Missing kitty - watch for Sherman

Friday, June 12, 2015



Sherman is missing from his home on 11th Ave NE, between 155th and 158th. There were some disruptions in his home when one of his owners ended up in the hospital and he may just be distressed and hiding out. The family does not need another thing to worry about - so if you live in the neighborhood, please keep an eye out for Sherman.





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Shorecrest junior earns perfect score on ACT

Elizabeth Holmdahl
Elizabeth Holmdahl, a junior at Shorecrest High School, earned a perfect composite score of 36 on a recent ACT standardized test for college admissions, a distinction achieved by less than one-tenth of 1 percent of students who take the test.

Among test takers in the high school graduating class of 2014, only 1,407 of nearly 1.85 million students earned a composite score of 36. Elizabeth took the test one time, in April, and found out the results a month later.

The ACT consists of tests in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science. Each test is scored on a scale of 1-36, and a student's composite score is the average of the four test scores. Some students also take ACT’s optional Writing Test, but the score for that test is reported separately and is not included within the ACT composite score.

Elizabeth has a 4.0 GPA, taking AP and honors courses. She is a member of the cheer squad and played on the girls’ soccer and golf teams this year and is active in DECA, French Club, Key Club and National Honor Society at Shorecrest. She won first place in the state DECA competition for her financial literacy promotion plan.

In addition, she served as President of the Lake Forest Park Youth Council, and was recently elected by her peers for another term during her Senior year.

This summer, Elizabeth will be attending a program at Harvard University for high school students. She hasn't narrowed her college search yet, but is interested in majoring in finance or economics.

Elizabeth is the daughter of Ray and Ronda Holmdahl of Lake Forest Park.

Updated 06-13-2015 11:09pm



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New chapter for baseball at Shoreline Community College

Shoreline Community College Athletic Director Steve Eskridge has announced the resignation of Head Baseball Coach Travis Fox. Fox resigned to take a full time position at Microsoft. Fox has been a part of the Shoreline Community College baseball program for the last four years serving as the Head Coach for the last two seasons. In his final season at Shoreline Fox led the team to their first playoff appearance since 1979.

“We wish Travis the very best in his new position,” said Eskridge. “Travis has had a big impact on our baseball team and we are looking forward to the baseball program’s continued success.”

Shoreline will turn to a familiar face to take over the baseball program as Associate Head Coach Dave Snell has been named the next Head Coach of Dolphins Baseball. Snell has been a member of the coaching staff for the last four years as the Associate Head Coach and Pitching Coach. Snell, a Shoreline resident and former Ingraham High School star, brings years of coaching and playing experience to the position. As a player Snell was drafted by the San Francisco Giants and spent time with the Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners organizations. Snell founded the Seattle Select Baseball program in 2005.

“We are excited to announce Dave Snell as the next Head Coach of our baseball program,” said Eskridge. “Dave already knows what it means to be a Dolphin and his years of experience in baseball make him the perfect choice to build on the historic 2015 season.”

For any inquiries regarding the baseball program you can reach Coach Snell via email at dsnell@shoreline.edu or in his office at 206-533-6742.



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Warmer weather encourages bacterial growth in shellfish

Razor clams at Long Beach
Photo courtesy FunBeach.com

State health officials begin Vibrio bacteria monitoring in Shellfish 
Warmer weather encourages bacterial growth in shellfish; proper cooking ensures safe eating


Warm weather makes digging shellfish more enjoyable, but those higher temperatures also cause Vibrio bacteria in shellfish to multiply. This can make people who eat raw oysters or other shellfish sick. 

The Department of Health monitors potential shellfish illnesses in coordination with local health departments. The department’s shellfish program tests water and shellfish for Vibrio bacteria, biotoxins, and pollution. When any of these factors indicate a threat to health, the agency restricts harvest and posts closures and warnings on their online Shellfish Safety Maps. The maps show updated information for recreational shellfish harvesters in Washington. Harvesters should also look for and obey warning signs posted at public shellfish beaches.

Properly cooking kills naturally-occurring Vibrio bacteria in shellfish allowing shellfish to be eaten safely.

“This is the time of year we often begin to have illnesses linked to eating raw or undercooked shellfish,” said Laura Johnson from the Office of Environmental Health and Safety at the state Department of Health. “Cooking shellfish properly kills Vibrio bacteria and is especially important during warm weather when these bacteria thrive.”

Recreational harvesters should take simple safety steps to avoid illness:
  1. On the day of harvest, check the Shellfish Safety Maps to see if any health restrictions are in effect.
  2. Harvest shellfish as the tide recedes and if the temperature is high, pass them by.
  3. Put shellfish on ice or refrigerate them immediately after harvest.
  4. Cook oysters at 145º F for at least 15 seconds; this kills naturally-occurring bacteria Vibrio parahaemolyticus which can make people sick.
  5. Wash hands frequently while preparing shellfish and do not put cooked shellfish back on the plate where raw shellfish were prepared.
  6. Instead of consuming raw oysters, people can safely enjoy oysters that have been baked, pan-fried, or grilled during the warm summer months. People with lowered immunity, liver disease, stomach ulcers, or who take medication to reduce stomach acid are at higher risk for severe illness and should never eat raw or undercooked shellfish.

It’s also important to check the Department of Fish and Wildlife website to verify that harvesting is allowed.



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Four soccer players from Shorecrest, one from Shorewood on All-Wesco South First Team

Shorecrest boys' soccer team

Four soccer players from Shorecrest and one from Shorewood have won places on the all-Wesco-South first team.

Division coaches have named junior midfielder Alex Day, senior defender Jack Neffner, junior forward Anton Resing and senior defender Corey Stever, all of Shorecrest, along with Shorewood junior goalkeeper Isaac Whitaker, to the 18-man first team.

The 20-member second team includes six boys each from Shorecrest and Shorewood.

Shorecrest second-team players are junior forward Kevin Musar, senior midfielder Petr Gaburak, sophomore midfielder Rhys Kroehler, junior defender Leon Bormann, senior defender Toby Caple and junior goalkeeper Mathew Wheaton.

Shorewood players on the second team are senior forward Marco Shifflette, senior midfielders Callahan Gobel and Kabir Kahn, sophomore midfielder Garrett Myaoka, senior defender Sam Anschell and junior defender Ousainou Bojang.

Honorable mention went to three players from Shorecrest -- senior forward Nick Shively, senior defender Cesar Ruiz-Calvillo and junior defender Brandon Okazaki-- and two from Shorewood -- junior midfielder Javad Goudarzi and junior defender Ian Callender.

Western Conference coaches named separate all-star teams from the seven-team South and six-team North, even though in soccer the teams play in a single Wesco 3A/2A division, unlike most other sports where the teams play in North and South divisions.

Shorecrest won the 13-team Wesco 3A/2A championship with an 11-1 record (14-1-1 overall regular season). The Scots then won three of four matches in the Northwest District 2A tournament to finish third and qualify for the state 2A playoffs, where they again won three of four and placed third.

Shorewood placed third in the Wesco 3A/2A with a 9-3 record (10-4-2). The Thunderbirds then won three of four in the Northwest District 3A tournament to place third and qualify for the state 3A playoffs, where they lost in the first round to finish with a 13-6-2 record.



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Chamber Music performance to benefit United We Stand homeless encampment



Music for violin, cello, and piano

On June 19th, at 7:30pm, Chamber Music at Richmond Beach presents Principal cellist of the Seattle Symphony, Efe Baltacigil, Assistant concertmaster Cordula Merks and pianist Jessica Choe, playing Dvorak’s Dumky Trio.

They will also perform works of Chausson and, Janacek.

Proceeds from this concert benefit United We Stand, a homeless encampment currently at Richmond Beach Congregational Church.

Reception with the musicians following the concert. Tickets are $20, available at Brown Paper Tickets or at the door.



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Obituary: Lillian Alice Spangler

Lillian Alice Spangler  1934-2015

Passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 20, 2015. Lillian was born on December 21, 1934 in Houston Texas. She was a longtime resident in Seattle, Washington. She worked in various facets of the insurance industry as a Claims Examiner for West Coast Claims Service, Federated American Insurance Company and Policy Issuance for North Pacific Insurance Company.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Ernest E. Spangler and Anne Jones, three brothers, Johnny, Charles and Wesley.

In memory of the infant Lillian lost, memorials can be sent to Ohana Oasis, P.O. Box 758, Kilauea, HI 96754. Arrangements entrusted to Wiggen and Sons Funeral Home.



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Car show at Anderson House for Father's Day

Take Dad to see classic cars for Father's Day.
Anderson House campus
Anderson House
17127 15th Ave NE
Shoreline, WA 98155
Office: (206) 364-7131 Ext. 200
10am to 2pm
Sunday, June 14



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Concrete grinding work done on I-5 in Shoreline

Contractor crews have completed all concrete grinding work to help preserve I-5 between Northgate and Shoreline.

That means the noisiest part of this work is now done.

WSDOT thanks nearby residents who will now enjoy some quieter nights with that work complete. 

Crews must still finish repaving the shoulders, place permanent striping and install a new overhead electronic sign near Northeast 155th.



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SR 522/Lake City Way approaching I-5 in Seattle to close this weekend for sign replacement work

Drivers who use westbound State Route 522 / Bothell - Lake City Way Northeast to access southbound Interstate 5 should plan ahead for closures and detours this weekend. Washington State Department of Transportation maintenance crews will be replacing an overhead messaging sign.

Closure details

  • Friday, June 12, to the morning of Sunday, June 14 - Westbound SR 522 approaching I-5 will be closed from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. nightly. Drivers will follow a signed detour to Northeast 75th Street and onto the 9th Avenue Northeast on-ramp to southbound I-5.
Drivers can get real-time traffic information on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app, by tracking the WSDOT traffic Twitter feed, and get advanced information from the What’s Happening Now page.



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Op-Ed: Make infants and toddlers a priority in the state budget

Thursday, June 11, 2015

By Joe Cunningham

The budget negotiations in the Washington State Legislature are stalled over a basic disagreement about revenue needed to fund budget priorities. Unfortunately, many vital programs hang in the balance while the debate continues.

To date, the number of infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities has increased 58% since 2006 while funding for early intervention services has increased only 18% during that same time period. Studies show that these critical services are cost effective and actually save taxpayers money--over a third of the children that access early intervention therapies before age 3 reach their developmental milestones and no longer need ongoing support later in school. That’s an amazing return on investment by any standard!

Increased funding for this program to keep pace with the increase in children utilizing the services was in the Governor’s and House budgets but not ultimately included in the Senate budget. This comes at a time when Washington State just slipped from 38th in the nation to 45th in providing fiscal effort for people with developmental disabilities. We need to do better!

It is human to hope, when times are lean, that we can meet the needs of our state without additional revenue. But these are not lean times--Washington State has rebounded exponentially from the dark days of 2008, yet more and more children need help. Please don’t leave infants and toddlers behind in the final budget negotiations.


Joe Cunningham, Briarcrest resident, and Coordinator of King County Family Coalition of Arc of King County, and Co-Chair, Children’s Campaign Fund



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Sound Shooters: Eye-Popping Dynamic Range HDR Images

By Joel and Hitomi Dames

Dynamic Range

I bought my last film camera, a Canon EOS 1N in mid-1990. We switched to digital when the first Canon Rebel came out in 2003. It was an exciting move from negative film to digital, but a clunky step-down at that time as far as dynamic range.

Dynamic range refers to tonal range, the difference between the brightest and darkest luminance you can capture. With film you might overexpose by 2 or 3 stops without a care. You had to be really shabby to blow out a scene, because film has so many more tones to work with between dark and light tones.

Histogram

The horizontal axis of the histogram (see previous article) are tonal variations with 0 (total darkness) on the left side and 255 (whiteout) on the right. The vertical axis is the number of pixels in each tone.

The histogram shows tonal distribution of the millions of pixels captured in the image. For good exposure, the curve should be touching, but not scrunched against the right side. That way you capture as much exposure as possible in the shadows without blowing out the brightest tones.

Exposure Value ( EV )

Dynamic range is expressed as Exposure Value (EV). EV are tones from shadows to highlights expressed as a number. A scene in direct sunlight has an EV of 15. A Christmas tree of lights has an EV of 4 or 5.

The Nikon D7200 ( about $1200 ) has a landscape dynamic EV range of 14.6 stops. The top of the line Canon EOS 1DX ( about $5,000 ) has An EV landscape range of 11.8.  But if a camera has a dynamic  range of 8 EV stops, you will usually get good exposure, and most new cameras go beyond a range of 8 EV.

There are times, though, when the tones from shadow to highlight of a scene go beyond what you can capture in 8 stops. You must choose between exposing for shadow and blowing out highlight, or capturing highlight and letting shadows go black. A wedding dress in bright sunlight exemplifies the problem.

We can perceive the fine details of the white wedding dress, because we can perceive an EV range of about 24 luminance stops. A method of capturing that wedding dress in bright sunlight that comes close to what we perceive is with a high dynamic range ( HDR ) capture.

Creating HDR Images

HDR is simple and the results can be stunning. Take three exposures of the same image and fuse them together into a single image. Though some new cameras come with built in HDR, for creative control of the final image, many photographers use a program called Photomatix. 

The camera with built in HDR takes three images, but we take as many as twelve. My wife, Hitomi, prefers a natural look. I sometimes want my images to pop. With HDR images, we experiment with both and usually end up somewhere between. We are the deciders, not the camera.

We shoot an annual apprentice graduation for the Seattle Mechanical Contractors Association. In 2010, the ceremony took place at the Museum of Flight. When I saw the huge open space with airplanes dangling from the ceiling, I decided to take an HDR shot for the cover image. I wanted to get all the details in the shadow and not blow out the bright window light.

Low-dynamic range underexposed image

Low-dynamic range overexposed image

High dynamic range HDR image

This was not really a good scene for HDR, though, because people were moving about and multiple exposures with people moving cause ghosting.  As it turned out, though, I like ghosting in this image, since it gives an ambience of motion.

Bracketing Exposures

For an HDR image, you bracket exposures, overexposing to illuminate dark areas and under exposing to tone down overexposed highlights. You don't need to sacrifice shadow for highlight or highlight for shadow. Whether you rely on the camera or do it yourself, it is possible to get a good composite with just three exposures: overexposed, underexposed, and in-between exposure.

If you underexpose two stops and overexpose two stops, you extend the tonal range considerably. I always do that for an HDR, but sometimes I add two additional images, one underexposed four stops and another overexposed four stops. I end up with an expanded tonal range, and a balanced, if not eye-popping HDR image when I combine the five images (as opposed to just three) in Photomatix.


Photo Booth - Not Just a Tiny (Open with huge background), Portraits, Events, Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Weddings, Albums

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#ShorelineArtsFestival #ShoeSelfies



You're walking along, minding your own business and BAM! you see a quote on the sidewalk. The bottom of the circle says to Post Your Shoe Selfie. What is going on?

The #ShoeSelfies Project is an interactive art project by local artist Rebecca Rosman in conjunction with the 25th Annual Shoreline Arts Festival. We hope you find all of these inspiring and fun quotes sprinkled in unexpected places. Each week leading up to the Shoreline Arts Festival you'll see fresh, new quotes around town. Keep your eyes peeled & your footwear fabulous, we'd love to see your posts!

So when you see an awesome quote, step right into the oval, and take a photo from waist level, with your shoes in it and post it with the hashtags, #shoeselfies and #shorelineartsfestival. Share on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter and the Arts Council may highlight your photo!

The Shoreline Arts Festival provides two extraordinary days of music, dance, theatre, literary arts, visual arts, and food, plus the Shoreline Philippine Festival.

This creative community event, presented by the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, will be held at the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE. Visit the website for art exhibit applications, deadlines, or additional information or call the Arts Council at (206) 417-4645.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate creativity and inspire our community through the arts.



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NWAC North Region All-Stars – Shoreline Baseball

By Donald Brady

The Shoreline Baseball team capped off a historic season with 6 players honored on NWAC All-Star teams. The Dolphins finished tied for 3rd place in the difficult North Region and made their first playoff appearance since 1979. Four Dolphin Baseball players made the North Region All-Star First Team led by Outfielder Jacob Zanon. Zanon led the Dolphins in batting with a .382 average on the season and led the North region with 55 hits. Zanon was also recognized for his work in the field and was awarded a Gold Glove.

Rounding out the Dolphins honored on the North Region All-Star first team were infielder Brent Firth and pitchers Henry McAree and Max Dwyer. Firth led the Dolphins with 26 RBIs and 10 doubles. He was also named to the NWAC All Academic Sports team earlier in the season. McAree led the Dolphins starters with a 2.15 ERA and pitched 2 complete games on the year. Dwyer was the only relief pitcher named to the First Team and finished the year with 2 wins, 4 saves and a 1.29 ERA.

Drey McInnes and Brad Bennett were both named to the North Region All-Star Second Team. McInnes made the team as an infielder and led Shoreline with 4 home runs on the year. Bennett had a tremendous year going 8-2 with a 2.80 ERA and 4 complete games.



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Rotary funds greenhouse education program at Bastyr

Bastyr campus gardens

New teaching greenhouse will enhance Native Plant Education -- A $100,000 grant from The Seattle Rotary Service Foundation will fund the construction as part of the Sacred Seeds Ethnobotanical Trail and Garden at Bastyr University.

Thanks to a generous grant from The Seattle Rotary Service Foundation, the 51-acre campus of Bastyr University will be home to a new teaching greenhouse. The $100,000 grant, which was awarded to the University earlier this year, will help fund the greenhouse that is part of the Sacred Seeds Ethnobotanical Trail and Garden. Bastyr has the only Sacred Seeds sanctuary on the West Coast, serving as a nature preserve, education site and community resource center.

“After reviewing the proposal, envisioning what Bastyr is trying to do and appreciating the impact the greenhouse would have on the surrounding community, it became clear to us that this was a project to which were interested in providing significant support,” says Cathy Burnell, president of The Seattle Rotary Service Foundation.

The greenhouse will measure 22 feet by 60 feet and be open to the public, once built. The goal is to make it a “living” classroom, where both students and the community can learn about seed saving and cultivation of native plants, and preserve traditional ethnobotanical knowledge of how people have used plants food, medicine, crafts and ceremonies.

“We are grateful to The Seattle Rotary Service Foundation for bestowing their largest grant of the year to us,” says Sheila Kingsbury, ND, RH (AHG), chair of the Bastyr University Department of Botanical Medicine. “Like the plants we study, which give so much back to us, our vision is to share the greenhouse in a variety of ways with our 50,000 annual visitors.”

In addition to having a building that connects indigenous plant species native to the area with the plant life surrounding Bastyr’s campus, the greenhouse also promises to strengthen the link between the University and surrounding community. Local Native American tribal leaders have already expressed their interest and excitement in using the greenhouse once it is completed in mid-2016.



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Destinations: Edmonds Arts Festival over Father's Day Weekend



A three-day festival in Edmonds celebrating the arts where attendees can view and purchase original art, enjoy free entertainment, celebrate our talented youth, and sample great food.

Free Shuttle Bus Service from Edmonds-Woodway High School, 7600 212th St SW, Edmonds 98026



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LFP Officer nabs felon with gun in business parking lot

Over the weekend, Lake Forest Park Police Officer Gross was patrolling through the parking lot of a local business when he contacted a subject who was passed out in his vehicle.

On the seat next to the subject was a handgun. The subject was a felon with history of robbery, burglary, and other felony offenses.

The subject was booked into jail. A good contact by Ofc. Gross who believes that the subject may have had intentions of robbing a local business.



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Shoreline Community College film grad produces horror film

Photo courtesy Shoreline Film Office

From the Shoreline Film Office

SCC film program recent graduate Joe Ptasnik wrote, directed, produced, and starred in a short horror film "Friday Night Sacrifice".

Filmed on the Shoreline Community College campus, it's a story about a young lonely high school boy who one day gets invited by all the popular kids to a party Friday night, only to find out they're all satanists and there's going to be a sacrifice!

The film professors at Shoreline helped this aspiring filmmaker along the way in making this movie and many of the cast and crew also attend Shoreline.



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Shorewood places second in 3A WIAA State Scholastic Cup

Shorewood High School Athletic Director Vicki Gorman has announced that "after a wonderful year of academic accomplishments, athletic success and great sportsmanship, all giving us points toward this award, we have placed second in the 3A STATE WIAA Scholastic Cup. A close race and a lot of hard work by all of our students, staff  and coaches."

Place School Points
1 Mercer Island HS 1,635 Details
2 Shorewood HS 1,455 Details
3 Lakeside (Seattle) HS 1,110 Details
3 Holy Names Academy 1,110 Details
5 Interlake HS 1,055 Details

The WIAA/Washington Army National Guard Scholastic Cup recognizes performance in the classroom as well as on the playing surface. Schools that finish at the top of their respective classifications in state athletic competition receive points, as do schools that finish at the top in team academic performance.  

Sportsmanship is also a factor, with substantial points deducted for ejections from contests.  At the end of the year, the school with the most points in their classification will be awarded the prestigious Scholastic Cup. See more



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Noise in the night - helicopter aids in search for car thief who fled from police

KCSO Guardian One
Guardian One, the King County Sheriff's Office helicopter, was called in to help Shoreline Police in the early hours Monday morning, as they searched for a driver who left his stolen car and fled police after a vehicle pursuit.

The pursuit began in Mountlake Terrace when police there attempted to stop a driver for questioning in the area of 236th and I-5. Instead of stopping, the driver sped off into Shoreline. MLT police advised Shoreline Police, who joined in the pursuit.

The driver abandoned the car at 190th and Aurora and fled on foot. Guardian One was called in to help look. The helicopter is equipped with heat seeking equipment that shows any outdoor heat sources, like humans. (This is why it's not a good idea to go outside when you hear the helicopter. Ed.)

The K9 unit was also involved in the search, which according to resident reports lasted from 30-45 minutes.

The driver was not located. Mountlake Terrace detectives are presently executing a search warrant on the car, which they have in impound.

Investigation is continuing in any attempt to identify the driver, who may be involved in other local criminal activity.



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Photo: Yoga in the park

Yoga at Sunset Park
Photo by Hitomi Dames

Jake Douglass of Karana Yoga conducts a drop-in yoga class at Sunset Park. He will be offering classes throughout the summer at Paramount School Park and Sunset Park. 




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Sky event: Grow Haiti on Saturday


Saturday, June 13th 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Grow Haiti Washington State Kickoff! Loghouse Plants

Join Myrtle Von Damitz of Log House Plants and Stephen Reichard of the Lambi Fund of Haiti on Saturday, June 13th for the Washington State Kickoff of the Grow Haiti collection.
These Northwest-proven varieties of okra, amaranth, tea hibiscus, even peanuts, will bring the flavors of the Caribbean to your garden!

A portion of the sales of this collection benefit the Lambi Fund, supporting sustainable agriculture, development, and reforestation initiatives in Haiti, run by Haitians, since 1994.

Come to the Meet and Greet from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm for Creole and Caribbean recipes, growing tips, and to learn more about Haiti and the Lambi Fund's successes.

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



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Everything you should know about Type 1 diabetes


UW Medicine’s Diabetes Care Center hosts a public event June 23 on Type 1 (chronic) diabetes – everything you should know, including future treatments.

7-9 p.m., Magnuson Park Mountaineers Program Center, 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle. Ample, free parking.

To register, email with number of attendees.



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Tour the Richmond Highlands fire station and meet the Chief - Thursday

Richmond Highlands fire station 64

Correction: Previous article said "North City" - this tour is at the Richmond Highlands station, just west of Aurora on 185th.

Shoreline Fire will conduct tours of the Richmond Highlands Fire Station 64, 719 N. 185th St, Thursday, June 11 at 6:30pm.

Fire Chief Matt Cowan will be available to answer your questions about fire protection as well as the Fire Department funding issues that will be on your August 4 mail-in ballot.

Coffee and Cookies will be served, local firefighters will show you around.



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Aegis of Shoreline summer concert series


Aegis Living of Shoreline invites the community to its summer concert series, weekly through August.

Performances are free but please RSVP 206-367-6700 for their planning purposes

14900 First Ave NE, Shoreline 98155



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Photo: Poem: Willa's Walk

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Willa


Photo and Poem by Cynthia Sheridan


Willa’s Walk

Willa was lost and in a real pickle 

Out on the street with nary a nickel

On busy 15th, cars stopped with a screech 

But Willa was scared and way out of reach.

Finally I grabbed her by one skinny leg

Poor Willa was naked: no collar, no tag

From out of my trunk came a collar and rope

Then we were off… to her family, (I hope)

She dragged me along at very fast pace

Heading for home, (so I thought). What a race!

For six blocks we marched, then arrived… at the park

She had squeezed in a walk – this pooch is quite smart.

After that, she made a quick turn-arounder

And went back to her house, on the street where I found her.



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Op-Ed: Time to end high-stakes tests as graduation requirement

This op-ed is written and supported by Senators Maralyn Chase, D-Shoreline; Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver; Karen Fraser, D-Olympia; Bob Hasegawa, D-Beacon Hill; Pramila Jayapal, D-Seattle; Karen Keiser, D-Kent; John McCoy, D-Tulalip; and Pam Roach, R-Auburn.


The more than 60,000 high school seniors who graduate here in Washington state this month are to be commended for 12 years of successfully completing dozens of courses. Thousands other high school seniors will not graduate with their classmates, however, even though they successfully completed the same courses as the students who are graduating. These thousands of seniors will not be allowed to graduate solely because they failed one or more state-required, high stakes tests. 

This is neither fair nor sensible. Some students are simply not very good at taking high-stakes tests — even when they know the material and did well in their courses. There are students who earn A’s in courses only to freeze up and forget on the day of a high-stakes test. This is not a test of knowledge, it’s a test of who tests well.

Numerous studies confirm that some students — especially low-income and minority students — do much worse on high-stakes tests than students in the same school, in the same courses and with the same grades. A study of thousands of California students in 2009, for example, found low-income and minority students with matching grades were 19 percent more likely to fail a high stakes test than their peers.
  
Some argue that we need high stakes tests to determine who is career and college ready. But numerous studies over many years have found no high-stakes test has ever been able to predict college readiness. Indeed, the most accurate predictor of college readiness is high school grade point average. If we want students to do well in college, we should encourage them to do their daily homework and do well in their courses — not spend months of time worrying about test prep trivia for a misleading high-stakes test.
  
Mind you, we're not opposed to testing per se. We still want to be able to gauge how our students do compared to students in other states, as we did with the Iowa tests — but high-stakes tests are not the answer.

Academic achievement is not measured by a single test. It is measured by the diligence of students who master the curriculum. How a student performs over the course of a 180-day school year is far more telling than how a student performs on a 180-minute test.
  
Despite the evidence that high-stakes tests have little value, Washington requires high school students to pass four high-stakes exams — in reading, writing, math and biology — to earn a high school diploma. House Bill 2214 would eliminate the biology exam as a graduation requirement, a change that would allow 2,000 additional high school seniors to graduate. Information recently released by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction indicates there are more than 10,000 students who will not graduate this year due to failure to pass one of more high stakes tests. But only a few of these students would be helped merely by waiving the biology exam because most of the affected students have failed two or more of the required high-stakes exams.

There is another, better option. Senate Bill 6122, co-sponsored by 11 senators, would allow all 10,000 students to graduate — provided they have completed all of their course requirements — by eliminating all high-stakes tests as a graduation requirement. 

Half of all states in our nation do not require high-stakes tests for graduation. It is time Washington was one of them.



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Call for youth actors: be part of the magic with the Missoula Children’s Theatre

A previous production of the Missoula Theatre

A little red truck pulls into town with everything it takes to mount a full-scale musical production…except the cast.

An annual Shoreline Arts Festival tradition! Sixty local students are cast in a play, rehearse for a week with professional actor/directors from Missoula Children’s Theatre touring company and perform a show on Saturday. On Monday they'll be cast as characters, by Saturday they’ve gained character.

Group auditions are held on June 22, 2015 at 3:45pm at the Shoreline Center – open to all students grades K-12.

This year’s play is Aladdin.

For Aladdin it’s not easy to find a magic lamp but it’s even harder to get a date! It’s a swirling sandstorm of famous Arabian Tales from Ali Baba to Scheherazade, and even Sinbad the Sailor, as Aladdin journeys to find a magic lamp in a Cave of (not-so-great) Wonders. 
Along his way Aladdin seeks answers and advice from wise Genies, a powerful Sultan, and his own Mother to find a way to meet the Princess. However, even with the lamp in hand, Aladdin will have to learn that it takes more than a wish to make a good impression. Full of memorable characters, from lost Penguins to talking Palm Trees, this is an adventure worthy of 1001 laughs.

There is a $70 casting fee for any student who is selected to participate, and cast members will need to be available in the evenings the week of June 22 for rehearsals.

See the Arts Council website for more details and to register for auditions.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate creativity and inspire our community through the arts.



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Homes sales in Shoreline during May 2015

These are representative of the home sales at each price point in Shoreline during the month of May 2015.





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Shoreline CC recognizes 2014-15 Athletic Award Winners

Hayley Warren, Baden Athlete of the Year, Women's Soccer
 North Region MVP award, with Steve Eskridge, Athletic Director and
Raquel Chumpitaz-West, Women’s Commissioner, Head Volleyball Coach

The Shoreline Community College Athletic Department recently recognized all of the Athletic Award Winners from the 2014-15 season.

2014-15 was a great year for Shoreline Athletics, highlighted by a playoff appearance from the Women's Soccer team as well as the first trip to the playoffs since 1979 for our Baseball team.

Individually a number of Dolphins were acknowledged for their prowess on the field and in the gym. 

Monica Postor and Josh Wisnubroto
SCC Student-Athletes of the Year
Photo by Wilson Tsoi

Monica Postor and Josh Wisnubroto were named Shoreline Community College Student-Athletes of the Year for their work accomplishments in the classroom as well as in Volleyball and Men's Basketball, respectively.

Hayley Warren was named the Baden NWAC Athlete of the Year for Women's Soccer as well as the North Region MVP award.

Jacob Zannon was named to the NWAC All Star first team to go along with his North Region Gold Glove and North Region All Star first team awards.

His teammate, Henry McAree, was also honored by the NWAC as he was named to the All Star second team. 

Below is a list of all of the Awards earned by our athletes this year. Check the Facebook page for pictures from the evening.

Men’s Soccer
Ryan Anderson   North-West Region All-Star
Kamal Gulaliyev   NWAC All-Region
Kyle Lewis   NWAC All-Region
Konstantin Reutov   NWAC All-Region

Women’s Soccer
Mackenzie Bolton   NWAC All-Region
Chelsea Foster   NWAC All-Region
Caty Miller   NWAC All-Region
Hayley Warren   Baden Athlete of the Year for NWAC Women’s Soccer, North Region MVP, North-West Region All-Star

Volleyball
Emily Ottman   NWAC All Academic Sports Team
Monica Postor   Second Team in the NWAC North Region,
2014 Fall All Academic Sports Team, Academic Leadership Award
M’Kailah Redden   Second Team in the NWAC North Region,
2014 Fall NWAC All Academic Sports Team, Academic Leadership Award

Men’s Basketball
Marquis Armstead   Second Team in the NWAC North Region
Adam Johnson   Second Team in the NWAC North Region
Joshua Wisnubroto   2014-15 All Academic Sports Team, Academic
Leadership Award

Men’s Baseball
Brad Bennett   Second Team in the NWAC North Region
Max Dwyer   First Team in the NWAC North Region
Brent Firth   First Team in the NWAC North Region, All Academic Sports Team
Brandon Gustafson   All Academic Sports Team
Henry McAree   First Team in the NWAC North Region
Drey McInnes   Second Team in the NWAC North Region
Maxwell Winkelhake   All Academic Sports Team
Jacob Zanon   the Gold Glove Award, First Team in the NWAC North Region

Women’s Softball
Hannah Baisch   Second Team in the NWAC North Region
Sarah Casel   First Team in the NWAC North Region, the Golden Shoe Award for the NWAC North Region
Emily Jackson   Second Team in the NWAC North Region


Updated photo captions 06-11-2015 9:30am



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Boeing Employees Band benefit for Music4Life™ at Mill Creek


The Boeing Employees Concert Band will provide a free, public open-air concert at 7:30pm on June 16, 2015 at Brookdale Arbor Place in the Mill Creek area. The performance is a benefit for Music4Life™, the program that provides useable musical instruments for the students of low income families. Financial and musical instrument donations will be accepted.

Under the direction of Alexi Girsch, the Boeing Band is comprised exclusively of current or former Boeing employees and performs free concerts throughout the Seattle area about a dozen times a year. 

Brookdale Arbor Place (formerly Emeritus at Silver Lake) is a senior living community located at 12806 Bothell-Everett Highway that is surrounded by protected wetlands and nestled in the trees. In case of rain, the concert will be moved indoors.

Music4Life™ acquires “lovingly used” musical instruments from adults who no longer need them, gets them fully repaired and ready-to-play and then provides them to participating public school districts for use by elementary-aged students of low income families.

Music4Life operates programs supporting Edmonds, Highline, Mukilteo, Seattle, and Shoreline Public Schools. The program acquires used instruments from adults who understand that their highest and best use is to put them back into play. With adequate resources, Music4Life also buys new musical instruments for school districts. A Donor Form describing the instrument must accompany any donated instrument.



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WSDOT seeks public input on how to improve collaboration

Plan will guide agency’s public outreach efforts; comments due June 22

Residents across the state still have time to help the Washington State Department of Transportation determine how the agency can best engage and collaborate with partners, stakeholders, tribes, communities and the public.

From the earliest planning stages through project and service delivery, the WSDOT Community Engagement Plan will guide the agency’s outreach and engagement efforts. Those efforts will continue into the maintenance and operations of a project, and help inform the outreach the agency conducts for future projects. The plan is designed to help increase consent on decisions, improve understanding, and improve public access to information and decision making. 

Comments on the plan can be submitted by email and will be accepted until Monday, June 22.

The agency’s strategic plan, Results WSDOT, directs WSDOT to strengthen partnerships to increase credibility, drive priorities and inform decision making. The Community Engagement Plan is consistent with Results WSDOT, state law and federal expectations.

A Spanish version (Plan de Participación Comunitaria) of the draft is also available for review and comment.



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Local legislators cautiously optimistic about end to second special session in Olympia

By Evan Smith

Local legislators say that they remain optimistic about an end to the second special legislative session in Olympia. Many, however, say that they won't know much until leaders finish negotiating.

Leaders of House majority Democrats and Senate majority Republicans have been unable to agree on a new state budget through the regular legislative session, a 30-day special session and the first week and a half of a second special session. Now, legislators face the June 30 end of the fiscal year and the possibility of a government shutdown.

Democratic State Rep. Cindy Ryu sees hope.

“I am optimistic we will have a balanced budget by the end of the month,” she said Tuesday. “We did it with a day and a half to spare in 2013 and hopefully we will be done a bit earlier.”

Democratic State Sen. Maralyn Chase said Wednesday, “The gnomes are working hard preparing new legislation to implement whatever the agreement is.”

Democrat Kagi, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, had agreed last week with Committee Chairman Ross Hunter that the legislature could finish quickly.

Rep. Gerry Pollet also agreed. Pollet represents the 46th Legislative District, including Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and northeast Seattle.

Chase, Kagi, and Ryu represent the 32nd Legislative District, including the city of Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, Lynnwood, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas, and parts of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace.

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




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Sounder trains cancelled after track break on northline

The Northline Sounder trains were cancelled Wednesday morning and buses sent to pick up stranded commuters after a rail broke on the tracks. 

The Northline runs from Everett to Seattle, with a stop in Edmonds.

The delay was first announced at 6:19am.

Local commuters were advised to take Community Transit route 416, which runs from Edmonds station to I-5 at N/NE 205th, and then to downtown Seattle or the regular Metro commuter runs.

UPDATE: Broken rail has been repaired. Northline trains 1701 (5:45 am departure) and 1703 (6:15 am departure) are canceled. Train 1705 (6:45 am departure) will depart approximately 15 minutes late. Train 1707 (7:15 am departure) should depart on time. We appreciate your patience. (departure times are from Everett).



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Richmond Beach Garden Tour: The Walden Garden

Kathy Walden and Cooper relax in the garden

Photos by Wayne Pridemore

The Richmond Beach Garden Tour was held on June 6. Photographer Wayne Pridemore was able to visit and photograph four of the gardens on the tour - this is the fourth.


Rob and Kathy Walden were military brats who met in Okinawa. They have lived in their home in Richmond Beach for 24 years and have remodeled their garden numerous times.

Walden Pond
The koi pond is fed by the stream

The couple took advantage of the stream that runs through the property to create a koi pond.

The garden is a great place for children
Nora Keegan crosses the pond on stepping stones



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Introductory statements from Shoreline Council candidates on primary ballot

By Evan Smith

Only one Shoreline City Council position is on the Aug. 4 primary ballot.

That’s because only the contest among incumbent Jesse Salomon and challengers Lorn Richey and Michael Bachety has three or more candidates. That means that the primary will narrow the field to two for the Nov. 3 general election. Two other Shoreline positions will appear only on the November ballot, one with a single candidate, one with two candidates.

Bachety, Richey and Salomon recently sent introductory statements. Here they are in the order they will appear on the primary ballot and in the voters’ pamphlet:

Shoreline City Council Position No. 6—

Lorn Richey
Lorn Richey

I am running for Shoreline City Council because I believe my values, education and experience have prepared me for the challenges Shoreline is facing. My wife and I moved here almost five years ago and our two children attend the outstanding public schools. I worked my way through college as a groundskeeper, under Ciscoe Morris, helping to transform my university’s campus into a pesticide-free, wildlife sanctuary. As a student I was a founding member of the SU Sustainability Council. After graduating, I spent the last nine years in law enforcement, returning to Seattle U to earn a Master of Public Administration with a concentration in urban development.

I am concerned about the current trend development is taking in this region. Development should build for the future while benefiting current residents. Far too much of it is displacing residents, and degrading our urban environment. People move to Shoreline for safe, welcoming community, the natural beauty, and the schools. As your City Council Member I will work to protect those things.

Jesse Salomon
Jesse Salomon

Work: Shoreline City Council member and King County public defender
Education: Juris Doctor, UW Law, B.A. WWU

Last election I asked for your vote to keep Shoreline moving forward. Since then I’ve helped grow our economy, protect our environment, reduce traffic, and promote equity and public safety by:

Preparing for impacts of Shoreline’s two light-rail stations by planning walkable communities, minimizing disruption and increasing property values in affected neighborhoods; supporting the farmer’s market and attracting a Trader Joe’s; funding sidewalks and affordable housing; fighting the ill-considered Point Wells development; analyzing city budgets to cut unnecessary spending; supporting funding for our senior center and paid sick leave for low wage workers; increasing salmon habitat; and reducing carbon emissions.

I ask your continued support to keep Shoreline moving forward.

Endorsements include: Councilmembers Chris Eggen, Will Hall, Keith McGlashan; State Representatives Ruth Kagi, Luis Moscoso; Attorney General Bob Ferguson; County Sheriff John Urquart; County Councilmember Rod Dembowski; Seattle Mayor Ed Murray; Labor Council, Conservation Voters; NARAL; Young Democrats.

Michael Bachety
Michael Bachety

I grew up the 5th child in a middle-class family from Long Island, NY. I never envisioned going into politics mainly because my mom was a feminist politician of the 1960’s-80’s. I did not like how misogynistic and hateful some people were towards her, but she fought the good fight and was reelected many times as a Democrat in the largely Republican district.

I graduated college with a B.A. in communications and worked in television production for 14 years until 9/11 happened. This changed me profoundly.

After taking a year off, my girlfriend and I drove cross-country to start a new life together in the beautiful NW. We got engaged on the road and married in 2004 on a boat in the Puget Sound.

We moved to Shoreline, from Green Lake, when she was pregnant with our first child in 2009. Like many families, the reasons were similar: good schools, bigger backyards and nice, quiet neighborhoods. Today, as Mr. Mom, we have 3 little girls and hope to live here for many years to come.



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