First grade class at Seattle French School organizes food drive and fills two Little Free Pantries

Saturday, November 27, 2021

The first grade class of the Seattle French School organized a food drive
During the last few weeks, with the help of their two teachers, the 1st grade class at the North Seattle French School organized a food drive in the school. 

They walked to the Little Free Pantry and filled it up
On Friday, November 19, 2021 they walked to two little free pantries located near Cromwell Park to drop off the donated items and filled the little free pantries. 

Everyone got a turn putting food in the pantry
We would like to thank the owners of the two pantries for offering free food to people who are in need and thank the whole North Seattle French School community for the donations. 
Bravo to our kind and generous 1st grade students!
The Seattle French School is in Shoreline in the south wing of the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE.

--Photos courtesy Seattle French School



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Construction of Lynnwood Link extension reaches fifty percent completion

Train arriving at Northgate Station. Photo by Carl Dinse

Two years after groundbreaking on the project, civil construction on the Lynnwood Link extension has reached the fifty percent completion mark. Construction teams continue to advance the work on the project, which is scheduled to open in 2024.

"In just two years, riders will be able to avoid some of the worst highway congestion in the nation and enjoy reliable trips to their destination," said Sound Transit Vice Chair and Everett City Council member Paul Roberts. 
"Because Sound Transit is at the national forefront of operating carbon-free transit, riding Lynnwood Link will be the environmentally friendly way to get around the region."

Among the construction progress made to date:
  • All of the project’s 188 columns are complete.
  • 530 of the 533 girders have been set, with the remaining girders to be set before the end of the year.
  • Rail work has begun on multiple locations
  • Construction of all ten 10 bridges has begun and is at 80% complete.
"The remarkable progress we’re making is visible daily for anyone driving along I-5," said Sound Transit CEO Peter Rogoff. "Considering that most of the work to date has been done during the pandemic, this milestone is a testament to the commitment of the project’s workforce."
Northgate station photo by Steven H. Robinson

Construction is also well underway on three new garages being built for the extension. The garages at the Shoreline South/148th and Shoreline North/185th stations, will each have approximately 500 parking spaces.

The new garage at Lynnwood Transit Center will contain 1,670 parking stalls in a five-story structure. The parking garage is scheduled to open to the public in the spring of 2023, more than a year before light rail service to the Lynnwood City Center Station begins, in order to allow for the site work around the station to be completed.

Stacy and Witbeck/Kiewit/Hoffman JV and Skanska Constructors L300 JV are executing the civil construction on the extension. The $3.1 billion project budget includes up to $1.17 billion from a Full Funding Grant Agreement executed by the Federal Transit Administration. 

In addition, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau executed a $658 million low-interest loan supporting the project, including new LRVs and support facilities. 

At its initial signing in 2016, this loan saved regional taxpayers an estimated $200 million to $300 million through lower interest costs. In 2021, the US Department of Transportation refinanced this loan in light of lower interest rates, allowing taxpayers to save an additional $150 million to $250 million.

By 2024 Lynnwood Link and other extensions currently under construction will more than double the length of the region’s light rail system. 

148th Station construction and site of future pedestrian bridge.
Aerial photography by Jared Solano. Instagram @Juarez.Solano

After Lynnwood opens in 2024 riders will enjoy fast, frequent and reliable service between south Snohomish County, the University of Washington, downtown Seattle, the Eastside, Sea-Tac Airport and Federal Way. 

The extension includes four new stations serving Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Shoreline and Seattle.

Lynnwood Link light rail service is scheduled to begin in 2024. Commuters from the Lynnwood Transit Center will enjoy 20-minute rides to the University of Washington, 27-minute rides to downtown Seattle and 60-minute rides to Sea-Tac Airport. Trains from Lynnwood will also serve the Eastside and reach downtown Bellevue in 51 minutes.


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Night closures at 145th for Sound Transit girder setting

The northbound exit from I-5 to NE 145th and the 145th bridge will be closed nights from Monday November 29 to Thursday December 2, 2021.

Work hours are 11pm to 5am while Sound Transit construction crews set girders for the Lynnwood Link light rail.

Drivers will need to exit at NE 175th instead during these hours.


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Seattle Symphony receives Grammy nomination for best orchestral performance

Nominated for a Grammy
The Recording Academy announced that the Seattle Symphony has received a nomination in the classical category of the 2022 Grammy Awards. Music Director Thomas Dausgaard and the Symphony have been nominated for Best Orchestral Performance for the live recording of Richard Strauss’ Also sprach Zarathustra and Alexander Scriabin’s The Poem of Ecstasy.

Symphony President and CEO Krishna Thiagarajan said, 
“It is exciting and rewarding for us at the Seattle Symphony to see that the orchestra’s great work is being recognized again. 
"The honor is especially gratifying as we emerge from the disruption of the pandemic, and it is testament to Thomas Dausgaard’s brilliance on stage. We are happy for it to add to the Symphony’s history of Grammy recognition over these past years."

Originally released on the Seattle Symphony Media label in October 2020, the album “Strauss: Also sprach Zarathustra; Scriabin: The Poem of Ecstasy“ features colorful works that celebrate the search for creative meaning and the triumph of the human spirit. 

Recorded live in the acoustically stunning Benaroya Hall and produced by Grammy Award-winning recording engineer Dmitriy Lipay, the performances from the Seattle Symphony with Dausgaard at the podium have garnered acclaim.



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Gloria's Birds: Crows aren't the only clever birds...

Friday, November 26, 2021

 
Photo copyright by Gloria Z Nagler

This Barred Owl is waiting patiently (and, we can surmise, hungrily) atop the gate through which squirrels enter our deck!

--Gloria Z Nagler



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Shoreline’s Public Works Department achieves American Public Works Association accreditation for the 2nd time

Shoreline’s Public Works Department has recently received full accreditation by the American Public Works Association (APWA) for the second time. 

This accreditation formally verifies and recognizes that the department and City are in full compliance with the recommended management practices set forth in APWA’s Public Works Management Practices Manual.

The purpose of accreditation is to promote excellence in the operation and management of a public works agency, its programs, and employees. Accreditation is designed to assist the agency in continuous improvement of operations and management, and in providing a valid and objective evaluation of agency programs as a service to the public and the profession.

“The awarding of the APWA Accreditation reflects the dedication from all the staff towards continuing improvement and excellence," stated Shoreline's Public Works Director Randy Witt. 
“We are extremely proud to receive this honor. The heroes of this prestigious APWA award are the public works and other city staff whose mission is to provide services and programs that contribute to making Shoreline a great place to live and work.”

APWA accreditation reflects the Department's continuing commitment to meet all applicable Accreditation requirements. This is done through an APWA process that formally verifies and recognizes public works agencies for compliance with recommended management practices. 

This award follows the Department's first Accreditation in July 2017. After the initial accreditation period of four-years, there is a re-accreditation process which builds on the original accreditation, encouraging continuous improvement and compliance with newly identified practices.

APWA’s accreditation process includes five major steps:
  • Self-Assessment: Using the Public Works Management Practices Manual, an internal review of an agency’s practices combined with a comparison of the recommended practices contained in the manual.
  • Application: Once the decision has been made to commit to the Accreditation Program, the agency submits a formal application.
  • Improvement: After the agency has completed the self-assessment and identified areas needing improvement, the agency will work to bring all practices into an acceptable level of compliance with the recommended practices.
  • Evaluation: Following the completion of the improvement phase, the agency will request a site visit. The site visit will consist of a review and evaluation of the agency to determine the level of compliance with all applicable practices.
  • Accreditation: The Accreditation Council will review the site visit results and recommendation from the team, voting to award or deny accreditation.

In addition to Shoreline, the accredited agencies in Washington include Bellevue Utilities and Transportation, Clark Regional Wastewater District, Pierce County, Thurston County, Kitsap County, Tacoma and Bothell.

The American Public Works Association is a not-for-profit, international organization of more than 30,000 members involved in the field of public works. 


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LFP Council Corner - A Look Forward

Phillippa Kassover, Deputy Mayor
City of Lake Forest Park
By LFP Deputy Mayor Phillippa Kassover

As the current Council completes the mid-biennial budget process over the next few weeks, we will say farewell to our three retiring and valued councilmembers, John Wright, Mark Phillips and John Resha, and begin to welcome our incoming members, who are to be congratulated on their success in the November election.

We are pleased to welcome two scientists to Council – Dr. Tracy Furutani, a geologist who teaches climate science at North Seattle College, and Dr. Larry Goldman, who teaches organic chemistry at the University of Washington. 

We are also pleased to welcome long-time Planning Commission member and architect, Jon Lebo. All three of these councilmembers-elect have strong backgrounds in city policymaking, as both Tracy Furutani and Larry Goldman have attended most of our council meetings over the past two years, and Jon Lebo’s service on the Planning Commission has given him great insight into our city and state land-use codes and regulations.

Early in 2022, the new Council will hold a retreat to discuss priorities and design a work plan for 2022. We have already committed to writing a climate action plan with the help of a citizen committee and will be working with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board to discuss concepts for the lakefront park property. 

Following the loss of Proposition 1 on the November ballot, the Council will also need to work closely with the administration to find alternate funding sources for the development and maintenance of the new park, which will likely be a longer process than we had hoped.

As we close out 2022, I want to congratulate the citizens of Lake Forest Park, who have done a great job in handling the pandemic, with very few cases and almost no hospitalizations for the past few months. We sincerely hope that 2022 brings a better year for us all and allows a return to in-person city events and council-meetings. 

To manage the transition, the city is using federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act to upgrade the audio-visual system at City Hall to accommodate hybrid meetings, so that council- and community members who wish to participate remotely can still do so, while others attend in person. This is a big step forward after a long 21 months of the pandemic!

--Deputy Mayor Phillippa Kassover


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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Friday


FRIDAY


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Tree lighting event in Ridgecrest Saturday

Ridgecrest: Light up the Night

Not your traditional tree lighting, the Ridgecrest Neighborhood decorates street trees for December.

Saturday, November 27, 2021 from 5 - 6pm at the corner of 5th Ave NE and NE 165th in the Ridgecrest business district. 

Bring non-perishable food donations for their Food Drive. Cafe Aroma will be open so you will be able to purchase a warm beverage. One of our neighbors promises some music.

Masks are required for this event.

Hang out in the neighborhood following the Tree Lighting.

The Barkery will be open so you can get your dog(s) some treats. Drumlin will be open and families are welcome. Ridgecrest Pub will have Tamale My Life Food Truck at the curb. The Crest will be open and showing: Julia, King Richard, House of Gucci and Power of the Dog. Crest has amazing popcorn - and you can buy it for take-out.

7-11 is open 24-7 and has all your favorite beverages, snacks and even pizza!


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Native American Heritage Day


November 26 is Native American Heritage Day in the United States, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2009.

This link brings up a wonderful variety of information about organizations, events, people, and tribes: https://twitter.com/hashtag/NativeAmericanHeritageDay?src=hashtag_click


Locally, we have an exhibit at the Spartan Gym (see previous article)


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Big crowd for the Turkey Day Fun Run


Photos by Wayne Pridemore

A large crowd of runners participated in the Turkey Day Fun Run, on Thanksgiving Day 2021, sponsored by the Richmond Beach Community Association (RBCA).


Runners gathered at the entrance to Richmond Beach Saltwater Park and were sent out in groups. The route went north on 20th Ave NW then through adjacent neighborhoods west of 20th to circle back to the start.


Costumes were encouraged, as were masks. Some came in organized groups, other participated as individuals.


The rain held off for this early morning exercise and as always, people enjoyed just being outside.

The Fun Run is an annual event of the RBCA.



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Happy Thanksgiving to all (and to all a Good Night)

Thursday, November 25, 2021


Hope that everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving with a pleasant dinner and no family fights. I'm taking the evening off just to see what it's like to sleep at night.

Diane Hettrick



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Northwest Flower and Garden Festival returns with celebration and “Greetings From Spring”

The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival, a tradition signifying the start of PNW Spring for over 30 years, is back on February 9 – 13, 2022, returning to the Washington State Convention Center.

This year’s hotly-anticipated return of the show, themed “Greetings from Spring,” will feature two dozen extraordinary garden displays and vignettes for city dwellers, 90+ seminar workshops, thousands of treasures in the marketplace and an impressive showcase of house plants tied to the blossoming trend.

Fleurs de Villes’ internationally-acclaimed floral art is also back! Partnering with top local florists to design captivating, ROSÉ-inspired designs showcasing support for breast cancer research, this years’ blooming mannequins will be on display in the natural-lit sky bridge -- creating the perfect photo moments for show visitors.

Enjoy live music, wine tasting, sweet and savory bites and floral-inspired cocktails at the Hendricks Gin bar between hands-on workshops and seminars with gardening legends. From experienced horticulturists to those who fell in love with houseplants in the pandemic, and everyone in between -- there’s fun, exploring and educational experiences to be had by all.

Stars of the gardening world will mingle with visitors, answer questions and share exclusive tips, including celebrity speakers such as Ciscoe Morris, Emily Murphy of @passthepistil, Lisa Eldred Steinkopf of @thehouseplantguru and David Mizejewski. Fan-favorite activities like Container Wars, City Living and Blooms and Bubbles are back again to provide an unmatched experience for garden, home and design enthusiasts.

Tickets are now available at early bird rates, with the price temporarily dropping 50% for a special Black Friday deal running from Nov. 26 - 29 with code GREENFRIDAY on gardenshow.com. Visitors are encouraged to check out exclusive hotel rates and packages with our lodging partners, available here.

COVID Precautions

Per the State of Washington’s current requirements, each attendee and participant (12 years and older) must show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or proof of having received a negative COVID-19 test conducted within 72 hours of the event, to attend the Northwest Flower and Garden Festival. Current regulations also require all attendees to wear masks in indoor public settings.

The Northwest Flower and Garden Festival is one of the world’s leading garden shows, ranked second largest in the U.S. The Festival is owned and produced by Marketplace Events, the largest producer of home shows in North America. 



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Jobs: City of Shoreline Emergency Management Coordinator

City of Shoreline
Emergency Management Coordinator
CLOSING DATE: 12/26/21 11:59pm

Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity.

First reviews of applications: December 13, 2021
Interviews planned for the week of January 3rd.

To demonstrate skills and interest, please complete the application and Supplemental Questions in lieu of a cover letter or a resume. (This application does not allow for attachments. Providing complete responses in the Supplemental Questions section will help us determine your qualifications for the job.)

Employees Working Remotely: The City is implementing a remote work policy that will allow staff to work up to three remote days a week, however during the 6-month probationary period it is expected that all work will be performed at City Hall.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: A candidate selected and offered the job must demonstrate proof of vaccination against Covid-19. A list of acceptable documents to provide verification can be reviewed here.

The primary role of this position is to coordinate the Emergency Preparedness functions for the City of Shoreline. The Emergency Management Coordinator will prepare plans, conduct training and participate with staff from other organizations in multi-agency emergency management activities. This position will coordinate within the City of Shoreline and with local, county, state and federal partners to minimize disaster impacts to the public, businesses and the environment.

The Emergency Management Coordinator maintains the Emergency Management framework for mitigating, preventing, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural, technological, and human caused hazards/incidents in coordination with other City staff. 

This includes maintaining all required planning documents; coordinating implementation of necessary training programs; providing coordination support during emergency situations; assisting with policy development; contract and project management; conducting special studies as needed; and serving as staff liaison to various related councils, meetings, and volunteer groups.

Job description and application



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Jobs: City of Shoreline Wastewater Utility Customer Service Representative

City of Shoreline
Wastewater Utility Customer Service Representative

CLOSING DATE: 12/05/21 11:59 PM

Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity.

The City of Shoreline assumed the Wastewater District in 2021 and is committed to continuing the long history of excellent customer service. The City utilizes Springbrook for utility accounts and will be upgrading that application in 2022 in conjunction with optimizing processes. The successful candidate must be committed to continuous improvement and supporting staff in the implementation of enhanced features available in the software and evaluating processes for efficiencies, internal controls and equity.

Employees Working Remotely: The City is implementing a remote work policy that will allow staff to work up to three remote days a week, however during the 6-month probationary period it is expected that all work will be performed at City Hall.

To demonstrate skills and interest, please complete the application Please complete the Supplemental Questions in lieu of the cover letter. (This application does not allow for attachments. Providing complete responses in the Supplemental Questions section will help us determine your qualifications for the job.)

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: A candidate selected and offered the job must demonstrate proof of vaccination against Covid-19. A list of acceptable documents to provide verification can be reviewed here.

The City's mission is to fulfill the community’s vision through highly valued public service. Our employees work relentlessly to achieve organizational goals while embracing the City’s values. City Mission, Values, and Goals

DEFINITION
This position provides direct and indirect service to utility customers before, during and after accounts are established. The position also performs a variety of complex clerical work related to utility accounts such as account establishment or closure, payment for services or payoffs, billing, address changes, low-income programs, refunds, late charges and other related activities. The position also reviews and sources information to respond to questions, resolve problems or prepare related correspondence and reports.


Job description and application



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Jobs: City of Shoreline Grounds Maintenance Worker II

City of Shoreline
Grounds Maintenance Worker II
First review of applications: November 15
CLOSING DATE: 11/30/21 12:00 AM

Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity.

To demonstrate skills and interest, please complete the application and Supplemental Questions in lieu of a cover letter or a resume. (This application does not allow for attachments. Providing complete responses in the Supplemental Questions section will help us determine your qualifications for the job.)

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: A candidate selected and offered the job must demonstrate proof of vaccination against Covid-19. A list of acceptable documents to provide verification can be reviewed here.

The City's mission is to fulfill the community’s vision through highly valued public service. Our employees work relentlessly to achieve organizational goals while embracing the City’s values. City Mission, Values, and Goals

Schedule: During the winter time, this position is on a regular 40-hour weekly schedule subject to mandatory change to the seasonal 9/80 work schedules (from spring to late fall) which, every other week, allows for an additional day off.
 
Selection process: This job is represented by Local Union No.763. First consideration will be given to internal Local 763 members who express written interest in this job to Human Resources during the first 5-day period of this posting notice.

Selected candidates will be subject to virtual interviews. In addition, they may be subject to work-related skills assessments on site.

Note: Job offer to the most successful candidate is contingent upon verification of driving history and a successful passing of a state/federal pre-employment background check.

The Grounds Maintenance Worker positions reside in the Streets and Surface Water section of the Utility and Operations Division of Public Works Department and report directly to the Grounds Maintenance Supervisor.

DEFINITION
To perform and assist in leading a variety of semi-skilled, light and heavy manual labor related to the maintenance and repair of grounds and landscaping infrastructure under the City's stewardship, including line trimming, mowing, planting, pruning, watering, weeding; irrigation system operation, maintenance and repair; graffiti and litter removal; and operating a variety of light vehicles, specialized construction equipment (backhoe, mini-excavator, tractor loader or mower, trencher, etcetera), and hand and power tools.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
This is the journey level class in the Grounds Maintenance Worker series. Grounds Maintenance Worker IIs perform skilled and specialized grounds and landscape maintenance repairs and construction duties; operate light duty trucks and powered equipment; serves as field lead worker to Grounds Maintenance Worker Is and seasonal employees as assigned. Employees at this level receive only occasional instruction or assistance as new or unusual situations arise, and are fully aware of the operating procedures and policies of the work team. The Grounds Maintenance Worker II is distinguished from the Grounds Maintenance Worker I by their ability to perform more highly skilled and complex work assignments, including knowledgeable and safe operation of specialized construction equipment.

Job description and application



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Jobs: City of Shoreline IT Systems Analyst

City of Shoreline
IT Systems Analyst

CLOSING DATE: 11/30/21 12:00 AM

Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity.

This job is reopened to attract a larger pool of applicants. The job posting is revised to provide specific requirements for assigned areas of focus.

The City of Shoreline is seeking a talented IT Systems Analyst to support several enterprise applications. This position is one of three Systems Analysts in the IT Division that are responsible for the maintenance, administration and support for the City’s application portfolio. 

This position currently focuses on support for the City’s Financial, Payroll, and Human Resources System (Central Square Finance Enterprise), Time Entry (Time Clocks Plus), Permitting (TRAKiT), Utility Billing (Springbrook), and Tax Administration (Custom). 

The City seeks to implement its systems without customizations and has been very successful in that effort. The Systems Analysts work with the rest of the IT Division to manage upgrades, enhancements, and respond to routine support requests. Some of the upcoming projects that the IT Systems Analyst will be involved in include upgrades to the City’s Permitting system and work-flow implementation for the City’s Financial and Payroll Systems (AP invoice routing, Requisition and PO approval, Purchase Card Automation and Reporting enhancements.)

To demonstrate skills and interest, please complete the application and Supplemental Questions in lieu of a cover letter or a resume. (This application does not allow for attachments.)

Employees Working Remotely: Under City policy, if desired, this position could work remotely part time on a regular basis, after probationary period. Employees are expected to work on-site regularly for a minimum of 2 days per week. When working remotely, employees must be able to report to work within 90 minutes for emergent response.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: A candidate selected and offered the job must demonstrate proof of vaccination against Covid-19, subject to exemptions for medical or religious reasons that the City can reasonably accommodate. A list of acceptable documents to provide verification can be reviewed here.

The City's mission is to fulfill the community’s vision through highly valued public service. Our employees work relentlessly to achieve organizational goals while embracing the City’s values. City Mission, Values, and Goals

DEFINITION
To maintain, administer and support major software and database systems and highly complex computer and web applications; provide project management, customer service and business analyst support; to plan, develop, implement, and coordinate data processing systems to meet the needs of the organization; to diagnose system failures between hardware, systems software and application programs; to develop, implement and oversee database and application security; and to provide the City with a platform for data analysis and reporting.

Job description and application



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Jobs: City of Shoreline Extra Help - Front Desk Attendant

City of Shoreline
Extra Help - Front Desk Attendant

CLOSING DATE: 12/05/21 11:59 PM

Shoreline is an inclusive City that endeavors to build a work culture which embraces diversity, encourages participation, and promotes equity and social justice.

We are seeking two (2) Front Desk Attendants who can work during the listed days and times for this position. This is an ongoing, non-benefited, average 10 hour a week position.

Typical schedule will provide coverage for assigned hours on days shown below. Incumbents will not work all listed hours. Scheduled hours are based upon rental requests and confirmed with Front Desk Attendant by scheduling supervisor.
  • Friday evenings: 4:00 PM - 10:30 PM
  • Some Saturdays: 3:00 PM - 11:00 PM
  • Some Sundays: 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: A candidate selected and offered the job must demonstrate proof of vaccination against Covid-19. A list of acceptable documents to provide verification can be reviewed here.

Scope of Work

Perform front desk reception duties at the Spartan Recreation Center. In addition to working at the front desk, staff will be required to work facility rentals at the Spartan Recreation Center and the Richmond Highlands Center outside of operation hours including weekends: Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Typical facility rentals include, but are not limited to, birthday parties and other celebrations, basketball practices, and religious services.

Job description and application



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That's a Wrap on the Underground Holiday Market

The Underground Market on November 20 was well attended.
The Shoreline City Hall covered parking lot was buzzing over the weekend with over 80 handpicked artists, crafters and farmers.

80 booths of artists and farmers
A big thank you to everyone who came to the market on Saturday! We had an amazing turn out, support from the community, and the participating artists/vendors truly appreciated it.

If there's an artist you want to get in touch with or need information about, feel free to view their profiles on our website. Or reach out to us and we can help. https://www.shorelakearts.org/holiday-market

Entertainment from the Dickens' Carolers
And a big thank you to the Shoreline Farmers Market for partnering with ShoreLake Arts this year, and for the support from the City of Shoreline and their wonderful staff. It was a great joy working with everyone.



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Shoreline Police: Mr. Sticky Fingers met the police after a spree

You know those demo phones at the wireless stores that are attached to security cables? 

Well, they were made for guys like Mr. Sticky Fingers, who we caught by the way. 

But, the cell store wasn’t his first stop on the stealing train.
 
On October 19, 2021, at 9:53am, King County deputies responded to a grocery store in the 18300 block of Aurora Ave N in Shoreline.
 
Employees called 911 to say that a male began throwing items inside the grocery store and damaging merchandise. He ran from the store before deputies arrived.
 
The male then entered a nearby cellular phone store. Arriving deputies were flagged down by an employee, who said the male ripped a cellphone from the display and took it as he ran to a nearby drug store.

Suspect was taken into custody
The suspect's description matched the male who had damaged merchandise at the grocery store. Deputies made their way to the drug store and located the suspect, who just happened to be walking out with a handful of stolen merchandise.
 
A deputy followed the suspect out to the parking lot and immediately took him into custody. Deputies spoke with the drug store employees, who told them that the suspect had been previously trespassed from the store, meaning he is not allowed to enter.
 
The suspect was also positively identified by the employee of the cellular phone store as the same person who shoplifted the $150 phone.

The suspect was formally trespassed from the two other stores, transported, and booked into the SCORE (South Correctional Entity) Jail on charges of Theft in the Third Degree and Trespass in the First Degree.

As a reminder, we do not show suspect‘s faces until they have been formally charged.

--King County Sheriff's Office



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Scene on the Sound: a quick visit for the Waesche

The Waesche leaving Puget Sound
Photo by Jan Hansen
The Coast Guard Cutter Waesche made a very quick visit to Puget Sound. She sailed in on Sunday and sailed out on Wednesday, November 24, 2021.

Homeported at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, the second of eight planned National Security Cutters, is 418 feet long with a top speed of 28 knots and a range of 12,000 nautical miles. 

She is equipped with a flight deck and hangars capable of housing two multi-mission helicopters, and outfitted with the most advanced command, control, and communications equipment.



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Shoreline resident's harrowing story: What do you want? - part 3

Mila and the author by the front door
What Do you Want? 
A true story by a Shoreline Resident 
continued from part 2

The intruder was now in my living room. Mila and I were 12 feet away from him next to the front door. I debated whether to open the door and run or stay where I was. My angels helped me again and I did not run.

A few more long minutes passed and then I heard him talking to someone on the phone! Maybe he had called the police? A couple moments later he asked me my address. I told him and he repeated it into the phone. I then believed he had called the police.

A very long 10 minutes later, I saw lights coming down the driveway. The police! One officer came to the door. I turned on the porch light and he told me to walk away from the house. It was cold in just my underwear, but I walked away gladly.

I was so relieved that I was unaware of what happened next. I don’t believe he resisted and I think the police handled him with respect.

A policewoman and a policeman escorted me back to my house. The policeman and I went down the stairs to the window where he broke in.

It was a window that swings out and I had left it open. All the man had to do was pop the screen off and turn the handle to open the window enough so that he could enter my home. He didn’t have to break anything.

I closed the window and locked it.

The policewoman asked if I wanted to press charges. I really wasn’t sure. He did break in, but at no point did he threaten to harm us. It really seemed like his intent was to call the police and perhaps get help.

I told her that he probably had a hard life and not pressing charges might be a gift to him that could turn his life around. She said I could press charges and then I could change my mind later. So I agreed. She turned on a recorder and asked several questions.

Then they told me that he would spend the night in jail and I didn’t need to worry about him coming back that night.

They didn’t say what would happen after that. They asked if I was OK. I said yes and then they took off.

I needed to talk to someone. One of my neighbors heard the commotion and was still up. I went over to her home with Mila and asked if we could talk. It helped so much and I began to calm down.

After a half hour or so, Mila and I went back home and I was able to get a little sleep.

I was in a daze the next day. I could hardly believe such an event happened. And then I would look at the stairs where we stood only 6 - 7 feet apart. The memory rushed back. I thought of getting a security system and several days later I did send for one.

Two days after the break-in I got a call from the detective in charge of this case. He wanted to know if the man had stolen anything. I said no.

Four days out, I was feeling pretty good, only occasionally thinking about the event. That afternoon I noticed a glass bulb under one of the cushions of the couch. I pulled it out. There was a short piece of glass tubing connected to the bulb, which had a hole in it.

I took a photo and asked my neighbors if anyone knew what it was. One neighbor said it was a crack pipe, which is used to smoke crack cocaine. Most likely the intruder was high on crack cocaine. I called the detective. He said I could just throw it in the trash.

I told him I was still thinking about withdrawing my charges. He said that if I did most likely the intruder would go free and he might break into another home. If I did not withdraw my charges, he would likely be placed in a facility and receive help. I am very hopeful that he will receive the help that he clearly needs.

Four weeks since this event, I have told the story to many people and my reactions are always the same.

First of all, I am so thankful that no one was hurt. It could have ended so much worse. I am so grateful that I was able to keep fairly calm and I did not do anything to provoke the intruder. I am also grateful that Mila stayed calm and stayed next to me.

I really believe that he broke-in to have a reason to contact the police--or possibly because he needed to get his cell phone charged.

And I’ll always think both the intruder and I were guided by angels.

--end--

Did you miss the previous installments?


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Case updates November 23, 2021

Delta variant
Booster shots have been approved for all. Contact your local pharmacy or clinic. 

COVID-19 Updates 

 

United States

  • Total cases 47,916,623 - 100,636 new     
  • Total deaths 773,779 - 1,504 new   

Washington state

  • Total confirmed cases 675,732  - 1,634 new     
  • Total hospitalizations 42,500  - 130 new     
  • Statewide ICU occupancy by COVID-19 patients - 19.5%
  • Total deaths 9,208  - 69 new   


Levels of Community Transmission:
based on the number of new cases per 100,000 residents in the past 7 days:

High: ≥ 100
Substantial: 50-99
Moderate: 10-49
Low: < 10

King county 
  • Total confirmed cases 161,789 -  256 new   
  • Total hospitalizations 8,751 -   17 new  
  • Total deaths 2,079 -  9 new   
  • Level of community transmission SUBSTANTIAL  

Seattle 
  • Total confirmed cases 39,918  -  77 new  
  • Total hospitalizations 1,855  -   2 new    
  • Total deaths 514  -   0 new
  • Level of community transmission SUBSTANTIAL  

Shoreline  
  • Total confirmed cases 3,536 - 3 new    
  • Total hospitalizations 246 -   -1 new   
  • Total deaths 112 - 0 new
  • Level of community transmission: SUBSTANTIAL 

Lake Forest Park 
  • Total confirmed cases 539 - 0 new   
  • Total hospitalizations 22 -    0 new
  • Total deaths 5  - 0 new
  • Level of community transmission: MODERATE

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LFP Mayor’s Corner – Looking ahead and acknowledging milestones

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Mayor Jeff Johnson
By Jeff Johnson, Mayor
Lake Forest Park

At the turn of the year, we will see three of our current city councilmembers leave and welcome three new councilmembers elect. 

I would like to take this chance to thank outgoing Councilmembers Mark Phillips, John Resha, and John Wright for all their years of tireless service to the Lake Forest Park residents and broader community. Together, we have worked on many major policies and code amendments, and I believe LFP is the better for it.

I would also like to congratulate incumbent Semra Riddle, Position 1; and welcome new members Jon Lebo, Position 3; Tracy Furutani, Position 5; and Larry Goldman, Position 7. We will have a busy year ahead and I look forward to working with all of you.

Our community is lucky to have so many citizens interested in running for a city council position and taking on an election campaign. Thank you to all who ran for office this year.

I have the pleasure of also recognizing two long-time City employees who are retiring this year. Municipal Judge Linda Portnoy is retiring after 23 years of service and City Clerk Evelyn Jahed is retiring after 24 years of service. I wish them both well in their retirement and thank them for their contributions to the City.

While we don’t know all that 2022 holds for us, I do know your Council will be busy working on projects and code updates that move our community forward.

Let’s all remember during this busy holiday season to hold our family and friends close to our hearts and approach our interactions with others with kindness.

Happy Holidays!

--Mayor Johnson


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Snag this Great Black Friday Sale on Fall Workshops with ShoreLake Arts


Give the gift of a ShoreLake Arts Workshop this holiday season and get one for yourself at the same time! 

This Friday through Sunday only (Nov 26-29, 2021), when you buy one Workshop Ticket, you get another 50% off!

What’s better than making art? Making art together, of course! 

This is the perfect thing to do with friends and relatives. Workshops with ShoreLake Arts allow you to meet super cool new people, learn new skills, try out new art forms, and work with professional artists to create spectacular works of art. 

No experience is necessary and all supplies are included with your ticket!

Hurry! This sale ends Sunday, November 28!

WEBSITE

www.shorelakearts.org/workshops-classes

WORKSHOPS


Getting Started with Oils with Valencia Carroll


A hands-on workshop for adults that sets the beginner oil painter up to paint on their own. Ages 18 and up. No experience required!

3 Sessions: Tuesdays, November 30 - December 14, 2021 at the Shoreline Center
6:00 - 8:30 PM, Ages 18+

Tickets: $161 $120.75 each when you buy 2. Supplies included!


Art Journaling with Christine Soja


Learn how to experiment, express, and explore your inner landscape with these amazing art journals! Ages 15 and up. No experience required!

1 Session: Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at the Shoreline Center
6:00 - 8:00pm, Ages 15+

Tickets: $45 $33.75 each when you buy 2. Supplies included!

COVID-19 VACCINATION REQUIREMENT

Vaccine verification is required for ShoreLake Arts Workshop participants 12 years of age and older. All ticket holders in a party (ages 12+) must present proof of full vaccination upon entry. Just bring your CDC COVID-19 vaccination record card, a scan or picture of the card, or a mobile vaccination card with you to the event.

Alternatively, if you are age 12+ and unvaccinated or cannot prove full vaccination status, you will be required to show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to the event.

THANK YOU

Many thanks to the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and Cascadia Training for taking pART in the community and generously supporting the arts through the donation of their spaces for these workshops!


QUESTIONS

Have a question? Email Jonathan Booker, Arts Education Director, at artsed@shorelakearts.org.

ShoreLake Arts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate creativity and inspire our community through the arts.



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Cottonwood tree in Echo Lake poses no risks - and may be of benefit

Cottonwood tree in Echo Lake
Photo by Gidget Terpstra

By Diane Hettrick

Earlier this week, a very large cottonwood tree toppled into Echo Lake.

It looks dramatic, but according to the Shoreline cross departmental tree team, it poses no risks to the lake or the water level in the lake.

After investigation the City has determined, at this time, there is not a need to remove the tree which fell from private property next to Echo Lake Park.

It poses no risk to park users, surface water or other public infrastructure.

If it were to float down to the lake outlet at Echo Lake Park beach, the City would reassess risk and take any actions needed to address the risk, but staff do not believe the tree will affect outflow of the lake.

Tree snags and roots make excellent bird habitat
Photo by Gidget Terpstra

The tree may, in fact, make for a beneficial wildlife habitat snag.
 
Christine Southwick discussed the benefits of tree snags in her column Create Bird Habitat, Now.

To birds, a dead tree or one with dead branches is a thing of Habitat Beauty.

These snag trees are called “wildlife trees” since they can provide many layers of habitat for all kinds of birds and other wildlife.

The views of the tree are from the Interurban Trail by Echo Lake Park at N 200th and Ashworth Ave N.



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Shoreline resident's harrowing story: What do you want? - part 2

Mila sits on the landing
where the intruder was standing
What Do you Want? 
A true story by a Shoreline Resident

The intruder was standing on the landing where Mila is sitting. I was standing on the floor next to the stairs. We were 6 – 7 feet apart. My first words were “What do you want?” Actually it might have been an angel or the Buddha in me! Now, I think it was the best thing I could have said. Thank you angels!

And he began to talk a lot. Lots of swear words and mumbling words I couldn’t understand. About all I said was “I don’t understand what you are saying.”

This went on for about 20 minutes.

I kept a heavy metal mallet hammer in my exercise room just a couple feet from where I stood. I picked up the mallet. I thought about running up the stairs and attacking him! However, I was afraid that he might take the mallet from me and perhaps attack me or Mila. So after a few minutes I put it back down on the floor!

At one point I said something like “I believe you are a good person.” He didn’t seem to have a weapon and he never threatened to harm us.

Mila was another angel. She stood next to me the whole time and I constantly petted her. This helped me to stay somewhat calm.

After about 20 minutes, he said he wanted to call the police and he asked me if I would charge his phone! I agreed.

He put it down on the stairs, about half way between us. The connection between the cell phone and the charger didn’t match. So I put it back on the stairs and said “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t do it.” Several more times I heard him say “gotta call the police!”

He walked up to the main level and through the hallway into the living room. Mila and I followed him. We stopped about half way down the hallway, right next to the front door. We were now about 12 feet away from the man, who continued to talk, but not clearly. Several more times I heard him say again, ‘’gotta call the police!”

I seriously considered opening the front door and fleeing, but I was afraid Mila might not follow me. Mila’s leash and harness were on a shelf next to where I was standing. Despite the darkness, I managed to get her harness on and I attached the leash. Now I could run out the front door and Mila would be with me.

I debated what to do. I only had on my underwear and no socks. So it would be cold.

If I ran, who knows what he might have done. He might have fled, too, and then he might return. Or he might chase me and Mila. He might be a faster runner. What should I do?

...to be continued



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