On the Mayor's Mind - Night Out, Jazz Walk, Celebrate Shoreline

Police Chief Shawn Ledford, Mayor Shari Winstead,
City Manager Debbie Tarry
Photo by Jeanne Monger

On the Mayor's Mind

August 11, 2014

By Shoreline Mayor Shari Winstead

It’s hard to believe we are half way through August already. We’ve certainly been fortunate to have beautiful weather this Summer, and it looks like it’s going to continue through Shoreline’s birthday week - Shoreline is 19 years old!  

I hope your neighborhood held one of the 51 National Night Out Against Crime block parties, held last Tuesday. The Chief of Police, the City Manager and I visited three of the parties, but every party that officially registered with the City had a police officer or a City staff leader visit. It was, as always, great to talk with folks, and to hear so many people say how much they love living in Shoreline. We had three specific messages to share.

First, if you see something strange in your neighborhood, call 911 - many of us hesitate to call 911 because we don’t feel our situation rises to the level of “911”. Let the dispatcher or police make that decision. Trust your gut. If it doesn’t look right, it’s probably not. You may remember my story a few weeks back about the stolen car on my street. (See previous story)

Second, organize your neighborhood for Shoreline Watch - formerly known as a “block watch” - it’s the same thing, it’s just more specific to Shoreline. Knowing your neighbors is the best way to stay safe and secure. 

And last, be informed - sign up for Alert Shoreline. This is the City’s main way to communicate emergency information, in real time. You can get the info by text, email or a voice message. Street closures, a fire in a neighborhood, cancellations of events, why a helicopter is hovering overhead, etc. It’s the best way to stay informed.

Mayor Shari Winstead with chalk artist Gabrielle Abbott
Photo by Dick Deal

We also kicked off Celebrate Shoreline week with Arts Al Fresco last Thursday night. Hopefully you’ve noticed some of the new sculptures along the Interurban Trail at Town Center - between 175th and 185th, and if you haven’t had a chance to check out the chalk masterpiece on the Interurban Trail (at about 177th), it is a must see!  But see it today, it will be gone soon! Because it really is chalk!

This week is sure to be fun, and I hope to see you out and about! After our Council meeting on Monday night (if you are interested in the land use zoning around the 185th Street light rail station, you should be attending), we’ve got the North City Jazz Walk on Tuesday night, with more venues, more music and more food than before (link), several neighborhood get-togethers and of course the official Celebrate Shoreline festival!

 

The fun kicks off on Friday with the Skate Park competition, and on Saturday, the best and biggest party of all - CELEBRATE SHORELINE at Cromwell Park, from 11am- 8pm. Fun for the whole family, with music all day, a beer garden (and a root beer garden!), games, pony rides, booths, food, a classic car show - you name it, we got it! I’m particularly excited as this is the first year for our Kids’ Move challenge, and I’m hoping lots of kids will be turning in their activity forms and entering to win one of four scooters and helmets! Don’t miss the Sand Castle contest on Sunday, and prior to that, the first ever Bust Your Buns beach to bluff run (or walk!) 

I’ll see you there!