KCRHA names Interim CEO

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

L. Darrell Powell, Interim CEO KCRHA
The Implementation Board of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) is pleased to recommend L. Darrell Powell for the position of Interim CEO, pending approval by the KCRHA Governing Committee. Mr. Powell would replace current Interim CEO Helen Howell.
 
“I’m honored to be considered for the role of Interim CEO for KCRHA,” said Mr. Powell. “This is an opportunity to collaborate with partners, drive change, and make a positive impact for our community.” 

Pending Governing Committee approval, Mr. Powell would join the Homelessness Authority on February 14, 2024, and become Interim CEO after two weeks of overlapping service with outgoing Interim CEO Helen Howell.
 
While KCRHA is currently conducting a national search for a permanent CEO, the priority is to provide interim leadership, reiterate a commitment to a regional approach, and ensure no interruption in services. 

“The Regional Homelessness Authority works throughout our County to deliver for the people we serve, and the addition of Darrell’s leadership during this time of transition will be an asset to the region,” said King County Executive Dow Constantine. 
“As the search begins for the next permanent CEO, I also want to thank Helen for her service over the last year, bringing stability and focus when the organization needed it most. King County looks forward to our continued partnership in this critical mission to not leave any of our neighbors behind.” 

In her 9 months as Interim CEO, Helen Howell has focused on getting back to basics—reviewing and improving core agency operations—including changes in response to audits, streamlining processes for contracts and fiscal operations, and improving customer service and relationships with front-line service providers. 
 
“My time at KCRHA has been an incredible experience,” said Ms. Howell. “Moving from the early days of start-up through a variety of adjustments and improvements, I believe the agency is back on the right track. I continue to believe that homelessness is solvable, and that the solutions must match the scale of the challenge, with shared responsibility and a regional approach.” 

As the new Interim CEO, Darrell Powell would bring over 30 years of strategic finance experience, with proficiency in not-for-profit management, financial and property management, strategic planning, and business development. 

He is a seasoned financial leader, and comes to KCRHA from Pinnacle Financial Services, a Certified Public Accounting firm specializing in providing professional financial support to growing businesses. 

He previously served as Chief Financial Officer for Treehouse, College Success Foundation, United Way of King County, and the YMCA of Greater Seattle, and serves as the volunteer President for the NAACP Seattle King County Branch. Mr. Powell is a graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle, holds a BA in Accounting from Tennessee State University and an MBA in Finance from Harvard Business School. 



Read more...

Lunar Hearts Day for Shoreline middle school students at the Teen Center February 10, 2024


Register here

Richmond Highlands Recreation Center
16554 Fremont Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

6:00 - 10:30pm PST

Open to youth 6th to 8th grade

More information here

Teen Center events are always free

Read more...

2024 Student Mock Election is now open for all Washington K-12 students

OLYMPIA — K-12 students across the state can now participate in the 2024 Student Mock Election presented by the Office of the Secretary of State.

The Student Mock Election is a non-partisan, educational event that teaches children to be informed voters. Through the March 12 Presidential Primary, K-12 students in Washington state are welcome to participate by informing the major political parties who they think should be nominated for president.

“This is an opportunity for children and young adults to learn how easy and impactful voting is,” Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said. “I invite educators throughout the state to use the many free resources available to get students excited about civic engagement.”

The Office of the Secretary of State offers a free teacher toolkit to help educators host mock elections, which includes mock ballots, tabulation sheets, posters, Voter Pamphlets, lesson plan materials, and access to “I Voted” stickers. The participation dashboard will show student participation by school and grade level.

Students who are at least 16 can pre-register online or using a paper registration form to be automatically registered to vote when they become eligible. Those who will be 18 by November 5 can vote in this year’s Presidential Primary and August Primary elections.

“Our Student Mock Election helps prepare students for lifelong participation and teaches the importance of democracy in our country,” Secretary Hobbs said.

Washington’s Office of the Secretary of State oversees 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 operates the State Archives and the State Library, documents extraordinary stories in Washington’s history through Legacy Washington, and administers the Combined Fund Drive for charitable giving by state employees and the Productivity Board state employee suggestion program to provide incentives for efficiency improvements. The Secretary of State also oversees the state’s Address Confidentiality Program to help protect survivors of crime.


Read more...

Public Libraries: Another Tool in your genealogy toolbox

Meeting in the Wickers Building at Heritage Park Lynnwood
Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Public Libraries: Another Tool in your genealogy toolbox
is the topic of the Sno-Isle Genealogy society meeting on Wednesday February 7, 2024, in the Wicker's Bldg, 19921 Poplar Way (Heritage Park), Lynnwood, 7pm to 9pm. In person or online at https://bit.ly/SIGSFeb24

Is the public library part of your genealogical research toolkit? If not you may be missing many great services and resources. 

Nate Cushman from the Snohomish Library will give us a tour of what's available in-library and online, from local records to newspaper to interlibrary borrowing and much more.
 
The presentation is open to members and the general public. Email SIGS for more details at askus@snoislegenealogy.org or call at 425-775-6267.

Also:

Monday Morning Genealogy Coffee Klatch (online) 10 - 11am on zoom

Start your week right with an online gathering of folks interested in genealogy and family history. We share stories, (try) to answer one another's questions and generally just enjoy the conversation. Join us every Monday at snoislegenealogy.org


Read more...

Hoopapalooza food drive and Shorecrest brought in 3800 items for the North Helpline Food Bank

Shorecrest Food Drive committee
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

The SC/SW Annual Food Drive brought in over 3800 items in a combined effort of food drives at school and also at the Hoopalooza basketball games.
 
Shorecrest High School won the school competition with 3410 items! 

Locally-owned grocery stores Ballinger Thriftway and Shoreline Town & Country allowed them to collect food at their doors.

Thank you to all the students and families who donated items, worked at grocery store donation shifts and to the families and community members for donating!

North Helpline Food Bank calculated that about 3,000 lbs of food was donated, which is the single highest one-time donation they have ever received. 


Read more...

The Ching Community Gardens begins

After the sale of the property closed, volunteers met at the garden to discuss plans - but couldn't keep their hands off the weeds. (L-R) John Darrow, Jim Walseth, Sarah Garrard, Kathleen Lumiere, and Pam Ching-Bunge. Photo courtesy Ching Community Gardens

By Kathleen Lumiere

After nearly three years, GROW, a P-Patch land trust organization, has successfully purchased the former home of the Ching family in Shoreline. This achievement marks the end of a long process filled with doubts and setbacks, and it is the joyous beginning for what will become the Ching Community Gardens: an Asian American heritage site, food forest, and P-Patch (1)

The idea originated during the pandemic when, like many people, I went for a lot of walks. This exploration led to an ardent appreciation of the plants and animals in the forests and tidelands of Shoreline. Particularly, I fell in love with a neglected property north of my home close to Shoreline College.

Initially, an abundance of ripe plums near the property line drew my attention. On closer inspection, I discovered a hidden orchard of fruit trees, including heirloom apples, Asian pears, figs, grapes, and persimmons, tangled in thick layers of prickly blackberries and holly. The rich dark earth seemed to invite any seed to grow.

In what’s known as a food forest, fruit trees provide structure. Other plants that work well together are folded into the design, making a productive ecosystem with multiple layers. These layers often flower and fruit at different times, providing beauty, pollinator habitat, and food throughout much of the year. In addition to perennial food plantings, annual/vegetable gardening is also possible in a food forest or permaculture system (2).

(L-R) Sarah Garrard, Maryn Wynne, Pam Ching-Bunge.
Photo courtesy Ching Community Gardens
This abandoned, overgrown property on Greenwood Avenue North had ideal elements for a food forest: established heirloom fruit trees, grape vines, and phenomenal soil.

During this time, neighbors told me about the property's previous owners, Joe and Jennie Ching. They had created remarkable gardens and shared their bounty. 

An obituary for Joe Ching revealed his and his family's extraordinary story, how, as a Chinese American, he joined up to serve in the army right after Pearl Harbor and how Jennie, working as a nanny in California, had been sent to a Japanese concentration camp in Arizona. After the war, they met and married in their home state, Hawaii. 

Having learned to cook in the army, Joe worked in a restaurant where he met Peter Canlis. This connection led the young Ching family to Seattle to help establish the flagship Canlis restaurant.

Seeking a safe home to raise their children, the Chings looked to Shoreline, but they encountered the barriers of redlining and racially restrictive covenants. 

So Joe's employer, Peter Canlis, bought the property after finding out if the neighbors would welcome an Asian family. Peter sold it in turn to Joe and Jennie.

Steve Lindjord, a middle school student in 1957, remembers the day the Chings moved in next door. He said he was instantly struck by what wonderful people they were. "They were so sweet and so warm and so welcoming." And, in the twelve years he lived there, "that impression never faded."

The family's daughter, Pam Ching-Bunge, distinctly remembers many weekends with everyone digging rocks out of the ground before Joe and Jennie transformed the land from a hard, stony lot to a lush "garden of Eden." They would be featured multiple times in Ed Hume's long-running television program, Gardening in America. 

Joe spent nearly every morning tending to his vegetables and experimenting with new organic gardening methods before heading to work as head chef at Canlis. Jennie cultivated the flowers she then used in ikebana (traditional Japanese floral arrangements). Pam described the rows and rows of canned vegetables Jennie would put up throughout harvest season.

Jim Walseth pitted his strength against a vine wrapped in the little tree.
He won. The vine looked to be about 15' long
Photo courtesy Ching Community Gardens

People in the neighborhood still talk about the Chings’ hospitality. Steve Lindjord said a few years after they moved in, the Chings "had a huge party, a luau because they had come from Hawaii. They invited all the neighbors, and everybody had a great time. They dug a big pit in the backyard and filled it with hot rocks and banana leaves for cooking." He said, "Every time I went to the Chings’, they fed me."

Motivated by Chings' warm and inclusive legacy, the area's history of redlining, and the possibilities hidden in the overgrown property, I proposed a community garden in a letter to the Shoreline City Council in the spring of 2021. The goal was to honor the Chings and the many contributions of Asian Americans to our communities, especially during a time of increased racism and anti-Asian violence. The garden seemed like a way for us all to acknowledge the past and grow something beautiful together.

The proposal gained immediate support from Diane Hettrick at the Shoreline Area News, who suggested writing an op-ed piece. Before that article came out in April 2021, I contacted Pam Ching-Bunge. On the phone, she said she was moved to tears by the idea. From then on, Pam was present in many ways at every stage of the process. Shoreline Area News (SAN) readers, neighbors, Shoreline College, and Sky Nursery expressed strong interest. A group formed to make the community gardens a reality.

One SAN reader reached out to the Canlis family, and Brian Canlis called to learn more about the project and the history of the Ching family. After the Canlis brothers decided to help make the garden happen, Mark Canlis stepped forward as their family member on the team. One of the first things he did was to reach out to Shoreline College, opening up many opportunities for partnership, which are now underway.

Michael McNutt from GROW arranged fiscal sponsorship and much more. Board members Maryn Wynne, Londa Jacques, and John Ruby agreed that Diggin’ Shoreline be our "boots on the ground" sponsor; both sponsoring organizations already had non-profit status. P-Patch organizers Glenn Herlihy from Beacon Food Forest and Cindy Krueger from Ballard P-Patch gave invaluable advice ranging from how to grow wapato (a native tuber) to how to write a grant proposal.

(L-R) King county councilmember Rod Dembowski; Kathleen Lumiere; Chief of Staff to Councilmember Dembowski Kristina Logsdon; and core supporter Mark Canlis.
Photo courtesy Ching Community Gardens

With the kind and expert guidance of Conservation Futures director Ingrid Lundin, the folks above, and others, the group navigated the grant process, requesting $1,200,000 from a public fund to preserve open spaces. We got the grant! Cori Whitaker, a real estate agent who knows and loves Shoreline, helped us make an offer in the summer of 2022.

Negotiations with the property's owners, Adair Enterprises in Lynnwood, stalled. They did not wish to sell for less than they would have made from their plan to develop the property and carry on their family business and livelihood.

At this point, King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, a pillar of support throughout, stepped in to help find the necessary funds. Again, we thought we had enough and then were told sorry, but no. Advised to get a comprehensive fair market appraisal, we did so with the capable assistance of Lori King, an acquisitions agent for the county. In April 2023, the appraisal came in at $1,860,000 – more than we had.

Treasures continue to grow amongst the weeds
Photo courtesy Ching Community Gardens

At this point, rather than waiting another year through a grant cycle and likely seeing the property's value go up again, the Canlis family stepped in with a bridge loan from WaFd to make up the difference between the total from previous grants and the fair market value. Coming full circle, the generosity and willingness of the Canlis family to extend themselves brought to life in the present what their grandfather had done in the past.

Once the bridge loan was in place, Lori King led negotiations culminating in a formal offer from GROW to Adair Enterprises. In September of 2023, it was accepted. The sale was finalized on December 29, 2023. And on December 31, 2023, people from this first phase of the gardens met on the property to celebrate and ended up doing an enormous amount of weeding.

A quote by Rod Dembowski sums it up:

 "The Ching Garden is a symbol of resilience and triumph over obstacles. Were it not for the openness of neighbors, a racially restrictive covenant would have prevented the Ching family from establishing their home and garden and sharing it with community. 
"Now community, led by Kathleen Lumiere with the support of the Canlis family and others and backed by King County's Conservation Futures levy, is making it possible for this culturally important legacy to be preserved and brought to life again to provide a place of reflection and learning for future generations. 
"I'm so thrilled to have helped secure funding for this important project and look forward to seeing this important garden restored."


Photo courtesy Ching Community Gardens

Now, work parties organized through Diggin' Shoreline will make it possible to set foot on the property legally. A team of people involved in the acquisition phase of the project is moving ahead to formulate a clear mission and vision, preserve historically valuable plants and artifacts, get rid of the invasive blackberries (a perennial project), and design and build the food forest and raised beds. 

If any of this interests you, please let us know through the Ching Community Gardens Interest Form or contact Diggin' Shoreline. Like the Chings, we welcome you to the garden!

Financial contributions for projects and maintenance are needed and welcome. To donate, please visit our fiscal sponsor, GROW. Specify that it's for Ching Gardens in the "Apply My Donation To" box.

_______________

(1) A "P-Patch" is a term commonly used in this area to refer to a community garden or urban gardening plot. The "P" in P-Patch stands for "Picardo," the name of the first community garden established in Seattle in the 1970s. Over time, the term "P-Patch" became a term for any community-managed garden space where individuals or groups can rent or maintain small plots of land to grow vegetables, fruit, or flowers.

(2) The Beacon Food Forest is a great example of this mixed food forest and raised bed method.


Read more...

Acrobatic flying

Monday, February 5, 2024

Between the branches
Photo by Jan Hansen

Didn't miss a beat
Photo by Jan Hansen

Jan Hansen says "This northern flicker had a tight flight in my backyard this morning, but made it."


Read more...

Shoreline resident named to Provost's List at Chapman University


Each semester the Chapman University Office of the Provost publishes a list of students honored for their academic excellence. Academic excellence is measured by maintaining a 3.800 term GPA or higher in at least 12 credits of residence coursework taken for a letter grade.

On the Provost's List for Fall 2023:

Isabel Brown - parents Jeff and Michelle Brown of Shoreline, WA

Isabel is a 2020 grad of Shorewood High School.


Read more...

Hybrid Shoreline Rotary meeting Wednesday February 7

Join in for a Hybrid Rotary meeting - that means both on Zoom and In-Person - with breakfast at the In-Person part on Wednesday morning, February 7, 2024.

The meeting will be held in the Quiet Dining Room in Building 9000, the Pagoda Student Union Building at Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N. Shoreline WA 98133. 

You may arrive as early as 7:00am at the college location. RSVP here
 
Our speaker will be Tom Sheehan, our fellow Rotarian from the Edmonds Daybreaker club. Tom will give a presentation on rare coins. He will bring some very interesting coins and will talk about coins through history.

Driving and Parking at the College
Enter the Campus through the Main Gate off Greenwood Avenue North. Parking is available in the Visitor, Staff, and Student Parking Lots to your immediate left as you pass the bus stop and turn up the hill. Parking passes are currently NOT required.

Shoreline Community College COVID-19 Policy
Visitors and prospective students coming to campus are not required to provide vaccination information. As of April 2, 2022, visitors will no longer be required to wear a mask indoors. Should visitors choose to wear one and need a mask, masks will be available at ASK ME stations in the 1000, 4000, and 5000 buildings.

Although masks are now optional, our club policy is to encourage those who feel they need to continue to wear masks to do so, either inside or outside in groups.

ZOOM Instructions

Shoreline Rotary Club Meeting
Time: Zoom will open at 7:15 am (you may receive a message to wait until the "host" signs on).

Join Zoom Meeting following this link.

Or, you can enter the following Meeting ID and you will be asked to enter the Passcode.

Meeting ID: 896 9854 5411
Passcode: 255516

Or you can call in on your phone and follow the instructions for entering the Meeting ID and Passcode:
+1 253 215 8782 US - local


Read more...

Lantern Festival 2024 celebrates the Lunar New Year

 

Lantern Festival 2024

Join ShoreLake Arts for the third annual Lantern Festival on Saturday, February 24 to celebrate the Lunar New Year! 

Activities include a dragon dance, music, vendors, artists, hands-on art, DIY dragon paper lanterns, food trucks, a lion dance, and more.

Presented in partnership with the City of Shoreline

Free and family-friendly. Donations appreciated.

WHEN?
  • Date: Saturday, February 24, 2024
  • Time: 12:00 - 3:30 pm
WHERE?
  • Spartan Recreation Center
  • 202 NE 185th St, Shoreline, WA 98155
MORE INFO


Read more...

Preserving Heritage: Shoreline Community College introduces new 'Cedar' Building, honoring Pacific Northwest Indigenous Peoples

Cedar Building photo by Steven H. Robinson

In an earnest endeavor to strengthen ties with local tribes, and to honor the rich cultural heritage of the Indigenous Peoples of the Pacific Northwest, Shoreline Community College (Shoreline) is proud to announce the naming of its new academic facility. 

The chosen name for the new building is, "Cedar," and pays homage to the region's natural environment, characterized by towering trees and dense plantings.

Washington State legislation requires the inclusion of Indigenous voices in the creation of new capital building projects, but leadership at Shoreline wanted to go beyond that requirement, and really work to forge an intentional and lasting collaboration with local tribes that will impact not only this building but also future community partnership efforts. 

The naming process was initiated as a collaborative effort with various tribes, including representatives of the Tulalip and Muckleshoot tribes, with a focus on engaging in meaningful conversations and respecting tribal perspectives. 

Cedar Building
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline also worked closely with Eliise Bill-Gerrish, a Lushootseed Language Educator from the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, who played a pivotal role in ensuring that the naming process honored the authenticity of the Lushootseed language, the traditional language of many tribes in the Puget Sound Region, reflecting the wishes and cultural nuances of the tribes involved. 

Bill-Gerrish is meticulously translating and creating audio clips for each word in the Southern Lushootseed language. This approach was adopted to honor the language and culture in its true form, avoiding the phonetic translation into English.

“The Cedar building is named after the prolific Western Red Cedar trees, x̌əpay̓ac in Southern Lushootseed, which are beloved by Pacific Northwest Tribal Nations. The cedar tree is revered for its ability to lift the Lushootseed People up in numerous ways. For example, many styles of canoes are made from the trunks of the x̌əpay̓ac, the inner bark and roots are used to weave baskets and hats, and the leaves can be used to support respiratory systems,” said Bill-Gerrish about the meaning of the name.
 
“Another significant part of the story behind the new building name involves Shoreline’s Associated Student Government (ASG). Often new buildings are named after famous people or donors who made the highest donation toward the project. In our case we are proud to say that our largest donor was our students. 

"Our student government also advocated strongly for honoring our region’s Indigenous heritage and at the recommendation of our Indigenous partners, ASG helped us choose the name Cedar for our new building,” said Dr. Jack Kahn, President of Shoreline Community College.

The Cedar Building
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline Community College's commitment to honoring Indigenous Peoples extends beyond this new building. 

“Tulalip and Muckleshoot tribal members, college leaders and the design team embraced Indigenous values by thinking about names for buildings and campus open spaces in terms of the nature of a place,” said Walter Schacht, Architect and Partner at the Mithun Architecture Firm. 

The College's approach aligns with its broader initiative, of wayfinding across campus which seeks to name various features of the campus, including the proposal to associate Lushootseed names with Indigenous trees and shrubs.

"We know there is still much work to be done to acknowledge and serve our Indigenous communities, but we are excited about the prospect of building a relationship with Muckleshoot Tribal College and other tribes, fostering meaningful and ongoing collaboration. This is just the beginning of a continuous effort to strengthen relationships with the tribes and respect the cultural significance of the land we occupy," said Dr. Kahn.

The Cedar building is devoted to the sciences and manufacturing, and will house biology and chemistry courses, biotech and biomanufacturing instruction, and advanced manufacturing, as well as a few other related programs. It is now fully open for instruction as of the start of the Winter Quarter, on January 8, 2024.

Founded in 1964, Shoreline Community College offers more than 100 rigorous academic and professional/technical degrees and certificates to meet the lifelong learning needs of its diverse students and communities. Dedicated faculty and staff are committed to the educational success of its nearly 10,000 students who hail from across the United States and over 50 countries. 

For more information about SCC, visit www.shoreline.edu


Read more...

Jobs: WSDOT Assistant Office Engineer (TE2, In-Training)

WSDOT
Assistant Office Engineer (TE2, In-Training)
Shoreline, WA – Northwest Region
$62,596 – $92,836 Annually

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is currently seeking an Assistant Office Engineer (Transportation Engineer 2, In-Training) to play a vital role in our mission to provide safe, reliable, and cost-effective transportation options for community improvement and economic vitality. In this position, you will contribute significantly to fostering a respectful and inclusive work environment, emphasizing diversity, equality, and inclusion. 

As a Transportation Engineer 2 in the construction project office, you will ensure that highway construction projects adhere to scope, schedule, and budget, meeting Contract, standard specifications, and State and Federal requirements. Your responsibilities will include managing construction documentation, preparing and reviewing contract payments, and assisting the Office Engineer in the change orders process and other essential tasks. Join us in making a meaningful impact on Washington's transportation infrastructure.

Job description and application

Read more...

Shorewood wrestling places 4th at Girls & Boys Sub-Regionals sending 7 girls and 8 boys onto the Regional Tournaments

L-R Front Row: Ben Norton, 2nd row: Abi Chishungu, Izzy Crave, Libby Norton, Ellie Van Horn, Finely Houck, Aly Fellores, 3rd Row: Coach Norton, Coach Nate Crave, Coach Tricia Norton, Natalia Pittman, Amelia LaClergue, Sarah Norton, Kiyomi Hakuno, Coach Brady Houck and Coach Zack Matthews. Photo by Jeremy Tantrum

Article by Tricia Norton & Derek Norton

Friday Night the Stormray girls traveled to Juanita High School and brought home 4 first place medals, one second place and 1 3rd place as they battled for the Sub-Regional 3A title. The team placed 4th overall. The top six in each weight class will compete next week at the 3A/4A Regional tournament at Monroe.

Four Stormrays topped the podium as champions: junior Libby Norton at 105 lbs, sophomore Finley Houck at 110 lbs, sophomore Ellie Van Horn at 130 lbs, and junior Izzy Crave at 135 lbs.

Sophomore Abi Chishungu placed 2nd at 190 lbs after losing a tough finals match. Junior Aly Fellores 130 lbs placed 3rd after coming back from an early loss. Natalia Pittman placed 6th at 170 lbs.

Captain Izzy Crave said, “I couldn’t be more proud of my girls. I’ve seen so much improvement and see so much potential [in this team].” 

Coach Brady Houck agreed, “I’m really happy with how the team performed. We [only] competed in 7 weight classes and had finalists in 5 of them. You can’t ask for much more than that.”

Coach Houck said, “I have to call out Ellie [Van Horn’s] performance in particular...Her dominant wrestling at district is a testament to her resilience and her potential.”

Stormray boys wrestling team
Photo by Tricia Norton

The weekend wasn’t over for the Rays. The Boys Wesco South Sub-Regional took place at Edmonds Woodway High School on Saturday. Coach Dylan St. Louis mentioned that this is a “young group.” But at the end of an intense day, Shorewood placed 4th in the team standings, sending 8 wrestlers and two alternates to the Regional competition next Saturday.

Emi Olivera, champion
Photo by Tricia Norton

Shorewood’s two champions were Freshman Emi Olivera (106 lbs) and Senior Mak Kanzler (165 lbs.) Four Stormrays took 3rd place: Finn Greenleaf at 113 lbs, Eli Jeppsen at 120 lbs, James Nottingham at 150 lbs, and Zo Ayers at 215 lbs. Masa Taura and Rock Harris placed 4th at 132 lbs and 138 lbs, respectively. Jaysen Braymen and Sky Klein placed 5th and will be alternates to regionals.

 
Mak Kanzler, champion
Photo by Tricia Norton

“We put almost an entire, 2-deep lineup into the tournament.” Coach St. Louis commented. “Each wrestler competed with heart. Having this many qualify for further postseason competition is a huge part of our foundation going forward.”
“This is a group of individuals that aren’t afraid to put in the hard work through a long season and build something bigger than themselves. I’m proud of the selflessness of each wrestler, and I’m excited for what the future holds for our program. Each of them put it on the line and it will pay dividends as we continue to grow.”

“Both the girls and boys have shown so much grit and determination this season. It’s great to be able to help them succeed and grow,” said Head Coach Derek Norton.

Catch the Stormray girls in action on Saturday at Monroe High school and the boys at Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way.


Read more...

LFP Council Corner - Help design our lakefront park

Lorri Bodi, Deputy Mayor
Lake Forest Park City Council
Greetings Neighbors. 

I am honored to serve again on our Lake Forest Park City Council, and now as your new Deputy Mayor. For the last few years, I’ve also enjoyed being Council liaison to our citizen Parks and Recreation Advisory Board.

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board is actively working on outreach and recommendations for our new Lakefront Park, located just north of the Civic Club and Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve. The design concept will include desired recreation, environmental preservation and restoration, multiple means of access including disabled access, and public safety. Our goal is to have a completed design concept in place in time for state biennial grant funding opportunities this spring.

So far, the Board and the Administration have reached out to our community through an online survey and in a community workshop, both well attended, to receive suggestions. Based on the input to date, our community shares many goals for the park, including a focus on water-based recreation and all-age use, equitable waterfront access for all community members, seamless alignment with the Lyon Creek Waterfront Preserve conservation area, and security for nearby properties.

We’d like to hear from you! Please come to the community workshop on February 21, 2024 at City Hall between 5:30 and 7:30pm, where the Board and City team will share design alternatives for your consideration and input. The summaries will be shared with the Council and the Council will weigh in on a preferred design concept during its March meetings. For more information, please visit the project website.

--Deputy Mayor Lorri Bodi



Read more...

2024 free health clinic at Seattle Center February 15-18 - volunteers still needed


The Seattle/King County Clinic starts in a couple weeks! 

Free medical, vision, dental care at Seattle Center, February 15-18, 2024. 

Volunteers are still needed for general support, interpretation, social work, and medical/dental/vision services. More information and sign up HERE.


Read more...

Travels with Charlie

Sunday, February 4, 2024

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Wandering around the warmth this afternoon with Charlie, my dog. We stopped by Pfingst Animal Acres Park to walk the path and check out the raised bed gardens.

On the other side of the path I spotted this little bundle green Almost Spring… The Daffodils will be a bouquet in a day or so with the warmth and sunshine. I count 8 buds but more could be coming.

Seems too early for spring. I hope we don’t have another deep freeze. That would be hard on all the new buds.

--Gordon Snyder


Read more...

For the Birds: Who’s That Singing in My Yard?

Resident Bewick's Wren foraging in the snow
Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

If you have a small boisterous brown bird with a white eye line flitting through your shrubs, stopping every so often to belt out lovely warbles, whistles, and trills, you have a Bewick’s Wren. 

He and his mate are probably year-round residents.

Those lively buzzes, trills, warbles and bubbly songs of these wrens bring such joy to my ears.

The male Bewick’s Wren sings to protect his territory, which he takes quite seriously, and to attract a mate. 

This is a full-time effort, especially since he must endeavor to win his mate by melodiously belting out up to 22 different songs in his repertoire, and to keep other males away.

Active nest box near house
Photo by Craig Kerns
Since the majority of these local wrens stay paired they are usually the first perching birds (passerines) in this area to start nesting.

Once he has won the affection of this year’s mate, the male fashions three or four nests full of twigs for the female’s approval. 

These are often in the most unusual places; hose bib covers, boots, corners of carports, all hidden near human habitation. 

Bewick’s Wrens will readily use a nest box near/against your house. They don’t like high-traffic areas and won’t make nests out in the open.

When the female has selected the preferred nest location, she will finish it with feathers, hair, leaves and mosses and a soft warm cup for her eggs.

While the female sits on her 4-6 eggs the male brings food to her, and he helps feed their offspring. The female often has a second brood.

Score a spider
Photo by Craig Kerns
These spunky hyperactive little birds, with their tails cocked over their backs, can be found climbing on branches, skulking in blackberry brambles, sometimes upside down, and investigating the leaves on the ground, looking for their buggy delicacies, especially those tasty spiders.

If you go too close to them while they are searching for food, they will often scold you.

Extermination at your service
Photo by Craig Kerns
Fledgling Bewick’s Wrens are the same size as their parents when they leave their nests, only their tail feathers still need to finish growing. 

Since their eyebrows are rough and uneven these juvies look unkempt until they molt into their adult feathers the next year.

Your yard is being used by one of the best insect and spider eliminators, so don’t use pesticides which will likely kill these delightful super-bug-eaters. 

Let these energetic birds be your bubbly exterminators.



Read more...

Sunny Day at Richmond Beach

 
Photo by Lee Lageschulte

It was a lovely, sunny day in the area, with blue skies and white clouds hugging the mountain peaks. Later the clouds rolled in and blocked the view of the sky, so the Star Party at Paramount School Park had to be cancelled.

--Diane Hettrick


Read more...

Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Inflation



Read more...

February 2024 at the Teen Center

Shoreline Teen Center

Richmond Highlands Recreation Center
Shoreline WA 98133

South of Shorewood High School



Read more...

Olympic Ballet Theatre presents new works in Debuts

Rehearsal for 2024 Debuts at Olympic Ballet Theatre
Eva Stone and OBT trainee Ali Walters in rehearsal for "Keep Me In Mind" (photo by Katya Turnbow)

Olympic Ballet Theatre presents new works in Debuts
Featuring works by Norbert De La Cruz III and Eva Stone

Two Performances
February 17, 2024, at 7 PM
February 18, 2024, at 5 PM

Edmonds Center for the Arts (ECA)

Olympic Ballet Theatre (OBT) continues its 2023-2024 performance season with DEBUTS in February, presenting new works by contemporary choreographers. This production features Luna by Norbert De La Cruz III and Keep Me in Mind by Eva Stone.

“This is OBT’s third annual production of Debuts, and every year we look forward to bringing creative new works to our audience with this rep,” said artistic directors Mara Vinson and Oleg Gorboulev. 
“Some of OBT’s patrons saw a sneak peek of Eva Stone’s tantalizing piece during our Autumn Auction & Dinner last November, and we can’t wait to present the full premiere in February. 
"We are also thrilled to see OBT dancers work again with Norbert De La Cruz III, whose dramatic work, Until the Mermaid Drags You Under, was featured in the first production of Debuts in 2022. It is an honor to collaborate with both of these outstanding choreographers and to share the joy of contemporary ballet with our patrons.”

This production will include a “Meet the Artists” Q&A session on Saturday, February 17, 2024, immediately following the performance. Audience members will have an exciting opportunity to meet both choreographers and learn more about their creative process of bringing new works to life on stage.

ABOUT DEBUTS

Luna
Choreography: Norbert De La Cruz III
Music: Original score by Nathan Prillaman
Premiere: 2017, New York City Ballet

Luna was created for the dancers at the New York City Ballet for the NY Choreographic Institute in 2017. 

In collaboration with composer and film producer Nathan Prillaman, Luna is a nebulous dance piece that was born out of a search for enchantment, wonder, and surrealism in a challenging world. Luna was the first ballet Norbert created upon forgoing his performance career, and in some ways, he wanted to unearth the gravity of this departure and relaunch his imagination through the lucidity of fantasy. 

Through fluid neo-classical vocabulary, Luna oscillates within seraphic energies between Earth and the Moon, foregrounding the ballerina as a conduit into the divine. Part ceremonial and part spiritual, the dance mirrors the magnetism between people and their sacred relationships. 

The piece orbits from idea to idea, melding from one constellation to another. It invites the audience to make associations between earthly desires and holding onto a dreamworld, gracefully shifting between the rigorous and the beautiful and from virtuosity into tranquility.

Keep Me in Mind
Choreography: Eva Stone
Music: Peggy Lee
Premiere: Olympic Ballet Theatre

Seattle-based choreographer/producer Eva Stone creates a glamorous and seductive world in her latest work Keep Me in Mind, set to the music of legendary singer and songwriter Peggy Lee. Stone digs deep into the methods of persuasion and attraction alongside a lush musical exploration of Lee’s tempting songs. Using a variety of dance styles from modern jazz to Neo-classical ballet, Stone offers up a moving and memorable journey of desire, memory, and longing.

TICKETS INFORMATION

DEBUTS will run two performances at the Edmonds Center for the Arts on February 17 and February 18,  2024. Tickets range from $24 to $45 and can be purchased at HERE or at the box office 425-774-7570. 

For more information, contact OBT at dance@olympicballet.org or visit their website 

Olympic Ballet Theatre’s 2023-2024 season is proudly sponsored by ArtsFund, the Edmonds Arts Commission, the City of Everett Cultural Arts Commission, The City of Everett Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and Seattle NorthCountry.


Read more...

Edmonds Author Speaker Series: How local news supports strong communities

Teresa Wippel founder, president and CEO of the My Neighborhood News Network
Photo courtesy Author/Speaker's series

With local news outlets closing or downsizing, what does the future hold for community journalism?

On Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 6:30 - 8pm, Teresa Wippel - founder, president and CEO of the My Neighborhood News Network (MNNN) - will discuss the state of local news and the important role it plays in building strong communities. 

The event is part of the Edmonds Waterfront Center’s Author/Speaker series. There will be a Q&A with reporters and photographers for MNNN — which includes digital publications My Edmonds News, MLTnews and Lynnwood Today.

The MNNN is a member of The Institute for Nonprofit News - a network of more than 425 independent news organizations. Members of the INN Network tell stories that otherwise would go untold – connecting communities, holding the powerful accountable and strengthening democracy.

The event will take place at the Edmonds Waterfront Center at 220 Railroad Ave, Edmonds and tickets are available online or can be purchased at the door.

Local news is in peril. As reported in The Seattle Times, the owner of dozens of local news sites including the Seattle Weekly, Bothell-Kenmore Reporter, and Kirkland Reporter, announced recently they are seeking to sell the business to avoid bankruptcy. The news sites are now ghosts after years of downsizing and layoffs leaving cities across the region with no local news coverage.


Read more...

Catching up - Kenmore council votes down Plymouth Housing project

Saturday, February 3, 2024

Public notice sign about the Plymouth Housing project on the lot, owned by the city, which is currently used to park city vehicles. Photo by Oliver Moffat

By Diane Hettrick

In council meetings during December and January the Kenmore city council listened to hours of raucous comments from community members who were outraged and frightened at the prospect of construction of a six-story Plymouth Housing building for homeless clients on Bothell Way.

The project had been in development over several years. Plymouth had secured full funding for the project, and planned to run it, providing supportive services.


Yet, at their meeting on January 22, 2024, the city council scuttled the project. 

The Seattle Times covered the outfall in their article Kenmore planned to spend millions on affordable housing; then came public outcry


Read more...

CTA Charity Sew on February 16

Susy Chesney and tote bag
The Clothing and Textile Advisors invite community members who sew, to join them in making tote bags for children who are in temporary care at Safe Place before entering the Foster Care.

Safe Place is in Everett and provides a comfortable atmosphere for children under 12 years old who are rescued from violent or unsafe home situations in Snohomish and surrounding counties. They are given a caring, safe place to stay while getting health checks, meals and loving care.

You will create totes with “kid friendly” embellishment to help them manage their possessions while in transition.

Sew with us Friday, February 16. 2024 from 10am to 2pm at the Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave. West, Lynnwood.

Kits are provided. Bring your sewing machine and accessories, your lunch and beverage. Any questions call Arlene at 425-743-0118.


Read more...

The Lady Demands Satisfaction is a must see production at The Phoenix Theatre in Edmonds

The Lady Demands Satisfaction
Written by Arthur M Jolly Directed by Eric Lewis
Featuring Katie Wallace and Josiah C Miller
February 2 - 25, 2024

Doors open at 6:45pm for a 7:30pm showtime time. Tickets

By Kindle Carpp

The Lady Demands Satisfaction is riotous fun. filled with swords, hijinks, and unexpected plot twists.

A young maiden learns that she must defend her home and land in a duel when she has never held a sword.

Katie Wallace and Josiah C. Miller
The first lesson that she learned was how to hold the sword, and she figured out not to hold the pointy end on the second try.

The lights come up on a puppet show of the death of Lord Pepperston during a duel which was a delightful non sequitur and completely unexpected.

From there, the rest of the play delights and amuses, walking the line between campy and just plain hilarious.

The cast and the characters are appealing, uniformly excellent with the talented actors working seamlessly as an ensemble.

Accents were believable and appropriate to the character and their social station, drawing a clear line between upper and servant class.

Talena Viydo as the Duchess
Swordplay is integral to the play. The Duchess is the finest blade in the land and fights nearly every character in the play, and they fight each other. Only one character was not involved with anything sharp or pointy.

The time and energy the cast spent with the choreography of the fight scenes is evident in their handling of the weapons.

Every cast member was skilled, everyone was suited to their roles, but my favorite character was the Duchess, played by Talena Viydo. 

Josiah C. Miller played the dandy Osric with exactly the right amount of camp, and Chelsey Sheppard handled the physical comedy of Tilly the Maid beautifully.

The production was such a joy. I wish I had a digital copy so I could experience it on demand.

It's a must see production.


Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP