Scene on the Sound: Icebreaker on the Shoreline Sea

Saturday, July 7, 2018

USCG Healy
Photo by Jan Hansen

Semper Paratus. Here is the icebreaker U S Coast Guard Healy sailing through the Shoreline Sea.

This is our Northwest; icebreakers, commercial traffic and hopeful recreational fisherman all enjoying a beautiful sunny morning.

--Jan Hansen



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Alzheimer's Association offers caregiver support groups in Edmonds

Caring for someone with memory loss? Do you need information and support?

Alzheimer’s Association family caregiver support groups provide a consistent and caring place for people to learn, share and gain emotional support from others who are also on a unique journey of providing care to a person with memory loss.

Two groups are available in Edmonds:
  • Daytime meetings are held the 3rd Tuesday of the month, from 1:00 to 2:30pm at Edmonds United Methodist Church, 828 Caspers St., Room 302, in Edmonds 98020.
  • Evening meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Maplewood Presbyterian Church, 19523 84th Ave W, Edmonds 98026. For information call Barbara Bridges at (425) 335-3414 or our 24/7 Helpline at 1.800.272.3900

The Alzheimer's Association is the world’s leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research; to provide and enhance care and support for all affected; and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s.



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Crime in Shoreline week ending June 18

Selected items from the Shoreline Police blotter, week ending June 18, 2018

Trending
-- rocks through windows: at Center for Human Services, residence at 177xx 15th NW, Sound Vet Rehab 14820 15th NE, Ballinger Commons office window,
-- shots fired: at chimney of house, at windshield of vehicle, at a male who died, at Boeing Creek Park

06-05 Burglary, 170xx 8th NE
06-08 Car stolen at Safeway gas pumps.
06-09 Tools stolen from work vehicle 203xx 19th NE.
06-11 Report of shots fired at Boeing Creek Park; witness saw male run from park.
06-11 Broken window at Center for Human Services was probably shattered by a rock.
06-11 Drunken male at 175th and Midvale taken to detox.
06-11 Commercial burglary at AMC Properties 17505 Aurora.
06-12 Mail stolen 7xx N 188th dropped in neighbor's yard unopened.
06-12 Male given a warning for urinating in public 194xx Aurora.
06-12 Hit and run driver charged with DUI.
06-12 Drive by shooting NE 158th - shot at chimney of house.
06-13 Resident scammed by people who pointed out damage to his car and offered to fix it, then took the money and disappeared.
06-13 Burglary 195xx 5th NE. Broke window with rock then opened window from inside to gain access.
06-15 Burglars broke open the walls of storage lockers at 14900 Aurora to steal contents.
06-15 Unknown suspect fired a handgun in the parking lot of the North City Safeway.
06-16 Neighbor dispute. A year ago his children accidentally hit a volleyball over the neighbor's fence. He just saw the volleyball in the neighbor's yard and it had been cut open.
06-16 Woman sitting at a red light looked over at the car next to her to see the male driver strangling his female passenger. Police were able to follow up.
06-16 Employees at Central Market found a purse belonging to a known shoplifter. They were able to recover the stolen items and did not press charges.
06-16 Burglar pried open multiple storage units at 20065 15th Ave NE.
06-16 Shots fired - deceased male in driver seat of vehicle. (See article)
06-17 Shots fired through windshield of vehicle at 202xx 24th NW. No injuries.
06-18 Suspect booked on suspicious of burglary.


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Another Little Free Library

Little Free Library
Photo by Seattle Poppy
Seattle Poppy found another Little Free Library on 12th Place NE.

I honestly thought these were a fad that would die out, but instead they seem to be increasing in numbers.

I don't publish the exact address, because they are really intended for the immediate neighborhood.

I'm also a little paranoid because there was a woman last year who was making the rounds of the LFLs and taking all of the books.

When she was challenged, she said - It says they're free!

Neighbors speculated she was taking them to sell them - but anyone who has ever worked a book sale or sold personal books knows that you won't get rich that way.

In the meantime we have all these charming, small book sharing spots.
DKH



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CORRECTED: Clouds

Cloud patterns
Photo by Carl Dinse

I published Jan Hansen's photo of clouds in yesterday's edition - and practically everything in the article was wrong. Not my finest hour.

So, setting the record straight: Carl Dinse, our WeatherWatcher, says that this is an altostratus cloud and says these are fairly normal when a front approaches.

"Sometimes they just produce these interesting patterns from waves in the atmosphere induced by the wind directions over the local terrain."

Carl's photo is from Richmond Beach Saltwater Park shortly before sunset on July 4th.

Cloudburst
Photo by Jan Hansen

Jan's photo looks like it was taken about the same time, from just a few blocks south in Innis Arden.

And the weather sites I mentioned? Skunk Bay Weather really is quite a wonderful site. It's run by Greg Johnson, who lives in Hansville on the very northern tip of the Kitsap Peninsula. He sets up his cameras to run all night, then publishes the images in a time lapse video.

He is reported to very good friends with Cliff Mass, who publishes a weather and climate blog. Cliff is, according to Wikipedia:

"...a professor of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. His research focuses on numerical weather modeling and prediction, the role of topography in the evolution of weather systems, and on the weather of the Pacific Northwest. He is a fellow of the American Meteorological Society and the President of the Puget Sound chapter.

"His book The Weather of the Pacific Northwest is one of the best-selling titles from the University of Washington Press.[1] He maintains a popular weather blog, hosts a weekly public radio show, and gives frequent public lectures on topics ranging from Washington State weather history to the impact of climate change on global and regional weather patterns."


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State Attorney General filed multistate lawsuit challenging government policy of forced family separations at border

Federal detention center at SeaTac
Photo by Martha Taylor
Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed his multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump Administration’s policy of forced family separation on the U.S. southern border on June 26, 2018.

A total of 16 states and the District of Columbia joined Ferguson’s suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.

The states joining Ferguson’s lawsuit include: Massachusetts, California, Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

“This case, like all our cases against this Administration, says something important about who we are as a people,” Ferguson said. “We will stand up for the Constitution, basic decency and fundamental American values. My office has not yet lost a lawsuit to the Trump Administration, and we do not intend to lose this one.”

Ferguson and Governor Jay Inslee announced the lawsuit at a press conference last week, outside the federal prison in SeaTac, Washington where the federal government was detaining dozens of women after forcibly separating their children from them.

Among other claims, the states’ lawsuit alleges the Administration violated the constitutional due process rights of the parents and children by separating without any finding that the parents pose a threat to the children. The states also argue that the Administration has been violating federal asylum laws by turning away families that show up at ports of entry seeking asylum.

On June 20, President Trump issued an order purporting to end his family separation policy. Following a close review of the order, the Attorney General’s Office found two significant problems. First, the order does nothing to reunify families already torn apart by the Trump Administration’s policy. Second, the order is riddled with so many caveats as to be meaningless.

For example, the order requires appropriations, although the total amount is unknown, as is the timeline for when or if such an appropriation would happen. It also relies on a federal judge approving a plan to indefinitely detain children, a scenario Ferguson described at the press conference as unlikely.

Ferguson has now filed 27 lawsuits against the Trump Administration. Ferguson has nine legal victories thus far and has not lost a case against the Administration.



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Brush fire in Richmond Beach

Brush fire on Richmond Beach Road
Photo by Lien Titus

Just before 9pm on Friday, July 6, 2018, Shoreline Fire responded to a brush fire at 190th and Richmond Beach Road.

It was contained to a patch of vegetation approximately 20 x 20 feet.

Cause was undetermined.



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Gallery at Town Center exhibiting Jerry Steffen Jr and Sue Robertson


The Gallery at Town Center Presents: 

Jerry Steffen Jr. and Sue Robertson

June 26 - August 11, 2018


The Gallery at Town Center is exhibiting a selection of works by 3-D Collage Artist Jerry Steffen Jr. and Mixed Media Artist Sue Robertson. See these works and the creations of over 90 other local artists during gallery hours: Tuesday – Saturday, Noon to 5pm.

Jerry Steffen Jr.

Steffen Jr. was born deaf (he reads lips) and is blind in his right eye. From 2000 – 2012 he worked as a vendor and sold his watercolor paintings to tourists at the Pike Place Market.

For over 40 years he spent a lot of time creating realistic paintings but then he had to stop because of surgery he had for a neck injury. He is still sad about needing to give up painting watercolors but later found a way to keep creating by making 3-dimensional paintings and masks.

He wanders around town and collects scrap boards and toilet seat paper covers to use for papier-mache’ in his artwork. He has created many scenes using this method. Almost every day he goes to local cafes and does his paper cutting which he turns into small artworks and posters and greeting cards.

“I need to create art as self-therapy. It helps me to stay calm and peaceful. I enjoy staying busy otherwise I would go crazy.”

Sue Robertson

Sue creates acrylic mixed media figurative, abstract and still life paintings in a loose, colorful style, frequently using various textures, ink, graphite, paper and found objects. She calls her work Joyful Art.

“Painting is an adventure for me, and I do it to see what happens. It is the process of painting that brings me joy. I do not work from preliminary drawings or truly have a concept of what I am going to paint. Rather it is always a process of building until I find my way.

"There is nothing better than moving paint across a surface, dragging colors into puddles, painting over previous work with all its textures, leaving bits of the previous work showing through, utilizing various instruments to bring texture and interest to the work, scraping the paint, letting the paint drip and puddle, and seeing where each new painting will take me.

"The paintings I create are interpreted in different ways by those who view them. I am always interested to hear their interpretation and often come to see possibilities that I had not seen before.”

The Gallery at Town Center is a program of the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Arts Council and is located inside the Lake Forest Park Town Center on the lower level. 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park, WA 98155.

The Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to cultivate creativity and inspire our community through the arts.





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Marc Weinberg: Thoughts on looking for subjects to photograph

Hummer of a Dog

By Marc Weinberg


When I'm asked "what's the best camera or what is a good camera"? My reply is always the same...."The one you have with you!"

That's why I couldn't resist this shot. Like many others of mine it's reason to have a camera with me 'even if it's my phone'. Most newer phones take great picture these days.

When I see something that catches my eye, my mind races to select a caption which confirms what piqued my interest.

My thought process from there is to follow my inspiration..... and ask, "where's the light and where's the action? I then move to position myself in the most favorable position.

This is followed by checking the background for unwanted objects and figuring out how to eliminate them if they distract one's eye from the subject. If the background supports the image, great.

For sure then I don't want to shoot too tight and crop then out. This isn't always possible, but 'background always matters' is a phrase I remind myself all the time.

Getting the shot no matter what is most important, because if I wait, the moment will be gone. If the scene is changing, like the dog moving it's head, I take several shots and select what I like best later. That's the advantage of digital.


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Lake Forest Park City Council meetings cancelled for July 12

Lake Forest Park City Hall
Photo by Steven H. Robinson
City Council Special Committee of the Whole will hold a Joint Meeting with the Planning Commission on Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at 7pm at City Hall Council Chambers, 17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park.

They will discuss implementation of Town Center Vision
  1. Introductions
  2. Proposed Process Ahead for the Town Center
  3. Update on Sound Transit BRT Project and Process
  4. Update on Merlone Geier’s Consideration of Potential Redevelopment Opportunities
  5. Planning Commission Responsibilities
  6. Planning Commission Work Plan/Schedule
  7. City Council Role
  8. City Council Timeline
  9. Next Steps (Reminder of July 24 Planning Commission meeting)
The City Council Work Session and Regular Meetings scheduled for Thursday, July 12, 2018 have been cancelled.



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Opioid prevention campaign kicks off in Washington

Friday, July 6, 2018

The Washington State Department of Health will launch a statewide campaign this summer to warn about the dangers of opioid prescriptions.

Since 2000, over 10,000 people in Washington have died from an opioid overdose and there have been more than 17,697 opioid overdose hospitalizations.

“This crisis is tragically affecting our family members, friends and communities. We need to do everything we can to make sure people understand that prescription opioids can quickly lead to dependence, addiction, and deadly overdose,” says Dr. Kathy Lofy, state health officer.

Through compelling personal accounts, the campaign helps make everyone aware of the risks and dangers of prescription opioids and delivers a thought-provoking message: “It only takes a little to lose a lot.”

With funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the campaign will focus on the hardest hit and most rural counties. 

Find more information on Washington’s Opioid Response Plan, overdose prevention, or treatment resources or the upcoming campaign.

The DOH website is your source for a healthy dose of information. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter using #WAOpioidPrevention. Sign up for the DOH blog, Public Health Connection. After hours and on weekends, call 360-236-4440.


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Weekend farmers markets - Saturday in Shoreline, Sunday in Lake Forest Park

Meet your chef at the
Shoreline Farmers Market
Shoreline Farmers Market will be at Shoreline Place, 155th and Westminster Way, upper level, every Saturday from 10am-3pm, through October 6th. 

Can't get enough Food Truck love? This week we will be welcoming El Cabrito to the market with their delicious southern Mexican dishes. Curbside will be back again serving up your favorite bahn mi.

Hungry? Want to know about new recipes using farmers market products? Stop by the Chef Tent to sample dishes created by Chef Naomi. You can find her recipes here.

Arts Council table at LFP Farmers Market Sunday
This Sunday (10am - 3pm) at the LFP Farmers Market, Town Center (intersection Bothell and Ballinger Way), lower level, we're delighted to welcome our fun friends and partners from the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council as Day Sponsors.

You know the folks at the Arts Council always have something fun going on (they have that in common with us!😉), so be sure to stop by their table to find out about all the good stuff coming up.



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Project to Return Kokanee to Our Streams

Lyon Creek at LFP Town Center
By Jim Halliday Co-Chair Streamkeepers

At the June 24th appreciation / celebration of the Lake Forest Park (LFP) StreamKeepers’ Town Center Rain Garden, the public got the first word about the LFP Stewardship Foundation’s “Return Kokanee to Our Streams” project. 

Again, with funding help from King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski and the director of King County’s Waterworks Grant Program Elizabeth Louden; the City of Lake Forest Park, the LFP Stewardship Foundation, LFP StreamKeepers, the University of Washington Bothell, and other environmental groups at the north end of Lake Washington, such as Trout Unlimited and People for an Environmentally Responsible Kenmore (PERK), are working together to improve the quality of the water in all our communities’ streams.

Our shared goal is making them safe for salmon, such as the landlocked Kokanee salmon, which once was the pre-dominant native species in our creeks and this watershed.

The LFP Stewardship Foundation is partnering with two UW Bothell professors, Dr. Jeff Jensen and Dr. Rob Turner, both of whom also attended the Rain Garden event. Dr. Jeff Jensen conceived the idea of returning Kokanee to these waters. Under his supervision his students are designing Kokanee egg incubators that will be installed along Lyon Creek.

Dr. Rob Turner has undertaken the scientific testing of catch basin filters to find out if they are effective in removing pollutants (heavy metals and polycarbons) in stormwater runoff from our roads.

At the Town Center Rain Garden celebration (see previous article), Dr. Turner introduced one of the graduate students he is mentoring, Justin Felder, who is taking the samples, getting valuable data, as well as gaining academic credit. Justin has completed the second scientific report that is a result of this ongoing partnership. The local/ global firm IEH Laboratories is supporting this project by providing testing services pro bono.

This “Return Kokanee Salmon to Our Steams” project is a multifaceted effort you’ll be hearing more about in the future.

If you are interested in the “Return Kokanee to Our Streams” project and/or are a Lyon Creek homeowner, contact the LFP Stewardship Foundation.



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Celebration of Life for Rep. Nancy Rust to be held Aug 12

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Rep. Nancy Rust
Photo courtesy Access WA
Nancy Shuttleworth Rust 1928-2018

A celebration of life for former Shoreline resident and long-time state representative Nancy Rust will be held on August 12 from 3:00-5:00pm at Horizon House at 900 University St. in Seattle (off-street parking available at the corner of University St and 9th Avenue).

Nancy was 89 and died at Horizon House retirement community after a brief illness.

"Nancy served as a member of Washington State's House of Representatives from 1981-1996, having begun a life of political activism by joining the League of Women Voters in the mid-1950s. As a member of the League, Nancy worked on voter registration campaigns, numerous ballot initiatives, tax reform, and the Equal Rights Amendment.

"From her sixty-some years of community service, she will be most remembered for her work on environmental issues. She chaired the House Environmental Affairs Committee from 1983-1994, during which time she oversaw legislation regarding hazardous waste management, shorelines management, growth management, and legislation to prevent oil spills on Puget Sound."

A hiker and outdoorsperson, she was a skier, biker -- and an avid knitter, creating clothing items for Afghans for Afghans.

Mother of six children, (see previous article about two of them) Nancy and her husband Dr. Richard Rust had celebrated their 69th anniversary on June 11.

Full obituary from The Seattle Times


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Early demolition work starting soon on Sound Transit houses

All the houses on 7th and half on 8th north of 185th
will be demolished, as well as others near 145th
Google satellite photo
Early demolition work for the Lynnwood Link Extension is scheduled to begin in late July in Lynnwood on Sound Transit owned properties adjacent to the transit center. 

Structures to be removed will be the former Black Angus and McDonald's Fine Furniture buildings on 46th Avenue West. This demolition will begin in late July and last approximately two months. This will be the site of the Lynnwood transit station. 

A total of five sites in Lynnwood, Shoreline and Seattle are scheduled for early demolition over the next six months starting from north to south.

Demolition work will take place during normal daytime work hours and the crews will make every effort to minimize noise, dust and debris to the extent possible. Street and local access will be maintained during this time.

As part of Sound Transit's commitment to sustainability, authorized salvage companies have removed materials prior to demolition. A small neighborhood plant salvage event took place in April and clean wood, metal, concrete or other usable demolition debris will be recycled by the contractor.

This early demolition work is an important step in the Lynnwood Link Extension. It will help clear the path for construction activities slated to begin in mid-2019 and minimize any potential unauthorized activity at these sites.

Sound Transit's Community Outreach team is reaching out to notify nearby property owners in advance of work where necessary.

If you have questions, call or send an email (contact information included below).

For more information


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32nd LD Democrats annual picnic July 15

2017 picnic

32nd LD Democrats Summer Picnic and Meeting Sunday, July 15, 2018, 11:30am to 2:00pm

Come hungry for classic barbecue and culinary delicacies, as we consider endorsements for candidates. Please bring a dessert, salad, or something to share. This is the perfect time to bring your friends.

A $10 per-person donation is requested to support the cause, though everyone is welcome.

If you can you help at this event please volunteer for setup at 10:00am or cleanup afterward at 2:00pm.

Lynndale Park 18927 72nd Ave W, Lynnwood 98026



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Scene on the Sound: Military tug

Military tug
Photo by Jan Hansen

Navy tugs are designed to provide ship assist, barge and general towing, and escort services.



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Monday July 9 is the deadline to register or update your voter registration for primary

Voter registration deadline July 9 for Primary Elections

Citizens who want to vote in the August 7 primary election have until Monday, July 9 to register to vote or update voter registration information online or by mail.

King County Elections will mail primary election ballots to registered voters on July 18, so it’s important that citizens register to vote and keep their address and other information, including their signature, updated.

Voters can check to make sure their registration information is current by:
How to register to vote
Voters who miss the July 9 deadline to update their registration should still contact the Elections office to update their information for future elections. King County residents not currently registered in Washington can register in person at the Elections office through July 30. 

Who can register? 

To be eligible to register to vote, you must be:
  • A citizen of the United States
  • A legal resident of Washington state
  • At least 18 years old by election day 
  • Not under the authority of the Department of Corrections
  • Not disqualified from voting due to a court order
Voters can visit the Elections website or contact the Elections office for assistance and information.


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Photo: Ironic sign, with dog

Gabriel behind the sign
Photo by GM Wiegnad

Hey scientists! Was there something about the air Wednesday night that carried sound particularly well? I think that I was hearing professional shows because they had so many explosions, went on for so long (hour and a half) and stopped so abruptly at 11:30pm.

Pretty sure I was hearing both Kenmore and Edmonds, plus a lot of unauthorized intermittent explosions.

No - I did not enjoy the 4th of July, thank you very much. It took only an hour and a half to turn me into a curmudgeonly old lady, ready to yell at the neighbor kids to get off my lawn.

I'm ready to carry petitions to ban all fireworks.

Kingston fireworks from Innis Arden
Photo by Jan Hansen

Here's a shot of the Kingston fireworks from Jan Hansen. She was still cheerful after the shows, but she's a much nicer person than I am.

Grrrr



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Shoreline Veterinary Hospital will host its grand opening Saturday

Dr. Sharon Peery and Dr. Lacey Wilson are opening
the Shoreline Veterinary Hospital in Ballinger Terrace

The public is invited to celebrate the grand opening of Shoreline Veterinary Hospital on Saturday, July 7 at 10:00am.

Co-owners and veterinarians Dr. Lacey Wilson and Dr. Sharon Peery have found the new full-service hospital its home in Ballinger Village, located at 20222 Ballinger Way NE in Shoreline, next door to Seattle Sun Tan and HairMasters.

The grand opening event will take place between 10:00am and 2:00pm and will feature raffles and refreshments, as well as a chance to meet Dr. Wilson and Dr. Peery themselves!

Shoreline Veterinary Hospital is open Monday through Friday 9:00am-6:00pm, and Saturday 9:00am-12:00pm. For more information on the hospital or the grand opening event, call 206-829-9772 or email shorelinevethospital@gmail.com.

Shoreline Veterinary Hospital is a full-service practice offering high-quality, customized veterinary care for dogs and cats of all ages, with a menu of services including allergy testing, nutritional counseling, and soft-tissue surgery.



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LFP Police Captain checks out Special Olympics golf event

Left, Capt. Paul Armbrust of LFP Police with
Level 5 gold medalist golfer Scott Rohrer
Capt. Paul Armbrust of Lake Forest Park Police spent Wednesday morning in Redmond with the Special Olympics Golfers.

He walked the final round with the father of Scott Rohrer from South Carolina, the Level 5 gold medalist.

"After they finished I met Scott and presented him with one of our departments challenge coins. 

"These guys played from the professional tees, blue for you golfers, and par was set at 71."

Washington's Peter Condon from Spokane tied for second.


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Find Waldo in Lake Forest Park

For the seventh consecutive summer, children’s book character Waldo, in his signature red-and-white-striped shirt and black glasses, will be visiting main streets across the country as part of an annual Find Waldo Local campaign.

Third Place Books Lake Forest Park (intersection Bothell and Ballinger Way) will again be joining together with other merchants at Lake Forest Park Town Center and independent bookstores nationwide in hosting scavenger hunts while spreading the “shop local” message in their cities and towns.

Here's what you do:
  • Pick up a Find Waldo Local Passport at Third Place Books in LFP Town Center
  • Following the rules on the Passport, visit local merchants — including Third Place Books! — to find Waldo and his Lost Items
  • Each time you find him, brag about your victory on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, with the hashtags #FindWaldoLocal and #WheresWaldo (don't give away his secret location!)

Waldo spotters young and old are eligible for prizes throughout the month of July.

The hunt culminates with a victory party and prize ceremony held at Third Place Books on Sunday, July 29, 2018 at 6pm.



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Lake Forest Park celebrates demo rain garden installation

From left Jim Halliday Co-Chair StreamKeepers, Elizabeth Louden King County Grants Administrator, LFP Mayor Jeff Johnson, King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski, Mark Phillips, Co-Chair StreamKeepers and LFP City Councilmember.
Back row, Phillip Hill LFP City Administrator. Photo by Gary Hawkey



By Donna Hawkey

On Sunday, June 24, 2018, The Lake Forest Park (LFP) StreamKeepers held an event to celebrate the installation of a rain garden at Town Center.

County Councilmember Rod Dembowski
Photo by Mark Phillips

Citizens learned how the rain garden works, and how it became a reality with the help of King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski. Councilmember Dembowski said he was concerned about the streams in the North King county.

He arranged for a small Waterworks grant through the County’s Wastewater Treatment Division with no specified purpose except “to do something good for the streams.” He then called the LFP Streamkeepers to see if they had any ideas. 

After about a year of research and discussion, the LFP StreamKeepers were clear that they wanted to address the worsening problem of stormwater runoff, and decided a rain garden installation would be the best use of the grant. Waterworks grant funding comes from small charges on residents’ sewer bills and is an example of how taxpayer money gets returned to the community.

Lake Forest Park rain garden captures run off from Town Center
Photo by Gary Hawkey

A rain garden offers four distinct benefits:
  1. Pollution reduction 
  2. Flood protection 
  3. Habitat for hummingbirds and butterflies and other insects 
  4. Water Conservation
The more rain garden installations, the less stormwater runoff a municipality has to process. Treating stormwater runoff is a costly one for taxpayers, stated Councilmember Dembowski. LFP StreamKeepers hopes that housing a real-life functioning rain garden in a public place will raise awareness among citizens and lead to additional installations.

This particular rain garden is capturing stormwater runoff in the parking lot that would otherwise flow directly into Lyon Creek. According to King County, after one inch of rain, 27,000 gallons of stormwater runoff takes place in a one-acre parking lot; 675,000 gallons of treated wastewater is discharged into Puget Sound each day.
The rain garden is 15x18 feet and captures an estimated 15 cubic yards of water. It drains about .6 acre of the City Hall parking lot.

“It’s not as large an installation as we would have liked, due to cost considerations, but it is state of the art,” said StreamKeepers Co-Chair Jim Halliday.

It was installed by the Snohomish Conservation District, under the supervision of Derek Hann, who has worked closely with Washington State University’s (WSU) Stormwater Center in Puyallup. See previous article "Rain on the Rain Garden"

Merlone Geier Partners, owners of the rain garden site in the Town Center, provided support and even helped with expert landscaping advice, said LFP StreamKeepers Co-Chair and LFP Councilmember Mark Phillips.

The garden is sited next to Bank of America
Photo by Gary Hawkey
Also assisting with the installation were members of the Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC) and LFP StreamKeeper volunteers. The neighboring branch of Bank of America also helped by closing one of its drive-through lanes during construction and allowing the use of their power and water.

LFP StreamKeepers Co-Chair Halliday told the residents that “if we want to preserve salmon for our children and our grandchildren, we can’t continue like this. It’s very simple. It first begins in our hearts and our backyards.”

Stormwater runoff is a serious issue in King County. Salmon spawning streams have become increasingly polluted. During the last several decades of development on the North end, and particularly in Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, and Lake Forest Park, impervious surfaces have increased, along with the chemical contaminates that adversely affects the water quality of LFP streams.

The sign explains how the rain garden
filters the water
Photo by Mark Phillips
Contaminants also come from residents’ backyards from the use of fertilizers and pesticides.

Other stormwater pollution is caused by bacteria from pet wastes and failing septic systems, oil, grease, coolants and metals from vehicles, soil from construction sites, soaps from car or equipment washing, and really anything else that ends up on the ground, according to King County.

The rain mixes in with all these contaminates and then flows into the nearby lakes, streams and eventually Puget Sound.

“These larger volumes of runoff impact stream structures, undercut banks and wash away gravel beds,” said StreamKeepers Co-Chair Mark Phillips.

Stewardship Partners served as fiscal agent for the rain garden project and provided signage. Rain garden information and funding for projects can be found through their 12,000 Rain Garden program.

More information about the Lake Forest Park StreamKeepers

Donna Hawkey can be reached at dhawkey@comcast.net



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Get Goodies with your blood donation Saturday in Richmond Beach

Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Goodies for blood donors Saturday
By Tom Petersen

Being a regular blood donor is one of those great habits, beneficial to the donor and to the community.

The Richmond Beach neighborhood is celebrating its tenth year of hosting a mobile blood drive by giving away some goodies to those who leave a pint of the ol' crimson.

The mobile unit will be in front of the Shoreline Fire Safety Center, at the corner of Richmond Beach Road and 20th Ave NW, from 10am to 4pm Saturday, July 7.

People who donate can choose a special, limited-edition RB commemorative magnet or window sticker as a little token of appreciation, and to show what a great, generous contribution the neighborhood has made for a solid decade.

Appointments can be made online. Walk-ups are encouraged! Please bring photo ID.

General information here.


  

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Scene on the Sound: You know you're from the Northwest when...



You know you're from the Northwest when "factory trawler" is part of your vocabulary.

This one is the Northern Eagle on her way to Vancouver, Canada.

What a beautiful day to sail through Shoreline.

--Jan Hansen



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Under the Sea Pet Parade July 14 in Lake Forest Park



Pet Parade – Under the Sea!
July 14, 2018 – 10:00am to 1:00pm

The theme of this year's Pet Parade is Under the Sea! The parade will start at LFP City Hall 17425 Ballinger Way NE and end at Pfingst Animal Acres Park, where there will be a community celebration with prizes for the best costumes, giveaways galore, music, and booths for you and your pet to enjoy!

The event is hosted by the City of Lake Forest Park and is free.

Some of the 2017 participants
Photo by John Wright
Super Pets and Heroes Costume
Contest Categories:
  • Big Dog
  • Small Dog
  • Parade Float
  • Family
  • Non-Dog (i.e. hamster, fish, cat)
Here are the rules:
  • Only motorized or battery-operated vehicles assisting disabled persons will be allowed in the parade.
  • All animals are invited but must be under control at all times.
  • Participants should bring water for their pets and pick up after them!
  • All judges’ decisions on awarding winners are final.
  • No commercial entries or politicking will be allowed.
To watch the parade, bring a chair and watch on Brookside Blvd NE between NE 178th St and 44th Ave NE.

Questions? Contact the Community Volunteer Coordinator by phone (206-957-2814) or email (croche@cityoflfp.com).

Time Details:
  • Parade lineup will begin at 9:15am 
  • City Hall Costume Contest Judging will begin at 9:45am
  • Parade Marching will start at 10:00am 
  • Animal Acres Park Community Celebration will be from ~10:30am to 1:00pm


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Here's what I forgot: Happy 4th of July - and 3rd of July



So here's what I forgot: Whitney Potter's cartoon for the 4th of July. It's still good, even if a day late.

And: Mountlake Terrace celebrates the 3rd of July. Apologies to all the dog owners with unmedicated dogs. Not sure how far the sound carried but it was louder than I ever remember. They shot off the fireworks from a barge in the middle of Lake Ballinger and the water amplifies and bounces the sound.

The event is sponsored by the Cheeseburger Babies Foundation, the charitable arm of Red Onion Burgers with contributions from many community sponsors and partners.

Lien Titus got a great shot of the fireworks.

3rd of July fireworks on Lake Ballinger
Photo by Lien Titus

And on July 4th something else was going on in Mountlake Terrace - either that or the sound was bouncing from the Edmonds show. Sometimes I hear train whistles from Shoreline or Edmonds.

Just medicate your dogs for a couple of days - or go to Canada.



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Walk for Old Dogs and Old Dog Pageant July 22 at Cromwell Park


Join us for the 7th Annual 
Walk for Old Dogs 
and 
Old Dog Pageant 
Sunday, July 22, 11:00am - 3:00pm 

CROMWELL PARK SHORELINE 
Shoreline 98133 

Old dogs, young dogs, and people of all ages welcome!


At its heart, the Walk for Old Dogs and Old Dog Pageant is a celebration of all senior dogs.

Each step of the Walk for Old Dogs, a promenade around a 1/3-mile paved path in Shoreline’s Cromwell Park, signifies support for the hundreds of senior dogs now safe in Old Dog Haven’s care, and whose medical needs are being addressed.

Each dollar raised brings us closer to saving another senior dog that has been surrendered or abandoned in their advanced years.

The goal of this annual fundraising event, now in its seventh year, is to raise enough funds to cover one month of veterinary expenses for the 300+ dogs in our network of private foster homes in Western Washington.

The vast majority of dogs taken in by Old Dog Haven are in urgent need of quality veterinary care. Currently, that care averages Old Dog Haven $90,000 per month.

Registration is just $25 and includes free entry for contestants in the Old Dog Pageant and Dachshund Race for Rescue. Online pre-registration is strongly recommended for quicker check-in - which means more time to visit our sponsor and vendor booths, enjoy a tasty treat from our food vendors (for both pets and people) and mingle with our many two- and four-legged guests!


What began seven years ago as a way to raise money and provide an opportunity for people who love old dogs to spend time together has morphed into the largest gathering of old dogs ever held anywhere in the U.S. You have to see it to believe it! Please join us for a very special walk in the park.

Activities planned for the event include:

Dachshund Race for the Rescue (Free) Open to dachshunds of all ages. Three race categories: Pros: dachshunds that have placed in any race in prior years, Rookies: dachshunds that haven’t run a race to placement, and Alumni: any dachshund foster, Final Refuge or adoptee of Old Dog Haven. Sign up at the Walk by 11:45.

Old Dog Pageant (Free) Oldest Dog in Attendance, Best Costume, Best Trick, Best Begging Face)

Food trucks, including Seattle’s nationally recognized, The Seattle Barkery, (the food truck for dogs), will be there.

Pet-related vendors

Old Dog Haven T-shirts, sweatshirts and much more will also be available for purchase.

Prizes will be awarded for the three top fundraising teams, the three top individual fundraisers, newest Old Dog Haven foster family and Pageant winners.

Schedule of Events

  • 11:00am: Event Begins!
  • 12:15 - 12: 45pm: Dachshund Race for Rescue!
  • 12:45 - 1:00pm: Welcome - Remarks by emcee Ardeth De Vries
  • 1:00 - 2:00pm: Old Dog Pageant and Awards
  • 2:00pm: Recognition of the ODH Walk fundraising superstars
  • 2:15pm: The Walk for Old Dogs
  • 3:00pm: Thank you and tail wags until next year!

The outstanding success of the Walk for Old Dogs and Old Dog Pageant is due to the generosity of our event participants, sponsors, and vendors. Donations are tax-deductible.

Information or registration here

To learn more about Old Dog Haven and the dogs living comfortable lives in the safety of our loving foster homes, see the information here

Interested in providing a permanent foster home for a senior dog? If you’d like more information about fostering for Old Dog Haven please check our website.



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Mystery at the Dog Park

Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Photo by GM Wiegand

By Diane Hettrick

Regular users of the Eastside Dog Park were startled to find a children's gym set up in the dog park. No explanation - it just appeared.

Dog owners were extremely concerned.

Was this supposed to be for the dogs? If so, it was dangerous.

Was the plan to share the dog park with children? Even more dangerous. There was an incident last year in the Edmonds Dog Park when a mother brought her dog and her toddlers to the dog park. The toddlers started running and the dogs started chasing them.

Fortunately, the dog owners were able to restrain the dogs, but everyone was shaken by the incident.

Someone called the Shoreline Parks department. They sent a staff person to check it out. Parks took it down and hauled it away immediately.

The mystery remains. Someone went to the trouble in disassembling the play structure from its original location, hauling it to the dog park, and reassembling it.

Was it a prank?

Did someone think they were doing a good deed, reusing an unwanted play structure by placing it in a barren looking park?

Don't know.

The park is back to normal. Dogs can safely run free. No children will be attracted to the dog park (and hopefully no mothers or fathers will bring them).



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