Scenes from the Grand Opening of the Shoreline Farmers Market

The Junior Pipe Band poses with Mayor Keith McGlashan
and Market Director Brendan Lemkin

By Diane Hettrick

It rained in five minute intervals all day, the wind blew sometimes, and the sun came out occasionally. 

In other words, it was normal Shoreline weather for the Grand Opening of the Shoreline Farmers Market and it didn't faze anyone.

The Quarter Past Eight group found that solar panels
also make great rain shields
Photo by Mark McVeety

There was an official ribbon-cutting, with Mayor Keith McGlashan wielding the scissors, then the Junior Pipe Band marched in with bagpipes sounding and kilts swirling. They posed for a few photos and were replaced by the Quarter Past Eight group, the Sublime Six string group and a few others, so there was music all day.

There were lots of booths to visit and people seemed focused on checking out every one. There were, of course, fruits and vegetables.

Alvarez Farms
Photo by Jerry Pickard

There were wonderful prepared food booths. Jersey's Salmon Salad is the best ever. "Tender salmon, seasoned with our house-made spices, seared to perfection and placed on top of crisp greens with grape tomato, red onion, basil, apple, and a tangy poppyseed dressing."

Community groups had information booths. Shoreline Solar was there advertising the upcoming SolarFest, as was Diggin' Shoreline, whose mission is to turn open, unused land into kitchen gardens.

Diggin' Shoreline is ready to expand
and is looking for new members
Londa Jacques, right

The Mayor, City Council Members, City staff, were all there, wearing Farmers Market aprons and enjoying themselves.

From left, Julie Underwood, City Manager and unidentified Shoreline couple
Dick Deal, Parks Manager in back, Mayor Keith McGlashan, right.
Photo by Devon Vose Rickabaugh

People were still coming in at the very end, rushing around to see all the booths before they packed up.

It was over all too soon.

But not to worry. The Shoreline Farmers Market will be back every Saturday until October 6, from 10am to 3pm on the top deck of the Shoreline City Hall parking garage, 17500 Midvale Avenue North, Shoreline 98133.

For the Birds: Bald Eagle: Our Local Treasure

Bullocks Oriole near Bald Eagle
Photo by Lyn Topinka

By Christine Southwick

Faster than a speeding car;

More powerful than other North American raptors; 

Able to lift prey heavier than its own weight; 

It’s a bird; It’s our national symbol; 

It’s the Bald Eagle

Ever wonder why a bird with a magnificent white head is called “Bald”? The word was “balled” in Middle English and meant “shining white”.

Juvenile Bald Eagle. Photo by Leah Serna

The Bald Eagle takes four to five years to sexually mature, and doesn’t acquire its white head and tail until then. Juveniles have a black beak, and are brownish all over, with more white patches showing each year until they reach maturity.  Once mature, they mate for life, only looking for another partner if something happens to their mate.  Like most raptors, the female is larger than the male; that’s called sexual size dimorphism.

Bald Eagle with prey, being chased by gull
Photo by Doug Parrott

Classified as a fish eagle, the Bald Eagle has specially adapted toes, with structures called spicules, which allow them to grab and hold fish, with gripping power ten times greater than a human’s. With their keen eyesight, estimated to be at least four times greater than humans, they can easily spot fish, locate ducks, or find dead salmon, a mile or more before swooping down and grabbing their prize with those strong talons. Their wickedly curved beak can easily tear through scales, feathers. Skin, or fur.

The Bald Eagle is unique to North America, with the largest eagles in the North, and gradually becoming smaller, with a smaller sub-species in Florida.  Bald Eagles in our area are mostly resident, with some going to Alaska in the summer.  Many thousands congregate on salmon-spawning rivers in B.C. during January and February.

Bald Eagle claiming Crow's intended meal
Photo by Bill Anderson

Bald Eagles are “apex” predators, meaning nothing hunts a healthy adult.  Being at the top of the food chain makes them vulnerable to toxins eaten by their prey. DDT, a powerful insecticide, caused the thinning of all raptor egg shells, and almost eliminated the Bald Eagle and other raptors, before DDT was finally banned in North America.

Bald Eagle Fish meal.
Photo by Patricia Damron

Bald Eagles have been protected since 1918, but some continue to be shot, often due to a misconception that Bald Eagles eat young farm animals. Being opportunistic feeders, they will eat dead farm animals and road kills, but prefer to stay around large fish-filled bodies of water ringed by large mature trees.  They use their nests repeatedly, and require large strong trees to hold nests that can weigh more than a ton, and may be thirteen or fourteen feet deep.

Although taken off the Endangered List in 2007, it is still illegal to harm Bald Eagles, disturb their nests, or even possess their feathers.

Christine Southwick is on the Board of the Puget Sound Bird Observatory and is their Winter Urban Color-banding Project Manager. She is a National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Steward, having completed their forty hour class. We're happy that she is sharing her expertise with us about the birds in our backyards.

For previous For the Birds columns, click on the link under the Features section on the main webpage.

Super Guppy flies low and loud over Shoreline and Lake Forest Park

The Super Guppy flies low over Shoreline
Photo by Marc Weinberg

The Super Guppy cargo plane, carrying part of the front section of the NASA wooden space shuttle mock-up called the FFT to the Museum of Flight, rattled Shoreline as it rumbled over the city on a long flight path to Boeing Field.

According to The Seattle Times, 

"Museum of Flight officials say the Guppy, on the final leg of its 3.5-day journey from Houston, is scheduled to pass over the museum about 10:40 a.m., then fly over downtown Seattle and the Space Needle about 10:45, cross over the east side of Lake Washington and fly over Everett’s Paine Field by about 10:50, then circle south along the Puget Sound shoreline to land at Boeing Field at 11. 

"The Super Guppy, a bubbleheaded, turboprop cargo plane, is expected to fly the Seattle circle at an altitude of 800 to 1,000 feet."

Super Guppy delivers Shuttle Trainer to Boeing Field for Shuttle Fest

NASA Super Guppy taxiing to Museum of Flight with Shuttle Trainer aboard
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Steven H. Robinson

ShuttleFest was sponsored by Boeing and BECU at the Museum of Flight Saturday, June 30, 2012.

The flight arrived about an hour late.  The shuttle was flown from Travis Air Force Base in California on the NASA Super Guppy, the only plane of its type still flying.  The Super Guppy was built in 1962 using a Boeing StratoCruiser air frame.

NASA Super Guppy opening to reveal the Shuttle Trainer
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The Shuttle Trainer Crew Compartment is 28.75 feet long, 19 feet wide and 23.5 feet high.  The Trainer crew compartment was removed from the Super Guppy using a Joint Base Lewis McChord "Tunner 60K Loader" and delivered to the Museum of Flight's Charles Simonyi Space Gallery just west of the main museum.

The Shuttle Trainer is being delivered in several stages over the coming months, with the Payload Bay also arriving aboard the Super Guppy in two stages later this summer.

NASA Shuttle Trainer moving onto Tunner for removal from Super Guppy

Built in the 1970s, the Shuttle Trainer is the only one of its kind in the world and is the simulator in which each of the 335 space shuttle astronauts trained.  It will be on display in the 15,500-square foot Charles Simonyi Space Gallery, where it joins a collection of other rare space artifiacts including Simonyi's Soyuz TMA-14 spacecraft and interactive exhibits showcasing space travel from the earliests days of the space shuttle program to the future of commercial space flight.

Stories and coffee on July 6

Coffee at The Bridge

The Seattle Storytellers Guild hosts a free monthly Story Swap for both listeners and tellers on the first Friday of every month from 7-9 pm at the Bridge Coffee House located at 2150 North 122nd Street, Seattle WA  98133.  

You are invited to join them on Friday, July 6th at 7 pm.  Storytellers tell traditional and personal stories for adults of approximately 5-8 minutes each.  Everyone is welcome to tell a story and the evenings are always a magical delight.  Cynthia Westby hosting.  

Coffee and snacks are available for purchase.

The Seattle Storytellers Guild, founded in 1982, is a nonprofit organization of tellers and story enthusiasts who actively promote the art of storytelling for adults and kids. The guild provides a forum for traditional storytelling, sponsors professional events, and provides performance and training opportunities for tellers at all levels. Our membership includes professional storytellers, writers, folklorists, traditional storytellers, oral historians, speakers, musicians, elders, ministers, health professionals, librarians, and teachers. Storytellers of all levels and interests are welcome.

Six Shorewood soccer players win all-state honors

Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Six Shorewood boys’ soccer players have won all-state honors. Two won positions on the 3A all-state first team; three won spots on the second team; and one won honorable mention.

Goalkeeper Daniel Nadeau and defender Dodge Schaeffer were on the first team along with two players from Eastmont of East Wenatchee, and one each from Decatur of Federal Way, Ferndale, Glacier Peak, Mercer Island, Bainbridge Island, Wilson of Tacoma, Camas, Pasco and Kennewick.

Midfielder Eugene Holley, and defenders Matthew Pettersen and Sam Jang won places on the second team, along with two players from Bainbridge, and one each from Mercer Island, Prairie of Vancouver, Capital of Olympia, Kennewick, Mountain View of Vancouver, Hazen of Renton, Decatur and Peninsula of Gig Harbor.

Midfielder Hayk Avanesyan won honorable mention along with two players each from Chief Sealth of West Seattle, Eastmont and Pasco, and one each from Marysville-Getchell, Peninsula, Camas, Hazen, Decatur, Mountain View, West Valley, Mount Vernon and Kennedy Catholic of Burien.

            

Shorewood defeated Chief Sealth in the first round of the State 3A tournament to run its record to 20-0 before losing in the quarterfinals to Bainbridge.

Update: Lynnwood Link light rail

From Sound Transit

reprinted with permission

Project background

The Lynnwood Link Extension is part of the voter-approved Sound Transit 2 Plan to extend mass transit throughout the region. Once completed in 2023, the project will be the northern extension of a light rail system that will provide more than 50 miles of service to the north, south and east of Seattle.

Visit the project website to learn about project.

North Corridor Transit Project - now Lynnwood Link Extension project!

Why a new name? Early in the planning process, Sound Transit needed a project name that encompassed several modes of transit considered in the Alternatives Analysis phase. Now that light rail has been confirmed as the best transit mode  to serve the Interstate 5 corridor between Northgate and Lynnwood, the new name appropriately includes Link light rail and the proposed line’s end point.

The project name change follows a recently approved policy for naming Sound Transit facilities and the Link light rail operating systems.

Route and Station Alternatives for Environmental Review

Sound Transit is moving ahead to study in-depth route and station options to extend light rail from Northgate to Lynnwood. Following 3 public scoping meetings in October 2011, 10 community drop-in sessions in March 2012 and additional technical analysis, the Sound Transit Board identified specific route and station alternatives for light rail along I-5 to be studied in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (draft EIS). The Lynnwood Link Extension is now entering the environmental review phase of the project and the project team will be preparing the draft EIS scheduled to be published in mid-2013.

The draft EIS will identify the potential benefits and impacts associated with building the route and stations at the following locations along I-5: NE 130th St., NE 145th St., NE 155th St., NE 185th St., 236th St. SW, 220th St. SW, and the Lynnwood Transit Center. A total of 13 alternatives are being considered across three segments.

About the Route and Station Alternatives

• At-grade and elevated tracks or a combination of both will be evaluated for each route alternative.
• Each alternative serves the Northgate Transit Center and the Lynnwood Transit Center.
• Each alternative assumes a station that serves the Mountlake Terrace Transit Center area.
• Each alternative assumes a station at NE 185th St. on the east side of I-5.
• Potential station locations also include NE 130th St., NE 145th St., NE 155th St., and 220th St. SW.

Route and station alternatives map

What is no longer under consideration?

If you’ve been following the project, you may wonder what routes and stations were considered but removed from further consideration. After considering a number of additional stations and route alternatives, coordinating with cities and transit agencies in the project area, and talking with members of the public this past year, the following stations and routes have been removed from further consideration:

• In Seattle: station at NE 125th St.
• In Shoreline: station at NE 175th St.
• In Shoreline: station on the west side of NE 185th St.
• In Shoreline: routes that travel along the west side of I-5
• Alignment: along SR 99 (Aurora Avenue)
• Alignment: along 15th Avenue NE
• Transit mode: bus rapid transit

Next steps

With route and station alternatives identified, the project team will begin the analysis in order to develop the draft EIS document. This environmental review complies with state and federal law.

The draft EIS will examine the potential environmental impacts and benefits of the project alternatives. Where adverse impacts are identified, the draft EIS will identify mitigation measures to avoid or minimize the impacts for each alternative. The draft EIS is anticipated to be published for public and agency review in mid-2013. You will have the opportunity to attend public meetings and provide formal comments on the draft EIS document. Stay tuned for more information as the project progresses.

Lynnwood Link Extension Project schedule

Project schedule

Field observations and testing begins

Over the next several months residents may notice project staff conducting field observation and testing in neighborhoods along the I-5 corridor for the project. All work will be completed during normal business hours within the public right-of-way and if access to private property is necessary, property owners will be contacted ahead of time. Vehicular access will be maintained at all times and traffic disruption is not anticipated. Field activities during this period include:

• traffic observation and counts
• natural resource and land use study
• area photography
• noise monitoring

This work is being completed as the project team begins preparing the draft EIS. Residents with questions about field observation and testing or the project are encouraged to contact Sound Transit and avoid approaching field staff with inquiries as they complete their work.

Opportunities to learn more

Thank you to those who stopped by one of the 10 drop-in sessions held in March 2012 from north Seattle to Lynnwood – we were able to speak with over 450 people and collect more than 200 comments about stations and routes. The team received a lot of valuable input, which helped the Board identify route and station alternatives for further consideration.

We will have project information booths at several events this summer to continue reaching out to nearby communities and share the latest details about the project. Stop by to learn more and ask questions.

• Edmonds Summer Market – July 14
• Shoreline Swing Summer’s Eve – July 18
• Tour de Terrace – July 28 & 29
• Celebrate Shoreline – August 18
• Shoreline Farmer’s Market – August 25
• Mountlake Terrace Farmer’s Market – September 7
• Ethnic Elder Resource Fair – September 29
• Community Information Tables in Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace (locations and dates to be determined)

Stay informed about the Lynnwood Link Extension project in a number of ways:

• Visit the project page on our website: www.soundtransit.org/LLE
• Sign up for project updates by email: www.soundtransit.org/subscribe
• Email the project: lynnwoodlink@soundtransit.org

Set up a time to learn more!

We are always open to visiting a community or neighborhood group. Call or email Roger Iwata, Sound Transit Community Outreach, at 206-689-4904 or roger.iwata@soundtransit.org.

Protect your pets over the Fourth of July holiday

Photo by Few_get

Regional Animal Services of King County offers tips to keep your furry friend safe

The Fourth of July is coming up soon, and already the booms, bangs, and pops of fireworks can be heard across King County. Every year around Independence Day, Regional Animal Services of King County (RASKC) takes in many pets that ran away after being frightened by fireworks, or just slipped out with the many holiday guests and gatherings occurring. Fortunately, there are steps every owner can take to reduce the risk of their pet running away, and increase the odds of being reunited if their pet does become lost. 

·         Keep your pet secured indoors in the quietest room of your house while fireworks are audible. You can also try music or television as a distraction. Some pets will stay calmer when placed in a secure crate in a darkened, quiet room.

·         If your pet is normally kept outside, bring them inside or put them in the garage or basement while fireworks are going off.

·         Make sure your pet has at least two forms of identification. This can be a pet license and personalized tag, a license and a microchip, or all three (license, tag, and microchip). Pets with ID have a much greater chance of being returned to their owners.

·         Don’t assume that your pet won’t react just because you haven’t had problems in the past. Sometimes, pets become sensitive to loud noises later in life.

·         If your pet becomes lost, check in person at all local shelters, and check back often. It may take some time before spooked pets are brought to shelters.

·         Use free online services like Petfinder or PetHarbor to post “lost pet” notices, and, where possible, put up “lost pet” posters in the area where your pet went missing.

·         Leave your pet at home if you head out to a public fireworks display.

To assist owners who have lost pets, RASKC has joined with Missing Pet Partnership to train volunteers for the “Mission Reunite: Help and Hope for Lost Pets” program. Immediately after the holiday, volunteers will be deployed at the Pet Adoption Center in Kent to help owners looking for their stray pet. In addition, RASKC will keep its “Lost Pet Hotline” up to date. People who are looking for a missing pet can call 206-296-PETS (7387) and press “3” for a list of strays currently at the center.

Densmore Pathway project volunteers honored

Leaders and some of the workers for the Densmore Pathway Project
Photo by Jeanne Monger

From left: Suzanne Wynne, Donna Franklin, Angie Hurt and daughter Lily, Jay Sundahl, holding plaque, Roy Mangel, landscape designer, Ellen Wood, Linda Williford.

Leaders and volunteers from the Densmore Pathway project were honored at the June 19, 2012 meeting of the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA). (See previous article).

Neighborhoods USA Award
Photo by Jeanne Monger

The group was presented with the plaque from Neighborhoods USA denoting their third place national finish in the Physical Revitalization category. The award came with a $100 check to the neighborhood association. Board members announced that the money would be turned over to the Pathway group to either reimburse them for uncompensated expenses, pay water bills, or purchase new plants - at their discretion.

The Densmore project turned a block-long right of way into a landscaped pathway with space for gatherings.

Sen. Chase’s statement on the Supreme Court upholding health care reform

State Sen. Maralyn Chase

By State Senator Maralyn Chase, D-32

The Supreme Court today issued a landmark, and I believe correct, decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act.

This is wonderful news for the millions of Americans who do not have access or cannot afford health care coverage for themselves or their families.

This is also a great day for the more than 1 million Washingtonians who still find themselves without healthcare coverage. It's not right that hard-working Washington families must struggle to afford health care and prescription drugs.

People who work ought to be able to afford to take their kids to the doctor.

The right of every American to have access to quality health care is not a political talking point, despite what cable news tells us.

Now it will be up to elected officials in our state to properly implement this program, a job that is already well underway.

State legislators will continue to be leaders in developing innovative solutions to improve the affordability, security and quality of health care for families across our state.

Home based businesses in Shoreline

From the City of Shoreline website

Do I need City approval to start a business in my home?

A city business license is required for doing business in the City of Shoreline. Businesses must comply with the Shoreline Development Code (SMC 20.40.400) and building code regulations. To apply for a business license contact Washington State Department of Licensing or call (360) 664-1400.

Business License Program

The City of Shoreline requires a general business license for businesses operating within the city limits of Shoreline, including businesses physically located outside city limits that perform services for customers inside city limits. City approval is required for initial issuance. Businesses must renew their license annually. Businesses that only deliver goods purchased outside of the city are exempt.

How to apply

Shoreline has partnered with the State of Washington Business Licensing Service (BLS) to handle applications for business licenses through the state’s combined-licensing process. 

File a Business License Application online through the State of Washington Business License Application.

You may also mail the following completed forms with the appropriate fee to:

State of Washington

Business Licensing Service

PO Box 9034

Olympia, WA 98507-9034

Business License Application

City Business License Addendum

For questions, contact the City Clerk’s Office at (206) 801-2230 or e-mail the Shoreline City Clerk. 

Regulated Businesses

The City of Shoreline licenses certain regulated businesses formerly licensed through King County. Examples of such businesses include adult cabarets, secondhand dealers, soliciting, pawnbrokers and adult panorams. It is important to note that some activities require criminal background investigations, zoning/land use approval, and review by the Fire Marshall when a license is issued, transferred or renewed. For more information on obtaining a license for a regulated business, contact the City Clerk's Office at (206) 801-2230 or e-mail the Shoreline City Clerk.

Community Building at its Tastiest - the Shoreline Farmers Market Grand Opening Saturday

View of "soft opening" June 16
Photo courtesy Shoreline Farmers Market Association

Shoreline Farmers Market Grand Opening: Community Building at its Tastiest!

Saturday June 30th will be the Grand Opening celebration of the Shoreline Farmers Market. At 10am there will be a ribbon cutting ceremony with the City of Shoreline to open the market followed by musical guests; NW Junior Pipe Band, The Sublime Six (from week one), and Quarter Past 8.

There will be a full and diverse selection of your favorite local produce and food vendors, as well as a few more! There will also be community booths, as well as a one-time exhibition for local crafters. Please visit the SFM Facebook Page for full vendor list

The Shoreline Farmers Market is holding a fundraising raffle for a fantastic gift basket that includes plenty of market goodies such as; wine totes, handcrafted soaps, baked goods, SFM t-shirt, tickets to the 4 Corners Brewfest in Shoreline, and much more. Tickets will be $1 at the SFM information booth. The City of Shoreline will also have plenty of tote bags to give away for your shopping convenience!

The Shoreline Farmers Market is open Saturdays, 10am to 3 pm at Shoreline City Hall: 17500 Midvale Ave N Shoreline, WA 98133.

4-Corners Brew Fest 2012 - tickets on sale now

Planning is underway for the second annual 4-Corners Brew Fest.

If you missed it last year, save the date now!

Join us at the Innis Arden Clubhouse on Saturday, August 11 from 3-7 pm. Your $30 ticket entitles you to 10 5-oz tastes of 20 local craft brews, great food, and live local bluegrass music! 

Check out who is coming:

• 192 Brewing 
• 7 Seas Brewing
• American Brewing
• Big E Ales 
• Brickyard Brewing 
• Diamond Knot Brewing 
• Emerald City Beer Company 
• Fremont Brewing
• Gallagher's Where-U-Brew 
• Georgetown Brewing
• Iron Horse Brewery
• Lantern Brewing 
• Lazy Boy Brewing
• Naked City Brewing 
• Pike Brewing
• Reuben's Brews
• Schooner EXACT Brewing 
• Silver City Brewing
• Two Beers 

Need tickets? You can get your hands on some several ways, Head down to Beach House Greetings, 626 NW Richmond Beach Road (near QFC) if you want paper tickets in your hands. If you prefer to use a credit card, you can visit Brown Paper Tickets and pick up your tickets at will call. Last, you can stop by the Council of Neighborhoods booth this Saturday at the Grand Opening of the Shoreline Farmer's Market and buy them there. The price goes up to $40 at the door, so buy early!

Not a beer drinker? You can join the fun anyway! This year, we are offering a very limited number of designated driver tickets for half price. They are available exclusively online at Brown Paper Tickets, and you'll be asked to sign a waiver when you pick up your tickets at the door.

Proceeds from this event go to the four corner neighborhoods of Richmond Beach, Innis Arden, Hillwood, and Richmond Highlands for community-building efforts. This year we are happy to announce that a portion of the proceeds will also go to local nonprofit New Beginnings.

For more information about Brew Fest or 4-Corners.org, visit our website.

WSP K-9s sniff out illegal explosives on State ferries

WSP Trooper Samantha Metcalf and her K9 “Betsy”
at the Seattle State Ferry Terminal
Photo courtesy Washington State Patrol

An important part of the overall security for the ferry system is the use of Washington State Patrol (WSP) explosive detection canine teams.

These dogs are trained to sniff out explosives, which includes legal and illegal fireworks. It is okay to carry legal fireworks on State ferries, but customers in vehicles carrying fireworks should anticipate the dogs detecting the fireworks and store them where they are easily accessible for WSP personnel to examine.


“Ferry customers are expected to obey laws regarding legal fireworks in Washington State,” says Homeland Security Division Commander Captain Randy Drake,

“Legal fireworks include sparklers, ground spinners and roman candles. Illegal fireworks or other explosive devices are not allowed on ferries and will be confiscated and disposed of by the Washington State Patrol.”  Those possessing illegal fireworks will be subject to criminal prosecution.

You can view the Washington State Patrol Fire Marshal’s fireworks education campaign kit and the enforcement campaign kit.

The State Fire Marshal’s office maintains an up-to-date list of legal and illegal fireworks. Fireworks can be legally sold in Washington from June 28, 2012, at noon and ends July 5, 2012 at 11 pm.

For specific information about fireworks and fireworks safety contact: Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Dan Johnson, WSP Office of the State Fire Marshal at 360-596-3913.

Ferguson: “Validation of the Affordable Care Act a victory for health”

Bob Ferguson
King County Council

Metropolitan King County Councilmember Bob Ferguson released the following statement today in response to the announcement of the landmark Supreme Court decision upholding the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as constitutional:

“The Supreme Court’s validation of the Affordable Care Act is a victory for the health and well-being of all King County and Washington residents. 

“With today’s decision, millions of Americans have the peace of mind knowing they will benefit from the law’s reforms, including access to more affordable prescription medication for seniors. Moreover, insurance companies can’t deny coverage for pre-existing conditions or impose lifetime limits on health benefits. 

“Roughly one million Washington residents are uninsured, and the court’s favorable ruling is critical to moving forward with reforms that will bring us closer to ensuring all Americans have access to affordable health care.”

The King County Council passed a motion in 2010 acknowledging the benefits of health care reform and supporting implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

In 2010, Ferguson wrote a letter to the State Attorney General questioning the legal merit of joining the federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Over 100 attorneys joined the letter asking the Attorney General to reconsider his decision.

Obituary: Dr. William "Bill" R. Shertzer

Dr. William “Bill” R. Shertzer, retired Shoreline Schools administrator, passed away from a stroke on June 22 at age 86.  

Bill was born December 8, 1925 in Tacoma and he served in the Air Force during WWII.  He attended Seattle U. and earned a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Columbia University.  

During his career with Shoreline Schools, he taught 6th grade, was the first principal of Hillwood Elementary from 1955 to 1959, the first principal at Brookside Elementary from 1959 to 1961, and later became assistant superintendent in charge of personnel.  He was well known and highly regarded in the community.  

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Kristi (age 13) and is survived by another daughter Kathryn and his loving wife, of 64 years, Phyllis.  A memorial service will be held at Acacia Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, on Monday, July 2 at 2 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to a charitable organization of your choice.

Missing: Shoreline Arts Festival signs

Have you seen me?
Festival signs have gone missing.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council wants to thank the community for a wonderful Shoreline Arts Festival last weekend! Unfortunately, the Arts Council lost 6 yard signs and one 6-foot banner from Shoreline and Lake Forest Park neighborhoods this year. 

The Shoreline Arts Festival is a free annual event and we reuse the signs every year. We would greatly appreciate them returned. 

If you find a sign or banner, please return it to our office in the Shoreline Center, 18560 1st Ave NE no questions asked. Thank you so much for your support! 

Pet Photo of the Week: Pooch in a pouch

Pooch in a pouch. Photo by Marc Weinberg.

Starting off our new feature, Pet Photo of the Week, Marc Weinberg took this photo at the Everett Marina of a lucky pooch being carried in a back pack.

Send us your pet photos, of either your own pet or of someone else's pet, and enter it for our Pet Photo of the Week feature.

Shoreline wins a 2012 Smart Communities award

Accepting the 2012 Smart Communities Award are
City Manager Julie Underwood, Mayor Keith McGlashan and Councilmember Chris Roberts

On June 8, Governor Chris Gregoire announced the winners of her 2012 Smart Communities Awards. The City of Shoreline received a judges’ merit award for its Town Center Subarea Plan.

The Smart Communities award recognizes outstanding efforts of local communities and their partners throughout the state to create quality communities through achieving the goals of the Growth Management Act and other community development objectives.

“We need vibrant, quality communities to keep and attract people and businesses to Washington state,” Gregoire said. “I commend the work of those local governments and their partners recognized with this award. Their efforts are vital to our continued economic recovery, and help make Washington a great state in which to live and do business.”

The plan and its corresponding development regulations are aimed at creating a sense of place for the entire Shoreline community. It furthers the City’s goals for economic vitality, environmental sustainability and housing choices.

“On behalf of the Council, it’s an honor to be recognized as a community that is engaging in smart growth,” stated Mayor Keith McGlashan. “It is also a testament to the hard work put in by the Planning Commission, City staff and the many community members that contributed to the development of the Town Center Subarea Plan.”

Shoreline City Council adopted the Town Center Subarea Plan in July 2011. It identifies the lands along Aurora Avenue N between N 170th and N 188th Streets between Linden and Stone Avenues as the core of an emerging Town Center with the goal of creating an attractive, compact, walkable and mixed-use center. With good transit services along Aurora, the Town Center capitalizes on its central location in Shoreline and its “close-in” regional location as a focal point for much of the City’s future commercial and residential growth.

Town Center is envisioned to be a neighborhood for the whole City. For more information on the plan and code visit the City website. 

Flags at half-staff on Friday, June 29

Governor Chris Gregoire is deeply saddened with the death of Mt. Rainier National Park Ranger Nick Hall and directs that Washington State and United States flags at all Washington State agency facilities be lowered to half-staff in his memory Friday, June 29, 2012.  He died last week during a rescue operation on Mt. Rainier.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business Friday, June 29.

Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.

A service for Nick Hall is scheduled at 10am on June 29 at the Jackson Visitor Center at Mt. Rainier.

Read The Seattle Times story

Structure fire in Kenmore caused by bathroom fan

Ceiling studs and toasted insulation at Kenmore house fire
Photo courtesy Northshore Fire

The Northshore Fire Department was dispatched at 3:23a.m. on Wednesday, June 27, 2012 to a house fire at the 19600 block of NE 65th.   One of the occupants was awakened by the smell of smoke and discovered fire in an upstairs bathroom. He quickly attempted to extinguish the fire and then all five occupants evacuated the house and called 911 to report the fire. 

Upon arrival, firefighters saw flames coming from the roof of the home and made a rapid interior attack. The fire was under control in approximately 10 minutes.  The Northshore firefighters were assisted by personnel from the Shoreline Fire Department and Bothell Fire Department.

The Northshore Fire Department Fire Marshal determined the fire to be accidental and was caused by an electrical malfunction of a bathroom fan. The fire damage is estimated to be $10,000. There were no firefighter or civilian injuries.

Working smoke alarms save lives. Remember to test your smoke alarms monthly.

Backyard bees and chickens in Lake Forest Park

Bee in flower
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

New, more flexible regulations on backyard chickens and bees in Lake Forest Park will be in effect as of June 5, 2012.

As of June 5, all single family lots may have up to eight chickens, with higher numbers allowed on larger lots. Roosters are not allowed. The changes also allow for the keeping of more honey bee hives depending on the size of your single-family lots. For more details about the regulations, follow the link to read the code amendments in Ordinance 1040.

Parkwood named School of Excellence in Arts Education

Parkwood Principal Laura Ploudre', right accepts Arts Education award
Photo courtesy Shoreline Schools

ArtsEd Washington (ArtsEd WA), in partnership with the Association of Washington School Principals (AWSP) has selected Parkwood Elementary in Shoreline as a winner of the second annual Schools of Excellence in Arts Education Award, honoring K-12 schools providing exemplary arts education to their students.

The award was presented to Parkwood Principal Laura Ploudre' at the June 25 Shoreline School Board meeting. 

In making the award to Parkwood, they cited its 15-year commitment to the arts, growing its program from two and three teachers to now having all staff engaged in ongoing arts integration. Arts instruction goals are a standard part of the school plan. The arts are offered within the school day, and lessons are aligned with standards. Community partnerships have helped expand school programming, such as with the Seattle Dance Project that resulted in 12 months of dance instruction for every student and included many student performances.

Parkwood and Adams Elementary in Seattle were specifically chosen for making all components of the arts --dance, music, theater and visual arts -- an essential part of their students' education. 

"It is important to celebrate schools, such as these, that are taking active and intentional steps to ensure students receive instruction in the arts during school hours - required learning by law in Washington state," said Una McAlinden, executive director for ArtsEd Washington. "The commitment of the school principals and teachers to provide the arts equitably is critical to the long-term sustainability of these programs and ensures that every student reaps the many benefits of sustained arts participation." 

"With the new expectations of principals and teachers on the evaluation front, the arts are going to be more important than ever," said Gary Kipp, AWSP's Executive Director. "We commend the work of these schools and their respective building leaders who continue to pave the way for arts integration."

The Schools of Excellence in Arts Education Awards are inspired by a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and is open to all K-12 schools throughout Washington state with exemplary arts education programs.

About ArtsEd Washington

ArtsEd Washington is a nonprofit organization devoted to advancing and increasing arts education in K-12 schools, working to ensure that all students in Washington state have access to a complete education that includes the arts: dance, music, theatre, and visual art. ArtsEd Washington is a member of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network. www.artsedwashington.org.

About Association for Washington School Principals

The Association of Washington School Principals is a professional association serving principals, assistant principals and principals in training. Formed in 1972, the association includes more than 3,400 members from public and private elementary, middle and high schools statewide. It is governed by a board of practicing principals drawn from the elementary, middle and high school levels. 

Local sculptor featured in SummerSet Arts Festival this fall

"Red Glow" by Jeff Tangen

Shoreline metal sculptor Jeff Tangen has shown his work regionally since 1994 in venues such as the Peace Arch in Blaine, Washington, Edmonds Arts Festival, and Bumbershoot Festival at Seattle Center. This year he will be exhibiting his works in Shoreline at the year-long Outdoor Sculpture Stroll and in September at SummerSet Arts Festival: Celebrating Ronald Bog.

On a quiet street in the Ridgecrest neighborhood, Tangen has a spacious studio with a multitude of gathered metal blades, fasteners, wires, and colorful toy parts, in a vast variety of shapes. Tangen strives to make the environment better with his art and he does this by primarily using recycled materials. His orderly studio is outfitted with all the tools required to turn this assortment of parts into entertaining and sometimes kinetic sculptures. In addition to his artistic practice, Jeff Tangen and his wife Marla run a cat boarding business named Purrfect Cat Boarding. The cats have deluxe accomodations and an enviable play area.

For Tangen the sculptor, the creation process starts with a key element and he builds the artwork around it. For his sculpture “Red Glow” scheduled for the Ronald Bog SummerSet Arts Festival, the key elements are the colored glass lenses. When sunlight shines on them they glow, reminiscent of stained glass windows. The lenses are placed above eye level requiring the viewer to look up, thus increasing their impact – similar to looking up at church windows. The lens holders, or pods, are made from discarded tools and pieces of scrap metal. At first glance the individual elements of the pods aren't noticeable, but the identification of the these parts draw the viewer in and prompt more visual investigation. “Red Glow” has an organic shape but it also has the sense of being a machine. Tangen enjoys this conflict and loves hearing people try to decide if the piece is a mutant plant or a crazy stoplight!

SummerSet Arts Festival: Celebrating Ronald Bog connects people, place, and nature through art. Art-making for the event takes place over the summer at the Farmer's Market, Top Foods Cafe, and Ronald Bog Park. Installation begins the second week in September and the event culminates in a celebration day of music, art-making, and dance on September 15th from 1-5pm. The park is located in Shoreline at 175th and Meridian near Interstate-5. The event is free and open to the public. Parking for the event is at Meridian Park Elementary School. For information about how you can participate in the event, contact project coordinator Cynthia Knox.

Brightwater completion honored at Echo Lake meeting

Gunars Sreibers, Brightwater Project Manager
Photo by Jeanne Monger

Gunars Sreibers, Project Manager of the Brightwater wastewater treatment project, was honored by the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA) at their meeting on June 19, 2012.

For six years, Gunars has made an annual presentation at the ELNA meetings, updating the group on the project, which runs along the northern boundary of the Echo Lake Neighborhood. The project is now completed through Shoreline.

"Elizabeth" was the tunnel boring machine on the Echo Lake
section of the tunnel
Photo by Jeanne Monger 

The tunnel boring machine used on the Point Wells to Ballinger leg of the tunnel was Elizabeth, the only machine with a female name. Elizabeth ran flawlessly and ended up completing a second leg of the tunnel to take over for another machine which was stuck under Lake Forest Park.

The Echo Lake board thanked Gunars for his cooperation, communication, and six years of interesting presentations.