Are you concerned about traffic on Westminster Way?

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

The Highland Terrace and Westminster Triangle neighborhoods are planning a local neighborhood “meet-n-greet” at the NW Family Chiropractic and Massage office located at 14709 Aurora Ave N, October 23, 2013 at 7:00pm in the evening.


The focus of the meeting will be on traffic concerns and new traffic issues that may could potentially arise from new constructions being planned along Westminster. Rich Meredith, City Traffic Engineer supervisor will be the featured guest speaker and will be prepared to answer traffic-related questions from Westminster and Highland Terrace residents. Please check your calendar and make sure to come!

For more information contact Krista Tenney or Scott Schiebler.


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Beat the Ghouls to it: donate blood before Halloween!

Little Nosferatu
By Tom Petersen

It’s true: The men and women that staff the bloodmobile know all the jokes and puns, and they love’em. No surprise, then, that phlebotomists and donors alike look forward to Halloween – it’s “their” holiday.  The most festive blood drive of the year comes to Richmond Beach on Saturday, October 26. The Puget Sound Blood Center’s mobile unit will be in front of the Shoreline Fire Safety Center, at the corner of 20th Ave NW and Richmond Beach Road, from 10am until 4pm.  (lunch break, 12-1.)

Make an Appointment and Bring a Friend!

The Richmond Beach Community Association Halloween Carnival starts at 3pm on the 26th, so regular neighborhood donors are making morning and early-afternoon appointments. Walk-ins are welcome any time, and there are plenty of afternoon times open. Appointments are a help to the staff, so they can pace the day and advise walk-ups of any wait times.

The PSBC has an excellent and simple on-line sign-up: just click “Donate Blood” and enter the Richmond Beach zip code, 98177, at “Search Blood Drives” for the neighborhood event, as well as others on other dates in and around Shoreline. Appointments can also be made by calling 800-398-7888.

The Richmond Beach neighborhood theme for 2013 is “Bring a Friend,” so they’ll be looking for those “Blood Buddies” – in or out of costume – on Saturday.


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New voters can register for general election through Monday


New Washington voters can register through Monday, Oct. 28, 2013 to vote in the Nov. 5 general election, but they must register in person at either the King County elections office in Renton or the County Voter Registration Annex in downtown Seattle. The elections office in Renton is open from 8:30am to 4:30pm weekdays. The annex is open from 8:30am to 1pm and 1 to 4:30pm.

The deadline for registration by mail or online, or for previously registered Washington voters to file a change of address, was Oct. 7.

Voters who register in person can either get a ballot by mail or vote on accessible machines at the elections office if they choose to wait for their registration to be validated through the state voter registration database, a wait that requires a few minutes.


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Arts Mini-Grants for Teens & Ethnic Populations

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council invites you to apply for the new Arts Mini-Grants. The grants are open to teens and/or ethnic populations in Shoreline or Lake Forest Park who want to do hands-on arts or creative activities.

The goal of the program is to encourage hands-on learning and building community through the arts. 
According to Kelly Lie, Arts Education Manager, "Sometimes all we need is a little encouragement to start something new. Whether it's funding to pay for a teacher, buy supplies, rent a space or all of the above, we are here to help with the process. If you don't know how to get started, how to find a teacher, or how to complete the application, contact us. We have made the application as simple as possible to inspire people who have never applied for a grant before to take the next step."

Each mini-grant award may be up to $100. Applications are available on the Arts Council's website or by calling the office at 206-417-4645.

The Mini-Grant Application deadline is ongoing until May 31, 2014. Applications will be reviewed as they are received with notification of awards within two weeks of application. All awarded grant projects must be completed by August 31, 2014 and recipients will be asked to share a Program Summary of approximately 50 words and a photo at the end of the project.

The Mini-grants are supported in part by 4Culture, as part of the Local Arts Inter-Agency Collaborative Projects. It is the second phase of an outreach effort to increase participation in arts and creative activities for teens and ethnic populations.

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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Music 4 Life benefit concert Nov 8 in Shoreline


A sonata recital given by Efe Baltacigil (principal cellist Seattle Symphony Orchestra) and Jessica Choe (pianist) will be presented on Friday November 8, 2013 at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church, 1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline 98177 with proceeds donated to the Shoreline Music4Life program.

Shoreline Schools Music4Life aims to provide all public school students in the Shoreline district with the instruments (new or in good working condition) and supplies they need to participate in instrumental music programs.

Local audiences are familiar with the work of Jessica Choe but this is the first time that world renown cellist Efe Baltacigil will play in Shoreline.

According to organizers, 
Efe is probably one of the most prestigious musicians ever to play in this concert series. The quality of the performance you will hear on November 8th and the intimate setting is something that you can't duplicate.  

$20 tickets for the performance will be available at the door. Parking is free. Music students will have an opportunity to talk to the performers after the concert.

"Lovingly used" instruments will be warmly accepted at the door.

Rotary-inspired “Music4Life™” is an initiative that is currently comprised of four separate public school district-based programs, one of which is the “Shoreline Schools Music4Life” program. 


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Dance in Halloween at Third Place Commons

Northwest Ballet Halloween Dance Recital 12-12:45pm
Saturday, October 26 

Get into the spirit of the season with chilling and fun dances.


Halloween Belly Dance Hafla 2-5pm
Saturday, October 26

Join us for a Halloween celebration of belly dance, with spooky costumes and spirited shimmies. Ottoman Belly Dance and Pied Peacock Productions team up to put a little shake in the season.


Third Place Commons, upper level Lake Forest Park Town Center, next to Third Place Books. Town Center is at the intersection of Bothell Way and Ballinger Way in Lake Forest Park.


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Shorecrest, Shorewood competing in Wesco 3A South tournament

Top boys’ tennis players from Shorecrest and Shorewood are competing in the Western Conference 3A South tournament this week.

The first two rounds of the tournament were scheduled for Tuesday at Glacier Peak High School but were moved to Snohomish High School because of weather.

The tournament, involving the five Wesco 3A South teams plus Ferndale of the Northwest Conference, is scheduled to conclude Wednesday.

The top four singles players and top four doubles teams in the tournament qualify for the Northwest District 3A tournament next week, along with top players from the North Division tournament.


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Shorewood football game at Mountlake Terrace to decide third place after T-birds drop 20-8 home game to Glacier Peak

The Shorewood team enters the field against Glacier Peak
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The Shorewood football team plays at Mountlake Terrace Friday, Oct. 25, in a battle for third place in the Wesco 3A South after the Thunderbirds lost a 20-8 home game to Glacier Peak Friday, Oct. 18.

Shorewood and Mountlake Terrace meet at 8pm Friday at Edmonds Stadium in the second game of a double header, following a 5pm game between Lynnwood and Jackson.

Shorewood running back Anxhelos Pere tries to spin away
after catching a pass early in the game
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Shorewood (1-3 Western Conference 3A South. 2-5 overall) and Mountlake Terrace (1-3, 3-4) are tied for third in the Wesco 3A behind Glacier Peak (3-0, 6-1) and Meadowdale (3-0, 5-2). Glacier Peak and Meadowdale will meet Friday at Glacier Peak, with the winner to play the Wesco 3A North champion Nov. 1 for first and second in the conference, and the loser to meet the North No. 2 team for third and fourth.

Thunderbird defensive back, Bostyn Vordahl,
tackles a Grizzly running back.
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The winner of Shorewood’s game at Mountlake Terrace plays Nov. 1 against the North No. 3 team for fifth and sixth in the conference, with the loser meeting the North No. 4 for seventh and eighth. That’s important because the top five qualify for quad-district playoff games Nov. 8-9, with the sixth team qualifying depending on a comparison of its conference record and Ferndale’s record in Northwest Conference 3A/2A play. The seventh through tenth teams (and possibly the sixth) finish their seasons against other non-qualified teams.

Aaron Okamura, the Thunderbird quarterback, sets to hand off to his running back.
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

In the loss to Glacier Peak Shorewood trailed 11-0 before the Thunderbirds mounted a fourth-quarter charge. A 20-yard touchdown run by Aaron Okamura, followed by a 2-point conversion made it 11-8. Shorewood got the ball back with time left, but Okamura threw an interception trying to get rid of the ball while trying to avoid a sack.

Glacier Peak then put the game away with a touchdown and a field goal.

For Shorewood, Okamura completed 9 of 28 passes for 84 yards, with 2 interceptions and Spencer Jacobs completed 1 of 2 for 28 yards; Anxhelos Pere ran for 23 yards on 13 carries and led the team on defense with 9.5 tackles.


Glacier Peak 20, Shorewood 8
At Shoreline Stadium, Friday, Oct. 18

Glacier Peak -- 3 0 8 9 -- 20
Shorewood --    0 0 0 8 -- 8

GP--Pettit 34 FG
GP--Corwin 2 run (Southard pass from Hines)
SW-- Okamura 20 Run (Hopen pass from Okamura)
GP--Berg 29 from Corwin (blocked kick)
GP--Pettit FG

Wesco 3A Football Standings
South Division

Team          Conference (Overall)
Glacier Peak 3-0 (6-1)
Meadowdale 3-0 (5-2)
Mountlake Terrace 1-2 (3-4)
Shorewood         1-2 (2-5)
Shorecrest 0-4 (1-6)
North Division
Marysville-Pilchuck 3-0 (7-0)
Oak Harbor 3-0 (6-1)
Stanwood 1-2 (2-5)
Marysville Getchell 1-3 (3-4)
Everett 0-3 (0-7) 


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Op-Ed: Setting the record straight about the 46th LD Democratic organization

Tuesday, October 22, 2013


(The authors are responding to comments posted by an anonymous person on a previous story.)

We are writing to correct some information posted to your site on October 15th. The 46th District Democrats is current with 2013 reports to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC). We are now updating reports from May 2012 – December 2012. As we disclosed to the PDC earlier this year, the 46th LD is behind on these reports due to the serious, life-threatening illness of our former treasurer. Once the 46th LD board knew of this reporting lapse, we immediately informed the PDC and presented a plan for getting caught up on our PDC reporting.

Because we took responsibility and presented a plan, the 46thLD is not facing any fines. The anonymous comment on your website is not accurate and we are writing today to correct this misinformation.

We appreciate the public service the Shoreline Area News provides to our community by covering local races and issues and look forward to continuing our own service to the area. Our goal in the 46th Legislative District is to elect and support Democrats who wish to serve at every level of public office. During the last year our district has grown to include Lake Forest Park and Kenmore, as well new school districts and other governing bodies. It has been a year of learning for us and we look forward to an improved process in future election cycles. Elections in small cities function differently than in a large city like Seattle, so we are adjusting our timetables and plans to better serve our entire district.

As we all live in an area where the large majority is allied with the Democratic Party, many local races are contests between our members and friends. This is not always easy and in our organization, we strive to promote respect and good citizenship even when we disagree.

“Good people can disagree without being disagreeable,” Barry Goldwater, yes, a Republican, once said.

We encourage your readers to approach all candidates with respect and an appreciation for their willingness to serve – especially in local offices in which they serve without compensation.

Sabrina Hill, 46th LD Chair
Betty Means, 46th LD Treasurer


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Ridgecrest Elementary to receive 2013 School of Distinction Award



Ridgecrest Elementary in Shoreline will be honored with the 2013 School of Distinction Award for outstanding improvement in student achievement over the past five years in reading and math.

The 2013 School of Distinction award winners include 99 schools statewide. The awards are presented by The Center for Educational Effectiveness (CEE), the Association of Educational Service Districts (AESD), the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP), Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA), and Washington State School Directors’ Association (WSSDA).

 “These schools represent the top 5 percent of improvement of all schools in Washington state”, noted Greg Lobdell, CEE President. “These schools demonstrate that significant improvement is occurring all across our diverse public schools.”

Ridgecrest will be recognized at an award ceremony in Renton on Nov. 12, 2013.



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Save the date: pictures with Santa Nov 30

Saturday November 30, 2013, Windermere Real Estate/Northlake, 17711 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park, will be hosting free pictures with Santa, hot chocolate from 4:00-5:00 pm and a tree lighting at 5 pm. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the HopeLink food bank.  Questions – 206-364-8100.


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Grocery strike averted

Monday, October 21, 2013

Just before 7pm Monday night grocery chains and unions settled their contract differences and averted a strike.

The strike would have affected most of the area major stores - North City Safeway, Aurora Safeway, Richmond Beach QFC, Fred Meyer, and Albertson's. Now that Haggen's is gone from Shoreline, the only major, independent stores are Village Market Thriftway in Ballinger Village and Central Market Shoreline in Aurora Square.


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Holiday Bazaar coming soon to Senior Center

Auction baskets from a previous bazaar

The annual Senior Center holiday bazaar will be held Friday, November 1st and Saturday, November 2nd 10:00am to 4:00pm, both days.

There will be over 23 handcrafters, including our own Senior Center Handcrafters, our famous silent auction and bake sale, rummage sale with lots of good stuff!

Bargain Corner/Thrift Shop specials, lunch and snacks by Kitchen Corner Catering and the very popular quilt raffle by the Center’s Thimble Belles.

Fruit Vinaigrettes will be available for sale: The Center lunch participants love the salad dressing prepared by our own Chef Janice. These salad dressings are non mayonnaise based dressings, and will be sold by the pint. Come by and check them out and pick up a meal prepared by Kitchen Corner Catering.

Items are needed for the Rummage Sale: Please bring your unwanted but functional rummage sale items to the Senior Center Front Desk.  If you have a large amount or larger items, please check in with the Receptionists or staff before bringing it into the building.

Donations for the Bake Sale will be accepted beginning on Thursday, October 31st; items will be accepted throughout the bazaar.

Volunteers are very important: A number of jobs are available. The volunteer book will be at the Reception Disk starting in October. Help with set-up, the Bake Sale, Rummage Sale, Silent Action and more!


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Belly dance contest at Club Hollywood Nov 2


On Saturday, November 2, 2013, six talented women will compete for titles, trophies, tiaras and cash at the Belly Dance Off 2013 Grand Championship. These beautifully diverse women are winners of the three rounds in 2013, coming together for a final championship dance off at the dinner show lounge of Club Hollywood Casino.

Belly Dance Off is the interactive live music belly dance competition with real time feedback from expert judges where audience scores decide the winner! Enrolled in Pro or Rising Star categories, each dancer draws a song from the hat, then demonstrates improvisational excellence to live music by MB Orchestra.

Support their quest for personal best! Cash prizes, trophies, and tiaras will be awarded. Between segments all guests are invited to dance, with a special prize for the Shimmy Challenge! Join us on the second floor at Club Hollywood, a best-kept-secret with a great menu, including some of Seattle’s best sushi! Under 21 welcome until 9pm.

Belly Dance Off was founded and launched in 2010 by Suzanna, a Seattle based professional dance artist, director, and teacher, with a passion for live music with dance. More info here

“This event is a great opportunity for any dancers looking to get live feedback. I would say it is more like a master class than a contest. Of course the chance of doubling your money is good too.”

Show Lounge at Club Hollywood Casino, 16716 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline. Showtime 7:00pm. $15 Advance | $22 at Door, or call the 24/7 ticket hotline at 1-800-838-3006.


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Home Girls: Watch for foundation cracks and broken wiring


Most houses have cracks of some kind. A hairline fracture in the slab is normally of no structural significance, however cracking in the foundation wall is more important. 

While a stair-step crack is less important than a vertical crack, either one with an opening of 1/8" to 1/4" may be cause for concern. Of course smaller cracks may also be a concern depending on the circumstances.

The key to load bearing wall cracks is to insure that there is no further movement. To do this you should fill in the crack and then over a period of 6 to 12 months check for reappearances or separation between the filling and the wall. 

If there's is additional movement then it would be advised that you call a specialist. It may be anything from a simple matter regarding the property or something as expensive as underpinning the foundation. 

Remember, cracks frequently appear around windows and door frames which are places of inherent weakness.

Outdoor Wiring
A common mistake that some people make is in believing outdoor wiring and indoor wiring are the same thing when they are not. Electricity is not something to play around with, and the outdoor environment can quickly change a severed wire into a death trap. So when inspecting your house you should look for damaged plugs, lighting fixtures, cables, and improper wiring.

Contributed by
Linda (Reinke) Williford, 206-399-3349



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Shed writer's block at Commons workshop Wednesday


Potential Literature 7-9pm, Wednesday, October 23,30

What happens when writers throw out all their pre-conceived notions and start experimenting?  

Douglas Smith shares a technique for writing poetry and prose based on constraints: omit certain letters of the alphabet, convert words to opposite meanings, use mathematical formulas, and leave writers block behind.

For more information about this free workshop, contact the speaker.

The workshop will be held at Third Place Commons which is adjacent to Third Place Books in the Lake Forest Park Town Center.



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Shorecrest tennis team finishes season undefeated

Shorecrest varsity tennis team with their coaches - undefeated!
Photo by Ned Sato

Following a win over Mountlake Terrace on October 16, the 2013-14 Shorecrest boys varsity tennis team concluded an undefeated season in WESCO 3A.

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Sheriff’s Office to target multilingual candidates, Peace Corps experience in hiring


King County Sheriff John Urquhart announced today that the Sheriff’s Office will now list the ability to speak languages other than English and two years of experience serving in a foreign country while in the Peace Corps as “desirable qualities” in its hiring practices.  As part of this new initiative, candidates meeting the new criteria will get an extra ten percent boost to their civil service scores, potentially vaulting them ahead of other candidates in the Sheriff’s Office hiring pool.

“A police department can only be successful if it is a mirror of the community,” said Sheriff John Urquhart.  “This new policy will help me create a Sheriff’s Office more reflective of the diversity and commitment to service King County has to offer.”

State law requires candidates applying for a county sheriff’s office to complete a civil service exam. The candidate’s written score is combined with a score from an oral interview to give the candidate a final civil service score and ranking. The candidate’s final score remains on the Sheriff’s Office hiring list for a year where the candidate is ranked among other candidates. Under state law, candidates with military service experience receive an extra five percent boost to their civil service score, and an extra ten percent boost if the candidate served in a combat zone while in the military.

Under the Sheriff’s new hiring policy, candidates will also receive a ten percent boost to their final civil service score if they speak a language other than English that is spoken in King County and that the Sheriff’s Office deems valuable.

“We are living in a multi-cultural, multi-language county,” said Sheriff Urquhart. “We can’t do our job if we can’t communicate with those we serve,” he added.


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Man killed in hit and run in Kenmore

King County Sheriff’s deputies were called to the 18400 block of 62 Ave NE in Kenmore around 1:30am Monday morning after a woman walking her dog came across a deceased man on the side of the road.

The 24 year old female driver, who left the scene, turned herself in the next day at 2pm. She lives only three blocks from the scene. As is typical in this part of the county, the streets are dark and there are no sidewalks.

According to our news partner KING 5, the victim has been identified by his family as 31-year-old Joseph "JD" Humphreys of Kenmore.

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Oral arguments in Save Richmond Beach case this Thursday


Save Richmond Beach reports that the Supreme Court accepted their petition for review of the Court of Appeals decision that went against them. The case is scheduled for oral arguments this Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 1:30pm at the Temple of Justice, 415 12th Ave SW, in Olympia.

From their website:
There are myriad issues with Point Wells, but at the simplest level we believe that Snohomish County violated the Growth Management Act when designating Point Wells an urban center. This belief was vindicated on April 25, 2011 when the Growth Board resoundingly agreed with us that Point Wells is not an appropriate site for an urban center. 
On November 23, 2011, King County Superior Court also over-turned the developers vesting and enjoined Snohomish County from processing the development application.The Court of Appeals over-turned that decision, but the State Supreme Court has now taken the case for review.



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Craft fair in Edmonds Saturday, Nov 2


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Ballot drop box at Lake Forest Park, van at Aurora Square

The first task in any election is to fill out your ballot and the second is to actually turn it in.

You can always put postage on the envelope and drop it in the closest blue mail bin.

If you prefer to do something more personal, there is a ballot drop box next to City Hall in Lake Forest Park. It's in the lower mall in the northeast corner. You can drop your ballots there 24/7 with final pickup on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov 5, at 8pm.

They also use a ten foot white canopy
The van will spend three days in Shoreline

If you live in Shoreline and you are a last minute voter, there will be a ballot van parked at Aurora Square. It will be at the entrance where N 155 meets Westminster Way, facing Central Market and Sears. It will be in place on the following days:

Saturday, November 2, 10am - 5pm
Monday, November 4, 10am - 5pm
Tuesday, November 5, 10am - 8pm

Other than Lake Forest Park, the closest drop box is located in Ballard.


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KIRO reporter investigates Lake Forest Park city council candidate

Sunday, October 20, 2013

By Diane Hettrick

Former Lake Forest Park city council member Alan Kiest is running for election to an open LFP city council seat in the current election against former Redmond city council member John Resha. Ballots were delivered this weekend to Lake Forest Park households.

Brandi Kruse, an award-winning reporter for KIRO, reported on the Dori Monson show that a 25-year-old former employee under Kiest's supervision as a high-ranking supervisor at the State DSHS had filed a complaint with DSHS.

The complaint triggered an investigation by the State Patrol, which is the contract police agency for DSHS investigations.

As routine procedure for DSHS, Kiest was transferred to another position, pending the outcome of the investigation.

Kruse quotes a letter from the DSHS Regional Administrator to Kiest:

"This assignment is not a disciplinary action or presumption that misconduct has occurred," DSHS Regional Administrator Deborah Doyle wrote to Kiest in a letter. "You will be provided an opportunity to respond to the allegation."


Kruse published a second article on Kiest quoting unhappy employees, most of whom were apparently terminated by DSHS. They included an African-American employee named Salahadin Z. Wazir, who claimed that DSHS supervisors treated him differently as an African-American male. He filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint against four supervisors in two offices, including Kiest.


Kiest spoke to the Shoreline Area News and pointed out that DSHS policy both inside and out of investigations prohibits managers from discussing personnel matters.

However, responding to Kruse's charge of discrimination against African-American males, he said:

"She has identified four individuals as making such a charge. Her reporting is based on claims that have been resolved and settled years ago. It is not uncommon for persons being separated from employment or subject to disciplinary action to respond to the employer with a charge of discrimination. Whenever such charges are filed they are formally investigated by state or federal authorities. No such charge has ever been determined to be valid for actions I have taken as a manager."

The Wazir case went to court, where four of six charges were dismissed. Two were allowed, one of which was retaliation and did not carry with it an element of discrimination.

"Ms. Kruse cites three former employees of the office I have managed. In all three cases the department’s employment actions regarding them were taken at a higher level than mine. These actions routinely are based on consultations with professional personnel officers as well as representatives of the Office of the Attorney General. The individuals were afforded due process per their union contract. And many of the employment actions were reviewed by authorities following challenges from the employees. Again, there were no findings of improper conduct by me."

As for the young woman in the current case, Kiest says DSHS has employed an independent investigator and the investigation is currently in progress.

"At this stage I have not been presented with details of the complaint and my employer precludes any comment by me during the investigation, as is the custom."

The current case has been under investigation for two months. DSHS investigations have been known to take up to a year for completion.


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Pro Shoreline general meeting Wednesday



The Pro Shoreline General Meeting will be held October 23, 2013, 7:00pm at the Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th St.

Debbie Tarry, Interim City Manager for the City of Shoreline will provide updates on the following topics. 

  • Ronald Wastewater District
  • Light Rail
  • Aurora Square/Community Renewal Area
  • Ronald Methodist Housing
  • Community College Housing  
  • Point Wells Update

Come learn more and discuss these important issues.


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Letter to the Editor: Ronald Wastewater Board should practice what they preach

To the Editor:

This letter contains my personal comment on two recent actions by the Ronald Wastewater District (RWD) Sewer Utility Board. First is RWD’s accusation that the City of Shoreline wants to assume RWD to take their reserve and use it for general government purposes. This is ludicrous because such an action would be illegal and because if the city assumed the sewer district the full financial reserve would still be necessary.

Second, at the most recent meeting the RWD Board attempted to censure a board member for expressing dissenting views regarding assumption. The RWD board has made a big deal of saying they want everyone to be able to express their opinion on assumption. Perhaps they should practice what they preach.

Chris Eggen
Shoreline


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Quick Start Shoreline on Tuesday, October 22


SCC Business Accelerator and the City of Shoreline

  • Are you starting your own business in Shoreline?
  • Are you looking to expand your current business into new markets?
  • Are you looking to give a particular aspect of your business a boost?


Quick-Start Shoreline is for you!

The Shoreline Community College Small Business Accelerator and the City of Shoreline Economic Development Office are engaged with the new and emerging businesses of Shoreline with business planning and beyond.

We have workshops, classes, one-on-one counseling and opportunities for community involvement.
Feel free to bring your own lunch!

QuickStart Shoreline Business Workshops:
12:00 - 1:30pm Tuesdays at Shoreline City Hall; no charge
17500 Midvale Avenue N, Shoreline, WA

See the webpage or contact Mark McVeety for more information. Visit the Community Calendar to confirm workshops.
We are proud that most of our instructors come out of our own community. If you are interested in leading a workshop please contact us today!

"Sales 101: Sales for People Who Aren't Sales Pros (and great reminders for people who are)."

Part One October 22, 2013

Think Right About 'Selling' and You'll Suddenly Sell More (and still feel good about yourself!)

  •     If you're not selling enough, this is probably the reason.
  •     How to understand the process.
  •     Why do YOUR prospects buy?
  •     How to know if the person you're interacting with is actually likely to buy.
  •     Prioritize how you invest your most valuable resource.
  •     The most important skill in selling and how you can learn it - quickly!


Steve Porter will conduct a two part workshop on sales

Steve Porter is a successful sales and marketing professional who has marketed and sold everything from air conditioners to financial products to TV advertising. He’s also an accomplished trainer and presenter who’s effectively taught many different kinds of people everything from how to sell to how to live in a different culture. Steve’s trained and led sales organizations and is still out there on the front lines, being the owner and only sales person for Snap Marketing for Small Business. 

SnapMSB connects small businesses with the marketing resources they desperately need - provided by carefully selected, outstanding professionals, at prices they can actually afford. This is because Steve’s found that offering the right marketing tools from the right providers for the right price equals more customers and less stress for his clients.


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CORRECTION: Shorecrest widens Wesco 3A South soccer lead with 2-0 Thursday victory over Shorewood


The Shorecrest girls’ soccer team widened its lead in the Western Conference 3A South with a 2-0 victory over Shorewood Thursday at Shoreline Stadium.

Shorecrest showed why the Scots hold first place as they outshot Shorewood 13-6 and scored two goals in the first half. The first was by Maya Garber-yonts* in the 27th minute and the second by Sophia Vivano* from a header on a corner kick.

Frida Swenson had the shutout for Shorecrest and Ashley Garay was in goal for Shorewood.

Shorecrest is 8-1 in league and 10-1-1 overall while Shorewood is 4-4-1 in league and 7-4-1 overall.

*Updated 10-20-2013 10:01pm - The original post about this event had incorrect names for the Shorecrest players who scored goals.

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Ballinger Neighborhood sponsors a forum on neighborhood creeks



The Ballinger Neighborhood Association is holding a forum on our Neighborhood Creeks. Speakers include the Adopt A Stream Foundation, The Friends of the Cedar River Watershed, and Forterra. Monday, Nov 4, 2013, 7pm Montessori Gym, 19935 19 Ave NE, Shoreline 98155.




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King County Executive mourns the passing of former University of Washington football coach Don James


King County Executive Dow Constantine today mourned the passing of former University of Washington football coach Don James, known as the "Dawgfather":
“Through old fashioned grit and an unwavering focus on the fundamentals, Coach James took a Husky program mired in mediocrity and made us National Champions. 
"I was there for every game he coached at Husky Stadium, and I think the only fitting tribute to "The Dawgfather" will come when Washington follows in his footsteps and climbs back to the top. 
"My thoughts are with the James family, and every player and coach who called him a mentor. 
"Farewell Coach. You will be missed.”

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LFP Farmers' Market provides artistic inspiration

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Photo by Jerry Pickard
Seattle artist Lynne V. McFarland decided to get some inspiration at last Sunday's LFP Farmers Market.

Photo by Jerry Pickard


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Avoid foreclosure - attend Parkview Services event Nov 2



Visit Know Your Options for more information.


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Assistance with Health Care signup

Affordable Health Care Signup at Richmond Beach Library


Saturday, October 26, 1pm
Presented by Public Health-Seattle and King County.

One-on-one assistance for those enrolling in the new Exchange (Washington Health Plan Finder) for mandatory health care insurance.

Registration not required, first come, first serve.


Richmond Beach Library, 19601 21st Avenue NW, Shoreline 98177, 206-546-3522, 



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Freefall Break Battle at The Rec on Friday for Teens



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All About Pie at the Shoreline Library


All About Pie, Thursday, October 24, 6:30pm

Make your best pie ever! Join Pastry Chef Laurie Pfalzer of Pastry Craft in a fun and educational demonstration pie making class. Take the challenge out of pie crust with a little knowledge, a few handling instructions and quality ingredients.

KCLS invites everyone to find A Place at the Table! We’ll toss around fresh ideas about food, cooking, nutrition and growing and using locally produced food. In addition to offering new food ideas, preparation and planning skills, and handy online classes, videos and resources, the series will help everyone create a nourishing table by accepting non-perishable food donations, to be distributed to local King County food banks.

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



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Young, single and ready to buy

By Christy Kim
Redfin Real Estate Agent

Priced out of Seattle’s inner neighborhoods, we’re seeing young singles shift their attention to North Seattle, where they can buy spacious homes at more affordable prices. Only five years ago, Queen Anne, Ballard, Wallingford and Fremont were some of the hottest destinations for young buyers. But median home prices there are now between $389, 900 - $527,500, forcing single millennials to look elsewhere.

Young buyers are turning to neighborhoods such as Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and Maple Leaf, where median home prices are between $342,475 - $392,000. Another trend we’re seeing is young people getting away from the condo lifestyle. In addition to affordability, these buyers want more space and are attracted to North Seattle neighborhoods for their larger homes.

As a Redfin agent, I work with several young, single buyers (most of them under the age of 35) who are not waiting to get married or have children to buy a home. Female buyers between the ages of 25-34 make up 54 percent of single women looking for a home, compared with 53 percent of single men, according to a recent Redfin survey of 1,354 active homebuyers.

Young homeowners once moved within five years, but now many of them are looking for long-term investments. Buyers are telling me that they don’t want to relocate if they experience a lifestyle change. Instead, they want to grow into their homes.

If you’re young and looking to buy your first home, consider the following:
  1. Think about what you want in a house. There are a lot of homes, so deciding what you want will help you narrow down your choices. Think about your current lifestyle and how your home’s location will affect your commute to and from work.
  2. Explore your options. Refrain from dismissing a certain style house or neighborhood without actually seeing it. Having a good idea of what you want in a home and being flexible at the same time will help you fine tune your choices.
  3. Think about your short and long-term plans. Are you in a relationship? Do you plan to have children? These lifestyle changes can affect your options.
  4. Be realistic about home values. Rely on your agent to pull comparable home sales in a neighborhood so you can get an idea about home values.
  5. Be ready. If you find the home you want to buy, have your financing lined up and ready to go. 
For more information, visit Redfin.com



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Letter to the Editor: Vote YES on I-522

To the Editor:

Please join me in voting YES on I-522 (Label Genetically Engineered Foods). 

The YESon522 campaign depends on many small donations and dedicated volunteers who care about our right to know what is in our food. The ‘NO on I-522’ campaign will spend over 17 million dollars in its attempt to defeat I-522—virtually all ‘NO on I-522’ contributions are from out-of-state courtesy of Monsanto, Bayer Crop Science, DuPont, DOW Chemical, and BASF; Grocery Manufacturers Association provides contributions for many other corporations. Don’t let out-of-state transnational corporations dictate your right to know.

I-522 is in compliance with global GMO labeling laws and current standards. Right now 64 nations require GMO labeling. Labeling GMO foods gives everyone in Washington State the same access to more information. Not everyone has access to organic sources or Non-GMO labeled food, or can afford to buy them. Regardless if people are wealthy or have limited incomes or whether they live in a city, small town, or rural location have the right to know what is in their food. Opponents to transparency in labeling had the same complaints over two decades ago regarding the current labeling requirements that have provided information for many to make clearer choices on the food they buy. GMO food science is a relatively new technology and we all deserve the right to know what we ingest whether one is for or against GMO technology.

Washington State is not the only state advocating for GMO labeling. Maine and Connecticut passed GMO labeling laws this year. Alaska legislated a partial GMO label to protect their fishing industry in 2005 (our state fishing industries support I-522). States often prepare the way for federal laws, not the other way around. To learn how I-522 will really work and list of all YES supporters go to YESon522.

Nancy Morris
Shoreline


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SWEL Health and Wellness Fair Nov 14


SWEL Health and Wellness Fair, Thursday, November 14, 2013, 6:30 to 8pm, Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Free and refreshments are provided.


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Slow down! New speed limit on SR 522 through Lake Forest Park

Friday, October 18, 2013

New speed limit on SR 522 through Lake Forest Park: 45 mph to 40 mph

Drivers will soon notice new speed limit signs on State Route 522 through Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. At the recommendation of the Washington State Department of Transportation, both city councils agreed to reduce the speed limit from 45 mph to 40 mph between 91st Ave NE in Kenmore and NE 145th St in Lake Forest Park. The lower speed limit more accurately reflects the current roadway conditions.

Drivers can expect daytime right lane closures on Monday, Oct. 21 while WSDOT maintenance crews replace speed limit signs.


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Letter to the Editor: Some history on the Ronald Wastewater assumption


To the Editor:

Why do I support George Webster and Gretchen Atkinson over the other two candidates for Ronald Wastewater District Board of Commissioners?  For me, the answer is clear. The other two candidates are opposing the assumption agreement of the Ronald Wastewater District by the City of Shoreline. They are good people committed to their cause, but in this case, I believe their cause is wrong.

The original Shoreline City Council was committed to forming a full service city and that included the eventual assumption of the Ronald Wastewater District. We entered into discussions with the District in 1999. After extensive negotiations, the City entered into a mutually beneficial assumption agreement with the District. That agreement was reviewed by legal authorities and approved by the City Council and the District's Board of Commissioners. It provided for a transfer beginning in 2014 and completing by 2017. This was cost wise the most efficient and least contentious way to accomplish the assumption. It specifically avoided unnecessary legal and election costs for both the City and the District, costs which would be passed on to the taxpayers and ratepayers. Former District General Manager, Phil Montgomery signed the agreement. Sis Polin, former District General Manager, and Connie King, former District Commissioner and Shoreline's first Mayor, both support the agreement.

Some of the present District Commissioners and some of the present candidates for District Commissioner, mostly individuals who were not present or a party to the original negotiations and development of the assumption agreement, have caused or support a suit against the City to negate or otherwise set aside the assumption agreement signed 11 years ago. This is causing the same legal and election costs to the taxpayers and ratepayers that the Council and the Commissioners had sought to avoid when the agreement was signed in 2002.

Ron Hansen
Shoreline


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Join Rotarians and community for dinner to benefit End Polio Now


Thursday, October 24 is World Polio Day
                
Join Lake Forest Park Rotarians and the community for dinner at Lake Forest Park Bar and Grill, anytime from 3-9pm October 24, 2013.

Sponsored by the Lake Forest Park Rotary Club with Lake Forest Park Bar and Grill, at the upper level of Town Center in Lake Forest Park, 10% of the proceeds will go towards eradicating polio in  the remaining three countries where it is still flourishing: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

As long as polio threatens even one child  anywhere in the world, ALL children remain at risk.  It can be as close as a plane ride away.



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King's students host the Costume 2K Run Oct 26



Benefit for Seattle Urban Academy

King’s High School students will host the “Costume 2K Run,” a fun run for costumed participants, at 10:30am on Saturday, October 26. The first-year event will include a race through the 55-acre CRISTA campus in Shoreline (19303 Fremont Ave N) as well as a bouncy house, barista stand, raffle and costume contest.

The King’s Costume 2K Run was created by King’s High School students Emma Rasmussen and Emily Cline, both juniors, and event production will take place with the help of approximately 40 other King’s High School students.

“Emily and I feel compelled to give back to our community by creating an event that would be fun and motivating for our fellow students, their families and the community,” said Rasmussen. “We’re looking forward to hosting a fun event for families, and proceeds will be going to a great cause.” 

Registration is $10 per participant, with proceeds benefiting the food and fitness program at Seattle Urban Academy, a high school in Seattle’s Central District that specializes in transforming youth at risk into young adults with hope. Like King’s, Seattle Urban Academy is a member of the CRISTA family of ministries.

Participants can register in advance or on site the day of the event. Event parking will be available at King’s Elementary School across from the CRISTA campus.

For more information, contact Emily Cline, 206-546-7478


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Letter to the Editor: Jack Rogers was a great friend

To the Editor:

Yesterday's Shoreline Area News told of the recent death of Jack Rogers. The article spoke of the work he has done for our schools. Most people remember him for that. But Jack was also active in the Democratic Party, and that was how I  remember him. When I ran for election to  our State Legislature in 1980, it was Jack's organizational skills that were a large part responsible for my victory. Jack was a great friend.

Nancy Rust, Shoreline
(former member of the Washington State Legislature)


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Celebrate 'Courtesy is Contagious in Kenmore' Day by volunteering in parks on October 26

Join the annual parks clean up on Oct 26


Join Kenmore staff and volunteers at the annual parks clean up event on Saturday, October 26, 2013 honoring Kenmore’s first Mayor Jack V. Crawford’s many con­tributions to Kenmore. Mr. Crawford was particularly proud of Kenmore’s parks. Volunteers are needed from 9am to noon at Log Boom Park (17415 61st Ave NE) and Squire’s Landing (7515 NE 175th St) to help pick up debris, pull weeds, disperse mulch, grub blackberries and Knotweed roots, and remove ivy. Welcom­ing remarks begin at 9am at Log Boom Park.

In 2009, City Council proclaimed October 24 “Cour­tesy is Contagious in Kenmore” Day as an annual observance in honor of Mr. Crawford, who passed away in December 2008. Mr. Crawford served on the Kenmore City Council from the City’s incorporation in August 1998 through December 2005. During his Council tenure, he held the position of Kenmore’s first Mayor from 1998 through 1999; and held the position of Deputy Mayor from 2000 through 2001.

In 2008, while serving as the president of the Kenmore Heritage Society, Mr. Crawford played a key role in developing the Kenmore History Path at Log Boom Park. The Heritage Society dedicated the path to Mr. Crawford in August 2009.

Event Details
Individuals, families, and community groups are encouraged to participate. No need to preregister but you can help us determine the amount of supplies needed by RSVPing to Volunteer and Events Coordinator Cindy Shelton, 425-398-8900. Children 14 and under must be accompanied by their parent. Youth 17 and under are required to have parent/guardian sign volunteer agreement form to participate.

Gloves and basic gardening tool supplies are limited.  If you can, please bring your own in case we run out. The event will happen rain or shine, so dress appropriately. Water and light snacks will be provided.

The park clean up event is organized by the City of Kenmore. The City thanks the following sponsors of City of Kenmore community events throughout the year: Frank Lumber Co., Banner Bank, Grocery Outlet, BowWow Fun Towne, Bastyr University, Snapdoodle Toys, Puget Sound Energy, Republic Services,  Northshore Utility District, Buyers’ Choice, and Kenmore Reporter.

For more information, contact Cindy Shelton, 425-398-8900.


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“How to Kill a Cactus” returns to Readers’ Theater on Monday

Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council Readers Theater presents a second reading of How to Kill a Cactus by T.L. Penberthy. The earlier draft reading of this witty, farcical dramedy was the first play reading presented in the 2013 Readers Theatre series back in January, and we are excited to have an updated draft to present on October 21, 2013.

In the play, Cathy tries hard to fit in after moving to the small Mississippi town where her partner Paula grew up. But the plants are too green and menacing – especially a mystical old oak tree in their backyard. Focusing all of her loneliness and misery on the oak tree, Cathy gladly cuts it down, but when the entire town subsequently and mysteriously starts to die, Cathy must sacrifice herself to atone for her mistakes, revive the town, and bring Paula back to her.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Readers Theater has served as a fantastic resource to bring together actors, playwrights, and audience in an entertaining and educational environment for many years. With a focus on presenting new works, this program allows playwrights to develop their work by seeing and hearing it read aloud by seasoned actors, and provides a wonderful setting in which all participants offer input to the playwright's process.

Admission to the Readers' Theater is free and the playwright will be available for discussion following the reading. This reading takes place at 7:00pm at the Edge Performance Center, 17517 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA.

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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Shoreline City Council Meeting October 14, 2013

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Devon Vose Rickabaugh
Photo by Jerry Pickard

Shoreline City Council Meeting October 14, 2013
By Devon Vose Rickabaugh

The Shoreline City Council unanimously authorized interim City Manager Debbie Tarry to approve the switch by the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) to a self-insured benefit program providing  medical, dental, vision, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP) from a fully funded insured model. The move will save money and give employees the same coverage.

The City’s proposed budget for 2014 was presented to the council for discussion. Overall the proposed 2014 budget of $71,900,115 is $1,199,815 (1.64%) less than the amount budgeted in 2013. Operating expenditures are projected to increase by $518,526 (1.39%) and capital expenditures are projected to decrease by $1,567,474 (5.89%). The proposed 2014 budget is balanced and includes adequate reserve levels to meet all adopted budget policies. Manager Debbie Tarry said that the feels “very proud” to maintain 18 years of Unqualified Audit Opinions and 14 straight Government Finance Officers Association  (GFOA) Budget Awards. The budget can be viewed on the City website and a Public Hearing on the budget will be held November 4th.

The discussion of Council Goal #4 which calls for enhanced openness and opportunities for community engagement focused on the difficulty of getting City information out to the public. The lack of print media in Shoreline continues to present challenges to the City when it comes to getting our message out to residents. According to the results of City’s 2012 Citizen Satisfaction Survey, Currents and the Recreation Guide remain the primary sources of information about City issues, events, and services for residents by a significant margin. The next most important source of information is the City’s website. Staff has been working on improving all three to make them more engaging, informative and user friendly.

At last November’s Crime Prevention Focus Group Forum, a common theme was the need for better communication between police and residents. The City has been working on several community outreach initiatives that will improve communication and hopefully address residents' concerns. One enhancement to communication is Alert Shoreline which is the City’s new mass communication system, which will will take the place of the City’s old community messaging eNews system and emergency notification system MyStateUSA. It will allow police to send out emergency alerts and community information on a variety of topics. Residents can select how they want to receive emergency alerts, whether by email, text, or phone, and they may register more than one location in Shoreline of interest to them, such as their home, a relative’s home, a work address, or their child’s school. Should there be an emergency near one of those locations and an alert is issued, they will receive key information on where to go and what to do to keep themselves and their families safe.

In addition to receiving emergency alerts, residents can also receive community notifications on topics of interest to them. Currently, residents may sign-up for the following community notices:

  • News Releases
  • Road Closures
  • City Council Agenda Packet
  • Planning Commission Agenda Packet
  • Library Board Agenda
  • PRCS/Tree Board Agenda
  • Point Wells Updates
  • Neighborhoods
  • Light Rail Station Area Planning
  • Park Facility Closures and Updates
  • Human Services
  • Shoreline Watch (crime prevention tips)


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