City briefs

‘Faces of the community’ event

The Shoreline Historical Museum is featuring a photography project, “The Faces of Our Community Project: Connecting Through Stories” being presented by Victoria Lauber with Shoreline Community College at the branch meeting for the American Association of University Women Bothell/Shoreline from 10 to noon on Feb. 8.

The Faces Project is funded by a three-year grant through the Department of Education Fund for improvement of Post-secondary Education. Victoria will share her work using the transformative power of education to give voice to immigrants and refugees, and to promote recognition of their contributions to our community.

A viewing of the photography project will take place at noon Feb. 8 and will be an opportunity for the public to meet seven Shoreline Community College immigrant students through photos and narratives describing their unique experiences and challenges which they face in pursuing their education. A reception is planned for 1 p.m. Sponsors include the Arts Council, Shoreline Historical Museum Patrons, and Shoreline Community College.

‘Commons’ hosts community talk

Lake Forest Park Mayor David Hutchinson and Roger Olstad, co-chair of the Friends of Third Place Commons and Ron Sher, owner of Third Place Books, will be holding a public discussion on how to create and sustain the viable volunteer community at Third Place Commons on Sunday January 26 at 3 p.m.

The Commons area is made up of the tables and chairs and the stage near the restaurants near Third Place Books in Towne Centre. It is an experiment in collaboration among various community partners. Ron Sher, the owner of the bookstore has made the space available to the public through the Friends of Third Place Commons.

It is a complex relationship that is inventing a new face for public, private non-profit partnerships, Hutchinson said. The bookstore provides the Friday and Saturday night music and the readings from various authors. When the space is not being used for these purposes, the space is donated for public use.

The Friends of Third Place Commons is the community partner. They are a non-profit organization that schedules events, and works brings various groups together to make community events happen. On Valentine’s Day, for example, the City, the Commons and lots of community organizations will present Heart Healthy Valentine’s Day.

“We are a changed community because of Third Place Commons,” said Mayor Hutchinson. ” I have heard it described as the heart of our community, and it is. The Commons is built on the volunteering spirit of Lake Forest Park. It is like an indoor park. Everyone is welcome. Young people are studying at tables, seniors are playing cards, families are eating, meetings are taking place and people are talking with each other.”

Roger Olstad and Teri Howatt are co-chairs of the nonprofit organization Friends of Third Place Commons.

“The Commons is a wonderful space. It is safe accessible day and night,” Howatt said. “Children are welcome in the space. On Halloween it was transformed into wonderful safe place for children and adults. The Friends sponsored a parade, a stage show and break dancing.”

This Sunday the community is invited to the membership meeting of the Friends of Third Place Commons to discuss over coffee and snacks the space and how it can be used and supported in the future.