Overnight concrete repairs on I-5 in King County begin next week in Shoreline

Friday, February 4, 2022

Due to schedule conflicts with neighboring projects, the WSDOT contract to replace concrete panels at various locations on I-5 between Tukwila and Shoreline was delayed one week. Work will start up Monday, February 7, 2022.

Nightly lane closures on I-5 will be used to complete the work. Lanes will begin closing as early as 8pm in some areas, potentially reducing one direction of the highway to a single lane by midnight. All lanes will reopen early the next morning.

WSDOT made temporary repairs last summer
Crews will sawcut and excavate the existing damaged pavement, then pour new concrete panels. Many of the 46 concrete panels due to be replaced are located in the Shoreline area. 

These panels were damaged last year when extreme heat caused the pavement to expand and crack. WSDOT maintenance teams patched these areas, but those repairs were meant to be temporary.

The best way to track closure locations and times is by using the WSDOT real-time travel map or downloading the WSDOT mobile app. This work is weather-dependent and will likely be rescheduled if there is rain in the forecast.

The concrete supplier for this job is Nation’s Mini Mix, which is a mix-on-site concrete operation. They’re unaffected by the ongoing concrete drivers' strike.



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Join a Community Climate Conversation to help shape Shoreline's Climate Action Plan


Are you concerned about how climate change is impacting Shoreline? 
Do you want to help shape local solutions? 

This March, the City of Shoreline invites you to join a series of Community Climate Conversations to share your ideas, concerns, and priorities for Shoreline’s Climate Action Plan update

Each interactive, online event will cover a different topic and participants will be able to discuss specific climate action strategies related to each. Events will be held from 6:00 - 8:00pm on Zoom. We welcome your participation in one or all events!

  • March 2, 2022: Walk, Ride, Roll and Plug – Decarbonizing Shoreline’s Transportation: Join this event to discuss ways the City can support low-carbon ways of getting around like walking, biking, public transit, electric vehicles, micro-mobility, and more.
  • March 16, 2022: Keeping Warm, Staying Cool - Achieving Carbon-Neutral Buildings and Energy Join this event to discuss strategies to decarbonize our homes and buildings such as electric heat pumps, green building, efficiency programs, and distributed renewable energy production. We will also discuss actions related to recycling, composting, and consumption.
  • March 30, 2022: Fostering Community Resilience, Capturing Carbon in Trees and Ecosystems Join this double-header session to discuss strategies to prepare our community for climate impacts like hotter summer days, drought, wildfire smoke and increased flooding. We’ll also discuss this discuss ways the City can support our urban forest and create healthy, carbon-rich ecosystems.

Register for each session you’d like to attend

For language interpretation or accommodation, please contact creed@shorelinewa.gov at least seven days prior to the event.

The City of Shoreline is updating its Climate Action Plan to reduce emissions and protect our community from climate impacts. 

Most of Shoreline’s contributions to climate change come from driving gasoline or diesel vehicles and from using natural gas in our homes and buildings. 

The Climate Action Plan (CAP) will identify key actions the City can take to reduce community-wide emissions in these and other sectors. The CAP will also include actions to prepare our community for climate impacts like wildfire smoke, hotter summer days, summer drought, and heavier winter rainfall. 

To learn more about the Climate Action Plan update, visit shorelinewa.gov/climate.



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Some immunocompromised individuals should receive four doses of COVID-19 vaccine


OLYMPIA – A fourth dose of COVID-19 vaccine can help some people with weakened immune systems be less likely to catch COVID-19 and get severely ill. 

Certain individuals who are immunocompromised may receive up to four doses of COVID-19 vaccine, which includes two primary doses of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna), an additional primary dose, and a booster dose.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people ages 5 and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised should get an additional primary shot (third dose) of an mRNA vaccine 28 days after receiving their second dose. 

An additional primary shot may prevent serious and possibly life-threatening COVID-19 in people who may not have responded well to their two-dose mRNA COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

Everyone 12 years of age and older, including immunocompromised people, should get a booster shot when they are eligible. Those who received Pfizer or Moderna should get a booster 5 months after completing their primary series and people who received the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine should get a booster 2 months after their first dose.

“COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, but some immunocompromised individuals don’t get strong enough immunity following their initial two-dose series,” said Dr. Tao Sheng Kwan-Gett, MD, MPH, Chief Science Officer. 
“Receiving an additional primary dose and a booster dose will help protect those who are more susceptible to the disease. Getting everyone up to date on all vaccine doses they are eligible to receive can also help protect the most vulnerable in our communities.”

According to the CDC, people are considered moderately or severely immunocompromised if they have:
  • Been receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood.
  • Received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
  • Received a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years or are taking medicine to suppress the immune system.
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (such as DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome).
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection.
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other drugs that may suppress their immune system.

People should talk to their trusted healthcare provider about their medical condition, and whether getting an additional primary shot is appropriate for them. For more information, visit the Frequently Asked Questions section of the Washington State Department of Health’s website.

The DOH website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for the DOH blog, Public Health Connection.



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Artist Michelle Kumata creates two exhibits that preserve Japanese American heritage

Michelle Kumata photo by John Pai

By Ron Chew

On February 19, 2022, Seattle artist and illustrator Michelle Kumata again comes face-to-face with her community’s shattered past.

Exactly 80 years ago, President Franklin Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, the infamous federal mandate that authorized the imprisonment of her grandparents in Minidoka War Relocation Camp, Idaho, a desolate concentration camp constructed to hold 13,000 residents deemed security risks by the U.S. government. 

Over 120,000 Japanese Americans on the West Coast — two-thirds of whom were American-born citizens — were incarcerated in 10 camps during the duration of World War II, without the benefit of due process.

To mark this anniversary, Kumata has created two riveting art installations which explore the forgotten contributions of Japanese American pioneers before they were unjustly uprooted and forced to part with their treasured possessions, homes, businesses and farms.

One installation is featured at Bonfire, a storefront gallery at 603 S Main, in the heart of what used to be a bustling Nihonmachi or Japantown. The exhibition, titled “Regeneration,” consists of large canvas paintings, 11 small framed paintings, handkerchiefs with quotes painted on the surfaces, and small boxes covered with furoshiki, a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. 

The portraits were inspired by actual black-and-white stills from Takano Studio, a pre-World War II community business. Kumata sketched the portraits on brown craft paper, using pencil and acrylic paint, setting the images in ordinary vintage frames.

Michelle holds a handkerchief with a quotation painted on it

The second installation, titled “Emerging Radiance: Honoring the Nikkei Farmers of Bellevue” is in the lobby of the Bellevue Arts Museum, on land that was once a fertile expanse of Japanese American farms. 

The installation is a four-sided wooden replica of a farmhouse covered with a large mural and individual portraits. It pays tribute to the 60 forgotten families who grew strawberries, peas and other crops before they were forced from the area during World War II.

“I’m sad because most of those farmers never lived to get the recognition they deserved,” Kumata said.

Jerry Chihara served as architect for this project. Thanks to creative director Tani Ikeda, three of the nine portraits have an “augmented reality” feature, allowing viewers to hear fuller stories from the Densho archives by activating a QR code on their mobile phones.

“I feel like I’ve come full circle,” Kumata said in an interview last week.

Kumata, a native Seattleite, grew up in Mt. Baker. After attending Asa Mercer Middle School, she transferred to the Bush School, a private high school where she felt “different from her classmates” for the first time in her life. Kumata learned very little in school about what had happened during World War II.

“My parents were both born in camp so they didn’t have memories,” she explained. “My paternal grandmother just shared more of the funny or light memories: getting her boots stuck in the mud. My maternal grandparents spoke little English, and we never had real discussions. I had no sense of the gravity of the incarceration.”

As a young person, Kumata struggled to find her identity. She began by joining a Japanese American taiko group. She also began an internship as an illustrator at the International Examiner in her senior year of high school.

“It was powerful to have my work published,” she recalled. “It was empowering to be seen and to think about other people seeing my work and relating to it. That experience helped boost my confidence and pride as an Asian American and a Japanese American.”
Artist Michelle Kumata

This involvement led her to the Wing Luke Museum, where she became a contractor on a major exhibition to mark the 50th anniversary of Executive Order 9066. She served as a project co-chair, along with Sally Yamasaki, Harry Fujita, David Takami, Leslie Matsuda and Hannah Yamasaki. 

The exhibition, titled “Executive Order 9066: 50 Years Before and 50 Years After,” featured hundreds of rediscovered photos and artifacts and dozens of stories told in the voices of the second-generation Nisei. It included a recreated barrack from Camp Harmony, the temporary assembly center in Puyallup which housed internees before they were transported to Minidoka.

Kumata headed up the design of the exhibition, which filled the entire Museum gallery. It was a blockbuster, attracting over 10,000 visitors during a six-month run. It received several museum awards and catapulted the Wing into national prominence.

Sally Yamasaki said she worked daily with Kumata, sometimes spending all night at the Museum with her. 

“I was so lucky to get to know Michelle and to see her artistic eye, intelligence, tenderness, humility, integrity and humor,” she remarked. 
“We would often listen to community members who had been incarcerated tell their stories, sometimes for the first time publicly. Michelle, with her open nature, would listen deeply. I would see her at times blinking and dabbing away tears.”

After working on “Executive Order 9066,” Kumata was employed as an illustrator and designer at the Seattle Times from 1995 to 2006. She returned to the Wing Luke Museum as a full-time exhibit developer from 2006 to 2018, stewarding many other community-based exhibitions created in the same spirit as “Executive Order 9066.”

“That experience with ‘Executive Order 9066’ really changed the way I looked at museums and it also helped build my skills in community building,” Kumata said.

In 2018, she left to pursue her independent artistic interests.

“All of my work in the community—participating in taiko, the Examiner, the Wing Luke Museum and the Seattle Times—have had a huge influence on how I approach my art now. Heritage, identity and legacy are my main themes. I integrate family and community stories.

“We’ve lost many of the old places in Nihonmachi, but we can still preserve and remember them. What does it mean to be Japanese American? It doesn’t have to be one thing. The community is evolving. We can transform and make our own identity.”

Regeneration will be at Bonfire February 2 – March 26, 2022. Emerging Radiance will be at Bellevue Arts Museum February – March 13, 2022. The Bellevue Arts Museum is located at 510 Bellevue Way NE in Lincoln Square South.

For more arts, click here

See more of Michelle’s work: www.michellekumata.com Instagram: @michellekumata



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Gloria's Birds: Elena was going for a portrait screaming "ominous" this time around...

Thursday, February 3, 2022

Photo copyright Gloria Z Nagler

 hope she likes this!

(Elena, along with other Bald Eagles, hangs out on Lake Washington's shores)

--Gloria Z Nagler



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Contest encourages Washington students to learn more about the history of their community and state

OLYMPIA — Washington students in grades K-12 are invited to participate in a contest that encourages them to learn more about the history of their community and state.

The “What’s in a Place Name?” contest offers students the opportunity to explore their neighborhoods and identify a sign or label on a public place named after a person, location, or landmark that is part of Washington’s history. 

“What’s in a Place Name?” asks participating students — or teams of students — to find out how that name fits into the state’s history and reflects their community’s values, and to present their findings in a creative way.

The contest is sponsored by Legacy Washington, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.

“‘What’s in a Place Name?’ is for young people who wonder who or what their school or street is named after, or their favorite park, library, or neighborhood building,” said Secretary of State Steve Hobbs. 
“With this contest we are offering students a fun and engaging way to learn about Washington’s rich, storied history and to make a deeper connection with their communities.”

More information, including contest rules, helpful resources, and how to enter, can be found on the Office of the Secretary of State’s Primarily Washington website. 

Entries may be submitted in multiple formats, including — but not limited to — written (essay, poetry, play, zine), visual (painting, photo essay, collage), audio (podcast, song), audiovisual (film, documentary), and interactive (app). A sample entry can be viewed here. The entry deadline is May 15, 2022.

A panel of judges will choose and announce five winners on May 31, 2022. The winners will receive a $100 grant for their classroom, and winning entries will be posted in a virtual exhibit on the Primarily Washington website.

About Legacy Washington

Legacy Washington documents extraordinary stories in Washington history. This collaborative venture, spearheaded by Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, relies on original sources at Washington State Library, Washington State Archives, and heritage organizations statewide. The work of Legacy Washington can be found in libraries around the country and museums of Washington.

About the Office of the Secretary of State

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees a number of areas within state government, including managing state elections, registering corporations and charities, and governing the use of the state flag and state seal. 

The office also manages the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, oversees the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees, and administers the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.



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Shoreline student named to Dean's List at Northeastern University

Northeastern University, Boston
The Dean's List, or honors list, is issued at the end of each fall and spring semester at Northeastern University in Boston.

The requirements to be on the dean's list are a 3.500 grade-point average (GPA) or higher and a minimum load of four courses or 16 semester hours.

Shoreline

Nathaniel Philbrick, freshman, Major: Cybersecurity,  Parents Susan Chang and Russ Philbrick



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Local students on Provost's List at Chapman University

Each semester the Office of the Provost of Chapman University publishes a list of students honored for their academic excellence. Academic excellence is measured by maintaining a 3.600 GPA or higher in at least 12 credits of residence course work taken for a letter grade.

The following students have been named to the Provost's List for the Fall 2021 Semester. Both are 2020 grads of Shorewood High School.

Shoreline
  • Isabel Brown - parents Jeff and Michelle Brown of Shoreline, WA
  • Samantha Combs - parents Scott and Jennifer Combs of Shoreline, WA


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Letter to the Editor: New Sidewalk Discussion at the Shoreline City Council Meeting Feb 7

To the Editor:

Many residents are concerned about the new sidewalk widths in the upcoming installations.

5th Ave NE (between NE 175th to NE 182nd Ct).

The approved design has 6’ wide sidewalks along both sides of a narrow street and will necessitate the removal of 23 tall, mature trees. If the 23 mature trees are removed, the character and the look of 5th Ave NE will be significantly changed.

20th Ave NW (between NW 190th and NW 195th St.)

The proposed design will have a 10’ wide shared use sidewalk along one side of the street. There are a number of significant trees at risk including 3 in the City right-of-way that are located across from the entrance to Richmond Beach Saltwater Park.

There are concerns about the new sidewalk to be designed for Westminster Way N (N 145th to N 153rd) in 2022 and the remaining eight additional sidewalks approved.

In 2018 the New Sidewalk Program was narrowly approved by 52% of the vote. The 0.2% sales tax increase over 20 years pays for these sidewalks. At the time of the vote the sidewalk width in the then current Shoreline Engineering Development Manual was 5’ wide. In 2021 sidewalk widths were changed to a minimum of 6'wide. Many voters who approved the new sidewalks did not know the sidewalk widths would increase.

Help protect the character of our neighborhoods and our trees. Email the City Council, council@shorelinewa.gov, or make a public comment to the Council on February 7th  www.shorelinewa.gov/government/council-meetings/

Carla Carroll
Shoreline


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Puget Sound Energy files three-year rate increase proposal

BELLEVUE, Wash. (Feb.1, 2022) – Puget Sound Energy has filed a three-year rate plan request with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC)

For residential customers, the proposal would increase rates in the first year by a net of 12.9% for electricity and 11.9% for natural gas, starting in January 2023, with increases of between 1.2 and 2.7% in the second and third years. 

If the request is approved, a typical residential electric customer would see an average monthly bill increase of $12 and a typical natural gas customer a monthly increase of $9 next year.

The proposal enables the next phases of the transition to a clean energy future, including meeting the 2030 and 2045 carbon-reduction targets set by the 2019 Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), as well as recovery of approximately $3.1 billion in reliability and service upgrades made over the past four years that are not currently factored into rates. 

Additionally, the proposal includes nearly $10 million per year in expanded assistance for low-income and economically disadvantaged customers.

“We’re asking more of our energy infrastructure now than ever before, whether it’s to help withstand the demands of record-setting weather such as we saw in 2021 or to do our part in meeting the challenge of climate change by 2030 and beyond,” said Andy Wappler, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer. 

Actions proposed by PSE include a new discount rate for low-income customers and seniors, increased funding for low-income bill payment assistance, as well as a new program that would forgive the debt of eligible customers facing significant past-due balances. 

Historically, PSE residential electric bills have increased at less than two percent per year for the last 10 years, with PSE residential gas customer bills declining over the same period.

“We encourage all of our customers to make sure they are taking full advantage of our energy efficiency rebates and tips, too, to make sure their energy dollars aren’t wasted,” Wappler noted. “Our online energy analysis tools and our team of Energy Advisors can help everyone use their electricity and gas wisely.”

Energy infrastructure improvements reflected in the request include:
  • PSE’s Baker River hydroelectric project to maintain the safety and integrity of a vital source of carbon-free energy
  • The Energize Eastside transmission project serving as the backbone of growing Eastside communities that haven’t been upgraded since the 1960s
  • Complete installation of PSE’s advanced metering infrastructure to replace obsolete equipment with meters that enable robust, two-way communication, which will be essential as we add more clean energy resources to our grid
  • Investments in strengthening and modernizing the electrical grid to improve the system’s resilience and reliability, especially during severe weather and other peak demand events resulting from climate change
  • Support for electric vehicle adoption, including PSE Up and Go public charging stations and customer education around electric vehicles
  • Installation of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) such as local rooftop, ground solar and battery storage programs to double what they are today in partnership with homes and businesses
  • Continued modernization and decarbonization of the natural gas pipeline system, improving pipeline safety and reliability and integrating low carbon fuels such as renewable natural gas and green hydrogen
  • Significant upgrades to customer-facing technology and online self-service tools to improve efficiency and enhance customer experience

Business customer increases would vary according to the tariff service categorization for electric and natural gas customers.

More information here



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Jobs: City of Shoreline Extra Help – Day Camp Leaders (23)

City of Shoreline
Extra Help – Day Camp Leader

CLOSING DATE: 3/7/22 11:59pm
First review of applications: Monday, March 7th

GENERAL SUMMARY

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

We are seeking twenty-three (23) Day Camp Leaders for our Camp Shoreline summer program who can work during the listed program dates. There are also opportunities for Day Camp Leaders to work during the School's Out program, dates listed below as well.

These are seasonal and non-benefited positions, both 40 hour and 20 hour positions are available:
  • Monday - Friday
  • 4 hour to 8 hour shifts, between the hours of 7:00 AM – 6:00 PM
  • Program locations include: Spartan Recreation Center and Echo Lake Elementary School
  • Paid day camp leader training will be scheduled an average of 4 hours a month in March, April, May and June
Below is an example of the 2022 annual schedule.
  • Camp Shoreline summer program dates:
    • Camp Shoreline: June 21st – August 19th
  • School's Out program dates:
    • Spring Break: April 25th - 29th
    • Winter Break: December 19th - 30th
    The successful candidates will be able to work all or most of the Camp Shoreline summer program dates.

    Scope of Work:
    Provide direct instruction, leadership and supervision at Camp Shoreline Summer Camp and School's Out Day Camps taking place during Shoreline School District School year breaks for children (ages 5-12). Assist in planning activities and lead participants in a variety of activities, including visual and performing arts, sports, creative movement, team and individual games and special events. Full time positions will work a maximum of 40 hours each week during summer camp and school year break camps with planning hours, as needed, prior to camps.

    Job description and application



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    Jobs: City of Shoreline Extra Help - Finance Assistant/Wastewater Customer Service

    City of Shoreline
    Extra Help - Finance Assistant/Wastewater Customer Service


    CLOSING DATE: 2/08/22 11:59 PM

    GENERAL SUMMARY

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

    Scheduling and Work Location: This position’s immediate assignment is scheduled to last until April 8, 2022 and will require onsite work at City of Shoreline City Hall. It is expected that other opportunities will be available to assist with projects and busier times throughout the year. The working hours per week are not to exceed 29 hours and there is a need for a majority of those working hours to occur in the mornings.

    COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement: A candidate selected and offered the job must be fully vaccinated and demonstrate proof of vaccination against Covid-19. (Per City policy, a person is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 if two weeks have passed since they received all doses of a vaccine as prescribed by the FDA, CDC, and/or the Washington State Health Officer, including a booster shot based on availability and eligibility.) 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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    Stoel Rives announces promotion of Maren Norton to managing partner of Seattle office


    Stoel Rives LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm, named Maren R. Norton office managing partner of the firm’s Seattle office, effective January 1, 2022. As office managing partner, Norton oversees the day-to-day management of the office, supporting its business activities and recruiting efforts.

    “Maren has demonstrated impressive leadership skills and a tangible passion for fostering diversity, equity and inclusion at the firm as well as a commitment to the Seattle community. We look forward to her leadership as we navigate the ongoing pandemic and beyond,” said Melissa A. Jones, Stoel Rives’ Firm Managing Partner.

    Norton, who first joined Stoel Rives’ Seattle office as a summer associate in 2003, has nearly 20 years of trial and appellate experience representing clients in complex commercial disputes. An experienced litigator and leader, she served as the chair of the firm’s Litigation group from 2020 to 2021, and has been recognized as a litigation leader by Best Lawyers in America®. 

    She briefly left the firm for one year to be an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington from 2008 to 2009 before returning. 

    A lifelong Shoreline resident, she is very active in the community, previously serving on the Shoreline School Board and as President of the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation. She also currently serves as the Class Agent for the University of Michigan Law School and sits on the Dean’s Advisory Committee.



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    Northshore Fire Department approves a Contract for Services Agreement with Shoreline Fire Department


    KENMORE, Wash. – On Tuesday, February 1, 2022 the Board of Fire Commissioners for the Northshore Fire Department voted unanimously to approve a contract for fire and emergency medical services with Shoreline Fire Department.

    The decision to contract with Shoreline enhances existing services to the citizens of Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. Northshore firefighters have been training and responding on emergency calls with Shoreline firefighters for decades. Shoreline Paramedics have been a part of our community and responding out of Lake Forest Park – Station 57 for years.

    Interim Fire Chief, Mike Morris stated 
    “On behalf of Northshore Fire Department, we are excited for the opportunity of combining two great fire service providers to more efficiently serve the citizens of Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, and Shoreline. 
    "We have a long history of working collaboratively with Shoreline Fire Department and the integration of our organizations will improve service to both districts. Thank you to our citizens for all the feedback and support provided throughout this process”.

    This contract for service will be seamless for the residents of Kenmore and Lake Forest Park. There will not be any change in 911 services or emergency responses.



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    Case updates February 2, 2022

    COVID-19 Updates - increases are reported in 7 or 14 day periods 

     

    United States  

      
    • Total cases 75,302,383
    • Cases in past 7 days - 2,908,870
    • Total deaths 888,784

    Washington State

    • Wednesday, February 2, 2022: Due to the current surge in COVID-19 cases, Department of Health is experiencing substantial slowdowns in our data systems


    King county

    Level of Community Transmission is 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

    • Total confirmed cases - 328,040
    • Cases in past 7 days - 15,529 
    • Total hospitalizations - 10,962
    • Hospitalizations in past 7 days - 357  
    • Total deaths - 2,539
    • Deaths in past 14 days - 80  
    • Level of community transmission HIGH  

    Seattle 
    • Total confirmed cases - 87,995 
    • Cases in past 7 days - 4,240   
    • Total hospitalizations - 2,386
    • Hospitalizations in past 14 days - 97    
    • Total deaths - 568
    • Deaths in 14 days - 17     
    • Level of community transmission HIGH  

    Shoreline  
    • Total confirmed cases - 7,528 
    • Cases in past 7 days - 485    
    • Total hospitalizations - 292    
    • Hospitalizations in past 7 days - 5
    • Total deaths - 123
    • Deaths in 14 days - 3 
    • Level of community transmission: HIGH

    Lake Forest Park 
    • Total confirmed cases - 1,324   
    • Cases in past 7 days - 66 
    • Total hospitalizations - 31    
    • Hospitalizations in past 7 days - 1
    • Total deaths 5  - 0 
    • Deaths in 14 days - 0
    • Level of community transmission: HIGH



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    Shoreline city council will study sidewalk program and ARPA funding allocation

    Top row: Mayor Keith Scully, Deputy Mayor Betsy Robertson, CM Doris McConnell
    Second row: CMs Laura Mork, Eben Pobee, John Ramsdell, Chris Roberts


    The agenda for the Monday February 7, 2022 regular meeting of the Shoreline City Council contains two study items:

    Item 8(a) Discussion and Update on the Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program and 2018 Voter Approved New Sidewalk Program

    The following topics will be included in the discussion:
    • Status of the 2018 Voter Approved New Sidewalk Program;
    • Status of the Sidewalk Rehabilitation Program;
    • Key issues that impact both programs; and
    • Plans for future updates to the Sidewalk Prioritization Plan.

    Item 8(b) Discussion of Proposed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Business Recovery Funding Allocation

    Staff developed, based on Council feedback and direction, a comprehensive plan to make the best use of these funds within the required timeframes. The Human Services allocations were discussed at the January 24, 2022 Council meeting.

    The comprehensive plan included targeting an allocation of $500,000 for the purpose of business recovery and stabilization. That will be the topic of this discussion.

    VIRTUAL/ELECTRONIC REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
    Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
    The City Council is providing opportunities for public comment by submitting written comment or by joining the meeting webinar (via computer or phone) to provide oral public comment:


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    Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Groundhog Day

    Wednesday, February 2, 2022


    But did he see his shadow? And does it count?



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    Where did WSDOT get their concrete?

    Pavement patching on I-5 last summer
    Photo courtesy WSDOT

    By Diane Hettrick

    After we published the story about WSDOT replacing concrete panels at various locations on I-5 between Tukwila and Shoreline, damaged last year when extreme heat caused the pavement to expand and crack, readers asked:

    Where did they get the concrete?

    There is a strike going on, now in its third month, of drivers represented by Teamsters Local 174. Construction projects have been reorganized, rescheduled and put on hold.

    Yet WSDOT started this week to replace damaged concrete panels over miles of freeway.

    According to Joseph Calabro, WSDOT Northwest Region Communications,

    The supplier for this job is Nation’s Mini Mix, which is a mix-on-site concrete operation. They’re unaffected by the strike.

    Now you know.


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    Public invited to a special discussion about Social Isolation: Recognition, Impact, and Solutions


    Join UW Bothell School of Nursing students for a conversation about community and belonging. 

    This free workshop will discuss how to recognize signs of social isolation, its impact on health, and offer ideas and resources to help prevent or reduce becoming isolated from the community. 

    This free online event is sponsored by Northwest Neighbors Network, the Edmonds Waterfront Center and the University of Washington, Bothell School of Nursing. 

    There are a limited number of spaces available for in person participation for those choosing to do so. 

    Registration for either the Zoom or in-person event is required. In person attendees must wear a mask, show proof of vaccination and commit to following CDC and Washington State Health Department guidelines throughout the event.

    To register for the online event, go to https://tinyurl.com/yty8hczj

    To register for the in-person event (space limited), go to https://tinyurl.com/4fa66zrv
    Northwest Neighbors Network (NNN) is a personal, central resource serving Northern King and Southern Snohomish counties. NNN connects members with other Village members, neighborhood volunteers, Village staff, local agencies, and member-recommended professionals who provide services that help members continue to live at home as they age. 

    Learn more at NorthwestNeighborsNetwork.org. NNN receives some funding from a grant by the King County Veterans and Human Services Levy and was recognized as the 2021 Outstanding Human Services Program by the North Urban Human Services Alliance (NUSHA).


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    Sen. Salomon's bill to contain urban sprawl passes state senate

    Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-32
    Permits issued to develop farmland could be withdrawn if a planned project would violate the state Growth Management Act (GMA), under legislation passed last week by the Senate.

    Senate Bill 5042, sponsored by Sen. Jesse Salomon (D-32), would protect communities from having to provide costly infrastructure for unplanned development by closing a loophole in permitting.

    “The way it works now, once a permit is vested a developer has a right to develop a proposed project even if the local law that allowed the vesting is subsequently found to be in violation of the GMA,” Salomon said. 
    “Some counties are using this loophole to expand their urban growth areas in violation of their own codes and annex land in a way that creates urban sprawl and circumvents review until after permits have been vested.”

    Salomon’s bill extends the effective date of certain actions by local governments, providing the Growth Management Hearings Board more time to invalidate improper permits and block invalid developments.

    “Right now, developers can proceed with projects that violate the GMA and stick taxpayers with the burden of funding expensive infrastructure to serve development that skirted the system,” Salomon said. 
    “This bill will protect taxpayers from having to pay unexpected and unreasonable increases in infrastructure costs.”

    After several years, SB 5042 finally passed out of the Senate on Wednesday and now awaits action in the House.

    Sen. Jesse Salomon, D-Shoreline, represents the 32nd Legislative District, which includes Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Seattle, Shoreline, Woodway, and unincorporated Snohomish County.



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    Gloria's Birds: Hester kept a wary eye on Millard who seemed about to encroach

    Photo copyright Gloria Z Nagler

    True, she had allowed him to join her in this mud puddle, but Hester did, after all, have first dibs!

    (Hester and Millard are Mallards, dabbling on the shore of Lake Washington)

    --Gloria Z Nagler



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    Shoreline students named to the St. Olaf College Dean's List

    NORTHFIELD, Minn. (February 1, 2022) - The following local students have been named to the St. Olaf College dean's list for the fall 2021 semester.

    The dean's list recognizes students with a semester grade point average of 3.75 or higher on a 4-point scale.

    HOMETOWN, STATE; NAME, MAJOR(s) (if listed), PARENTS 

    Shoreline, WA
    • Kaili Jacobsen, Sociology/Anthropology and Biology, Jeffrey and Geraldine Jacobsen
    • Bonnie Paulson, Nursing, Thomas Paulson and Lisa McNeill
    • Megan Peery,  Robin Peery and Reiner Peery

    One of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges, St. Olaf challenges students to excel in the liberal arts, examine faith and values, and explore meaningful vocation in an inclusive, globally engaged community nourished by Lutheran tradition.



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    Metro launches Lynnwood Link survey, seeks mobility board members

    The Sound Transit stations will open in 2024.
    Will you be able to get to them?
    King County Metro is preparing for Sound Transit’s expansion north to Shoreline and Snohomish County and wants the public to get involved. 

    In 2024, Sound Transit Link light rail will open four new stations connecting Northgate to Lynnwood. A fifth station will open on the extension in 2025.

    The Lynnwood Link Connections project will deliver updated bus service that complements the new light rail stations. 

    To best serve nearby communities, they are reaching out to residents in Bothell, Kenmore, Lake Forest Park, Mountlake Terrace, North Seattle, and Shoreline for their thoughts.

    A core component of planning new transit opportunities is improving mobility and access for historically underserved populations.

    Here are some great opportunities to help shape the future of transit in northwest King County through Lynnwood Link Connections:

    Interested in the Mobility Board? We’re looking for people who:
    • Live, work, and/or travel within northwest King County.
    • Are a transit rider or a potential transit rider.
    • Bring a perspective as an individual (not as an organization).
    • Are interested in drawing connections between racial equity, transportation issues, and access to opportunities.

    More information about the Lynnwood Link extension is available on the Sound Transit website.

    We want our Mobility Board to equitably represent groups of people who have historically been left out of decision-making related to transit and who are disproportionately affected by these decisions. 

    We strongly encourage people with the following identities and lived experiences to apply: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color; immigrants and refugees; people who speak languages other than English; residents who are low-income or no-income; and people with disabilities.

    The webpage, survey and mobility board application are available in 10 languages, including English, Spanish, Chinese (simplified), Korean, Russian, Japanese, Tagalog, Somali, Vietnamese and Amharic.

    Questions? Prefer the application be emailed or mailed to you? Contact the Lynnwood Link Connections team at haveasay@kingcounty.gov or 206-263-1939.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
    • Elaine Porterfield, PIO, King County Metro, 206-316-6507
    • John Gallagher, PIO, Sound Transit, 206-689-4980
    • Monica Spain, Communications, Community Transit, 425-521-5270


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    Buoy will measure underwater noise to assess risk to orcas

    Marine mammal scientists aboard the SoundGuardian, King County’s research vessel, deployed a buoy into Puget Sound that will measure the underwater noise from commercial and recreational vessels that pose multiple risks to southern resident orcas.

    The pro bono study by SMRU Consulting – which conducts marine mammal research worldwide – will help increase the frequency and quality of reports of orca sightings provided to pilots of large vessels so they can voluntarily slow down or change course, reducing the amount of underway noise and preventing collisions.

    Researchers chose to deploy the buoy during winter when orcas are regularly found in Puget Sound pursuing chinook and chum salmon. Orcas rely on their use of sound to hunt, communicate, navigate, and avoid danger which can be limited by noise generated from maritime activities. 

    Data on the presence of vessels and orcas will be transmitted to scientists in real time as well as recorded for future analysis.

    “Our state-of-the-art research vessel is a valuable asset helping some of the world’s leading marine biologists work to protect southern resident orcas,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. 
    “The scientific research they produce will contribute to our collective mission to not only track the health of Puget Sound, but also ensure the survival of its marine life.”

    Read more here



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    Online class: Native Plants - Combining Beauty with Water Conservation

    North City Water District is sponsoring a FREE Savvy Gardener class via Zoom on Thursday, February 24, 2022.

    Our first class of the season is designed specifically for the Northwest Garden. Enjoy the sustainable beauty of Northwest native plants. Naturally suited to our wet winters / dry summers, discover these low-maintenance and water-saving wonders that add seasonal color to our yards.

    Peggy Campbell
    Peggy Campbell shares favorites for sun, shade and part shade — along with tips to start them off right.

    Thursday, February 24, 2022
    6:30–8:00pm
    Held ONLINE via Zoom

    About Our Presenter:

    Believing gardening should be fun and satisfying, Peggy Campbell enjoys showing others how to take the work out of gardening. 

    She shares tips learned while transforming her own time-intensive, weed-filled yard into an easy-care landscape of seasonal color every week of the year! 

    An ecoPRO Certified Sustainable Landscape Professional, her gardening roots include a Bachelor in Horticulture from Washington State University.

    To register, email Theresa Harrington at theresah@northcitywater.org

    Visit our website at FREE Savvy Gardener Class – Native Plants | North City Water District for more information.



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    Applications due February 18 for Shoreline CityWise 2022

    Have you ever wondered who maintains our roads? Or how the City creates a budget or plans for the future of our parks?

    The City of Shoreline is offering its popular CityWise Project online in 2022. 

    This series of nine informational sessions will provide participants an overview of City government and operations. CityWise is free of charge, and open to residents, employees, business owners, and students aged 16 and older in Shoreline. 

    We limit class size to 30 participants. Our goal is to have participants who are representative of the different parts of the City and its diverse populations. Applicants who are Shoreline residents will receive priority.

    We will hold classes Tuesdays from 7:00 to 8:30pm, March 1 through May 3. Classes will be held on Zoom. Participants must be willing to commit to attending all sessions. The application is available online and is due Friday, February 18 by 6:00pm. We will only accept online applications.

    We will send notices of acceptance Tuesday, February 22. If you have any questions, please contact Neighborhoods Coordinator Constance Perenyi at cperenyi@shorelinewa.gov.

    CityWise Schedule for 2022



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    Shoreline classical music promoter Mary Ransdell bringing local, international talent together in ‘Seattle Series’

    Efe Baltacigil and Anna Polonsky, the featured artists of the February 18, 2022 performance of The Seattle Series. (Courtesy of Mary Ransdell)

    By Joshua Lee

    Some of the world's best classical musicians reside in Seattle, but Shoreline resident Mary Ransdell fears too few locals are aware of that.

    In an effort to find unique, one-night-only combinations of performers while capturing the magic of live music, Ransdell organized The Seattle Series, a collaborative classical music event held at the Women’s University Club in Seattle featuring both local musicians and guests of their choosing from across the world.

    “The Seattle area is just blessed with really high-level classical musicians and most of the population doesn't know it,” Ransdell said.

    Ransdell, who moved to Shoreline in 2016, is a prominent figure of Seattle’s classical music scene, starting with her experience promoting the long-running Highlands Concert Series in The Highlands neighborhood of Shoreline. Held in the Florence Henry Memorial Chapel, the Highlands Concert Series also focuses on classical chamber music, offering everything from soloists to quintet ensembles.

    “The Seattle Series is a direct outgrowth of that programming experience,” Ransdell said in an email.

    It was there where Ransdell met many of the musical guests featured in The Seattle Series.

    “Before joining the Highlands series, I had taken a professional detour from music into the world of theoretical economics, followed some years later by architecture,” Ransdell said in an email. 
    “After having studied music seriously for many years, I ran headlong into two obstacles — musical perfectionism coupled with outside intellectual interests … The battle between artistry and intellectual pursuits raged on, finally back to my first love: classical music.”

    The first show, taking place February 18, 2022 features Efe Baltacigil, the Seattle City Orchestra’s award-winning principal cellist, and Anna Polonsky, an acclaimed New York solo and chamber pianist.

    “[Ransdell and I have] known each other for close to eight years or so,” Baltacigil said. “I played in her previous series, the Highlands … So that's how we met first, and she's been a big supporter of the orchestra. She’s a wonderful, supportive figure, and every musician dreams to have a friend like that.”

    Following the February show, there are two more performances: 

    March 10  will feature Noah Geller, Concertmaster of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra; Meeka Quan DiLorenzo, Associate Principal Cello, Seattle Symphony Orchestra; Amy Yang, Philadelphia-based pianist. 

    May 6 will be the final performance of the season, featuring Demarre McGill, principal flute of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, and an as-of-yet unannounced collaborator.

    All three shows will take place at the Grand Ballroom of the Women’s University Club in downtown Seattle.

    “​​There are so many reasons to come and see live music — especially now,” DiLorenzo said in an email. 
    “I think we are all particularly starved for the community and transcendence that only live music can offer. Returning from COVID has given me newfound humility and gratitude for a live audience and the exchange of humanity offered in a musical performance.”

    In light of the continuing pandemic, masks will be required for both musicians and attendees in the performance space, with N-95 masks being provided. Additionally, separate areas for eating and drinking will be provided during the post-show reception.

    “Full vaccination or when vaccination is not possible, a negative PCR test within the last 48 hours or antigen test within the last 24 hours, will be required for admittance,” Ransdell said in an email.

    Ransdell is already in talks with Seattle Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Noah Geller for next season.

    “I just think Mary is a terrific person, an exemplary arts lover,” Geller said. “I see her in the audience every week without fail at the Seattle Symphony. And nothing to me shows a person's love of music and support of us as artists and individuals like coming to our concerts.”

    Tickets for The Seattle Series are available here. Tickets start at $40, but season subscriptions are available as well.

    “For those who don't attend [concerts] and are not familiar with the genre, what I would say is … the beauty, the energy, the passion, it can surprise you,” Ransdell said. 
    “What we're attempting to do, and I think we will successfully do, is create an intimate atmosphere … A way to experience [music] that isn't simply just ‘go in, hear it and leave.’”

    Update: Performers for the March show have been changed.

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    Tool sharpening and Fruit tree pruning event with Diggin' Shoreline

    Tuesday, February 1, 2022

     
    On Saturday, February 12, 2022, from 10am to noon, Diggin' Shoreline will hold its 10th annual tool sharpening and fruit tree pruning event at 16923 12th Pl NE, Shoreline WA 98155.

    Bring your rusty gardening tools for DIY lessons in wintertime tool care and fruit tree pruning.

    Dress warmly for this outdoor rain-or-shine event.

    RSVP to info@dgiingshoreline.org or call 206-437-9118. Participation is limited for safe distancing. Vaccine cards required.



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