For the Birds: Pine Siskin - Finch with a pointy bill

Sunday, January 11, 2015

 

Text and photos by Christine Southwick

Have you seen a hoard of smallish birds at your feeders that have needle-like bills, heavily streaky breasts, and variable yellow patches on their wings? If you’re outside and can hear them communicating among themselves, the characteristic  “zzzzzoop”  will confirm the ID. You have Pine Siskin at your feeder!

These nomadic finches can be seen anytime in this area, but are most often seen here in the wintertime. Pine Siskin follow seed crops, and are especially fond of pine and other coniferous seeds. 
I'm watching you!

In winters when the Northern forest seed crops are poor, there may be thousands more Pine Siskin in our area than usual. That is called an irruptive year. They are very adaptable and will eat seeds wherever they find them-- shrubby thickets, grassy fields, and bird feeders. They’ve evolved to eating small seeds, as the shape of their narrow bills indicates.

Pine Siskin are usually found in the tip-tops of seed-bearing trees, often hanging upside-down while extracting their favorite seeds out of hanging cones. They eat alder seeds and are often found in mixed forests here in this area. They also glean spiders, insects, and grubs found on leaves and branch tips.
Aggressive stance on bird feeder

These gregarious finches fly in flocks, continually making their contact calls. They often nest close to each other in loose colonies, high up in trees, in the mountains, or much further north. Their nests, built by the females, are highly insulated, and hidden under an overhanging branch. The female sits on the eggs continually to keep the eggs warm, and is fed by her monogamous mate.

Pine Siskin employ another tactic that few birds can do. They can raise their metabolic rate to keep warm during extreme cold. And they can fuel 5-6 hours of a sub-zero night by storing seeds in their esophageal crop, and digesting the seeds as energy is needed.

Eating black-oil sunflower seeds

They will readily eat nyjer (thistle) seed and black oil sunflower seeds at backyard feeders.  Since our damp winters cause nyjer seed to clump and spoil so quickly, and Pine Siskin are susceptible to salmonella, I don’t even bother with offering that seed, but only serve black-oil, suet, and shelled seeds. I have plenty of Pine Siskin at my feeders whenever they are seen in the area. And I always supply liquid water.

Enjoy Pine Siskin when you have them.  They might not be here next year.


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World Concern commemorates 5th Anniversary of Haiti earthquake

Haiti in 2010 after the quake
Photo courtesy World Concern


World Concern staff in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and Shoreline, Washington, will pause for a moment of prayer at 1:53pm Seattle time (4:53pm Haiti time) on Monday, January 12, 2015, the moment a devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti on this day in 2010.

“We will never forget the tragedy of January 12, 2010. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Haiti on this five-year anniversary. We stand with them as their nation continues the arduous but hope-filled process of recovery,” said World Concern President Jacinta Tegman.

World Concern, a Christian humanitarian aid organization based in Shoreline, has implemented disaster response and community development programs serving the people of Haiti for 39 years, beginning in January 1976.

World Concern immediately responded to the earthquake, providing emergency assistance to more than 100,000 people. In the first year after the disaster, more than 7,000 people were employed through our Cash for Work program, 1,284 homes were repaired, 530 transitional shelters were built, 989 livelihood grants were distributed to business owners who lost their businesses, and 32 churches were repaired or rebuilt.

Since then, thousands of people in communities throughout Haiti have been trained to prepare for and reduce their risk to future disasters, thereby saving lives.

Haiti today: disaster simulation drill
Photo courtesy World Concern

“January 12, 2010, remains the saddest day in our history when the country lost hundreds of thousands of lives in just 39 seconds,” said World Concern Haiti Country Director Kimcy Blaise. “The Haitian people were not aware of the country’s seismicity. We are more familiar with flooding and hurricanes … Now people have the capacity and are taking appropriate measures (to protect themselves).”

Blaise believes the Haitian people now need a different kind of support to move forward. “We are grateful for all the support the international community brought to the country. Haitian people want to be more resilient in their context. They need the humanitarian community to come alongside private enterprise in creating jobs, supporting microenterprise, good governance, and strengthening our institutions for better services,” he said. “Every Haitian dreams of a good job and a good salary to take care of their family.”


World Concern is a Christian global relief and development organization. With our supporters, our faith compels us to extend life-saving help and opportunity to people facing the most profound human challenges of extreme poverty. At World Concern, the solutions we offer, the work we do, creates lasting, sustainable change. Lasting change that provides lasting hope. Our areas of expertise include disaster response, clean water, education, food security, child protection, microfinance and health.


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Local student uses music to tackle human trafficking and support a local foundation

Kaitlin Bell recording her song

January is National Human Trafficking Awareness Month and a local student is using her music to try to help. Kaitlin Bell, a St. Luke 8th grader, learned about human trafficking and was especially moved when she learned that victims are often women and young girls.

She was inspired to write a song about it and wondered how she might make a difference. She learned about two organizations working to help, one through the beauty industry and one through soccer, both of which are personal to her living in Shoreline and being a soccer player herself.

The result is a fundraising campaign to support these two organizations to do prevention and survivor support in Cambodia, where human trafficking of children is widespread and growing.

The Justice and Soul Foundation is a Shoreline-based organization, affiliated with James Alan Salon. They help locally as well as in Cambodia, where they recently opened a salon and school to provide support and job training to human trafficking survivors. (See article)

Salt Academy works to prevent and support survivors through youth soccer leagues and life skills programs in Cambodia, including the Mighty Girls program which enables girls to learn and play soccer, envision and build a better life, and help the next generation as coaches.

To learn more and support these two organizations, see Kaitlin's fundraising campaign page, launching on January 11, National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.



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Rat City Season 11 starts now, invite extended to 12th Man


The Rat City Rollergirls (RCRG) invite the 12th Man to KeyArena to support Seattle’s other full-contact sport as the Rat City home-team season kicks off a day later so fans could root on the Seahawks during playoffs. 
“Guess what, Seahawks fans? Roller derby is kind of like football, except you get to watch ladies smash into each other on skates. I’m willing to bet the Rat City Rollergirls will amaze you,” said Missile America, AKA Kayla Gaska of the Throttle Rockets.

The RCRG Season 11 opening bout will feature two matches-- Sockit Wenches vs. Grave Danger and Derby Liberation Front vs. Throttle Rockets. Rat City is pleased to present several new skaters on each team that will bring new energy to the track, as well as fan favorites such as Nehi Nightmare, Sun Shiner, Missile America and Kamikaze Kim.

“Not only will the game on Sunday be exciting, but all of Season 11 as well. This season there are many new skaters that have joined the league since last season,” said Kim Saito, AKA Kamikaze Kim of Derby Liberation Front, winner of Season 10 championships. “Each team has a good mix of new and experienced skaters which I feel makes for more even teams and close bouts. On any given day one team could beat the other.”

The Rat City Rollergirls (RCRG) is Seattle’s premiere all-female, flat-track roller derby league. RCRG is composed of about 80 active skaters and many more retired skaters who are still involved. The skaters are divided among four home teams, the All Stars and Rat Lab. It is Rat City’s mission to maintain a competitive athletic program, promote the sport of roller derby, provide quality sports entertainment for our fans, and make a positive impact in our community.

New to the sport of roller derby? Would you believe there is an app for that? Check out what's happening with the fastest growing full contact female sport in the world - right here



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Shoreline Mars Hill Church replants itself as Sound City Bible Church

Aaron Gray, Lead Pastor
Sound City Bible Church
Sound City Bible Church held its first services in Shoreline January 4. 2015 after the break up of the Mars Hill church organization this summer.

Lead Pastor Aaron Gray says "More than a simple name change, we are approaching this endeavor as a total church re-plant. We had our first services January 4 as SCBC and had a wonderful time together worshipping Jesus, studying the bible, and enjoying one another’s company."

With a congregation of 500 adults and children, they are an independent bible church, with no formal denominational ties or affiliations.

Gray says "There are several church networks that we have begun conversations with, but the process of joining one will take some time."

The congregation continues to meet at the former Aldercrest Elementary School in the Ballinger neighborhood, 2800 NE 200th St, Shoreline 98155 where it met as Shoreline Mars Hill.

There are three services on Sundays: 9am, 11am, and 5pm. They provide children’s ministry during the 9am and 11am services.


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Shoreline police capture car thief after pursuit and foot chase

Saturday, January 10, 2015

On January 8, 2015 at 11:45pm Shoreline police spotted a stolen vehicle in the 15500 block of Aurora Avenue. The vehicle had been stolen earlier in the day in the City of Shoreline.

The officer attempted to stop the vehicle and a short pursuit ensued. The vehicle attempted to make a turn onto 175th and the officer applied the pursuit intervention technique (PIT) stopping the vehicle. 

The suspect took off on foot, the officer gave chase, tased the auto theft suspect and was able to get him into custody without further incident.

The suspect was booked into King County Jail for investigation of auto theft and felony flight. In addition, the suspect had outstanding criminal warrants for criminal trespass and theft.


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Brain Health and Wellness class begins Monday

clipartbest.com

A weekly, ongoing class in Brain Health and Wellness begins January 12, 2015 at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center,18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155. 206 365-1536 during business hours.

Take your stroke recovery to the next level. Learn the latest science concerning exercise and Multiple Sclerosis. Learn to exercise to manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Discussion and exercise group will be led by Lisa Stuebing, CPT. She is a member of the International Parkinson’s and Movement Disorder Society. 

Fee: $5 for members; $6 for non-members.
Preregister for all classes at the reception desk, or call 206 365-1536 during business hours.



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Special council meeting in Lake Forest Park Monday

There will be a special Lake Forest Park city council committee of the whole meeting on Monday, January 12, 2015 at 6:00pm, Lake Forest Park City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE.

ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION

1.  Retreat Schedule and Topics
2.  Report from Communications Committee
3.  Council Work Plan Items


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Police use "Find iPhone" to catch burglar

On January 6, 2015 a residence in Lake Forest Park was burglarized between the hours of 8:15am and 7:00pm.

On the same day Shoreline PD responded to a burglary less than a half a mile from the city occurring within the same time frame.

Shoreline officers were able to utilize the “Find iPhone” utility to track the victim’s stolen iPhone. 

This provided close to real time updates for the cell phone location. Shoreline PD was able to locate the suspect and arrest him. Multiple stolen items were found with the suspect to include items from LFP's burglary.

Shoreline Detectives are continuing to investigate for other potential burglary victims.


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Pagliacci Pizza delivers online ordering

Pagliacci Pizza announced the launch of its custom-built online ordering system. The new ordering feature at gives customers yet another seamless way to satisfy pizza cravings.

“We are excited to unveil an online ordering option for our Pagliacci customers,” says co-owner Matt Galvin. “We believe our online ordering offering will match the level of service that we have provided over the phone for the past 20 years.”

By navigating to their webpage and clicking the online ordering button, customers can set up their profile, build their favorite pizzas and salads, and reorder customized pies from previous orders placed online. There is even an option to add an online ordering icon to smartphone home screens for easy access:
  •  iPhones: Go to website. Tap the share button at the bottom of the screen, and then tap "Add to Home Screen."
  • Androids: Go to website. Tap the Menu/Page option, and then tap "Add to Home Screen."
“We look forward to continuing to talk to you on the phone, as well as seeing you in our locations and now taking your orders online,” said Galvin.
Pagliacci Pizza is on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.



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Justice and Soul Foundation announces first graduation

Kate Korpi Salon and Academy graduates first class

Phnom Penh- The Justice and Soul Foundation has announced the graduation of its first four students from Phase 1 of training at the Kate Korpi Salon and Academy, which includes mastery of shampoo, blow dry, and styling skills. The Kate Korpi Salon and Academy is Phnom Penh’s newest premier salon offering a full range of services, including hair, nails, makeup, and skin care, including Dermalogica Microzone treatments.

The Kate Korpi Salon and Academy teaches sustainable cosmetology skills to survivors of the sex trafficking industry.

What started as an idea discussed over a cup of coffee five years ago blossomed into a full day of salon “practice” appointments for the soft opening in July, with the grand opening held on November 22. The Kate Korpi Salon and Academy quickly became Cambodia’s premier hair salon, where students learn cosmetology and professional workplace skills from expert trainers from around the globe.  

“Graduating our first class of students from the first phase of training is the realization of plans and dreams five years in the making. This was no small feat and we could not have done it without the incredible dedication of our volunteers. There were times that the students wanted to quit, but we encouraged them to continue, and their reward is graduation and moving one step closer to healthy, sustainable careers,” explained Justice and Soul Co-Founder Matthew Fairfax.
The next phase of development for the Academy is the recruitment of industry educators and volunteers. The Justice and Soul Foundation is recruiting stylists, educators, and volunteers to visit Cambodia and volunteer at the Academy for up to three months. Those interested in visiting for more than three months may be paid a stipend to offset expenses. Additional information on joining the Kate Korpi Salon and Academy team can be found here.

The Kate Korpi Salon and Academy has been developed and is managed by the non-profit Justice and Soul Foundation. The teaching salon was established to provide its students with the fundamentals of cosmetology (hair, skin, nails, and makeup).

Students attending the Academy include survivors of sex trafficking and those at risk for sexual exploitation. They do not pay tuition, but are instead awarded scholarships. The program also includes a compensation plan for the students so that they can begin experiencing sustainable financial independence while learning this valuable trade.

The Justice and Soul Foundation works closely with local non-profits to ensure students have access to qualified therapists to address the trauma experienced by the victims while providing problem-solving and life skills necessary for independence and a full transition.

Justice and Soul co-founder Matthew Fairfax owns the James Alan Salon and Spa in Shoreline.


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Shoreline CC President tours Asia to meet with international partners

Shoreline Community College Executive Director of International Education Diana Sampson, President Cheryl Roberts and officials from Qingdao University (from left) meet at Qingdao University, Qingdao, China, in December, 2014


By Jim Hills

While leadership may have changed this past summer at Shoreline Community College, the commitment to international education is as strong as ever.

In December, college President Cheryl Roberts, International Education Executive Director Diana Sampson and Associate Director of Outreach Bo Fu visited China, Cambodia and Indonesia.

“We fully accomplished our mission to strengthen Shoreline’s relationships and cooperation with international partners and laid a foundation for future global engagement and exchange,” Sampson said. “The trip was very successful.”

Shoreline is ranked in the top 20 of colleges and universities across the U.S. welcoming students from around the globe. Shoreline now has more than 1,000 students from 34 countries attending the college. Bringing international students to the campus is part of the college’s overall efforts to help all students be successful in an increasingly globalized world.

Washington is one of the most trade-dependent states in the country with more than two-thirds of all jobs impacted by international trade, Roberts noted.

“This was a terrific trip,” said Roberts, who came to Shoreline in August, 2014 after seven years as president at Chemeketa Community College, in Salem, Ore. She has previously held positions at South Seattle College, the University of Washington and other colleges. “I was able to see and participate in this important global outreach effort. International education is important to all our students and the communities we serve.”

President Roberts visited China, Cambodia, and Indonesia. Details of her trip are here.



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Volunteer to judge History Day

History Day contest season begins now. We hope you will use the new, improved link below to register now to judge our 2015 North Puget Sound History Day projects.

History Day judges are adults with an interest in history and a desire to help students in grades 6 -12 improve their ability to do historical research and present their results in public. All judges will work in teams of three, but we need help evaluating student work at two different times:

1. We need judges to read papers and evaluate websites in February and early March. Judges work independently but meet briefly once as a team of three to assemble results. If you are interested in those types of entries, mark your calendars as follows:
  • Wed 11 Feb, 7:00-8:30 p.m.          
    • Paper and Website judges receive assignments at Shoreline Center.
  • Fri, 27 Feb                                     
    • Evaluations due to coordinators.
  • Mon, 2 Mar                                    
    • Final round paper and website judging begins.
  • Mon, 16 Mar                                  
    • Evaluations due to coordinators.
2. We need judges to evaluate exhibits, documentaries and performances at the Shoreline Center on Friday, 20 March. Most judges will serve only in the morning. Some experienced judges will be asked to serve also in the afternoon. Mark your calendars as follows:
  • 7:30 a.m.                                      
    • Meet in the Shoreline Room for breakfast and orientation.
  • 9:00 - 11:30 a.m.                          
    • Evaluate entries in preliminary round
  • 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.                          
    • Final round judges evaluate entries.
We hope you can join us for a very heartening exposure to young people doing good things. To sign up to judge, follow the link right here. If you have had trouble navigating our registration process in prior years, you will be pleasantly surprised. The new system should be much easier to use. Any special requests or clarification can be input to the Comments section within the Registration program. If you need further information, just email or check out the web page here.



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Northwest Girlchoir has openings for 1st and 2nd grade girls

Prep Choir

Northwest Girlchoir has openings in its Prep Choir for 1st and 2nd grade girls. If you know a girl who loves to sing, Northwest Girlchoir is inviting new choristers until Thursday, January 22. 

Prep Choir regularly rehearses one hour per week on either Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday from September to June, with opportunities to join mid-year in January.

No audition required for Prep Choir. Girls who sign up in January participate in two Northwest Girlchoir performances this spring, and learn music fundamentals and healthy vocal productions through singing games, focused choral experiences, and more. 



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Thornton Creek Alliance meeting Jan 22


The January 22, 2015 meeting of the Thornton Creek Alliance will feature speaker John Marzluff, author of Welcome to Subirdia. 7:15pm at the Meadowbrook Community Center, 10517 35th Ave NE, in north Seattle 98125.

A large section of Shoreline in the south, central section, is in the Thornton Creek Watershed.




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12th Man, Woman, and Child at Shoreline City Hall for flag-raising

Photos by Steven H. Robinson


The City of Shoreline showed its colors on Blue Friday, raising the 12th Man flag at City Hall in advance of the play off game with the Panthers on Saturday.





Mayor Shari Winstead did the honors.


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Point Wells: tolling as a possible revenue source

Shoreline City Council to discuss tolling as a possible revenue source on Monday, Jan. 12

A joint statement by Richmond Beach Advocates and Save Richmond Beach

Earlier this week the Shoreline City Council posted an important announcement that could have significant implications for the City's ability to exert more control over the financial impact of the Point Wells development project. Specifically, the City Council will be discussing the topic of tolling at the January 12 Business Meeting of the Council.

For the past four years, Shoreline's city government has maintained that negotiating an agreement with the developer was the only way to insure the City received enough revenue to cover the costs of needed road improvements and on-going maintenance resulting from increased traffic generated by the Point Wells development. Both Save Richmond Beach and Richmond Beach Advocates, along with other Richmond Beach residents, have been researching the viability of tolling at the entrance to Point Wells as an alternate source of revenue to pay for road improvements and other increased costs for Shoreline roads generated by the development. In response to our research and communication with City officials, the Shoreline City Council announced this topic will be discussed by the City Council on Monday. It is important that you be there to hear this discussion and learn about the benefits and limitations of tolling.

In the first paragraph of the Staff Report prepared for the meeting, City Manager Debbie Tarry said:

"Recently a number of questions have been raised about the City's regulatory options in ensuring a safe, efficient and fluid traffic flow on its streets. Deputy Mayor Eggen along with Councilmembers McConnell and Salomon have requested this topic, and specifically tolling on Shoreline streets, be introduced as a discussion item to further understand all available options."

We believe this is a significant step forward for the City, which could give the City the ability to negotiate for a more reasonably sized development without fear of losing the revenue source necessary to upgrade and maintain the City's road system. The positive impact of tolling could provide a direct benefit to all taxpayers in Shoreline. We urge all residents to attend the meeting on Monday, Jan. 12, City Council Chambers, 7:00 p.m.



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Shorewood vs Meadowdale basketball

Shorewood boys basketball vs Meadowdale
Friday night Jan 9, 2015
SW 62 Meadowdale 50

Photos by Wayne Pridemore


Shorewood's Jordan Muir-Keung puts up a jump shot from under the board.


Thunderbird senior Brandon Mar looks for the rebound.


Ian Kirk grabs the loose ball under the offensive board.


Shorewood's Kaimana Aki fights to get to the ball late in the game.





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Shorecrest drubs Mountlake Terrace 70-32

The Shorecrest boys basketball team bounced back from a lethargic loss Tuesday at Meadowdale by making mincemeat of Mountlake Terrace 70-32 at Shorecrest Friday night.

The Scots took a 29-20 lead into the halftime locker room, and something head coach Brian Fischer said must have fired his team up, because the Scots outscored the Hawks 41-12 in the second half.

Shorecrest was led by Drew Magaoay's 19 points. Philip Pepple scored 13 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter on an assortment of fadeaway jumpers and close-in put-backs. The loose-limbed 6' 7" freshman bears watching in the future.

The Scots host Edmonds-Woodway Tuesday night at 7:15.

MLT       11     9      9     3     32
SC          16    13    20   21    70

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Shoreline Athletics sports store online

The Shoreline Community College Athletic Department has created a brand new Dolphin Athletic web store. Choose from men’s, women’s, and kids clothing and accessories.

Each product can be customized with various designs including sport-specific options. Pick your design, then change the color options to create your own unique look.



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Shorewood vs Lynnwood wrestling report

Shorewood won its third match in a row January 8, 2015 by defeating Lynnwood 45-18. The Thunderbirds pulled out to an early 18-3 lead after six weighs with the help of senior Kaden Carpenter’s lightning fast, 12 second pin at 160 pounds.

Lynnwood responded to close the gap to 24-14 going into the heavyweight match. Captain Erca Erdenebayer stopped the Royals momentum and improved his perfect record to 11-0 with a 9-2 victory. Erdenebayer used great patience on his feet to secure a takedown in each period and was dominant from the top position. A 21 second pin by Rhaye Samson at 106 pounds sealed the victory for Shorewood.

Shorewood will be hosting the 24th Annual Shoreline Invite tournament this Saturday, January 10. Wrestling will begin at 8:30am.

Shorewood 45 - Lynnwood 18
@ Shorewood High School

106: Rhaye Samson (SW) pinned Jeri Gaytroll 0:21
113: Aiden Smith (SW) pinned James Heck 0:55
120: Adrian Castillo (SW) win by forfeit
126: Evan Wu (LYNN) maj. dec. Shea O’Leary 13-1
*132: Mathew McMIllan (SW) dec. Leul Wolde 6-3
138: Nate Paulsen (LYNN) dec. Elias Thorne 15-8
145: Double Forfeit
152: Erik Harris-Uldall (SW) pinned Gabe Summers 0:26
160: Kaden Carpenter (SW) pinned Justin Coates 0:12
170: Braden Kaloway (SW) dec. Cody Stocker 7-4
182: Reald Markokaj (LYNN) tech. fall Ivan Valiente 17-2
195: Troy Halloway-Beach (SW) win by forfeit
220: Melvin Zepeda (LYNN) win by forfeit
285: Erca Erdenebayer (SW) dec. Mahdi Shahhosseini 9-2

Shorewood Record:  Wesco South 1-0, 4-6 Overall


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Shorecrest vs Edmonds-Woodway wrestling results

Shorecrest 3, Edmonds-Woodway 70
At Shorecrest H.S.
January 8, 2015

106: Mitchel Martinez (EW) pinned Neil Hornish 0:52
113: Ebrima Fatty(EW) pinned Lane Lyons
120: Sidat Kanyi(EW) tech. fall Conor Block 23-8
126: Jinsung Lee (EW) dec. Keo Panya 16-9
132: Luke Lotawa (S) dec. Jordan Lindamood 10-4
138: Trystan Trudeau (EW) pinned Zane Smith 1:56
145: Hiram Martin (EW) pinned Owen Donnely 0:45
152: Trevor Hendricks (EW) dec. Kelly McCaffrey 9-2
160: Abdoullie Jatta (EW) tech. fall Ben Greider 16-1
170: Jonah Perez (EW) won by forfeit
182: Nick Venema (EW) pinned Sean Mentele 3:18
195: Spencer Schultz (EW) pinned Simon Dalton 1:46
220: Issac Pereira (EW) won by forfeit
285: Laka Wilkins (EW) pinned Block

Records— Shorecrest 0-2, 0-5, Edmonds-Woodway 2-0 league 7-1 overall


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WSDOT awards project money to local cities for safety improvements


City streets and county roads are one step closer to becoming safer for drivers and pedestrians alike, thanks in part to a recent evaluation process. Projects from 46 agencies across Washington are in line to receive more than $48 million in federal highway safety improvement funds.

The Washington State Department of Transportation selected city and county projects that will help increase safety on multimodal transportation facilities. The projects funded by this program range from low-cost improvements, such as signing and pavement striping, to higher-cost improvements, such as curve re-alignment and major intersection reconstruction.    

“These projects provide an ideal opportunity to help achieve the state’s ‘Target Zero’ safety goal of zero traffic fatalities by 2030,” said Kathleen Davis, WSDOT Local Programs director. “The federal safety program continues to be a great resource for improving safety in Washington’s communities.”      
WSDOT’s Local Programs provides federal safety money to jurisdictions in Washington for engineering solutions that reduce fatal and serious injury collisions. WSDOT received 89 applications, representing $110 million in project needs. All proposed projects were evaluated against crash data involving serious injury and fatal crashes. Successful projects were those that could achieve the highest safety benefit with the lowest cost.  

Kenmore 
62nd Avenue NE Corridor Safety Improvement Project 
Improve conditions for pedestrians and bicycles and install traffic circles. 
$ 813,200

Shoreline
Meridian Ave. N. and N. 155th Street Intersection Phase Changes 
Improve traffic signal phasing and reduce the radius of curb returns at the intersection. 
$ 352,385 

Shoreline
Radar Speed Sign Installations 
Install permanent radar speed (speed feedback) signs. 
$ 119,514

Mountlake Terrace
2015 Citywide Safety Improvements
Improve conditions for pedestrians in crosswalks.
$ 427,449


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Cancelled: Raising Healthy Eaters

Friday, January 9, 2015

The session on Raising Healthy Eaters which was scheduled for Saturday, January 10, 2015, 2 - 3:30pm, at the Lake Forest Park Library has been cancelled due to the illness of the presenter.


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Shoreline joins ten cities and King County in an agreement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

Executive Constantine and elected officials from the nine founding cities of the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) – which together represent 63 percent of the County’s 2 million residents – celebrated formal adoption of ambitious joint county-city commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at an event on Thursday. 

King County and eleven cities — Bellevue, Burien, Issaquah, Kirkland, Mercer Island, Redmond, Renton, Seattle, Shoreline, Snoqualmie, and Tukwila — are collaborating through the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C) to coordinate and enhance the effectiveness of local government climate and sustainability action.

“Elected leaders from across King County are working together to confront perhaps the greatest threat our region has ever faced,” said Executive Constantine. “We’re identifying specific actions that we can take to achieve ambitious, achievable goals that will reduce climate pollution.”

Through the King County-Cities Climate Collaboration (K4C), county and city staff are partnering on:

  • Outreach – to develop, refine, and utilize messaging and tools for climate change outreach to engage decision makers, other cities, and the general public
  • Coordination – to adopt consistent standards, benchmarks, strategies, and overall goals related to responding to climate change
  • Solutions – to share local success stories, challenges, data and products that support and enhance climate mitigation efforts by all partners
  • Funding and resources – to secure grant funding and other shared resource opportunities to support climate related projects and programs

The event was hosted at the Weyerhaeuser-King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, which has recently undergone major energy renovations, including the largest installation of a made-in-Washington solar array. Replacing the 20-year-old boiler also reduced the facility’s energy consumption.

“Taken together, we estimate that these projects will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 500 metric tons per year – the equivalent of taking 100 cars off the road,” said Christie True, Director of King County’s Department of Natural Resources and Parks.

Executive Constantine is also making Metro's bus fleet more efficient, which has decreased fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Metro will use a federal grant to test heavy-duty battery-powered buses.

True said the improvements reflect King County’s commitment to reducing the carbon footprint of its operations. They are the types of projects that are outlined in the Joint County-City Climate Commitments.

The projects were identified as part of a comprehensive energy audit of the building and were funded in part by two solar and energy grants totaling $975,000 from the Washington State Department of Commerce.


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Shoreline Chamber of Commerce: Business of the Month - Kita Events



Whether it's your dream wedding, your father's milestone birthday, or your company holiday party Kita Events Northwest offers families and members of the community great events that leave lasting memories in a personal and professional manner.

We gift you with quality time to spend with your guests and not worry about the stresses of hosting events large or small.

We specialize in managing people and problem solving in a supportive manner to make your event run smoothly.

We give you the opportunity to have the look and feel of an extravagant event at an affordable cost. 

We offer personal experiences making planning an event a fun adventure rather than a stressful endeavor.

We strive to support your needs and vision of the event allowing you the gift of life long lasting memories.


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Scottish dance and song celebration Saturday at Third Place Commons


Come see Karen Shelton Highland Dancers with Scottish music by Crònan, including harp, fiddles, bouzouki, concertina, guitar, Irish flute and songs from the Scots and Gaelic traditions!

Saturday, January 10, 2015, 3 - 4pm at Third Place Commons, Town Center, corner of Ballinger and Bothell Way, Lake Forest Park.


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Don't forget the preschool preview event at SCC Sunday

The ParentMap preschool preview is a terrific opportunity for parents of preschools to get a look at all the area preschools at one time.

Get information, ask questions, meet people.
Perhaps consider some options you hadn't know existed.

Bring your children with you - there will be plenty of activities and healthy snacks to keep them engaged.

Free, but register to reserve, as space is limited. All registrants will be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 prize from Morgan Stanley and more great prizes!

Parking on the SCC campus is free for this event.

See our previous article for all the details.


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Mindfulness Meditation makes us smarter and happier

Mindfulness Meditation session
at Richmond Beach Yoga

By Angeline Johnston

Mindfulness meditation is everywhere in the news these days because scientists are showing how it changes our brains, making us calmer and healthier. Meditation helps us relate better to the inevitable difficulties in life. Meditation is the opposite of multi-tasking. It teaches us to see clearly where before there was confusion, to get a little closer to reality and less mired in the stories we make up about nearly everything. 

Meditation is an art best learned from experienced teachers and practiced with others who are motivated to befriend their own mind and wake up fully to the miracle that life truly is. People from all walks of life and all spiritual traditions practice mindfulness meditation. 

What can you expect from a meditation class? First, a lot of support. The teacher has been there and knows how challenging it is. She or he will show you how to sit so you can be reasonably comfortable. You can sit on a bench or chair if need be, or even stand up. 

The teacher will guide you in developing awareness. Meditation does not require stopping all thought; it is said that the mind thinks, just as the ears hear and the eyes see. But mindfulness allows you to be aware of your mental experience so you can direct it in a positive way. Thus it is said that mindfulness guards the mind. 

A meditation class might focus on breath, emotions, the body, or some other aspect of experience. Sometimes the focus is on cultivating positive emotions such as love, compassion, joyfulness, and equanimity.

No one ever said that meditation is easy, although at times it can be relaxing and even blissful. The human mind has many nicknames: traditionally, it is referred to as a wild horse or a monkey, and a more contemporary take on this is: a neighborhood where one should not go alone after dark (said rather tongue-in-cheek, and yet there is truth to this). 

If you look at your own mind and immediately see how loud or busy or obsessive it is, you are just a normal human being. 

If there is a Taylor Swift song stuck in your head and you can’t get it out, again, you are just a normal human being. Stick with the practice, and it will not only get easier (physically as well as mentally), but it will become more interesting. As you strengthen your “mindfulness muscles,” you will find it is easier to relax and let go, and you will begin to see how the mind works at very subtle levels. And what could possibly be more interesting than your own mind?

We are very fortunate to have teachers from BodhiHeart Sangha teaching meditation in Shoreline at Richmond Beach Yoga. The next quarterly Mindfulness Meditation Mini-Retreat is on January 31st from 2 to 5pm with Venerable Dhammadinna, and a 5-week course will take place Monday evenings in March from 6:30 to 7:45pm with Carol Meckling, MA.

Ven. Dhammadinna

Venerable Dhammadinna took robes in 1983 as a Buddhist monastic after earning a science degree at U. Mass. She moved to Asia thereafter and remained for 21 years, studying with U Pandita and Ajahn Buddhadasa, among others, walking daily alms rounds and meditating in the forests and temples of Burma and Thailand. In 2000 she was sent by her Burmese teacher to Dharmsala to study with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Over the past two decades Ven. Dhammadinna has taught meditation in Thailand as well as in England, India, and the United States. Venerable Dhammadinna now makes her home on Capitol Hill in Seattle and has been resident teacher at BodhiHeart Sangha since 2006.

Carol Meckling, MA is a longtime Shoreline resident. She is a senior student at BodhiHeart Sangha, a Buddhist practice community in the tradition of the Dalai Lama, as well as a psychotherapist and professional artist. She has led meditation groups in prison settings and has twenty years of experience in the mental health field. Carol strives to bring mindfulness and Dharma to her everyday life and to her painting.



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Wednesday: you never want to make the evening news

The media discovers Shoreline
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
By Diane Hettrick

As I was following the media coverage of Wednesday's events, I kept remembering the phrase "you never want to see yourself in the evening news."

We were definitely in the evening news Wednesday. We were lucky that the apparent threat did not materialize, and our time in the media spotlight was short.

I have gotten only positive feedback about the performance of the schools and police. One person remarked that every time there is a disaster, everyone learns. It is clear that both schools and police have learned and made their preparations.

Emergency responders at Meridian Park Elementary
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Lake Forest Park police recently conducted an "active shooter" scenario at Lake Forest Park Elementary. Shoreline Police conducted a full scale scenario a few years ago at Shoreline Christian with volunteer high school students as actors. The police were ready.

Shoreline Schools rebuilt their high schools with the capability to lock them down with the flip of a switch. They have learned how to manage the logistics of thousands of terrified parents trying to get to their children.

Advances in technology have helped everyone. Cell phones make it possible to reach all parents. Communication in the field is easier for emergency responders.

Representatives from both police departments, both cities, and the school district will be holding meetings to discuss the response. What went right, what went wrong, what could be improved. I will be very interested to hear their conclusions.


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Letter to Editor: Thanks for the smart and fast decisions

Thursday, January 8, 2015

To the Editor:

It is nerve wracking to live in a society where we have to worry about sending our children to school because someone might just show up with a gun and start claiming lives. On the 7th I got my first glimpse of  how much those fears sit in my mind when my son was one of the students effected by the lock down due to a potential threat.

I was working when I got the alerts via e-mail, text, and phone call that if my child was using the bus I needed to go to the Spartan Community Center. I went and then spent a little over an hour and a half waiting to find out if my son was there or if he had made it to school and was in lock down there. It was a TOUGH time to sit and wait and worry.

However, I want to thank the City of Shoreline, the Shoreline School District, the Shoreline Police Department and all the people who didn't flinch during this situation but made smart and fast decisions to keep our children safe and to keep us informed as much as they could every step of the way. Everyone I encountered was friendly, courteous, as informative as they could be, and understanding. The system that is in place worked. 

My first grader shared his thoughts and fears with me and although he thought it was scary to be changing the rout from school to somewhere else he was never afraid of being in any kind of danger. That is amazing! 

Again, thank you for being so prepared.

Caitlin Frances
Shoreline


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Letter to parents from Shoreline Schools Superintendent

Rebecca Miner
Schools Supt.
This letter was sent to all families in the Shoreline School District from Superintendent Rebecca Miner:

Dear Shoreline Schools families:

Thank you for your patience today as we dealt with a unique situation affecting all of our schools. Our first priority is the safety of your children, our staff, and community members.

At 7:20 a.m. this morning Shoreline Police responded to a report of an armed male seen on the property of Meridian Park Elementary School. This unknown male made a statement that indicated he would go to all of the schools.

The Meridian Park campus was immediately placed in lockdown. Shoreline Police responded quickly and took control of the situation. Based on the threat to all District schools, the lockdown was expanded to the whole district and subsequently the decision was made to close schools for the day. Students who were already on school buses when the incident began were brought to Shoreline Center. After consultation with the police, the lockdown was ended about 11 a.m.  

According to police, no suspect has been identified or arrested. The investigation will continue and anyone with information on this incident is urged to call the King County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at (206) 296.3311.

A lockdown or lockout is defined as a situation in which the school building is locked and students are kept supervised within their classrooms or in the interior of the building until the emergency no longer exists. Please know that we believe that your students and our staff were safe during this time in our schools. Our staff showed excellent leadership throughout the incident.

A special thank you to families for their support as we worked to complete reunification at schools and at Shoreline Center.

We plan to have school on a normal schedule tomorrow. Shoreline, Lake Forest Park and King County Police will be enhancing their patrols with a focus on our schools. The District appreciates the support of our law enforcement partners.

Thank you for your continued support and feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments regarding today’s situation.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Miner
Superintendent


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Job Seekers Round Table Friday afternoon at SCC

JOIN US FOR JOB SEEKERS’ ROUND TABLE!

Who is Invited: 
Anyone interested in the Plus 50 Career Builder , worker retraining, discussing the needs of the Plus 50 worker, sharing resources, etc. Students, staff, faculty and the community are welcome. (All ages welcome.)

Purpose: 
This group event is designed to provide a safe, supportive, friendly environment for the Plus 50 job hunters and workers to discuss their needs and challenges. Resource sharing is encouraged.

Where: 
Shoreline Community College, Room 5116   (Computer lab)

When:
Every Friday, 1:00-2:30pm
......................................................................................................................
Friday, January 9, 2015:
EXPLAINED: your need
for MS OFFICE SKILLS
and where/how to get them

Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook for Email: All are essentials for virtually any workplace in 2015 - often to the point of employers now assuming that you will arrive to the job with at least the basics for all three applications. 

Do you know some of the basics, but want to be more competitive? Or maybe you don’t yet fully understand one application from the next, and want expert, one-on-one help to get the fundamentals. This Friday (1/9), we’ll talk about courses offered for learning Microsoft Office in our immediate area, ranging from online and/or free, to the very affordable with small classes. Wherever you might be on the Microsoft Office application learning curve, Plus 50 instructor Jumapili Ikuseghan and Roundtable coordinator and host, Ron Carnell will be on hand to share resources and answer questions. 

Great coffee, snacks, the usual. See you Friday!
.......................................................................................................................


Meetings are Free
• Light Refreshments Provided
FREE PARKING just off campus on INNES ARDEN WAY

For now, on campus parking is metered.
 
Contact
: Ron Carnell • (206) 533-6706 •  
16101 Greenwood Ave N • Room 5101 • Shoreline, WA 98133
Please note: The job club meetings do not count 
as job search activity by WA Employment Security.


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