October 1st deadline for off-leash area comments!

Shoreline dog owners: did you know that in 2006 Shoreline residents passed a Parks Bond measure designating $150,000 for the creation of an off-leash dog park system? And two years later, we still have no off-leash areas.

There are some 12,000 dogs in Shoreline. And while all of our neighboring communities have off-leash dog areas, Shoreline does not (even though we have the bond money to build one). Off-leash parks allow dogs to socialize with each other, and learn to interact better with other dogs and with humans. They give elderly and disabled folks a place to safely exercise their companions, and let dogs of all sizes get the kind of fun, intense exercise that keeps them healthy and living a long time. And they're a great place for humans to meet and make friends, too!

Local group Shoredog.org is fighting to get the city to create off-leash parks in Shoreline, where dogs can run and play and socialize. But it's important to the process that the city hear from you, the public. There are six potential sites that have been identified; you can see them in this document from the city. You can join Shoredog's mailing list for updates and more information about the process by clicking here. Or, click here to send an email to Shoreline's city council members.

Additionally, to make sure your comments are heard, please take a moment to contact the park planner:

Maureen Colaizzi (206) 801-2603 or (206) 546-0232 mcolaizzi@ci.shoreline.wa.us or pks@ci.shoreline.wa.us

Link to more information about the off-leash project here.
Link to Shoredog site here.

'Shoreline Neighbors for Peace' hold weekly vigil against Iraq war

If you ever pass through the intersection of Meridian and 175th in Shoreline, you've probably seen a few of your neighbors standing on the corner holding signs in support of ending the Iraq war. 

These folks are members of a group called "Shoreline Neighbors for Peace." My understanding is that this group is a sub-set of SNOW (Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War)

I stopped by and visited them for a few minutes yesterday during their weekly vigil. Gini, Peter and Rose were very friendly and pleasant to talk to. They told me their group has been doing this since late 2002 and that the response from motorists has gotten increasingly positive over the years.

I don't know about you, but I really admire people who go out of their way to make a statement as citizens. Hooray for freedom of speech! And an even bigger hooray for those who take advantage of it.

Gini, Peter, and Rose

If you'd like to keep up with what this group is up to you can join a mailing list maintained by Peter. Just send a blank email to shoreline-neighbors-subscribe@lists.riseup.net

Link to: info at SNOW Coalition website

Gravelled and green at Ronald Bog park

I noticed a couple of recent changes to Ronald Bog park this morning. There is now gravel covering the new-ish winding little path east of the parking lot. There is also a "green roof" on the signboard. Here's a few photos.

The newly graveled path

Where the gravel meets the grass

The new 'green roof' on the wooden sign thingy

Link to: all articles about Ronald Bog park

Link to: hear some music from a CD called 'Gravelled and Green' by Seattle band Actual Tigers

Construction of Animal Surgical Clinic on 15th Ave NE

A few photos taken yesterday (Sept. 26, 2008)

This construction is happening on the northeast corner of the intersection of 15th Ave NE and NE 148th St.

Shoreline's sister city: Boryeong, South Korea

Did you know Shoreline has a sister city in South Korea? If not, say hello to Boryeong City.

According to the City of Shoreline's website: "The City of Shoreline maintains a sister city relationship with the City of Boryeong, Korea. Sister City relationships are important for trade and the growth of Shoreline as a city with many national and international connections."

According to Wikipedia, Boryeong is known for its beaches and its annual mud festival(!) Apparently the city's beach mud is used in cosmetics. The Boryeong website says the city is comprised of 78 islands and many beaches.

Perhaps, in the spirit of City Sisterhood, Shoreline should start having an annual mud festival. What do you think? Sounds like fun doesn't it? What do you say, Mayor Ryu? Please??

Photo from the Boryeong Mud Festival website

Link to: more information about Boryeong South Korea at Wikipedia

Link to: Boryeong's English language website

Link to: Mud Festival homepage

More about off-leash areas in Shoreline

Have you heard about "ShoreDOG"?

ShoreDOG is a a non-profit that advocates the creation of dog off-leash areas in Shoreline. 

ShoreDog has a meeting coming up this weekend. If you're a dog owner who would like to see off leash areas in Shoreline, you might want to connect with this organization.

What: ShoreDOG Meeting
When: Sat., September 27th   11:00am to 12:30p
Where: Lake Forest Park Third Place Commons Meeting Room, 17171 Bothell Way NE (The meeting room is located in the food court next to the Italian restaurant)

Link to: ShoreDOG website for more info

Dog Day Afternoon in Shoreline on Sunday Sept 28, 2008

Shoreline resident Mina (photo by Sonya)

If you're a dog owner, grab the leash and get ready for some fun!

Dog Day Afternoon is a responsible dog owner event that will be held on Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 1-5 pm at Kellogg Middle School (which is just east of Hamlin Park)

Among the events that will be offered:

• Agility fun course
  
• Grooming assistance and tips
  
• Flyball demonstration
  
• Dog health and safety information
  
• Earthdog demonstration
  

In general, lots of fun and informative activities for dogs and their people.

What: Dog Day Afternoon Responsible Dog Owner Day

Where: 16045 25th Ave NE, Shoreline

When: Sunday, September 28, 2008 from 1:00 - 5:00 pm

Link to the official flyer with much much more information

New coyote dens in Echo Lake neighborhood

The following information is from an email sent out by Diane Hettrick (Secretary of the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association)

There have been coyotes in the Echo Lake neighborhood long before there were houses and like many wild animals, they have learned to live around humans.  Diane says she lived here for 20 years before learning about the coyotes in her part of the Echo Lake neighborhood (NE section).

It appears that there are new coyotes who have set up shop in the area near the lake and farther south.  Diane says it's the right time of year for the spring pups to be setting out on their own.

Normally, coyotes are mostly beneficial, keeping down the rodent population.  However, they are not beyond the occasional too-trusting cat or even small dog.

Recent sightings over the past couple of months:

--a coyote who got a cat in the 197th block of Ashworth - this was at 6:30 a.m.

--a small dog killed in its yard at 188th & Wallingford - no witnesses so it's not certain that coyotes were to blame, but it seems likely

--185th block of Densmore, a man was startled to open his door at 11 p.m. and find two coyotes in his front yard

Diane says she's looking for an article published by Lake Forest Park about how to keep coyotes out of your yard - when she finds it she'll put it in the Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA) newsletter.  Basically, says Diane, it said to make sure that you did not leave food or water outside your house and that small animals were kept inside as much as possible.

With some exceptions, coyotes operate in the dark.  Supposedly they hunt at dawn and dusk but these ones seem to have thrown out the rule book.  If you see one, you are supposed to make a lot of noise to scare it off - but also note that they have no fear of humans, so don't get between them and the dog food!

Thanks for the info, Diane!

Link to: Echo Lake Neighborhood Association webpage

Update 4: Will they ever finish putting up this building?

It's now been 5 months since I first posted photos of this building (at Midvale and 185th). The facade seems more or less complete and there's now a "Coming Soon" sign in front of the building. But it still doesn't seem to have changed much since late April. I looked through the windows and the inside is still pretty much an empty shell.

Link to: all posts related to this building project (to see earlier photos)

Photos of construction of Shoreline's new City Hall

A few photos taken today, Monday, September 22, 2008. This is the construction site for Shoreline's new City Hall.

Link to: more posts about Shoreline's new City Hall

Link to: City of Shoreline Town Center Plan

Friends of the Shoreline Library book sale this weekend

This weekend is the Friends of the Shoreline Library Book Sale at the Shoreline Library.

According to the Shoreline Library's website:

The Friends of the Shoreline Library is a non-profit group whose purpose is to support the Shoreline Library through volunteering, raising funds, and sponsoring programs and services. Since 1963 they have sponsored numerous children's and adult programs and purchased items for the library that haven't been covered by the budget. Membership dues and book sales support these activities.

This is a great opportunity to support the library while loading up on books, magazines, movies and music without having to spend a lot of money. There's a special sale on Sunday ($3 per bag) and a preview sale tonight from 5-7 for members of the Friends of the Shoreline Library. Not a member yet? No problem - they'll have membership forms available at the entrance.

Link to: Shoreline Library - an appreciation

Pet adoption fair on Saturday, September 27th

Looking for that special (furry) someone? Or maybe you just want to catch up on the latest products for your pet friends? Visit Pets Energy, next to Central Market, on Saturday the 27th from 11 am to 4 pm for their first annual adoption fair! Several rescue organizations will be there, as well as representatives from pet food companies with free samples. It should be a fun event!

Link to Pets Energy site.
Link to our previous review of Pets Energy.

Hillwood neighborhood association trail clean-up this weekend!

Hillwood Neighborhood is having an invasives removal party at the N. 198th and Fremont Ave. North trail or Saturday, Sept 20 and again on Saturday, October 4th. This is a short trail that is actually public property on a street right of way. It is only half a block long, but is nicely wooded and heavily used by the neighborhood residents. In cooperation with the city, volunteers will be removing blackberries, ivy and other invasive plants on both weekends, and will have some chips to spread and a few native plants to install on Oct. 4. These kind folks need all the help they can get—any additional volunteers would be much appreciated! Bring gloves and pruners and join them to enhance the Hillwood neighborhood and meet some new people.

Link to the Hillwood Neighborhood Association.

Classic Car Show in North City on Sept 20, 2008

There's going to be a Classic Car Show in North City on September 20, 2008. It will be held from 10am-4pm near 177th and 15th, in the parking lot at the Shoreline Water District. That's just east of the North City Tavern.

For more info call Ellen Sullivan at 206-364-7131

As Shoreline changes, what have we lost?What do you miss?

I was thinking about all the changes Shoreline is going through (and has gone through over the past few years) and all the places that are gone now. While it is true that we've seen a lot of improvements to the City, what have we lost? Cascades Bingo, the bakery outlet on 15th just north of 145th, the stamp collecting shop on Aurora, the little QFC across the street from Fred Meyer (you may recall it even had a tiny little post office inside!), GT's Sports Bar, and on and on.

As we watch Shoreline grow and change, is there anything you particularly miss? What have we lost? Please post your thoughts to the comment section below.

A bit of Shoreline history: North City & North City Lounge

Some info from the "Historic Sites" map of North King County:

The third oldest business district in Shoreline, North City was named in a 1940s contest held by business owners to give a defined name to their area. The district sprung up along the "main drag" of 15th NE in the late 1920s in response to the many homes being built in neighboring areas such as Lago Vista and Monte Vista. 

The North City Lounge at 176th was constructed in 1928 as a store and gas station.

Want to help clean up Ronald Bog? Work party this Saturday!

The Meridian Park Neighborhood Association will be hosting a work party at Ronald Bog, this Saturday, September 13th, to clean out some of the blackberries and other invasive plants that clog parts of the park. To help, come down to the Bog between 9 am and noon on Saturday, and bring work gear – remember that those blackberries are sticker-laden, so you'll want to wear jeans or heavy pants and definitely bring gloves. Also useful would be tools like wheelbarrows, rakes, and so on.

As this ongoing cleanup of the bog continues into fall, the association will be planting more native plants and encouraging the wonderful variety of wildlife that is attracted to natural spaces. Have you noticed the turtles that often come out to sun themselves on the logs at the water's edge? There are even reports that blue herons have been spotted there!

If you'd like any more information about the cleanup project, please contact Dick Decker at 206-542-1552, or Mark Tomboulian at 206-546-3261.

Is this supposed to be a walkway?

This is the north side of 175th as it runs from Wallingford Ave N. up the hill to Jersey's bar and grill. It's not really a sidewalk, and it's not particularly wide. I have always thought of it as a walkway because of the way that little piece of curb separates it from the actual roadway. But maybe it is not meant to be a walkway - perhaps its for drainage or something. Any ideas? Does anyone know? Like I said, I do use it as a walkway (it's in my neighborhood), but frankly it can seem kind of treacherous sometimes. And if a big truck goes barreling by, you're liable to get peppered with dust and pebbles.

As you can see, its not very wide

Do you use this as a walkway? What are your experiences? What do you think?

Independent filmmaker making documentary about local teens

Rick Stevenson, the award winning filmmaker of the Seattle film "Expiration Date" has launched a new project in a partnership with the Shoreline Historical Society. The project, known as The 5000 Days Project has been following today's teens as they grow up for what is going to be eight years in all. The goal of the film is to help show what its like to grow up in American right now.

Screenshot from The 5000 Days Project

Link to: See a clip of the video and learn more (click on "Mission 1")

City Council Business Meeting Agenda

This coming Monday, September 8th, at 7:30, the Shoreline City Council will hold its business meeting. The agenda is available online here, with a downloadable PDF of the entire agenda and recent meeting minutes available here (PDF).

Among the agenda items are a proclamation of Constitution Week, declaring September 17-23 to be that week, and a statement of thanks to the businesses and individuals who donated to support the recent Celebrate Shoreline event.

Also included in the 44-page PDF document are minutes from the July 21 study session, much of which was devoted to the Hamlin Park improvement project. If you live near or visit Hamlin Park, you might find this section of particular interest.

Link to meeting agenda.
Link to 44-page PDF with agenda and previous meeting minutes.

Shoreline Historical Museum presents Our Wicked Past

Continuing through September 20th at the Shoreline Historical Museum, check out an exhibit called "Our Wicked Past" and learn about crimes in the untamed Northwest King County of the early to mid-1900's.

Then, on Saturday September 20th at 1:00pm crime historian Tom Hitzroth will discuss a local cold case file (the Kenmore Bridge Murder) and its possible solution.

Here are a few photos of the exhibit.

A display about bootlegging

Echo Lake Tavern was built by a bootlegger!

Link to: Shoreline Historical Museum exhibits information

Photos from Ronald Bog Work Party last week

On August 29, 2008 there was a work party at Ronald Bog park in Shoreline to remove blackberries and other invasive species.

Thanks to Dick Decker for the following information and photos:

Eighteen volunteers accumulated over 90 hours removing blackberries along Meridian Avenue. The lead was Tomboulian Landscaping, a landscape firm owned by Mark Tomboulian, a Meridian Park Neighborhood resident. His crew (equipment, trucks, etc.) assisted by a Boy Scout contingent from Troop 325 and Dick Decker removed approx. 40 yards of blackberry debris. We have a work party scheduled for 9/13/08 Saturday 9 to noon to remove blackberry roots and spread arbor chips to hold the soil and reduce the reemergence of the blackberries. Later in the fall native plants will be planted to begin restoring the shoreline. This project, headed by the Meridian Park Neighborhood Association, will cover approx. 600 feet along Meridian and 200 + feet along North 175th. The project will take at least two years to remove invasives and plant natives but a couple of years longer to keep the new plants alive.







Link to: More photos from this event

Game On! Video games for teens Shoreline library: Sept 3rd @ 4pm

Darth Vader plays Guitar Hero?

For: Teens

What: Game On!

Where: Shoreline Library

When: Wed, Sept 3rd, 2008 at 4:00pm

They're turning the meeting room into a video game arcade with Wii, PS2 and Gamecube games including DDR, Guitar Hero, Cooking Mama and more.

Link to: Shoreline Library schedule of events