Lake Forest Park man pleads guilty to $4 million in bogus medical bills

Friday, June 22, 2012


OLYMPIA, Wash. – A medical worker submitted at least $4.1 million in bogus bills to insurers, sometimes while falsely claiming to be a doctor or physician’s assistant, has pleaded guilty to theft.

Kenneth R. Welling, 45, of Lake Forest Park, pleaded guilty Thursday in King County Superior Court. The charges -- all of which are felonies -- include one count of first-degree theft and six counts of second-degree theft.

“This was a pretty audacious scam,” said state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “We were tipped off to it when a patient contacted us, saying that Welling billed her insurer $89,000 for six surgeries that never happened.”

Welling is a registered surgical technologist and sole proprietor of Shoreline-based Alpine Surgical Services. His license allows him to perform tasks like preparing supplies and instruments, passing them to the surgeon and preparing basic sterile packs and trays. But after patients had procedures done, he would often submit large bills with codes listing himself as a doctor or physician’s assistant. He is neither.

Kreidler’s investigators also found numerous instances in which Welling billed for surgeries that never happened. Sometimes he would include post-operative reports, listing himself as the surgeon.

No evidence was found to indicate that Welling was playing an improper role in actual medical care. The fraud involved billing.

“As far as we could tell, the only time he pretended to be a doctor was when he submitted bills,” said Kreidler.

In one woman’s case, Welling billed $140,323 as assisting surgeon for nine surgeries that never took place. Over a five-year period, he billed another woman’s insurer 107 times for 51 different surgeries, listing himself as the primary doctor. Hospital records show she’d only had surgery twice.

From 2004 through 2011, according to medical records obtained by Kreidler’s Special Investigations Unit, Welling billed five insurance companies at least $4.1 million for services he did not provide. He was paid $461,000.

“Part of the reason he got away with this for so long is that he’d rarely challenge an insurer who paid little or nothing,” said Kreidler. “He’d just send them the bills and hope they’d pay.”

The investigation also showed that some patients were complaining to their insurers.

“I am angry!” one woman wrote to her insurance company in 2011. “Here is yet another fraudulent claim. Can’t you people help me to stop this? I never had surgery on Aug. 27, 2009. I never met or had anything to do with Ken Welling.”

A sentencing date is expected to be scheduled soon.



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Shoreline Arts Festival schedule for Saturday and Sunday


Saturday, June 23, 10-6 pm and Sunday, June 24, 10-5 pm
Shoreline Center
18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline


Shoreline Room Stage

Saturday
10:40am                    Welcome
10:45-11:15am          Shoreline Senior Singers
11:30-12:00pm         Awards Presentation
12:15-12:45pm         Hokulani's Hula Studio & The Kupunas
1:00-1:45pm              Baile Glas Irish Dancers ($150)
2:00-2:45pm              Bailey's Traditional Taekwon Do College
3:00-3:45pm              Filipiniana Dance Company
3:50-3:55pm              Horizon Pom Team
4:00-4:45pm              Nonesuch English Country Dancers
4:50-4:55pm              Horizon Pom Team
5:00-5:45pm              Melody Institute, Chinese Dance

Sunday
12:00-12:45pm         Three Generations, Native American Dance
1:00-1:45pm              Spoken Word Poetry
2:00-2:45pm              Ocheami, African Drumming
3:00-3:45pm              Filipiniana Dance Company
4:00-4:45pm              Brian Ledbetter Magic


Showmobile/Outdoor Stage

Saturday
12:00-12:45pm         Choir of the Sound
1:15-2:15pm              Morning Star Korean Cultural Center - Samulnori (Korean percussion) 
2:30-3:30pm              Peter Joon Park - P'ungmul (Korean percussion) Workshop
4:00-4:45pm              Rhythms of India - sponsored by the King County Library system
5:00-6:00                   Batiste Dabke Group - Middle Eastern Dance

Sunday
12:00-1:00pm            Mansung Samulnori of Tacoma - Korean percussion Performance
1:15-2:15pm              Peter Joon Park - P'ungmul (Korean percussion) Workshop
2:45-3:45pm              Around the Sound Community Band
4:00-4:45pm              Lion Dance Group - Taiwanese Folk Dance


Library2Go!
A Library2Go! mini-bookmobile will be at the Festival all day on Saturday. Each vehicle carries approximately 1,500 library items for all ages including books, audiobooks, DVDs and music CDs that are available for check out at each stop. Stop by and visit!

Organization Booths

Dandylyon Drama
Hopelink
Shoreline High School Alumni Class of 1961
Shoreline Solar Project

Hands On Art Projects
Under Large Tent:
Duct Tape Wallets and Luggage Tags
New Zealand Koru Painting 
Morse Code Beaded Bracelets
Decoupage to Your Dreams Light Switches

Fish Prints

Plexiglas Portraits

Community Hands On Stations:

NW Collage Society Room
Printmaking with April Richardson
Just Frogs
Shoreline Historical Museum Rubbings
Kruckeburg Garden Art
North City Co-op Preschool Hands On

The Missoula Children's Theatre is performing in the north auditorium - tickets required


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Where's Woody?

Woody takes a break with Sofie, the dog.
Photo by Brad Lancaster
Shoreline residents who had become accustomed to watching Woody the alpaca munch on local blackberries wondered where he had gone.

Eric Gilmore, from Shoreline's Public Works department, reports that "Woody and others have done such a good job cleaning up, the contractor has moved the animals back to their farm in Duvall to give the grass time to grow. Residents should expect to see animals periodically through the rest of the summer and into the early fall. While the same animal may not come back to the same site, residents can be assured they are “working” somewhere else!"
Part of Woody's herd was working along
Richmond Beach Road
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Shoreline's vegetation management program used a mixed group of llamas, alpacas, sheep, and goats from Earthcraft Services, to eat the overgrown vegetation on City properties.

See previous story about Woody's place in the neighborhood.


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Book review by Aarene Storms: Bumped


Bumped by Megan McCafferty
In this up-tempo dystopian novel, teen pregnancies are not only normal, they are vital.

A virus renders everyone over the age of 18 infertile, making teen pregnancy essential for the survival of humanity. Humanity has responded to the crisis by dumping societal norms upside-down, and now pregnant teens and pre-teens are considered the apex of beauty and the center of importance.  Children and pre-adolescents play at "bumping", young girls wear "MyTurn Tees" and and Preggerz FunBumps (with real skinfeel and in-uterobic activity!), and 16-year-old twins Melody and Harmony have only two years remaining until obsolesence. 

Melody is a contracted pro-pregger, who has signed with an agent to produce a very expensive delivery that will pay for a top-notch college as well as her adoptive parents' debts.  Harmony, raised in a conservative Amish-esque community, has run away from her adoptive family to bring her newly-found twin into a state of grace with God.

Absolutely nothing goes as planned.

The twins trade the narration back-and-forth as the situation gets increasingly complicated.  Fun slang and the twist on cultural values almost mask important messages about teen sexuality, sibling rivalry, religious tolerance, and the difficulty of living a life different from the life that parents and society expect.

Lots of talk about sex and sexual situations, but nothing happens on the page. Recommended for readers ages 14 to adult. This book would be interesting to discuss and contrast to Libba Bray's Beauty Queens.

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS 

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Shoreline Firefighter training Haitians to be Emergency Medical Technicians


Shoreline Firefighter Jodi Denney (center, in red) with EMPACT graduating class in Haiti
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire


Shoreline Firefighter Jodi Denney spent went 11 days in Haiti recently with with Project EMPACT. She helped Shoreline Paramedic Eric Adman teach a group of Haitians to be Emergency Medical Technicians. She is seen here with the 26 graduates. Adman has made numerous trips to Haiti and pioneered the EMT instruction program. He starts fundraising again soon to return and start another medical responder class. 


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Buy hot dogs - support the Band - it's all good


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Business Research Basics: A Two Part Series at the Shoreline Library


Shoreline Library Photo by
Steven H. Robinson
Business Research Basics: A Two Part Series at the Shoreline Library

Thursday, July 12, 4pm-5:30pm
Thursday, July 19, 4pm-5:30pm

Register by calling the Shoreline Library beginning June 27 at 206-362-7550

Learn all about how to do business research for your small business.  Whether you are writing your business plan, or already have a business, this series will show you how to learn more about your industry, find out who your potential competition might be, and learn more about how to find information that will help you succeed.

Shoreline Library, 345 175th AVE NE, Shoreline 98155, 206-362-7550



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North Puget Sound region excels in National History Day contest


A Shoreline History Day team huddles over last minute details
Photo by Don Wilson


Randy Schnabel is a retired Shoreline High School teacher who was instrumental in keeping History Day front and center at Shorewood. He has continued to lead in the History Day organization, and recruited many experienced Shoreline and Lake Forest Park people as judges.

By Randy Schnabel

North Puget Sound region students and teachers created an exceptional record this year at the National History Day contest: ours is only one of seven regions in the state, but 14 of the 24 final round entries that state coordinator Mark Vessey listed were from our region.  

What are the odds of that happening?  Each NHD "Affiliate" (all 50 states plus Guam, American Samoa, international schools in China, Korea, Singapore) is allowed two entries in each of nine categories at both junior and senior division levels.  My math says that would be a total of 1944 possible entries in the competition.  Not all affiliates brought the maximum allowed 36 entries but there were about 2800 students in the competition.  

Washington brought the maximum 36 entries.  To become one of our 24 finalists, an entry would have to place first or second in one of seven preliminary rounds of 12 to 14 entries.  Final rounds would each have 12 to 14 entries.  Very unlikely for an entry to receive a first place medal but Washington had four, two of which are from our region.

Give yourself permission to brag about our students and teachers and pat yourself on the back for your role in providing a regional contest for them.  Their response to the competition made their projects better.


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Two Shorewood soccer players on All-Area first team, one each from Shorecrest, Shorewood on second team


Eugene Holley (in white uniform) against Everett
Photo by Wayne Pridemore


Shorewood senior soccer players Eugene Holley and Daniel Nadeau have won places on the Everett Herald all-area boys’ team.
            
Midfielder Holley and goal keeper Nadeau were joined on the first team by three players from Archbishop Murphy, two from Snohomish, and one each from Glacier Peak, Jackson, Kamiak and Lake Stevens.
            
Shorecrest senior midfielder Callum Wijelath and Shorewood senior defender Dodge Schaeffer won spots on the second team along with two players each from Lynnwood and Snohomish, and one each from Archbishop Murphy, Jackson, Mariner, Marysville Getchell and Marysville Pilchuck.
            
The teams were chosen from the Wesco 4A and 3A divisions and the Cascade 2A-1A Conference.  


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Serving up summer: free summer meals for kids

Thursday, June 21, 2012


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Breakfast with the Arts .. Festival


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Shorewood graduate WWU Presidential Scholar


Michael Pegis, WWU
Presidential Scholar for
College of Sciences and Technology
Photo courtesy WWU

Michael Pegis, a Shoreline resident who earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and was named that department’s Outstanding Graduate, was honored for his scholarly and volunteer work with a Presidential Scholar award at graduation ceremonies at Western Washington University in Bellingham June 9, 2012.

Western Washington University President Bruce Shepard honored seven graduates as Presidential Scholars during Commencement ceremonies. Pegis was awarded a medallion as the College of Sciences and Technology’s Presidential Scholar.

Presidential Scholar awards honor top students in six colleges and were instituted by President Emeritus Karen W. Morse during Western’s Centennial in 2000 to honor graduates for their exceptional scholarship and service to the university and community.

Shorewood graduate Pegis is the son of Lisa Rensberger of Shoreline and John Pegis of Chicago. His research explores the conversion of agricultural waste into usable chemicals and fuels. 

As the lead Chemistry tutor at the WWU Tutoring Center, he worked with over 7,000 students in Math, Chemistry, Physics and Philosophy for the past three years. Recently, he served as a volunteer private tutor for low-income students. He said this is an integral method to not only help students with financial difficulties stay in college but give them the tools necessary to achieve their goals and become successful. As part of his tutoring experience, he conducted research on learning styles and incorporated his findings into the center’s tutor training programs.

He volunteered with the Washington Trails Organization’s cleanup efforts and served food to homeless people through the St. Joseph Parish in Seattle.

After graduation, Pegis will enroll in the University of Washington’s graduate program, where he will pursue a doctorate in Physical Inorganic Chemistry. 



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Back to School donations begin for BTS Consortium

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Updated 6-21-2012 11:50pm

Families line up for school clothing at the 2011 Event
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Friday is the last day of school for Shoreline Schools, but the Back to School consortium has already begun collecting donations for the Back to School Event on August 25.

Registration is now open for the annual Shoreline Back To School event, which provides school supplies, hair cuts, and clothing assistance to Shoreline School District families with low incomes and/ or circumstances that make it challenging to adequately prepare their children for school. To register for the August 25 event, visit the Back To School Consortium website or call the information line at 206-393-4916.

Free haircuts are awarded by lottery
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
The event will be held from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Saturday, August 25 at the North City building, 816 N.E. 190th, Shoreline. Registration to participate closes Friday, August 17.

Donations of backpacks, school supplies, hygiene products, socks, underwear and books can be made at the Center for Human Services, 17018 15th Ave NE in Shoreline. Financial donations are also welcome.

The Works of Shoreline PTA Council will be open for clothing donations each Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 8 pm at the North City building. Call 206-393-4916 for more information.


In 2011, more than 1,000 students received needed school supplies and clothing at the Back to School Consortium event.

Back to School Consortium Members include the Center for Human Services; City of Shoreline; Dale Turner Family YMCA; Hopelink; Ronald United Methodist Church; Lake Forest Park Rotary; Shoreline Breakfast Rotary; Shoreline Community Care; The Works of Shoreline PTA Council; Shoreline School District and the Readiness to Learn Program; Turning Point; and The Vineyard.



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Singing along is to be expected - the SeaChordsmen Barbershop Chorus in concert




Saturday evening, June 23, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., the Seattle SeaChordsmen Barbershop Chorus and Quartets present their Summer Show for 2012.  The show will be held at The Theater at Shoreline Community College, Building 1600, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133. 

The theme is "MEMORIES" and this evening of a cappella singing and music is sure to rekindle fond memories, some old and some recent.  

Songs of many eras will bring tapping to your feet and a smile to your face.   
Singing along is to be expected.  

Joining the chorus on stage will also be Godfrey Daniels and other entertainers.  Many newer songs have been arranged in the classic American song style of barbershop a cappella harmony.

Tickets are available at Brown Paper Tickets

About the SeaChordsmen...

On April 14, 1949, the Seattle SeaChordsmen received their charter from the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America, completing the formation of a chapter that had begun with a gathering of men from the Seattle Star newspaper and KIRO radio some 9 years prior.  The chorus has been singing close harmony in the barbershop style ever since.


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Buy fireworks at licensed retail stands for your out of town parties

State Fire Marshal Charles Duffy is reminding Washingtonians that the purchase of fireworks over the internet is illegal.  In Washington State, fireworks must be purchased from a licensed retail fireworks stand during the legal sales period.  Orders for fireworks cannot be placed over the internet or posted on websites such as Craig’s List.  Residents should talk with family members and guests about the fireworks laws for their area.

Independence Day is a time to celebrate our freedoms.  Personal fireworks require personal responsibility.  Remember the three B’s of fireworks safety:
  • Be Prepared – Have water nearby and put pets indoors
  • Be Safe – Only adults should light fireworks
  • Be Responsible – Clean up fireworks debris
Fireworks are illegal in Lake Forest Park and Shoreline - no sales, distribution, or use.

Learn more at the fireworks safety website.


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Douglas Shook selected as Kellogg Middle School assistant principal


Lisa Gonzalez-Scott will become Kellogg principal

Douglas Shook, new Assistant Principal
Kellogg Middle School
Douglas Shook has been selected as the new assistant principal of Kellogg Middle School, Superintendent Sue Walker announced. His appointment is effective July 16 and is subject to approval by the Shoreline School Board. Shook succeeds Lisa Gonzalez-Scott, who will become Kellogg principal.

Shook has been an assistant principal at two K-8 schools for St. Lucie County Schools in Fort Pierce, Florida for the past five years. Under his leadership, the schools in which he has worked have seen a significant increase in achievement based on student assessments. He also designed and implemented the K-8 master schedule, chaired Response to Intervention (RtI) data teams, led Professional Learning Communities, and led staff in various professional development activities. Most recently, he worked at the district level to implement their new teacher evaluation system.

Shook previously taught high school and middle school science in St. Lucie Schools and served as middle school athletic director. He graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree and from Florida Atlantic University with a Masters in Education Leadership.


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Who keeps flipping the switch? Power outages in Shoreline


Just before 4pm on Tuesday, June 19, the power went out for 2.700 households in Shoreline and North Seattle.

Boundaries of the outage were: on the north, NE 185th St.; on the east, 33rd Ave. NE; on the south, NE 120th St.; and on the west,Corliss Ave. N.

By 10pm, crews had restored power to all but 768 households and shortly after midnight, the number was down to 600.

Then, around 10pm another power outage hit a different part of Shoreline. This one affected 3,874 but that number was quickly reduced to about 1,046 customers.

The boundaries of the new outage were: on the north: NE 198th; on the east, Lake Washington; on the south; NE 148th; and on the west, 25th Ave. NE.

Power in both areas was restored by 4am Wednesday.  The cause of the first outage was determined to be wires down from equipment failures on utility poles. The second outage is still under investigation.


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First primary election ballots go out Saturday


By Evan Smith

King County and other counties around the State will send primary-election ballots to military and other overseas voters Saturday
            
That’s because of State and federal laws that require ballots for military and other overseas voters be in the mail 45 days before the Aug. 7 primary election.
            
The counties will mail ballots to domestic voters July 18.


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Sterling Bank celebrates Ballinger Grand Opening by giving money to local charities

$2,500 for PAWS
Sterling Bank opened its 189th branch in Shoreline at 20011 Ballinger Way NE, 425-712-0923, by handing out checks to local charities.

The Ballinger Branch has been in operation since December 5th and has had ballot boxes in the lobby for patrons to choose among three local groups: the Arts Council, PAWS, and Hopelink.

$1,500 for Hopelink

When the ballots were tallied for the Grand Opening last week: 

PAWS was our winner with the most votes and got $2500, Hopelink came in second and received $1500, The Shoreline Lake Forest Park Arts Council came in third and received $1000.

Sterling Bank operates in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and California.

$1,000 for Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council

Last year Sterling employees donated more than 44,000 volunteer hours. Sterling donates to more than 300 health, education, youth, community and art and culture organizations through out the five-state footprint.


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Avanesyan of Shorewood scores two goals


Avanesyan of Shorewood scores two goals, teammate Gobel one, as 3A defeats 4A 6-1 in Wesco all-star soccer game in Shoreline

Hayk Avanesyan of Shorewood scored two goals and teammate Andreas Gobel scored one as the 3A team defeated the 4A team 6-1 in the Western Conference all-star soccer game May 31 at Shoreline Stadium.


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Book Review by Aarene Storms: Stickman Odyssey


Stickman Odyssey  by Christopher Ford

If the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Percy Jackson had a child, that child would be Stickman:  an updated-epic, wise-cracking graphic novel of ancient Greece drawn in stick-figures.

Zozimos, kingly heir to Sticathia, escapes from his evil stepmother and is lost at sea.  He must find his way home, past golems, giants, and kings determined to imprison him for centuries, and is continually hindered by his own self-centered idiocy.  Befriended by some unlikely characters, Zozimos grows a bit but mostly hacks his way through the countryside with a (stick-figure-drawn) sword and many amusing turns-of-phrase. 

Action, adventure, stick-figures and poop jokes.  If you like that stuff (and I do), you'll love Stickman Odyssey!  No sex, drugs, or rock-and-roll.  Recommended for readers (especially boys and reluctant readers) ages 10 to adult

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach Library, KCLS   




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Two Shorecrest baseball players, three from Shorewood on all-Wesco 3A first team


Two Shorecrest baseball players and three Shorewood players have won positions on the all-Western-Conference-3A baseball first team. One Shorecrest and two Shorewood players were named to the second team.

The all-conference players include Ted Hammond of Shorecrest who made the first team as one of two pitchers and the second team as an outfielder.

Joining Hammond on the 13-member first team were Shorecrest junior outfielder Hayden McNabbmm, and Shorewood senior outfielder Duncan Hedrickson, senior designated hitter Christian Heideger and sophomore infielder Kory Longaker.

Joining Hammond on the second team are Shorewood senior catcher Christian Heidiger and junior outfielder Cameron Sterne.

Honorable mention went to Skylar Shibayama, Ryan Canfield, Neil Baldwin and Keegan Small of Shorecrest, and Chris Giles, Charleton Callender, Morgan Golden, Ben Andrews and Sam Boone of Shorewood.

Shorecrest finished fourth in the Wesco 3A with a 10-6 record before losing two games in the Northwest District 3A tournament to finish the season with a 13-9 overall record. Shorewood finished fifth in the Wesco 3A with an 8-8 record before losing two of three in the District tournament to finish with a 10-13 overall record.

ALL-WESCO 3A Baseball
(From our news partner, The Seattle Times)

FIRST TEAM

P/1B Alex Hatch, Sr., Mountlake Terrace; P Ted Hammond, Sr., Shorecrest; C Austin Johnson, Sr., Mountlake Terrace; IF Matt Hirsch, Sr., Meadowdale; IF Josh Fitch, Sr., Mountlake Terrace; IF Kory Longaker, So., Shorewood; IF Jordan Silva, Sr., Lynnwood; OF Chris Osborne, Sr., Meadowdale; OF Duncan Hedrickson, Sr., Shorewood; OF Hayden McNabb, Jr., Shorecrest; OF Keenan Miller, Sr., Glacier Peak; DH Christian Heideger, Sr., Shorewood; Util Brendan Soelling, Sr., Everett.

SECOND TEAM

P Torin Dooley, Sr., Meadowdale; P Sam Herzer, Sr., Meadowdale; C Christian Heidiger, Sr., Shorewood; 1B Riley Bykonen, Sr., Meadowdale; IF Dylan Caneza, Sr., Glacier Peak; IF Blake Lord, Sr., Lynnwood; IF Chris Hall, Sr., Mountlake Terrace; IF Henry Haveman, Sr., Mountlake Terrace; OF Ted Hammond, Sr., Shorecrest; OF Cameron Sterne, Jr., Shorewood; OF Corey Hoerner, Sr., Lynnwood; OF Quintin Barnard, Jr., Mountlake Terrace; DH Ethan Coffey, Sr., Meadowdale; Util Mitch Eatmon, Jr., Glacier Peak.

HONORABLE MENTION

Everett — Lucas Henry, Riley Ayers, Sam Loomis, Lucas Arnstad, Eric Allen.
Glacier Peak — Branson Barnecut, Darwin Bean, Josh Brewer, Ben Hackler, Tyler Parker.
Marysville Getchell — John Clarke, Brandon Bethers.
Oak Harbor — Jack Richter, Sam Glavick, Dimitri Munoz, Grant Schroeder, Austin Walker.
Shorecrest — Skylar Shibayama, Ryan Canfield, Neil Baldwin, Keegan Small.
Shorewood — Chris Giles, Charleton Callender, Morgan Golden, Ben Andrews, Sam Boone.
Mountlake Terrace — Dominic DeMiero, Jalen Pahinui.
Meadowdale — Grantland Over, Bill Sullivan, Tyler Ackerman. Lynnwood — Jeff Stanley.


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Football has already started for next year - attend scrimmage Thursday


Shorewood football parents have announced that the first scrimmage is on Thursday, June 21st  with Shorecrest, Kamiak, and Stanwood. The scrimmage starts at 3:30 and ends at 6pm, and will be held at the Shoreline Stadium.

Parents and interested community members are encouraged to attend and cheer on their team. 

This is the day of the Shorewood Football player BBQ; because of the interest from last year, parents will also sell a limited number of burgers to fans for $5.

Wow, the 2012 season is already underway.  It’s going to be a GREAT year.  We look forward to fabulous parent and community support for the team!


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Hillwood, Innis Arden, Richmond Beach, and Richmond Highlands - you won


2012 Call for Community Project Proposals

Do you live in Hillwood, Innis Arden, Richmond Beach, or Richmond Highlands?  Then you are part of the winning Thursday collection area for the 2011/2012 Neighborhood Waste Reduction Rewards competition from CleanScapes, receiving a $10,000 reward to fund a community project.

Project proposals are accepted now through August 31, 2012. Gather ideas for a community project, fill out the attached Proposal Form, and submit your idea by email or regular mail it to 117 S Main Street, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98104. Visit the CleanScapes website for more information on the Neighborhood Waste Reduction Rewards program, including frequently asked questions and the project selection timeline.

We are looking forward to seeing what this year’s winning neighborhoods choose for its own $10,000 community improvement project(s)!


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Windermere Shoreline packaged 7,000 pounds of frozen soup at Food Lifeline


2012 Windermere Shoreline volunteers
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

On Friday, June 15, 2012, Windermere Real Estate staff and agents spent the morning sorting and repacking 7,000 pounds of frozen soup - enough for 5,385 meals at the Shoreline-based warehouse Food Lifeline.

Every year Windermere closes its offices for one day to help make a positive difference in local communities. It started in 1984 when a handful of Windermere owners and agents came together to make repairs at a Seattle-area elementary school. Nearly three decades and more than 800,000 hours of community service later, Windermere has continued this tradition through neighborhood-enhancing projects in the areas where Windermere teams live, work, and play.

Henry Goss, Chris Haynes, and Joni Sharrah
pack soup at Food Lifeline
Photo by Lee Langeschulte

Food Lifeline is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending hunger in Western Washington. Food Lifeline makes every penny count, and 94% of the food they receive from local, state and national contributors is donated. Last year, Food Lifeline distributed more than 35 million pounds of food – the equivalent of more than 27 million meals – to feed hungry people throughout Western Washington. 

There are many ways to volunteer as in individual or group at Food Lifeline. One convenient way is to join the Food Lifeline Volunteer Team for a “last minute” Save the Day volunteer session. Typically, volunteer sessions fill up 3 to 4 weeks in advance, but occasionally there are last minute opportunities. Volunteers are notified by email, making sign-up easy.


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'Dump the Pump" Day June 21

Tuesday, June 19, 2012



The Puget Sound region's public transportation agencies are joining forces to encourage commuters to make national Dump the Pump Day, June 21, the day they climb aboard buses, trains and ferries and spend their hard-earned dollars on something other than gas.

With volatile gas prices over $4 per gallon for regular, the more than 560,000 riders who take advantage of the region's public transportation services already understand the savings they can reap.

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) transit savings calculator shows that the cost of driving 20 miles round trip each weekday in a car that gets 23 miles per gallon with $4 per gallon for gas and $10 a day for parking is approximately $2,300 more per year than riding transit, taking into account the cost of a transit pass.*

If everyone who currently rides transit each day drove a car the same distance they would cumulatively use more than $615,000 in fuel daily. The more than 150,000 gallons of fuel burned would result in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 1,300 metric tons daily.

National Dump the Pump Day is sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) to encourage people to take advantage of public transportation systems available in local communities across the nation. By doing so, people can save money as well as help the environment and increase the nation's energy independence.

Metro will be reaching out to riders on Facebook to ask how they plan to Dump the Pump on June 21. Ten people will win a Dump the Pump t-shirt and an ORCA card loaded with $10. Participants will be selected through a random drawing on June 25. Metro will also be reaching out to residents with a reminder that they can learn more about the travel and cost-savings benefits of using transit by visiting Metro Online.



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Lake Forest Park 'Good Neighbors' recognized at City Hall

Monday, June 18, 2012


Lake Forest Park Good Neighbors
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park

Ordinary citizens and community organizations doing good things were brought into the spotlight in Lake Forest Park at June 14th's Good Neighbor Awards Ceremony at City Hall. 

Started by the Community Services Commission in 2005, the Good Neighbor Awards are a way to recognize the countless good deeds and services performed by friends, neighbors, family members and those who work in our community.  

2012 honorees:
  • Benjamin Potter: helps care and maintain his elderly neighbor’s lawn and trash pickup out of his own good will.
Honorees Patti and Rick Giboney with Shoreline-Lake Forest Park
Arts Council Director Fred Wong (center)
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park
  • Patti and Rick Giboney: 30 year residents of Lake Forest Park who have dedicated years of service to the Shoreline School Board, Youth Basketball, Lake Forest Park/Shoreline Arts Council, and special needs children in the Shoreline School District.
  • Church of the Redeemer in Kenmore: Provides $6,000 a year to help with the Farmer’s Market “Market Bucks” program to help feed the hungry and provide income for local food producers.
  • The Milner Family: Every month, the Milner family convenes to play Sunday morning musical sets at Third Place Commons. They also have been known around the community for performing at various City and community events.
Honoree Christine DePinto signs her leaf for the Good Neighbor Quilt
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park
  • Lisa Koontz, Christine DePinto, and Greta Hardin: Volunteers at Brookside Elementary School who have been instrumental in creating and sustaining the Art Docent Program. They do this program 6 times a year for every grade and then repeat it all again for the next year!
  • Candy and Gary Richards: 20 year plus residents of Lake Forest Park who received 2 separate nominations this year. Candy is one of the founders of the Secret Gardens Tour and Gary has built and maintained the website for years.
Honorees from LFP Presbyterian Church and friends
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park
  • Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church: A hub of the community, the Church serves as a gathering place for children’s programs, substance abuse meetings, Rotary Club meetings and various men’s and women’s program opportunities for the community. They also have a volunteer program that offers their support to others in need during flood events.
  • Aaron Stadler: An outstanding videographer with more than 25 years of video production experience. He has volunteered countless hours filming and documenting several City and community events.
  • Jim Hansen: The kind of person who drives his neighbor to the doctor for medical visits. Jim received 2 separate nominations this year and has been an active participant in events and programs around the City. He founded the electric car fair and was instrumental in helping create the mural along the Burke Gilman trail.
  • Bob Franks: A mentor to our youth, Bob has been a YMCA youth basketball coach for many years. At the YMCA, he has been known to start additional teams so as not to cut or exclude players. He’s helped pay for registration costs, carpooled players, and bought food for those who could not afford it.

Special award nominee Mamie Bolender receives award
from Mayor Goss
for Outstanding Citizen Environmentalist
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park

The awards are designed to recognize individuals whose helpful acts have been done without seeking or receiving recognition for their service. Good Neighbor Awards can be granted to adults and youth who either live or work in the City of Lake Forest Park (except for City employees). Once award nominations are submitted, Community Services Commissioners review the nominations and select each year’s Good Neighbors.



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Senior Center Thrift Shop - everything half-off for Arts Festival weekend


The Senior Center and Thrift Shop are located in the building at the south end of the Shoreline Center, with entrance from the south parking lot. The Shoreline Center is at 18560 1st Avenue NE and the Senior Center faces NE 185th.

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4th Annual Celebrate Shoreline Soccer Classic 2012



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Support music in Shoreline Schools by donating your 'lovingly used' instruments


Donate musical instruments you no longer use for Shoreline Schools Music4Life program - drop off sites announced - Work Team will be at Shoreline Arts Festival this weekend

Four local businesses have agreed to be drop-off sites for musical instrument donations to the Shoreline Schools Music4Life™ program.  Adults who have “lovingly used” musical instruments that they’re willing to put back into play can drop them off at:

  • the KeyBank branch on Aurora
  • Ballinger Realty just east of I-5 on 19th Ave NE
  • A Better Day Solon in the Lake Forest Park Shopping Center
  • any Kennelly Keys Music store (Northgate or Lynnwood - the Shoreline store is gone)

Instruments can also be dropped off at the front desk of the Shoreline School District office on First Avenue NE, and a Shoreline Schools Music4Life team will be on-site at the Shoreline Arts Festival this weekend to accept instruments and other donations.

Shoreline Schools Music4Life is a non-profit organization that acquires musical instruments and supplies for low income students. 

Working cooperatively with Shoreline Schools are the four Rotary clubs located within the school district and Music4Life™.

“Our best resource for musical instruments is from adults who have instruments in their garages or attics and are willing to put them back into play,” says Bill Forney, President of the Rotary Club of Shoreline (lunch).  “We know that the instrumental music programs at Shoreline Schools are just terrific.  But we also know that as many as thirty percent of students within the district come from low income families and may not be able to participate unless they get a little help. 
“Our goal is to provide every student in the district an opportunity to play a musical instrument, if they want to, regardless of their ability to afford it,” Forney says.  “We do this at a time of financial challenge because research shows that students who study instrumental music do better in math, science, history, languages and many other academic disciplines.  We believe that, when funding is low, it is time for the community to step-up.”

Shoreline Schools Music4Life is a community service activity that is Rotary-inspired, but you don’t have to be a member of a Rotary club to support it, says David Endicott of Music4Life.  “We’re very glad to have the support of anyone who understands the immense value of instrumental music in a child’s life.”  He says musical instruments are acquired for Shoreline Schools Music4Life in two ways.

“Many adults no longer play musical instruments that are gathering dust in their attics and garages,” he says.  “We gratefully accept those ‘lovingly used’ instruments, repair them as needed and then donate them absolutely free of charge to Shoreline Schools.”  Used musical instruments can be dropped off at any Kennelly Keys Music store or at one of the conveniently located sites.

“We can also buy new musical instruments that the Shoreline Schools band and orchestra directors tell us they need for eligible young musicians.”  Donations help take care of musical supplies and instrument repairs.  Monetary donations can be made via PayPal accounts or by visiting the Music 4 Life website,

Shoreline Schools Music4Life begins by providing musical instruments to fifth and sixth graders who qualify for the free- and reduced-lunch program.  “In special circumstances, we can provide instruments to older children, as well,” Forney says.  “Our goal is to enable as many young people to take advantage of these instrumental music opportunities as possible.”

Currently, 30 percent of all fifth and sixth grade students in Shoreline Public Schools who participate in instrumental music programs are income-eligible. The Shoreline Schools Music4Life™ initiative intends to begin by assisting at least half that number.

Rotary has a history of supporting music education in area public schools. All four Rotary clubs within the Shoreline Schools District are backing the program, including the Shoreline Breakfast, Lake Forest Park and Rain City Rotary Clubs. Other Music4Life programs support the Seattle and Highline school systems. Music4Life enjoys the support of notable music advocates and other community leaders.



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Soft opening of Shoreline Farmers Market draws large crowds

Updated 6-18-2012 4:25pm
Shoreline resident Else Hansen and
Shoreline Councilmember Shari Winstead
Photo by Jerry Pickard
An estimated 2,000 shoppers went through the Market like a tsunami at the soft opening of the Shoreline Farmers Market, sweeping flowers, vegetables, and other food out of the booths.

The Grateful Bread sold out
Photo by Jerry Pickard
Before the day was over, the meat, flowers, berries, and bread were sold out.

Jersey's was serving lunch
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Still, shoppers had several choices of ready-to-eat food, such as Jersey's, and music from the Sublime Six, and buskers Dynamite Limbo, and other booths to choose from.

Shorecrest string sextet plays for the shoppers
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Buskers Dynamite Limbo - Chris Yates and Nick Backer
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Delicately Sweet Confections
Photo by Jerry Pickard

The Market will be open every Saturday, from 10am to 3pm, with the official Grand Opening on June 30.


Assembly of Dog animal treats
Photo by Jerry Pickard

The J Project Clothing.  WSU grad Jaime Marie bought this bus and converted it into a mobile boutique to sell her clothing and jewelry creations.

The most unique "booth" at the Market
Photo by Jerry Pickard


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Council of Neighborhoods spun the trivia wheel at the Shoreline Famers Market

August Murphy gets ready to spin the Trivia Wheel
Photo by Naomi Murphy

The Council of Neighborhoods booth was hopping Saturday at the first Shoreline Farmers Market. 

Shoppers stopped by to test their mettle against the Shoreline trivia wheel and to help knit tree socks for SummerSet Arts Festival: Celebrating Ronald Bog. 

Good food, fun products, great neighborhood gathering and even decent weather. We loved it!

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Obituary: Clinton Maehl, former Shoreline Fire Chief

Clinton Maehl, former
Shoreline Fire Chief
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire
Clinton Maehl had deep roots in Shoreline and the Shoreline Fire Department

Clinton and Gertrude (Mofle) Maehl moved to Seattle from Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1942, joining his parents and sisters. They bought property in Shoreline and he began building their home, "board by board, as money permitted."

In 1943, Clinton was drafted into the Army Signal Corps and shipped into WWII in Europe, including the battle for Omaha Beach. With the war over, he returned home in 1945 to his wife and daughter Jill. Two more children were born to them - Anita and Douglas.

A couple of months after returning, the Chief of the Seattle Fire District #5 invited Clinton to become a volunteer firefighter. In the summer of 1947, he joined the North City Volunteer Firefighters, a group still in its infancy, and was quickly promoted to Captain and Training Officer. In 1958 he was invited to become a member of the Fire Service Training for Washington State. In 1950, at the age of 28, he was promoted to Fire Chief of King County Fire District #4 (now known as Shoreline Fire) and began building a network of firefighters and paramedics that today we know to be a first class organization.

In 1962 he became a charter member of the Shoreline Rotary Club and in July of 1963 was installed as the club's second president. This involvement greatly enriched his life, and Rotary's dedication to the eradication of polio was a passion for him. 

Clinton is survived by his beloved wife Gertrude C. Maehl, his daughters, Jill M. Hanson (James) of Salem OR and Anita L. Belceto (John) of Fall City WA and his son Douglas R. Maehl (Marilyn) of Columbus OH and his sister Joyce E. Anderson of Seattle, WA, eight grandchildren: Mark, Doug, Greg, Diana, Brian, Trevor, Kevin, Kelly and thirteen great grandchildren.

His service and burial were at Acacia Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155 on Saturday, May 12, 2012.

In his memory, contributions may be made to the Shoreline Fire Department. 17525 Aurora Avenue, Shoreline, WA 98133.


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