False alarm leaves musicians on the sidewalk at Third Place

Sunday, July 25, 2010


Third Place Books and Commons patrons ended up outside around 8:30 pm on a warm Friday evening, July 23, when the fire alarm sounded. The Duwamish Jazz band grabbed their trumpets, Sousaphone, washboard and headed outside with everyone else. Legislative candidate David Baker took the opportunity to meet a few voters.

Northshore Fire was on the scene and found no fire and no cause for (the) alarm. The building was opened and the Duwamish Jazz played another set of their lively, Dixieland music to an enthusiastic crowd.

The free concerts are held every Friday and Saturday evening, sponsored by Third Place Commons. For a schedule of performances, check their calendar.

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Evan Smith: Kagi gets top Municipal League rating

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Incumbent Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi has won an “Outstanding” rating from the Municipal League of King County. Kagi is the only one of the nine 32nd Legislative District candidates on the primary-election ballot to get the League’s highest rating.

The League announced its ratings of legislative, judicial, municipal and county candidates in contested races a few days ago. The League rated candidates as “Outstanding,” “Very Good,” “Good,” “Adequate” or “Not Qualified,” using four criteria: Involvement, effectiveness, character and knowledge. The League uses questionnaires, interviews with the candidates and information from references to determine its ratings.

The League lists the ratings without comment or explanation.

Municipal League Co-Chair Gabe Meyer told me Friday that voters should use the League ratings as only one tool in evaluating candidates. He said that he has often voted for candidates with lower ratings than their opponents because of the candidates' stand on issues. He said that the League had neither a liberal nor a conservative bias, but, rather, a “bias for competence.”

Kagi, who is running for a seventh two-year term in 32nd District representative position 2, has two opponents in the August primary: Republican Gary Gagliardi, who won an “Adequate” rating, and Stan Lippmann, running as a Democrat, who was rated “Not Qualified.“

In the State Senate race to replace retiring Democratic Sen. Darlene Fairley, Republican David Baker and Democrat Patty Butler both won “Very Good” ratings, and Democrat Maralyn Chase got a “Good” rating.

In the contest to replace Chase in representative position 1, Democrat Cindy Ryu was rated “Very Good,” Republican Art Coday won a “Good” rating, and Democrat Doris McConnell had an “Adequate“ rating. Ryu’s ratings continued on a roller-coaster ride. The League had rated her “Very Good” in a losing bid for Shoreline City Council in 2003, “Outstanding” when she won election to the Council in 2005 and “Adequate” when she lost a re-election bid in 2009. Neither Coday nor McConnell has a record of past League ratings. When McConnell won election to the Shoreline Council in 2007, the League didn’t rate Shoreline candidates.

In the Senate race, Chase got the same “Good” rating she had in re-election bids to the State House of Representatives in 2006 and 2008. She had a “Very Good” rating in 2002 and was unrated when she ran unopposed in 2004, Baker’s “Very Good” rating was a step up from the “Good” rating he had when he challenged Fairley for the Senate seat in 2006. Butler’s “Very Good” rating also was a step up from the “Good” ratings she had when she ran successfully for the State House in 1996 and unsuccessfully for re-election in 1998.

For Kagi, this is the fourth time that the League has given her an “Outstanding” rating. She twice got” Very Good” ratings, and once was not rated when she ran unopposed.

In the one contested election for a position on the Shoreline District Court. a contest that will be on the general-election ballot but not the primary ballot, the League gave an "Outstanding" rating to appointed incumbent Marcine Anderson and a "Very Good" rating to challenger Dennis J. McCurdy.

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Big, Fat, Greek Party at Time Out Burgers on Sunday, July 25

Time Out is located at 5807 244th St SW, behind Ballinger Village shopping center. The party will last all day. The family is charming, the food is terrific, and part of the proceeds go to charity.


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Letter to the Editor: Runaway financial speculation damaged our economy

To the Editor:

All politics has plenty to do with emotions, and Jack Leicester’s letter of 7/24 is no exception. He also proposes some highly questionable “Tea Party” style economics, which can be quickly refuted from a progressive point of view. The US debt and deficit are at a high point, it’s true, but not at their highest point in history – that was in the 1940s after World War 2 and the Great Depression. We’re currently in the worst recession since that depression, so running deficits to keep the economy moving is completely rational. We’re in no near-term danger of inflation; if we were, interest rates wouldn’t be at historic lows. As for being “owned by China,” the truth is that the vast majority of US bonds are held by US citizens. “Owing $50,000 in taxes”? This is an emotional scare tactic. Bonds come due gradually, and interest on them is paid just as gradually. It’s like having a mortgage. If your economy is basically sound, you can handle it. Ours isn’t right now, but that’s not because of government debt.

What’s damaged our economy is the collapse of an $8 trillion bubble in the housing market, basically caused by runaway financial speculation. That’s wiped out savings, home equity, and the construction industry, and with them the ability of people to consume at a normal level. Ending our endless wars and rescinding Republican tax cuts for the rich would solve any deficit and debt problems we have. We have the lowest taxes in many decades, especially on the rich, and far lower taxes than many other developed countries, countries with far better public services.

Jim McDermott is totally right in trying to revive single-payer health care. The medical industry has to be cut down to size (ours is the most bloated in the world), and it will take the power of democratic (small “d”) government to do it. It’s medical costs that most threaten our economy and the government’s fiscal health in the long run.

For a more progressive view on these issues, check out the Center for Economic Policy Research.

Chris Nielsen
Shoreline

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Obituary: Sally J. Fitzgerald McDonald Granger 1933-2010

Saturday, July 24, 2010


Sally J. Fitzgerald McDonald Granger, 76, passed away July 20, 2010 at her home in Shoreline, Washington. Born November 9, 1933 in Tacoma, Washington to Herman and Gladys Fitzgerald, she was a 1952 Bellevue High School graduate, and a 47 year resident of Shoreline, Washington. Sally worked in and retired from the insurance industry.

Sally was an active volunteer and strong advocate for the City of Shoreline, was a member of the North City Neighborhood Council, volunteered at the Eastside neighborhood police center and North City Neighborhood Association.

Sally was also a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Auxiliary.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, sister Barbara, her first husband of 17 years, Eugene, and her companion of 15 years, Bill.

She is survived by her son Richard and daughter Cathleen, her grandchildren Waverly, Nathan, and Wendy, and was a proud Great-Grandmother to Najae, and by her brother David and sisters Janet and Madeline.

Sally will always be remembered as an avid gardener, sports enthusiast and defender of wildlife, who will truly be missed by community, family and friends.

A closed casket reception was held on Saturday, July 24, followed by a graveside service and burial at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home and Cemetery, 11111 Aurora Ave N, Seattle, Washington.

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Voters’ Pamphlet Information – 32nd District State senator


By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

King County will mail voters’ pamphlets for the August primary election next week, but the information is already available on line at either the secretary of state’s web site  under “Primary Voters Guide” or through a link at the King County elections web site under “Your voter guide.”

Here’s the information about the three candidates for State senator from the 32nd Legislative District, a district that includes Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Woodway, part of Edmonds and unincorporated areas in both King and Snohomish counties.

State Senator (Partisan Office, 4-year term)


Patty Butler
(Prefers Democratic Party)

Elected Experience:
Elected Democratic State Representative from the 32nd District from 1997 – 1999.

Other Professional Experience:
A mother of three, I have owned a small business, was a manager at Bon Marche and an international trading company, worked for Planned Parenthood five years before my current job as a manager for Fran’s Chocolates.

Education:
Graduated from Shoreline High School, 1970. Attended Shoreline Community College. Finishing my degree in Business Management at Edmonds Community College and pursuing a BA.

Community Service:
Northwest Women’s Law Center; WA Council for Prevention of Child Abuse, Board President Banchero Friends Service for the Disabled; WA Lake Health and Clean Water Committee.

Statement:
Over ten years ago I had the privilege of being elected to represent the citizens of the 32nd Legislative District. During that time I accomplished something few freshman lawmakers do, I passed a consumer related bill into law.
Since then, I have used the same tenacity you came to know surviving two recessions, raising my children, working day in and day out, and figuring out how to get by on less. I went back to school, completing several business courses while managing one of the area's best chocolates stores and small businesses.

It's this commitment that is lacking in our legislature. I can no longer sit by and watch the stalemates, indecision, and partisanship in Olympia. Lawmakers today cannot even work together in their own party. We need to regain the respect and confidence of voters by accomplishing things that matter to real people, not just play politics. I know how to work together with people, keeping my roots based in the 32nd, and to prioritize education, the environment and consumer protection. I did this ten years ago as a lawmaker; I'm certain if given the opportunity, I'll get the results my constituents deserve.

For more information:
(206) 356-4933



Maralyn Chase
(Prefers Democratic Party)

Elected Experience:
Washington State Representative 2002 – 2010

Other Professional Experience:
25 years General Contractor; 5 years directing a facility for disabled and disadvantaged; worked with the Seattle Urban League; member OPEIU 8.

Education:
BA, MA Political Science, University of Washington; Distinguished Alumni 2008

Community Service:
Maralyn participates fully in the civic life of the 32nd Legislative District. She is a Board Member of Workforce Development Board of Seattle King County, Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and Shoreline Solar Project. She supports Friends of St. Edward Park, Friends of Fircrest and 32nd District Democrats. She has served on numerous boards including Washington State Peace Action and the Seattle Indian Center.

Statement:
It has been an honor to represent your views and values during the past nine years as your State Representative. I am now running for the Senate to continue moving our State forward with sustainable economic, education and environmental policies.

We must develop strategies so that locally-owned and operated businesses can thrive; so that there is adequate training for living-wage jobs to bring prosperity to our communities and we are ensured of a sustainable and healthy environment. I serve on a Presidential Task Force working for federal clean-energy legislation, economic recovery and emerging technologies.

I most emphatically call for campaign finance reform and the overturning of I-134. Political power must flow from voting citizens rather than from corporate wealth. It's the State's responsibility to protect our vulnerable disabled and senior citizens with transparent and accountable safety nets. We must provide our children the education needed for the innovation- driven world economy and prepare them for multiple pathways for success.

I am the Democratic Party Nominee for Senate. I am proud to be endorsed by the WA State Labor Council, WA Conservation Voters, American Federation of Teachers and many more. I ask for your vote and continued support.

For more information:
(425) 775-8449



David Baker
(Prefers Republican Party)

Elected Experience:
City of Kenmore Council member, 2004 - present Deputy Mayor, 2004-2007, Mayor, 2008 - present Seashore Transportation Forum Suburban Cities Board of Directors King County Joint Resolutions Committee Co-chair King County Solid Waste Advisory Committee King County Hazardous Waste Committee King County Regional Transportation Committee Association of Washington Cities Federal Legislative Committee National League of Cities Board of Directors

Other Professional Experience:
Small Business Owner

Education:
Ph.D., Iowa State University, 1988 M.S., University of Nebraska, 1978

Community Service:
National Handicapped Sports Christmas in July, Home repair for the economically disadvantaged in Seattle, Kaboom National organization supporting children

Statement:
Taxes are already too high. As your Senator, I'll work to meet the needs of families and communities without raising your taxes! As Mayor of Kenmore, I have a proven record of putting families, jobs, and communities first. In seven years on the City Council, I voted against every proposed tax increase. I voted to cut utility taxes 2%. Under my leadership, construction of the new City Hall was under budget and on time. And we paid cash!

Unlike my opponent, I don't support a state income tax. She consistently votes to raise taxes. She voted to overturn voter-approved spending limits and for the largest spending increase in state history! She's been #1 on the Big Spenders list two years running. Her proposed legislation would cost taxpayers more than $45 billion over the next 10 years! It's time for change!

I will protect your money and control runaway spending; support transportation improvements to help local businesses and reduce traffic congestion; work to fund quality schools and make our communities safer for all, especially children and seniors; and promote job creation and economic growth.

In these challenging times, I pledge to work for you. Vote Baker for State Senator.

For more information:
(425) 485-2974

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Seattle Select U11 Purple wins 2010 Tiger's Mid Summer Tournament


Seattle Select U11 Purple (select baseball program based out of Shoreline with players from around the area) won the 2010 Tiger's Mid Summer Tournament played July 17-18 at Big Finn Park in Kirkland.

Seattle Select went perfect in the tourney:
11-0 vs Kirkland Sox
12-7 vs Eagles
16-4 vs host team North Kirkland Boyz
13-3 vs. Warriors

Shoreline players Jake F, Keegan R, Connor A, Tanner O, and Arthur P, are joined by Brandon M, Kit T, Brandon W, Zach P, Matt A, Aaron K, and Jeff S.

Managed by Cliff Jones
Coach Roy Riley

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To the Editor: District support personnel deserve a living wage and job security

To the Editor:

I would like to share my story with the readers. Remember, I am one of many.

I am entering my 15th school year as a paraeducator in the Shoreline District. I love my position and work diligently to help students achieve. I work with students who qualify for extra support in reading, writing, math, and English language learners. Over the years, I’ve had my “permanent” hours reduced from 8 hours/day to 6.75 hours/day. After 14 years, I still have no job security.

I am a proud product of Shoreline Schools. I am a single parent with a daughter who is a Shorewood graduate. We both live and vote in Shoreline. I have a current teaching credential, though not required for my position, but it is certainly beneficial to staff and students. I am a bargain for the district.

Even when I worked 8 hours/day, my income qualified us for the free and reduced lunch program for my daughter. I’m just now earning the same hourly rate as in 1994, when I left a previous employer. My income is so low that I qualify for food stamps and grants for utilities. On my income, I can’t afford to live alone and must share my home.

The effect of the removal of 1 permanent hour reduced my annual income AND raised my portion to pay for healthcare coverage. The effect was approximately $5037 total reduction in my pay for the 2009-2010 school year!

I, like you, deserve a living wage and job security. I believe the Shoreline District Administration and School Board are choosing to ignore the dedication and positive impact (on students) of their SESPA staff. Sadly, it FEELS like neither the Board nor the Administration even care.

Nancy Passé
Shoreline

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Pacific Chorus Frogs heard in Hillwood neighborhood

Pacific Chorus Frog Calling. 
Photo by Mike Bernard.

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Letter to the Editor: McDermott is playing on people's emotions

To the Editor:

What Rep. McDermott didn't write was that about two months ago, the president promised that there would be no more federal spending without finding the money source to pay for it. That is, either raising taxes or cutting spending elsewhere.

Republicans proposed using part of the unspent stimulus money already authorized, but Democrats refused. They passed the $30,000,000,000 spending bill without one Republican vote, and which is now added to our 13 Trillion dollar deficit. That means, they must borrow the money from China, who already own us, or print it; and thereby inflating the dollar and reducing our purchasing power. Every American will now owe more than $50,000 in taxes.

In short, McDermott is deliberately deceiving the people and playing on their emotions rather than reality.

I wonder when the American people will wise up and throw these big spending people, both republicans and democrats - mainly democrats- out of this government.

While the Wall Street reform legislation may have some good things in it, it provides for no additional regulation of the GSE's, Fannie and Freddie. These corporations own all of the bad housing loans. They are deeply in debt to the taxpayers and it is their actions that caused the recession in the first place. So, one has to ask, why are these Government Sponsored Entities not regulated, as are all of the banking system?

Jack Leicester
Shoreline

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32nd Dems rally in Kenmore, Saturday 10 am

The 32nd District Democrats will rally at 10 am on Saturday, July 24, at the Kenmore Park and Ride, 7346 NE Bothell Way, Kenmore 98028. After the Rally for their nominated and endorsed Democratic candidates and the 1st and 32nd Legislative District, they will head out doorbelling in Kenmore and Bothell.

We are keeping the King/Snohomish County line BLUE! This is THE PRE-PRIMARY doorbelling event - join us Saturday.

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Status report: Friends of Sunset Park and Boeing Creek Open Space

From the Friends of Sunset Park
Summary report completed: Pomegranate completed a beautiful summary report on our community visioning process, which you can view if you click the link above. It’s an impressive testament to all of the great work we accomplished together! The summary report will be presented for approval to the Shoreline School Board at their July 19 meeting and to Shoreline City Council on July 26.

RCO grant application submitted: The City of Shoreline successfully submitted a grant application by the July 9 deadline to the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for funding to support the implementation of our plan for the Boeing Creek Open Space. Our sincere thanks go to the dedicated Shoreline city staff, especially Maureen Colaizzi and Bethany Wolbrecht-Dunn, along with JGM Architects, for the many long hours that they put in to meet that very tight deadline. The RCO will announce their grant awards at the end of October. You can read more about the RCO decision-making process on our "fundraising" page.

Other funding opportunities: FoSP continues to work with the City of Shoreline and the Shoreline School District to identify and pursue additional funding opportunities to implement our community vision over time. After taking a closer look at the fine print of the RCO funding requirements, the City of Shoreline determined that the Sunset Park portion of the project was not a good match for an RCO grant. (You can learn more about that decision at our webpage.) The City and the School District will be updating their formal Joint Use Agreement this fall to include the Sunset site, which will allow the City to begin seeking out and pursuing other promising funding opportunities for that project.

Early success project: FoSP is working on identifying and organizing an “early success project” to engage our community, sooner rather than later, in a concrete step toward making our vision a reality. In May we organized a first Ivy Out party: though it was intended to take place at the Boeing Creek Open Space, a little bureaucratic policy glitch caused us to move the effort to Boeing Creek Park at the last minute. Still, a great group of about 10 hard-working volunteers showed up and managed to obliterate a great deal of ivy. Many thanks to all who helped with that. (And our sincere apologies to anyone who showed up at the Open Space but couldn’t find us after we moved.) We will keep you posted as we continue our efforts to get another early success project moving forward--and this time at one of our actual project sites.

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Hillwood Soccer Club taking registrations for fall soccer

Friday, July 23, 2010

Hillwood soccer is about our parents
Hillwood soccer is about our players
And Hillwood soccer is about our volunteers

Come join the fun - We can't wait to see you!


Hillwood Soccer Club is still taking registrations for fall soccer. Games start the weekend after Labor Day and go to the end of October, beginning of November.

Children 5 to 18 are encouraged. Go to the Hillwood website to register. Email or call 206-542-3353 for more information.

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Woman passing bad check chased by Shoreline police into Edmonds and Lynnwood

By Teresa Wippel, MyEdmondsNews

Anyone in the vicinity of 220th Street Southwest and Highway 99 around 10 am Friday probably noticed the police activity involving both Shoreline and Edmonds police. Here’s the scoop, according to spokespeople from the respective police departments:

A woman tried to pass a bad check at the Bank of America branch in Aurora Village. The bank called 911 and the woman “got antsy and went out to her car, where a male was driving, just about the time we rolled up,” said King County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. John Urquhart.

Shoreline police pursued the car northbound on Highway 99 into Edmonds, where the passenger and driver bailed out, resulting in “a foot chase in the area of 220th and Highway 99,” where Edmonds police responded to assist, said Edmonds Police Sgt. Don Anderson.

The couple wasn’t found, Urquhart said.
---------------------------------------------
Update:  The car, a Hyundai Tiburon, was dumped at Lynnwood Honda.  Lynnwood Police also assisted.  Neither suspect was caught.  The woman is white and about 25 years old.  The male is black and also about 25 years old.

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Letter to the Editor: Town Heart Center

To the Editor:

I am sending you a link to a TED lecture that I feel has very important information and implications for us regarding how we proceed with our Town Heart Center.

In this profound and humorous TED lecture by Howard Kunstler on suburbia, he reviews the serious business of suburbia; how we got where we are now and how we might get out of the typical suburbia dilemma we find ourselves facing. He challenges us and provides creative ways to think about our future direction.

Although, I am not a fan and I apologize up front for his tasteless (some might refer to it as colorful) vocabulary, he has ideas and perceptions that we might want to take to heart with regard to our City's Heart Center(s).

Throughout the lecture he reviews suburban architecture and design with a critical and perceptive eye. In the later portion of his lecture he shows diagrams and photographs of potential, living, civic and residential centers.

I offer you this presentation in the hopes that it will stimulate new and creative ways for some of us to think about our heart center's future before we attempt to build it.

Afia Menke
Shoreline

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City Light Customers now have tools to track streetlight outages

From Power Lines.  
City Light unveiled a new Web application today that will let customers track streetlights that are reported out or malfunctioning.

Featured on the utility’s website, customers can see if a particular streetlight is reported as out and get an idea of when it might be fixed. If a streetlight hasn’t been reported, the customer can use an online form located on the page to report it.

“Most of our streetlights are fixed within 10 business days of when they are reported,” City Light Superintendent Jorge Carrasco said. “However, some lights have more serious problems and require more complicated repairs. Now, customers will be able to see exactly what streetlights are reported as out, and what their repair status is. This new Web application will help with some long-standing frustrations our customers have had about knowing when a streetlight will be fixed.”

The Web application is up-dated daily, five days per week. Customers still are able to talk directly with a customer service representative by calling 206-684-7056. The new service is designed to give customers better access to streetlight information and reporting streetlight outages.

Seattle City Light is the ninth largest public electric utility in the United States. It has some of the lowest cost customer rates of any urban utility, providing reliable, renewable and environmentally responsible power to nearly 1 million Seattle area residents. City Light has been greenhouse gas neutral since 2005, the first electric utility in the nation to achieve that distinction.

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From the Other Washington, Rep. Jim McDermott

Thursday, July 22, 2010


Representative Jim McDermott's 7th congressional district includes the southwest section of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park.

Unemployment Insurance Bill Finally Passes

Long-term unemployment has reached its highest levels since we’ve been counting, and yet, prior to July 1, not one of the more than 200 Republicans in Congress had voted in favor of legislation including an extension of unemployment benefits to jobless workers. The program lapsed in early June because of Republican obstruction in the Senate, and millions of Americans have lost their benefits since then.

We finally passed a bill restoring and extending unemployment benefits. I’m glad that we were able to send some relief to the millions of jobless workers who need them to make ends meet, but am disgusted that we had to wait for nearly two months.

McDermott Congo Conflict Minerals Provisions in Wall Street Reform Bill

This week, Congress enacted critical legislation to reform the banking and investment practices of Wall Street. I am very pleased that this measure includes provisions to hold accountable American companies whose products contain minerals from mines that help to fund the devastating war in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

These provisions incorporate much of my Conflict Minerals Trade Act (H.R. 4128), and will affect companies like Apple, Intel, and HP, requiring them to submit an annual report to the Securities and Exchange Commission detailing which of their products are not “conflict-free,” meaning they use minerals from mines controlled by armed groups.

The conflict in the DRC has become one of the deadliest and most brutal in modern history; the rape of hundreds of thousands of women and girls has been used as a primary tool of war. Estimates suggest that between 800 and 1,100 people are murdered each day in the country. Funding for armed groups often comes from the sale of minerals—often to American companies—from mines the groups control. This legislation will help thousands of people and protect countless women in the Democratic Republic of Congo by cutting off a key source of funding for armed groups.

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TOP Food drive for school supplies for BTS Consortium

TOP Food and Drug store in Shoreline is running a drive to collect backpacks filled with school supplies for local children in need. Customers may purchase specially designated backpacks for $9.99. 

TOP Foods has already filled the backpacks with a variety of school supplies valued at $23 that they are donating for distribution by the Back to School Consortium

The drive will continue until the stores run out of the backpacks.

TOP Food is located at Midvale N and N 175th, just east of Aurora.

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Evan Smith: Primary vote on Supreme Court, Appeals Court, not District Court


By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

The primary election ballots that arrive next week will ask us to vote for the Washington Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, but not for the Shoreline District Court.
         
That’s because Washington has different elections rules for different levels of courts.
      
Elections for the Shoreline District Court and other district courts in this and other counties appear on the primary ballot only when three or more candidates run for a position.
      
Since longtime District Court Judge Douglas Smith is running unopposed, and only two candidates are running for the other position, both positions will appear only on the general-election ballot. Appointed Judge Marcine Anderson and senior deputy King County Prosecuting Attorney Dennis J. McCurdy are running for the newly created Position 2 on the Shoreline District Court, which serves Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Kenmore.
      
In June, I mistakenly wrote that we would vote for the positions on the primary ballot, with any candidate who gets a majority of the votes running unopposed in November.
      
That’s the rule for elections to the State Supreme Court and for courts of appeal. You’ll see three Supreme-Court positions and two appeals-court positions on the primary ballot even though both appeals-court positions and one Supreme-Court position have only one candidate each, and one Supreme-Court position has only two candidates. That means that we’ll vote twice to elect each of three unopposed candidates and that we’ll elect at least one Supreme-Court justice by giving a candidate a majority in the primary.
      
It turns out that Washington has at least six different rules for judicial elections.
  • Elections for full terms to the Supreme Court and the courts of appeals in even-numbered years always appear on the primary ballot, with any candidate who gets a majority running unopposed in November. In odd-numbered-year elections for unexpired terms, there’s a primary only with three or more candidates.
  • Superior-Court elections in counties with populations under 100,000 follow the same rules at Supreme-Court and appeals-court elections. Superior-Court elections in large counties have different rules.
  • Superior-Court candidates in counties with populations over 100,000 are certified without election. When there are two or more candidates, there is a primary, but a candidate who gets a majority is elected without running in the general election. In odd-numbered-year special elections, there’s no primary when there are only two candidates. 

  • District-Court elections go to November without a primary when there are one or two candidates. When there are three or more, there’s a primary with a candidate who gets a majority running unopposed in November.
       
Elections for municipal courts like the one in Lake Forest Park follow the same rules as non-judicial non-partisan elections. There’s a primary only with three or more candidates with the top two advancing, whether or not someone gets a majority.
      
Why all the different rules?
      
A spokesman for the secretary of state says that the laws for judicial elections were written over time, and that there hasn’t been a legislative rewrite of the judicial elections code to harmonize the various levels of judicial elections.
      
Why hasn’t the Legislature rewritten the laws?
      
State Senate government operations chairwoman Darlene Fairley, D-Lake Forest Park, told me Wednesday that she doesn't remember the secretary of state bringing any specific proposal to fix the inconsistencies in judicial elections.

She said that her committee tried to pass a fix, but leadership didn’t want it fixed, wishing to keep the confusion in elections law.

"They left the confusion that arose with the passage of the top two," Fairley said. "They welcomed a legal challenge, since they hated the top two."

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Letter to the Editor: I support a NO vote on LFP's Prop 1

I am appalled to note that with regard to the presentation from the Shoreline Historical Museum, the City Manager advised that "no action is necessary."

With regard to the property tax ballot measure, I note that the Shoreline City Manager and City Attorney recommended that the Council adopt Res. 307 on July 26, placing a 6-year property tax levy lid lift on the November 2 ballot. I am sure such a measure will meet the same resistance that Lake Forest Park Proposition 1 is expected to receive on ballots being mailed later this month.

Like many of my neighbors, I strongly support a NO vote on LFP's Prop 1. The measure is not what it pretends to be, it's too confusing and too much, there are no guarantees as to how the money would be spent, and it's certainly not the time to add yet another permanent local tax increase.

Jean Thomas
Lake Forest Park

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CHS is recruiting Board Members


The Center for Human Services (CHS) currently seeks a few new board members. As a local nonprofit human service organization, CHS has been strengthening the community through counseling, education, and support to children, youth, adults, and families since 1970.

In strengthening your local community, CHS supports individuals and families by providing preventive and responsive, culturally competent programs that help to prevent and treat addictions, promote mental health, support youth academic success, assist parents’ engagement in their children’s learning, and strengthen relationships and parenting skills. These programs are strengths-based and family centered in order to encourage success and opportunities that develop personal skill, so that both individuals and families are empowered to identify and draw upon their strengths and capacity for growth. This process fosters change, which contributes to a healthy and vibrant community for all to live and work within.



CHS is looking for a few new hard-working, team-oriented, board members who can infuse their leadership, strategic thinking, and impact in their community, in order to strengthen the delivery of CHS programs and further develop the agency. With locations throughout the Shoreline and Northshore School Districts’ regions, you are encouraged to apply your talented support and expertise toward becoming a new board member. Board members are tasked with duties around policy-making, community relations and fund-raising. To learn more about CHS go to the website.  To be considered for a CHS Board of Directors position, please download and complete the application and email it to the CHS Executive Director or bring it to our Shoreline Center at 17018 15th Ave NE or fax it to 206-362-7152.


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Letter to the Editor: I am tired of feeling like I don't matter

To the Editor:

Shoreline School District has shut down contract negotiations with SESPA members, instead adopting a "take it or leave it attitude" with an offer that includes cuts to nurses, library techs, and security guards.

Our superintendent, Sue Walker was just given a pay raise of over $8000 and our deputy superintendent, Marcia Harris was given a bonus of almost $10,000.

It appears that the Shoreline School District will have an ending fund balance of 10 million dollars in August.

I have been a paraeducator at Echo Lake Elementary School for 11 years. I am tired of feeling like what I do doesn’t matter to the administrators of Shoreline School District. To me, this is not about money-it’s about feeling like I have a value, like I am making a difference.

I actually have more hours now than I’ve ever had, but it is the makeup of those hours that disturbs me. 4 years ago, I had 4 “permanent” special ed hours. At the end of that school year, I was told that 2 of those hours would be taken away. The interesting thing is that those 2 hours were quickly replaced by “temporary” hours. Nice for the district because those hours always start at the lowest pay scale, no matter how many years a person has worked for the district.

During the next 3 years, my “permanent” hours have been reduced to 1-¼ “permanent” hours.

I am tired of having my “permanent” hours carved away bit by bit. I am grateful that I still have hours, even “temporary” ones, but there doesn’t seem to be any reason for this yearly chipping away at hours except to save the school district money on the backs of the lowest paid employees.

Our district is one of the best, and what makes it one of the best is our nurses, our library techs, our paraeducators, …..ALL of our classified staff. Who cares if other districts don’t have the staffing we have? Shouldn’t the other districts try to be like the Shoreline School District, rather than us trying to be like them?

Mary Lauch
Shoreline

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Update: Truck driven into Echo Lake

Shortly before 10 am on Monday, July 19, a citizen at Echo Lake Park at the north end of the lake, N 200th and Ashworth Ave N, noticed an oil sheen on the lake and notified the City.

City employees rowed out into the lake and discovered a vehicle, fully submerged. When they rowed back to shore they noted tire marks in the grass and sand leading into the lake. They called 911.

Office Souza and Sgt. Bartlett arrived. Office Souza observed a shoe in the shoreline of the lake. Not knowing if the shoe was related to the vehicle or if the vehicle was occupied, they notified the King County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit.

The Marine Unit arrived a short time later as well as Shoreline Fire. Deputy Marshall immediately dove to the vehicle and discovered it was not occupied. 

They attached a cable to the truck and pulled it from the lake.

Officer Souza discovered that a partial cinder block had been placed on the accelerator, holding it down. The keys were in the ignition.


It was a 1980 Chevy pick-up which had been reported stolen from a residence in the 17300 block of 2nd Ave NW at 9 am that morning. The owner saw it last on Sunday evening.

The lake was posted for no swimming to give the oil and gas time to dissipate. A large snag in the lake was dislodged by the truck and is floating free. The Parks department will see about removing it.

The Echo Lake Neighborhood Association held their annual work party and picnic without incident on Tuesday afternoon, July 20, but were requested not to put sand on the beach for fear it would trap pollutants from the truck.

Sources for this story included Shoreline Police and the King County Sheriff's department. Photos courtesy City of Shoreline.

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Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Ethnobotany Tour




On Saturday, July 24, from 11 am - 1 pm the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation will conduct an ethnobotany tour.


Ethnobotany is the study of how people of a particular culture and region make use of indigenous plants. 

Learn about the interesting uses of some of the plants in the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, both natives and exotics from other lands.

Call the Shoreline Parks Department at 206-801-2600 to register. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for youth

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation
20312 15th Ave NW
Shoreline, WA 98177
206-612-7312

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Coffee with Constituents, Shoreline Councilmember Shari Winstead (Tracey)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Shoreline Councilmember Shari Winstead (formerly Tracey) will be holding an informal coffee hour with citizens on Saturday, July 24, 9:30 – 10:30 am at Top Foods Market Cafe, near the fireplace.
"As your elected representative, I want to give you an opportunity to let me know what is on your mind. If you can’t make it, you can always reach me by e-mail. I always enjoy hearing from the citizens of our great city."
City Council meetings are open to the public, and the meetings are streamed live on the City’s website. The meetings are also broadcast on television (the channel varies depending on your cable carrier). You can sign up for e-mail notification of City Council meetings or any other City business that is of interest to you on the City’s website.

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Letter to the Editor: School District maneuvered the Museum

To the Editor,

By simply looking at outcomes, the way it looks is that the School District very skillfully maneuvered the Museum into endorsing the bond with a vague agreement they had no intention of helping to facilitate. Because Shoreline voters want the high schools rebuilt and trusted that a solution for the Museum was in place, the $150 million bond was approved. Without the Museum Board’s endorsement, the bond would have failed. Now it turns out, the land to which the Ronald School Building was to be moved was never really available.

Recently, the SSD has issued statements describing the Museum’s “failure” to acquire the land by July 1, means that now they (SSD) simply must take the community’s landmark building and gut it for some as yet unknown purpose for Shorewood. Translation: “Time’s up, we win, everyone else loses.”

Wouldn’t it have been nice for the voters to know that there was an arbitrary deadline of July 1 to acquire land that wasn’t available? Land purchases take time, even when the property exists. Oh, those pesky details.

Jan Stewart
Shoreline

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