Letter to the Editor: Acoya Assisted Living Project at Richmond Beach in Shoreline

To the Editor:

Most of the comments regarding the project relate to height (6 stories) and lack of appropriate transition to the much lower scale neighborhood. Other issues include displacing existing retail with none proposed in the new structure (developer indicates this is not required by code) .

While many of the letters acknowledge the need for new housing across all demographics most are concerned with the precedent setting scale and lack of interaction at the street level. What has not been discussed is the developer's use of Shoreline's Deep Green Incentive Program (DGIP) to gain additional height and density.

I am very familiar with a similar program used by Seattle. I feel these programs require a very low bar in terms of cost/impact to the developer in return for a huge upside that provides substantial increase in project size and revenue at the expense of  the neighborhood's quality of life. Washington State energy codes already require new projects to achieve many of the requirements.

I believe this program is stacked in favor of developers and does not really add much public benefit in exchange for pounding the neighbors with out of scale projects.If we follow the money we see the developer and city benefitting from more revenue from these maximized projects while the neighborhoods are impacted severely.

At the very least Shoreline should evaluate the true value of this program and for those neighborhoods affected by the city's aggressive pro-developer stance institute a streamlined design review program to allow the public more say in how our city is developed and make Shoreline government more transparent.

Jeffrey Bates

Shoreline

WSDOT: Last (traffic and event) paint map of the season

Labor Day Weekend: Summer's grand finale! And that means it's our last (planned) Paint Map of the season. Drink in the waning daylight, the warm temperatures and the terrible drawings of Dave Matthews while you can.

The good news for those hitting the road: Most of our highway construction work will pause this weekend, which means all lanes of the I-90 Vantage Bridge are OPEN for the weekend (lane reductions will go back into effect on Tuesday evening).

The tough news: You should still expect delays on I-5, I-90, US 2, at the Canadian border and on the ferries as people chase the final days of summer. There are a TON of events, games, festivals and fairs going on this weekend, so roads will be busy.

But! We're here for you! We have travel charts that estimate the best times to travel on key highways throughout the weekend. Take these into account as you plan your travels: Labor Day Weekend travel times

Have a great holiday weekend. Go Huskies. Go Cougs. Go Storm. Go Reign. Go Sounders. Go riders at the Ellensburg Rodeo. Safe travels, all!

--WSDOT (Washington State Department of Transportation)

Tickets on sale now for Nile Nightmares Haunted House - open October 3, 2025

Nile Nightmare Haunted House returns for the Halloween season. The annual event will open October 3 and run every Friday & Saturday, 7:00pm - 11:00pm, from October 3 to November 1 (Day of the Dead), 2025.

The main feature is the Haunted House with multiple Scare Rooms. There are also Escape Rooms, and a Backstage Tour.

The events take place at the Nile Shrine Golf Course, 6601 244th St SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043

Tickets here

Uplift Climbing - Summer Sendoff September 7, 2025

Uplift Climbing in the North City business zone is Sending Summer off with a party.

It's our last neighborhood potluck of the year! 

Join us at Uplift to celebrate the end of summer with a big meal and a big send-off! 

This time our friend Ian is roasting a pig so get ready for some Kahlua Pork!! We'll be partying on Sunday September 7, 2025 from 3pm - 6pm.

Food is free for everyone, so bring a friend, or something to share, or both! We want to feed the whole neighborhood, so come by if you're a climber or non-climber alike.

Climbing, food, good community vibes -- see you there!

17229 15th Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155

Kruckeberg Hypertufa Container workshop October 5, 2025 - register now

Add a natural touch to your garden with a handcrafted container that looks like real stone—but without the weight! 

Join Kruckeberg Botanic Garden for our popular Hypertufa Planter Workshop, where you’ll create a unique, fast-draining, and visually stunning planter perfect for a wide variety of plants.

Led by Sarah Baker, former Garden Manager and beloved long-time volunteer at the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, this hands-on class offers both instruction and inspiration. 

Sarah has been sharing the art of hypertufa at Kruckeberg for years, and her beautiful creations can be found throughout the nursery—see how many you can spot after the workshop!

Each participant will:

• Create and take home a small (approx. 12”x12”) hypertufa container
• Receive detailed instructions to continue crafting at home

Date: Sunday, October 5, 2025, 1:00 - 2:30pm

Location: Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, Shoreline, WA

Cost:

• Members: $45
• Non-Members: $55

Spots are limited and pre-registration is required!

Register Now at kruckeberg.org/events

Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Labor Day

Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter here

COVID vaccine recommendation from Public Health

Q: What’s Public Health’s COVID vaccine recommendation, and what’s the rationale?

A: Dr. Eric Chow, Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology & Immunization for Public Health – Seattle & King County:

"In alignment with the Department of Health (DOH), we continue to emphasize that COVID vaccines are safe and they continue to prevent severe illness and reduce the risk of long COVID. 

"Currently, we recommend COVID vaccination for everyone ages 6 months and older, including pregnant people. COVID remains a real health concern, especially for those who are older or have underlying health conditions that put them at high risk.

"I’m also very concerned about unvaccinated people, including babies who haven’t yet had an opportunity to be vaccinated. We’ve come a long way since the height of the pandemic, in large part because we have greater community immunity from vaccinations and previous infections. But for people without immune protection, the risk of severe illness remains high.

"It’s been almost five years since COVID vaccines first became available. That’s five years of observing, learning, and refining, built on decades of research beforehand. COVID vaccines remain our best protection against severe illness and long COVID."

Read the rest of the interview with Dr. Chow

Greg Butler to speak at the Lake Forest Park Garden Club September 9, 2025

Bling on the wing
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

The Lake Forest Park Garden Club members are happy to be back in September to listen to speakers after the summer break.

Tuesday September 9, 2025 they will hear from Greg Butler on the topic: Hummingbirds -Bing on the wing

Greg has been educating and educating gardeners of all levels of interest as a teacher, writer, and garden coach for over two decades.

He puts emphasis on helping his public and private clients create beautiful, functional, and easy care gardens and landscapes that don't depend on pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

The Lake Forest Park Garden Club meets the second Tuesday of the month September thru May. The meeting starts at 9:15am for a short club business meeting and then breaks for a cookie, etc. gabfest.

Then at 10:30am speakers present their topics for beginners and advanced gardeners to learn more about gardening.

Photo by Jan Hansen

They also have great summer events.

They meet at the stage at Third Place Commons on the upper level of Town Center at the intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE.

Dues are $35.00 a year. Visitors may attend two meetings for free then are expected to join.

Next month's topic is Hardy Fuchsias.

Check out our website at lfpgc.org.

CORRECTION: The club meets the SECOND Tuesday of the month.

New digital sound board for Third Place Commons

Kim Caudill and Geoff Lloyd with the new sound board
Photo courtesy Third Place Commons

Thanks to King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski and a generous grant from King County Parks & Recreation, Third Place Commons now has a brand-new digital sound board!

The decades-old analog board has been retired, making way for a sleek, space-saving upgrade that will deliver exceptional sound for all performances on the Commons Stage.

From live music every Friday & Saturday night (with an open dance floor!) to numerous community group events throughout the year, this new system will make every performance sound better than ever.

Huge thanks to our amazing staff, Geoff Lloyd and Kim Caudill, for their hard work installing the new system and making this upgrade possible.

Come experience the difference and enjoy high-quality sound at the Commons Stage!

Third Place Commons is on the upper level of Town Center Lake Forest Park, next to Third Place Books.

Town Center is at the intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE in Lake Forest Park.

AGs prevent $184 million cut to AmeriCorps service programs

SEATTLE — More than $21 million in funding for AmeriCorps service and volunteer programs in Washington has been secured as a result of a lawsuit filed by Attorney General Nick Brown and a multistate coalition.

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) agreed Thursday to release over $184 million in funding for AmeriCorps service programs across the country, including $2.4 million designated for Washington for fiscal year 2025. OMB’s attempted cuts threatened the survival of those programs and the well-being of those who depend on them.

On July 23, 2025 Brown joined a coalition in filing an amended lawsuit challenging OMB’s attempt to gut AmeriCorps programs. This week, when their response for these actions was due in court, OMB and AmeriCorps instead agreed to fully release the previously withheld funds.

“It is great news that Washington state prevailed in this case and freed up millions of dollars to continue this public service lifeline,” Brown said.

“Communities throughout Washington depend on the hard work of AmeriCorps volunteers—whether they’re staffing food banks, mentoring kids, or helping home-bound seniors.”

In Washington, the resolution of the lawsuit restores a total of more than $21 million for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 for Serve Washington, Washington’s service commission that manages grants funding AmeriCorps volunteers. 

The grants support volunteers to perform work such as helping communities prepare for disasters, rehabilitating low-income housing, planting trees, and assisting veterans and those transitioning from the military.

On April 29, the coalition challenged the administration’s plans to eliminate nearly 90% of AmeriCorps’ workforce, abruptly cancel its contracts, and close $400 million worth of AmeriCorps-supported programs. 

In June, the court granted a preliminary injunction that reinstated hundreds of AmeriCorps programs and barred AmeriCorps from making similar cuts without formal rulemaking. 

Despite the order, OMB continued to withhold over $184 million intended for service programs, including AmeriCorps Seniors programs, and many programs funded with highly competitive federal grants.

Because the Trump administration withheld these critical resources, the coalition filed an amended lawsuit in July that added OMB as a defendant, and a motion for a preliminary injunction on August 8. 

The Trump administration’s response was due this week. Rather than oppose the states’ motion, the administration instead said OMB would release all withheld AmeriCorps funds, totaling over $184 million, which AmeriCorps will distribute to programs nationwide, as quickly as possible.

This relief means that service programs across the country will be protected from the administration’s devastating attempted cuts. AmeriCorps supports national and state community service programs by funding and placing volunteers in local and national organizations that address critical community needs.

Brown was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‛i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania in filing the lawsuit.

Read more about the lawsuit here.

A copy of the defendants’ consent motion to stay the briefing schedule is available here.

Salmon are swimming upstream in Richmond Beach

 

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

When you walk around Shoreline, as Lee Lageschulte does, you have time to notice (and photograph) the interesting things that you find.

This salmon is swimming in a yard in Richmond Beach at 24th and 199th.

Letter to the Editor: LFP Prop 1, Who’s really behind "Good Govt LFP?"

To the Editor:

Residents across Lake Forest Park have received a glossy mailer from a shadowy source calling itself Good Govt LFP. At first glance, it’s full of numbers and “data” meant to look authoritative. But look closer: they cherry-pick figures, strip them of context, and spin them into a false narrative designed to alarm rather than inform.

For example, they say the “City Council proposed a 61% increase in the city’s property tax rate.” Wow, sounds like my property taxes are going up by thousands of $$$s. My house is valued around the city average, I pay $769.50 per month in property tax. Based on a 61% increase, it sounds like my taxes will go up over $470 per month. 

But it’s pure deceit —under the actual proposal my tax will go up about $19.90 per month. Do they hope that by flashing big, shocking numbers—without meaning or explanation—we’ll be too rattled to ask what those numbers really mean?

Who’s Really Behind Good Govt LFP?

Lake Forest Park is a small, tight-knit community. We argue passionately, we often disagree, but at the end of the day our debates are rooted in something deeper: our shared love of this place we call home. That’s why Proposition 1 deserves a debate grounded in facts and transparency—not anonymous groups hiding in the shadows.

The so-called Good Govt LFP mailer doesn’t follow the rules the rest of us honor. They haven’t registered with the Public Disclosure Commission, as Washington law requires. They don’t say who they are. They hide behind a private web hosting service with an address in Phoenix, Arizona, yet they claim to speak for Lake Forest Park residents. I’ve looked everywhere for contact info and only found these 2 numbers, try calling them: (480) 624-2599 or (480) 624-2505.

That raises a serious question: If they care so deeply about our city, why are they hiding from us?

This isn’t how honest debate works. It’s how misinformation works. It’s a smokescreen meant to obscure reality rather than illuminate it.

We all know that community voices matter most when they come from people who live here, who pay taxes here, who volunteer at our schools and food banks, who walk these streets under our tree canopy. That’s how democracy in a city like ours should work—neighbors speaking with neighbors. Instead, opponents of Prop 1 want us to trust unnamed figures calling themselves Good Govt LFP, but they’re not confident enough to put their names behind their words.

If this campaign is so sure of its facts, why hasn’t anyone come forward and owned them? Why will they not make their funding and affiliations public, the same way every legitimate campaign in Washington is required to?

Lake Forest Park deserves better. We deserve honesty, transparency, and accountability in our civic debates. If the no campaign won’t tell us who they are, and if their only contribution is misleading statistics wrapped in fear, why should we listen to them?

Let’s build community,
https://nextdoor.com/g/vi0n2v5to

Matt Muilenburg
Lake Forest Park

AGs secure federal education funding previously threatened by Trump administration

SEATTLE — Attorneys general, including Washington’s Nick Brown, have reached an agreement requiring the Trump administration to release the full balance of education funding for Washington schools at the heart of a multistate lawsuit filed last month.

Under the terms of the agreement and as required by law, the U.S. Department of Education must release the funds by no later than October 3.

Last month, Brown joined a coalition with 23 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the Trump administration over its illegal freeze on six longstanding programs for students and educators administered by the U.S. Department of Education just weeks before the school year was set to start.

In Washington, nearly $137 million in federal K-12 funding was frozen, jeopardizing key programs for after-school and summer learning, teacher preparation, and to support students learning English. Days later, after the multistate coalition filed suit, the Trump administration released the first tranche of funding that had previously been withheld.

The resolution also restores more than $13 million in funds for Washington’s adult education system and workforce development efforts.

“Making sure our kids have what they need to learn should be something we can all agree on,” Brown said. “I’m pleased that we resolved this case quickly and restored the vital education funding the Trump administration unlawfully tried to cancel.”

“This outcome was made possible through a bipartisan effort—both in and outside of the courtroom—to ensure students have the programs and support they are relying on for their academic success in the upcoming school year,” State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said. 

“Implementing and protecting intentional and targeted investments for the students who need them most is not a political issue—it’s a longstanding American value. Thank you to Attorney General Nick Brown and his office for their impactful work on this case and others.”

The multistate coalition and the Trump administration jointly moved to dismiss the case under the terms of an agreement that ensures the remaining funding is released on time, providing Washington and the multistate coalition with the full relief they had sought in the lawsuit.

The lawsuit was led by California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. In addition to Washington, the other plaintiffs were Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaiʻi, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Vermont, Wisconsin, and the governors of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

A copy of the joint motion to dismiss is available here.

For more information about this case, click here.

Back to School: Shoreline Schools and SEA reach Tentative Agreement

The Shoreline School District and the Shoreline Education Association (SEA) (teachers' union) have reached a tentative agreement.

Throughout this process, our joint bargaining teams kept students at the center of their work, with a shared commitment to ensuring high-quality teaching and learning in Shoreline.

What is a tentative agreement?

A tentative agreement means the district and SEA bargaining teams have successfully negotiated a new contract. It is called “tentative” because it still needs to be approved by SEA members and the Shoreline School Board. Once those votes happen, the agreement becomes official.

Over the course of 23 bargaining days, which began back in March and included late nights and weekends, our teams gave their time, talent, and energy to this important work. They brought forward creative solutions and sustained a spirit of collaboration, always keeping students at the center of their efforts.

We are ready and excited to welcome students and families back next week:

• Grades 1-12 return to school on Wednesday, Sept. 3
• Kindergarten and preschool begin on Monday, Sept. 8

We are extremely grateful for the collaboration and dedication of both teams in reaching a mutually beneficial agreement that supports students, staff, and families.

Learn how to make your home more energy efficient

Home Smarts: Energy Seminar

September 4, 2025 from 6:30 - 8pm

Kenmore City Hall 18120 68th Ave NE, Kenmore WA 98028

Join the City of Kenmore for a seminar on home energy to learn all about heat pumps, weatherization, and how to make your home more energy efficient.

 

Pepper bonanza at the Shoreline Farmers Market Saturday August 30, 2025

Photo courtesy Shoreline Farmers Market

Flavor town mayor reporting for duty! 

Banana pepper, bell pepper, jalapeño pepper, manzano pepper, cherry pepper, habanero pepper, poblano pepper, serrano pepper, shishito pepper... the list goes on! Discover the diverse varieties of peppers and their unique flavor profiles.

Wondering what to do with an abundance of peppers?

Freeze them:

Remove stems, seeds, and membranes from sweet and bell peppers; chop and freeze. Freeze smaller, hotter peppers like jalapenos and habaneros whole.

Can them:

Canning roasted red peppers is a common preservation method. Char peppers in a broiler or over a flame, then remove the blackened skin and seeds. Jar them with vinegar, lime juice, and an olive oil marinade (be sure to follow proper canning instructions).

Pickle them:

Pickling preserves the color and flavor of peppers. Peppers can be pickled whole, halved, or sliced, and combines with spices for added flavor.

Ferment into Hot Sauce:

Fermenting hot peppers with garlic and option vegetables creates hot sauce. A saltwater brine and fermentations weigh are used; the mixture is blended after fermentation.

Infuse into Spirits:

Spicy peppers can be infused into spirits like vodka or tequila. Add slices of fresh jalepeno, with seeds intact, to your choice of alcohol and let them infuse for about 24 hours. Cheers!

Stop by the market this week to discover the abundance of peppers along with new produce and get inspired for your next meal. See you Saturday, Shoreline (and Shoreline-area friends)!

192nd Shoreline Park 'n Ride on Aurora. Lots of parking!

Author Chris La Tray at Ridgecrest Books September 3, 2025

Chris La Tray, author of Becoming Little Shell

Wednesday, September 3rd, 7pm at Ridgecrest Books

512 NE 165th St, Shoreline, WA 98155

Growing up in Montana, Chris La Tray always identified as Indian. Despite the fact that his father fiercely denied any connection, he found Indigenous people alluring, often recalling his grandmother's consistent mention of their Chippewa heritage.

Both personal and historical, Becoming Little Shell is a testament to the power of storytelling, to family and legacy, and to finding home. Infused with candor, heart, wisdom, and an abiding love for a place and a people, Chris La Tray's remarkable journey is both revelatory and redemptive.

Residential fire at 145th & Linden Thursday August 28, 2025

An accidental fire started in a vehicle and spread to a house Thursday afternoon August 28, 2025 just north of 145th on Linden in Shoreline near the Interurban Trail.

Just after noon, the alarm was called in to Shoreline Fire with reports of a 20 foot plume of smoke. Before they arrived, a Seattle Fire crew driving on Aurora saw the smoke and responded.

Seattle Fire was driving on Aurora and saw the smoke
Photo by Lars McDonagh

For Shoreline Fire this was their third structure fire in four days! 

Upon arrival to N 148th St crews found a fully involved vehicle fire that had extended to a nearby residence.

Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

Firefighters worked quickly to bring the blaze under control and prevent further spread. Despite their efforts, the vehicle was a total loss, and the residence sustained significant damage.

Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

There were no injuries.

The American Red Cross Northwest Region was called to assist the displaced resident with support services.

Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

Following a thorough investigation, the fire was determined to be accidental in nature.

The Works thrift shop opens Wednesday September 10, 2025

Opening night is Wednesday, September 10, 2025 and we are open every following Wednesday that school is in session! 

We are located in the back right corner of the north parking lot behind the Shoreline Center (next to the pickleball courts/soccer fields) on 1st Ave NE, north of 185th. 

Look for our sign outside the blue door!

The Works is a free student clothing room that provides high quality, clean, gently used children’s and teen clothing and self-care items to Shoreline School District children. Shoreline families can bring their children to “shop” for gently used, stylish clothing.

Reminder: Extended SR 104 closure in Lake Forest Park begins Thursday, September 4, 2025

Both directions of State Route 104/Ballinger Way NE in Lake Forest Park will close near 35th Ave NE for at least 35 days starting Thursday, September 4, 2025 for a project that will improve fish passage along Lyon Creek by replacing a culvert that carries Lyon Creek under the highway

Contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation will close all travel lanes and sidewalks on SR 104 / Ballinger Way at 12:01am Thursday, September 4. 

Signed detours will guide pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles around the work zone, which will be active 24 hours a day.

During the closure, crews will replace the existing 6-foot-wide culvert that carries Lyon Creek beneath SR 104 with a 24-foot-wide structure and make habitat improvements within the waterway. Crews also will finish sewer upgrades that began earlier this summer on adjacent local streets.

Once the closure begins, construction will take place seven days a week, up to 24 hours a day.  Crews will do their best to structure noisy work during the daytime, but that will not always be possible. Nighttime noise likely won’t be noticeably louder than what has occurred over the last two months.

Once complete, this fish barrier removal project will open nearly 7.5 miles of potential upstream habitat to native and migrating fish.

Common Emerald Moth

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Photographer Barbara Twaddell found this colorful creature on her door last month. She identified it as the Common Emerald Moth.

It is widespread in England, Ireland, and Wales. According to Wikipedia, it was accidentally introduced to British Columbia in 1973 and it obviously has worked its way south.

It seems an appropriate beastie for our proximity to the Emerald City.

Construction of new buildings at Fircrest

Photo courtesy DSHS 

Fircrest Master Development Plan calls for a new Nursing Facility, Laundry, and 48 bed Behavioral Health building at the north end of the campus on 15th NE. 

Fircrest is owned and operated by the Department of Social and Health Services and houses disabled people who need around the clock services.

The Behavioral Health unit will serve people who have been involuntarily committed to receive mental health treatment in a secure environment for up to six months. Funding has not yet been received for this facility.

See our previous article

Demolition is now complete at the Fircrest site and construction has begun on the nursing facility and the laundry building.

Steve Hardy, Facilities Manager, recently published this aerial photo of the site and DSHS media relations provided these details about the site:

• New Laundry Building at the north side of site. This is in the location where one of the Y-Buildings was removed to make room for it. Laundry Building: 1-story and 6,336 SF.
• Middle U-shaped building is the Nursing Facility. The grey is the poured concrete slab. The yellow is a vapor barrier installed prior to the concrete slab. 
• The North Wing houses 60 residents within 3 floors. 
• The South Wing houses 60 more residents within 3 floors. Total of 120 residents when complete. 
• Nursing Facility: 2-3 stories and 126,808 SF.
• The Y-Building “Birch” is one of five remaining buildings that houses the residents until their new facility opens.
• A new road shows along the west side, extending from the 155th Street entrance north and around the north side of the nursing facility to connect to the rest of the road system around the Fircrest campus.
• The blue line to the east is construction fencing and the construction project boundary.
• The orange line to the west is the erosion control measures for the project and the project boundary.

Update: Construction has begun on the nursing facility and the laundry. Funding has not yet been received for the behavioral health building.

Learn Microsoft PowerPoint Level 1 for free at the Shoreline Library September 15, 2025

Microsoft PowerPoint Level 1

Shoreline Library 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline WA 98155

Monday, September 15, 10:30am-12pm

Cost: Free

For adults.

Learn how to create a slideshow presentation for school, work or home.

Must be able to use the mouse and keyboard.

Please register here

Bring Your Own Book Club

Bring Your Own Book Club

Held at the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center

18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155

• Mondays, 2-3:30pm
• September 8, October 6, November 3, and December 1

Cost: Free

For adults.

Have you always wanted to join a book club but couldn’t commit? Are you tired of assigned reading? 

Then this casual book discussion group is for you! 

Bring what you are currently reading and leave with recommendations. Instead of discussing a single book, talk about books you’ve loved, books you’ve hated and books you want to read!

New members always welcome.

Registration not required.

LFP City Leaders to provide opportunites for citizens to provide feedback on police and public safety levy

Lake Forest Park residents will soon have opportunities to explore the facts of a proposed six-year police and public safety levy that will appear on the November 2025 ballot. 

In the months ahead, City leaders will host community presentations and Q&A events to explain the measure and hear directly from the public.

In a community survey last November, residents overwhelmingly identified public safety as their top priority. 

This ballot measure, if approved by voters, would provide funding for essential services such as 911 dispatch, police staffing and training, court services, and mental health diversion programs.

Costs for police, jail, and related services have climbed 24% over the past four years, while state law restricts property tax revenue growth to just 1% annually.

To keep the budget balanced, the City has already reduced spending by more than $455,000 and relied on one-time funds—steps that solved short-term challenges but cannot continue indefinitely. 

The proposed levy rate of $0.24 per $1,000 of assessed property value would appear on tax bills starting in 2026 and remain in effect for six years. Property tax exemptions are available for qualifying low-income seniors, disabled veterans, and residents with disabilities.

Details about the proposed levy and upcoming engagement opportunities will be posted here 

Residents may also email questions to City Administrator Phillip Hill at phill@cityoflfp.gov.

Op-Ed: Defending the Soul of America

Op-Ed from reader Sam Doyle, Mountlake Terrace

Neighbors are being stolen by masked and unidentified ICE officers and being sent to El Salvador. Countless people have been deported without due process, which our Constitution promises to every person on American soil-person, not citizen. 

SNAP cuts are hurting hard-working local families. Tariffs are hurting local businesses. Civility has gone by the wayside. 

Medicaid cuts threaten millions. The democratic process is being attacked at multiple levels. Tanks roam Washington, DC, without justification, criminalizing the unhoused. Grocery prices rise. 

Billionaires bask in obscene wealth at the expense of working people like me and you.

It is disheartening to feel powerless right now. America is better than this. The soul of America is NOT as xenophobic, angry, uncaring, misogynistic, or as racist as the behavior that the loudest and most brash people in the nation have been exhibiting without restraint for months. 

This country is becoming increasingly diverse and those typically in power are using any means necessary to fight that tide, as they lose grip on what they see as their natural born right to control this country. Ceding and sharing power is rarely peaceful, even if it is just.

I believe in the inherent goodness and promise of this country and of her people. I dream of an America where power and plentiful resources are shared equitably and where our constitution is upheld; it is possible. 

I acknowledge that we are imperfect, with bloodstains on our flag from African-Americans, women, Japanese-Americans, LGBTQIA folks, and other historically marginalized communities. We have had other tumultuous periods in history and clearly we are in the midst of one now.

Despite the struggle, we cannot give up. YOU cannot give up. It is not an option. We cannot let hatred and division tear our cities or our country apart. America is for everyone-- immigrant, refugee, queer, disabled, trans folks--America is YOURS too. 

To each of you who have attended a rally, written to an elected official, donated to a food bank, voted, reached out to a new neighbor, defended a marginalized person--thank you. You matter, your actions matter, and thank you for believing that this country is worth fighting for.

Keep going.

We are in the midst of almost unbearable national and communal pain as previously underground forces that seek to maintain White supremacy’s dying grip on power threaten our bonds to each other and to our nation. We must not let these bonds break, although we feel them bending. 

Remember, everyone is hurting--even those whose actions we neither understand nor condone while they fight to retain their solitary grip on power. Work to find compassion for them as people even as you fight against their actions.

From Maya Angelou in her poem “On the Pulse of Morning”:

“History, despite its wrenching pain

Cannot be unlived, but if faced

With courage, need not be lived again.

Lift up your eyes upon

This day breaking for you.

Give birth again

To the dream.”

Sam Doyle
Mountlake Terrace, WA

Washington moves to restrict cancer-causing chemicals in cosmetics

Clean cosmetics
Photo courtesy Harvard Medical School

New rule restricts formaldehyde releasers in cosmetics made, sold, or distributed in Washington

OLYMPIA – This week, Washington became the first state in the nation to adopt broad restrictions on more than two dozen chemicals used in cosmetic products that can release formaldehyde.

Formaldehyde and formaldehyde releasers are commonly used to extend the shelf life of a product—but formaldehyde is also a known carcinogen. 

People – especially women and people who use or work with cosmetics – can be exposed to these cancer-causing chemicals through repeated use of products like shampoos, eyelash glue, nail polishes, and hair treatments.

Under a new rule adopted by the Washington Department of Ecology this week, restrictions on formaldehyde releasers take effect on Jan. 1, 2027. In-state retailers will have through Dec. 31, 2027, to sell existing stock of products that contain these chemicals.

“There are cosmetics products on the market that do the same job without releasing these cancer-causing chemicals,” said Shari Franjevic, who leads Ecology’s work to implement Washington’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act.

“Switching to safer chemicals will help to protect all Washington residents—particularly cosmetologists, stylists, and people who work with these products every day.”

The law gives Ecology the authority to identify and restrict formaldehyde-releasing chemicals through rulemaking. This adopted rule restricts a list of 25 formaldehyde-releasing chemicals and clarifies the definition of “intentionally added,” restricting all other formaldehyde-releasing chemicals.

To provide more information on the law and new restrictions, Ecology will host a compliance webinar for retailers and distributors at 9am Oct. 1, 2025. Experts will discuss restrictions and sell-through periods, provide technical support, share resources, and answer questions.

"We’re committed to supporting a smooth transition for all members of the cosmetics supply chain,” Franjevic said, “We’ll be working with distributors and retailers, as well as cosmetics professionals and manufacturers, to help them understand the law and rule and meet the new requirements."

Washington’s Toxic-Free Cosmetics Act reduces human and environmental exposure to toxic chemicals by restricting certain chemicals and supporting manufacturers in reformulating with safer ingredients and certifying products, and cosmetologists in switching to safer products. More information here 

Lake Forest Park Yard Sale Day on September 13, 2025

Join your neighbors for the Lake Forest Park Yard Sale Day!

Lake Forest Park Yard Sale Day 

on Saturday, September 13, 2025 from 9am-3pm.

Households in LFP can sign up to participate through September 7:

Maps will be issued the week leading up to the event.

Vehicle - motorcycle collision August 20, 2025 on Aurora

Medic One photo by Steven H. Robinson

On Wednesday, August 20, 2025 a vehicle and a motorcycle collided at 195th and Aurora.

Fire and police responded and the public was advised to avoid the area.

Fire transported one patient by aid car to the hospital.

No other information was available.

Pastel skies

Photo by Barbara Twaddell

Skies are not always burning fire after a hot day. Sometimes they are pastel as in this photo taken by Barbara Twaddell on Monday, after the temperatures were in the 80s.

Little Lemon Drops Guild host Outdoor Movie Night September 6, 2025

 

The Little Lemon Drops guild will be hosting their annual Outdoor Movie and Raffle fundraiser to support uncompensated care at Children's Hospital on Saturday September 6, 2025 starting 6pm.

Door open 6pm, raffle at 7:30pm, movie at 8pm.

Innis Arden Clubhouse 1430 NW 188th, Shoreline WA 98177

Suggested donation $10 individual and $30 family. Children must be accompanied by adults.

Dick's burgers, snacks, and drinks available for purchase, along with beer and wine.

Raffle tickets are $10 each. Purchase at the door or email

Donate with the QR code or at this link

Future Stormrays football camp September 27, 2025

Join the Shorewood Stormray football players and coaches for a high-energy football skills camp designed just for middle school athletes (incoming grades 6-8)

• Skill drills and mini-games
• Learn from varsity players
• Meet the coaches
• Great prep for the upcoming season..

Come improve your game, make new friends, and help support your future team.

Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 9am - 12pm
Shorewood High School gymnasium & field
17500 Fremont Ave N, Shoreline WA 98133

Cost: $40 per student with proceeds supporting Shorewood Football.

Register with the QR code or at this link

Shoreline community donates over 150 backpacks to support Shoreline students

150 backpacks donated for Shoreline students

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Shoreline community, more than 150 backpacks were donated to support the Shoreline Public Schools Foundation during this year’s Backpack Drive, hosted by BECU Ballinger and DestinationShoreline.com.

Throughout the month-long drive, community members dropped off backpacks that will help ensure local kids are prepared for a successful school year. These donations make a direct and meaningful impact for Shoreline families and highlight the strong spirit of giving that defines our city.

“We are so grateful to everyone who stopped by, donated, and joined us for the Backpack Drive Open House,” said Maia Lark, Branch Manager, Ballinger BECU, “These contributions help set students up for success and remind us how powerful community support can be.”

Special Thanks to Our Partners:
The Shoreline Public Schools Foundation continues to play a vital role in providing resources and support for students across the district. BECU Ballinger was proud to serve as a collection site and partner in this effort, reinforcing their commitment to supporting the neighborhoods they serve.

Drive organizers Kate Ledbetter and BECU's Maia Lark

Ongoing Promotions at BECU Ballinger
In addition to supporting local students, BECU Ballinger is excited to share current member promotions available to the community:

• August-Only Early Savers Drawing: Open a new Early Savers account during August and be automatically entered to win 1 of 2 $500 deposit prizes.
• Early Savers* Match Program: Now through the end of the year, all new Early Savers who deposit $25 within the first 30 days will receive a $25 match from BECU.
• Ballinger Exclusive – Berenstain Bears Book Giveaway: At the Ballinger branch only, kids who open an Early Savers account and mention The Berenstain Bears Visit the Credit Union will receive a free copy of the book.
• New Member Offer: Adults who open a new BECU consumer membership and meet transactional requirements within the first 30 days can receive $150.
• *Early Savers accounts are available for minors of any age, with a parent or guardian required as a joint account holder.

Thank you Shoreline for your generous support of Shoreline Students!

For more information about life in Shoreline, WA and upcoming events visit: www.DestinationShoreline.com

Destination Shoreline is brought to you by Kate Ledbetter, Real Estate Broker with Windermere Real Estate/Shoreline. Whether you’re planning to sell, buy, or simply explore your options, Kate Ledbetter is ready to provide expert guidance tailored to your unique real estate needs. Visit www.KateLHomes.com for more information.

Celebrate Oktoberfest with the rollicking Folk Voice Duo September 24, 2025

Folk Voice Duo will play September 24 at the
Sno-King International Folk Dance Club

Celebrate Oktoberfest with the rollicking Folk Voice Duo on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 from 7:00-9:00pm. 

This will be the highlight of our month since we love dancing to live music. 

Feel free to dress in dirndls and lederhosen if you have them.

Otherwise, this month we are on a roll with Romanian dancing, as two Romanian dances will be taught ; one with a satisfying lot of stamping and one more lyrical.

You can join Sno-King every Wednesday, and do dances from around the world. 

We thrive on variety, so we include partner, no-partner, and set dances. It's fine to come as a single- someone will dance with you. 

And there is always room for your requests.

• While the regular dance goes from 7:00-9:00pm, on Sept. 3 and 17, there will be a beginners' class starting at 6:30pm. 
• And on the second Wednesday, September 10, we will teach a Scottish set dance starting at 6:45pm sharp. If you come late we may not be able to include you in a set.
• Saturday September 13 is our monthly party from 7:00-9:00pm, and you may bring snacks to share.

If you haven't tried this kind of dancing, why not give it a whirl?

Cedar Valley Grange, 20526 52nd Ave W, Lynnwood. Donation $8.00; first time free. 

• Website: www.sno-king.org 
• Email dancesnoking@gmail.com 
• Phone 425-610-9393.

The dangers of gardening

Photo by Seattle Poppy

Seattle Poppy found this sign and hive in a Shoreline garden and commented that it's the season.

I can attest to that. My grandsons were weeding my yard and one pulled out a particularly large weed, which disrupted an underground nest of wasps. 

He ran into the house, followed by a cloud of wasps who proceeded to explore my house. One was in his hair and stung him on the scalp.

My daughter, who was also stung when one got caught in her sleeve, got a flyswatter and got every wasp in the house.

I am allergic to stings, so I sat very quietly and tried to look like someone who would never invade a hive.

I keep meat tenderizer on hand for medicinal purposes, so we made a paste of tenderizer and water and covered the swollen areas. After it dried and started to crumble off, we applied hot pads.

Both are completely recovered and the hive is still buzzing.

--Diane Hettrick

 

Mosqueda, Dembowski celebrate housing supports in impact fee legislation

County Councilmembers Mosqueda and Dembowski

King County Councilmembers Teresa Mosqueda and Rod Dembowski on Wednesday partnered on amendments to King County school impact fees legislation passed Tuesday to support multi-family housing and starter homes. 

Impact fees are state-authorized charges many jurisdictions in Washington impose on new residential development, with the funds (collected by King County here) used by school districts to pay for capital projects like the construction of new school buildings.

With construction costs soaring, housing production is already lagging across the region. 

Joe Mizrahi, Seattle School Board member stated:

 “There is a direct impact between affordable housing and school enrollment, and when families are pushed out of our region by the lack of affordable homes, school enrollment falls and operating dollars for teachers, counselors, and special education fall with it.

"But when workers can afford to live near their kids’ schools, families stay rooted and students thrive. The approach to impact fees led by CM Mosqueda keeps this capital revenue stream in place while prioritizing the housing that actually brings and keeps students in our schools.”

Mosqueda and Dembowski teamed up on amendments designed to ensure the impact fees legislation does not pose a barrier to the housing needed across King County. 

Combined, their amendments cap fees on family units, exempt affordable housing, and ensure analysis and consideration of housing impacts.

King County is facing a severe shortage of affordable housing, first-time homeownership options, and family-sized units. As outlined on the Regional Affordable Housing Dashboard, many families in King County are cost-burdened or experiencing displacement from our region, often moving out of the state altogether. This is driving declining school enrollment and hurting communities.

"The high cost of housing is driven in part by the high cost to build it. Excessive impact fees, many approaching $20,000 per unit, unreasonably increase housing costs and reduce access.

"I have raised these concerns for years, and so was happy to join with Councilmember Mosqueda to address this issue by revising the impact fee formula," Dembowski said.

"The new formula strikes a reasonable balance that ensures new development helps cover the cost of new schools, while recognizing that fees cannot be so burdensome that housing is not accessible and affordable.

"This bold action sends a strong signal that King County is serious about taking action to implement the recommendations in the Regional Affordable Housing Task Force Report and cut the cost to build new homes."

The amendments include:

1. A fee cap on family-sized units

1. Mitigates impacts to housing feasibility by capping fees on multifamily units at $5000 per unit, creating predictability for these projects and avoiding large spikes in fees that may render needed projects infeasible
2. Allows for annual amendments to lower the school impact fees
3. Sets expectation that the fee cap will be a part of future renewals, beginning in 2026
4. Maximum school impact fee amount applies to middle housing and apartment units
5. Allows for fee cap to be recalibrated every 4 years to align with capital facilities planning and allow time for data collection

2. Affordable housing exemption

1. Sets forth County’s intent to implement the state-authorized affordable housing exemption for all qualifying housing projects

3. Housing impacts analysis

1. Adds staff from the housing, homelessness, and community development division to the school technical review committee
2. Requires school districts to work with the King County Executive to analyze the impact of a proposed school impact fee on housing production, including feasibility of projects of various types based on various school impact fee amounts
3. Requires a report to the Council that accompanies each school impact fee ordinance with evaluation of housing impacts