Fircrest Resident Forrest Sargent Takes Art World by Storm

Forrest Sargent, a Fircrest Resident has found his voice with Photography.

Forrest Shows off his work
http://www.seattleartblog.com/?p=1470

Childhood’s End Gallery, 222 4th. Avenue West in Olympia, is featuring Forrest Sargent’s photography, “Northwest Perspectives,” through February 10. Sargent is a 19-year old nature photographer from Seattle who is autistic and uses his photography and a letter board to communicate. A reception for the artist will take take place January 22 from 2-4pm.

He is the featured artist at the Childhood End Gallery in Olympia. Up until a few years ago Forrest was unable to talk or communicate and had a very frustrating and difficult time because of autism. Now he resides at Fircrest, an RHC and gets the support he needs from professional staff as well as his family.
He is now able to communicate many ways. One of those ways is through Photography.

Forrest's story has received a lot of great coverage lately, including Seattle Art Blog (above), KOMO TV and TONITE will be featured on KING  5 News.

Here are some of Forrest's wonderful images:

"Mysterious Shadows"

It's All About God

Forrest is showing a definite talent and ability to communicate with his photography. And his parents are naturally very proud of the progress he's made.

Twin Ponds

SIFF Film Screenings-"Homeless-Motel Kids of Orange County"

SIFF - Showing an important film that tells the story of how homlessness affects kids and families. 

Seattle University's Center for Strategic Communications and the organization Building Changes are trying to build awareness around family homelessness this week with a screening and Q&A of Alexandra Pelosi's documentary "Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County." Pelosi will be appearing on King 5's New Day Northwest tomorrow (Thursday) morning at 11am, and then screening the film at SIFF Cinema in Seattle Center at 7pm. 

The screening is open to the public, first-come, first-served.

homeless: the motel kids of orange county

• ith Alexandra Pelosi
  RSVP to attend; first-come, first-served, seating is not guaranteed.
• Showing:Thursday, January 20, 7:00 PM
• Running Time:60 Minutes
• Theater:SIFF Cinema
• Ticket Code:HOME0120

Presented by Seattle University's Center for Strategic Communications and its Project on Family Homelessness 

Shoreline Surface Water Master Plan Open House TONITE!

Floodwaters from Aurora Ave overwhelm constructions site
next to Echo Lake in 2007 storm 

City of Shoreline will host an Open House this evening at City Hall to discuss citizens concerns about addressing and updating the Surface Water Master Plan, 6-9pm.

Stormwater in Littles Creek Basin overflows on
12th NE - 2007

Shoreline has made many improvements to begin to address these flooding problems since the last Surface Water Master Plan was passed, such as the Cromwell Park project and the newest Green Streets
project in Briarcrest. But, there is still a lot more to do to retrofit our many watershed problems created by decades of unfortunate misunderstandings and neglect by previous public works projects. Much of the infrastructure was created back when there was more concern with just building neighborhoods, but little attention was paid to the impacts of those developments to the ecology of the waterhseds.

http://www.shorelinewa.gov/index.aspx?page=707
Why is this something to be concerned about?
• If you ever have experienced problems in your neighborhood resulting from localized flooding, then here is your chance to help influence policies to address the issues.
• If you are concerned about how Stormwater affects watersheds or Puget Sound, this is your chance in Shoreline to impact these policies.
• If you are concerned about how Stormwater affects salmon or other wildlife habitat , this is a chance to get involved.
• If you'd like to see Shoreline make changes to improve surface water policies and planning, here is your chance to make a difference.

Cromwell Park Project completed last summer (2010) with funds from Parks Bond and
grants, restored several acres of wetlands upstream
from Ronald Bog. This project can retain over 2 "acre ft" of stormwaters,
 infiltrates and detains them with Natural Drainage techniques to prevent
flooding such as the 2007 storm

• If you are concerned about pollution and its impacts to streams in your neighborhood, this is the time to speak up.

Flooding in Ronald Bog Neighborhood during
2007 storm

Reps Ryu and Kagi Co-Sponsor Point Wells Bill

32nd District Reps Ruth Kagi and Cindy Ryu are teaming up to co-sponsor legislation to limit the impacts of the proposed Point Wells, "Blue Square" Development.

Rep Ruth Kagi

Rep Cindy Ryu 

House Bill 1265 would limit the potential density allowed on the development now proposed in unincorporated Snohomish County bordering Woodway and Shoreline.

http://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/

Point Wells site
STEVE RINGMAN / THE SEATTLE TIME

 Kagi, Ryu bill to encourage cooperative planning for Point Wells development

OLYMPIA — To promote consistent, orderly urban development, state Reps. Ruth Kagi, D-Lake Forest Park, and Cindy Ryu, D-Shoreline, have introduced legislation to ensure that Snohomish County, the City of Shoreline and the Town of Woodway will work cooperatively in addressing the impact of development at Point Wells, an unincorporated area on the north side of the Snohomish-King County border.

Newly re-zoned for urban-center land use by Snohomish County, Point Wells currently is an industrial site that developers hope to transform into a mixed-use development with 3,000 housing units. Access to Point Wells, however, is limited to just one two-lane road, NW Richmond Beach Road/Richmond Beach Drive, that winds through Shoreline in King County. Many nearby residents, particularly those in the adjacent Richmond Beach neighborhood, are concerned that the scale of the development is too large and will adversely affect traffic and safety along the road.

“Funneling 3,000 new families through a small two-lane road presents many challenges. We can’t risk having an infrastructure that’s inadequate to support the whole community’s needs,” Kagi said. “This bill encourages cooperative development planning among local governments so that the scale of new development harmonizes with existing communities.”

House Bill 1265 would limit the residential density of Point Wells so that it does not exceed the density of the adjacent cities. It provides for an exception, however, if the county enters into an interlocal agreement with the adjacent cities that addresses mitigation for the impact on transportation and parks, and that outlines how government services will be provided.

The 32nd District legislators are hopeful the legislation will encourage a cooperative local agreement that works well for the citizens, developers and local governments.

Posted in Cindy Ryu, Ruth Kagi | Comments Off

Maiden Speech by Rep Cindy Ryu on House Floor, Honors Dr. Martin Luther King

Cindy Ryu honors Dr Martin Luther King's Birthday, with her first floor speech yesterday.
A video of her speech is also available @ 
http://www.housedemocrats.wa.gov/cindy-ryu/rep-cindy-ryus-maiden-speech-honors-martin-luther-king-jr/


Rep Ryu was elected by voters in the 32nd District this past November. She made history as the first Korean-American Women ever elected to the State House. She had previously also made history as the first Korean-American Women elected Mayor in the US as mayor of Shoreline. Cindy Ryu is a Democrat representing the 32nd Legislative District which includes Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Woodway, Kenmore and parts of un-incoprorated King and Snohomish Counties.

Rep Cindy Ryu

Thank you, Mr. Speaker,

I’m proud my first speech in this House is about Martin Luther King, Jr., and his dream.

As the first Korean-American woman to have the honor of serving in this House, I know in my heart that I would not be here if Martin Luther King’s dream had died with him

Many of us would not be here.

He dreamed of an America with freedom, opportunity, justice, and full civil rights for all. He dreamed of an America where what counted was the content of a person’s character. And Americans listened.

In fact, the whole world listened.

지금 나에게는 꿈이 있습니다.

[Ji Keum Na Ae Gae Neun GGeum E It SSeum Nee Da] 

That is “I have a dream today” translated into Korean. I say it to remind us that Dr. King’s dream has been translated intomany languages around the world. And it still inspires people around the world.

Mr. Speaker, I know these are hard times. This recession doesn’t feel like the dream. And we have not yet reached (the goal of) full civil rights for all. But let’s remember what Dr. King said when he shared his dream.  He is speaking to us today as we remember and celebrate his life.

May I quote very briefly from his “I have a Dream” speech, Mr. Speaker?

Quote:

“I say to you today, my friends, that even though we face the difficulties and frustrations of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream!  It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream!

I believe we will, if we don’t let go, of the America of our dreams.

Dr. King said there would be bends in the road, even when we are moving forward. He also said that we will reach our goal.

A Year Ago Today - Shoreline Historical Museum WAS in Ronald School

Do You Remember? 


Last year on MLK's Birthday an incredible Rally was held in front of the Shoreline Historical Museum. Ninety people showed up to support the Museum and Ronald School and sent a message to the Shoreline School District.

2010 MLK Day Rally at Ronald School

Now, sadly even though the public thought the problem was solved and history would be preserved, it wasn't. The Shoreline School District evicted the Museum and their new home will be here -

Cottage next door to former James Alan Salon

and here!

Former James Alan Salon building at 185th and Lynden

So while we are happy for the Museum finding a new home, which will eventually be built into something much better, we wonder "how could this have happened?" 

And still the Ronald School is threatened by the new Shorewood HS development. SSD says they'll be "restoring it", when actually they'll be gutting the insides of this nearly 100 year old building and slapping it onto the front of a 150,000 sq ft building and calling it a "landmark", even though it will only be the front porch of the humongous new HS. 

The "Landmarked" 1912 Ronald School is unique as a stand alone,
semi-rural schoolhouse in the Classic Revival Style

The "Shoreline" Landmarks Commission (which interestingly contained no one representing Shoreline)

issued a decision on a Certificate of Appropriateness to allow Shoreline School District to impact the building it had landmarked just 2 years before.

Now, the Shoreline Preservation Society has appealed that decision. The appeal will be heard by the Shoreline City Council on February 28th at the regular council meeting. It is a "closed record, quasi-judicial" matter. This means no new evidence or testimony will be taken and the Councilmembers are not permitted ANY exparte communications with anyone, including each other. 

The public is welcome to attend the hearing and witness this decision, which will finally be made by someone representing Shoreline.

Total Experience Gospel Choir at Third Place Commons

Pat Wright and the Total Experience Gospel Choir wows the large crowd at Third Place Commons today for Martin Luther King's Birthday.  Pastor Pat Wright is the founder and choir director and she said that it's also HER Birthday! 

Pat Wright and one of several young soloists featured in
performance of Total Experience Gospel Choir

The choir put on its usual rousing performance that "rocked the house"!  The choir always features soloists from the group, some of which are quite young. It is a multi-ethnic group that has a great reputation in the Seattle area, nationally and internationally.

TEG Choir Rocks

The show was sponsored by 4Culture at Third Place Commons. Third Place Commons is a 501C-3 organization that brings a multitude of talent to their stage.