Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Fine dining

Wednesday, April 22, 2020



Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter
can be seen




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Notes from Shoreline Council meeting Apr 20

Shoreline City Hall and Council Chamber
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Shoreline City Council Meeting
April 20, 2020

Notes by Pam Cross

Mayor Hall called the meeting to order at 7:00pm
All Councilmembers were present. City Councilmembers participated remotely.

Proclamation

April 22, 2020 was proclaimed Earth Day in the City of Shoreline.

The first Earth Day took place 50 years ago on April 22, 1970, when millions of people took to the streets to protest the deterioration of the environment.

Report of the City Manager Debbie Tarry

COVID-19 update

Stay Home, Stay Safe order continues through May 4th. City Hall and recreation facilities remain closed. Some services can be accessed online. Go to shorelinewa.gov/covid for updated information on what’s open and what’s closed.

Stay informed: sign up for email notices at shorelinewa.gov/alerts

On April 19th the Governor provided a briefing for city and county officials. The Governor made it clear that we are only about midway through Stage 1 of response to the coronavirus, so we have a long way to go. 

Statewide we are bending the curve but we have plateaued and are not yet at the downside of the curve. In March the state had about 400 new COVID-19 cases per day. We still have about 200 new cases per day. The goal is 7-8. The percentage of positive cases is about 8-9%, down from 10-14% in March. As of April 13th, 645 individuals have been hospitalized, with 194 in ICU.

The decision whether to end or extend the May 4th deadline depends on a downward trend for at least 14 days (realistically 19-20 days) in the following: the number of new cases; percentage of positive cases; hospitalization numbers; a reproductive rate of the virus significantly below 1. Reproductive rate refers to the number of people an infected person transfers the virus to.

The decision to end or extend the deadline also depends on adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, adequate hand sanitizer, aggressive/sustained public messaging, sufficient healthcare workers, testing with results available within 24-48 hours for anyone with symptoms, contact tracing and case management, available isolation and quarantine facilities, and rapid response teams in place that can respond to cluster outbreaks. We can expect these same requirements for at least the next year or until a vaccine is developed.

For anyone needing assistance with living expenses:
  • Hopelink Food Bank and Supplemental Weekend Food support
  • Statewide moratorium on evictions
  • Utilities will remain on
  • Unemployment benefits have been expanded
  • Health Benefits Exchange is enrolling
  • For other resources call 2-1-1 or go to shorelinewa.gov/covid

N 148th Street Bridge Electronic Open House is going on now. 

Council Reports

Deputy Mayor Scully attended the All Home Coordinating Board work committee where they hope to finalize selection of three experienced board members who are now homeless or have experienced homelessness.

They also discussed how to address the COVID-19 crisis for the homeless community. Most of the individuals don’t have a place to be isolated for two weeks. Congregate housing for the homeless (one large room housing many) is being replaced by multi-room facilities like a county owned motel. COVID-19 has not yet plateaued in the homeless community making it important to address the homeless community now.

Councilmember Roberts reported the Puget Sound Regional Council Executive Board finalized authorization of $538M emergency transit funding allocations with $166M going to Sound Transit and $242M going to Metro.

Public Comment (remotely)

Kathleen Russell, Shoreline resident, Save Shoreline Trees, spoke regarding Earth Day and reminded everyone not to forget the value of trees.

The agenda was approved unanimously.

The Consent Calendar was adopted unanimously.

Action Item 8(a)

Approval of Grant Requests from the Dale Turner YMCA in the Amount of $15,000 and from the Shoreline PTA Council in the Amount of $15,000 from the COVID-19 Community Emergency Response Grant Program

Colleen Kelly, Community Services Manager, gave the presentation

Grant applicants must be in or near Shoreline, funds must support emergency response services, and funds must predominantly support Shoreline residents.

Applications for the grant program were made available on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 1, 2020. 
  • Total Number of Applications Submitted: 20
  • Total Funding Requested to Date: $177,000
  • Total Funding Approved to Date: $113,500
  • Requests Pending Council Consideration: $30,000
  • Seven ineligible based on Council criteria
Beginning March 23rd, the Dale Turner YMCA has been providing no-cost childcare/camp for youth (5-12 years) whose parents are first responders and low-cost childcare/camp for other children. The grant application requests funding to support that effort. Youth are served a breakfast, lunch, and snacks while attending the childcare program. There is capacity to serve 72 children. They also supply sack lunches to various organizations.

The Shoreline PTA Council mobilized quickly after the school closure announcement in an effort to provide needed resources to struggling families. As the closure has continued, so has the need for this assistance. Working through each school’s Family Advocate(s) ensures that those families most in need are prioritized for this flexible financial assistance. The City Manager already approved a request for $5,000 for this purpose.

Staff recommends approval of both funding requests.

At this time, staff does not recommend adding funds to this grant program, currently approved at $150,000. It appears that the Council has achieved its desired goals of providing both rapid and flexible funding support to meet the most urgent needs related to the COVID-19 crisis. Applications have fallen off to just one or two. Future requests will come before Council for consideration.

Public Comment:

Courtney Whitaker of Lake Forest Park and Associate Vice President, Youth Development at YMCA of Greater Seattle, spoke in favor of the Dale Turner Family YMCA.

Motion and second to approve funding for both.

Council expressed their appreciation to the YMCA for quickly responding to support the families of first responders, and to the PTA that stepped up to address the additional needs of schoolchildren during this unexpected school closure.

Grant requests approved unanimously by roll call vote.


Study Item 9(a)

Discussing the 2019 Year-End Financial Report

Sara Lane, Administrative Services Director did presentation
Rick Kirkwood, Budget and Tax Manager is available to answer questions

This is meant to be a high level overview of the 2019 Year End Financial Report. Full details are available online in the staff report.

Revenues came in at 106.4% of budget, operating and capital expenditures were lower than budgeted. Both were higher than 2018. Revenue compared to 2018 budget shows property tax as neutral and other sources well over the budget and 2018. The only exception is utility tax where we continue to see declining telecommunications taxes.

Expenditures are close to budget. This is due to budgeting for contingencies that we don’t anticipate spending.

2020 impacts due to COVID-19. These are unprecedented times so we are looking at three contingencies:
  • Little “V” where rebound is swift but not easy. Short term, quick fixes could bridge the gap to recovery.
  • Big “V” where the downturn is deeper, but the bounce back is rapid. Short term bridge strategies apply.
  • “L” where recovery is stalled by deeper economic woes. Long term transformation strategies are needed as soon as possible.
The above recovery scenarios were developed with current data, comments and analysis by local government colleagues and economists, and anecdotal evidence available at this time. Staff will continue to evaluate data as it becomes available from various sources (e.g., revenue collections, economic forecasts), monitor for trends that may develop, and modify projections as necessary.

Each revenue stream is affected differently so each one has to be measured separately. In the end, what we are looking at is a potential revenue decrease anywhere from $2.5M to $5.6M. We won’t see actual data for a couple of months. At that time we will update the forecast shortfall.

We know Shoreline is well positioned with strong financial policies/reserves, strong performance in 2019, and opportunities for one-time savings. One-time savings may come from project delays. This will need continued discussion in the coming months.

Discussion

Sales tax shows reduction under both Little “V” and Big “V” models. Is the economy expected to further decline in 2021-2022?

Rick Kirkwood responds that they are trying to forecast future impacts and trying to predict how consumers will respond. Will consumers believe a vaccine may be available but not for 18 months? If so they may hold their money closer. Or will people go back to their pre virus spending activity?

We’ll know more in the next few months when we can see how consumers are reacting. We are trying to illustrate the shape the recovery may take.

The biggest change in sales tax should be retail instead of construction. We get more tax from construction historically. The forecast is conservative because we don’t know what construction will occur in any given year. There is so much activity in the pipeline, that even with the shut-down we should still exceed the amount budgeted.

I-976 is not considered in the figures so results may be more dire. It’s always at the back of our minds - once we know how the decision goes, we will adjust the budget.

This is preliminary information and changes are recognized as necessary. lIt is helpful to know it’s being watched everyday.


Study Item 9(b)

Discussing Ordinance No. 886 - Amending the 2019-2020 Biennial Budget (Ordinance Nos. 841, 852, 854, 855, 861, 872 & 883)

Sara Lane, Administrative Services Director did presentation
Rick Kirkwood, Budget and Tax Manager available for questions

This is the typical spring adjustment but since this is the City's first biennial budget, all of the references to ordinances is required. The staff report is very detailed and was not summarized at the meeting.

During the first quarter of 2020, staff identified several operating programs and capital projects that require additional funding due to unanticipated needs that were unknown in November 2019 when the 2019-2020 mid-biennial review was conducted and the mid-biennium budget modification was adopted by the City Council. Staff is requesting that the 2019-2020 biennial budget be amended to provide funding for these programs and project.s

The total impact is a net increase to the budget of almost $3M making our amended 2019-2020 budget $220.4M.

Brought forward on consent May 4, 2020

Meeting adjourned.



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Photo: Bigleaf maple

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Photo by Elsa Bourman


Bigleaf Maples (Acer macrophyllum) is leafing out and showing off right now.

They let in light, but not heat, which is why we love them mostly in summer. But it is in Autumn when those Stetson size leaves really impress!

--Elsa Bourman



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Humor: You know you're from Puget Sound...

Mount Rainier from Shorecrest
See #20
Photo by Jerry Pickard


You know you're from Puget Sound, when:

  1. You know the Vitamin D deficiency struggle is real.
  2. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Sammamish, Enumclaw and Issaquah.
  3. You avoid driving through Seattle at all costs.
  4. You know what a geoduck is.
  5. You consider swimming an indoor sport.
  6. You see a person carrying an umbrella and instantly think tourist.
  7. Your lawn is mostly moss and you don't really care.
  8. Honking your car horn is for absolute emergencies.
  9. You're EXTREMELY picky about your coffee.
  10. “The mountain is out today," isn't a strange statement.
  11. While out of state you just tell people you're from Seattle since that's the only city in Washington according to the rest of the world.
  12. You remember Almost Live.
  13. You've eaten in the Space Needle, and while it was delicious, you're never paying $50 for a meal in the sky again.
  14. You rarely wash your car because it's just going to get washed by the rain tomorrow.
  15. You're used to the phrase "No, not DC" when telling out of staters where you're from.
  16. North Face is always in fashion.
  17. You take a warm coat and a hat with you for a day at the beach.
  18. You have mastered the art of doing everything in the rain, because, well, Washington.
  19. You play the "no you go" at four-way stops.
  20. You have had both the thought of how beautiful Mount Rainier is, while simultaneously accepting that it will probably kill you someday.
  21. You get a little twitchy if it's been more than a week since it last rained.
  22. You believe Twilight ruined Forks.
  23. You can say Humptulips, Lilliwaup, Dosewallips, and Pysht without giggling.
  24. You know what Beast Mode is and that deflating footballs is not ok.


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Public Health Seattle and King county April 20


The coming months will bring slow, measured relaxation of our physical distancing interventions. 

Even with a slow, phased re-opening of the state, we are likely to see COVID-19 spike again. We may open our doors, only to close them again in a matter of months. 

We will need to develop effective treatments for COVID-19 or a vaccine before we can stop dialing up and down the physical distancing interventions. 

Although it’s possible that treatments may be developed sooner, in the best case scenarios, we are still at least 12–18 months from a vaccine.

11:59pm on April 19, there are 12,085 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, an increase of 295 cases in the last 24 hours. 652 deaths.

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

Public Health Seattle and King county case update:
  • Shoreline has 232 cases and 23 deaths
  • Lake Forest Park has 24 cases and no deaths


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Who ya gonna call? Virus busters

Shoreline firefighters decontaminate all their stations
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire


What is this???

We are decontaminating all our stations!

We have a system of handheld sprayers and a stand alone sprayer/fogger with a hydrogen peroxide solution. We wear full PPE (personal protective equipment) with the handheld device. With the stand alone unit, we turn it on and leave the room while it cycles.

Staying safe and healthy so we can respond to Shoreline’s emergencies!

--Shoreline Fire




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Book review by Aarene Storms: Bake Like a Pro

Bake Like a Pro by Falynn Koch (Maker Comics)

Magician's apprentice Sage is disappointed when she is assigned to work with the village baker. Baking doesn't seem very magical! But (with the help of Master Korian and a kitchen full of talking ingredients) Sage soon learns that cooking = chemistry = magic.

Contains recipes and friendly explanations for the processes and ingredients. Cookies, breads, cheese biscuits, cake and pies are all discussed, with fun comic illustrations to make the science a little sweeter.

Fun comic illustrations combined with science nerd stuff and food? I'm so there. I only intended to glance at this book when it crossed my desk and ended up reading the whole thing.

And now: to the kitchen! Recommended for ages 8 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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70% of Lake Forest Park residents have returned their census forms


By Diane Hettrick

70% of residents in Lake Forest Park have turned in their census information. 

Lookin' good, LFP!

But wait, only 30% unreported and you are only 4th in the state. You've slipped a couple of ranks.

Those civic-minded Brier residents are still holding the top spot in the State with a 74.4% return rate.

Good for you Brier - bragging rights indeed.

Brier, then Sammamish, and Normandy Park. Then Lake Forest Park.

Kenmore sits at #19 with 66.6% returns - hmm something familiar about that number.

Where's Shoreline? Oh - there it is. #23 with a 65.3 return rate. Polite applause everybody.

At least it's above the state average of 56.2

It's not too late and you don't even need the paperwork you were sent. Go to the starting page 2020census.gov - ten minutes and you're done.



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Iora Care shares their Top Quarantine Coping Skills

Iora clinic reception area
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Iora Primary Care - a Shoreline medical clinic for Medicare recipients shares their Quarantine Coping Skills. 15214 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133

1.  Stick to Your Regular Schedule

This may seem like a given but many people find great relief and comfort in establishing an everyday routine. Without a regular schedule, it can be difficult to find any balance or productivity in your day. For starters, here are a few things you should consider when establishing your routine:
  • Keep regular wake and bedtimes.
  • Avoid staying in bed for longer than 8 hours per day.
  • Eat regular meals and break times when you typically would.

Sleep schedules are so important. When people do not have commitments for the next day, there can be a tendency to stay in bed, sleep in longer and go to bed later. This can throw off your circadian rhythm, the natural, internal wake-sleep cycle, and can leave you feeling groggy, unmotivated and down.

In addition to some of these basics, carving out time in your day to read, write or do other hobbies is an excellent way to manage your time. Adding structure to your day will leave you with much less uncertainty, and adding in hobbies or activities is a great quarantine coping skill to keep you distracted from any of the upsetting news.

So, before you start your day, plan ahead, maintain a consistent sleep schedule and eat meals at a regular time to help you in coping with coronavirus anxiety.

2. Focus on One Thing at a Time and Set SMART Goals

With the constant buzz of the world around us, staying focused can be extremely difficult, especially now. However, one quarantine coping skill you can adopt is setting SMART goals for yourself. These goals are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and time-based. This strategy is a great way to identify what kind of activities or goals you may want to accomplish during your current situation.

Some examples of SMART goals include:
  • Take a brief walk around your home or neighborhood two times per day at 10 AM and 3 PM.
  • Drink 3 full (24 oz) water bottles by the end of day.
  • Read 40 pages of a book every day in the morning.

These are great goals because they establish every quality of a SMART goal. Each goal is specific, while also being realistic in how you can measure and attain these goals. Setting yourself time-based goals keeps you on a schedule, which goes hand in hand with the coping skills we discussed earlier!

Weaving SMART goals into your routine is an excellent mental health coping strategy, especially during quarantine. These goals not only add substance and structure to your daily life, but can be an instant mood-booster once you have accomplished your SMART goal.

3. Find a Way to Maintain Mild-to-Moderate Activity

Much like many of these tips, physical activity is a great way to add to your routine and boost your mood. Even if it is just for 30 minutes every day. Find some form of physical activity that is easy, accessible and reasonable to help cope with coronavirus anxiety and stress.

For starters, a great way to get some physical activity into your day is by going for a walk around your neighborhood! While going outside may cause some anxiety, it is generally safe to go for a walk in your neighborhood. Just be sure to maintain six feet of physical distance. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose, and always wash your hands once you get back to your home.

For more information on exercises and activities to help you stay active, check out more articles on our Live Better Blog, such as chair exercises every senior should know or strength training for seniors. These guides have exercise for folks at any experience level, and are a great way to educate yourself about at-home exercise during quarantine.

Exercise and physical activity are one of many essential quarantine coping skills. Just a little exercise every day can do wonders for your mood.

4. Schedule Relaxation or “Wind-Down” Time for Yourself

Self-care is another essential quarantine coping skill and is a great way to protect your mental health. After a long day of reading, exercising and busying yourself with activities, the importance of making time for yourself can not be overstated.

Some simple ways you can schedule relaxation time for yourself include:
  • Taking a nice bath/shower at the end of the day to wind down.
  • Unplugging from television and computers at least an hour before bedtime.
  • Scheduling a few minutes for breathing or mindfulness exercises.
  • Writing in a journal

All of these quarantine coping skills are great for de-stressing and winding down for the end of the day. Many other great coping tips can be found in our guide on how to ease anxiety.

There are plenty of resources, both physical and digital, to help calm you down for the day. These include: meditation guides, visualization guides and tutorials on yoga and breathing exercises.

Before shutting down for the day, remind yourself that you owe it to yourself to de-stress and relax.

5. Keep Your Brain Active!

If there was a perfect time to find a new hobby, then that time is right now. Amidst all the news, you may also find free time to explore and try new things! There are plenty of activities you can get into to keep your brain active and sharp.

Some of our favorite ways to keep your brain active include:
  • Play cards, games or word puzzles.
  • Make crafts, knit, sew, doodle or write.
  • Watch an uplifting movie or show (but don’t binge!). Try to stay off the couch otherwise; too much television/couch time all at once can actually make us feel worse.
  • Reading is a timeless activity; re-read a book you haven’t read in awhile.
  • See if your neighbor wants to do a book exchange (drop at your front door and keep 6’ apart, of course).
  • Download an audiobook if using a digital device or smartphone, often your local library has this option available.

Perhaps you want to pick up a new instrument? Or maybe you want to get into art? Now is the time to do it. These activities will not only keep your mind sharp, but they will help you cope with any anxiety.

If you’re looking for a new activity to try, look no further than our list of the five best ways to improve brain health by showing your creativity. This guide will help you uncover your next creative adventure as you use these quarantine coping skills to ease your anxiety.

At Iora Primary Care, we empower our patients to take the lead on their health journey and we are there every step of the way to support them. We take a holistic approach to healthcare, addressing both our patients’ physical and mental health needs.



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Thanks, humans for the nesting site

Photo by David Walton

By Diane Hettrick

Residents are seeing wildlife that usually keep to the shadows, as the humans desert the streets.

But the osprey and other birds that nest in very tall trees have long been quick to take advantage of cell phone towers for nesting sites.

They seem to prefer the very highest locations. The two nests I am aware of are both on 15th NE, which has the highest points in Shoreline.

David Walton got to watch an osprey pair rebuilding their nest on the cell phone tower in Hamlin Park.

David says, "I watched them for quite a while as they would fly out to the trees and I could hear loud cracks as the osprey took dead limbs from high up in the trees (not using any limbs from the ground). The limbs were then returned to build the nest."

And he captured this very special photo of the nest building process.



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Lake Forest Park council virtual meeting Thursday

Lake Forest Park City Hall is closed
because of the COVID-19 epidemic


The Lake Forest Park City Council meets Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 6:30pm.

City Hall is currently closed and this meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom.

Virtual City Council Regular meeting on April 23, at 6:30pm: 

There will be a presentation on The State of the Court. To read it, go to the agenda and click the link for the court report.

The council will consider two resolutions:
  • Authorize the Mayor to sign an interlocal agreement for SWAT and Crisis negotiation services
  • Extend the B/O tax extension because of the COVID-19 situation

Citizen comments must be submitted in writing and will be read at the meeting. Instructions here



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Watch out for Coronavirus scams

Watch out for scams! 


Unfortunately, some people are taking advantage of this uncertain and stressful time to scam vulnerable citizens. 

Report scams and price gouging HERE with the Attorney General's Office

Medicare Scams

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Medicare enrollees need to stay vigilant against possible scams, including perpetrators emailing or calling seniors and offering coronavirus vaccines.

“Currently, there’s no FDA-approved coronavirus vaccine,” said Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “Beware of anyone who tries to scare you into giving up your Medicare number or bank account information. If you get one of these calls or emails, hang up or delete the email.”

Kreidler’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program is also Washington state's Senior Medicare Patrol project financed through a federal grant. SHIBA staff and volunteers help people prevent, detect and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse.

If people on Medicare have questions, concerns or complaints about potential fraud and abuse, they can contact SHIBA online or call 1-800-562-6900 and ask to speak with SHIBA.



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King County goes digital for 50th anniversary of Earth Day



It’s the 50th anniversary of Earth Day on Wednesday, April 22 – a time when King County celebrates the natural environment with residents and shares green lifestyle tips that can add up to make a big difference.

Earth Day in King County is traditionally celebrated with a wide range of active education and participation events, including volunteer habitat restoration work parties, educational fairs, and tours of waste management facilities – but this year is unlike any before.

That’s why the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is honoring Earth Day digitally this year, providing green-themed activities and lifestyle tips that families can do while safe distancing at home.

Visit Earth Day website that offers tips for living a greener lifestyle, such as how to:
  • Make sure you are recycling right – empty, clean and dry
  • Identify noxious weeds in your neighborhood
  • Support hard-hit local farmers during the pandemic
  • Reduce food waste to save money and unused resources
  • Support the Wastewater Treatment Division by not flushing trouble

Environmental quizzes and activities every day on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram through Earth Day, where families can have fun and test their knowledge about our local environment, recycling, food waste, trees and more.

There's a list of actions that people can take at home to help save the planet.

For example, a lot of people are working in their yards this spring, so this is a great time to practice natural yard care, using fewer pesticides on your lawn and garden, and more native plants – they need less watering and care, and don’t require chemicals.

That will cut down on the amount of toxics in the soil and in the amount of pollutants that go into stormwater runoff.

Actions like these will help keep Puget Sound waters cleaner, and that’s good for the salmon and orcas, too.




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Three author events from Third Place Books this week

Third Place Books, with locations in Lake Forest Park, Ravenna, and Seward Park, has transitioned some of its author events online with three this week.

  • Protecting consumers to save democracy
  • The truth about America's "Deep State"
  • A Black Man's view of race

The links are with each event description. How long each event is available online after the live event depends on each author.

All are presented in Partnership with Town Hall Seattle

Monday, April 20 at 7:30pm - Watch link

Richard Cordray
Watchdog: How Protecting Consumers Can Save Our Families, Our Economy, and Our Democracy

Many consumers feel cheated or mistreated when engaging with credit cards, mortgages, and loans, but do not have the resources or expertise to fight back on their own. When these increasingly one-sided finance markets blew up the economy in 2008, Congress created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to safeguard the marketplace and enforce consumer protections. Richard Cordray, former Director of the CFPB, joins us with stories of the individual consumers whose interests the Bureau represented—and the ways the agency made a difference in the lives of Americans.

Cordray draws from his book Watchdog: How Protecting Consumers Can Save Our Families, Our Economy, and Our Democracy, telling a hopeful story of a time when our economic system was overhauled to fit the needs of the people.

He recalls critical moments where the agency fought to preserve the rights of the consumer—simplifying mortgage paperwork, putting limits on predatory lenders, and stepping in to help solve problems suing big banks for cheating or deceiving consumers.

Join Cordray for a discussion of the fight to establish a new baseline of economic fairness in our democratic society. Cordray will also answer questions about the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on consumers and what can be done to protect them in these challenging times.

No purchase is required to view this event, but attendees are encouraged to make a donation in support of Town Hall Seattle, and to purchase Watchdog from Third Place Books


Tuesday, April 21 at 7:30pm - Watch link

David Rohde in Conversation with Steve Scher

In Deep: The FBI, The CIA, and the Truth About America’s “Deep State”

President Trump blames the “deep state” for his impeachment. But what is the American deep state, and does it really exist? Journalist David Rohde takes us into the heart of the debate over the deep state with reporting from his book In Deep: The FBI, the CIA, and the Truth about America’s “Deep State.”

He reveals how the spectre of the deep state has been evoked to embody different intangible fears and crises by America’s different ideological factions. To conservatives it is a government bureaucracy that relentlessly encroaches on the individual rights of Americans, while Liberals fear the “military-industrial complex”— a cabal of generals and defense contractors who they believe routinely push the country into endless wars.

Rohde presents a sweeping exploration of the presidential power struggles and CIA and FBI scandals of the past fifty years ― from the Church Committee’s exposure of Cold War abuses, to false intelligence about Iraq’s WMDs, to NSA mass surveillance revealed by Edward Snowden.

Rohde investigates the claims and counterclaims of the Trump era and the relentless spread of conspiracy theories both online and on-air. While Trump says he is the victim of the deep state, Democrats accuse the president and his allies of running a de facto deep state of their own that operates outside official government channels and smears political rivals.

Through dozens of interviews with career CIA operatives and FBI agents, Rohde shines a light on fraught the trends of mistrust of the politicians, unelected officials, and journalists who many believe unilaterally set America’s agenda.

David Rohde is an executive editor of The New Yorker website and a former Reuters, New York Times, and Christian Science Monitor reporter. He is also a two-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize.

No purchase is required to view this event, but attendees are encouraged to make a donation in support of Town Hall Seattle, and to purchase In Deep from Third Place Books


Thursday, April 23 at 7:30pm - Watch link

Clifford Thompson

What It Is: Race, Family, and One Thinking Black Man’s Blues

African-American writer Clifford Thompson was raised to believe in treating every person of every color as an individual—and he decided as a young man that America, despite its history of racial oppression, was his home as much as anyone else’s.

Thompson joins us for a heartfelt livestream conversation exploring the war between the values he has always held and the reality with which he is confronted in twenty-first-century America.

Thompson presents thoughts from his book What It Is: Race, Family, and One Thinking Black Man’s Blues, offering a powerful framework for navigating race in America, carrying on the tradition of James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time and Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me.

As a middle-aged, happily married father of biracial children, Thompson finds himself questioning his most deeply held convictions when the race-baiting Donald Trump ascends to the presidency — elected by whites, whom Thompson had refused to judge as a group, and who make up the majority in this country Thompson had called his own.

He reflects on the wisdom of the writers he admires, and grapples with the understanding that the answers to his questions about America ultimately lie in America itself. Tune in for perspectives from an acclaimed writer in the grip of contradictory emotions — trying to find his own answers based not on conventional wisdom or on what he would like to believe, but on what he sees.

Clifford Thompson received a Whiting Writers’ Award for nonfiction in 2013 for Love for Sale and Other Essays. His personal essays and pieces on books, film, jazz, and American identity have found homes in publications including The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Village Voice, The Times Literary Supplement , and many others.

No purchase is required to view this event, but attendees are encouraged to make a donation in support of Town Hall Seattle, and to purchase What It Is from Third Place Books




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Eagle landing at Ronald Bog

Monday, April 20, 2020

Photo by Martin DeGrazia

This image of an eagle landing at Ronald Bog was captured by Bog Watcher Martin DeGrazia.




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Public Health case updates 4-19



State

  • 11390 cases
  • 634 deaths

County

  • 5172 cases
  • 346 deaths
Shoreline
  • 229 cases
  • 29 deaths
Lake Forest Park
  • 23 cases
  • 0 deaths


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UW recalls test kits with quality control issue

On April 17, 2020, the Washington State Department of Health was alerted by UW Medicine to discontinue use of a recently-procured batch of COVID-19 specimen collection kits that UW Medicine believed may have a quality control issue. 

As a result, last night DOH recalled approximately 12,000 kits sent to local health jurisdictions, tribal nations, and state agency partners across the state.

“Though the quality control issue has only been observed in a small number of tubes of viral transport media, we adhere to the highest quality standards for COVID-19 testing in Washington state,” said Secretary of Health John Wiesman. “We are working with our partners to have them discard the product and will work to replace them as quickly as we can.”

Viral transport media (VTM) is the fluid that preserves a specimen during transport, such as one collected via nasal swab from a person being tested for COVID-19. Some of the vials of VTM were an unusual color, which prompted UW Medicine to reach out to DOH to work together to investigate potential contamination. DOH officials believe there is no health risk to patients, as the VTM does not come in contact with patients during a COVID-19 test.

Testing completed today at UW Medicine has indicated that the quality issues observed in the small number of the VTM tubes did not impact COVID-19 test results. While this investigation is still ongoing, DOH is choosing to recall both the VTM and the nasal collection swabs out of an abundance of caution.

The recalled specimen collection kits were procured by UW Medicine and donated to DOH from Lingen Precision Medical Products. No other supplies previously used for testing are impacted by this recall. Jurisdictions who received these kits are encouraged to contact DOH for a new shipment of swabs and VTM transport tubes for replacement. DOH and state supplies aren’t adequate at the moment to immediately replace all swabs and VTM transport tubes, however, a large shipment of swabs from another vendor is expected this week and the state has VTM from another vendor.

The state is working closely with both the UW Medicine and local health partners to replace the recalled specimen collection kits as quickly as possible.



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Thunderbird Rock: Shorewood staff misses their students

The T-Bird mascot sings alone in the empty gym
Screenshot from video


Shorewood staff misses their students and wanted to show some love for the Senior Class of 2020.

So they recorded a video of greeting and support - view it HERE

Written and recorded by Marty Ballew and Paul Beaudry, the staff of Shorewood High School participates in a song of support for their students.



Go outside at 8:20pm every night and make some noise for Shorewood!




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Lake Forest Park imposes a hiring freeze

Revenues are down
from traffic cams


By Tracy Furutani

The city of Lake Forest Park will not be filling any vacant positions, nor will they be hiring any seasonal workers this year, according to city administrator Phillip Hill.

This action was taken in anticipation of a significant reduction in the city’s revenue due to the effects of the pandemic, he said, “the passport office has been closed since early March, sales tax is anticipated to be reduced by at least 20% and gas tax revenue by up to 80% while we all stay home.”

The business and occupation tax revenue, traffic safety camera payments and construction permit fees are expected to significantly decrease, according to city finance director Lindsey Vaughn at a City Council Budget and Finance Committee meeting last Thursday.

There were some bright spots.

“Cash flow [from property tax] is coming as normal to date,” said Vaughn, adding “as far as the real estate excise tax…we are pretty confident that we will meet that [revenue goal] by the end of the year.”

“We have made a tactical choice as a council that this is not the right time to seek new revenues,” said committee chair and council member John Resha. He cautioned between that and the loss of revenue, that the city’s paving and street management would be affected.

In addition to the hiring freeze, all city travel and training are suspended, unless it is needed for required certifications or would impact critical services. Further, previously contracted work may be suspended pending evaluation by the city.




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Humble Feast dinners on hiatus - but delivery and pick up available - plus recipe

Red beans and rice
Image from iOS

The monthly Patty Pan Humble Feasts are on hiatus for the duration but you can get many of the same dinners for take out twice a week.

View the options and order online HERE

Patty Pan Co-op, 15550 27th Ave NE, Shoreline 98155. Pick up and deliveries 11am – 3pm.

Patty Pan and several other local establishments have been added to our list of dining options HERE

And here's Devra Gartenstein's recipe of the month:

Red Beans and Greens in Coconut Milk (makes 6 servings)                             

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 tomato, chopped
1 cup water
3 cups chopped kale, collard greens, mustard greens, or a combination
2 cup small red beans, cooked or canned
2 tablespoons coconut milk
Cayenne to taste

Heat the oil in a medium-size saucepan. Add the onion, salt, and turmeric, cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion is soft and translucent. Add the tomato, cook for about 5 minutes until it starts to break down, and then add the water. Bring to a boil and then add the greens a handful at a time, adding more as they cook down.

When all the greens are wilted, add the red beans and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the beans are heated through and the greens are tender. Add the coconut milk and cayenne, and serve.




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Wild creatures among us: Bobcats

Bobcat in Lake Forest Park
By Diane Hettrick
Photos by Phillippa Kassover

I've known for years that there were bobcats in our area. 

One of my neighbors in north central Shoreline had one on her deck after a snowstorm 20 years ago - but it took me years to identify the big cat was that was freaking out her cats as a bobcat.

Another sighting ten years later in Innis Arden - no pictures there either but the resident correctly identified the cat in the tree as a bobcat.

Distinctive and beautiful markings on ears, short white flag tail (striped on the top side),
very big paws, and much bigger than even the biggest house cat


Now, with all the humans inside and jokes about animals partying in the streets - finally a photo of a local bobcat.

Not just a photo, but Phillippa Kassover was able to do an entire photo shoot as a large and calm bobcat browsed her yard in Lake Forest Park.

Spots like a leopard. Muscular body. Long legs.
About twice the size of the biggest housecat.


It can be disorienting to see them. They look like housecats but they are just too big. The musculature is different too. Heavy shoulders, long strong legs. Most people don't get the extended and close up view that Phillippa did.

Fabulous design on the ears and what looks like
a dark stripe along the spine.


In 2015, Aaron Wirsing, Assistant Professor, School of Environmental and Forest Sciences (SEFS) at the University of Washington, told me:

I suspect that your neighbor spied a bobcat (Lynx rufus). Bobcats are closely related to lynx but are able to use a wide variety of habitats, including city suburbs. They typically weigh about 25 pounds and have paws that are about twice the size of those of a domestic cat.

I’ve been informed that there are quite a few bobcats in the greater Seattle area. Congratulations to your neighbor on a neat sighting, and thanks for the inquiry!

Now all I need is a bear.



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Red sky, grey sky

Sunday, April 19, 2020

Photo by Jan Hansen



Remember the surprise rain on Saturday morning? Well, this is the surprise sunset that preceded it on Friday evening.

Those dense gray clouds headed straight at us were rain clouds. It has been so long that we've forgotten what they look like!


--Diane Hettrick



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Public Health Seattle and King county case update April 18, 2020


The numbers are getting better. Our hospitals were able to handle the cases. But the state still identifies several hundred new cases per day and people are still dying.

Public health experts agree that the true number of people who have been infected with COVID-19 in Washington greatly exceeds the number of COVID-19 infections that have been laboratory-confirmed. 

It is very difficult to know exactly how many people in Washington have been infected to date since most people with COVID-19 experience mild illness and the ability to get tested is still not widely available.

State:
  • 11,802 positive results - up 357 from the day before
  • 624 have died from their illness
King County:
  • 5,063 positive results - up 161 from the day before
  • 340 have died from their illness - up 9 from the day before
Shoreline:
  • 226 have positive results
  • 28 have died due to illness 
Lake Forest Park:
  • 22 have positive results
  • 0 have died due to illness


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Hey, photog, how's about next time you accompany the corn with a side of beurre blanc?

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler



(Sid was a squirrel of refined tastes...)

--Gloria Z Nagler



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State Rep. Valdez fought false police reports in 2020 legislative session

Rep. Javier Valdez D-46
By Evan Smith

State Rep Javier Valdez said Thursday that his work during the recent legislative session focused on increasing penalties for making false police reports and on limiting the capacity of the magazines on firearms.

Valdez is a member of the committee on civil rights and the judiciary in the state House of Representatives, the Transportation Committee and the Education Committee.

He is a Democrat representing Lake Forest Park and the rest of the 46th Legislative District.

As second vice chairman of the Transportation Committee, he saw the saving of a transportation project in Lake Forest Park.

His bill on false police reports (HB 2632) targets a practice called swatting, in which hate groups make false reports to divert police while they harass someone. The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Pollet D-46, and Reps Ryu and Davis both D-32.

Washington state members of a neo-Nazi group have been charged with using swatting to harass journalists as recently as this year,” he said. 
“By increasing punishments for these irresponsible actions, HB 2632 will save innocent people from trauma, injury, and death. Now that the Governor has signed this bill into law, I hope that swatting is no longer used as an act of hate against marginalized communities.”

His bill to limit high capacity magazines was passed out of committee, but, he said, “After HB 2240, my bill to limit high capacity magazines, was passed out of committee, House Republicans submitted over 100 amendments to the bill. The time needed to consider all 122 amendments prevented this bill from having a fair debate on the House floor.

“I sponsored another bill, HB 2947, in another attempt to continue to improve public safety in Washington state. Unfortunately, we ran out of time before we could get a vote out of committee. I will sponsor this common-sense gun-safety measure again next year.”

Valdez noted that the transportation project -- the Lake Forest Park roundabout at Ballinger Way and 40th Place, which was paused at the beginning of session, is now back on track to move forward.

He said, “Despite the challenges of I-976, we still put the people of Washington first as we created our transportation budget.”

Initiative I-976, passed in the November, 2019, elections capped taxes on cars tabs at $30, reducing the amount of revenue available for transportation projects.

Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com



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Physical distancing for a hamburger at Habit Burger



Story and photos by David Carlos


Physical distancing is in full swing at the Aurora Village Habit Burger Grill (1253 N 205th St, Shoreline).



You can now give your order and pay from your car at the parking lot. A magnetic number is then placed on the hood of your car. When your food is ready, it’s brought to you.



Walk-up customers can order and pick up their orders outside the entrance door.

This practice started Thursday. Allow some extra wait time, as there’s more distance for the staff to cover.



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Jerry's Garden #9

Photo by Jerry Pickard


Another bloom from Jerry's Garden.




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Give what you can - Take what you need - Andrea Petrusky and the first Little Free Pantry in Shoreline - LFP

Adam Petrusky built the first Little Free Pantry in Shoreline as an
anniversary gift for his wife, Andrea
Photo by Andrew Petrusky



Ridgecrest resident Andrea Petrusky was browsing Facebook one day a few years ago when she came across a video about Jessica McClard of Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Inspired by the Little Free Libraries all over her neighborhood, Jessica created a Little Free Pantry in May 2016, stocking a similar cabinet with canned vegetables and proteins, and other shelf stable products at no cost to recipients.

Her concept was "Give what you can, Take what you need." She created a web page to publicize her project and within a short time there were Little Free Pantries all over the world.

In Shoreline that same year, Andrea Petrusky saw it as an immediate opportunity.

"I sent it to my husband, Adam, and told him I wanted one. He said, "There are $750,000 houses going up down the street, do you think it will get used?" I said yes!
"So he built me one for our Anniversary in August that year. We got a free kitchen cabinet from Craigslist and he built a roof for it, and built new doors with plexiglass. It opened September 22 of 2016. I love it!"

Jessica McClard was given an award of $40,000 by Tyson Foods to create a mapping tool to register all the Little Free Pantries in the world so people could find them.

Andrea immediately registered hers, which is located at 15815 11th Ave NE.

"I used to be the person who could purchase things for people when they were in need, but my situation changed. I needed to find a new way to help the community that wasn't monetary. I had time on my hands, so this has worked out great for me. I can refill the pantry and manage the Facebook page.


Photo by Andrea Petrusky

Helping people in need is deeply important to Andrea.

"My dad was homeless and suffered from the disease of addiction for many years. He passed away in 2010. He deserved food just like everybody else.

"I know the stigma around drug addiction is often that people are homeless and choose to be addicts and don't deserve the help of the community. I don't think they can recover without the help and support of the community.

"So I suppose I embarked on this project in memory of my Dad. Some people saw an addict, I saw a father, grandfather, person behind the addiction.

In spite of the $750,000 homes on the block, her Pantry is heavily used.

"People with food insecurity are all around us. Not everybody qualifies for food stamps, not everybody can get to the food bank. Many people come to pantry after dark. People come all day as well, and I can't tell if they are leaving food or taking food, but I know that people use it!"

There are now 13 Little Free Pantries in Shoreline / Lake Forest Park. Several have come online since the pandemic and stay at home order put hundreds of residents into the "food insecurity" category.

Anyone is welcome to access any of the pantries.

Give what you can, Take what you need.



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Some auto insurance companies giving refunds - in spite of recent accidents...

So this is what happened right after Kreidler called for auto insurance
premium rebates. Note: when fire or police say that lanes are
blocked they really mean it
Photo courtesy Shoreline Police


Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler recently urged all insurers doing business in Washington to consider refunding auto insurance premiums to their policyholders since most are driving less.

During Gov. Jay Inslee's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, issued in late March and extended statewide through May 4, traffic on the state’s roads and highways is down as much as 50%.

Companies that have announced refunds or temporary discounts to policyholders:

  • Allstate.
  • American Family Insurance.
  • Liberty Mutual.
  • USAA.
  • Farmers.
  • GEICO.
  • Mapfre.
  • Progressive.
  • State Farm.


My auto insurance is through Safeco. They notified me that I would get a 15% refund on my premiums.

If you haven't heard from your auto insurer or aren't sure if you get a refund or discount, Kreidler suggests that you contact your insurer.

Driver crawled out and ran from the scene
but was captured by deputies
Photo courtesy Shoreline Police


It's ironic that as soon as this announcement was made, my Twitter feed lit up with notices from Shoreline Fire and Police that they were responding to auto accidents.

04/07/20, Shoreline Police responded to a two-vehicle collision at N 155 St/Aurora Ave N. A vehicle crashed into another car and the suspect driver ran from the scene but was located and arrested by officers. Only minor injuries to the victim of the other vehicle.

April 7 - rollover collision on Aurora at 155th - causing driver crawled out and ran

Only minor injuries to driver of car that was hit on Apr 7
Photo courtesy Shoreline Police


April 7 - two vehicle collision on NE 205th between 1st and 5th NE (minor but blocked lanes)
April 8 - low speed vehicle vs pedestrian at Aurora Village Transit Center.

There were a couple of incidents worth noting March 16-19

Mar 16 - two vehicle collision at 175th and Densmore - one person taken to hospital by aid car
Mar 19 - vehicle vs pedestrian at northbound 185th and Aurora - a reader asked about all the sirens - pedestrian refused treatment

Hope the companies processed the refunds before the actuaries got onto these.

--Diane Hettrick



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WeatherWatcher: Surprise rain storm, Forecast for next week

Saturday, April 18, 2020

April Showers bring May, I mean July Flowers.
Photo by Carl Dinse

We had a surprise rain event Saturday morning, that was not very well forecasted by anyone. Sure, we were expecting a chance of some showers, mainly light, less than a 10th of an inch. The upper level low that was responsible for the chance of showers managed to center right over Seattle. The rotation of the upper level low gave us some pretty steady rain for a few hours Saturday morning, bringing almost a half inch of rain to the area.

Forecast: I wouldn't worry about watering the lawn this week.

We are drying out overnight into Sunday morning as high pressure regains dominance over the region. We should have a nice sunny Sunday with high temperatures reaching the low to mid 60's. Monday should be a repeat of Sunday, lows in the 40's and highs somewhere in the low to mid 60's.

Monday night things start to change. The high pressure breaks down and opens the jet stream up into our direction. Clouds increase, with a chance of showers returning on Tuesday. Rain is likely Wednesday, breaking up to showers Wednesday evening with even a slight chance of a thunderstorm.

Mostly cloudy conditions continue Thursday and into next weekend, with a chance of rain remaining in the forecast. Temperatures Tuesday through the weekend are expected to top out in the mid-upper 50's, maybe even a 60°F here and there, with lows in the 40's.


For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com




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