Shoreline council micromanages 175th pedestrian project

Thursday, June 6, 2024

A sign warns pedestrians to stay off 175th street. photo by Oliver Moffat
By Oliver Moffat

On Monday, June 3, council members Keith Scully and Annette Ademasu called the city’s traffic engineers back to the council chambers to listen to input from residents concerned about trees that will be removed to make way for sidewalks and bike lanes along the 175th corridor.

“I think a check-in at this point when it’s not too late to make some changes seemed to make a lot of sense,” said council member Keith Scully about why he called for the study session while also acknowledging, “this is more council micromanagement then I usually support.”

The Shoreline city council has approved the 175th corridor project seven times since 2018; not to mention the times when the council reviewed the plan in the Transportation Improvement Plan and the Capital Improvement Plan

The city reviewed input from over 1,500 residents and incorporated the council-approved Climate Action Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Transportation Element, Complete Streets Ordinance, ADA Transition Plan, and the Sidewalk Prioritization Plan.

Although the project is complicated, there was little debate about the intersection of 175th and Meridian.

In 2003, a city risk assessment, warned it was built on pilings driven into soil that “has the potential for liquefaction” - now (twenty years later) an earthquake could still send the road “slipping and sliding” into nearby Ronald Bog along with sewage from neighborhood residents.

“While we can’t replace a mature tree, we can’t replace a life. And the safety aspects have been enumerated several times by people in the audience,” said Deputy Mayor Laura Mork. “I think it’s imperative we get phase one done to be safe as soon as possible,” she said about the Meridian intersection.

A screen shot from the city staff report shows the 51 foot bottleneck from Densmore to Wallingford where 175th squeezes four traffic lanes through rock retaining walls topped by mature conifer trees.

There was less unanimity about subsequent phases of the project - especially the 51 foot bottleneck from Densmore to Wallingford where 175th squeezes four traffic lanes through rock retaining walls topped by mature conifer trees.

Council member Annette Ademasu asked city staff to consider a proposal from Save Shoreline Trees that would shrink the sidewalks to five feet and detour bike lanes up 178th street. “That would be just a couple minutes out of the way,” she said about the 178th street bike route.

In written comments, city staff said, “eliminating bike facilities from any portion of the 175th Corridor Project is not in alignment with the City’s Complete Streets ordinance, Bike Plan (TE), and would make the pursuit of future construction funding difficult.“ 

Grant applications for bike lanes and sidewalks that meet route directness and level of traffic stress standards are more competitive.

Although Representative Pramila Jayapal recently announced she requested $3 million for 175th, the city doesn’t have the estimated $88 million needed for the project.

“What I’m concerned about is the cost,” said Council member Eben Pobee. “I don’t entirely agree with redesigning everything. That would not be a good decision financially,” he said. But he said he supported incorporating additional discreet modifications to save more trees.

Citing data from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, council member John Ramsdell said, “the most important thing we have to do is reduce the amount of CO2 and greenhouse gasses we are emitting and that is going to be the most effective way we can save our planet. And so when I look at this report, the 175th street project, the way it is currently designed, does just that.“

“I didn’t hear one person here say we needed four lanes between Meridian and Midvale,” said Mayor Chris Roberts. “I looked and saw we have traffic volumes of about 21,000 vehicles per day in this segment… if we were to get to one lane in each direction, not only would we have reduced traffic speeds, we would make it easier for pedestrians to cross two lanes of traffic instead of four lanes of traffic west of Meridian Park elementary. We might be able to get protected bike lanes, sidewalks and buffers in the existing right of way,” he said.

An architectural rendering from the city shows the what 175th might look like with bike lanes and sidewalks

If the city meets its Climate Action Plan goal to reduce per capita driving 50% by 2050, 175th would be a good candidate for a road diet, according to the Federal Highway Administration.

The conversation about 175th is not over. “I know we are going to have a discussion coming up about speed zone cameras and red light cameras. With most of that focused on this intersection. Most of that focused on this segment,” said Roberts.

At the June 10 meeting, the city council will discuss Traffic Cameras after reviewing the annual Traffic Report and  residents are encouraged to attend and make public comments.


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Lake Forest Park/Richmond Beach/Shoreline READS Author Event with Claire Dederer

Tuesday, July 30, 7-8pm
Third Place Commons Stage

https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/6655f849738d8310ebd93284

Shoreline and Richmond Beach Libraries have joined with Lake Forest Park READS again this year, marking the 19th year of this community literary event. 

Join a presentation with local author, Claire Dederer, as she discusses her book, Monsters: A Fan's Dilemma.

In the deeply personal Monsters, Claire Dederer asks whether we can separate art and artist when the artist turns out to be morally stained. Dederer also challenges the reader, asking us to examine our own reactions to the creations of "monstrous" men and women.

Third Place Books offers 20% off on this title June 1-July 31.

Sponsored by the City of Lake Forest Park’s Library Advisory Committee, Friends of the Shoreline, Richmond Beach, Lake Forest Park Libraries, and Third Place Books.

Registration not required.


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WeatherWatcher: Seemingly surprise windstorm strikes Lake Forest Park and Shoreline

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Tree down across NE 185th St at Ballinger Way in Lake Forest Park, WA.
Photo by Phyllis Johnson

By Carl Dinse

We had all this hype of record-breaking rain in the forecast, and instead we got a seemingly surprise windstorm. The National Weather Service had forecast models showing between 1 to 1.5 inches of rain for Lake Forest Park and Shoreline between Saturday afternoon and Wednesday morning. Little mention of wind however, and even mainstream media wasn’t mentioning anything about wind.

Strong winds arrived in the area from Seattle northward initially on Sunday evening. These winds did trigger a few scattered power outages in Snohomish County. A lot of unsecured objects were being blown around, as no one was expecting strong winds (including myself). 

Winds got strongest early Monday morning, long before the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory. The winds mellowed out a little to blustery/breezy conditions through most of the day Monday into Monday night. 

Tuesday morning was mostly calm until after around 11am when the wind advisory expired. Then winds picked up and at my Richmond Beach weather station we recorded nearly an all-time high gust of 35mph after 1pm. This was nearly 2 hours after the NWS wind advisory expired.

Tuesday afternoon winds were strong enough in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park to bring down tree limbs, and whole trees. Several trees were downed throughout the region on Monday and Tuesday. Lake Forest Park had one come down across NE 185th St at Ballinger Way. It snagged a vehicle that escaped with a cracked windshield, and took out major power lines, doing damage to at least one of the utility poles.

Paine Field in Everett showed similar patterns in the wind, strong on either side of the wind advisory but generally calm during the entirety of the advisory. 

Rain wasn’t the big story of this series of atmospheric rivers, it was the wind.

Overall, here are the storm statistics:
  • Sunday, June 2: 
    • Rain: 0.33 inches
    • Wind Gust: 28mph at Richmond Beach, 44mph at Paine Field in Everett
  • Monday, June 3:
    • Rain: 0.49 inches
    • Wind Gust: 29mph at Richmond Beach, 49mph at Paine Field in Everett
  • Tuesday, June 4:
    • Rain: 0.15 inches
    • Wind Gust: 35mph at Richmond Beach, 41mph at Paine Field in Everett

I use Paine Field in Everett for official wind data, as it is the closest, best wind measurement area to Lake Forest Park and Shoreline. The weather stations I operate in Shoreline are interfered with by tall Douglas firs which impact accuracy and ability to measure true peak wind speeds. Good wind measurement sites are difficult to find and very expensive within our cities.

The rainfall amount forecasted came in just under the forecasted amount at 0.97 inches total. Getting within 0.03 inches is pretty good. Our amount of rain was a lot lower than forecasted for Seattle (Sea-Tac) due to the Olympic Mountain rain shadow, but the shadow effect was very well forecasted.

Rainfall for June compared to average at the Northridge/Echo Lake weather station:

Windstorms are possible any time of year in this region, they are just rare between April and October. I don’t really put the rain event as out of the ordinary either. Some years June is very rainy, other years it's summer starting Memorial Day.

Sunny and seasonable weather is here now and expected to last for the next 7 days with temperatures in the 70’s. Saturday could be a little bit warmer, with Lake Forest Park and Shoreline in the upper 70’s, and possibly reaching into the low 80s. We return to the 70’s for high temperatures on Sunday and going on through next week. 


For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com


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Shoreline Covenant Youth Auction Friday June 7, 2024

The youth of Shoreline Covenant Church are holding an auction on Friday, June 7, 2024 at 7pm to raise money for their youth group summer trips.

There are over 100 items being auctioned!

Including:
  • 1 hour scenic flight over Puget Sound
  • gift baskets
  • original art and art supplies
  • 3 night stay at Ocean Shores
  • Sounders tickets
  • 1 hour massage
  • theatre tickets
  • planters and gardening supplies
  • 5 hours of handyman services
  • quilts
  • restaurant gift cards and MUCH MORE!
$10 entrance fee includes dessert!

Reserve tickets now by emailing sunam.ellis@gmail.com

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Book and Art Sale plus Raffle Baskets Saturday June 8, 2024 at Richmond Beach Library


Friends of Richmond Beach Library
Book and Art Sale plus Raffle Baskets
June 8, 10:00am to 4:30pm


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What’s Happening This Week in Shoreline? June 5 – June 12

By Kate Ledbetter, Destination Shoreline

What’s Happening This Week in Shoreline?

June 5 – June 12

Whether you're interested in an update on the Shoreline School District, savoring a wine tasting, making new friends, or learning about container gardening, Shoreline has something for everyone this week. Mark your calendar for these exciting events:

City Learn – Shoreline School District Update
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Shoreline City Hall

Join us as we host Dr. Susana Reyes, Superintendent of Shoreline School District, for an informative update session. Dr. Reyes will provide an "Update on Shoreline School District Funding and Projections." Mark your calendar and be part of this insightful meeting with Dr. Susana Reyes. Participate in-person at Shoreline City Hall, or join on Zoom

CityLearn is a monthly opportunity to learn about timely topics in Shoreline. Hybrid meetings are open to everyone who lives and/or works in Shoreline. Participants connect directly with City Councilmembers and staff from different departments.

June wine tastings at Shoreline Town & Country Market
Thursday, June 6, 2024
3:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Town & Country Market Shoreline

Summer is finally approaching, promising long sunny evenings spent cooking outside and the smell of smoke from the grill in the air. This month we’ll be sampling four different wines that pair brilliantly with grilled food; perfect as a summery sipper for the chef, and to bring your cookout to the next level. 

Carefully and intentionally chosen by our wine stewards just for you, these wines represent great value and might just introduce you to your new favorite bottle. As always, we'll be serving some paired bites alongside the wine to make your experience extra delicious. So swing on by for some sips, nibbles and conversation! We can't wait to say “fire’s ready, come on over!” Must be 21 or over to attend.

Shoreline Park and Ballinger Commons Walk
Friday, June 7, 2024
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Shoreline Park

Shoreline Park and Ballinger Commons Walk. Meet at Shoreline Center parking directly south of the soccer fields. We’ll walk north to Ballinger Commons and then explore the grounds, including the ponds, trails and fountains around the complex.
 Full list of walks here

Shoreline Teen Center Pride Prom
Friday, June 7, 2024
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Richmond Highlands Recreation Center

Shoreline Teen Center presents our annual Pride Prom dance and celebration! Come join us at the Shoreline Teen Center June 7th for our annual Pride Prom! Pride Prom is a place to celebrate each other, ourselves, our originality, our community. All middle and high school aged LGBTQ+ youth and allies are welcome. What to expect: friendly faces. music, food, crafts, video games, a safe and inclusive environment. (ALL FREE)  Registration open now

Shoreline Farmers Market
Saturday, June 8, 2024
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
BikeLink Park & Ride

Shoreline's community hub for farm fresh & local foods, flowers, baked goods, local honey, live music, food trucks, kids programming, and so much more. Join us every Saturday through October 5th, located at the BikeLink Park & Ride (corner of 192nd & Aurora, across from Sky Nursery).
Shoreline Farmers Market

Richmond Beach Strawberry Festival
Saturday, June 8, 2024
12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Richmond Beach Community Park

Festival activities include live music, parade, children’s activities, face painting, food trucks and of course delicious strawberry shortcake! Come join in the fun and meet up with friends, make new friends and celebrate a great neighborhood event - bring chairs, picnic blankets and sunscreen!
Festival information here

Game Night at Shoreline Tool Library
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Shoreline Tool Library

Come one, come all! The Shoreline Tool Library monthly game night, every second Tuesday of the month, a public event that welcomes everyone for a night of face-to-face tabletop board games! Bring your favorites or explore the tool library's games selection. No prior knowledge or experience required. All we ask is that you bring your best positive self and maybe a little snack to share with the community, if you can :D

Energize Shoreline Workshop
Tuesday, June 11, 2024
7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Virtual Meeting

Learn about heat pump technology, energy savings, and financial incentives, and meet heat pump installers! Our free virtual and in-person workshops will provide information on heat pump technology, energy savings, and available financial incentives. You’ll meet select heat pump installers and be able to sign up for a free site assessment to determine which heat pump system is right for your home.

Container Gardening Do’s and Don’ts
Wednesday, June 12, 2024
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
North City Water District

With Marianne Binetti, author, NW horticultural expert, syndicated columnist, TV and radio host. Don’t have a ton of space to garden? Want to liven up your porch or deck? Popular gardening educator Marianne Binetti will share her tricks for growing glorious gardens in compact containers. Learn the most sustainable ways to fertilize, water, and design with containers.
To Register: Email customerservice@northcitywater.org or call 206-362-8100.

For more information and more upcoming events, visit the Shoreline events calendar on DestinationShoreline.com/Calendar

To have your event included please email DestinationShoreline@gmail.com.


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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Cicada’s Lament



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Lake Forest Park Secret Garden Story

By Lee Rolfe

Last week, I visited one of the six Lake Forest Park Secret Gardens that will be on display on June 15th Secret Garden tour. As the owner and I walked the much thought over portions of the yard, I could see that every garden has a story.

Imagine you’re a young couple, moving into your new, maybe forever home in shady Lake Forest Park with two kids and a load of classic old shrubs you can’t leave behind. 

Equipped with your memories of relatives who gardened and the instruction of your former neighbors, you’re faced with making the compacted, sloped and barren strip that surrounds your house into a place where the kids can frolic. 

Crossed fingers, you might host BBQs and relax in a future oasis there, when you one-day retire.

You attend to the immediate, establishing the kids’ swing set/play area and getting those transported shrubs in the ground. 

The more you come to understand the site, you realize it needs better enclosure, regrading, and enriched soil amendment. 

You recognize the gold that is compost and realize it’s all over your back yard if you’re willing to gather fallen maple leaves and process them in the fall. 

You recognize the value of the maturing conifers onsite and take your time in deciding whether they’re truly hazardous to your property or can provide needed framework and shade.

As your kids mature and you find more time, you join the garden club, learn to cast concrete leaves, install a fern garden and circulating creek on the back slope, and keep studying the potential of your lot. 

The path that encircles your house grows narrower as you deepen the garden beds, anchored with woody structures like rhodies (‘Lem’s Cameo’), azaleas (scented ‘Quazar’), berberis, varied enkianthus, and hydrangea. 

Specimen trees like styrax, weeping conifers, stewartia, parrotia, oxydendron, Japanese maples, yew, larch, and beech are installed over the years. 

Some things like vine maples may overgrow their places, but you learn to cut them back hard, and have the patience and skill to cloak them with showy neighbors during their awkward regrowth.

Now being Pacific Northwesterners, you recognize there are treasures to be found at the LFP plant sale, plant catalogues, the Seattle Flower and Garden Show, Everett’s Sorticulture, Fred Meyer’s, Home Depot, and Costco.

You splurge on things like a box of enormous Persian onions, or perennials like dramatic voodoo lily, Spanish mouse tail plant, and rodgersia. Some of these are gathered on road trips to Port Townsend’s Far Reaches Farm and other specialty nurseries. 

Your collection of ferns, perennial geraniums, dahlias, clematis, hostas, peonies, and roses (‘Knock Out’, ‘de Rescht’, ‘Sally Holmes’), thrives and declines, depending on that downspout issue, the irrigation system, successive pests, and prolonged winter freezes. 

You give up the lawn weeding and consign yourself to installing a ribbon of artificial turf with zero regrets. Your 1989 aim to entertain, relax, and easily self-maintain your retirement getaway, although achieved, still invites further addition and creativity.

Sign up for the Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and gain rare access to this well loved garden, and five other gardens. Learn the secrets of the custom designed fence, circulating water feature, bed-edging groundcovers, a starter greenhouse, and use of annual flowers to offset all that green. 

Ask a Master Gardener and the garden owners how to keep down weeds, divide perennials, propagate with cuttings and enhance your property and your leisure and get more ideas for your own garden story.

Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park Garden Tour and Market
Saturday, June 15 · 9am - 3pm PDT

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Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North on Saturday

An Urban Forest Project
Photo by Meghan Peterka

Community Work Party at Twin Ponds North

Saturday, June 8th, 2024 from 9:30am - 12:30pm

***************************************************

The leaves of the forest canopy have unraveled, the squirrels already beginning to gather,

and we continue to dig-up, water, and mulch. Come join us!

We meet on the far NW side of the park, along 155th street, 
west of the parking lot.

All that is needed is a pair of gloves and a water bottle.

We appreciate your sharing this post with others.

~ Many Hands Make Work, Light ~


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Paul Lewing studio sale June 8-9, 2024 10am to 5pm

Art by Paul Lewing

Paul Lewing's annual summer studio sale is this coming weekend, June 8-9, from 10am to 5pm, in the studio at 105 N 200th St, Shoreline WA 98133.

He's been painting flowers lately, as you can see. He's excited to show them to you and your friends. Bring them all.

Paul Lewing



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Rollover accident on Saturday sends one to hospital

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Shoreline Fire had a rough weekend June 1-2, 2024 with 89 calls between Saturday and Sunday. 

On Saturday at 7:41am, they responded in force to a fatality structure fire on Burke Ave N. Readers report there were a dozen emergency vehicles and streets and cross streets were blocked during the response.

Shoreline alerted neighboring north King county departments of the need for backup, so when a call for a MVC Rescue (Motor Vehicle Collision) came across the radio, other crews responded to Westminster Way for a single vehicle roll-over with the occupant trapped. 

Bothell Fire Department was first on scene as they were covering Shoreline Fire's stations. Bothell extricated the patient, who was then transported by medics to a local hospital.


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The kayaker DID get out of Echo Lake alive

Rescue swimmers and divers gather to search Echo Lake for a missing kayaker.
Photo by Michael Wansley

By Diane Hettrick

There is a loose network of neighbors who live along the shores of Echo Lake. There is a core group called Friends of Echo Lake, who come together to clear invasive vegetation and plant native plants in Echo Lake Park.

Lakeside neighbors talk to each other but it can take a while for information to travel.

The west and south side of the lake are lined with multi-story buildings, so there are many eyes on the lake.

Now I have been told that one of those lakeside residents actually saw a soaking wet man, wearing a life vest, on shore the day the kayak was found floating in the center of the lake. 

She noted it but didn't tell anyone until this weekend.

The bigger buildings have security cameras for the area around the building. The management of one of those buildings just reviewed their footage and discovered they had captured a shot of a very wet male in a life jacket.

So everyone can breathe a sigh of relief and quit waiting for a body to float to the surface of the lake.

Many questions remain. Can this person be identified from the security footage? Was the kayak stolen and that's why it was left floating in the middle of the lake? Or did the kayaker decide that he never wanted to see a kayak again and just crawled away?

The kayakers who live around the lake have never seen the kayak before, so he had to bring it in.

Our Fire Department spent hours searching the lake after getting a call for an upside down kayak floating in the center of Echo Lake on May 18, 2024.

The KCSO marine unit spent almost as many hours. It's good to know they are there for us and will continue to search diligently, even when they suspect there is nothing to be found.


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Power has been out in Lake Forest Park since noon

Tree took out major power lines at 185th and Ballinger
Photo by Tracy Furutani

By Diane Hettrick

Main power lines run along Ballinger Way, so when the tree by 185th snapped and fell on the lines, it took out power to most of the city. LFP City Hall closed and I will presume that most, if not all of Town Center closed.

The tree fell with such force that it snapped the power pole
Photo by Tracy Furutani

City Light crews have been working for hours and are currently several hours past when they expected to be done in LFP.

Wires, tree, power pole all tangled together
Photo by Phyllis Johnson
Most of the original outages have been cleared. 

Outages were primarily east of the freeway. Ballinger was completely dark. Ballinger Village was completely closed. 

Every other traffic light was dark but fortunately there was very little traffic. The power is back on there now.

Photo by Phyllis Johnson
I didn't see it personally but it sounds like North City also had major outages. They're back on now.

It's very quiet outside now, at 3am, but there is a possibility of more wind.

I checked in with WeatherWatcher Carl Dinse earlier in the day. He said that he was recording high wind gusts at all his weather stations (from Richmond Beach to central Shoreline to north Everett) and was recording the highest winds he has seen in a year.


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Fatality fire in Shoreline

Monday, June 3, 2024

Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire
The previously reported residential fire in the 15700 block of Burke Ave N was a fatality fire.

On Saturday June 1, 2024 at 7:41am, Shoreline Fire was dispatched to a residential structure fire on Burke Ave N.

Upon arrival, there was already heavy fire and smoke throughout the home. 

During our search, we found a person that was unconscious/ unresponsive. Our crews brought her out of the structure and attempted to resuscitate her. Sadly, she had passed away. 

Seattle Fire Department, South County Fire responded as well. 


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Move Over Mrs Markham is a riotous bedroom farce, filled with misunderstandings, mix-ups, and mistaken identities

Photo courtesy James Sipes

Move Over Mrs. Markham by Ray Cooney & John Chapman
The Phoenix Theatre Firdale Village Shopping Plaza
9673 Firdale Ave, Edmonds WA 98020

By Kindle Carpp

The action is chaos from start to finish and I loved every minute. Move Over Mrs Markham is a riotous bedroom farce, filled with misunderstandings, mix-ups, and mistaken identities.

Joanna and Phillip Markham have been happily married for 14 years, and while passion may have waned, love has not. 

Phillip works with his best friend, Henry Lodge, a children’s book publisher, and Henry’s wife Linda is Joanna’s best friend. 

Photo by James Sipes

Henry is a philanderer and has convinced Philip to let him use their upstairs flat that evening for an amorous encounter with Miss Wilkinson. Linda is aware of Henry’s unfaithfulness and has decided to have her own illicit encounter with Walter, convincing Joanna to allow her to use the same apartment. 

Meanwhile, Alistair, the Markham's interior designer, has planned to get to know Sylvie (the au pair) much better in that same apartment that same evening.

This play features no fewer than eight people all trying to pair up for an evening. . The Markham's one bedroom apartment becomes the unofficial tenth member of the cast holding up under nine people running around, hiding behind closed doors and unsuccessfully under sheets.

The exceedingly well-timed exits had the Benny Hill theme song playing in my head.

This production is tremendously funny.

Photo courtesy James Sipes

The exquisite 1970s set and costumes transport you back in time perfectly.
 
While the use of the word queer could have been used in a derogatory way, the playwright uses it as another option for confusion for the characters.

May 31-June 23, 2024
  • Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30pm
  • Sunday matinees at 2:00pm
Purchase tickets here
  • Adults 54 & under $25
  • ​Seniors/Students/Military $20
The theatre is located on the 2nd floor of the rear building in Firdale Village. Our level entrance drop-off zone can be accessed by driving around the back of the building where we have a marked accessible entrance.

Parking is free. Cookies and alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are available at our bar.


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CityLearn session with Dr. Susana Reyes on school funding and projections

Dr. Susana Reyes photo by Steven H. Robinson

City Learn – Shoreline School District Update, Wednesday, June 5, 7 – 8:30pm

In-person at Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N, or on Zoom

Join us as we host Dr. Susana Reyes, Superintendent of Shoreline School District, for an informative update session. 

Dr. Reyes will provide an "Update on Shoreline School District Funding and Projections."

Participate in-person at Shoreline City Hall, or join on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85957329546

CityLearn is a monthly opportunity to learn about timely topics in Shoreline. Hybrid meetings are open to everyone who lives and/or works in Shoreline. Participants connect directly with City Councilmembers and staff from different departments.

Note that CityLearn will take a break during the summer. The first one of the fall will be on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 with a focus on Human Services in Shoreline.


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Structure fire in 15700 block of Burke Ave N in Shoreline

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Shoreline Fire responded to a residential structure fire in the 15700 block of Burke Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133 on Saturday morning after 8am on June 1, 2024.

Motorists were advised to avoid the area and cross streets.


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Unsuccessful search for person who reportedly fell off a board in Puget Sound

Staging area for search
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

Shoreline Fire reports that at approximately 6:15pm Sunday evening, June 2, 2024, they were dispatched to a report of a person that fell off a board in Puget Sound off Richmond Beach / Woodway without resurfacing. 

The extensive search was called off with nothing found. Several individuals were interviewed with the potential that the individual might have gotten out of the water in Edmonds. 

Shoreline had four rescue swimmers in the water, boats, a Coast Guard helicopter and a drone that were assisting with the search.  

Thanks to our partners:
South County Fire, Shoreline Police Department, King County Sheriff's Office, North Kitsap Fire & Rescue, Seattle Police Department, Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound


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Gloria Nagler: The Steller's Jay (you can see her to the left of Ruby) and I were amazed to see Ruby at such an altitude

Sunday, June 2, 2024

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

So I grabbed a different lens and took a closer look…

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

(I guess I knew raccoons climbed trees, but somehow was shocked at how very high she had gone! Seems like mammals should be closer to ground level:):)

--Gloria Z. Nagler


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Planning Commission meeting Thursday, June 6, 2024

From left: Christopher Mosier (behind), Julie Povick, Bradley Cabe, Leslie Brinson, Mei-shiou Lin, Lauren Hadley, and Colt Fry. Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

By Pam Cross

The June 6th Shoreline Planning Commission Regular Meeting will be held in the Council Chamber using a hybrid format where both in-person and online attendance is allowed. You may attend the meeting in person, join via Zoom webinar, or listen to the meeting over the telephone. 

The Commission is providing opportunities for public comment in person, remotely, or by submitting written comment. In person public commenters must sign up in person prior to the start of the meeting, and remote public commenters must sign-up online by 6:30pm the night of the meeting. (See Links at end of this article.)

This meeting is an update to their May 16 meeting. You can see the summary of the last May meeting in the link below.

The 2024 Comprehensive Plan update is now at a stage where development of draft goals and policies and supporting analysis are underway. The Planning Commission will play a key role in providing input and feedback on this work throughout most of the rest of this year. 

This meeting the Planning Commission will have an opportunity to discuss their comments on three draft elements of the Comprehensive Plan Update: Land Use, Housing and Economic Development.

Land Use Designation

Land use designations will need to change as part of implementing middle housing.They will consider focusing on future growth near transit, cafes and other neighborhood commercial uses such as cafes, coffee shops, and pubs. 

They will also discuss transit, pedestrian and bike access, and parking, compatibility with existing neighborhood, and working with Homeowner Associations to allow housing consistent with City Code.

Housing

The City will need to do more as the need for housing, particularly affordable housing, grows. This meeting will consider the issues of affordable housing, vacant and underutilized land, Regulations and housing, Cost and Supply to clarify unwritten or vague administrative procedures and policies, as well as Short term rentals impact on housing availability

Economic Development

Encouraging local iconic growth and development through consideration of: neighborhood smaller commercial spaces; opportunities to enhance the future of Aurora Ave N and the Town Center; capitalizing on Shoreline’s greatest natural asset the Puget Sound shoreline; enhancing tourism and recreation; looking for opportunities to enhance tourism and recreation; reinvesting in North City and Ballinger.

Source: the Planning Commission staff report.

LINKS

Remote meeting links:

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Shoreline Fire meet & greet Wednesday for a Q/A about their property purchase on Richmond Beach Road


The Shoreline Fire Department has purchased property on Richmond Beach Rd, in the vicinity of its current Safety and Training Center.

Chief Matt Cowan and Deputy Chief Matt Hochstein will be there to discuss plans and answer your questions.

Wednesday, June 5, 2024 at 6pm at 1851 NW 195th St, Shoreline WA 98177


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Poetry: Stone Stories

Photo by Vicki K. Westberg
The mug is a family heirloom painted
by my grandmother in 1951 for
my mother whose name is on it.  "Jerri"

Stone Stories

We have thought of them as just a nuisance
Indicating poor soil perhaps, but stones in your garden
Are stories of the past, how it is they appear here
After uncountable years.

They seem to rise to your gaze and amazement.
They could tell you their stories if you could only
Decipher their tacit messages.  How do you translate
Their former fate?  That history is a mystery.

We may dig out the facts preserved in time.
Illustrated with the help of water or rain,
Their colors deepen to gentle green, gray,
Pastel pink perhaps, speckled or striped.

They seem to bloom, but while flowers are the future
Yet untold, stones are the past to unfold in reverse.
Are they pieces of that mountain shifting, ground sifting?
Now looking for contact, for freedom, they await discovery.

Gathered together they help to make a subtle bowl
For a colorful bee bath or bird fountain.
Recovering from sleep do they now feel
Your fondling eyes seeking deep?


        Vicki K. Westberg  May 22, 2024


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Maj. Gen. with ties to Shoreline addresses crowd of 500 at Memorial Day ceremony in France

Maj. Gen. James R. Kriesel
Photo by Arthur McQueen, EUCOM Public Affairs
THIAUCOURT-REGNIÉVILLE, France (May 26, 2024) 

Maj. Gen. James R. Kriesel, Director of Exercises and Assessments, United States European Command (USEUCOM) J7, and Reserve Component Advisor to the Commander USEUCOM, speaks to the assembled crowd of nearly 500 during the Saint-Mihiel American Cemetery Memorial Day commemoration in Thiaucourt-Regniéville, France, May 26, 2024. 

Maj. Gen. Kriesel is the son of Gerhard and Joyce Kriesel of Shoreline.

Photo by Arthur McQueen,
EUCOM Public Affairs
USEUCOM and its Component Commands oversee military operations and resources across Europe, ensuring readiness, cooperation and regional security alongside Allies and partners. 

Together, we support deterrence efforts, respond to crises and promote stability in the European theater.

The American Battle Monuments Commission oversees 21 cemeteries in six countries in Europe, where nearly 70,000 American servicemembers rest eternally. 


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NEMCo Community Emergency Preparedness Workshop

Saturday, June 1, 2024

NEMCo is thrilled to announce its sponsorship of a Community Emergency Preparedness Workshop on June 22, 2024. Join us at Kenmore Fire Station 51 from 9:00 am to noon for this vital event, open to the first 50 who register. Hurry, spots will fill up fast—check out our flyer for registration details at www.NorthshoreEMC.com.

At NEMCo, we're dedicated to ensuring our community is equipped to handle emergencies. Our workshops provide hands-on training, enabling you to identify local hazards, practice using fire extinguishers, create a family emergency plan, and learn critical medical assistance techniques.

Don't miss this opportunity to proactively care for your family during emergencies. Our free workshop is designed to equip you with the skills needed to assist others until first responders arrive. The program, ACT (Antidote, CPR, Tourniquet) to Save a Life, imparts life-saving skills. A presentation will be given on the hazards we face in our community and our homes, along with simple yet effective steps that citizens can take to prepare for an emergency or a disaster.

Date: Saturday, June 22, 2024
Time: check-in 8:30am, start at 9:00am to 12:00pm
Location: Shoreline Fire Station 51, 7220 NE 181st St, Kenmore, WA 98028
Registration: https://bit.ly/4bNJYSi


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Shoreline Teen Center presents our annual Pride Prom dance and celebration!

Come join us at the Shoreline Teen Center June 7, 2024 for our annual Pride Prom!

Pride Prom is a place to celebrate each other, ourselves, our originality, our community.

All middle and high school-aged LGBTQ+ youth and allies are welcome.

What to expect: friendly faces. music, food (panda express), crafts, video games, free books, lgbtq+ resources, a safe and inclusive environment. (ALL FREE)

Register here


Hosted by: The City of Shoreline, The Shoreline Teen Center, S.A.G.E, and the Youth Outreach Leadership program, with KCLS and YouthCare as guests.

Email mhale@shorelinewa.gov with any questions or concerns.


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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Cat Toys

 



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Strawberry Festival returns June 8, 2024

2023 Strawberry Festival
The 2024 Strawberry Festival will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2024 from 12 to 5pm at Richmond Beach Community Park. Last year’s festival was a huge success, and we are thrilled to bring back this beloved annual tradition to Richmond Beach.

Enjoy live bands, food trucks, kids' activities, a library book sale, and much more. The Shorewood High School drumline and children’s parade will kick off the festival again and of course, strawberry shortcake will be for sale throughout the day.

The Strawberry Festival is a great way to meet neighbors, have fun with your family, and connect with local businesses. We hope to see you there!

Volunteer Opportunities

We need your help making this event a success! If interested in volunteering, sign up here, or contact us at strawberryfestival@richmondbeachwa.org.


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New Blood Drive in Shoreline, Saturday, June 8, 2024

Bloodworks Northwest will have a mobile drive set up inside Shoreline Covenant Church on Saturday, June 8, 2024 from 9am to 3pm. 


Summertime is always crucial for blood collection: donations drop, as people go on vacations, while needs rise, as vacationers schedule elective surgeries or have accidents amid the fun times.
 
Appointments can be made here or by calling 800-398-7888. They are especially looking to fill afternoon time slots. 

Donating blood takes about an hour, door to door. First-time donors are welcome; experienced donors can share the news and encourage friends and family to join them in donating.

At this inaugural blood drive, every donor will receive a coupon redeemable at the Richmond Beach Strawberry Festival the same day for the value of a strawberry shortcake! It's a great way to start the season.


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