Bear Reserve - Innis Arden Board Taking Aim at 46 Trees in Critical Area

Hearing is scheduled for Thurs, Aug 25th with Shoreline Hearing Examiner. 


The Friends of Bear Reserve are advocating to save the trees that are threatened.

Bear Reserve has many huge trees
that are 50-75 years old

What does the future hold for Innis Arden’s Bear Reserve

The Innis Arden Club has requested to removal of 46 mature trees in the Bear Reserve for the benefit of five home owners.  The City of Shoreline had “mitigated” the removal, limiting it to sixteen trees due the steep slope in the reserve.  The Innis Arden Club has appealed the mitigation to the Hearing Examiner. 

The Hearing to determine the fate of Bear Reserve is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, August 25th and 26^th at Shoreline City Hall.  If the Innis Arden Club prevails then not only will Bear Reserve lose 46 mature trees, but home owners below the Reserve will also lose trees based on the Innis Arden covenant. 

It is estimated that in addition to the 46 trees the Club has proposed removing there are another 39 “significant” sized privately owned trees in Innis Arden, plus 5 in Grouse Reserve that will likely be removed. 

The City of Shoreline defines a tree as “significant” when a conifer is 8 inches in diameter at breast height (dbh) or 4’2.”  Deciduous and broad leaf evergreens like our native madronas are considered significant when they reach 12” dbh. 

No matter what the Hearing Examiner decides, any part of Bear Reserve that in not protected as “critical area” due to steep slope an/or stream conditions is at risk of losing 6 more significant trees every 36 months on each of the two parcels making up the reserve until the Innis Arden Club is satisfied.

Find out more at:

http://shorelinewa.gov/index.aspx?page=25&recordid=3855

By Boni Biery 

Bear Reserve Tree - a valuable
natural resource

Metro Service Saved!

Big News on Metro Service

KC Exec Dow Constantine announced a deal in which King County Council to approve the $20 Car Tab increase to save bus service in the County.

Constantine announced that Metro would eliminate the "ride-free" area in Downtown Seattle and this move brings KC Councilmembers Jane Hague and Kathy Lambert along to support a "councilmanic" vote for the rate increase.

While this may be an inconvenience to riders in downtown, it will certainly be a relief to the thousands of riders who depend on their Metro Bus service in Shoreline and all over the county, to get to work and for other needs.

Shoreline/LFP PATCH has the story: 

Metro Bus Stop
PATCH ph cred

King County Council Ready to OK Car Tab Fee

The measure now has the support of Republicans Jane Hague and Kathy Lambert.

• By Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Patch staff

• Email the author

The King County Council is now poised to approve a $20 increase in car tab fees following the decision by Eastside representatives Jane Hague (R-District 6) and Kathly Lambert (R-District 3) to throw their support behind the measure in exchange for a set of conditions.

The added fees are intended to make up for a decline in sales tax revenue that funds Metro bus service in the county.

Lambert and Hague, who had previously opposed the fees, announced their changed position Friday morning. Their support gives the council the authority to enact the fees without voter approval.

“This bipartisan agreement addresses my primary concerns and offers real reform for Metro,” Hague said in a council news release. “It’s critical that we keep people and businesses moving on the Eastside – especially during these tough economic times. This new package creates jobs and provides equity for the Eastside.

Lambert and Hague agreed to support the fees in exchange for a set of requirements calling for Metro to operate more efficiently. These conditions, as listed in a council news release, include:

• Developing a Transit Incentive Program to provide eight bus tickets worth up to $24 for each car tab renewal

• Phasing out the downtown Seattle Ride Free Area in October 2012

• Increasing the pool of funds that provides sharply discounted bus tickets to human service and homeless programs

• Implementing right-sizing of service consistent with the Transit Strategic Plan

• Considering routes that carry more riders due to the effects of highway tolling as candidates for added services

“We’re working together in a bipartisan fashion, unlike those in Washington, D.C.,” Lambert said in the news release. “People in these uncertain economic times need certainty that they have an alternative method such as buses to get to work. There are many systemic changes in the new package that will help meet the needs of efficiency, transparency, and providing transportation.”

Metro had said it would need to cut bus service by 17 percent if the fees were not enacted. A council vote on the measure is scheduled to take place Monday.

Councilmembers Larry Phillips, Bob Ferguson, Larry Gossett, Joe McDermott, and Julia Patterson had previously stated their support. Ferguson, who rides bus No. 41 to work, represents Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. 

“As a regular bus commuter, I am thrilled that we have reached an agreement that will protect the transit service that workers and their families rely on every day. This agreement will keep our economy moving at the time we need it most,” Ferguson said. “I thank Executive Constantine and my colleagues for working to find common ground. On my way home tonight, I look forward to sharing the good news with my fellow riders on the No. 41 bus.”

Related Topics: Bob Ferguson, Jane Hague, Kathy Lambert King County Council, King County Council, Metro Bus Service, and car tab fee

It's National Farmers Market Week!! Shop Fresh!

Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets are a fun and exciting way to shop! 

Schuh Farms is at Lake City, Phinney and U-Dist
Amazing Berries!

"Lemon Kaesekuchen"
A fabulous way to enjoy berries is with a "Quark" Cheesecake or Kaesekuchen.
Celebrate National Farmers Market Week with Quark and Berries!

Celebrate National Farmers Market Week – August 7-13

August 4th, 2011

On July 20, 2011, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack proclaimed August 7th to the 13th, 2011 as National Farmers Market Week.  This marks the twelfth year that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has proclaimed a National Farmers Market Week.

Farmers markets are a critical piece of any local food system.  They provide important market opportunities for farmers to sell their agricultural products, helping to sustain the livelihoods of family farms and rural communities.  They also provide consumers with the opportunity to purchase some of the freshest, healthiest and highest quality fruits, vegetables, and value-added products like freshly baked breads, fruit preserves, cheeses, milk and other dairy products.  Yes, we’re getting hungry, too!

Heirloom Tomatoes at
Seattle Farmers Markets

What's Fresh this week? A bounty of great produce, flowers, cheeses, eggs, baked goods and so much more!   Check the Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Market Alliance website any time:

http://www.seattlefarmersmarkets.org/ripe-n-ready
This organization supports seven neighborhood markets including Lake City, Colombia City, and U-District, Phinney, West Seattle, Magnolia and Broadway.  And there are of course many more in Seattle and the area. The closest to Shoreline are: Lake Forest Park (Sundays), Lake City (Thursdays) and Edmonds (Saturdays).


Shop Fresh!! Support local agriculture and enjoy the fun and great taste!

Summer Bouquet - A Distraction

When It's a Bummer Investment Day, Turn to Nature. 
Nature always pays dividends.

Shasta Daisies, Rose Campion and Pearly Everlasting

Special Visitor at Tonite's Hiroshima to Hope Festival and Hundreds of Participants

Hiroshima to Hope

Hiroshima to Hope Lanterns getting ready for a lovely
trip on Greenlake

Ohio Congressman and former presidential candidate
Dennis Kucinich holding peace lantern

Many beautiful sights to see at tonite's Hiroshima to Hope commemoration at Greenlake. Hundreds of particpants of all ages and ethnicities joined in the 26th annual festival to honor the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombings and to celebrate hope for peace. The celebration is sponsored by Fellowship of Reconciliation and other groups.

Congressman Dennis Kucinich of Ohio visited the event, but kept a low profile. He was a very gracious guest.

The festival began with ministers, taiko drumming, and speeches by local activists. 

Taiko DRumming Troupe sets the tone

Participants and visitors were invited to "make a lantern", which actually meant making a small donation and brush artists wrote a message of one's choice on the lantern.

Brush Calligrapher writes my message -
"justice" for my lantern

My lantern reads "justice"

Lanterns are lit by volunteers

The loveliest part of this evening is clearly the amazing ceremony to place hundreds of lanterns on the lake in a symbolic commemoration of the lives lost in war and also in the Japanese tradition of "Obon" to celebrate the lives of ancestors to "light their way" home. 

Hundreds of celebrants walk quietly down the dock to waiting
volunteers in boats to gently place the lanterns in the
lake.

A lovely sight unfolds as the lanterns gradually drift out into the lake with the help of boaters.

Special lantern adorned with peace cranes
sets sail

Lanterns are placed in the lake and begin their voyages

As the sun sets and the moon rises the peaceful scene unfolds as everyone gathers to witness the beautiful sights. 

Duck Island just to the south of the
lantern dock

As darkness settles the lanterns create a beautiful and peaceful scene unmatched.

And still the participants kept coming to add their little wishes for peace.

Beautiful little girl brings her lantern to the shore.

Peace! 

It's The Berries!

Berries, Berries, Berries!!!

Schuh Farms Berries. Rasberries, Golden Rasberries and Blueberries
available at Lake City, U Dist and Phinney Farmers Markets

So many berries, people are lining up and vendors are selling out! It's a berry, berry fun time at the farmers markets now, with pretty good weather. 


There are now several different local farm vendors at our Seattle Neighborhood Farmers Markets selling varietal berries, including, Rasberries, Golden rasberries, Blueberries (pictured)
and others such as Blackberries, Marion berries, Boysenberries, Gooseberries, and Loganberries.  

Schuh Farms at Lake City Farmers Market
(Thursdays, 3-7pm)

Try some berries with Quark from Appel Farms, or make a cheesecake!  Yum!! 

Did you know that Blackberries have one of the highest "soluable fiber" ratings of any foods? 

half cup of raw blackberries contains 4 to 5 grams of fiber

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1827827

Celebrate Shoreline Events Coming Up

Lot's of Fun Events Scheduled in August for Celebrate Shoreline!


Join the fun. 


Schedule below from City of Shoreline "Currents".