Rob Oxford: Already Making Plans

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Display and photo from Isaac and his mother April


By Rob Oxford

For the very first time since this pandemic began, I felt the funk.

It was last Wednesday, my 3rd day of vacation and although our family trip had to be postponed, I was determined to continue taking the week off and accomplishing as much around the house as possible. So far I had been somewhat successful, but Wednesday was difficult.

Wednesday it did nothing but rain…all day.

I woke up expecting to be as productive as I had the day before but something hit me and it hit me hard. I literally did not want to get out of bed. I tried to turn on the television, but it was the same old nonsense. Even “Leave It to Beaver” failed to cheer me up. I attempted to write but didn’t feel like typing. I attempted to go through a box of home movies, but the DVD player was unable to read some of them and that only added to my frustration.

Admittedly, I feel very fortunate to be deemed an essential worker. Although my hours have been cut and my income slightly diminished, I’ve not felt the severe economic effects, depression or loneliness that many of you have and for that I send you my very best.

What I hope to do with this article is continue to focus on the positive. Life will return to normal; we will win and we will again have our freedom.

While working on my car in our driveway, Isaac, who is a 5th grader at my wife’s school was out for a bike ride with his mother April. They stopped to say hello but were careful to maintain a safe distance. April indicated Isaac was being rewarded for finishing his school work. Great job Isaac!

I asked Isaac the first thing he wanted to do once the stay at home order was lifted? As you might imagine, his immediate response was “hang out with my friends”. I laughed and said, me too.

Later that afternoon I started making a list of all the things I’m going to do. All the things I’ve wanted to do for quite some time, but somehow found a reason to postpone.

  1. I’m going to go bowling with friends.
  2. I’m going to hug my in-laws.
  3. I’m going to spend far too much money at a local restaurant where I’ve never eaten before.
  4. I’m going to take my wife to a movie.
  5. I'm going to learn to Square Dance. On second thought, no I'm not.
  6. As soon as it’s warm enough, which around these parts is usually August, I'm going to swim in a river.
  7. I’m going to visit Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens.
  8. I’m going to get another pedicure… those things are awesome! Especially the massage chairs.
  9. I’m going to rehearse with my band and then have them over for a BBQ, all of them except Jeff our Tenor Sax player (inside joke).
  10. I'm going to Regina, Saskatchewan to see my Aunt Lois and Uncle Roger.
  11. I’m going to gather all of the parents who coached and/or volunteered for North King County Little League and have a softball game. After which someone will need to take me to the emergency room.
  12. I'm going to go to a local beach and keep my shirt on.
  13. My wife and I are going to find a garage sale and buy more stuff we don't need.
  14. I’m going to thank our frontline workers… personally.
  15. I’m going to just “pop” by the house of a friend I haven’t seen for far too long.
  16. I’m going to see my son excited to return to school.
  17. I’m going to help plan a celebration for the Seniors of 2020.
  18. I’m going to walk down the aisle at my local grocery store, realize I forgot something, turn around and head the other direction without breaking the rules.
  19. I’m going to go to San Francisco and then Los Angeles with my family like we had planned.
  20. I’m going to a Mariners game.
  21. I'm going to admit my mistakes and apologize more frequently.
  22. I'm going to take my wife to a casino, walk in with $60.00 and when it's gone...leave.
  23. I'm going to sell my television.
  24. I’m going to smile at a stranger and know they’re smiling back because we’re not wearing masks.
  25. I’m going to miss the smell of my wife’s perfume that she puts on for her Zoom meetings.
  26. I’m going to comb my hair…what’s left of it.
  27. I’m going to once again attempt to lose weight and fail.

Finally, I’m going to donate all of the toilet paper I have stored in my garage.

But most importantly, I’m going to take a deep breath and continue to be thankful.



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Jobs: 100 full time AmeriCorps Vista openings for United Way Anti-Hunger team


We are seeking 100 full-time AmeriCorps members to be a part of our United Way Anti-Hunger team, which will help families and youth access healthy meals when school isn’t in session.

START/END DATE: 5/26/2020 - 8/3/2020 (must apply by May 12, 2020).

COVID-19 HungerCorps Member will be assigned to a food bank or meals site, where they will prepare and serve meals, pack boxes of food, engage with community members, and conduct grassroots community outreach to get the word out about available resources. 

They will deliver meals to families’ doors at an apartment complex, serve Grab and Go meals at a park or community center, or distribute groceries to families at a neighborhood food pantry.

What we’re looking for:
  • Candidates currently living in the Puget Sound Region
  • Must be at least 18 years old
  • Available 40 hours per week
  • Self-starters who are passionate about supporting
  • Experience working independently in high-energy environments
  • Willingness to engage stakeholders and design programs response
  • Strong communication & outreach to families and community members
  • Creativity and cultural humility in working with vulnerable populations

APPLY NOW


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Medicare Webinar presentation Wednesday

SHIBA webinar Wednesday

Medicare Webinar presentation Wednesday April 29th @ 2pm

Do you find Medicare a mystery? Are you unsure which Medicare plan is best for you?

Join SHIBA online for a virtual "Welcome to Medicare" class where we will cover the "A, B, C, Ds" of Medicare.

Certified SHIBA volunteers will be available to answer all of your questions!

SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) is a program of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and is sponsored locally by Sound Generations.

SHIBA provides free, unbiased information on Medicare and other health insurance options to all people.

You can read more about SHIBA here

Register HERE 



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Public Health / Dept of Health case updates April 27 - hospitalizations decline



Epidemiology summary:

DOH continues to receive about 200-250 new reports of COVID-19 per day. Case counts decreased in early April but then plateaued in mid-April. Hospitalizations, which are a more reliable indicator of disease activity, have decreased throughout the month of April, however.

Case counts can be difficult to interpret because that number is dependent on the number of tests performed and who is being tested in the population.

The number of outbreaks at long term care facilities has also decreased throughout the month of April.

Testing update:

Testing numbers appear stable. A new ordering process that includes a tracking and reporting dashboard is planned for implementation this week.

An update in testing guidance including the recent expansion of symptoms that identify infection with COVID-19 (see article). There continues to be high interest in expanding access to high quality antibody testing which shows whether or not a person has been exposed to COVID-19.

What we are waiting for the research to tell us is whether or not a past exposure prevents reinfection.

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

Dashboard

Case updates

United States

  • 985,548 known cases
  • 55,983 deaths
Washington state
  • 13,686 known cases - up 165
  • 765 deaths
King county
  • 5,990 known cases - up 78
  • 416 deaths - up 9
Shoreline
  • 277 known cases
  • 40 deaths
Lake Forest Park
  • 28 known cases
  • 1 death


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Time to laugh: church sign



From the Peace Lutheran Church of Manitoba, Canada



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Ronald Bog Park update

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The Sound Transit mitigation project to restore the wetlands at Ronald Bog Park, remove the chunks of cement from the grounds, and replant with native plants is starting to look like a park instead of a construction project!

The photos were taken within the week and show the progress and the growth that spring has brought to the park.

Rebecca McAndrew, Sound Transit Senior Environmental Planner reported:

Most of the work is finished at Ronald Bog. The contractor should be hydroseeding the lawn outside of the mitigation area this week. The ideal time to hydroseed is after March when there is no chance of frost. 

Hydroseeding will take place very soon
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The three interpretive signs to be installed are almost done. The parking lot will need to be restriped and there could be a few other minor things that need to be done before the park is reopened. 

The sandbag wall will be removed
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


The sandbag wall (also called a cofferdam) isolates the work area from the rest of the pond so sediment-laden water (stirred up while the contractor disturbs soil) doesn’t enter the main pond and flow downstream on the North Branch of Thornton Creek. 

The “fish window” — when in-water work may occur — for Ronald Bog is July 1 to September 30. 

Since work continued after September 30, the wall had to be left over the winter and spring. The sandbags will be removed once the fish window opens again.


 This is the plan being followed for the park.


Sound Transit My Nguyen reports that

Our crew is working on striping the parking lot and hydro-seeding the park which will take approximately three more weeks until it is completed. During this three weeks it will allow our team to assess if the park can be open to the public.  
The re-opening event will be postponed until it is deemed safe to gather in large groups by our state governor. An email alert will be sent out to our readers featuring a date of the event so community members can come enjoy the new amenities to the park.

Article updated 4-29-2020


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Natural lawn care class for Shoreline is online and free

Keep Echo Lake and all other lakes and streams
free of pesticides
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


Free Class: Growing a Healthy Lawn Naturally 
Format: Online via Zoom

Dates: (two sessions of same class)
Wednesday, May 13 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Saturday, May 16, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm.


Class Description:

Do you want a healthy, attractive lawn that is less work to maintain and is safer for kids, pets, and the environment? 

The City of Shoreline is offering two free, virtual classes with instructor Ladd Smith of In Harmony Sustainable Landscapes on Wednesday, May 13 (7 -8 pm) and Saturday, May 16 (11 am – 12 pm) online via Zoom. 

In each session, Ladd will walk through the five steps to creating a healthy and sustainable lawn from the roots up, covering soil health, proper mowing, watering and fertilization, and pest management, as well as lawn renovation and alternatives. 

City Staff will also provide information on the $2,000 Soak It Up rebate available for native landscaping and rain gardens. 

Both sessions will cover the same topics and will provide the opportunity for live Q and A. Use the links below to find more information and to RSVP, or email Cameron at creed@shorelinewa.gov.

Register Online:



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Inslee announces easing of outdoor restrictions

Gov. Jay Inslee

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Monday a partial re-opening of some outdoor recreation activities.

“When I rolled out, ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ over a month ago, difficult decisions were made to close state parks and public lands, golf facilities, and delaying hunting and fishing seasons. This was necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, reduce travel and ultimately, save lives,” Inslee said.
“Outdoor recreation is one of the best things we can do promote physical, mental and emotional well-being for Washingtonians during a time of great stress and isolation. And springtime in our state is Washington at its best and people want to be out enjoying outdoor activities in a safe and responsible way.”

As of Tuesday, May 5, some outdoor recreation will be allowed with appropriate safety precautions including: fishing; hunting; playing golf; day use at state parks, state public lands managed by the Department of Natural Resources and at state Fish and Wildlife areas.


The governor stressed that all of these activities must be done with appropriate social distancing and the safety and security of participants and the people who work in outdoor recreation.

“If we see a sharp uptake in the number of people who are getting sick or are not following appropriate steps, then we won’t hesitate to scale this back again,” Inslee said. “This is not a return to normal. This is only a beginning phase of relaxing outdoor recreation restrictions.”

Public gatherings, events, team sports, and camping, among other things, are not resuming at this time.

Notably, the actions the state is taking in no way prevent the closure actions of local governments or national agencies, who may choose to continue their park, land and trail closures based on local public health needs.




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Flowers on the bluff

Monday, April 27, 2020

Photo by Jan Hansen


Hollyhock? Larkspur? Invasive evil weeds? I don't know but they are pretty - and they have a great view of Puget Sound by Shoreline.

DKH

Updates: Donna Eggen thinks that the leaves give this away as a lilac - an unusual purplish color instead of the traditional lilac. Lorelei Begalka says Jan Hansen's photo is gorgeous and agrees they are lilacs.

Bill Kesel says "It's a lilac and at one time there was a hybridizer In Innis Arden that hybridized lilacs. A lot of the lilacs were fragrant."

Deane Bell: The flowers are a beautiful example of pink Lilacs.The smell must be heavenly! Make a visit late March (may still be in bloom) to Woodland, Washington and visit the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens – kind of like visiting LaConner for tulips. Closed this year but next year: https://lilacgardens.com/ 


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Wind blows down tree



The wind on Saturday blew down this tree. It broke beneath the surface, so presumably had damage from insects.

Lucky for the residents, the tree didn't damage anything and the power lines are on the other side of the tree.

The home is on 10th Ave NE and NE 160th in Shoreline

--Diane Hettrick



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Public Health and DOH case update April 26, 2020

Department of Health


The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated its official list of symptoms that people experience when they get sick from the coronavirus.

The symptoms added are: chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and new loss of taste or smell. This is in addition to the previous official symptoms: fever, cough, and shortness or breath. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. 

Over 16,000 sign up for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder: Washington Health Benefit Exchange announced on April 23 that over 16,000 customers have selected a plan for coverage since the Exchange announced a special enrollment period in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Dashboard

Number of known cases of COVID-19 and deaths April 26

State

  • Positive test results 13,521 up 202
  • 749 deaths

King county

  • Positive test results 5912 up 101
  • 407 deaths up 8

Shoreline

  • Positive test results 275
  • 40 deaths

Lake Forest Park

  • Positive test results 28
  • 0 deaths



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LFP Rotary meeting Wednesday on Zoom

LFP Rotary Meeting on Zoom


The good news is that Lake Forest Park Rotary has made a successful transition to meetings on Zoom.

Please join our Zoooooom meetings every Wednesday 8am to 8:50am.

This week's guest speaker on Wednesday, April 29, 2020 is our King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski.

Email LFP Rotary President Robin Roat to get an invite with the link to join the meeting.
robinleeroat@gmail.com

The bad news? You have to make your own breakfast until such time as when in-person catered breakfast meetings can resume.




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She gazed skyward, lost in thought: Kamala? Elizabeth? Stacey?

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler



Zounds, Lydia concluded, why not me?

How long has it been since we squirrels have had equal representation?

Heck, ANY representation?

--Gloria Z Nagler




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Online class: Launch your side hustle


Register Today! Launch Your SideHustle Online Class on Saturday 5/9 and 5/16

Join small business coach Maggie Karshner and learn how to launch your SideHustle!

This online class will help you plan, price, and market your SideHustle over two Saturday sessions.

Register online here or contact continuing-ed@shoreline.edu for more information.



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Sound Transit contractor will be hauling dirt around the NE 205th interchange

Work being done from here north
Photo by Carl Dinse


This week Sound Transit’s contractor has begun truck hauling and heavy equipment work in north Shoreline / Mountlake Terrace to prepare for link light rail and supplemental activities of the Lynnwood Link Light Rail extension.

The work is expected to be complete by Saturday, May 2. The work will be overnight from 7pm to 5am. The contractor has obtained a Temporary Noise Variance.

NE 205th St to 236th St SW along Northbound I-5.
Also 222nd St SW to 234th St SW along southbound I-5.




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Global healthcare company seeking local plasma donors who have recovered from COVID-19

Grifols Seattle-Area Biomat USA plasma donor centers are now accepting plasma donations from people who have recovered from COVID-19.

The plasma will be used to produce a hyperimmune globulin that, if proven effective, could potentially treat the disease.

This initiative is a result of a collaboration between Grifols, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research Authority (BARDA), and other Federal health agencies.

Hyperimmune globulins are plasma derived-medicines that are effective in the treatment of severe acute infections.

Through the concentration of antibodies from plasma collected from recovered COVID-19 individuals, the hyperimmune globulin can offer precise and consistent dosing with high purity, high potency and a strong safety profile that may help current patients’ immune systems respond to the infection.

Currently, Grifols, founded in Barcelona, Spain a hundred years ago, is focusing on collecting convalescent plasma from potential donors in a handful of cities that had a high number of COVID-19 cases earlier in the outbreak, including the Seattle area (including Everett and Tacoma).

Recovered COVID-19 individuals interested in donating should call 1-866-END-CV19 where trained Grifols specialists will pre-screen potential donors and direct them to their local Grifols plasma donor center. One such center is in Crown Hill, north of Ballard, on 15th NW.

Interested donors must have a diagnosis made with a test (nasal swab or blood) and complete resolution of COVID-19 symptoms at least 28 days prior to donation, or complete resolution of symptoms at least 14 days prior to donation along with a negative molecular test for COVID-19, as well as meet routine eligibility criteria for normal source plasma donation.

Plasma donation is an ongoing obligation. Grifols does compensate its plasma donors for the time commitment involved in being a regular plasma donor.

Learn more here



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Framed flowers

Photo by Seattle Poppy


A unique fence and perfectly placed flowers at this yard on 8th NE across from the Shoreline North Station.




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Senior Center members have opportunity to be screened for COVID-19

Swedish Community Response Clinic at the
Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Swedish Hospital recently contacted Sound Generations to offer COVID-19 testing to selected senior centers through its mobile "Community Response Clinic."

The Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center was selected for the project because of its large service area and number of members.

This is a one-time event. Members have been contacted to offer screening and testing as needed. Members were sent emails and those without emails on file are being contacted by phone.

If they are interested, they call the contact number or respond to the email. They will get a call back to be verbally screened for symptoms. If they do not have symptoms or have not been knowingly exposed, they are told what to watch for and to call back if they develop symptoms.

If they do have symptoms, they are given a 15 minute appointment time on Monday in the parking lot at the Senior Center where they will be given a test to see if they are positive for COVID-19.

The project is for members of the Senior Center only, and of those, for seniors who have symptoms.

Those who miss this opportunity can be screened and tested, as needed, at ICHS in Shoreline. (See article).

--Diane Hettrick



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COVID-19 testing (after screening) continues at ICHS in Shoreline

COVID-19 testing continues at ICHS


ICHS continues to offer drive-up appointments to test for COVID-19 at their clinic in Shoreline.

The UPDATED Shoreline Clinic hours are Monday to Friday, 1pm-3pm in the drive in at the ICHS Shoreline Clinic, 16549 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline 98133.

We are pleased to say that we have sufficient test kits and will continue hosting testing into the foreseeable future. Tests are free and open to everyone.

We encourage everyone who has symptoms give us a call and our nurses will talk through symptoms and then refer appointments.

Tests are limited for those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms but anyone can call for screening:  206-533-2600.

During your testing appointment, you will remain in your car. A health care provider will approach your car window to swab your nose and provide information on how to obtain test results.

Interpretation will be available if you need language assistance. 



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Blossoms

Sunday, April 26, 2020

Photo by Steven H. Robinson


This is a fruit tree - cherry, pear, not sure which kind. Steve took this photo while the blossoms were still full on the tree. 

At my house the wind Saturday treated me to a snowstorm of cherry blossom petals.

I'm not sure they add much to the aesthetic of the deck but since we built the deck around the tree trunk I can hardly complain.

DKH




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Scene on the Sound: Barge race


Photos and musings by Jan Hansen


Barge race?

It is just unusual to see two bulk carriers looking like twins in a parade.

Could it be a race?



No, their destinations were different, one going to Seattle, and the other headed to Tacoma.

Sheltered in place, one has more time to observe and wonder.




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Online auction to benefit Tubie Friends

Tubie Friends is a locally run charity that serves children with medically complex lives. 

Times are hard right now for charities and our kids need your help. We are proud of our work and how we ensure that almost every dollar goes to the kids (no paid staff or overhead).

Tubie Friends’ mission is to provide comfort, therapy and education for families who are dealing with the challenges of having a child with chronic medical illness. 

The families we work with have children who have medical devices placed on or in their bodies. We provide the family with a high-quality stuffed animal that is customized for each child. 

If the child has a feeding tube and a central line, then we will sew a feeding tube and central line into the stuffed animal they request.

 
These are then used to help caregivers, including school personnel, become accustomed to the equipment by practicing on the Tubie Friend. 

It also is a comfort to the child who feels like he/she is the only one who has a tube like this in his/her body.

More information about Tubie Friends HERE or on Facebook  

The board members live and operate Tubie Friends out of their homes in Mill Creek, Bothell, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace. 

Annually, they send around 2000 Tubie Friends all over the world.

Prior to the pandemic, we had worked so hard to secure donations for our annual auction, which is our largest fundraiser for the year.

 
Since it is an online auction, we have opted to move forward with our event. Pick-ups will have flexible dates so you don't make an extra trip out and social distancing rules will be followed, including wearing gloves and masks when handling your items. 

Look at the amazing community support! So many local businesses and donations from neighbors made this possible. 

We hope you find something that you will come back to bid on starting April 28. 

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Seattle Opera receives $2.3 million federal loan

On Thursday, Seattle Opera received a $2.3 million loan under the federal Payroll Protection Program (PPP), a federal government stimulus program.
 
Seattle Opera had previously announced the cancellation of its May La bohème performances, along with the loss of employment for everyone involved with the production. 

On March 25, the company also announced furloughs for 12 administrative staff and pay reductions for the remaining staff who earn more than $50,000 annually.

The PPP funds will allow the company to rehire most of the people who had been scheduled to work on La bohème including orchestra, chorus, stage management, stage crew—plus wardrobe, costumes, hair and makeup crew. 

Administrative staff who had been put on furlough will be rehired for eight weeks, and those who had salary reductions will be restored to full pay for eight weeks (with a mandated cap of $100,000 in annual salary).

“We expect to bring approximately 180 individuals back on the payroll for a finite period of time thanks to the PPP (Payroll Protection Plan),” said General Director Christina Scheppelmann. 
“I am very pleased Seattle Opera received this loan which will go as intended to our employees. These are unprecedented and uncertain times for all. We are looking forward to the return of live events at the Opera Center and McCaw Hall once it is safe to do so. 
"We also look forward to being part of the recovery and healing of our community. But the health and safety of our workforce and customers remains our top priority.”

Even as McCaw Hall’s stage remains dark, Seattle Opera continues to provide music and opera learning to those in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 

Starting April 25, 2020, 98.1 Classical KING FM will broadcast recordings of previous Seattle Opera performances beginning with Verdi’s Aida. Broadcasts will be available on the radio and at king.org every Saturday morning at 10am Pacific Time.

The company is also presenting a three-part recital with mezzo-soprano Sarah Larson and pianist Jay Rozendaal as well as children’s programs and opera talks online.

Established in 1963, Seattle Opera is committed to serving the people of the Pacific Northwest with performances of the highest caliber and through innovative educational and engagement programs for all. Connect with Seattle Opera on Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, and on 98.1 Classical KING FM.



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Lydia believed in eating a balanced meal

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler


and she practiced what she preached




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Public Health case updates - over 13,300 known infections in the state

Dashboard

State:
  • Total known cases 13,319 (up 342)
  • Deaths 738
King county:
  • Total known cases 5,811 (up 122)
  • Deaths 399 - including 100 in age group 70-79 and 224 in group 80+
Shoreline:
  • Total known cases 269
  • Deaths 39
Lake Forest Park:
  • Total known cases 28
  • Deaths 0


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Work begins on Northgate Pedestrian Bridge - planning begins for 148th Pedestrian Bridge

Construction to begin on Northgate
Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge

Seattle Department of Transportation has begun work on the Northgate Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge that will connect communities on each side of I-5 and provide easy access for transit and the future light rail station. 

Beginning as soon as April 13 and throughout the month of May, there will be work in the median near the northbound I-5 express lane off-ramp at 1st Ave NE and NE 103rd St.

Work will take place between 11pm to 5am and is within the regularly scheduled express lane closure hours.

During this time, they will be installing temporary concrete barriers, clearing and grubbing vegetation, working on drainage, and installing a block wall system.

From March 30 until April 3, the shoulder of northbound I-5 will be closed from 7am to 3:30pm while work on below-ground support for bridge columns takes place.

To learn more about the project and the active work, visit the SDOT webpage.

Design concept for 148th pedestrian bridge

Shoreline is currently planning a Pedestrian and Bicycle Bridge over I-5 at NE 148th. 

Detailed information is available online and the City is actively seeking feedback from citizens.


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Recognizing the work of parents and grandparents to care for the young people in our community

Rod Dembowski and son Evan who is a
senior in high school


Part of a newsletter from Rod Dembowski 
King County Councilmember for north King county

I also want to take time to recognize the incredible work that parents, grandparents, relatives and guardians of all kinds have undertaken in recent weeks to care for the young people in our community. 

Closed schools have had a tremendously adverse impact on the educational advancement of children and youth and put their caregivers to new tests. 

For those of us with seniors in high school, there has been an additional and added element of sadness that many of the traditional rites of passage have been canceled or delayed. 

I am including some resources below for those of you caring for children. I wanted to share a photo memory of a happier time with my older son, Evan, who graduates from high school this year. 

I am looking forward to a return of open schools, sunny days, and a Husky victory at their next Rose Bowl appearance. With dedicated efforts from everyone to combat this virus (and some good recruiting work at the UW), we will get there.

Additional Resources for Parents

Like all parents, we are taking this new challenge of our two high school boys being home for the remainder of the school year day by day, while working to ensure they keep up with their studies. It’s an added challenge considering parents are still expected to manage their own daily workload. 

As we all work to juggle the many hats this crisis has forced us to wear, I’ve found the resources compiled by the Road Map Project to be a particularly helpful tool for parents.

Additionally, our local school districts including, Lake Washington, Northshore, Seattle, and Shoreline continue to be great resources.

I am also grateful that local organizations including the Seattle Zoo and its Zoo to You program, the Seattle Pacific Science Center and the Seattle Aquarium are providing free virtual resources for parents and their kids.




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You can't stop a book club for long - this one Zooms



By Diane Hettrick

Readers appreciate quiet, alone time to read their books. But when they are finished they want someone to talk to about it.

And if they are accustomed to talking books with a group of friends - they will find a way around a quarantine.

This group was thrilled to find out that Zoom has extended time on its free program to an hour. They discussed the book “The Huntress” by Kate Quinn, who also wrote another book they enjoyed called “The Alice Network”.  

This is 'a fascinating historical novel about a battle-haunted English journalist and a Russian female bomber pilot who join forces to track the Huntress, a Nazi war criminal gone to ground in America.'

Then they just chatted and laughed and enjoyed having company and a semblance of their normal lives.

"I needed that fun... and loved the book!" said one. 
And another confided "To be honest, I needed a lift in spirit, and you ladies provided that. Thank you!"

Their next meeting is March 23 and they have not yet selected the book.



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Executive Constantine announces supplemental budget for COVID response, small businesses, homeless youth, arts and tourism

Saturday, April 25, 2020

County Executive Dow Constantine

King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted an emergency spending package Thursday to the King County Council that would continue the County’s critical COVID-19 response efforts, including leasing isolation sites and providing alternatives to shelters. 

The appropriation request also supports small businesses and advances future lodging revenues for tourism and arts. 

“We must do all we can to help our small businesses and arts and cultural organizations emerge from this crisis alive and well, ready to put thousands of people back to work and unite us through the recovery. 
"Similarly, we need to help jump-start our hard-hit visitor industry, which supports thousands more jobs and is a vital part of our regional economy," said Executive Constantine.
"By wisely leveraging lodging tax revenues we can accomplish these goals, and preserve some of what makes this region so special. 
"I am also proposing to include funds for homeless youth, bolstering our work to help vulnerable teens reach adulthood healthy and ready to live full, productive lives.”

Rod Dembowski, King County Councilmember representing Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and other parts of north King county, said,

"This proposal is an investment in bringing business and jobs back to our region. It does so by supporting the industries and organizations that make the greater Seattle area one of the most popular destinations — and places to live — in the world. 
"We can’t afford to lose what makes our region so special, and this step is part of ensuring that we won’t.'

Details of what is included in the supplemental budget HERE



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First ever virtual Gala for the Arts



You are cordially invited to the first ever virtual Gala for the Arts!

6:30pm, Saturday, May 16th


If you believe, like us, that creativity is more important now than ever; please join us for an incredible evening supporting arts and culture in our community, by helping fund the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council’s programs.

Two days before the event a "Gala in a Box" will be hand delivered to your doorstep. Inside you'll find tasty treats from LFP's own Chocolate Man, bubbly from the North City Bistro, and a few other surprises just to keep you on your toes. 

Items will be locally sourced whenever possible, purposely supporting local businesses


TICKETS

Three ticket levels: 

Individual - $35
Couple - $70
Patron Individual - $95


“Gala in a Box” packages will be delivered via a white-glove service to locations within a 10 mile radius of the Arts Council main office in Shoreline, WA. Out of area guests are welcome to come to the Gala...but you'll have to provide your own bubbly.

For more event information or to purchase tickets/make a donation, please visit our website! Thank you.

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



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Wellness tools for Apple Health (Medicaid) subscribers

Bellevue-based Limeade®, working with the state Health Care Authority (HCA), announced Friday, April 24, that free online wellness tools are being extended to more than 200,000 Apple Health (Medicaid) clients through 2020. 

This is another resource for Apple Health clients during the COVID-19 pandemic and includes tools to address emotional, physical and financial well-being. 

This is the first time the Limeade Well-Being solution has been made available to Apple Health clients. More than 1.8 million Washington residents are enrolled in Apple Health; HCA and Limeade selected the clients who would be eligible for this free service based on geography and if they have an active email address on file. Eligible individuals are Apple Health clients ages 19 to 64 and pregnant women in King, Snohomish, Pierce and Spokane counties.

“The COVID-19 pandemic is causing many Washingtonians to experience new levels of stress or anxiety, and is also causing many of us to pay more attention to our physical health,” Governor Jay Inslee said. 
“We’ve offered this tool from Limeade to our state employees for the past several years to help keep our state employees healthy, and now I hope these tools can help more people—mentally and physically—during this difficult time.”

Making this tool to Apple Health clients is one of several strategies HCA is employing to ensure access to health care services—including behavioral health care—during the pandemic.

HCA has purchased and distributed hundreds of Zoom Telehealth licenses to providers to support continuity of care through virtual appointments, and is distributing laptops and cell phones to key providers and clients to facilitate care.

In addition, HCA last week announced changes to Apple Health managed care to ensure provider sustainability and client access to care during and beyond the pandemic.



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USPS Informed Delivery®

Shoreline Police warn:

Don’t let your IRS COVID-19 stimulus check fall into the wrong hands!

The US Postal Service is warning that there may be increases in mail-related criminal activity during this time when checks are being sent out. 

Please be sure to retrieve your mail daily, whether you have a locked, unlocked, or cluster mailbox. 

Also, consider signing up for USPS’s Informed Delivery® at this link

This service allows you to “digitally preview your mail and manage your packages scheduled to arrive soon.”

If you believe your stimulus check has been stolen, please contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service or call 1-800-ASK-USPS.



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Shrinks



Previous cartoons can be seen HERE



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Letter to the Editor: Explore Shoreline's impressive art collection

To the Editor:

I appreciated the April 24 commentary, “Sunshine is a good reason to check out Shoreline’s public art” which I assume was submitted by our city’s dynamic Public Art Coordinator, David Francis. [Ed. Correst!]

He noted that today, April 25, is International Sculpture Day, when organizations and artists herald the history and importance of sculpture as an art form.

Outdoor art provides the unique opportunity to marry engaging art with nature, and the best installations are in sites where the natural setting enhances the sculptures. Many of Shoreline’s public art pieces are so situated.

Our northwest landscape in the spring is exuberant, awash in lushness, beauty and life. It is arguably the best time to experience pieces of public art. If there is anything that is fortunate about this plague that we are immersed in, it is that it has descended on us in the spring, when all around us life and color are ballooning. The earth is again exhibiting it’s relentless power to regenerate life, even as disease and death surround us.

We need art in this emergency. We especially need art in the outdoors, when we can experience the combined healing and hopefulness from both art and nature. Art reminds us that we are capable of creating great beauty, of experiencing resilience even at times of great hardship. And the hopefulness of spring, every spring, is a powerful reminder that life will prevail, and artists will certainly create powerful art in response to this pandemic.

So - take to the outdoors and use David’s interactive map to walk, bike and explore Shoreline’s impressive public art collection. Bring your kids. Many are along trails and in parks, still open to all of us. Safe distancing is easy to achieve. Get an art infusion. It just might be your most lasting legacy from this historic calamity.

Bruce Amundson, Member
Shoreline Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Board



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Governor announces plan to allow current construction projects to be completed

Work on the Alexan Shoreline was stopped by Governor's order
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


Gov. Jay Inslee, in consultation with the state’s construction industry, announced a plan today to allow current construction projects to be completed.

The recommendations were informed by workers, contractors, health and safety experts, and local government officials, for safe construction standards.

“I thank all those involved in the construction work group in helping us get to this decision in a responsible way that supports workers, businesses, and communities in a way that protects the health of all of their families and ours,” Inslee said. 
“Our strategy is working and we need to keep with it. We would much rather protect people from sickness and death now, so that we don’t have to go through this crisis all over again later.”

The requirements developed by the work group are as follows:

1) Restart existing construction projects with COVID-19 safety plans that allow work which only can be performed while meeting social distancing requirements.

2) Prior to recommencing work, all contractors are required to develop and post at each job site a comprehensive COVID-19 exposure control, mitigation and recovery plan.

3) All contractors are required to post at each job site a written notice to employees, subcontractors and government officials the work that will be performed at that job site and a signed commitment to adhere to the requirements.

4) All contractors have a general obligation to keep a safe and healthy job site in accordance with state and federal law.

Specific safety requirements include:
  • COVID-19 site supervisor
    • A site-specific COVID-19 supervisor will be designated by the contractor at every job site to monitor the health of employees and enforce the COVID-19 job site safety plan.
  • COVID-19 safety training
    • A training must be conducted on all job sites on the first day of returning to work, and weekly thereafter, to explain the protective measures in place for all workers.
  • Social distancing
    • Social distancing of at least 6 feet of separation must be maintained by every person on the job site at all times.
  • Personal protective equipment (PPE) — employer provided
    • Employers must provide personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves, goggles, face shields and face masks as appropriate, or required, for the work being done.
    • The plan also includes proper sanitation and cleanliness for workers, as well as policies to encourage workers to stay home or leave the job site when they are sick.
    • The order includes public construction projects underway from the state Department of Transportation as well. WSDOT staff and contractors will implement similar protocols and crews will need to demonstrate how they will adhere to safety protocols and compliance.


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This can't end well: Eagles and ducklings

Ronald Bog
Photo by Martin DeGrazia

By Diane Hettrick

There's a lot going on in this Ronald Bog photo by Martin DeGrazia. The two eagles are the ones in the previously published photo, landing in Ronald Bog. (see previous article).

In this photo they are sitting on one of the sandbag barriers put in place to prevent sediment from entering the lake during the park remodeling project.

The large black plastic bags outside and inside the barrier wall are also part of the project.

If you look closely, there are two mother ducks with large broods of ducklings swimming inside the barrier. One has a brood of 13 and the other has 7-9. The eagles are clearly interested.

I asked Martin what happened to the ducklings but he didn't stay to see. 

I did check in with Sound Transit for an update on the park.

Rebecca McAndrew, Sound Transit Senior Environmental Planner reported: 

Most of the work is finished at Ronald Bog. The contractor should be hydroseeding the lawn outside of the mitigation area this week. The ideal time to hydroseed is after March when there is no chance of frost. 
The three interpretive signs to be installed are almost done. I believe the parking lot will need to be restriped and there could be a few other minor things that need to be done before the park is reopened. 
The sandbag wall (also called a cofferdam) isolates the work area from the rest of the pond so sediment-laden water (stirred up while the contractor disturbs soil) doesn’t enter the main pond and flow downstream on the North Branch of Thornton Creek. 
The “fish window” — when in-water work may occur — for Ronald Bog is July 1 to September 30.  
Since work continued after September 30, the wall had to be left over the winter and spring. The sandbags will be removed once the fish window opens again.



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Sound Transit underground utility installation at NE 125th next week

Sound Transit crews will be installing underground utilities at NE 125th St and 3rd Ave NE on the westside of I-5 beginning Tuesday, April 28th and continuing to Friday, May 1st.

The road will be reduced to one lane with flaggers directing traffic. Expect noise and vibration.

This is daytime work 7am to 5pm but the vacuum truck will be running at night and will be noisy.

In addition, steel plates will be left in the work zone overnight. 

After-hours construction hotline: 888-298-2395.



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