Sonic boom startled north end residents Wednesday evening

Friday, May 8, 2020

Photo courtesy @Scout_Storm on Twitter


A sonic boom at 7pm Wednesday evening, May 6, 2020 startled residents from Lake Forest Park to the Kitsap Peninsula.

It was apparently caused by space dust entering the atmosphere and exploding.

SpaceWeather.com said,

The eta Aquarid meteor shower, caused by dust from Halley's Comet, is still active on May 6th, but it appears to be subsiding. Data from the International Meteor Organization suggest that the shower peaked on May 4th with maximum rates near 45 per hour. Glare from the waxing full Moon will make the display difficult to see for the next few nights. Practically speaking, for casual sky watchers the show is over.

So if it hadn't been for the Flower Moon, the meteor shower might have been visible - at least outside of brightly lit urban areas.

A Brier resident @Scout_Storm posted a photo of the explosion on Twitter. He said that the sonic boom came three minutes after the visible explosion. A person who commented on the photo said that would mean the explosion was 50 miles away.



Read more...

Full flower moon

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Photo by Lee Lageschulte


When did the moon get so many names? Full flower. Blood. Wolf, Super.

Space.com says:

The full moon of May, also called the Flower Moon, will occur the morning of Thursday, May 7, at 6:45 a.m. EDT (1045 GMT), according to NASA's SkyCal site. This full moon will come just two days after the moon reaches perigee, or the closest point to Earth in its orbit, making this a "supermoon," according to NASA. 



Read more...

Inslee issues guidance for vehicle and vessel sales, and drive-in religious services, in Phase 1 of recovery

Gov. Jay Inslee

Gov. Jay Inslee issued guidance Wednesday for vehicle and vessel sales, and drive-in religious services allowed under the Safe Start Phase 1 recovery plan laid out earlier this week.

Through the Washington "Safe Start" plan, more businesses and activities will re-open in subsequent phases with adequate social distancing measures and worker safety and health standards in place.

Each phase will be at least three weeks — metrics and data will guide when the state can move from one phase to another.

One of the first industries to re-open under Phase 1 is vehicle and vessel sales.

“This guidance is the work of a strong collaborative process between my office and the industry,” Inslee said. 
"Here is a great example of vehicle and vessels sales dealerships leading the way to ensure the opening of their businesses puts the health and safety needs of their employees and customers first.”



Inslee also released guidance today allowing religious, spiritual and faith-based organizations the ability to conduct drive-in services.

“Faith is so important at all times, but especially during times of crisis and difficulty. This unique drive-in service option will allow people to come together,” Inslee said. 
“Our goal has always been to keep Washingtonians safe and healthy, and this option allows them to do that while participating in religious, spiritual and faith-based activities.”



Read more...

Posing Goldfinch

Photo by Jo Simmons


This finch was in Jo Simmons back yard.




Read more...

Do you need medical insurance - you have until Friday to sign up

Washington Healthplanfinder Urges Uninsured to Act Fast to Meet Friday Deadline 

As part of the state Coronavirus response, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange is urging individuals who did not secure health insurance for 2020 to sign up for coverage by 5:30pm on Friday, May 8, the deadline of the limited-time special enrollment period through Washington Healthplanfinder for coverage beginning May 1, 2020.

 “Now is the time to sign up for health coverage if you are currently uninsured,” said Exchange Chief Executive Officer Pam MacEwan. “There are many resources available to help individuals understand their options and secure health coverage before the special enrollment period ends.” 

Individuals who need help signing up for coverage through Washington Healthplanfinder may contact the Customer Support Center between 7:30am to 5:30pm Monday-Friday at 1-855-923-4633; TTY: 855-627- 9604.

They may also contact an Exchange certified Navigator, Broker, or Enrollment center who can answer insurance questions and with enrollment. Free help from local experts is accessible via the WAPlanfinderMobile App or by visiting the advice page

The Exchange is also reminding people that even after May 8, individuals who have recently lost their job or their employer coverage, have experienced a change in income, or experienced another qualifying event can continue to visit WAHealthplanfinder.org or use the WAPlanfinder Mobile App to sign up online.



Read more...

Rose

Photo by Mike Remarcke

Mike likes his flowers close up. So do we.



Read more...

61% of state COVID-19 deaths are in long term care facilities

21 states report more than 10,000 cases
Dashboard


As of May 6, 2020, another 311 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Washington, bringing the total number of cases to 15,905, including 870 deaths.

Updated Long Term Care Facility COVID-19 death data released 

As of 5/2/2020, a total of 2,894 COVID-19 cases (19% of total cases) and 507 deaths (61% of total deaths) have been identified as associated with a long-term care facility, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities or adult family homes. 

These cases may include residents as well as employees and visitors, and currently, the Department of Health says they have limited ability to distinguish amongst them.

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

In King county, an additional 117 cases brings the county total to 6,770. Another 7 people died for a county total of 474. 

431 of the people who died were over the age of 60 but there is no way of knowing how many were in care facilities.

Shoreline
  • 304 known cases
  • 48 deaths
Lake Forest Park
  • 29 known cases
  • 1 death
In the United States 
  • 1,193,813 confirmed cases
  • 70,802 deaths
  • 2,523 people died since yesterday

Read more...

People: Ready to celebrate 100th birthday after recovering from COVID-19

Edward Mueller, 99, and Margarita Andrijic, 99 plan to 
celebrate Mueller’s 100th birthday at home this year, 
following his recovery from COVID-19. 
Photo courtesy of Alice Finn VanHoesen


By Kellie Schmitt

Mill Creek resident Edward Mueller, 99, had planned to celebrate his 100th birthday in Paris, where his daughter and grandson live.

But after surviving COVID-19 — and a two-week hospital stay — Mueller said he’s perfectly content to mark the milestone at home next month.

“I’m a little disappointed, but there’s nothing magic about a certain date,”

said Mueller, a retired colonel and frequent face at the Edmonds Senior Center dances.

“We’ll reschedule.”

With more than 870 COVID-related deaths in Washington state — a number that’s highly concentrated among the oldest adults — Mueller’s experience is a story of hope, recovery, determination and gratitude amid a devastating pandemic.

Listening to intuition

Lake Forest Park resident Margarita Andrijic, 99, said she knew something serious was wrong with her companion of 10 years in early March, well before people started social distancing and businesses closed. She had fixed his favorite dinner, but he wouldn’t touch it.

“He’d sell his soul for a hamburger and French fries,” she said, laughing. “I knew something was wrong.”

That plus a cough and fatigue prompted her to call his doctor and then the paramedics, who evaluated him at the kitchen table. They left without taking him to the hospital, saying his vitals were fine.

“I still wasn’t happy,” Andrijic said. “A law professor once told me to follow your gut reaction, and I’ve always done that. So, the same day, I called the doctor’s office again.”

They scheduled an appointment for that afternoon. Once the clinician listened to Mueller’s lungs, he directed him to Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. There, Mueller would test positive for COVID-19 and stay for nearly two weeks.

Meanwhile, Andrijic reached out to everyone who had been exposed, including the paramedics and all of their senior dancing friends. She got tested herself and the results came back negative, a surprise since the couple often stays together at her Lake Forest Park home.

Taking things as they come

As Mueller’s hospital stay stretched on, Andrijic stayed calm: “You keep telling yourself: If it’s the worst, I’ll just make the best of it. What else can you do? You can’t sit around and feel sorry for yourself.”

Mueller, who received supplemental oxygen during his stay, eventually pulled through. He said the staff did the best they could in the throes of a burgeoning pandemic: “I take my hat off to them.”

The stay itself was a stress, and unpleasant, but the illness didn’t scare him, he said. As a career Air Force colonel who served in W.W.II and during Vietnam, he had learned to take things as they come.

“You’re assigned a job, you make the most of it, and you do it,” he said. “I endured, that’s all. Finally, they certified that I was free and let me go.”

Rest, healthy meals and walks

Mueller isn’t sure how he contracted the coronavirus, but he does have some thoughts on why he was able to recover.

“I’d like to say good living, good nutrition, good exercise, and plenty of rest,” he said.

Now that he’s recovered, Mueller is venturing outside again.

“We walk every day, just a little bit,” Andrijic said. “Just a few steps more, that’s all I care about, a few steps forward.”

The couple, who met at a senior dance mixer in Bothell, had bonded over an enthusiasm for exercise and good health.

After three decades of military service, Mueller was no stranger to staying fit. A native of South Dakota, he had settled in the Pacific Northwest after retirement, drawn to its plentiful outdoor opportunities. He finally gave up skiing in his 90s.

Edward Mueller and Margarita Andrijic enjoy 
attending dances hosted by the Edmonds Senior 
Center. They’re looking forward to getting back 
into the swing of things once it’s safe to return.
Photo courtesy of John Vanderbeck
Senior dance community

Over the past decade, Andrijic helped him fine tune his ballroom dancing. Mueller particularly enjoyed the events at the Edmonds Senior Center.

“The dancing is good, the conversation is good, and the little snacks are really good,” Mueller said.

The Edmonds dance community was aware of Mueller’s hospitalization, said Fran Vanderbeck, a senior center volunteer who makes sure those scrumptious snacks are out.

“It was always fun to visit with the two of them—they both are very upbeat and gracious,” she said. 

“It’s sad that we can’t get together now, although we all understand the importance of staying apart.”

Last year, Mueller celebrated his 99th birthday at the temporary senior center dance site at the Edmonds Church of God. This year, his dancing friends had planned to celebrate early with him before the Paris trip.

Instead, Mueller and Andrijic will likely stay home, perhaps enjoying one of her Croatian-influenced dishes made with lots of fish and vegetables, olive oil, garlic and onion — a style of cooking she attributes in part to their good health. Of course, there will be plenty of chocolate to follow.
“His all-time favorite is chocolate — chocolate candy, cake, syrup — you name it,” she said. “All I have to do is put chocolate on it.”

Although Mueller misses his social life and is eager to return to the senior dance circuit, he said a quiet celebration with Andrijic sounds perfectly fine.

“Just being around her is something I’m thankful for,” he said. 
She couldn’t agree more: “We take the good with the bad and are thankful for every day we’re alive.”



Read more...

Shoreline cancels summer events and classes; summer day camp offerings reduced to meet health and safety guidelines

Celebrate Shoreline and all summer events are cancelled for 2020
Photo by Steven H. Robinson


From the City of Shoreline

The City of Shoreline regrets to announce that our annual array of citywide summer celebrations, neighborhood events, and recreation classes will be cancelled this year in response to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Popular summer camps are being reconfigured
Current registrations are being cancelled

We will also need to redesign and limit participants to our summer day camps to meet health and safety guidelines. 

This will require us to cancel current camp registrations and open new registration for the new camp offerings.

This was not an easy decision for us to make. Residents throughout the community look forward to these events every year. And our summer camps are extremely popular. 

However, in order to help keep our community healthy, we simply cannot operate as we have in the past. During these unprecedented times, we have been taking and will continue to take the steps needed to ensure the health and safety of Shoreline residents, businesses, and employees. We have modified our operations to follow county, state, and federal disease-prevention guidelines.

While we are canceling all current camp registrations, we WILL be offering some summer camps, structured to meet health and safety needs. 

Scheduled camps have been cancelled
Different types of camps will be offered


As a result, there will be fewer camp spaces this summer. We will reach out to all current camp registrants via email alerting them to the new camp offerings soon. The City will provide full refunds to current camp registrants for any fees already collected. We will also post information on the City’s website as it becomes available and will alert the public with more information on new camp registration in the next few weeks.

While we won’t be able to gather for our annual celebrations and events, we are also looking at ways to ensure we can still celebrate

We are working with our partner organizations and neighborhood associations to find ways to capture some of the community and creativity of summer events through other means. Now more than ever it is important for us to make those community connections, even if they are done from a distance. We will keep you informed as we develop these alternative “gatherings” and encourage everyone to find a way to stay connected.


 

Read more...

Sen. Frockt to serve as chair of state senate bipartisan COVID-19 long-term recovery committee

Sen. David Frockt, D-46 will chair
economic recovery committee

Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig (D-Spokane) today announced the formation of a bipartisan Special Committee on Economic Recovery in the Washington State Senate to address the state’s long-term economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

The committee will hold its first meeting in June and is tasked with making recommendations on COVID-19 recovery legislation in advance of the 2021 legislative session, or before that if lawmakers are called back into session this year.

“It’s hard to imagine a single aspect of day-to-day life in Washington that will not be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and we must respond swiftly to its devastating impacts on workers, businesses and households with solutions that will foster a robust and sustained recovery,” Billig said. 
“This bipartisan committee will lay the groundwork and help lead our state in addressing the economic impacts of the virus through effective and innovative solutions to this unprecedented challenge.”

Sen. David Frockt (D-46) will serve as the committee’s chair. Republican Senator Randi Becker (R-Eatonville) will serve as vice chair. In total, the seven-member committee will be comprised of four Democrats and three Republicans. Democratic senators will include Sens. Manka Dhingra, Christine Rolfes and Rebecca Saldana. In addition to Becker, Sen. Tim Sheldon and a yet-to-be-determined Republican will represent the Senate GOP.

“The purpose of this select committee is to look deeply at the ways in which the pandemic has structurally changed our state and regional economies, and to make recommendations on how we can come out stronger on the other side for workers and the businesses that employ them,” Frockt said. 
“The goal is to have this committee work together, without partisanship, in order to drive innovative, forward-looking ideas that can help the people in every corner of this state recover and prosper.”

The committee will hold work sessions in the coming months to hear from experts in a variety of fields, look at what other states are doing to recover from the outbreak and identify innovative ways to rejuvenate Washington’s economy and communities throughout the state.

The Senate’s Facilities and Operations Committee voted Wednesday to officially form the committee.



Read more...

COVID-19 is not like chickenpox - Health department alarmed by reports of people deliberately exposing themselves to virus

Washington State Department of Health officials are alarmed by reports of “coronavirus parties” in which uninfected people are mingling with COVID-19 positive individuals to try to contract the virus.

“Gathering in groups in the midst of this pandemic can be incredibly dangerous and puts people at increased risk for hospitalization and even death,” John Wiesman, Washington State Secretary of Health said. 
"Furthermore, it is unknown if people who recover from COVID-19 have long-term protection. There is still a lot we don’t know about this virus, including any long-term health issues which may occur after infection. This kind of unnecessary behavior may create a preventable uptick in cases which further slows our state's ability to gradually re-open.” ​

DOH encourages every Washingtonian to continue to follow Governor Inslee's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order.



Read more...

Take the Shopper Oath before the LFP Farmers Market Sunday



The ever popular Lake Forest Park Farmers Market opens this Sunday, May 10th (10 AM to 3 PM), and it will once again be chock-full of your favorite market fresh foods and Mother’s Day flowers.

However, there will also be some big changes as the market evolves to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the market is safe for everyone. Here are some of the ways the market will be different this year.

This year, the market must shift away from being a community event to being your quick in-and-out destination for essential food shopping. As the market evolves, the way the community shops must change, too.​

Everyone must act together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 through strict social distancing, routine sanitation, and other measures designed to minimize risks for everyone. This is vital to the safety and health of shoppers, farmers, volunteers, and staff. Health and safety are paramount for all.

In addition, if the market doesn’t maintain social distancing and other commitments, it could be closed again. So before you head to the market this Sunday, please take the Market Shopper Oath to help ensure the safety and success of the market.

THE SHOPPER OATH

As a responsible market shopper, I will:
  • STAY HOME if I am sick or if I have been in contact with someone who is sick.
  • Make a shopping list before visiting the market.
  • Pre-order and prepay vendors whenever possible. (Pre-order info here.)
  • Designate one shopper per household.
  • Leave my pet at home unless it is a service animal.
  • Wear a face covering to the market and know that I will not be discriminated against for this choice.
  • Pay attention to modifications and signs and adhere to them.
  • Not touch products, but instead ask a vendor for what I would like.
  • Maintain 6 feet of space at all times. I will look for physical cues like tape, chalk, and signs to help remind me.
  • Shop quickly and efficiently. I won't loiter for chats with my favorite vendors - I will offer them a smile (behind my mask) and a wave.
  • Use the provided hand sanitizer and hand wash stations at the market.
  • Avoid touching my eyes, nose, mouth, and face in general.
  • Cover my cough or sneeze with a tissue, then dispose of it. Then wash my hands.
  • Set an example for all by being the most responsible shopper I can possibly be!

Also, if you are at risk (65+, underlying conditions, immunosuppressed, or pregnant), please consider staying home and sending someone else to do your shopping.

Thank you for supporting the LFP Farmers Market and its vendors – and for shopping responsibly! ​

The Lake Forest Park Farmers Market is a program of Third Place Commons, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization celebrating its 20th anniversary of fostering real community in real space. Third Place Commons is located in the Town Center at Lake Forest Park at 17171 Bothell Way NE, Lake Forest Park 98155. Learn more at ThirdPlaceCommons.org.




Read more...

Sunset on the Cascades

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Photo by Mike Remarcke

Tuesday's sunset on the Cascades with remnants of storm clouds and rain.




Read more...

Therapeutic Garden Kits - just in time for Mother’s Day

Eldergrow, a Seattle-based therapeutic gardening company, is now going where they have never gone before –– your backyard!
 
Launched in 2015, Eldergrow started with a focus on supporting elders in senior living. To celebrate their five-year anniversary, Eldergrow recently unveiled their new Farm-to-Fork Herb Garden and Activity Kit, built to bring the restorative benefits of gardening right to your doorstep –– just in time for Mother’s Day.

In these uncertain times, gardening is becoming increasingly more important to our well-being. With the stay-at-home orders brought on by COVID-19, communities are searching for meaningful activities. 

Gardening is an amazing way to establish a new purpose, create self-sufficiency, and develop hope in the uncertainty of our world. It is no surprise that plant nurseries are selling out of their stock at an unprecedented rate. With these one-stop shop kits, Eldergrow makes it easy to safely start a garden from the comfort of one’s home.

Eldergrow’s turnkey kit includes a delivery of fresh, organic herb plants, along with all of the tools needed to start a thriving herb garden from the ground up. Customers receive access to an online portal full of tasty recipes, fun garden activities, and tips on how to keep your herb garden healthy. 

The kits come in four fun options: Happy Hour, Anytime Savory, Full Ensemble, and Mini Medley herb mixes.

“We’re grateful to celebrate five years and launch our garden kits which will help all communities during this tough time. We’re still looking out for our elders - a portion of all proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association,” says Eldergrow CEO and Founder, Orla Concannon, on the new Farm-to-Fork Kits.

A meaningful connection to nature is priceless. Daily gardening has been proven to reduce stress, improve sleep, and reduce the risk-factors of dementia by 36%.* For more information and how to order your own Farm-to-Fork Herb Garden and Activity Kit, visit Eldergrow’s website

Eldergrow is a Seattle-based therapeutic gardening company with the mission to connect elders to nature through innovative gardening programs. 

Eldergrow celebrated five years this past Earth Day, and has grown exponentially since-- with gardens now in 22 states and over 250 senior living communities. Eldergrow's indoor gardens are handcrafted by disabled veterans and people living with disabilities.



Read more...

How to watch an animal livestream at home



From the Weekly Wellness Tips of the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center 5-5-2020


How to watch an animal livestream at home

If there’s one group that seems to be thriving during this unfortunate time, it’s animals. Dogs and cats have never been happier that their owners are spending hours-on-hours at home.

But whether you have a pet or not, zoos, farms, and animal sanctuaries around the world are here to help by livestreaming their most adorable animals right into your living room. 

Might we suggest tossing one of these bad boys up on your TV and, well, never turning it off?



Read more...

NCAA cancels local college athletes’ championship run


Whitman College basketball senior Lily Gustafson screens for senior Mady Burdett as she shoots a 3-pointer against Wartburg College in the second round of the DIII NCAA tournament in Waverly, Iowa on March 7, 2020. The Shorewood and Edmonds-Woodway alumni led Whitman to an upset against Wartburg to advance to the Sweet 16 before their season’s abrupt end due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy of Mady Burdett)


By Jasmine Pollard

When it comes to sports, timing is everything.

On March 12, the NCAA announced the cancellation of March Madness alongside all winter and spring sports seasons for college athletes. The decision was based on proactive safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which has surpassed one million cases and 67,000 deaths.

For Shoreline native Lily Gustafson and Edmonds native Mady Burdett the decision meant the duo had played the last game of their careers unknowingly.

Five days prior, trailing 61-62 with 16 seconds left, Burdett sank two free throws to give her No.10 ranked Whitman women’s basketball team a 63-62 lead against No. 5 ranked Wartburg College.

With eight seconds remaining, Gustafson blocked what should have been Wartburg’s game-winning layup.

With a 67-63 upset, Whitman advanced to the Sweet 16 and were scheduled to play for a spot in the Elite Eight on March 13.

On March 11, the NCAA announced teams would have to play without fans due to COVID-19.

On March 12, less than 24 hours before tipoff, Whitman learned the tournament was cancelled while at practice 3,000 miles away.

“There was a lot of frustration because we were like, ‘we can play, nothing bad is going to happen in our little isolated world in Maine and with crowd limitations,’” head coach Michelle Ferenz said. 
“But as we’ve seen in the last few weeks, you can’t really tell those things you don’t know.”

Over the five-day span between their last game and the announcement, the new cases of COVID-19 by day rose from 64 to 414. A month later, the number of new cases per day was 29,145.

For Gustafson and Burdett, the news meant accepting the bittersweet culmination of over a decade of years playing together.

Growing up less than 20 minutes away from each other, they became teammates in the third grade for club basketball.

During middle and high school Gustafson played for Einstein then Shorewood. Burdett played for Meadowdale then Edmonds-Woodway, making them opponents every winter season. Each year in the spring and summer they reunited on their Edmonds Sports Academy AAU team.

When the time for college decisions came, they decided to stay together.

“We gravitate towards each other and to have the experience to play together for 13 years is not something most best friends get,” Burdett said. “Knowing that someone is always going to be there and vice versa is special and goes beyond basketball.”

Burdett and Gustafson are distinctly different players who complement each other well.

Burdett is a 5-foot-7 point guard who is a goofball off the court and a sharpshooter on it.

“She’s the best shooter in the history of our program and one of the best shooters in the history of the conference,” Ferenz said. “She loves the moment, practices for it, and lives for the game.”

In contrast, 6-foot Gustafson is an observer and thinker.

“Lily doesn’t need glamor shots or headlines,” Ferenz said. “Against Wartburg she was guarding a first-team, all-conference player but wasn’t going to back down. When we needed a big play, she made it ... and that’s the epitome of who she is.”

In their four years, the team’s record was 94-20 but they always felt they had unfinished business.

Their freshman year they made it to the Elite Eight.

Their sophomore year they were eliminated in the first round of the tournament.

Their junior year they lost their conference championship and did not receive a bid.

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, this year they won the regular season championship.

Then they won the first round of the NCAA DIII tournament 86-83 in overtime and second round in a 67-63 upset without senior Makana Stone who averaged 15 points per game before she suffered a concussion.

“Mentally, physically, emotionally our team was clicking on all cylinders before the decision,” Ferenz said. 
“As a coach you're not going to always have championship teams or win a title but these seniors were determined. Their only goal left unchecked was to get to the Final Four but I hope they understand they did everything they could.”

At the start of the season the team created a poster and wrote down one word that reminded them of why they play.

Gustafson chose the word “gratitude” and every day she walked in the locker room she was reminded to enjoy the process and make the most of the moment.

Despite COVID-19 leaving her and Burdett’s unfinished business just that, Gustafson hopes this experience will give younger players a new outlook on how nothing is guaranteed.

“You have four years playing basketball with each other and I hope this puts it into perspective,” Gustafson said. “Even through hard practice or conditioning, realize how special it is and how lucky you are to play together ... because you won’t get another chance.”



Read more...

Storm over Puget Sound

Photo by Jan Hansen

There was a fairly dramatic storm over most of Puget Sound Tuesday. Did we have thunder here? My Facebook feed is full of storm photos and exclamations about thunder. Eatonville seems to have been right in the middle of it but there were comments from north of us.

Unless you are a storm chaser - and somehow I'm getting posts from a local one - it's not a bad thing to be in the shadow of the Olympics.




Read more...

Case updates May 5, 2020 and Governor announces members of Safe Start advisory groups



Gov. Jay Inslee today announced members of Safe Start advisory groups on health systems and public health, social supports, and economic readiness. Each advisory group will consult with the governor’s office and state agencies on next steps as Washington moves forward. The members of these community leader groups are in touch with communities around the state and will inform decision-making.

The three community leader advisory groups will be led by state cabinet officials:

  • Public Health and Health Care System led by Department of Health Sec. John Wiesman
  • Safe Work and Economic Recovery led by Department of Commerce Director Lisa Brown
  • Social Supports led by Department of Social and Health Services Sec. Cheryl Strange


The Safe Work and Economic Recovery group includes Jessyn Farrell, former 46th District representative to the Washington state house of representatives 2013-2017.

Case updates

As of 11:59 p.m. on May 4, there are 15,594 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, an increase of 132 cases in the last 24 hours. Visit the Department of Health's website for cases by county, demographics, and more

As of 5/5, there are 51 individuals staying at sites county wide, including Shoreline.

State
  • 15,594 known cases - up 132
  • 862 deaths - up by 21
King county
  • 6,653 known cases - up 71
  • 467 deaths - up 4
Shoreline
  • 302 known cases
  • 48 deaths
Lake Forest Park
  • 28 known cases
  • 1 death


Read more...

Shoreline City Council agenda for May 11, 2020

By Pam Cross

The Shoreline City Council meeting for May 11th includes the following two Study Items: 

8(a)1 Discussion of the 2019 Police Service Report

This annual report contains information on goals, crime statistics, police data and other information relevant to public safety.


8(b)2 Discussing 2020 City Sponsored Summer Events and Programs

Last week the City announced that summer camps and special events sponsored or permitted by the City would be cancelled through the end of August 2020.

Many of these events will be replaced with other types of activities that can implemented while still meeting whatever health and safety guidelines are in place at the time. The purpose of this discussion is to update the City Council on the evolving plans for summer events and programs, including City sponsored summer camps, and to give the Council the opportunity to offer ideas or direction.

How to watch and comment on Shoreline City Council meetings


Pursuant to Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-28, in an effort to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Shoreline City Council Meetings will take place online using the Zoom platform and the public will not be allowed to attend in-person. You may watch a live feed of the Meeting online; join the Meeting via Zoom Webinar; or listen to the Meeting over the telephone.

Council is providing opportunities for public comment by submitting written comment or calling into the meeting to provide oral testimony. To provide oral testimony you must sign-up by 6:30 p.m. the night of the meeting. Please see the information listed below to access all of these options:
Meetings
Meetings
Attend the Meeting via Zoom Webinar: https://zoom.us/j/95015006341
Phone System
Call into the Live Meeting: (888) 475-4499 - Webinar ID: 950 1500 6341
Chat

The Monday, May 11, 2020 Shoreline City Council Workshop Dinner Meeting has been cancelled.



Read more...

Video book review: Virtual doorstops

Aarene Storms book reviews live!
Here's local librarian Aarene Storms with a video book review on "Virtual Door-stops," -- books that are so big (in real life) that you could use them to prop open doors.

All these books are available for download onto your device, so they aren't heavy at all -- just really long books, perfect for a long day of reading.

And here it is - on You Tube - no special sign up required: HERE


Read more...

Book review by Aarene Storms: Pumpkin Heads

Pumpkin Heads by Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks

It's Halloween night, the last night that high school seniors Deja and Josiah will work together at the local pumpkin patch theme park.

Josiah is mooning over some girl who usually works at the fudge shop, and Deja is ready to help him find love among the gourds ... but somehow, the fudge shop girl is always a step ahead of them as they sample the caramel apples, explore the corn maze, and get chased by the resident Billy Goat.

Light romance and fun seasonal drawings in this charming graphic novel. Recommended for readers who love Halloween and sweet stories.

Ages 10 to adult, no cussing or nekkidness, but some truly obscene food (pumpkin bomb, anyone?).


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



Read more...

City workers rescue ducklings in drain

Photo  courtesy City of Shoreline


Members of the City of Shoreline Customer Response Team and Streets Division were able to provide a happy reunion today. 

Eleven ducklings had fallen into a storm drain and required our assistance to remove the bolted grate. 

Mama duck oversaw the rescue, quacking the entire time.



Read more...

CareerConnect@Home to provide students with Career Connected Learning opportunities




This week, Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal kicked off Career Connected Learning Month in Washington and as part of that effort, CareerConnect@Home will bring daily learning opportunities to students across the state. 


Now, every school day at 3:30pm, students can hear from real people doing real jobs in Washington.

While school buildings are closed, students are still learning from home and career connected learning is an essential part of a student’s education. 

Through a secure link, students can log on to participate in conversations with real professionals about their job and the future of their industries. These programs will help students explore a range of education and career pathways.

"We launched Career Connect Washington to help provide students with pathways to job training and higher education right here in our state,” Inslee said. 
"CareerConnect @ Home is a way for students to explore those pathways during this ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ period. It’s more important than ever for students and parents to be looking toward the future and this is a great opportunity to do that.”

"School buildings may be closed, but student learning is continuing,” Reykdal said. “CareerConnect @ Home is a great partnership with industry leaders and professionals to provide students across Washington with information about real jobs in our state. I hope students will utilize this opportunity to explore options for their future.”

Themes for the month-long CareerConnect@Home program include:
  • Week 1 (May 4 – May 8): Technology and Innovation Week: Technology and Information with representatives from Zillow, Amazon Web Services, Uber, Seven2 and Bristol Myers Squibb
  • Week 2 (May 11 – May 15): Building Washington Week: Manufacturing, Construction, Energy with SEH America, Avista, NW Carpenters’ Institute, Independent Technicians Automotive Committee and the Puget Sound Electrical Apprenticeship Program
  • Week 3 (May 18 – May 22): Be a Boss Week: Entrepreneurship and Start-ups with Armoire, Madrona Venture Group, MOD Pizza, MOZ and Chef Eduardo Jourdan of JuneBaby and Salar
  • Week 4 (May 25 – May 29): Lead Your Community Week: Education, Health Care, Government, Non-profits (note: no session on Memorial Day, Monday, May 25) with the team from KUOW radio, Committee for Children, King County Councilmember Girmay Zahilay & Pasco City Councilmember Zahra Roach and the Healthcare Industry Leadership Table

In 2017, Inslee launched the Career Connect Washington initiative to help more students find a pathway to high-quality job training and education. Career Connect Washington is a public-private partnership with the goal of connecting 100,000 young people with employer internships, registered apprenticeships, career exploration programs and other learning opportunities.

Schedule and more information on how to access CareerConnect@Home programs HERE 


About: CareerConnect@Home is sponsored by Career Connect Washington (CCW) in partnership with Challenge Seattle, the Washington Roundtable, Schools Out Washington and Washington STEM. CCW is comprised of industry, labor, education, and community leaders who are creating work-based and academic programs for young people to explore, learn, and earn money and college-level credit. 



Read more...

Air Force to salute hospital and medical workers with flyover Friday afternoon

Two C-17s from McChord will fly over 30 hospitals
in Puget Sound on Friday afternoon
Photo courtesy 62nd Airlift Wing 

Col. Robert V. Lankford, 62nd Operations Group (OG) commander, and Lt. Col. Judd Baker, 62nd OG deputy commander, invite you to watch

"a C-17 Globemaster III two-ship formation from McChord Air Field conducting an #AirForceSalutes flyover at 30 health facilities and areas of interest in the Puget Sound region, beginning 12:30pm, Friday May 8th!" 
This is to say thank you to all of the American heroes at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19.


Here is a detailed flight pattern and location list for Friday’s flyover. 



Their planned flight path has them first approaching us flying south from Arlington to the UW Medical Center between 1:22pm and 1:32pm. The path goes directly over Lake Forest Park and south Shoreline.

They criss-cross the Lake from the UW to Redmond, then back to central Seattle and south King county.

Then back north over Puget Sound between 2:12pm and 2:24pm. Southbound they'll be over Lake Washington on their way back home to McChord. 

Central Puget Sound flight path

Note that times are estimated and conditions may change the flight path. The plan is to fly over 30 different facilities. The list is on their Facebook page.

The Air Force invites you to take your best photo and submit it to the 62nd AW Public Affairs via their Facebook page's private message to enter in a photo contest. 

The winner’s photo will be posted to the 62nd Airlift Wing Facebook page along with receiving a patch and signed photo from the C-17 Demo Team performing the flight.




Read more...

Look who's coming for breakfast - deer come to visit

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Deer come to visit
Photo submitted by reader


"We live on the border of Shoreline / Lake Forest Park. We've seen deer for the past two years but they were little. This morning, May 5, 2020 at 5:30am we had an amazing visit from five deer.

"Daddy is in the next yard eating my neighbor's Asian Pear tree. The other four are in our yard."

--This was send in from a reader - thanks so much for sharing!



Read more...

Republic resuming normal guidelines for services in Lake Forest Park

Update from Republic Services Regarding Service as of May 4, 2020

All of our drivers have been issued face masks, gloves, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Hand sanitizer and disinfecting supplies are also available to employees. 

Our technicians are also following safety procedures at our maintenance facilities to ensure proper social distancing and making sure our trucks run on time.

We are still running all of our collection routes at this time. We have had some concerns with loose materials around the carts and containers.

We are easing some of our temporary guidelines that we had set in place on Tuesday, March 24.

Residential:

Due to more people at home and seeing larger amounts of materials at the curb, we will only collect trash that is stored in Republic carts or personal owned cans. Extra trash must be bagged and set out at the curb or stored in an additional cart or can. Extra charges will occur, as normal, on all extra garbage.

If you have extra recycle, please continue to place it in a cart or can. We will now resume collecting any boxed/bundled/paper bagged material outside a cart or can.

If you have extra yard waste, we ask that it be in a cart or can and we will now begin collecting extra yard waste in bags that are biodegradable lawn bags. Extra charges may occur on yard waste.

Additionally, we are now resuming bulky waste collections.

We will basically be going back to normal guidelines for collection, as outlined in your city or area’s guide.

Commercial:

We continue to ask that you place trash in your container unless it is bagged. We will also resume collection of extras for commercial garbage; extra charges will occur.

If you have recycle, please continue to place all your recycles in your container.

Please contact Republic Services with questions:
  • Commercial: 206-682-3037
  • Residential: 206-682-9730


Read more...

Case updates May 4, 2020

Note that the numbers are now arranged by age
oldest to youngest

As of 11:59 p.m. on May 3, there are 15,462 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Washington state, an increase of 277 cases in the last 24 hours. Visit  the Department of Health's website for cases by county, demographics, and more.

State
  • 15,462 confirmed cases - up 277
  • 841 deaths - up by 7 
52 people are currently staying in King county isolation and recovery centers.

King county - check the dashboard for charts and statistics
  • 6582 confirmed cases  - up 118 in the past 24 hour period
  • 463 deaths - up 5
Shoreline
  • 296 confirmed cases
  • 46 deaths
Lake Forest Park
  • 28 confirmed cases
  • 1 death


Read more...

AG Ferguson urges Senate to reauthorize Violence Against Women Act

Attorney General Bob Ferguson is leading a coalition of 24 attorneys general urging the U.S. Senate to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, which expired more than a year ago. 

As isolation and uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic increases the risk to women in danger of domestic violence, the Senate must to act immediately, the attorneys general argue.

In April of 2019, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill with bipartisan support reauthorizing the act, but after more than a year, the Senate has yet to take up consideration of the bill, nor has it taken up a companion bill sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

“The Violence Against Women Act has always been a bipartisan effort,” Ferguson said. “It’s mind-boggling that the Senate has declined to reauthorize it for more than a year. 

"The Violence Against Women Act provides resources that help survivors, aids prosecutions and helps protect law enforcement. As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps people at home with their abusers, I urge the Senate to reauthorize these important protections for women in danger of domestic violence.”

The Violence Against Women Act, originally passed in 1994, created an Office on Violence Against Women within the Department of Justice, and provides billions of dollars for investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women, as well as financial support to women in need.

The act has been reauthorized several times, most recently in 2013. Each time Congress reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, it expanded the protections under the law with bipartisan support.

Ferguson’s letter notes that the COVID-19 pandemic makes reauthorizing the act even more urgent, as measures to contain the virus can exacerbate isolation, uncertainty, and economic instability, directly impacting those in danger of domestic violence.

“Violence against women has been a public health crisis for generations, and the COVID-19 outbreak illustrates the urgent need to further strengthen protections for women under federal law,” the letter states.

Domestic violence is also a threat to law enforcement, the letter notes. According to a 2017 report by the U.S. Department of Justice, 29 percent of the 133 line-of-duty deaths responding to calls for service were related to domestic disputes.

The House bill expands the protections of the Violence Against Women Act by:
  • Strengthening protections for Native women by expanding jurisdiction of tribal courts over non-Native men who abuse Native women
  • Codifying important protections for LGBTQ individuals
  • Closing the “boyfriend loophole,” which allows certain abusive dating partners to continue possessing firearms under federal law

“Reauthorization of (the Violence Against Women Act) will not end the scourge of gender based violence, but it is an important step toward more fully addressing the tragic epidemic,” the letter states. 
“The importance of urgent action is underscored by the particular challenges faced by victims and survivors during the COVID-19 outbreak. 
"We urge you to move quickly to adopt the House-passed bill or the Senate companion sponsored by Senator Feinstein. Women in our states are counting on it.”

Ferguson is joined by the attorneys general from California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.



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

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

Back to TOP