Pancake cloud

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Hopefully someone will provide the correct name for this cloud; in the meantime I get to call it a pancake.

I don't recall seeing one like this before. Apparently it cast a dark shadow and dropped a small amount of moisture.

--Diane Hettrick

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Restaurant Review: Ugly Burger

Ugly Burger 19939 Ballinger Way NE

Story & Photos by David Carlos

Dinner for tonight had to be a juicy burger.

No thanks to dry, cardboard burgers.

It had to be a highly caloric, guilt-inducing type of messiness that you don't tell your doctor at your checkup.

I asked Google what burger places were nearby. Google listed "Ugly Burger" at 19939 Ballinger Way NE as a possibility.

It was worth a visit.

A crew of three worked there. One cashier and two cooks in the kitchen.

Ugly Burger menu

I ordered two mushroom burgers, fries, and onion rings.

The cashier gave me a restaurant pager that buzzed when your order was ready. I could've sat in my car and waited.

Instead, I decided to sit at one of their clean, pine-colored tables.

Right after, three sets of customers came in. One of them was a large family. "This place must be popular," I thought to myself.

The man who took my order passed by to clean the tables. I asked, "Did this place used to be a teriyaki place?"

"Yeah, that's what I heard," he said. I asked him how long they'd been in business. "Seven months," he said.

Background music played. "Ain’t nobody gonna break my stride." Followed by "Jack and Diane."

By the third song, my order was ready.

Mushroom Burger

I rushed home to place the food on plates and take pictures. No matter how many I took, I couldn't make the burger look...presentable. "That's what you wanted," said my wife, "ugly burgers."

As soon as the picture-taking was done, I dug in. The burger was so messy I had to keep the wrapper around it.

Verdict: Ugly, but beautifully made. A hearty patty accompanied with "Ugly sauce," mushrooms, red onion, lettuce, tomato, and gooey melted Swiss cheese.

The ugly sauce? It's a blend of mayo, ketchup, mustard, garlic, onion powder, dill pickle, and other spices.

The fries and onion rings were also good. But they were pretty much ignored; the burgers filled us fast.

My wife said, "This is the best burger I’ve had in…I don't know how long."

There will be time to hit the treadmill. At that moment, I enjoyed dinner to my heart's content.

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Senior Center Newsletter September - October

Activity guide for the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center for September / October 2026 is available online,

And can be read here. 20 pages of activities from zumba to driftwood sculptures. Mental health counseling and a social worker. Technology. Health & Wellness. Bingo and Trivia. Line dancing, chair yoga. Tai chi and QiGong.

The Senior Center is located at 18560 1st Ave NE, Bldg G, Shoreline WA 98155. Ample parking.

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Seattle Area Feline Rescue (SAFe Rescue) running low on supplies

SAFe Rescue needs some help from the community.

Their Pet Pantry is running low on two of the most critical supplies: clumping cat litter and dry cat food. 

Thousands of family pets rely on the Pet Pantry for support during hardship, and your donations allow us to provide those resources.

If you have any bags to spare (opened or unopened), please consider dropping them off during Pet Pantry Drop By Hours Thursdays 12-3pm, or at our Adoption Center Thurs-Sun 12-6pm. 

20226 Ballinger Way NE Shoreline, WA 98155 in Ballinger Village.

You can also send items directly to the Rescue by shopping our Amazon Wish List

Thank you for caring for our neighbors. Together, we make a difference for pets and the humans who love them.

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Support the senior center! Eat more chocolate! October 24, 2026

Support local businesses! Support the senior center! Eat more chocolate!

Saturday October 24, 2026 from 11am to 3pm

Seven small-business local chocolate makers and chocolatiers are coming together on Saturday October 24, 2026 for a fun afternoon of chocolate! Meet the makers, taste their handmade artisanal chocolates, and if you find a favorite, they will have some for sale.

Early-bird tickets for the 2026 Shoreline Chocolate Festival are on sale Monday, August 24, 2026.

Early-bird ticket price: $20

Tickets are available online or by calling 206-365-1536 or visiting the Shoreline Senior Center 18560 1st Ave NE, Bldg G, Shoreline WA 98155.

• 100% of ticket sales go to supporting programs and operations at the Shoreline Senior Center. 
• 100% of sales at the event go directly to the vendors.

Participating Vendors: 

• Chocolate Man
• Cocoa Legato
• Allelon Chocolate
• Dolcetta Chocolate
• Brugge Chocolates
• Bon Chocolats
• Cocoa Legato

Support local businesses! Support the senior center! Eat more chocolate!

Tickets will be available at www.shorelineseniorcenter.org/chocolate/

Tickets can also be purchased directly through the senior center at 206-365-1536

This festival is made possible in part by our generous sponsors:

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Heritage Bank volunteers plant a new guild at Ching Community Garden

Heritage Bank volunteers came from Shoreline, Bellevue, and Everett

For the second year in a row, the Ching Community Garden was selected as a volunteer site for Heritage Bank’s Day of Service. 

This year, nine Heritage Bank volunteers came from branches and offices in Shoreline, Bellevue, and Everett. They were joined by three members of the Ching Garden team: Shirlee, Maryn, and horticulturist Derek.

Derek arrived early to lay out and prepare plants for the day’s work. Once everyone had arrived, Maryn gave a brief history of the Ching property and shared the vision and development plans for the garden. Shirlee made sure everyone had gloves and tools and, before the planting began, invited volunteers to harvest plums, apples, and figs from the garden.

With perfect weather for working outdoors, Derek demonstrated the planting technique and soon everyone had adopted a plant. He showed volunteers how to use the handle of a shovel to estimate the depth and width of the planting hole based on the size of the nursery pot. Volunteers quickly took over the process. Maryn kept the planting holes watered, while Shirlee measured and added fertilizer.

A New Plant Guild

One of the major accomplishments of the day was the establishment of a new plant guild, which may become known as the Heritage Bed or Heritage Guild. 

A beautiful new plant bed

Seventeen plants were added, including: 2 figs, 5 false indigo, 2 goumi berries, 1 mulberry, 1 Beauty plum. 1 seaberry. 1 Cornelian cherry, plus additional companion plants.

The South Fence/Camellia Bed received another 10 plants, including several figs. Farther down the fence line, volunteers planted a Seven-son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) and a Fragrant Snowbell (Styrax obassia).

A persimmon was planted east of the existing plum tree.

In the northeast corner, a new planting area—possibly the future “Serenity” area—was established with three Fargesia ‘Jiuzhaigou’ bamboos, three maples (‘Moonglow,’ ‘Pung Kil,’ and ‘Gwen’s Rose Delight’/‘Shirazz’), and a beautiful Davidia involucrata, commonly known as the dove tree, handkerchief tree, or ghost tree. 

36 New Plants

The two-hour workday flew by. By the end of the morning, 36 new plants had been added to the Ching Garden landscape.

A big tree was part of the 2026
Heritage planting

Beyond the number of plants installed, the day was valuable because volunteers learned how to plant and care for the garden while contributing directly to its development. 

The Heritage Bank team helped transform several areas of the garden and created new plant communities that will continue to grow and develop for years to come.

We are grateful to Heritage Bank for returning to Ching Garden for a second year of service and for bringing such an enthusiastic group of volunteers. 

A special thank-you goes to everyone who dug, planted, watered, fertilized, harvested, hauled, and helped make the day a success.

36 plants, 9 Heritage Bank volunteers, 3 Ching team members, and two very productive hours—another great day of growing community at Ching Garden.

We welcome groups, schools, and organizations that would like to set up a day of service at the Ching Garden. Work parties can take place year round, weather permitting. 

If interested, reach out to us at info@digginshoreline.org, and we'll contact you.

--Maryn Wynne

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ICE in Hillwood Sunday

Photo by Lesley Z

ICE vehicle spotted on Whitman Ave N at N 200th Street, one block east of Aurora Ave, 10am Sunday August 23, 2026 in the Hillwood neighborhood.

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Normal sunset

Photo by RJ Perna

I appreciate a yellow sun and a bit of blue sky at sunset because it means that the air is probably safe to breath. 

I'm still traumatized by the year we got wildfire smoke from Oregon, eastern Washington, and Canada - all at the same time.

This view wouldn't have shown mountains, water, or anything but a thick cloud of smoke.

--Diane Hettrick

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Other people's roundabouts

Lake Stevens WA has an elaborate roundabout system that has not worked out well for them. They are in the process of revision and reconfiguration to make it simpler and reduce collisions.

Our roundabouts in Shoreline and soon in Lake Forest Park are uncomplicated, compared to this one.

No actual construction is planned; instead they will be painting new lane lines.

1. One of the circulating lanes has been removed between the westbound Seventh Place Northeast and eastbound SR 204 approaches
2. One southbound SR 9 lane has been removed entering and exiting the roundabout
3. One westbound Seventh Place Northeast lane approaching the roundabout has been eliminated
4. Other minor modifications to the striping on eastbound SR 204 lanes approaching the roundabout

They expect that these changes will create easier decisions for drivers and reduce the number of places where vehicles potentially could collide entering and within the roundabout.

--Diane Hettrick

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Shoreline Rotary joins Shoreline Community Church to feed kids over weekends

Putting Service into Action: Shoreline Rotary Joins Food4Kids to Fight Weekend Hunger

Shoreline Rotary is stepping up its community commitment by becoming a Community Partner with Shoreline Community Church in support of the Food4Kids Shoreline program.

This vital initiative ensures that chronically hungry students from low-income and homeless households do not face hunger over the weekend when free school meals are unavailable. Every Friday, discrete bags of easy-to-prepare food are tucked safely into participating children's backpacks so they return to school on Monday nourished and ready to learn.

The Role of Shoreline Community Church

The operational backbone of this specific partnership relies on Shoreline Community Church, which coordinates direct support for Ridgecrest Elementary School—a school with a high percentage of vulnerable students qualifying for essential state and federal assistance. 

Shoreline Community Church takes charge of purchasing the bulk food items and staging them directly on assembly tables in Room 302 at the Church, which is located at 125 NE 185th, Shoreline 98155.

By providing a reliable, dedicated workspace, the church enables community volunteers to step in and handle the crucial assembly phase smoothly and efficiently.

Call to Action

• Mark Your Calendar: Join us for our inaugural bag-assembly session on Thursday, September 3rd, at 5:30 PM in Room 302 at Shoreline Community Church located at 125 NE 185th St. Enter the Church from the U in the parking lot behind the Church.

• Commit Your Time: The hands-on packing takes only 1 to 2 hours during the first week of each month to prepare 40–60 bags for local children.

• Can't participate in person? Donate to this effort to fight food insecurity! Go to the donate button on Shoreline Rotary Website and help fund this important program

• Sign Up Today: You can lock in your volunteer slot for our first packing night by clicking here. 

• Have questions? Contact Judy MacCully, Service Coordinator for this Service Project. Email jmaccully@gmail.com

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Vaccination information from Public Health

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

By Public Health Insider

School’s about more than math quizzes and book reports. It’s where kids go to play, grow, and build community. But where kids thrive, so do germs. Enter: vaccinations!

Vaccinations are the body’s practice test for diseases like measles and whooping cough. That way, if the real thing shows up, kids’ immune systems know exactly what to do.

Vaccinations required for school and child care

Children entering school, child care, or other early learning programs are required to get certain vaccinations before they can start. Check the full list of requirements in multiple languages to make sure your child is up to date.

Planning ahead: make a back-to-school vaccination appointment now

Pediatricians are never more popular than during back-to-school season, and snagging an appointment can get tricky later in the summer. If your child’s due for vaccinations, save yourself some frustration and take a few minutes now to make an appointment.

Don’t have a healthcare provider? Not to worry. Use this map to find one. And if you need help enrolling in health insurance or finding a doctor, the Community Health Access Program’s got you covered. Call 800-756-5437 or email chap@kingcounty.gov.

Save your money with no-cost vaccines

Here in Washington State, all kids ages 0-18 can get vaccines at no cost, whether you have insurance or not. You might be charged an administration fee by the vaccine provider, but you don’t have to pay if you can’t afford it. If you’re getting other services at the same time, like a sports physical or well-child check, you might be charged an office visit fee. But you’ll never be charged for the cost of the vaccine.

Not required, but still essential

COVID and flu vaccines aren’t required but we couldn’t recommend them more. Why? Because they protect against the diseases your child’s most likely to come across just by being out in the world. That means fewer missed days of school and a happier, healthier kid. And when your kid doesn’t pass along illness, you also end up taking fewer sick days.

Children are less likely to get severe COVID than adults, but Long COVID can strike people of all ages. Long COVID can range in severity from “brain fog” that makes it difficult to pay attention in class to severe exhaustion that makes it hard to even leave home. Previously healthy people can get it, even after a mild case of COVID. Studies have shown that staying up to date with your COVID vaccinations reduces your risk of Long COVID.

Not sure what shots your child needs?

If your child’s due for shots, their school should let you know. You can also take a look at your child’s vaccination record and even print a copy by signing up for MyIR Mobile. Learn more about ways to access your family’s immunization information.

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Update: Sound Transit Stride S3 construction in Kenmore

Stride 3 will run from I-405 to the Shoreline South light rail station

Construction for Stride S3 continues to progress in Kenmore. 

Crews are making progress on utility and roadway improvements that will support future rapid transit service along the SR 522 / Bothell Way corridor. 

Recent work has focused on preparing key intersections and station areas for upcoming infrastructure upgrades designed to improve transit reliability, safety, and mobility for all users. 

Travelers should expect temporary overnight traffic changes, including lane closures, detours, and restricted turning movements. 

For more information on Stride S3 bus service, visit the Stride webpage.

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Cost to battle 20 wildfires in WA has topped $200M

The Dust Busters Plus Fire Crew digs a handline in steep, challenging terrain on Kaiser Canyon Fire in eastern Washington. (Photo courtesy Hale/AKCIMT/via InciWeb)

By Aspen Ford

Washington State Standard

In the span of a month, firefighting costs for 20 wildfires burning across Washington have totalled $207 million, according to data from the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

The expenses will be split among local, state and federal agencies. But the number is telling: Those 20 fires, some of which are still burning, have cost more than two-thirds of what the Department of Natural Resources spent over the last state fiscal year battling wildfires.

The amount reflects spending between July and August on the Kaiser Canyon Fire, the Spokane fires and the Sinlahekin Fire, among others. It includes firefighting costs, such as crews and aircraft, and does not include disaster recovery expenses.

“We’re in a wildfire crisis fueled by drought and extreme weather,” said Michael Kelly, communications director at the Department of Natural Resources, the lead state agency on wildfire response.

More than 770,000 acres across Washington have burned in 2026 alone. That’s the third-highest acreage on record and the fire season is still months away from ending, Kelly said.

In the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, the Department of Natural Resources spent more than ever on wildfires at an estimated $304.8 million. This surpassed what the state budgeted by nearly $18 million.

To close that funding gap, which is also at its highest peak, the agency will request emergency funds through the federal government under what’s known as the Clarke-McNary Act. It will not have to pay that money back.

The last time the department requested funds from the federal emergency account was in 2024, for nearly $15 million.

At a time when the state is dealing with budget shortfalls, the Department of Natural Resources will likely ask for more wildfire funding next session. The governor’s budget proposal is slated to be released in December.

The governor’s office did not respond to a request for comment.

“We need to continue and deepen those investments,” Kelly said. “We can’t afford to take our foot off the gas because the wildfire crisis isn’t going to let up anytime soon.”

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Olympic Fly Fishers’ September meeting with guest speaker, Timothy Bird September 8, 2026

Timothy Bird

The Olympic Fly Fishers of Edmonds is proud to feature local YouTube creator and saltwater fly fisher

Timothy Bird as our guest speaker for our first Fall meeting on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 from 6-8pm at the Lake Ballinger Center.

Timothy will preset “Fly Fishing for Cutthroat Trout in the North Puget Sound,” a program shaped by years of exploring beaches, points and tidal seems that define our home waters. 

He’ll describe the patterns that consistently produce fish - from tide timing and structure selection to retrieves, gear setups and seasonal behavior.

As a fly-tying educator, Timothy will also share insight into the saltwater patterns he relies on most, including sound-specific designs that offer the right blend of movement, profile and durability. 

He’ll discuss why certain patterns excel in different light and tide windows, and how anglers can refine their own tying to better match cutthroat behavior.

More information about Mr. Bird or the Olympic Fly Fishers here

The Olympic Fly Fishers meetings are free and open to the public. The doors open at 5:30pm.

The Lake Ballinger Center is located at 23000 Lakeview Drive, Mountlake Terrace.

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The Savvy Gardener: Fall & Winter chores to make your spring gardening easier

Fall & Winter chores to make your spring gardening easier

Tuesday, September 15, 2026
6:30–8:00 pm
at North City Water District
1519 NE 177th Street in Shoreline

The fall season is the best time to prepare for the spring! Ladd Smith will teach fall natural yard care techniques that will ease your spring labor. Learn what to do if you have poor soil, how to improve your soil with mulch, the benefits of trees and native plants, and the best practices for planting in the fall.

Class is free, but you must register to attend. Contact us in advance by email to customerservice@northcitywater.org or call our office at 206-362-8100.

Ladd Smith

About the Presenter:

In 1994, Ladd Smith co-founded In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes, with his business partner Mark Gile, out of his lifelong passion for protecting the environment. 

In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes is a provider of organic based landscape services in King, Snohomish and north Pierce counties. 

He earned his BS degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Nevada, Reno. 

Ladd has been a regular presenter for King County’s highly successful Natural Yard Care Neighborhoods program and on various organic landscaping topics for almost 25 years.

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Waiting for dinner

Photo by Steven Gordon

In LFP, we have owls. Many nights with our windows open we hear them.

But, if you look outside before dusk, you might see one waiting for his dinner!

I’m sure this is the same barred owl I captured a few months ago and maybe that is why he is so patient with me.

I can walk in our yard by the creek and for the most part, he is not concerned with me.

Mainly waiting for dinner.

The photo was captured with a Nikon Z8 with a 70-200 V2 and a 1.4 Teleconverter.

--Steven Gordon

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Shorewood graduate named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week

Amelia Severn on the day she signed to play soccer at Gonzaga
Photo by Kristi Lin

Amelia Severn is a 2024 graduate of Shorewood High School. See our previous article about her soccer career at Shorewood. Nov 2023 Shorewood signing day

SAN RAMON, Calif. – Following Gonzaga women's soccer's first week in the conference, the Bulldogs' Amelia Severn was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week Tuesday.

Severn scored four goals and recorded an assist, all in the first half, as GU opened its new Pac-12 era with an emphatic 5-1 victory over South Florida. She matched the program record for most goals in a single game, finding the back of the net four times in the first 45 minutes. It was the first four-goal game by a Zag since 1998. Severn's nine points were the second-most points in a single game by a Bulldog in program history and the most since 2000.

Five minutes into the match, Severn opened the scoring with a penalty kick. In the 11th minute, she recorded her 13th career assist on a goal. Three minutes later, the junior curled a free kick from outside the box into the net for the third goal of the match.

Severn added another goal in the 17th minute, sliding a shot past the South Florida goalkeeper. She capped the high-scoring first half in the 40th minute, finishing a terrific combination of passes with a strike.

Severn moved into Gonzaga's top 10 in career scoring following her four-goal performance. She rose to eighth all-time at GU with 18 career goals. The Shoreline, Wash., native scored 10 goals last season and scored on all four of her shots in the opening night of this season.

Gonzaga hosts Arizona (1-1-0) Thursday at 4 p.m. The game will be broadcast on YouTube, with live stats available on GoZags.com.

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King County Women can explore careers in Fire / EMS at free two-day event in Redmond October 17-18, 2026

King County Women: 

Come join King County EMS and host agency Redmond FD along with over 14 other King County agencies as we immerse you in a weekend of hands on Fire and EMS activities and provide you an opportunity to explore a career in the Fire or EMS service. 

This opportunity includes interactive activities, discussion panels, viewing live demos, and networking with EMTs, Firefighters, and Paramedics in our region. 

Must be 18+ to apply, King County residency preferred.

• Workshop: October 17 + 18, 2026, 8am -5pm both days
• Host: Redmond Fire Department
• Application: Apply here
• Applications due September 21, 2026
• Send questions to: futurewomenems@kingcounty.gov

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Lake Union Family Bicycle Ride September 13, 2026

Join the adventure along Seattle’s Lake Union on Cascade Bicycle's brand new Lake Union Family Ride, Sunday September 13, 2026.

Tour the lake by bike and enjoy games and activities like face painting at Gas Works Park, tours of MOHAI and lessons on boat building at the Center for Wooden Boats in South Lake Union Park. 

Bring the kids, grandkids, friends, and pups for an afternoon of family-fun by bike!

Registration and information here

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Social Services fair at Shoreline Library September 4, 2026

Shoreline Library. Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Community Resource Fair

Shoreline Library 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline 98155
Friday, September 4, 2026
10:00am–2:00pm

Come for a resource fair serving community members in need of support. Social service providers will be available to help connect attendees with resources such as healthcare, education, legal clinics and more!

Participating agencies may include: Akin, Chinese Information and Service Center (CISC), City of Shoreline, Crisis Connections, Evergreen Goodwill of Northwest Washington, King County Bar Association, King County DCHS SCOPE Team, North Helpline, Northwest Neighbors Network, Seattle King County Public Health - Access & Outreach, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle Veterinary Outreach, Shoreline Community Care, Shoreline College,Shoreline Fire Department: Mobile Integrated Health Unit, Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center, Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I), Washington State Department of Revenue: Working Families Tax Credit, and others.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Shoreline Library.
Registration not required.

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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Canned Food

Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter here

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Shorewood Drill Team presents the Royal Ball on September 26, 2026

Join the Shorewood Drill Team for a magical afternoon at our Royal Ball on Saturday, September 26, 2026 from 12–2pm at Shorewood High School 17300 Fremont Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

Children of all ages are invited to dress in their favorite royal attire and enjoy an afternoon filled with crafts, royal dance lessons, fairytale story time, bubbles, photo opportunities, and plenty more magical fun. 

Using the QR code in the flyer, pre-register for $40 per child or register at the door for $50 per child. Come support the Shorewood Drill Team and make some unforgettable royal memories!

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August recipe from Town & Country Market: Grilled Pork Chops with Honey Chipotle Glaze & Fresh Plum Salad

Grilled Pork Chops with Honey Chipotle Glaze & Fresh Plum Salad

Difficulty Level: Intermediate

Prep Time: 15 Minutes

Cook Time: 15 Minutes

Yield: 4 Servings

Description: Fire up the grill and make the most of summer with this sweet, smoky, and perfectly caramelized dinner that's impressive enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight. *Allow 2 hours for marinating time.

Ingredients:

• 4 bone-in or boneless pork chops (about 2 pounds total)
• Honey Chipotle Marinade & Glaze:
• 2 chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon adobo sauce
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons plum preserves (or apricot)
• 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
• Fresh Plum Salad:
• 4 ripe plums, cut into wedges
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Small pinch of kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint

Preparation:

1. In a small bowl, combine the chopped chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, lemon zest, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, mustard, coriander, salt, and black pepper. Divide the mixture evenly between two bowls.
2. Stir the olive oil into one portion of the marinade and coat the pork chops well. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to overnight.
3. Preheat a grill to medium-high heat. Remove the pork from the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before grilling.
4. Add the butter, honey and preserves to the reserved marinade in a small saucepan. Simmer gently for 3–5 minutes until slightly thickened and glossy. Stir in apple cider vinegar.
5. Grill the pork chops for 2–3 minutes per side to develop a good sear. Begin brushing with the honey chipotle glaze, turning and basting every couple of minutes until the pork is deeply caramelized and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F, about 10–15 minutes total, depending on thickness. Transfer to a platter and let rest for 5 minutes.
6. Just before serving, toss the plum wedges with the lemon juice, salt, and chopped mint. Serve the glazed pork chops with the fresh plum salad alongside.

Options

• This recipe is just as delicious with pork tenderloin or chicken breasts or thighs. Adjust the cooking time as needed and cook to the appropriate internal temperature.
• If your plums are especially tart, drizzle the salad with a little honey just before serving.

The monthly recipe is courtesy of Town & Country Market 15505 Westminster Way, Shoreline WA 98133. All ingredients in the recipe are available at the Shoreline store.

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Climate Book Bingo

Lake Forest Park in Action book club has launched its first annual Climate Book Bingo!

This bingo read is inspired by the greater Seattle library systems’ summer reading bingo game and designed to increase awareness of climate related literature. All are welcome to play.

Keep track of your climate related reading from Aug 15 through Dec 31, 2026, by writing the title and author of a book you read in the box of the relevant category.

The game card, instructions, and suggested books for the bingo card categories, can be found through the QR code.

The reads are suggestions only, please feel free to find your own climate reads for the categories you are interested in; we love hearing about new books!

--LFP in Action

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Death at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park August 19, 2026

Hellebores
Photo by Lorelei Begalka

A reader reported Fire/Aid, heavy police activity, and the coroner at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park around 7:30pm on Wednesday, August 19, 2026.

Sadly, they were responding to a suicide in the park. A 49 year old Shoreline woman had hung herself just inside the park entrance, by the artist cottage at 2021 NW 190th St, Shoreline 98177.

Investigation Agency: King County Sheriff (Shoreline).

If you are in need of help, contact the Suicide Hotline at 988. You can also contact caring people at this link https://988lifeline.org/

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The November election and corrections

Election Anxiety
Humor by Margaret Hartley

The top two candidates in each race advance to the November general election. 

The previous election report had incorrect results listed for two of the supreme court justice races and State Rep Pos. 2, LD1. Corrections are below.

November 3 is General Election Day. If you are registered to vote, your ballot is mailed automatically and there's no need to request one. Confirm or update your voter registration information today at VoteWA.gov.

October 16 is the deadline for ballots to be mailed out by county election offices; no later than 18 days prior to Election Day. Ballots for eligible military and overseas voters are mailed no later than 45 days prior to Election Day.

October 26 is the deadline to register or update your address online. You may also register and vote in person at a county voting center through Election Day.

On the November ballot:

U.S. Representative - Congressional District 1

Suzan DelBene (D) incumbent 
Mary Silva (R) 

U.S. Representative - Congressional District 7

Pramila Jayapal (D) incumbent

Nirav Sheth (R)

State Representative Pos. 1 - Legislative District 1

Davina Duerr (D) incumbent 
Maggie Wang (R)

*State Representative Pos. 2 - Legislative District 1 - correction

Shelly Kloba ((D) incumbent 
Cliff Moon (R) ended up 136 votes ahead of Jenne Alderks (D)

State Senator - Legislative District 32

Cindy Ryu (D)
Jesse Salomon (D) incumbent

State Representative Pos. 1 - Legislative District 32

Keith Scully (D) 

Danica Noble (D) 

State Representative Pos. 2 - Legislative District 32

Lauren Davis (D) incumbent
Imraan Siddiqi (D)

State Senator - Legislative District 46

Javier Valdez (D) incumbent

Sandra Stephens (R)

State Representative Pos. 1 - Legislative District 46

Gerry Pollet (D) incumbent

Will Dreher (D)

State Representative Pos. 2 - Legislative District 46

Darya Farivar (D) incumbent

Rodney "Star" Thornley (I) 

King County Assessor

Rob Foxcurran 47.07%

Dominique Scarimbolo 19.23%

Shoreline Councilmember Chris Roberts came in a close third with 18.63% of the vote

JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT

39 counties voted in the supreme court elections. Two of the candidates made very strong showings in King county, but nowhere else in the state.

Justice Position #01 - Supreme Court

Colleen Melody
Scott Edwards

*Justice Position #03 - Supreme Court - correction

David Stevens will face:

Jaime Michelle Hawke
Mike Diaz 

*Justice Position #05 - Supreme Court - correction

Theo Angelis will face:

Dave Larson

Sharonda Amamilo

Justice Position #07 - Supreme Court

Debra Stephens
Todd Bloom

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Travels with Charlie: Battle of the Bands at Animal Acres

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Free, All-ages Community Event at Pfingst Animal Acres Park, 17435 Brookside Blvd NE, Lake Forest Park, WA

Charlie and I headed to Animal Acres for a walk and some sniffs. Spotted this Poster for a summer evening Battle of the Bands at our park.

Park gates open at 4:00pm and music starts at 5:00pm. This free, all-ages community event features seven finalist bands competing live.

Hope you can stop by…

Gordon Snyder

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