New Shoreline Historical Museum Site "Ribbon Cutting"

Today, Saturday, April 30th the Shoreline Historical Museum opened a new chapter in its story.

Supporters gather around new
Shoreline Historical Museum site 

The Museum held a "Ribbon Cutting Ceremony" for its new site at Linden Ave N.  The group arrived after the annual Judge Ronald Luncheon which was held this year at the Ronald Methodist Church.

Two of Judge JT Ronald's Great-grandaughters
celebrating at the Annual Jude Ronald Luncheon

The Museum had been forced to find a new home after being expelled from their previous longstanding home at the Ronald School. A settlement had been reached between the Museum and the Shoreline School District to sell the Ronald School Building which the District wanted to incorporate into its new Shorewood HS design.

Then the Historical Museum was able to purchase property for the new site.

The site is the former James Alan Salon building and adjacent house. The Museum purchased the entire property on the corner of Linden Ave N and N 185th. The former JAS building is the new Museum exhibit building and the little house next door is the office. There will be ongoing exhibits at the new site
and the research and educational aspect continues through the office, via Director Vicki Stiles and volunteers.

Many supporters and current and former elected officials attended the ribbon cutting in front of the little office building, which is cozy and a good transitional environment. The Mayor was present for the ribbon cutting. Former SHM Board president, Henry Reed also participated in the ceremony along with Director Vicki Stiles. Also present were Rep Cindy Ryu and former Rep Nancy Rust. The museum exhibits, archives, artifacts and records are all in storage.

The Museum Board is also working on plans for development of a much bigger Museum Building/complex there. This will be a long term capitol funding project. The Museum has received funding for this transitional project and future planning from 4Culture, City of Shoreline and many other public and private funders, including the Family of Judge Ronald.

Henry Reed shares a moment with
museum supporter

The Shoreline Historical Museum is celebrating their new home with a brand new website you can view

here. For additional information please call 206-542-7111.

Today Is Arbor Day - Shoreline's Trees Need Protection

And we need much more tree canopy! 

Neighborhood Trail in Briarcrest at Street End

Will a tree ordinance be enacted to protect our current tree canopy and increase it? 
The recently completed Tree Canopy study and report states that Shoreline hasn't made any progress on increasing it's tree canopy and the American Forests organization states that urban forest canopy should be at a minimum 40%. The council's current goal has been "no net loss"
but in order to truly meet their Sustainability Strategy's vision, shouldn't the bar be set higher
to really meet the expectations of our community?


On Arbor Day, it's good to reflect on what trees do for us, and what is the current state of trees in our City.  At minimum, why is Shoreline not at least a part of the Tree City USA program?
Afterall, we have trees as one of the main features in our logo! Let's get in on the benefits of being designated at Tree City.

So what gives Shoreline? We have what it takes. We have volunteers. We have some resources
(free trees or grant funds are available even in this tough budget time). We have the desire.
The benefits of improving our canopy and protecting trees are OBVIOUS!
Trees are a value that is specified in our City Vision!
Let's get going!

Hamlin Park Pathway

Here are the four relatively simple criteria for becoming a "Tree City":

Arbor Day Foundation Tree City Sign
Shoreline Could Do It! Even Seattle Did!
Also Lake Forest Park Did!

The Four Standards for Tree City USA Recognition

To qualify as a Tree City USA community, a town or city must meet four standards established by The Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters.

These standards were established to ensure that every qualifying community would have a viable tree management plan and program.

It is important to note that they were also designed so that no community would be excluded because of size.

1. A Tree Board or Department
2. A Tree Care Ordinance
3. A Community Forestry Program With an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita
4. An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation
   1. Here are some actual benefits we could receive for our City if we applied for Tree City status:
   1. • Citizen  Pride
      

      1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1.   • Educational Benefits

      
      
      

      
      
      

      
      

      
      
      

      
      
      
   1. • Grant Funding and Financial Assistance
   1. • Economic Value for the greater community and property owners too
      
      
      
      
      
      

      
      
      
      
      
      
      
   1. • Public Image
      • Publicity

At a recent City Council meeting the Tree Canopy Study that had been completed was discussed. The Tree Canopy study was done by AMEC Earth & Environmental and was very basic, limited in scope, and paid for by grant funding. The objective of the study was to establish a "baseline" for what our tree canopy is now. 


You can review it here.
http://cosweb.ci.shoreline.wa.us/uploads/attachments/cck/Council/Staffreports/2011/staffreport041811-7a.pdf


Some of the most significant findings of the Tree Canopy study were that the consultants claimed that as of 2009, (when the last arial surveys were available) despite perceptions that many trees have been lost over the years, many more have grown in scale and that now there is virtually the same percentage of canopy (30.6%) as 2001.  However, the study also showed that the City now has approximately 46.2% "impervious surface" (streets, parking lots, rooves which do not absorb stormwater).  This number is significant because the tree canopy is one of the best ways to mitigate the large amount of impervious surface which causes huge problems such as flooding, sedimentation in streams. pollution runoff into water bodies.  The study said that the tree canopy now provides approximately $900,000 in annual cost savings for stormwater storage capacity.


It has been scientifically proven that up to 50% of the precipitation that falls on trees, especially conifers, never hits the ground!


The study also pointed out that there is still plenty of space for planting trees in single family residential areas and parks, which could mitigate many problems such as air pollution, water pollution and provide 770 tons of carbon sequestration annually.  And, trees do this work year after year for a very small investment.

Also, obviously trees provide that quality of life and sense of place that means so much to our residents. There have been very clear studies that show that commercial areas with more trees attract more customers and the customers shop longer, spending more money. So the tree canopy is clearly an economic asset. 


It's time to get serious about protecting and improving our Shoreline Tree Canopy! 

Ronald Bog surrounded by trees

It's what makes Shoreline a place we care about!

Native Plant Awareness Week

So Many Wonderful Native Plants to Celebrate!  
So many Native Plant Sales! 


One that is commonly seen in spring and adds so much to the woodland ecosystem is Salmonberry. Here is one in bloom. In early summer look for bright "salmon colored" berries. Pick one that's on the red side and it will be a little sweet.

Salmonberry at St Edwards State Park
ph credit-Janet Way

Monday is the beginning of Native Plant Awareness Week. Celebrate by attending and supporting the many Native Plant Sales that are coming up. And here's a resource list for many of them -
http://www.gardenhelp.org/plant-sales/greater-seattle-area-plant-sales-in-spring-2010/

Washington Native Plant Society hosts one as a fundraiser. 

http://wnps.org/chapter_info/chapter_sales.html

Spring Native Plant Sale

by the Central Puget Sound Chapter of the Washington Native plant Society (CPS/WNPS) is on Saturday, May 7^th  2011, 10 am – 4 pm, at theBellevue Botanical Garden, 12001 Main St., Bellevue.

Our sale will have over 150 species including ground covers, perennials, shrubs and trees that are ideal for our ecology. Botanical and gardening books will be for sale and WNPS experts will be available to answer questions. Help sustain biodiversity by using native planats in your garden.

Information: 

http://wnps.org/chapter_info/chapter_sales.html, 206-527-3210, lindaellis@wnps.org

The Salal chapter of the WNPS is also having a sale that day in Olympia.

Deer Fern (blechnum_spicant)
ph credit- WNPS

For an excellent listing of Washington Native Plant Species check the WNPS website -

http://wnps.org/photogallery1.html

And next weekend, as anyone in Shoreline area knows is the big Kruckeberg Botanical Garden Mothers Day Plant Sale! 

Dr Arthur Kruckeberg
cr-UW

Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, 20312 15th Ave NW, Shoreline, is having their annual Mother's Day Plant Sale and Open House 

 - from Thursday, May 05, 2011 through Sunday, May 08, 2011. 

(Thursday is a special members sale day.)

The sale is a 24-year tradition that combines three wonderful things: Great plants to purchase in the MsK Rare and Native Plant Nursery, a beautiful spring landscape in the Garden, and fun educational activities for your family.

The Nursery's largest selection of the year is available during the sale and the staff has set aside special, limited quantity plants to bring out. With hundreds of species in stock, including 270 Northwest native species, you are sure to find something great. As always, all proceeds support the Garden.

Dr Kruckeberg just celebrated his 91st Birthday! 

MS K Nursery at Kruckeberg

Visit 

 http://kruckeberg.org/

Native Plant Appreciation Week is May 1-7; check out our website,  http://wnps.org/npaw/events.html#King  , for family friendly and free lecture programs, walks, field trips, hikes and a garden tour. There are activities all around the state offered by local WNPS Chapters.  Also offered are workshops Diversity in the Desert May 15 and Know Your Grasses June 15-17, both at the UW. Look for additional events extending through May and June.

The Washington Native Plant Society is a non-profit organization that supports and provides educational lectures, classes, workshops and field trips, Stewardship training, restoration projects and research to conserve and sustain our local ecology through native plants.

Dr Art Kruckeberg is one of the founding members of WNPS and his wife Mareen made a life work to create the MSK Nursery at the Krukeberg Botanical Garden in Shoreline.

The site is now a City of Shoreline Park and is a treasure for all who care about native plants and wildlife habitat.

Mareen Kruckeberg

Big News on Point Wells Project

Save Richmond Beach has the story:


Point Wells Urban Center Designation Deemed Illegal by State Growth Board

Growth Management Hearings Board Issues Ruling Monday, April 25.

Read full order and decision

The Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board issued a decision yesterday invalidating Snohomish County's designation of Point Wells as an "Urban Center." The Growth Management Hearings Board is a State Board charged with hearing cases concerning compliance with the goals and requirements of the Growth Management Act and related provisions of the State Environmental Policy Act. The Central Puget Sound Hearings Board is a three-member panel of land use experts.

Following extensive briefing and a hearing on the merits, the Board agreed with Petitioners Save Richmond Beach, City of Shoreline and the Town of Woodway that Point Wells is not an appropriate site for an "Urban Center," and invalidated the Snohomish County ordinances designating it as such.

The Board noted that adequate urban services and infrastructure are not currently available or planned for Point Wells, making it inappropriate for Urban Center development. Among other problems with the proposed scale of development, the Board noted:  serious deficiencies in road and intersection capacity along the access road; lack of transit access or transportation links to the regional network; and lack of adopted plans for the necessary water and sewer infrastructure.

The Board also agreed with Petitioners that Snohomish County's environmental review for the project was inadequate, and remanded the project back to the County for further environmental review in accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act.

Point Wells is situated adjacent to the City of Shoreline and the Town of Woodway.  It is currently accessible only via one small access road through Shoreline.  When the County designated this area for Urban Center development, Woodway, Shoreline, and Save Richmond Beach, each sought review by the Growth Board.

The Board's decision is a victory for Save Richmond Beach, Shoreline and Woodway, who had opposed the Point Wells Urban Center designation based on the limited access, lack of mass transit, and conflicts with neighboring communities.

Following the hearing on the merits, but before the Hearings Board could issue its decision invalidating the "Urban Center" designation, the developer submitted a project application to Snohomish County to build a densely-populated Urban Center at Point Wells, with approximately 3100 housing units, several 18-story towers, and more than 100,000 square feet of commercial space.  In Snohomish County such a dense scale of development is only allowed in an area appropriately designated as an Urban Center. 

With the Board’s invalidation of an Urban Center designation for Point Wells, Save Richmond Beach calls upon Snohomish County and the developer to abide by the Board's decision and to halt the proposed Urban Center development until an adequate environmental review is conducted and a lawful and appropriate project scale is identified. 

SaveRichmondBeach.org is a community-driven non-profit organization dedicated to preserving our neighborhood through responsible and sustainable planning.

Jesse Salomon Announces City Council Candidate Position

Shoreline City Council Candidate, Jesse Salomon has announced he's running for Position #6, which is the open seat.

That seat is currently held by Terry Scott who is not running again.

       Salomon is a public defender, professionally and serves on the Ridgecrest Community Council and Shoreline Council of Neighborhoods. 

In a recent statement he says, “Over the past couple of months I have been talking to voters throughout Shoreline in order to understand the issues and concerns that they have with Shoreline City Government.  I am convinced that filling the leadership void created by Council Member Terry Scott’s departure is where my skills and talents on the Shoreline City Council can be best used to keep Shoreline moving forward.  I thank Terry for his years of outstanding service.”

He is a member of the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of a successful non-profit that assists homeless youth. He's stated that some of his top priorities are public, pedestrian and traffic safety.

One reason this is important to him is that his mother was recently killed in a car/pedestrian accident.

He's pledged to work for more sidewalks, street lights and police officers.

Jesse also believes city government needs to be accountable for how it spends taxpayer dollars.  Recently, Shoreline voters passed a tax increase to fund city services.  He will make sure that money is spent on direct services to fight crime and help those in need, not on bureaucracy.

As an attorney Jesse has worked hard to protect the most vulnerable amongst us, including children from abusive homes, victims of domestic violence, and homeless people.  Jesse is a graduate of Western Washington University and the University of Washington School of Law, where he earned scholarships and recognition for his public service.

While at Western Washington University, Jesse served as Vice President for Legislative Affairs, and later spent one session in Olympia as legislative liaison for the Students of Western.  There he fought tuition increases and was instrumental in securing $19 million for State Need Grants, which help middle and low-income students to afford college.

Recognizing his commitment to public service and accountable, responsive government King County Councimember Bob Ferguson endorsed Jesse Salomon.The election for this open seat is important to keep Shoreline moving forward.  Jesse will be an effective voice for the values we share: environmental stewardship, safe neighborhoods, accountable government, improved transit service and economic opportunity.  Jesse’s open, accessible personality will be a good fit with the current City Council.”

Since announcing his candidacy just last month, Jesse has raised $5,125 and contributed $15,000 of his own money for a total of over $20,125 for his race.  He continues to go door to door throughout Shoreline talking to voters.  He looks forward to continuing this aggressive effort to earn the support of Shoreline residents.

To learn more about Jesse and his campaign please visit 

www.JesseforShoreline.com

Jesse has been endorsed by a wide range of Shoreline community leaders including:

32^nd Legislative District Democrats

King County Councilmember Bob Fergusen

State Senator Maralyn Chase

Former State Senator Donn Charnley

Shoreline City Councilmember Chris Eggen

Shoreline City Councilmember Chris Roberts

Dick Nicholson

Paige Garberding

Sarah and David Nicol, Owner NakNek Seafoods

Keith Scully, Former Deputy King County Prosecutor

You Never Know When a Beautiful Sight Will Appear

Just walking out of the supermarket and saw this sunset the other day! 

Sunset Over N Seattle
ph credit - Janet Way

Even in a North Seattle parking lot, a beautiful thing can happen. All the stormy weather sometimes brings beautiful skies.

What's At The Crest This Week?

Shoreline's Best Kept Secret?


The Crest Cinema, built in 1949.
This week - 1 "Best Picture", 1 "Best Animated Film", 1 Oscar Nominee and two interesting 
independent films.  Get in line early!

Crest Cinema, Shoreline
All Shows $3
NE 165 and Fifth NE

• 
  CREST CINEMA CENTER
  (206) 781-5755
• The King's Speech 
  1:30 4:15 7:00 9:25
  Dolby Stereo
• Red Riding Hood  
  2:15 4:45 7:30 9:40
  Dolby Stereo
• True Grit  
  2:00 4:30 7:15 9:30
  Dolby Stereo
• The Last Lions  
  1:45 6:45
  Dolby Stereo
• The Illusionist 
  4:00 8:45
  Dolby Stereo

Happy Easter Shoreline Area! How About a Lovely Leeks Recipe for Your Spring Table

Oxalis (native shamrock) in Paramount Park

Hope you are all having a lovely Easter Sunday! And Passover too!

Here is a lovely Leek recipe I tried yesterday and it turned out very nicely.  Found it on Treehugger Blog. It is originally from the NY Times Magazine.  It called for several things I didn't have on hand so I substituted some ingredients. I switched the Sourcream and Ricotta for Quark. (Heads Up! I will have Quark available starting this Wednesday at Colombia City Farmers Market and Saturday at University Farmers Market.) Also, I substituted the puff pastry with piecrust. And, I switched the Gruyere cheese for some gorgonzola on hand.   So, it's a flexible recipe!

 It's simple, healthy and tasty!

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/04/weekday-vegetarian-leek-tart.php?campaign=th_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+treehuggersite+%28Treehugger%29

Photo credit: Emma Alter

I often bookmark the recipes in the Temporary Vegetarian column in the New York Times, because they always sound so delicious. On the other hand, I hardly ever actually make them because the writer of the columnn gets the recipes from chefs and they are often complicated or really time consuming. This lovely little recipe is neither complicated nor time consuming and it made for a delightful light lunch.

Paired with a green salad or some grilled asparagus, this would make a very nice brunch for company, although this was just enough for two or three so you would have to double the recipe. You could have all of the components ready and then just put it together and slide it into the oven 15 minutes before you are ready to sit down to your meal. It says to serve it hot, but we ate it at room temperature and it was still very nice.
This recipe is from The New York Times, April 18, 2011.
Leek Tart
1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
1 large egg yolk
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup sour cream
Salt and black pepper
One 14-ounce package Dufour or other all-butter puff pastry
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 to 4 leeks, white and light green parts only; cut diagonally into 1/3-inch wide slices, to make a total of 2 cups
1/2 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
Salt and black pepper
1 egg yolk, beaten
1 cup grated Gruyère cheese
12 oil-cured pitted black olives, torn or cut in half
1. In a bowl, combine ricotta with egg yolk and olive oil; whisk until well blended. Stir in sour cream, and season with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. To make the pastry, cut pastry into six four-inch squares, and lightly score a border about 1/4 inch from the edge. Lightly score a criss-cross pattern in the inside of the square. Place on a baking sheet and bake until puffed and lightly browned, 10 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven and poke the center with a fork to allow steam to escape. Cool for 10 minutes.

3. To make the topping, place a medium sauté pan over medium heat. Melt butter, add leeks and thyme, and sauté until leeks are soft and lightly caramelized, 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.

4. Brush the edge of the puff pastry with beaten egg yolk. Spread scored area of pastry with the ricotta base, and sprinkle evenly with Gruyére. Top with leeks and olives. Bake until the edges are golden brown, and the cheese is bubbling, 10 to 14 minutes. Serve hot.