UW Med: Fruit-fly size treadmills accelerate studies of insect walking

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Alice C. Gray
Miniature treadmills are advancing studies on how fruit flies’ nervous systems control their ability to walk. 

Engineered by scientists at the University of Washington School of Medicine, their treadmill design has been made freely available to other scientists exploring insect biology.

In addition to recording how the flies walk and run normally, the UW Medicine researchers are also interested in how the flies navigate unexpected changes underfoot. 

If animals and people can't detect and respond to surface changes encountered while walking, they risk falling. 

To study this phenomenon, scientists in John Tuthill's physiology and biophysics lab used a split-belt, fly-size treadmill, and saw the flies correct their walking style to accommodate tracks moving at different speeds underfoot.

The scientists also wanted to learn if and how flies adapt if they have difficulty sensing their bodies moving in space. 

After they made genetic modifications to certain sensory nerve cells in the fly brain, the scientists found that the flies could still walk, perhaps because other nerve cells were involved in controlling movement or because the brain had adapted to the genetic modifications. 

However, the genetically altered flies did have a different sort of gait.

During their treadmill studies, the researchers also happened to clock the fastest running speed yet reported for fruit flies: 50 mm/sec.

More information here


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LFP Garden Club meets September 10, 2024 with speaker Joe Abken

Joe Abken will speak at LFP Garden Club meeting
On Tuesday Sept 10, 2024 at LFP Town Center, intersection of Bothell and Ballinger Way NE, the Lake Forest Park Garden Club is kicking off their new year Sept to May of great speakers. 

  • Upper level, stage area of Town Center
  • Check in at 9:15 to 9:30am
  • 9:30 to 10:30am general meeting and a break for munchies and time to talk and catch up
  • 10:30 to 11:30am our speaker
September 10, 2024, Joe Abken

“Natives Mixing with NON-Natives and the Value Of”

Joe Abken was originally from Kruckeberg as Garden Director, with a great interest in natives. Currently he is the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society Director. Since being very involved with Natives at Kruckeberg Garden, his topic will be his topic will be “Natives and mixing with Non-natives.”

We hope you can join us for this interesting topic. Free to all for your first two meetings and then we ask that you join the club. The fee is $35.00 a yr. We have lots of activities the whole year round. We will be celebrating our 100th year as a Garden Club this year.


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Youth softball clinics at Shoreline Community College


Shoreline Community College is hosting softball clinics in September for all levels of players.

Softball Prospect Camp

Fee: $49.00
Dates: 9/28/2024 - 9/28/2024
Times: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Location is at Shoreview Softball Field (700 NW Innis Arden Way, Shoreline, WA 98177)
Calling all future dolphins! Shoreline Community College will be hosting a prospect camp for grad years 2025-2028. Come join us and show your off your skills and learn about Shoreline Community College!

Youth Softball Clinic

Fee: $49.00
Dates: 9/21/2024 - 9/21/2024
Location is at Shoreview Softball Field (700 NW Innis Arden Way, Shoreline, WA 98177)
  • For ages 7-11 years: Times: 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM
  • For ages 11-14 years: Times: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Join us for our 2nd annual softball youth skills clinic hosted by Shoreline CC Fastpitch. Our players and staff are excited to hit the field and coach up our community players! We will work on the fundamentals of throwing, hitting, pitching, catching, fielding, and base running. There will be a focus on the importance of a growth mindset and Athletic success.

Participants will need to bring a glove, athletic shoes or cleats, a bat, helmet, and a water bottle. For more information please email Coach Fischer at: Cfischer@shoreline.edu or 425-343-2273.


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City of Lake Forest Park obtains $2 million in funding for Roundabout Project

The City of Lake Forest Park's SR104 & 40th Place NE Roundabout project has been selected for a conditional award of $2,000,000 from the Washington State Public Works Board (PWB). The board approved this funding award on September 6, 2024.

This funding is critical to efforts to improve traffic flow and safety at this intersection. Upon completing the necessary underwriting process, the City will receive an official award letter outlining the terms of the grant and loan.


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Scene on the Sound: Sailing into the sunset Friday evening, the USS Nimitz

Photo by Jan Hansen

U.S. Navy Aircraft Carrier USS Nimitz Now Has an 'End Date'
Story by Peter Suciu

Summary and Key Points: The USS Nimitz (CVN-68), the lead ship of the Nimitz-class supercarriers, is nearing the end of its service life with retirement planned for 2027. The U.S. Department of Defense has already awarded an $18 million contract for pre-advanced planning to begin the process of defueling and inactivation.


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WeatherWatcher: Wildfire Smoke Season arrives, but should be short lived

 

Friday September 6, 2024 True Color Satellite imagery from the UW department of Atmospheric Science

As you may have noticed yesterday and today, the sky is hazy, sunrises and sunsets were very red and dim, and it's quite warm. The above visible color satellite image from Friday afternoon shows all the hazy smoke covering the Pacific Northwest. 

We have a heat advisory in place that expires at 11pm Friday evening. The heat and smoke are the result of south-easterly winds. These winds are bringing the warmth and wildfire smoke over the mountains from central and eastern Oregon.

Below is an image from Wednesday where I've highlighted the two major sources of wildfire smoke in Oregon, and a third much smaller source of wildfire smoke in Washington.

Satellite image from Wednesday September 4, 2024 at 5:30pm PDT.
Image from the UW department of Atmospheric Science.

Conditions over central Oregon were favorable mid-week for wildfire activity to explode. It seems to have calmed down today significantly but all that smoke is circulating aloft now. Heating during the day today and this weekend is expected to cause some of that smoke to mix down to the surface.

Air quality as of Friday afternoon was just barely into moderate territory but is expected to get a little bit worse possibly through Friday evening and Saturday.

Lake Forest Park Town Center air quality from the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency

Forecast: On-shore winds will start to pick up overnight into Saturday morning, but weak at first. These winds should start slowly bringing cooler and cleaner air into the Puget Sound region through the weekend. We should be back to normal with all the smoke cleared out between Sunday afternoon and Monday afternoon. 

Morning clouds, afternoon sun, and temperatures back down to seasonal normal with highs near 70°F should also return by Monday. There is even a threat of some rain showers Tuesday and Wednesday. We bring back sunny skies Thursday and Friday to end the week.


For current weather conditions please visit www.shorelineweather.com


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Travels with Charlie: Charlie and Drone Landing

Friday, September 6, 2024

After Labor Day Weekend, Charlie hung out with us when we flew the No Fence Wetlands Drone. These flights visually document the wetlands restoration current status after one year.

The wetland / pond reconstruction was completed 8/31/2023.

Then, many thousand seedlings were planted fall 2023 to establish new native ecologically relevant plants.

After flying an overview at 300 feet and then flying over ponds and plantings at 60 feet, the drone returned home.

I love this next sequence of photos of Charlie while the Drone is Landing…
(Two wildly different camera views. Me and Drone)

Drone photo of Charlie watching me taking photos of the Drone landing.

A moment later,

Here’s my photo of Charlie noticing the Drone getting close and he turned to watch.

Amazing Drone shot of Charlie watching and checking out the Drone landing at the same time.

Turns out, Charlie has been around these Drone flights since he moved in.

Another landing… No Big Deal.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder


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Discover the joy of origami at the Senior Activity Center

Origami classes at Senior Activity Center
Origami Classes

Discover the joy of origami, transforming simple paper squares into intricate cranes, a charming mobile. Butterflies, and delightful gift boxes!

Join local crafter and former Program Director of the senior center, JonAnn Cruver, September 10 or October 8 for an introductory class on the art of Origami.

  • Session 1—Tuesday, September 10: Learn to fold a heart and crane, create a crane mobile and if time allows, fold a masu box.
  • Session 2—Tuesday, October 8: Learn to fold a dollar heart, butterflies, star boxes and kirigami trees. If time allows, we will also review crane folding.
Time: 12:30 pm–2:00 pm
Cost: Member $3/Session
Non Member $6/Session

Call 206-365-1536 or stop by the Shoreline Lake Forest Park Senior Activity Center to register for this event.


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Opening NEXT WEEK on Friday the 13th... MURDER INN


Opening NEXT WEEK on Friday the 13th...

MURDER INN

September 13-October 6 at the Wade James Theatre in Edmonds, 950 Main St, Edmonds WA 98020

Edmonds Driftwood Player's 66th Season opens with Murder Inn where a group of tourists, on a tour - Ghosts and Ghouls of New England - is forced, by a storm, to make an unscheduled stop at the Barnsley Inn. 

Please join us for this murder-mystery where as the storm builds and the body count rises, the survivors try to figure out who done it...

Thursdays-Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 2pm

TICKETS: $28 General Adult (19-59); $25 Jr/Sr/Military
Content Info: this production has been deemed by the publisher as appropriate for all audiences, however, it contains some mild adult themes, weapons and alcohol, as well as references to the supernatural.

PURCHASE TICKETS!


Or subscribe to the entire season and don't miss a thing!

SUBSCRIBE and SAVE: 4-Show Package Pricing:
  • General Adult (age 19-59) – $110
  • Youth/Senior/Military – $100
Book online

By Phone: 425-774-9600

By Email: boxoffice@edmondsdriftwoodplayers.org


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Dunn Gardens Plant Rummage Sale September 12, 2024

Dunn Gardens Plant Rummage Sale!
September 12, 2024 @ 9:00am

Get ready for fall planting season at the Dunn Gardens Plant Rummage Sale.

Explore our plant sales area and plant nursery—you never know what treasures you might find!
  • Dig-your-own large shrubs and perennials from our lathe house. The Gardens will have all the gardening tools you will need.
  • Explore a varied collection of plants including, but not limited to:
    • Rhododendrons
    • Hydrangeas
    • Young trees and woody shrubs
    • Native plants
    • Evergreen and herbaceous perennials
  • Bags of Dunn Gardens homemade leaf mulch for sale (limited supplies).
You don’t want to miss it!
  • Thursday, September 12th from 9am – 6pm
  • Friday, September 13th from 9am – 6pm
  • Saturday, September 14th from 9:30am – 1:30pm


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Lake Ballinger cleared for recreation - no blue-green algae found in lake

Lake Ballinger
Photo courtesy City of Mountlake Terrace
After an initial scare about a sighting of blue-green algae in Lake Ballinger, both Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace staff agree that the lake is open for recreation.  

No further instances of potential blue-green algae have been witnessed since the first reported sighting over a week ago.  

They ask the public to remain cautious and always keep an eye out for new potential cyanobacteria.  

If you see anything in the lake, take a photo and provide details of when, where, amount, color and even direction headed to help with sampling.

Send the information to:
--Diane Hettrick

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LFP Housing Forum September 18, 2024 explains how new laws affect LFP residents


LFP Housing Forum
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
at Lake Forest Park City Hall or virtual

What is Middle, or Co- housing? What are CLTs, ADUs, and DADUs?

Recently, Washington State passed significant legislation to increase housing options to enable more density. 

What are the laws and how will they impact you? 

Residents of Lake Forest Park wanting to learn have worked with LFP City staff to develop a Housing Forum where community members can begin to understand the new laws and how they can work to increase density, preserve the environment, and project how they can grow and keep their culture intact.

  • Maddy Larson, LFP resident and past City Planning Commissioner will moderate the forum.
  • Mayor Tom French will give a historic perspective on housing needs and ways we can continue into the future.
  • Mark Phillips, past City council member will provide demographics and characteristics of our LFP community and how that compares to the region.
  • Mark Hofman, LFP Community Development Director, will explain the new housing laws, and local efforts to comply in our city. In addition, he will discuss ways to create accessory dwelling units and what they can be used for.

“Where Do We Go from Here?” Following the presentation, there will be Community Conversations and Q/A centered round this topic.

For more information visit the LFP City Calendar

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Stories Need to Breathe and Grow

Roger Fernandes
Life of the Forest - Storytelling
Saturday, September 28, 2024
10:00 – 12:00
Shoreline Historical Museum
18501 Linden Ave N, Shoreline, WA 98133

Roger Fernandes, artist, storyteller, educator and member of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe will share the traditional stories of the local Coast Salish Tribes that connect those cultures to the living world around them.

Stories Need to Breathe and Grow
By Sally Yamasaki

When I first heard Roger Fernandes tell stories at the University of Washington Sacred Breath: Indigenous Writing and Storytelling Series, I thought that I was going to hear stories meant only for children. I was clearly wrong. After the event, my body was busy the rest of the night synthesizing and feeling all that I had heard in the moment of sharing sacred breath. The stories, and the way he presents them, are for any person, any age.

According to Fernandes, "Stories are alive and, in the heart, not the head. We all are storytellers. There are stories in everything, a tree, a rock, water…, and each of us will turn the story a bit differently based on our life experiences."

Saturday, September 28th from 10:00 – 12:00 at the Shoreline Historical Museum, we will have the opportunity to listen to Fernandes share traditional stories that he has learned from local Coast Salish Tribes that connect those cultures to the living world around us.  

In addition, to the stories, there will be hands-on activities, refreshments and tours of the Miyawaki Urban Forest and the Shoreline Historical Museum. Dress accordingly, as this is a free-outdoor event. This will be the first program with Fernandes.

Roger Fernandes, right, with Calvin Kennard and Judy MacCully
Photo by Sally Yamasaki

On Sunday, December 8th, from 3:30 – 5:15
at the Shoreline Historical Museum, Fernandes will join us again as we celebrate the the Miyawaki Forest turning 1-years old and marking the time when our community come together to plant it.

At this event, Fernandes will unveil the Welcome Stone that he has been working on all summer. The Welcome Stone, 6’ x 3’ glacial rock holds carved images based on the teachings of local Coast Salish Tribes. Fernandes will discuss the stories and his inspiration while we celebrate the Miyawaki Urban Forest’s first “birthday.”  


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Correction: Programming for LGBTQIA+ Seniors at the Senior Activity Center on 2nd & 4th Thursdays

Free gatherings on LGBTQIA+ Seniors
on 2nd & 4th Thursdays at the 
Senior Activity Center
Correction: The original article stated that gatherings were on Friday. The gatherings are on Thursdays.

Programming for LGBTQIA+ Seniors
Facilitator: Kevin Hallagan

Get together with Program Coordinator and fellow LGBTQIA+ community member Kevin Halligan for socializing and special activities programming on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month. 

No registration required.

  • When: 2nd and 4th Thursdays 10:30 am – 11:30 am
  • Cost: FREE
  • No registration required

Thursday, September 12 — LGBTQIA+ Tea Time Social: Join Kevin to socialize with complimentary tea and assorted pastries. Decaf, caffeinated and herbal options available.

Thursday, September 26 — LGBTQIA+ Book Group: Join Kevin and fellow LGBTQIA+ community members to discuss any LGBTQIA+ literature. A curated booklist is available at the Center upon request, but you’re welcome to come for the discussion whether or not you’ve read anything.

The Senior Activity Center is located in the southernmost building on the Shoreline Center campus, 18560 1st Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155. Free parking. 


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Leaves are turning but flowers still bloom

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

 Lee Lageschulte found a dramatic pink flower on her daily walk.

Would someone like to identify it for us?

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

On the same day, she photographed this tree with its leaves turning to fall colors.



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Shorewood Drama chosen for nationwide grant to produce 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown'


Shorewood Drama has been chosen for a nationwide grant through MTI Shows, Educational Theatre Association, and Molly Brown and Meredith Wilson estate to produce "The Unsinkable Molly Brown."

The program is one of only 16 schools nationwide to receive this, and just 1 of 3 on the west coast!

Shorewood Drama will perform "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" April 4-6 and 8-12, 2025.

The grant criteria are to "weave important themes of women's rights, labor rights, and immigration, as well as Molly Brown's historical significance and community-mindedness, into both the students' creative process and the audience's experience of this production."

Congratulations to Drama Teacher Amy Pottinger and the Shorewood Drama students for this amazing honor!


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Recount completed for Lands Commissioner and election certified after closest vote in state history

Democrat Dave Upthegrove will meet 
Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 
November election after a statewide recount
OLYMPIA — The Office of the Secretary of State certified results of the mandatory statewide manual recount Wednesday for the August 6, 2024 Primary race for Commissioner of Public Lands, confirming Republican Jaime Herrera Beutler and Democrat Dave Upthegrove will advance to the November General Election.

The recount indicated a 49-vote margin separating second-place finisher Upthegrove from Republican Sue Kuehl Pederson, who finished third in the contest. 

The margin originally stood at 51 votes. After consolidating the amended results certified by each county canvassing board, Upthegrove gained four votes and Pederson gained six votes.

Variances, such as an overvote or undervote were identified during the manual recount which led to the overall change in the count. These discrepancies were a result of careful examination of voter intent on some ballots. 

The Office of the Secretary of State and counties within Washington use the established Statewide Standards on What is a Vote, a longstanding standard for determining voter intent when voters’ ballot markings are unclear.

“This recount was a significant undertaking that required meticulous attention to detail to ensure every vote was counted fairly and accurately,” Assistant Secretary of State Kevin McMahan said.
“It demonstrates the accuracy and reliability of Washington’s elections, as the vote counting equipment tabulated votes correctly, with the few variances arising from questions about voter intent. I commend all counties for their diligent efforts in conducting a transparent and secure process that reflects the will of the voters.”

Recount results and more information are available on the Office of the Secretary of State’s Elections website. Ballots for the Nov. 5 General Election will be mailed to voters by Friday, Oct. 18.


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Free event for Middle School students from Shoreline Recreation

Calling all middle schoolers! Join us at the Teen Center on Saturday nights for sports, games, art, and food. Our staff run activities catered to middle school aged youth and create a safe, supervised space for your youth to hang out with friends, meet new people, and have a great time!

Middle School Night is on Saturday nights (through the school year) from 6:00pm - 10:30pm. This is a free, drop-in program, no pre-registration required.

One Saturday a month there will be a themed event for Middle School Night, which will result in a higher number of youth attending. 

These events will have a combination of free Eventbrite registration and drop-in allowed, but if we reach maximum capacity, drop-ins arriving after we have reached capacity may not be allowed in until other youth have left so we don't exceed safe numbers in our facility.




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LFP Rotary celebrates 38 years with guest speaker Tony Angell

Tony Angell.net
By Robin Roat

On September 4, 2024  LAKE FOREST PARK ROTARY celebrated its 38th birthday. Julie Hungar gave a historical presentation on our club's continual service to the LFP community. Thank you to Julie Hungar and to her husband who was one of the original members 38 years ago.

Our speaker was Master Artist Tony Angell. Aloft and At Rest, a new sculpture by Tony Angell, celebrates 50 years of exhibiting with Foster/White. 

Angell's representations of birds provide both scientific accuracy and a virtuoso sense of the inner temperament of his subjects to convey their intangible spirit and resilience. 

Tony Angell’s work is featured in dozens of gallery and museum exhibitions across the United States. His art is in many private and public collections, including the Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA; Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA; Museum of Wildlife Art, Jackson, WY; and the Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK. 

His book The House of Owls received the National Outdoor Book Award when Yale University Press published it in 2015.

More information on Tony Angell here

Please JOIN US...we are proud community members of LFP joined together in service through ROTARY.



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Gloria's Insects: Saw this wasp (first time seeing this kind)

Photo copyright Gloria Z. Nagler

on a walk last week and, looking online, id'd it as a Great Black (Digger) Wasp. Then, today, I researched a little further and learned that those wasps are found everywhere in the continental U.S. EXCEPT the Pacific Northwest!

So, might be a Thread-waisted Wasp, or some other species (any thoughts on that?), but I love it nonetheless;). 

Look at the tiny, light hairs on its thorax,abdomen, and head...fuzzy wasp. I also admire her translucently black wings! 

Hope I see one again, sometime.

--Gloria Z. Nagler


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