Carl's Weather Blog captures the Lake Ballinger Island Fire

By now you've probably heard of – or smelled evidence of – the large fire burning out of control on the island on Lake Ballinger, which, though not technically in Shoreline, has been wafting smoke and ash all through our area.

Local blogger and weather enthusiast Carl was able to get some fantastic photos of the fire, which he shares here, and has blogged about it, here.

Thank you for sharing those, Carl!

Outdoor movie night - E.T.

From the City of Shoreline website:

The Ballinger Neighborhood is sponsoring a free Outdoor Movie Night on Saturday, Aug. 1, at 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Aldercrest Annex, 2545 NE 200th Street.

Bring a blanket or a lawn chair to this fun event for the whole family. Pre-movie entertainment will be provided by Community Rhythm Jams followed by the feature movie at dusk, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.

This event was funded by the City of Shoreline Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program.

Pt. Wells issue reported on by Seattle Times

"Shoreline neighbors say Point Wells 'urban center' proposal tramples their beach-side turf"

An article in today's Seattle Times reports on the Pt. Wells brouhaha:

A plan to replace an asphalt plant and oil-tank farm on the shores of Puget Sound near Woodway with a development of housing and retail is generating fierce opposition in the neighboring town of Shoreline.

Link to read the entire article at Seattle Times

Cromell Park improvements starting soon

Starting in August, big changes will be happening at Cromwell park (the area that sits at the end of 180th/179th and Meridian and next to King County District Court building). According to the City of Shoreline website, improvements to the park will include "an irrigated field, new basketball court, wetland areas, new play equipment as well as an amphitheater and stage area."

Storm water improvements will also be made, and more paths and trails will be added.

It should be fun to see the progress and enjoy the new park when it's all finished! The scheduled completion date is in winter of next year, according to the city, so it will be some time before we can see the results. You can click here to see a PDF of the site plan.

More info at the City of Shoreline site.

Photo by Bernard.

Review of Phở Tic-Tac Vietnamese Restaurant in Shoreline

The "Notes from the Napkin" blog has a review of the Phở Tic-Tac Vietnamese Restaurant in Shoreline. Here's an excerpt followed by a link to the full review:

I started with the Phở Noodle Soup Bowl with Brisket (the #16). I ordered the small, and you can see it was plenty. It’s served with another plate of bean sprouts, basil leaves still on the stalk, jalapeño slices, and a lime. I put in all of the jalapeños, but I just couldn’t fit in all of the bean sprouts. I also spooned in a bit of Hoisin sauce for some kick. It was a great flavor, and I have to say that I was a bit better with my chopped sticks and spoon this time around. This dish was our favorite of the evening.


Link to read the full review

(photo from "Notes from the Napkin")

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Shoreline? Tried someplace new lately? Share YOUR reviews - just email us! :)

Old site of Aurora Rents (175th & Aurora) now a vacant lot

Aurora Rents moved further up Aurora Ave earlier this year. Now the southeast corner of Aurora and 175th is a vacant lot. What will become of it?

Photos from Solarfest 2009

Shear Jazz

Link to Shoreline Solarfest 2009

It was a great day for a "Solarfest" - super hot and sunny!
Did you attend? What did you think? What did you learn?

Resource for Shoreline parents: "Shoreline & Edmonds Kids" website

Cindy Bouchard wrote to tell us about her website called "Shoreline & Edmonds Kids." It lists events, classes, activities, etc. for kids in our area.

Looks like it could be useful if you have kids in Shoreline or Edmonds.

(Cindy is also a real estate agent. I presume that's why there are ads for houses on the main page of the website, and a section for Local Real Estate.)

Link to: Shoreline & Edmonds Kids

Also of interest: Yahoo! Shoreline Parents Group

And of course, there's always lots for the kids (and the whole family) to do at the Shoreline Library

New cherry blossom tree at Shoreline Library

Link to Shoreline Library: An Appreciation

Shoreline Solarfest 2009 this Saturday, July 18th

Solar baking demonstration at Solarfest 2008

This is a fun event. Lots of great information plus food, free live music and demonstrations.

From the Shoreline Solar website:

We expect around 100 exhibits from commercial, government, nonprofits and utilities. Speaker presentations will take place throughout the day. A Kid Zone will offer fun and educational activities. Food will be offered at the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce “Taste of Shoreline”. More than 5,000 visitors are expected.

WHEN:
Saturday, July 18, 2009, from 10 AM until 8 PM

WHERE:
On the campus of Meridian Park School
17077 Meridian Ave N
Shoreline WA 98133


Link to Shoreline Solar

Link to info and photos from Solarfest 2008

YMCA Shoreline Family Day this Saturday, July 18

Shoreline families are invited to enjoy the new pool slide, the Turner Tower climbing pinnacle and the other great features of the Dale Turner Family YMCA at no charge on July 18th. All visitors must bring photo identification (to prove you live in Shoreline). The event runs from 12 – 5 pm.

The Dale Turner Family YMCA is located at 19290 Aurora Avenue North.

For schedules or more information, call 206-363-0446 or visit daleturnerymca.org

Mayor Cindy Ryu re-elected as Director for Association of Washington Cities

PRESS RELEASE

SHORELINE - Shoreline Mayor Cindy Ryu was re-elected as a director of
the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) on June 26 at its annual
conference in Spokane.

Mayor Ryu was re-elected to the Western At-Large Position 1 on AWC’s
25-member Board of Directors. Mayor Ryu serves on the Federal
Legislative Relations and Membership Dues subcommittees.


“I am very grateful to the members of the AWC for these tremendous
opportunities to serve,” commented Ryu upon winning re-election. “By
actively participating in the AWC, the City of Shoreline will benefit
from the fresh ideas and regional perspectives of our sister towns and
cities across Washington State.”


Founded in 1933, AWC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that
represents Washington’s 281 cities and towns before the Legislature
and state executive agencies. AWC enhances cities’ capacity to carry
out their responsibilities, improves communication and information
sharing, and helps local governments prepare for and manage change.

Ryu has served on the Shoreline City Council since 2006. On the
Council, she refined the Aurora Avenue Project in order to help local,
family-owned businesses thrive. Mayor Ryu helped neighbors save the
South Woods from development, and led the way in long-term policy
setting for the City through Shoreline’s Economic Development Plan and
Environmental Sustainability and Comprehensive Housing Strategies.

In 2008, fellow council members elected her Shoreline’s mayor. Mayor
Ryu is the first Korean-American woman to serve as mayor of any
American city in the history of the United States.



Ryu is up for re-election this year, and has pledged to, “…continue
fighting on behalf of Shoreline’s neighborhoods.” She has voted to
increase the public safety budget and put more police officers on the
beat and in our schools. Ryu has called for more open spaces and
parks – environmentally safe areas that can be enjoyed by Shoreline’s
families for years to come. In addition, she is advocating for
common-sense development of Shoreline’s commercial land use areas.

Making the Council’s work transparent and open to all Shoreline’s
residents has been a priority for her as a Councilmember and as
Shoreline’s mayor. Ryu said she “will always be a leader in keeping
an open Council, where people of Shoreline always have a seat at the
table and a voice in determining our future.”

Former Shoreline Superintendent Bill Stevenson dies; memorial set for July 29

William "Bill" Stevenson, who served as superintendent of the Shoreline School District from 1962 to 1982, died Thursday, July 9 of cancer at age 85.

Dr. Stevenson presided over a remarkable period of growth and change in the Shoreline Schools in 20 years as superintendent, which included the opening of Shorewood High School and Einstein Middle School. Enrollment in the district peaked at more than 18,000 students in 1970.

Stevenson may be best remembered for his leadership following a double-levy failure in 1971, when the District lost more than 20 percent of its funding. Stevenson, backed by the school board, closed six schools and reduced staff by more than 25 percent to help make up the gap. A year later, a new levy was passed and the District began to rebuild its programs. Stevenson and the school board were honored by the Washington State School Directors Association as its School Board of the Year in 1972 for its handling of the financial crisis.

Bill Stevenson was born February 22, 1924. He attended Bellevue High School, served as a Marine in the South Pacific during World War II, then graduated from Washington State University, ultimately receiving his doctorate in education from Columbia University in 1968. He first came to Shoreline as a teacher in 1950, and served as president of the Shoreline Education Association in 1953-54. He later became vice principal of Broadview Elementary School, which was then part of the Shoreline district. He served as the first principal of Cromwell Park Elementary in Shoreline from 1955 to 1959. He was to move to Lake Forest Park as principal in the fall of 1959, but was instead promoted to assistant superintendent. Stevenson became acting superintendent in 1962 and superintendent in 1963 upon the retirement of Dr. Ray Howard.

Dr. Stevenson was the recipient of many educational honors. He served as president of the Washington Association of School Administrators in 1975. In 1976, he was elected to the executive board of the American Association of School Administrators, and served as its president in 1981-82.

After 32 years in the Shoreline School District, Dr. Stevenson retired in 1982, after which he was elected to two six-year terms on the Washington State Board of Education. He also served on the board of the Shoreline Historical Museum.

Throughout his retirement, Dr. Stevenson continued to support the Shoreline Schools, leading the effort to write a history of the District’s first 60 years, 1944 to 2004.

“Cooperation, honesty, openness, effort, expertise, energy and desire to perform were hallmarks of the Shoreline family spirit,” Dr. Stevenson wrote in “Shore to Shore and Line to Line,” published in 2007. “Keeping the spirit alive is a goal to be forever pursued.”

Dr. Stevenson is survived by his sister Marilyn and brother Bob, his son, Rick and daughter, Jody, their spouses Julie and Gary and grandchildren Max, Maddy, Leah and Oliver. His wife of 62 years, Betty Jean, died in November 2008. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, July 29 at 1 p.m. at University Presbyterian Church, 4540 15th Ave. N.E. in Seattle.

Seattle Times obituary:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/obituaries/2009459316_stevensonobit13m.html

Clean out your book shelves, donate your books to ELNA

The Echo Lake Neighborhood Association (ELNA) is collecting gently used books to sell at the Council of Neighborhoods book sale during Shoreline's Swingin' Summer Eve, to be held at Paramount Park, 15300 8th Ave NE, on Wednesday, July 22, from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Email the Echo Lake board to arrange for pick-up or drop-off of books.
EchoLakeBoard@EchoLakeNeighborhood.com

Please, no textbooks, computer manuals, or best-sellers dated before 2000.

Free blues concert at Richmond Beach Park on July 15th

Becki Sue and Her Big Rockin’ Daddies

Wednesday, July 15, 7:00 p.m.

Richmond Beach Community Park, 2201 NW 197^th Street

Link to Becki Sue and Her Big Rockin' Daddies

(Concerts in the Parks sponsored by The Shoreline-Lake Forest Parks Arts Council and the Cities of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park)

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden offers activities for kids this summer

Drop in with the kids to the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden for a fun, hands-on exploration of gardens and the things that live in them in our unique, naturalistic setting. Each week they'll offer a different activity, a themed garden exploration and a craft project.

Fee: $5/family, free for KBGF members.
Best suited for children ages 2-5 with a caregiver.
Visit the website www.kruckeberg.org for a list of themes.

Fridays, July 10th-September 25th, come anytime between 10am-1pm.

Shorecrest Hip Hop performs at WNBA Storm game on July 15th

3A Hip Hop State Champions, Shorecrest will be performing during half-time at the Seattle Storm Game (versus the WNBA World Champions Detriot Shock) on Wednesday, July 15th

Come support the team by watching them perform and see the game!

The team will be selling tickets to the game at a discount price: $20-25 (regularly $35)

Contact rexkinney@gmail.com to receive this deal.

According to the Shoreline Hip Hop Facebook page:
The Shorecrest Dance Team's purpose has been to promote diversity within the community by using hip hop dance as its medium The students develop a sense of camaraderie with his/her fellow teammate while learning teamwork, responsibility, and hip hop dance.

Photo above from ShorecrestHipHop.com

Chamber President Wendy DiPeso to run for Shoreline City Council

Press Release dated July 6th, 2009:

Chamber President Wendy DiPeso to run for Shoreline City Council

DiPeso cites incumbent McGlashan's, vote against Shoreline's economy

SHORELINE –Wendy DiPeso, president of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, today announced she is running as a write-in candidate for the Shoreline City Council, Position One, against incumbent Keith McGlashan.

"As the Chamber of Commerce President, I have worked tirelessly in bringing the City and the business community closer together so that we can create jobs and grow our local economy. I know what's needed to help our city's businesses grow and thrive. Unfortunately, the
incumbent does not."

DiPeso decided to run against McGlashan after he voted against the city's Business Licensing Program at the June 22 City Council meeting. The program, which passed the Council on a 5-2 vote, is a critical component of the city's economic development strategy. It will provide
the city's professional economic development manager with the information he needs to do his job. DiPeso is a staunch supporter of the program.

"Keith does not understand the need for economic development that benefits our families," said DiPeso. "I could not allow someone with such a clear lack of understanding of our local economy to run unopposed this year. The citizens of Shoreline deserve a choice."

In addition to serving as the Chamber President, DiPeso serves on the Economic Development Advisory Committee for the city of Shoreline. She is a Board member of the Sustainable Shoreline Education Association, has been active in the Chamber's Green Business Program, and is a long-time supporter of Shoreline's annual Solarfest.

Link to WendyDipeso.com

Help Shoreline students with school supplies

The annual Shoreline Back-To-School event provides school supplies, hair cuts, and clothing assistance to Shoreline School District families with a low income and/or circumstances that make it challenging to adequately prepare their children for school.

Families can register for the event on line at www.btsconsortium.org or by calling the BTS Info Line at 206-393-4916. The deadline is Aug 21st.

This year’s event takes place Saturday, Aug. 29, from 1 to 3 p.m. at Ridgecrest Elementary, 16516 10th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155.

Donated school supplies, new or used books, and hygiene products are being accepted and can be dropped off at the Center for Human Services, 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155 Monday – Friday 9 to 5 p.m. For more information, contact Tanya Schaeffer at 206-631-8836.

Donations of new or clean gently used children and teen clothing can dropped off beginning Aug 10th, Wednesdays from 5:30pm-8:00pm, at The Shoreline PTA Council’s - The WORKS, located at the North City Elementary Portables. For more info visit their website www.shorelinepta.com or call 206-393-4916.

Back to School Consortium members include the City of Lake Forest Park; City of Shoreline; Embrace Shoreline Schools; Hopelink; Shoreline Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services; Shoreline School District and the Readiness to Learn Program; The Center for Human Services; The Vineyard; The Works of Shoreline PTA Council; Turning Point and YMCA.

Cars & Coffee Saturday mornings at Central Market

Shoreline Chamber of Commerce Presents "Cars & Coffee"

7:00-9:00 AM, Every Saturday, Rain or Shine

June 27th thru November 14th

Central Market, Shoreline (Hwy. 99/Aurora Avenue @ 155th St.)
Park at the Coffee Silo

A casual car event for Hot Rods, Exotics, Customs, Historic, Foreign Cars, and Motorcycles

RULES: NO Burn-outs, Racing, or Open Headers, sorry!

Info: (206)801-2218, mmayuga@shorelinewa.gov

Above photo from last year's Cruise In Car Show

History of Shoreline Washington

Historylink.org has an interesting article on the history of Shoreline (with old photos). Here is an exerpt followed by a link to the original article.

An early resident in the Shoreline community around the turn of the century was Judge James Ronald. Ronald purchased five acres of land for $100 from a friend who owed him money. Working on the weekends, he cleared his tract and planted cherry and apple trees. Improving the land came naturally to him, he claimed, having been raised in the Deep South.

Judge Ronald was a friend of Fred Sander, the man who built the Interurban. Ronald gave right-of-way through his property for Sander's rail line and offered to build a small station house if he could name it. Sander agreed, and after the station was built, Ronald gave him a sign reading "Evanor," named for Ronald’s daughters, Eva and Norma.

Shortly thereafter, Judge Ronald was riding the train. He got off at his station and was shocked to see that its name had been changed to Ronald. Not wanting to see his name in a public place, he confronted Sander. Sander informed Ronald that he'd promised to name the station "Evanor" but not to keep the name.

Said Sander, "This is my railway and I change names of stations when I please. I have changed it to Ronald and if you don’t like that name you can stay away and not see it!" The name further ingrained itself into the community a few years later when Ronald donated land for a school building. The name of the building? Ronald School, now home to the Shoreline Historical Museum.

Link to Shoreline history at Historylink.org

Photo: Cut out of Judge Ronald (left) at Shoreline Historical Museum

Welcome new Shoreline blogger Diane!

The newest contributor to the Ronald Bog Blog is Diane (who posts to the blog as DKH). Diane has been hooked into the Shoreline neighborhood groups for awhile. Since she regularly has access to so much great information, we asked her if she'd be interested in posting some info directly to the this, the Shoreline blog. Much to our delight, she said yes! You can already see the results of her contributions: a big handful of posts she's made to this website. So welcome Diane to the Ronald Bog blog! :)

By the way, if you're in Shoreline and would be interested in contributing to the blog, let us know! We'd love to get some more folks involved. Thanks!

Contact us here: ronaldbogblog@gmail.com

Video Gaming for Adults tonight at Shoreline Library

Come to the library and play Wii, Playstation II and more!

Event Type: Adult Programs
Date: 7/1/2009Start
Time: 7:00 PM
End Time: 8:30 PM

Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Shoreline Library.

Link to event info at KCLS website

Help Shoreline prepare for future human services needs

Help Shoreline prepare for future human services needs by attending and giving your input at a July 7 public meeting of the Shoreline Human Services Task Force, on Tuesday, July 7, at 6:30 p.m. at the Shoreline Fire Department, 17525 Aurora Avenue N. (enter from Aurora, going southbound).

How has Shoreline’s population changed in the last 10 years? What does that mean for the future of human services in Shoreline?

Your knowledge of the community is needed to help the City of Shoreline interpret information about current human service needs in Shoreline as well as identify the most important trends and changes that will impact human services in the next 10 years.

Information presented and gathered at the upcoming July 7 Human Service Task Force Community Meeting will help shape how Shoreline’s 1998 Human Services Strategic Plan is updated and revised.

Attendees will learn about local human services needs like food insecurity, hunger and stresses on families. The problems and opportunities for improving services to two key groups – older adults and youth – will be discussed. Also learn how the population of Shoreline has changed in the last ten years and implications for the future.

The primary purpose of the meeting is to gather comments, ideas and suggestion from the Shoreline community. Time will be set aside specifically for that purpose. For more information, contact Shoreline Human Services Planner George Smith at (206) 801-2252, gsmith@shorelinewa.gov.