For the Birds: Nesting boxes for tiny owls placed in three parks

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Parks workers and volunteers
placing an owl box in a Shoreline ciity park
Photo by Christine Southwick

By Christine Southwick

On Saturday, February 8, Puget Sound Bird Observatory, with two very helpful members of Shoreline’s Park Department, hung eight owl boxes in three parks: three in Hamlin Park, two in Twin Ponds, and three in Boeing Creek. These boxes are designed for our two locally-found small owls, the Western Screech Owl and Northern Saw-whet Owl.

Puget Sound Bird Observatory is studying whether these small owls are still found in these parks, if so, how many, and if they can successfully raise broods in these boxes.


Why the study? Fewer of these owls are being heard, and there is a growing concern that loss of suitable tree cavities for nesting, and the increasing population of Barred Owls are tipping the scale against the viability of these smaller owls. Both these owls prefer habitat in coniferous forests, which unfortunately are becoming more and more fragmented, which opens more habitat for the highly adaptable Barred Owl.

Owls can’t excavate holes for their nests, so they depend on using former woodpecker nests, or finding natural openings suitable for owl nests. Unfortunately for these little owls (approx 8 inches in height) smaller trees with holes that are too small for the larger owls holes are more likely to fall or be taken down as unsightly, so there are fewer places for these diminutive owls to raise their young.

Save the tiny owls!
Photo by Scott Ramos

Barred Owls like these little owls on their menu. Because Barred Owls will often investigate when they hear either the Western Screech, or the Saw-owls, please do NOT play their calls. It annoys and alarms these small birds, and puts them in danger of detection by the Barred Owls, which are in many of our parks.

Please be quiet near these boxes as these owls are easily disturbed, and Saw-whet owls have been known to abandon their nests. If you see or hear any owls, please email.

There will be more owl boxes hung in other Shoreline Parks this fall. 

Owl box in place - waiting for a tenant
Photo by Christine Southwick

If you are interested in helping watch a couple of these boxes on a regular basis, go to this website to find out the details to volunteer for this study.

With any luck, several of these boxes will be used this year, and we may be able to see the nestlings in May.

To view other For the Birds columns by Christine Southwick, go to our main webpage and look under Features.


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Reflections finalists advance to State PTA competition

Monday, February 10, 2014

The National PTA Reflections program, which has been in existence for more than 40 years, offers students the opportunity to create original works of art in six areas: visual art, photography, literature, music composition, and dance/choreography, and film/video.

Entries are originally submitted to the individual school programs and the winners move on to the District program. Shoreline's finalist entries will be advanced to the Washington State Reflections program.

Visual Arts

  • Kai Sokolowski, Natasha Last-Bernal, Briarcrest
  • Jessica Yu, Brookside
  • Katy Griscom, Sam Kuo, Rexy Blau-Marshall and Aidan Bartelink, Cascade K-8
  • Forrest Neander and Maki Nakano, Einstein
  • Anna Chang and Kaylee Logan, Highland Terrace
  • Sue Ellen Zhang, Kellogg
  • Ton Dinell, Lake Forest Park
  • Emmie Wang, Meridian Park
  • Skylar Sotelo, Reane Joy and Jane White, Shorecrest
  • Frank Liu and Emery Bourgon, Shorewood
  • Erik Ertsgaard, Syre

Photography

  • Maddie Sokolowski, Briarcrest
  • Stefan Mueller, Einstein
  • Riley Koidahl, Shorewood
  • Samantha Combs, Syre

Literature

  • Isabella Brown, Echo Lake

Music Composition

  • Reva Frare Davis, Lake Forest Park
  • Imran Majeed, Oliver Reiman and Ameena Majeed, Meridian Park
  • Rain Davidson, Shorewood

Film production

  • Riley Koidahl, Shorewood

The People’s Choice Award winners as selected at the Reflections Reception were Jessica Yu, Maki Nakano, Sue Ellen Zhang and Frank Liu.


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People's Choice winners from PTA Reflections art competition

Frank Liu, Shorewood

The Reflections Program is a National PTA and Washington State PTA cultural arts competition. The purpose of this program is to provide an opportunity for students to use their creative talents by expressing themselves through their own original works.

Sue Ellen Zhang, Kellogg

Each year, Reflections challenges students to create art that supports a specific theme. Themes are selected from thousands of ideas submitted by students to National PTA's Reflections Theme Search. 

Maki Nakano, Einstein

2013-14 Reflections theme is: "Believe, Dream, Inspire".

Entries from students in Shoreline Schools were honored at a Shoreline PTA Council reception held on January 14, 2014 at the Shoreline Center.

Jessica Yu, Brookside

Attendees voted on their favorite art works and these four were the People's Choice winners.


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Planning for the 185th Light Rail station - come to the design workshop

What will the neighborhoods look like around
the light rail stations?

In November 2013, the City of Shoreline hosted a series of workshops with neighbors and other stakeholder groups to discuss design elements for the 185th Street Station Subarea, including:
  • Public spaces and art, bridge and street design;
  • How redevelopment could complement neighborhood character, including residential and mixed-use buildings;
  • Shopping, services, and jobs, including appropriate locations for these uses; and
  • Transportation improvements to distinguish pedestrian, bicycle, and transit space.
This station has dedicated bike lanes for commuters

The second design workshop in the series will be held on
Thursday, February 20, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. 
in the Council Chambers at Shoreline City Hall

Or will the stations create more of an urban landscape?

Join City planning staff to:
  1. See how community ideas have been represented through computer models, and what the area may look like in the future;
  2. Learn about the subarea planning process, including which decisions have been made and which will be made in the coming months;
  3. Discuss potential zoning alternatives and provide comments on the scope of el­ements to be analyzed through the City’s Environmental Impact Statement; and 
  4. Consider design and transition standards, and incentives for desired amenities like green building and affordable housing.
For more information, visit the City's light rail website or contact Miranda Redinger, City of Shoreline Senior Planner, 206-801-2513.


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Shorewood JV swim team wins trophy

Members of the Shorewood JV swim team
Photo courtesy of Cathy Farley

This past Friday, February 7, 2014, at the JV Invitational, the Shorewood JV Swim team won the trophy.

Pictured are Coaches Scott Kelly and Jeremy Hunter with three of the JV swimmers (L to R – Ryan Farley, Garett Schultz, Dominic Nouwens)


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Volunteer at the 24th Annual Shoreline Arts Festival


24th Annual Shoreline Arts Festival
June 28 and 29 - Shoreline Center
18560 1st Ave. N Shoreline 98133

Each year a small army of volunteers come together to coordinate, construct and, in general, create from the ground up, what becomes the annual Shoreline Arts Festival! The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is currently looking for you to help make this 24th installment of the Festival the best one yet. The Festival is free to all and is a great opportunity to get involved with local artists and art lovers of all kinds in your community.

Your skills can be helpful in a variety of ways:
  • Become part of the festival steering committee! Get deep down into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to make the festival happen. From now until the end of June you’ll eat, sleep, breath Festival! (Call 206.417.4645)
  • Hands-on and organizational volunteering in the weeks before the festival. There is a ton of work that goes into transforming the business-like Shoreline Center into the Festival-funzone that you know and love. Help make that transition happen. There are jobs for all levels of physical ability and inclination.
  • Day(s)-Of-Volunteering. The vast majority of volunteer needs come during the Festival itself. Love kids? Help out in hands-on art. Have a big personality? Volunteer to take the stage and be an MC. Want to help, but prefer something a bit more behind-the-scenes? Work on a set-up or tear-down crew. No matter what your interests, there is a place for you among the ranks of the hundreds of Festival volunteers.
They are looking for people to fill 2-3 hour spots; people can work as many shifts as they like. They have a need for people to work in Hands-On Art helping kids create fun artwork; sit in the various art rooms; work with parking; help in the food court area; and more! All the different opportunities are listed at the volunteerspot.com website (see below).

They are using VolunteerSpot.com this year to sign up, and it's really easy:
  1. Click this link to go to the invitation page on VolunteerSpot
  2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on VolunteerSpot
  3. Sign up! Choose your spots - VolunteerSpot will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!
Note that VolunteerSpot does not share your email address with anyone, and neither does the Arts Council. If you prefer not to use your email address, contact the Arts office or 206-417-4645 and they can sign you up manually.

Sign up to help and then share this volunteer opportunity with anyone who might be interested in committing a couple of hours to our community to make this another great Festival. Students can receive community service credit for their work.

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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Aurora Corridor construction update

Weekly Construction Update

For the week of February 10, 2014

• Southbound traffic has been shifted to the east to create a work zone on the west side of Aurora.

• Utility work will occur in various areas. Flaggers will be directing traffic around the work zones. Drivers are encouraged to slow down and drive carefully.

Upcoming Work
The contractor will begin clearing and grubbing between N 192nd and N 200th, including the side streets.

Questions or concerns about construction?
206-801-2485 

Sign up to receive alerts and construction updates on Alert Shoreline

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Point Wells Transportation Corridor Study Workshop Wednesday at City Hall

Point Wells Transportation Corridor Study Workshop
Meeting #1: Overview and identify issues for Segment A (lower Richmond Beach Dr. west of 24th Ave. NW)

Wednesday, February 12, 2014
6:30 p.m. – Doors open
7:00 to 9:00 p.m. – Workshop
Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave. N.

The proposed development at Point Wells will take up to 25 years to fully complete. However, the project’s impacts and mitigations must be identified at this stage of the process. As the Point Wells development project moves forward, the City will host a series of workshops to ensure that the community has an opportunity to provide input on Snohomish County’s environmental review process and identify capital investments that will make for a safer transportation corridor.



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Snow on the beach

Sunday, February 9, 2014

Photo by Frank Kleyn

The salt water has dissolved the snow that fell close to the water at Saltwater Park in Richmond Beach in this photo taken on Sunday morning by Frank Kleyn.


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Frank Workman on Sports: It's up to you

Frank Workman
calling a game
By Frank Workman

It happened this week at a high school basketball game.

If it didn’t involve your school, it could next time.

The short player for the home team had inside position for the rebound. A taller opponent went for the ball and knocked it out of bounds. The taller player began to stumble, and the shorter player gave an overly firm, emphatic two-handed shove, driving the opponent to the ground - followed by a clenched fist, cocked back as if ready to deliver a blow.

The short player was immediately wrapped up in a bearhug by a teammate and escorted away from the baseline scene, heading to their bench at the far side of the court.

A mom from the visiting team charged down the bleachers, walked onto the court, and wagged a finger into the face of the short player for a couple seconds before she returned to her seat.

In the stands, a home team dad hollered something toward the adjacent visitor’s section. A visiting dad took exception to what was said and the two dads soon were nose-to-nose. Two other dads became similarly engaged.

A quick-thinking gym manager bounded up the steps into the stands and came between the involved adults, bringing a semblance of order to the proceedings.

If not for his actions, a powder-keg could have erupted, mayhem might have ensued. Arrests wouldn’t have been out of the question.

With the local regular season now at an end, the playoffs begin this week. The stakes are higher and emotions will run hotter than usual for the next three weeks.

Perhaps it’s time for a refresher course on what youth sports are about.

In order of importance, this is the cast of characters (and their locations);

1) Players. (Field of play)

2) Officials. (Field of play)

3) Coaches. (Bench)

4) Fans. (In the stands)

In this arrangement, it is the role of the players to play. The refs officiate. Coaches coach.

It’s not complicated.

And fans cheer. (By the way, it’s always OK to give approval to ALL the players on the field of play, not just those on your team.)

Too many times the fans forget their role and feel compelled to play ALL the parts, especially #2 and #3.

It might be a good time for all fans involved to take a deep breath and re-evaluate.

Go to a game that you have no interest in – observe the behavior of those fans (especially those who are overly loud and critical).

Maybe a lesson can be learned and you can avoid having a scene like this happen at a game you attend.

It’s up to you.

See previous Frank Workman columns by clicking the link under the Features list in the first column on our webpage.


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Richmond Beach Community Association General Meeting Tuesday on Point Wells

Richmond Beach Community Association General Meeting
Tuesday, Feb. 11, 7:30 p.m.
Richmond Beach Congregational Church,
1512 NW 195th Street, Lower Level


Point Wells: Where Do We Go From Here?

By Jerry Patterson, RBCA Vice President

Over the past 18 months, the spotlight on Point Wells shined most vividly on the legal side of things. Even though the State Supreme Court has not yet issued a ruling on the legal issue of vesting, from this point forward the major challenges shift to the following:

• Completion of an environmental review, including the scope of the categories reviewed, the impact of development on the environment, and the steps needed to minimize any potential negative impacts of Point Wells. These steps must also demonstrate how the local communities will be able to provide required capital facilities as well as transportation, school, water, sewer, police and fire services at Point Wells

• The approval of a variety of permits filed by the developer, including shoreline regulations, site plans, hazardous waste, and building permits. As long as the property is in Snohomish County and not annexed by Shoreline, these permit proceedings will be at the county level, but impacts will be felt primarily by you.

In the long-term, best interest of the Richmond Beach community, it is imperative that each of the above steps is conducted properly and accurately reflects the significant impacts on our neighborhood’s quality of life. In other words, the decisions to be made in the next several months will produce long-term, irreversible effects on our community.

With so much at stake for the future of Richmond Beach, we cannot afford to be merely a consumer of what local officials or developers tell us will be done. As a community, we need to explore all our future options on how we can collectively continue to demand a project that will not destroy the fabric of our community. And you need to be part of this conversation. That’s why it is so crucial for you to attend our February 11 meeting. See you there!


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Poem: Seattle Surprise

Photo by Christine Southwick


Seattle Surprise
By Cynthia Sheridan


Winter birds on white wool snow. Fir trees trimmed in lace
Creatures curled in fur-lined nests as nightfall they embrace


Crunchy thumps, like a muted drum, from neighbors passing by
Briefly pierce the silence with their restless lullaby


Icy dewdrops drift and fall so gently on my face
A frozen moment, mine to keep . How sweet this hallowed place


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On the Mayor's mind

Shari Winstead
Mayor of Shoreline
As our plane touched down at SeaTac the first thing I saw was “GO HAWKS” – a sign hanging at the Alaska Airlines plane deck. I had watched a small part of the victory parade in awe (streaming it live from the other Washington). More people than anyone could have imagined gathered downtown to show pride in the Seahawks. 

"It really is unbelievable hearing an entire city cheer all at once. I love football but I really love hearing everyone come together for a single purpose, even if it's just a game.” The Facebook post from my friend Edi Zanidache really summed up what I was feeling. The Seahawks had formed a community. 

What’s on my mind isn’t really the Seahawks. It’s the idea of everyone coming together for a single purpose.

Coming together for a single purpose - it’s how we start a little league team, pass a Parks bond, and even how we start (or stop) projects in our neighborhoods. Sometimes it’s how we meet new friends. And sometimes it’s how we show our pride in a sports team. But most importantly, we can come together to prevent neighborhood crime.

It’s unfortunate that sometimes it takes a crime or a “not in my backyard” project for neighbors to come together.  

So here’s my suggestion, don’t wait to come together - get to know your neighbors now. Forming a block watch is really easy. The City and police department would love to help you. Check out this Shoreline website for all the information you need to start your neighborhood watch, and to make your neighborhood safer.

National Night Out Against Crime is August 5, 2014. This is a designated evening for block parties (remember those from your childhood? Tons of fun!) A really great way to spend some time talking to your neighbors.  

As the sunny days become longer in length, take a moment to knock on your neighbor’s door, and put your neighborhood on the map of block parties to be held on August 5!  

Every year, your elected officials and police make every effort to visit these block parties. I hope I’ll see you this year!

Mayor Shari Winstead
City of Shoreline


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Crime in Shoreline A-Z - vandalism, car prowls, and lots of arrests

Shoreline Police Headquarters
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Crime in Shoreline A - Z
1-27 to 2-2-2014

Every week - death investigations, suicide attempts, domestic violence, violent people with mental issues, suicide attempts, arrest warrants, drivers with suspended license, credit card identify theft, runaway kids, wandering seniors, well-being checks, natural deaths, driving violations with DUI drivers, tracking sex offenders - and here's the rest:

A - Rear window was broken in home at 8xx NW 165th Pl - K9 unit tracked to suspect hiding in bushes of nearby home

Arrest - A shoplifter entered Marshall's but security officers recognized him from video the previous week, chased him from the store and held him for arrest / Police stopped driver on Aurora for going 55mph in a 40 zone, arrested for DUI / Driver picked up at 3:17am at N 148th and Linden had meth, cocaine, and heroin / Suspect contacted for shoplifting at Marshall's. Meth discovered during search. Accomplices arrested on outstanding warrants / Picked up a person on street at 149xx Whitman with heroin and meth / Driver booked for second DUI following a minor collision at N 175th and Meridian / Picked up two people in car at Shoreline Motel - driver had warrant from Dept of Corrections and was booked into the King Co jail, the passenger had an outstanding warrant for driving without a license / Picked up person 1:23am at 200th and Aurora and arrested on $5000 assault warrant from Seattle, booked King Co jail

Assault - Man charged with assault and domestic violence after throwing a plate at his wife of 16 years

Burglary, residential - Door damaged and window broken to enter home 18xx  N 205th / Attempt to pry open back door at 147xx 23rd NE / Items stolen from unlocked, detached garage at 172xx 10th NE

Burglary, commercial - Doors were left unlocked at JoAnn Fabric and alarm went off when someone tried to enter / Expensive mountain bike stolen from church garage at St. Dunstan's on N 145th / Storage locker broken into and furniture taken 14900 Aurora / Attempted burglary and car prowl at Evergreen RV on Aurora

Car prowl - Tools stolen from locked van 13xx N 152nd / Driver's side window broken out at Shoreline Pool parking lot / Unlocked car in driveway 3xx NW 198th / Change taken from car in carport at 153xx Ashworth / Used a glass tool to break car window and steal perfume from car at Sports Clips parking lot / Punched door lock to steal clothing and other items from car in parking lot at Tropical Tan 15507 Westminster / Car in carport 7xx N 148th / Car in driveway 2xx N 160th / Cars entered 202xx Greenwood Ave N / Cars in driveway 7xx N 150th / Wallet was in car prowled at 153xx Ashworth / RVs and trailers prowled at Evergreen RV on Aurora / AmEx card stolen from car at Twin Ponds was used at Fred Meyer / Window left down on car 148xx Whitman / 203xx 19th NE window smashed and GPS pried off dash

Cars and parts stolen – Vehicle stolen from Costco parking lot / Car stolen from park n ride at 147th and 5th NE

Found - small satchel found at The Blakeley with property belonging to three different people: one was wanted on a Dept of corrections warrant, one had a felony warrant, and the third was gainfully employed with credit cards and medical insurance

Fraud - 185th and Linden - suspect waved down an older driver and claimed a car malfunction in order to scam her / Victim received a call from the "IRS" claiming that he owed $2890 in back taxes / Man attempts to pass counterfeit $50 at Walgreen's 14510 Aurora

Larceny, public places - Suspect walks around Costco, damages food containers and steals food / Two suspects put ointments in plastic bags and try to exit Bartell's without paying / Items stolen from men's locker room of YMCA / Shoplifter tried to take tools from Sears / Doors removed and interior stripped from vehicle at Aegis Living on 1st NE / two iPads stolen at Shorecrest / Shoplift from Marshalls / Tools taken from job site at 15500 8th NE / Shoplift from Home Depot

Mail theft - 3xx NE 159th / 16xx NE 199th - used pry bar to break into locking mailbox / 176xx 24th Ln NE mail stolen from one box in a group on a post / Mail stolen from box in front of residence 145xx Wallingford

Trespass - Picked up chronic shoplifters -trespassers from Aurora Village Starbucks / Trespassed female who spent a long time in bathroom of Aurora McDonalds, suspected of using heroin / Aggressive panhandler Trespassed from Aurora Safeway / Trespassed male for yelling and creating a disturbance at Rodeway Inn / Male Trespassed from Rodeway Inn when he showed up to claim his alleged stolen truck

Vandalism - Walls of storage business at 17828 Midvale were spray painted and marked / Spray paint on residential fence 149xx Linden / Purple spray paint on building and fence at Richmond Village condos / Highlands West apartments - purple spray paint on stone column / Black spray paint on business Honest Auto 16622 Aurora / 23xx N 192nd tires slashed /

Vandalism, parks, schools, churches - Graffiti scratched into restroom mirror at Kayu Kayu Ac park / Purple spray paint on sign and exterior wall at First Lutheran Church on 8th NW / Spray paint on walls and doors of bathroom in Cromwell Park / Spray paint on crosswalk poles on Interurban Trail / Spray paint on street signs on public trail 163xx Fremont / Tire slashed on car at Shoreline Pool /

Z - Neighbors at Ridgecrest Apts get in argument and one deflated three tires on the other's car. Victim does not wish to press charges. 

For other weeks of Crime in Shoreline, see the Features section on the front page.


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The best view of snow is from inside a warm home

Snow scene
Photo by Janet Way
The best (and safest!) view of snow is always from inside a warm home, as Janet Way shows with this frosty photo from her home in central Shoreline.


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Tracking in the snow

Tracks
Photo by Frank Kleyn

As seen at Saltwater Park in Richmond Beach. This kind of tracking wouldn't require much skill for a human to follow. Anyone know what kind of bird was walking on the beach?


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Snow Removal in Lake Forest Park

Primary roads for snow removal
Map also available in the link below

Planning for a winter storm event can be difficult. Each storm event is unique. The Public Works crews of the City of Lake Forest Park are charged with maintaining 112 lane miles of streets during inclement weather. It is our goal to provide a reasonably safe driving condition.

The City of Lake Forest Park provides Public Works services under a contract with the City of Kenmore. The two cities share seven trucks for treating snow and ice conditions. Four trucks have sanders/spreaders and plows, two trucks have de-icers and plows, and one truck has a plow. During a snow and ice event, maintenance crews will switch to two 12-hour shifts to ensure 24-hour coverage. 

Snow and ice crews will focus on primary routes first, including arterials, bus routes, and designated emergency routes. Once the primary routes are able to be left in a safe condition, attention will turn to secondary and then to residential streets. Crews will continue to work around the clock as long as snow and ice conditions exist. 

To assist citizens in hilly areas the City has established several sand piles. Citizens may apply the sand to streets where traction is an issue and the City has not had an opportunity to apply deicer or plow.

Quick Links 


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Vote on Shoreline school election in person on accessible voting units in Bellevue and Renton

By Evan Smith

Voters in the Shoreline School District may vote in person on the School District levy renewal and technology levy by using accessible voting units at the Bellevue City Hall and the King County elections office in Renton.

There no longer is a machine at North Seattle Community College.

These machines are designed for disabled voters to vote independently, but any registered voter can use them by showing valid photo identification or signing a declaration with a signature that matches the signature in county records.

The County elections office is open Monday from 8:30am to 4:30pm and Tuesday, Election Day, from 8:30am to 8pm. The Bellevue machine will be available from 10am to 5pm Monday and from 10am to 8pm Tuesday.

Voters also can leave their ballots at either site.

They also can leave their ballots at 24-hour drop boxes at the Lake Forest Park City Hall and seven other King County sites. The boxes close at 8pm Tuesday. Mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.

Local ballots include the renewal of a maintenance-and-operations levy and a technology levy.

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

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Free Dental Sealant Day for children and teens March 8

The 2013 event filled up quickly
so make appointments now

On Saturday, March 8th, the Greater Seattle Dental Hygienists’ Society is sponsoring a Free Dental Sealant Day for children and teens ages 4 through 18.

They will provide:

  • Dental exams by dentists
  • Dental sealants – a hard plastic-like coating painted on the chewing surface of the back teeth to prevent cavities. The process is quick and painless.
  • Fluoride treatments

Shoreline Community College, Dental Hygiene Clinic, 2500 Bldg (maps)
16101 Greenwood Avenue North, Shoreline, WA  98133

Saturday, March 8, 2014, 9:00am to 3:00pm

To schedule an appointment or if you have questions, call 206-445-7621 or email the Greater Seattle Dental Hygienists 

Spaces are limited, reserve your appointment time now.


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Snow outside - hot music inside at Grinders on Aurora

It was a dark and snowy night in Shoreline
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Grinders....Hot Sands on Aurora Ave. N
Text and photos,  Marc Weinberg

It was a dark and snowy night in Shoreline, but inside Grinders Hot Sands ..... it was warm and toasty listening to a selection of music by Al Rowe.

Saturday night music at Grinders
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Most every Saturday night you'll find this glow of warmth here as Mitch and his crew serve up some sizzling hot sandwiches to the tunes of equally talented musicians. 


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Our Wicked Past-Historic Crime and Punishment in Wild Northwest King County

On Saturday, February 15, at 1pm at the Richmond Beach Library, 19601 21st Avenue NW, Shoreline 98177, 206-546-3522, Vicki Stiles, historian and executive director of the Shoreline Historical Museum Heritage Center will reveal the rampant crime and lawlessness that pervaded the early years of the community. True crime at its best!


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Introduction to the Olympic Sport of Curling - at the Shoreline Library

Start to Fitness programs at the library

Introduction to the Olympic Sport of Curling

Wednesday, February 12, 7pm, Shoreline Library, 345 N 175th, Shoreline 98155

Learn about the history and origins of the sport and how you can get on the ice yourself! There will be a question and answer period along with a chance to handle some equipment, including a rock, a broom and curling shoes.

If you’re resolved to begin the New Year with a more active, healthy lifestyle, it’s easy to get started at your library. Throughout 2014, find ideas, inspiration and tips on simple ways to add more movement and healthy options to your life through the new adult series, Start to Fitness.


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Volunteer opportunities at Senior Center Kitchen

The Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center Kitchen is looking for some new volunteers, both men and women. 

Do you have time to spare even one day a week? There are many four-hour shifts available Monday through Friday. You could be helping with prepping vegetables and fruits, plating lunch, desserts, setting tables, or even helping put dishes away.

So you say you don’t have time during the week, we have a second option, on Sunday morning’s, we go out to collect donations from two grocery stores, if you have a van or wagon and could help out we can use you then. It usually takes about a two-hour commitment. 

Contact Chef Janice, 206-365-1536.

The Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center is located in the southern-most building on the Shoreline Center campus, facing N 185th.


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SWEL Cultural Food Fest Feb 23


February 23, 2014 - 4:00pm to 5:30pm, North City Water District building, 1519 NE 177th Shoreline 98155.

SWEL's Cultural Food Fest Potluck is about connecting people, families and communities, to share the wealth of our skills, diversity of our cultures and just some good food!

Come join us and bring a dish that reflects your heritage or a special family recipe.

SWEL is a local organization where members barter for services.


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Collaboration: an exhibit by members of ArtistsConnect of Edmonds

The Forgotten Goddess” is a mixed media sculpture
using a mannequin, air dry clay, paper, acrylic paint
and fiber created by Susie Howell and Tonnie Wolfe.

The Edmonds Arts Festival Foundation and the Edmonds Arts Commission are pleased to present “Collaboration: an exhibit by members of ArtistsConnect of Edmonds” at the Frances Anderson Center, now through March 14.

Creativity can be enhanced by a number of factors. Collaboration is one. Viewed as such a strong influence on innovation, companies, such as Apple and Google, created workspaces that foster cross-pollination and collaboration.

Artists often work in isolation. In doing so, it is easy to stay within comfortable habits and practices that are familiar. Through a desire to explore and innovate, a group of artists decided to form pairs and teams to create a single piece of collaborative art. Thus the Collaboration exhibit was born.

The Collaboration Project emerged from ArtistsConnect, a group of Edmonds-area artists that receives support from the Edmonds Art Festival Foundation and ArtWorks. The exhibit will showcase the collaborative pieces of 19 artists. Artists worked in pairs or trios to create both two and three dimensional works. Many will add an individual piece to the show, so the viewer can compare the artist’s usual style with what emerged from the collaboration.

The Collaboration Project encouraged the artist teams to try something new. From a large 3-panel screen made from painted doors and iron, to a small ceramic and fiber statuette, the scale of work varied. Artists who typically worked in 2 dimensions, created 3 dimensional pieces. For example, a glass artist paired with a photographer created an under-seascape. A team who shared an art trip to Paris collaged images onto fabric and designed a skirt as homage to Paris fashion. Those who worked with more traditional media wrestled with how to combine them both technically and aesthetically. All reported stretching in some way.

The EAFF Gallery is located in the Frances Anderson Center, Main Entrance - 700 Main Street, Edmonds. Gallery Hours: Mon – Fri 9 to 7, Sat – 10 to 1. For information call 425-771-0228 or 425-771-1984.



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Serious football withdrawal? Roller derby is a contact sport

Photo by Danny Ngan

If you need a fix of full contact, high octane sports, you should check out what is happening in the sport of roller derby. In the nail biting season opener last month, Derby Liberation Front upset the three year reigning champions, Grave Danger. The next bout of the season promises to be just as intense and hard hitting, as the league championship title is up for grabs.

Bout 1: Derby Liberation Front vs. Throttle Rockets - Rat City Rollergirls
Bout 2: Grave Danger vs. Sockit Wenches

Doors open at 4:30, Opening Ceremonies at 5:30pm. Bouts are held at Key Arena, Seattle Center, West Plaza, 1st Avenue N and 305 N Harrison Street, Seattle, WA 98109 – Map It
Our roller derby skater-athletes span all walks of life, professions, and are active in the communities where they live around the Seattle Area. We are committed to being role models for young women, and support many community organizations like Girl Scouts and YMCA to spread the message of Title IX empowerment through sport. Our members are exceptional women who operate the organization in addition to hours of practice training and community outreach.
Photo by Danny Ngan
10 Year olds get in FREE! 

If you are 10 or turning 10 this year, they  want to give you a FREE ticket to come out to one of the bouts this season. "Roller Derby is the fastest growing sport among girls and women, and it’s a fun night out for the whole family!"

Here’s what Bad Juju (age 10) has to say about playing roller derby with the Seattle Derby Brats Tootsie Rollers, “The best thing I learned in derby is that you can do ANYTHING! Roller Derby makes me feel healthy and strong.”

For more information on schedule and tickets prices visit the ticket page.


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ICHS building uses renewable resources for innovative roof construction

Fir cross fiber roof panel being lifted into place
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The International Community Health Services is constructing a major community health center in Shoreline at 16549 Aurora Ave N to provide medical and dental services to low-income and immigrant residents. See previous article.

The building is being constructed to LEED Silver certification standards, using renewable resources, which will also help keep utility costs down for operation.

Third floor of new ICHS building showing cross fiber panels.
Looking north on Aurora
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The architect and contractor are the first in Washington to use a cross fiber fir 3"X15' X 40' from Canada. The roof will have standard roofing material applied to the top to protect the wood and building. This type of roofing is a renewable source and allows for the ceiling on the third floor to have exposed wood instead of a metal deck overlaid with concrete. 

Crews installing the roof of the surface water retention tank
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The first floor of the health facility will have medical offices and examining rooms. The second floor will have ten dental operant areas. This facility will provide health care for many of the immigrant community in the North King County and South Snohomish County area, and will also provide reasonable lower cost health care to the community citizens.  They will have staff who speak ten different languages to assist in their care of patients.


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Sound Transit photo of the week: jam-packed busses take fans to Seahawks parade

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Seahawk fans take the bus to the parade Wednesday

Wednesday was the busiest day ever for Sound Transit as an estimated 700,000 fans poured into downtown Seattle for the Seahawks victory parade. Preliminary estimates show that Sound Transit trains and buses carried nearly 200,000 passengers, which is about double the regular weekday ridership.

Other local transit agencies, including King County Metro, were also jammed. Fans are seen here waiting for buses and Link light rail trains at the International District Station in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel.


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Tech Talk: April 8th - the end for Windows XP?



April 8th – The End for Windows XP?

Today, February 8th, marks the 60-day countdown to a major event in the computer world. It’s not a major product launch or a new technical advance. “It’s the end of an era,” some say or at least, the beginning of the end (smile).

On April 8th, Microsoft stops supporting Windows XP.

Microsoft has been promoting this day for years in the tech press, hoping to move businesses and consumers out of an operating system that launched the same year they launched the original Xbox game console, and were still working out an anti-trust agreement with the US Justice Department. It was 2001, the year of the 9/11 attacks and our entry into Afghanistan; the year Wikipedia went online, Apple started a music download service called iTunes and their first portable music player, the iPod.


Windows XP, despite its age, is still being used by 29% of Windows users, according to Netshare, so there is concern about what this move by Microsoft means. Here are some answers to the common questions I am hearing about the 12 year-old operating system.

Does Windows XP stop working on April 8th? Can I continue to install it or reinstall it.

No, Windows XP will continue to function and you can continue to install it on computers. Of course Windows XP has not been available as a new purchase with or without a computer for years. 

Since Windows XP still requires activation to continue to use it within 30 days of installation, the online activation feature will still continue to function. What will not be available is activation through a phone call. Microsoft will no longer be staffing that service.

What does Microsoft mean by “end of support?”

End of support is defined in some detail for Windows XP on Microsoft’s Support Lifecycle page, but essentially it falls into Mainstream support and Extended Support categories. Mainstream includes free warranty support for a new product installation and other no-charge support options. For Extended Support, focus shifts to paid support, and free online support options.

At the end of Extended Support (in this case, April 8, 2014), Microsoft stops staffing support, as well as development and testing of updates for the product. While many of these free online support options like the Microsoft’s Download Center may still continue to be available, any active or staffed services related to Windows XP will not. Windows XP-specific support topics in Microsoft’s Knowledge Base will still be available on the web site, but no longer be updated or maintained.

Microsoft’s most utilized support service is Windows Update. WU provides product fixes and security updates to improve the system and keep it protected. End of support for most people means the elimination of that service. The implications of not receiving additional security updates is that Windows XP will not be protected from attack if there are vulnerabilities discovered after April 8th. 


What are the dangers of going on the web with my Windows XP system after the 8th?

Without the protection of new security updates for Windows XP, the chance of a newly discovered security weakness being exploited by malware is very high. Some people are suggesting that malware authors will try to hold information back on vulnerabilities in order exploit them on Windows XP after the April date. Others speculate that Windows XP will simply become more vulnerable as time goes on.

While up-to-date anti-malware software will often catch viruses and other malware, a system update is the most effective deterrent against infection, data loss, or other consequences. For that reason, I recommend that you not connect a Windows XP system to the Internet after April 8th.

I need my Windows XP computer for Internet access to email and other web sites, what do I do?

I recognize this is a tough spot if your goal is to keep your existing computer running Windows XP. Aside from purchasing a new computer, you might also upgrade your system to Windows 7. Though less common today than a year ago, it is still possible to find Windows 7 available for purchase online. The key concern is whether your computer hardware will support a later version of Windows. Downloading the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor can help you determine this.

While Microsoft is providing some customized options for large companies, the only other alternative is to purchase a new system. Fortunately, the average price range of a new PC desktop or laptop is about the same it was 10 years ago though the system has evolved in capability and capacity.

I am running Windows 7 but have programs running in “Windows XP Mode.” Does this impact them?

Windows XP Mode is the capability of Windows 7 to run applications that don’t work under Windows 7 itself in a “virtual” Windows XP system. As this is a complete Windows XP environment, that environment is also subject to the same lifecycle constraints as Windows XP on the standalone computer. If you truly need Windows XP Mode to run your program and do not need Internet access, I recommend going to the settings of Windows XP Mode (right-click on XP Mode in the Windows Virtual PC folder and chose settings) and under Networking, change Adapter in use to “Not Connected”



I heard that Microsoft Security Essentials for XP will also no longer be supported. Is this true?

Yes, but in April, the only restriction is that the Security Essential for XP program will no longer be downloadable. If you are current using Security Essentials on XP as your anti-virus, virus signature updates will continue to be available until July 2015.

Is Microsoft ending support for anything else soon?

Yes, Microsoft Office 2003, the last version of Office that doesn’t use the Office “ribbon” also reaches its end of support on April 8th. Many of the same security concerns about Windows XP also apply to this version of Office.

~~~~~
Do you have a follow up on this topic or technical question on that needs to be answered or explored?

Please share it with me at brian@bostonlegacyworks.com. Your question may show up here on Tech Talk.


Brian Boston supported Microsoft products during his 18+ years with the company and now teaches, consults, and troubleshoots a wide range of software and hardware devices for Boston Legacyworks.


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Shoreline City Council Meeting Monday 2-3-14

Devon Vose Rickabaugh
Photo by Jerry Picard
Shoreline City Council Meeting 
Monday 2-3-14
By Devon Vose Rickabaugh

Shoreline City Planning and Community Development Director Rachael Markle said the scoping notice had been received from Snohomish County initiating the beginning of the public process for Snohomish County’s development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed project at Point Wells. “It is important that the City identify the areas of both the built and natural environment we anticipate could be significantly impacted as a result of the proposed project at Point Wells and provide that information to Snohomish County.”

Point Wells is an unincorporated portion of southwest Snohomish County, of which approximately 61 acres is owned by Blue Square Real Estate (BSRE) Point Wells, LP. The BSRE property has been used as an industrial site for over fifty years, and the property currently serves as an asphalt plant. In mid-2007, the owner of the property announced an intention to redevelop the site. The proposal required a change to the Snohomish County Comprehensive Plan Designation for the 61 acres from Urban Industrial to "Urban Center", and a zoning change from Heavy Industrial to Planned Community Business and then to Urban Center.

The city has drafted a comprehensive letter identifying those elements of the environment that are likely to sustain significant adverse impacts as a result of the proposed Point Wells project. Some of the elements of concern include slide prone areas along Richmond Beach Road; Puget Sound water quality and habitat; transportation from the Point Wells site up Richmond Beach Road which will include a Transportation Corridor Study; effect on property values in Richmond Beach; hazardous waste from soil contaminated with petroleum and related products including heavy metals.

Snohomish County will host scoping meetings for the public to comment on the project’s impacts, identify alternatives and how to address the impacts. Snohomish County’s public meeting in Shoreline will be Tuesday February 18 at 6:30pm at the Shoreline Conference Center 18560 1st Avenue NE, Shoreline.


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