Tickets are going fast for the 13th Annual Gala for the Arts Benefit Friday, June 24:

Saturday, June 18, 2011

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council’s 13th Annual Gala for the Arts Benefit - Artitude: Art with an Attitude of Gratitude! Friday, June 24, 2011

Tickets are going fast for the 13th annual Gala for the Arts Benefit on Friday, June 24, at 5:30 p.m. in the Shoreline Room at Shoreline Center, prior to the Shoreline Arts Festival on June 25 and 26. Don't wait to order or you might be left out of the fun! 

Attendees will be treated to Northwest wines, a delicious dinner, exciting silent and live auctions, an exclusive preview of our 21st annual juried art shows, and fabulous entertainment featuring Jazz Diva Greta Matassa with Darin Clendenin on keyboards.

The Gala for the Arts is a benefit for our community and Arts for Kids programs, such as our Artists-in-Residence program in the Shoreline School District, our August Arts Camp, Children’s Performance series, and Summer Enrichment Scholarships.

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End Summertime Hunger Food Drive at SCC collects over 1,779 pounds of food

From Shoreline Community College

The final tally is in for the May food drive at Shoreline Community College. The End Summertime Hunger for Kids Food Drive coordinated by the Center for Service-Learning at the college raised over 1,779 pounds of food for local food banks. 

The campus alone raised over 1,000 lbs. Local churches: City Calvary Chapel, Calvin Presbyterian, and Shoreline Covenant Church collected over 500 pounds. All proceeds went to local food banks: Hopelink, VOA Greenwood, and North Helpline. 

North Helpline informed us that they are experiencing record lows in their food bank already this summer due to lower than expected donations and that our donations were desperately needed.

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Northshore Fire Department launches interactive educational tool to teach children fire safety and emergency preparedness

From left: Kelly Hill, Fireman’s Fund Insurance; Tom Weathers, Fire Chief;
Carl Lovsted and Dean Young, Lovsted-Worthington Insurance.

The Northshore Fire Department, with the benefit of a $5,524 grant from Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company and Lovsted-Worthington Insurance, purchased an interactive educational game to teach children about fire safety and emergency preparedness. 

At a June 10th media event, Kenmore Elementary 4th graders demonstrated the interactive game using Audience Response Pads, a device that records and tabulates their responses to the questions. Whether a question is answered correctly or incorrectly, the player is shown a summary for the correct answer that reinforces what they learned. When using the Audience Response Pads, the software has the ability to quantify the number of children who participate in the challenges and the percentage of correct answers for each question. This is a valuable evaluation tool that helps the department improve their public fire education programs and messaging to the public.

The software includes four different interactive game formats that allows for the variation of skill and knowledge level for the subject matter being taught. The game’s question and answer format is a great tool for educating adults as well on topics such as residential fire sprinklers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide poisoning prevention, seasonal safety and much more. Other applications for the software are for in-house and public training programs. 

The interactive program will also be available on the Northshore Fire Department’s website providing the ability to reach a wider audience.

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Pesticides: Who Are You Eliminating?

Black-capped Chickadee photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

The problem is not that pesticides, herbicides, and biocides kill whatever they are advertised to kill; it is that they keep on killing….

Herbicides kill weeds, but they also kill worms, ground beetles, and other beneficial organisms in the soil. Herbicides commonly get into the ground water, and into our local streams killing aquatic plants and organisms, thereby killing the fish that eat them. 

And the longer the life of the herbicide, the more likely it will spread far beyond its intended range, and with our wet weather, it will get into the ground water and into our streams. Even dilution does not make these herbicides safe. Thornton Creek has had documented episodes of fish-kill blamed on herbicides and pesticides. All local streams and the Sound itself have tested with high enough levels to compromise many aquatic species.

Pesticides are deadly to many organisms, including humans. Not only are many pesticides very potent, but they are usually sprayed on, often becoming airborne for several adjacent backyards. This means that you could be unintentionally poisoning your neighbors’ children, pets, and any wildlife nearby, when you spray your roses with the latest and greatest, most effective spray.

Great blue heron with fish.  Photo by Kenneth Trease.jpg
Approximately 672 million birds a year are directly exposed to pesticides; 10% die outright. No one knows the percentage of birds that fall ill later. Birds that eat poisoned insects, or fish, or rats, die from eating them; and any birds that eat those sick birds also die. The food-chain effects of DDT, and of rat poisons, on raptors has been seen.

Systemic insecticides are suspected as a cause for bee “colony collapse disorder.” Both seed and foliar applications (Ed. Foliar feeding is a technique of feeding plants by applying liquid fertilizer directly to their leaves) appear to poison the pollen that bees need.

It is estimated that half of the ever-increasing toxic mix is created by homeowners using weed killers on their lawns and spraying insecticides on their garden plants.

Violet-green swallow feeding young. Photo by John Riegsecker

Organic gardening, especially using native plants that are naturally hardy in this area, is the healthiest answer.

Nature isn’t perfect. Your garden shouldn’t be either. A few holes in leaves means that the garden is supporting local wildlife; be it cutter bees, bugs that birds feed their young, or caterpillars that become the local butterflies.

Just because there are some bugs and weeds that are less desirable to humans, doesn’t mean that birds and other wildlife don’t need them. Bugs and weeds are food.


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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Wesco all-star soccer games in Shoreline showcase area talents

Friday, June 17, 2011

Sahil Khan fires a shot past the goalkeeper
Photo by Wilson Tsoi
Despite Shorecrest's not getting past the State 3A first round and Shorewood's barely missing a State berth, both schools were well represented in this year's Wesco all-star games June 3 at Shoreline Stadium that concluded the 2011 boys’ soccer season.

In the 6:30 p.m. Wesco 3A all-star game, the South and North teams played to a 4-4 tie.  Representing Shorecrest and Shorewood for the South team were mostly Wesco first teamers, which included forwards Glen Paden, Jayme Parry and Asa Redfield, midfielders Ian Adams and Callum Wijelath, and defenders Joe Schober, Alex Musar and Kyle Gorney for Shorecrest.  Participating on behalf of Shorewood were midfielder Sahil Khan and keeper Simon Aspinall.

The 8 p.m. 4A all-star game featured a similar North vs. South matchup and a similarly competitive nature with a 3-2 final score in favor of the North.  Consisting mostly of All-Wesco first-team players, the South team showcased the area’s talents such as Edmonds-Woodway midfielder Fareed Zerafat, Kamiak defender Felyx Tsoi, Mariner forward Yahir Sandoval and Jackson forward Guy Shively, among others.

Complete listing of All-Wesco selections in The Seattle Times

Photo above, left: 3A South's Shorewood senior midfielder Sahil Khan fires a shot past the 3A North goal keeper in the second half of Wesco 3A all-star game. The North and South teams played to a 4-4 tie at Shoreline Stadium.


3A South's Shorecrest senior defender Joe Schober crosses one from the left in the second half of the Wesco 3A all-star game. The North and South teams played to a 4-4 tie at Shoreline Stadium.  Photo by Wilson Tsoi.


Seattle Sounder Academy and Shorecrest senior forward Glen Paden represents the 3A South at the Wesco 3A all-star game at Shoreline Stadium.  Photo by Wilson Tsoi.


4A South's Kamiak senior defender Felyx Tsoi looks to pass during the Wesco 4A all-star game at Shoreline Stadium.  Photo by Wilson Tsoi.

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Evan Smith: Rep. Cindy Ryu reports on the 2011 legislative session

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer

Rep. Cindy Ryu found some bright spots in a difficult first session in the State Legislature.

Here’s her full report on the session:

“This was as difficult a session as many said it would be, but I am very glad to represent the good people of the 32nd District. I learned a lot from Republicans and Democrats, and especially from the citizens of the 32nd who took the time to call or write.

“It was humbling to pass my first pieces of legislation, and I am happy about the law to prevent mortgage fraud and my legislation to help small businesses.

“While times are tough, we managed to balance the budget and finish our work in a bipartisan way, working together to solve our common problems. There are bright spots: the state's construction budget is building more schools and universities and the transportation budget fixing roads and helping reduce traffic gridlock, including $300,000 for a traffic study of State Route 523, commonly known as North 145th Street.

“I look forward to working on more reforms to build a better Washington state for our families and businesses.“

Ryu won election last year to fill an open seat representing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Woodway, south Edmonds and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District. She was a member of the Shoreline City Council from 2006 to 2009, leading the Council as mayor in 2008 and 2009.
Ryu is a House Democratic caucus whip and a member of the House Rules Committee, the Transportation Committee, the committee on community development and housing, and the committee on business and financial services.

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Shoreline City Hall reception volunteer position open

Would you like to greet people and help direct them to the right place for service?

The City of Shoreline is looking for volunteers to assist with reception in our beautiful City Hall. The bright new building was designed with a central reception area, and the City is looking for friendly volunteers who can forward calls, answer questions and provide great customer service to visitors and callers.

Main entrance to Shoreline City Hall.
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline.
Volunteers would primarily provide reception duties in-person and on the phone to the general public and City staff. Depending on the volunteer’s skills and the workload in the Clerk’s Office, other minor duties may include computer data entry, issuance of pet licenses, and other office functions such as copying, faxing, filing and mailing.

The ideal volunteer will possess good interpersonal communication skills; a commitment to excellent customer service; an ability to work both independently and as part of the team; word processing skills and an interest in City government.

Volunteers must be willing to commit to at least one four-hour shift per week, 9-1 or 1-5 weekdays, for a period of one year.

Interested volunteers should fill out a Volunteer Application and send to:
Volunteer Coordinator
City of Shoreline
17500 Midvale Ave N
Shoreline, WA 98133

For more information, please contact Nora Smith, 206-801-2253.

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Fifty Years Fifty Memories: book commemorates Lake Forest Park

The Shoreline Historical Museum has printed Fifty Years Fifty Memories in commemoration of
the 50th Anniversary of Lake Forest Park.

The museum will have a booth at the Lake Forest Park Birthday Party this Sunday, June 19 in front of city hall. There will also be a display at Third Place Commons on the history of Lake Forest Park.



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The Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park: a preview

Laughing Rose
On Saturday, June 18, you can take the Secret Gardens of LFP Garden Tour, listen to music, and view art in the gardens,

In addition to touring colorful gardens, visitors will have a chance to listen to live music and watch artists in action.

Fern by Rodger Squirrell
This year the gardens will include Roger Squirrell - a metal sculptor, Mike O’Day - a ceramicist, Christine Stoll - a jeweler, Amy Pleasant - a plein air art oil painter and Muriel Fisher who does painting and drawing.

Christine Stoll's Chickadee necklace
As you walk through the gardens, listen to musicians Mike Good - a jazz musician, duos Laughing Rose and Bradshaw, Susan Moore and Danick Jawer and Stephen Kennedy playing the bass.

The 9th Annual Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Plant Sale is part of the City of Lake Forest Park’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

Ciscoe Morris will be broadcasting live from the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre between 10 am and noon.

 Art by Amy Pleasant
Advanced ticket sales for The Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour are $12. Advance tickets are on sale now on the website and in person at Towne Centre Ace Hardware, Two Trading Tigers, Wildbirds Unlimited and at the Farmers Market. 

The Advance tickets will be exchanged for a ticket and map on the day of the tour at the Plant Sale. Tickets are $15 day of the tour. The Plant Sale is free and the public is invited.

Mike O'Day's Redbird
The Lake Forest Park Towne Centre is located at the intersection of Ballinger Way NE and Bothell Way NE (SR 104 and SR 522.)

For more information visit the website or email.


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Conservationist Thor Hanson at Third Place Books Friday, June 17

Thor Hanson
From our news partner The Seattle Times

"Thor Hanson's 'Feathers': a delightful inquiry into a lightweight miracle 

"San Juan Island conservation biologist Thor Hanson's delightful new book Feathers looks at the wondrous construction and functions of feathers. 

Hanson discusses his book Friday, 6:30 pm at Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park.

The full review...

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Lake Forest Park celebrates 50 years

1961 - A year to remember.

  • In 1961 the cost of an average house was $12,500, the average income was $5,315, and a gallon of gas was $.27.
  • Pampers, the first disposable diaper was introduced.
  • The "Freedom Riders" integrated interstate buses into the South.
People went to the movies to see The Absent-Minded Professor, Breakfast at Tiffany's, West Side Story and 101 Dalmatians.  

On TV they were viewing Wagon Train, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, The Red Skelton Show, Andy Griffith and Candid Camera.  

The radio was playing Patsy Cline releases "I Fall to Pieces" and "Crazy,” Wonderland by Night" Bert Kaempfert. "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "Calcutta" by Lawrence Welk, "Pony Time"  by Chubby Checker and Elvis Presley’s "Surrender."

Books of the year were Joseph Heller’s Catch 22, Henry Miller’s Tropic of Cancer, Lewis Mumford, the City in History and J. D, Salinger's Franny and Zooey.

And the City of Lake Forest Park was incorporated.

In 1961, citizens banded together and incorporated. The Town of Lake Forest Park was born. Incorporation gave residents a voice in how to accommodate themselves within the ever-expanding metropolitan ring. Since incorporation, the city has annexed the areas that were added to the original development in the earlier part of the twentieth century. Modern-day boundaries of the city serpentine along the hills and ridges, just as they did when it was first Your browser may not support display of this image.planned. The city is now home to almost 13,000 people.



The first City Council met in 1961. The undated photo lists "Town Fathers," (standing councilmembers) Herbert Metke, C.R. Middleton, Dr. C.H. Feasel and James W. Hunt, (seated) D.R. Whiting , treasurer, Francis E Holman, mayor and E.E. Raymond, councilmember.


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Event schedule for LFP party this weekend, June 17-18-19

Celebrate the City’s birthday this weekend

Friday, June 17
Horizon View Park

Movie viewed at All Nations Community Church,
20150 45th Ave NE - 8 pm
Star gazing with the Seattle Astronomical Society and marshmallow roast

Saturday, June 18 12 noon to 3 pm
Horizon View Park


Free hot dogs and ice cream - 12-2 pm
Ice Cream compliments of BlueStar Construction
Free coffee provided by Starbucks
Games and relay races organized by the Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church Men’s Group 12:15-1pm
Rocket Launching Demo - 1 pm
Tower Building, Geocaching, Kite flying, neighborhood walks 12n - 3pm
Goat Days: sponsored by the Stewardship Foundation, goat petting (6-18 and 6-19)
Fire truck and U.S. Army equipment

Town Center: Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour 10 am - 4p

Sunday, June 19 11 am to 3 pm
Anniversary Party in Front of City Hall
Lake Forest Park Rotary Pancake Brunch 11am
Charles the Clown 11 am - 2pm for entertainment
Birthday Cake
David Lyons, the Juggler

Entertainment on the Showmobile 11am - 3pm
Milner Family Fiddlers
Caspar Babypants
Smalltime String Band
Scream II inflatable slide
Papa Murphy Pizza, booths and exhibits
Tours of Police Department

Visit the Lake Forest Park Historical Display at Town Center compliments of the Shoreline Historical Museum and buy a Memory Book.

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Celebration to honor Scoutmaster Gary Buck June 25 at Paramount Park

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Troop 325 is celebrating their Scoutmaster Gary Buck after 20+ years of service. Gary will be moving into the new role of Eagle Scout advisor this Fall for the troop to assist scouts in their quest for their Eagle rank.

The troop is inviting alumni and friends to join them for a BBQ and the Spring Court of Honor on Saturday June 25 at 11 am at Paramount park in Shoreline.

Paramount School Park is located at 15300 8th Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155.


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Shoreline Arts Festival, June 25-26, Shoreline Center

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Windermere Shoreline Real Estate plans a day of community service at Food Lifeline


Every year since 1984, Windermere associates have dedicated a day of work on Community Service Day, on which we join together to complete neighborhood improvement projects. Community Service Day gives us an opportunity to give back to the communities where we live and work. Each of our offices selects a neighborhood project; we clean, landscape and repair parks, playgrounds, schools, shelters and community buildings.

Windermere Shoreline will try to beat their 2009 record.
Windermere Real Estate Shoreline will be working with Food Lifeline in Shoreline, sorting through donated food to prepare it for distribution to local food banks. Previously, we were able to sort 5,653 pounds of food providing 4,461 meals. This Friday, June 17, we will try to beat our record!

2009 Shoreline Windermere volunteers
Food Lifeline is a valuable hunger relief organization, serving the Western Washington area by using 96% of revenue to directly feed hungry people. 

Last year Food Lifeline delivered more than 24 million meals to hungry people through their network of nearly 300 neighborhood food banks, hot meal programs and shelters. 

In 2010, Food Lifeline helped feed more than 686,000 hungry people in local communities. Food Lifeline is also the local member of the nation’s largest hunger relief organization, Feeding America.


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Evan Smith: Updated filings for Shoreline, Lake Forest Park offices

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

By Evan Smith
ShorelineAreaNews Politics Writer


My weekend post on candidates who had filed for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park offices left off the name of Stan Lippmann, who, as I reported in a separate post, filed Friday to run for LFP mayor against Councilman Dwight Thompson and former Councilwoman Mary Jane Goss, forcing a primary to narrow the field to two candidates for the November general election.



Lippmann is a Republican precinct committee officer in Lake Forest Park who ran as a Democrat for State representative in the 2010 primary, getting less than 8 percent of the 32nd District vote against Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi and Republican challenger Gary Gagliardi. He had previously run for various County and State office under a variety of party labels.


Here are candidates who had filed through the end of filing Friday: 

City of Lake Forest Park

Mayor

Mary Jane Goss
Dwight A. Thompson
Stan Lippmann

Council Position No. 2

Brian J. Cathcart
Catherine Stanford

Council Position No. 4

Jeff Johnson
Chuck Paulsen

Council Position No. 6

Tom French
Ed Sterner

City of Shoreline

Council Position No. 2

William Hubbell
Chris Eggen

Council Position No. 4

Doris McConnell
Janet Way 

Council Position No. 6

Robin McClelland
Jesse Salomon

Shoreline School District No. 412

Director District No. 1

Kyle Burleigh
Mike Jacobs 

Director District No. 4

  Dick Nicholson 

Director District No. 5

Lisa Pyper
Richard Potter

Shoreline Fire Department

Commissioner Position No. 1

Jon Kennison
Kim Fischer

Commissioner Position No. 4

David Harris 

Lake Forest Park Water District

Commissioner Position No. 1

  David Hammond
  Eli Zehner 
Commissioner Position No. 3 (unexpired 4-year term)
  Bill Donahue

Shoreline Water District

Commissioner Position No. 1

Rnald F. (Ron) Ricker

Ronald Wastewater District

Commissioner Position No. 1

Robert L. (Bob) Ransom 
Arnold H. (Arne) Lindo

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Dr. Vicki: Vitamin D, the Sunshine Vitamin


What is it? Vitamin D is a steroid-based vitamin – that means the chemical structure resembles cholesterol. There are several specific forms of the vitamin; ergocaliciferol (D2) and cholecalciferol (D3) are the two most important to human health. Plants make vitamin D2; humans make D3 when the skin is exposed to UV-B rays from sunlight. Foods can be fortified with either one.

Natural food sources include fish (cod liver oil contains a fair amount, although it varies from brand to brand – read the label), mushrooms, and meats. Foods fortified with vitamin D include milk and cereals.

Furthermore, some small chemical modifications naturally occur in the body to convert from the source vitamin D, into the activated forms. This is a two step process, occurring first in the liver, and then in the kidney. Both steps are needed. Thus, kidney and liver health are both important to consider; vitamin D levels may be low if one of these organs is not working properly. Further, the speed of the kidney step can be affected by estrogen, insulin, cortisol, and other hormones.

Why do we need it? The main function of vitamin D in humans is to maintain normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. It also helps with absorption of calcium from foods, and it’s been tied in studies to prevention of osteoporosis and osteomalacia. There is some evidence that it can be useful in maintaining a balanced and strong immune system, including helping to prevent cancer; it may also help high blood pressure and help with better control over asthma 1. Scientists and doctors are still gathering evidence on vitamin D.

How do I know if I need to take it? The best thing to do is to get your serum vitamin D levels checked – the spring is best, since after a long cool winter, your levels will be at their lowest ebb and the doctor will have a better idea of whether or not supplements are right for you. This year, that would be about now, after our rather cool, wet spring. Note: most people living above the latitude of San Diego have lower than optimal levels – even in the summertime.

Getting a blood test is easy – your doctor can order one for you at any lab. It’s important to note the units on your result when interpreting your levels: some labs report in “nanograms per milliliter” and some report in “nanograms per kilogram”. When you get your results, make sure you are looking at the right units. Normal levels are as follows (per the NIH2):
And what about sunlight? Well, you could be getting your daily dose from light exposure, except for two things. Number one, we just don’t get much sun for several months of the year here, and the angle of winter sunlight is such that it reduces the ultraviolet light waves needed to make Vitamin D. Do you really want to go outside wearing shorts and a t-shirt when it’s 40 degrees outside? I don’t suggest it! Number two, by the time it warms up (July 5th, most years), you might be tempted to “catch up” and stay outside for a couple of hours every day, and thus increase your risk of skin cancer. Sun block may prevent the ultraviolet light (UV-B) from getting to your skin. You can get some vitamin D this way, but probably not enough. That leaves eating Vitamin D rich foods (wild salmon anyone?), and possibly also taking a supplement.

But wait! There’s more! There is an ongoing debate regarding whether or not these “normal” levels are really adequate. Research is still in progress. Can a supplement really make up the difference? And are these “normal” levels reflective of what are more likely the optimal levels? Some doctors think that the optimal levels – those levels that best maintain health, without toxicity – are even higher. Other doctors are wary that too much vitamin D as a supplement can lead to toxicity and other adverse effects.

And how much should you take? Well, this is where it gets tricky – depending on your family history, and your own measured levels, your diet, and your overall health, the answer may be very different for one person than another. There is at least one study suggesting that we absorb lesser amounts more effectively than larger amounts. I suggest that you get your blood tested, and talk to your doctor about it before you pick a product off the shelf on your own.

Here's a good article from WebMD

2NIH (National Institutes of Health) web page describing vitamin D

Yes, I check vitamin D levels: I believe that people with specific conditions need more, and I frequently recommend moderate doses for my patients. Most of us don’t have enough in our bloodstream, and it affects so many bodily processes, that it’s impossible to ignore its importance in overall health. Get tested first. – Victoria Rhoades, ND

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Book review by Aarene Storms: Missing

By Aarene Storms, Youth Services Librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS

"Missing" by Becky Citra
13-year-old Thea and her dad have move around a lot in rural Canada, working odd jobs and never keeping them, never staying very long in a single place, and Thea never manages to make friends at the schools she briefly attends. 

The job renovating guest cabins at Gumboot Lake might be different, however. The kid down the road is actually friendly to her, and introduces her to his family and friends. In addition, there is an abandoned horse who "came with the property", and Thea is determined to tame Renegade and teach him to trust people again. 

Then, Thea discovers that the ranch is also home to a long-unsolved mystery: the strange disappearance of a little girl.

Gradually, clues emerge--not only about the missing child, but also clues about Thea's dead mother. The mystery is engaging, the horse details are adequately accurate, and the story will appeal to reluctant readers, especially horse-loving girls. No cussing or kissing; appropriate for readers ages 10 and up.
The events may not have happened; still, the story is true. --R. Silvern

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Shoreline Breakfast Rotary supports SCC student scholarships

Approximately 400 Shoreline Community College Worker Retraining students learned in May that the decline of the state budget hit close to home.

In past years, there was enough funding to support full tuition awards for Worker Retraining students for several quarters – now with state dollars dwindling, students are eligible for only two quarters of help, with a maximum of $925 per quarter. This means that students who have already completed two or more quarters are no longer eligible for worker retraining dollars, money they counted on when starting their programs.

To make matters worse, the funding is available to only those students who are enrolled full-time (12 credits or more and 10 credits in summer). Although other state and federal assistance is available, restrictions on those funding streams can make it difficult, many times impossible, for many students to qualify.

“It is in times like this when we see our community leaders go above and beyond to help our students,” said Jane McNabb, SCC Foundation Executive Director. “Although the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary made a $4,000 donation for student scholarships at this year’s Foundation Breakfast, they recently gave another $2,000 when they learned about the position that our Worker Retraining students face.”
“We are especially grateful for this gift in response to our needs for the students in our Workforce programs that would be unable to continue their programs without these scholarships.”

James Abbott, President of the Shoreline Breakfast Rotary said the support fits the mission of Rotary.
“One of our principal objectives in Rotary is support of continuing education for those who demonstrate promise and perseverance,” Abbott said in a letter to the foundation on June 8, 2011. “We have seen many students at Shoreline Community College with these attributes. We appreciate your efforts in preparing these students for the many challenges that can only be solved by the diverse educational opportunities provided at Shoreline Community College."

Kim Cambern, Program Specialist with the Worker Retraining Program, says that even though the situation is not good, students need to know that the funding will be available.
“You will receive all the same services you have in the past,” Cambern said in a recent letter to students.” She also reminded students that unemployment compensation will not be affected by the Worker Retraining cuts as long as they stay in school.

McNabb encourages students to apply for worker retraining scholarships; the application is located on the college’s Foundation website.

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3.0 earthquake 2 km west of Shoreline

According to the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network, a minor earthquake occurred at 6:52:58 pm Tuesday, June 14, 2011. At magnitude 3.0, it is classified as an earthquake, although minor. The hypocentral depth is measured at 20 miles below the surface.

The quake center is listed as 2km or about 1 mile west of Shoreline.

The coordinates are 47 deg. 45.2 min. N (47.754N), 122 deg. 21.7 min. W (122.362W).

The PNSN site lists eight measurable movements below the surface of Puget Sound this month, including the two nearest the Shoreline measuring device. They range from Maple Valley to the Strait of Juan de Fuca.

Did you feel it? If you felt the quake, the USGS would like you to report it here.

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Ciscoe Morris broadcasting from LFP Towne Centre Saturday morning

Oh la la - it's Cisco Morris at LFP
Towne Center on Saturday
Ciscoe Morris will be broadcasting from the lower level of Towne Centre on Saturday, June 18 between 10 am and noon. 

His radio show on News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM is a mix of gardening advice and a hearty dose of humor.

Ciscoe is being brought to the shopping center by the Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour

The lower level of the shopping center will be transformed into a garden market. 

Over 20 vendors will be selling plants and garden art. The sale includes a variety of exotic and rare plants as well as native plants, drought tolerant plants, ferns, flowers and small shrubs, garden art, crafts and educational booths. Master Gardeners will be on hand to answer your gardening questions. The Plant Sale is free and the public is invited.

Ciscoe Morris will be broadcasting live from the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre. After the live broadcast, Ciscoe will demonstrate planting containers. These containers will be raffled off after the demonstration.

This year the garden tour is part of the City of Lake Forest Park’s 50th Anniversary celebration.

Advanced ticket sales for The Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour are $12. Advance tickets are on sale now online and in person at Towne Centre Hardware, Molbaks, Revenna Gardens in University District, Swensen’s Nursery, Two Trading Tigers, Wildbirds Unlimited.  Advance tickets will be exchanged for a ticket and map on the day of the tour at the Plant Sale. Tickets are $15 day of the tour.

The Lake Forest Park Towne Centre is located at the intersection of Ballinger Way NE and Bothell Way NE (SR 104 and SR 522.) For more information visit the website or email

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Shoreline receives grant funding for sidewalks in Briarcrest and the Aurora Corridor Project

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

From the office of the Shoreline City Manager

The passage of the State’s Transportation Budget brought good news regarding two funding programs that the City applied for in 2010.

As part of the 2011-2013 Transportation Budget, the State awarded the City $385,000 in Safe Routes to Schools program funding

The money is to be used to build sidewalks near Briarcrest Elementary and implement a program to encourage safe walking and biking to school. The City also received $6,357,839 in Regional Mobility Grant Program funding for the Aurora Corridor Project.

The purpose of the Safe Routes to Schools program is to improve safety and mobility for children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school. Funding from this program is for projects within two-miles of primary and middle schools (K-8). It is a highly competitive funding program; only 29 projects of the 124 submitted from throughout the state were selected for funding.

The City developed the application cooperatively with the Shoreline Police and the Shoreline School District, who also provided additional financial support. It is anticipated that the project will begin in the fall of 2011, with construction in the summer of 2012.

The Regional Mobility Grant Program supports local efforts to improve transit mobility and reduce congestion on Washington State’s most heavily traveled roadways. The $6,357,839 was awarded for the Business Access and Transit (BAT) lanes to be constructed on Aurora from N 192nd Street to N 205th Street. It is the largest amount funded among the 16 statewide projects awarded funding.

Design and right-of way acquisition for this segment of Aurora is currently underway. Additional grant funding will continue to be pursued to complete construction between N 192nd and N 205th Streets. Construction on this segment could begin as early as the summer of 2012. The City anticipates completing the three (3) miles of Aurora improvements with approximately 90% of the funding coming from county, state and federal grants.

Through its aggressive grants program, the City continually looks for ways to leverage local taxpayers’ dollars.

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Power outage blamed on bird

Seattle City Light reports that power has been restored to an outage area in north Seattle, Shoreline, and Lake Forest Park that affected 5,171 customers.

Crews determined that a bird caused a piece of equipment to short circuit and start a small pole fire.

The boundaries were on the north; NE 185th St., on the south; NE 120th St., on the east; 33rd Ave NE and on the west, Corliss Ave N.

Not all customers within the boundaries were affected. The original outage began at 6:58 a.m. Power was fully restored at 8:55 a.m.

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Author events at Third Place Books, June 15-30, 2011

Marya Hornbacher
Waiting : A Non-Believer’s Higher Power (Macmillan)
Wednesday, June 15 at 7pm

In Waiting, Hornbacher uses the story of her own journey beginning with her recovery from alcoholism to offer a fresh approach to cultivating a spiritual life. For those who don’t believe in God, feel disconnected from the ideas of God presented in organized religion, or are simply struggling to determine their own spiritual path, Hornbacher, offers a down-to-earth exploration of the concept of faith.

Sara Avant Stover
The Way of the Happy Woman : Living the Best Year of Your Life
(New World Library)
Thursday, June 16 at 7pm

With this inspiring book, Sara Avant Stover will show women how to connect with their innate happiness through refreshingly simple practices that bring them back in sync with their own cycles and those of nature. Stover’s suggestions nurture the body, invigorate the mind, and lift the spirit.

Thor Hanson
Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle (Basic Books)
Friday, June 17 at 6:30pm

Feathers silence the flight of owls and keep penguins dry below the ice. They have decorated queens, jesters, and priests. And they have inked documents from the Constitution to the novels of Jane Austen. In Feathers, biologist Thor Hanson finally tells their captivating story.

Gael Fashingbauer Cooper
Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops?: The Lost Toys, Tastes, and Trends of the 70s and 80s (Perigree Books)
Saturday, June 18 at 6:30pm

Aimed at the generation who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? takes readers back in time to the tastes, smells, and sounds of their childhood, from Marathon candy bars to Schoolhouse Rock.

Bryn Barnard
Genius of Islam : How Muslims Made the Modern World
Monday, June 20 at 7pm

The Muslim world has often been a bridge between East and West, but many of Islam's crucial innovations are hidden within the folds of history. In this important book, Bryn Barnard uses short, engaging text and gorgeous full-color artwork to bring Islam's contributions gloriously to life.

Matthew Algeo
The President is a Sick Man : Wherein the Supposedly Virtuous Grover Cleveland Survives a Secret Surgery at Sea and Vilifies the Courageous Newspaperman Who Dared Expose the Truth (Chicago Review Press)
Tuesday, June 21 at 7pm

An extraordinary yet almost unknown chapter in American history is revealed in this extensively researched exposĂ©. Journalist Matthew Algeo gives the account of the government cover up of Grover Cleveland’s secret operation and the disgrace of journalist E. J. Edwards who tried to expose the story.

Scott Sparling
Wire to Wire (Tin House Press)
Wednesday, June 22 at 7pm

This debut novel assembles a cast of train-hopping, drug-dealing, glue-huffing lowlifes, tells a harrowing tale of friendship and loss, and creates a stunning portrait of Northern Michigan in the late 1970s. With echoes of Robert Stone and Denis Johnson, Wire to Wire pays homage to one of our most popular and enduring genres--the American crime novel.

Jeanne Matthews
Bet Your Bones
Thursday, June 23 at 7pm

A bride and her maid of honor face ex-husbands, earthquakes, blackmail, booby-traps, murder, and an angry goddess in this fast-paced mystery, set against Hawaii’s ancient myths and modern conflicts.

Amy Stewart
Wicked Bugs (Algonquin)
Friday, June 24 at 6:30pm

This collection offers the most terrifying and titillating stories of bugs gone wild: bugs with kinky sex lives, creatures lurking in the cupboard, the insects eating your tomatoes. Written with wit, style, and exacting research, this is a darkly comical look at the sinister side of our relationship with our worst entomological foes.

Nora Gedguadas
Primal Body, Primal Mind: Beyond the Paleo Diet for Total Health and a Longer Life (Healing Arts Press)
Thursday, June 30 at 7pm

With step-by-step guidelines, recipes, and meal recommendations, this book offers sustainable strategies for a modern approach to diet and exercise to reduce stress and anxiety, lose weight, improve sleep and mood, increase energy and immunity, enhance brain function, save money on groceries, and live longer and happier.

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