Get healthy, stay healthy with Swedish Edmonds classes

Monday, August 3, 2015

Just north of us on SR 99, the Swedish Edmonds hospital offers a large variety of classes that are open to the public. Many are free, others are low cost. Details of some of their disease coping and management classes are below. Register online unless indicated otherwise.


Lifestyle Management

This exercise and education program, supervised by registered nurses and an exercise physiologist, is for individuals wanting to improve overall health in a supportive environment. Individuals with a variety of medical conditions such as diabetes/prediabetes, hypertension, elevated cholesterol, lung disease and excess body weight can benefit from the program which focuses on controlling risk factors and making positive lifestyle changes. For more information, call 425-640-4330.


Yoga for a Healthy Mind and Body

Yoga provides stress relief, exercise, stretching and strengthening, balance and peace of mind. For beginning and intermediate students. 
Where: Swedish Edmonds 
21601 76th Ave W, Edmonds, WA 98026 
When: Every Monday and Wednesday, Aug. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 and 31 from 4-5:15 p.m. 
Cost: $12 per class, payable in class by check or cash only. First class is free. 
For more information see website or call 206-215-3338. 


Chair-Supported Yoga 

This easy alternative to regular yoga utilizes a chair for help in transitioning to and from the floor, and for certain seated exercises. 
Where: Swedish Edmonds 
21601 76th Ave W, Edmonds, WA 98026 
When: Every Monday and Wednesday, Aug. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19, 24, 26 and 31 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. 
Cost: $12 per class, payable in class by check or cash only. 
For more information see website or call 206-215-3338.


Music and Wellness 

Experience how music can be incorporated into your everyday life to promote relaxation and wellness while reducing pain, stress and anxiety. Join board certified music therapist, Betsy Hartman, in experiencing first-hand the benefits of music while taking away simple techniques and tools that you can use on a daily basis. No prior music experience or confidence required. 
Where: Swedish Edmonds-Radiation Oncology Building 
21605 76th Ave. W, Edmonds, WA 98026 
When: Thursday, Aug. 6 from 4-5 p.m. 
Cost: Free 
For more information, see website


Transforming Stress Into Balance

This workshop will give an overview of how stress works in the body and the ways that it shows up in your experience. We will learn calming and awareness practices that will help create more balance, joy and resilience. This is an opportunity to discover and remember some simple approaches that can be incorporated into your daily life. 
Where: Swedish Edmonds-Radiation Oncology Building 
21605 76th Ave. W, Edmonds, WA 98026 
When: Tuesday, Aug. 4 from 10-11:30 a.m. 
Cost: Free 
For more information, see website.



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Dropbox for Back to School donations

Dropbox for donations for the Back to School event

You can drop off donations of school supplies, hygiene, socks and underwear for the Back to School event at locations around the area. This box is inside the Starbucks at 20121 Aurora Ave N.

Donations can be left at the Center for Human Services, 17018 15th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155.

On the day of the event (only!) items can be taken to the Shoreline PTA clothing room - The Works - on the west side of North City Elementary School, 816 NE 190th St, beginning at 10am on August 29.

There are dropboxes at every Starbucks, many churches, the public health lab, Walgreens, Lake Forest Park City Hall, Third Place Books, One Cup Coffee, the Y, Shoreline City Hall, Umpqua Bank, Haggen on Aurora, Campbell Nelson Nisson, Sound Credit Union, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Whidbey Island Bank in Richmond Beach, Shoreline Windermere, Spartan Gym, and Shoreline Schools district office.




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Op-Ed: Seattle City Light statement on President’s Clean Power Plan


Seattle City Light has been carbon neutral since 2005

Seattle City Light Interim General Manager and CEO Jim Baggs issued the following statement in support of President Obama’s new Clean Power Plan after the U.S. Environmental Agency (EPA) released final regulations that will, for the first time, set federal carbon emission limits for existing power plants: 

“Seattle City Light, a carbon neutral utility since 2005, has long advocated for action to address climate change and supports EPA’s authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act. 

“We believe that the impact of climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing the electric industry. Research we have undertaken and our recently developed Climate Adaptation plan shows that climate change has significant effects on the reliability of our system. 

“Utilities such as Seattle City Light that depend on hydropower face loss of snow pack and glaciers as well as increased frequency and severity of floods on our rivers. Overall, the industry will face increased risk of fire, sea level rise, severe storms and landslides that threaten power lines.  For these reasons, we urged the Obama Administration to ensure that the final rule delivers meaningful emission reductions from existing power plants and encourages investment in clean energy technologies.

“Seattle City Light will continue to invest in energy efficiency for our customers and in environmentally sound renewables.  While we are still reviewing the details of the plan, we are confident that the final rule provides the states the flexibility needed to design their program implementation to address state specific characteristics and impacts.  Seattle City Light looks forward to working with Washington State and other stakeholders as we develop a strong and effective state implementation plan.” 



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Changes in the Aging Eye - Sight Connection at the Senior Center August 18



Karen Mehlhorn from Sight Connection will speak at the Senior Center on Tuesday, August 18 about "Changes in the Aging Eye". 10:30 to 11:30am. All are welcome.

18560 1st Ave NE, the southern-most building on the Shoreline Center campus.



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Call for volunteers: Help count Washington’s cyclists and walkers this fall

More than 72,000 bicyclists and pedestrians were counted by volunteers across Washington during a three-day survey in 2014. As another survey cycle nears, about 400 volunteers will again be needed this fall to count the number of people who ride bike or walk to their destinations. Volunteer registration is starting now.

“Counting bicyclists and pedestrians helps us more accurately measure demand, gauge the results of our investments and plan for future improvement projects,” said Secretary of Transportation Lynn Peterson. “We couldn’t document the number of people walking and biking without the help of many volunteers from across the state.”

For this eighth annual survey, the Washington State Department of Transportation and the Cascade Bicycle Club are enlisting volunteers and organizations like FeetFirst and the Bicycle Alliance of Washington to help count the number of people bicycling and walking on paths, bike lanes, sidewalks, and other facilities Tuesday, Sept. 29, through Thursday, Oct. 1. Counts will be taken in a least 38 cities throughout the state.

Those interested in helping can learn more by visiting WSDOT’s survey website, or by contacting Cascade Bicycle Club or calling 206-861-9890.

WSDOT and the Cascade Bicycle Club are asking volunteers from across the state to perform the counts in participating cities including Lake Forest Park and Shoreline.

WSDOT’s count is part of the National Documentation Project, an annual bicycle and pedestrian count and survey effort that is sponsored by the Institute of Transportation Engineers Pedestrian and Bicycle Council. The count will also help measure WSDOT’s progress toward the goal of increasing bicycling and walking while reducing the number of vehicle miles driven.



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Public notice: Ronald Wastewater Commissioners special meeting

NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF
OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
RONALD WASTEWATER DISTRICT

DATE:             August 3, 2015

Pursuant to Section 3.2 of the Bylaws, Board President Ransom has called a Special Meeting of the Board of Directors of Ronald Wastewater District:

DATE:             Wednesday, August 5, 2015

TIME:              1:00 p.m. PST

LOCATION:*   Ronald Wastewater District
                        Board Conference Room
                        17505 Linden Avenue North
                        Shoreline, Washington 98133

*Those who wish may participate by telephone conference call.  Call-in information and instructions will be separately provided.


MEETING AGENDA

1.              Public Comment

2.              Resolution 15-23, Changing the Date of the Next Regular Meeting of the Board of Commissioners from Tuesday, August 11, 2015 to Monday, August 10, 2015 at 6:00 pm at the District Offices.

3.              Conclusion


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Karaoke / Bingo Aug 14 - Celebrate Shoreline



Make your reservations online by August 12 or in person at the Senior Center.




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Dog found in woods behind Shoreline Community College

Found in woods behind SCC

A Shoreline residents reports that she found a dog out behind Shoreline Community College in the woods Monday afternoon. Campus Security said she’d been there for at least a day but they were unable to get close to her.

A leash and collar were nearby but not on her. She has no tags or microchip. She is the sweetest, young dog. Probably black lab and maybe terrier mix.

Does anyone recognize her or have information about her? Contact us.



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First Thursday: Photographers Lauren & Henry Heerschap

Garden Essentia, 20152 Ballinger Way NE, Shoreline 98155, 206-453-3920

Meet August Featured Artists 
Lauren and Henry Heerschap (Photography)
August 6th - 4:00 - 8:00pm open house

Henry Heerschap

We are pleased to present the work of Shoreline photographers . Their images have won several awards in the area and will be on display in our gallery throughout August.

Lauren and Henry Heerschap are 25 year residents of Shoreline. Together they form Echo Lake Images, named for the lake in their neighborhood. They are world travelers, capturing images in Ireland, Kenya, China, Poland and Italy. Their collections also include many images from our National Parks and neighborhood parks. They draw inspiration from Lauren's backyard perennial garden. 

Lauren Heerschap

Echo Lake Images has received awards from the Projected Image Division of the Photographic Society of America, the NW International Exhibition of Photography at the Washington State Fair, the Evergreen State Fair, the Kenmore Arts Show, the Shoreline Arts Festival, and the Edmonds Arts Festival. Lauren is the president of the Puget Sound Camera Club and Henry sits on the board. 

Echo Lake Images can be viewed at LaurenHeerschap and HenryHeerschap.




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Brown Bear Car Wash celebrates 58th anniversary with free “Beary Clean” car washes on Thursday, August 27

Shoreline tunnel wash 16032 Aurora
Photo: Shoreline Area News
Over the last nine years, the Seattle-based company has washed over 225,000 vehicles during annual “free car wash days” 

Brown Bear Car Wash is set to add sparkle and shine to thousands of cars and trucks Thursday, August 27 as the Seattle-based, family-owned company offers free washes to celebrate its 58th anniversary. Hours for the special one-day event are from 8am to 8pm. 

Brown Bear will be offering free “Beary Clean” car washes at 21 of their automated “tunnel wash” locations in the Puget Sound area. For the past nine years, Brown Bear has offered free “Beary Clean” tunnel washes twice a year. Last year’s anniversary event generated 26,437 free washes, bringing the combined total of complimentary anniversary and free Veterans Day washes to over 225,000.

Adding to the fun and value, on August 27 only, one lucky customer will be selected to receive free car washes for a year: an annual membership to Brown Bear’s Unlimited Wash Club. Enter to win by taking a photo of your newly washed vehicle and posting it on Twitter (@brownbear) or Instagram (@brownbearcarwash) with the hashtag #FreeCarWashDay.

Shoreline Bear
Photo: Shoreline Area News


Locations and hours of Brown Bear’s automated “tunnel wash” locations in the Puget Sound area, here.

The Shoreline location is at 16032 Aurora.

“We blend hard work, pride and a lot of fun into an event that benefits our customers and the environment. It’s a fitting way to say ‘thank you’ to our customers who have supported us over the past 58 years,” said Brown Bear founder and owner Vic Odermat.

Odermat started Brown Bear in Seattle with one location at 15th Ave West in Seattle. Brown Bear now owns and operates car washes throughout the Puget Sound area and Spokane. 

The family-owned company, through its parent company, Car Wash Enterprises, Inc., owns and operates a total of 43 car wash facilities in Washington State as well as a large network of gas stations and convenience stores. It is one of the largest privately held car wash chains in the U.S. and is widely recognized within the industry as being a leader in the environmental movement.



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Fiddler on the Roof opens to "sell-out" crowds

Full cast of Fiddler on the Roof
Photo courtesy Aurora Theatre Company

Ok - hard to be a "sell-out" when the tickets are free - but the first weekend of Fiddler on the Roof at the Shoreline City Hall amphitheater went well, with audience each night estimated at between 300-400 people.

The performance ended under the stars on a balmy summer night, as people sat on blankets on the grassy hillside or in their folding chairs.

Performances by the Aurora Theatre Company continue on Fridays and Saturday at 8pm through August 22. Reserve tickets online. City Hall is located at 17500 Midvale Ave N, free parking in city garage.



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Photo: Pink Skies

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Most of the sky was glowing pink for at least a half hour as the sun went down on Sunday night. Unobstructed views over the water are the most dramatic. Thanks to Lee Lageschulte for capturing this one.



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Shoreline City Council Business Meeting - Notice of Revised Agenda

Monday, August 3, 2015 – Regular Meeting 7:00pm
Revision Highlights

Agenda Item 7(b), Adoption of Ord. No’s. 716, 718, 719 and 720 – Amendments to SMC 12.40 Impact Fees for Transportation, has been broken out into four separate agenda items:
  • 7(b) Adoption of Ord. No. 716 – Amendments to SMC 12.40 Transportation Impact Fees to address change of use in occupied and vacant structures
  • 7(c) Adoption of Ord. No. 718 – Amendments to SMC 12.40 Transportation Impact Fees to include deferral program for single family residential and Amending SMC 3.01 Fee Schedule to include administrative fee
  • 7(d) Adoption of Ord. No. 719 – Amendments to SMC 12.40 Transportation Impact Fees to include exemption for community-based human services agencies 
  • 7(e) Adoption of Ord. No. 720 – Amendments to SMC 3.01.015 Transportation Impact Fees to include “Assisted Living” in Impact Fee Rate Table




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Video of local firefighters at work

From Shoreline Fire

Local production company, Via Creatives, just released Shoreline Fire's first-ever "sizzle reel". It's a fast moving video showing firefighters at work, on calls, training and talking about the work they love. We are proud to show a little bit of what we, and firefighters across the country, do every day!




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Photos: Not the usual morning jogging companion

Innis Arden -- 15th NW at 7:30am Sunday

Photos by Bill Schnall


Innis Arden resident Bill Schnall was startled to be joined by a companion on his Sunday morning jog in Innis Arden.

Fortunately for us, not too startled to grab his phone and take these amazing photos.






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Susan Pascal Quartet plays Jazz Walk Aug 11

Vibraphonist Susan Pascal
Photo by Harlan Chinn
The Susan Pascal Quartet, featuring guitarist Dave Peterson, bassist Chuck Deardorf, and drummer Mark Ivester, and vibraphonist Susan Pascal, performs at the North City Theatre for the North City Jazz Walk on Tuesday, August 11.

Her straight-ahead jazz group has been nominated twice for Best Acoustic Group by Seattle’s Earshot Jazz.

PLEASE NOTE: 15th Avenue NE will be closed from 6:00pm to 10:30pm between 175th St and 182nd St NE.

Tickets are on sale online for $15.  If available tickets will be $20 on the day of the North City Jazz Walk. 

Bracelets, which admit you to the venues are on sale now for in person purchase. See previous article.



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Celebrate Shoreline Main Stage Concert Aug 15 Cromwell Park

Tangerine

The Celebrate Shoreline mainstage performance features Pickwick, with Ruler, Tangerine, and Tom Eddy.

The City of Shoreline is proud to present the Main Stage Concert on Saturday, August 15 from 4:00 to 9:00pm at Cromwell Park! In conjunction with the Celebrate Shoreline Festival, and in honor of the City’s 20th Birthday, the Main Stage Concert will feature a full evening of free live music. 

Pickwick

Headlining the event will be Pickwick, a band gaining a national following with roots in Shoreline. Enjoy their garage, R/B style as the perfect end to a summer evening.

Opening for Pickwick will be Ruler, Tangerine, and Tom Eddy. Great local bands, each with their own unique sound.

Bring your picnic blanket for an entire evening of live, local bands. All ages are welcome. Pack a picnic or visit the food trucks. FREE admission! Beer garden!

For more information, a parking map, and for the full schedule of activities, visit the webpage. More information about Celebrate Shoreline.



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For the Birds: Osprey, the other Sea Hawk

Osprey profile
Photo by Mark Zimmerman

By Christine Southwick

Osprey are large birds of prey (wingspan approximately 6 feet) who eat fish almost exclusively. They are unique in that there is only one species of Osprey found world-wide. Their backs are usually dark brown; the head has a distinctive white crest with an impressive dark eye-stripe. The adults have yellow eyes, while the young have orange-ish eyes, the opposite of most raptors.

When flying, Ospreys look more like large gulls than raptors, with their arched wings and bent wrists. When resting on a piling, branch, or open nest, their body profile is more horizontal than other raptors. They have white feet with black talons that are adapted to carry fish while flying — they can use two talons forward and two in back, rather than the more normal arrangement of three in front and one in back, which they use when grabbing sticks to add to their nest.

Osprey open wings
Photo by M.R. Cassidy

They can hover over water, and will plunge feet first to catch their preferred 5-16 inch fish. Osprey have been observed flying a mile or more with a fish dangling head forward as they fly back to their nests. Bald Eagles will sometimes steal fish from Osprey, which will drop the fish, if they can't out-maneuver the eagle. Then they have to hunt all over again.

Osprey fishing
Photo by Doug Parrott


Osprey generally mate for life, with both partners building the nest, and incubating the two-four eggs. Once the young have hatched, the female stays with the nestlings and the male brings the food.

The nests themselves, always near some form of fish-bearing water, are reused yearly and may get as big as seven feet across and five feet deep. Every spring the returning Osprey will renovate their nests, and some huge nests have been used for 70 years. If a storm takes down a nest the Osprey will either rebuild, or start a new nest at a nearby suitable nest site. Their fish-eating practice allows Ospreys to nest on tree tops and open platforms without fear of harassment from crows and hawks.

Osprey feeding a juvie
Photo by Mark Hamilton

Osprey become sexually mature and may start breeding at three to four years, unless there are not enough nesting sites, in which case they may have to wait five to seven seasons. Man-made nesting platforms have been proven to make up for the lack of natural habitat.

Osprey in this area migrate, with some returning in late March while others don’t arrive until late April or early May.

Updated 08-03-2015 12:51pm

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Caregivers Support Group at Swedish Edmonds

Caregivers are invited to attend a support group to share practical information, gain understanding of the caregiving experience and discuss feelings in a safe and caring environment. Come learn from educational presentations and open discussions.

Where: Swedish Edmonds-Radiation Oncology Building
             21605 76th Ave. W, Edmonds, WA 98026

When: First and third Wednesday of each month, Aug. 5 and 19 from 1-2:30p.m.

Cost: Free

For more information, call 425-673-8328.



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Rain City Rotary collects food for HopeLink and feeds Tent City 3

New members Jeff and Rosemary Clepp
Photo by Donna Eggen

Keeping up with Rain City Rotary, June and July 2015
By Donna Eggen

Food Drive at Central Market

On Saturday, June 27, Rain City Rotary held its annual summer food drive at Central Market. The food goes to the Hopelink Food Bank, and is especially aimed at “Ending Summer Hunger” for children who get some meals at school during the school year. 

We collected 1230 lbs. of food!! That’s a lot of happy tummies.

New members Jeff and Rosemary Cleppe said “Rain City Rotary has been a great opportunity to make new friends and serve our community at the same time. We look forward to many future outings with the group.”

Members pose with a Japanese Rotarian
Photo by Donna Eggen

A man who was leading a group of Japanese tourists to look at the store saw us. He is a Rotarian himself and complimented us on what we were doing.
 
Feeding Tent City 3

On July 19, Rain City Rotary served dinner to Tent City 3, currently located at Saint Dunstan’s Church. 

We served nearly 100 people a picnic meal of burgers and hot dogs, potato and macaroni salads, and ice cream topped with fresh strawberries. Yum! The residents pronounced it “delicious”.

Long-time member Brad Lancaster had this to say: “Rain City Rotary fed a hungry group at Tent City 3 located by the gracious welcome of Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church in a (relatively) cool, wooded area adjacent to the church. 
People from all walks of life, each experiencing some difficulty, land at Tent City 3 to help bridge to a better place in their lives. Hamburgers, watermelon, homemade cookies, potato salad, and summer delicacies made us all smile. Rain City Rotary cares about the difficulties that Shoreline’s dislocated members face.”

Rain City Rotarians getting ready to feed Tent City 3
Photo by Kim Lancaster

Rain City Rotary meets most Thursday Nights at 6:30pm in the Shoreline City Hall, 17500 Midvale Ave N. But over the summer we are focusing on service projects and social times so check our website. You are welcome to join us.



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Seniors: learn to avoid falls at workshops Aug 12 or Aug 26

Falls are Serious for Seniors: Learn Ways to Avoid Them!

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death or loss of independence among older adults.

The good news is that falling is not an inevitable part of the aging process. Learn how to start being active again. Anybody can benefit from this class especially seniors. You will learn what the next steps are in starting an exercise program that works for you.

Family members of seniors are welcome and encouraged to attend. It’s important for the children of seniors to know what can be done and what is safe exercise for their parents.

As staff and instructors, we see the difference a regular, safe exercise program can make in a person. It is really quite amazing. 

Wednesday, August 12th or 26th from 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm. Please pre-register at the Reception desk or call 206 365-1536. No fee.

Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center, 18560 1st Ave NE, Suite 1, Shoreline 98155, 206-365-1536




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Grief support groups at Swedish Edmonds

Just north of us on SR 99, the Swedish Edmonds hospital offers a large variety of classes that are open to the public. Many are free, others are low cost. Details of some of their grief support groups are below. Register online unless indicated otherwise.

Ongoing Grief Support Group
Offered two times each month, this group does not require registration. You may attend once, or as often as you wish, for as long as two years.
Where:  The Center for Healthy Living
4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd., Suite 1 (next to the AAA office)
Lynnwood, WA  98036
When:   First and third Tuesdays, Aug. 4 and 18 from 2:30-4 p.m.
Cost:   FREE
For more information please call 425-640-4404 or visit www.swedish.org.

Early Days of Grief Support Group
This monthly drop-in group is for people who are in the first year of mourning the death of a loved one. The group meets the second Wednesday of the month. No registration required.
Where:  Swedish Edmonds
        21601 76th Ave W, Edmonds, WA 98026
When:   Second Wednesday, Aug. 12 from 6:30-8 p.m.
Cost:   FREE
For more information please call 425-640-4404 or visit www.swedish.org.

P.S./Parent Support Group
This drop-in support group is for parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth or infant loss. Group meets the third Wednesday of the month. No registration required.
Where:  Verdant Community Wellness Center
4710 – 196th St. SW
Lynnwood, WA  98036
When:   Third Wednesday, Aug. 19 from 7-9 p.m.
Cost:   FREE

For more information please call 425-640-4404 or visit www.swedish.org.



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Volunteer with the Back to School Consortium

Saturday, August 1, 2015


The Shoreline Back to School Consortium is happy to be having our annual event on August 29th, 2015. This event provides needed support to children/youth in the Shoreline School District and is an opportunity for the students to get backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, clothing, and more as a way to get them ready to go back to school.

While at the event, parents and students can browse resource booths and enjoy lunch compliments of the Lake Forest Park Rotary.

To make all of this happen, we need volunteers! If you think you'd enjoy packing backpacks with school supplies prior to the event, handing out backpacks on the day of, or one of the many other opportunities please sign up here




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Buy Jazz Walk bracelets in person at local businesses ahead of the event


You can now buy Jazz Walk bracelets in person this year before the event. These are your admission to all the venues. And there will be music on the street for free for those who just want to stroll the street.

Bracelets are selling now for $15.00 each at the locations listed below.

  • Shoreline- Lake Forest Park Arts Council offices in the Shoreline Center
  • North City Bistro
  • The Bounty Coffeehouse
  • North Seattle Eagles
  • Easy Monkey Taphouse
  • North City Lounge
  • North City Water District
  • Golden Bow Gift and Flowers
  • Leena's
  • Prosser Piano and Organ
  • Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center
  • Sky Nursery

Shoreline location sales will end on Monday, August 10th.

Anyone purchasing a ticket online will need to print out a receipt to be exchanged for a bracelet on the night of event, at any of the three ticket kiosks.

Strolling the street at Jazz Walk
Photo copyright Marc Weinberg

 Ticket purchases night of event will be $20.00.

Three Ticket/ Bracelet Sale kiosks on the night of the event, location and times are

  • from 5pm – 9pm Center sales in front of the Bounty.
  • from 6pm – 7:30pm  St Mark on the North end
  • 175th NE on the South end

“Bracelets are entrance” to all indoor venues and the main outdoor stage with Greta Matassa.

The two free venues not requiring a bracelet will be:

  • St Mark with the student and Faculty from Arts Council Jazz Camp
  • Hook Me Up at the Frank Lumber Delivery store.



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Tech Talk: “Yes, Virginia, the Windows 10 upgrade involves a learning curve”


By Brian Boston

The world is a changing place. Whether it’s the weather, the nature of your work or relationships, or the fortune of your favorite sport teams, change is part of the rhythm of life. It can be something we wish would go faster (economic improvement, street repairs) or slower (the aging process, climate change).

Technological change seems to produce a schizophrenic reaction among people. Most people seem to enjoy the general benefits of a more connected and supported society as long as we don’t have to confront technology changes directly. If the computer and software you have been comfortable using for years could support of the rigors of cloud computing, portable device connection, and Internet service integration, using what you have would be ideal for most people.

“Why mess up a perfectly good present with the future?”

It seems the worst comes when software manufacturers do big updates to their applications or operating systems. People accept that some change is necessary to support new technology and changes that improve interactivity make sense, but it the learning curve can be scary if the approach is to pack it all in one release every two to three years.

That’s what happened with Windows 8. It was like waking up in Disneyland’s Tomorrow Land with no way out. Fascinating place to explore for some; frustrating place to be productive for everyone else.

Windows 8.1 a year later refined the vision started in Windows 8 and started process of incremental improvements that brought back a start button and added improvements to mouse usage and program interaction. While some of these incremental changes started with Window 8.1, a large number came after product release, adding feature updates to the monthly and quarterly cycle of bug fixes and security updates sent to our PCs. And the learning curve became much more manageable.

Change in Byte-Sized Chunks

That is what Microsoft is planning to do once Windows 10 is in place; incremental change. No more big releases of Windows. Windows 10 will be the last of its kind.

Given the rolling nature of incremental change, Windows 10 doesn’t actually have to be “finished” for release, just stable enough for mass consumption and complete enough to handle today’s needs. In other words, it can be more like most other items we prefer in our life .



Sounds great…what’s the catch?

That’s great news for the future, but Windows 10 itself is still a big release. And yes, there will be a learning curve. How much depends on the current version of Windows you are using, the system hardware you have, your level of expertise, and willingness to adapt.

What Microsoft learned with Windows 8 is that the willingness to adapt is not something to expect from computer users. After all, most people just want to check email, access the Internet for information or communication, use programs to create and edit content or play games. They don’t want to learn a new operating system.

Most previous versions of Windows let you go back to a more “classic” view of the OS. Windows 8 did not. In fact, not only did Windows 8 force you into a new mode of operation, it also made it easier to use touch than a mouse. That's great for the few people who had touch screens but lousy for everyone else.

Your learning curve depends on your current OS


For those of you chafing under 8 and 8.1, the changes to the visual style and mouse operation in Windows 10 will be more of a relief than anything else. Items that were difficult to click on have either been eliminated or new clickable options have been provided. Some touch and tablet users may not appreciate some changes (no Charms, less swiping options) but this will be offset a bit by the ability to switch to a tablet-friendly mode and the ability to detect and modify the user interface when a keyboard is attached/detached. 

If you are using Windows 7 and found it a challenging change from Windows Vista or XP, expect a similar challenge. The new Start menu is a mix of old and new as is most of the system. The more expert users might find the distribution of settings between PC Settings and Control Panel confusing.

There are things to look forward to as well.

What both Windows 8 and 7 users will appreciate is the merging of app behavior between the old-style “desktop apps” and the new style apps created for Windows 8. Initially these apps (called variously, Metro/New Windows 8/Modern apps) were full-screen and simplified in design, a totally different world than working with desktop apps. This led to a very schizophrenic user interface and more of a challenge for people to use. Windows 10 allows the new style of apps to be windowed and adjustable in size just like traditional desktop apps.

There are new items inspired by smartphones, like the Notification Center and a smarter Task View. Look for more discoverable features by using ellipses buttons and hamburger menus.


Windows is attempting to stay relevant in the face of declining PC sales by not only adopting details from mobile devices, it is promoting a “universal app” design. An extension of its Modern App design, Universal apps that will work on Windows 10 PCs, the Xbox One, and Windows 10 mobile devices due out in the autumn time frame. If you are currently using a Windows Phone with 8.1, it will also be upgradable to the mobile version of Windows 10.

So, is it worth an upgrade?

So, there are welcome changes coming and learning curves to expect in the upgrade process to Windows 10. These are part of the swirling sea of variables that you need to consider when choosing whether to upgrade or not. 

And there are more variables to catalog and add to your checklist. Look for those in our next installment.

Boston LegacyWorks, LLC offers talks and individual help on technology topics, troubleshooting and tutoring on PC usage, and services so you can manage and maintain your computer, your network of computers, or how they connect with the world. Contact us for information on how we can help you.



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