For the Birds: The Swallows are coming… The Swallows are coming…

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Barn Swallow by Kelly Sagen


The Swallows are coming… The Swallows are coming…
By Christine Southwick

Locally, some of the swallows have already completed their trip from Central or South America. Swallows migrate depending solely on insects, and since cold weather reduces the number of flying insects, the northward migration may be slower some years than others. Swallows catch insects during the day, and therefore migrate during day-light, whereas most other songbirds migrate at night.

Tree Swallow by Scott Ramos

In the Shoreline/greater Seattle area/Lake Forest Park area, we have Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Violet-Green Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Cliff Swallows, and Bank Swallows. Tree Swallows arrive first, in early April; Bank Swallows usually arrive in May. The other species arrive sometime between these two species.  Even though the six species can often be found flying /resting together, they each have their own feeding niche—either by being selective as to preferred insects, or by height from ground.

Barn Swallows are the easiest to recognize—they are the only local species with a long forked tail.

Cliff Swallow in nest by Max Warner

Look for swallows flying low over bodies of water (Lake Ballinger/Twin Ponds/ Ronald Bog/Green Lake), rivers, creeks, or marshy areas, with their short wide bills open above the water, catching their flying-insect-meals using amazingly agile aerial techniques. These aerial insectivores spend more time on the wing than any other songbirds in the world. Another place to look for them is resting on telephone wires near boggy/marshy areas—often more than one species can be found resting on the same wires.

Some local species, like the Barn Swallows, and Cliff Swallows, have evolved to nesting on man-made structures. Other species may use nest boxes.  Most male swallows spend some time helping incubate the 3-4 eggs. Monogamous, most swallow species return to the same breeding area each year, and may use the same site, if their last effort was successful. This is called “site fidelity”. First-year breeders usually choose a nesting site near where they were born.

Barn Swallow nestling opening up for next meal by Joe Sweeney

Last year, because we had such a long rainy spring with few insects, there were a number of failed nests due to starvation of adults and nestlings. 
Loss of habitat, including habitat-trees called snags, and the wide-spread use of pesticides has decreased many swallow species.

These aerial acrobats are a joy to watch, and by snatching up to an insect per minute, are veritable vacuum cleaners of the skies. They munch on mosquitoes, gnats, flying ants, termites, and other aggravating-to-human insects.


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Master Gardener Demonstration Garden at Animal Acres - first planting Saturday

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Master Gardeners and other volunteers create the
demonstration garden at Animal Acres Saturday


On Saturday April 20, 2013, a group of Master Gardeners, park volunteers, Youth Council members, and LFP Rotary members came together to for the initial planting of the demonstration garden at Animal Acres.

Pfingst Animal Acres Park is at NE 178th St and Brookside Blvd.

Compost was added to the beds and a variety of vegetables, herbs and ornamental plants were put in. The original trellis was repaired.

The garden will continue to be planted as the weather warms up and more tender crops can go in.  

The community is welcome to join in, to see a garden develop from the start. The Master Gardeners are also available to give information to the community. For more information contact Linda Holman.


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Shoreline honored with Green Globe award from King County


In an April 22 ceremony, King County honored 12 environmental leaders with Green Globe Awards, including the City of Shoreline.

The award recognizes ‘best-of-the-best’ for efforts ranging from environmental conservation, to education, sustainable building, and more. The Green Globe Awards are the County’s highest environmental honor for businesses, organizations and individuals who have participated in one or more programs with the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks. Awards are bestowed only every two years.

Green Globe winners this year included local community leaders with decades of service to the area, cities and non-profit organizations that worked on environmental related projects or programs, offering innovative solutions, outreach, project management and education fostering environmental stewardship in the community by protecting the environment, managing natural resources and encouraging community involvement.

The City of Shoreline, Leader in Pesticide Reduction
Shoreline has been a leader in King County in their pesticide-use reduction efforts for more than 10 years, implementing policies and offering public education to achieve the goals of responsible stewardship of park land, private property and open space within the city. The city has also encouraged homeowners in Shoreline to reduce pesticide use by providing Pesticide Free Zone signs and providing educational materials on natural yard care.

The other winners:


  • Louise Miller, Environmental Catalyst
  • Climate Solutions, Leader in Addressing Climate Change
  • Cascade Bicycle Club, Leader in Community Stewardship
  • Friends of the Cedar River Watershed (FCRW), Leader in Community Stewardship
  • Liesl Zappler, Swedish Medical Center, Leader in Sustainable Landscaping Practices
  • Wally Pereyra, Leader in Habitat Restoration
  • Oxbow Farm, Leader in Conservation and Agricultural Education
  • Lakeside Industries, Leader in Recycling Market Development
  • Aaron Adelstein, Leader in Sustainable Building
  • Cari Simson, Leader in Green Stormwater Infrastructure
  • Craig Cogger, Washington State University, Leader in Loop Biosolids Recycling

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Take your donations to Goodwill to create jobs


Although the unemployment rate has decreased in recent months, many people in our community still have difficulty entering the labor market and providing for their families. Thus, the simple act of cleaning out your closets and donating to Goodwill this spring will help us help others.

Store revenues fund Goodwill’s job training and education programs, which can lead to employment and fresh starts for people without jobs. Goodwill provides career services that anyone can use to boost their chances of getting hired, including assistance in writing a rĂ©sumĂ©, job interview practice and access to job leads.

The Shoreline Goodwill is located on the corner of 15th NE and NE 145th.

Seattle Goodwill Industries is 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, call toll-free 1-877-GIVE4GOOD or visit the website.


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Glacier Peak squeaks out baseball win over Shorecrest Friday in game moved to Shorecrest Field

Tim Swan in a game with Meadowdale.
He threw for the out in the Glacier Peak game,
but the umpire ruled the runner safe.
Photo by Barb Swan

In a baseball game moved from Glacier Peak to Shorecrest High School due to foul weather, the Scots lost a hard-fought battle that was tied into the final inning.

Starting pitcher Tyson Main and a tight defense had the Scots leading until the 5th inning. Glacier Peak sophomore Zane May battled at the mound under stormy skies as the Grizzlies fought back to a tie, and the game was a battle of defense at 4-4 until the 7th inning, when Glacier Peak, playing as the home team, bunted. Shorecrest senior catcher Tim Swan made the throw to first baseman Ted Weber for what looked like a clear out. With a controversial call from the field umpire, the batter was ruled safe and became the go-ahead run for a 5-4 Shorecrest loss.

The Scots’ 5-4 home loss followed losses against Glacier Peak Tuesday at home and Wednesday at Glacier Peak.  

The 5-4 loss dropped Shorecrest's Western Conference 3A record to 1-11 (2-13 overall).

The Scot junior varsity lost a home game to Glacier Peak, 8-2, Friday to drop its Wesco 3A record to 0-12 (1-14 overall).

The Shorecrest varsity next plays a home game with Mountlake Terrace Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Shorecrest High School, with junior varsity teams from the two schools meeting at the same time at Mountlake Terrace.


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Shorewood knocks Glacier Peak out of first-place soccer tie with 3-0 home victory Friday

Photo by Wayne Pridemore
The Shorewood boys’ soccer team knocked Glacier Peak out of a tie for first place in the Western Conference 3A South with a 3-0 victory over the Grizzlies at Shoreline Stadium Friday under dry and windless conditions that made for a solid and competitive match between host Shorewood and visiting Glacier Peak.

The play went back and forth for most of the first half with Shorewood having more chances to score, but Glacier Peak have a couple of very dangerous opportunities. Finally in the 37th minute Kabir Kahn was able to finish a pass from Anthony Pepe for the game’s first goal. Three minutes later Dylan Collins finished a long pass from Alex Payton for a 2-0 lead at the half.

Glacier Peak came out fired up and ready to challenge in the second half, but Shorewood was able to squelch their efforts in part by some acrobatic saves from Calvin Crawford. At the 52nd minute Danny Han scored on a ball sent in by Max Sando to Taj McChesney who passed it to Han.

Goalie Calvin Crawford recorded the shutout for Shorewood.

Shorewood’s 7-1-1 Wesco 3A record gives the Thunderbirds 15 points, leaving Shorewood in a tie with Shorecrest, which has a 6-0-3 Wesco 3A record after a 4-0 victory at Meadowdale. Glacier Peak is 6-2-1 in league play and 6-5-1 overall. Shorewood is 9-1-1 overall.

Shorewood next meets Stanwood Monday at 7:30pm at Stanwood High School, with junior varsity teams from the two schools playing at 5:30pm.


  
Wesco 3A Varsity Boys’ Soccer Standings

Wesco 3A South

League
Overall

Team

W
L
T
W
L
T
*Shorewood
7
1
1
9
1
1
*Shorecrest
6
0
3
8
1
3
Glacier Peak
6
2
1
6
5
1
Meadowdale
3
6
0
3
8
1
Mountlake Terrace
1
7
0
2
8
1

Top three teams in each Wesco division qualify for Northwest District 3A tournament, along with two other teams from among the non-qualifying Wesco teams and Ferndale of the Northwest 3A/2A/1A Conference.

 Wesco 3A North
League
Overall
 Team
W
L
T
W
L
T
Stanwood
7
2
0
8
2
2
Marysville-Getchell
4
4
1
4
7
1
Oak Harbor
3
5
1
4
6
1
Marysville-Pilchuck
2
5
1
3
6
2
Everett
0
7
2
0
9
3

*Clinched berth in Northwest District 3A tournament

Northwest Conference 3A
Ferndale
2
8
0
2
12
0


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Photos from track and field meet Shorewood, Stanwood, and Marysville-Pilchuck Apr 18

Shorewood track and field meet with Stanwood and Marysville-Pilchuck at Shoreline Stadium on April 18, 2013. Photos by Wayne Pridemore. More photos by Wayne Pridemore here.

Zane Hopen of Shorewood in the high jump at Shoreline Stadium.

Shorewood’s Rikio Campbell reaches for height in the long jump.

Thunderbird Megan Ransom leaves the field far behind in her heat of the hurdles.

Shorewood’s Diana Catinas competing in the triple jump.

Shorewood’s Omar Abdulla wins the 800 meter.

A group of Shorewood girls on the second lap of the 800 meter race.

Thunderbird action during the first hand-off of a relay race.

Erik Johnson, a Shorewood senior, clears the bar during the pole vault competition



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Earth Day 2013 Celebration at Shoreline-LFP Senior Center



Entertainment, lunch for $6 ($3 if you are 60+), and a free tote bag!
Monday, April 22, 11:45am
Shoreline - LFP Senior Center
NE 185th and 1st NE
south end of the Shoreline Center

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Take action this Earth Day with King County’s EcoConsumer Climate Challenge

Friday, April 19, 2013

Global climate change is, in a word – daunting. What can one person do to make a difference? Earth Day is April 22 (with most local events this Saturday), and the EcoConsumer Earth Day Climate Challenge offers a fresh look at daily actions we can all take to reduce the effects of climate change. The Challenge includes tips and resources that can help us save money, cut waste and clutter, and better connect in our community.

“There are more resources than ever to help us make shifts in our lives that benefit the climate, whether it’s a service that allows you to share and swap things with your neighbors, or classes on how to build a solar oven,” said King County EcoConsumer Tom Watson.

The EcoConsumer Climate Challenge website includes tips and resources, as well as profiles of King County residents who have taken their own steps to reduce their carbon footprint. The Challenge includes four steps.


Step 1: Re-Create Waste: Prevent food waste, embrace reuse and recycling, and practice natural lawn care. Read how Bellevue resident Christina Dudley cut back on the amount of stuff she sends to the landfill.


Step 2: Share and Share Alike: Reduce consumption by sharing or trading goods and services in your community. Use car-sharing services and support bike sharing in our region. Read about Renton blogger Lillian Hurn’s experience with clothes-swapping websites.


Step 3: Harvest the Sun: Try solar power, whether it’s charging your gadgets with a solar charger, drying your laundry outside, or signing up for a community solar project. Read how Linda Stein became enamored with solar cooking, and learn how to make your own solar oven from reused materials.



Step 4: Connect in Your Community: Volunteer with or support organizations that are working to improve the environment and reduce climate change. Read about Mike Friedhoff, who coordinates EarthCorps habitat restoration events in King County.


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Frank Halferty of Einstein to be honored as 2013 Shoreline Teacher of the Year


2013 Shoreline Teacher of the Year Frank Halferty, left,
with Superintendent Sue Walker and Einstein Principal Stephanie Clark
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools


Frank Halferty, band director and music department head at Einstein Middle School, has been selected as the 2013 Shoreline Teacher of the Year. 

Halferty will be honored at a reception at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, May 13 in the Shoreline Center lobby. The community is invited. The District will celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week May 13 to 17.

“Frank has the universal respect of peers, students, parents and administrators, and shows the highest degree of professionalism,” a parent wrote in nominating Halferty for the award. “He provides a teaching environment that fosters vast musical and personal growth in his students.”

In 2012, Halferty was elected to the Washington Music Educators Association (WMEA) Hall of Fame. The Washington Music Educators Association is the largest arts organization in the state, and represents more than 2,000 music teachers in the state of Washington.

“Frank exemplifies everything that defines a great teacher,” said his colleague Dan Wing, Einstein and Shorewood orchestral music director, WMEA president and the 2008 Shoreline Teacher of the Year. “Every aspect of his classroom work and community presence shows his commitment to excellence, caring for others, patience, persistence and the complete sharing of his passion for teaching.”

Halferty, a graduate of Shoreline High School, has taught at Einstein since 1993 and serves as the District Music Coordinator. He holds two Bachelor of Arts Degrees from Seattle Pacific University in Music Education and Music Theory and Literature. He received a Master of Music in Composition from New Mexico State University.

Currently Halferty has more than 200 compositions and arrangements in print, including the Folk Song Trilogy performed by the Shoreline School District Honor Choir in its concert with the Cascade Youth Symphony at Benaroya Hall in 2011. Halferty has 38 years of experience teaching instrumental music at all levels, and has held numerous positions as director of choirs and community groups. He is the recipient of 14 ASCAP awards, Outstanding Educator Awards in both the Shoreline and Lake Washington School Districts, and the Outstanding Music Educator Award from the Sno-King Music Educators Association. Halferty has also served as a board member on the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Arts Council. He maintains a busy schedule composing, fulfilling music administration and teaching duties, guest conducting, and adjudicating music festivals.

The Teacher of the Year is selected by a committee from nominations solicited from around the District. Halferty will be the District's nominee for 2014 Washington State Teacher of the Year.



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Aurora Square Master Planning Open House Wednesday, Apr 24



As part of its ongoing Aurora Square renewal efforts, the City will host an open house on Wednesday, April 24 to share information and hear from residents about the City’s master planning process for the area.

Aurora Square is home to many outstanding businesses, but due to the absence of cohesive planning and investment, the center provides little cohesion between them. In the first step of the Aurora Square renewal plan, the City is stepping in to act as the master planning agent.

Our City’s master planning is intended to provide a dynamic and flexible framework for guiding public-private partnership projects by allowing each individual property owner to understand and invest in the “big picture” while not needing to control other properties.

Master planning will enable the City and property owners to take a fresh look at the current structures and road network in and around Aurora Square. Planning will emphasize repurposing buildings, increasing land use efficiency and improving traffic flow and pedestrian connectivity, all in an effort to enhance the visitor’s experience.

The open house will provide residents with an opportunity to learn more about the master planning process and a chance to provide comments on the planning efforts.

The open house will be held at City Hall from 7:00 to 8:30pm on Wednesday, April 24.


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Bike + Transit

Sound Transit new campaign promoting bicycles on its trains
Photo courtesy Sound Transit

Richard Conlin, Seattle Councilmember and Sound Transit Boardmember, was part of a media event this week highlighting Sound Transit’s new campaign promoting bicycles on its trains and buses.

The event, at the Link light rail Mt. Baker Station, also included Dave Enslow, Sumner Mayor and Sound Transit Boardmember, and Shoreline resident Craig Benjamin from Cascade Bicycle Club. 

The bicycle campaign features signage on all Sound Transit buses and trains and a new web presence.


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Traffic Circles in Shoreline prevent accidents

Remember: BE POLITE--THINK RIGHT
yield to first vehicle in the circle,
yield to your right if entering at same time.

By Christine Southwick

Do traffic circles have you flummoxed?  Do you avoid them?

Traffic circles are used in Shoreline to slow vehicle speeds and to prevent accidents.

Stay to the right
Because there are typically no stop or yield signs at intersections with traffic circles, drivers should yield to vehicles already in the intersection, or yield to vehicles on the right when approaching the intersection at the same time. When traveling around a traffic circle, traffic should move counterclockwise - to the driver's right (as the second sign above illustrates.)

Traffic circles make intersections safer. Don’t defeat neighborhood safety by avoiding the circles and speeding on child-friendly side streets. Did you know that every five miles per hour adds at more than ten feet to your braking distance?


How far away can you see a child run into a street? 

Thanks to John Marek, Shoreline Public Works, for the official rules of the road.


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DASSdance - High Power – High Energy – All-Terrain Dance



DASSdance is bringing their dynamic and captivating show to the Shoreline Center Auditorium on April 27. All-Terrain Dance is a visceral style developed by Artistic Director Daniel Wilkins that combines clean balletic lines, modern release, martial arts, break-dancing, tumbling and wrestling into one incredibly high-powered performance. Wilkins investigates the limits of our physical architecture with a commitment to the pure athleticism of the human body.

DASS’ All-Terrain productions traverse multiple artistic mediums. Visual art, video and photographic projection interact with technologically innovative set and lighting design as well as fashion forward costume design.

Brought to you by the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park Arts Council, tickets for this breathtaking excursion into pure, raw human athleticism are $20 and are available now from Brown Paper Tickets or by calling the Arts Council office at 206-417-4645. Show begins at 7pm, doors open at 6:30pm, seating is general admission so come early and get the best seats.



Shoreline Center Auditorium is located within the Shoreline Center at 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155, at the far north end by the tennis courts.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to nurture all of the arts in the community through programs and events, arts education, advocacy, and support for artists and arts organizations.


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Call for artists - deadline extension

The City of Shoreline has two current Call for Artist notices.

  • The deadline has been extended to May 13 for the City of Shoreline’s Call for Outdoor Sculpture for Sculpture Stroll 2013-14.
  • A call is now out for visual artists for Piano Time 2, a street piano project. Deadline May 8.

City of Shoreline Outdoor Sculpture Stroll 

The City of Shoreline is extending the deadline to May 13, 2013 for proposals for the 2nd annual Sculpture Stroll, a loaned outdoor sculpture program. Artists from the Puget Sound area are invited to submit images of existing work. Up to ten sculptures will be selected for the exhibit to be displayed from July 2013 until July 2014. Work will be sited in a landscaped plaza area on the north side of Shoreline City Hall and across the street in the Park at Town Center, creating a natural sculpture walk along a section of historic red brick road adjacent to the Interurban Trail. One or two pieces may also be selected for one-year installation at the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden (KBG) in Shoreline. 

Proposals due to City of Shoreline by May 13, 2013, 5:00pm. 
Full prospectus


The Werner Piano Cafe
Artist Kim Bateman
Piano Time 2 - Shoreline, a "street piano" painting project

The City of Shoreline is seeking up to five visual artists/artist teams from the greater Puget Sound area to paint pianos for Piano Time 2. The pianos will be donated, then painted or decorated by visual artists, placed in outdoor pedestrian-friendly locations throughout Shoreline and be played by passers-by between August 1st and August 28th. Upon selection each artist will be matched with an upright piano and location. 

Application deadline: May 8, 2013


Questions, contact Ros Bird


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Shorewood Friday tennis match postponed

The Shorewood girls’ varsity tennis match at Stanwood was postponed from Friday to May 3, as was a junior varsity meeting with Stanwood at Shoreview Park, This came a day after a varsity competition at Glacier Peak was stopped with one match to be completed when the two teams meet at Shorewood April 30.

The Shorewood teams are off next week for spring vacation. The Shorewood varsity takes a 6-1 Western Conference 3A dual-meet record (7-3 overall) into a Monday, April 29, match at Mountlake Terrace. The Shorewood JVs take a 6-2 (7-4) record into an April 29 meeting with Mountlake Terrace at Shoreview Park.

The Shorecrest varsity takes a 7-1 Wesco 3A record (8-2 overall) into an April 29 match at Oak Harbor, while the Shorecrest junior varsity takes a 6-2 (7-3) record into an April 29 meeting with Oak Harbor at Kellogg Middle School.

Wesco 3A Varsity Girls Tennis Standings

Wesco 3A South

 Conf.  
Overall

Team

W
L
W
L
Shorecrest
7
1
8
2
Glacier Peak
6
1
6
4
Shorewood
6
1
7
3
Mountlake Terrace
4
4
5
6
Meadowdale
2
6
2
9
 
Wesco 3A North
 Conf.  
Overall

Team

W
L
W
L
Stanwood
7
1
10
1
Everett
3
5
4
7
Oak Harbor
2
6
2
8
Marysville-Getchell
1
7
2
9
Marysville-Pilchuck
1
7
1
10



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