Happy New Year!

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Repeat after me:  2012.  2012.  2012.  2012.

Christmas Lights - LFP duo

Photo by Jerry Pickard in Lake Forest Park

Photo by Jerry Pickard in Lake Forest Park.

Shoreline woman starts dog therapy business

Melanie Granfors and her therapy dog Hunter
Photo courtesy MyEdmondsNews

By Teresa Wippel, MyEdmondsNews

Well-known Shoreline Fire Public Information Officer Melanie Granfors has been educating citizens about emergency preparedness and fire and life safety for 13 years at the Shoreline Fire Department. She has worked extensively with the firefighters on emergency medical responses and has also helped patients in need of the services of the Edmonds-based MS Helping Hands Donor Closet.

“I discovered the Donor Closet years ago, when I realized how difficult it is for some folks to purchase vital equipment like walkers and wheelchairs,” Granfors said. “Fall prevention is a huge mission in our fire department, and the Donor Closet is a partner in that.”

Granfors is now also on the board of MSHH.

But one of Granfors’ latest projects involves another kind of help for people in need: animal-assisted activity and animal-assisted therapy. Granfors has started an organization called K-911 Therapy Dogs on Call. She and her trained therapy dogs provide visiting services to hospitals, nursing homes, rehab centers, schools and other facilities where the healing power of animals is recognized and encouraged.

Granfors worked for three years with her beloved therapy dog, Hunter. When Hunter died last April, she vowed to continue his work by forming K-911 Therapy Dogs and honoring him as her “forever-after dog”.

“He was the best therapy dog ever,” Granfors says. “His mellow demeanor was remarkable — and the way he gazed at humans was enough to heal the deepest of wounds, physical or emotional. I was so lucky to know and love him and so proud to share him. Hunter’s eyes shine on in my heart and will forever.”

Now she works with a black lab named Sable. And she is looking for volunteers who may want to learn about and become involved with therapy dogs and animal-assisted activities through the Delta Society.

For more information, call Granfors at 206-349-7074 or email her.

Poem by Jean Monce Bryant: Hummer the Hummingbird

Photo by Patty Hale

HUMMER THE HUMMINGBIRD

By Jean Monce Bryant

Lake Forest Park, WA

Hummer the Hummingbird

Dear little whirr

Magical gossamer

Wings in a blur

Coming for sweetness

To sip from each flower

Bringing your beauty

In sunshine or shower

Magical messenger

Out of the blue

Delighting my soul

Refreshing anew

You bring such delight

When your form I do see

So tiny so beautiful

So fresh and so free

The nectar you take

As you drink from each flower

The sweetness you bring to me

Here in my bower

I thank you dear Hummer

And as you depart

Your love and your sweetness

Live on in my heart

Please help me to share

All the sweetness you give

And reach out in love

Every day that I live

Anna's Hummingbird in blooming apple tree
Photo by Frank Kleyn

Congressman Jay Inslee Presents Kenmore City Council with LEED® Gold Certificate for City Hall Project

Congressman Jay Inslee, left, presents the Gold certificate
to Mayor David Baker, right

Congressman Jay Inslee presented the Kenmore City Council with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certificate at a meeting on December 21, 2011. 

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) awarded the City of Kenmore with LEED Gold certification for its City Hall in early 2011. The LEED rating system is a nationally accepted standard for green design and construction. LEED Gold is the second highest level of certification.

Inslee commented the community should be proud of the new LEED City Hall as the sustainable features present an opportunity for green education, reduce stormwater pollution which affects our streams, and provide cost savings to taxpayers. Inslee was also the featured speaker at the Kenmore City Hall Dedication Ceremony in May 2010.

“As stewards of a beautiful city at the top of Lake Washington, we wanted our new City Hall to be a steward of public resources and a model for the development of our city,” Mayor David Baker said. “The LEED Gold certification is the culmination of our achievements on this project.”

Kenmore City Hall
Photo by Jerry Pickard

The key to achieving the green building goals of the project was good, green design, including features like daylight design, raised floors for energy efficiency in heating and ventilation, water efficient plumbing, energy efficient lighting and controls, and extensive use of green building materials. A rain garden, the 4,500-square-foot vegetative roof, and a permeable-concrete parking lot minimize runoff, reducing the demands on the city’s stormwater infrastructure and Swamp Creek. Solar panels on the roof will provide at least 2.5 percent of the building’s energy. The sustainable features earned the project a conservation grant from Puget Sound Energy and a King County LEED Grant.

Construction of the LEED Gold City Hall began in March 2009, and the new city hall officially opened for business in May 2010. With this certification, Kenmore joins a half dozen other Washington State cities with LEED Gold city halls. In addition, Bastyr University’s Student Village project was awarded LEED Platinum in 2010 and received the USGBC 2010 outstanding multifamily project award.

Jump into the New Year with coupon from Just Frogs

Shorecrest girls return to Wesco 3A play January 4 after first loss of season

The Shorecrest girls’ basketball team returns to Western Conference 3A play Jan. 4 with a game at Everett after the Scots suffered their first loss of the season, 57-52 in overtime, to Edmonds-Woodway of the Wesco 4A South Tuesday.

Shorecrest takes a 5-0 Wesco 3A record (8-1 overall) into the game at Everett (4-2, 6-3 going into a Friday home game with Bothell) at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4, with junior varsity teams from Shorecrest (2-3, 2-7) and Everett (3-3, 5-4) meeting at 5:40.

In the 57-52 loss to Edmonds-Woodway, Shorecrest led 15-8 after the first quarter and 26-24 at halftime before Edmonds-Woodway took a 39-38 lead after three quarters, and the Scots tied the game at 46-46 to force overtime. Senior Bri Lasconia led the Scots with 19 points followed by senior India Matheson with 13 and freshman Lindsey Shattuck with 8. The Shorecrest junior varsity lost to Edmonds-Woodway, 33-26.

For the season, Lasconia leads Shorecrest with 127 points in 9 games for an average of 14.1 points per game.

Edmonds-Woodway 57, Shorecrest 52 

At Shorecrest, Tuesday, Dec. 27

Edmonds-Woodway    8 16 15  7 11 -- 57

Shorecrest                   15 11 12 8   6 -- 52

Shorecrest Scoring	Points
Lindsey Shattuck	8
Onyie Chibuogwu	5
Janie Uppinghouse	3
Mickey Greenburg	2
Keegan Monson	2
Brianne Lasconia	19
India Matheson	13
Allison Jones	0
Annie Schlachter	0

Shorecrest Season Scoring

Player		Games	Points	P/G
Brianne Lasconia		9	127	14.1
India Matheson		9	119	13.2
Onyie Chibuogwu		9	77	8.6
Janie Uppinghouse		9	71	7.9
Mickey Greenburg		9	25	2.8
Annie Schlachter		8	17	2.1
Allison Jones		8	16	2.0
Lindsey Shattuck		8	15	1.9
Keegan Monson		9	14	1.6
Haley Magaoay		4	2	0.5
Kathryn Lindsey		6	1	0.2

Photo: Morning has broken...

Morning has broken. Photo by Lee Lageschulte.

Shoreline resident Lee Lageschulte woke up to this view earlier in the week and took a photo to share with us.  It's beautiful but you can see the effects of a dry fall in the lack of snow cover.

Updated 1-1-2012 9:32pm

Ridgecrest neighborhood food drive for HopeLink ends December 31

Just a simple reminder....

If you have not yet made a donation, or have additional items you would like to give, there are still a couple of days left in December for you to help make a difference by participating in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood Food Drive for Hope Link.

With donations up over the past several weeks, Ridgecrest donations of non-perishable food items for the Food Bank at HopeLink have reached the total of 662 pounds.

That may sound like a lot, but supplies are low again following Christmas.

Help the Ridgecrest neighborhood association replenish the shelves so that HopeLink can start the new year fully stocked.

You can drop your donations off at:

Cafe Aroma

509 NE 165th

(across form the Crest Theater)

Hours:  Thursday, December 29   Open until 5:00PM            

             Friday, December 30     Open 5:30AM - Close 10:00PM

             Saturday, December 31   Open 7:00AM - Close 5:00PM

 

Java Jolt

Corner of 10th Ave NE and NE 185th

Hours:  Thursday, December 29   Open until 5:00PM            

             Friday, December 30     Open 5:00AM - Close  5:00PM

             Saturday, December 31   Open 7:00AM - Close 5:00PM

Christmas Lights - Lake Forest Park

Lake Forest Park home - photo by Jerry Pickard

Whimsical figures fill the yard at this Lake Forest Park home.

Shorewood Boys have third best state 3A time in 200-yard freestyle relay as Shorewood, Shorecrest swimmers prepare to return to competition January 3

The Shorewood boys' 200-yard freestyle relay team has the third best 3A time in the State, according to records announced last week by our news partner, the Seattle Times.

Both the Shorewood and Shorecrest swimming teams return to competition Tuesday, Jan. 3, with Shorecrest playing host to Kamiak at 3:30 p.m. at Shoreline Pool and Shorewood meeting Mercer Island and Newport, at 3:30 at Mercer Island High School.

In Dec. 15 meets, Shorewood defeated Mariner at Shoreline Pool, and Shorecrest won a double dual meet at Lynnwood Pool from Lynnwood and Meadowdale.

 
Boys swimming state leaders
Class 4A
50 freestyle — 1, Chase, Beamer, 22.45.
100 free — 1, Kim, Eastlake, 47.94.
200 free — 1, Weiner, Central Kitsap, 1:44.00.
500 free — 1, Weiner, Central Kitsap, 4:45.69.
100 backstroke — 1, Kim, Eastlake, 52.51.
100 breaststroke — 1, Soria, Central Kitsap, 1:01.56.
100 butterfly — 1, Kim, Eastlake, 52.75.
200 individual medley — 1, Kim, Eastlake, 1:57.84.
200 medley relay — 1, Stadium, 1:41.81.
200 free relay — 1, Stadium, 1:31.93.
400 free relay — 1, Stadium, 3:23.72. 

Class 3A
50 free — 1, Marco Signorelli, Mercer Island, 22.16..
100 free — 1, Signorelli, Mercer Island, 48.28;
200 free — 1, A. McCarthy, Bainbridge, 1:47.70.
500 free — 1, A. McCarthy, Bainbridge, 4:45.02.
100 backstroke — 1, A. McCarthy, Bainbridge, 54.66.
100 breaststroke — 1, Raymond Ha, Liberty, 1:01.27.
100 butterfly— 1, T. McCarthy, Bainbridge, 53.80.
200 individual medley — 1, Hamlik, Prairie, 1:59.20;.
200 medley relay — 1, Mercer Island, 1:39.48.
200 free relay — 1, Mountain View, 1:31.48; 2, Mercer Island, 1:31.82; 3, Shorewood, 1:33.24.
400 free relay — 1, Liberty, 3:22.50. 

Class 2A
50 free — 1, Mitchell, Mark Morris, 22.59.
100 free — 1, Mitchell, Mark Morris, 49.69;
200 free — 1, Sholdra, Renton, 1:47.16.
500 free — 1, Sholdra, Renton, 4:45.5.
100 backstroke — 1, Cosgrove, Archbishop Murphy, 57.46.
100 breaststroke — 1, Christopher Li, Pullman, 1:03.98.
100 butterfly— 1, Avery, Sehome, 54.30..
200 individual medley — 1, Steve Sholdra, Renton, 1:59.90.
200 medley relay — 1, Sehome, 1:43.02.
200 free relay — 1, Sehome, 1:33.48.
400 free relay — 1, Sehome, 3:29.85.

Swimming Results, Thursday, Dec. 15
At Shoreline Pool

Shorewood 132, Mariner 53

200-yard medley relay — Shorewood (Davis Harford, Andrew Garrison, Galen Kintner, Jonah Hoverson), 1:46.42
200 freestyle — Hunter Nelson, SW, 2:06.50.
200 individual medley — Satterlee, M, 2:19.93.
50 free — Garrison, SW, 23.15.
Diving — Eddie Young, SW, 314.70.
100 butterfly — Kintner, SW, 58.88.
100 free — Nelson, SW, 55.54.
500 free — Jack Allen, SW, 6:09.20.
200 free relay — Shorewood (Garrison, Joe McIntyre, Kintner, Hoverson), 1:33.24.*
100 backstroke — Hopkins, M, 1:02.81.
100 breaststroke — Trevor Crooks, SW, 1:10.85.
400 free relay — Shorewood (Hoverson, Harford, Kintner, Garrioson), 3:29.54.

At Lynnwood City Pool
Shorecrest 119, Meadowdale 51

 
200 medley relay--Shorecrest 2:01.08;
200 freestyle--Ball (M) 2:23;
200 individual medley--Flynn (M) 2:17.90;
50 freestyle--J. Dyck (SC) 25.52;
100 butterfly--A. Wickstrom (SC) 1:02.62;
100 freestyle--R. Groves (SC) 54.24;
500 freestyle--C. Osborne (SC) 5:02.71;
200 freestyle relay--Shorecrest 1:42.22;
100 backstroke--Z. Comden (SC) 1:08.38;
100 breaststroke--E. Hausmann (SC) 1:11.43;
400 freestyle relay--Shorecrest 3:57.52 

Shorecrest 134, Lynnwood 23 

200 medley relay--Shorecrest 2:01.08;
200 freestyle--D. Ahern (SC) 2:28.54;
200 backstroke--Z. Comden (SC) 1:08.38;
100 breaststroke--E. Hausmann (SC) 1:11.43;
400 freestyle relay--Shorecrest 3:57.52.
100 individual medley--A. Zevenbergen (SC) 2:24.08;
50 freestyle--J. Dyck (SC) 25.52;
100 butterfly--A. Wickstrom (SC) 1:02.62;
100 freestyle--R. Groves (SC) 54.24;
500 freestyle--C. Osborne (SC) 5:02.71;
200 freestyle relay--Shorecrest 1:42.22;
400 freestyle relay--Shorecrest 3:57.52

Car sunk in waterway near Inglemoor Golf Club in Kenmore

Readers traveling on Juanita Drive near the Inglemoor Golf and Country Club in Kenmore on Tuesday night saw a lot of flashing lights and activity near the boat ramp on the waterway around 9:45 pm.

Fire Marshall Jeff LaFlam reports that the Northshore Fire Department received notice of a possible sunken boat in the waterway, but when they arrived, they discovered that it was a car submerged in the water.

The responding crew found a car in the water approximately 10 feet from shore. The firefighters broke out the side windows but the murky water prevented them from making a positive determination if anyone was in the vehicle. 

They requested the dive team from the King County Sheriff’s Office and then winched the vehicle from the water. 

There were no occupants found in the vehicle and the dive team determined that there was no one in the water. 

The vehicle plates had been removed and it was discovered that the vehicle had been stolen a short time before it was spotted in the water.

Robert Hartwig selected as Shoreline’s new Administrative Services Director

City Manager Julie Underwood has selected Robert Hartwig to be City’s new Administrative Services Director. Hartwig’s selection is the culmination of an extensive search after Debbie Tarry, the former administrative services director, was appointed by Underwood to be the new Assistant City Manager in May.

Hartwig is the current Finance and Human Resources Director for the City of Erie, Colorado. Before taking his position with Erie, Hartwig was the Finance Director and City Administrator for the City of Fremont, Nebraska. Hartwig is an accomplished financial executive with over 15 years of experience leading top-level operations in governmental and private businesses alike. Prior to his service in Fremont, Hartwig served as the Finance and Administrative Services Director for the City of Lafayette, Colorado, where he was successful in improving the City’s bond rating. Hartwig has extensive experience in managing and obtaining funding for capital projects including water and sewer utility projects.

“After an extensive competitive search I’m delighted to welcome Bob to our team,” stated Underwood. “His expertise in local government management, financing and information technology, his experience with economic development, and his values of teamwork, collaboration, and openness match exactly with what we were looking for in a new director.”

"It was great meeting all of the team members and visiting the community. Shoreline is a great fit and match for my skill set. I'm really looking forward to meeting and working with everyone at the City and getting to know the citizens and business people in the community,” said Hartwig.

Hartwig has a BBA degree in accounting and finance from the University of Iowa, an MBA degree from Regis University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

The City used The Novak Consulting Group, a public management consulting and executive search firm, to assist the City with its search. Novak received approximately 50 applications for the position. Of those, 11 were chosen as semi-finalists to go through additional screening. After the additional screening, the City Manager chose five finalists that were then interviewed by two panels made up of City staff and the City’s Leadership Team. The final interview was with the City Manager.

Hartwig will start as Administrative Services Director on January 30, 2012.

Shorewood boys finish play in Arizona tournament Thursday after splitting first two games

The Shorewood boys’ basketball team finishes play at the Cactus Jam tournament in Phoenix, Ariz., Thursday after the Thunderbirds split their first two games.

Shorewood lost Tuesday to El Toro High School of Lake Forest, Calif., 66-34 Tuesday before defeating Estrella Foothills of Goodyear, Ariz.) 66-53, Wednesday.

The split gives Shorewood a 7-2 season record. The Thunderbirds return to Western Conference 3A play in January with a 5-1 division record.

El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.) 66, Shorewood 34

Shorewood 5 12 6 11 -- 34

El Toro 10 18 16 22 -- 66

Shorewood Scoring	Points
Josh Hawkinson	8
Semir Kadiric	6
Yonathan Michael	6
Gage Carroll	5
Ben Andrews	4
Levi Diaz	3
Chris Giles	2
Taylor Freeman	0
Zane Hopen	0
Phil Mar	0
Anxhelos Pere	0

Shorewood 67, Estrella Foothills (Goodyear, Ariz.) 53

Shorewood                    19  8 22 18 -- 67
Estrella Foothills (AZ) 10 15 16 12 -- 53

Shorewood Scoring	Points
Gage Carroll	9
Taylor Freeman	7
Ben Andrews	6
Zane Hopen	3
Semir Kadiric	22
Chris Giles	2
Yonathan Michael	2
Josh Hawkinson	16
Anxhelos Pere	0

Give three hours of your time on MLK Day - volunteers needed to collect food for foodbanks

On Martin Luther King Jr Day, Monday, January 16, 2012, three hours of your time can make a difference in hundreds of lives of local citizens.

That's the day that The Center for Service-Learning and The Foundation 501(c)(3) at Shoreline Community College are sponsoring the 2012 Martin Luther King Day of Service Food Drive.

Your job would be to stand outside a local grocery store and hand shoppers a list of foods they could purchase in the store and donate on their way out.

The food would go to the Hopelink food bank for distribution to Shoreline families in need.

Participating stores are:

• Central Market, 15505 Westminster Way N
• Fred Meyer, 18325 Aurora Ave N
• Safeway, 15332 Aurora Ave N

Volunteers at Top Food and Drug, 1201 N 175th St will collect food for the North Helpline food bank which serves Lake Forest Park, east Shoreline, and north Seattle.

For more information, see the SCC Service Learning website.

Sign up at the store of your choice here.

Share this information with your organizations - churches, clubs, service organizations.

And plan to shop and donate on that day.

The Power of the Question - Shoreline PTA Council sponsors public meeting with state legislators

Shoreline PTA Council Legislative Advocacy Team sponsors

Meet our State Legislators

Senator Maralyn Chase, Representative Ruth Kagi, and Representative Cindy Ryu

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Meet and greet at 6:30 p.m.

Formal discussion starts at 7:00 pm (ends around 8:30-9)

Windermere Lake Forest Park (now Windermere Seattle - Northlake)

17711 Ballinger Way NE

(near the north side of the Lake Forest Park Town Center)

We would like to invite all of our neighbors in the 32nd Legislative District, including the Shoreline Caucus, PTA Members, Neighborhood Associations, City Council Members, School Board Members, Teachers, Churches, Business Associations, Community Resource Team Members, Friends of Third Place Books, to name a few. We would like to thank the Windermere Seattle-Northlake for the use of their room.

The beauty of our Democracy is that we have the right to ask questions of our Legislators and to receive their answers in front of our neighbors. Only then can we debate the merits of their answers with each other. Because this event is being sponsored by the Shoreline PTA Council Legislative Advocacy Team, the first set of questions will be educational in nature. However, this will inevitably lead to other topics: taxes, property values, state distribution of the general fund, etc.

WE HOPE YOU CAN COME AND GET YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED.

For more information, contact Alfred Frates or Wes Brandon

(Unfortunately, this meeting room is not wheel chair accessible)

Christmas Lights - NE 170th

NE 170th - Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Steven H. Robinson found this display at a home in Ridgecrest at NE 170th.

Campus Crusade for Christ presents 2012 Access Musical December 30

For more information call Cathy Patrick 206-546-4565.

Welcome to the 7th Congressional District

By Evan Smith

Contributing Writer

Shoreline and all Lake Forest Park will become part of the 7th Congressional District, according to a map released by the State redistricting commission Wednesday.

The District, which Congressman Jim McDermott has represented since 1988, has for the last decade, included Seattle, suburbs south of Seattle and part  of Lake Forest Park. Now it will include most, but not all, of Seattle and extend north to include Shoreline, all of Lake Forest Park, Edmonds and Woodway.

Shoreline, Edmonds, Woodway and part of Lake Forest Park have long been part of the 1st Congressional District, which will now stretch from Kenmore, Kirkland and Redmond north through the inland areas of Snohomish and Skagit counties.

The new map is likely to eliminate Democratic State Rep. Marko Liias of Edmonds as a potential Congressional candidate since Liias is unlikely to run against a sitting Democratic congressman.

Donate before end of year for tax write-off

If you donate to a charitable organization before the end of the year, you are helping that organization while you reduce your own tax load.

We have a number of good organizations which are located in our area, and serve our citizens. Consider them in your giving.

Center for Human Services, located on 15th NE in North City, is a Community-based, not for profit, youth and family services that has been a resources for children, adults, and families since 1970.  Donate here.

Compass Center, across from Aurora Village on N 200th, provides housing, counseling, and drugs and alcohol treatment for veterans. Donate here.

Goodwill trains low-income and under-served people for retail sales and office jobs at its Shoreline location on 145th and 15th NE. Donate goods, vehicles, and money.

HopeLink's Shoreline location by Marshall's in the Sears shopping plaza (Aurora Square) provides food and emergency services to residents in need.  Donate here.

North Helpline is in north Seattle on Lake City Way and provides food and emergency services for Lake Forest Park and east Shoreline as well as North Seattle residents.  Donate here.

The Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center provides a full range of programs, meals, and support for local seniors. Donate here.

Vision House is building Jacob's Well, a center for homeless women and children, with full support services.  They are building debt-free and can use your support. Donate here.

In addition to the social service agencies, we have a number of cultural and educational organizations which could make good use of your dollars.  Here are some of the biggest:

• Shoreline Lake Forest Park Arts Council - donate
• Kruckeberg Botanic Gardens - donate
• Third Place Commons - donate
• Shoreline Historical Museum - donate

Gabriel’s Fire Brings Authentic BBQ, Family Focus to Mountlake Terrace/Shoreline

Gabriel's Fire, new barbeque restaurant in Mountlake Terrace
Photo by Roy D. Riley, Jr.

By Roy D Riley, Jr

If you are a fan of Barbeque and work in Downtown Seattle or Bellevue, you have options. If you live in Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Edmonds, or Mountlake Terrace, you don’t – that is, you didn’t … until now. Co-owners Monty and Gabe Slimp have brought an authentic, multi-regional, family-oriented barbeque concept to south Mountlake Terrace/ north Shoreline.

All meat is smoked on-site
Photo by Roy D. Riley, Jr.

Gabriel’s Fire provides selections for even the most discriminating barbeque connoisseur: from Kansas City to the Carolina-style, to the spicy southwest and the even Caribbean, Gabe and Monty Slimp deliver sauces – all made from scratch – from virtually every barbeque tradition in the northern hemisphere.

Try the Traditional KC Style or Carolina Vinegar Style for a regional take on the classics, or the Teriyaki, Southwest Chipotle, Thai BBQ or Earl’s Corona sauce, the latter naturally sweetened with honey; or for the more daring try The Diablo, Jamacian Jerk, or The XXX – all habanero sauces – or even The Fallen, which combines habanero and ghost chili peppers for a unique, fiery experience. Whether you choose their succulent brisket, juicy pork, or tender chicken, Gabriel’s Fire enables you to select one of ten home-made sauces to impart the regional flavor (and spice level) you desire.

Ribs and side dishes
Photo by Roy D. Riley, Jr.

Even without sauce, the meat served at Gabriel’s Fire is without peer. Each cut is selected from local producers and is guaranteed to be free of preservatives, antibiotics, and hormones. This quality is the trademark of what Gabe and Monty provide to each person who visits their restaurant.

“We strive to offer the highest quality food, service, and dining experience,” says co-owner Monty Slimp. “Our mission is to have our family serving your family with the highest quality food in a family-friendly environment.”

Monty (left) and Gabe Slimp, co-owners of Gabriel’s Fire.
Photo by Roy D. Riley, Jr.

Gabe and Monty bring to their new Mountlake Terrace location a tradition of excellence started in their Ballard restaurant. After four years there, with a growing and loyal community following, electrical issues in their old building forced the brothers to seek a new location. Ballard’s loss is the Northend’s gain. Gabe and Monty Slimp attacked their new building with the same relentless pursuit of perfection for which their award-winning food is known. The inside of Gabriel’s Fire was completely remodeled by the same hands that painstakingly prepare and serve each dish therein. From the new floor and hand-built bar to the redone walls and décor – complete with original artwork from local artists – each detail of the Gabriel’s Fire experience conforms to the vision and personal pride of the brothers Slimp.

Monty and Gabe at work
Photo by Roy D. Riley, Jr.

Once inside, each visitor to Gabriel’s Fire is greeted and served by at least one of the owners, usually Monty – though Gabe, the master of the kitchen, can often be seen roaming the dining room to ensure the expectations of hungry patrons have been exceeded. And the real crown jewel of the Gabriel’s Fire experience is the exceptional cuisine. Though known for their traditional barbeque staples – such as brisket, ribs, and sandwiches – Gabriel’s Fire offers provides a smoked component throughout their menu, including barbeque-infused options such as Smoked Chicken Alfedo, Blackened Catfish, and a Black Angus Brisket Italiano, the latter served over penne pasta and a home-made marinara sauce.

Regardless of the menu option selected, the locally procured beef, pork, and chicken is all smoked on-site using a whole-log mix of the finest woods, while the vegetables are selected exclusively from local growers, when in season.

Even the wine and beer selections available at Gabriel’s Fire represent the best of local vendors. On-tap beers served over the hand-built bar come from local brewers in Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, with more to come.

Local art hangs on the walls
Photo by Roy D. Riley, Jr.

The entire Gabriel’s Fire experience is built upon a foundation of local spirit, family pride, a passion for excellence and the feeling that in a community, people care about other people. For Gabe and Monty Slimp, that desire to share their passion is not a marketing slogan; it’s a philosophy that supports everything they do. When Monty Slimp says, “come to Gabriel’s Fire and have a good time,” he doesn’t ask you to simply swing in, eat, and leave; he’s offering you a unique, local restaurant where you can leave the stresses and calamity of today’s world behind for a time and be welcomed to dine, and relax, as part of the family.

Gabriel’s Fire, barbeque, 5803 244th St. SW, Mountlake Terrace.

Behind the Ballinger Village Shopping Center, and next to Time Out Burgers. Hint - the south side of the street is NE 205th in King County. The north side of the street is 244th SW in Snohomish county.

Dine in or take out. Catering.

Monday - Sunday, 11am to 9pm.  425-697-4119

Facebook page.

Local legislators register intent to seek new terms

Updated 12-30-2011 1:04am


By Evan Smith

Contributing Writer

Democratic State Reps. Ruth Kagi and Cindy Ryu have registered their intent to seek re-election in 2012.

The two have registered as candidates with the State Public Disclosure Commission, a step that allows them to raise and spend money for the August primary and November general election. Candidates file for ballot positions in early June.

In the 32nd Legislative District, which now will include Lynnwood and part of northwest Seattle in addition to Shoreline, Woodway, south Edmonds and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, Kagi and Ryu are the only candidates to register.

Kagi’s Lake Forest Park home now will be in the 46th District with northeast Seattle, but she says that she plans to move to somewhere within the boundaries of the new 32nd District. Democratic Sen. Maralyn Chase is in the middle of a four-year term.

PDC records through Tuesday show that Kagi has raised $9,102 and that Ryu has raised $37,247 and spent $13,386, with a campaign debt of $1,800.

In the 46th District, appointed Democratic State Sen. David Frockt has registered his intent to run for the last two years of the term left vacant by the death of Scott White, appointed Democratic State Rep. Gerald Pollet has registered his intent to seek a full two-year term for the House seat that Frockt vacated to take the Senate position, and Democratic State Rep. Phyllis Kenney has registered her intent to seek re-election to the other House seat. No potential opponents have registered.

Frockt has reported raising $9,313 and spending $1,565 toward a re-election bid to the House, with a campaign debt of $1,253. He probably will move the surplus to his Senate campaign account. He has reported raising $3,400 toward a campaign for the Senate. Kenney has reported raising $5,700 and spending $100 toward re-election to the House. Pollet has reported no fundraising or spending.

All incumbents are prohibited from fundraising during the Legislative session.