Painted Pianos end with concert by Two Scoops Moore

The Two Scoops Moore combo plays for an informal crowd
at the Shoreline City Hall Plaza
Photo by Kevin Grossman

Dennis and Gidget Terpstra dance to the beat
Photo by Kevin Grossman

Lawn chairs, blankets, green grass
The crowd made themselves comfortable
for the free concert
Photo by Kevin Grossman

Local nonprofits provide support for local landlords with September 13th training event

Thursday, September 13, 2012, 6-8 pm, Shoreline City Hall, Featuring YWCA, Community Psychiatric Clinic, Hopelink

On September 13, 2012 local housing organizations will provide a brief training to support local landlords and property managers in reducing tenant turnover and filling vacant units.

Rental unit vacancies, tenant turnover, and other tenant problems all impact a landlord’s bottom line. These issues can be time-consuming and costly. Fortunately, there are important community resources available to help protect a landlord’s bottom line.

The September 13 training event will help landlords know where to turn to help tenants in crisis stay in their home and provide an overview of two critical programs that can help landlords fill vacant units.

YWCA Seattle-King-Snohomish Counties and the Community Psychiatric Clinic (CPC) operate homeless prevention programs that provide case management, vocational assistance and even rental assistance for tenants who might have lost their jobs and are in financial crisis. They can provide 24 hour crisis response to certain tenants who are in personal crisis, and they can work with landlords to house good tenants like veterans and families who need housing while providing extra support to the tenants and the landlords that rent to them. 

Since its inception in 2009, The YWCA’s Landlord Liaison Program has worked with private landlords to successfully house 1,050 formerly homeless individuals and families.  CPC works to house homeless veterans and to provide veterans the support they need to stabilize their lives after serving our country.

If you own or manage rental property and are interested in learning more about these programs and other available resources, contact: Kelly Rider at the Housing Development Consortium of King County, 206-682-9541 and plan to attend their event:

Event Title: Support for Local Landlords: Protect your bottom line by filling vacancies and preventing turnover.

This event is sponsored by the North King County Housing and Homelessness Workgroup, with support from United Way of King County. To find out more about this Workgroup, visit their website.

Photo: Once in a Blue Moon

August 30, 2012
Blue Moon Over Shoreline
Photo by Jerry "Moon Man" Pickard

Jerry Pickard captured the Blue Moon on August 30, 2012. He says "A blue moon occurs once every two and a half years.  It will actually appear to be blue if viewed near an active volcano as the volcanic gasses block certain light frequencies causing the moon to appear blue."

Scots drop season opener to Lynnwood Friday night

From the Shoreline Area News Fans of Shorecrest Division

The Shorecrest Scots dropped their season opener to  Lynnwood Friday night by a 26-6 count, at Shoreline Stadium.

Lynnwood wins over the Scots have been as rare as the blue moon the game was played under, but the Royals managed to ride the accurate passing arm of senior QB Morgan Skelton, who threw three TD passes.

The Scots got on the board first with just over three minutes to play in the first quarter, when signal-caller, Nic Hendricks, electrified the crowd with a 96 yard TD run on a keeper. WR Aaron Kelly threw the key block near midfield that paved the way for the season's first score for the green and gold. Sam Schober's  PAT attempt was no good.

Lynnwood responded with a touchdown on their next possession, scoring on the first play of the second quarter. Skelton's perfect pass to David Nguyen from 24 yards evened the score. The PAT attempt failed, and the teams went into the locker room tied at 6-6.

The Royals took the lead for good midway in the third quarter on another Skelton-to-Nguyen TD pass, this one on a fourth down play at the Scots 7. Again, the PAT attempt failed.

The Scots had a chance to take the lead early in the fourth quarter when Keelan Bailey fell on a Royals' fumble on Lynnwood's 19, but the Royals' inspired defense stiffened and the Scots were denied.

Two late Royals scores put the final at 26-6.

Shorecrest hosts Cascade next Friday at 7pm.

Lynnwood     0    6     6      14     26

Shorecrest     6    0     0        0       6

SC  -  Hendricks    96 yard run

L     - Nguyen        23 yard pass from Skelton

L     - Nguyen          7 yard pass from Skelton

L     - Katzenberger  41 yard pass from Skelton  (King PAT)

L      -Drew               27 yard run  (King PAT)

Drivers not expected to take a break Labor Day weekend

Special events to bring heavy traffic in Seattle

From WSDOT

Most statewide construction projects are taking a break this Labor Day weekend, but drivers heading into Seattle might be working overtime behind the wheel to get to their destinations due to several events that will create heavy traffic.

The Washington State Department of Transportation urges drivers to add extra time to their trips and plan ahead for increased congestion on Interstate 5. Seattle traffic is anticipated to be heaviest on Saturday, Sept. 1, with volumes building by 10am, continuing into the afternoon and then tapering off in the evening hours.

Saturday, Sept. 1

• Bumbershoot gates open at 10 a.m. at the Seattle Center. Event organizers expect nearly 100,000 people to attend all three days. Drivers should plan ahead for increased traffic on the Mercer Street off-ramp and familiarize themselves with the new configuration. 
• PAX Prime at the Washington State Convention Center from 10 a.m. until 2 a.m.
• The Seattle Mariners play the Los Angeles Angels at 1:05 p.m. at Safeco Field, with 20,000 expected to attend.
• The University of Washington Huskies play the San Diego State University Aztecs at 7:30 p.m. at CenturyLink Field. Nearly 50,000 expected to attend.

Sunday, Sept. 2

• Bumbershoot gates open at 10 a.m. at the Seattle Center.
• PAX Prime at the Washington State Convention Center from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• The Seattle Mariners play the Los Angeles Angels at 1:10 p.m. at Safeco Field, with 20,000 expected to attend.

Monday, Sept. 3

• Bumbershoot gates open at 10 a.m. at the Seattle Center.
• The Seattle Mariners play the Boston Red Sox at 1:10 p.m. at Safeco Field, with 20,000 expected to attend.

Drivers who cross Lake Washington can expect fewer drawspan-opening delays on the State Route 520 bridge as the east navigational channel will be open for boats from 7pm Thursday, Aug. 30 until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5. Vessels taller than 64 feet can still request an opening of the drawspan with two hours notice. 

State highways across Washington will also see heavy traffic Labor Day weekend. Before drivers pack up the car, they should check statewide travel information, which includes wait times at ferry docks and the Canadian border, as well as graphs showing the busiest travel times. In the Seattle area, drivers should stay plugged in with WSDOT’s online travel tools, such as the Seattle traffic page, the What’s Happening Now page, Twitter feed or our mobile application.

Traveling around Seattle this Labor Day weekend?

From WSDOT

Seattle-area travel times, direct to you via Twitter or text

If you’re headed to or through Seattle this Labor Day weekend, make sure you’ve got the latest and greatest travel times before you hit the road (or on the road, so long as you’re the passenger). 

How, you might ask? Well, besides finding the info on WSDOT’s traffic page, you can get travel times tweeted or texted directly to you. Check out our Twitter website for all the how-to details.

Seattle Storytellers free monthly Story Swap Sept 7

Coffee at The Bridge
while you listen to stories

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

You are invited to join them Friday, September 7th 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 Host Cynthia Westby can be contacted if you have questions. 

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."

A Ray of ‘Sunshine’ Comes to Seattle Mornings from Shoreline

Steve Sunshine and Amy Byrd join SPIRIT 105.3 as new morning show hosts on the CRISTA radio station located in Shoreline.

KCMS SPIRIT 105.3 is welcoming a new morning show to the SPIRIT family. Starting Monday, September 10th, the voices of Steve Sunshine and Amy Byrd will fill the airwaves on weekday mornings from 6 to 9 am.

“Steve and Amy bring an encouraging start to the day for families across the Puget Sound region,” said Stan Mak, vice president of CRISTA Broadcasting. “Each morning, listeners can tune in for an authentic and real take on faith, family and life in general. The family-friendly show balances humor, emotion and fun with today’s popular uplifting music and is a great addition to the SPIRIT 105.3 family.”

The Steve and Amy morning show will take the place of the Scott and Sam Morning Show, as the co-hosts begin new life adventures. After 12 years with SPIRIT 105.3, co-host Sam Kelly is leaving the station to be a full-time mom. Co-host Scott Valentine has been called to expand his personal ministry by joining a Christian music station in New York.

KCMS SPIRIT 105.3 of Seattle (Shoreline), a leader in contemporary Christian music, is owned and operated by CRISTA Broadcasting, which also owns and operates AM 630 KCIS in Seattle; KWPZ PRAISE 106.5 in Bellingham, Washington.; and KFMK SPIRIT 105.9 in Austin, Texas. CRISTA Broadcasting is part of the CRISTA Ministries family.

For more information about the Steve and Amy Morning show, visit the website 

A grand dahlia show at Sky Nursery

Dahlias filled Sky Nursery at the
Puget Sound Dahlia Association's annual show
Photo by Martin Kral

By Martin Kral

We have concluded a very successful dahlia show at Sky Nursery this past weekend. With over 1,500 entries  -  and in spite of the enduring "Junuary"  -  the late schedule of Puget Sound Dahlia Association's annual show was also to our benefit. Not only did we have so many entries, but the quality of blooms and the vigorous competition among dahlia growers from all over the Northwest attest to the stellar displays. 

Sky Nursery was an attentive host and show staff wants to express their heartfelt Thanks to the Sky team. 

Of course, we had outstanding weather (both before and during the event), so the exhibitors did not have to fret over high winds or driving rain. 

Arrangement
Photo by Martin Kral

The show spread beyond our original display space and spilled over into the north section of the well-ventilated new greenhouse. Our information booth and the three presentations on dahlia culture dispensed advice and illustrated how dahlias can be grown even in small spaces and containers. 

Traditionally the end of the show gets messy as exhibitors try to dispose of their entries in garbage cans or hand out large bunches to anyone willing to take them home. 

This time, Sky staff was ready to take the dahlias from departing exhibitors; they set aside the better blooms in buckets and quickly helped compost the rest. The lucky Sky customers then were able to select bouquets from the buckets and bring a bit of the show back home. 

Judging from the dahlia growers' comments, our dahlia experience was Sky-high.  

Top 5 stories for August 2012

These stories, published in the Shoreline Area News during the month of August, got the most attention from readers. Here's your chance to see what other people are reading or to revisit a story you enjoyed.

Coyotes in Lake Forest Park: how to react in an encounter...

Aug 22, 2012, 7 comments

Robots are coming to Outdoor Movie Night

Aug 16, 2012

Police arrest four for break-in at Sunset School

Aug 25, 2012, 1 comment

Lake Forest Park man sentenced for $4M in bogus insurance charges

Aug 25, 2012

North City Jazz Walk - the best party in town

Aug 20, 2012

What position should Shoreline Water take on Shoreline's purchase of SPU water system?

At a public meeting on Wednesday, 7pm, September 5, 2012, the Shoreline Water District seeks public input: What position should Shoreline Water District take on this purchase?

The meeting will be held at the interim district office (the original office has been demolished and will be rebuilt), on 17534 15th Ave NE.

Council of Neighborhoods volunteers Between the Bridges

Nicole Lefebvre and  Debbie Schorzman from Fred Meyer
Arthur Peach and Judy Allen, volunteers,
Patty Dooley with her rescue dog Magnolia

By Judy Allen

For the third year in a row, Shoreline Council of Neighborhoods volunteers worked with the City of Shoreline Adopt A Trail @ the Interurban.

Sunday, August 26, 2012 we had volunteers from the new Fred Meyer Volunteer program the store has just begun funding. Their volunteers chose, with a great attitude, to follow the Council of Neighborhoods volunteers to the Interurban Trail to weed between the bridges. 

We had valuable interchanges with representatives about Fred Meyer's new program to give back to their community. 

We discussed many opportunities in the future for the Council of Neighborhoods to partner with Fred Meyer. They were also very interested in the New Beginnings project where Arthur Peach, CoN Board Member, has raised over $15,000 in donations in the last few years for domestic violence organizations.

CoN volunteer Patty Dooley was so inspired by their volunteer spirit that she ran to get treats and drinks for all participants. Everyone is also inspired by Patty's loyal ambassador to many Council of Neighborhoods events, Magnolia the dog, a very special tripod she rescued from PAWS.

Please join us September 16th, 11am at Denny's parking lot, near the Signature Bridges at 155th and Aurora to help us make the City of Shoreline the best place to live!

updated 1-4-16

Police encourage residents to be alert and take preventative measures to curb burglary trends

Shoreline Police report an increase in the total number of burglaries and attempted burglaries in 2012 compared to this time of year in 2011. The increase is seen in both residential and commercial burglaries. Residential burglaries and attempted burglaries rose from 128 to 195. Commercial burglaries and attempted burglaries are slightly up from 48 to 55.

Police are also reporting a concerning trend.

 “Each month we see that 30-50% of burglaries to Shoreline homes is non-forced entry -- meaning easy access was given to thieves by not locking doors or windows,” stated Police Chief Shawn Ledford. “Don’t invite a burglar into your home; lock your doors and windows and check for structural weaknesses.” 

Ledford also instructs homeowners and business owners to consider installing an alarm system, report suspicious cars and people, and contact the Shoreline Police Department to have an officer assist in setting up a neighborhood Block Watch meeting. Neighbors who attend the meeting will be informed on crimes trends in the area, crime prevention tips and services the Shoreline Police Department provides.

Alert residents play a significant role in helping to reduce crime and catching suspects. Any time you see suspicious activity, call 911. The sooner you call, the sooner police can respond. An organized and active Block Watch group is also an important feature that will help you reduce crime in your neighborhood. A Block Watch is formed by a group of neighbors who are interested in mutual protection against burglary and other neighborhood crime. These neighbors agree to watch out for one another's homes and report unusual incidents to the police.

Take steps now to avoid becoming a victim. Shoreline Police Storefront Officers and Police Volunteers are always ready to provide crime prevention information. They can even come to your home or business, at your convenience, to provide a free security survey (known as a CPTED survey). Visit the Block Watch and Business Watch sections of the police webpage.

For more information contact Officer Greg McKinney at 206-363-8424 or Officer Leona Obstler at 206-546-3636.

Vendor Appreciation Day at the Shoreline Farmers Market

In recognition of Labor Day Weekend the Shoreline Farmers Market is asking the community to formally recognize the hard work, great attitudes, and dedication of their wonderful vendors.

The first season of the market has been a great success and an enormous amount of credit should go to the farmers, sales representatives, small business owners, and everyone who have helped these folks at the market week in and week out. 

Our vendors are coming from near and far, Shoreline to Yakima, to bring their goods to market and the City of Shoreline is a better place to live because of them. They are knowledgeable about their products, always willing to answer your questions, and will do so with a smile and maybe a sample too…

So, if you are in town this Labor Day weekend, bring your families and friends up to City Hall and share your gratitude to these fine people.

Two advisory votes on the November ballot

By Evan Smith

  

Our Nov. 6 general-election ballots will include three initiatives, the referendum on same-sex marriage, two State constitutional amendments and, for the first time, two non-binding advisory votes on tax measures that the Legislature has passed – one on eliminating tax breaks for large banks and one on eliminating taxes on petroleum products.

Women Helping Women: Shoreline “Sleep-Out” again turning tents into homes

The 2010 Sleep Out raised $18,000
The 2012 fundraising goal is $25,000

Friday, Sept 21, 7pm to Saturday, Sept 22, 8am 

Shoreline Covenant Church, 1330 N 185th St, Shoreline, 206-542-1050

Women and friends of Shoreline Covenant Church are turning tents into homes for women and children in Shoreline by raising money to buy interior paint for Jacob's Well, a transitional housing complex being constructed by Vision-House for homeless women and children. 

Bring your tent and pledges from friends, neighbors, family and co-workers and spend one night in solidarity with our sisters who struggle every night to find a safe and dry and warm place to sleep with their kids. We will end on Saturday morning with breakfast served at 8am! Contact the church by September 17th to register.

This challenge was last done in 2010 when 43 women slept out in tents in the Shoreline Covenant Church parking lot and raised over $18,000 to purchase lumber for the framing of Jacob’s Well. 

We will again "sleep-out" in our tents in the church parking lot with the hope of raising, through pledges, the $25,000 needed to purchase the interior paint for Jacob’s Well. 

We already have one donor willing to match each dollar up to $3,000 and each woman who participates must raise a minimum of $100. 

Shoreline Covenant will (so far) be joined by women from Mars Hill, Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, and The Shoreline Vineyard in this effort. If women from any other churches would like to also join, contact Erika Haub immediately at 206-542-1050 or email her.  

You can pledge $30 toward a gallon of paint or you can make a flat donation in any amount. Write checks to Shoreline Covenant Church, note “Shoreline Sleep-Out” in the memo line. Donate online and make a note in the comments field with “Shoreline Sleep-Out”and the “woman’s name” with whom you are pledging.

Questions? Call Pastor Erika at 206-542-1050 or email her. 

More info about Vision House and Jacob’s Well.

Together we can help some of our most hidden and vulnerable homeless: moms and kids.

Debates Scheduled: Washington State Attorney General & Secretary of State

Bob Ferguson in debate with Reagan Dunn

Join Seattle CityClub on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 at Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98101 for two FREE debates, from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Bring your own brown bag lunch, coffee and dessert provided, registration opens at 11:30. The event is free, but registration is required. Register online.

There is no shortage of attention on the Attorney General race as the current AG runs for Governor. Pivotal decisions await the next Attorney General. 

• How will the candidates’ views on the current AG’s decision to join the lawsuit against the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) shape this race? 

Also this fall, voters will be electing a new Secretary of State to replace Sam Reed, who has been in office for 12 years. Some of the key responsibilities of this statewide office include preserving the integrity of elections and performing public outreach to improve civic knowledge and participation, not only for candidate elections but also for citizen-led initiatives and statewide referendums. 

• With a growing number of initiatives and referenda on the ballot in 2012, key questions to consider are should this process be reformed, what is the appropriate role for corporate support of initiatives, and how do we maintain strong voter participation? 

Join us with your own questions as we discover the candidates’ positions on upcoming hot button initiatives and referenda and see if these views will affect their ability to enforce the will of the people.

Moderator: Kellye Y. Testy, Dean & James W. Mifflin University Professor, University of Washington School of Law

Featuring: 

• Candidates for Attorney General- Reagan Dunn and Bob Ferguson
• Candidates for Secretary of State- Kathleen Drew and Kim Wyman

In partnership with the Henry M. Jackson Foundation and Gorton Center, International Policy Center

New assistant principals at Einstein have been here before

Laura Ploudre'

Bill Killien and Laura Ploudre will share the assistant principal position at Einstein Middle School for the 2012-13 school year, Superintendent Sue Walker announced. The appointments are subject to approval by the Shoreline School Board.

This will be Bill’s second stint as assistant principal at Einstein. He was a math teacher at Morgan, Hull and Kellogg from 1973 to 1988, then moved to Einstein as assistant principal. 

He left Shoreline in 1991 to become principal at Northshore Junior High in Bothell. He went into private business before returning to Shoreline as part-time administrative support at Shorecrest last year. 

Laura served as principal of Parkwood Elementary for 11 years until leaving that position in June to pursue an advanced degree in educational psychology. 

Bill Killien

During her years at Parkwood, the school was honored with two Washington Achievement Awards for overall excellence. The school received the State Title I Academic Achievement Award and was honored as a School of Excellence in Arts Education earlier this year. 

Bill and Laura succeed Cindy Watters, who left Shoreline to accept a position as principal of Hamilton International Middle School in Seattle.

“We are excited to have Bill and Laura as part of the Einstein team and are looking forward to having them work with our staff, students and families,” said Einstein Principal Stephanie Clark.

High Holiday services open to all

Chabad’s Open Door Policy welcomes everyone

In anticipation of the upcoming Jewish New Year (September 16-18), the Chabad Jewish Center of Snohomish County has announced its High Holiday Services schedule.

They will be “warm, friendly, traditional, and open to all,” says Chabad’s Executive Director, Rabbi Berel Paltiel.

All are welcome to Services at Chabad, free of charge, regardless of background or affiliation.  Membership is not required to join and there are no prerequisites.  All prayers will combine the original Hebrew and translated English.

“Our tradition teaches that at the New Year, the Doors of Heaven are open; G-d accepts all prayers, from anyone,” explains the Rabbi.  “The least we can do is open our doors as well, to the entire community.”

Services will be held on Rosh Hashana– the Jewish New Year (September 16-18), as well as Yom Kippor– the Day of Atonement (September 25-26).  They will be held at various times at the Chabad Jewish Center, 19626 76th Avenue West Suite B, Lynnwood, WA 98036-5877.

For more information about High Holiday Services, or about Chabad, call 425-640-2811, email or see the website.

Shorewood and Shorecrest open their football season Friday night

From the Shoreline Area News Sports Desk

The Shorewood T-Birds open the 2012 football season with a non-league game on the road Friday night, playing the late  (8 PM) game at Everett Memorial Stadium against a rebuilding Cascade team. 

Third year coach  Rob Petschl is brimming with optimism as his T-Birds return several players to key positions.  Aaron Miller will handle the reins of the SW offense at quarterback for the third year.  Wide receiver Chris Namba is a big fast kid who scored 7 TDs last year, and running back Levy Diaz was hard to bring down in pre-season camp.

One newcomer (with good bloodlines) to keep an eye on is sophomore Mo Holley.  Older brothers Dorian Lair and Eugene Holley, and sister Kendra Holley-Lair, all excelled in many sports for the T-Birds. He'll be playing linebacker, and word is that he's faster than the speedy Eugene.

Cascade comes into their first game sporting a new coach and a 24-game losing streak.

Next Friday SW plays at 8 PM against Lynnwood, at Edmonds Stadium.

Their home opener will be Friday September 14 against Marysville -Getchell.

Shorecrest opens their season at home Friday night at 7 PM, in a non-league contest against Lynnwood.

Scots coach Brandon Christensen is overseeing a squad that's facing wholesale changes. After three years of featuring the passing game, the Scots can be counted on to pound the ball more than in the past.

Two big linemen, John Daniels and Johnson Jones, hope to pave the way for speedy running backs Keegan Small and Keegan Lockler. 

QB Nik Hendricks will be looking for targets Aaron Kelly and Keelan Tidwell to help keep opposing defenses honest.

The Royals bring with them their aptly-named  mainstay lineman, Andrew Basham, who has verbally committed to play for the UW next year.  Fans will want to keep their eye on the big men in the trenches all night long.

As has been their custom for years before all home games, the Shorecrest Booster Club will be sponsoring a barbecue prior to the game. 

Fans are encouraged to arrive early, bring their appetites, and root for the Scots. 

WOWTA - a community event for years to come

Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Third Annual “Where Our Wild Things Are” Backyard Habitat Tour:

A Community Event This Year and for Years to Come

By Jennifer Rotermund, Habitat Steward and WOWTA Tour Coordinator

Photos by Dorrena Ortega

Last month’s Third Annual “Where Our Wild Things Are” (WOWTA) Backyard Habitat Tour took place on one of those perfect weather days that we Northwesterners look forward to all year.

Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Enjoyed by over 150 people, this year’s tour was made possible by a generous financial gift from our local Whidbey Island Bank, a partnership with Highland Terrace Elementary School which allowed us the use of their parking lot as a starting point, and an incredible community of volunteers.

The original core organizing team of volunteers (Afia Menke, Ann Erickson, Barbara Guthrie, Dan Thielman, Jennifer Rotermund, Judy Griesel, Krista Tenney, Loren Alexanian and Nan Skinner) happily took on giving their time for yet another year to put together this tour because it is so much fun to do (and there is always room on the team - please join us!).

Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Photographers Dorrena and Pax Ortega have generously donated their time, skill and photos each year, as WOWTA’s official photographers.

This year’s hosts (Judy Griesel and Grant Harken, Shirley Sidell, Larry and Sue Cook, Breen Lorenz, Claudia and Bill Turner, and Leslie Vietmeier) generously opened their habitats to the public for the day.

Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Our educators (Cass Turnbull, Erin McConkey, Michelle Bundy, Constance Perenyi, Zsofia Pasztor, Holly Kennel, Libby Fiene, John Ruby, and Nan Skinner), stationed at each site and giving free information, instruction and advice, made the tour not only fun and inspiring but sent attendees home with ways to create or enhance their own backyard habitats.

In essence, WOWTA is not only becoming a tradition in Shoreline, but it is developing a community - one that supports wildlife and a healthy environment as much as it supports each other.

Photo by Dorrena Ortega

Next year’s WOWTA Tour will take place on Saturday, July 13, 2013. Between now and then the organizing team will be selecting and introducing you to the next set of host habitats and educators as well as further expanding our efforts for protecting wildlife habitat and sustainable gardening. If you have an interest related to these topics please let us know and please join our fun WOWTA community! You can contact us by email and find us on Facebook by searching: WOWTA (Where Our Wild Things Are).

Book review by Aarene Stormes: Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses

By Aarene Storms, youth services librarian

Richmond Beach Library, KCLS    

Lies, Knives and Girls in Red Dresses  by Ron Koertge

illustrated by Andrea Dezso

...For a while, the queen is content.  There's the baby

with skin like snow and the golden goblets

and the pomegranate juice and the rocking

and the cooing.  But there's always that small fire

just under her collarbone.

She summons the hunters, hard men with callused hands.

She asks, "Isn't there a wolf in the forest with teeth

the better to eat me with?"

"Indeed there is, your majesty, but--"

"No buts.  Have someone fetch my red cape.

And tell the king not to wait up."

The little match girl sells CDs on the corner, fifty cents to any stoner/any homeboy with a boner.   The Beast muses that he and Beauty are very happy now, but that sometimes he brushes his perfect teeth and remembers when they were fangs. And Bluebeard's wife agrees that her husband is weird ... but omigod that castle!

Twenty three familiar stories.  Folktales originally collected and retold by the Brothers Grimm, Charles Perrault and Hans Christian Anderson are collected and retold again by Ron Koertge...and this time, the stories are tilted a little differently.

Strong, sexy, sassy, violent, warped, and more than slightly kinky, these tales-in-verse are not the Disney version.  There isn't always "happy", but without doubt, these versions will stick with the reader "forever after."

With the new attention being given to old tales on television programs like Grimm and Once Upon a Time, this slender volume of fractured tales and striking illustrations will easily find an audience.  Recommended for readers 14 to adult.

Minor cussing, sexual imagery and sexual situations, references to violence...just like the original folktales from which they were derived.

Brown's Cafe closes but coffee roasting lives on

Neal gives a batch the sniff and color test
to determine when it is roasted to perfection
Photo by Marc Weinberg

By Diane Hettrick and Marc Weinberg

We are sad to announce that Brown's Cafe in North City, at 179th and 15th NE, featured in our "Coffee with a Friend" series, has closed its doors.

Owner Neal Brown told me, "My plans for the future are to keep my roasting company going, as roasting is my forte, NOT running a cafe."

Neal has been roasting coffee for nine years and he isn't about to give that up now.  Times have changed for being in the storefront retail business offering food and beverages and he has decided to terminate that.  

He is, however going to continue roasting and selling coffee and will move his roasting operations to a new, non-retail location.  For those loyal coffee lovers of Brown & Co. "fresh roasted coffee", you can purchase your java on line at BrownsCoffee. This will be the only place to satisfy your craving for Neal's special blends.

Brown's Cafe has been closed for about a month, but Neal opened the doors one more time, as a scheduled venue for the North City Jazz Walk.

Doing business in LFP: Barbara's Garden Consignment Shop

Barbara recently moved to this location in the upper mall

By Jerry Pickard

Photos by Jerry Pickard

Barbara Garden Consignments shop in the upper mall at Town Center in Lake Forest Park is a wonderful place. Located next to the Lake Forest Park Bar and Grill on the upper mall, Barbara Kinney has been in the Towne Center mall for five years and recently moved from the lower mall to her new location.

Barbara Kinney in her consignment shop

She features handcrafted vintage and new items. Many of her new items are made by local craftsmen although she does have crafts from around the world.

Barbara makes her own silk flower arrangements to order. 

She carries handcrafted hats, scarves, dog sweaters, cat toys, and purses. There is a large selection of books by local authors. 

1930s lace wedding gown

Vintage wedding gowns of silk and lace fill the racks, along with dresses for the rest of the wedding party, including the baby.

A 1910 Silvertone Victrola with records in mint condition is priced at $599.99. She has a large selection of jewelry for sale. 

Tea, anyone?

Reflecting her varied tastes, she also sells scrapbooking materials and for a fee will even do the scrapbooking for you.

The shop is a field trip into history, full of treasures waiting to be discovered.

Hot dog! It's the Weinermobile in Lake Forest Park

A giant hot dog is headed for Lake Forest Park

By Diane Hettrick

The infamous Oscar Meyer Weinermobile will be in Lake Forest Park on Thursday, August 30, 2012 from 1-5pm at the Lake Forest Park Albertson's on the lower level of the Town Center at junction of Bothell Way and Ballinger Way.

There are unconfirmed rumors of a stop at a store in Shoreline.

Those sensitive to puns may want to stay out of the area. However, the Weinermobile crew does photo ops, is known to hand out goodies, such as weiner-shaped whistles, and dispenses the aforementioned puns.

Comments are disabled for this post. Not that I don't trust y'all, but...

Coal trains in Richmond Beach - informational meeting in September

Coal train at Richmond Beach
Photo by Bob Rinehart

By Jerry Patterson

If you are not up to date on proposals to bring to bring tons of coal and dust daily to your neighborhood, then dust off your calendars and set aside Tuesday evening, September 11, at 7:30pm. The Richmond Beach Community Association regular meeting will focus on the prospects and impact of proposals for at least four coal export ports in Washington. 

Speakers have been invited to address the coal, hard facts of these proposals, as well as issues related to traffic, environment and health. In addition to panel presentations, time will be allocated for your questions.

To assist you in remaining current on the topic, the following organizations have created links to more detailed information:

• Coal Train Facts.org, a nonprofit WA organization
• Power Past Coal, a West Coast Alliance working to stop coal exports
• BNSF Railways, perspective of CEO Matthew Rose from The Columbian newspaper
• Alliance for Northwest Jobs and Exports

City of Shoreline officials have been invited to serve on the panel at our September 11 meeting. Other communities have been actively following this issue for a long time. In fact, the following Washington communities have already passed resolutions against the coal export proposals: Seattle, Marysville, Stevenson, Vancouver, Edmonds, Camas, Longview, Bellingham, Bainbridge Island, Washougal and Spokane.

The cold, hard question Richmond Beach Community members face is, “Will you have a voice, and will you have a choice in determining how much coal comes through your neighborhood?”

So mark your calendars and invite your neighbors to attend our monthly meeting in the basement of the Richmond Beach Congregational Church at the corner of 15th Avenue NW and Richmond Beach Road. See you there!

Have your photo on the cover of the Shoreline Recreation Guide

City of Shoreline Winter 2013 Recreation Guide “Choose the Cover” Photo contest

By Sheryle Harp

We received so many excellent photos and such an enthusiastic community-wide response from our first Recreation Guide Cover Contest we are doing it again! 

Do you think you have an image that captures winter in Shoreline? 

The City of Shoreline Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Department is searching for the perfect photograph for the front of the 2013 Winter Recreation Guide. If you think that you have “THE” Shoreline picture, we want to showcase it for you. 

Entry deadline is September 28th.  Digital images can be submitted online, by mail or by dropping off a CD clearly marked with entrant’s name along with a completed entry form.  

More information and contest rules on the website or contact Sheryle Harp 206-801-2623.

Lake Forest Park Rotarians and 1000 ears of corn at the Back to School Event

L to R:  Fred Lupton (background), Kathy Martin with the corn
and Wendy Wands adds a hotdog on the bun.
Photo by Marj Ando

By Carol Dahl

A great team from Lake Forest Park Rotary Club volunteered their time and energy on a beautiful Saturday to a Back-to-School community "Service Above Self" event. We were told, by the awesome front end servers, that there were many smiles, nice compliments and heartfelt thanks received from the hundreds of deserving family members who attended the August 25, annual "Back-to-School" event.

Let me begin with by recognizing Jeff Weissman for the yummy breakfast "goodies" and coffee that helped quell our hunger pains and to David Halbrook and Alan Merry who picked up the food, the grill and the supplies early in the morning. Fred Lupton arrived with the 1000 ears of corn, freshly picked Friday morning in Yakima. Fred and his son had driven to Wapato to pick up this wonderful produce. Facing a truck load of corn, the "shucking crew," including David Halbrook, Fred Lupton, Alan Merry, Ed Sterner, Scott and Wendy Wans, Marj Ando, and Jeff Weissman, took over and shucked and stacked 1,000 ears of corn in a little over an hour. I heard a lot of laughing and swapping of stories as Sally and I were snipping and putting clusters of yummy grapes into hundreds of small bags. Craig Sternagel was right-on when he suggested we include some fresh food. The fresh-picked corn, and red and green grapes were a big hit with all.

Some of the thousand ears of corn the crew shucked
Photo by Marj Ando

Scott Wands took over the "chef d'jour" duties, lighting the grills to heat water for the corn and the hot dogs, and kept the "kitchen" functioning, along with Sharon Brooksbanks, Randy Lehman and I, Carol Dahl, while Heidi Shepherd set up the "self-serve restaurant" with expert help of Kathy Martin, Marj Ando Wendy Wands, Sally Renn, Ed Sterner, Jeff Weissman,

Fred Lupton, Alan Merry, Allison Merry and, Dic Lawson. The cleanup crew of David Halbrook, Alan Merry, Chuck Paulsen, Sharon Brooksbank and Randy Lehman left the area in good shape.

A smooth, well-tuned operation emerged with lots of smiles and love dispensed by our Rotarians along with the tasty food. The standard has been raised with the addition of the fabulous corn and crisp grapes. A huge bouquet of thanks to all of the Rotarians who devoted over 70 hours of volunteer time to make Saturday's Back-to-School" event so successful. 

If you are at the LFP Farmers Market on a future Sunday, please stop at Pedro Esquivel's stall located in the row of stalls at the east side of the market, purchase some of his wonderful produce and thank him for his generosity. He provided our Rotary with over 1,000 ears of corn and the melon for a little over $200. Pedro also donates many pounds and varieties of produce to the Terrace View Presbyterian Church food bank in Mountlake Terrace every week.

Left over hot dogs and buns, available for grilling, will be on the menu along with Pedro's watermelons, being kept cold and served at our upcoming 5th Wednesday LFP Rotary gathering at Sheridan Beach this week.

Also to be acknowledged is Clean Scapes Recycling who delivered, specifically for our event, six large bins on Friday for the corn husks and cobs, food and paper scraps which they will pick up on Monday to be composted - all free of cost to us. This is a company who demonstrates "Service Above Self." They service Shoreline, not LFP.

Again, thanks for providing much needed services to families in our community.

Flags at half-staff for Neil Armstrong

Governor Chris Gregoire joins President Obama in directing Washington State and United States flags at all Washington State government facilities be lowered to half-staff in memory of Neil Armstrong on Friday, August 31, 2012.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business on Friday.

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

DEATH OF NEIL ARMSTRONG

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

As a mark of respect for the memory of Neil Armstrong, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that on the day of his interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-seventh.

BARACK OBAMA

Farrell attributes primary lead for open 46th Legislative District seat to hard work

By Evan Smith

Democrat Jessyn Farrell, who led five other candidates for the position that retiring 46th District Democratic State Rep. Phyllis Kenney now holds, attributes her lead in the Aug. 7 primary to hard work.

She promises more for the general-election campaign.

Farrell led the primary with 30 percent of the votes to 22 percent for Democrat Sarajane Siegfriedt, 18 percent for Republican Scott Hodges, 16 percent for Democrat Shelly Crocker, 12 percent for Democrat Dusty Hoerler and 2 percent for independent Stan Lippmann.

Farrell and Siegfriedt will run off in the Nov. 6 general election despite trailing Crocker and Hoerler in pre-primary fundraising.

Farrell said that she is glad that money didn't decide the primary results and promsed to continue to meet as many voters as possible wtth emphasis on the many people who didn't vote in the primary but wil vote in November.

She said that she would emphasize her ability to bring people together.