What should we do about climate change in Lake Forest Park?

Thursday, December 29, 2022

Here's what to do about climate change in Lake Forest Park:

1. Take the Lake Forest Park Climate Action Survey here. December 31, 2022 is the last day to take the survey.

The Lake Forest Park Climate Action Committee is working on a plan for the city. The committee is looking at the specific sources of emissions in the city and what the city can do about eliminating or reducing these emissions. 

The Climate Action Committee will be developing a climate action plan. The objective of the plan is to reduce our community’s use of fossil fuels and help us adapt to our changing climate.

2. Take the survey and tell the committee: What are the issues you are concerned about? What should the city be doing?

3. Join the Newsletter

4. If you would like to stay up to date on the Climate Action Committee’s work join the “Notify Me” link on the City’s website.



Read more...

Echo Lake close to overflow on Tuesday

Echo Lake photo by Johanna Pollit

The tiny beach at Echo Lake is submerged and the water level is close to the top of the Interurban Trail.

The outfall for Echo Lake is a very small culvert that runs under the highway and flows into Lake Ballinger. As seen in yesterday's photo of the McAleer Creek outflow, Lake Ballinger is also full. A large section of McAleer Creek is above ground there so the water can overflow to the open spaces.

Echo Lake creek has only a very short section above ground and the rest is in the culvert. As a result the water backs up in the lake and occasionally approaches ground floor condos around the lake.

--Diane Hettrick



Read more...

January 2023 Author events at Third Place Books Lake Forest Park

Photo by Steven H. Robinson
Third Place Books 
Lake Forest Park 
JANUARY 2023 EVENTS
Please note: all times below are Pacific Time.
 
Both virtual and in-person events require registration in advance. Unless ticketed, events are free and open to the public. See thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
() – denotes ticketed event
(
) – denotes event for children or middle grade readers
 
 
Thursday, January 5 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Gerald Elias
Murder at the Royal Albert: A Daniel Jacobus Mystery
A former violinist with the Boston Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, Elias will discuss the 8th installment in his Daniel Jacobus mystery series (a truly “classical” whodunnit) and perform excerpts from Vivaldi's "Autumn" from The Four Seasons.
  
Tuesday, January 10 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Seanan McGuire
Lost in the Moment and Found
A young girl discovers an infinite variety of worlds in this standalone tale of the Hugo and Nebula Award-winning Wayward Children series. Lost in the Moment and Found tells us that childhood and innocence, once lost, can never be found. *Masks required*
 
Wednesday, January 11 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Erica Miner with David B. Schlosser
Aria for Murder
In Erica Miner's high-stakes thriller, a famous conductor of the Metropolitan Opera is assassinated on the podium. A former Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violinist herself, Miner is now an award-winning author, lecturer, screenwriter, and arts journalist.
 
Thursday, January 12 at 4:30pm PT (Virtual)
Ross Benjamin
The Diaries of Franz Kafka
in partnership with Community Bookstore (Brooklyn)
Here is Ross Benjamin’s essential new translation of Kafka’s complete, uncensored diaries—a revelation of the idiosyncrasies and rough edges of one of the twentieth century’s most influential writers. “Supplemented with 78 pages of invaluable notes, the fruit of half a century of Kafka scholarship.” (J. M. Coetzee)
 
Thursday, January 12 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Denny Sargent
Werewolf Pack Magick: A Shapeshifter's Book of Shadows
Sargent teaches ecstatic shapeshifting experiences, newly revived from ancient traditions and designed to free you from the restrictive chains of civilization. Werewolf Pack Magick offers a wide variety of activities, including pack initiation and werewolf divination.
 
Monday, January 16 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Local Author Open Mic
Calling all local writers and poets! Come share your work and develop your craft with other local authors on the third Monday of every month. For consignment requests, see thirdplacebooks.com for details.
 
Tuesday, January 17 at 6pm PT (Virtual)
Clarence Lusane with Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Twenty Dollars and Change: Harriet Tubman and the Ongoing Fight for Racial Justice and Democracy
Taking up the debate over the future of the twenty-dollar bill, Lusane uses the question of Harriet Tubman vs. Andrew Jackson as a lens through which to view the current state of our nation's ongoing reckoning with the legacies of slavery and foundational white supremacy. Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz, author of An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States, joins in conversation.
 
Tuesday, January 17 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Kate Alice Marshall
What Lies in the Woods: A Novel 
The Seattle author presents her first thriller for adults, about three friends with a secret worth killing for. “I loved everything about this beautifully written and impossible to put down book. I was hooked from the first clever and deliciously dark page and couldn't stop reading.” (Alice Feeney)
 
[SOLD OUT] Wednesday, January 25 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Deb Perelman with Aran Goyoaga
Smitten Kitchen Keepers: New Classics for Your Forever Files
From Cozy Chicken and Dumplings to Fettuccine with White Ragú, and from Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies to Strawberry Summer Stack Cake, Deb's new book is a collection of essential recipes for meals you'll want to prepare again and again. Aran Goyoaga, Seattle’s three-time James Beard award finalist and our favorite gluten-free specialist, joins in conversation. *Tickets required. This event is sold out.*
 
Thursday, January 26 at 6pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Jessica Vitalis, Gabrielle K. Byrne, Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Ash Van Otterloo
In partnership with "Magic in the Middle," a series of monthly book talks designed to help teachers, librarians, and caregivers introduce readers to new middle grade fantasy books, Jessica Vitalis reads from her new book The Rabbit's Gift and hosts a roundtable discussion with a group of stellar children’s book authors.
 
Tuesday, January 31 at 7pm (Third Place Books Lake Forest Park)
Megan Paasch with Cookie Hiponia
Dream to Me
From Snoqualmie debut author Megan Paasch comes a YA contemporary fantasy about generational magic, grief, and what it takes to forgive ourselves. Cookie Hiponia, author of We Belong, joins in conversation.
 
Third Place Books is located on the upper level of Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE, Lake Forest Park.



Read more...

Transit agencies announce fare-free New Year’s Eve

King County Executive Dow Constantine announced today that Metro will join other regional transit agencies to provide free rides this New Year’s Eve. Riders can travel without paying fares on King County Metro, Sound Transit, Community Transit, Everett Transit, and the Seattle Streetcar as part of their celebrations.

“Transit systems across our region are offering you the opportunity to not worry about traffic, parking, or getting behind the wheel as you celebrate the start of 2023,” said Executive Constantine.

“Whether you’re looking to enjoy the fireworks, meet friends to ring in the New Year, or have a quiet dinner at your favorite restaurant, you can leave the driving to us. We look forward to seeing you on board!”

Regional transit agencies will be operating on the following schedules to accommodate fare-free New Year’s Eve rides:

King County Metro: Buses will operate on their regular Saturday schedule and be fare-free from 3 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, through 3 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1. Other Metro services operating fare-free include DART, Via to Transit, Ride Pingo to Transit, Community Van, and Access service. Please note Via to Transit will only operate until 2 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 1.
Sound Transit: Link light rail and Sound Transit Express buses are fare-free from 4 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, to 2 a.m. Sunday., Jan. 1. Sound Transit will operate extended Link light rail service on New Year’s Eve, with 15-minute, late-night service. The last southbound trip will leave Northgate Station at 1:58 a.m. The last northbound train will leave Angle Lake Station at 1:41 a.m. For more information go to the Sound Transit website.
Community Transit: All Community Transit buses, Zip Alderwood Shuttle, and Snohomish County DART paratransit services will operate on a Saturday schedule and are fare-free from 4 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31 through the end of the service day. Please check the Community Transit website, as route times vary.
Everett Transit: All services will operate fare-free on a regular Saturday schedule – 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Seattle Streetcar: Both streetcar lines will operate Saturday service hours. The South Lake Union Streetcar will operate on New Year’s Eve until 12:30 a.m. to accommodate fireworks viewing downtown.
King County Water Taxi: The water taxi will operate fare-free on Dec. 31 but will be out of service on Jan. 1. and Jan. 2.
Seattle Monorail: The monorail will collect regular fares and is scheduled to operate from Westlake to the Seattle Center until 11 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. After the evening’s events at Seattle Center, service to Westlake will run from 12:30 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
New Year’s Day service

On Sunday, Jan. 1, and Monday, Jan. 2, transit customers are reminded that King County Metro buses, Sound Transit Express buses, Link light rail, and Tacoma Link will operate on Sunday schedules, and the regular, valid fare will be required on all services beginning at 3 a.m. Jan. 1. Details are posted on Metro’s and Sound Transit’s holiday and reduced service pages.



Read more...

FERRIES: Edmonds/Kingston run to add second boat on trial basis

Photo courtesy WSDOT
According to WSDOT, a consistent second ferry will be added to Edmonds/Kingston run on a trial basis starting in the new year.

The route between Edmonds and Kingston is next in line in WSF’s Service Restoration Plan. 

Starting Sunday, January 1, 2023 WSF will begin operating two-boat service on a trial basis as a first step toward full restoration of the run.

In recent months, schedules have changed most frequently on the Edmonds/Kingston run, where a second boat is added daily if crews are available. 

The Seattle/Bainbridge, Mukilteo/Clinton and Anacortes/San Juan Islands routes already are fully restored. Workforce development is key to restoring sailings on other routes.



Read more...

Residential fire Wednesday morning

Photo courtesy Shoreline Fire
Shoreline Fire responded to a Residential Structure Fire today at 6:45am Wednesday, December 28, 2022 at the 700 block of N 148th Street.

The residence was unoccupied. There were no injuries and the cause is under investigation.


Read more...

Robin in snow

Wednesday, December 28, 2022

Photo by Jan Hansen

Robin is all puffed out to retain body heat. If it really were as fat as it looks, that tiny branch would never hold it.




Read more...

Apply to join the Community Advisory Board for the King County Sheriff's Office

King County recently announced the launch of a new Community Advisory Board for the King County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO).

It will bring together public safety experts, community members, and advocates to support and advise in the creation of a just, dynamic, and responsive public safety system. 

The Community Advisory Board will have between 10 – 15 members, selected to represent different backgrounds and geographies reflective of the communities where KCSO provides policing. 

Individuals interested in serving on the Community Advisory Board should submit a letter of interest, explaining their desire and qualifications. Applications will be accepted until January 31, 2023. 

More information about the board and details on the application process can be found here


Read more...

Recycling options


Courtesy City of Shoreline

Cleaning up all of your boxes and bows?

Know which pieces of packaging can go into your recycling bin and which can't. 
  • Flat, dry cardboard goes in the recycling bin. Styrofoam blocks can be recycled at Recology Store. 
  • Plastic packaging like bubble wrap and air pillows can be recycled at many grocery stores. 
For more holiday recycling tips, visit https://buff.ly/3UUgSZv



Read more...

Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Almost 2023

 
Cartoon by Whitney Potter



Read more...

McAleer Creek jumping its banks by Lake Ballinger

Tuesday, December 27, 2022

McAleer Creek over its banks in Mountlake Terrace
Photo courtesy City of Mountlake Terrace

The City of Mountlake Terrace shared this photo of McAleer Creek - the outfall of Lake Ballinger - jumping its banks.

McAleer Creek has multiple tributaries in Shoreline which all join up and head through Lake Forest Park to drain into Lake Washington.

Echo Lake drains to Lake Ballinger through a culvert under the highway (SR 104 / Lake Ballinger Way / NE 205th / SW 244th)



Read more...

It’s a Wonderful Life and Major Jimmy Stewart

By Doug Cerretti

One of the many things we do during the Holidays is watch Christmas movies. It’s a Wonderful Life starring Jimmy Stewart is on the top of my list. 

It’s a Wonderful Life is an example of the darker post-WWII movies reflecting the experiences of WWII. 

The movie was released in 1946 to mixed reviews and was unsuccessful at the box office, in part due to this dark nature with a theme of suicide during Christmas, “you're worth more dead then alive,” as Mr. Potter said.

Maj. Jimmy Stewart
Over the years, of course, it become a Christmas and cinema classic. 

This was the first movie Major Jimmy Stewart made after returning home from WWII. 

You may not have known that Stewart pulled strings to become a pilot in the Army Air Corps (he was too old) and additional strings to fly in combat (who wants to have a movie star KIA under your watch?). 

Stewart was a B-24 Bomber pilor
Stewart was assigned to the 8th Air Force as a B-24 Bomber pilot, 703rd Squadron Commander and 445th Bomb Group operations officer. 

He flew 20 missions over Europe and felt responsible for every airman that was lost under his command. 

Like many veterans he carried this emotional load home and suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) although it was not recognized then. 

So when you watch It’s a Wonderful Life or any post-WWII jimmy Stewart movie think about this nuance. 

Below is a link to an article by Dave Kindy published December 2020 about Jimmy Stewart’s war years. 

Just another reason he is one of my favorite actors.

Dave Kindy (12/21/2022) Jimmy Stewart Owed His Most Memorable Holiday Performance to World War II.

Photos from HistoryNet.com



Read more...

Why do people play Bridge? Come find out

Tens of thousands of people spend hundreds of hours each year playing bridge. What's so great about the game?

Seattle Bridge Center is offering a limited series of drop-in bridge sessions on Monday evenings in early 2023. 

This series is appropriate for adults, and for middle-school and high-school students accompanied by adult family members. 

Bridge players, bridge prodigals, and the bridge-curious are all welcome.

If you're not a bridge player yet, we'll play stepping-stone games that introduce bridge concepts.

If you're a non-competitive bridge player, or you're returning to the game after some time away, we'll get you started with modern duplicate bridge.

If you're already playing duplicate bridge, this is a chance to get some supervised play, with hand records at the end of the evening.

  • Dates: Monday evenings in January (2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th). February dates will be scheduled toward the end of January.
  • Times: 7pm to 9pm
  • Location: Seattle Bridge Center, 1539 NE 145th St, Seattle (shared parking lot with Dollar Tree)
  • Cost: $5 per person per session, please bring cash. Youngsters up to age 18 are free.
  • Ages: Adults; plus middle-school and high-school students accompanied by adult family members.
  • Food: Light snacks provided, along with coffee, tea, and water.

Your host is David Dailey, who teaches beginner lesson series at Seattle Bridge Center. The next regular series of beginner lessons will start in late April or early May.

Questions? Email SeattleBridgeCenter@gmail.com with the subject line "January 2023 Drop-In Bridge".


Read more...

Winter break basketball clinic for 3rd-5th grade youth and 6th-8th graders

Finesse Inferno Basketball training has been serving youth in the Wesco and north Seattle area for over two years now. We are a program that specializes in breaking down the skills of the game and how to move in the most efficient way possible for ingame results. 

December 30th at Edmonds Frances Anderson Center 700 Main St, Edmonds, WA 98020 I will be running a basketball clinic for 3rd-5th grade youth and 6th-8th graders. Our last clinic at Archbishop Murphy High School was a success with a large turn out, we are hoping to see many faces again!

Topics that will be covered: 
  • Man on man defense: teaching the details of how to move your feet and stay in front of your defender.
  • Shooting: the proper shooting mechanics to get your shot off quick. Moves off the triple threat to get by your defender.  


Please give me a call, email, or contact me on one of my social media accounts if you have any questions. 

I have informational videos on my style of training and about my program on my social media sites.

Dante Lewis 425-210-7875
FINESSE INFERNO BASKETBALL TRAINING LLC 



Read more...

Gloria's Birds: One of my goals each winter

 
Puffy black-capped chickadee
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler


Puffy varied thrush
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

Puffy junco
Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

 is to capture images of puffy boids (it's how they insulate themselves in cold weather).

--Gloria Z. Nagler


Read more...

Jeff Foxworthy on living in Washington

Jeff Foxworthy
Versions of this circulate on social media, credited to comedian Jeff Foxworthy. He might actually have written them.

Note: I drove down Ballinger Way in LFP when there was 4 inches of snow on the ground and the temperatures were in the 20s. I passed a guy walking along the road who was wearing bermuda shorts - and flip-flops. 

Jeff Foxworthy on living in Washington
  1. If someone in a Lowes/Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there ...you live in Washington.
  2. If you've worn shorts, flip-flops and a warm-jacket at the same time, you live in Washington.
  3. If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed the wrong number, you live in Washington.
  4. If you measure distance in hours, you live in Washington.
  5. If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you live in Washington.
  6. If you have switched from 'heat' to 'A/C' and back again in the same day, you live in Washington.
  7. If you can drive through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Eastern Washington.
  8. If you get your kid's Halloween costumes to fit over 2 layers of clothes or under a raincoat, you live in Washington.
  9. If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with leaves, mud or ice, you live in Washington.
  10. If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter, and road construction, you live in Washington.
  11. If you feel guilty throwing bottles, cans or paper in the trash, you live in Washington.
  12. If you know more than 10 ways to order coffee, you live in Washington.
  13. If you know more people who own boats than have air conditioning, you live in Washington.
  14. If you stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" signal, you live in Washington.
  15. If you consider that if it has no snow on it (or has not recently erupted), that it is not a ‘real’ mountain, then you live in Washington.
  16. If you can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, and Tullys, you live in Washington.
  17. If you know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon, you live in Washington.
  18. If you know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Snoqualamie, Wenatchee , Spokane , Umpqua, Yakima and Willamette, you live in Washington.
  19. If you consider swimming an indoor sport, you live in Washington.
  20. If you can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Thai food, you live in Washington.
  21. If you never go camping without a tarp and waterproof matches on you, you live in Washington.
  22. If you have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain, you live in Washington.
  23. If you think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists, you definitely live in Washington.
  24. If you buy new sunglasses every single year because you cannot find the old ones after such a long time, then you live in Washington.
  25. If you actually understand these jokes ...and forward them to all your Washington friends, you live or have lived in Washington


Read more...

Power still out for a few at midnight Tuesday

Monday, December 26, 2022

Outages at midnight 12-27-22
After the wind blast that took down branches and trees and power all over the county 7am Monday, December 26, 2022, Seattle City Light is down to 49 active events and 298 customers in all of King county. 

My yard is covered with branches again. Only a few will require a chainsaw; most are small enough to be picked up and stuffed in the compost bin - which fortunately was emptied sometime last week.

I think I'll wait until after the next windstorm. (See the most recent WeatherWatcher article).

--Diane Hettrick



Read more...

WeatherWatcher: Wind Advisory issued for Tuesday

 
Wind storm aftermath in Shoreline August 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 from 7am on Tuesday until 1am Wednesday morning. Wind gusts of 50mph are possible, with a slight chance of wind gusts exceeding 60mph.

Winds are expected to peak in the area at around 4pm or 5pm Tuesday evening. In general, strong winds are expected to last 6-8 hours on Tuesday compared to Monday morning's short burst. More power outages are expected with this storm, especially with the moist soil conditions. 

Another round of heavy rain is preceding this wind event adding around another 3/4 of an inch of rain to the already saturated ground. There is also a Flood Watch in effect until Wednesday afternoon. Significant amounts of rain with snow melt have added an increased risk of landslides in the area.

A cloudy, rainy, and mild weather pattern is expected to continue into the New Year. There is some potential for another windstorm to arrive sometime around Friday. I will write another weather article when details become clearer on that storm system.

Monday morning, we had a short burst of winds with a strong cold front that moved through around 7am. Winds at SeaTac airport gusted to 55mph, while at Paine Field in Everett winds gusted to 49mph.

We recorded a gust of 31mph at the Shoreline Weather Richmond Beach station. Another personal station near the Puget Sound in Shoreline on Weather Underground recorded a gust of 52mph.


For current weather conditions visit www.shorelineweather.com



Read more...

Christmas greetings

Sunday, December 25, 2022

 
The days are getting longer, the snow and ice are gone (for now), the rain is back. May your days be peaceful, your nights restful, and your heart be still.

--Diane Hettrick



Read more...

Cold hummingbird finds a little warmth

Photo by Mike Remarcke

This cold little hummer found some warmth in Mike Remarcke's Christmas lights. Temperatures are up for now but another storm is due mid-January.



Read more...

For the Birds: Hummers need winter nectar

Feeder under eave with trouble light keeping it
 and the area warm Photo by Craig Kerns
By Christine Southwick

When the winter cold temperatures start making the hummingbird feeders freeze up, it is time for extra attention. 

Because of their high metabolism hummingbirds always have a thin margin between adequate nutrition and starvation, especially when insects are scarce.

“Anna's hummingbirds eat more insects than any other North American hummingbird, and this may help them in bad weather. 
"It is thought that Anna's hummingbirds are able to spend the winter so far north because they eat more insects and spiders than most hummingbirds.”  kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/annas-hummingbird 

As long as there are no cats, putting a feeder
under shelter can keep nectar warmer.
Photo by Elaine Chuang
Anna’s are able to eat spiders and bugs wedged in crevices to supplement their instant nectar shots. These little smarties know where to look, but ice makes it hard to get to them.

To help conserve their energy, Anna’s Hummingbirds are able to down-shift their metabolism by entering “torpor” where heart rate and body temperature are reduced to a bare minimum of about 40 beats per minute (down from 400) and body temp about 48F (down from 107F).

Many other hummingbird species do this, like the ones in the Andes.

When temperatures get below 30 degrees people with hummingbird feeders need to keep them from freezing. 

One way is to bring them in at night, but Anna’s feed very early in the morning, often before sunrise, because our long northern nights make it too long to wait any longer, so you need to put them out early, early. 

Rotating a couple of feeders throughout the day works but requires diligence.

Anna's Hummer on covered
heated feeder. Photo by Mary
Another way to keep the feeders from freezing is to put the feeder under an eave and shine an incandescent light near it to keep the feeder area warm, or one can buy a hummingbird feeder heater.

Adding a baffle over a feeder will keep the snow and ice off the feeder ports, protect the hummers, and keep the feeder a little warmer during the cold. 

Hand warmers and incandescent Christmas light work marginally, but not down into the teens.

It is important to clean your feeders about once a week during cold weather.

Keep the nectar solution at four-parts water to one-part cane sugar. Don’t believe the myth that the ratio should be changed in cold weather.

These little bundles of energy bring us delight as we watch them zipping around. Help keep them alive by keeping their nectar liquid during cold spells.



Read more...

USCG cutter Healy meets Santa

Earlier this year, researchers aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Healy reached the North Pole for the third time in the ship's career. 
And who did they happen to find? Santa  of course!

The trip to the Arctic was part of the international Synoptic Arctic Survey, a research initiative aimed at collecting empirical data in the Arctic Ocean. The goal of the research is to build a comprehensive data set to provide a baseline and track climate change and its impact on the Arctic.

Want to learn more about the research? Check out this blog from author and artist Leonard Sussman who was aboard the "Healy" during the cruise https://bit.ly/3YM7B8a (His blog has gorgeous photos)



Read more...

The Little Demonstration Garden That Could

Demonstration garden in LFP
Photo by Marty Byrne
By Marty Byrne

The Animal Acres Demonstration Garden is tucked away in south Lake Forest Park's Pfingst Animal Acres behind Town Center (and across from LFP Presbyterian). 

The garden is approximately 1200 square feet, situated along a split rail fence that borders the street. 

WSU Extension Master Gardeners and community volunteers plan, plant, and maintain the 10 raised beds, arbor, and containers to show how vegetables, herbs, fruit, and ornamentals can co-exist and enhance a garden space. 

The park features a popular walking path, so WSU Master Gardeners get quite a few questions from residents.

During the 2022 season, the garden yielded beyond our expectations, despite the periods of heavy rain, drought, and the other weather oddities we experienced. 

Here is a sample of the produce we harvested:
  • Apples (2 varieties): 20 lb
  • Grapes: 60 lb
  • Blueberries: 3 lb
  • Carrots (2 containers): 2.5 lb
  • Chard: 2 lb
  • Collards: 4 lb
  • Lettuce: 10 lb
  • Tomatoes (cherry): 3.5 lb
  • Herbs: approximately 3 lb
  • Total (includes yields not listed): 133 lb
All produce is donated to local food banks.

The apple "trees" are espaliered along the split rail fence, as is the grapevine. Plant choices for nine of the beds change each year, to try new varieties and adjust for rotation and changing conditions. 

Bed #10 is a well-established herb bed. The Master Gardeners and community volunteers installed a drip irrigation system in 2014 that greatly simplified watering chores at the garden.

In 2023, astrological spring is March 23. Meteorological spring arrives March 1, and Celtic spring on February 1. 

We are looking forward to planning and planting in the new season as early as possible! You can find the garden on our website at https://mgfkc.org/resources/map-of-mg-clinics-and-gardens

Marty Byrne is a WSU Extension Master Gardener



Read more...

Breakfast at the Juice Bar

Saturday, December 24, 2022

Photo by Wayne Pridemore
 
Wayne's juice bar was in demand, as usual, as this little hummer came in for breakfast.



Read more...

Christmas services at Saint Dunstan's

Saint Dunstan’s the Church that Feeds People wants to invite you to join us at one or all our three Christmas services this year. 

On Christmas Eve at 4pm we will be having our Lessons and Carols “Family Service” which will be a great time of celebration for all people.

At 10pm we are having our Candlelight Service, a beautiful traditional service to welcome Christ into the world.

Finally if you are looking for a Sunday Morning 10am service we would love to have you join us on Christmas Morning to celebrate the Birth of the Christ Child!

We hope to see you there, and Love Always!


Read more...

Margaret Hartley: Snow Day

 
Cartoon by Margaret Hartley

Almost everyone except first responders and snow plow operators had an unplanned snow day Friday.



Read more...

Best holiday movies to watch with kids this season

Stock photo courtesy ParentMap.com
Reprinted from ParentMap.com

By Christopher Shiple

Right off the bat, I’m going to get myself on the naughty list by cheating a little. Our family’s all-time favorites, the ones we seem to watch every year, are “A Christmas Story” (1983), “Home Alone” (1990), and “Elf” (2003). 

Chances are you’ve already watched these with your kids, but if you haven’t, you absolutely need to start with these three. But I don’t want to take up three recommendation slots with such obvious choices, so I’m cramming them all together — which technically makes this list have twelve suggestions ... for the 12 days of Christmas! Thematically appropriate! Ho ho ho!!

You might also notice some all-time classics missing from our list. “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) is a magical story your kids might appreciate when they’re older. But if your gang is anything like mine, anything in black-and-white makes their eyes roll back in their skull. So we’re only going as far back as the ’80s.

1. For some reason, we watched “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989) at an outdoor screening last summer. The film is way more family-friendly than the other National Lampoon vacation movies, and my kids laughed the whole way through the story of Chevy Chase stuck hosting his entire extended family for Christmas.

2. Okay, time for a little controversy. People have been arguing for years about whether or not “Die Hard” (1988) should be considered a Christmas movie. I say yes. It’s set at Christmas, and it features lots of Christmas music. But the important thing to keep in mind is if you’ve got older kids (the movie is rated R) who seem reluctant to want to sit down for movie time, they will probably make an exception for what is inarguably the greatest action movie of all time. Yippee ki-yay, Christmas lovers!

3. The Dickens classic “A Christmas Carol” gets retold in “The Muppet Christmas Carol” (1992). I’ve always had a soft spot for Kermit and the gang’s gentle but still laugh-out-loud comedy. With any luck, your kids will like it enough that, afterward, you can stream them old episodes of “The Muppet Show.”

4. I know not everyone thinks “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) is an all-time classic. And frankly, it’s nowhere near my personal favorite. But there are only so many versions of “Santa’s in trouble” and “Let’s save Christmas” I can stand every year. And Henry Selick’s stop-motion dark fantasy that blends Christmas with Halloween is an imaginative change of pace that’s worth checking out.

5. “Get Santa” (2014) is another one of those familiar versions of kids saving Christmas, with the fun twist here that Santa is going to prison. With its British roots, it has a different vibe than most typical American holiday films. But there are farting reindeer, so your kids will love it.

6. “The Christmas Chronicles” (2018) follows familiar ground in a story about kids racing against the clock to save Christmas. But it’s well made, and Kurt Russell brings his trademark swagger to the role of Santa. There’s a sequel I haven’t seen yet, but I expect more of the same, especially from Netflix.

7. I’m recommending the animated version of Dr. Seuss’ “The Grinch” (2018) and not the Jim-Carrey-looks-creepy live-action one. We all know the story, but the movie manages to add a lot of topical humor for today’s audiences.

8. I can’t think of an actress who more embodies the holiday spirit than Anna Kendrick, who brings her unbridled joy to “Noelle” (2019), where she plays Santa’s daughter who gets wrapped up in some family drama. This one’s as charming as it is funny.

9. If you’re looking for something completely original, try “Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey” (2020). It’s a story about a toymaker trying to right a wrong. I just learned it was originally supposed to be a stage production, which makes sense — the music and dancing are fantastic. This film was nominated for nine NAACP Image Awards, too.


Read more...

When your best friend picks up your newspaper every day...

Olive picks up the newspaper at 4am every morning
Photo by Martin Král

it's even better when the driveway is covered in ice and snow



Read more...

Plan ahead if your holiday travels involve driving onto a ferry

Docking in the San Juans
Photo courtesy WSDOT

Hundreds of thousands of people will be dashing through the sea in white and green ferry boats through the end of the year.

Travelers planning a ride aboard Washington State Ferries this holiday season should prepare for busy sailings and long waits if boarding in a vehicle. Riders are also encouraged to regularly check online sailing schedules, as some timetables are dependent on staffing or may be affected by winter weather.

Customers can sign up for rider alerts to receive an update each night and morning on what schedule is operating on each route. The alerts also provide updates if staff shortages lead to unexpected service reductions.

Ferries are popular every holiday weekend. 

The busiest sailings will likely be westbound (or onto an island) Saturday, December 24, then eastbound (or off island) Sunday, December 25, and in the days after Christmas. 

To reduce or eliminate waiting, riders may consider taking an early morning or late-night sailing or walking on. On Christmas, December 25, and New Year’s Day, January 1, all routes will operate as a typical Sunday.



Read more...

Region’s congressional leaders secure critical funding for transit expansion

Sound Transit Board leaders

News from Sound Transit

The passage of Congress’ FY 2023 spending bill will provide $586.5 million in funding for Sound Transit—including earlier-than-expected payments toward previously executed federal grant agreements and more than $115 million in new funding.

"This bill significantly expands funding for completing the largest transit expansion program in the nation," said Sound Transit Board Chair Kent Keel. 
"It not only provides accelerated funding of the Full Funding Grant Agreements for Lynnwood Link and Federal Way Link but also provides more than $115 million in new funding for those projects through a provision similar to Senator Murray’s Public Transit Capital Investment Relief Act of 2021, which was co-sponsored by Senator Cantwell."

The bill, which will be signed into law in the coming days by President Biden, provides a total of $468 million to fund Sound Transit’s two Full Funding Grant Agreements (FFGAs):
  • The Federal Way Link FFGA will receive $268 million, which finishes the federal commitment of $790 million three years ahead of schedule
  • The Lynnwood Link FFGA will receive $200 million, leaving only $250 million remaining to fulfill the $1.17 billion agreement.

The accelerated payments will reduce agency borrowing, creating more than $40 million in savings for regional taxpayers.

The bill also includes a provision that will provide an additional $115.5 million for those two projects: 
  • $54 million for Lynnwood and $61 million for Federal Way. These funds are on top of the FFGA commitments for those projects.

Additionally, Sound Transit will receive $3 million for safety and security improvements to the stations in the Downtown Seattle Transit Tunnel, through Congressionally Directed Spending sponsored by Rep. Jayapal and Senator Murray.

Sound Transit’s financial plan assumes 19.5% of the capital program will come from federal sources, and these funds are critical to helping meet that target.

"As Sound Transit forges ahead with the nation's most ambitious transit expansion program, we are exceptionally fortunate to have the strong support of every member of our Congressional delegation, including Senators Murray and Cantwell, along with Representatives DelBene, Jayapal, Kilmer, Larsen, Schrier, Smith, and Strickland," said King County Executive Dow Constantine, who will chair the Sound Transit Board starting January 1, 2023. 
"Together, we will build and operate the infrastructure to protect our planet while helping millions of Puget Sound residents thrive."

"This investment by the federal government comes at a crucial time for Sound Transit, as we enter a period of unprecedented expansion north, south and east," said Snohomish County Executive and Sound Transit Board Vice Chair Dave Somers. 

"Our expansions will not only enhance the region’s mobility, economy and environment, but also help train and employ the next-generation labor force and connect workers to jobs. Coming on top of this year’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, this spending bill marks an exceptional year for federal investments in transit for the Puget Sound region, and I look forward to continuing progress on Lynnwood and Everett Link."

In the next several years, Sound Transit will more than double the region’s light rail system from 26 miles to 62 miles. Later expansions are set to expand the light rail system to 116 miles while establishing new Stride bus rapid transit services along the north, east and south sides of Lake Washington and improving Sounder commuter rail service.


Read more...

When life gives you an ice rink in the street..

Seth Walton holds 'broom' at the ready
Photo by David Walton
Well, when life deals you lemons or ice, make lemonade or an ice rink - and do some curling! A little makeshift curling - in the street in Lake Forest Park!! 

Matthew Walton sweeps the ice while Seth makes the throw
Photo by David Walton
Thanks to the ice that covered everything and shut down most things.

--David Walton


Read more...

Shoreline Severe Weather Shelter closed until further weather events

Friday, December 23, 2022

NUHSA reports:

It appears that temperatures are rising, and we are not seeing activation conditions for the next week (as of Friday). We will remain closed until the next stretch of severe weather.

The few local daytime warming locations are run by volunteers and libraries. Most seem to be shut down due to dangerous driving conditions that kept people at home Friday.

The unsheltered depend on public transportation. All local transportation was shut down, except for Sound Transit. Metro announced they will resume service at 4pm Friday.

The Hangar in Kenmore is listed as a daytime warming center, but did not appear to be open on Friday. 

The King County Regional Housing Authority lists resources here including three small shelters in downtown Seattle and Seattle Center.

It appears that many people will be outside.

--Diane Hettrick



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

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

Back to TOP