Shoreline Area News

LFP Mayor’s Corner – Reflection

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 12:21:15 +0200

LFP Mayor Jeff Johnson

With this being my last Mayor’s Corner message to the LFP community, I would like to use it to say what an honor it has been to serve as your Mayor the last eight years and as a city council member for four years before that.

Over the last 12 years, we have accomplished a lot, including the following:

We weathered the COVID-19 pandemic and maintained balanced budgets throughout the economic downturn
Moved to hybrid city council and advisory body meetings, expanding public access to the legislative process
Moved the culvert replacement plan forward by completing the culvert on NE 178th Street and preparing the next replacement at NE 185th Street
Built a picnic shelter at Pfingst Animal Acres Park
Purchased the Lake Front Park property and began the public planning process
Held Coffee with the Mayor events
Welcomed a new Municipal Judge
Held the annual Picnic in the Park event each year and the popular Battle of the Bands
Created the Climate Action Committee
Said goodbye to some long-term staff who retired, and welcomed new hires

If I had to pick the one thing I am most proud of during my tenure as mayor, it is the city’s purchase of the Lake Front Park property. Once complete, our community will have free waterfront access to Lake Washington. Our name is Lake Forest Park, after all.

If I had to pick the biggest ongoing challenge to the city, it would be finding funding to maintain and update our public amenities like parks and sidewalks.

When presented with a proposition on the November 2021 ballot to help fund sidewalks, parks, and multimodal connections, voters said no. Without the community’s support for funding of these types of improvements throughout the city, future city leaders will be faced with tough choices when developing budgets— how to maintain the current levels of service and improve and maintain infrastructure in the face of inflation and staffing limitations.

If park and sidewalk development and maintenance is truly a desire of the community, the community will need to support funding options.

I would like to thank all the city staff members for their hard work and dedication to the LFP community. I always enjoyed seeing you at council meetings, events, and around city hall.

Lake Forest Park is a great place to live and work and it has been an honor to serve as an elected official during these past 12 years.

Happy holidays to you and yours, and may the new year bring blessings to all.

--Mayor Johnson

Holiday and Winter Photography with Merrill Images Saturday December 2, 2023

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:40:49 +0200

Holiday and Winter Photography with Merrill Images

Shoreline Library 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline WA 98155

Saturday, December 2, 2-3:30pm

For Adults.

Jumpstart your photography with new approaches to image-making throughout the winter season. John and Lisa Merrill from Merrill Images will help you harness the transformative power of light, compose for impact and intentionally make compelling photos.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shoreline Library.

Registration not required.

Celebrate Anne Stadler: An Online Memorial, December 8 or 9

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:25:20 +0200

Please join friends and family of Anne M. Stadler to honor and remember her love of life and the human spirit

December 8*

5:30pm Hawaii
7:30pm Seattle
December 9, 9am India

OR

December 9*

7am Hawaii
9am Seattle / Noon New York / 5pm London

Zoom link** https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81632260735

Our purpose:

To share what Anne meant to us through our stories and other creative expressions.

Add your pictures, links to videos and messages here: Send Anne Love

We’ll hold two online celebrations to welcome Anne’s friends from around the world. Both sessions will be recorded for the family.

With love,
Peggy Holman, Anil Sachdev, Matthew Stadler, Annick Corriveau, William Aal

P.S. Please spread the word.
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** Zoom Dial In Information

Meeting ID: 816 3226 0735

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Dial by your location

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Meeting ID: 816 3226 0735

Find your local number here

Holiday Open House and craft bazaar at Friendship Academy December 2, 2023

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 11:10:55 +0200

Holiday Open House and Craft Bazaar at Friendship Academy

Saturday December 2, 2023 1 - 4pm

1206 N 185th St, Shoreline WA 98133

Shop for participant-made holiday gifts and local artisan crafts and gifts.

Decorate cookies, play games and visit with friends. Pictures with Santa!

Saturday December 2 is a fun event convergence zone - too many things too little time

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:37:42 +0200

By Diane Hettrick

There are several dates during the year where every organization in town seems to schedule an event and December 2, 2023 is clearly one of those days.

I thought I had a route figured out to be able to get to everything, but then discovered three more events. Obviously you will need to make choices. Sorry - you can't have it all.

9am - 1pm (LFP) Five Acre Woods work party

10am Green Shoreline Day - (12 locations in Shoreline) planting events

10am - 2pm (Sky Nursery) Heartful Rootz Makers Market

10am - 1pm (Shoreline College) Let's Make Gifts for the Holidays

10am or 12:30pm or 2pm (Kruckeberg) Holiday Wreath-Making (pre-registration required)

10am - 3pm (Shoreline Place) T&C Gingerbread House Decorating Event

10am -5pm (Hillwood) Paul Lewing annual studio sale - Saturday and Sunday

12 - 4pm (Ridgecrest) Cascade Winter Market

4:30pm (Richmond Beach) Tree Lighting and Santa

6 - 10:30pm (Ridgecrest) Star Party

6:30pm (North City) Tree Lighting, Toy Drive, and Santa

Man shot during Lake City robbery

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:11:00 +0200

Shooting in 13200 block of 35th NE in Lake City

By Officer Shawn Weismiller

Seattle Police Department

Robbery detectives are searching for multiple suspects after a 28-year-old male was shot and robbed of his scooter Wednesday afternoon November 29, 2023 in Lake City.

Shortly after 1:30pm, officers responded to reports of a male shot in the 13200 block of 35th Ave NE. Police arrived and located a male victim with a gunshot wound. Officers provided life-saving measures until the Seattle Fire Department arrived. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center in stable condition.

Police learned the victim was on his scooter when he was approached by a vehicle occupied by multiple males. One of the suspects was armed with a rifle and a handgun. The suspect pointed the gun at the victim and demanded his property. The suspect then shot the victim and fled with the victim’s scooter and backpack.

Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the vehicle or the suspects. Robbery detectives responded to the scene and will be leading the investigation.

If anyone has information about this incident, please call Seattle PD’s Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000.

WA Ferries awarded $4.8M in federal funds to extend lifespan of six aging vessels

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:55:44 +0200

M/V Issaquah. Photo courtesy WSDOT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – November 29, 2023, U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Patty Murray (D-WA), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, announced that Washington State Ferries (WSF) has received $4.8 million in federal funding to refurbish passenger areas on six aging boats in its ferry fleet.

The grant will pay for upgrades on all six of WSF’s Issaquah Class Vessels, originally constructed between 1979 and 1982 and currently serve travelers in Fauntleroy, Vashon, Southworth, Mukilteo, Clinton, Anacortes, and the San Juan Islands.

Funds came from the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) 2023 Ferry Programs Grants. The Washington State Department of Transportation is providing an additional $960,000 for the project.

“Our ferry system is a critical part of our transportation network and ridership is growing. With this money, Washington State Ferries will extend the useful life of six vessels by five to ten years, which will help improve service reliability throughout the ferry system,” Sen. Cantwell said.

M/V Chelan. Photo courtesy wikimedia commons

Sen. Murray said,

“Here in Washington state, ferries are really important to our daily lives and commutes— so we need the federal government to make a serious investment in this mode of transportation.

“These critical refurbishments made possible with the funding we’re announcing today will allow these vessels to serve passengers more comfortably and for years to come.

"As Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I’m working hard to secure additional federal resources for our ferries, and to make sure that our nation’s largest ferry fleet— right here in Washington state— can continue to serve our communities well.”

This project will extend the useful life of the vessels and improve passenger amenities, allowing for more space between passengers in high-occupancy areas, and making cleaning easier for WSF staff. The benefits will be primarily felt by the increasing number of walk-on riders in the nation’s largest ferry system.

Each of the six ships can carry 90-124 vehicles and 1,200 passengers per trip. The vessels receiving upgrades are:

MV Issaquah (1979)
MV Kittitas (1980): Serving Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon
MV Kitsap (1980) : Serving Mukilteo/Clinton
MV Cathlamet (1981): Serving Fauntleroy/Southworth/Vashon
MV Chelan (1981) : Serving Anacortes/San Juan Islands
MV Sealth (1982)

In FY2022, only 43% of the 21 WSF vessels met the target for State of Good Repair. Additionally, the accumulating maintenance backlog has resulted in pervasive service disruptions. From July 2019 to June 2023, each of the six vessels was out of operation in shipyards for an average of 3.12 months each year.

Without refurbishment, vessels will continue to deteriorate, and service disruptions will become even more commonplace. The project will extend the useful life of these aging vessels – which comprise 28.5% of the entire WSF fleet – for another five to 10 years.

By the end of 2025, these six ships will have a combined preservation backlog of over $88 million, with only $28.9 million available for preservation. With such severe fiscal constraints, preservation funding has been necessarily directed toward only the most urgent needs to keep vessels operational, in the absence of significant funding allocated for passenger amenities.

In January, Sen. Cantwell and Sen. Murray announced that Washington State Ferries would receive three grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) totaling $11.6 million, including a grant to electrify the Mukilteo-Clinton route.

Sen. Cantwell and Senator Murray played an instrumental role in securing $25 million to replace the 60-year-old Lummi Island ferry with a state-of-the-art electric hybrid vessel through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program first established by Senator Murray.

As chair of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sen. Cantwell has consistently championed investments in the State of Washington’s transportation systems and has helped secure federal funding for important infrastructure and transit expansion projects throughout the state.

In August, Sen. Cantwell announced a $44.6 million grant to help convert three Washington State Ferries to hybrid-electric propulsion systems, along with a $100 million contract with shipbuilder Vigor.

Sen. Murray has long fought to increase funding for in our nation’s ferry systems and this year, as Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, she secured $20 million for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program— a $5 million increase over last year’s funding level— in the draft Transportation, Housing and Urban Development funding bill for Fiscal Year 2024 that overwhelmingly passed the Senate in November.

In last year’s spending package, Senator Murray successfully fought to increase investments for the Passenger Ferry Grant Program, as well as a minimum of $5 million set aside for low or zero-emission ferries.

Senator Murray also helped secure record funding for ferries in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law she helped pass as Assistant Majority Leader; the legislation included $2.3 billion for ferry boats and terminal infrastructure, including $250 million over five years for low or zero emission ferries and more than $17 billion for port and waterway infrastructure.

Sens. Cantwell and Murray have long been strong supporters of robust increases to competitive transit grant programs such as the Capital Investment Grant Program, the Low or No Emission (Low-No) Grant Program, the Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program, and the Passenger Ferry Grant Program.

Live and Local: Tap your toes at Third Place Commons

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 08:37:40 +0200

Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers at Third Place Commons Friday

This Friday, December 1, 2023 at 7pm, Michele D'Amour and the Love Dealers return to the stage at Third Place Commons for a sizzling night of blues, jazz, and deep grooves sure to keep you moving all night.

Dance to the 85th Street Big Band Saturday at Third Place Commons

Then Saturday at 7pm, because we know you love to dance, we bring you none other than the 85th Street Big Band for an irresistibly swinging good time.

And by the way, discreet toe-tapping counts as dancing, so if you'd rather just sit and enjoy the great music, that's perfect, too!

Community starts here. Join us!

Third Place Commons, upper level Town Center Lake Forest Park, intersection Bothell and Ballinger Way NE.

Let's Make Gifts for the holidays on December 2, 2023 at Shoreline Community College

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 06:16:08 +0200

Nothing beats a handcrafted gift!

Join us for this fun workshop, and learn how to create paper beads, then fashion them into jewelry.

Decorate a candle with coordinating box of matches, and make a cute pinecone owl to grace a mantel or a tree.

Leave with several treasures and patterns to make more. For families and adults of all ages.

Saturday, December 2, 2023 from 10am to 1pm at Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133, The PUB 9000 building, room 9208.

Fee: $39.00 All supplies provided!

Register here

Sponsored by Continuing Education, Shoreline Community College.

Shoreline Fire Board meeting Wednesday November 29, 2023

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 12:03:39 +0200

SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE

As required by RCW 42.30, the Open Public Meetings Act, NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Commissioners of the Shoreline Fire Department will hold a Special Meeting at the date, time, and place specified below.

The purpose of the meeting is to re-approve the Shoreline Fire Department’s 2024 Budget Resolution 23-05 - Tax Levy Certification of Regular Property Tax Levy and Bond Levy.

DATE: Wednesday, November 29, 2023

TIME: 4:00 pm

LOCATION: Shoreline Fire Department (upstairs conference room)

17525 Aurora Avenue North

Shoreline, WA 98133

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85118828972?pwd=a1pNYUhtNmtJeDNObGRDZ09NM3pQQT09

Meeting ID: 851 1882 8972

Passcode: 821305

Notice posted by: Beatriz Goldsmith

Executive Assistant

November 28, 2023

Work party in Five Acre Woods on Saturday, December 2, 2023

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:34:13 +0200

Five Acre Woods
Photo courtesy LFP Stewardship Foundation

Five Acre Woods Volunteer Work Party

in Lake Forest Park

Saturday December 2, 2023 from 9am - 12noon

City Park "Five-Acre Woods" 18678-18998 40th Pl NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

Restoration volunteers continue at your local forest park, Five Acre Woods. This new hidden gem of a park is really coming along!

Work includes removal of invasive plants like ivy, blackberry and bamboo, trail building and maintenance, and planting trees and native plants.

Come dressed for all weather – rain or shine. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for uneven terrain and mountain beaver holes.

We will have a limited number of tools available so please bring your garden shears, loppers, folding hand saws or metal rakes but leave your power tools at home.

Don’t forget your gloves — some people are sensitive to ivy sap.

Green Shoreline Day - volunteer in a Shoreline Park

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:19:10 +0200

Green Shoreline Day, Saturday December 2, 2023 in parks throughout the City.

This is the first year for this event. The volunteers who shepherd each park will have up to 100 native plants that need to get into the ground on this day.

One potential problem of having all the events on the same day: there are people who routinely volunteer at more than one park. They will have to choose and some parks will be short-handed. Brugger's Bog is one location that struggles for volunteers. Northcrest could use some help, too.

Map of park locations

Details and sign up at each park link. Most events are 10am - 1pm but may vary by location.

Darnell Park
12/02/2023
Darnell Park

Echo Lake Loves Native Plants
12/02/2023
Echo Lake Park

Shoreline Park
12/02/2023
Shoreline Park

Brugger's Bog
12/02/2023
Bruggers Bog

Help Us Plant Native Trees!
12/02/2023
Richmond Beach Saltwater Park

Northcrest Park
12/02/2023
Northcrest Park

Hamlin Forest Restoration Site
12/02/2023
Hamlin Park

North City Park
12/02/2023
North City Park

Tree Planting Celebration
12/02/2023
Boeing Creek Park

Winter planting
12/02/2023
Twin Ponds Park

Join us! Weekly Sunday Work Party
12/03/2023
Twin Ponds Park

Cartoon by Whitney Potter: The End

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 11:16:49 +0200

Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter can be seen here

Elections certified: Major turnovers in local races

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 10:42:10 +0200

l-r Tom French, next Mayor of Lake Forest Park; Annette Ademasu, newest member of Shoreline City Council; Jon Culver elected to Kenmore City Council

King county has certified the results of the November 2023 general election, as has Snohomish county.

Locally, our elections were remarkable for the long-term, well-known incumbents who were defeated by challengers.

LFP Mayor Jeff Johnson defeated by Tom French
Shoreline Councilmember Doris McConnell defeated by Annette Ademasu
Kenmore Councilmember David Baker defeated by Jon Culver

Mike Rosen, next Mayor of Edmonds
Susanna Johnson, Snohomish County Sheriff

Snohomish County incumbents had not been in office as long, perhaps 3-4 years.

Edmonds Mayor Mike Nelson defeated by Mike Rosen
Snohomish county sheriff Adam Fortney defeated by Susanna Johnson

Local races were notable for the number of incumbents who had no challengers. Effectively, they were reelected the moment that candidate filing closed.

As always, local races were also notable for the number of people who did not vote, i.e. "undervotes."

King County ballot returns

There are some good reasons for people who are registered but do not vote. People move out of the state and don't think to notify elections. People who are infirm, or ill. People who don't think they know enough about issues or candidates to make a choice.

People who are so stressed and busy that the whole thing just got away from them. People who fill out their ballots early, put them on the desk and bury them in a stack of paper (you know who you are).

That leaves a lot of people that I have no excuses for.

Having said that, the turnout was better this year in some areas. The City of Kenmore had 40% turnout, which isn't bad compared to Shoreline's 34% - but Kenmore still had a council race that was decided by 70 votes.

Lake Forest Park has bragging rights with a 48% ballot return.

City of Kenmore - 15,656 registered - 6,289 ballots 40.17%

City of Lake Forest Park - 10,352 registered - 4,954 ballots 48.26%

City of Seattle - 480,980 registered - 220,938 ballots 45.93% (numbers from Prop 1)

City of Shoreline - 39,313 registered - 13,326 ballots 33.90%

In Snohomish County,

Total Ballots Cast: 185,738
Registered Voters: 512,546
Overall Turnout: 36.24%

Town of Woodway - 1045 registered voters - 499 ballots 47.75%

--Diane Hettrick

King County Library System (KCLS) Board of Trustees has appointed KCLS Deputy Director of Public Services Angie Miraflor as interim director of the library system

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:32:18 +0200

Angie Miraflor named interim director
of the King County Library System

ISSAQUAH, WA — The King County Library System (KCLS) Board of Trustees has appointed KCLS Deputy Director of Public Services Angie Miraflor as interim director of the library system, effective December 19, following the retirement of current KCLS Executive Director Lisa Rosenblum.

Miraflor joined KCLS in November 2021. She brings over 20 years of experience working in diverse communities throughout the country. Before coming to KCLS, she served as the director of central services at the St. Louis Public Library.

Miraflor has also served as the director of customer experience at the Brooklyn Public Library, associate director of the West Bronx Library Network at the New York Public Library, and division manager for literacy and learning at the San Jose Public Library.

Angie holds a master’s degree in library and information science and a bachelor’s degree in public relations from San Jose State University.

“I’m proud to say KCLS has been my library home for the last two years,” stated KCLS Deputy Director of Public Services Angie Miraflor. “I’m excited and honored to lead such an innovative and community focused organization during this time of transition. KCLS’ devoted staff will continue to provide excellent programs and robust collections.”

The KCLS Board of Trustees is charged with hiring the new executive director. They are conducting a national search for the position, and they expect the effort to take several more months.

"The Board of Trustees is happy that Angie Miraflor has graciously agreed to fill the role of the interim director,” stated KCLS Board of Trustees President Harish Kulkarni. “We are confident that the library and its patrons will be in able and experienced hands until a new director can start their duties."

Rosenblum announced her retirement in July. A distinguished librarian, she has spent the past 35 years working for public libraries. Since Rosenblum joined KCLS in January 2018, the library system has received numerous awards and accolades for outstanding services and innovation, including being named a National Medal finalist by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) this year — a first for KCLS.

Popular ideas of Christmas (and where they came from)

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:14:03 +0200

Sunday, December 3, 2023 at 11:45am we will offer a seminar titled, “Popular ideas of Christmas (and where they came from)”

We have a lot of wild and wonderful ways of celebrating Christmas: St. Nick, Santa Claus, The Christmas Creche, The Night Before Christmas, A Christmas Carol, Sugar Plum Fairies, and even Flying Reindeer.

Where did all these come from? We will give some of the history in a fun, interactive seminar format, finishing by 1:00pm.

In addition to the seminar presentation we’ll have a chance to share favorite family traditions. All are welcome.

St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church

722 N 145th St, Shoreline WA 98133

Free COVID Test Kits available now

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:07:56 +0200

COVID-19 at home tests are available, at no cost to you when you order online.

Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order an additional 4 free at-home tests beginning November 20, 2023.

If you did not order tests this fall, you may place two orders for a total of 8 tests.

Make sure you and your loved ones are heading into winter ready to test if needed.

To request your tests visit COVID.gov/tests

Northwest Neighbors Network - a great place to volunteer

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:04:09 +0200

This holiday season consider giving yourself the gift of connection to some wonderful members of your community. That's what happens when you volunteer with Northwest Neighbors Network.

You can do it at the times your life allows without the pressure of a regular schedule.

As a volunteer for five years, helping seniors remain in their own homes by assisting with yard and household tasks, I've crossed paths with fascinating people I would otherwise never have met.

What do NNN Volunteers Do? *Transportation *Shopping/Errands *Light Cleaning *Help with Trash/Mail *Social Visits/Walking Partners *Simple Repairs*Tech Assistance and More!

Serving people in Northern King County and South Snohomish Counties.

Find out how to get involved; email danie@northwestneighborsnetwork.org or call 253-237-2848

--Anne Guthrie

Shop Local: Paul Lewing Studio Sale and Open House December 2-3, 2023

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 07:25:10 +0200

Acrylic painting by Paul Lewing

Paul Lewing will hold his annual studio sale and open house Saturday and Sunday, December 2 - 3, 2023 from 10am - 5pm, at his studio at 105 N 200th St. in the Hillwood neighborhood of Shoreline.

He will be show his acrylic paintings and ceramic tiles. Joining him again this year will be Rupa Palasamudram, showing her functional porcelain ceramics.

Functional porcelain ceramics by Rupa Palasamudram

This year marks the 50th consecutive year Paul has staged a home/studio sale. All are welcome. Bring your friends and shop local.

Paul Lewing

Tiles: www.paullewingtile.com
Art: www.paullewingart.com

Sno-King School Retirees award mini-grants to educators in Shoreline Schools

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 12:20:01 +0200

Each fall the Sno-King School Retirees, an organization of active and retired employees of the Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts, offers educator grants to our active members.

Since 1998, SKSR has awarded over $120,000 in mini-grants.

SKSR is pleased to announce that seven Shoreline employees and one school volunteer are 2023-24 mini-grant recipients.

Briarcrest Elementary

Jafeet Corral: A classroom subscription for IXL math. (2nd grade)
Michelle Holguin: High-quality headphones for her class to use during reading rotations. (3rd grade)
Emma LeBlanc: High-quality headphones for her class to use, especially for literacy programs. (1st grade)
Amy Pitts: A classroom subscription for IXL math. (2nd grade)
Janet Shin: High-interest books and tactile materials for her reset station. (K-5th grades)
Wendy Yamamoto: Alphabet magnets and magnetic boards to use with the phonics program. (Kindergarten)

Brookside Elementary

Mary Telstad: Art supplies for watercolor workshops. (4th/5th grades)

Syre Elementary

Julie Anneberg: Lap desks to offer alternative seating options in order to meet different learning style needs. (3rd grade)

SKSR is glad to be able to assist these educators and their students in this small way.