King County celebrates the legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Wednesday, January 6, 2016



The public is invited to help King County celebrate legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Thursday, January 14, 2016, from Noon – 1pm at the Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St, Seattle.

King County and its employees invites the public to join the County in its annual celebration honoring the life of one of the driving forces behind that effort, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

This year’s theme focuses on the idea that Dr. King’s greatest tool in building his “Beloved Kingdom” was the power of love.

The historic Paramount Theater will be the backdrop for the celebration. It is a free event and the public is invited to come join King County employees in recognizing the life of America’s foremost leader for Civil Rights and commemorate his vision of an America offering opportunity for all.

King County Superior Court Judge Wesley Saint Clair, the Presiding Judge of Juvenile Court, will present this celebration’s keynote address. Other speakers at the celebration will include King County Executive Dow Constantine.

The celebration will include musical performances by celebrated folk singer Naomi Wachira.

The Paramount Theater is accessible. Sign language interpretation will be provided. Other reasonable accommodations will be provided upon advance request. For more information or to request reasonable accommodations, please contact Paula Harris-White at 206-263-2444.



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January music schedule at North City Bistro

Interior of North City Bistro

North City Bistro and Wine Shop has announced its music line up for the month of January.

On the docket:

Fri Jan 8 - Nancy Erickson CD Release Party
Sat Jan 9 - Rod Cook and Toast
Tues Jan 12 - Diane and Bob All Request Night
Wed Jan 13 - Frank Kohl Trio
Thur Jan 14 - Lady Delilah Beaucoup and Bissou
Fri Jan 15 - Paul Green Quartet
Sat Jan 16 - Four
Wed Jan 20 - Jazz Jam with Darin Clendenin Trio
Thur Jan 21 - Paul Anastasio and Fire of Tierra Caliente
Fri Jan 22 - Ann Reynolds and Clave Gringa
Sat Jan 23 - Somewhere In Between


Call 206-365-4447 or email for reservations. The Wine Shop is open Tuesday - Saturday starting at 2pm. The Kitchen is serving Tuesday - Saturday 4:30 - until close. There are cover charges for adults for the music. North City Bistro is All Ages All the Time (and they don't charge cover for your kids.)
North City Bistro, 1520 NE 177th, Shoreline 98155 on Facebook and webpage.



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Planning with Nature: Adaptive Management for the Lyon Creek Flood Mitigation Project

Lyon Creek just after it opened in November 2015
Photo by Jerry Pickard


On December 5th, former LFP Mayor Mary Jane Goss cut the ribbon for the Lyon Creek Flood Mitigation Project before a group of residents, business owners, and current and former politicians.

Construction of the $6.8 million grant-funded project lasted six months and included a number of fish passage and habitat improvements as well as flood reduction measures.

Though the ribbon cutting signaled the ceremonial end of the project, changes to this reach of the Lyon Creek stream corridor are not complete. The City will continue to monitor the plantings and the stream channel for three years using adaptive management concepts to ensure the creek has a stable and shaded low-flow channel with capacity for large flood events.

The City will continue to work with Watershed Company and representatives at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to improve this reach of Lyon Creek.

While the City engineered and constructed a meandering stream channel as part of the Lyon Creek Flood Mitigation Project, Lyon Creek has begun to find its own path in some areas of the project.

Rather than attempting to force the stream to conform, the City has embraced the concept of adaptive management – planning with nature, rather than planning for it. This is the first year the creek has been in its new channel and it has not yet settled into its long-term stream channel alignment in some areas.

As Lyon Creek meandered it washed away some of the initial plantings that were intended to shade the creek and stabilize soils. Meanwhile, new sediment deposition areas have begun to reveal themselves. These sediment deposition areas will be stabilized and planted with a variety of native trees, shrubs and plants in spring/summer 2016.

The City will also replace plants that have died or been washed away. Please be patient with the plantings along the creek as they may take three years to become established and shade the stream channel.




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PTA art show Reflections on display at Shoreline Center

Hundreds of entries are on display at the Shoreline Center
Photo courtesy Shoreline Council PTA

Reflections is a National PTA arts contest open to students in grades preschool through 12th grade. The Shoreline Council Reflections entries are currently on display at the Shoreline Center.

There will be a reception, open to the public, on Thursday, January 7, 2016 from 6:30-8:00pm.

National PTA determines the theme for each year and this year's theme is Let Your Imagination Fly. There are entries from every school in the Shoreline Public School district. They include photography, paintings, as well as presentations and performances.

A select number will be sent on to the State competition.

The Shoreline Center is located at 18560 1st Ave NE. Shoreline 98155.



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Swearing in ceremony for Shoreline council

With King County Superior Court Judge Richard Eadie presiding, returning Councilmembers Doris McConnell and Jesse Salomon took the oath of office on January 4. Newly elected Councilmember Keith Scully also took the oath of office. Following the swearing in ceremony, Council selected Chris Roberts as Mayor and Shari Winstead as Deputy Mayor, both of whom will serve for two years.


Elected to the City Council in 2009 and re-elected in 2013, this will be Mayor Roberts’ first term as Mayor. Mayor Roberts graduated from Willamette University in 2000 and earned a PhD from the University of Washington in 2012 in the field of political science. His external Council assignments include serving as a member of the Association of Washington Cities Legislative Committee, the Sound Cities Association Public Issues Committee, and as an alternate to the Puget Sound Regional Council Growth Management Policy Board. Chris is an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. With his wife, Heather, and their son, Clark, Mayor Roberts resides in the Meridian Park neighborhood of Shoreline.

“I want to thank the members of the Shoreline City Council for the confidence they placed in me to serve as the Mayor of Shoreline for the next two years,” stated Mayor Roberts. “It’s an honor to represent our great community.”

Deputy Mayor Winstead was first elected to the City Council in 2009 and was re-elected in 2013. She served as mayor from 2014 through 2015. Deputy Mayor Winstead has been an active member of the Shoreline community for the past 24 years. In 2006, she served as co-chair of the City’s Park and Open Space Bond Committee and in 2008 and 2009 she served on the City’s Long-Range Financial Planning Citizen Committee. Her City Council external committee assignments include the Regional Law, Safety, and Justice Committee (RLSJC) and the Regional Water Quality Committee (RWQC). Deputy Mayor Winstead resides in the Echo Lake neighborhood with her husband Stan Hansen.

“It was an honor to serve as mayor for the past two years,” said Deputy Mayor Winstead. “I look forward to serving as Deputy Mayor for the next two years and continuing to represent the citizens of this great community.”

Shoreline operates as a code city under the laws of the State of Washington with a council-manager form of government. As the governing body, the seven elected part-time city councilmembers set policy and appoint a city manager to implement policy.

The City Council chooses a Mayor and Deputy Mayor from among its members at the first meeting of a new year following an election. The Mayor presides at Council meetings and represents the City at ceremonial functions and inter-governmental meetings. The Deputy Mayor presides in the Mayor‘s absence.

The Shoreline City Council meets every Monday at City Hall. Meetings that fall on legal holidays are cancelled. Meetings begin at 7:00pm. Council meetings are streamed live from the City’s website. Video of the meetings are available online or on Shoreline’s government access channels (Comcast Channel 21 and Verizon Channel 37) the day following the Council meeting.

Visit the city webpage for more information or call the Agenda Hotline at 206-801-2230 for the latest meeting information.



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Star Wars theme at Saturday's Rat City bouts

Tuesday, January 5, 2016


If you sense a disturbance in the Force, it’s probably because there’s a battle of Death Star-sized proportions brewing.

Join Rat City Rollergirls Saturday, January 9th for a Star Wars-themed evening featuring lots of fast-paced derby action.

First up, Rat City skaters will take the track in a Rebels vs. Empire battle. Will you choose to cheer for the light or dark side? Following that bout it’s an intergalactic clash as our Washington State Conference team takes on Overbeaters Anonymous. You don't have to travel to a galaxy far, far away for this space adventure.

Catch the action at the Rat's Nest, 19022 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, Washington 98133. Buy tickets online or buy tickets at the door. General admission tickets are $20. Tickets for children 12 and under are $15. Children 5 and younger are free. Doors open at 4:30 pm, first whistle at 5:30 pm.



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Roller Derby explained

Jammers try to break through the pack to score.
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg
Mystified by Roller Derby? Here is a quick synopsis - you might want to keep it for reference!

Each team fields four blockers and one jammer, for a total of ten skaters on the track at a time.

The jammers are the point-scorers for their team: they wear a star on their helmets, and start behind the blockers. On their first trip through the pack, the jammers do not score points – they are instead fighting for lead jammer position. That means they must be the first to break through the pack without getting knocked out of bounds and without getting any penalties.

The lead jammer referee will signal who is lead jammer by making an “L” formation with their arms, pointing at the jammer with lead jammer status. The lead jammer has the advantage of being able to call off the jam at any time before its natural conclusion (2 minutes).

Once the jammers have lapped the pack once, they can now score points for each opposing skaters’ hips they pass legally (in bounds and without getting a penalty on).

It is not easy though! The opposing teams’ blockers will be impeding the jammer’s movement through the pack while trying the clear a path for their jammer.

You can also check out this video for another explanation

The best way to understand the excitement of derby? Come check it out in person!



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FIRST® Robotics Competition Kickoff Event in Mountlake Terrace Saturday

Chuck, the 2014 Shorewood robot
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Washington FIRST Robotics is proud to launch the 2016 season of the FIRST Robotics Competition with a worldwide kickoff event on Saturday, January, 9, 2016.

The Mountlake Terrace event will take place at Mountlake Terrace High School, 21801 44th Ave W, Mountlake Terrace 98043, from 7:00am to noon.

The event is free and open to the public.

The event will include 40 teams and is one of 114 total kickoff events taking place worldwide.

The 2016 season will include more than 158 teams, (4,500 students) grades 9-12, participating in 9 district events which will culminate into the Pacific Northwest District Championships at Memorial Stadium in Portland, Oregon, April 6 -9, 2016.

At Kickoff, teams will be shown the FIRST STRONGHOLDsm game field and challenge details for the first time, and will receive a Kit of Parts made up of motors, batteries, control system components, construction materials, and a mix of additional automation components – with limited instructions.

Teams will have six weeks to design and build a robot to meet this year’s engineering challenge and will compete against other FIRST Robotics Competition teams beginning March. Information on the FRC Competitions here.

Since 2011, Washington FIRST Robotics has offered free mentor based after school programs for youth ages 6 – 18 to ignite interest in science, technology, engineering, and math skills (STEM) and to foster well rounded life capabilities such as self-confidence, teamwork, and leadership. 

Washington FIRST Robotics strives to alleviate the growing problem of a shortage of skilled professionals in STEM and the need for an innovative workforce by using strategies that promote STEM interest, knowledge, and learning and that inspire students to pursue post-secondary education / training in STEM. Using competitive robotics as a learning platform, our programs provide hands-on experience with an emphasis on fun that students would not otherwise gain in a traditional classroom.

Washington FIRST Robotics in a nonprofit organization that ignites youthful minds through education, hard work, mentorship and healthy competition. Currently there are over 11,000 young people participating throughout the state with over 6,000 coaches, mentors and volunteers. In the four after school programs young people are exposed to and are inspired to build on their passions to prepare them to be the STEM leaders of tomorrow.
  • FIRST LEGO League Jr. (ages 6 – 9); 
  • FIRST LEGO League (ages 9 -14);
  • FIRST Tech Challenge (grade 7 – 12); 
  • FIRST Robotics Competition (grade 9-12)
More information on FIRST and to find out how to get involved here.

Updated 01-06-2016




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Kinderfest on Jan 23 at Shoreline Center

Standing room only at the 2013 Kinderfest

Kinderfest will be held Saturday, January 23, 2016 from 10am to 12pm in the Shoreline Room at the north end of the Shoreline Center (18560 1st Ave NE).

Kinderfest is an opportunity for parents who will be enrolling their children in kindergarten to hear about the kindergarten program offered by the Shoreline Public Schools.

Kindergarten registration for residents within Shoreline Public Schools with students starting kindergarten in the fall of 2016 will begin Monday, February 1 at all elementary schools. You will need to register at your neighborhood/home school.

In order to attend kindergarten in the fall, a child must be 5-years-old by August 31, 2016. All elementary schools in the district will have kindergarten visitations on January 27, 2015 at 9:30am. Letting your home school know that you are attending the visitation is not necessary, but highly appreciated for planning purposes.

Childcare will be available throughout the Kinderfest event. Interpreters for Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, and Amharic will also be available.

Shoreline Public Schools is closed to new District non-residents in grades K-6 for the 2016-2017 school year.

 For more information about kindergarten registration and Kinderfest, contact Kim Darcy at 206-393-4217.



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City councils of Shoreline, LFP, Kenmore, and Bothell in joint meeting to discuss Sound Transit 3

The City Councils of Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and Bothell will hold a joint meeting on Tuesday, January 12, to discuss a regional response to the Sound Transit 3 measure.



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Jobs: ITS Technician for WSDOT in Shoreline

If you are a skilled technician in electronics, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), PLC (Programmable Logic Controller), fiber optic and fire control systems, WSDOT is looking to talk with you. This is an organization where you can use your energy, initiative and talent to pursue a career in our Maintenance division.




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LFP Garden Club: Growing Roses in the Northwest

Jeff Wyckoff
The Lake Forest Park Garden Club will learn about 'Growing Roses that are Successful in the Northwest' from Jeff Wyckoff, at their meeting Tuesday, January 12.

Jeff is the past president of the American Rose Society, and past President of the Seattle Rose Society.

The group meets at 9:30am on the upper level of the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre, located at the intersection of Bothell Way NE (SR 522) and Ballinger Way NE (SR104), near the stage in Third Place Commons.

There is a short business meeting, followed by refreshments and then the featured speaker.

Wyckoff will also cover how to deal with rose diseases and pests in a more organic way.



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Preschool preview in Lynnwood Saturday


North Preschool Preview, Saturday, January 9, 1- 4pm, at the Cedar Valley Community School, Lynnwood, 19200 56th Ave W.

ParentMap’s North Preschool Preview is coming to Lynnwood in 2016! We are so excited about the new city and locale. Choosing a preschool is a very important first step of early education. The variety of preschool options and tough competition can be overwhelming for parents but luckily ParentMap is here to help!

Find dozen of preschools from your community at our (free) North Preschool Preview. Compare programs, get expert advice and find the right fit for your family. Looking for a different location? We have three other Preschool Previews in Seattle, South Sound and the Eastside all in January.

RSVP to ParentMap’s North Preschool Preview- Jan. 9th at Cedar Valley Community School, Lynnwood by visiting the ParentMap webpage.



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DAR meets Saturday in Lake Forest Park



The general monthly meeting of the Lady Stirling Chapter of the DAR will take place in Lake Forest Park on Saturday January 9, 2016 from 10:30-noon. Current, prospective or interested parties are welcome to attend. Please contact darciLSDAR@gmail.com for details.

The National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. Any woman 18 years or older regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can provide lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership.



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Chris Roberts chosen as new Mayor of Shoreline

Monday, January 4, 2016

Shoreline Mayor Chris Roberts
At the first council meeting of the year on Monday, January 4, 2016, Councilmember Chris Roberts was chosen by his council colleagues as the Mayor of Shoreline.

He succeeds Shari Winstead, who completed her two-year term in December. At the same meeting, she was elected as Deputy Mayor for a two-year term.

Chris was first elected to the council in January 2010.

Said Roberts, "I want to thank the members of the Shoreline City Council for the confidence they placed in me to serve as the Mayor of Shoreline for the next two years."



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Shorecrest High School senior teaches financial literacy in local schools

Elizabeth Holmdahl
Shorecrest DECA
The President of Shorecrest High School DECA, Elizabeth Holmdahl, spent the past few years developing and launching the “Making Sense of Money” campaign to improve the financial literacy of students in Shoreline schools.

According to a 2013 youth financial literacy survey by Charles Schwab, only 32% of young adults understand credit card interest and fees, only 20% are familiar with 401(k) plans, and less than 30% of young adults have a basic knowledge of investing.

The “Making Sense of Money” campaign is designed to improve these statistics for teenagers and young adults in the Shoreline School District.

In developing her campaign, Elizabeth recognized three distinct target audiences and developed curriculums to meet their needs.

The first curriculum was created for high school students, the second for middle school students, and the final curriculum to educate fellow DECA club members to ensure the financial literacy program will continue when she leaves for college next year.

Curriculum resources were provided to local youth-focused organizations (the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Clubs) with the intent of sharing the material with an even larger audience.

The campaign was sponsored by Pemco Insurance, the City of Shoreline, the City of Lake Forest Park, Lake Forest Park Rotary, Peterson Sullivan LLP, and the YMCA.

With the support of DECA Advisor Emily Wray and members of the Shorecrest DECA Club, Elizabeth presented “Making Sense of Money” at local schools through a series of lectures on topics such as writing a check, using insurance to minimize risk, establishing a savings account, paying taxes, budgeting effectively, and planning a career. She presented the material to more than 625 students throughout 2014 and 2015.

A thirty-page Financial Literacy Promotion Plan, which outlined her work to improve financial literacy, was presented to the judges at the Washington State DECA Career De-velopment Conference in March and was awarded First Place.

DECA Advisor Emily Wray stated that “Elizabeth has taken a financial epidemic in teenagers and young adults and created a curriculum that is easy to understand, very informative and approachable for students to achieve. 
Through her dedication to making finance a noteworthy topic, she has proven to be a professional, organized and powerful student lecturer who is highly regarded amongst her peers. The Shorecrest DECA Chapter has enjoyed watching her presentations grow with each target audience.”

The “Making Sense of Money” program continues this year. With increased use of technology in her presentations and refinements to the curriculum, Elizabeth will present the program to an additional 1,500 students in 2016.

Elizabeth is enthusiastic about the success of the program and has received positive comments from students who have attended her presentations.

According to Shorecrest DECA Fundraising Coordinator, Evietta Chapman, “The presentations have been a big hit with the students. They are really engaged and interested in what Elizabeth has to say about personal finance.”

Elizabeth is proud to have been a key player in improving financial literacy in the Shoreline School District and intends to start a similar program in college.

DECA is an international organization which prepares students for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management. Washington State DECA reports that nearly 12,000 high school students in our state participate in DECA clubs. Washington DECA is the third-largest program in the United States.



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Recreation program registration begins this week

Shoreline Winter Recreation Guide


Registration for Winter 2016 recreation programs begins Tuesday, January 5 for Shoreline residents and Thursday, January 7 for Lake Forest Park residents.

As part of the registration process, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department is unveiling its new recreation management system. Online registration will become a whole lot easier with the new system.

However, in order to use the system you will need to set up a new account. It is free, easy, and instant. Set up an account online here.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to implementation of the new registration system, individuals registering in-person or on the phone may experience some delays. If you prefer to register in-person or on the phone instead of using the new system online, you will need to have an annual Liability Waiver form on file prior to being able to register. These forms can be found here.

LFP residents will receive an 8% discount on all program fees (not rentals) throughout the ENTIRE YEAR. LFP residents do not need to register on the one early day to receive this discount. LFP offers scholarships for youth and specialized programs - information here.



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Friday Round Table: Get hired by CSR Marine


Friday Round Table, January 8, 2016, 1-2:30pm at Shoreline Community College.

For our immediate area, 2016 is looking to be a huge boating year, and Shilshole Bay will be hopping!
 
If you like sailing or just working in a boating environment with a casual crew, CSR’s Scott Anderson will be on hand to let you know what it’s all about.

With two boatyards in the greater Seattle area, even during slow times, CSR is always seeking out qualified applicants to fill a variety of roles, from Travelift operators, painters, laminators, to office staff, riggers and electronics installers. Scott will let you know how it all works. If you prefer the south end, there are also CSR possibilities in Des Moines.

Also on Friday, we’ll talk a bit about hiring and job trends for 2016 with Employment Specialist Stephanie Tschanz and just reconnect from the couple Fridays we were on break.

As we’re dead center of high coffee season, expect some delectable brew and the usual dunkables.

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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Congressman Jim McDermott to retire

Congressman Jim McDermott
will not seek reelection

Congressman Jim McDermott, who represents the 7th District including Lake Forest Park, Shoreline, Edmonds, and most of Seattle, in the U.S. House of Representatives, announced his retirement in a press conference in Seattle on Monday.

He was first elected to the Washington State Legislature in 1970. Following a decade in the state Senate, he served as a U.S. foreign service medical officer, before running for Congress in 1988.

McDermott served 14 terms in the U.S. House of Representations and called serving the district for so many years “the highest honor.”  A psychiatrist, he was instrumental in keeping health care reform on the national agenda.

He was derided in 2002 for a trip to Bagdad, where he decried the Bush administration's push for war.

King County Executive Dow Constantine issued the following statement after the announcement.

"Jim McDermott has been bringing Washington State values to Washington, D.C., since 1989. He has been a champion for preserving the social safety net, protecting the environment, and ensuring that everyone in this nation and abroad is treated fairly and with respect. He has bucked the cynicism of Congress and confronted our nation's challenges with candor and resolve. 
"Congressman McDermott's entire career has been dedicated to public service -- not just in Congress, but in the United States Navy, as a doctor, and as a Washington State legislator. His commitment to the well-being of our community, and of all the people of the nation and world, is unmatched 
"Congressman McDermott has been a friend and partner to King County for many years, and I extend my deepest gratitude for his decades of exceptional public service."

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray called McDermott “one of our country’s most passionate, fearless advocates for workers and families, and I’m proud to call him a colleague and friend.”

President Barack Obama issued a statement:

"For more than 40 years, Jim McDermott has worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of Washington State. As a state legislator, he helped pass laws that offered healthcare to unemployed and low-income Washingtonians, the first such program in the nation. In the United States Congress, he continued to be a much-needed voice for his most vulnerable constituents. 
"Across America, you'll find families that are better off because Jim McDermott was fighting for them. I'm grateful for Jim's service, and Michelle and I wish him all the best in whatever the future holds."



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New King County Assessor calls for new tools on housing affordability

John Wilson
King County Assessor
Declaring that “We will aggressively pursue tools to help with the affordable housing crisis in King County,” King County Assessor John Wilson embraced an activist role Monday following his oath of office at the Kent Senior Center.
“We cannot have an economically sustainable community if we do nothing about affordable housing,” Wilson said. 
“That’s why my team has been busy since the election to shape and advance our Affordable Housing Tax Exemption idea. We will be in Olympia this month to urge state lawmakers that we need more tools in the housing affordability toolkit.”

Washington State Supreme Court Justice Chief Justice Mary Yu administered the oath to Wilson, who also addressed the needs of senior citizens at risk of losing their homes due to high property taxes.

Noting that the number of elderly citizens registering for the state’s low-income tax exemption program has declined in each of the past four years, the county’s newly elected assessor stated that, 
“Today, in a county of more than 2 million residents, we have only a little over 17,000 people registered. We are going to change that.”

Wilson said he will mount an aggressive effort to inform and sign-up seniors for the tax exemption. 

“We must not stand idly by while seniors risk losing their homes just because they do not know about and have not taken advantage of this property tax exemption,” he said. “This includes disabled veterans too,” he added.

Wilson also raised the touchy issue of increasing reliance on the property tax to fund off-budget services.

“Our tax system is fundamentally flawed,” he observed. “As we struggle to fund vital services I worry we’re setting stage for a public backlash. “Generous local voters have passed property tax levies for transportation, parks, emergency radios, Best Starts for Kids,” he continued. 
“But our reliance upon the property tax carries a steep price: adding to the housing affordability problem, income disparity that erodes the well-being of an already embattled middle class and the risk of voter disapproval and hobbling public services. I worry, that someone will decide the solution is some blunt force anti-tax initiative that might pass statewide but cripple us in King County.”

The complete text of Wilson’s address is available on the Department of Assessments website.

The King County Assessor's office dates back to the mid-1800's when Washington was still a territory. Today, the office of the Assessor handles assessments of more than 660,000 residential and commercial parcels in King County valued at $388 billion in 2015.



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Rep. Pollet to propose funding for basic education by ending tax loopholes

Rep. Gerry Pollet D-46
Rep. Gerry Pollet (D-46) will propose recommendations to close over $170 million worth of tax loopholes in order to help meet our children’s constitutional rights to basic education on Wednesday, January 6 during a meeting of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee (JLARC). 

“It’s time to stop giving away tax exemptions and continuing loopholes that make our tax system unfair and prevent us from funding our children’s schools,” said Rep. Pollet. “The JLARC reports find there is no discernable legislative intent to explain why the Legislature ever created these tax exemptions and loopholes.”

The proposal would do away with the following giveaways:
  • $120 million for the next biennium for fuel used by agribusiness on farms, heating chicken houses, and farm machinery replacement; 
  • Nearly $50 million for interest on real estate loans for some banks 

“Agribusiness shouldn’t escape paying for roads and schools it needs, and expect everyone else to pay” Rep. Pollet noted.

The Legislature intended to encourage true community banks to keep home loans in the community. Instead, JLARC found the current law is so over generous to banks that the state’s legislative auditor found: “Evidence presented in this year’s review indicates that: Qualifying lenders sell more than two-thirds of their loan amounts within one year of the loan origination.”

Despite selling the loans, banks avoid paying $50 million in taxes which would otherwise be owed on their loan sale revenues.

The next meeting of the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee will be January 6th from 10:00 AM – 12:00pm, at the John A. Cherberg building Senate Hearing Room A.
Rep. Pollet represents the 46th legislative district in the state House of Representatives, which includes Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and NE Seattle.



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Photo: Mount Rainier at Sunset

Sunday, January 3, 2016

Photo by Jerry Pickard

Mount Rainier at sunset, as seen from Lake Forest Park. Photographed by Jerry Pickard.



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What the book clubs are reading


Unless you are a very very fast reader, it's probably too late to join the discussions at Richmond Beach and Kenmore, but at least you know what to put on your reading list!



Richmond Beach Library Book Discussion Group Monday, January 4, 2016m 7-9pm, 19601 21st Ave NW, Shoreline 98177.

 The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce.

Kenmore Library Book Discussion Group Tuesday, January 5, 2016, 1-2:45pm. 6531 NE 181st St, Kenmore 98028.

The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig


Shoreline Library Book Discussion Group, Monday, January 11, 2016, 7-8pm, 345 NE 175th, Shoreline 98155.

Someone by Alice McDermott.


Good Knits Book Club Third Place Books
Town Center Lake Forest Park, Bothell Way at Ballinger Way
Monday, January 11, 2016 - 7:00pm to 8:00pm

The Rosie Project

Join us to knit or crochet while we discuss The Rosie Project, a zany novel about an eccentric Australian geneticist who has achieved all of his life goals except one: a wife. Bring your own project or help us reach our goal of providing 200 hats for the homeless in December. New to knitting? Come at 6:30 and get a free lesson.

Updated 01-04-2016



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145th Rezone and Corridor study meetings

From Robin Lombard, co-chair, 145th St Citizens Committee

There are several meetings in January of interest to those affected the the 145th rezone / corridor changes:

Thursday January 21, 7-9pm City Hall Council Chambers. 17500 Midvale Ave N.
Planning Commission Public Hearing on citywide development code changes. Includes proposals for street trees and landscaping, etc. According to the public notice, this may be the only opportunity for written comment on these changes. Public hearing notice here.

Wednesday January 27, 6-8:30 pm Shorewood High School - Commons and Theatre.
17500 Fremont Ave N.
Light Rail station and facility design public meeting – the City is seeking public input on design principles for the light rail stations to be built in Shoreline. Announcement with details here.

Thursday January 28, 7-8:30 pm 301 City Hall. 17500 Midvale Ave N.
145th Street Station Citizens Committee (145SCC). We will review where the City is in the process of the rezone of the station area, including the 145th Multimodal Corridor Study.



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Washington Wild Girls' 10U hockey games vs. Burnaby



The Washington Wild 10U girls' hockey team hosted the Burnaby Wild Cats from Burnaby, BC in a 2-game ice hockey series over the weekend at Highland Ice Arena in Shoreline.

Burnaby won both games but there was a lot of back and forth action in the exciting games, with girls ages 7 - 10 years old.

WA Wild goalie

The teams celebrated together after Saturday night's tightly matched game with a pizza party, and the Wild Cats presented each Washington Wild player with a box of holiday chocolates.

The teams celebrated together with donuts and chocolate milk

After Sunday morning’s game, which ended in the Wild Cats’ favor, the teams enjoyed donuts and chocolate milk. Burnaby invited the Washington Wild to play in Burnaby before the season ends.

Any girl interested in joining the Western Washington Female Hockey Association (WWFHA) can learn more here about the Washington Wild beginner program that starts January 24.



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Crime in Shoreline week ending 12-28-15

Selected items from the Shoreline police blotter week ending 12-28-2015

Mail and package theft, mental breakdowns, car prowls.

12-18  Bathroom at Echo Lake Park sprayed with white and black spray paint.
12-18  Drunk driver crashes into multiple vehicles and a fence 152xx Densmore.
12-19  Attempted burglary at Echo Cove apartments.
12-20  76 gas station on Richmond Beach Rd broken into and cigarettes stolen.
12-20  Two neighbors on Linden got in an argument and one punched the other in the face.
12-21  5xx N 190 burglary; first tried to pry kitchen door, then smashed basement window.
12-21  188xx Firlands - package theft, burglary, good video footage.
12-22  Gym bag stolen from 24 Hour Fitness on Ballinger.
12-22  Shoplifter at Sears stuffed his backpack with items, shoved security out of the way and ran. Captured later and charged.
12-22  Road rage incident on Aurora Ave ending at 159xx Westminster Way N. Victim alleges suspect points gun at him, suspect denies. No independent witnesses or evidence to corroborate either side’s version of the events.
12-22  Unknown male left a backpack full of drugs and paraphernalia at Central Market.
12-22  183xx Ashworth - car parked on street - driver's window smashed and car rifled through. Only thing missing was an iPhone cable.
12-22  Unknown suspect entered exterior closet off balcony and then forced entry through two walls to enter Ballinger Commons apartment. Likely interrupted because items were left staged in living room.
12-24  Inebriated male was scaring customers at Burrito in a Box at 175th and Aurora and refusing to leave. Taken for detox.
12-25  Subject Trespassed from North City Tavern after trying to pick fights with patrons.



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Ballinger Neighborhood meeting at Water District office Monday night


BALNA's January neighborhood meeting 

Monday
January 4, 2016
7:00 - 8:15 pm
North City Water District
1519 NE 177th St, Shoreline

Kick off the new year by coming to our first BALNA neighborhood meeting of 2016 and hearing what is being planned. New neighbors and perspectives are always welcomed!

This meeting is being held at our new location, the North City Water District, 1519 NE 177th St, Shoreline.

More information on website.



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Burn ban lifted for King and Snohomish counties

Due to improved weather conditions, but with air pollution levels remaining an issue, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is lifting the bans in Snohomish and King Counties, and lowering Greater Pierce County to a Stage 1 burn ban, effective 2:00pm today, January 3, 2016.



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Photo: Frozen leaves in Shoreline

Saturday, January 2, 2016

Frozen leaves
Photo by Shirley Sidell

Shoreline resident Shirley Sidell went no farther than her front yard on Saturday morning to find a variety of frozen leaves.  She said, "You don't have to travel far to find beauty in Shoreline!"



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SW vs SC gymnastics meet on Saturday night

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Shorewood vs Shorecrest gymnastics met in a dual meet at Cascade Elite Gymnastics Center Saturday night January 2, 2016.

Photo by Wayne Pridemore


The Shorecrest team is in the green jackets and the Shorewood team is in the black sweatshirts.
Players are arranged by class, with seniors in front.





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Social club forming in Edmonds for those who have lost a spouse


A new and informal group for those having lost a spouse is being formed at Edmonds Lutheran Church. Our first meeting will be on Friday, January 8, 2016 at 2:00 pm at Edmonds Lutheran Church in our Fireside Room. Everyone is welcome, regardless of the time since your loss.

Edmonds Lutheran Church, 23525 84th Avenue West, Edmonds 98026.

Questions? Call Edmonds Lutheran's office at 425-744-8090.



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A Prayer Vigil to end Gun Violence

Join the St. Dunstan's prayer vigil

Three years ago we were shocked by the death of 26 people, most of them small children, at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Connecticut. At that time many of us thought that something would have to be done, but nothing has changed.

Since then there have been 1,044 mass shootings, 1,327 people have died, and 3,784 have been wounded. Shootings on college campuses are becoming so common that they could even become normal.

We cannot allow that to happen. We have to speak up. We have to do what we can to end gun violence. Towards that end St. Dunstan’s has formed a team to begin offering a weekly Prayer Vigil to End Gun Violence.

We invite people of all faiths to join us.

The purpose of this prayer vigil is to keep the issue front and center in our awareness, to pray for inspiration and guidance, to inspire one another to act to effect change, and to offer prayer for the victims of gun violence.

Our hope is that we can create a space where everyone, from pacifists who would never touch a gun to gun collectors and gun enthusiasts, can come together to work towards the shared goal of ending gun violence. We will pray, engage in non-violent actions, and search for solutions to this plague afflicting our country.

The Prayer Vigil will last half an hour and will include music, prayer, conversation, and time for reflection. After the service there will be a time for conversation and sharing ideas. Our plan is to hold the vigil every week at the same time.

The first Prayer Vigil to End Gun Violence will be on Thursday, January 7, at 6:00pm at St. Dunstan’s Church, 722 N 145th St, Shoreline.



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Shoreline council to swear in new members at Monday's meeting

Newly elected council members will be sworn in at the Shoreline City Council meeting on Monday, January 4, 2016: Keith Scully, Doris McConnell, and Jesse Salomon.


In the consent calendar, these items have already been discussed and need only to be voted on:
  • Contract with the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Arts Council
  • Contract with the Shoreline Historical Museum
  • Contract with Scott Strathy for consultant services for the RADAR program
The study item for the evening is the Promote Shoreline ad campaign to promote Shoreline to new residents and businesses. Documents here.

The council will then go into executive session to discuss litigation.



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Seattle Times: Alice Currah and the perfect 2-minute egg muffin

Alice Currah
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

Rebekah Denn wrote a recent column in The Seattle Times about Lake Forest Park chef and food blogger, Alice Currah.

Denn writes, "The Lake Forest Park resident has become one of my go-to recipe sources. Currah packs flavor and quality into her creations while being budget-conscious and down-to-earth. She values scratch cooking but doesn’t look down on shortcuts."

Readers may recall a recent article about Alice's appearance on the NBC Food Fighters show. Lake Forest Park mom competes to win $100,000 on NBC cooking show Food Fighters.

Here's the article - note that it contains the Egg Muffin recipe.



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