 16th in the 100-yard freestyle and Kevin McKay was 11th in the 100 breaststroke. The Scots were 14th in the 200 medley relay and 15th in the 400 freestyle relay. The Scots’ Reyes McElmurry went into the diving finals in ninth place.

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Become a Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Docent

The Kruckeberg Botanic Garden is a four-acre public garden owned by the City of Shoreline. It is a unique collection of over 2,000 native and exotic plant species in a naturalistic, wooded setting. The Garden is operated by the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation (KBGF), a non-profit organization.

Thousands of visitors enjoy the Kruckeberg Garden each year, and KBGF relies on volunteer docents to guide tours and lead educational activities for these visitors.


 Each spring, our docent-training program prepares new docents to fill this role. Trainees learn about the Garden's history and plant collection in a series of hands-on classes. After completing the training, new docents are encouraged to co-lead tours with other docents until they feel comfortable. Tours vary in size, length, and topic, ensuring that there is a tour for all comfort and experience levels. The training focuses on leading tours, but docents may choose to work in other capacities such as leading family educational activities.

This spring's training will take place on March 14, 21, and 28 and April 11 and 18 from 11 am - 2 pm. For more information, contact our docent coordinator or 206-546-1281. Applicants must complete and return a Docent Training Application by March 7.

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Evan Smith: Ballots trickle in; school bond issue, library levy appear to have won

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer


Both the Shoreline School District construction bond issue and the King County Library levy appear to have passed with seemingly insurmountable margins.

Ballots are trickling in at such a slow rate that there aren’t enough ballots left to keep either measure from passing.

The Shoreline School District bond issue had a 421-vote margin over the required 60 percent approval rate Thursday. That margin is five votes more than it was a day earlier.

Thirteen new Shoreline and Lake Forest Park ballots arrived in the elections office Thursday. Even if five times that many were to arrive each day through certification Wednesday, Feb. 24, and all were negative, there wouldn’t be enough votes to change the results.

Elections officials accept ballots for two weeks after the election to allow time for people with missing and invalid signatures to make corrections and to allow time for ballots to arrive from military and other overseas voters.

The School District maintenance-and-operations levy and the technology levy both continue their overwhelming approval margins.

Voter turnout through Thursday in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park was 42.6 percent, compared to 37 percent throughout the County Library District.

The Library levy was passing by 988 votes Thursday, compared to 972 votes a day earlier.
The vote count as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday:


SHORELINE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 412

Ballots Cast/Registered Voters
18,030
/
42,352
42.57%
Proposition No. 1 Replacement of Expiring Levy for Educational Programs, Maintenance and Operations
(Simple majority to pass)

YES

12,617
70.34%

NO

Total votes

Undervotes

Total ballots

5,319
17,936
94
18,030
29.66%
100.00%
Proposition No. 2 Bonds for Modernization/Replacement of Shorecrest and Shorewood High Schools
(Requires 60% approval)

APPROVED

10,738
62.45%

REJECTED

Total votes

Undervotes

Total ballots

6,457
17,195
835
18,030
37.55%
100.00%
Proposition No. 3 Capital Levy for Technology Improvements and Support (Simple majority to pass)

    YES

11,353
65.85%


NO

Total votes

Undervotes

Total ballots
5,889
17,242
788
18,030
34.15%
100.00%

















KING COUNTY RURAL LIBRARY DISTRICT

Ballots Cast/Reg. Voters
239,900
/
647,133
37.07%
Proposition No. 1 (Simple majority for passage)

YES

123,909
52.08%

NO

114,021
47.92%










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New restaurant to open in Third Place Commons

The Mexican restaurant which has been in Third Place Commons for several years closed this week. In its place, the Honey Bear will open a new Mexican restaurant in April 2010 which will be called El Oso (The Bear).

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Sustainable Shoreline to hear about Urban Forests

Friday, February 19, 2010

The Sustainable Shoreline Education Association will meet on Friday, February 26 at 7:00 pm at the First Christian Reform Church, 14555 25th Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155. Parking and main entrance are at the rear of the building.

The speaker will be Sarah Foster on The Importance of Urban Forests.

Agenda
• Election of Sustainable Shoreline Education Association Officers by members in good standing.
• Sarah Foster, Washington Department of Urban & Community Forestry Program

Sustainable Shoreline believes “a healthy community is defined as consisting of stable neighborhoods, a healthy environment, a prosperous small business environment and an economically viable city.” This includes a well functioning urban forest.

Sarah Foster is the Program Manager for the Washington State Dept of Urban & Community Forestry. She will be speaking about the importance of urban forests and the many things they do for us. If you are curious to know more before the meeting, please spend a few minutes on their webpage, there is a lot of concise information available. And please note the educational links at the bottom right of this page:

The City of Shoreline Planning Commission has been working on new tree regulations since January 2009. The existing tree code, resides in the SMC 20.50.290 at this webpage if you would like to review it. The Planning Commission tree regulation records to date can be reviewed at this webpage.

While much progress toward a more appropriate code has been made by the Planning Commission, this issue has been re-scheduled a number of times. The Planning Commission is expected to be working on the new regulations again soon. We hope you will join us to learn more about research showing how urban forests provide many services to the citizens of Shoreline.

Please join us for and informative evening. Light refreshments provided.
For more information, contact Bill Bear at 206-368-0858.

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