Insurance Commissioner: Consider your options for insurance when you are laid off from work

Saturday, July 9, 2016

From the Office of the Insurance Commissioner

Finding out you are being laid off is stressful, and in addition to that, you have to make important decisions about health insurance that can save you—or cost you—thousands of dollars at a critical time. It’s important to consider all your options when deciding between COBRA or buying your own plan.

What is COBRA? COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which is a federal law that allows you and any of your immediate family members to stay on your employer’s health plan under certain circumstances :
  • You lose or quit your job 
  • You get a divorce 
  • The employee dies 
  • You are no longer covered as a dependent due to your age
Only employers with 20 or more workers in the previous year are required to offer COBRA coverage. State and local governments fall under COBRA, but the federal government and certain religious organizations do not.

COBRA can be expensive. People who choose COBRA coverage must pay the entire premium, including the portion previously paid by the employer, plus a 2 percent administrative fee. Be warned, if you enroll in COBRA and later on want to switch to a health plan directly to an insurance company or through the Washington Healthplanfinder, you will have to wait until the next open enrollment period if you don’t qualify for a special enrollment.

Options other than COBRA
Before you decide to go with COBRA, find out if you can buy a health plan through the Washington Healthplanfinder and receive a subsidy to help pay your insurance premiums. You can also purchase coverage directly from an insurance company, broker or agent if you don’t qualify for any subsidies.

If you choose a health insurance plan, you likely will be responsible for a full yearly deductible. Generally, health insurance deductibles are not prorated for partial-year enrollees, no matter how few months are left in the plan year. Individual or family qualified health plans operate on a calendar year, from January through December. There is no way to transfer the money you spent toward another plan’s deductible when you switch plans mid-year.

Read more about losing your health insurance on our website. Questions? Contact our consumer advocates online or at 1-800-562-6900.

For COBRA- specific laws and questions, contact:

U.S. Dept. of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
Seattle District Office
300 Fifth Ave., Ste. 1110
Seattle, WA 98104



Read more...

Book Review by Aarene Storms: The Honest Truth

The Honest Truth
by Dan Gemeinhart

Mark is tired of being "the sick kid," and "the kid with cancer." He has fought the illness so many times ... and won. At least that's what the doctors always said.

Until the time they told him that the cancer was back again.

And that's the time that Mark decided that he'd had enough. No more hospitals, no more doctors, no more chemo.

Mark decided to leave.

He packed up some gear, and a notebook to write haiku poetry in, and a duffel bag that his beloved dog Beau can hide inside. And he left.

His parents are frantic. The media goes crazy.

And his best friend Jessie knows where he's headed ... and why.

Short. Sweet. Unexpectedly gritty.

Recommended.


The events may not have happened; still, the story is true.  --R. Silvern

Aarene Storms, youth services librarian
Richmond Beach and Lake Forest Park Libraries, KCLS



Read more...

SoundGuardian launched - new King County environmental research vessel

Executive Constantine and members of Soundgarden, Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil,
dedicate the SoundGuardian, King County’s new environmental research vessel.

King County Executive Dow Constantine was joined by members of the iconic Seattle band Soundgarden to launch the SoundGuardian, King County's new environmental research vessel named in a public contest.

The new 48-foot vessel will be used by field scientists at the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks to collect samples in Puget Sound, Lake Washington, and the Duwamish River.

It will also be used to respond to environmental emergencies, such as illegal spills and dumping, toxic algae bloom, fish kills and beach erosion.

"We're providing King County scientists with the equipment they need to monitor the quality of our water, quickly respond to emergencies, and study the effects of climate change," said Executive Constantine. 
"The work our researchers do in the field and on the water is critical to our quality of life, so it's important that they have the right tools to get the job done."

The SoundGuardian will replace The Liberty, an outdated vessel that has been in service since 1977.

In addition to monitoring local bodies of water for pollution, field scientists collect and analyze data to study trends in water temperature, which contributes to King County’s effort to confront climate change.

The twin-hull vessel – built by local shipbuilders – is more fuel efficient and easier to navigate in choppy waters, which is critical during environmental emergencies. It will also increase productivity by enabling field scientists to conduct more research in the same amount of time.



Read more...

What's up Doc? Iora founder free class Wednesday at Shoreline clinic

UPDATE: There was an emergency in Boston that Rushika (CEO of Iora and planned speaker for the event today at Iora Primary Care) had to fly back for. One of their local doctors, Cheryl Jacobs, stepped in to host the Q/A in his absence.




The CEO and Co-Founder of Iora Health, Rushika Fernandopulle, MD, MPP, will be hosting a free class about current health trends and all community members are invited to attend next Thursday, July 13 at 10am.

Rushika is hoping people will attend, ask questions and get actively involved in this intriguing conversation topic!

Class location at Shoreline Iora clinic 15214 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline 98133.

Iora Primary Care is a doctor’s office dedicated to — and designed especially for — older adults 65+. The Care Team includes a doctor, Behavioral Health Specialist, Health Coach and more who work together as advocates for each patient in order to treat the whole person.

Updated 7-13-2016

Read more...

Challenge Island STEAM camp for kids

Shoreline Community College will be the site of Challenge Island -- "a super fun summer camp" August 15-19 for grades K-5.

Children will learn STEAM (science, tech, engineering, and math plus Art!) while tackling daily challenges related to the themes of Harry Potter's Wizard School and Steve's world in Mine Craft.

Only these camps don't rely upon computers to reach the world, but the children's imagination, real life materials from recycled products, and a terrific program!

Children can attend half day or full day. Bring lunches and snacks.

Register online (filter by the location at Shoreline Community College) or contact Tamara Gonzalez for more information, 206-445-8513.

Updated 7-11-2016.




Read more...

Seattle Times endorses Kagi and Ryu in 32nd Legislative District

By Evan Smith

Our news partner, the Seattle Times, has endorsed incumbent Democratic 32nd District State Reps. Ruth Kagi and Cindy Ryu for the August 2 primary election.

Kagi is running against fellow Democrat Wes Irwin, Republican David Schirle, and Libertarian candidate Alex Hart for Position 2, with the top two vote getters advancing to the November general-election ballot.

Ryu is running against Republican Alvin Rutledge and independent candidate Keith Smith, with the two leading primary candidates advancing to the November ballot.

The 32nd Legislative District includes the city of Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, south Edmonds, the city of Lynnwood and part of Mountlake Terrace.

The Times said this about Kagi in a Saturday editorial:

State Rep. Ruth Kagi is a Washington treasure. In her 18 years in the 32nd Legislative District’s House Position No. 2, the North Seattle Democrat has been a champion of the state’s youngest citizens, advocating for the best education from their earliest moments to ensuring care when their families can’t provide it. 
Her leadership was recognized with appointment as co-chair of the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission to create a new department of children and families. 
Her liberal political leanings match her district well, but are tempered with a mature pragmatism that can get results when working with Republican colleagues in a shared interest.

See the rest of the Times editorial here.

The Times said this about Ryu:
State Rep. Cindy Ryu’s résumé — as a business owner, former Shoreline City Council member and mayor — makes her particularly suited to represent her community in Olympia.
Ryu, a Democrat, is chair of the House Community Development, Housing and Tribal Affairs Committee, putting her in the middle of issues important to a district that serves North King and South Snohomish counties. And she intends to expand her focus on serving those Washington citizens who are too often underrepresented.
Ryu has a credible challenger in Keith Smith of Lynnwood, who states no party preference. He has worked in retail management for 15 years and is a volunteer guardian ad litem in Snohomish County. . He has educated himself on the state’s challenge of basic-education funding and has an important interest in addressing efficiencies and effectiveness of the criminal-justice system.

See the rest of the editorial endorsing Ryu here.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com



Read more...

Shoreline student chosen for DO-IT Scholars Summer Study program

Ryan Hribernick from Shoreline was selected to participate in the 2016 DO-IT Scholars Program. Ryan attends Shorewood High School.

About forty-five college-bound high school students with disabilities will come together on the University of Washington (UW) Seattle campus to participate in the annual DO-IT Scholars Summer Study program.


DO-IT (Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology) is funded by the state of Washington, the National Science Foundation, and the U.S. Department of Education. Other generous donors include the Boeing Company, Microsoft, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Department of Labor.

Beginning July 12th, new DO-IT Scholars will spend ten days living on campus, participating in an intensive program designed to promote college and career success. The students will learn about challenging careers in fields such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Returning second year Scholars will stay on campus for one week starting July 16th.

“DO-IT Scholars learn about college life by living in a dorm, getting along with a roommate, participating in academic classes, preparing for challenging careers, and having fun,” explains Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler, founder and director of DO-IT. 
“Year-round, they communicate via the Internet with their new friends and are mentored by successful adults with disabilities. Year after year, they connect through DO-IT activities and are supported as they transition to college and careers. Many successful DO-IT Scholars continue in the program as mentors to younger participants.”

Second and third year students will once again prepare for academic programs and careers while mentoring first year students. They also complete challenging projects during their stay on campus. This year, they will work on projects in fields such as neurobiology and robotics.

DO-IT Scholars targets high school sophomores and juniors with disabilities in Washington State who are interested in pursuing higher education. The program seeks to encourage their participation in challenging academic programs and careers. Students apply to the program during the fall with recommendations from their parents, teachers, and counselors.

Each year, approximately seventeen new students enter the program, beginning their experience with Summer Study. Once selected, the students are loaned computers, software, and adaptive technology to use in their homes as they learn to use the technology as a tool for empowerment. The program continues with independent projects and Internet interaction with mentors, teachers, and fellow students during the school year.

For information about Scholars or other DO-IT programs and activities, email or call 206-685-3648 (voice/TTY) or 888-972-3648 (voice/TTY).



Read more...

National Night Out in Shoreline

Friday, July 8, 2016


National Night Out is a great way to get to know your neighbors and create safer, more resilient neighborhoods. Whether this is already a long-standing tradition on your block, or if you have been thinking about hosting a party, the City of Shoreline encourages you to participate this year.

NNO is August 2nd, and in brief, this is what you need to know in Shoreline:

  • If you host a party in your yard or driveway, you do not need to get a permit to close your street. Please register your party so you can get City support. It’s free and easy!
  • If you have your party in the right-of-way, or on the road, you do need to get a permit to close your street. Permit fees can be waived if you get your application reviewed, approved, and signed by a neighborhood association representative. You can get contact information for your neighborhood representative by sending an email or calling 206-801-2253.
  • Permit applications need to be received no later than July 19th.
  • All parties registered by July 19th will be entered into a lottery for fire engine and police visits.

Questions? Contact Constance Perenyi by email, or phone at 206-801-2253.

For registration and permit information, you will find everything you need on this link.



Read more...

Lake Forest Park City Council Committee of the Whole special meeting Monday

City Council Committee of the Whole Special Meeting on Monday, July 11, 2016, 6pm

Council Discussion Topics
Community Engagement: Continuing Discussion

  1. Commissions:
    1. Review Previous Committee of the Whole DiscussionsGovernment Initiated: Consider Overall Approach to Commissions;Task Forces; Committees and Other Forms of Advisory Groups
  2. Citizen Initiated: Education and Support
  3. Volunteer Core
Adjourn at 8pm

Meetings are held in Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE.



Read more...

Cartoon by Whitney Pratt



Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter can be found under Features 
in the first column of the front page of the Shoreline Area News



Read more...

Shoreline City Council meetings Monday

Shoreline City Council Meetings

Monday, July 11, 2016 – Special Meeting 5:45pm
- Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Director

Monday, July 11, 2016 – Regular Meeting 7:00pm

Agenda Highlights
  • Proclamation of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Month
  • Motion to Authorize the City Manager to Execute a Grant Agreement with the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office for the Twin Ponds Field Turf Replacement Project
  • Adoption of Ord. No. 747 – Amending Chapter 13.14 of the Shoreline Municipal Code for Solid Waste
  • Adoption of Ord. No. 741 – Development Code Amendments for the Light Rail Permitting Process and Applicable Regulations
  • Discussion of Ord. No. 748 – Amending the Zoning Map at 1540 NE 175th Street from Residential 12-units Per Acre (R-12) to Residential 24-units Per Acre (R-24) 
    • This Quasi-Judicial action has a closed public record and Council cannot accept public testimony on this item.
  • Discussion of Ord. No. 749 – Increase the Appropriations in the 2016 Equipment Replacement Budget
  • Discussion of Res. No. 389 – Potential Levy Lid Lift Renewal

Link to full Agenda

Comment on Agenda items


Read more...

Million Stair Challenge exceeds its goal


A celebratory potluck was held on Friday, July 1, 2016 for all participants in the Million Stair Challenge held at Richmond Beach Saltwater Park during the month of June.


Sunset on the last day of the challenge
Photo by Stephen H. Robinson


The Million Stair Challenge started in 2012 as a way to bring more attention to the health benefits of stair climbing and bring more people out to Saltwater Park in Shoreline. Since then, the stairs have become an increasingly popular place for people to gather with the common goal of staying in shape.

In the Challenge, individuals count the number of stairs they climb during the month of June. The goal was to cumulatively reach One Million Steps. The goal was 1,000,000 - the actual count was 1.848,850!

Following is a list of the individuals who participated and their number of steps. The top Stepper was Wallace Warren, with 131,016.


Grand Total                         1,848,850
2
Wallace Warren131016
3
Kinin Taylor101556
4
Rene S67626
5
Dean W63310
6
Ryan Hague58436
7
Leah W57368
8
Carla Happel56402
9
Amanda Zollner54146
10
JO53016
11
Jill S52152
12
Alicia Kuppens47564
13
Annie Carter47446
14
Betsy Plotkin41584
15
Rebecca Wagoner41318
16
Rupp2736666
17
Paul Gagliano35066
18
Scott Hayes34560
19
Matthew Rehfeld33652
20
Stair Stepper32148
21
Erik Nordstrom31962
22
Joel Beerman27448
23
Martha Hayden-Ledbetter25820
24
Sunny Gagliano25012
25
Sophia Keen24066
26
DSD23810
27
Kayla Shumate22000
28
Jody Schwab21566
29
Diana E20598
30
Eric19150
31
Samantha L17860
32
bmb17640
33
Lynn G16356
34
Ani15792
35
Beth Miller15604
36
Ken Romdall15040
37
Grace Jiang15040
38
Barbara Guthrie15040
39
Dylan14548
40
Di DeBerry14476
41
Alice Lawson14178
42
Isabel Reeb12474
43
Adair12096
44
J. Winn11280
45
Jeffrey Ledbetter11218
46
C and E11130
47
Jenny Rowe11098
48
Michele Jones10904
49
Raymond S10832
50
John Hoey10528
51
Grant R10528
52
Carrie Johnson10340
53
Cindy Bouchard10220
54
Jo Bowen10152
55
Anna C9776
56
Al Troupe9702
57
Stephanie Laviola9450
58
Doug Loeser9400
59
Nan Butler9072
60
Desi8426
61
Stacy Dalton8084
62
K Shelley8084
63
eboats7896
64
Leslie Lytle7606
65
Peter Aye7520
66
Julie Wentzel7520
67
CP Scott7332
68
Alyssa S6580
69
sheila tashiro6402
70
Amanda Forshay6392
71
Mavrick Homer6016
72
Gary Sterling5544
73
Carol Hiltner5292
74
Lisa Hirohata4710
75
Mikaela Covington 4700
76
Tammy doffner4324
77
Jeff Reed4324
78
Flapjack Daniels4212
79
Jennifer Ursich3768
80
barajas3760
81
Lacy Cheers3704
82
Kimberly Cardaropoli3572
83
Karly Schell3196
84
Liz3140
85
Lisa Witzel3140
86
Joan H3072
87
Sarah Patton3008
88
Olga Barajas2632
89
Chris2632
90
Kassy Reed2256
91
Talia Speer2068
92
Kevin O2068
93
Denver Jones 2068
94
William W2016
95
Michael W1890
96
Yunwoo Choi1880
97
Tina Bagoshvili1880
98
Taewoong Thongdee1880
99
Shea Keating1880
100
Mark Coons1880
101
Jen Kostanich1880
102
RuthAnn Newbould1448
103
Brianne Monett1316
104
Angela Cook1316
105
Susan Armstrong1128
106
DJB1128
107
Angela Birchman1128
108
Kevin Schultz1004
109
Robin O940
110
Nicole O940
111
Michelle Healy940
112
Michael Martin940
113
Linda Sovereign940
114
Jessica Savini 940
115
Jennifer coons940
116
Michael Izumi752
117
McG33752
118
Mike Lawson630
119
Page Bonifaci564
120
Federick Brooks564
121
Tamara Cullison376
122
Josh Shope376
123
Joanna McMahon376
124
Indicat Climbs376
125
Alicia Shope376
126
Lillian Balmforth188


The event was so successful that the City may well increase the goal to Two Million Steps next year.



Read more...

Home sales in Shoreline during June 2016

The following is a sampling of homes at each price point that sold in Shoreline during the month of May 2016 from data compiled for the Shoreline Area News by the Shoreline Windermere office.



Read more...

Sharks, Money, and Dog Magic at Third Place Books

Financial happiness, talking to dogs, and touring fictional Hawaii are on tap as authors visit Third Place Books to present their new works.

Katharine M. Nohr
Land Sharks: #Honolululaw, #Triathaletes and a #Tvstar
(Written Dreams Publishing)
Saturday, July 9 at 6:30pm

In Land Sharks, debut novelist Katharine Nohr takes readers on a swim through the murky waters of Honolulu law, a spin through the competitive world of triathlon, and a sprint through the set of a Hawaii TV show.

Bari Tessler
The Art of Money: A Life-Changing Guide to Financial Happiness
(Parallax Press)
Thursday, July 14 at 7pm

Tessler’s gentle techniques weave together emotional depth, big picture visioning, and refreshingly accessible, nitty gritty money practices that will help anyone transform their relationship with money and, in so doing, transform their life. As Bari writes, “When we dare to speak the truth about money, amazing healing begins.”

Sophia
The Book of Dog Magic: Spells, Charms and Tales 
(Llewellyn Publications)
Saturday, July 16 at 6:30pm

Enter the realm of dog magic, where you’ll develop incredible relationships with your canine friends that allow you to know what your dogs are thinking, see through their eyes, heal physically and emotionally through your spiritual bond with them, and more. Filled with stories, spells, charms, and exercises, The Book of Dog Magic shows you how to understand your pets on a deep, even psychic, level.

Third Place Books is located on the upper level of Lake Forest Park Town Center at the intersection of Bothell Way and Ballinger Way.



Read more...

Women's tennis team heads to Nationals




A 65+ Women’s Tennis Team from Harbor Square Tennis Center in Edmonds won the recent Sectional Championships in Beaverton, Oregon on June 29th.

They will be heading to Surprise, Arizona next May for the National Championships with hopes of bringing back a national banner.

Pictured are Sara Kuhl, Mary Fox, and Phyllis Jacobs of Shoreline, Loree Pappas, Charlotte Lohman, Liz Smalley, and JR Thompson of Edmonds, Michele Karantsavelos  of Lake Forest Park, Lynda Bailey of North Seattle and Dominique Emerson of Langley.

Team members also eligible for the national tournament include Joanne Love and Shirley Havenga of Edmonds and Michele Simmons of Shoreline.



Read more...

Shoreline Police respond to community support


From the Shoreline Police Department

Thank you to our wonderful Shoreline community for your show of support at our precinct today. We're humbled by your generosity and grateful to those that stopped by.


Read more...

Flags at half-staff

Pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation issued on July 8, 2016, Governor Inslee hereby directs that Washington State and United States flags at all state agency facilities be lowered to half-staff immediately, in honor of the victims of the attack in Dallas, Texas.

Flags should remain at half-staff until close of business or sunset on Tuesday, July 12, 2016.

Other government entities, citizens and businesses are encouraged to join this recognition.



Read more...

Arson fire destroys vacant Ridgecrest home

Flames, fire truck, and local media at Ridgecrest house fire

Photos by Melissa Banker

A Ridgecrest resident returning home from work at 2am Thursday morning was shocked to see a house on her block in flames. By the time the fire trucks arrived, the house, in the 15500 block of 9th NE, was fully engaged with what one neighbor described as "flames leaping 50 feet high into the air".

A major response from Shoreline Fire kept the fire from spreading to nearby homes.

Shoreline Fire was still on the scene in the daylight

The home had been vacant since the owner's death two years ago and was slated for demolition. Earlier in the week, Shoreline Police removed a squatter from the home and posted it as "No Trespassing."



The house is a total loss and is posted as an Arson.

No firefighters were injured.



Read more...

In The Garden Now ... Firefly Hydrangea

Mop Head Hydrangea  ‘Firefly’

Text and photo by Victoria Gilleland

Many people have memories of old fashioned mop head hydrangeas growing in their grandmother’s garden. They were often large flowering shrubs six to eight feet in diameter covered with masses of globe shaped flowers blooming their hearts out through summer. If you saw them growing in the Pacific Northwest they were probably blue due to the fact that our soil is quite acidic and promotes that color in a plant that could produce either pink or blue flowers.

‘Firefly’ Mophead Hydrangea becomes a striking four foot high shrub bearing dark reddish pink and cream colored semi-double florets that become a more intense color as they mature. The foliage also takes on a reddish cast which adds to the drama. I’m always attracted to red flowers and those on ‘Firefly’ are striking.

This hydrangea likes part sun and will bloom from late spring through autumn adding color to the garden when temperatures are pleasant and you’re most likely to be outside. Hydrangeas like plenty of water so be sure to provide for them especially while plants are becoming established. Give this beauty a try in a container or planted in the garden!

Note:  Be aware that there is another Hydrangea ‘Firefly’ (Hydrangea anomala ‘Petiolaris ‘Firefly’).   This is a climbing hydrangea growing 10 to 20 feet high with white flowers and green and yellow foliage. It’s a nice climber but looks and performs nothing like our mop head Hydrangea ‘Firefly’ (Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Firefly’). Select plants carefully to be sure you are getting the one you want. In the plant world there are often very diverse plants with the same common name.

Botanical Name:    Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Firefly’ (Horcos PPAF)


Victoria Gilleland is the owner of Cottage Garden Designs, a Garden Design company specializing in Redesign of Residential Gardens, Garden Consultation and Coaching. She has been designing gardens in the northwest for over 20 years.
         


Read more...

Shorecrest student selected for Bank of America summer internship

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Mariama Sidibe selected as
Bank of America student leader
Bank of America announced that Mariama Sidibe, from Shorecrest High School, has been selected as a Student Leader (#BofAStudentLeaders).

As part of the program, Mariama will build her workforce and leadership skills through a paid summer internship at Food Lifeline, a nonprofit food distribution center that provides nutritious food to hungry, low-income people in Greater Seattle. 
Mariama will also participate in a Student Leadership Summit in Washington D.C.

Mariama is one of 200 Student Leaders across the country who will meet in Washington D.C. July 10-15 for the Summit.

During the week-long convention, students will discuss how to build a more diverse and inclusive society, gain a better understanding of how cross-sector collaboration creates community impact, and become part of a network of community leaders that will support their citizenship and engagement. The students are joining an alumni cohort of more than 2,200 Student Leaders across the country.

Early employment opportunities are a critical stepping stone for young people entering the working world. When young people can’t access early employment opportunities that build their skills, they are at risk of being left behind and not finding a meaningful job in today’s competitive workforce. With local youth unemployment rates at 13 percent, Student Leaders connects young people to summer employment that supports their long-term financial success, and in turn helps the economic progress of Seattle.

“Early employment opportunities help teens build the skills they need to establish a career and get on a path toward financial stability,” said Anthony DiBlasi, Washington State and Seattle market president at Bank of America. “Helping youth access resources and skills that prepare them for future success is an important part of our work to address the underlying issues related to economic mobility as we work to create a thriving Seattle economy.”
The four other Student Leaders from Seattle are:                    

  • Emma Hart, a Des Moines resident, at Mount Rainier High School, is interning at Tech Access Foundation
  • Erica Kumar, an Issaquah resident, at Skyline High School, is interning at Mentoring Works Washington
  • Paul Ly, a Seattle resident, from Cleveland High School, is interning at Seattle Goodwill
  • Nicholas Goodwin, a Kirkland resident, at Juanita High School, is interning at Imagine Housing

"At Bank of America, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is critical to fulfilling our core purpose of making people’s financial lives better."



Read more...

Kruckeberg Garden Party July 21


Celebrate Art and Mareen Kruckeberg and help support their legacy! Kruckeberg's biggest party of the year, the Garden Party, will be on Thursday, July 21st from 6 - 9pm at the Edmonds Yacht Club.

Enjoy live music, have a drink on the patio overlooking the harbor, and eat a fabulous dinner from Alexa's Catering. Much of the Kruckeberg family will be there, and you'll have a chance to catch up with them and other old friends.

Cap off the evening with a live auction and raise the paddle supporting Art and Mareen's fantastic gift - the Kruckeberg Botanic Garden.

Tickets are on sale now: $90/person or $750 for a table of 10.




Read more...

Lake Forest Park Cable Injection project to start in August


Seattle City Light will be upgrading the aging electrical cable in parts of Lake Forest Park to help improve the electrical reliability in the area. City Light's contractor, Novinium, will test and where possible, inject underground cables with silicone to fill cracks in the cable insulation to prevent outages. If cables are not suited for injection, they will be replaced at a later time.

Benefits of the project
  • As underground cables age, the protective insulation deteriorates. The silicone cable injection will help avoid unplanned power outages where injection is successful.
  • City Light has successfully used this lower-impact, cost effective method of cable rejuvenation on 50 different neighborhoods.
  • This work will extend the life of the cable for an additional 25 years and improve electrical reliability.
Project impacts
  • The contractor, Novinium will be working for a total of 13 days in the month of August.
  • One maintenance outage is anticipated for this work. All affected customers will be notified the Thursday before the following week’s outage. The outage date and time will be specified on the notification.
  • Traffic and parking impacts are expected in the immediate area during work hours. Flaggers will be used where needed on residential streets.
  • Crews will be careful to try and maintain access to driveways.
Schedule
Construction will start early August 2016 and take one month.

Work will be done on weekdays from 8:30am to 4:30pm.




Read more...

Help restore the Calvin Presbyterian Community Garden

The Calvin Community Garden in 2011

Diggin’ Shoreline seeks volunteers to help at Calvin Presbyterian Community Garden

Join Diggin’ Shoreline on Saturday, July 16 between 8am and 11am to help restore the Calvin Presbyterian Community Garden!

This wonderful garden is located on a flat, sunny site with plenty of parking available, and is currently fallow. Diggin’ Shoreline is leading the effort to help Calvin Presbyterian restore it as a place where community can gather to help grow food for their families, for the food bank, and free community meals.

Diggin’s goal is to get this garden up and running as soon as possible. With a big volunteer turnout on July 16th, several plots should be ready to go. Our priority will be to prepare beds for planting fall food bank crops.

Plots may also be rented. If you are seeking a garden plot,  application forms and more info will be available that day. The garden is located on the corner of Richmond Beach Road (NE 185th) and 3rd Ave NW. The site is completely ADA accessible, and both the Metro 330 and 331 bus lines stop in front of the garden.

Dress for the weather, and bring sunscreen, digging forks, shovels, and wheelbarrows. The morning’s work will include pulling weeds, laying burlap and covering with chips and digging in compost. School-age children are welcome with parental supervision. This is a great community service opportunity for high school students, too.



Read more...

Help wanted at the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center



The Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center depends on community members for many of its functions. Right now there is a need for people to deliver the activity guides and people to teach classes.

Deliver Activity Guides

Members of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Senior Center receive an Activities Guide in their mailbox every quarter and are the first ones to receive each new issue. The Center has extras printed to have on hand for those who are new or inquiring about the senior center.

As well, there are extras printed to be distributed in certain locations throughout our community. The individuals who have been making the deliveries can no longer help with that. So, one or two people are needed who can.

There is a list of the places where the delivery of the guides needs to go; two people could easily split the list to make delivery time shorter. This would be a huge help and would help spread the word about the senior center.

One participant noted that the Activities Guide is “like reading the New York Times, there’s so much information in it.” The Guide is one of the ways made available to members and the community to learn about classes, events, support services, lunch menus and so much more.

If this sounds like a service you’d like to help with, contact either Judy Parsons on Mondays and Tuesdays, or Jon Ann Cruver, Wednesday through Fridays via email or call 206-365-1536.

Looking for New Class Instructors!

Program Coordinator Jon Ann Cruver is always on the look-out for new and interesting classes to be presented at the senior center. The classes may be taught on an independent contractor (paid) basis or as a Volunteer Facilitator.

  • The center offers games that are very popular, however, we are looking to expand the types of games that may include cribbage, gin rummy, chess, board games; and we are open to other ideas. Currently offered: pinochle, scrabble, bridge and Mah Jongg (offered at Third Place Commons).
  • The instructor for cell phone/tablet classes has had to move on; seniors are always asking for some help with those electronic devices. The class didn’t tend to be huge but served more as a “coaching” class. Anyone up for that?
  • We would like to offer more languages that may include: beginning/advanced beginner Spanish; a Chinese dialect, one of the Scandinavian languages or?? We are open to suggestions …. and need instructors. Any of the language classes could be a volunteer or paid position.

The October, November, December issue will need to go to the press in early September, with items due August 17. If you feel like you could be the one to bring another class to the center, please contact Jon Ann before the August 17th date so details can be worked out. Email Jon Ann Cruver, Wednesday through Fridays at  or call 206-365-1536.



Read more...

Home sales in Lake Forest Park during June 2016

The following is a sampling of homes at each price point that sold in Lake Forest Park during the month of May 2016 from data compiled for the Shoreline Area News by the Shoreline Windermere office.



Read more...

Shorecrest grad named to President’s List at SU and Dean’s List at Seattle University College of Nursing

Brianna Joy Kaufhold, the daughter of Jeff and Toni Kaufhold of Shoreline, has been named to the President’s List at Seattle University for academic excellence for spring quarter 2016. To qualify for the President’s List, SU students must complete a minimum of 12 graded credits and earn at least a 3.9 GPA for the term.

Brianna was also named to the Dean’s List at Seattle University College of Nursing for academic achievement for spring quarter 2016. To qualify for the Dean’s List, SU students must complete a minimum of 12 graded credits and earn at least a 3.5 GPA for the term.

A graduate of Shorecrest High School, Brianna graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Seattle University in June 2016.  Honors of Summa Cum Laude at graduation are awarded with a minimum of 90 Seattle University graded credits and a cumulative GPA of 3.9-4.0. Brianna will take her state board of nursing exam this upcoming fall.



Read more...

Candidates in 32nd District at Tuesday forum in Richmond Beach

By Evan Smith

Candidates for the two state representative positions in the 32nd Legislative District will appear at a forum Tuesday at the Richmond Beach Congregational Church.

Incumbent Democrat Cindy Ryu will meet Republican challenger Alvin Rutledge and independent candidate Keith Smith. The district’s other incumbent Democratic state representative, Ruth Kagi, will speak along with Democratic challenger Wes Irwin and Libertarian candidate Alex Hart; the fourth candidate, Republican David Schirle, has been invited to send a representative with a statement.

The forum is scheduled for 7pm. Tuesday, July 12 at Richmond Beach Congregational at the corner of Northwest Richmond Beach Road and 15th Avenue Northwest (1512 NW 195th St.). The event is scheduled for 7 to 8:30pm in Pilgrim Hall on the lower level of the building, just off the church’s back parking lot.

The 32nd District includes the city of Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle, Woodway, south Edmonds and nearby unincorporated areas of Snohomish County, the city of Lynnwood and part of Mountlake Terrace.

The candidates will run on the August 2 primary ballot, with the two leaders for each position advancing to the November general-election ballot, regardless of party.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.



Read more...

Photo: Cirrus clouds

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

Cirrus clouds with exceptionally long tails at sunset Wednesday evening may signify a change in the weather. This cloud formation was captured in Shoreline by resident Lee Lageschulte.



Read more...

Accident Wednesday morning causes power outage in Lake Forest Park

A collision early Wednesday morning on NE 40th Pl at NE 186th in Lake Forest Park caused damage to the power lines in that area.

There were some power outages in the area as the lines were repaired.




Read more...

City Light: Soft market for surplus energy sales triggers electricity surcharge

Typical residential bill would increase by $1 per month, starting in August

Low revenue from the surplus energy Seattle City Light sells to other utilities has triggered a 1.5 percent surcharge on electricity rates, starting in August.

City Light generates power at its hydroelectric projects. When the utility has more electricity than its customers need, it sells that power to other utilities and uses the money to keep prices low for its retail customers.

For 2016, City Light anticipated $60 million in revenue from such wholesale energy sales, but the utility is on track to earn only about $43.5 million as a result of warm spring weather at a time of low prices on the wholesale energy market.

The warm weather melted mountain snow earlier than is typical, which meant City Light’s hydroelectric projects were producing surplus energy at a time of lower demand and lower prices than the utility might have seen in June or July.

To make up the difference between what was expected in the budget and actual revenue, City Light draws from a rate stabilization account created in 2010 to offset the volatility that comes with generating and selling hydropower. If the amount in the account dips to $90 million or below, a 1.5 percent surcharge is automatically applied to every customer’s bill until the account is refilled to $100 million.

The rate stabilization account had $89.1 million in it June 30, which triggers a surcharge that will be applied to customer bills, starting in August. The surcharge will add $1 to the typical residential customer bill every month. This is the first time an automatic surcharge has been triggered since the rate stabilization account was created.

Based on current financial forecasts, City Light projects that the surcharge could stay in place into 2019. Should the rate stabilization account’s balance fall to $80 million or below, the surcharge would automatically increase to 3 percent.

Once the account balance is refilled to $100 million, the surcharge is automatically removed. If strong surplus energy sales ever push the rate stabilization account’s balance to more than $125 million, the City Council can choose to reduce rates, have City Light pay down existing debt or direct the utility to pay for capital expenses with cash instead of borrowing money.



Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP