Public Health / Dept of Health case updates April 15, 2020

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Interactive map here

71 people are currently staying in King County isolation and quarantine facilities, including Shoreline. The number of residents at King County’s isolation and quarantine sites is included in regular updates provided by Public Health. No other identifying or personal information will be provided.

Shoreline:
  • 215 have positive results
  • 26 have died due to illness 
Lake Forest Park:
  • 21 have positive results
  • 0 (have died due to illness, 
King county:
  • 4676 have positive results
  • 312 have died due to illness
State:


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Photo: To Infinity - and beyond

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Infinity
Photo by Mary Igl


To Infinity - and Beyond!




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Book reviews: Aarene Storms talks dragons

Who doesn't love a dragon?

Librarian Aarene Storms, whose wonderful book reviews we have been publishing for a decade, has decided to go digital along with everyone else.

Her newest experiment: booktalking videos. 

She plans to produce (at least) one of these each week, focused on a different topic. 

This time, the topic is DRAGONS, and features a book written for adult audiences, a teen book, and a book for kiddos.

HERE it is!

In addition to the video, she has made a book list of many, MANY dragon books that are available in download format. 




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Road rage in Shoreline Saturday

Deputies arrest suspect in road rage incident
Photo courtesy KCSO
Saturday, April 11, 2020 deputies responded to a "road rage" incident in Shoreline.

The suspect followed the victim from a business on Aurora Ave. and threatened to kill the victim. 

He rammed his car against the rear bumper of victim's car and they came to a stop near 175th St. and Meridian Ave. N.

The suspect then got out and punched the window of the victim's car and continued following him to his house. 

The victim finally got away and the suspect's vehicle was located after a witness called to report the reckless nature of the suspect's driving.

The suspect was arrested and booked on hit and run, reckless driving, and harassment.



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Frogs



See other cartoons by Whitney Potter HERE



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Edmonds Driftwood Players cancels remainder of season

Due to the current government stay-at-home mandate and the ongoing concern about the spread of COVID-19, Edmonds Driftwood Players’ management and board has made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the 2019/2020 season. 

This includes the productions of The Producers and Unnecessary Farce.

Patrons are encouraged to consider making a donation of their ticket (501(c)3 tax write off applies). 

Ticketholders may request a refund of the ticket price by emailing office@edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org, or calling 425-774-9600.



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32nd LD Democrats meet Wednesday on Zoom

32nd Democrats will be holding their General Meeting as an informational meeting via Zoom or telephone this Wednesday, April 15th from 7:00-8:30pm. Here are the details 

Meeting ID: 327 111 268
Password: 059972
Dial by your location:
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)

If you don’t have Zoom please download it in advance of the meeting. Also keep in mind this is a new meeting format so we have many bugs to work out. We will be holding NO VOTES but seeing if Zoom is a way for us to meet for the time being.

If you have questions about Zoom, email us and we will do the best to respond as quickly as possible.

Also, if you want to be a delegate to the state or the 2020 National Convention, see the WASHINGTON STATE 2020 DELEGATE REGISTRATION at their website



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Public Health Seattle and King county case update April 14, 2020


66 people are currently staying in King County isolation and quarantine facilities, including Shoreline.

The Assessment and Recovery Center in Shoreline has opened and is now available to provide isolation and quarantine assistance to help residents who are not able to isolate and recovery in their own home.

King County is excited to partner with Kaiser Permanente Washington who will be providing personnel onsite for health care services. Care includes nursing and mental health expertise for individuals with complex medical and co-occurring disorders.

The Harborview Hall isolation and recovery site operated by Harborview Medical Center on First Hill is also open and accepting individuals needing health care assistance due to COVID-19.

The number of residents at King County’s isolation and quarantine sites is included in regular updates provided by Public Health. No other identifying or personal information will be provided.

Public Health—Seattle and King County is reporting the following confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 through 11:59pm on 4/13/20.

  • 4620 up 358 from 4/10/20
  • 303 deaths up 19 from 4/10 - including 169 who were 80 or older
Shoreline:
  • 210 have positive results up 10 from 4/10
  • 26 have died due to illness up 1 from 4/10
Lake Forest Park:
  • 21 have positive results up 1 from 4/10
  • 0 have died due to illness - no change
State:
  • 10694 up 470 fro 4/10
  • 541 deaths up 50 from 4/10


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5K Your Way - Virtual 5K



The annual Pack The Park 5K race that takes place every year in Lake Forest Park. The run is a community event that benefits the Friday Food pack Program here in the Shoreline school district.

Unfortunately the run as we have previously known it will not take place this year. However, we are excited to announce our first virtual 5K Your Way event.

Register at any of the following



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Third Place Books launches Books to Students Fund, seeks community support


Third Place Books has launched a new initiative - the Books to Students Fund - to help directly supply reading materials to students in the Seattle, Shoreline, and Northshore School districts.

Books are essential to any education, and in stressful times, books serve not only to educate but to inspire, comfort, and encourage young readers. 

Many Seattle-area students rely on their schools for books and literacy resources, and school and library closures related to the COVID-19 outbreak will impact these students profoundly.

Through the Books to Students fund, Third Place Books hopes to raise at least $10,000 to distribute books to local kids, in partnership with Seattle Public Schools, the Shoreline School District, the Northshore School District, and the nonprofits Reading Partners, and Page Ahead.

Customers shopping online at thirdplacebooks.com can make a donation to the fund.

“For us, it is so important to continue investing in our community—especially our Seattle students—at a time when we can’t provide a physical Third Place for people,” said Niki Marion, Children’s Outreach Manager at Third Place Books. 
“Our Books to Students Fund helps us evolve our connection to the school districts and community partners we already work closely with, while helping to support the students who are most affected by the school closures. 
"Books are such crucial resources for education and entertainment, and we want to make sure all students in our community have access to both while schools, libraries, and bookstores are closed.”

Community members who want to support the Books to Students fund can contribute online at www.thirdplacebooks.com/books-students-fund. Donations will go directly toward purchasing books for Seattle students.



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Rep. Ryu concentrated in legislative session on fighting homelessness and on cultural opportunities for underserved children

Rep. Cindy Ryu

By Evan Smith

State Rep. Cindy Ryu said Monday that her work during the recent legislative session concentrated on combating homelessness and on expanding cultural opportunities for underserved children.

“This year in the Housing, Community Development, and Veterans Committee, which I chair, we focused on addressing our housing and homelessness crises, she noted. 
“We passed legislation to create partnerships with cities and counties to reduce homelessness (House Bill 1590 cosponsored by Rep. Davis) and to make it easier for religious organizations to fulfill their mission to provide shelter to people experiencing homelessness (HB 1754 sponsored by Rep. Pollet).
“In future legislative sessions, our committee will help assess how our state responded to the COVID-19 crisis, unmet affordable housing and increased homeless needs, and make changes to state policy that will allow us to better prepare for emergencies of this scale.”

Additionally, Ryu noted her work with Sen. Jesse Salomon to improve the way cultural access programs serve smaller communities and organizations, and better serve children of color (Senate Bill 5792 sponsored by Sen. Salomon).

“If King County enacts such a program, we will have more flexibility to distribute these precious arts funds and deliver equitable public access to cultural opportunities in the arts, sciences, and heritage programs,” she said.

In addition to being chairwoman of the House committee on housing, community development and veterans, Ryu is a member of the Appropriations Committee and the committee on consumer protection and business.

Ryu and Salomon are Democrats representing the 32nd Legislative District, including Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, south Edmonds, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas of southwest Snohomish County, Lynnwood, and six blocks of Mountlake Terrace.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com



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Shoreline Windermere donates N95 masks to Shoreline Police

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Shoreline Windermere donation to Shoreline Police

Shoreline Police report that Theresa Alston of the Shoreline Windermere Office and their numerous agents and brokers donated 400 N95 masks to the Shoreline Police department. 

This is a reflection of the fantastic community we serve. We are so grateful for the support during this challenging time.



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Gathering (Virtually) to tour Washington Native Plant Gardens

Hundreds of gardeners, plant lovers, and interested citizens will meet online this week and next for tours of native plant gardens in eastern and western Washington, marking the first Native Plant Appreciation Month and the 15th anniversary of Native Plant Appreciation Week.

“By bringing together new and experienced gardeners and plant lovers to hear from experts in our state, we’re providing forums for information sharing, networking, and fun, that are vital to helping us navigate this coronavirus spring,” said Denise Mahnke, business manager of the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS), sponsor of the webinars. 
“Even though we can’t meet in person, we can still enjoy our state’s beautiful flowers and plants, and learn how to use them effectively in our gardens.”

All presentations are free and open to all. They will be recorded for future viewing on the Washington Native Plant Society website.

“I’m encouraged that 15 years after the first Native Plant Appreciation Week, our celebration has grown to a whole month of events. 
"While the global pandemic has disrupted our ability to hold plant sales and field trips, we can still learn and share good garden ideas and practices,” said Van Bobbitt, president of the board of the Washington Native Plant Society.

The series kicks off on Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 10am with an online talk by Heather Wendt, who will present on Heritage Gardens: Promoting Native Plants through Community Partnerships. Wendt, assistant manager for both the Benton and Franklin Conservation Districts, co-created the Heritage Garden Program with Donna Lucas of the Columbia Basin Chapter of the Washington Native Plant Society.

The Heritage Garden program is designed to honor the cultural and natural heritage of the Columbia River Basin by using sustainable gardening practices. 

Heritage Gardens are landscaped areas that promote the use of native plants, especially those of cultural significance and that demonstrate low-water-use landscaping and efficient irrigation methods. Wendt’s presentation will cover how the program was developed, how it has grown and will offer a virtual tour of established gardens.

A companion book Plant Selection Guide: Heritage Gardens of the Columbia River Basin was published and released earlier this year by the Benton Conservation District. 

The guide helps users select native and low-water-use plants that will provide long-lasting color and texture in Columbia River Basin gardens.

In his forward to the book, award-winning writer and naturalist Jack Nisbet writes that “…this book provides a vision for the kind of expansive gardening that can reach from your back yard deep into the essence of the shrub steppe.”

The series continues with two online events focused on gardens in western Washington.

On April 18, 2020 at 4:00pm, Marcia Rivers Smith will present Fundamentals of Gardening with Native Plants in Lowland Western Washington. Smith, the originator of this popular presentation, will discuss the advantages of using native plants in the home landscape and how to choose the right plant for the right spot. She will cover assembling a garden and caring for it, in many different types of situations: sunny or shady; clay or sandy soil; wet or dry. Smith has been actively involved with the Washington Native Plant Society for almost 30 years.

The series concludes on April 23, 2020, at 7:00pm, with a panel discussion, Three Native Plant Gardens Up Close. Washington Native Plant Society members and native plant and gardening experts, Rita Moore, Clay Antieau and Dr. Julia Bent, will present slideshow tours of their home gardens on Mercer Island, in Ballard, and in Lake Forest Park. They will compare and contrast the challenges of these different micro-climates while covering the choices they made, their successes and failures and lessons learned.

The webinar series is hosted by the Washington Native Plant Society. The Washington Native Plant Society is a 501©3 nonprofit organization, founded in 1976, with approximately 2,000 members statewide. Its members share a common interest in Washington's unique flora, with the mission to promote the appreciation and conservation of Washington's native plants and their habitats through study, education, and advocacy.

Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed April 2020 as Native Plant Appreciation Month in Washington State.

Resources
  • Registration for the Columbia River Basin Heritage Gardens presentation is here.
  • Information about the Columbia River Basin Plant Selection Guide is here.
  • Registration for Gardening with Native Plants in Lowland Western Washington is here.
  • Registration for the Three Native Plant Gardens Up Close is here


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Shoreline Recreation hosts online Xbox Fifa 20 tournament


City of Shoreline's Youth and Teen Development Program is hosting an online Xbox Fifa 20 tournament. 

First games will be played on Friday. 

The tournament will be bracket style and results will be posted on our Instagram account. 

For more information, contact Waldo at 206-373-1239 or at wnambo-ojeda@shorelinewa.gov



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Jerry knew that Vinnie would be migrating North soon,

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler

so came by to bid him cheerio...
(Dark-eyed Junco and Varied Thrush on our fence last week)

--Gloria Z Nagler



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Americorps team helped set up Shoreline Isolation and Recovery Center for patients

WCC volunteers and team leaders practice Physical Distancing
at the Shoreline Isolation and Recovery Center

From the Department of Ecology

When building hiking trails, planting native trees or shrubs, or responding to local or national disasters, Washington Conservation Corps (WCC) AmeriCorps members are used to practicing flexibility.

When field activities were temporarily suspended in mid-March to prevent further spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, AmeriCorps members adapted quickly, with some WCC members and staff supporting our state’s response to the coronavirus outreach by setting up shelters in King County

When responding to a natural disaster, WCC supervisors and members are often tasked with setting up and leading volunteer reception centers in affected areas. This experience came in handy last week when King County Emergency Management set up multiple sites for people to isolate and recover from COVID-19.

Supervisor Cynthia Saleh assembles a cot
Photo by Alex M'Bark

“Folks continued doing an impressive job of physical distancing, despite needing to collaborate together on almost every task,” she said.

Staff and members safely unloaded desks, shelving units, beds, footlockers, side tables, and chairs to support the shelters, serving alongside contractors and Team Rubicon volunteers.

AmeriCorps member Celia Thurman was interested in setting up shelters to help her local community.
“Shoreline is actually 10-15 minutes from where I grew up,” Celia said. “It felt like I was helping the community, and that means a lot to me. When we got there, the tents were set up on a soccer field. I grew up playing soccer on that field, and babysat in that neighborhood.”

AmeriCorps member Akiva Gebler talked about the impact of setting up medical facilities.

“In a time when the most people can do to help is to stay home, it was in many ways a privilege and an honor to be able to serve the county and local community by physically helping set up field hospitals,” Akiva said. “My hope is that our service will make it easier for the medical staff to safely and effectively do their jobs.”




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For the Birds: Save the birds - Protect their nests

Dark-eyed Junco nest with eggs in planter box

By Christine Southwick
Photos by Craig Kerns

Many local birds are now on nests, others are just starting their nests. 

Dark-eyed Juncos, Spotted Towhees, Song Sparrows, Golden-crowned Sparrows and other sparrows make their nests on the ground, hidden in clumps of grass, bases of shrubs or ferns, brush piles, or a depression in the ground hidden from view, perhaps by a rock.

Even some warblers like the Wilson’s Warbler build their nests in clumps of tall grass behind the base of a tree or shrub (0-3 feet above the ground). 

Many other birds, not usually found in our yards, also nest on the ground -- Killdeer, MacGillivray’s Warblers, and Townsend’s Solitaires come to mind.

Red-breasted Nuthatch with bug

If you are working in your yard right now, it is vitally important that you protect birds and their nests from disturbances either by you or your dogs and cats. 

When walking your dogs, please keep them on leashes, especially in parks

Canine noses will find unseen nests and disturb and often destroy them by stepping on the eggs and even the parent. 

 For the same reason, cats must also be controlled.

Watch where you clear weeds, especially when weed-whacking. Be alert for a startled low-flying bird, or a bird making alarm calls. Stop, and maybe leave that area wilder than usual. The rewards will be great.

Black-capped Chickadee with grub

Resist the easy application of herbicides and pesticides. 

Herbicides kill weeds in your lawns and curbs plus beneficial creatures like worms, beetles and spiders. 

Pesticides kill almost all bugs, including good bugs like bees and butterflies, plus all the caterpillars and grubs that birds feed their babies. 

This puts all birds in danger of dying from those strong, deadly, labor-reducing products, and makes it harder for the parents to find enough bugs for themselves and their offspring.

A neighbor found a dead adult bird on eggs when she was cleaning out a nest box and asked me what could have caused its death. 

Since usually only healthy birds lay eggs, and this bird didn’t appear injured, I told her that bird may have eaten a bug that had been sprayed, and died from pesticide poisoning, thus killing her and her unhatched eggs.

Golden-crowned Kinglets fledged less than a week (by gape)

Save Birds -- remove weeds and bugs by hand instead.

Which would you rather have -- pristine lawns and plants that have been poisoned and that don’t supply nutrition for birds and their young?

...or yards with flying, singing birds, that are feeding their young and taking care of most of the local bugs?




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State to release nonviolent offenders from prisons

Monroe Correctional Facility
By SounderBruce - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=83191762
As the COVID-19 outbreak continues in Washington, Gov. Jay Inslee announced steps to protect the health of incarcerated individuals by focusing on the early release of vulnerable populations, including nonviolent individuals who are due to be released within the coming weeks and months. 

“This will help allow for increased physical distancing throughout the Department of Corrections' system, reducing the population by up to 950 people to continue to reduce the risks to incarcerated individuals while balancing public safety concerns,“ Inslee said.

“Today, the Washington Department of Corrections takes its next steps in mitigating risk to the incarcerated population sentenced to our custody,” Sec. Stephen Sinclair said.

“Since the beginning of COVID-19 in our state, the department has worked aggressively to develop and implement protocols and directives to combat the pandemic. The next necessary steps will strategically provide for more physical distancing within the state’s correctional facilities.”

The Department of Corrections is developing and implementing responses to the COVID-19 pandemic that mitigate risk to its incarcerated population, including those who are most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19.

In March, several incarcerated individuals filed lawsuits against the DOC, which included requests for the release of almost 12,000 of the individuals currently incarcerated in the state prison system.

On Friday, the Washington Supreme Court issued an order directing the governor and DOC to “immediately exercise their authority to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety" of inmates in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Based on the court order, DOC will immediately begin to implement the strategies identified in the state's response to the court filed today. The plan will focus on individuals incarcerated for nonviolent and drug- or alcohol-related offenses, as well as people held on lower-level supervision violations.

Some incarcerated individuals will be released through commutation, others will be released into a modified graduated reentry program.



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Time to Laugh: It's confirmed: Fresh cow dung can stop coronavirus

Photo by Screenroad on Unsplash

This is a proven method to stop the spread of Coronavirus. It may be an issue finding cow dung but we shouldn't have to drive too far to find a dairy farm or two.

Fresh cow dung can stop coronavirus

Dip both your hands in fresh cow dung before going out.

This will make sure that:

  1. you will not touch your eyes, nose, ears, or mouth
  2. no one will shake hands with you
  3. no one will come near you when you are out in the streets
  4. you will wash your hands thoroughly before you eat


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Geo apartment community opens pre-leasing for spring move-in

Geo Apartments has opened pre-leasing


Geo is a brand new apartment community, located in Shoreline’s Town Center District on Midvale and 180th, that just opened pre-leasing for move-ins to begin this spring.

Drawing inspiration in both name and design from the beauty of geology, the 164-unit project offers high-end, downtown Seattle style living at a Shoreline price point (including a number of MFTE program affordable units).

The storage court next door belongs to the City of Shoreline

Set back just off Aurora, on Midvale, the community is ideally situated for a quick commute to work (or play) by car, Rapid Ride E Line bus or the upcoming Light Rail extension, scheduled for completion in 2024. 

Nearby access to the Interurban Trail, well-respected schools and Shoreline’s ever-growing list of dining and shopping options are also a significant perk, with on-site, ground floor retail tenants poised to add to that list in the coming months.



Residents at Geo will enjoy attractive amenities including a state-of-the art fitness facility, an off-leash dog park with grooming center, a rooftop lounge with Seattle skyline/Rainier views, co-working collaborative spaces and a beautifully landscaped courtyard.

Geo Apartments are pre-leasing now

The studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plan options include high ceilings, extra-large windows, designer lighting, ceiling fans and modern, soft-close cabinetry. All of these features are more common in the more urban Seattle market, but less frequently found north of the city limits.

The project was designed to provide a high-quality housing option for those who love the city but prefer the warmth and interconnectivity of Shoreline’s close-knit, “small town” feel when it comes to where they call home.

The Geo team is excited to welcome their first residents and to get to know neighboring community members as they prepare to open their doors this spring. If interested in learning more about the community, neighborhood and how to reserve one of the first apartments, readers can visit geoapts.com or call 206-876-7775.



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West coast governors forge agreement on controlling COVID-19 into the future

West Coast states will work together
Wikimedia Commons

On Monday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown announced an agreement on a shared vision for reopening their economies and controlling COVID-19 into the future.

Joint statement from the governors:


COVID-19 has preyed upon our interconnectedness. In the coming weeks, the West Coast will flip the script on COVID-19 – with our states acting in close coordination and collaboration to ensure the virus can never spread wildly in our communities.

We are announcing that California, Oregon and Washington have agreed to work together on a shared approach for reopening our economies – one that identifies clear indicators for communities to restart public life and business.

While each state is building a state-specific plan, our states have agreed to the following principles as we build out a West Coast framework:

  • Our residents’ health comes first. As home to one in six Americans and gateway to the rest of the world, the West Coast has an outsized stake in controlling and ultimately defeating COVID-19.
  • Health outcomes and science – not politics - will guide these decisions. Modifications to our states’ stay at home orders must be made based off our understanding of the total health impacts of COVID-19, including: the direct impact of the disease on our communities; the health impact of measures introduced to control the spread in communities —particularly felt by those already experiencing social disadvantage prior to COVID-19; and our health care systems’ ability to ensure care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This effort will be guided by data. We need to see a decline in the rate of spread of the virus before large-scale reopening, and we will be working in coordination to identify the best metrics to guide this.
  • Our states will only be effective by working together. Each state will work with it’s local leaders and communities within its borders to understand what’s happening on the ground and adhere to our agreed upon approach.

Through quick and decisive action, each of our states has made significant progress in flattening the curve and slowing the spread of COVID-19 among the broader public. Now, our public health leaders will focus on four goals that will be critical for controlling the virus in the future.
  • Protecting vulnerable populations at risk for severe disease if infected. This includes a concerted effort to prevent and fight outbreaks in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
  • Ensuring an ability to care for those who may become sick with COVID-19 and other conditions. This will require adequate hospital surge capacity and supplies of personal protective equipment.
  • Mitigating the non-direct COVID-19 health impacts, particularly on disadvantaged communities.
  • Protecting the general public by ensuring any successful lifting of interventions includes the development of a system for testing, tracking and isolating. The states will work together to share best practices.

COVID-19 doesn’t follow state or national boundaries. It will take every level of government, working together, and a full picture of what’s happening on the ground.

In the coming days the governors, their staff and health officials will continue conversations about this regional pact to recovery.



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Virtual author event from Third Place Books on Wednesday

Wednesday, April 15 at 7pm - Watch HERE

Betsy Gaines Quammen with David Quammen
American Zion tour - “Pandemic, Religion, and Rebellion

Join Betsy Gaines Quammen and David Quammen for a live-streaming discussion on coronavirus outbreak, religious conspiracy, and movements agitating against shelter in place orders, hosted by Third Place Books and Torrey House Press. 

Gaines Quammen is the author of American Zion: Cliven Bundy, God and Public Lands in the West, and since her book tour has been postponed, David and Betsy decided to collaborate and talk about both of their books and how they intersect at this very moment. 

David, who wrote Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Pandemic, will cover the topic of disease outbreak, and Betsy will talk about responses to outbreak focused on rebellion and conspiracy.

As governments and communities work to stop the spread of COVID-19 with stay-home orders, Ammon Bundy, son of Cliven Bundy, is currently agitating against disease related restrictions in Idaho. 

But as the White House eases environmental protections and recommends suspension of habeas corpus, could Ammon have a point? 

We hope you can join us for this casual, hopefully fun, informative, and best of all, not contagious live event from Betsy and David's living room to yours.

No purchase is required to view this event, but attendees are encouraged to purchase American Zion and Spillover from Third Place Books: 


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Cancelled: Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park 2020

Cancelled: Secret Gardens of Lake Forest Park 2020


The Virus Won in 2020
By Beth Weir


If there were a preferred time to deal with a muscular virus, spring would likely be it. The daily walks most of us undertake in lieu of a social life these days, are surely enhanced by the blooms appearing at this time of year. The magnolias have provided one of the most expansive shows to date, heralding warmer days with their particular grandeur.

In normal times many of us would be making summer plans on our neighborhood walks. If you like plants and gardening, that would likely include a garden tour or two. But, as we are acutely aware, these are not normal times. 

There will not be many garden tours this year and among the casualties is the Lake Forest Park Secret Garden Tour. Bowing to the historic moment, the planning committee has cancelled this summer’s annual event. It would have been the 19th such tour.

Those of us who have been involved in the planning of the Secret Garden Tour are most disappointed. Our proposed date, June 20, 2020 had such a fat, joyous ring to it for starters. 

We are grateful to the six homeowners who agreed to show their gardens, knowing how much work such an endeavor entails. Our plant vendors were lined up, as were sponsors. The musicians and artists who add to the ambience of a garden experience were being approached. There had been discussion on details. We were armed and almost ready.

It cannot be, but like the magnolia, whose magnificence has a long history, we will endure. (They were blooming thanks to beetles long before bees took up the tasks of pollinating flowers.) 

Next year’s Lake Forest Park Secret Garden Tour will return June 19. Since a well-known morale booster is to put a date in the calendar so you have something to look forward to — we urge you to do so now.

In the meantime gardeners staying at home can do what they have always done; dig their dirt, plant and water, stake trees and peas, and take walks around the yard admiring what you and nature can do as a pair. 

It is not quite the same as going to see what other people have managed to do in their own gardens but as compromises go, it’s not too bad. And keep in mind that next year we will be back and we look forward to having you join us.



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Flower and poem

Monday, April 13, 2020

Photo by Jan Hansen



The Gardener : Peace My Heart


Peace, my heart, let the time for
the parting be sweet.
Let it not be a death but completeness.
Let love melt into memory and pain
into songs.
Let the flight through the sky end
in the folding of the wings over the
nest.
Let the last touch of your hands be
gentle like the flower of the night.
Stand still, 0 Beautiful End, for a
moment, and say your last words in
silence.
I bow to you and hold up my lamp
to light you on your way.





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Shoreline Rotary to hear about Music4Life program - Wednesday on Zoom

Music4Life presentation at Shoreline Rotary Wednesday


Join in the fun of a Zoom Rotary Meeting Wednesday morning, April 15, 2020. The meeting starts at 7:30am with Andrew ringing the bell.

All Friends and Rotarians Welcome!

After club doings and the virtual Goose, we welcome David Endicott, the president of Music4Life, a District 5030-wide program begun by David, Ken Noreen and others who recognize the importance of fostering a love and understanding of music in young people.

Music4Life’s mission is to “provide donated and repaired musical instruments at no charge to public school districts for use by students in need.” 
But it really is much more than that. As we have learned from our own experiences with music, and just as the Music4Life website states, “music education helps a person lead a richer, fuller, more meaningful life — and an arts-rich community is a more desirable place to live.” 

David, a member and current president of the Puget Sound Passport Rotary Club, will give us an update on Music4Life projects. Here’s another great way that Rotary makes a difference in our community - come and see our friend, David, or meet him for the first time, virtually. See you Wednesday!

How to access Shoreline Rotary Zoom meetings for April 15th and beyond

Recurring meetings have been scheduled on our Shoreline Rotary Zoom account for Wednesday mornings 7:30 to 8:30am

Use the following link each week:

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/269003145

Meeting ID: 269 003 145

Topic: Shoreline Rotary's Club Zoom Meeting
Time: Wednesday 7:30am

It’s okay to “arrive” at the meeting a little early - a greeter will be there to greet you by 7:15am.



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Book review by Aarene Storms: Knights vs. Dinosaurs

Knights vs. Dinosaurs by Matt Phelan

Merlin's response to the bragging of King Arthur's knights: send them on an adventure where they will find real terrible lizards.

And that's how this adventure starts, with
  • Sir Erec (who brags a big too much)
  • Sir Bors (who bullies a bit too much)
  • Sir Hector (who reads a lot, but probably not too much)
  • Squire Mel (who carries heavy stuff like weapons)
  • and the mysterious Black Knight (who is mysterious)
They expect to find a dragon. Maybe two dragons.

Instead, they find dinosaurs.

This is my new favorite book for middle grade readers. Fun characters, fun adventure, super-fun dinosaurs. Highly recommended for readers ages 8 and up, and listeners ages 5 to adult.


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 astorms@kcls.org



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Kids at home invited to video chat with local children's entertainer and his puppet

Alice, Lila, and their Mom showing Charles and Biscuit a silly hand game
Photo courtesy Charles The Clown


Helping to keep kids busy …

Seattle entertainer and Lake Forest Park resident Charles The Clown has been trying to find a way to help parents and children as we all struggle with Covid-19 self isolation. He is gearing up to hold short, fun packed, one-to-one video chats with area kids aged 4-7.

Charles The Clown (Charles Kraus) has been performing in Seattle for over thirty years. He is the recipient of a King County Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award noting his appearances in schools, hospitals and hospices.

"My answer to stressful times has always been to gather a group of kids and put on a show that can refocus them. Obviously that is not possible during the Corona outbreak."

The clown is hoping his short video chats including sidekick Biscuit The Dog Puppet will be added to the list of activities children can do while sequestered at home.

"Kids can show me what they've been drawing, reading, doing ... ask Biscuit questions or simply watch as I twist up a comedy balloon animal," Kraus said.
"After shows, Biscuit and I often hold informal Q/As with the audience. I see this project as an extension of those conversations," Charles said.
"Watching screens, even playing interactive games, is not the same as actually communicating with someone. During my interactive video chats a child can pick the colors when I blow up the balloons, decide which animal I should make, give it a name, etc.
"A child might point out that I have a balloon stuck on my thumb. That happens sometimes."

Video chats can be arranged by emailing charles@charlestheclown.com.

Charles' biography:

Charles has been performing for over 40 years. His award winning AandM performance video, Charles The Clown, his books, including The Clown's Guide to Children's Parties, The Teen Magician That's You, You'll Never Work Again in Teaneck, NJ and four children’s story collections have been used by libraries throughout the country.

A children's party entertainer and magician, Charles has appeared on more than 75 radio and television programs, and performed in every conceivable location -- a war zone, Europe, the Roxy Theatre on Hollywood's Sunset Strip, Disneyland, Bumbershoot, on stage at Knotts Berry Farm, on the set during television commercials keeping young actors relaxed and giggling, at special schools and summer camps engaging differently abled kids, at the hospital bedsides of seriously ill children.

Charles is a recipient of the King County, Dr, Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian Award for Community Service.

Video sample: charlestheclownvideos.com with more at charlestheclown.com



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COVID-19 and insurance

Insurance Commissioner
Mike Kreidler

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued a second emergency order (PDF, 282KB) on March 24, 2020 directing all state-regulated health insurers to make additional coverage changes to aid consumers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Editor's Note: this does not apply to self-funded insurance plans which are owned by employers, although they often follow the state's lead. Check with your employer. You cannot tell from your insurance card or any materials you may have been given about your medical insurance.

His order is in effect for 60 days from March 24, 2020 and requires health insurers to:

  • Expand coverage to additional methods (www.hhs.gov) for providing telehealth including telephone and video chat tools such as FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangout video, Skype and GoToMeeting.
  • Cover all medically-necessary diagnostic testing for flu and certain other viral respiratory illnesses billed during a provider visit for COVID-19 with no copay, coinsurance or deductible.
  • Treat drive-up testing sites for COVID-19 as provider visit with no copay, coinsurance or deductible.


To help free up hospital beds, Kreidler is directing health insurers to waive or expedite prior authorization requirements for home health care or long-term care facility services. This will speed up patient discharges for those who are ready to leave.

People who receive a subsidy through Washington’s Health Benefit Exchange have a 90-day grace period for paying premium under the Affordable Care Act.

Kreidler’s order creates a minimum 60-day premium grace period for unsubsidized enrollees in exchange individual health plans and for people enrolled in individual health plans sold outside of the exchange or in small and large employer health plans.

Insurers may choose to extend the grace period beyond 60 days, but if they do so the extension must apply to all enrollees.

“These are critical times for all Washingtonians and we need to provide safe and flexible access to care,” Kreidler said. "I want people to know we’re watching out for them and are all working together to make sure insurance coverage is one thing they don’t need to worry about.”

Learn about coronavirus and insurance



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Support the Shoreline-LFP Arts Council – buy a gift card now to use later

The Gallery at Town Center has gift cards available for purchase on their website. Buy a gift card now and use it later when the shop is able to reopen.

This is a great way to support the gallery and the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council during the temporary closure.

Gift cards will be mailed out once a week on Wednesdays starting April 15th via US postal mail. Place your order before noon on Wednesday, otherwise the card will be mailed out the following week.

Use the gift card for yourself or purchase one to give to a friend. Gift cards do not expire. Thank you for supporting the gallery virtually! We miss you and look forward to seeing everyone back in the shop when we reopen.

Visit our website to buy your gift card!

The Gallery at Town Center
Photo courtesy SL-LFP Arts Council
A little history about the Gallery:

The Gallery is a program of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council, a not-for-profit organization and features rotating art exhibits, as well as jewelry, ceramics, glass and more by over 90+ local artists. 

The shop is located in the Lake Forest Park Town Center, 17171 Bothell Way NE, inside the mall on the lower level.

The Arts Council has maintained an exhibit space/gallery since the organization started. The first location was in the Shoreline Historical Museum (before the Arts Council had its own space) which featured exhibits 4x/year. 

Photo courtesy SL-LFP Arts Council


After the Arts Council established an office, wall exhibits were shown there. Ceramics, jewelry, etc. started being displayed on a small table in the office along with the wall art in the early 2000s.

In 2009 the separate gallery location in Lake Forest Park opened with eight wall exhibits a year and a diverse selection of locally made wares.




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Brier has the highest rate of census returns in the state - LFP is third

Washington state ranks only 8th for the number of self-reported census returns, with 51% reported.

We follow Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Virginia, Iowa, Nebraska, and Utah. None of them have more than 57% returned.

In Washington, Benton county leads the counties, tied with King.

And just north of us in Snohomish county, Brier  (pop. 6978) tops the list with 69%. Sammamish is second and Lake Forest Park is a close third.

Kenmore is #14 with 64%.

And Shoreline? Waaaay down the list at #22 with only 62.8% of its 56,752 residents reporting in.

The Federal government allocates resources based on population. Social service agencies point to the number of people in their service area when applying for funds. There's a lot at stake.

Even Lake Forest Park, which certainly has bragging rights, still has 32.3% of its 13,569 residents who haven't reported in.

If you have the paperwork with the specific code, it will save you a few steps, but it's not necessary.

Go to 2020Census.gov and fill in the info - basically just address and names.

--Diane Hettrick




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Poem: In the Time of Pandemic

Photo by Steven H. Robinson


In the Time of Pandemic
By Catherine "Kitty" M. O’Meara



And the people stayed home.

And they read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.

And they listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

~~~~~

About the poem, Snopes.com says:

"O’Meara posted this poem to her blog The Daily Round on March 16, 2020. The poem went viral, racking up thousands of shares as it circulated on social media. On March 19, Oprah Magazine dubbed O’Meara, a former teacher in Madison, Wisconsin, the “poet laureate of the pandemic,” writing:

Kitty O’Meara is the poet laureate of the pandemic. Her untitled prose poem, which begins with the line, “And the people stayed home,” has been shared countless times, on countless backgrounds, with countless fonts, since its first posting. 
It was most widely popularized by Deepak Chopra, and has since been shared by everyone from Bella Hadid to radio stations in Australia. The poem has become shorthand for a silver-linings perspective during the coronavirus outbreak — the hope that something good can come out of this collective state of “together, apart.”



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COVID-19 and Domestic Violence

There is help for victims of domestic violence
Photo by Jerry Pickard

By Jamie Holter

COVID-19 and Domestic Violence

Governor Jay Inslee’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order is more difficult for victims of Domestic Violence.

Victims who stay in the home are more likely to be abused and options for external safety nets like social service organizations, the courts, or even friends and family are limited.

The good news is innovation is coming fast to manage new information that shows a nearly 25 percent increase in 9-1-1 DV calls since the shelter-in-place order first went into effect.

Getting help online and over the phone

ProtectionOrder.org

This site is a starting point written in clear, specific, non-legal language that explains the types of protection orders available: domestic violence, stalking, anti-harassment, and sexual assault. If you fit the criteria, it walks you through the next steps.

At the top, right corner of every page is a “safety exit” button that allows you to exit the site before an abuser can see your screen. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office maintains this site. This office represents the victim in DV cases.

LegalAtoms.com

This site is all about the paperwork and it is free. Filing legal orders can be difficult if you aren’t an attorney and even more difficult if you are managing an urgent situation. This site has step-by-step directions to get your paperwork to the right place. The live chat box asks for your email to ensure you stay in touch.

New Beginnings Help line is open 24/7/365 at 206-522-9472

Crisis Connections

This 24/7/365 hotline connects callers to people who care, listen and provide information. Call 866-4CRISIS or 206-461-3222.

TheHotLine

This national site has everything – a 24-hour helpline, a chat window, and detailed descriptions of what abuse looks like during a lockdown and includes issues like destroying medical cards or not letting you see family. 

If you wonder whether what you are experiencing is abuse, read these descriptions. This is the best site to visit if you are feeling confused and alone.

The Legal System Adapts and Innovates

Because Shoreline District Court is closed, King County Superior Court in Seattle is managing protection orders and DV issues online. It’s a new way to address the issue when the court is closed. Most protection orders are going through Legal Atoms (above).

If you are being abused, it is not your fault. Reach out to one of these organizations for help and support.







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Who knows what the future holds

Killdeer meeting
Photo by Gloria Z Nagler


...certainly not us.

                      -Gloria Z Nagler




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