Unprecedented response to shortfall

Published 5:15 pm Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In the effort to close a projected $93 million deficit in the 2009 general fund, the Metropolitan King County Council’s Budget Review and Adoption Committee is taking the unprecedented step of inviting King County’s separately elected officials as well as representatives of suburban cities, King County’s labor coalitions and Public Health to testify on potential impacts to the public services they provide.

The budget committee held two Suburban Cities Roundtables last week in Issaquah and Kent attended by 12 local mayors and city councilmembers. A final roundtable is set for this Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Arden Room at the Shoreline Conference Center, 18560 First Ave. NE. The meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. in advance of the scheduled 7 p.m. public hearings on the budget.

All meetings of the 2009 Budget Review and Adoption Committee are carried LIVE on King County Television (Comcast and Broadstripe Cable 22), with the exception of evening public hearings and the Suburban Cities Roundtables which are taped for cablecast.

For more information on the 2009 budget, visit the King County Council’s Budget Web site at: www.kingcounty.gov/council/budget.aspx

Shoreline residents get Horse Crazy

Approximately 150 residents of the Shoreline Community enjoyed a musical performance by the Horse Crazy Cowgirl Band Oct. 18 at Anderson House. Sponsored as a fund raising event by the Rotary Club of Shoreline, the proceeds from the event will support the Rotary Internationals goal to eradicate Polio throughout the world.

Recently the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donated a matching grant of $100 million to Rotary International with the understanding that Rotary Clubs throughout the world would match that amount. This musical event raised a sufficient amount towards the Rotary Club of Shoreline’s share of the amount needed

Anderson House donated the use of their facilities and provided food, beverages and staff support for the event. The Band waived their usual performance fee in support of the Rotary cause.

Pick a pumpkin in Lake Forest Park

A pumpkin patch with all shapes and sizes of pumpkins will be set up near the Windermere office parking lot at the Lake Forest Park Towne Center from Oct. 22 through Oct. 31. The event is being sponsored by the Lake Forest Park Police Guild.

Bring the kids and let them pick out their own pumpkin and get a photo with the cops and robbers scarecrows while there. The proceeds from this event will be donated to NW Harvest.

Get festive at the Holiday Bazaar

Get a jump on your holiday shopping at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center Holiday Bazaar.

The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31 and Saturday, Nov. 1.

Over 26 vendors, a bake sale, rummage sale, and a huge silent auction will be part of the Senior Center’s largest fundraiser. Lunch and snacks will be served both days.

The Senior Center is located at 18560 First Ave. NE in Shoreline. For additional information call 206-365-1536.

Creek project protects fish, prevents flooding

Volunteers are needed Oct. 25 and Oct. 26 to plant native vegetation that will help restore the stream bank along Lyon Creek.

Earlier this year, the City of Mountlake Terrace awarded a construction project for the Lyon Creek Habitat Enhancement Project to relocate and restore a portion of Lyon Creek where it was eroding the Cedar Way roadway and sidewalk. As part of the relocation process, enhancements were made to Lyon Creek’s stream channel and riparian area that will aid with flood damage and help to dissipate flow energy downstream during storm events.

Stream pools have been formed for fish rearing that will also provide a healthy environment for fish and other aquatic inhabitants. Native plants will restore the riparian areas and offer vital protection for birds, fish and wildlife.

This high priority project restores a portion of Lyon Creek just before it enters Lake Forest Park at the intersection of Cedar Way and 244th Street SW in Mountlake Terrace As part of the restoration project, the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation is helping to provide a corps of volunteers to install new plants.

Over 1,200 plants including cedar, dogwood, willow, salal, fern, salmonberry, snowberry Oregon grape need to be planted.

Work parties are scheduled on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 25 and Oct. 26 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. each day.

Volunteers are asked to bring shovels, wear gloves, sturdy foot ware and dress for the weather. Adults and youth from the area are encouraged to participate in this important event. Refreshments, provided by Great Harvest Bread, Starbucks and Albertsons, will be available.

For more information about this event, please call Storm Water Program Manager Mike Shaw at 425-670-8264 ext. 105 or Carol Dahl with the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation at 206-361-7076.

Learn about Camp Fire

Families with children three years of age and older are invited to learn more about Camp Fire USA on Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., at the Shoreline Library, located at 345 NE 175th, Shoreline.

Camp Fire USA club-meetings include playing games, cooking, building things, singing, drawing, camping out, going on field trips, helping others, and making craft projects.

Shoreline Chamber hosts ‘Christmas in November’

It will be Christmas in November when the Shoreline Chamber of Commerce holds its annual dinner and auction on Saturday, Nov. 22.

The Christmas-themed event will be held in the Shoreline Room at the Shoreline Conference Center, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $50 per person. Sponsors can purchase eight seats for the price of seven by buying a table for $350.

The auction will benefit the chamber, including its business education activities and Dollars for Scholars scholarship program for Shoreline students. For $500, sponsors can fund a scholarship in their names or their company’s names.

For more information, to donate auction items, or to RSVP, contact the chamber at 206-361-2260.

Nominate a community hero

The American Red Cross Serving King &Kitsap Counties is looking for “everyday heroes” from your community.

Residents can help the Red Cross recognize extraordinary people by nominating a hero. Information about the nominations and the form are available online at www.seattleredcross.org or by calling 206-726-3543 or e-mailing melissa.hopkins@seattleredcross.org.

The Red Cross will honor the heroes on March 26, 2009 at the 13th Annual Heroes Breakfast. Each year the Red Cross presents its Everyday People, Everyday Heroes awards in several categories, such as Fire, Police, Workplace Safety, Adult &Youth Good Samaritan as well as Nature and Medical Rescue.

The nominee must be a resident of, or employed within, King County or the heroic act must have occurred in King County. The heroic act must be ongoing or have occurred between December 1, 2007, and November 30, 2008.

For more information about the Red Cross Heroes nomination process, please call 206-726-3543 or visit www.seattleredcross.org.

Proceeds from the Heroes Breakfast support disaster relief efforts in King County.

Drive for Senior Services

Volunteers can help seniors in the Shoreline and Lake Forest Park communities remain independent by becoming a volunteer driver for Senior Services Shuttle Program. The Program is seeking reliable, caring individuals to drive agency vans.

Flexible hours and free training in defensive driving and passenger assistance are provided. Volunteers do not need a special driver’s license and do no lifting or bearing of weight. Bilingual drivers are especially encouraged to apply. Call Melissa at 206-748-7588 or e-mail melissat@seniorservices.org for more information.

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