Lake Forest Park council candidates answer questions at Third Place Commons candidate forum October 7

Monday, October 25, 2021

Both the candidate forum and the Prop 1 forum
are available online
By Pam Cross

On Thursday, October 7, 2021 Third Place Commons presented the Lake Forest Park City Council Candidate Forum, in partnership with the League of Women Voters - Seattle/King County. 

All seven candidates for the four city council positions participated, and shared their thoughts on a wide variety of topics including Prop 1, increasing affordable housing options, and the future of Town Center.

The forum was moderated by Chelsea Jordan from the League of Women Voters - Seattle / King County.

The candidates did not receive the questions beforehand and were given from 1 to 2 minutes to respond. The candidates were randomly called on so that no one had an advantage.

What three things would you do to improve or deepen a safe and strong community?

The most frequently mentioned was improving accessibility through a comprehensive sidewalk plan starting with the areas around schools. The cut-through traffic has to be addressed using traffic calming methods. The City needs to be more walkable and bikeable and needs more street lights.

Candidates expressed a need for expanded services to complement the RADAR program for those who need mental health assistance or suffer from domestic violence. There is potential funding for a North End crisis center that would provide the immediate help that RADAR cannot provide.

It was pointed out that local control of the Police and Fire Departments requires proper funding; we should pay attention to what the Northshore FD is planning; and gathering places are important and needed in LFP.

Other items that were raised included the need for cooling/warming stations because of the more extreme weather caused by Climate Change, increasing neighborhood involvement through a Neighborhood Watch program, and a locking mailboxes program partly subsidized by City.

The LFP Council has placed a property tax levy on the Nov Ballot to fund improvements for sidewalks, pedestrians and bicycles, parks increasing taxes $.59/1,000.

What is your position on Prop 1 and what would you do to support it if passes, and what are your thoughts on supporting parks if it does not pass?


The candidates were generally in support of Prop 1 with one dissenting view.

Maddy Larson (Position 5) put it this way: this is a complicated issue. Everybody wants it, but the mechanism is frustrating to voters that there’s not more specificity in what it would fund. And it does not have a time limit to end this tax. We need to start somewhere - we need to start making progress on these infrastructure issues. I will work with Council to make sure the funds are spent with a community voice present, projects are clearly planned and budgeted, and that we make meaningful progress. If it doesn’t pass, we will have to find another funding source.

All of the candidates commented that funding was the area of most concern. They recognized that we need to make the investments and until we have some money to invest, no bank is going to bond us. Right now interest rates are low.

No one likes to raise taxes for the sake of raising taxes without compelling justification. These are the things voters support. There are very good safeguards built into Prop 1 so that funds will go into designated account and will be used only for pedestrian safety and parks. It can’t be raided for general purpose expenditures.

Semra Riddle (Position 1), who is currently on the Council and running unopposed, supports Prop 1. Resolution 1810 spells out how the funds will be spent. The money can’t be spent until there’s an implementation plan. Council is working on the implementation plan right now which requires work by staff, public outreach, and a public hearing as part of the normal process. We have tried other funding sources in the past for safe routes to schools and we have missed the mark every time. And these projects we’ve asked for are basically shovel ready. They’re just not big enough to rise to the top. If it doesn’t pass, we’re really going to have to think about how we’re coming back with a smaller levy because going out for grants and State money hasn’t been successful for these types of projects.

The dissenting opinion came from candidate Jon Lebo (Position 3).

I’m a strong supporter of parks, sidewalks and safety but I think we’re a bit premature. I have years of experience managing construction projects in the public sector. We’ve always put together a very detailed list of priorities and we’ve gone through a funding cycle and we have looked at sources, costs, and budget. I will vote no because I don’t think they’ve outlined enough detail in the priorities, the costs, and what they really want to achieve. There are many ways to provide safe access. The implementation plan should have been developed before going to the voters. You need to go to the voters with a strong program of what you’re going to do, and how you’re going to do it.

The next question: What is your vision for the future of Town Center Third Place Commons, and how would you achieve that?

Larry Goldman (Position 7) stated that the zoning regulations are a reasonable compromise by bringing in some residential with some affordable housing, but not so much that it overwhelms the infrastructure. We still need space for our Farmers Market, and community gathering spaces like we have now. There will be more opportunities for public input so we can balance affordable housing with a community focused center.

Other candidates mentioned that it’s a sensitive area because of the watershed. Some would like to see Town Center as a model for sustainable building, with lots of social services placed there, housing, and retail, and room for community gatherings. Use of solar, wind, and zero net carbon emissions are some ideas to model what we want to see in the rest of the community. The visibility to people outside the community lets them see what LFP is about. Our community wants a vibrant retail space with the character and feel of LFP. We need what is appropriate for LFP meaning low scale buildings, methods that improve the environment, more walkability - a place where people want to go. We need to find a developer that will do that.

A member of the audience asked: What concrete steps would you take about all of the noisy and racing cars?

All candidates agree that this is a big issue and needs to be a priority. It is critical to address this because it is in every neighborhood. We need to provide education in high schools and consider lobbying the state legislature for support in things like allowed signage.

Paul Sanford (Position 7) This is a big one. I think you have to start with police enforcement. We have a strong police force today but they are limited in where they can get and how quickly they can get there. I think we need to put together a special hotline or special conduit forum so people can directly contact a response at all hours of the day. A lot of concerns to address. We can look at cameras, and temporary calming traffic measures to disrupt these activities.

Tracy Furutani (Position 5). Agrees that data gathering is important and neighbors are the best way to get the information. We need one central repository to identify the area and emphasize those areas. We also have to decide whether this is local problem or a regional problem. If it’s regional, let’s partner with our neighbor cities to work on roads that lead into LFP.

Others pointed out that there are a couple of areas that are all known for racing. They are ripe for speed bumps - even temporary ones that are less expensive. Maybe the neighborhood would be willing to contribute to city funds. Let’s consider using inexpensive deterrents such as speed bumps, reducing the speed limits citywide, signage

In response to an audience question about affordable housing, the candidates supported ADUs because they provide a gentle increase in density. They also reduce the likelihood of loss of tree canopy. Another suggestion was cluster housing.

There were other questions from the audience as well as closing statements from the candidates. 

View the entire candidate forum HERE



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Take part in Civic Saturday on October 30th

Sunday, October 24, 2021


On Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 10am, join Third Place Commons for Civic Saturday, a nonpartisan gathering to connect with others and reflect on what it means to live as a citizen in today's American society.

Civic Saturday brings friends and strangers together to nurture a spirit of shared purpose in our democracy with music, readings, and small group discussions. Civic Saturday originally began in Seattle, but is now a national initiative with gatherings happening all over the United States in communities large and small.

This gathering is led by Erika Olson and Caroline Sayre, local Civic Saturday fellows who received their training from Citizen University. It will be held via Zoom and is free and open to all.

Register here for Civic Saturday.

Civic Saturday is part of Third Place Commons’ #TPCAtHome programs – free community events via Zoom to engage and connect our vibrant Commons community. Other upcoming events include Heat Pump Basics on November 17th as well as weekly foreign language conversation groups and monthly book and movie clubs.

Third Place Commons has also resumed some in-person programs, including weekly live music on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from 3-5 PM. (Masks required, and sorry, no dancing.)

Find all the details on these and other free weekly and monthly events on the Third Place Commons online calendar.

Third Place Commons – a community supported 501(c)3 nonprofit organization – has been building real community in the heart of Lake Forest Park for over 20 years. In addition to presenting its largest program, the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market, Third Place Commons now also fosters real community in digital space with TPC At Home programs. Learn more at ThirdPlaceCommons.org



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Minimum wage goes up on January 1, 2022

The state’s minimum wage will rise from $13.69 to $14.40 per hour on January 1, 2022. 

The state minimum wage applies to workers age 16 and older, and cities are able to set minimum wages higher than the state’s.The state’s Department of Labor and Industries outlines all of the requirements on its website.

State law mandates L/I calculate the minimum wage for the coming year based on the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). 

L/I compares the CPI-W from August of the previous year to the index for August of the current year to make the calculation.

The result is the state’s current minimum wage of $13.69 will go up 5.83 percent next year. BLS attributed the increase in the price index to more expensive gas, housing, household furnishings, and food.

The state minimum wage applies to workers age 16 and older. Under state law, employers can pay 85 percent of the minimum wage to workers ages 14-15. For 2022, the wage for that younger group will be $12.32 per hour.

Cities are able to set minimum wages higher than the state’s, and both Seattle and Sea Tac have higher wages.

View website for more information



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Shoreline Police: Sock. Rock. Liquor. Cigars.


Burglaries can touch any community. At 5:40am Monday morning, October 4, 2021 King County deputies in Shoreline responded to Walgreens in the 14500 block of Aurora Ave to investigate a commercial alarm.


Deputies were greeted with shattered glass and merchandise scattered on the store's floor. Surveillance cameras show an adult male suspect using a softball-sized rock, concealed in a sock, to destroy the front window. The thief then zeroed in on liquor and cigars. Fortunately the registers held no cash, so our thief could not boost his gains.


It took only four minutes for deputies to respond Monday morning, but the suspect was gone. When suspects are not found, cases like this are reviewed by detectives. Our work doesn't end when our patrol deputies leave the call.

Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the King County Sheriff's Office non-emergency line at 206-296-3311 and reference case C20131322.

--King County Sheriff's Office



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Case updates October 22, 2021

Delta variant
COVID Case updates October 22, 2021

United States 
  • Total cases  45,316,210 - 77,933  new
  • Total deaths 733,834 - 1,834  new



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Trees down - stay away from power lines - remember the rule about four way stops

 
One of the downed trees in Shoreline
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire


There are a lot of trees down - this is just one of them. They do make good photo ops but stay far away from power lines. Remember that electricity can travel through the ground and broken power lines spark and whip around.

Also - if you are on the road, remember that when the signals are out you have to treat the intersection as a 4-way stop. You don't get to just keep going through the intersection.


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Widespread power outages as winds gust through the area

 
3:26pm Sunday October 24, 2021

If you still have power, you are fortunate. 

But that may change. Weatherwatcher Carl Dinse says that it should be windy off and on until Monday night.

And some trees come down after the wind has passed.

Lake Forest Park had a preview Saturday with an outage that affected Town Center (at least) and caused Third Place Commons to cancel their music event.

3:45pm October 24, 2021

A closer look shows that central Shoreline and west LFP have pretty much been spared but almost all of Shoreline west of Aurora is out - thousands of customers.

Lake Forest Park is in worse condition. Generally the fewer the red dots the faster the restoration will be - depending on how stretched the crews are. The small number of dots in Shoreline means that each dot generally represents a main power line. A lot of customer lose power at once, but the repair also restores a lot of customers.

In Lake Forest Park, all those dots generally represent individual outages - multiple trees and branches taking out 1 to 40 to 70 to 150 customers. And all have to be repaired individually.

Kenmore - PSE outages 4:22pm

It isn't just us, of course. There are outages all over Puget Sound. Kenmore is served by PSE - Puget Sound Energy. PSE has 53,000 customers out, most east of Lake Sammamish.

North Seattle isn't doing to well either. The two largest areas represent over 6,000 customers

The entire Seattle City Light region has outages. 85 outages affecting 43,666 customers.

Bring out the flashlights and extra blankets. It's going to be a long night.

About 350 households are without power in the Town of Woodway, including City Hall.



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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Eerie

 

Cartoon by Whitney Potter


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Submit your ideas for Shorewood's next Mascot by November 5


Shorewood High School is now soliciting ideas for its new mascot. 

You can submit your mascot idea by completing the form here

In accordance with school district policy, mascots shall be free from bias, cultural appropriation and derogatory connotations associated with race, creed, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, and disability. 

An objective for this process shall be to assure respect for cultural differences, values, and attitudes to treat individuals with respect, dignity and fairness. 

The deadline to submit mascot ideas is 5:00pm on Friday, November 5, 2021.


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Hard fought matches in WESCO South 3A League Tennis Tournament result in 5 Shorecrest players moving on to District Tournament

Robert Mann, Matthew Gardiner, Connor Wakefield, Owen Pierce, Calvin Rice, Zaid Khan

By Coach Rob Mann

The two day adventure of the WESCO South 3A League Tennis Tournament concluded once there was a break in the weather. The athletes brought their best tennis to the courts and provided a plethora of entertainment for the fans. 

Every player represented his school with the utmost dignity and class. The players from all the schools know each other well and were supportive of one another during the tournament. The winners were always humble in victory and losers were always gracious in defeat.

Zaid Khan

Zaid Khan earns 3rd place in the League Tournament

Zaid Khan (SC) got a first round bye. In the second round, he faced Alex Lee (Meadowdale) who won his first round match. Zaid came prepared to play and just dominated Lee, winning the set quickly 6-0, 6-0. 

In the semi-final (3rd round) he faced Steven Anderson (Edmonds-Woodway) who was a formidable opponent. These two played one of the most spectacular matches ever seen at the League Tournament. They are both high caliber tennis players and evenly matched. Anderson has a well rounded game and put a lot of pressure on Zaid. He was a technician and would hit quality groundstrokes that allowed him to play inside the baseline for much of the match. 

Zaid was a defensive magician forcing Steven to constantly hit one more shot. He had big first serves and he found his spots to rip his forehands as well. They split the first two sets and Zaid went up a break in the third set and it looked like he was in control, but Steven had other plans and was able to break Zaid twice in the set to win the match, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. It was a tough loss for Zaid, but he played exceptionally well and was able to take that momentum into the consolation bracket. 

In his next match, he got to play JD Drake (Shorewood). The winner of this match qualifies for the District Tournament and the loser gets to play another match for the alternate spot. Zaid had beaten JD twice during the tournament, but he made sure not to underestimate him. Zaid just stayed consistent throughout the match by keeping the ball in play and forcing JD to make errors. Also, anytime JD came to the net, Zaid would hit vicious dippers that JD struggled to get back over the net. Zaid was able to win this match 6-0, 6-1. 

With the win, Zaid qualified for the District Tournament and now it was only a matter of seeding for his final match. He played Yuli Berisha (Meadowdale) who is a talented player with great skills from the baseline. Zaid dialed up his game another notch and Berisha couldn’t find any answers. Even when Berisha was ripping forehands to open court that seemed like they were going to be winners, Zaid found a way to get to those balls and hit running forehands that put Berisha back on defense. Zaid was dominant in the match and won 6-1, 6-1 to earn the 3rd place in the League Tournament. Each match Zaid improves and he will be a tough opponent for whoever has to face him in the District Tournament next week.

Indigo Vining

Indigo Vining (SC) won his first match in singles against lefty Andy Ho (Lynnwood) by keeping the ball deep and to his backhand. Indigo dominated the first set winning 6-0, but Ho was not going to give up and fought hard in the second set by rocketing flat forehands to Indigo’s feet. Luckily, Indigo was able to hold on and win the second set 7-5. 

The win propelled him into the second round to play Russell Anderson (Edmonds-Woodway) who is a lefty as well. Russell went undefeated during league play and earned the #1 seed. He has a strong baseline game and his forehand is a weapon that constantly puts Indigo on defense. Indigo lost 1-6, 0-6 to the eventual champion of the League Tournament. 

The loss put him into the consolation bracket, but he still had a chance to go to the District Tournament. He had to face JD Drake (Shorewood) who is a player from another era, with his serve and volley tactics. Not many players play that style of tennis anymore in singles, but JD does it with perfection. The match was closer than the score reflected and I am sure that these two freshmen will be battling out for the next three years. Indigo lost 1-6, 0-6 to get knocked out of the tournament.

Owen Pierce and Calvin Rice

Calvin Rice and Owen Pierce - place 3rd in doubles

The duo of Calvin Rice and Owen Pierce (SC) who played singles all year paired up to play doubles in the postseason had a first round bye. In the second round, they faced David Lin and Ben Borgida (Shorewood) who really should have been seeded higher in the tournament. This was a tough match for Shorecrest because Shorewood had momentum on their side after winning the first round match and Calvin and Owen had yet to play a match. Beyond that, both Lin and Borgida had big serves that made it nearly impossible to break them. Thus, the best chance for Calvin and Owen to win was to hold all of their service games, which they didn’t. Shorecrest lost 2-6, 4-6 to a tough crosstown rival who eventually earned 2nd place in the tournament. 

The defeat fueled their desire to do better in the future matches in the tournament. In the consolation bracket, they competed against Jeremy Perreault and Christian Gill-More (Mountlake Terrace) and came out strong and earned a lopsided victory by minimizing their unforced errors. Calvin and Owen won 6-1, 6-0. 

They had to win their next match against Sam Browne and Jude Wilcox (Edmonds-Woodway) to qualify for the District Tournament. They started strong in the first set and a half hitting in all aspects of tennis and had a big lead in the second set. It slipped away with some unlucky bounces and unforced errors, which allowed Edmonds-Woodway back into the match. Owen and Calvin finally decided in the second set tiebreaker to take charge and dominate on the court, winning 6-3, 7-6 (3). 

They had to wait until day two to determine who they would play in their final match to figure out who would be the third and fourth seed for the District Tournament.

Connor Wakefield, Matthew Gardiner

Matthew Gardiner and Connor Wakefield - place 4th in doubles

Matthew Gardiner and Connor Wakefield (SC) dominated the first round against Jake Britton and Kallen Kinney (Meadowdale) by taking the net early and putting volleys away. Shorecrest won 6-1, 6-0. 

In the second round, they had to face the toughest doubles team in the tournament of Blake Gettman and Ethan Farley (Shorewood). The Shorewood team have been playing doubles #1 together for the last half of the season and they really are a cohesive unit out on the court. Their match experience together has really helped them to develop solid doubles tactics that made it difficult for Matthew and Connor. 

Matthew Gardiner

Shorecrest played tough through the whole match and only a couple volley and service errors are what cost them the match against Shorewood. Matthew and Connor lost 3-6, 4-6. 

In the consolation bracket, they faced Aden Le and Kai Magbuhat (Mountlake Terrace) who played #1 singles and #2 singles all season. Connor and Matthew elevated their game and took the match with ease winning 6-1, 6-0. 

In the next match the faced the #1 seeded team of Grant Oliver and Drew Warner (Edmonds Woodway) This was the first match on Day 2 and Shorecrest had a rough start for the first half of the set, but they finished the first set strong with put away volleys and overheads. 

In the second set, Edmonds Woodway started poaching more and they were rewarded for it by hitting winning volleys off the Shorecrest return. The teams split sets and had to play a 3rd and final set to determine who would earn a spot to the District Tournament. Shorecrest decided now was the time to take control of the match. 

Matthew Gardiner

Matthew was playing large at the net and terminating points with excellent volleys and overheads. Connor was the lob master. He tracked down just about every lob and sent lobs back that would constantly fall just inside the baseline causing Edmonds Woodway to miss the next shot. After a long see-saw battle, Shorecrest prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 6-4 and earned a spot to the District Tournament. 

Their day was not done because they still had to play the 3rd/4th place match to determine seeding. Their opponents were the other Shorecrest team of Calvin Rice and Owen Pierce. They were all glad to be playing in a non-elimination match. Calvin and Owen dominated the first set with big serves and monster groundstrokes. Matthew and Owen fought back in the second set with solid net play. After they split sets, they played a 3rd and final set to determine the match and Calvin and Owen were able to win by just being more consistent than Matthew and Connor. Calvin and Owen won 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 to earn 3rd place and Matthew and Connor earned fourth place in the league tournament.

Shorecrest Team qualifies 5 players to the District Tournament

The Shorecrest Tennis Team had a strong showing at the League Tournament by qualifying 5 players to the District Tournament that will take place October 26th and October 27th starting at 11am if weather permits. They will play in a double elimination tournament that is made up of WESCO North, WESCO South, and Northwest. The top performers at the District Tournament will advance to the State tournament that take place in the spring.



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School district will provide free and voluntary in-district COVID-19 testing


In collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health, next week the Shoreline School District will begin participating in a program called Learn to Return to provide voluntary and free in-district COVID-19 testing.

This testing opportunity will be incorporated into existing district safety protocols as a convenient option to further help contain the virus, protect our communities, and keep students and staff safe and healthy.

Here is how the voluntary testing program will work:

Test Site Access: 
  • Teachers, staff, students, and members of their household who require a COVID-19 test may access a testing site that serves just our school district. 
  •  We will offer PCR laboratory COVID-19 tests at no cost, with results generally available the morning after the test sample is collected.
  • Location: North City Elementary School 816 NE 190th St
  • Availability: Drive up or pre-register through your school
  • Times: 11:00am – 3:00pm
  • Days of operation: open school days only (not weekends or holidays)
  • Start date: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Testing Procedures:
  • Informed consent: Individuals to be tested (or their parent/guardian, as appropriate) must complete an informed consent form, available online Student Consent Form - Adult Consent Form, at the testing site or at any district school.
  • Nasal swab tests: We’re partnering with a company called AtlasGenomics to provide test kits, analyze samples, and provide PCR laboratory test results. Samples are collected by the individual (or their parent/guardian) using a painless nasal swab, under the observation of a trained test administrator.
Test results: 
  • Positive test results will be reported to parents/guardians, students 18 and over, or staff, as well as District test administrators. The District will continue to follow the Department of Health flowchart for quarantine and isolation protocols for those with positive test results. School nurses will assist with quarantine/isolation guidance for students, and staff should follow the DOH flowchart found on the district’s website.
Contact tracing: 
  • As usual, every positive case will be reported to Public Health – Seattle and King County for case investigation and contact tracing, in order to reduce spread of the COVID-19 virus and keep our schools as safe as possible for students and staff.
This testing protocol fits into a larger strategy to contain and control the virus, and all protocols are guided by the Department of Health and CDC. See the district COVID-19 Safety Guide.

The goal is to put the best possible strategies in place so that teachers, staff, students and families feel safe, protected, and comfortable focusing on teaching and learning — and so students can get the great education they deserve.



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In the Garden Now: The Elegant Forest Pansy Redbud Tree

Forest Pansy Redbud Tree photo by Victoria Gilleland
Story and photo by Victoria Gilleland

A happy accident along with a gust of wind brought a Forest Pansy branch down over a garden light. 

The result is this stunning display of beautiful heart shaped golden leaves touched with pink and orange.  

Forest Pansy Redbud typically has burgundy foliage through spring and summer which is followed by reddish fall color. 

This year the tree leaf 'color rules' seem to have changed. 

Because of our hot dry summer, autumn leaves are definitely on the gold side of the spectrum with just a touch of pink and burgundy. 

What a beautiful surprise!

Another gift from Mother Nature!

(Cercis canadensis 'Forest Pansy')



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Letter to the Editor: I truly appreciate Tracy Furutani's contributions to the LFP Water District

To the Editor:

In my opinion, we are very fortunate to reside in a community with such great candidates for City Council in the upcoming election. 

Regarding City Council Position #5, Maddy Larson and Tracy Furutani have both demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and the willingness to volunteer their time, effort and thought necessary for such a position.

I write this letter simply from a standpoint of gratitude.

Tracy Furutani has previously been a member of the volunteer Lake Forest Park Water District's (LFPWD) Citizens Advisory Committee. During that tenure Tracy provided the following services to the community:

  • Chaired the Advisory Committee
  • Assisted with development of the District's current draft Climate Action Plan
  • Co-hosted a LFPWD booth at the Town Center's Green Fair
  • Organized college students to study and help delineate the LFP Aquifer Recharge Area
  • Worked with others to develop 3D scale models of the nearby geology and hydrogeology
  • Using those 3D models, helped educate students and others at LFP and Brookside Elementary schools' science fairs about the unique and precious LFP aquifer.

In recognition of Tracy's advocacy, he was awarded the 2016 LFPWD Water Protector Award.

I truly appreciate Tracy's contributions to LFPWD.

Eli Zehner
Commissioner, LFPWD



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Keep your local drains clear of leaves

Keep drains clear of leaves. Photo courtesy City of Shoreline

Fall weather is here, bringing lots of rain and gusty winds for the next week or so. 

While Shoreline City crews clean leaves and streets routinely, they need your help to keep storm drains and ditches in Shoreline free of debris! 

Please help by sweeping up leaves and disposing in your green bin and by alerting the City to any clogged or overflowing drains: 206-801-2700.



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WeatherWatcher: Windy period ahead

Saturday, October 23, 2021

 

Breezy Puget Sound. Photo by Carl Dinse.


Thursday's offshore "bomb cyclone" didn't develop as strong as forecasted. It did, however, stay offshore and weakened as it moved north towards Alaska. We had some breezy conditions in the area but nothing we haven't already seen this fall. Winds gusted at the Richmond Beach station at 23 mph that day.

Another "bomb cyclone" is developing well offshore Saturday night and is expected to start impacting the region on Sunday, although this one too will remain well offshore until Tuesday night. 

With the offshore track of this storm, it's not expected to produce excessively strong winds for Shoreline and Lake Forest Park. The storm is also expected to weaken a lot as it gets closer to Vancouver Island.

Our neighbors to the north in Woodway, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood, and Everett have a high wind advisory in effect Sunday. Winds could gust up to 45 to 50mph there. 

Winds in Shoreline and Lake Forest Park stay below advisory criteria, in the 25-35mph range. Wind is expected to continue Sunday night well into Monday night, finally calming down to breezy conditions Tuesday.

Rain: Yes, there will be rain, in fact there is rain at times in the forecast starting Sunday and extending to all next week. We are expecting around 3/4 of an inch to about one inch of rain by Monday evening. Heaviest rain is expected on Monday afternoon and evening.



For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com



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Shorewood qualifies four players for District 1 tennis tournament

T-Bird doubles teams ( l to r ) Ethan Farley, Blake Gettmann, Ben Borgida, David Lin

By Coach Arnie Moreno

The Shorewood Thunderbirds dominated the WesCo South doubles tennis tournament.

It was an all T-bird final for the doubles championships, with two Shorewood teams playing for the doubles crown.

T-Bird doubles Champions Farley and Gettmann

T-Birds Ethan Farley and Blake Gettmann clashed with their teammates David Lin and Ben Borgida.

Borgida and Lin were seeded 6th and had to defeat a very good team from Meadowdale in their first match, then beat the number 1 seeded Edmonds-Woodway team to get into the doubles final.

The all Thunderbird doubles finals match started with Farley and Gettmann jumping out to a lead with aggressive shot making to win the first set 6-2. 

Borgida serving to Farley. Photo by Cathy Farley.

In the second set, Borgida and Lin’s serves came alive. Both Borgida and Lin win with accurate and powerful serves. 

They jumped out to a 4-3 lead but Farley and Gettmann did not give up. They broke their opponents serve then held to take a 5-4 lead. They held on to win the championship 6-4.

JD Drake serving an ace. Photo by Cathy Farley

T-Bird Freshman JD Drake improved in every match, to win 3 matches and place 5th and to be the alternate in singles to District 1.
 
The Shorewood doubles teams will advance to the District 1 final next week, October 26 and 27, 2021 at Jackson High School or, in case of bad weather, Skagit Valley College courts in Mount Vernon.



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Case updates October 21, 2021

Delta variant
COVID Case updates

United States 
  • Total cases  45,235,796 - 78,101  new
  • Total deaths 731,931 - 1,414  new

Washington state 
  • Total confirmed cases 627,781 -  2,104 new  
  • Total hospitalizations 39,280 -  110 new  
  • Statewide ICU occupancy by COVID-19 patients - 24.2% 
  • Total deaths 8,451 - 34 new  

King county 
  • Total confirmed cases 152,028 -  430 new   
  • Total hospitalizations 8,344 -     9 new   
  • Total deaths 1,970 -  3 new       
  • Level of community transmission HIGH  

Seattle 
  • Total confirmed cases 37,403  -  101 new   
  • Total hospitalizations 1,786  -    1 new 
  • Total deaths 490 -   0 new
  • Level of community transmission SUBSTANTIAL  

Shoreline  
  • Total confirmed cases 3,286 -  13 new    
  • Total hospitalizations 241 -   0 new   
  • Total deaths 109 -  0 new
  • Level of community transmission: SUBSTANTIAL    

Lake Forest Park 
  • Total confirmed cases 499 - 2 new 
  • Total hospitalizations 21 -    0 new
  • Total deaths 5  - 0 new
  • Level of community transmission: SUBSTANTIAL


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Gloria's Insects: I seek to capture a Cabbage White Butterfly image every Spring,

Photo copyright Gloria Z Nagler

in part to hone my tracking skills; these little guys don't wait around for photogs to gain a good angle and decent focus.

Turns out these butterflies also flit about in New Zealand, Australia, North Africa, Canada, and most of the U.S. I love 'em.

--Gloria Z Nagler



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Sound Transit withdraws Appeal of Town Center Ordinances

Bus on Bothell Way
The City of Lake Forest Park reports that Sound Transit has withdrawn its appeal to the Growth Management Hearings Board of the Town Center Ordinances adopted by the City Council in February 2021. 

Sound Transit had appealed the ordinances that were adopted to address the impacts of a parking garage in the Town Center for the Stride, Bus Rapid Transit System.

With the withdrawal of the appeal, the Town Center ordinances stand as adopted by the City Council and are the regulations by which future development or redevelopment at the Town Center will be reviewed.



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Vaccine booster shots approved and widely available

Last month, health care providers began offering booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine to certain individuals. 

Since then, more than 345,000 additional doses (which is a combination of booster and third doses) have been given out across the state. 

Now, providers can also offer booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson (J/J) vaccines to those who are eligible.

At least six months after completing the primary Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series, the following groups of people are eligible for a booster dose:

At least two months after receiving the single-dose J/J vaccine, it is recommended that everyone 18 and older receive a booster dose. Pfizer and J/J’s boosters are both full doses, while Moderna’s booster is a half dose.

“Vaccination continues to be the safest and most effective tool we have to prevent serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Getting the unvaccinated their first shots remains a priority,” said Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH. 
“A booster dose will further protect fully vaccinated individuals by increasing the vaccine’s effectiveness in their bodies, which otherwise may wane over time.”

COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be safe and effective and are recommended for everyone 12 and older. Currently, there is plenty of vaccine available across the state for everyone who needs a dose.

The easier way to schedule a booster shot is to contact your favorite pharmacy. Safeway, QFC, Costco, Rite-Aid, Walgren's and others.



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Downed power lines trap two in vehicle Thursday

Multiple power lines came down during winds
Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire

Shoreline Fire was dispatched at 3:25pm on Thursday, October 21, 2021 to power lines which landed on a vehicle trapping the two occupants.

They were extracted safely and suffered no injuries.

25th Ave NE was blocked from multiple power poles down between NE 177th and NE 178th NE. Seattle City Light responded. 

Power was out in the area for some time.

Apparently a tree fell on the lines during the wind / rain weather event. Not exactly the "bomb cyclone" being touted by some, but bad enough for those without power or cable.



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King County Search and Rescue says "Be phone smart"


From King County Search and Rescue

A viral message is going around advising people to update their voicemail if lost with a low battery/poor cell reception.
 
A few things to consider:

  • THE ABSOLUTE BEST THING TO DO, IF LOST OR INJURED, IS TO CALL 911. Often, GPS coordinates can be obtained off your call.
  • Compose a text message to a trusted contact one at a time. Let them know where you are as best you can, what gear you have, and if you have any injuries.
  • Updating your voicemail will take more battery/cell reception than if you send a text/SMS. If/when your phone finds a moment of reception it will push through, voice calls or transmissions demand a stronger reception and are less likely to push through.
  • On occasion, photos posted to social media sites can also provide a clue about a person’s location. Search and rescue crews have been tipped off from friends/family members when a photo has pushed through to the cloud or social media and clues about terrain features can help narrow down a search area.
Another option to consider is a smartphone app such as CAIRN (https://www.cairnme.com/) which can direct you to the closest point of cell reception, or notify your contacts if you are overdue with breadcrumbs of your tracks.
 
Lastly, remember that cold weather can easily draw down battery life. Turn off your phone, or put it on airplane mode to conserve battery.



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Adventures of an Icebreaker: from Greenland to Boston

The Healy is escorted into Boston
Photo U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston

Welcome to Boston!

Healy, on the horizon, coming in to Boston
Photo U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston

Thank you to Coast Guard Station Boston for escorting U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy in for their port call.

Arriving to CG Station Boston
Photo U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston

U.S. Coast Guard Northeast Sector includes CGCs Key Largo, Reef Shark, and Pendant and Stations Merrimack River, Gloucester, Boston.

The USCGC Healy (WAGB 20) moors at the pier in Boston on Oct. 14, 2021. 
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Emma Filszar

Healy’s deployment demonstrates the United States’ commitment to ensuring a safe and secure Arctic. The cutter crew is deployed for four and a half months to conduct operational ice testing, strengthen relationships with partner nations, project U.S. presence, and protect U.S. sovereignty rights along the shared U.S.-Russia maritime boundary line. These efforts uphold the rule of law and deter threats to international maritime norms. 

While in Boston, the U.S. Coast Guard held an Arctic discussion roundtable aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy.

The event's purpose was to build relationships, identify areas for future collaboration, engage Arctic thinkers, and gain different perspectives on threats and opportunities pertinent to the Arctic. The group discussed topics ranging from science to Arctic governance.

Vice Adm. Steven Poulin, Atlantic Area commander, Rear Adm. Thomas Allan, 1st District commander, and Capt. Kenneth Boda, commanding officer of Healy, joined more than 20 professors, students, and Arctic leaders from multiple U.S. universities. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Emma Filszar.



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Shoreline shopper returns to their car to find a prowler inside

On Monday, 10/04/2021, at approximately 11:00am, a deputy was dispatched to a thrift store located in the 14500 block of 15th Ave NE.
 
The victim told the deputy she parked her car in the northwest corner of the parking lot and, upon her return, found an unknown female inside her car.

As she confronted the suspect, the victim noticed that her glove box was open and it appeared as if someone had looked through it.

The suspect, described as an Asian female in a black rain jacket, walked away from the victim and her car.
 
A witness reported that while he was in the donation line, he observed the suspect checking the doors of numerous vehicles. 

A second witness flagged down a deputy to point him in the suspect's direction.

Deputies located her and the victim positively identified the suspect as the woman she found in her car.

The woman was arrested. A run of her name revealed she had a misdemeanor warrant out of Des Moines for Criminal Trespass.

The suspect was transported and booked into the SCORE (South Correctional Entity) Jail on her warrant. 

The charge of Vehicle Prowling in the 2nd Degree has been forwarded to the City of Shoreline Prosecutor's Office for review and filing.

It is our policy not to show a suspect's face until they have been formally charged.



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Fall leaves

Friday, October 22, 2021

 
Photo by Jan Hansen

These beautiful red maples are everywhere, providing bright splashes of color to offset the overcast skies.



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