Transit Agencies in Puget Sound – Riding Sound Transit light rail

Sound Transit Link Light Rail car

Brian is writing a series of articles about transportation options in the area

Riding Sound Transit light rail

By Brian Doennebrink

Sound Transit Link oversees the operations of link light rail that presently operates from Westlake Station in downtown Seattle to Sea-Tac airport and a second segment that runs between the Tacoma Dome and South 9th in Tacoma. 

Construction and/or preparation is underway to extend the Central Link line (1) northward, first to the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium (ETA 2016), then Northgate (ETA 2021), and – via Shoreline – Lynnwood (ETA 2023); (2) eastward from the International District/Chinatown Station, to Overlake/Redmond (ETA 2023); (3) southward, from the Sea-Tac station, to South 200th (ETA 2016), with preliminary work towards an extension to the Federal Way Transit Center. Meanwhile, ST is in the information-gathering stages for expanding Tacoma Link, with alternatives in most directions from the present line.

Orca card reader

Fares on light rail in Tacoma are presently free, although there have been discussions about changing that. On Central Link, the fare depends on how far you travel. Their website has a matrix of fares that range, for Adult passengers, from $2.00, their base fare, to $2.75 (see below). You need to have valid fare before getting onto the train, as you cannot purchase tickets on board. 

You can use an ORCA card, and ORCA card readers (look for their bright yellow housing) are at the train platforms. Alternatively, you can buy a ticket from a ticket vending machine (TVM).

Ticket sales

An example of the latter is a trip from Westlake Station to Sea-Tac Airport. Day passes – good for travel on the service, date, and stations printed on the ticket – cost two times the one-way fare. For youths, all one-way fares on Link are $1.25 and Day passes $2.50. For Regional Reduced Fare Permit holders, their one-way fares are $0.75, Day passes $1.50. A trip from Westlake station, the present northern terminus for what’s called “Central Link,” to Sea-Tac airport is estimated to take 37 minutes.

North Line Sounder trains canceled through Wednesday

Sound Transit commuter train

The earliest that commuter rail service may resume is Thursday.

Continuing slope instability along BNSF Railway's Everett-Seattle rail corridor has canceled Sounder North Line service through at least Wednesday, Jan. 2.

BNSF Railway will continue to evaluate slope conditions to determine whether passenger rail service can resume on Thursday. Information on alternate bus service options is available on the website.

32nd Dems meet January 9

32nd Democrats Monthly Meeting on Wednesday, January 9th, 7pm at the Richmond Masonic Center, 753 N 185th St, Shoreline 98133. (map)

The guest speaker is from Health Care for All Washington and will discuss the Washington Health Security Trust - single payer financing plan that augments the Affordable Care Act. 

The group will also consider the following resolution: No "Secure Communities" Participation and meet the new 32nd LD Democrats Executive Board elected last month.

Members are invited to come early at 6:30pm to socialize and help set up.

January activities in the Richmond Beach Library

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Richmond Beach Library 

19601 21st Ave NW, Shoreline 98177

206-546-3522

Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm 

Friday 10am-6pm 

Saturday  10am-5pm

Calendar of Events January 2013

Children and Families

Pajamarama Story Times 

Wednesday, January 9, 16, 23 and 30, 7pm

All young children welcome with parent or caregiver. 

Wear your pjs and come for books, stories and songs! 

Toddler Story Times

Thursday, January 10, 17, 24 and 31, 10:15am

Ages 24 to 36 months with adult, siblings welcome. 

Books, finger plays, stories and songs just for toddlers! 

Preschool Story Times

Thursday, January 10, 17, 24 and 31, 11am

Ages 3 to 6 with adult, siblings welcome. 

Books, finger plays, stories and songs just for preschoolers! 

Teens

Study Zone 

Mondays, 4pm

When school is in session.

Grades K-12. 

Drop in for homework help from trained volunteer tutors.

Teen Talk Time

Wednesday, January 9, 16, 23 and 30, 4pm

Teen Talk Time is a weekly opportunity for teen English language learners to practice listening and speaking in English. Refreshments are provided by the Friends of the Richmond Beach Library. 

Adults

Evening Book Discussion Group

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

Monday, January 7, 7pm

Talk Time 

Tuesdays, 4pm

Improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group. 

Free ESL Classes, Intermediate Level 

Tuesdays, 6:30pm

Learn and practice daily English language skills including reading, writing, speaking and listening.  

Please register at the library or call 206.546.3522.  

Free ESL Classes, Beginning Level

Thursdays, 12:30pm

Learn and practice daily English language skills including reading, writing, speaking and listening.  

Please register at the library or call 206.546.3522.  

eReader and Digital Downloads Demo 

Thursday, January 10, 4pm 

Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader or computer during this digital downloads demonstration.

Shorecrest boys defeat Ingraham Friday and Kamiak Saturday

The Shorecrest boys' basketball team improved its overall season record to 7-4 with victories over Ingraham of Seattle Friday, Dec. 28, and Kamiak of Mukilteo Saturday, Dec. 29, in the Bothell Holiday Tournament.

The 3A Scots had opened tournament play with a 46-45 loss to 4A Issaquah Thursday, Dec. 27.

Shorecrest takes a 1-3 Western Conference 3A record into a Friday, Jan. 4, home game with Stanwood.

In the Friday victory over Ingraham, the Scots led 24-9 after the first quarter, 38-15 at halftime and 53-22 after three quarters before pulling away in the final period for the 72-31 win. Alex Horning led Shorecrest with 20 points. Teammate Dylan Pontrello scored 14.

In the Scots' Saturday victory over Kamiak, Shorecrest led 15-13 after the first quarter, 25-23 at halftime and 41-34 after three quarters before holding on through a high-scoring fourth quarter for the 62-55 win. Cobin Oihsi led the Scots with 24 points. Horning added 10.

Shorecrest 62, Kamiak 55

At Bothell High School, Saturday, Dec. 29

Shorecrest -- 15 10 16 21 -- 62

Kamiak ----- 13 10 11 21 -- 55

Shorecrest Scoring -- Conin Oishi 24, Connor Hyppa 0, Benny Ortega 5, Zach Lawson 2, Liam O'Neill 0, Alex Hofstrand 0, Jake Scherf 5, Sam Franks 6, Keelan Tidwell, Masamba Njadoe 2, Dylan Pontrello 8, Alex Horning 10.

Ridgecrest is spectacular in the dark

Photographer and Ridgecrest resident Patty Hale took these photos of some spectacular houses in the Ridgecrest neighborhood, on 6th Ave NE and 18th Ave NE in the vicinity of NE 152nd. Just follow the lights...

Shoreline Piano Series: first recital of the Beethoven Project

Robin McCabe and Maria Larionoff
Beethoven recital to benefit
SCC Piano Scholarship Fund

Sunday, January 13, 2013, 3pm, Shoreline Community College Campus Theatre, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline 98133

Shoreline Community College is proud to present the amazing artistry of pianist Robin McCabe (University of Washington) and violinist Maria Larionoff (former concertmaster of Seattle Symphony) as they embark upon their very special endeavor, "The Beethoven Project."  

McCabe and Larionoff will present the complete works for piano and violin of Beethoven over a two-year period. Shoreline Community College is delighted to host their first recital which will feature the Sonata in A minor, Opus 23, and the beloved "Spring" Sonata in F major, Opus 24.  

Please join us for this wonderful musical event!  

All Shoreline Piano Series concerts are at 3pm on Sundays at the Shoreline Campus Theater. All proceeds benefit the Shoreline Community College Piano Scholarship Fund. Ticket prices are as follows: General Admission: $15; Students, Seniors, and SCC Employees: $10; SCC Students and children under 14: $5. Parking on Sundays is $2 - meters take cards and coins. 

Contact Jensina Oliver for more information, 206-546-4618.

Tillarium terrarium and decorated birdhouses at Sky Jan 12-13

Sky Nursery Events/Seminars Winter 2013 

Saturday, January 12th   11 am – 12:30 pm

Tillariums!                   Krysta Carlisle

Terrariums can be as small as a salt shaker or as large as you’re willing to maintain—and a tillandsia terrarium needs almost no maintenance.  The only limit is your imagination!  Let Krysta show you what you can do with air plants and glass!  Sky Nursery 18528 Aurora Ave N Shoreline 206-546-4851 

Sunday, January 13th 2 pm

Junior Gardener Club Activity - Decorate a Birdhouse

Decorate a birdhouse for the birds you’ve been feeding this winter!  Juniors Gardeners will take a short tour to find materials to decorate their birdhouse, and you’ll go home with a new house for your feathered friends.  Class size limited to 15 students; cost is $10, cash or check only.  Please pre-register. Sky Nursery 18528 Aurora Ave N Shoreline 206-546-4851

Check Sky's events calendar as the event approaches for a detailed schedule for the day.

Third time's the charm? Eastside dog park meeting

Join the Off-Leash Dog Area Study Group at a public open house meeting on Jan 24 from 6-7pm at the Shoreline City Hall Council Chambers, 17500 Midvale Ave N, to learn more about the East Side Off-Leash Dog Area recommendation. 

It has been a year in the making: a 2-acre area at the southeastern corner of the Fircrest property located just east of 15th on 150th Street will be recommended to the PRCS Board and City Council as the new East-Side Off-Leash Area.

This is your opportunity to learn about how this site was selected, reviewed and approved by the State of Washington DSHS for consideration as an Off-Leash Dog Area.

For more information, see the East Side Off-Leash Dog Area project page or contact Maureen Colaizzi, Parks Project Coordinator.

The original recommendation for a Shoreline dog park was an area inside Hamlin Park. That site was abandoned because of neighborhood protests. Secondary locations on the west side were developed successfully. A second eastside location also failed because of neighborhood concerns. The currently proposed location is sandwiched between the state-owned buildings at Fircrest and Hamlin Park.

Maintenance of the dog parks is assisted by a citizens' group called ShoreDog which works closely with the Parks department and Parks Board. ShoreDog will be having a public meeting on Saturday, January 12 at the Shoreline Library, 345 NE 175th, 11am - noon. Email for more information or to volunteer.

Preschool Previews 2013 - Jan 16 at Shoreline Community College

It used to be college admissions were the biggest headaches a parent would face in regards to their child's education; welcome to preschool selection!

As January is right around the corner, it is important to note than many preschools begin their admission process at the start of the year and for parents, the stress of starting the process of picking the right preschool program for their child to apply for a coveted place in the fall.

Preschool Previews 2013

ParentMap, a Seattle-based business committed to providing innovative and award-winning editorial content through a variety of media to support parents, is taking the stress out of preschool selection and helping parents find the best preschool program for their child with Preschool Previews 2013.

ParentMap’s Preschool Preview allows parents to research the early learning options in their community, conveniently under one roof.  The event offers the chance to compare teaching philosophies, talk to preschool directors and find the best fit for their child and family. 

Preschool Preview Events are FREE  and include parent education consultations, fun kid activities and childcare.

North Seattle/Shoreline

January 16, 2013

Shoreline Community College

5:30pm-7:30 pm

(40 preschools)

Preschool Consultations with Education Experts

Also available this year will be one on one consultations for parents courtesy of Grow Parenting.  Parents can sign up to meet with education experts for 10 minute consultations at the Eastside, Central/South or North Preschool Previews. Sign up.

Recycle strings of burnt out Christmas tree lights

Maple Leaf Ace Hardware, 9000 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle 98115, 206-522-2234

Open daily 8am to 7pm and Sunday 9am to 6pm. New Year's Eve 8am to 5pm, New Year's Day 10am to 5pm

Our news partner King5 did a thorough story on all the places in the area to recycle strings of burnt out Christmas lights, wires and bulbs together.

Unfortunately, none of them are in our immediate area. The closest is Maple Leaf Ace Hardware. They sell the lights and donate the proceeds to charity.

There are also locations in Bellevue, Woodinville, Queen Anne, and Tacoma. See the complete list.

Sheriff Urquhart: says: Don’t spend your last day of 2012 in jail

Shutterstock

New Year’s Celebratory Gunfire- “DON’T DO IT!”

The consequences and risks of celebratory gunfire can be serious and the King County Sheriff’s Office is saying, “Don’t Do It!”

“Any bullet fired from a gun must land somewhere and the risks of causing an injury or death is significant”, said King County Sheriff John Urquhart.

Every year around the country people are injured and killed by celebratory gunfire and law enforcement officials want to keep that from happening in King County.

The Sheriff’s Office said if they can pinpoint someone shooting they will fully enforce the law. At a minimum a person can be charged with Reckless Endangerment and if convicted can land the shooter in jail for up to 364 days and a fine imposed of up to $5,000.

Sheriff Urquhart’s bottom line on New Year’s Eve, “Don’t spend your last day of 2012 in jail. Have fun but don’t risk lives.”

Shorecrest girls end four-game basketball winning streak with 46-43 home loss to 4A Arlington

The Shorecrest girls’ basketball team ended its four-game winning streak with a 46-43 home loss to 4A Arlington Friday after a 59-13 victory at 3A Highline Thursday.

The Scots take a 5-6 overall record (2-2 Western Conference 3A) into a return to Wesco 3A play Jan. 4 at Stanwood.

In the 59-13 victory at Highline, Keegan Monson and Uju Chibuogwu each scored 12 points, as Shorecrest led 16-2 after the first quarter, 30-8 at halftime and 50-13 after three quarters before the Scots cruised to victory in the final period.

In the Scots’ 46-43 home loss Friday, Arlington took a 32-26 lead after three quarters and held on to defeat Shorecrest. Onyie Chibuogwu led the Scots with 12 points.

For the season, Onyie Chibuogwu leads Shorecrest with 109 points in 10 games for an average of 10.9 points per game.

Shorecrest 59, Highline 13

At Highline High School, Burien, Thursday, Dec. 17

Shorecrest -    16 14 20  9 --- 59

Highline -----    2   6  5  0 --- 13

Shorecrest Scoring -- Rosa Rice-Pelepko 2, Lindsey Shattuck 6, Wurrie Njadoe 3, Lauren Iredale 3, Ari Rantz 0, Kathryn Lindsey 5, Annie Schlachter 3, Keegan Monson 12, Onyie Chibuogwu 8, Savannah Tidwell 1, Bella Kemp 4, Elie Richmond 0, Uju Chibuogwu 12.

Arlington 46, Shorecrest 43

At Shorecrest High School, Friday, Dec. 29

Arlington ---- 10   8 14 14 -- 46 

Shorecrest ----- 9 11  6 17 -- 43 

Shorecrest Scoring -- Lindsey Shattuck 2, Wurrie Njadoe 0, Kathryn Lindsey 0, Annie Schlachter 9, Keegan Monson 7, Onyie Chibuogwu 12, Bella Kemp 5, Uju Chibuogwu 8.

Shorecrest Season Scoring

Player		Games	Points	P/G
Onyie Chibuogwu		10	109	10.9
Annie Schlachter		11	88	8.0
Uju Chibuogwu		10	72	7.2
Keegan Monson		11	70	6.4
Bella Kemp		11	66	6.0
Lindsey Shattuck		11	44	4.0
Kathryn Lindsey		10	29	2.9
Wurrie Njadoe		11	24	2.2
Elie Richmond		4	7	1.8
Ari Rantz		7	6	0.9
Lauren Iredale		4	3	0.8
Rosa Rice-Pelepko		3	2	0.7
Savannah Tidwell		6	1	0.2

On the sixth day of Christmas...

Photo by Jerry Pickard

Photo by Jerry Pickard

Photo by Jerry Pickard

For the Birds: Snowy Owls—Have you seen one this year?

Snowy Owls

By Christine Southwick

Snowy Owl at Edmonds by Doug Parrot

Snowy Owls are large, round-headed, mostly white owls (females and juvies have some dark scalloping), with yellow eyes, black beak, and thickly feathered feet. Being tundra natives, these birds perch where they can see in all directions. When Snowy Owls sojourn into Washington, they prefer open shorelines and salt marshes, often resting on beached logs. Usually you need scopes or strong binoculars to see them well. This year there are reports of a couple of Snowy Owls being on the roofs of one-story houses in Ballard. One was recently photographed in Edmonds.

Juvenile Snowy Owl resting on beached log by Larry Engles

Snowy Owls don’t winter in Washington every year— they may not come for five–to-ten year periods. When they do come in heavy numbers, that year is considered an “irruptive year”. If a smaller number of Snowys come the following year, it is called an “echo year”. Basically, these birds fly here for better hunting. The jury is still out as to whether it is due to “an extra low number of lemmings”, or to “too many young birds without good territories to support them”. Most of the Snowy Owls that travel south for food are young males. They will usually stay until mid-March, when they return north.

Snowy Owl yawning by John Riegsecker

These majestic predators mainly live and breed above the 60th parallel. Days stays mostly daylight in the summer, and mostly dark in the winter, so these owls have adapted to hunting both days and nights. While they are in the lower 48 states, they more often hunt at night. Their preferred prey are lemmings, but they are adaptive hunters and will take moles, voles, rats, ducks, ptarmigan, shorebirds, and even fish.

Pair of Snowy Owls by John Riegsecker

Their nesting sites require good visibility, accessible hunting areas, and lack of snow on a mound or boulder. The larger female, lays from five-to-eight eggs (14 in high lemming years) two days apart. The young leave the nest about 25 days after hatching—a month before they can fly. Both parents are fiercely protective, and may drive arctic foxes and wolves away from their territory when intruders are still a half mile from the nest. Since Snowy Owls don’t hunt near their own nests, and keep their nest-zone predator-free, Snow Geese have learned to nest near a Snowy Owl nest to improve the Snowy Goose’s clutch success.

Adult Snowys have few enemies, with habitat loss being their greatest threat. They aren’t used to many people so don’t crowd them—let them hunt and grow strong.

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 the link under the Features section on the main webpage.

Shorewood girls finish Archbishop Murphy basketball tournament with loss and win

The Shorewood girls' basketball team defeated Roosevelt of Seattle 75-50, Saturday on the final day of the Archbishop Murphy holiday tournament in Mill Creek after the Thunderbirds lost Friday to Post Falls, Idaho, 57-39.

Shorewood had opened the tournament Thursday with a 68-49 victory over Anacortes.

In the victory over Roosevelt, the Thunderbirds led 17-8 after the first quarter, 36-25 at halftime and 53-38 after three quarters before expanding the final victory margin to 75-50. Senior center Masha Shtikel led Shorewood with 19 points; teammate Lily Gustafson scored 12.

In the loss to Post Falls, The T-birds trailed 17-13 after the first quarter, 37-23 at halftime and 47-31 after three quarters before Post Falls cruised to the 57-39 victory. Shtikel led Shorewood with 15 points.

The Thunderbirds take an 8-3 overall record (3-1 Wesco 3A) into their return to Western Conference play at Everett, Friday, Jan. 4, at 7:15 p.m.

Post Falls, Idaho, 57, Shorewood 39
At Archbishop Murphy Tournament, Friday, Dec. 28
Shorewood -------- 13 10   8   8 -- 39
Post Falls, Idaho - 17 20 10 10 -- 57

Shorewood Scoring	Points
Lily Gustafson	8
Kassie Rasmussen	6
Angel Tulee	4
Lauren Thompson	3
Masha Shtikel	15
Abby Gustafson	1
Gabby Hager	1
Salyna McDonald	1
Kayla Bradley	0
Karrin Leazer	0

Shorewood 75, Roosevelt 50
At Archbishop Murphy High School, Mill Creek, Saturday, Dec. 29
Roosevelt -----  8 17 13 12 -- 50
Shorewood –   17 19 17 22 -- 75

Shorewood Scoring	Points
Lauren Thompson	9
Abby Gustafson	7
Salyna McDonald	7
Angel Tulee	7
Kassie Rasmussen	6
Karrin Leazer	4
Gabby Hager	2
Jasmine Pollard	2
Masha Shtikel	19
Lily Gustafson	12
Kayla Bradley	0
Trisha Fernandez	0
Mariah Schultz	0

Counting Down: 14 Ideas for New Year's Family Fun

From our news partner Parent Map

Counting Down: 14 Ideas for New Year's Family Fun

Written by Nancy Chaney

Can’t stay up ‘til midnight? No babysitter? No problem -- make ringing in the new year a family affair. Read on for top family outings around the Sound for both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. When you get home, toast 2013 with your kids. What better way to welcome 2013 than with a good night’s sleep for everyone?

New Year’s Eve, Monday Dec. 31

Celebration Lane, Bellevue. You might have experienced Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane, but now it’s Celebration Lane with new features and fun. On its last night, kids of all ages will delight in saluting the close of 2012 and the dawn of 2013 with dazzling lights, music and dancing characters. Plus, you won’t want to miss the special surprise that falls from the sky. Grab a spot on the sidewalks between Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square and Bellevue Place for the 7 p.m. show. Free.

Children's Museum, Seattle Global Countdown: Ring in the new year and improve your kids global IQ: The Children's Museum will count down the arrival of the new year in six different countries, one each hour, including doing a craft that represents a tradition of that country. (Open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.)

The Children’s Museum of Tacoma, New Year’s Eve at Noon. Admission is pay-what-you-can all day long December 31 (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) and at the civilized hour of 12 noon, grab your noisemakers and join the parade marching through the museum.

The Hands On Children’s Museum in Olympia, Noon Year. Check out the brand-new Hands On Museum and attend its Noon Year’s Eve party. Highlights include Dr. Science experimenting with light, a noon-time ball drop, face-painting and other fun stuff. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and recommends advance, timed-entry tickets; $12-$15 for kids, $4 for adults and babies free.

Seattle Center’s New Year’s Eve celebration. High-energy band Rhythm Nation plays a variety of tunes to get bodies (young and old) moving. This FREE party runs from 8:15 to 11:45 p.m.; dance for an hour and have the kiddos tucked into bed by 10 p.m.; free. Come early to take in the last of Seattle Center's Winterfest: holiday train set-up, ice rink and more.

Tacoma’s First Night New Year’s Eve celebration. One of the region's best New Year's Eve events transforms the city’s downtown theater district into one huge theater street party from 6 p.m.-midnight. A packed evening of musical acts, performances and activities (a one-mile run, mini-golf, a scavenger hunt, special museum admissions and more) are on the docket. First Night buttons cost $10 advance, $14 day of; kids 10 and under free.

The Imagine Children’s Museum’s in Everett: Enjoy a buffet of activities including a magician, DJ dance music, crafts, plus snacks for purchase. This New Year’s Eve party begins at 6 p.m. and the evening culminates in an East Coast midnight (that’s 9 p.m. here) ball drop that promises to be “spectacular.” Dress for the weather as the ball drop is outdoors, rain or shine. Tickets $10-$15 advance, $15-$20 at the door, space permitting.

New Year’s Day, Tuesday Jan. 1

Polar Bear Plunges. If you're seeking a truly invigorating start to 2013, we suggest one of the region’s several Polar Bear Plunges. Pick your poison — the Sound or a lake. For Lake Washington, try the Matthews Beach plunge, reportedly the oldest in the area. (The Edmonds waterfront is a newer event but just as cold). Even if you can’t stomach a dip, it’s fun to watch others show their courage. But bring your towel just in case. All free.

Take a First Day hike. Start your family's hiking resolution for 2013 by going on a "First Day Hike," organized jaunts at one of many Washington state parks on New Year’s Day, in honor of our state parks' centennial anniversary. The closest spot to Seattle is a hike at Olallie/Iron Horse, but there are hikes in many other beautiful places, from Moran State Park to historic Cama Beach. Free, but a Discover Pass is required for vehicle access to the events.

Snowshoe at Mt. Rainier. Mt. Rainier National Park is leading daily guided snowshoe walks (throughout winter break) from its snow play area at the Jackson Visitor Center, at 12:30 p.m. and 2 p.m. for only $4 a person. Bring  your sled, and take a run down the sledding hill, too!

Café Flora New Year’s Day brunch. Madison Park’s venerable veg restaurant serves up a delicious, healthy, kid-friendly brunch on January 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menu teaser: orange-cranberry French toast, potato latkes, blueberry cornmeal muffins, smoky Roma Florentine scramble and much more. Yum! Adults $25, kids under 12 $12.50.

IMAX movie. Bag official celebrations and take in a movie that will leave little eyes wide with wonder (and yours, too). We recommend Rocky Mountain Express, showing at 10:30 a.m., and Flight of the Butterflies in 3D showing at 11:45 a.m. Both films play at the Pacific Science Center December 31 and January 1, (as well as other days). Fantastic scenery and an engaging learning experience will please train fans, butterfly fans, and everyone else. Tickets $6-$9; under 2 free.

MOHAI Family Day. Visit the Museum of History and Industry’s brand new location at Lake Union Park, with a host of new kid- and family-focused activities for New Year’s Day. Admission $12-$14; age 14 and under free. Note: While you’re in the neighborhood, stop by the Center for Wooden Boats next door and check out its new exhibit Fish On! Historic Boathouses and Fishing Resorts of Puget Sound.

Skate into 2013. Chances are, one too many holiday treat has passed your lips or holiday family togetherness has given you cabin fever. Or maybe both! Get outside and skate away any troubles at one of these indoor or outdoor rinks (including Highland Ice Arena in Shoreline); most are open for New Year's Eve and Day. The Bellevue Magic Season Ice Arena, for example, is both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; $10 admission includes skate rental, $7 with your own skates.

January activities at the Shoreline Library

Shoreline Library. Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline Library

345 NE 175th Street, Shoreline 98155

206-362-7550

January 2013 Events

Children and Families

Spanish Story Times

Friday, January 4, 11, 18 and 25, 1:30pm

Ages 3 to 6 with adult.

Pajammin' Party!

Saturday, January 5, 11am

Presented by Brian Waite Band.

Ages 3 and older with adult.

Come sing, dance and laugh with the band that has rocked its way into the hearts of both kids and parents as they throw a pajama party at the library.

PJs welcome!

Space is limited; first come, first seated.

Pajamarama Family Story Times

Monday, January 7, 14 and 28, 7pm

Family program, all ages welcome with adult.

Young Toddler Story Times

Tuesday, January 8, 15, 22 and 29, 10:05am

Ages 12 to 24 months with adult.

Preschool Story Times

Tuesday, January 8, 15, 22 and 29, 11am

Ages 3 to 6 with adult.

Teens

Game On!

Wednesday, January 2 and 16, 4-6pm

Play video games at the library.

Study Zone

Sundays-Thursdays, 5-7pm

When school is in session.

Grades K-12.

Drop-in during scheduled Study Zone hours for free homework help from volunteer tutors.

Shoreline Teen Advisory Board

Join the Teen Advisory Board and make decisions about what happens in your library. 

Ask at the Information Desk for dates and times.

Adults

Opera Preview: Cenerentola

Thursday, January 3, 7pm

Join Norm Hollingshead for an opera preview of Cenerentola.

eReader and Digital Downloads Demo

Tuesday, January 8 and 15, 4pm

Learn how to download KCLS eBooks to your eReader device, or computer during this digital downloads demonstration.

Computer Class: Beginner Library Catalog

Monday, January 14, 2:30pm

Please call 206-362-7550 to register.

Shoreline Library Book Discussion Group

Old Filth by Jane Gardam

Monday, January 14, 7pm

Computer Class: Advanced Library Catalog

Thursday, January 24, 2:30pm

Please call 206-362-7550 to register.

Work for Yourself

Monday, January 28, 4pm

Do you think you would like to start a business? Wondering how to go about it? 

Learn the resources that are available to you through the Small Business Administration, the steps in starting a business, how to write a business plan and how to do the necessary research, and more.

Citizenship Workshop

Tuesdays, 7pm

No class on January 1.

Get free individualized help with all stages of the process for becoming a United States citizen.

Talk Time

Wednesdays, 10am-Noon

Improve your speaking and listening skills in this English conversation group.

SCORE Counseling

Volunteers from SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) are available by appointment 

to advise current and future small business owners.

Please call 206-362-7550 or stop by the Information Desk to make an appointment.

SHIBA Counseling

Volunteers from SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) will offer free individual counseling in English and Chinese.

Please call 206-362-7550 or stop by the Information Desk to make an appointment.

Computer Classes

Inquire at the Information Desk for dates and times.