Help choose art for Shoreline's permanent collection - voting deadline extended to Friday June 22

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Megan Reisinger_Yeti (detail), 2017

The City of Shoreline will be choosing two to five pieces of art for its permanent collection and you can have an influence on what is chosen.

A call for artists brought in 300 pieces of art from over 100 artists. 

Rich Lehl, The Field Recorder 2007

David Francis, Public Art Coordinator, and Shoreline resident Jason Huff from Seattle Arts and Culture, selected 44 pieces which are now on display at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, 98133, Monday to Friday, 8:00am - 5:00pm.

Suze Woolf, The Last Iceberg, 2016
The show is on the third and fourth floors of City Hall. Visitors can take the elevator from the lobby. The art is displayed on the walls of the corridors facing the courtyard.

The show is called "Centers of Gravity" and each piece explores contemporary art as a balancing of objectives and a blending of disciplinary focus.

The show itself runs until September 17. 

However, if you view the show before Friday, June 22, you can vote on what pieces you would like the city to acquire.

Terry Leness, The Gatekeeper, 2017

While you are at City Hall, see the other works of art in the city collection - the sculpture fountain by the courtyard door, the dogwoods climbing four stories up the outside wall, the clouds hanging from the lobby ceiling, and the other pieces around the lobby.



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Low tide beach walks at RB Saltwater Park - summer schedule

Darcie Larson, beach naturalist
Photo by Wayne Pridemore
Beach naturalists are local citizens who care about Puget Sound beaches and want to help protect them. More than 100 have volunteered via the Seattle Aquarium to help people learn about and enjoy area shorelines.

Beach naturalists know their beaches: they can help you enjoy the habitat without harming it; tell you what sea stars eat; explain why barnacles stand on their heads; describe how moon snails lay their eggs; and so much more.

"The enthusiasm and excitement of our beach naturalists transfers directly to the public—it's a wonderful, infectious thing!" beams Janice Mathisen, community outreach coordinator at the Seattle Aquarium. 
"To be able to meet a family and educate them on what a treasure we have here in Puget Sound is amazing."


Date and Time

*Saturday, June 16  11am-3pm
Sunday, June 17  12pm-3:30pm

Low tide at RB Saltwater Park

Friday, June 29  11am-1:30pm
Saturday, June 30  11:45am-1:45pm

This was one of the lowest tides of the year
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Wednesday, July 11  9am-11:30am
*Thursday, July 12  9am-12:30pm
*Friday, July 13  9:30am-1:30pm
*Saturday, July 14  10:30am-2:30pm
Sunday, July 15  11:15am-2:45pm

Emily Maranon and her son, Caleb
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Saturday, July 28  11am-1pm

Thursday, August 9  9am-11am
Friday, August 10  9am-12pm
Saturday, August 11  10am-1pm
Sunday, August 12  10:30am-1:30pm

*Lowest summer tides


The Walks are sponsored by the City of Shoreline.



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Garden Tour today in Lake Forest Park

Friday, June 15, 2018


The 16th annual Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Market is today, Saturday June 16, 2018.

The Market and the Tour both open at 9am and run to 3pm. Tickets are available at the lower level of the Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way, Lake Forest Park.

The ticket allows you to enter six private gardens and see the amazing work done in local spaces.

Birdwatchers, beekeepers, gardeners, photographers, rosarians, artists, and musicians will each find some delights in the gardens.



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Calvin's Annual Community Block Party Jun 23


Calvin's Annual Community Block Party hosted by Calvin Presbyterian Church 18826 3rd Ave NW Shoreline 98177, Saturday, June 23, 2018 from 12noon to 3pm.

Celebrate Community, Celebrate Summer!

Join us for our Community Block Party featuring free food and delicious donuts thanks to Doughnut Dame.

There will also be fantastic live music featuring the NW Junior Pipe Band, the Intermezzo Choir of the Seattle Children’s Choir, and a 12 piece band playing Contra Dance music!

Kids will enjoy the Bouncy House and face painting. Our church community and local guest groups will host activities throughout the day.

Confirmed guests include: The Doughtnut Dame, Hillwood Community Network, Richmond Beach Community Association, International Community Health Services, Seattle Children's Chorus, Intermezzo Choir, Sno-King Youth Club, Windless in Shoreline, Shoreline Police Department, Shoreline Fire Department ... and many more.

Email for more info



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Kiwanis Kontest and presentation on solar electrical at dinner meeting June 21

Visitors are welcome to attend a dinner meeting of the North Central Seattle Kiwanis club, a club that represents all of north Seattle in serving the needs of kids.

The club provides an annual free summer camp, Camp Casey on Whidbey Island, for up to 90 kids with physical disabilities. They also help with Project Cool in providing backpacks loaded with school supplies to homeless kids and have other service projects as well.

When? Thursday, June 21, 2018 from 6:30 to 8:00pm.

Where? 125th Street Grill, 12255 Aurora Ave N, Seattle

Program? The evening will begin with a Kiwanis Kontest, in which you may learn some surprising things about your fellow club members. Don’t be late or you might miss out on the Kontest. The Kontest will be followed by a meal served by the restaurant.

After the meal, two speakers will speak on “Could your house roof supply your home’s electrical needs?” Each speaker installed solar collectors on their homes several years ago. They will speak about their experiences with the systems and answer your questions.

Food? The meal cost is $15 per person, not including alcoholic beverages. The food choices are prime rib dip with choice of sides, pasta primavera, fish and chips, blackened salmon Caesar salad, and Cobb salad. RSVP here.



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WSU President’s Honor Roll Spring 2018

Washington State University’s President’s Honor Roll for the 2018 spring semester includes the local students listed below.

The President’s Honor Roll recognizes students who stand above the rest with excellent academic performance.

To be eligible for the honor roll, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at WSU and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work.

The data displayed in the President’s Honor Roll may be affected by students who restrict the release of some or all information about themselves.

SHORELINE


LAKE FOREST PARK

KENMORE



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Photo: Bog Beaver

Photo by Martin De Grazia


This is a very good shot of a North American Beaver who lives at Ronald Bog. They are primarily nocturnal, which is why it is challenging to get photos of them. There have been beavers at Ronald Bog and Twin Ponds for decades.

Generally they live peacefully with their human neighbors. Because their teeth never stop growing, they have a constant need to gnaw on wood, whether they need to build a dam or not.

That has created problems with the native plant gardeners who have worked long hours on cleaning up the vegetation around Ronald Bog. The beavers chewed down all the new saplings.

Finally the volunteers and parks staff built fences around the trees.


DKH



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Update from Point Wells Hearing

Current view of Point Wells
Woodway is at the top of the hill
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Report from the Sno-King Environmental Protection Coalition

Below is a summary of the public testimony portion of the open hearing on the Point Wells development application that came to an end on May 24, 2018 after 4 days of testimony from experts called by both BSRE and the County. To access key documents produced for the hearing, please go to the following link on the Sno-King Coalition web page.

What were the issues?

In a staff recommendation document dated April 17, 2018, the County identified 8 major areas where they claimed the application did not meet code requirements. Based on these conflicts and a June 30, 2018 application deadline, the County recommended denial of the application.

Since that date, BSRE has submitted numerous new plans and reports in an attempt to satisfy the County’s concerns. After a time-limited quick review of most of the new plans and reports, the County released a supplemental recommendation on May 9th that said the County was no longer contesting 3 of the original 8 areas, but that the 5 remaining areas were still in substantial conflict with the code and that the County was still recommending denial of the application.

The hearing was to determine whether the application should be denied, or sent back to the County for continued work on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

What happened at the hearing?

The hearing began on May 16th with opening statements by BSRE and the County followed by an opportunity for public comment. Tom McCormick, Susan Chang, Jerry Patterson, Tom Petersen, Denis Casper, and Tom Mailhot were among the neighborhood residents who made the trip up to Everett to comment. The City of Shoreline also sent a large contingent to comment (and encourage the denial of the application), including City Manager Debbie Tarry and City Attorney Margaret King. The City offered a powerful case for denial and reflected many of the positions taken by our community members.

Starting on May 21st the hearing moved to the expert testimony phase with the County’s experts explaining why the County believed the application was substantially in conflict with various portions of the County code, while BSRE’s experts argued that the application either already did or soon would comply with all County code provisions.

Each side specifically addressed each of the 5 remaining areas. We’ll go through the 5 areas and summarize each side’s main arguments.

1. Second Access Road

BSRE’s latest design for the second road shows the road exiting the east side of the Point Wells property and proceeding up the hillside to Woodway along a narrow easement owned by BSRE. The County’s supplemental recommendation letter said the latest design requires BSRE to purchase property along the route because the design is wider than the narrow easement and that the route requires grading on some of the neighboring parcels not owned by BSRE. BSRE has not submitted any documentation showing they have rights to purchase or grade any of the affected property; the County requires that documentation before they can consider the road to be feasible, and without a feasible second road the application is in substantial conflict with County code.

BSRE argued that the County’s demands for further documentation were overly broad since most of the road travelled over property located in Woodway, so Woodway, not the County, would be the permitting agency for the road.

2. Building height

The County found 2 issues with building heights in the proposed project. First the buildings in the Upper Village (the area east of the train tracks) must be limited in height because they are adjacent to areas that Woodway has zoned for single family residences, and second the project includes more than 20 buildings over 90 feet in height but the project lacks access to high capacity transit which is required to build higher than 90 feet.

BSRE argued that the Upper Village was at the bottom of a 220 foot bluff so the towers would not be visible to anyone. (Note: the bluff at that point is about 50 feet high before it flattens out and in fact the proposed second road runs over the upper portion of the “bluff”).

On the question of buildings over 90 feet in height, BSRE argued that the project plans include a train station and that they have a letter from Sound Transit saying that ST is willing to allow a commuter rail station at Point Wells if BSRE finances the station, and this commitment should be sufficient to meet the requirement of access to transit to allow buildings over 90 feet. (Note: BSRE would actually need permission from Burlington Northern (not Sound Transit to build and operate a station at Point Wells.

3. Parking

The County’s supplemental recommendation letter cited a parking shortage of 546 spaces as the substantial conflict in this area. In testimony at the hearing, it became clear the discrepancy was because BSRE had labeled the units as “Senior Housing” while what they really meant was “Retirement Housing”. The difference is that “Senior Housing requires a minimum of 1 parking stall per unit while “Retirement Housing” requires a minimum of .5 parking stalls per unit. The County agreed that if the units were regarded as “Retirement Housing” then the parking shortage no longer existed.

There was no discussion about whether building over 1,000 retirement units with only 500 parking spaces really made any sense or how that might impact our neighborhood when overflow parking occurs on our streets.

4. shoreline regulations

The County had several complaints about development along the shoreline:
  • BSRE’s plans show commercial use of the pier, but the pier is located in a Conservancy Environment which does not allow commercial uses.
  • The County believed the pedestrian promenade shown on the plan would also act as a flood control measure, which is not allowed without the approval of a code variance.
  • No development is allowed within 200 feet of the Ordinary High Water Mark, but some buildings in the plans are within this zone.
  • The County claimed the application did not sufficiently address Shoreline Master Plan Regulations, especially regarding the proposed reconstruction of the pier.

BSRE claimed that the colored illustrations used in the some of the presentations that show commercial uses on the pier should not be treated as actual plans to have commercial uses on the pier. BSRE also claimed that their recent submittals resolved all the other shoreline issues, and if they didn’t, BSRE was committed to providing any information that was determined to be missing.

5. Critical areas

BSRE’s design shows the lower portion of the second access road and most of the buildings in the Upper Village (the area east of the tracks) are located in a landslide hazard area. This is not allowed without the grant of a variance. BSRE submitted a variance three weeks before the hearing date, but the County’s experts testified that the variance application did not meet the requirements for granting a variance, specifically, that the variance application must show there is no other place on the property where the road or buildings could be located.

On further questioning, the County’s expert admitted a variance would probably be granted for the second access road since the route shown on the plan is probably the only realistic option, but he stated again that BSRE had not proven the buildings shown in the landslide hazard area could not be placed somewhere else on the property.

BSRE’s experts argued that they didn’t like any of the other plans they considered for placing the building in other areas of the property, so they had to go in the landslide area. (Note: their argument wasn’t that the buildings couldn’t be located elsewhere, just that BSRE preferred them to be in the landslide area.)

In expert testimony the County tried to establish that the material in the Habitat Management Plan concerning potential impacts to specific marine mammals was missing while BSRE replied by pointing to some sections containing general impacts to all marine mammals.

Summary

In summary, the County’s argument was that the application as it stands today is either incomplete, inconsistent, or just in conflict with County code provisions and it cannot be fixed by the June 30, 2018 deadline, so it should be denied; BSRE’s argument was that the application as it stands today is not perfect, but it is so much better than it was a year ago and if they are just given a little more time they promise to fix all the remaining problems at some future point.

The Hearing Examiner estimated it might take until mid to late June before his decision was ready.



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Lake Forest Park – “We’re Living the Dream!”

Official ribbon cutting for 5 Acre Woods
Photo courtesy City of Lake Forest Park

By Donna Hawkey

The Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation (LFPSF) held a ribbon cutting ceremony at 5 Acre Woods on Saturday, June 9th, in partnership with the City, and handed Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford a giant $100,000 check from residents!

5 Acre Woods is now an official City park with almost 90% of the total purchase price of $1 million secured; the remaining gap still needs funding by November 2018.

Julian Andersen, President Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, said that while LFP is “living the dream,” he noted that this dream has come true with the help of many.

Deputy Mayor Catherine Stanford and councilmembers
thank the 46th district delegation
Photo by Gary Hawkey

Generous residents made substantial contributions and they are very thankful for that. The support of the 46th District Legislators was also a key factor, and Mayor Deputy Catherine Stanford remarked how lucky the citizens of Lake Forest Park are to have these very supportive elected officials for the 5 Acre Woods project, and also for the many ways they have stepped forward to support other LFP City needs. She stated that this is a hard-working delegation, and further acknowledged the 5 Acre Woods champion efforts made by LFP Councilmember Mark Phillips. 

Besides resident contributions, the purchase price was largely secured – more than 50% of it - through State and the King County Conservation Futures grants. Julian Andersen from LFPSF noted that we thank all the taxpayers of King County for this. 5 Acre Woods belongs to more than the residents of Lake Forest Park – it's a regional asset.

The LFP Stewardship Foundation led the fundraising drive
Photo by Gary Hawkins
 

A recent Tulalip Tribe grant helped to realize that fact, too. Lake Forest Park is also about historic efforts to return the salmon to its streams in higher numbers. These streams run throughout the City and 5 Acre Woods; together residents and educators have been dedicated to preserving them.

Seattle City Light previously owned 5 Acre Woods as surplus land. It was the last undeveloped parcel left in Lake Forest Park and contains a large wildlife corridor that is now protected.

Julian Andersen noted that the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation consistently hears through polls that the residents care most about “being in nature, the trees, and the community. Those are the high values that this project represents,” said Julian. 

Many organizations held employee work days in the park
Photo by Polly Saunders

5 Acre Woods purchase has been diligently led by LFPSF board member, Natalie-Pascale Boisseau. Natalie-Pascale described to residents what keeps her motivated to pursue the strong and steady effort that accomplished the purchase. She said in her usual warm and sincere way, “It’s because you all keep showing up.”

In a City budget primarily made up of property taxes to support its many services, public parks are a bit of luxury. There is a need for residents to step forward and help create and preserve such treasures. This is one big show of residents stepping forward for sure. The LFP Stewardship Foundation had done it before with the purchase of Grace Cole Park which was a model for the 5 Acre Wood City partnership.

With the crush of new development, it is a gift of foresight that was greater than what was known four years ago when the project to purchase 5 Acre Woods began. The land has sensitive areas that cannot be built upon or accessed except by the diverse wildlife living there. It was in jeopardy of partial development that could have disturbed the natural balance that has been untouched for over 40 years.

The achievements of project lead Natalie-Pascale and the entire Stewardship Foundation is what they have done so well in the past – they get the citizens a big win! Many thousands of volunteer hours went into making this purchase of a forest a reality.

Deputy Mayor Stanford holds a photo of volunteers
who worked in the park
Both photos by Gary Hawkey
 
The volume of work added for all the new development and Sound Transit planning also consumes City staff and City Council. However, Mayor Jeff Johnson and the City Council saw the strength of the project and its value to the citizens and were able to offer help in areas where City staff were needed to support the Stewardship Foundation officially. An example of an all-community run non-profit and City government coming together in an innovative partnership!

Residents’ financial help and follow-through are also something that received the attention of LFP City Councilmembers and Senator David Frockt, Representative Gerry Pollet, and Representative Javier Valdez. When residents open up their own pockets and help to build the community too, City officials take notice.

Fundraising is still needed to make 5 Acre Woods into the kind of park and environmental education program necessary for helping to maintain the legacy of Lake Forest Parks’ natural and diverse eco-system. The City will continue to seek other grants for future park development.

Support the LFP Stewardship Foundation in any way you can. If you can’t help close the funding gap, then try to come on out and give a hand during a call for the many monthly workgroup opportunities.

Or a thoughtful last minute Father’s Day gift for that nature loving dad, could be a pledge in time or money to 5 Acre Woods Close the Gap Fund!

Windermere Northlake volunteers blaze a trail
Photo by Polly Saunders
1,000 volunteer hours by 200 individuals have been logged in since January in clearing ivy and creating trails. It’s a lot of work, so many hands make it lighter, and there is always a big smile on someone’s face there to greet you, and usually donated hot coffee and other treats, too.

Honey Bear Bakery has been a long time supporter and provided coffee and treats for this second year.

Also, there has been an increase in organizations such as the Boeing Company, Windermere Northlake, Davido Consulting, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Bastyr University, and the Scouts, scheduling trail-making workgroup and team building events at the site. These kinds of events help solidify and strengthen employee team building – some employees are just meeting for the first time - and say they are having fun!

If you work for an organization that supports volunteer programs and you would like to organize a workgroup date, contact Polly Saunders who is the 5 Acre Woods restoration lead - polly@the saunders.net.

The giant work effort continues and will leave a legacy - about many citizens who make a positive difference - and that is a good thing for all! Please join them, support them and thank them!

To contribute to help close the over 10% fundraising gap, and also to discover more about the over 20-year old Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation.

5 Acre Woods is located at the 1900 block of 40th Place NE in Lake Forest Park.



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Garden Gnomes fight to the end, but fall to rivals in softball championship

Garden Gnomes, manager, and coaches


The Garden Gnomes played their District 8 Juniors Softball Championship game at UW Husky Softball Stadium on Thursday, after being rained out on Wednesday.

The Northwest Seattle / Shoreline Little League Windermere Rick Nimmer Garden Gnomes got off to a rough start - the score was 4-1 after the first inning against Northeast Junior Softball Little League.

The Gnomes gave up two runs to NorthEast in the second inning while earning one. The score was 6-2 heading into the 3rd inning. The Gnomes gave up one run in the 3rd and were down 7-2.

The Gnomes held NorthEast scoreless in the 4th and 5th innings and their bats came alive in the 5th scoring 5 runs and tying things up 7-7 heading into the 6th inning.

The Gnomes gave up 3 runs to NorthEast in the 6th inning and could not bounce back, losing a hard fought game to a great NE team. The final score was 10-7.

Manager Rick Nimmer says, "The Garden Gnomes team and players had an excellent season one they can be proud of."

The Northwest/Shoreline Little League Garden Gnome Team is Managed by Rick Nimmer, and coached by Stephanie Saunders, Ashley Swan, and Kari Fera.



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First wildfire of the year started June 4 in Benton County

The first wildfire of the year started on June 4, 2018. It's called the Les Blair Fire, located approximately 8 miles south of Finley in Benton County. The fire was burning in grass and brush.

State assistance was mobilized by the Washington state patrol to help Benton County firefighters. Both aircraft and hand crews were called out.

Soap Lake Fire
Photo from Grant County Fire District 13

Benton County Fire reported that the first day on the Les Blair Fire 500 acres, it was 80% contained, and 100% contained the next day. Cause is under investigation but thought to have started by train.

On June 12, resources were mobilized for the Soap Lake (High Hills) Fire, located approximately 5 miles north of Soap Lake in Grant County. The Soap Lake Fire is burning in grass and brush.

This fire quickly spread to 1400 acres, and was threatening homes, agriculture and power infrastructure in the area.

Mobilization specialists from the Fire Protection Bureau ordered out engines, aircraft and hand crews to assist Grant County Fire.

Among the crews were three Shoreline firefighters who were sent out on a strike team to the Soap Lake Fire. One went with a Duvall crew and two went with a Bothell crew. It has consumed over 2000 acres.

State Mobilization ended for the Soap Lake Fire in Grant County at 12:00pm Thursday. 2,063 acres, 100% contained.

This is just the beginning of the wildfire season. Remember when you see the news reports that some of our own may be part of the firefighting efforts.



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Differently wired -- parenting kids who are neurodiverse

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Bestselling author Deborah Reber will read from her new book at Third Place Books in Ravenna in Seattle on Friday, June 15, 2018 at 7pm. The Ravenna store is located at 6504 20th Ave NE, Seattle 98115.

Today millions of kids are stuck in a world that doesn't respect, support, or embrace who they really are — these are what Deborah Reber is calling the "differently wired" kids, the one in five children with ADHD, dyslexia, Asperger's, giftedness, anxiety, sensory processing disorder, and other neurodifferences.

Their challenges are many. But for the parents who love them, the challenges are just as hard—struggling to find the right school, the right therapist, the right parenting group while feeling isolated and harboring endless internal doubts about what's normal, what's not, and how to handle it all.

DIFFERENTLY WIRED: Raising an Exceptional Child in a Conventional World by founder of TiLT Parenting Deborah Reber is a how-to, a manifesto, a book of wise advice, and the best kind of been-there, done-that companion.

DIFFERENTLY WIRED is both a guidebook that parents and educators can use daily as well as an inspiring manifesto on how to create a different future where neurodiverse kids are accepted as they are. Deborah’s proposal of alternative ways of being help to promote discovery of how to stay open, pay attention, and become an exceptional parent to your exceptional child.

You can check out Deborah’s TiLT Parenting website here


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Items for consideration for Shoreline's permanent art collection on display at City Hall

Cloud Bank at City Hall is part of the
City's permanent art collection
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The City of Shoreline’s first art show dedicated to the creation of a permanent indoor art collection has arrived on the 3rd and 4th floors of City Hall (M-F 9:00-5:00 until September 17). 17500 Midvale Ave N, Shoreline 98133. 

From this exhibition of 44 artworks by 30 artists in the Puget Sound area (including 4 from Shoreline specifically and another 5 from Edmonds, Lynnwood, Woodinville, and the north end), the City’s Public Art Program is seeking to choose 2-5 artworks for permanent display at city facilities.

Residents who see the show before Friday, June 22 will be able to submit a ballot voting for their favorite pieces. The Parks Board will make the final decisions.

The Snail is part of the permanent collection
Photo by Wayne Pridemore
From over 105 artist submissions and more than 500 artworks, jurors David Francis and Jason Huff (from Seattle Arts and Culture; also a Shoreline resident) selected a final group of 30 (44 artworks).

Each explores contemporary art as a balancing of objectives and a blending of disciplinary focus.

Many of the artists have backgrounds in other fields and experiences in other countries, reflecting a global village of contemporary art.

As Huff writes in his juror’s statement, “Given the city's commitment to equity and inclusion, it was important to make sure that the artists whose works are part of this selection reflected diversity of people and communities that make up Shoreline.”

Themes vary from nature, to history, identity, and the design of spatial representation. A notebook on the 3rd floor features artists’ statements, bios, and resumes.

ARTISTS:

Gala Bent, Patti Bowman, Weldon Butler, Minh Carrico, MalPina Chan, Diem Chau, Maura Donegan, Shruti Ghatak, Justin Gibbens, Clare Johnson, Jody Joldersma, Amanda Knowles, BethAnn Lawson, Rich Lehl, Terry Leness, Vikram Madan, Carol Milne, Daphne Minkoff, Naoko Morisawa, Saya Moriyasu, Kemba Opio, Megan Reisinger, Jane Richlovsky, George Rodriguez, Samantha Scherer, Tee Gee Story, Thuy Van Vu. Matthew Whitney, Suze Woolf, Angie Yusef.


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Shoreline's Moms Demand Action meeting Monday

Anyone interested in joining the Shoreline chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America is welcome to attend their next meeting. 

It will be this coming Monday, June 18, 2018 at the Shoreline Library - come find out more about us and what we're up to this summer.

You need not be a mom, all humans are welcome! More info and the RSVP link is here.




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Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park Program Speakers for the remainder of June- Revised

Each week, the Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park features a thirty minute program after club business. The topics are varied and interesting. The Club invites you to join them for breakfast, enjoy a program and learn more about the Club.

June 20: Alan Kerley, General Manager Lake Forest Park Water District, Protecting Our Water Shed

June 27: Meeting Cancelled. Next Club meeting will be July 11.


Meetings of the Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park are held every Wednesday morning for breakfast at 7:15 at the Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, 17440 Brookside Blvd. NE, Lake Forest Park. All are invited.



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Where in Lake Forest Park is Ray Skjelbred and his dolceola?

Ray Skjelbred playing at the LFP Farmers Market 2015
Photo by Jerry Pickard

By Luanne Brown

For the past five years, virtuoso jazz pianist Ray Skjelbred has played his dolceola for the Lake Forest Park Secret Garden Tour and Market, which is held this Saturday from 9am to 3pm starting at Town Center in Lake Forest Park, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way.

As much as we’d like to share his location with you — we can’t, because like the six private gardens being featured — it’s a secret.

If you do go on the Secret Garden tour, you’ll probably recognize Skjelbred as that nice guy who plays on sunny Sundays (when he feels like it) at the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market.

Ray at the Farmers Market 2010
Photo by Diane K. Hettrick
He’s been doing that for the past eight years and is a favorite with the crowd.

Says Skjelbred, “The market seemed like a natural setting for this unusual instrument since they are both alternative ways of doing thing.”

Skjelbred likes the softness of the sound in the crowd.

When he plays at the market and elsewhere, he says, “I want everything that’s in me to be in my music ‘right now’.

As the audience watches him, he watches them, “I like seeing the person who understands what they are listening to and appreciates it. Or the person who just turns their head at the sound of the dolceola and wonders, ‘What have I just heard?’”

Like the market and the dolceola, Skjelbred himself represents a rather alternative way of doing things. Most pianists, especially those who go on to be virtuosos, start their piano studies at an early age. But he didn’t start playing the piano until he was 18.

The day was threatening rain, so Ray and
his dolceola were under a canopy at the market
Photo by Diane K. Hettrick
“I heard some music on KTAC radio in Tacoma, when I was that age, that I liked. I wanted to be able to play those sounds.”

So, he learned how — working on his own and with a piano player who was phasing out of performing to concentrate on giving lesson.

“I’ve always tried to pursue my truest self,” he says, and playing first the piano and later the dolceola are expressions of that pursuit.

He is also an accomplished poet and has published several books of poetry.

Skjelbred continued to study piano as he went through college and started teaching high school English. It wasn’t until 2002 that he found his dolceola at a garage sale in the Lake Union area. It’s a combination of piano and zither and very hard to find. It was built by the Toledo Symphony Company from 1903 to 1907.

Keyboard of a dolceola
Photo courtesy ToledoBlade.com

According to Skjelbred, his specific instrument was made in 1904. Designed as a learning instrument, its complex construction makes it hard to play. On one side of the keyboard, the keys are grouped into chords and the notes of those chords. On the other side, it’s two octaves of keys played like the piano.

Skjelbred had been looking for one ever since he’d heard a recording of a late 1920s street musician in Texas named Washington Phillips. The instrument he’d been playing was mistakenly identified as the ‘dulceola’ by Frank B. Walker, the talent agent who recorded Phillips and who also discovered Hank Williams and Bessie Smith.

At the time Skjelbred started searching for the instrument he didn’t realize that Phillips was perhaps playing either two different types of fretless zithers (a celestaphone and a phonoharp) or something quite different which has come to be known as a Manzarene.

Dolceola
Photo courtesy Ray Skjelbred
In the end, Skjelbred doesn’t really care that he went in search of one sound and found another. That’s just fine with him, because Skjelbred loves the sound the dolceola creates. How did he learn to play it? There’s a chart on the instrument and he just figured it out.

Skjelbred, who has played on over 100 albums, still does at least 100 gigs a year. He’s traveled extensively to play concerts, festivals, and private parties and has performed all over California, where he lived for several years, and in Scotland, the Netherlands, and England.

“I’ve never looked for a job,” he says. The jobs always just seem to find him.

His repertoire consists of a mixture of 1920’s jazzy songs (he’s a big fan of jazz pianist Earl Hines), ragtime, and blues and he still loves Washington Phillips’ songs, with evocative titles such as, “A Mother’s Last Word to Her Son,” and “What are They Doing in Heaven.” He also appreciates artists like Patsy Montana, from the 1030s who sang, “I want to be a cowboy’s sweetheart.”

Born in Chicago, Skjelbred has lived in many places. For the last several years, he has lived in Lake Forest Park with his wife Elsa Bouman, who is active in the community’s art scene, and their dog Pika.

You can learn more about Skjelbred and the dolceola on his website, which includes pictures of the instrument and videos of him playing.



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Shoreline Music School is organizing Shoreline’s First Annual Make Music Day Celebration

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Held annually on June 21, Make Music Day is part of the international Fête de la Musique, taking place in 800 cities across 120 countries. 

The daylong, musical free-for-all celebrates music in all its forms, encouraging people to band together and play in free public concerts. 

This year, more than 65 U.S. cities are organizing Make Music Day celebrations, encompassing thousands of concerts nationwide. 

Shoreline Music School opens its doors for performers, workshops, open mic hour and jam sessions in celebration of Make Music Day, a global event taking place in over 800 cities around the world.

Come enjoy the celebration as well as tour the new school that opened May 1, 2018!

Make Music Day is a family friendly event open to all. Come celebrate with us as we host live music, open mic hour, free food and games in our parking lot from 4:00 - 9:00pm. Contact us if you are interested in performing.


Make Music Day Promotional Video

Shoreline Music School, any and all area musicians and community partners will participate in Make Music Day on Thursday, June 21, 4pm - 9pm at Shoreline Music School 1240 NE 175th Street,  Shoreline 98155.

Shoreline Music School and American Dance Institute Shoreline celebrates Make Music Day, giving community members of all ages, creeds, and musical persuasions the chance to experience the joy of making music together. Organizing Shoreline’s first Make Music Day celebration is aligned with our school’s mission to foster new and support existing cultural community events.

For more information or to sign up to perform in Shoreline’s Make Music Day event, call Shoreline Music School at 206-402-6701, or email. You can lear more about the local event here.

Shoreline Music School opened its doors in Shoreline’s North City neighborhood on May 1, 2018. “We offer serious music instruction for Shoreline area students in a school culture that is fun, friendly, and devoted to community. 

Shoreline Music School has 10 excellent music teachers on staff and offers private lessons in 16 different instruments plus classes in sight reading and music theory.

Presented by the NAMM Foundation, and coordinated by the Make Music Alliance. More information here



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Where the bodies are buried: Hillwood History Walk Saturday

Who knows what history lurks
on the streets of Hillwood?
Vicki Stiles does and she'll tell all!
Vicki Stiles, director of the Shoreline Historical Museum, will lead a neighborhood walking tour of Hillwood at 1pm on Saturday, June 16, 2018 starting at the Museum, 18501 Linden Ave N. 

She includes various historical points including where a few bodies were buried! It’s fun to learn more about your neighborhood.

This is an easy, flat walk that takes about an hour.

Several other things are happening at the Museum the same day, The Golden Wheels car show and a Playland Reunion and, of course, the Museum will be open for your viewing pleasure.



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Want to pARTicipate in the 2018 Shoreline Arts Festival on June 23 / 24

Here are a few ways to take pART!

Submit Artwork to the Juried Art Exhibition

Featuring over 300 artworks from regional artists, the Juried Art Exhibition is one of the highlights of the Shoreline Arts Festival, and we are currently seeking submissions of 2D/3D artwork and photography to be included in the exhibit.

If selected, your work will be on display for the viewing pleasure of 10,000+ festival-goers on June 23rd and 24th, and you will be eligible to win a portion of the $2000+ in cash and merchandise prizes that will be awarded!

Visit the website for a full prospectus and the online registration form

Flower, flower
Art by Phoenix Voigt
Submit Artwork to the Youth Art Exhibition

Applications are now available online at the Shoreline Arts Council website for the Shoreline Arts Festival Youth Art Exhibition.

There is no fee to enter! All students living in the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park area in grades Pre-K through 12 are encouraged to register up to two of their favorite 2D, 3D, or photographic works through the Arts Council's website and bring them to the Shoreline Center on Tuesday, June 19th, 4:00-7:00pm. 

Each work MUST have an identifying label affixed to it. The Center is located at 18560 1st Ave NE. Work is juried for prizes and all entries are displayed during the Shoreline Arts Festival on June 23 & 24. Plus, up to ten of these pieces will be selected for the Shoreline School District's 2018-2019 calendar.

Audition for the Missoula Children’s Theatre

Group auditions for the Missoula Children's Theatre production of the "Pied Piper" will be held on Monday, June 18 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm (auditions begin promptly at 4pm, no late students are accepted) in the Shoreline Room of the Shoreline Center. 

Approximately 60 local students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade will be cast to appear in the show. There is no guarantee that everyone who auditions will be cast in the play, but with upwards of 60 roles available, there's room for many performers. Students wishing to audition must arrive by the scheduled starting time and stay for the entire two-hour session. The first rehearsal begins approximately 30 minutes after the audition. There is no fee for kids to audition. If your child is selected, you will be asked to pay the registration fee of $90 directly after the audition.

If your young thespian is interested in auditioning, please register them through our website.

Volunteer at the Arts Festival!

The Arts Council is still recruiting volunteers to help at the Shoreline Arts Festival on June 23 and 24. Join the veritable army of volunteers who make this great arts event possible and get a glimpse “backstage” as we entertain 10,000+ art-loving community members over two days. 

Volunteers are needed for a wide range of tasks, with shifts ranging from two hours to all-day, so there’s something for every skill level and any amount of availability. Sign up now on Signup.com!

Here are some examples of just a few of the volunteer jobs available:
  • Help artists move art and set up booths
  • Organize and hang art
  • Set up the Hands-On Art stations and/or make art with kids
  • Info Booth Attendant: Greet festival-goers and help them find their favorite attractions
  • Juried /Youth Art Room Sitter: Enjoy the art while making sure nothing grows legs and walks away
The Shoreline Arts Festival is a free, two-day festival featuring music, dance, theater, art exhibitions, hands-on art activities, cultural rooms, food, and more that is organized by the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council. It will be held on June 23 - 24 at the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE

Visit the Festival website for applications, deadlines, and additional information, or call the Arts Council at 206-417-4645. For volunteer questions, contact Volunteer Coordinator Kelly Lie at outreach@shorelinearts.net

Shuttle van
Photo by Jerry Pickard
Avoid the stress of parking by taking the Free Arts Festival Shuttle. The shuttle will run in a loop stopping at the Shoreline Farmers Market, then Meridian Park Elementary, and end at the Shoreline Center every 20 minutes during festival hours (Saturday, June 23 9:30am-6:30pm and Sunday, June 24 9:30am-5:30pm). 

Look for the sandwich signs with yellow balloons, that’s where the shuttle will pick you up. Thank you to Shoreline Community College for providing this service.

The Shoreline Arts Festival is a program of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council with major support from the City of Shoreline, City of Lake Forest Park, and 4Culture.



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Rob Oxford: High School Graduation

By Rob Oxford

First may I say... CONGRATULATIONS!... You did it!

12 years worth of homework, studying for pop quizzes, creating art projects, writing book reports, attending band and orchestra performances, choir concerts, school plays, and sitting through teacher conferences.

Yes Mom and Dad, you did it and you should be very proud of yourselves.

To merely say that time has flown by is the ultimate in understatements. Your baby and in our case first born, is about to receive their diploma. High School will soon be a distant memory, but hopefully a fond one.

Perhaps in some ways we are fortunate. My wife still has another 3 years of making sack lunches, signing permission slips and each morning attempting to wake a sleeping giant. Our youngest will be a Sophomore next year. For the most part we have succeeded. We did what we set out to do.

As parents we took on the responsibility of making sure our student understood the value of a good education. We offered guidance. We set limits. We administered punishment. We shared advice that sometimes fell on deaf ears. We encouraged respectful behavior. We warned against bullying. We demanded honesty. We taught acceptance. We spared no expense. We hoped for things that didn't always develop. We loved unconditionally and we did the very best we could.

To the parents of the Graduating Seniors of 2018 we say, "good job!" For they hold the promise. As cliché as it may sound, they are the future.

To the Graduating Seniors themselves and on behalf of your parents we say, "You're welcome. It has truly been our pleasure."

"Now go and do great things, we'll be watching."



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Garage sale to benefit Whisker City Feline Rescue

Big Garage Sale at Whisker City Feline Rescue - Saturday June 16 from 9am - 3pm.


Household, Art, Furniture, Collector Items, Clothing, Lots of Great Stuff for sale!!

Many home decor objects - see photos here

All proceeds benefit Whisker City Feline Rescue.


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Garden Gnomes championship game rained out - rescheduled for Thursday

All fastpitch softball Championship games at Husky Stadium were canceled Wednesday due to weather.

See previous article about the Garden Gnomes.

All games will be played Thursday 6/14. The Gnomes are still scheduled for 7:30pm.

Fans and friends are very welcome to attend, but beware of rain!

Husky Stadium 3800 Montlake Blvd NE, Seattle 98195



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