Photo: A cracked sky

Thursday, January 21, 2016

A Cracked Sky
Photo by Karsten Lomax
Einstein Middle School

Today's photo was one of the winners in the recent Shoreline Council PTA Reflections contest, in the Middle School Photography division.

The photo by student Karsten Lomax will go on to the state competition.



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Saint Mark Parish School speech team does well at tournament

St Mark team member receiving award

Congratulations to the Saint Mark Parish School Speech Team for its outstanding performance at the Seattle Prep Speech Tournament!  Eight of our students entered a total of 13 events, and nine of those 13 proceeded on to finals. At the end of the very long Saturday, against some tough competition from area schools, our team walked away with eight different awards!

Congratulations to:
  • Alayna, for 2nd in Dramatic Interpretation and a scholarship for $1,000 to Seattle Prep
  • Sophie, for 1st place in Duo and 3rd place in Editorial Commentary
  • Maria, for 1st place in Duo
  • Arianna, for 2nd in Storybook
Speech is just one of the many extra activities our students at Saint Mark Parish School have the opportunity to participate in! Come to our Open House on January 31, from 9:00am to 1:00pm and see the Saint Mark Difference!



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Movie “Overcriminalized” set for Sunday at Richmond Beach Congregational


The movie Overcriminalized will be shown Sunday at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church.

The movie is scheduled for 11:45am, after the morning worship service, in the Lena Voreis Suite on the northeast corner of the upper level of the church building, at the corner of NW Richmond Beach Road and 15th Ave NW (1512 NW 195th St, Shoreline). Discussion will follow the movie.

Overcriminalized is about ways to reduce America’s high level of incarceration and to explore alternatives to incarceration for addiction, mental illness and homelessness.

The movie presents such alternatives to incarceration as crisis intervention, law-enforcement diversion and finding affordable housing.



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Shorewood Girls upset Glacier Peak; primed for Hoopapalooza

Shorewood's Lily Gustafson
Photo by Geoff Vlcek

The Shorewood girls basketball team defeated #8 ranked Glacier Peak Wednesday night, 59-53, in the T-Birds gym.

The win avenged an earlier defeat at the hands of the Grizzlies on December 11, by a nearly identical score of 58-53.

Shorewood benefited from a three-pronged attack, with Jalyn Hizey leading the way with 18 points. Taryn Shelley had 17, while Lily Gustafson chipped in with 13.

The Grizzlies tried their mightiest in the last two minutes to reclaim the lead and sneak out with a win, but the T-Birds kept their composure down the stretch and prevailed in the end.

"I'm really proud of the girls - they earned that one,'" said T-Birds first year Head Coach Mark Haner. "They weathered a good team's run and kept competing."

With the win, the T-Birds served notice that they aren't ready to concede the top two spots in WesCo South 3A to defending state champion Lynnwood and Glacier Peak. With the win the T-Birds are now only a game behind GP for second place.

All of which sets up perfectly for Saturday night's girls Hoopapalooza game that starts at 5pm in the SW gym. (The boys' teams finish off the day-long hoops fest at 7pm)

Shorewood topped the Scots 43-31 when the teams played at Shorecrest on December 16.

Both teams have three top scorers, all of whom offer different talents and skill-sets to help their teams.

Shorecrest's Wurrie Njadoe
Photo by Geoff Vlcek

The Shorecrest Scots feature three of the most unique (and dissimilar) players imaginable.

5' 8" Senior Wurrie Njadoe won four individual 2A state track championships last spring --- the 100 and 200 meter dashes, as well as long jump and high jump. She can outrun anybody on the court for easy lay-ins, and she appears to be on pogo sticks when it comes to skying for rebounds. She'll run track at Kansas State next year.

5' 10 senior Uju Chibuogwu brings great size and strength to the court along with a deft shooting touch from as far away as 25 feet, and court-vision that allows her to throw some of the prettiest passes known to mankind. When she is on her game, she can be unstoppable.

6' 0" sophomore Julia Strand has emerged for the Scots as a bona-fide scoring threat. The sleek forward can drive and slash her way to the basket, scoring points in a variety of creative ways, as shown by her 20 points last Friday in a loss to Lynnwood.

For the Shorewood T-Birds, the aforementioned threesome of senior Lily Gustafson and juniors Hizey and Shelley carry the scoring load.  Hizey, a former Scot, can be a deadly outside shooter who can also drive to the hoop. The 6' 2" Shelley, a WSU-recruit, can bang in the low post as well as square up and face the basket from fifteen feet.  Gustafson, at an even six-feet, has great versatility, can score from anywhere on the court, but is sometimes reluctant to shoot, preferring to pass.

--Frank Workman



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Heavy rain floods parts of Edmonds; mud slide on tracks south of Edmonds shuts down commuter trains

Salish Crossing parking lot in Edmonds
Photo by John Lewis, My Edmonds News

Sounder Northline (Everett-Seattle) for Sound Transit service between Seattle and Everett was canceled Thursday night 1/21/16 due to mudslides south of Edmonds.

Riders were bussed on Thursday evening.

Sounder service is cancelled for Friday morning.

Edmonds – Seattle: Special buses will depart Edmonds Station in the Amtrak parking lot at 6:41 am, 7:11 am and 7:41 am. Riders may also board regularly scheduled Community Transit route 416 at Bay 2 departing at 5:45 am, 6:15 am, 6:34 am, 6:55 am, and 7:42 am.

Heavy rains, combined with King tides, created problems in the low lying areas of Edmonds, not just over the tracks.




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Local legislator honored for bipartisan work by Seattle CityClub

Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-46
Seattle CityClub has announced the publication of a new online collection highlighting bipartisanship in the Washington State Legislature. 

“So often when we hear news out of Olympia it focuses on polarization, strife and party politics. Yet, that's not the whole truth,” explains Diane Douglas, executive director of CityClub.

“Although differences certainly do exist, we are excited to highlight legislatures who have reached across the aisle to form connections, compromises and camaraderie that allows them to better serve the people of Washington State. “

Legislators profiled in the collection include Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-46th District including Lake Forest Park and Kenmore.
Uncovering common ground
Rep. Jessyn Farrell (D-46th District) and Sen. Doug Ericksen
(R-42nd District) 
Rep. Jessyn Farrell admits that finding common ground in the legislature isn’t always easy. “We are in a very polarized environment historically,” she says. But, as she also knows from experience, just because it can be difficult, doesn’t mean it’s impossible. 
When developing bipartisanship solutions, Farrell says the key to successful collaboration is finding common ground, even when it seems like there is none. 
Last year Farrell found common ground when developing legislation that would improve the safety of trains that transport oil through the state. To pass this legislation, she worked with Sen. Doug Ericksen. 
“We come from two very different ideas on the role of government in regulating environmental issues. But I think because his community and my community agree on a basic idea, to make these trains safer, we were able to craft a bill together at the last day of regular session,” she explains.” 
And Sen. Doug Ericksen agrees. “I’m glad we were able to finish our regular session by settling one of the biggest issues before us this year. Reaching compromise on this issue required hard work by both parties,” he explained in a piece on the Washington State Senate Republican Caucus website. “This demonstrates we can find a way to reach agreement and compromise.”

Others were Rep. Michelle Caldier (R-26th District), Rep. Sam Hunt (D-22nd District), Rep. Jim Moeller (D-49th District), Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self (D-21st District), Rep. Eric Pettigrew (D-37th District), Rep. Marcus Riccelli, (D-3rd District) and Rep. Hans Zeiger (R-25th District).

In 2014, CityClub helped bring the nationally acclaimed Next Generation: State Legislators leadership initiative to the Washington State Legislature. Created by the National Institute for Civil Discourse, this pioneering program trains state legislators to work together across the aisle. In the past two years, nearly 40% of our legislature have attended this workshop, supported by the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and the William D. Ruckelshaus Center.

The complete collection can be found online here.

Seattle CityClub is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to informing, connecting and engaging the public to strengthen the civic health of our region. Since its first program in 1981, CityClub has sponsored thousands of dialogues, discussions and candidate forums featuring local, regional and national experts and leaders.



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Third Place Commons is a little quieter

LFP Garden Club with new curtains
in Third Place Commons

Last week, all at the same time, Third Place Commons hosted: the Lake Forest Park Garden Club, a book club, a men’s group, an informal group of about 10 mothers with their toddlers, a business training meeting, a birthday group, several children and their caregivers at the “Kids Korral,” couples chatting and studying and individuals working on computers.

In December, Third Place Commons installed new sound reduction curtains. When closed, these new curtains really work. This means that the various groups can meet at the same time without as much distraction from competing noises.

The new deep-purple curtains match colors in the Third Place Commons logo adding some continuity and splash to the space. They were purchased with grant funds from 4Culture and donations from community members to Third Place Commons. The funds for the community portion of the curtains were raised at the annual breakfast.

This year the annual Third Place Commons Breakfast February 25, 2016 at 7am. The funds raised at the breakfast support all of the varied programs at the Commons. Tickets are available at Third Place Books and online at Third Place Commons Breakfast tickets.



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Scattered flooding around Shoreline

Shoreline City crews are responding to reports of scattered flooding around the community. If you have flooding in your area, please report it to the City's 24-hour Customer Response Team at 206-801-2700.



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Shoreline Walks seeks Volunteer Walk Leaders

Hamlin Park on the White Marker Trail
Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Do you have a great walking route that you would like to share with others?

The City of Shoreline is seeking volunteers to be walk leaders as part of the Shoreline Walks Free Community Walking Program.

Walks take place from April – November 2016 and explore streets, parks, trails and other walkable areas in Shoreline. More information here or contact Marianne Johnson, Recreation Specialist at 206-801-2638,

People interested in being a walk leader are encouraged to attend a Shoreline Walks planning meeting being held on Wednesday, February 3rd at 6pm at the Spartan Recreation Center, 202 NE 185th St, Shoreline 98155 (south end of Shoreline Center). Attendees will have a chance to learn about the program and see if it’s a good fit.



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Road work on Perkins Way

Public works worked to rebuild the road shoulder in the 18200 block of NE Perkins Way in Lake Forest Park on Thursday, January 21.

Perkins Way was shut down at NE 182nd St on the south end, and local access only south of 23rd Ave NE on the north end, with no through traffic between 23rd Ave NE and NE 182nd St.

The work was expected to be finished that evening.



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Rat City season opens Saturday in Shoreline

Photo courtesy of Diz Ruptive Photography

Come check out some fast-paced, hard-hitting roller derby action at the Rat City Rollersgirls season 12 opener this Saturday at The Rat's Nest, 19022 Aurora Ave N.

Watch the Sockit Wenches take on the Throttle Rockets and Derby Liberation Front battle it out with Grave Danger.

Don't miss the rest of season 12!

1/23 – Home Team Season Opener: Sockit Wenches vs Throttle Rockets and Derby Liberation Front vs Grave Danger
2/13 – Home Team Bout #2: Throttle Rockets vs Derby Liberation Front and Grave Danger vs Sockit Wenches
2/27 – Washington State Conference Bout #2
3/12 – Home Team Bout #3: Throttle Rockets vs Grave Danger and 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


All bouts are at the Rat’s Nest, 19022 Aurora Ave N Shoreline, WA 98133. Doors open at 4:30pm, first whistle at 5:30pm. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids 12 and under. Tickets available online or at the door.

Roller Derby explained



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City Council Inauguration Ceremony scheduled in LFP

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

At its meeting on January 14, 2016, the Lake Forest Park City Council took action to schedule a celebratory inauguration ceremony for Mayor Jeff Johnson and Councilmembers Catherine Stanford, Phillippa Kassover, and Tom French, whose terms run from January 2016 through December 2019.

The public is invited to celebrate community unity and pride in Lake Forest Park with the City Council on Saturday, February 13, 2016, from 6:00 to 9:00pm at the Lake Forest Park Civic Club, 17301 Beach Drive NE, Lake Forest Park.

The City Clerk administered the oath of office to the Mayor and Councilmembers listed above on December 29, 2015, so they would be ready to assume office in January 2016. The earliest available 2016 date for the Civic Club was February 13, due to construction on-site in January.

Parking at the Civic Club is limited. It would be helpful for those who are able to park at the City Hall parking lot and cross Bothell Way at the Ballinger Way NE signal.



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Hoopapalooza this Saturday at Shorewood gym

2014 Shorecrest percussion section
at Hoopapalooza
Photo by Geoff Vlcek

The Hoopapalooza tradition lives on this weekend as the Shorewood and Shorecrest basketball teams face each other for a full day of exciting basketball action at the Shorewood Gymnasium, 17300 Fremont Ave N.

Expect to see all the teams from both schools square off against each other. There will be cheerleaders, percussionists, bands, flag teams, and mascots.

Here is a schedule of game times:

Noon                C Boys

1:30                 JV Girls

3:00                 JV Boys

5:00                 V Girls

7:00                 V Boys

Ticket prices are $6 for adults; $3 for seniors/children. Shorecrest and Shorewood students with ASB cards are free.



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Book Review by Aarene Storms: Station Eleven

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

On an ordinary, snowy Toronto night, 8-year-old Kirsten Raymonde is onstage watching a famous actor playing King Lear die of a heart attack. 

Three weeks later, almost everyone else present in the theatre that night is dead of a virulent mutant Swine Flu. 

Four weeks later, almost everyone else in the world is dead of the virus. 

Fifteen years later, the Earth is only sparsely populated by survivors of the virus and the social collapse that followed.

Kirsten is one of the survivors. Twenty years after the flu epidemic, Kirsten is a member of the Traveling Symphony, a ragtag group of musicians and actors on a never-ending tour of the surviving settlements, performing Bach, Beethoven, and Shakespeare because, as the motto written on the first caravan says, "Survival is insufficient"  (a quote borrowed from "Star Trek: Voyager)

This is not a gentle apocalypse. Some survivors have banded together in peaceful villages. Others are drawn to Doomsday cults. Some cling desperately to the glorious history of humanity, telling whispered tales of flying machines, air conditioning, and antibiotics. Others eschew the past, wanting to spare their children the ugliness of the now-gone world. 

The tale bounces back and forth along the timeline, from pre-apocalypse to various points in the collapse, which might be confusing but isn't. Throughout the novel, the lasting power of art and literature lend small amounts of grace and strength to the characters. From Sartre's "Hell is other people" to Miranda's "Brave new world, that has such people in’t," this novel will deeply affect the way readers view their technology-enhanced world ... and each other.

Although written and marketed as a book for adults, this story is highly recommended for readers ages 14 to adult.  Sexual situations are tactfully off-stage, violence is on-stage but not gory.

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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Shrek Jr., The Musical in March


Christ the King School is presenting “Shrek Jr., The Musical”
in March in Shoreline

Thursday, March 17th at 7pm
Friday, March 18th at 7pm
Saturday, March 19th at 2pm and 7pm

Shoreline Community College Theater, 16101 Greenwood Ave N (maps)

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online.
No charge for parking in the evening, a small fee during the daytime.



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No quorum - LFP Council meeting Jan 28 cancelled

City Council Meeting on January 28, 2016 Canceled

At its meeting on January 14, 2016, the Lake Forest Park City Council took action to cancel the January 28, 2016, regular business meeting. A quorum of Councilmembers will not be available for this meeting, due to attendance at the City Action Days conference, sponsored by the Association of Washington Cities in Olympia.

The next City Council work session and regular business meetings are scheduled for Thursday, February 11, 2016, beginning at 6:00pm and 7:00pm, respectively.



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Kagi bill on child access to firearms has Thursday hearing

By Evan Smith

State Rep. Ruth Kagi’s bill to limit children’s access to firearms will have a hearing Thursday before a legislative committee in Olympia.

The State House Judiciary Committee will hold public hearings on Kagi’s bill and four other gun-related bills Thursday at 1:30pm.

The Kagi-sponsored Child Access Prevention Act, HB 1747, would create the crime of child endangerment due to unsafe storage of a firearm when a person stores or leaves the firearm in a place they know or should know is accessible to a child and the child does harm with the unsecured gun.

Judiciary Committee Democrats pointed out that this bill would not mandate how a firearm should be stored — just that adults take the responsibility for storing their guns so that young children or troubled teens can’t get easy access to the guns.

Kagi said Tuesday that there are too many instances of young children finding unsecured guns in their homes, at a family member’s or neighbor’s house, and accidentally shooting themselves or others.

In Washington, guns taken from the home have been at the heart of some of the most tragic gun violence incidents in our state, including the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting, she said. Over a 25-year period, more than 65 percent of school shooters obtained the firearm at their home or that of a relative.

Additionally, she noted, one study found that more than 75 percent of guns used in youth suicide attempts and unintentional injuries were stored in the residence of the victim, relative or friend.

The committee also will hear these bills:

HB 2461, the Extreme Risk Protection Orders, which would allow family members and law enforcement to petition a court to temporarily prevent an individual going through a mental health crisis from accessing a gun.

HB 2460, which would give local municipalities the ability to choose what’s best for their community by restricting possession of firearms in local public places like parks, public transportation and libraries.

HB 2481, which would clarify and expand the exemption for gun owners to own, repair, buy or sell short-barreled rifles.

HB 2372, which would direct local law enforcement agencies to either keep or destroy guns acquired through criminal investigations. Currently, law enforcement agencies sell guns acquired through criminal investigations to licensed dealers.

Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Laurie Jinkins, a Tacoma Democrat who is sponsoring the Extreme Risk Protection Orders bill, said this:

“I’m optimistic for progress on common-sense gun safety legislation this year that would help keeps guns out of the hands of people going through a crisis, young children and teens,” adding, 
“My Republican colleagues have always said they’d be willing to consider reasonable and fair approaches to preventing gun violence. On Thursday we’ll be hearing some reasonable solutions that balance rights and responsibilities, and we’ll need bipartisan support."

Kagi, a Democrat representing Shoreline and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District, said,

“Too many preventable tragedies occur when a young child or troubled teen has easy access to an unsecured gun,” adding, 
“Responsible gun owners can prevent tragic accidental shootings by young children, and teen suicides, by simply securing their weapon. Kids are going to be kids. This bill will hold adults responsible for being adults.”

The 32nd District includes South Edmonds, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas, Lynnwood, part of Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline and a small area of north Seattle.

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



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Meet Florence DeShazer, wife of War Hero Jacob DeShazer

Florence DeShazer is a resident of CRISTA

By Shari Winstead

During my service as Shoreline’s mayor, I was privileged to meet and speak to many interesting people and groups. It was towards the end of my two years as Mayor that I received an invitation to meet Florence DeShazer. Mrs. DeShazer is the widow of Jacob DeShazer, a bombardier in the famous WWII Doolittle Raid. Mrs. DeShazer is also a resident of Crista, right here in Shoreline.

I have to admit that I didn’t know much about Doolittle’s Raid, and my knowledge of WWII is not as broad as I would like. I have, however, had the honor of emceeing the City’s Veterans’ Day celebration for the last two years, and that experience has exposed me to many great real-life history lessons - many about World War II. I’ve also had the pleasure of meeting many wonderful men and women who have served our country through peace and war times.

Jacob DeShazer, WWII hero
ca 1945
Jacob DeShazer was a WWII hero, a recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal, as well as other significant awards. But Sergeant DeShazer was much more than a medal recipient. He was a beacon of peace and forgiveness - quite remarkable for a man who was a bombardier, captured and held as a prisoner of war for 40 months, 34 of those in solitary confinement.

During his time as a POW, the guards were directed to “be nicer” to the prisoners, and so when Sgt. DeShazer asked for a Bible, his request was granted. Through his reading of the bible (sometimes for 15 hours a day), he became a Christian. He made it his mission to spread the Lord’s word, as well as the message of peace and forgiveness. After his discharge from the service, he studied at Seattle Pacific College (now University) and became a missionary, doing most of his work living in Japan.

Mrs. DeShazer, at 94, is still sharp as a tack and full of stories and memories.

She and Jacob were married after his discharge from the military, after he had been freed from the prisoner of war camp. They met at Seattle Pacific Colllege, where they were both students, Jacob there on the GI bill, with at that time of a ratio of 9 women to every man. At that time Florence had read about him in the newspaper, and knew his sister was a student at Seattle U. Florence had hoped to meet him and shake his hand, but ended up being his bride shortly after meeting him.

I asked Mrs. DeShazer what it was like being married to a former POW. In the past ten years, we have learned so much about PTSD, and have so much more compassion than in the late 1940s. It is hard to imagine the kind of long lasting effects being a POW would have on a person. Mrs. DeShazer told me that her husband was always a wonderful man, and the only noticeable difficulty he had at first was with his speech, as he had been in solitary confinement for 34 months.

When she spoke, the gleam in her eye and the smile on her face showed the remembering of a very special man, who was sweet and kind. His actions, the way he lived his life after his wartime experience, are a testimony to his being a pillar of forgiveness. It was clear that they were partners, not only as husband and wife and parents, but in their mission in life. She remarked that they had a wonderful time traveling and being together.

Not only was it interesting to speak with Mrs. DeShazer about her husband, but also to hear about her life after they were wed. They moved to Japan when their first child was just a year old, and had three more children, born in Japan. Their youngest daughter and fifth child was born in the United States. Mrs. DeShazer shared an interesting perspective about the difference between doctors and hospitals in the US and Japan.

Surprisingly, it sounded like the medical treatment she received in Japan was kinder and gentler than our typical U.S. care.

The standard of care is different everywhere, as well as our perspective on how we treat pregnant woman. A great example was when a United States doctor told her to be careful about how much weight she was gaining, whereas in Japan, the doctor wanted to make sure she had a good appetite. Maybe Japanese healthcare, and the Japanese people, were more compassionate than we were led to believe.

Mrs. DeShazer shared many stories with me that day, but the one that touched me most deeply was of her husband’s baptism. It wasn’t in a church, or at a river, but rather through the rainwater that came in through the tiny, high-placed window in his POW cell. After so much time reading the bible, and wanting desperately to be baptized, Sgt. DeShazer saw the rain coming in his window as an opportunity to wash away his sins, and to give his life to Jesus. Where there is a will there is a way. Sgt. DeShazer found his baptism inside that small cell where he was a prisoner of war. The cell could hold him prisoner, but could not keep him from his destiny, to be a man of God.

Sgt. DeShazer’s missionary work was mostly done in Japan, the country he had been part of bombing.

Quite the paradox, but again a testimony to his religion, love and forgiveness. He is also well know for befriending Capt. Mitsuo Fuchida, the Japanese captain who led the attack on Pearl Harbor, the event that brought on the Doolittle Raid. The two friends went on to serve the Lord together, as missionaries.

Return of the Raider
was written about Jacob DeShazer
 
There’s no doubt that Sgt. DeShazer’s life has served as an example of true forgiveness - and the stories are too many for me to include here. I hope you will take the time to learn more about one of the special people connected to Shoreline. There is a brief story on Wikipedia, or better yet, take the time to read the book Return of the Raider, A Doolittle Raider’s story of War and Forgiveness. The book is coauthored by Carol Dixon, daughter of Jake and Florence, who is also a Shoreline resident. There are many other books and sources of information about Sgt. DeShazer, as well as the Doolittle Raiders, also on the Wikipedia page.

Our great city of Shoreline is full of interesting people and places. If you know of a secret gem in Shoreline - person, place or thing, drop a message to me at shariwinstead@yahoo.com. If you are interested in Shoreline’s history, take a trip to the Shoreline Historical Museum, there is more to learn than you could even imagine!

See you around Shoreline!

Updated 01-22-2016



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World Dance Party in Shoreline Friday - food and dancing

Tuesday, January 19, 2016


Friday, January 22, 6-9pm at the Richmond Masonic Center, N 185th Street at Linden.

Everyone is welcome for food, fun, multicultural dance and music.

Just bring a dish to add to the potluck. Learn fun new dances - aerobic exercise the easy way!



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SCC Clean Energy Technology students clean up in scholarship competition

From left to right: Louise Petruzzella, Director Clean Energy Technology program at Shoreline; Tamas Bencsik, ASHRAEmember; Dana Shaphren, student; Jason Parker, student; Laura Humiston, student; Richard Doremus, ASHRAE member; and David Redding, Clean Energy Technology faculty pose in front of the CET Zero Energy House on Shoreline’s campus.

Three Shoreline Community College students in the Clean Energy Technology (CET) program are starting Winter quarter off with recognition, and some help, from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The students each received a scholarship in the amount of $2,000 from the organization, which is dedicated to the advancement of the arts and sciences of practices related to the reduction of building energy use.

“We just started an ASHRAE student chapter here on campus in Fall 2015,” said CET Program Director, Louise Petruzzella, “so to have so many of our students be chosen for these prestigious scholarships is really extraordinary news that speaks to how the clean energy industry as a whole is recognizing the great work we’re doing here at Shoreline.”

Clean Energy Tech is a rapidly growing industry, and students in CET at Shoreline are learning the skills and knowledge to participate in the field that is all about the reduction of building energy use and the environmental issues that it represents.

The scholarship recipients, Laura Humiston, Dana Shaphren, and Jason Parker, were required to respond to an essay regarding their career goals, steps, and involvement in ASHRAE. In addition, they were asked to identify what they saw as “the greatest opportunity to improve their education.” The scholarships were awarded in honor of Harry Clayton Sutch, a long-time professional in the industry.

“We’re really excited to be involved with ASHRAE through our student chapter,” said Petruzzella. “It means our students are joining an international society of 53,000 members (in 132 nations) that offers them the chance to meet industry leaders and to connect classroom learning from Shoreline to what is going on in the field.”



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2500 Shoreline residents being surveyed on City parks

ETC Institute has mailed out the parks community survey to approximately 2,500 Shoreline residents this week.


Information from the survey will be used to help kick-off the update to the City’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan.

The mailing includes a postage paid return envelope. People receiving the survey are also provided instructions on how take it online if they so choose.

In about three weeks the consultants will begin making follow-up calls to achieve the desired response rate of at least 500 random surveys.



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Bingo for Books potluck Friday in Highland Terrace


The Highland Terrace Neighborhood Association is hosting Bingo for Books this coming Friday evening, January 22 from 6:30-8:00pm in the Highland Terrace Elementary cafeteria, 100 N 160th St, Shoreline 98133.

Bring a potluck item to share, and a book to donate. All are welcome to come play Bingo and have great evening with neighbors and friends.



Do you live in the Highland Terrace Neighborhood? It's the purple area on the map.



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Photos: SW Boys Swim against Marysville teams

Photos by Wayne Pridemore

SW boys swim team vs Marysville Getchell and Marysville-Pilchuck Tuesday afternoon, January 19, 2016 at Shoreline Pool.

Wayne says, "Shorewood swimmers were monsters in the pool."

Final scores: Shorewood 151 Marysville Pilchuck 29, and Shorewood 143 Marysville Getchell 42



The sea conch is sounded and Shorewood gets ready for the start of the meet against the two Marysville teams.


Shorewood's Dominic Fattizzi leads in his heat of the 200 individual medley and goes on to win.


In another heat of the 200 individual medley Thunderbird Kevin Lee swims the backstroke leg and goes on to win.




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Shoreline Preservation Society announces appeal of GMHB case

Friday, January 15th the Shoreline Preservation Society (SPS) filed a judicial appeal of the Growth Management Hearings Board decision on the 185th Subarea, zoning, and environmental impact statement  to the Thurston County Superior Court. The Board had ruled in favor of the City of Shoreline on December 16, 2015.

SPS did so because the Board erred in a rush to approve transit-oriented development, failing to recognize  that the Shoreline City Council has mandated explosive new growth without any plan to pay for the substantial new infrastructure that will be required to support it. 
SPS is appealing the GMHB decision because these massive rezones are wrong for Shoreline, a city that prides itself on having livable neighborhoods. SPS believes that the City’s actions do not comply with the Growth Management Act and therefore must be invalidated and remanded back to the GMHB Board by the Court. 
The physical nature of our community as described in the appeal states: “According to the Subarea Plan, the subarea’s existing population is 7,944 people. This subarea, rezone, and planned action allows for buildings of 4-7 stories with densities upward of 48 dwelling units per acre with a build out population of approximately 56,529 people -- a population eight times its existing size, and larger than the existing population of the City of Shoreline as a whole.

 Janet Way, President of SPS, stated
“SPS is standing up for the distinct character of our community, while still in support of the GMA. We can support smart growth and promote a vibrant community without dismantling our existing community completely, displacing thousands of residents who have contributed to our community for many decades. We can support growth without destroying our sense of place or overtaxing our residents to pay for upzone impacts.”


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Shoreline Public Schools closed to new non-residents for 2016-17 school year

Due to continued increased enrollment, space constraints and anticipated future growth, Shoreline Public Schools will continue to be closed to new non-resident students in grades K-6 for the 2016-17 school year.

Current students with non-resident boundary transfers who were enrolled prior to the 2015-16 school year will be allowed to continue to attend the Shoreline Public Schools unless admission is revoked for the reasons identified in the notice of acceptance.

Students who move out of the District during the school year will be allowed to complete the year unless admission is revoked for the reasons identified in the notice of acceptance.

The District will reevaluate enrollment capacity prior to the beginning of the 2016-17 school year. At that time, siblings of students with current non-resident boundary exceptions will be given priority if space becomes available.

The District will continue to honor all statutory and contractual obligations relating to non-resident boundary transfer applications for the children of District employees.




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Friday's Roundtable: Pros and Cons of Working From Home

Great chat with Big 5 Sporting Goods recruiter, Krista Brown last Friday! A few of us applied online, and one was offered a close by and flexible position on the spot! We’ll see Krista in May.


This Friday’s Roundtable (1/22): Pros and Cons of Working From Home

Experience in the field (and life with a freelancer) dictates to me that there are more pros than cons. Roundtable participant, and stay-at-home freelance editor, Mary Keils, will be on hand to help get the conversation started.

Lots of info online about this topic, but nothing beats real life experiences. Please come by to share. We’ll talk about researching home based employment, the opportunities in our area, tips on motivation, getting set up, the tax situation, and other topics. All this of course with great coffee and snacks, compliments of Central Market.

See you this Friday – and as always, Good Luck out there!

Friday, January 22, 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.

Led by 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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Shoreline City Manager update for week of 1-11-2016

City Manager Update for week of 1/11/16

Council Meetings
January 11
·         Dinner Meeting: Council Operations.
·         Regular Meeting:
o   Proclamation Declaring January 18, 2016 as Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the City of Shoreline: Shoreline Youth Ambassadors from the Youth and Teen Development Program received the proclamation.
o   Motion to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Contract with Consolidated Press for the Printing and Mailing of the Currents Newsletter: On November 16, 2015, the City issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for printing and mailing services for the Currents Newsletter. As a result of this RFP, the City selected Consolidated Press as the preferred service provider.
o   Authorize the City Manager to Enter into a Contract with Perteet, Inc. for On-Call Construction Management and Inspection Services in an Amount Not to Exceed $150,000 for 2016: Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract with Perteet, Inc. to provide on-call construction management and inspection services in 2016 to support the City's capital program and right of way inspections.
o   Authorize the City Manager to enter into a Contract with Berry Dunn McNeil & Parker, LLC in the Amount of $69,400 for Financial and Human Resources Software Requirements Development and Vendor Selection Support: The City’s current financial system is aging. It is currently built on legacy technology, and vendor response to system issues has been slow. With the forthcoming need to provide utility billing for the City’s wastewater utility and the need to integrate other City software systems (recreation, permit, and asset management) to our financial system, it is necessary to either upgrade our current system or migrate to a new one. This project will guide the City through system requirements and vendor selection for this process.
o   Discussion of Ronald Wastewater District Assumption Transition Plan: The discussion covered the culmination of the Committee of Elected Official’s work – the Draft Assumption Transition Plan. The Draft Assumption Transition Plan is the final work product of the CEO and combines all of the issue papers previously reviewed by the Council and the Ronald Wastewater District Board. The Draft Plan is scheduled to be brought back to Council for adoption on March 14, 2016.
o   Discussion of Transportation Impact Fee Amendment for Certain Businesses: On July 21, 2014, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 690, establishing a transportation impact fee (TIF) program for the City of Shoreline. The purpose of the TIF is to assess a fee for the impacts of new development (residential and non-residential) on the City’s transportation system and those fees are used to pay a portion of six future “growth” projects that will be required in order to meet the City’s transportation concurrency requirements. This program became effective January 1, 2015. Council discussed options ranging from the status quo to deferral or exemption for certain businesses.

Important Meetings
·         Representatives Ryu and Kagi: Intergovernmental Programs Manager Scott MacColl and I met with Representative Ryu on January 6 and Representative Kagi on January 7 to share the City’s adopted 2016 Legislative Priorities. Representative Ryu has been appointed the chair of the House Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee, which also oversees efforts to help veterans and boost tourism in Washington State. Representative Ryu plans to co-sponsor a bill to support preservation property tax exemption for existing housing as affordable housing (50% AMI or lower). Representative Kagi was also interested in discussing how the City of Shoreline can be a partner in addressing homelessness. Representative Kagi will continue to sponsor legislation to address children’s issues. We were able to discuss with both issues related to the Public Records Act and the resource commitment required by the City to address extensive requests.

Parks Community Survey
ETC Institute has mailed out the parks community survey to approximately 2,500 Shoreline residents this week. Information from the survey will be used to help kick-off the update to the City’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. The mailing includes a postage paid return envelope. People receiving the survey are also provided instructions on how take it on-line if they so choose. In about three weeks the consultants will begin making follow-up calls to achieve the desired response rate of at least 500 random surveys.

Planning Commission Applicants
The City received 18 applications, including three applications from current commissioners whose terms are expiring, for the four appointments.

Revenue Report - November 2015
Revenue Report for November 2015. Highlights include:
·         Sales tax receipts from September 2015 activity were slightly lower than the revised projection (-0.1%) but higher than the year-ago level by 3.5%. Total receipts for the year are up from the revised projection and year-ago level 3.0% and 3.6%, respectively.
·         Receipts from the Retail Trade Sector for the year are up from the revised projection and year-ago level by 0.8% and 7.3%, respectively. In August, staff contacted the Department of Revenue to investigate the possible miscoding of some tax returns since September 2014. Staff worked with the DOR to investigate and correct this issue; however, due to the limitation on how many prior months can be recaptured, the Miscellaneous Store Retailers category will appear to be lower than the year-ago level.
·         Receipts from the Construction Sector for the year, excluding one-time activity, are higher than the revised projection and year-ago level by 12.6% and 7.0%, respectively. Large one-time projects generated less sales tax this year than they did in prior years. This reflects an increased level of ongoing construction activity within the city.
·         Gambling Revenue - this month’s edition includes a discussion of the gambling revenue received and gambling activity trends for the first through third quarters.
·         Real Estate Excise Tax - for REET, there have been more transactions that occurred through November 2015 as compared to the same period in 2014. REET collections through November are ahead of the budget projection (+51.8%), the revised projection (+16.3%), and the year-ago level (+52.0%). There have been 46 transactions greater than $1.0 million in 2015, as compared to 26 in the same period of 2014. Netting out the value of those transactions reveals a value that is 51.7% higher. It is also interesting to note that the average transaction value year-to-date, excluding sales with a transaction value greater than $1.0 million, was 11.9% higher in 2015 than 2014 at $431,249 and $385,426, respectively.
·         Permit revenue through November 2015 is ahead of the projection and year-ago level by 35.6% and 5.2%, respectively. The number of permits issued in 2015 is 1.5% lower than the year-ago level, but the number of building permits issued and plan checks has increased 2.5%. Local development activity in 2015, in terms of the valuation, is higher than the year-ago level while the number of permits pulled is the same.

Solid Waste Request for Proposals
We received proposals from Waste Management, Republic, and Recology/CleanScapes in response to our Request for Proposals for our solid waste contract. Staff has started the evaluation process. We received a public records request from Waste Management for copies of all of the proposals and, as such, the City will be providing copies to all three of the firms that submitted proposals. The current timeline has the Council awarding the contract in April.

This and That
·         Small Business Quick Start Program/Shoreline Community College Partnership: Economic Development Manager Dan Eernissee has been following up with the Shoreline Community College on the future of this program with the recent passing of Mark McVeety. I anticipate the college will have someone to take over the program soon. However, we will suspend the program for the months of January and February in order to give all parties a chance to put all the necessary pieces in place.
·         Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Strategic Plan Progress Report



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Reception to dedicate public artwork at Shorewood

Monday, January 18, 2016

Bird and Beak
Stained glass by Dick Weiss

Shorewood High School will be hosting a reception to dedicate and honor the public artwork that was installed as part of the Washington Art Commission’s Art in Public Places Program (AIPP).

The event will take place on Thursday, January 21 at 2:45pm in the Shorewood Commons, 17300 Fremont Ave N.

Artist Dick Weiss will be present to talk about his stained glass works "Bird and Beak" and “Wing."

The event is open to the public. RSVP to 206-393-4412 if you plan to attend.

Wing
Stained glass by Dick Weiss

The Washington State Legislature established AIPP in 1974 to acquire artwork for K-12 public schools, colleges, universities, and state agencies, funded by ½ of 1 percent of the state’s portion of construction costs. Shorewood’s artwork is now part of the more than 4,500 artworks the State Art Collection has sited where people study, work, and live.



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Shoreline artist chosen for Juried Art Competition

Eagle Dancer
By Colleen Foye Bollen

Pacific Northwest artist Colleen Foye Bollen, Shoreline, has been chosen for inclusion in the 2016 Annual Washington Juried Art Competition and Show at Bremerton’s Collective Visions Gallery CVG.

The annual CVG Show is one of the largest and most prestigious art competitions in the Northwest. Over 270 artists from 70 Washington cities submitted nearly 800 artworks for consideration. Of these only 132 pieces were selected for inclusion in the show.

Leilani Lewis, Director of Communications and Marketing at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) in Seattle, is the juror for this year’s competition.

$7,500 in cash prizes will be awarded to 11 artists in multiple categories.

Exhibition coordinator Alan Newberg says: “The 2016 show has attracted top quality artists from every quarter of our state to submit their best work. Attendees and collectors will find a museum quality show of work ranging in size from large sculptures, paintings and fiber art pieces to small prints, photos and jewelry.”

The 2016 CVG Show be will open to the public January 23, 2016 from 1 to 5pm. The exhibit continues until Saturday, February 28. The gallery is open Wednesday – Saturday 10 to 5 and Sunday 12 to 4.  The Collective Visions Gallery is located in downtown Bremerton at 331 Pacific Avenue, just 3 blocks from the ferry terminal. 360-377-8327.



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Washington Wild ice hockey teams fare well at MLK Tournament in San Jose

The Washington Wild 14U Rep Tier 2/AA and 19U Rep Tier 2/AA teams represented the Western Washington Female Hockey Association well at the 13th Annual San Jose Jr. Sharks Girls’ and Women’s Ice Hockey MLK Tournament in San Jose, California -- with the 19U Rep team earning the Championship Title.

MLK 19U Champs

The 19U Rep team became champions Monday morning after beating the Utah Lady Grizzlies 4-2 in the 19U AA division. The Wild completed the tournament 5-0 by defeating the Anaheim Lady Ducks (10-2), Arizona Lady Coyotes (5-0), Colorado Select (2-0) along the way, and the New Mexico Mustangs in the semi-finals (2-1). The team united to earn points across the roster.

Notable players were senior forward Lauren White of Snohomish -- top point earner with 7 goals and 3 assists for 10 points in 5 games. Senior forward Mikayla Anderson from University Place and Freshman Dylan Hammond from Kennewick both earned 9 points. Freshman Anna Stensland of Shoreline had a 96% save average and senior Monica Jackson from McCall, ID had an 89% save average.


The 14U Rep team went 2-2 in the tournament, losing to Colorado Select and the Richmond Ravens of B.C., and defeating the San Jose Jr. Sharks and the Lady Blue Devils.

Forward Kayla Kutes of Kirkland had six points on 5 goals and 1 assist, including a hat trick against the Lady Blue Devils. Defenseman Aurora Spencer of Lake Stevens had five points with 2 goals and three assists, followed by forward Olivia Clark of Seattle with 1 goal and 3 assists for 4 points. Goaltender Victoria Scharkov of Bellevue had an 88% save percentage and Olivia Colgan of Maple Valley had an 87% save average and a shutout against the Lady Blue Devils.

Support for the teams

Each team supported the other by watching their games. Above is a picture of the signs the 14U Rep team made for their big sisters. Below are more pictures of team support -- the 14U players even watched the 19U championship online at the airport on their way home.

Support the team!

The teams train at Highland Ice Arena in Shoreline.



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KUOW: vast 185th rezoning will make Shoreline look like Seattle

1400 homes in the 185th rezone

KUOW.org published an article about the density expected for Shoreline with the rezoning for the 185th Transit Station, as well as ideas to redevelop the Shoreline Center for greater density.

Shoreline, just north of Seattle, is a classic suburb facing a very urban challenge. 
It is gaining a light rail station at 185th Street and I-5. And that new station is kicking off a vast redevelopment that will change the shape of the city. In all, 1,400 homes have been rezoned for a densified redevelopment that will change this part of the city into something that looks as though it were born in Seattle.

 The article covers both sides of the debate.

The imposition of a densified urban vision for the area around the light rail station at 185th is stressful for the people who live there now.
But City Council proceeded, permitting a redevelopment area so vast it could eventually house 50,000 people. The city's current population is around 55,000.

Now the City is working on redevelopment of the 145th Corridor and a rezone around the 145th transit station and mounting a publicity campaign to draw in new business and "millennial" residents.

 Read the article here

Upcoming public meetings:

Tuesday, January 19, 2016: 145th St Corridor Project hosted by the Ridgecrest Neighborhood Association, 7pm,  Ridgecrest Elementary School, 16516 10th NE.

Thursday, January 21, 2016: Planning Commission Meeting, 7-9pm,  Shoreline City Hall Council Chambers, 17500 Midvale Ave N.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016: Light Rail Station and Facility Design Public Meeting, 6-8:30pm, Shorewood High School - Commons and Theatre, 17300 Fremont Ave N.

Thursday, January 28, 2016: 145th Street Station Citizens Committee, 7-8:30pm, Room 301 City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N.



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LFP Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford elected to Sound Cities Association Board of Directors

Catherine Stanford
Sound Cities Board of Directors
Lake Forrest Park Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford has been elected to the 2016 Board of Directors of the Sound City Association (SCA), which represents 36 cities in King County, and provides a regional voice for nearly one million people. This is Deputy Mayor Stanford’s first term on the 13 member SCA Board.

“We are excited that Deputy Mayor Stanford has been elected to the Board and will serve as a representative from the North Caucus,” said SCA Executive Director Deanna Dawson. “Her participation will help in our efforts to the build long-term community and economic prosperity for our region and state.”

SCA provides a voice for King County cities through leadership in areas such as economic and community development, transportation, land use, health, government operations, the environment, education, public safety, social welfare and other public policy issues.

Catherine Stanford has been a Lake Forest Park Councilmember for eight years. She  came to office with a great deal of knowledge about the city and its community having served on the Planning Commission for 10 years (Chair for four); the Economic Development Committee; Friends of Third Place Commons, and the Farmer’s Market Chair. Today, she also serves as the Puget Sound Regional Council’s Economic Development Board Vice President. Her professional background is in commercial real estate and she currently runs a consulting practice.

SCA, which was formerly known as the Suburban Cities Association, was established more than 40 years ago to help King County cities act locally and partner regionally to create vital and thriving communities through advocacy, education, leadership, mutual support and networking.



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