WELCOME

…to Gary Kingsbury, the newly appointed director of the Northshore Senior Center. He has the not so enviable assignment of steering the center and its fine programs through a minefield of dwindling financial resources.

He brings a background of work as a chief financial officer in the private sector and a wide range of paid and volunteer positions in the public sector.

What caught my eye in the current senior center newsletter was this: “Gary has volunteered his time generously, serving on the Veterans and Human Services Levy Oversight Board (Bob Ferguson’s rep), NUHSA (North Urban Human Services Association), board of Vision House (provides transitional housing) and the City of Shoreline Human Services Task Force.”

The recent human services levy involved a tiny percentage of county sales tax revenue going to programs for mental health, veteran’s needs and drug and alcohol abuse.

SEAFAIR

Yes, the Seattle restaurateur Duke Moscrip who is being credited with making a financial pledge to save hydroplane racing during Seafair 2010 is the same Duke Moscrip who led the Bothell High Cougars basketball team to the state tournament championship game in 1962.

CONGRATS

…to Jazmyn of The Music Project Foundation program emanating from Secondary Academy for Success (SAS). A Running Start student at Cascadia Community College, Jazmyn successfully competed with performers throughout the state to be included among seven chosen to sing during Seattle’s “More at the Moore Theater” spotlighting teenage talent. Several other SAS students also tried out. Bernadette Bascom coached the vocalists.

TEAM BETSEY

My family is inviting “Northshorites” to support the one in four families in our area who every day, one way or another, deal with the devastating condition of mental illness. As a legacy to our daughter, we have organized “Team Betsey” for the May 15 fund-raising walk sponsored by the Washington state affiliates of National Alliance on Mental Illness.

First signees — BZ Davis, Cathy Swanson and Sue Buskey. To donate or walk, it’s www.nami.org/namiwalks/wa.

Funds will support the efforts of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Eastside affiliate, which serves the Northshore communities with invaluable resources for individuals and families faced with instances of a wide variety of chronic brain disorders. The walk is at Seattle’s Magnuson Park.

ARTS CHALLENGE

Speaking to supporters of the Northshore Performing Arts Center Foundation last month, Bill Christopher challenged attendees to dream ahead 10 years to see how vibrant the arts could become in the Northshore communities of Woodinville, Bothell and Kenmore. Christopher is retiring president of Cascadia Community College.

John B. Hughes was owner-publisher of the Northshore Citizen from 1961 to 1988 and is active in local nonprofit organizations.