80% of King County ballots in by Election Day

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Evan Smith
Reporter

By Evan Smith

More than 80 percent of King County ballots have already arrived at the county elections office in Renton.

County ballot-return statistics show that more than 1.1 million ballots had arrived at the elections office in Renton by 6pm Tuesday, November 3, 2020. 

That’s 80.45 percent of the county’s 1.4 million registered voters with mail-in ballots still outstanding.

Local voters are returning ballots at a faster rate than the countywide average.

Voters in Shoreline and the part of northwest Seattle in the 32nd Legislative District had a ballot-return rate through Tuesday of 81.28 percent.

In Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and the part of northeast Seattle in the 46th Legislative District the ballot-return rate is 84.33 percent.

Voters in Woodway, Lynnwood and the parts of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace in the Snohomish County portion of the 32nd Legislative District have a return rate of 75.05 percent.



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Made in Desperation !

 

Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter here



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My best guess is Common Pillbug

Photo by Gloria Z Nagler


a kind of wood louse (there are 50,000+ kinds, my guide says). Saw her on a fence post last week.

Armadillidium vulgare is her formal name, and doesn't she look like an armadillo? She stores her eggs in a pouch on her underbelly, and the babies, after hatching, spend a few days in the pouch before emerging into the scary world!

--Gloria Z Nagler





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Senior Center Tele Café Wednesday: Stress Less


Senior Center Tele Café
Wednesday, November 4, 2020 2pm

Stress Less with Christy Goff, MS, RDN, CD 
 
Learn tools and resources you can use to manage stress in addition to the relationship between nutrition, exercise, and stress.
  • What: A Zoom social hour, a chance to visit while staying home and staying safe. Grab a cup of coffee and pull up to chat!
  • Who: You and your friends from the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Center
  • Where: From the comfort of your own computer or smartphone
  • When: November 4th, 2:00pm
  • Meeting ID: 859 8484 8513
  • Password: senior2020

Check out what's coming the rest of November

November 11 The Senior Center is closed in observance of Veterans day

November 18 POWER THRU THE HOLIDAYS

Join our wonderful class instructors CeCe Ryan, Heidi Mair and Toshiko Aramaki for mini segments of light movement, stretching and exercise to help us move through this unique holiday season. Mary Newbill will offer a segment of meditation and relaxation as well. Tune in for the special Tele café and share Best Holiday wishes with one another.

November 25 No Tele CafĂ© today—Happy Thanksgiving! 


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New school board members appointed

Board President Meghan Jernigan
At their board meeting on Monday, November 2, the Shoreline School Board voted unanimously to appoint Emily Williams and Lama Chikh to the open District 2 and District 3 positions respectively. 

Both will be sworn in at the regular board meeting on December 7, 2020.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank all of the candidates who applied or interviewed for our open positions,” said Board President Meghan Jernigan. 
"It was truly inspiring to see the number of people who are interested in serving our community’s children and our district. We are thrilled to welcome Emily and Lama to the Shoreline School Board and know that they will bring critical lived experience and insight to our team."

Superintendent Rebecca Miner also expressed her enthusiasm to work with the new board members. “I am tremendously excited to have the opportunity to work with these two new board members as we strive for constant improvement in our school district and support for our students and families,” said Miner.



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Olympic View Water and Sewer will be the provider for future Point Wells development

By Jamie Holter

The long battle over who provides sewer services to a future Point Wells development ended in the Washington State Supreme Court last week. The Court ruled that Olympic View Water and Sewer District, which services primarily Snohomish County, can provide sewer (and water) services to Point Wells if and when it is built.

Shoreline-based Ronald Wastewater had been in a legal battle with Olympic View for more than four years to try to place the area inside the Ronald Sewer District. At issue were future fees to provide services for up to 3,000 households.

Currently Olympic View provides water services to the area, a service Ronald does not provide. Olympic View contracts with the City of Edmonds to manage wastewater. Olympic View looks at providing both water and sewer as an efficiency issue.

The disagreement dates back to the mid-80’s when King County transferred the Richmond Beach Sewer District System to Ronald. However, follow-up legal action has demonstrated that this “transfer order” which affected property in Snohomish County, including Point Wells, into Ronald, was void because Snohomish County and Olympic View were never brought into the process.

What does this mean to Shoreline residents? It means future sewer fees for this possible project will go to Olympic View and not Ronald Wastewater, which is now part of the City of Shoreline. 

The City of Edmonds will receive from Olympic View additional revenue for treating this new flow from Point Wells. That will help all customers in Olympic View, Mountlake Terrace, Point Wells, and Edmonds keep sewer rates lower in the future.



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Feel the calm

 

Photo by Barbara Twaddell


You are sitting on the hillside overlooking Puget Sound. The clouds are rolling slowly in, everchanging. The Sound is flat and calm. Large vessels sail by on their way to exotic destinations.

You feel peace and calm. All is right in your world.

(Do you believe me yet? Just keep breathing.)




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Mid-Week Mash-Up: Krista Cassidy


Join the Northshore Performing Arts Foundation

Wednesday, November 4, 2020 at 7 pm

for a free performance by 

Krista Cassidy

Connect to the performance here

Sponsored by the Hart Family




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Join the Club! November book and movie picks for Third Place Commons

Third Place Commons has launched two new clubs as part of their TPC At Home programming, giving you the perfect chance to have fun and connect with your Commons Community in these most stressful of times. Whether you’re a movie lover, a book lover, or both, your Commons community awaits.

Join the TPC Movie Club for a fun monthly conversation about a pre-selected film and just talk movies as well. Talk about what you love, what disappointed you, what’s coming soon, and what you’re watching now.

If books are more your thing, talk books with the Commons Community Book Club. Read recent paperback bestsellers, bring your thoughts on the pick of the month, and share what else you’re reading.

On Tuesday, November 10, 2020 the TPC Movie Club will discuss “Parasite,” the Academy Award winning 2020 Best Picture. A dazzling, funny, and always surprising film, this great movie is part satire, part thriller, and part social commentary that will keep you guessing from start to finish.

Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 99% and declares, “An urgent, brilliantly layered look at timely social themes, 'Parasite' finds writer-director Bong Joon Ho in near-total command of his craft." (Rated R for sexual content, language, and some violence.)

​Where to find it: You can find “Parasite” free on Hulu with subscription, or rent/buy from Xfinity, Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, and Fandango Now.

REGISTER HERE for the TPC Movie Club, which meets at 7:30pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month.

Next up, the Commons Community Book Club meets on Wednesday, November 18th to discuss “Daisy Jones and the Six” by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

A New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice, they wrote, “This stylish and propulsive novel, presented in the form of an oral history, explores the ascent of a (fictional) hard-partying, iconic 1970s rock band. It reads like the transcript of a particularly juicy episode of VH1’s ‘Behind the Music.’"

A NYT Bestseller and Reese’s Book Club selection, Daisy Jones and the Six was named one of the "Best Books of the Year" by NPR, The Washington Post, Esquire, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Shelf Awareness, BookRiot, and more!​

Where to find it: You'll tear through this quick, fun read, so get your copy today and join the conversation on November 18th at 5pm! You can get it from the library, in person at Third Place Books, or order it online (including the audiobook) here.

REGISTER HERE for the Commons Community Book Club, which meets at 5pm on the third Wednesday of each month.

Also on November 18th, tune in for Pandemic Picks: TV! to get all the binge-worthy fuel you need to get through the long, cold months to come. Register here.

After you register the first time for each club, you’ll receive the link to join the club every month. (No need to register more than once!) So whether you’re quarantining with a houseful and need a break from your 24/7 companions, or staying solo and need a break from yourself, join the book club or movie club (or both) to make new friends and have some fun!

Third Place Commons, a community supported 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is celebrating its 20th anniversary of building real community in the heart of Lake Forest Park. 

In addition to presenting its largest program, the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market, Third Place Commons now also fosters real community in digital space. To learn more, or to make a gift to support the market and the Commons, visit ThirdPlaceCommons.org.



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More Halloween creativity

Photo by Cheryl Gruwell

 
This enthusiastically decorated house is in New Westminster Triangle in south central Shoreline.


Photo by Seattle Poppy

An ingeniously designed candy chute at this home in central Shoreline.

Photo by Pam Cross

Appropriately, the scarecrow is wearing a mask!

Photo by Seattle Poppy

This skeleton is a real swinger!

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

This Edmonds family loves the outdoors and camping.

Photo by Cynthia Sheridan

So where is the spider that built this web in North City?




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Case updates November 1, 2020

Case updates November 1, 2020

United States
  • cases 9,182,628 - 77,398 cases since yesterday
  • deaths 230,383 - 451 deaths since yesterday
Washington state - *DOH does not report deaths on the weekend
  • cases 109,354 - 1,039 since last report
  • hospitalizations 8,634 - 23 since yesterday
  • deaths* 2,378 -  12 since last report
King county
  • cases 28,262 - 295 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 2,594 - 12 since yesterday
  • deaths 806 - 2 since yesterday
Shoreline - population 56,752 (2018)
  • cases 702 - 9 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 110 - 0 new
  • deaths 66 - 0 new
Lake Forest Park - 13,569 (2018)
  • cases 87 - 2 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 4 - 0 since yesterday
  • deaths 1 - 0 new


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Sidewalk improvements along N 200th St


Photos courtesy City of Shoreline

Shoreline Public Works recently completed sidewalk improvements along N 200th St between Ashworth Ave N and Meridian Ave N. 

Repairs and improvements were necessary due to damage to the existing sidewalks by tree roots.


In order to prevent future damage to the sidewalk, 11 trees were removed and replaced with tree varieties less likely to cause root damage to sidewalks and roads.

The transit center and Aurora Village are on N 200th as well as Echo Lake Park, the Compass Veterans' Center and medical offices.

The main goals for this project were to increase safety and accessibility in our community and provide easy access to public transportation.


Funding for this project came from Transportation Benefit District funds (vehicle license fees and voter approved sales and use taxes) and general funds.

For more information about this and other sidewalk projects in Shoreline, visit shorelinewa.gov/sidewalks.



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Incumbent legislators hold big financial advantage over challengers

Evan Smith
Reporter

By Evan Smith

Incumbent Democratic state legislators in the 32nd and 46th legislative districts hold big financial advantages over their challengers in the November 3, 2020 general election.

Democratic 32nd District incumbent State Rep. Cindy Ryu is the leading fundraiser. She has reported raising $90,113 to go with $10,123 left from previous campaigns for a total war chest of $100,236. Ryu has reported campaign expenditures totaling $58,594.

Ryu’s general-election opponent, fellow Democrat Shirley Sutton, has raised $4,812 and lent her own campaign $200 for a total of $5,012. She has spent $464.

Ryu, who operates an insurance agency, has a contribution of $1,500 from the Washington Insurers Political Action Committee, $2,000 from the Farmers Employees and Agents PAC, $1,250 from the American Property Casualty Insurance Association Political Account and $1,000 each from the Zurich American Insurance Co., the Continental Casualty Co. and the Cigna Health and Life Insurance Co. and the United Services Automobile Association (USAA).

She also has contributions of $2,000 each from Connie Ballmer of Bellevue George Petrie of Seattle, the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Delta Dental Service of Washington, the Washington State Auto Dealers Political Action Committee (PAC), the Washington Education Association PAC (WEA PAC) and from the Justice for All PAC, a conservative political action committee, that usually spends a lot of money to try to influence judicial elections around the country; and $1,500 each from the Washington Federation of State Employees and the Washington Hospitality Association PAC.

Ryu has reported an in-kind contribution from the Washington State Democrats of $1,411.07; a cash contribution of $1,250 from Co-Ho Imports an Everett-based distributor of Asian sake, wine and spirits; and $1,000 contributions from six other companies, five industry groups, seven labor groups and five individuals.

Ryu is chairwoman of the State House committee on housing, community development and veterans; and a member of the Appropriations Committee and the committee on consumer protection and business.

The Fuse Votes organization has made an independent expenditure on Ryu’s behalf of $122. Fuse supports liberal candidates around Washington.

Sutton, a former Lynnwood City Council member, has $1,000 contributions from the Opportunity PAC, which supports to the campaigns of Black women, and from SEPAC, which bills itself as “Snohomish County’s leading authoritative resource informing the decisions of African Americans and underserved communities on electoral, legislative, political, and policy issues.”

The other 32nd District incumbent, Democratic State Rep. Lauren Davis reports raising $67,907 on top of a campaign starting balance of $24,764 for a total war chest of $92,671, with $68,947 spent. Davis has a $2,000 campaign debt. Her challenger, non-partisan candidate Tamra Smilanich, has not reported campaign fundraising or spending because she has registered with the state Public Disclosure Commission as a “mini-filer,” a status which excuses her from making periodic reports as long as she raises and spends less than $5,000.

Davis has $2,000 contributions from some of the same donors who are supporting Ryu: Connie Ballmer, the SEIU 775 Quality Care Committee, the Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters and the WEA PAC; and others from Tom Glaspie of Olympia, Centene Management, the Washington Medical PAC, the SEIU 775 Quality Care Committee, the Puyallup Tribe Of Indians, Delta Dental, and the Washington State Building and Construction Trades Council, and she has $1,500 contributions from the Washington Federation of State Employees, Premera Blue Cross and Justice For All.

Fuse Votes also has made an independent expenditure on Davis’ behalf of $122.

In the 46th District, incumbent Democratic State Rep. Javier Valdez is the leading fundraiser, with $70,019 raised and $48,988 spent. Republican challenger Beth Daranciang has raised $1,972 and spent $1,372.

Valdez has $2,000 contributions from Connie Ballmer, Puyallup Tribe Of Indians, Microsoft, BNSF Railway Co., Lyft Inc., the Puget Sound Pilots PAC, CHRIS Stolte of Seattle, the Washington State Council Of County And City Employees PAC,

The other Democratic 46th District, incumbent, State Rep. Gerry Pollet reports raising $48,189.50 and spending $28,470. Republican challenger Eric J. Brown has raised $4,947 and spent $5,843.

Pollet has $2,000 contributions from the Pacific NW Regional Council Of Carpenters, the SEIU 775 Quality Care Committee, the Puyallup Tribe Of Indians, the WEA PAC, the Tulalip Tribes, and Karl Quackenbush of Seattle.

The 32nd Legislative District includes Shoreline, Woodway, south Edmonds, the city of Lynnwood, a small part of Mountlake Terrace and part of northwest Seattle.

The 46th District includes Lake Forest Park, Kenmore and northeast Seattle.



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Spread the warmth: Shoreline Police seek donations of coats, socks, and hats

Shoreline Police Officers often come across situations where community members are in need of a warm coat. With your help, every officer will be able to provide a coat for those in need of one this winter. 

Socks and Hats are welcome too!

Donations are welcome from November 3-24, 2020 from 9am to 4pm at the Shoreline City Hall, Midvale Ave N entrance.



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Secretary of State: What to expect for results reporting on election night

From the Office of the Washington Secretary of State

More than 3 million registered voters in Washington state have already returned their ballots for the 2020 General Election. 

Turnout is well ahead of the pace set at this point in 2016.

“With such high participation already this election, we know voters are eager to learn the results,” said Lori Augino, elections director, Office of the Secretary of State. 
“Please be patient; results reporting is not instantaneous and there are processes in place to ensure the results are displayed accurately.”

Ballots are not tabulated by counties until after the voting period closes at 8pm on Election Day, November 3. 2020. 

Following the initial results release on election night, no further results will be reported until November 4. Washington’s largest counties will post updated results daily while counties with a population of less than 75,000 are required to report at least every three days.

Results will be regularly posted throughout the 21-day certification window. Each county will post their next tabulation date and time along with how many estimated ballots they have left on-hand to process each time they update their results.

Results are not final until counties certify them on Nov. 24. The Secretary of State has until Dec. 3 to certify the 2020 General Election returns.

“After Election Day, county election offices will continue working diligently to count every valid vote throughout the entire certification period,” said Julie Anderson, Pierce County Auditor. “This is a normal and expected process during any given election.”

On election night, each of the 39 county election offices will release results shortly after 8 p.m. At that time, counties will tabulate all of the ballots with signatures that have been processed; the signature on the ballot envelope must match the signature on the voter’s registration record in order to be counted.

County election offices will post a PDF copy of the results to their respective websites, and will upload the results to the state’s VoteWA portal, ensuring the results uploaded match the PDF copy of the results. A copy of the PDF is provided to the Office of the Secretary of State’s elections staff, who perform an additional review of the PDF against the results posted online.

Most counties will have PDF results posted on their webpage before the Office of the Secretary of State is able to display statewide results, as they undergo additional auditing and cybersecurity checks.

County election officials estimate the results released on election night will account for as much as 60% of the state’s ballots expected for the 2020 General Election.

Counties will continue to receive valid ballots by mail after Nov. 3. Any ballot postmarked on Nov. 3 or earlier is considered on-time and will be processed.

Voters have until 8pm November 3, 2020 to place their marked ballots in one of over 500 drop boxes statewide. Drop-box locations can be found on the Office of the Secretary of State’s official website or by visiting VoteWA.gov, Washington’s online voter portal.

Note about write-in votes: 

Counties report the total number of write-in votes on tabulation reports. Results on Election Day will only include a single generic ‘write-in’ category. If the total number of write-in votes for an office is more than the apparent winner of the race, then write-in votes will be tallied during the 21 day certification period of the election for each declared write-in candidate in the race.
  • If a declared candidate receives enough votes to be elected, their name shall appear on the certified election results.
  • If an office has a declared candidate and:
    • The total number of write-in votes is not enough to tally write-in votes, the votes for individual write-in candidates shall not be part of the official results certified by the canvassing board. Individual vote totals will not be displayed on certification documents or unofficial election results for that candidate.
    • The total number of write-in votes requires a tally of votes for declared write-in candidates. The total of votes cast for each declared write-in candidate shall be included in the official results certified by the canvassing board.


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Halloween Moon

Monday, November 2, 2020

Photo by Mike Remarcke

 

Apparently it is somewhat rare to have a full moon on Halloween. Since no one was out trick or treating after dark this year, Mike Remarcke has brought the Halloween Full Moon to you!



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Halloween decorations


Photo by JM

I have been delighted with all the Halloween outdoor decorations this year - almost as pleased as when I see a dog walker with reflective gear on dog and human!

This tree is in the Echo Lake neighborhood of Shoreline.

Photo by JM


Maybe it's because our world made an abrupt shift in its way of doing business this year or maybe manufacturers stepped up production of orange lights but I have never seen so many decorations.

Photo by JM

Trees, windows, fences, houses, walkways.. last year it was just one Halloween dragon in Ridgecrest. This year I've seen three dragons and giant spiders everywhere.

Photo by JM


The teddy bears that were in windows have given way to ghosts and witches.

I hope they stay up until Christmas.

If you have photos of local homes, send them to Editor@ShorelineAreaNews.com

P.S. There is an absolutely gorgeous house on Perkins Way in a location I would never send a photographer to. If you know the homeowners, ask them to send in a photo!

--Diane Hettrick

 

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AG Ferguson: Seattle court orders $585,000 in penalties and restitution for fraudulent property management scheme


A King County Superior Court Commissioner ordered an Auburn property management company to pay a total of half a million dollars in restitution for impacted Washingtonians and financial penalties. 

The company’s owner hijacked the homes of people who hired his company by adding new walls and rooms without the owners’ knowledge or consent and refusing to pay homeowners.

In addition to financial penalties, the commissioner also barred company owner Travis A. Jackson from marketing property management services without first obtaining a license, making unauthorized modifications to homes and making false and misleading representations. 

The court intended for $256,000 to go toward restitution for people affected by the scheme and an additional $252,000 in civil penalties. The civil penalties go to the Washington state general fund. Jackson must also pay just more than $76,000 in attorney costs and fees.

More HERE



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Jobs: Food Access Associate with United Way of King County

Click here to apply

Looking for an AmeriCorps service opportunity? Interested in ending hunger in your community? Apply now to be a Food Access Associate with United Way of King County's Fuel Your Future team!

Program Overview
  • Food Access Associate
  • Start/end dates: 11/16/2020 - 9/30/2021
  • Deadline: 11/4/2020 (Apply ASAP - hiring on a rolling basis)
  • Location: Currently filling positions in Federal Way and Bellevue
  • Stipend: $2,250/month pre-tax

As a Food Access member, you will be serving directly with a food bank or nonprofit organization, where you’ll use your skills and experience to support critical anti-hunger work, partnering with a school district, food bank, or affordable housing community. With these partners, you’ll help families enroll in critical food resources – like grocery home delivery or free and reduced-price school meals – and build relationships with families and youth.

UWKC Food Access Associates are part of Schultz Family Foundation grant program that provides additional professional development training and networking opportunities and a *much* higher stipend to AmeriCorps members serving with select anti-hunger programs. Take advantage of this amazing opportunity today!


LEARN MORE

What we're looking for:

Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or legal permanent resident of the United States. Unfortunately, F1 visas are not sufficient.
  • Must be available 40 hours per week. Exact hours may vary by site placement, but will primarily be Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Able to serve full-time through September 30, 2021 and reach a total of 1,700 service hours.
  • Must go through a Washington State Patrol background check, FBI background check and National Sex Offender Registry Check, plus state of residence background check if not living in WA currently
APPLY NOW



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Professor from UW Bothell and his study of the birds of Lake Forest Park

Brown-headed cowbirds lay their eggs in other bird's nests. Photo from USGS

A University of Washington Bothell Seed grant helped Assistant Professor Doug Wacker launch a study of the birds of Lake Forest Park and gave undergraduate researchers a chance to see how habitat and urbanization affect avian life.

As a Lake Forest Park resident and board member of the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Committee, Professor Wacker wanted to extend his biology expertise to his community.

The project’s goal is to learn how habitat and urbanization impact the way birds use urban and suburban parks. With $25,000 in grant funds, Professor Wacker was able to hire three undergraduate researchers who have been working in parks within the City.

Read the article about this project: Undergraduate researchers marvel at birds.



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Case updates October 31, 2020

Case updates October 31, 2020


United States
  • cases 9,105,230 - 80,932 cases since yesterday
  • deaths 229,932 - 823 deaths since yesterday

Washington state - *DOH does not report deaths on the weekend
  • cases 108,315 - 814 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 8,611 - 40 since yesterday
  • deaths* 2,366 - 0 since last report

King county
  • cases 27,967 - 210 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 2,582 - 5 since yesterday
  • deaths 804 - 0 since yesterday

Shoreline - population 56,752 (2018)
  • cases 693 - 3 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 110 - 0 new
  • deaths 66 - 0 new

Lake Forest Park - 13,569 (2018)
  • cases 85 - 2 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 4 - 0 since yesterday
  • deaths 1 - 0 new



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For the Birds: Hummingbirds — Our Local Aerial Displayers

Pugnacious male Anna's guarding all visible feeders

By Christine Southwick
Photos by Craig Kerns

Who hasn’t been thrilled by watching hummingbirds hover over bright flowers, dart over our heads, or even fly backwards?

Our resident Anna’s Hummingbirds and our seasonal Rufous Hummingbirds come to the feeders we put out and delight us with their brilliant colors and territorial displays.

This female Anna's is cold -- that's why she is fluffed up

Most people put these feeders where they can watch the hummers from a window. Many of us end up putting up a couple of feeders, spaced far enough apart that the dominant male has to fly back and forth to chase away other hummingbirds, thus enabling other hummers to partake of the provided sugar water.

Light keeping sugar water liquid (and Anna's warm too)

Feeders are easy to maintain. 

Nectar is ¼ cup of sugar (cane not beet) to one cup of water. During the summer feeders should be cleaned every 2-4 days, in cool weather every 4-7 days. Mold is hazardous to hummers. I don’t use red food coloring because that may be hazardous to hummingbirds too. I also have weather guards over my feeders — it keeps rain, and the occasional snow off the feeders and the hummers.

Anna’s eat more bugs than any other North American hummingbird (according to a study by the San Diego Zoo).

That is one of the reasons why these flying jewels have been able to become residents (and another reason not to use pesticides). Here in Western Washington we have planted many flowering plants and welcomed these aerial acrobats into our yards.

Do you know that it is most important to maintain your hummingbird feeders in the wintertime? 

Snow on a winter feeder

From about October though early May (depending on how cold the weather is), Anna’s supplement their daily nutrition with neighborhood feeders. The flowers are mostly gone, and a cold snap will kill most of the small bugs for a while. 

What are they to do? Why, find a local hummingbird feeder, and hope that it is being kept filled, clean, and liquid. Most Anna’s have a neighborhood route that they follow, so they often show up at each feeder at about the same time.

When it freezes, Anna’s will feed into dark on cold evenings before shutting down into tupor during the night to preserve energy, and they start going to feeders looking for much-needed instant energy just before daylight. That is why it is so important to keep the feeders liquid, either with a feeder heater, a light, or a taped-on handwarmer.

The Anna’s here will thank you, so enjoy!



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King county elections: over 1 million ballots returned

Photo courtesy King County Elections


King county elections sent out a cheerful tweet:

Hey King County. We’re at over 1 million ballots returned! 
We’ve had over 70% of voters turnout so far. 
Let’s keep em’ coming and #hit90 percent.

Return your ballot to your nearest drop box anytime before November 3, 8pm sharp.



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Neighborhoods celebrate Halloween with parades and candy hanging from trees

Sunday, November 1, 2020


Individual neighborhoods and streets coped with COVID-19 Halloween by staging local parades, sharing neighborhood candy maps, and using various type of social media to spread the word.

Photos by Steven H. Robinson




Some people put the candy out in bags on tables or benches near the street. Some hung the candy from trees that overhang the sidewalks.

These scenes were shot in Ridgecrest on 8th Ave but they were repeated all over the area.



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Case updates October 30, 2020


Case updates October 30, 2020

United States
  • cases 9,024,298 - 99,750 cases since yesterday
  • deaths 229,109 - 1,009 deaths since yesterday

Washington state - *DOH does not report deaths on the weekend
  • cases 107,501 - 928 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 8,571 - 49 since yesterday
  • deaths* 2,366 - 0 since last report

King county
  • cases 27,757 - 334 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 2,577 - 4 since yesterday
  • deaths 804 - 0 since yesterday

Shoreline - population 56,752 (2018)
  • cases 690 - 3 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 110 - 0 new
  • deaths 66 - 0 new

Lake Forest Park - 13,569 (2018)
  • cases 83 - 1 since yesterday
  • hospitalizations 4 - 0 since yesterday
  • deaths 1 - 0 new


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Understanding Medicare

Understanding Medicare
Tuesday, November 3, 6:30-8pm

Please register by 10am the day of the event.
https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/5f905c599aadc72f00578dfe

Just when you think you understand how Medicare works, there is a change in your plan or new plans to know! Discover how Medicare works, what the options are and the different types of available products and prescription drug plans.

At the conclusion of this class, you will be able to make an educated, informed evaluation of what is available and what best suits your specific medical and financial needs.

This presentation is for educational purposes only. Neither the speaker nor We Speak Medicare.org is affiliated with the Federal Medicare Program.

Class will use Zoom as a platform.

The Zoom link will be sent to you by email.



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Connective Fibers

Connective Fibers - Tuesday, November 3, 6-7pm

Join a circle of creative fiber artists via Zoom, while working on your yarn projects.

A volunteer will be available to answer any knitting or crochet questions you might have.

Register: https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/events/5f2de27fb2dfcb3a00b75455

Check your email for the zoom link on the day of the event.




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Documenting the Struggle: A Conversation with Filmmaker Stanley Nelson


Documenting the Struggle: A Conversation with Filmmaker Stanley Nelson on his acclaimed Civil Rights films. – go to the online link to view.

Nelson talks with American Experience Executive Producer Cameo George on the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America.

The discussion includes clips from three of Nelson's films— The Murder of Emmett Till, Freedom Riders, and Freedom Summer — as well as a Q/A from audience. 

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City of Lake Forest Park offers low income senior / disabled sewer discount

The Lake Forest Park Sewer Utility offers low-income senior or disabled sewer customers a 50 percent discount on their sewer service.

You must be a Lake Forest Park sewer customer and meet the criteria to qualify for the discount. 

For more information and an application, here: link.



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Check smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms


Our fire departments are sending out reminders that we need to change the batteries in our smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms.

As we change our clocks this weekend, those with regular batteries in their smoke alarms, should change them as well. Smoke alarms have an expiration date. After 10 years, it's time to change the whole thing.

Many new alarms have a ten year battery. While you don't need to change the battery on those, please (like all alarms) you should test them monthly.

If your alarms start chirping, they need new batteries. If they continue to chirp, they need to be replaced.



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Free Emergency Preparedness workshop


FREE Emergency Preparedness Workshop
November 5 and 7, 2020
 
If you want to know how to create the best emergency kit for your home, have hands-on training with a fire extinguisher and learn how to locate and properly shut off your utilities, then this FREE class is for you. For more information or to register, contact Carl Lunak: 425-354-1744



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Attorney General: Federal judge orders USPS to perform nightly sweeps for ballots in areas where delivery has slowed

Photo courtesy USPS

A federal judge in Yakima has ordered the U.S. Postal Service to perform nightly sweeps for ballots in areas where data showed unacceptably low on-time delivery rates in the week leading up to election day.

U.S. District Court Judge Stanley Bastian’s order came after Attorney General Bob Ferguson requested a hearing Friday to update the court after data supplied this week by the Postal Service showed “consistently poor Election Mail performance data in certain regions.”

Judge Bastian’s order requires the Postal Service to perform nightly sweeps for ballots in Wisconsin and the Detroit region in Michigan, and to take “extraordinary measures” to deliver ballots in time to be counted, after the data showed on-time delivery rates lagging in those areas.

“Every vote must be counted,” Ferguson said. “Our democracy depends on it.”

Generally, election mail delivery has improved since Ferguson won his injunction in September. But some areas continue to experience delays. For example, the data show that on-time delivery of ballots sent by voters in Michigan’s Detroit District has dipped as low as 57 percent over the past week. By comparison, national on-time delivery has been at 93 percent or higher.

“The reported data still show that the Postal Service is failing to timely deliver a significant number of trackable ballots, and that such ballots remain undelivered to voters or will not be delivered to elections officials in time to be counted,” Ferguson wrote in his request last night for the hearing.

On Sept. 17, Judge Bastian granted Ferguson’s motion for a nationwide injunction in the case, forcing the U.S. Postal Service to immediately halt its drastic operational changes while the case progressed. That injunction required the Postal Service to take “extraordinary measures” to accelerate the delivery of ballots.

Case background HERE 



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Ballot drop boxes open in Shoreline, LFP, around county

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Ballot drop box 192nd and Aurora in
Shoreline park n ride
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Local voters can return their ballots to ballot drop boxes 24 hours per day through 8pm on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.

King County has 24-hour drop boxes at 73 sites, including two in Shoreline and one in Lake Forest Park.

Here are some of the nearby drop boxes:
  • Shoreline Library 345 NE 175th St, Shoreline (Due to construction the ballot drop box has moved to the lower parking lot of the library right off of NE 175th St - no left turn from westbound 175th)
  • Shoreline Park and Ride, 18821 Aurora Ave N, Shoreline
  • Lake Forest Park City Hall, 17425 Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park
  • Kenmore City Hall, 18120 68th Ave NE, Kenmore
  • Lake City Library, 12501 28th Ave NE Seattle
  • North Seattle College (south visitor lot access from N 95th St), 9600 College Way N, Seattle
  • Broadview Library, 12755 Greenwood Ave N, Seattle
  • Ballard Branch Library, Corner of NW 57th St and 22nd Ave NW, Seattle 
  • Waterway 19 Park (next to Gas Works Park), 2119 N Northlake Way, Seattle
  • Green Lake Community Center, 7201 E Green Lake Dr N, Seattle
  • King County Administration Building, 500 4th Ave, Seattle

County elections officials ask voters to plan ahead to avoid lines.

--Evan Smith



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