Shoredog meeting recap

As you may know from previous posts, we have a local group dedicated to establishing off-leash areas for dogs here in Shoreline: ShoreDog. The monthly ShoreDog meeting took place at the Shoreline library today; here's a recap of what transpired.

New officers were voted in: Kate Pineo was elected vice president of Development, Maggie Dean as Volunteer Coordinator, Mina Williams as Communication/Information Officer, and Sonya Reasor as Assistant Secretary to Shari Tracey, who will be resigning shortly to run for city council, at which time Sonya (that's me!) will become Secretary. Shari will retain a post on the ShoreDog Board of Directors. Below you can see a photo of the entire board.

From top to bottom, left to right: Maggie Dean, Volunteer Coordinator; Erika Seather, President; Mina Williams, Communication/Information Officer; Sonya Reasor, Assistant Secretary; Kate Pineo, Vice President, Development; Terri Fenn, Treasurer; Shari Tracey, Secretary.

During the meeting, other topics were discussed, including the new ShoreDog logo (shown above), proposed off-leash area rules, and future work parties at the Shoreview site.

More information about ShoreDog and the approved off-leash site, which will be opening soon, is available on their website, here.

Today in Shoreline: 6 photos and 1 video

Blanket drive at North City Cleaners

Shoreline's new City Hall / Civic Center as of today

Key Bank at 175th and Aurora being remodeled

Echo Lake Park

Construction at Sky Nursery

The Carson Building




Video of Echo Lake Park

Meridian Park police activity; further info

We were walking our dog and a police officer stopped to tell us to watch for a man who had been seen knocking on doors in the Meridian Park area. She described him as a "light-skinned black man" and said he had knocked on doors possibly asking for a coat.

According to "ChangoDog" on Twitter (senior producer at KING TV), "Police say suspect escaped in Shoreline this morning. Apparently the vehicle has been involved in drug-related crimes before."

There were reporters near the intersection of 183rd and Ashworth this morning, and there is some debris still on the road just north of there from what appears to have been a car collision.

Police cars, lights, sirens, and helicopter circling over Meridian Park neighborhood

I was woken up by sirens at about 3am. Don't know what's going on, but I can see police cars blocking Wallingford Ave N at 185th, 180th and somewhere near 175th. Their red and blue lights are spinning and there's a helicopter circling over the neighborhood. Whatever's happening, it seems pretty serious.

Anybody know what's going (or what was going) on? Here's a fairly worthless video taken in the dark from too far away.

Big Band Dance at Shorecrest High School Sat, Feb. 28

This Saturday night, a Big Band Dance with live music performed by the jazz bands of Shorecrest High School and Kellogg Middle School. The event will raise money to help support the Jazz music program at Shorecrest High School.

There will be a special appearance by Savoy Swing dance troupe and a silent auction. You can even get a Swing Dance lesson (7-7:30pm, $5 additional)

Where: Shorecrest High School Cafeteria, 15343 25th Ave NE
When: Saturday February 28 7:30-10 pm
Cost: Tickets $15 adults; $10 students/seniors; $8 with ASB card


Link to more info at lazydancer.com

Link to Savoy Swing Dance Troupe

Link to Shorecrest High School

Here's a video of the Savoy Swing Performance Troupe

Work party this Sunday, March 1st at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

A message from Emily Sprong:

On Sunday, March 1st the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation will host the first garden maintenance work party of the year. From March to October, work parties will be held regularly on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month from 12 - 4pm. We depend on work party volunteers to do much of the weeding, raking, and mulching that the garden needs. Volunteers of all skill levels are welcome, and snacks and tools are provided.

Contact Volunteer Coordinator, Emily Sprong (emily@kruckeberg.org).

The Kruckeberg Botanic Garden is a public garden located in Richmond Beach. The garden is owned by the city of Shoreline and managed by the nonprofit Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation.

Link to Kruckeberg Botanic Garden

(Photo above from kruckeberg.org)

Historic building in Richmond Beach: The Crawford Store (1922)

This building is located at 2411 NW 195th Place in Shoreline. The top photo (from HistoryLink.org) is from 1937. The bottom photo (which I took) is from 2009.

Here's what HistoryLink has to say about this building:

The Crawford Store is the last intact retail building in the historic Richmond Beach business district. John Holloway, an early resident of Richmond Beach, built the two story structure in 1922. The building, with a large covered front porch, faces the road that once led to the railroad depot. Langford and Eva Crawford were the first in a long line of shopkeepers who operated the store and lived in the apartment upstairs.

Link to HistoryLink.org (see a photo of the Crawford Store from 1957)

All the chocolate you can eat! Saturday, Feb 28th in Shoreline

If you hate cancer but love chocolate, this might be the perfect event for you. It's the 2nd Annual Relay for Life of Shoreline Chocolate Festival. As they like to say: "Kiss Cancer Goodbye" (get it?)

Coordinator Kim Dahl wrote to say: The Chocolate Festival was born last year we had a fabulous time and some amazing recipes and tastings. The winning recipe was a surprising one entered by a local participant and cancer survivor. The "Chocolate Chili" was incredible. We had some great music and a magician. This year we are thrilled to have 2 bands, our returning magician, a professional category in our contest and the Northwest Chocolate Guild presenting demonstrations.

When: February 28th, 2009 7PM

Where: Dale Turner YMCA 192nd and Aurora Ave. Shoreline, WA

What: Chocolate tastings, contests and demonstrations, plus music by Jonathan Rooke, music by Valley of the Dahl’s, and magic performed by Tom Boland. Also: All the chocolate you can eat! :)

Cost: $10 per person or $20 per family

For more info, or to enter the contest email Kim Dahl at kimjdahl@yahoo.com

Photo by The Pack via Flickr

(ps - if you go to this event, please take photos and send some to us!)

Shoreline's musical youth battle it out this Friday, Feb 27

This Friday is the Richmond Beach Youth Jam. Here's some information I got from their website:

The youth of Shoreline with musical aspirations will compete in the second annual “Richmond Beach Youth Jam,” on Friday, February 27, 6pm…till we’re done.

The event is sponsored by the Richmond Beach Community Association and will be held on the lower level of the Richmond Beach Congregational Church.

Winners will receive cash prizes donated by local merchants. The contest, which will feature musical performers and groups 18 years old or younger and living in Shoreline, will have a live audience, judges from the music industry, and professional sound.

Musical acts will be arranged into showcase segments (2-3 songs max), and judged according to categories. For example: best musicianship, most creative, best performance, etc.

Tickets for the show will be sold at the door for $2.50, and will be good for a raffle of musical goodies held during the show.

Link to Richmond Beach Youth Jam webpage

Today in Shoreline: 3 photos

Unicorn cooler on sale at Deseret Thriftstore

Transformation complete: Seattle's Best Coffee at Fred Meyer (formerly Starbucks)

Trees (ready for planting?) by the old brick road (Ronald Pl.) behind Walgreens

Results of recent poll: Why is Shoreline awesome?

The results of our recent poll. I'm surprised 'apple maggot quarantine' didn't get more votes. After all, it would be pretty un-awesome if the town were overrun with apple maggots, wouldn't it? :)

If you didn't get a chance to vote, feel free to add your thoughts in the comments section.

Pie chart created at graphjam.com

Music and video by local composer J.C. Combs

Composer and musician James (J.C.) Combs lives in Shoreline. 

He filmed this brief video at Ronald Bog Park (in the snow) last November.

James says "I compose non-pop music out of Seattle. I also run Amaranth Arthouse Music, a blog that explores the contemporary music scene."

Listen to some of his music here:

Link to James at reverbnation.com 

Link to Amaranth Arthouse Music blog

Link to James Combs on Twitter

Concert to benefit The Pink Polka Dots Guild: Sat. Feb 21st, 2pm

The Brian Waite band presents 20,000 Volts Under The Sea, a rock 'n roll adventure. 100% of ticket proceeds and 10% of CD sales from this event will benefit The Pink Polka Dots Guild.

The concert takes place at Shorecrest Performing Arts Center on Saturday, February 21, at 2 pm.

You can buy your tickets online or at the LFP Third Place Books.

For donation or purchase questions, contact ppdtreasurer@comcast.net

Wondering what the Pink Polka Dots Guild is? Here's what the Pink Polka Dots Guild webpage says: The Pink Polka Dots Guild was started in 2006 when we lost our friend Sydney to a brain tumor at the age of 11. We raise money for pediatric brain tumor research at Children's Hospital in Seattle. We call our selves "the pink polka dots" because they were Sydney's favorite things.

Link to Pink Polka Dots Guild (for more about PPDG and to buy tickets)

Link to the Brian Waite band (learn more and hear their music)

Sustainable Shoreline & Shoreline Solar Project meeting this Wednesday

On Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00pm, there will be a joint meeting of Sustainable Shoreline Education Association (SSEA) and Shoreline Solar Project (SSP)

Joe Tovar, Director of Planning and Development for the City of Shoreline will talk about:

1. State Law, Regional Visions, and Local Plans under the GMA (with Q&A)

2. The City of Shoreline's Planning Work Program for 2009, which includes the Visioning process, where we are and may be heading with RB zoning, Town Center Planning, Design Standards/Design Review. Other topics may be addressed as well. (with Q&A)

Where: The large meeting room at the Shoreline Library.
When: Wednesday, February 18th at 7:00pm

Please RSVP to Bill Bear so they know how many handouts to bring.

Bill Bear can be reached at (206) 368-0858 or by email at flyingbear2@gmail.com

"Save Cedarbrook" group aims to preserve Cedarbrook Elementary School site for public use

From the Save Cedarbrook as a Park website:

• Just what is the "Coalition for the Preservation of Cedarbrook" and what are you trying to accomplish?

We are a group of neighbors, parents, dog walkers, soccer players and concerned citizens living in the vicinity of Cedarbrook Elementary School. We have joined together to work with the Shoreline School District to find an alternative to the proposed sale of the Cedarbrook property to a developer. Instead, we seek to develop this property as a Community Park.

• What is the School Board planning to do?

Currently, the Shoreline School Board has declared the Cedarbrook property "surplus" and is proposing to sell the land to the highest bidder.

• Why is this a problem?

The Cedarbrook property is the only open green space within walking distance of our entire area. It is heavily used by local families as a play area for young children, sports fields for local soccer teams, space to walk dogs, and just as a place to get away from it all. This needs to be preserved as park space for our community, not more housing.

Link to Save Cedarbrook website

Dancing Pajamas(!) family concert at Shoreline Library on Tuesday, Feb. 17 2009

Beat the winter blues with a fun family concert by Northwest favorite Nancy Stewart. Children are invited to wear their pajamas and bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket. Enjoy songs about animals and bedtime, with a sprinkling of lullabies. Event is sponsored by the Friends of the Shoreline Library.


What: Dancing Pajamas! concert

When: Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 7:00 PM

Where: Shoreline Library

Who: Children & Families

Other: Space is limited; first come, first seated.

Link to Nancy Stewart

Link to Friends of Shoreline Library

Link to Shoreline Library Calendar of Events

Link to Shoreline Library at Twitter

South Woods Preservation Group looking for volunteers. Meeting on Feb. 25th

This is posted to volunteermatch.org

South Woods Preservation Group
Looking for new leaders
& new ideas

Community Meeting
Wed, February 25
6:30--8:00 pm

Public Health Lab
Conference Room
1610 NE 150th
Shoreline, WA 98155

Join the South Woods Preservation Group to help define the next phase of citizen stewardship for 16 acres of beautiful public space purchased through the 2006 Parks Bond.

It's time to develop new leadership and explore new opportunities:

- park stewardship
- youth involvement
- community building
- education
- fun!

Information:
Charlie Brown
(206) 363-5517

cbcb66@hotmail.com

Skills

Skills for Leadership: thoughtful commitment to stewardship of City of Shoreline Park; ability to coordinate events; ability to work with a variety of people; ability to coordinate with City of Shoreline and follow direction of the Park master plan.

Skills for participation: ability to work with hand tools and remove ivy and other invasives at community work parties.

View Larger Map

Link to the City's webpage about South Woods

Link to volunteermatch.org

Happy Valentine's Day Shoreline

Starbucks is out, Seattle's Best is in at Fred Meyer

I thought this was interesting. After all, Seattle's Best is owned by Starbucks.

Today in Shoreline: 3 photos

Homemade Homer sells "fresh" tacos from a truck

you're frog-ettable! (display at Fred Meyer on Aurora)

And this building *still* isn't open for business yet

Somebody ruined the lawn at Cromwell Park by driving on it

I discovered when I got off my bus this afternoon that someone (recently, from the looks of it) decided to drive their car into Cromwell Park and do doughnuts on the lawn. And because the ground was really saturated, it appears to have caused some real damage.

Bummer.

I suggest the City consider installing one of those locking posts at the vehicle entrance on Meridian, to keep unauthorized vehicles out of there.

This is where they drove in (Meridian and 180th)

Tonight's free comedy show features Jesse Case of Last Comic Standing

Remember, there's free comedy every Thursday night at Laughing Ladies Cafe!

Barbara Sehr writes to say: we have a fantastic show for this Thursday's Laughing Ladies comedy night at 7:30 pm.

Headlining the 200th Birthday celebration for Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln, we have a survivor of the first round of NBC's Last Comic Standing during the summer of 2008. Jesse Case will help you evolve into a laughing frenzy as he proves that only the fittest jokes survive.

Faye Canale, a recent arrival from the Land of Lincoln brings her own brand of comedy from the streets of Chicago. Ron Placcone, a funny guy from Pittsburgh, joins the evening's merriment.

Link to Laughing Ladies Cafe

Link to Barbara Sehr

Link to Jesse Case

Here's a video of Faye Canale performing in Chicago last year




Couldn't find a webpage for Ron Placcone. Ron, if you have one, send us the link!

What happened at Echo Lake Science Night Tuesday Feb. 10th

Kids search for macroinvertebrates in simulated Thornton Creek water

Jennifer Youngman is Outreach Coordinator for Homewaters Project. She sent along this information about "Echo Lake Science Night" this past Tuesday. (Thanks Jennifer!)

Homewaters Project brought its hands-on "Macroinvertebrate Search" to Echo Lake Elementary School's Science Night Tuesday, Feb. 10. Homewaters Project connects Shoreline and Seattle students to the natural environment right in their own neighborhoods, through field investigations and other inquiry-based programs linked to school curricula.

"Macroinvertebrate Search" is modeled after Homewaters Project's "Tiny Neighbors" and "Land and Water" field investigations, in which students search for real organisms in Thornton Creek and local wetlands. Indoors at Science Night, children searched for images of macroinvertebrates on glass gems simulating creek water. Then they identified the tiny animals with the help of a chart and determined how healthy their simulated creek water was based on the types of organisms found in it.

Homewaters Project volunteer extraordinaire Gretchen Graber helps a young scientist identify tiny organisms that live in creeks and wetlands.

Midge larvae and nematodes are two of the macroinvertebrates found in Thornton Creek.















Pollution-tolerant blue-winged olive mayflies, water mites and aquatic worms indicate that the water quality is pretty poor.

Link to Homewaters Project

Link to Homewaters Project blog, with tips and activities to help you and your family explore your local watershed

Link to Tiny Neighbors Field Investigation

New sign makes it official: Hotwire is now Laughing Ladies

Link to Laughing Ladies Cafe

Zydeco Valentine's Dance in Shoreline - Saturday, Feb. 14th

I heard about this event on 91.3fm KBCS, the radio station of Bellevue Community College. A web search turned up the following information from gatorboyproductions.com

Corey Ledet & Cedryll Ballou from Houston, TX (with Skye, Randy, and Tina from the Zydeco Locals) will be rockin' your Valentine's (and celebrating MaryLee, Deanna and Rita’s birthdays!), at Jay's Dance Experience Ballroom (18005 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline 98133, above Highland Ice Arena), 8-11pm, $15. Free Zydeco dance lesson 7:30-8pm. Bring treats to share.

Cedryl puts on a show that you will talk about for a long time and Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet performed at the Liberty Theater June 4, 2005, dressed like the King of Zydeco, the late Clifton Chenier -- but more to the point, he played Clifton's legendary music with both skill and soul, producing a sound that invited the audience to close their eyes and imagine the King was himself once more on the stage. Corey and his band got a standing ovation.





Link to GatorBoyProductions.com

Restoring wetlands at Paramount Park

I recently met with Shoreline Councilmember Janet Way at Shoreline's Paramount Park. She showed me around the park (the southern, more "natural" part of the park, not the part where the skate park is) and told me about a neighborhood group she's been working with for 20 years to restore the park and it's wetlands. It's a truly lovely place. There's an open field, some trails, and a couple of ponds. And there's a really cool old tractor totally embedded in trees that have grown through it. This park is well worth visiting if you've not been there before.

Here are a few photos I took at Paramount Park. Click the link below for even more photos.

Shoreline Councilmember Janet Way

Link to photos of Paramount Park

Link to Shoreline City Council page (to learn more about Janet)

Free tax help at Shoreline Library now through April 15th

Free tax return help is available at Shoreline Public Library now through April 15th.

Wednesdays from 4:30-8:30pm
Saturdays from Noon-4:30pm

Bring your 2007 tax return with you. Electronic filing will be available. Service is provided by the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons). First come, first served. Registration is not required. Just show up!

Link to Shoreline Public Library

Link to AARP

Link to IRS

"Wrapping up" renovations at Richmond Beach Park

Richmond Beach Saltwater Park has been closed to car traffic for awhile for renovations. They've been putting in new parking lots, fixing up the steps, putting in new plants, etc. I was there today and discovered that the park is re-opened to cars. Here are some photos taken today.

The entrance to the park is once again open to cars!


Welcome!

Have a seat and relax. Enjoy the view!

A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside some black plastic sheeting.

They can't fool me. I'd recognize R2D2 anywhere!

So, yeah - signs, benches, trash cans, etc. are mysteriously wrapped in black plastic sheeting at the moment. But hey, not everything is wrapped in plastic. Here are a few other photos I took today.

This green stuff is sprayed on the ground all over the place.
Does anyone know what it is?

Link to more photos of construction at Richmond Beach Park

Link to all posts tagged 'Richmond Beach'