Phantoms are on the loose in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood

Tuesday, October 13, 2020


Thanks to Ridgecrest resident, Jorien, "Phantom" baskets of goodies are making their way around the neighborhood. 

If you receive one, you are in luck.

The goodies and basket are yours to keep - but you are encouraged to make up a basket and pass it, along with a copy of the instructions, to someone else in the Ridgecrest Neighborhood.

You can start a Phantom on your own so that more Phantoms are working their way around the neighborhood.

Instructions to make a Phantom:

Cost-wise, the one pictured here is about $12 with items from the dollar store. Find a container: basket, flower pot, cooking pan... whatever... and fill it with goodies. Possible items to put in a basket: dish towels, Halloween stuff, non-perishable food items, deck of cards, pretty napkins, chocolates, games, facemasks - virtually anything!

Print or copy the instructions and include them in your basket. Make a surprise drop-off anywhere in Ridgecrest. Does not have to be a neighbor or someone you know. If you receive a Phantom, take a photo and post on their Facebook page.

Enjoy! And thank you Jorien for this fun idea!

Note: You can create Phantoms in any neighborhood!



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October artists at The Gallery at Town Center: Odette Allen and Peggy Curtis




Odette Allen and Peggy Curtis

Open Now - November 14, 2020


The Gallery at Town Center is exhibiting a selection of works by Acrylic Artist Odette Allen and Photographer Peggy Curtis. See these works and the creations of over 90 other local artists during gallery hours: Wednesday – Saturday, Noon to 5pm. Thank you for shopping small and supporting the arts in our community!

Odette Allen

I am a painter and muralist living in Seattle, WA. I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Cornish College of the Arts in 2007, and a Masters in History and Archives from Western Washington University in 2014. 

My work reflects my educational background with color focused, abstract forms, and references to historic and current social justice issues. Art has the amazing ability to communicate ideas and feelings that inspire others, and I want to use this to address issues like sexism, racism, or environmental exploitation. These are pressing issues that concern me deeply, and art enables me to communicate about them in meaningful ways.

My art practice incorporates many mediums, but my primary focus is painting. My work is made using acrylic paints on mounted birch panels. Using many isolated layers of acrylics, I am able to build up colors and enhance textures, creating luminous colors that feel viscerally satisfying. My images evolve organically, starting as abstract color fields and slowly focusing into forms as I add shapes or elements. I work on many pieces at once, all exploring a specific theme. My work at present is inspired by traditional southern cooking and foodways, the history of black agriculture, and the use of traditional black cooking as a foundation for Black identity and activism.

Follow Odette on Instagram 

Peggy Curtis

Peggy Olafson Curtis was born in Seattle, USA and grew up in nearby regions during the turbulent Sixties.

Her love of photography began with a film camera and a high school course in photography. Her artistic inspiration came a few years later during a two-year residence in Japan. There she became immersed in the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, which holds that there is beauty in all states of being, including decay.

Now she loses herself in junkyards in search of an interesting patina on a rusting Studebaker or a pleasing arrangement of shape and color in the broken paint. She wants an image that somehow transcends the literal in the viewer’s imagination, suggesting a mood, a greater mystery, a timelessness. She sees rivers, ponds, and maybe a forest of healing trees in the leave behinds of time, use, and nature.

Follow Peggy on Instagram: @peggycurtis2758


NEW! Want to browse local art online? The Gallery Online Shop is now open! The virtual shop includes handmade masks, paintings, sculptures, and more. Thanks for supporting our local artists!

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

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



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Obituary: Jacob Travis Cartwright 1986-2020

Jacob Travis Cartwright
1986-2020
Jacob Travis Cartwright, age 34, passed away on October 1, 2020 in Shoreline WA. 

Jacob was born on May 20, 1986, in Seattle WA to parents Travis Carmack Cartwright and Denise Louise Cartwright. 

Jacob was a caring man, hardworking and loving father of three beautiful children. 

Jacob is survived by his parents; his son and daughters Lillian Ann Cartwright, Gracie Elizabeth Cartwright, Caleb Travis Cartwright and sister Alisha Marie Cartwright and niece Laurel Jean-Marie Cartwright.

Visitation will be held at Lakeside Christian Church 701 1st St Kirkland, WA 98033 at 11am October 14, 2020.

Funeral Service will be held at Calvary Catholic Cemetery 5041 35th Ave NE Seattle, WA 98105 directly following service.




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WeatherWatcher: Wind Advisory issued for Tuesday from noon to 6pm

 

residential street scene covered in evergreen tree limbs
Tree limbs littering 7th Ave NE in Shoreline, August 29, 2015.
Photo by Carl Dinse


The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a Wind Advisory for the greater Puget Sound region, including the Shoreline and Lake Forest Park areas. The wind advisory is in effect Tuesday from noon until 6pm. 

A wet and moderate storm system is expected to arrive Tuesday at about noon, bringing a half inch to one inch of rainfall for the afternoon and evening. Winds are expected to increase to 25 to 35 mph, first out of the east, then switching to the south and southwest. 

Gusts could reach as high as 50 mph with this storm. Scattered power outages are likely especially as many deciduous trees have not dropped their foliage yet. Unsecured objects could be blown around as well.

Winds are expected to back off a little after 6pm on Tuesday but gusts to 40 mph are still expected and possible until after midnight. Weather Wednesday through next weekend calms down, but we still have the threat of rain showers on all days except Thursday. It will be partly sunny Wednesday with showers, then Thursday is mostly sunny. Friday the chance of rain returns and lasts through the weekend.

Our summer weather has come to an end and we now have entered the time of year when the storm train points at the Pacific Northwest. There's some early indications that we may have a couple sunny days next week but the high temperatures are expected to stay under 70°F.

The timing of this windstorm, which was not in the forecast until earlier Monday, comes one day after the anniversary of the 1962 Columbus Day Storm. That storm was by far the strongest wind event ever recorded in the Seattle area, with gusts reaching over 100mph. The Columbus Day storm originated as a tropical cyclone in the west Pacific that converted into a monster Pacific extratropical cyclone before making landfall on southern Vancouver island. 


For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com




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NEMCo emergency preparedness workshop trained local residents in emergency procedures

Monday, October 12, 2020

Participants learned how to use a fire extinguisher
Photo courtesy NEMCo and LFP Police


The first of two Emergency Preparedness Workshops held by NEMCo for Lake Forest Park and Kenmore are complete.

Thursday, October 8, 2020 33 residents participated in the 2-hour virtual workshop and on Saturday, October 10, 26 of them showed up on a very rainy day to complete the hands-on portion.

Five NEMCo volunteers were on site to assist with COVID screening and to help keep participants spread out in small groups.

Participants ran through a hands-on fire extinguisher training. They also covered utility shut offs and emergency supplies. The next workshop is scheduled for November 5th.




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Color in the heather

Photo by Jan Hansen


I think this princess might be slumming with the villagers.
She doesn't blend in too well, but she seems to be having a good time.




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Third Place Books presents Jeffrey D. Briggs and James W. Ziskin


Third Place Books presents Jeffrey D. Briggs and James W. Ziskin
Within a Shadowed Forest and Turn to Stone

Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 6:00pm

This is a virtual event, taking place via Zoom Webinar! Register for this livestream event here

Recovering from the physical and emotional wounds she suffered in Out of the Cold Dark Sea, Martha Whitaker travels to Duluth, Minn., to help her friend James MacAuliffe. 

Someone blew up his truck and a charred body is discovered in the wreckage. Together, they pursue a trail of clues that leads them up the North Shore to the scenic village of Grand Marais, into the vast northern forest, and onto the frigid waters of Lake Superior in search of a shadowed killer. 

Before they become the next victims. 

Within a Shadowed Forest is the thrilling sequel in the Waterfront Mystery series that began with Out of the Cold Dark Sea.


Florence, Italy, August 1963. In Italy to accept a posthumous award for her late father's academic work, "girl reporter" Ellie Stone is invited to spend a weekend outside Florence with some of the scholars attending the symposium. 

A suspected rubella outbreak leaves the ten friends quarantined in the bucolic setting with little to do but tell stories to entertain themselves. Deciding to make the best of their confinement, the men and women spin tales, gorge themselves on fine Tuscan food and wine, and enjoy the delicious fruit of transient love. 

But the summer bacchanalia takes a menacing turn when the man who organized the symposium is fished out of the Arno. "Morto." As long-buried secrets rise to the surface, Ellie must figure out if one or more of her newfound friends is capable of murder.

Jeffrey D. Briggs, a writer and journalist, has been writing about the waterfront since he moved onto his over sailboat thirty years ago. He now lives on land in Shoreline with his wife and dog and can often be found on the shores of Puget Sound, wondering what secrets lie hidden beneath those cold waters.

Jeffrey has published over 350 articles in regional and national magazines. A long-time resident of Seattle, he took a detour in life and moved to Rochester, Minn., where he became a biomedical science writer for Mayo Clinic, and got to preview all his future diseases. He also got to spend many happy times exploring the North Shore of Lake Superior. When he could no longer see out his office window because of snow drifts, he returned home to the Pacific Northwest, dropping anchor in Richmond Beach, on the shores of Puget Sound.

James W. Ziskin, Jim to his friends, is the Anthony and Macavity award-winning author fo the Ellie Stone mysteries. His books have also been finalists for the Edgar, Barry, and Lefty awards. He worked in New York as a photo-news producer and writer, and then as director of NYU’s Casa Italiana. 

He spent fifteen years in the Hollywood post-production industry, running large international operations in the subtitling/localization and visual effects fields. His international experience includes two years working and studying in France, extensive time in Italy, and more than three years in India. He speaks Italian and French.



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Shoreline Farmers Market ends on a high note


The 2020 farmers market season began with great uncertainty and 18 weeks later ended on a high note!

The Shoreline Farmers Market is a special place where neighbors can come together to support local farmers and small businesses. It is a place where kids can roam the market safely and learn more about seasonal produce. It's a place where you'll be greeted by volunteers who have been there since day one (yes, most of our volunteers have been volunteering their time for 9 years). 

It's a place where you can double your EBT and stretch your dollars buying the freshest local produce around. The farmers market is a place where we can come together as a community and support the things that matter the most to us: community and unity.

We cannot express our gratitude enough at the support the Shoreline community has shown the market and our hard working vendors. We thank you for understanding our rules that were there to keep you, vendors and our volunteers safe. 

We thank you for showing up to support local producers and learn more about their struggles during the pandemic. We thank you for your individual donations that kept the market running during a challenging time. We thank you for showing up with a smile! THANK YOU!


During the off season our staff are working on finding a permanent location for seasons to come. We will be evaluating our market structure to ensure the safest shopping experience if we are still battling a pandemic.

We will be continuing to promote and support our vendors to ensure their businesses success. And for the kids missing our PoP Program, stay tuned because we will be releasing fun and educational videos to keep them engaged and interested in fruits and vegetables while the market is closed. For the most up to date information follow us on Facebook or Instagram.

From all of us at the Shoreline Farmers Market thank you for a fantastic season. We can't wait to see you back again in June.



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Climate Change Emergency: Health and a Million Trees


Climate Change Emergency: Health and a Million Trees
Wednesday, October 21, 2020 - 6:30 to 8pm


The Natural Resources Committee of the League of Women Voters of Snohomish County invites the public to Register online for this free event. Registration can be accessed through the League website https://www.lwvsnoho.org

The presentation via Zoom video conferencing will feature:
  • Dr. Richard Gammon, professor emeritus of Chemistry and Oceanography, adjunct professor emeritus of Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Washington. Dr. Gammon will present an overview of the climate change emergency.
  • Dr. Jon Witte, member of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. Dr. Witte will describe the future public health changes and risks.
  • Elby Jones, Green Cities Project Manager, Forterra. Jones will describe details of the Million Trees Project in Snohomish County.

The Natural Resources Committee of the non-partisan League of Women Voters works to increase public awareness of the value as well interrelationship of national, state and local natural resources. It promotes an understanding of ongoing climate change and encourages support for mitigations that lead to sustainability.



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Case updates October 10, 2020

Case updates October 10, 2020

United States
  • cases 7,694,865 - 53,363 cases since yesterday
  • deaths 213,614 - 577 deaths since yesterday

Washington state - DOH was not able to update the dashboards on Sunday, 10/11/20 due to data processing issues. They hope to resolve these issues and return to regular reporting on Monday, 10/12/20.
  • cases 93,035 - since last report
  • hospitalizations 7,786 - since last report
  • deaths* 2,190 - since last report

King county
  • cases 24,053 - 174 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 2,434 - 1 since yesterday
  • deaths 776 - 0 since last report

Shoreline - population 56,752 (2018)
  • cases 621 - 7 since last report
  • hospitalizations 106 - 0 new
  • deaths 63 - 0 new

Lake Forest Park - 13,569 (2018)
  • cases 72 - 1 since last report
  • hospitalizations 4 - 1 since last report
  • deaths 1 - 0 new



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Edmonds scarecrow contest displays local creativity

Photo by Lee Lageschulte


Edmonds Museum holds an annual Scarecrow Festival in Edmonds every October. Businesses and individuals put decorated scarecrows in front of their buildings and enter the scarecrow contest.

This display was in front of condos at Walnut and 4th.



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Shoreline Schools Safety Information: Harassment and Sexual Assault


Shoreline Schools staff take allegations of harassment and sexual assault in our community very seriously and strongly condemn any harassment, assault or violence.

Anyone who is a victim or witness with first-hand information regarding a case of harassment or sexual assault can come forward to school staff and they will be supported in making a report. 

Students and family members should also be aware that sexual assault and many forms of harassment are crimes. Victims of such crimes should contact police directly. School staff will also report any criminal allegations in our community to law enforcement.

Victims and witnesses should contact 911 to report sexual assault. Other communication can be directed to the Shoreline Police non-emergency line: 24-Hour Non-Emergencies 206-296-3311. (You may also call 911 and say "non-emergency”). A police officer will contact you as soon as possible.

Students and families who are victims of sexual assault may also contact King County Sexual Assault Resource Center (KCSARC). They can help victims make decisions and get support after a sexual assault: https://www.kcsarc.org/contact

All KCSARC services remain available during the governor's Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, and they serve clients with legal advocacy, therapy, parent education, and other supports. 

For immediate help and information, contact their 24-Hour Resource Line at 1-888-99-VOICE (86423). For scheduling, or to reach KCSARC staff during business hours, call 425-226-5062. Contactar Dando Voz (en Espanol) 425-282-0324.

Anyone in our school community can contact school administrative staff to report any harassment or sexual assault. Shoreline Schools also maintains the Safe Schools Tip Line to report any school safety issue, located at the following URL: https://shoreline-wa.safeschoolsalert.com/




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A conversation about the music business in Shoreline sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce


Shoreline After Hours
Special Music Edition: Recording Studio Summit
by BLACK FRET

Thursday, October 15, 2020
7:30pm – 9:00pm

Register on eventbrite HERE (free)

Join a group of studio owners, producers, engineers who have businesses in Shoreline as they discuss running their studios, the challenges they face pre/post covid, the future of the business and the music they're most excited about recording right now.

Representatives from London Bridge Studios, Robert Lang Studios and others will be part of this informative conversation. 

The evening will be moderated by Black Fret executive Director Ben London.

Event sponsors: Shoreline Chamber of Commerce, City of Shoreline, Port of Seattle and Black Fret.



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Kruckeberg annual tree and shrub sale



MsK Nursery
October 16-18, 2020
October 23-25, 2020 
Annual Tree and Shrub Sale 

It's that time of year again! 30% off selected trees and shrubs at the MsK Nursery at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden. 

All sales final, proceeds benefit Garden maintenance and operations.




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Councilmember Dembowski to hold Town Hall with Metro re restructuring transit in our region

Sunday, October 11, 2020

Rod speaking at an event highlighting Metro Transit's new and improved safety measures for operators and riders. Photo courtesy King County Council


From King County Councilmember Rod Dembowski

I hope you can join me and Councilmembers Jeanne Kohl-Welles and Girmay Zahilay on Wednesday, October 14, 2020 at 6:00pm for a joint Zoom town hall with King County Metro. With three new light rail stations opening in north Seattle next year, Metro has the opportunity to improve and reimagine how you travel in north King County.

This is your opportunity to provide feedback to Metro on restructuring transit in our region. We will also discuss how Metro is adapting during the COVID-19 Pandemic and what to expect from transit service in the coming year.

The town hall will take place over Zoom and will be streamed on Facebook Live, and will include interpretive services. You can find more information on the North Link Connections Mobility Project and details on how to join our town hall at: www.kingcounty.gov/townhall. If you have limited access to the internet, please contact my office for additional options to participate in the town hall at 206-477-0911.



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Book review by Aarene Storms: The Seventh Bride; The Raven and the Reindeer

The Seventh Bride
The Raven and the Reindeer
by T. Kingfisher


Retelling folktales is a time-honored tradition, but not everyone does a good job of it (looking at you, Walt Disney corporation). A proper retelling retains the base story line and a few key details, but takes the narrative into new and enlightening territory. I have strong opinions about stories, and I like my folktales and my re-told tales the way I like my coffee: strong, dark, with just a hint of sweetness. Here are two that suit me perfectly.

The Seventh Bride is a re-casting of the English folktale "Mr. Fox", in which a beautiful young woman is courted by a mysterious and wealthy stranger who invites her to visit his beautiful mansion. As she nears the grounds, she sees a sign posted, which reads "Be bold, be bold." O---kay? However, the next sign reads "Be bold, be bold--but not too bold." Can you hear the ominous music? When she reads the final sign, which says (sometimes in words as red as blood) "Be bold, be bold, but not too bold, lest your heart's blood run cold" she continues forward, always forward, until she discovers her suitor's grisly secret: the bodies of his former wives.

This story has several traditional endings, but the Disney corporation would not be able to find even one to suit their audience demographic.

T. Kingfisher's Seventh Bride re-imagines "Mr. Fox" with most of the wives still alive, but cursed in a variety of ways. Only the newest, youngest bride has a hope of finding a happy ending--and she must manage it in a very unusual manner.

Likewise, this author's Raven and the Reindeer changes just a few significant details from Hans Christian Andersen's literary fairy tale "The Snow Queen" transforming the story from one of stark good/evil contrasts to a more nuanced and relatable journey for young Gerta, who has always loved Kay more than he loved her. 

As in the Andersen story, Kay goes off with the Snow Queen to have his heart frozen forever and Gerta journeys to retrieve him... but in Kingfisher's version she discovers much more about herself along the way. The rescue of Kay becomes almost an afterthought for Kingfisher's Gerta, who learns a lot about love and life that shallow Kay may never know. The happy ending is very different from Andersen's version... and this interpretation suits me (and Gerta) much better than the original.

Both books contain dark elements, some blood and death, quite a lot of magic and a few references to sexual situations, with kissing on the page.

Recommended for readers ages 14 to adult.

--Aarene Storms



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Sno-King School Retirees grants available for 2020-21

Sno-King School Retirees, an organization of 1,422 active and retired employees of the Edmonds, Northshore, and Shoreline School Districts, is currently offering $9,000 in grants to its active members to facilitate their work with students.

This is an opportunity for them to receive up to $250 to augment their curriculum and enrich their students' learning experiences. 

Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced some changes in this year’s application. Since it is uncertain how COVID-19 will progress this winter and since each district has its own plan for returning to in-person learning, all applications must be for remote learning experiences and activities.

The current application form and relevant information are posted on the SKSR website (sksr.org). If current employees in the three districts are interested in joining SKSR in order to apply for a grant, they can find relevant membership information on the website as well.

The application deadline is Thursday, November 5. Recipients will be notified by the end of November.

Since 1998, SKSR has awarded over $92,000 to fund a variety of proposals (such as field trips, speakers, reading materials, math manipulatives, listening stations, STEM stations, and parent activities).




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The Convergence Zone

Rain so hard it sounded like it was coming through the roof
The photo is in focus - the rain is so hard it blurs
Photo by Jan Hansen

By Diane Hettrick


We certainly had some wild weather on Saturday. The infamous Convergence Zone was right over the top of us. Ear-splitting thunder, some lightning, pounding rain, pounding hail - did I miss anything?

Hail in Innis Arden
Photo by Jan Hansen


Oh yes, there was so much rain coming off my roof that I had a stream three inches deep on my sidewalk.

Hail as big as garbanzo beans in Ridgecrest
Photo by Janet Way


Did anyone have power outages or lightning strikes? I only noticed one flash of lightning.

Hail in Lake Forest Park
Photo by Phyllis Johnson


After making a dramatic statement in Shoreline, the storm moved east to pound Lake Forest Park and continued to Kenmore, hitting hard at the top of Lake Washington.

Hail by Lake City Way
Photo by Cynthia Sheridan


At one point my sky was a perfect panorama of weather. Blue sky in the west, shading to blue gray in the east. Pity I'm not a photographer - but here are a collection of storm photos from others.

Sun followed the storm
Photo by Cynthia Sheridan



After the rain and hail scrubbed everything, the sun came out and for a brief time it was a lovely day.




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Virtual Indigenous Peoples’ Day


Virtual Indigenous Peoples’ Day will be celebrated on Monday, October 12, 2020 at 1:30pm on Facebook Live

Daybreak Star is hosting a virtual celebration with performances from Gathered in This Place Two-Spirit Drum Group, Haida Heritage, Robert Upham and many others. 

View on the Seattle Channel or on Facebook live.



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Case updates October 9, 2020

Case updates October 9, 2020


United States
  • cases 7,641,502 - 58,302 cases since yesterday
  • deaths 213,037 - 926 deaths since yesterday

Washington state - *no death reports on weekends
  • cases 93,035 - 475 since last report
  • hospitalizations 7,786 - 24 since last report
  • deaths* 2,190 - 0 since last report

King county
  • cases 23,879 - 143 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 2,433 - 4 since yesterday
  • deaths 776 - 0 since last report

Shoreline - population 56,752 (2018)
  • cases 614 - -3 since last report
  • hospitalizations 106 - 0 new
  • deaths 63 - 0 new

Lake Forest Park - 13,569 (2018)
  • cases 71 - -1 since last report
  • hospitalizations 3 -1 since last report
  • deaths 1 - 0 new



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Letter to the Editor: Andrea Robertson for Superior Court judge

To the Editor:

In this election, King County citizens will be voting for King County Superior Court judges. Judicial elections are difficult for most voters who do not have direct involvement with the courts. Most highly qualified judicial candidates are not career politicians. Andrea Robertson is not a politician; she is an experienced trial attorney who has earned the respect of her attorney colleagues and judges alike.

Trial court experience is fundamental to earning the job of a Superior Court judge. Judges preside over legal proceedings that significantly impact the community, public safety, and individuals’ lives. Andrea’s over 22 years of experience include protecting the constitutional rights of thousands of ordinary people. Andrea has fought for high standards in the courtroom, including the use of reliable forensic science. She has given her time to enhance the legal community as a presenter at legal seminars. Andrea has helped develop our future lawyers through her instruction in trial advocacy at the UW School of Law. She has long been an asset to our legal community.

Five independent local bar associations have given her the highest rating of “Exceptionally Well Qualified.” Hundreds of trial lawyers from every area of law have endorsed her because they know who she is and know the importance of experience and qualification for the job of a judge. Over 75 current and former judges, those who truly know the job, support Andrea.

King County voters can entrust Andrea Robertson with our community’s most important legal matters. She will elevate our local judiciary and advance the administration of justice in our county.

Liza Burke, King county trial attorney since 1994
Seattle



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For the Birds: Another Southern species moving to Washington?

Scrub jay in Innis Arden
Photo by Tanis Coralee Leonhardi

By Christine Southwick

In the mid 1970’s Anna’s Hummingbirds started staying through our mild winters and breeding here in Washington. 

They are now year-round residents, thanks mainly to flowering plants and year-round hummingbird feeders.

Now some California Scrub-Jays are being seen where they haven’t been seen before. 

Are they going to move here too? It is postulated that these jays are able to move north due to global warming (which includes fleeing forest fires) plus the availability of actively-stocked bird feeders. 

California Scrub-Jay in Briercrest
Photo by Peggy Bartleson

There are three sub-species of Western Scrub-Jays. Plumage and behavior differ greatly between interior and coastal populations of these scrub-jays. 

Coastal populations are called the California Scrub-Jay sub-species and are relatively tame, distinctly different from the interior sub-species. 

Unlike our native Steller’s Jay, California Scrub-Jays have no crest, a white breast with a blue breast band, and the overall blue is much lighter than the deep blue-black of Steller’s Jays.

Western Scrub-Jays prefer oak woodlands but being part of the adaptable corvid family they have found our tree-friendly residential areas to be viable options.


Scrub-Jay getting lay of land
Photo by Tanis Coralee Leonhardi

Western Scrub-Jays are omnivorous and creative eaters. 

They will eat insects, spiders, berries and seeds, acorns and nuts, plus rodents, reptiles, frogs, and even baby birds. 

Like Steller’s Jays they will cache their food and retrieve it later. 

They gladly use bird feeders, especially those with whole peanuts.

Usually monogamous, California Scrub-Jays nest in shrubs and low trees. 

Both partners build the nest for the one brood of 3-6 eggs. Additionally, scrub-jays prefer to travel in pairs or small groups, although it is not unusual for a single bird to adventure out looking for suitable habitat. Recently there were sightings of California Scrub-Jays in Briercrest and Innis Arden.

California Scrub-Jay in Briercrest
Photo by Peggy Bartleson

Western Scrub-Jays don’t migrate, but in the fall some birds will search for new territory, which has enabled the species to spread northward in Washington. 

For years they were south of Puget Sound, but recently West Seattle has had some breeding pairs. 

A few Scrub-Jays have been reported as far north as Skagit County.

It is expected that they will continue their northward progress.

The question is will the Steller’s Jay tolerate them or chase them off? 

I wonder at the outcome. What we do know is that neither side will acquiesce quietly.



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Barely Tolerable Tales

Barely Tolerable Tales 
October 16, 7:30-9pm 
Presented by The Cresswell Club

We cordially invite you for a series of live readings throughout the fall season, pairing tales of horror and the occult with recipes for cocktails to mix and enjoy while you listen. 

The Cresswell Club began as a series of Halloween and Walpurgis-Night ghost story readings with friends and family in New York City, and was continued by the Carpenter Brothers when they moved back to their hometown of Seattle. 

Cocktails: TBD 

Please register. You will be sent a Zoom link to the session by 6pm the day of the program. Video and call-in options available. 

This program celebrates the Terrifying Tales Short Story Contest. Visit the contest page to learn more and submit your own spooky story by October 21 for a chance to win.



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Shoreline Planning Commission public hearing on Point Wells subarea plan

The Shoreline Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, October 15, 2020 includes a public hearing on the 2020 comp plan amendments and the subarea plan for Point Wells.

The meeting will be held on zoom at 7pm.

Point Wells is an approximately 61-acre area of unincorporated Snohomish County. It is bound on the west by Puget Sound, on the north and east by the Town of Woodway, and on the south by the City of Shoreline. 

An active rail line, owned by Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), bisects a portion of the subarea on the east.

There is also an existing portal structure near the southern portion of the subarea as part of the Brightwater sewage treatment pipeline, owned by King County.

The only vehicle access to the subarea is through Shoreline via Richmond Beach Drive. The majority of the subarea is owned by BSRE and is used as an asphalt plant. The subarea has been in industrial use for more than 50 years.

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Voting For Judges (dot) org


By Diane Hettrick

Other than all those charter amendments, the most difficult things on the ballot are the judicial contests. They are enormously important and we have so little real information.

However, the website VotingForJudges.org is made for voters who know little about the candidates.

For each contested race it includes the statement from each candidate, any editorials about the contest, and a chart which shows how legal associations rated the candidates.

I just checked the races on my ballot. In King county find yours HERE and statewide HERE

To my surprise, in one of the races on my ballot, the incumbent who has been advertising widely has only been rated a lukewarm "qualified" by the King county bar association, while her challenger, whose name I have never heard, was rated "well qualified" by King county and two other associations and "Exceptionally well qualified" by five other associations.

Paul Fjelstad, a retired Kitsap County attorney created and provides ongoing updates to Voting for Judges.

He was honored with the 2007 King County Bar Association President's Award for his work. He also received a Washington State Bar Association Local Hero Award and a Kitsap County Bar Association President's Award.

VotingforJudges.org is a nonpartisan, impartial source of information about judicial elections in the state of Washington. The site was established in 2006 to provide information to voters in connection with the appellate judicial contests that year, and it has expanded to cover all judicial elections throughout the state. All of Washington's 2020 judicial elections are included.

No information is included for non-contested races.



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Collaboration between Shoreline Police and Lake Forest Park Police led to the quick capture of a burglar

On October 5, 2020, a Shoreline woman called 911 to say she woke up to find a stranger in her apartment. 

When he saw her, the suspect ran. He had a blue backpack and, oddly, was using a ‘cat carrier’ as a way to hold some of the items he had stolen, which included an iPad. 

The caller’s husband ran out of the apartment to chase the suspect.

Deputies were dispatched to the apartment complex, located in the 19900 block of 19th Ave NE in Ballinger. 

The husband was able to tell them the suspect was on foot, headed southbound on 19th Avenue NE.

Because this was so close to the Shoreline/Lake Forest Park border, the Lake Forest Park police were also notified.

Soon after, LFP PD found the suspect. The victim pinged the stolen iPad and it matched the location of the arrest. The victim was also able to identify stolen items from her apartment.

In the victim's apartment, deputies discovered the suspect had left behind a knife that he had used to slash the window screen. He had used an outdoor chair to crawl through the window.

The suspect was arrested and booked into the King County Jail on investigation of Residential Burglary.




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Crows appreciate the harvest

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Photo by Tanis Coralee Leonhardi


Susan Leonhardi says "Our neighbors planted an Asian Kousa Dogwood (Cornus Kousa) a few years ago and the crows enjoy the harvest.

"For about a week they show up most days and swarm the tree for about 30 minutes.

"Ohhh, the Hitchcock memories ;-)."


Photo by Tanis Coralee Leonhardi


And the crows say thank you for the giant bird feeder.



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Briarcrest Neighborhood Association and Patty Pan Cooperative fed shut-in neighbors this summer

Jean Hilde and Sarah Kaye made the deliveries
Photo courtesy BNA


Between May 4 and July 13, 2020 the Briarcrest Neighborhood Association partnered with Patty Pan Cooperative and delivered over 500 free, healthy meals to more than 50 of our neighbors who were sheltering in their homes from the coronavirus pandemic.

Devra in the kitchen
Photo courtesy BNA


Once each week, Devra Gartenstein cooked up creative one-dish meals in the Patty Pan kitchen which were then delivered by BNA officers Sarah Kaye and Jean Hilde. 

Recipients included low-income senior and disabled residents of King County Housing Authority's Paramount House located in South Briarcrest.

For years, Patty Pan's tamale and quesadilla tent has been a welcome destination at local farmers markets.

During the pandemic, Patty Pan is now focusing on home delivery of local products through their New Day grocery home-delivery co-op.

You can place weekly orders online here: https://shop.rethinkinggroceries.coop/



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Shoreline Fire Friday: another pedestrian hit on Richmond Beach Road; male transported to hospital after assault

Photo by Steven H. Robinson


A female pedestrian believed to be in her 60s was hit by a vehicle on Richmond Beach Road at 3rd Ave NW around noon on Friday.

Shoreline Fire responded. She was transported by aid car to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries.

This is the third pedestrian hit on Richmond Beach Road between 3rd and 8th NW.

The City of Shoreline has received some grant funding and plans to implement a mid-block pedestrian crossing by the end of 2021.

At 2pm medics responded to the 17900 block of Aurora Ave N and transported a male to Harborview for wounds from an assault. Patient was stable with non life threatening injuries.



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Case updates October 8, 2020


Case updates October 8, 2020


United States
  • cases 7,583,200 - 54,887 cases since yesterday
  • deaths 212,111 - 979 deaths since yesterday

Washington state - *no death reports on weekends
  • cases 92,560 - 642 since last report
  • hospitalizations 7,762 - 29 since last report
  • deaths* 2,190 - 7 since last report

King county
  • cases 23,736 - 150 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 2,429 - 11 since yesterday
  • deaths 776 - 2 since last report

Shoreline - population 56,752 (2018)
  • cases 617 - 1 new
  • hospitalizations 106 - 0 new
  • deaths 63 - 0 new

Lake Forest Park - 13,569 (2018)
  • cases 72 - 2 new
  • hospitalizations 4 - 0 new
  • deaths 1 - 0 new


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The Lavender Queen

 

A single tall stalk of lavender with a butterfly perched near the top. The butterfly has lovely, draped deep gold wings that look like a designer gown.

Photo by Gloria Nagler



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Side effects

 


Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter HERE



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Annual Richmond Beach Halloween Carnival becomes a two-week Scavenger Hunt


Richmond Beach Community Associations’ annual Halloween Carnival kicks off in a new and safe way.

Things may look and feel a bit different this year but as with any good carnival, there are different games to play and attractions to experience all free for your family to enjoy.

The main attraction is the 2020 Scavenger Hunt. Over the course of two weeks, make your way to 13 Richmond Beach businesses all featuring participant signs and complete your carnival passport. Then redeem the passport on Saturday, October 24 for a fun flashlight prize.

Other events include selfie stations, a haunted (decorated) homes tour, and a free coloring page. More information can be found on the RBCA’s website at www.richmondbeachwa.org

Funding for this event has been provided by the City of Shoreline's Neighborhood Mini-Grant Program.




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Update from the Senior Center

Theresa LaCroix
Senior Center Director


Theresa LaCroix is the Director of the Shoreline - Lake Forest Park Senior Center


A big hello to all of our friends! It has been a long seven months not having your wonderful smiles and laughter filling the halls of the center.

We have adopted a saying at the center, “We are open for business but our doors are locked,” and because of this policy, we have maintained full operations since March 13, 2020, adapting our programs and services to become a critical Essential Service site for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park seniors.

Through the amazing support of our cities, residents, King County and the Office of Rod Dembowski, we were able to quickly develop and implement the following services through September.
  • Home deliver 11,009 hot cooked meals M-F in our new TO GO Community Dining Program
  • Home deliver 9,805 frozen meals through the Meals on Wheels Program
  • Provided 1,045 bags of groceries to low income senior households
  • Spent over 340 hours in Wellness Calls— friendly telephone call to check on members and assist with their needs
  • Provided 82 mental health counseling sessions
  • Provided an estimated 347 hours of Resource Management-assist seniors through personal challenges created by Covid-19; managing over 300 urgent needs
  • Reinstated in-house Foot Care on June 15th and have already provided services to 423 participants
  • Have had 723 guests participate in our online Zoom classes since July 1st

Thank you for your financial and product donations as it has kept us fully operational. We hope you will support our Special Events programs this fall as these events help build our 2021 budget. Please take advantage of our new Social Worker and Mental Health counselors as we address the effects of Social Isolation; you are not alone—we are in this together! 

Theresa LaCroix
Center Director



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Shoreline Chamber of Commerce meeting to hear from Jamas Gwilliam of Merlone Geier about Shoreline Place

Shoreline Chamber of Commerce ZOOM Luncheon
Welcoming our Speaker Jamas Gwilliam, Merlone Geier


Wednesday, October 14, 2020 
11:30am - 1:00pm


Merlone Geier is in the process of redeveloping the former 1960’s era Aurora Square Sears into Shoreline Place. This multi-phased mixed use project will incorporate previous planning efforts from the City and community while creating shopping and living experiences that meet current market demands and reflect the unique characteristics of the area. Additional updates and information: www.ShorelinePlace.com

Agenda:

11:30 a.m. Introductions and Networking
12:00 p.m. Speaker Presentation
12:55 p.m. Announcements

Join Zoom Meeting at this link

Meeting ID: 891 2419 6016
Passcode: 618779

One tap mobile
+12532158782,,89124196016#,,,,,,0#,,618779# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,89124196016#,,,,,,0#,,618779# US (Houston)

Dial by your location
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)

RSVP online or email info@shorelinechamber.org and you will be sent a reminder.



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Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center selected by OSPI and UW as an Inclusionary Demonstration Site


Shoreline Public Schools’ Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center is being recognized and studied as a model for inclusionary preschool practices by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Haring Center for Inclusive Education at the University of Washington.

This fall, OSPI and the Haring Center expanded their K-12 Inclusionary Practice Project (IPP) to include preschools and selected four early learning programs across the state to serve as demonstration sites for using innovative and effective inclusion models in their preschool programs. The Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center was one of the four sites selected.

The Edwin Pratt Early Learning Center is home to three early learning programs that serve a variety of needs. This includes a tuition-based preschool, a Head Start program serving low-income students and an Early Childhood Education program serving students with special needs. Students in all three programs are blended in classrooms throughout the building, explained Director of Early Learning Hillery Clark.

“In Washington, less than 50 percent of students with disabilities are participating in early childhood classes separate from their peers,” said Clark. 
“In our school, 100 percent of students with disabilities are included in early childhood classes with their peers… students develop and grow together in inclusive classrooms, learning about and embracing individual differences.”


Clark credits her staff for their work in building the capacity to one of only four preschool sites in the state to be selected as a demonstration site. “This selection celebrates and honors their incredible hard work, dedication and love for every student and family we serve,” said Clark.

As an IPP demonstration site, staff and administrators in the early learning programs will receive additional coaching and mentoring on inclusive teaching practices to increase their capacity to meet the needs of all students, regardless of ability or background.

The other three preschools programs selected to be demonstration sites are:
  • Robert Lince Early Learning Center – Selah, WA
  • Kodiak Cubs Preschool – Leavenworth, WA
  • Hood Canal School Inclusive Preschool – Skokomish, WA



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