Veterans Event committee to meet Monday, Mar 28 at City Hall

Monday, March 14, 2011

The Veterans Event Committee will meet Monday March 28 at 10 am in the Shoreline City Hall. The receptionist will have the room number.

All Shoreline veterans and citizens interested in helping plan the 2011 activities schedule are invited to attend. Topics and general information to be discussed include:
  • Naval Base Everett support potential
  • Formal Name proposal
  • Flag holder information
  • Possible 2011 activities and dates
  • Recent Shoreline CC Veterans Conference
Do you have a pertinent subject to be discussed? We would be pleased to have you attend and give us your thoughts. Contact Frank Moll 206-363-5363.

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For the Birds: Feathers versus Felines

Photo by Christine Southwick
By Christine Southwick

Cats are smart, adaptable, prolific carnivores. Prehistorically, they existed on all continents except Antarctica.

Cats have the most ingrained prey drive of any group of mammals. They will hunt and kill even if they are not hungry.

This has been proven in cat studies repeatedly. Indeed, some studies in the US have shown that well-fed cats become Super-Predators, and proceed to reduce a wide spectrum of wildlife including shrews, voles, amphibians, and of course birds. Birds that feed or nest on or near the ground are the most threatened by pet and feral cats. In this area, that’s Bewick’s Wrens, Juncos, Robins, Varied Thrushes, hummingbirds, Flickers, and Band-Tailed Pigeons.

When I was a teenager, I had a cat that would deposit 3-6 shrews, voles, field mice, and other little furry bundles on the backdoor mat every morning. I would praise her, and then feed her. She never ate what she brought me, but she was a mighty hunter. She probably killed birds. I know she caught moths. Why would she ignore birds?

I protect and feed birds because I think that humans have stacked the odds against their survival by:
  • Cutting down, building on, and paving over their feeding, watering, and resting stops they need every spring and fall migration, and eliminating their nesting sites once they get there;
  • Creating barriers of glass and towers of light that kill hundreds of thousands of flying birds each year;
  • And by poisoning their food, and their water, with pesticides, oils and acid rains.
It is estimated, that in the US, alone, over a million birds are killed annually by cats. Some groups say this number is too low, and others that it is too high; I feel comfortable accepting this number as being a mid-range number.

Best estimates are that outside cats, including pet cats allowed out during part of the day, will kill at least fifteen birds a year. Feral cats will eat their kills; pets usually just leave their kills.


I have cats. I have found that given a window that they can look out, or an indoor–outdoor run, they are happy and contented. I made my own cat runs. Now you can find a number of types and sizes on line.

Help both your cats and the wild birds live long healthy lives. Keep them separate from each other.

Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she's sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.

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“Where Our Wild Things Are” Backyard Habitat Tour 2011 is Looking for Host Habitats

By Jennifer Rotermund, PR Manager for the WOWTA Backyard Habitat Tour

On Saturday July 9, Shoreline will be home to the 2nd Annual “Where Our Wild Things Are” Backyard Habitat Tour (or WOWTA, for short). 

2010 WOWTA Garden
The tour is held in two different Shoreline neighborhoods each year and features a selection of properties certified as Backyard Wildlife Habitats. Last year’s tour took place in the Hillwood and Echo Lake neighborhoods and was a huge success. 

The WOWTA selection team, working to turn this fun event into an annual tradition in Shoreline, is beginning the process of putting together this year’s WOWTA Tour habitats and would like your assistance. 

If you are a Shoreline resident (living in a neighborhood other than Hillwood or Echo Lake) whose property is already certified as a Backyard Wildlife Habitat or has all of the properties to be certified and you’re interested in having your property considered for participation in the tour, please let us know.

Volunteering as a WOWTA Tour Host is fun and the time commitment is minimal. Here is what a couple of last year’s hosts had to say about their experience of being a WOWTA Tour Host:

2010 WOWTA Garden
 "Being invited to have our property included on the 2010 WOWTA Tour gave me the perfect opportunity to do what I had wanted to do for years: remove invasive plants and distribute native plants in our wooded area. Tour organizers were communicative, friendly, and best of all made no demands upon me as the gardener! The day itself flowed by with many respectful and interested "tourists" strolling through. The tour is not a beauty contest but a naturally inspiring walkabout. Being a part of it was a pleasure.” -Jocelyn

2010 WOWTA Garde
"If you are considering opening your garden to the tour this year, don't be nervous at all. It is not a beauty contest. If you have a yard that is working for and with nature, it will look amazing in the summer for the tour. My yard was viewed in February, the bleakest month in dead winter. The team could see how it would be lush in summer. We just mowed the little lawn we have and that was it! Hope you consider showing off your hard work this year. It is so important to spread our ideas and beliefs.” -Marti

If volunteering your property to be part of this year’s or
an upcoming year’s WOWTA Backyard Habitat Tour sounds like something you’d like to do, please contact Barbara Guthrie right away at 206-542-3242.

If you would like to learn how to certify your property visit the NWF site. It’s easy an easy way to show your neighbors that you care about the health of wildlife and where you live.

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Dr. Vicki: Foods and Allergies

Victoria Rhoades, ND
By Victoria Rhoades, ND

When foods attack! To be clear, “allergies” is a bit of a misnomer, since “allergy” means only type of sensitivity reaction that is based on the response of one type of immune chemical in the blood, an immunoglobulin called IgE. This type of food hypersensitivity tends to be fast and severe, and foods that commonly cause this reaction include (but are not limited to) peanuts and shellfish. This is the classic food allergy, and people with it frequently carry emergency medicines in case of accidental exposure. The classic medical test for this type of allergy is a skin prick test.

A more general term that is seeing more frequent use is “food sensitivity.” It does not discern the specific cause for a food causing the problem, but recognizes that there is an actual problem that occurs. The problem may be a result of a different immunoglobulin, or because of an inability to digest or metabolize a food.

Possible symptoms that can be caused by different food sensitivities include digestive problems (diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas), skin problems (rashes, eczema), respiratory problems (chronic runny nose, sinusitis, asthma), and other problems like ringing in the ears, joint pain, or headaches. More subtle symptoms are trickier to identify, as they may be caused by either a delayed type of hypersensitivity (such as celiac disease), by something unrelated to the immune system at all (such as lactose intolerance), and may not be related to food sensitivities at all. These are things for a doctor to discern.

Other immunoglobulins include IgM, IgA, and IgG, and each of them are associated with different immune reactions. A test for IgG and IgA food reactivities is a blood sample, which is fairly straightforward, although results are dependent on whether or not someone has been exposed to the food in question. If someone avoids a food for long enough for symptoms to subside, many times the blood test results will be ambiguous since the immunoglobulin levels have also subsided.

If the problem is not an immune problem, such as lactose intolerance, then the blood test for immunoglobulins will be negative (although it’s possible to have lactose intolerance AND an immune response to dairy products).

Another way to test for food sensitivity – which covers all types of food sensitivity – is called the elimination/reintroduction diet. The suspected foods are first eliminated, while insuring that basic nutritional needs are still being met. The period of elimination varies depending on the practitioners’ judgment. After that time, each food, in its simplest form, is gradually reintroduced. A diary is kept throughout the elimination and reintroduction, to monitor symptoms for improvement or worsening. This test should be done under a doctors’ supervision to make sure that you are doing it correctly and that it’s the right test for you.

If you have unexplained symptoms, such as those listed above, I urge you to see a medical practitioner who can guide you through this process. There are certain foods that frequently cause problems, and each patient will have their own concerns and needs. Your best bet may be a blood test, but it may be a skin prick test, or it may be the elimination plan.

Victoria Rhoades, ND, practices in Lake Forest Park, and she avoids gluten and strawberries; no strawberry shortcake for her! She helps her patients with food allergies through tests, food elimination, and by providing recipes and locations to find specialty foods.

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It takes a village...Einstein teamwork reduces school waste

Einstein Middle School.  Photo courtesy Einstein PTSA.
by Diane Hettrick

Albert Einstein Middle School, through a program they call "Use Less at Lunch" increased their recycling, created new compost for the school garden (see article on Edible School Yard), and decreased the amount of garbage produced at the school from eight cans a day to one. In the process, they saved the school money.

Perhaps it wasn't a village, but it was definitely a team of focused and supportive members.

Marcia Garrett, a teacher already instrumental in the Edible Schoolyard project (see previous story), had a suspicion that a lot of recycling was going in the garbage during school lunches and that it would be a good thing to do something about it.

She advises a student community service club, called SERVE, and she thought it would be a good thing for them to explore. SERVE members Josh Paik, Sofia Takherkani, Jonas Chen, Hannah Lee, Katya Grigerson, Roxie Williams, and Muyen Huang were enthusiastic, seeing a project where they could make a huge difference. 

According to Marcia, "The students knew there were ways to improve the environment that had not been tapped yet, so they invited folks at CleanScapes to tell them how they could make changes in the Einstein school cafeteria. "

CleanScapes is the company that the City of Shoreline contracts with for garbage and recycling services. CleanScapes is totally committed to recycling - "We don't own a landfill" - they say, and they were happy to help.

SERVE club members hand-sorted the garbage in a Waste Audit
Hannah Swee of CleanScapes provided the initial contact and information about what could be done with the kind of waste typically produced from the school lunchroom.

Candy Castellanos of CleanScapes arrived for the second stage - the archaeological dig.

SERVE members donned aprons and plastic gloves and hand-sorted the contents of the lunchroom bins in a waste audit to find out if the right stuff was being put into the recycle containers.

Marcia says, "What they discovered astonished them: A remarkable amount of recyclable waste was going into the regular trash AND a huge amount of the waste could have been composted as food waste."

They were determined to make changes in how the school sorted and handled its lunchroom waste.

They took their proposal to the principal, Stephanie Clark. She was interested, and contacted Aldan Shanks, CleanScapes Waste Diversion Manager.

Bins were clearly and colorfully labeled
The pilot project was created. The SERVE club created labeling for the bins, the student body was advised of proper sorting and were taught composting in their science classes. 

A "Share" table was set up in the lunch room for students to put the food they will never even open, rather than in the garbage.

Aldan Shanks of CleanScapes joined principal Stephanie Clark in the lunchroom for the first three days of the project.

Dan Prince, Einstein custodian, helps SERVE members with the bins
The final member of the team is Dan Prince, Einstein's custodian. Principal Clark points out that the steady support and leadership from him is crucial to the success of the program.

So it took a large team - service club, teachers, students, principal, custodian, CleanScapes - but the payoff has been enormous. Eight cans of garbage a day went to one can a day. Compost is produced for the school garden. Students have learned more about recycling and composting. The school saves money. 

Principal Clark sees the larger learning process that occurred.
"I am really proud of the students during both lunches.  We have learned organizing your waste to properly dispose in the correct container can be an advanced thinking skill.  At first it took a small committee to decide if a specific container should be recycled or thrown away. I am hopeful the knowledge and habits created during lunch time will make students more conscientious consumers for the rest of their lives. "
The project could use some community volunteers. Contact the school office 206-393-4730 for more information. 

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Haz‐Mat Response in Kenmore

The Northshore Fire Department responded to the report of a possible hazardous materials incident at an apartment building in the 8000 block of NE Bothell Way at 6:00 a.m. this morning.

As a result of a note taped to an apartment door, firefighters requested the Eastside Hazardous Materials team for assistance. Ten residents were evacuated from adjacent units and evaluated; all were uninjured. The Haz‐Mat team detected high levels of carbon monoxide in the apartment and discovered a person overcome by the poisonous gas. The source of the carbon monoxide was from a barbeque intentionally placed in the apartment.

Upon investigation, a King County Sheriff’s representative believes the death to be suicide. 


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Poverty & Literacy Workshop, Wednesday, Mar 16

Poverty and Literacy Workshop presented by Power of One Senior Volunteers

This free workshop focuses on the effects of poverty on students' literacy skills. This event is open to anyone who works with students or is interested in learning more about poverty and literacy.

Wednesday, March 16
2:00 pm
Shoreline-LFP Senior Center
18560 1st Ave NE #1
Shoreline 98155

RSVP to Karen Kessinger, Volunteer Coordinator, Power of One Senior Volunteer program

Power of One is sponsoring this workshop thanks to support from the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation.

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Contractors will begin night work on Aurora Monday, Mar 14

Crews will start their work north of the YMCA around 7 pm tonight, excavating the roadway and digging a trench in preparation for installing a large stormwater pipe. Attached is an updated flier showing that this work will begin tonight and continue for the next 7 to 10 nights. This work will not occur on Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights.

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Shoreline Fire and the Firefighter Tower Climb

Columbia Center from the ground, looking to the clouds above
On Sunday, March 6, 1,550 firefighters from 27 states, Canada and New Zealand - a record 281 different fire departments - competed in the world firefighter stairclimbing championship by climbing the 1,311 steps of the Columbia Center. They wore full gear and breathing apparatus, and took pledges to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Montana firefighter Kory Burgess won for the third consecutive year, beating his own time by two seconds to finish the 69 flights of stairs in 10 minutes 53.79 seconds.

Four Shoreline Firefighters made the climb: Brett Defenbaugh, Sabine Arnold, Andy Holstad and John Henson.

With two weeks of fundraising remaining (to March 31), firefighters in the 20th annual climb have already raised over $695,000 for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The whole event began 20 years ago, with a Shoreline Firefighter, David Engler. (See previous story by David Engler.)

He did his first climb alongside hundreds of civilians – except that he was dressed in full bunker gear and on self contained breathing apparatus. It was quite a sight. Since then, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society has held dual events: one for citizens and one for firefighters.

Shoreline Firefighter Bryan Gibb has been the Firefighter coordinator of the event for 20 years. He serves as Incident Commander, working with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to make sure all runs smoothly and safely for the 1500 firefighters who come from all over to do the event.

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Shoreline Fire's David Engler honored at 20th anniversary of the firefighter stair climb he started

David Engler t-shirt wore by Shoreline Fire climbers
Four Shoreline firefighters completed the 2011 Scott Firefighter Tower Climb on Sunday, March 6 at the Columbia Tower in Seattle: Brett Defenbaugh, Sabine Arnold, Andy Holstad and John Henson. (See story).

This year the Shoreline team is celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the year that firefighter David Engler “stepped up first” and founded the now annual event on behalf of International Association of Firefighters Union Local 1760. Climbing teams and the volunteer crews from Shoreline will wear special commemorative t-shirts claiming “He Stepped Up First!” – as a statement of pride and gratitude to Engler for his contributions to the event over the years.

Engler first did the Big Climb 20 years ago, when civilians braved the tower in shorts and running shoes. He decided to don full combat firefighting gear, his SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) and do the climb as a firefighter. In the following years, he issued challenges to fellow firefighters to join him. (See event poster.) Thus began the one of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s most successful fundraising events: the Firefighter Challenge Tower Climb.



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David Engler's poster for the first firefighter stair climb

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Quick Start Lunch 'n Learn, Tuesday, March 15

Sunday, March 13, 2011

The Tuesday Lunch and Learn for start-up business owners, March 15, 12 noon to 1:30 pm at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Avenue N, is presented by Shoreline Community College Small Business Accelerator and the city of Shoreline. The sessions are free; bring a brown bag lunch.

Get ready for the Trade show and Business fair season with this hands-on workshop.

Trade shows and business fairs can be an excellent way to reach out to new markets and customers but they can also be a very expensive waste of time if a few simple rules are ignored.

Come to this workshop to learn from people with hundreds of hours of trade show experience under their belt. We will teach you tips and tricks as well as give you a chance to stand behind a mock trade show booth to experience and practice new trade show techniques.

We will discuss and answer common questions like:
  • How do I engage a potential customer?
  • How do I collect leads so that I can best use them in the future?
  • What would be a good tradeshow for me?
  • Is there any marketing I should do before the show?
  • How do I create buzz?
  • When should I folllow up on my leads?
  • What promotional products are the most effective?
Contact Mark McVeety Director, Small Business Accelerator, Shoreline Community College for more information.

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PTA Focus Day - PTA goes to Olympia with a message

Shoreline PTA Council members ready to march.  Photo by Alice Lawson.
Every year, busy Shoreline and Lake Forest Park parents rearrange their lives, figure out what to do with the kids on the school holiday of Presidents' Day, and hit the road for the Washington State PTA Focus Day in Olympia. They came from all the PTAs in the Shoreline School District, organized by the Shoreline PTA Council leaders.

Shoreline Teens advocate for education.  Photo by Alice Lawson.
This year for Focus Day on February 21, PTA members were encouraged to bring their students, both as an educational experience for the kids, to show the legislators what is at stake, and to allow the kids an opportunity to advocate for themselves and their education.

The Youth have a message for legislators.  Photo by Alice Lawson.
Our PTA members were joined by PTA volunteers from all over the state, all there to talk to their State Senators and Representatives, to tell them what is important to parents.

The basic message is simple: Support Education. Fulfill the "paramount duty" of the State to fund education. The details are in the PTA top legislative priorities as established yearly at the PTA Legislative Assembly.  (See previous article Today's PTA: not about cupcakes and fundraising.)

32nd District legislators with their constituents.  Photo by Alice Lawson.
They met with our legislators (left to right at the head of the table) Rep. Cindy Ryu, Sen. Maralyn Chase, Rep. Ruth Kagi.

PTA members rally on the Capitol steps in Olympia.  Photo by Alice Lawson.
They rallied on the Capitol steps.

Legislators assured them of unwavering support for education as a value, told the parents they would do everything they could to protect funding, but that the reality of Olympia today is deep cuts to social services and education.

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Shoreline Rotary Foundation benefit auction April 2

Shoreline Rotary "Make A Difference" Gala Auction is April 2, 2011 at the Edmonds Yacht Club.
Dinner and No-Host Bar. Doors open at 5 p.m. and Silent Auction begins.
 
For reservations, contact Jan at 425-778-3189.

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Intrepid Scouts: Camping in zero degree weather

On the weekend of February 25-26, 2011, nine teenagers in Lake Forest Park Boy Scout Troop 317, accompanied by five adults, went on their annual camp-out to the North Lakes District "Klondike Derby" at Ensign Ranch in the mountains outside Cle Elum.

Because of the extreme weather conditions, the trip didn't quite go as planned. Scout Master Bruce Pyper tells the tale.

What is a Klondike Derby? The derby is a chance to practice winter camping and to compete in various events. The participating troops vie for first place in events such as:
  • The "Snow Blind" obstacle course - all the scouts, but one, have been "blinded" by the snow and must complete an obstacle course guided by the one scout who can see.
  • A fire-building competition - ever try to build a fire in the middle of a field covered in 2 feet of snow?
  • "Knots a Problem" - a knot-tying competition
  • First Aid
  • Winter shelter building

Unfortunately, the boys were unable to compete in the events and show how much they had learned. Several of the young men in the troop simply did not have enough body mass to keep their core temperature up -- so the troop opted to come home early.

We did spend the night in an unheated cabin with only three solid - well, mostly solid - walls. Tarps were stretched over the open side, but it was still very cold...

How cold was it? It was SOOOOO COLD....
  • Water and Kool-Aid were freezing in their containers - ever try drinking solid water?? We ended up either putting the water bottles in our sleeping bags to keep them from freezing or pouring the water into kettles. The kettles froze solid overnight, but warmed up nicely when placed on the morning campfire.
  • We had to put the food IN a cooler to keep it "warm". There was no room for the bananas so they turned into "banana-sicles."
  • The propane fuel bottles would only work if they were held - propane does not work too well below freezing.
  • Batteries lost their charge quickly. There were several dead flashlights and cameras.
And.... perhaps, strangest of all.... Teenage boys were NOT interested in food and staying up all night. Everyone was curled up in their doubled-up sleeping bags by 9:30 pm.

In reality, we found out that, as of 11 pm Friday night, the air temperature was zero degrees Fahrenheit. And it continued getting colder through the night.

Despite not competing in the Derby, I don't think the boys will forget this trip for a very long time. They went WAY beyond their comfort zone and lived to tell the tale. Not too many boys their age, or adults either, are willing to even consider attempting such a thing.

Moreover, they survived a brutally cold night without cellphones, I-pods, X-Boxes, much less heat or electricity. They learned how to work through problems and pain - ever try to get fingers and toes "un-numbed" in sub-freezing weather? They pulled together as a group and, believe it or not, they are ready for next year - as long as they get to sleep in a heated cabin!. This was a truly "character building" trip.

The next camp-out will be in March so stay tuned for more...

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Evan Smith: Ryu’s fraud-fighting bill passes both House and Senate

Rep. Cindy Ryu, D-32
By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

A bill that State Rep. Cindy Ryu sponsored to extend a mortgage-fraud prosecution fund passed the State House of Representatives February 26 by a unanimous vote.

An identical companion bill passed the Senate three days earlier by a 47-2 vote.

The bills would extend a $1 surcharge on deed-of trust filings to pay for mortgage-fraud prosecution, including prosecution staff time.

The mortgage-lending-fraud-prosecution account was scheduled to expire this year. The legislation extends it through June 2016.

"Criminals continue to prey on Washington's residents with a variety of mortgage fraud schemes," said Ryu (D-Shoreline), who represents the 32nd District. "Local prosecutors would not have the resources to pursue these criminals without this resource.”

The Legislature created the Mortgage Lending Fraud Prosecution Account in 2003 to help pay for prosecutions of mortgage fraud, which often involve lengthy, complex and costly cases that would otherwise impose heavy burdens on the budgets of county prosecutors.

The director of consumer services at the state department of financial institutions had requested the Ryu bill.

Ryu is a member of the House committee on business and financial institutions.

The $1 surcharge on deeds of trust was originally suggested by the mortgage industry, which has urged lawmakers to protect homeowners by passing Ryu's bill before the fraud-fighting account expires.

"We wholeheartedly support it," said Steve Buckner on behalf of the Washington Association of Mortgage Professionals. "We do not want the bad actors in the industry. We want them out."

The chairman of the Committee, Rep. Steve Kirby (D-Tacoma), said it was surprising to see a bill that continues a state fee earn universal support.

"Not one single person in the state of Washington has signed in opposed to this bill," Kirby remarked during the public hearing.

Ryu is a Democrat representing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Woodway, south Edmonds and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District.


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Spring ahead - Fall back - lose an hour this weekend as daylight savings begins

Alarm Clock
 Did you remember?

This weekend is the shift to daylight savings time. 

Alarm Clock with Bells
Before you go to bed on Saturday night, set your clocks ahead one hour.

 Spring ahead - fall back.

Double AA Batteries - or 9 Volt - check before you buy
And this is also the time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms. 

You can be on time and fire safe at the same time.

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Northbound SR 99 on-ramp at stadiums opens in time for season openers

You can still go to the game

Construction crews opened the northbound SR 99 on-ramp from S. Royal Brougham Way at 7 on March 11, just days before the Sounders FC regular season home opener.

Crews demolished the SR 99 on-ramp from First Ave S. on February 18. They spent three weeks rebuilding the ramp to connect it to S Royal Brougham Way between First Avenue S and Alaskan Way S.

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RPIN: Japan tsunami was not a threat to Puget Sound

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Tsunami Hazard Zone sign
From the King County Regional Public Information Network (RPIN)

While the effects of the Japan tsunami are not expected to significantly impact King County, our Office of Emergency Management is closely monitoring the situation.  Our thoughts go out to all those affected by the disaster.

If you are looking for information about relatives who may have been affected by the quake and tsunami, you can check in with the American Red Cross Safe and Well Program or call the U.S. Department of State at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225. For the latest news about this incident, including links to Twitter accounts and other resources, visit the American Red Cross online newsroom.

After the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued an alert for the U.S. West Coast. Around 8:45 a.m. Pacific Time, a small wave of about 4.5 inches was recorded on the Seattle waterfront. The tsunami was smaller than a high tide, and no damage has been reported. Tsunami waves between two and nine feet were reported in Hawaii overnight, and the PTWC forecasted waves of between two and five feet from California to Washington state. A tsunami advisory has been issued for the Washington coast, which means that widespread inundation and flooding is NOT expected. However, currents in the area may be hazardous to swimmers, boats, and coastal structures and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrives.

While King County escaped harm this time, today’s tragedy in Japan serves as a reminder that our region is also at high risk from natural disasters. Take time to prepare now, before an emergency strikes. The Washington State Emergency Management Division offers these tips.
  • Review your disaster plan and preparedness procedures with your household.
  • Check on neighbors, especially the elderly, and review the disaster plan with them.
  • Listen to local media and monitor the Internet in an emergency, and be ready to follow instructions.
For more information on tsunamis and planning for emergencies, visit the King County website.

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Math Olympiad held at Shorecrest Saturday, March 12

Mathletes at work
The 13th annual Shoreline Math Olympiad was held on Saturday, March 12 at Shorecrest High School. The half-day competition is for students in grades four through eight. More than 700 students participated this year.

Several Shoreline schools use parents to work in small groups with students to have individually appropriate math problems that challenge each grade level. Several non-profit Math Olympiad groups create the problems.

Most programs start meeting in the fall and conclude at the competitions held in the spring. Most programs give homework to the "mathletes" during the week. Typically programs have a quiz day at the end of each month to give the kids a chance to use their skills to see how they stand amongst their peers.

The Shoreline Math Olympiad brings together all the District teams and area private schools for competition, and some students will also participate in the Washington State Math Championships held in Blaine later in the spring.

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The Wizards of Chemistry, Tuesday, Mar 15, 7pm SCC Theatre

Tim Hoyt and Herb Bryce - Wizards of Chemistry
Wizards of Chemistry, Tuesday March 15, 7pm, Campus Theater, 1600 Building, Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133. Download Campus map

The Wizards of Chemistry is an educational show of demonstrations with awesome colors, flashes, foams, and fantastic booms, bangs and Ahhhhh!

The show will be performed by Herb Bryce (Seattle Central Community College, Dean, Prof. Emeritus) and Tim Hoyt (University of Puget Sound) well known in the Puget Sound area for their "magical" presentations.

The show is sponsored by the Shoreline Community College Science Club and the American Chemical Society, Puget Sound Section.

Admission is free. All ages are welcome. Special invitation goes out to all middle and high school faculty, students and their families.


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Night work on Aurora postponed

As you may have noticed, the night work scheduled to begin this week did not occur. The contractor is waiting on final tests results to ensure backfill material meets WSDOT standards, so the night work has been rescheduled for the beginning of next week. An exact start date has not yet been determined, but we'll let you know as soon as we hear.
 

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Author events at Third Place Books March 14 - 19

Third Place Books
Lake Forest Park Towne Centre
17171 Ballinger Way NE, LFP 98155


Mark Teague
LaRue Across America: Postcards From the Vacation
(Scholastic)
Monday, March 14 at 7pm

Ike's plans for a peaceful cruise with Mrs. LaRue are thwarted when their neighbor, Mrs. Hibbins, falls suddenly ill from heat stroke. Mrs. LaRue suggests that she and Ike care for her cats while Mrs. Hibbins is in the hospital but cats aren't allowed on the cruise so Mrs. LaRue decides to take them all on a week-long roadtrip.

David George Gordon
The Secret Life of Slugs and Snails: Life in the Very Slow Lane (Sasquatch)
Tuesday, March 15 at 7pm

Covering everything from snail sex to the importance of slugs in the ecosystem, author David George Gordon takes readers on a journey through the slow and magical world of this gentle species.


Jennifer Lauck
Found : A Memoir (Seal Press)
Wednesday, March 16 at 7pm

Lauck’s assertions about mother and child will be a comfort to some in the adoptive community, and distressing to others, but her primary motive is to offer another perspective, and to give voice to adoptees who may relate to her experience.


Lisa Gardner
Love You More (Random House)
Thursday, March 17 at 7pm

In this chilling new thriller, Boston homicide detective D. D. Warren is given a case where the dead body is only the first clue to an unspeakable crime, and where terror begins at home....


David Laskin
The Long Way Home: An American Journey from Ellis Island to the Great War
(HarperCollins)
Friday, March 18 at 6:30pm

Epic, inspiring, and masterfully written, this book is an unforgettable true story of the Great War, the world it remade, and the humble, loyal men who became Americans by fighting for America.


Gary Vaynerchuck
The Thank You Economy (HarperCollins)
Saturday, March 19 at 6:30pm

The bestselling author and creator of Wine Library TV, is back with a bold and expansive look at the evolution of today's marketplace, revealing the essential factors defining and driving successful relationships between businesses and consumers.

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