Shoreline Community College Foundation breakfast honors Evan Voltsis of Spiro's

Monday, December 7, 2015

 

The 18th Annual Student Success Campaign Community Breakfast on November 5, 2015 was a great success.

“Thanks to the support of our sponsors and our community, we raised more than $41,000 to support students,” said Mary Brueggeman, Vice President of the Office of Advancement and Foundation Executive Director. 
“Shoreline students will be able to pursue the knowledge and skills required to compete in a global economic environment. Thank you to all who attended and supported student success.”
Evan Voltsis, 2015
Distinguished Service Award

Evan Voltsis, owner of Spiro’s Pizza and Pasta, was honored with the 2015 Distinguished Service Award. Voltsis, a Shoreline native who attended Shoreline Community College, was cited for his tireless and generous community support.

This video about Evan was shown at the Breakfast as part of the presentation.

The Opus Bank table included (from left) Joe Claeys of Opus Bank,
Lake Forest Park Mayor Mary Jane Goss,
Henry Goss of Windermere Real Estate, Shoreline Deputy Mayor Chris Eggen
and Dr. Tim Norton of Health Chiropractic.
 
The master of ceremonies for the event was Jim Dever of KING-TV’s “Evening Show.”

Speakers included current and former students Emily Miller, Kevin Osborn and Stian Myraas.



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LFP residents brave the rain to plant trees along the Burke Gilman Trail


Photos courtesy Lake Forest Park Tree Board

LFP residents brave the rain to plant trees across from the Town Center at Lake Forest Park

Volunteers Planting Trees on Burke-Gilman Trail - December 5, 2015

The steady rain this past Saturday, December 5, didn’t deter citizen volunteers from joining the Lake Forest Park Tree Board to plant trees along the Burke-Gilman Trail.

Over 35 residents, tree board members, and city staff collaborated to plant 20 Thuja Plicata Excelsa, a variety of the Western Red Cedar known for its fast growth and smaller mature height in comparison to typical Western Red Cedars.
In late October, King County removed 44 hazardous trees along the Burke-Gilman Trail across from the Town Center at Lake Forest Park. As a condition of the tree removal permit, King County paid into the Lake Forest Park Tree Fund to replace the trees on a 1:1 basis. Saturday’s event was the first of two volunteer plantings to restore the trees that were removed.

Another planting event will be coming in late January 2016.



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Music 4 Life year-end report for Shoreline Schools


By David Endicott, President / CEO of Music4Life

During the 2014-15 school year, the Shoreline Schools Music4Life™ program delivered 16 ready-to-play musical instruments to Shoreline Public Schools for use by children in need. The total estimated retail value (before taxes) of these instruments was $9,695 or nearly $606 per instrument.

Some of these instruments came to Music4Life as “undesignated” by the donor for any one of our five participating school districts: Edmonds, Highline, Mukilteo, Seattle and Shoreline.

In other words, the donor told us to use them “wherever there is the greatest need,” and then were reassigned to Shoreline Public Schools. We used resources available from the Shoreline Schools Music4Life fund to repair all instruments at local shops that provide discounts to us, including the Music and Arts stores, Kennelly Keys Music, Hammond Ashley Violins in Issaquah and the Guitar Center in Seattle.

Also included among these musical instruments were some very special instruments, including a Bach Stradivarius trombone, now being played by a student at Shorecrest High School, and two cellos.

What this means is that the education of 16 students last year benefited from participation in instrumental music in Shoreline Public Schools. Yet, as you well know, the arts often are the first to go when school districts face declining budgets and levy failures.

Why is this important? Participation in instrumental music is not cake frosting or a marginally-important elective subject. Research now shows that students who participate in instrumental music activities tend to do better in math, science, history, literature, international languages, reading, writing, even in computer science and other academic disciplines, in addition to what they learn in terms of teamwork and self-discipline.

So Music4Life is just as much an “education program” as it is an “instrumental music program.” That is UNLESS students’ families cannot afford to get them a musical instrument. And in the current economy, many cannot even afford to rent an instrument.

We will continue to appeal to adults in the community to donate the used instruments stored in their garages and attics, and to help provide the financial resources to repair them. A copy of the Donor Form we use for this purpose is here. Thank you for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for Music4Life.

In addition, we have provided six ready-to-play musical instruments valued at $13,450 in September, October and November 2015. So we are off to a pretty fast start this school year, as well.


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ST3 candidate projects


From Sound Transit

The conversation over the future of mass transit in our region took a big step forward with the release of detailed studies for all the projects that could be part of a ST3 ballot measure next November.

The studies, presented at a special Sound Transit Board workshop, include cost and ridership estimates for each candidate project. Information was also provided on opportunities for transit-oriented development, integration with other transit agencies and non-motorized access options.

These studies will help the Board and public evaluate the relative merits of each project for its possible inclusion in a draft ST3 system plan. The projects being studied were identified by the Board last summer following broad public involvement. The Board is scheduled to release a draft ST3 package in the first quarter of next year that will be shaped into a final measure for voters.

The measure will be funded in part by new taxes that the Washington State Legislature and governor authorized Sound Transit to propose to regional voters, including sales, car tab and property taxes that within the first 15 years could generate approximately $15 billion. Other funding for ST3 would come from federal grants, bonds, existing taxes, fares and other sources.

The potential funding options under discussion include:

  • A 15-year measure that could generate up to $26 billion.
  • A 20-year measure that could generate up to $30 billion.
  • A 25-year measure that could generate up to $48 billion.

The studies provide a lot of details to dig into. Fortunately, our website soundtransit3.org lets you get up to speed. The site includes an interactive map where you’ll find information about the potential projects. You will also find more information on funding options at our document library.

Current and Funded Services include traffic and transit studies for 145th to SR 522 to the UW Bothell campus.

In 2021 light rail service is scheduled to open to Northgate. By 2023 Sound Transit is on track to extend service further north (through Shoreline) to Lynnwood, south to Kent/Des Moines and east to Redmond’s Overlake area. The extensions are expected to increase overall weekday ridership to more than 350,000 by 2030.



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Friday Round Table: The Customized Cover Letter



This Friday, December 11: The Customized Cover Letter

The dreaded cover letter: As if building a carefully worded and detailed resume alone isn’t time consuming and tedious enough, additionally we’re forced to address in a short narrative the reasons why we believe we’re perfect for the position. And even if the process doesn’t require a cover letter, we should try to include one nonetheless.

I’ve seen plenty of letters that seem like they were lifted right off the Internet and don’t address very well the requirements to whatever job position the candidate is applying. Responding to an ad? Before whisking off our resume and letter, we need to make sure we’ve studied the ad to determine how our qualifications match the employer's requirements. Armed with this information, you can craft a cover letter that positions you as the ideal candidate.

There’s a great method afloat and I’ll show you what it’s about!

We’ll go through a near perfect example of a customized cover letter and discover what those who are selected for interviews are doing, what they aren’t, and why. Bring your letter on a thumb drive, or email it to me, and we’ll project a few and go through them.

Also: Please take a couple hours to join us on Friday, December 18 – it’s a Holiday Treats Potluck and Social! I know there are a few connoisseurs of goodie-baking (or just procuring) on these lists, so I’m expecting some holiday sugary greatness.

Got a good job hunting story from this year? Share it at the party!

Friday, December 11, 1:00-2:30pm
Shoreline Community College Room 5116, Building 5000 (ground floor)

SCC Campus Map, Parking information. Small fee for daytime parking on campus.

Open to anyone of any age who is job seeking or interested in career change.

Ron Carnell, Program Coordinator, Workforce and Continuing Education / Plus 50 Career Builder, Shoreline Community College, 206-533-6706.

See the Plus 50 Spring Schedule!



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Three Shoreline Schools named as Schools of Distinction



Three Shoreline schools were recently recognized for supporting continuous improvement in reading and math achievement at their schools.

Briarcrest Elementary, Lake Forest Park Elementary and Cascade K-8 Community School were selected as 2015 Schools of Distinction.

They are among 90 schools in Washington honored with the prestigious designation by the Center for Educational Effectiveness, the Association of Educational Service Districts, the Association of Washington School Principals, the Washington Association of School Administrators and the Washington Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Only schools in the top five percent of improvement for their level are selected to be a School of Distinction. To earn the recognition, a school must show high levels of improvement in state math and reading assessments over the previous five-year period.
“The awards are something our students, staff and families can take great pride in,” said Rebecca Miner, Superintendent of Shoreline Public Schools. “It is a reflection of our district-wide focus on continual improvement and supporting the achievement and success of every student in our schools.”

Briarcrest, Lake Forest Park and Cascade K-8 will join other Schools of Distinction from our region at a special awards ceremony on January 21, 2016 at the Puget Sound Educational Service District in Renton.



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County Council approves nation-leading paid parental leave program

Starting next year, King County employees who welcome a new child will have 12 weeks of paid leave to stay home with their families. The Metropolitan King County Council gave its approval to legislation that will create a program providing certain County employees with paid parental leave to run concurrently with unpaid federal and state family and medical leave.

“It is past time that the United States join the ranks of every single other developed nation in the world, and ensure that new moms and dads have an opportunity to bond with their child without sacrificing the very wages needed to support a family,” said Councilmember Rod Dembowski, sponsor of the legislation. 
“Paid parental leave is not only the right thing to do for parents and kids, but as the private sector has demonstrated, it’s also fiscally responsible as it aids in recruitment and retention of valuable employees. As one of the top ten employers in the State of Washington, King County has an obligation to lead and be a model employer.” 

The adopted legislation grew out of a motion adopted by the Council this past spring, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Dembowski, Gossett and Hague, declaring that it is county policy to establish a paid family leave program for King County employees. The motion also requested the Executive develop a work plan and recommendations for implementing a paid parental leave program along with a cost analysis of the potential financial impact of the program. The Executive sent a cost-benefit analysis and a recommendation to the Council in September and followed up with a work plan and proposed legislation in November.

The legislation directs the creation of a one-year pilot project providing paid parental leave for certain county employees. Those who can participate include both employees who are not represented by unions and represented employees whose unions have agreed to the terms of the program. To be eligible for the program, one of the following must occur in 2016:

  •  The birth of a child,
  • The adoption of a child, or,
  • The foster-to-adopt placement of a child.  

The employee will receive their regular pay for the length of the leave. The duration of the leave will be 12 weeks when combined with all but one week of the vacation that the employee has accrued and all but one week of the sick leave that the employee has accrued.

"Many families can’t afford to take uncompensated time off to bond with a newborn child and that hurts children, working moms and working families generally,” said Michael Gonzales, Teamsters Local 174. “The Teamsters commend Councilmember Dembowski for addressing this issue head on with his paid parental leave policy and hope others follow suit.”


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Arts Council “YouTube MeTube WeTube” needs you

The Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council is having our first movie night. But we can’t do it with you.

You tell us what your favorite videos are. We will gather all of them, and ask storyteller, comedian and artist extraordinaire Emmett Montgomery to curate an evening of humor, art, and maybe even cats?

Our PG-13 movie night “YouTube MeTube WeTube” will take place on February 6, 2016 from 7:00pm - 8:30 pm at the state of the art theater at Shoreline Community College. Tickets at $10.

Popcorn, candy, pop, wine and beer will be available for purchase. And the best part, you will get to vote on three people’s choice awards, who will receive fabulous prizes at the end of the evening.

So go to the Arts Council’s website, click on YouTube, and tell us your favorite videos. It’s FREE and easy. Then join us on February 6, and see if your movie will be shown. And if it is, you may win a fabulous prize.

YouTube MeTube WeTube: A Night of Community Submitted Videos
Saturday, February 6, 2016, 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Shoreline Community College Theater
16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133
Campus maps. Parking is free in the evening.
Tickets: $10



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Menorah lighting in Shoreline is a joyous occasion

German Kunin, Jesse Salomon and Rabbi Yechezkel Rapoport at Shoreline City Hall.

Photos courtesy Chabad Russian Program

150 joyful people braved the rain, dark, and cold to witness the lighting of the menorah on the steps of Shoreline City Hall on Sunday afternoon for the first day of Chanukah.

In front, Irene Pletner and Nina Krutik
are surrounded by Hanukkah participants

Rabbi Yechezkel Rapoport of the Chabad Russian Program led the event, which celebrates the victory more than 2,100 years ago of a militarily weak but spiritually strong Jewish people who defeated a ruthless enemy that had overrun ancient Israel and sought to impose restrictions on the Jewish way of life, prohibit religious freedom and force the Jewish people to accept a foreign religion.

For Rabbi Rapoport, Chanukah also has a modern meaning.
"In America, a nation that was founded upon and vigorously protects the right of every person to practice his or her religion free from restraint and persecution, the Menorah takes on profound significance, embodying both religious and constitutional principles.”

Shoreline Councilmember Jesse Salomon
stretches to light the first light

Shoreline Councilmember Jesse Salomon had the honor of lighting the menorah and addressing the crowd. He spoke about the First Amendment, Religious Freedom, and his personal experiences in Israel.

Anna Berezhok and her little one
enjoyed the event

In the party that followed the lighting, Eitan Yoffe won the kids' raffle and Rima and Abraham Press won the raffle for adults.

Marina Suleymanova was kept busy
frying donuts for the crowd

Hot donuts were made on site and served to the crowd.

Meanwhile, in Lynnwood, the South Snohomish county menorah lighting was held inside Lynnwood City Hall, and the speakers included Lynnwood Mayor Nicola Smith, and County Council Executive-elect Dave Somers.



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Small Business: The Gallery at Town Center

Sunday, December 6, 2015


Photos by Jerry Pickard

The Gallery at Town Center is a not-for-profit gallery and a program of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council.


The shop features changing art exhibits on the walls every six weeks, as well as jewelry, ceramics, glass and more by over 90+ local artists that rotate their handmade wares on a seasonal basis.


The gallery is located inside the Lake Forest Park Town Center, on the lower level, 17171 Bothell Way NE in Lake Forest Park. If you're interested in showing at the gallery visit their website for an application.


Hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 12pm-5pm throughout the entire year and most Sundays, 11am-4pm during the summer market and holiday seasons. They are also open the two Mondays before Christmas on December 14 and 21, 12-5pm.


Stop by to find a great gift for yourself or that special someone. New items come in weekly. Visit us often and tell your friends. Become a member of the Arts Council and enjoy a 10% discount, year-round at the gallery. Take pART in your community and shop local!

Call us at 206-588-8332 during gallery hours with questions or visit their website.



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32nd Democrats honor members with Service Awards

The 32nd Legislative District Democrats celebrated the holiday spirit by honoring Alan Charnley for registering over 500 new voters over the past 12 months. Alan is the son of former State Senator Donn Charnley.

The Democrats presented Alan with the Rose and Janeen Service Award in recognition of his commitment to democracy by registering these new voters.

“Alan’s service and leadership demonstrates his commitment to his family’s tradition of expanding citizens’ participation in the public affairs of our region,” said Carin Chase, Chair of the 32nd District Democrats.

The Rose and Janeen Service Award is named for Rose Lafoon and Janeen Cook who provided years of service to the 32nd District Democrats.

The Democrats also extended special recognition and acknowledgment of the extraordinary contributions of several members who, by their service to our community, keep the wheels of democracy rolling:

  • John Beherns,  Precinct Committee Officer of the Year
  • Rising Democratic Stars Lorn Richey and Jessica Cafferty
  • Community Service Champion Mario Brown
  • Unsung Hero Marilyn Dauer
  • Young Democrats Best Cookie Taster Clark Roberts Fralick
  • Life Time Service Award to former State Representative Nancy Rust

“Congratulations to all our honorees,” Chase said as she issued a challenge to her fellow democrats: “Imagine what we could do if each of us registered 500 new voters!” 




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Shoreline Preservation Society public meeting with land use attorneys re the 145th Corridor

Shoreline Preservation Society is sponsoring a meet up with noted Land Use Attorneys Barbara Dykes-Ehrlichman and Tom Ehrlichman on Tuesday, December 8th, at the American Legion Hall, 14521 17th Ave NE, from 7-9pm.

The City of Shoreline is undertaking a corridor study of the 145th St right-of-way in order to address the safety and traffic problems inherent there and to propose improvements.

Widening the road to include sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and possible additional lanes will affect the households that front 145th and would require some degree of property acquisition.

• How will your home or property be affected? • What are your rights?

Shoreline Public Works Department webpage states:

“The redevelopment of the 145th Street corridor promises to be a significant and complex capital improvement project in the City of Shoreline. The study will include development of a master plan for the proposed improvements to the corridor. The study process will evaluate several options for accommodating multiple travel modes, including vehicles, buses, pedestrians, cyclists, and freight.”

For more information about the meeting contact Janet Way.



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Ronald Commons Community Update - December 2015

The main entrance faces the parking lot and Ronald UM Church
Architect's rendition

The construction of Ronald Commons officially started on October 26, 2015. When it is completed in 14 months, 60 families and individuals will have an affordable home and Hopelink will have a new Service Center. The completed Ronald Commons campus will be an open, welcoming space for the community.

For three weeks starting in mid-November, the general contractor Walsh Construction is taking truckloads of dirt away from the site to dig the hole for the parking garage. During this time, there will be dump trucks accessing the site from Linden Avenue, loading dirt and then hauling it away using Linden Avenue. Once the hole for the parking garage is excavated by mid-December, all construction truck traffic will move to enter and exit the site from Aurora Avenue.

Rerouting and replacement of utilities will also start during December and be completed in January. This work will include intermittent disruptions on Linden Avenue as Walsh connects utilities to the site. Some of this work will happen in the Right of Way (ROW) on Linden. The ROW work is expected to take approximately one week. Walsh will mitigate the impact to traffic and the roadway during this work.

Ronald Commons reflects a cooperation among Compass Housing, Hopelink, and the Ronald United Methodist Church in Shoreline.

See the previous article on Ronald Commons.




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Schedule for Rat City Rollergirls

Jammers heading toward a score
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

The Rat City Rollersgirls organization has a full schedule of events at their home rink in Shoreline at 192nd and Aurora.

Here's the upcoming Season schedule:

All bouts are at the Rat’s Nest, 19022 Aurora Ave N Shoreline, WA 98133. Doors at 4:30, first whistle at 5:30. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids 12 and under. You can purchase them here, or at the door before the bout!

12/5 – 4x4 – Rat City Home Teams vs. Jet City Home Teams: 4 Mini Bouts

12/12 – Home Teams for the Holidays: A Home Team Mini Tournament

1/9 – Washington State Conference Debut Bout (Star Wars night)

1/23 – Home Team Season Opener: Sockit Wenches vs Throttle Rockets & Derby Liberation Front vs Grave Danger

2/13 – Home Team Bout #2: Throttle Rockets vs Derby Liberation Front & Grave Danger vs Sockit Wenches

2/27 – Washington State Conference Bout #2

3/12 – Home Team Bout #3: Throttle Rockets vs Grave Danger & Derby Liberation Front vs Sockit Wenches

3/26 ­– Double Header: Washington State Conference Bout #3 and Premier of the 2016 Rat City All-Star Team

4/2 – Home Team Championships

4/23 – Double Header: Washington State Conference Bout #4 and All-Star Bout

5/7 – Hitditch Cup: A Harry Potter-themed Bout



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Safe at Home during your senior years

Tuesday, December 15, 10:30 - 11:30am at the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center, Melanie Granfors from Shoreline Fire will talk about what seniors can do to remain safe in their homes.

18560 1st Ave NE (building facing 185th).



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Completion of Aurora Corridor celebrated

Celebration of the completion of the Aurora Corridor
Photo by Keith McGlashan

On Saturday, December 5, the City of Shoreline held a celebration at City Hall for the completion of the Aurora Corridor project.

From the City website

"Improving the Aurora Corridor has been a community goal since the City incorporated in 1995. With more than 45,000 vehicles and 7,000 transit riders using the corridor daily, Aurora is a major regional transportation corridor connecting Everett and Seattle. It is also a major retail and business corridor providing services and employment to thousands. Built in three phases over the past 10 years, the Aurora Corridor Improvement Project has already improved safety, fostered economic development, eased traffic congestion, enhanced environmental quality, and increased pedestrian mobility.

Photos courtesy City of Shoreline

"Twenty years ago it was a different story. Shoreline’s three-mile section of Aurora Avenue used to be one of the most dangerous stretches of road in the entire state, both for pedestrians and vehicles. According to the Washington State Department of transportation, in the two years (2003-2004) prior to construction beginning on the first phase of Aurora (145th to 165th), there was an average of 209 collisions per year along the entire corridor through Shoreline. In the two years (2012-2013) after completion of the second phase (165th to 192nd) the average number of collisions had dropped to 125, a decrease of 40%. During the same period of time, collisions resulting in injuries decreased by 56%. Collisions involving pedestrians declined by more than 40%.

"Today, the three-mile stretch through Shoreline is one of the nicest stretches of Aurora in the region and is serving as an example to other communities. The investments we’ve made in Aurora over the past 20 years will benefit the City for decades to come through better safety, more efficient transit, improved pedestrian access, and innovative stormwater management."

Roadway Work

The only things left to do on the Corridor are the new gateway sign at the southwest corner of N 205th Street and Aurora, and the landscaping, which will continue in various areas (median and roadside).



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Noises Off! plays at SCC through Dec 13



Shoreline Community College Theater department’s production of Noises Off, a British farce about putting on a farce, opened Friday, December 4 and runs through Sunday, December 13.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Hurry! Tickets for this popular show are going to go fast!
Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline 98133. Campus Theatre (campus maps here). Free parking in the evenings.



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Quick Start Shoreline Tuesday - Decision Making - Designing a Path to Success

Join the business community for a special Quick-Start “Working Session” on Tuesday, December 8th, 2015 from 12:00 to 1:30pm at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N for the kickoff of Fall 2015.

Quick-Start Shoreline is presented by Shoreline Community College Small Business Accelerator and the City of Shoreline. These workshops are designed to be helpful for start-up, existing or potential business owners. Sessions are free and open to the public. Feel free to bring a brown bag lunch.


Quick-Start Shoreline Working Session: 

Decision Making - Designing a Path to Success


Special Event with Jean Sagvold-Simpson


Come to QuickStart Shoreline this week to learn tools and tricks to help you with Decision Making to help you and your small business!

Jean Sagvold-Simpson
Meet the visionary strategist with passion! She gives problems new solutions while creating positive outcomes. Driven by the challenge, of managing programs, and managing her own design company, Jean delivers superb value with excellent results.

With a unique perspective gleaned from two decades of working with non-profit, for-profit and government contracts, Jean brings analytical and fresh tools, a strong professional and community service experience, formal leadership training all to create “wins” with “ positive outcome “for small to mid-size enterprises.

Having attended and delivered professional development training's and workshops throughout her career Jean is choosing to focus consulting on Business organizational development issues including: branding/identity, marketing, finance, operations, storefront and growth management.

Specializing in Organizational change, strategic planning, long and short term growth planning, utilizing LEAN practices, risk management planning, public relations, media relations, technology and network infrastructure.

Goal of the Quick-Start Working Sessions

To provide our SCC Business Accelerator Community with access to leading experts and cutting edge business tools that can close the GAP in idea-to-expansion knowledge. These workshops will give start-ups, teams and students a chance to learn practical knowledge, as well as provide hands-on training, and networking opportunities with professionals in various branches of business.

Format of the Quick-Start Working Sessions

Each working session will focus on a single topic. Quick-Start staff and area experts providing key insights and knowledge regarding the topic in a 20 minute lecture format. After the lecture, the attendees will break into working sessions to engage with the topic as it relates to them. We will invite Quick-Start mentors and local entrepreneurs as a resource to the attendees to help answer any questions and think through any problems they may be facing.

Networking will begin at noon.
Lecture will begin at 12:15pm.
The working sessions will be open from 12:35pm to 1:30pm.



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LFP Rotarian chosen as Rotary District Governor

Alan Merry, new Rotary
District Governor
Alan Merry of the Lake Forest Park Rotary has been elected as RI 5030's District Governor for the Rotary fiscal year 2018/2019.

Alan has been a Rotarian for nineteen years. In addition to serving as club president, Alan has served as Assistant Governor, District Trainer and District Stewardship Chair. Professionally Alan is an analyst at Group Health Hospital.



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Workshop: Gender Diversity -- Understanding Transgender Children & Teens

Gender Diversity: Understanding Transgender Children and Teens

Gender specialist Aidan Key examines the topic of gender nonconformity in children and teens and identifies the best approaches for creating an inclusive, supportive environment for the entire community.

Thursday, December 10, 7-8:30pm, Shoreline Library large meeting room, 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline 98155.



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Seattle Times: Shoreline Sculpture Garden

Valerie Easton wrote a lovely article in The Seattle Times, with photographs by Mike Siegel, on the Shoreline garden of Bruce and JoAnn Amundson. The garden is built down a steep hillside overlooking Puget Sound and features sculptures, some commissioned for the site.


Visitors to this art-studded, half-acre garden high above Puget Sound certainly will leave stirred, if not transfixed, by a garden that unfolds down the hillside to reveal monumental sculptures integrated with artful plantings. 
Paths and steps lead from the house down a slope to terraces and meadows, through groves of trees, ending at a bench overlooking a forested ravine. Bruce puts it simply: “It’s been so fun to merge art and plants; it makes the garden so much more rewarding.”

Read it here



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She Loves Me is a seasonal treat at Seattle Musical Theatre

Saturday, December 5, 2015

Paul Gauger and Jorie Jones in SHE LOVES ME at Seattle Musical Theatre
Photo by Jeff Carpenter

She Loves Me

Based upon Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo
Book by Joe Masteroff,
Music by Jerry Bock
Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
Directed by Alan Wilkie

Seattle Musical Theatre
December 4 – 20, 2015

Doug Knoop and Dustyn Moir in She Loves Me at SMT
Photo by Jeff Carpenter

Review by Doug Gochanour

She Loves Me is a musical comedy, centered around two perfume shop sales associates, each setting out to find love through a lonely-hearts dating service. They begin writing to each other anonymously, without realizing that their love interest is actually a person with whom they are feuding at work.

If this plot sounds familiar, you may remember subsequent movies, The Shop Around the Corner, In the Good Old Summertime, and You've Got Mail. They were each inspired by a similar concept.

This story features Georg Nowack, the handsome sales manager, and Amalia Balash, an attractive woman newly hired by the owner, Mr. Maraczek. Georg and Amalia begin to clash immediately, as Georg opposes her hiring. Of course, they never suspect that they are pen-pals. They only believe that their new love letter writer will be perfect for them.

The set design is very well done, moving seamlessly between Maraczek's Parfumerie set in 1930’s Budapest, a fine restaurant, a hospital room, and Amalia’s apartment. The costuming and colors are beautiful. The musicians provide an elegant performance throughout, and the cast does an amazing job with their singing, dancing, and acting.

Laura Medford in She Loves Me at SMT
Photo by Jeff Carpenter


Amalia agrees to meet her new love at the Cafe Imperiale, where the headwaiter tries to maintain a "Romantic Atmosphere." The situation allows for dancing and a bit of slap-stick, as Amalia waits for her amorous correspondent with her book and a rose.

Will Georg identify himself to Amelia? Is there still enough animosity between them to prevent their recognition of the love they might share?

The whole family will enjoy this excellent seasonal treat. It is lively and fun, as we have come to appreciate from the Seattle Musical Theatre.

The Seattle Musical Theatre is located at Magnuson Park, 7120 62nd Ave NE, Seattle 98115. Phone 206-363-2809. Purchase tickets online. Free parking.

This is SMT's 38th season and 152nd production.



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Holiday Pet Food Drive at Cats Exclusive



During this season of giving please include on your list those pets in need.

The Seattle Humane Society Pet Food Bank assists low income families, helping to provide food for their furry companions.

Bring in cat or dog food of any kind to Cats Exclusive and help us fill the collection barrel located in the lobby.

For each pound donated now through December 24th Cats Exclusive will match your donation, pound per pound. Your help is greatly appreciated! 

Cats Exclusive is located at 19203 Aurora Ave N,  Shoreline 98133. 206-546-2287 (CATS), email.



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Workshop: What Do We Know About Marijuana Use?

What Do We Know About Marijuana Use?

What does the recent Bastyr University "Survey of Cannabis Use" tell us about who Cannabis users are, their beliefs about Cannabis, their use patterns, side effects, and the therapeutic benefits they experience?

What are the potential risks and/or benefits of Cannabis as a therapeutic or recreational agent?

Laurie K Mischley, ND MPH, Bastyr University will discuss what we know about Marijuana use.

Wednesday, December 9, 7-8:30pm, Shoreline Library large meeting room. 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline 98155.



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Book Review by Aarene Storms: The Eye of Zoltar

The Eye of Zoltar by Jasper Fford (Chronicles of Kazam, book 3)

When the Once Magnificent Boo is captured and held for ransom in the deadly Cambrian Empire, 16-year-old Jennifer Strange heads off on a rescue mission. While searching for Boo, Jennifer also seeks the magical jewel called the Eye of Zoltar, which she hopes to trade to the Mighty Shandar so that he will refrain from killing the dragons who survived Book One.​

Accompanied by the somewhat magical Perkins, Princess Shazzine (who is supposed to be learning about the lives of ordinary people by being transformed into one), and Colin the dragon, plus a pre-adolescent tour guide and some unwelcome thrill-seeking "Jeopardy Tourists," Jennifer starts off.

Immediately, things go wrong.

Of course they go wrong. 

What did you think would happen?

As Book Three in a four-part series, this story takes readers through a witty, quirky adventure, and ends with a terrible cliffhanger. The wait for Book Four, currently scheduled for release "probably in 2015" is bound to be a long one.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true.  --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS


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Christopher Bayley and Jayne Ann Krentz at Third Place Books

Local celebrity and former prosecutor Christopher Bayley, and national mega-best seller Jayne Ann Krentz at Third Place Books author events this week.



Christopher T. Bayley
Seattle Justice: The Rise and Fall of the Police Payoff System in Seattle 
(Sasquatch Books)
Monday, December 7 at 7pm

Despite its reputation as a progressive and high-tech place, Seattle had a 100-year history of vice and official corruption. Six months into his first term, Bayley indicted a city councilman. This is the story of how vice and payoffs became rules of the game in Seattle, and what it took to finally clean up the city.



David Shields
War Is Beautiful: The New York Times Pictorial Guide to the Glamour of Armed Conflict (Random House)
Tuesday, December 8 at 7pm

David Shields analyzed over a decade’s worth of front-page war photographs from The New York Times and came to a shocking conclusion: the photo-editing process of the paper of record, by way of pretty, heroic, and lavishly aesthetic image selection, pulls the wool over the eyes of its readers; Shields forces us to face not only the media’s complicity in dubious and catastrophic military campaigns but our own as well.



Jayne Ann Krentz
Secret Sisters (Penguin)
Wednesday, December 9 at 7pm

No one does romantic suspense better than Jayne Ann Krentz. The bestselling author of Trust No One and River Road delivers a novel that twists and turns into a read that will leave you breathless. She has written futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively.



Lauren Kessler
Raising the Barre: Big Dreams, False Starts, and My Midlife Quest to Dance the Nutcracker (Perseus)
Thursday, December 10 at 7pm

When Lauren Kessler was twelve, her ballet instructor crushed not just her dreams of being a ballerina but also her youthful self-assurance. Now, many decades and three children later, Kessler embarks on a journey to join a professional company to perform in The Nutcracker. Raising the Barre is more than just one woman’s story; it is a story about shaking things up, taking risks and ignoring good sense, and forgetting how old you are and how you’re “supposed” to act.



Kathleen Thompson
Snapshots in Time: Photographic Memories of Puget Sound
Friday, December 11 at 6:30pm

This is the story through pictures of one family’s early business venture in Seattle. Price Photo Service provided employment as well as a love of photography to several generations. Kathleen Thompson shares her photographic history of her city and her family.



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For the Birds: Who Says, "Pigs Can’t Fly?”

Pine Siskin are gregarious.
This group gathers at the bath.
Photo by Christine Southwick

By Christine Southwick

Do you have birds that are brown with yellow patches fighting and darting around each other for spaces at your feeders? Are you filling your feeders twice a day because of their vociferous appetites? If so, you know why Pine Siskin are often called Pig Siskin.

These noisy, flashy little finches often appear in our winters in flocks from four to eighty-four, although during irruptive years some areas get flocks in the thousands. You might have Pine Siskin at other seasons too because these finches are nomadic, meaning that they don’t have a set migration. Instead they follow their food sources, and in years that their preferred food of evergreen cone seeds is low, they fly searching until they find suitable substitutes— other evergreens with cones, shrubby thickets with seeds or berries, un-mowed grassy fields, and especially bird feeders. Their bills have evolved to a narrow pointy shape that enables them to extract cone seeds and other small seeds.

Pine Siskin close up
Photo by Christine Southwick

Pine Siskin are usually observed upside down extracting their favorite food from cones in the tip-tops of evergreen trees. They also eat alder seeds, and when they travel in search of food, often settle in our mixed forests. These feisty birds keep trees healthy by gleaning spiders, insects and grubs found on branches, and on/in leaves. During the winter, they will often be found on the ground looking for these delicacies.

Pine Siskin are gregarious finches that stay in flocks continually making contact calls. They usually nest close to each other in loose colonies, high up in trees, in the boreal forests in Canada. Females build the highly insulated nests, and hide them under an overhanging branch. The females keep the eggs warm continuously while being fed by their monogamous mates.

Pine Siskin on left, House Finch on right for comparison
Photo by Christine Southwick

Pine Siskin can stay warm in extreme cold by raising their metabolic rate, something that few other birds can do. And when they store seeds in their crop (pouch area all birds have in front of their throat) they can eat a few seeds at a time, and have enough fuel for five to six hours of heat during sub-zero nights.

They gladly eat black-oil sunflower seeds, and other shelled seeds, and in cold winter will crowd suet feeders. Add water kept in liquid form for their drinking and bathing needs, and you will have a delightful show of assertive feeder jockeying.


           

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Shorewood teacher honored by National Association of Geoscience Teachers

Friday, December 4, 2015

Andrew Bagley, Shorewood teacher
Named 2015 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the Year
for Pacific Northwest Section

The National Association of Geoscience Teachers (NAGT) recently honored Shorewood High School Science Teacher Andrew Bagley as the as their 2015 Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the Year for the Pacific Northwest Section.

The prestigious honor is awarded to 10 teachers annually, each representing a different region of the United States and Canada. The group’s Pacific Northwest Section includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

Although he also teaches other areas of science, such as physics, Bagley is quick to mention that geology has been his passion since college. He also points out that the Pacific Northwest is the perfect place to teach what he loves.

 “I take pride to showcase Pacific Northwest geology. Our region has just about every major geologic phenomenon covered in the introductory textbooks… it is easy to look out the window instead of relying on typical PowerPoint slides.”

Bagley has also been credited with promoting higher-level geology courses in the high school. This has led to increased opportunities for students to take geology courses that resemble college courses or offer college credit.

“It has been immensely satisfying to give my students a dose of genuine college-level geology, and use local resources and opportunities to help them gain an understanding of the geologic region in which they live,” said Bagley.

Bagley was nominated for the award by Tahoma High School Science Teacher Dale Lehman, who wrote,

“Andrew has a passion for teaching geoscience to high school students. He inspires students' interest in the Earth through dynamic, interactive instruction in the classroom and by providing students with hands-on field learning.  Andrew has been a strong advocate for learning ‘in the field’ and has won the support of his school district to provide support for fieldwork for high school students. I have known Andrew since he began teaching geology at Shorewood 13 years ago. I admire his limitless energy and his dedication to his students.”



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Four from Shorecrest, two from Shorewood on all-Wesco-South soccer first team

Four girls from Shorecrest and two from Shorewood have won places on the all-Wesco-3A/2A-South first team.

  • Shorecrest players on the 14-member first team are senior defender Sydney Coe, senior midfielder Alexa Iacolucci, senior forward Sophia Viviano and sophomore midfielder Lauren Brown.
  • Shorewood players on the first team are senior midfielder Lisa Jensen and sophomore defender Anna Whitaker.
One Shorecrest player and one four from Shorewood have won places on the second team.
  • The Shorecrest player on the second team is sophomore goalkeeper Kate Wiper.
  • Shorewood players on the second team are senior defender Sarah Cornell-Maier, junior midfielder Madeline Petite, sophomore forward Grace Morehouse and sophomore forward Jessica Wymer.
Honorable Mention went to four Shorecrest players: senior defender Mara Trostle, junior forward Gabby Lacson, sophomore defender Maggie Taylor, and freshman defender Shay Adams; and four Shorewood players: senior defender Kari Huntamer, senior midfielder Allison Larsen, junior defender Morgan McFarland and sophomore defender Anna Tinco.

The all-Wesco-South team included players from Edmonds-Woodway, Glacier Peak, Lynnwood, Meadowdale, Mountlake Terrace, Shorecrest and Shorewood. In soccer and volleyball, unlike many other sports, the north and south divisions combine for a single Western Conference 3A Division. Shorecrest is the only 2A member.

Shorecrest finished second in the Wesco 3A/2A with an 11-1 record (14-1-1 overall) before placing second in the Northwest District 2A tournament and reaching the quarterfinals of the State 2A tournament to end the season win a 17-3-1 record.

Shorewood placed seventh in the Wesco 3A/2A win a 5-6-1 record (7-8-1 overall) before a loss, a win and another loss in the Northwest District 3A tournament to finish with an 8-10-1 record.

The Shorecrest junior varsity team had a 8-3-1 Wesco record (9-5-1 overall) The Shorewood JVs finished with an 8-4 Wesco record (9-6 overall).

See the complete list of 2025 all-Wesco girls’ soccer players here



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Twin Ponds Giving Garden Seed Money fundraising update

Photo by Nancy Short

Thanks to our wonderful supporters, Twin Ponds Giving Garden met the $400 target within 48 hours and qualified as one of 75 projects for the matching grant from SeedMoney.org.

We couldn’t have done this without those of you who contributed on short notice. Thank you!

This is the first year for the SeedMoney program. It is unique because it supports non-profit food garden projects. In total, there are 526 projects from around the world participating, and SeedMoney has been thrilled by the response.

So much so that they have decided to offer more opportunities for the participating groups. There will be up to 16 additional grants offered based on donations submitted by December 16th.

Now we have a chance to think even bigger! The project that attracts the highest number of donors by the end of the campaign on December 16th will receive a $600 People's Choice grant.

Please "choose" our garden for this grant by making a donation today

A Garden is a Gift that Keeps Giving!
Thanks for helping us help those in need.


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Living Bethlehem at Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Dec 12 & 13



An invitation to children and the young at heart: Come to Lake Forest Park Church's Living Bethlehem next weekend, 4-6pm, Saturday, December 12 and December 13 with a Joyful Noise production of "Arrest These Merry Gentlemen" at 3pm on Saturday.

The church is located at 17440 Brookside Blvd. NE, Lake Forest Park 98155.

Go back in time as you put on a costume and get your very own shekel coin pouch. Visit the shops where you can sit down, make a Bible time craft and meet the locals who are all abuzz about the news that shepherds saw ANGELS outside of town last night! Is it possible that the long awaited Messiah might be born here at last?!



Watch out for the Roman guard, learn about Hanukah, and the Biblical prophecies of old as you make a clay oil lamp or angel, a dreidel, a piece of jewelry out of leather and shells, a basket, or some flat bread to put in a basket! Spin some sheep wool into yarn and taste our Bible era foods

Come enjoy the ORIGINAL spirit of Christmas as our gift this season to you!



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Shoreline girls' 'Try Hockey For Free' event



Washington Female Hockey Association (WWFHA) is hosting a Try Hockey For Free for all girls in the Shoreline area, ages 4 – 12 on December 12th from 5:00pm – 6:00pm at Highland Ice Arena, 18005 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline.

It is a great opportunity for girls to try the sport of ice hockey in a welcoming and open environment. Just bring a bike helmet, mittens/gloves, warm clothes and your enthusiasm.

WWFHA is the only non-profit girls' hockey association in the Northwest, dedicated 100% to growth and development of female hockey players.




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Insurance Commission to review proposed Group Health acquisition by Kaiser Permanente

From Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler

Group Health Cooperative, a health insurer based in Washington, notified the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) on December 3 that it will be acquired by Kaiser Permanente. The proposal requires approval of the insurance commissioner. That review, which is expected to be lengthy, will begin once the insurance commissioner receives a formal filing from the companies.

Kaiser Permanente is based in California and operates in several other states. It has more than 10 million policyholders nationwide.

This proposed deal is one that my office will examine closely when we see the formal filing. Our examination process will look closely at how this proposal could affect the overall stability of the health insurance market in Washington, including competition and consumer choice.

My chief concern is protecting consumers in Washington, including policyholders at Group Health and all consumers buying health insurance in Washington. I want to ensure that we maintain the healthy competition and wide selection of plans we currently have in our state.

At this time, I expect no changes in policies for current enrollees in Group Health plans or those considering enrolling in plans for 2016.



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More food trucks scheduled for Ridgecrest - starting Friday night

Photo by Dorrena Ortega

The December 2015 schedule for the Ridgecrest food trucks is now finalized. The response has been so great that we’ve added more trucks and more days.

Food truck in front of Ridgecrest Pub

Food trucks start on Fridays and Saturdays starting this weekend. Going forward, there are food trucks in Ridgecrest nearly every day of the week except for Sundays, every other Monday, and around Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

See and print out the schedule. Printed schedules are also available at the Ridgecrest Pub, which is open 4 – midnight every day and fills growlers and grumblers (AKA half growlers) to go.


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