Public meeting July 18 to update Kenmore community on industrial park clean up

Thursday, July 12, 2012


The Department of Ecology invites the Kenmore community to a July 18, 2012, open house and public meeting about the cleanup site on part of Kenmore Industrial Park, also known as Lakepointe. Both events will take place at Kenmore City Hall, 18120 68th Avenue NE. The open house will start at 5:30 pm, and the public meeting will begin at 7 pm.

At the meeting, Ecology representatives will provide an overview, give an update, and answer questions on the deferred maintenance and other work at the 14-acre western part of this 45-acre industrial site. The site is managed under an environmental legal agreement between Ecology and the property’s owner.  

Ecology and other agencies and organizations will be available during the open house to present information and answer questions about the site and the State Route 520 project work on part of the site. The City of Kenmore, Washington Department of Health, Washington Department of Transportation and 520 project contractors will join Ecology at the open house.


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WeatherWatcher: Lightning show tonight


Lightning storms are developing over the area tonight, I have personally witnessed lightning over the Kitsap peninsula this evening.  Clouds are rapidly building and may produce quite the lightning show tonight.  This is not in the standard forecast right now, however it is happening and may continue overnight.  The conditions this evening are typical for these lightning shows to develop.  Stay up to the minute by following my twitter @SWeatherWatcher


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Legislative and judicial candidates to appear at forum July 24


Legislative and judicial candidates to appear at forum July 24 at Richmond Beach Congregational Church
         
A primary election candidates’ forum July 24 at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church will feature candidates running for State representative in the 32nd District and for the King County Superior Court.
            
The forum will include three pairs of candidates for positions on the Superior Court.
            
Superior Court candidates who get a majority in the Aug. 7 primary win election without running in the November general election.

Five candidates are running for two legislative positions in the 32nd District, with two candidates for each position advancing to the general election.
            
The forum will start at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, with the candidates for the two positions in the Legislature. It will continue at 8 p.m. with the six candidates for three positions on the Superior Court.


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Barter the Bounty of Your Garden at NW Solarfest


Backyard Barter will be hosting a free barter event where you can trade homegrown and homemade food and related skills

On Saturday, July 28th from 2pm to 4pm community members interested in bartering can bring produce, eggs, honey, seeds, plants, tools, canned goods, promises of a helping hand in the kitchen or garden, and mentoring skills to trade with their neighbors. The only rules are no money and have fun. 

The barter will be taking place at the NW Solarfest located at Shoreline Community College. This is an outdoor space so attendees should dress themselves, and their goodies, for the weather. In addition to the barter, this event will also include a solar cooking demonstration. For more information, or to RSVP, email or visit the website

This event is part of a series of bartering events hosted by the group Backyard Barter. Backyard Barter was formed by North Seattle residents with a desire to build community while helping to encourage neighbors to grow and share food and skills. The Backyard Barter Project is funded through a Small and Simple Matching Grant through the Department of Neighborhoods and is fiscally sponsored by Seattle Tilth.  

In addition to monthly in-person bartering events, Backyard Barter hosts a website that barterers can use to coordinate and trade with their neighbors all year round. The site allows individuals to describe what they have to share, learn from each other and arrange bartering relationships with their neighbors.

About Backyard Barter 
Backyard Barter is a community where neighbors barter locally produced food, related skills and items like seedlings, eggs, extra produce, canned goods, the use of garden tools, expertise in garden construction and design, and a helping hand with food-related projects. Backyard Barter is a project of Seattle Tilth and funded by a Simple and Small Matching Grant from the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods.



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Introductory statements from 32nd District State representative candidates

By Evan Smith

Incumbent Democratic 32nd District State Rep, Ruth Kagi of Shoreline faces two Republican challengers in the Aug. 7 primary election.

They are Eric Alvey of Seattle and Robert Reedy of Mountlake Terrace.

The District includes Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, most of Lynnwood, part of Mountlake Terrace, south Edmonds, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County.

The top two vote getters in the primary advance to the Nov. 7 general election.

All three candidates will appear at a primary-election candidate forum April 24 at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church.

Here are statements from the three candidates:

Eric R Alvey
“I am not satisfied with the direction we are taking as a state-are you? Businesses are fleeing and taking good jobs with them. We need to retain them and encourage new business and job creation. The best stimulus is to let us keep our money and the ability to decide how to spend it. The state budgeting process needs to be brought under control. My career has been in construction; as a laborer jobs are scarce when the economy is hurting, as a manager you must control costs to effectively complete projects and keep people working. We all believe in paying our fair share for government, but if we don’t solve economic problems - funding everything government does will continue to be a struggle. It’s time for a fresh perspective and a new set of eyes to look at how we can make a positive change of direction.”

Ruth Kagi
“I came to the legislature because of my concern for children and families, and am extremely fortunate to chair the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee. I have led the legislature's efforts to improve the quality of child care and pre-school and to strengthen our services for foster children.
“My focus is on finding ways to make government more effective. This past session I sponsored and passed major reforms to our child welfare system, requiring services to be performance based, accountable and responsive to the needs of families. I also have passed legislation to assure interstate truck drivers operate safely in Washington, and that drivers secure their loads. My work on drug sentencing reform has saved millions of dollars by allowing non-violent offenders to be treated in the community rather than sending them to prison.
“My priority will continue to be the protection, support and education of children.”

Robert Reedy
“The key is jobs. Jobs provide tax revenue. JFK said, ‘The rising tide lifts all boats,’ so let's create jobs for everyone. The best welfare program is a family wage job. We don't accomplish this by pitting citizen against citizen, nor do we succeed by destroying unions. We need to work together to end unemployment. Let’s put back emergency unemployment compensation for those who lost benefits April 21. Why should they suffer due to government blundering? Did politicians find out if those losing benefits would get jobs?
“I want education to embrace new ideals, not go kicking and screaming into the future. Not everyone wants to go to college or be a white-collar worker. So let’s have opportunities to help young people become skilled craftsmen.
“I support small business; given the choice between taxes or helping small business, I will side with small business to provide jobs for the future.”      

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.

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Man dies on Sound Transit bus

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

A 62 year old Mountlake Terrace man suffered a fatal medical emergency while he was on a Sound Transit bus travelling southbound on I-5 just south of the 145th overpass in Shoreline.




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Lake Forest Park City Hall to be closed Friday, July 13th for Furlough Day


Due to budget constraints, Lake Forest Park City Hall will be closed on Friday, July 13, 2012 for a scheduled furlough day. The police department, public works department and the municipal court will remain open for service on Friday.

In 2010, City Council adopted a budget for 2011-2012 which included five furlough days per year and a 2% pay reduction for the City's managerial, professional and exempt employees. The City's maintenance workers represented by Teamsters Local 117 also agreed to a 2% pay reduction and five furlough days per year for 2011-2012. The remaining furlough days for 2012 are scheduled on July 13, August 31, and December 24.




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Have a playdate with the kids


Tots' playdate, Wednesdays 10-11:30am at Bethel Lutheran Church. Note that parents/guardians need to remain on site. For more information contact Pastor Ode.


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Center for Human Services rescues Northshore Head Start program


The Northshore School District announced earlier this year its intent to stop being the sponsor for the Headstart Program. To fill this gap, the Center for Human Services has agreed to be the new sponsor for the Northshore Head Start program. 

In Fall 2012, there will be 3 classes, one at Kenmore Elementary and two at Bothell United Methodist Church. The Church will host a morning session 8:00-11:30am class and an afternoon session 12:30-4:00pm, at 18515 92 Ave NE Bothell 98011. The Kenmore Elementary School will also host a morning session 8:30- 12:00pm class at their site on 19121-71st Ave NE, Kenmore 98028. 

There will be application packets available at the Northshore Family Center located at 18414 103rd Ave NE after June 25th for anyone seeking to apply for Head Start. Head Start is a free program for low-income families and their children to help children get prepared for Kindergarten. 

For more information, contact Tamara Piwen at or 206.631.8864


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Commercial Vehicle Fatigued Driver Emphasis July 8 – 12, 2012

   (CVD Truck Check) During a Commercial Vehicle Safety emphasis, WSP CVEO 2 Nicholas Hopper inspects the tires on a semi truck. During these safety emphasis checks Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Officers not only check the truck’s brakes, tires and safety systems.  Officers also check the driver’s licenses and log books, looking for drivers with suspended licenses or ones who have exceeded the maximum hours they can drive every day. Photo courtesy WSDOT.   

The Washington State Patrol (WSP) Commercial Vehicle Division (CVD), in partnership with California and Oregon authorities, are combating fatigued drivers by checking drivers’ hours of service and citing drivers who exceed the maximum allowable thresholds.

Washington, Oregon, and California will share data and information during the emphasis to verify hours of service recorded by drivers of commercial motor vehicles traveling the Interstate 5 corridor from Blaine, Washington to northern California.  Although actual percentage estimates vary, it is widely acknowledged that driver fatigue is a factor in many commercial vehicle crashes. For this reason, federal regulations limit the number of both consecutive and cumulative hours a commercial vehicle driver may operate his or her vehicle without an off-duty rest period. Enforcement of these limits is essential to ensure compliance, combat driver fatigue, and assure our roadways remain safe for all motorists.

During this emphasis, Washington, Oregon and California Troopers and Officers will check vehicles and their drivers at inspection sites along the Interstate 5 corridor. In addition, roving patrols will inspect vehicles and drivers who are attempting to avoid the inspection sites by traveling on bypass routes.

The WSP CVD strives to make Washington roadways the safest in the nation.


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Guilty plea in December 2011 home invasion rape of a child in Shoreline


From the King County Sheriff's Office

In December of 2011, Jesse R. Gonzales, a 37 year old male, entered the Shoreline residence of a 12 year old girl and sexually assaulted her. Her siblings were in the house and asleep in other rooms during the incident. Gonzales lived a block away from the residence. Gonzales pled guilty to the crimes of Rape 1* and Burglary 1* and on June 25th he was sentenced to receive a minimum 25 years to life indeterminate sentence.

 The case was solved within 72 hours due to a combination of work by members of the King County Sheriff’s Office and the Shoreline Police Department. Once the arrest was made, the Sheriff’s Office worked closely with the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and because of some tremendous police work and DNA that placed Gonzales with the victim, prosecutors had a solid case and the leverage to negotiate a guilty plea. 

The victim and her family are very relieved and very pleased with the efforts of everyone involved in the case.  

This case is a great example of the work the members of the King County Sheriff’s Office accomplish on a regular basis and the teamwork between the Sheriff’s Office and the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.




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Four Shorecrest students awarded scholarships from Lake Forest Park Rotary

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Lake Forest Park Rotary Club recently awarded scholarships to four graduating seniors from Shorecrest High School. The celebation took place with parents in attendance at Rotary Club's Wednesday breakfast meeting. The recipients were:

  • Allison Ezeonwu 
  • Elliot Fisher 
  • Anthony Marcus Frates
  • Anel Ruiz
The students had applied for the scholarships and the Rotary Scholarship team evalutated their academic records, their volunteer work in the community, and recommendations by a teacher or mentor. Each student submitted a short essay telling the team about themselves and their aspirations for the future. The team also interviewed each individual student.  

Upon review, it became apparent that were all well-qualified, academically, and had completed more than required in volunteering in the community. Truly they are all leaders and practice Service Above Self, in their daily lives. Each student gave a brief talk before they were presented with their scholarship by Frank Michiels, President of the LFP Rotary Club.

Elliot Fisher and Rotary President Frank Michiels
Elliot Fisher said that Mahatma Gandhi epitomizes the value of selflessness when he said, “The best way to find ourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” He discovered that this statement helped him develop a special perspective, changing him from a technically ignorant audience member as he delved into service and emerged with a passion for both service and learning, one the consequence of the other. He applied himself studiously to taking many Honors and AP courses, while finding time to teach sailing, work on theatrical productions, be active on the design team for the new high school, work as a volunteer peer and private tutor, studied piano and tutored music theory, founded a community involvement group in cycling and worked as a construction worker in Chihuahua, Mexico. He is also combining art and science as he builds an articulated hand of metal. He was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award and is a member of the National Honor Society. He has enrolled at UW in a select pre-engineering class, enrolling as a Junior.

Marcus Frates and Frank Michiels
Marcus Frates has also taken a well-rounded program including AP and Honors classes while at Shorecrest. Besides his studies, Marcus has been involved with Kiwanis Key Club for four years. Key Club, established in 1925, is a student-led organization whose goal is to teach leadership through helping. Key Club International is a part of the Kiwanis International family.  He was chosen as  Lieutenant Governor of his Pacific Northwest District of Alaska, Oregon, Idaho, Northern California, Washington, Yukon and BC Territories of Canada. This past year, he was appointed  to serve as the Communications Chair. He has also been involved in teaching swimming at the YMCA, managing the Girls’ Swim Team in 2011, involved in Relay for Life, a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society, and organized a Dance for special needs students. “It takes just one good instructor to spark your passion for a sport, and I hope I have done that for others.” Marcus now heads to Southern California for college where he plans to study economics.
  
Allison Ezeonwu and President Frank Michiels
Allison Ezeonwu is past-president of the Rotary Interact Service Club, and has continued as a hard-working and invested leader. She has taken many AP and Honors classes, and is looking forward to college where she will focus on medicine. This interest in medicine was initiated when, at age nine, she traveled with her family to visit extended family in Nigeria. She was able to meet her grandmother, whose eyesight had failed and couldn’t afford to go to an eye doctor. Healthcare, she learned, is a luxury that many can not afford, nor were there even enough trained physicians in the area to serve the patients. Her interest in public health was sparked, and, in her sophomore year, she began to volunteer at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She also learned skills through her senior project job  by shadowing an EMT to gain more medical experience in a setting where she would need a full range of abilities. “My experiences made me appreciate medicine, and the way it helps people. Long-term, this will make my studies more meaningful to my future career choice of providing medical aid to third world countries.”

Anel Ruiz, Scholarship winner
Anel Ruiz has taken many honors and AP courses. She will be the first person in her family to attend college. She has felt the pressure to push herself to succeed in her academic studies. She plans to journey into a career in which she can give back to the community. She is a member of Rotary Interact Club, joining as part of her community service requirements. However, she found that she really enjoyed the projects in which they were involved: concession stands for home games, Senior Center breakfast and many other projects. She also volunteered with the Center for Human Services in Shoreline, tutoring ESL students. She found that she really enjoys working with the children. Starting out taking Karate lessons at age 8, she has also been volunteering for the karate school, 5 days a week. She has earned her black belt and this means, she said, that it is her duty to assist others and help them meet their goals. These community experiences have helped define what her interests are, with her main goal is to help other people. “I found that being able to effectively teach a skill is very different from being able to perform a skill myself". She also provides tutoring in English and Spanish.
         
Marj Ando, of the Scholarship Committee, ended the ceremony by praising the students for their academic strengths, their service to the community and their growing leadership qualities. As leaders in the New Generations, she challenged them to do good in the community and world through service, and to keep in touch with this Rotary Club as well as Rotaract Club, the college level Rotary Club. They were also given a booklet talking about possible Rotary opportunities they might want to apply for in the future.


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Letter to the Editor: Senior Citizens can't get around for lack of volunteer drivers

To the Editor:


As a Shoreline senior, I have been riding the Hyde Shuttle for three years. Without the Hyde Shuttle, my life would be quite different. Unfortunately, there are not enough volunteer drivers to keep the Hyde Shuttle operating every day. The program has had to cancel routes in the past month.

Since many seniors can no longer get around easily on their own, they rely on the Hyde Shuttle. There is an urgent need for more volunteers to sustain this important community service. 

Perhaps a retired man or lady or someone who has lost their job, would like to be of service to needy seniors.

For information about volunteering please contact Melissa at (206) 748-7588 or by email.

Irene Pearson
Shoreline


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CKO Kickboxing Gym opens in Shoreline


The official Ribbon Punching opened the new site
in Shoreline

CKO Kickboxing, an extremely popular franchise on the east coast, has just opened its doors on the west coast, right here in Shoreline. CKO Kickboxing celebrated its grand opening in Shoreline on July 7, 2012. The official “ribbon cutting” was done CKO style by punching the ribbon!


CKO Class in action
CKO kickboxing specializes in one thing and that is results! What makes CKO different is that these results come from an extremely fun and energetic class that promises one can burn up to 1200 calories in one hour! The gym has no treadmills, no weight machines, just heavy bags, lots and lots of heavy bags, in fact there are over 70 heavy bags hanging in the gym. The classes are instructor led classes and each member gets his or her own bag for the class.

The open gym at CKO

The best part about CKO is that anybody can take the class. The classes are structured so that they are adaptable to all athletic backgrounds, all body types, and all ages. The second best thing about CKO Kickboxing is there is absolutely zero sparring or contact. Let’s be honest, getting punched in the face is highly overrated! Most people know that “fighters” are some of the most in shape athletes on the planet but “fighters” also take a lot of physical punishment. However, CKO prides its self on training you like a fighter without actually having to fight anyone. This method of training provides all the physical benefits of kickboxing with none of the negative side effects.

CKO’s class schedule is:



If you never taken a class at CKO Kickboxing you are definitely missing out on achieving your fitness potential, in fact CKO guarantees you will love the workout by allowing everyone and anyone to try a free week of classes. There is no catch, just come in a try the best work out on the planet!

CKO Kickboxing
15901 Westminster Way Shoreline 98133
206-402-3847
Email


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Glass artist Carol Milne sculpts with light for SummerSet Arts Festival

Corrected 07-20-2012 12:27am

Carol Milne, glass sculptor, will exhibit at SummerSet


Carol Milne is an internationally exhibited glass sculptor working in North Seattle creating with her favorite medium, hot glass. Milne has displayed her award-winning work in galleries and art festivals in many corners of the United States and as far afield as Japan and Korea. With glass she has tackled a number of forms including shoes, knitted baskets, disembodied hands, teapots, and more. Three of the production processes she uses in her glass work are kiln cast glass, hot cast glass, and hot stitch knitted glass. 


Milne says “I like glass because it can take on an infinite number of forms and textures. Glass can show an interior image and exterior image simultaneously. It's translucent and transparent. It plays with light. It looks cool when it's hot.” 


While Milne can certainly be considered a glass artist, she also lives in the realm of a fiber artist – using knitting and weaving as ways of working with her material of choice.

The SummerSet Arts Festival: Celebrating Ronald Bog offers Milne a new challenge – translating her love of glass and light into a large scale for the outdoor setting. For warm-up, she is creating an enormous piece for Bellwether, the outdoor sculpture exhibit presented by the City of Bellevue’s Arts Program. Her Bellwether work features sculpted stone-like thick tentacle blades curling from the earth. The surfaces are treated with a knitted covering of shock cord and rope lighting to create a wonderful woven glow. We can't wait to see what Milne comes up with for the SummerSet Arts event! Her work along with 4 other sculptors will displayed at Ronald Bog Park starting the second week of September of this year.

To see more of Carol's work visit her website. SummerSet Arts Festival:Celebrating Ronald Bog, a free to the public event, begins in September with a Celebration Day of music, dance, art-making, and nature appreciation on September 15th. Shoreline residents are invited to join in art-making at month of July Cromwell Park concerts, month of August Sunday afternoons at Ronald Bog Park, and other Shoreline events. For more information contact Cynthia Knox, project coordinator.


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Register now for Shoreline Goodwill’s FREE classes


Students can learn valuable skills in computers and English

Shoreline Goodwill’s Job Training and Education Center, located at 14500 15th Ave. NE, will be registering people for free classes July 16 – 19, 2012.  The eight-week session runs from August 6 - September 27, 2012.

The staff expects classes to fill up fast and reminds prospective students that sign-up is on a first come, first served basis.

The center will offer the following classes:

  • Retail and Customer Service Training Program
  • English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
  • Basic Computer Classes– Introductory courses for people with little or no computer experience.
        •     Computer Basics
        •     Basic Computers for ESOL
        •     Microsoft Word
        •     Microsoft Excel
  • Career Building Assistance: Instructors can help people with job searches, resume and cover letter writing, interview practice and more.
For class availability and enrollment information, call 206-631-8460.
_______________________________________________________

Shoreline Goodwill is part of Seattle Goodwill Industries, a private, nonprofit organization that has served the central and northern Puget Sound since 1923. It provides free job training and education programs and services that help low-income and underserved people obtain the skills they need to secure employment so they may achieve economic self-sufficiency. For more information about Goodwill programs, please call toll free at1-877-GIVE4GOOD or visit the website


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Seattle City Light crews working the poles in Ridgecrest

By Patty Hale


Seattle City Light crews were working the poles in Northcrest Park, located in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood. The poles supply electrical service to the residential homes on the east side of 8th Ave NE between NE 165th and NE 170th , and are the last of the original pole installation dating from 1946. A few months ago, new poles were planted side-by-side to the original poles. On Tuesday, July 10, the electrical service line was transferred from the old poles to the taller new ones by Ryan and Landon with the support of additional crew on the ground. Following the line transfer, the upper portion of the old pole is cut off. The next step will be for the remaining utilities (phone, cable, etc) to transfer their lines to the new pole. Procedure has it that the last utility to switch their lines over is the one responsible to remove the old pole. Now that’s what I call incentive to get the job done sooner rather than later!

Photos by Patty Hale.

Photo by Patty Hale

Picture 1   Landon (on the right) lifts what looks like a large orange rake - it actually is an orange plastic insallation sleeve used to cover and pick up the line to be transfered from one pole to the other.  The plastic does not conduct electricity.  Ryan on the left, puts the finishing touches to the horizontal safety device that protects the worker below should the line drop.                                                                     

Picture 2 – Ryan (on left) and Landon

Picture 3  - Landon pushes away on the top of the pole to keep the blade of the chainsaw from binding, while Ryan cuts off the top off the old pole.                                                          

Picture 4 - Success! 

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Photo: Sunset before the storm

Monday, July 9, 2012

Richmond Beach Sunset. Photo by Allen Bain
Allen Bain took this sunset photo in Richmond Beach on July 8. At 2am a thunderstorm swept through the area, waking residents with nature's fireworks show.

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WeatherWatcher: Thunder in the night sky


Photographed from Log Boom Park in Kenmore on July 3, 2008.
Photo by Carl Dinse

It's not uncommon to have a summer night around here to bloom into a thunderstorm in the early morning hours, typically between Midnight and 3am.   They're usually confined to the mountains, and Eastern Washington, but occasionally they drift over the Puget Sound as what happened last night, and could possibly happen tonight.

First I'd like to explain the difference between an on shore flow, and an off shore flow.  On shore flows is when the high pressure is off of the coast of Washington, this causes wind to blow in off the Pacific Ocean.  Typically when this happens we have cooler summer days with morning low clouds or fog, and afternoon sun with temperatures in the upper 60's or lower 70's.  Then there's off shore flow, where the high pressure is east of the coast, or inland, typically east of the Cascade range.  In this case Air flows west from over the Cascade mountains and west out towards the Pacific ocean. 

On our hotter summer days, typically when we reach or exceed high temperatures into the 80's with the humidity at or above 40% and an offshore flow we have that possibility of having a lightning show at night.  This is because as the moist air cools overnight, the air condenses into Cumulus clouds (the little puffy popcorn shaped clouds) then to Cumulonimbus clouds, which start to appear in the shape of the anvil shape that everyone describes as the thunderstorm cloud.   Long story short, these clouds are perfect lightning generators and usually form in a long row, in the case of the Puget Sound region, they typically grow big enough to cover the entire Puget Sound merging as one solid cloud generating lightning throughout the whole area.

In the case of last night, we actually only saw the western edge of a massive thunderstorm cell that covered almost all of Eastern Washington as well.  We had an off shore flow from the south east, which pushed the storm mostly north, to north west as it traveled over us during the 2-3 hour window over night.  By dawn the storm had gone into British Columbia.

By comparison typical Stratocumulus clouds that usually generate the majority of our rain and cloudy days are very low hanging clouds, where the cloud tops don't even clear the elevation of the Cascade or Olympic mountain ranges at times, thus generating rain shadows.  The Cumulonimbus cloud that covered most of the state last night at one time had a cloud base that was above the majority of the Cascade mountain range.  By Midwest standards, this was a small thunderstorm, however for our state, it is very rare that we get one of these systems that covers the majority of the state with lightning.

I often can predict on the day of, if we will have lightening in the evening or overnight.  Thunderstorms are difficult to predict, as any winds too strong can break up the clouds before they develop.  Stay up to date with my twitter feed for day by day lightening predictions for this summer.  Twitter: @SWeatherWatcher


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Want something to do this weekend?

Bingo, authors, dancing, music, pulling weeds in parks, farmers markets, craft shows, gardening - and that's just this weekend!

Karaoke-Bingo at the Senior Center
185th and 1st NE
Friday, July 13 *a few spots left

Author Owen Egerton
The Book of Harold :The Illegitimate Son of God (Soft Skull Press)
Friday, July 13 at 6:30pm
Third Place Books
17171 Bothell Way NE

The Fabulous Roof Shakers
Third Place Commons at LFP Mall
17171 Bothell Way NE
7:30-9:30pm
Friday, July 13

Saturday, July 14
Park Volunteers in LFP Parks
9am to noon.  We will be working in Animal Acres, Lyon Creek and Horizon View Parks

Shoreline Farmers Market
17500 Midvale Ave N
10am-3pm
Saturday, July 14

Hummingbird garden seminar
Sky Nursery 18500 Aurora Ave
11am-12:30pm
Saturday, July 14

Sounds of Swing big band dance
Third Place Commons at LFP Mall
17171 Bothell Way NE
7:30-9:30pm
Saturday, July 14

Crafts Day at the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market            
11am-4pm
Sunday, July 15
17171 Bothell Way NE lower level
Annual array of beautiful handcrafts: unique and local
Donate musical instruments to Rotary Music4Life

Mark your calendar

July 24      Candidate Forum
July 28      Northwest SolarFest
August 5   Shoreline Classic Car Show
August 11  4-Corners BrewFest
August 14  North City Jazz Walk

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Music in the Park to benefit children in Uganda, August 3

Shoreline residents, Dickson Senkunda, a Ugandan native, and his wife, Heather, have a passion for helping children in Uganda.


They founded the non-profit organization, Teach the Children, in 2007, feeling like they needed to do more to give back to children in Dickson’s native country, and get involved in providing children opportunities to become something more than their current circumstances allow. They have been actively involved in the cause ever since.



Most schools in Uganda are over-crowded and under-funded; most do not have sufficient textbooks or books for leisure reading. Only a small percentage of school children have books in their home, and there are many parents who can’t teach their children to read and write because they don’t have the skills themselves.

“I never had a textbook when I went to school in Uganda,” Dickson Senkunda said. “We did not have libraries or books for leisure reading in the schools I attended. Books are so valuable to a young mind in the way they can expand a child’s imagination, open their eyes, and stimulate their minds. Books cause thoughts and ideas that couldn’t have come through other avenues. Learning about people, places, opportunity, and the possibilities of life empowers children to become greater and more involved in their own future than they otherwise would have been. With poverty all around them, that is all the children come to know. Books open up a whole new world that they have never known existed.”


Over the past few years they have sent more than 5,000 pounds of donated books to schools in rural areas of Uganda, establishing libraries in fifteen schools. Other projects have included building bookshelves, creating reading groups, and providing community training on education, literacy, and health/hygiene.

“With books come opportunities to learn, grow intellectually, and become something great,” Senkunda said. “It allows for further education and entrepreneurship, which stimulates the country’s economy and helps to end cycles of poverty that have existed for generations.” 

“It is only through fundraising and the kindness and generosity of others that this is possible,” Dickson said. “Teach the Children couldn’t do this on its own.”

Teach the Children plans to make another shipment of books to schools in Uganda in early Fall. The organization hopes that its projects will help increase the literacy rate in Uganda, which is currently 68 percent, and a result, increase the opportunities available to the children there.

Part of the organization’s fundraising efforts this year includes a night of Music in the Park on Friday, August 3rd from 5:30pm-8:30pm at Cromwell Park in Shoreline. 18030 Meridian Ave N, next to the Courthouse.

“Ry”, a local Hawaiian reggae musician, will be performing, as well as a local dance group. There will be live music, food, prizes, and fun for the whole family; so bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy an evening in the park! There is a suggested donation of $15 to attend.

Proceeds go to Teach the Children, to help further their mission of helping children in Uganda. For information about Teach the Children, and how you can get involved, visit their website or contact Heather Senkunda at 801-671-6944.



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County Council hearing on routing and stop locations for RapidRide E and F lines


Metro RapidRide bus
On Tuesday, July 17, the Metropolitan King County Council’s Transportation, Economy and Environment Committee will discuss and may act on Proposed Ordinance 2012-0225, approving the routing and stop locations for the RapidRide E and F Lines. When these RapidRide services start rolling in Fall 2013, the E Line will connect Shoreline to downtown Seattle and the F Line will connect Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, and Renton.

The committee meeting will start at 9:30 am in the King County Council Chambers on the 10th floor of the King County Courthouse (516 Third Avenue in Seattle). Members of the public are welcome to attend and provide public testimony. To request a language interpreter or accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact Paul Carlson, Council staff, at (206) 296-1673 by this Friday. You may also submit comments to the King County Council email address for this topic.

Alternatively, you can watch committee proceedings online

The committee is expected to refer the ordinance to the County Council for consideration and a final decision in late July or mid-August.


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Recital raises funds for violins for elementary students

Jane Halver, Marjorie Ando, and Ed Sterner of the Lake Forest Park Rotary gave a recital "Tea by 2 + 1"last Sunday, July 1, 2012, at the home of the Halvers in Lake Forest Park.


Jane and Marj played a program of two-piano pieces, using music composed by Maurice Ravel, Cornelius Gurlitt, Edwin Schultz, and Cecile Chaminade.  Ed, accompanied by Jane, played Haydn's Third Violin Sonata.

Donations were accepted and the money was given to the Lake Forest Park Rotary Club Foundation to be used for the Music4Life program.  The program provides money for violins being used by fifth and six graders at Lake Forest Park Elementary School.  It is also the title of District 5030 Rotary's program serving other schools in the Seattle area.



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The Y is ‘Serving Up Summer’ with the Walmart Foundation to Fight Child Hunger

The Dale Turner Family YMCA has joined a national effort to serve 5 million healthy meals and snacks to 100,000 children to help keep them well-nourished.

While summer should be a time of fun, exploration and relaxation, many children are left without the nutrition they need to learn, grow and thrive. More than 21 million children lose access to free or reduced-cost meals once the school year ends, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). To ensure that children in the Shoreline and Edmonds communities have access to food year-round, the Dale Turner Family YMCA is offering free healthy meals and snacks through its summer food program, thanks to a grant funded by the Walmart Foundation.

The Y has partnered with the Walmart Foundation to address child hunger in communities, with a focus on increasing participation in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), which provides free meals to children aged 18 and under while school is out. According to the Food Research and Action Center, only in one in seven children who depend on free or reduced-cost meals during the school year received meals though the SFSP last summer. This summer, more than 300 Ys nationwide will offer summer food programs with a collective goal to serve 5 million healthy meals and snacks to 100,000 children.

“For some children in our communities, the end of the school year means end of meals,” said Risa Hartman, Associate Executive Director, Dale Turner Family YMCA. “At the Y, we are focused on making sure children stay healthy and well-nourished. Thanks to the partnership with the Walmart Foundation, our Y will be able to provide meals to children in the community who need them most.”
“At Walmart, we recognize the need to support the development of our nation’s youth,” said Sylvia Mathews Burwell, president of the Walmart Foundation. “We know that providing access to healthy meals during the summer months will enable students to return to school healthy, prepared and ready to succeed. By working closely with the Dale Turner Family YMCA, we can help kids have better summers and, ultimately, better lives.”

As part of the Dale Turner Family YMCA’s summer food program, children aged 18 and under will continue to receive lunch each day. Not only will this help hundreds of children stay well-nourished, active and energized all summer long, but it also will alleviate the strain on family food budgets when school is out. As a leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y is focused on ensuring that all children have access to food and maintain good health.   

Nationally, the Y is a partner in the Walmart Foundation’s 2012 Summer Giving Campaign, which has committed more than $20 million in grants to expand nutrition, learning and employment programs for elementary, middle and high school students in more than 350 communities. The Walmart Foundation contributed a $5 million grant to YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) to address child hunger. Y-USA, in turn, passes the funding along in the form of grants to participating YMCAs.

The Summer Meals Program feeds kids and teens 18 years and under. Each day lunches and fun activities are provided for youth over the summer. This program is brought to the public through the collaboration of the Dale Turner Family YMCA, Northshore YMCA, Northshore School District, Vineyard Church/Turning Point, Ronald United Methodist Church, the Edmonds School District, and Fantazimo.

The Vineyard Church/Turning Point, 910 N 160th St, Shoreline, WA 98133
July 9 - August 1, 12:15-1:15pm, Monday - Wednesday
Contact Rose Swetman at 206 313 0898

Ronald United Methodist Church, 17839 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
June 26 - August 30, 12:00-1:00pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Activities from 12:45-2:00pm
Contact Kim Young at 206 569 7011

College Place Elementary, 20401 76th Ave W, Lynnwood, WA
July 9 - August 17, 11:00am-12:00pm, Monday - Friday
Activities from 12:00-2:00pm
Contact Kim Young at 206 569 7011

Kenmore Elementary, 19121 71st Ave NE, Kenmore, WA 98028
July 9 - August 24, 12:00-1:00pm, Monday - Friday
Activities held during lunch
Contact Terry Donald at 425 485 9797

To learn more about the Dale Turner Family YMCA’s summer food program, visit the webpage  or call 206 363 0446.

The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. Across the U.S., 2,700 Ys engage 21 million men, women and children – regardless of age, income or background – to nurture the potential of children and teens, improve the nation’s health and well-being, and provide opportunities to give back and support neighbors. Anchored in more than 10,000 communities, the Y has the long-standing relationships and physical presence not just to promise, but to deliver, lasting personal and social change. 

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support initiatives that are helping people live better around the globe. In May 2010, Walmart and its Foundation made a historic pledge of $2 billion through 2015 to fight hunger in the U.S. The Walmart Foundation also supports education, workforce development, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness initiatives.


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Young Shoreline resident starts clothing business

Sunday, July 8, 2012


YAY t-shifts and hats

Shoreline resident Tucker Meyer started his own clothing line as an 8th grade project. He just completed 8th grade at Soundview Schoola Pre-K through 8th grade independent school in Lynnwood. Soundview's middle school is the only International Baccalaureate in the area, and its 8th graders are required to do a major project.

Tucker silk screening at
Rain City West
Students choose their own 8th grade project, based on their interests. Tucker chose clothing because it is something he always wanted to learn more about, and, he said,  “I have wanted to start a business since I was in the 4th grade and this was a great opportunity to do that.”

Tucker designed the name and logo himself. "YAY just sounded cool," he said, and the design followed the name.

It was more of a challenge to find a shop that would work with him. Rain City West Screen Printing in West Seattle was a company that was willing to have him in the shop and work with him on developing his clothing line.

Tucker Meyer and his YAY design
Big Dave at Rain City West taught Tucker screen printing skills.

"Rain City was the most chill of all of the print shops," said Tucker and that they were the only ones that offered him the opportunity to actually work in the shop with them.

He ended up with a line of hats and t-shirts.

Tucker is funding the entire project himself out of his savings account and he is in the midst of setting up a website with an associated PayPal account to sell them. He is also researching how to get his tee-shirts sold in local stores.

You can reach YAY clothing and make purchases now by contacting them by email.


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Hummingbird Gardens seminar at Sky July 14



Saturday July 14th, 11am to 12:30pm, Joe Abken will speak on Hummingbird Gardens

Hummingbirds are among the most entertaining creatures to watch, with their catchy colors, their speed, their uncanny ability to hover, and their feisty personalities.  Luring them to your garden will provide you with hours of entertainment.  Fortunately, the plants they love best are people-pleasers too!  Let Joe tell you how to plant a garden as attractive to hummers as to humans. 

Sky Nursery 18528 Aurora Ave N Shoreline WA 98133 206-546-4851 


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Op-Ed: How Do We Reduce Violent Crime? Renew Focus on Domestic Violence

John Urquhart, retired spokesman for the King County sheriff''s office, is a candidate for sheriff in the November general election against appointed interim Sheriff Steve Strachen.


The two are running for the last year of the four-year term that former Sheriff Sue Rahr won in 2009. With only two candidates, the office will not appear on the August primary ballot. - Editor


Domestic violence offenders have the highest likelihood of being involved in homicide
By John Urquhart

SEATTLE, WA – King County Sheriff candidate John Urquhart today announced his plan to reinstitute the Domestic Violence Unit in the King County Sheriff’s Office in order to help address the region’s unprecedented rise in violent crime. The unit, comprised of detectives with specialized experience in domestic violence cases, was disbanded in recent years due to slashed budgets in criminal justice.

“As King County Sheriff, one of my priorities will be to focus on offenders suspected of domestic violence,” said Urquhart. “Domestic violence defendants are the most violent offenders in the criminal justice system. They have the highest rate of recidivism for future violent crime than any other offender, and they are the most likely to be involved in homicide.”  
"Ian Stawicki, the man who shot six people in Seattle on May 30th, leaving five dead, legally owned multiple firearms. He was charged in 2008 with four counts of misdemeanor domestic violence assault for attacking his girlfriend, and he was charged again with misdemeanor domestic violence assault in 2010 after attacking his brother. In both cases the victims recanted and prosecutors dropped the charges. If Stawicki had been convicted of any one of the domestic violence charges, he would have been legally prohibited from owning firearms.
“Stawicki was legally allowed to possess firearms because prosecutors could not build a case against him without his victim’s cooperation,” said Urquhart. “King County needs a specialized unit in the Sheriff’s Office that can properly investigate and build strong cases against domestic violence defendants where the case does not hinge solely on the testimony of the victim. This unit will save lives.”

A properly staffed and trained unit will ensure that cases are complete and ready for  prosecution, including medical records, photos, statements, and criminal history, making it easier for prosecutors to file cases, especially with reluctant victims.

Domestic violence victims recant for a variety of reasons including criminal witness tampering, witness intimidation, or even the fact that the victim may be financially dependent or share children with the defendant. The Domestic Violence Unit in the Sheriff’s Office would work with victims to help guide them through the criminal justice process. It would also provide victims with information about relocating to a safe place or how to seek no-contact orders against their abusers.

“Norm Maleng called domestic violence a ‘crime against the human spirit’,” said Urquhart.
“The impact on victims and their children is tremendous, and we need to make sure we have the resources available for successful prosecutions. I intend to make that happen.”

John Urquhart has been a commissioned police officer for over 36 years, the last 24 full-time with the King County Sheriff’s Office. He has served as a patrol officer, field training officer,master police officer, plain clothes vice & narcotics detective, sergeant, and the Sheriff’s spokesman. John also currently serves as the President of the S.H.E.R.I.F.F. Fund, a non-profit dedicated to providing cash grants to members of the criminal justice community with a short- term need due to unforeseen life circumstances. John resides on the Eastside with Shelley, his wife of nearly 37 years.


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