City of Lake Forest Park
17425 Ballinger Way NE
Lake Forest Park, WA 98155
www.cityoflfp.gov
206-368-5440 August 2023 |
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Mayor’s Corner – Summer Events and Volunteer Opportunities
There's nothing quite like summertime in the Pacific Northwest. We are fortunate to live where we can get outside and enjoy fun activities. Even though the season is about halfway through, there are still chances for the community to enjoy our summer programs. - Battle of the Bands, August 3, 4, and 5 (related article below)
- Summer Stretch Series, Saturdays through August 12 (related article below)
- Picnic in the Park, September 9 (more info coming soon)
I’m happy to report that fans of the Pet Parade can look for its return in October (date to be determined). Another chance to get outside at our parks includes volunteering for ivy and weed removal days coordinated by the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation. If you have the time and are interested in volunteering with one of our advisory boards, commissions, or committees, the Planning Commission, Tree Board, and Library Advisory Committee each have one regular vacancy available. Please submit an online application if you are interested! I recently came across this quote and want to share it: “Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns.” – Author Unknown Enjoy the rest of your summer and I hope to see you at Picnic in the Park in September. --Mayor Johnson
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Reminder! National Night Out is Tuesday, August 1, 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
On Tuesday, August 1, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., turn on your porch or patio lights and step outside for the 2023 National Night Out! National Night Out is about building community and making our neighborhoods safer by getting to know our neighbors and neighborhood partners. Considering a National Night Out event in your neighborhood? Invite a Lake Forest Park Police Officer to come by and say hello. Share your great ideas on social platforms like Nextdoor! National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. It further provides an opportunity to bring police and neighbors together. Neighborhoods across the nation host block parties, festivals, parades, cookouts and other community events with safety demos, seminars, youth events, visits from emergency personnel and exhibits. NNO Coordinator: Casey Krzyminski
Lake Forest Park Police Department
206-364-8216 x 523
Email Casey Email Lt. Rhonda Lehman if you have more questions or would like more information about the event.
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Battle of the Bands – August 3, 4, and 5 at Pfingst Animal Acres Park
Don’t miss out on Battle of the Bands, sponsored by ShoreLake Arts and the City of Lake Forest Park! Three evenings of fun at Pfingst Animal Acres Park! Tickets are on sale through ShoreLake Arts. Battle of the Bands supports emerging and developing musicians in Washington state and encourages appreciation for the art of music in our community. All shows begin at 6:30 p.m. at Pfingst Animal Acres Park, and gates open at 5:30 p.m. A beer garden and food trucks will be on hand! Semi-final Pool #1 | Thursday, August 3
Semi-final Pool #2 | Friday, August 4
Finals | Saturday, August 5 For more information on the event or to purchase tickets, head to the Battle of the Bands information page.
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Council Corner – Civility in Our Public Discourse
Over 300 neighbors attended a recent City Council meeting where Julie Timm, Sound Transit’s CEO spoke and responded to questions from the City Council. I suspect that this was the largest group ever to assemble at our City Hall both present and past. I say neighbors because…quite frankly, that is the way everyone behaved--as neighbors. The civility exhibited by all the attendees was remarkable and heartwarming. In today’s unfortunate climate of partisan conflict and uncivil discourse on so many levels, it was truly refreshing to see our residents once again choose the higher path and treat our speaker and her staff and each other with respect and dignity. As a policy maker and civic leader these nearly 12 years, I have striven to foster a culture of civility and inclusiveness, as have my Council colleagues. It is a foundational part of our Democracy to disagree, and it is fundamental and essential for us to choose the path of civility in our conversations, particularly in light of the political climate at the national level. Difficult but civil conversations can lead to understanding and the illumination of solutions that may otherwise remain hidden if we all simply went with the herd and always agreed with each other. The City of Lake Forest Park is experiencing many pressures from the growth of our region, resulting in threats to our health, our natural environment, and our Lake Forest Park culture that so many generations of residents have enjoyed for more than 110 years. Candid and civil discussions are critical for us to ensure that we put our best foot forward as we face the challenges of a rapidly growing and evolving Puget Sound region. We may not always agree on the solutions to our problems, but we can all agree that the best path is the higher one when it comes to our discourse as a community and as neighbors. For those of you who attended the City Council meeting two weeks ago, I thank you for your kindness, compassion, and civility. --Deputy Mayor Tom French
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Free LFP Yoga Summer Stretch Series – Saturday Mornings through August 12 at Pfingst Animal Acres Park
Join neighbors and friends to celebrate summer and come to the free weekly Yoga in the Park, Summer Stretch Series at Pfingst Animal Acres Park! Saturday mornings through August 12, 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Each week will feature a different local instructor teaching a different style of yoga. All classes are open to all community members at any level. If you’ve never done yoga, no problem! Come try something new and meet new friends! Bring a yoga mat, a friend, your own hydration, and have some fun!
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City Receives New Radio System from the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network
We are thrilled to announce that the Police Department has finally received the Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) radios for all our dedicated staff members in the police, public works, and emergency management departments. This significant development means that every officer now possesses a state-of-the-art radio, and our patrol cars have been equipped with new radios as well. Excitingly, the digital system will be fully operational beginning on August 1. The Puget Sound Emergency Radio Network (PSERN) is an emergency radio system approved by King County voters and utilized for dispatching and communication among various King County agencies, including fire, law enforcement, and more. Initiated in 2014, the process of replacing our outdated radio system has taken nearly a decade, and we are elated to have finally received our radios. This cutting-edge radio system operates on a simulcast 800 MHz trunked radio system, employing advanced P25 Phase II digital technology. It utilizes an extensive network of 61 radio sites to transmit signals to over 18,000 portable (hand-held), mobile (vehicle), and control station (desktop) radios, as well as dispatch center consoles within the service area. The PSERN Operator is responsible for the maintenance and operation of this network. In the past, Lake Forest Park, was utilizing portable radios that were over 20 years old and plagued with numerous issues and recurring problems over the years. Consequently, we are overjoyed to bid farewell to those outdated radios and welcome the new ones. This long-awaited upgrade has been a welcome sight, and we are excited about the positive changes it will bring.
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Take the Lynnwood Link Connections Survey by August 27
As Link light rail extends to Lynnwood, the Lynnwood Link Connections mobility project will address changing transit needs and improve mobility options for communities in northwest King County and southwest Snohomish County. Metro is working with Sound Transit and Community Transit, among other partners, to coordinate bus routes based on feedback from communities. Get ready for changes to your neighborhood bus routes! To support the opening of Lynnwood Link light rail in 2024, King County Metro and Sound Transit are creating new service plans. Help finalize these bus routes by taking the survey by August 27. Visit Lynnwood Link Connections to learn more about the potential bus route changes, take the survey and register for an upcoming online open house. - Tuesday, August 15 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. (register here)
- Saturday, August 19 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. (register here)
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Hot Weather Yard and Garden Tips
We're entering the driest time of the year - so unless your garden has established, drought-tolerant plants, summer watering is a necessity. It's generally better to water deeply and infrequently. Moisten the whole root zone and then let the soil dry before watering again. In hot weather, garden beds and lawns (unless you let your grass go dormant) need about an inch of water per week. Make every drop count by mulching, selecting drought-tolerant plants, using soaker hoses and water timers and watering only in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation. Head to Tilth Alliance for more information!
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Go Electric! Keep Calm and Solar On!
The second workshop series of three is on August 17, 6:00 p.m. at the Hangar, 6728 NE 181st Street, Kenmore. Learn from local contractors and neighbors about how installing solar panels can save you money, add value to your home, and reduce your carbon emissions. Each presentation in the series will help homeowners and renters find out about rebates available from the federal government. The Inflation Reduction Act provides tax rebates and tax credits for making climate friendly home improvements. Take part in the series and learn ways to get ready and take on climate friendly actions!
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Protect Yourself and Your Home from Wildfire SmokeBy John Cornaby – NEMCo Community Outreach Committee Wildfire smoke this summer and fall could be a major issue for those of us in the Puget Sound region. As we have seen in the national news, the East Coast and Midwest areas of the U.S. have already seen periods of very bad air quality due to smoke from Canadian wildfires, with this smoke even expected to reach Europe. In past years, we have experienced very bad air quality due to wildfires in British Columbia, as well as our local area. This year, there have already been small fires on the Olympic Peninsula, with projections showing that this year’s fire season will be extended. This means we can expect to see fires in our region and now is the time to prepare for the very real possibility of heavy smoke in the air. According to the Public Health - Seattle and King County, when wildfires burn, they produce smoke… “… that contains gases and fine particles. These fine particles are smaller than ten microns; for comparison, diameter of a human hair is forty to fifty microns. And the particles are particularly bad for human health. They can be breathed into the lungs, where they can act as respiratory tract irritants, and smaller particles can even penetrate deeper into the bloodstream and cause widespread inflammation. Children, adults sixty-five and older, pregnant people and people with lung or heart conditions are particularly vulnerable.“ Source: Public Health Insider – Official Insights from Public Health – Seattle and King County There are several recommendations on how to protect yourself and your home, including wearing the correct mask and creating “clean rooms.” Northshore Emergency Management Coalition (NEMCo) encourages everyone to explore the website above for additional ideas on how to ensure you and your family have masks available and a way to take smoke particles out of the air in your home. The right type of mask is important. The supply of blue medical masks from Covid and even the KN95 masks are not sufficient. You should have a mask that is classified as a respirator, such as an N95 or P100. A respirator mask should have two straps that go around your head, not just hook over the ears. While N95 masks were in short supply during Covid, they are available now. Consider picking some up before smoke arrives in our area and the rush starts depleting these supplies. P100 masks are very effective at filtering out smoke and gases but are more cumbersome to wear. If you are highly sensitive or have existing respiratory issues, it might be something you want to consider. If you have an air conditioning system in your home, be sure that filters have been cleaned or replaced to better filter out smoke particles that get in. If you don’t have a filtering system, you can make one from a box fan and furnace air filter. The University of Washington link below has a graphic explaining how to do this. Again, think about preparing ahead of time instead of trying to find box fans when the heat increases, or smoke arrives. How to make a box fan filter to clean indoor air of smoke | Interdisciplinary Center for Exposures, Diseases, Genomics and Environment
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 LFP Rotary members working in pollinator garden at Pfingst Animal Acres Park |
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Rotary Club of LFP Takes on Operation Pollination Project
The Rotary Club of Lake Forest Park has embarked on its newest project: Operation Pollination. At its meeting on July 12, Linda Holman, Rotarian, and lead for this new project, presented the plan to the club. Linda told the group that "The Environmental Sustainability Committee has begun a project in conjunction with Rotary International’s new program, Operation Pollination.” She continued, "We have begun by creating three sites in Pfingst Animal Acres Park which will highlight pollinator and native plants. The goal is to create a healthy environment to sustain our bee population. We are working with Rotary groups both locally and around the country to build this project. The primary goals are to build a healthy bee corridor from eastern to western Washington and to provide education to the community." The Rotary Club invites interested community members to observe the pollinator gardens at Pfingst Animal Acres Park as they become more established.
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Shoreline School District Recruiting for Bus Drivers
The Shoreline School District is now hiring and training bus drivers! Bus Drivers - Employees are paid during driver training.
- Permanent positions, 4+ hours/day available.
- Full-time work is available.
- Substitute drivers are also needed.
- Starting pay rate is $27.10/hour and $30.75/hour after just 60 days!
Why should you work for Shoreline Schools Transportation? - Give back to children and the community.
- Morning and afternoon hours free up your day.
- Extra pay opportunities driving for field trips, athletics, and activities.
- Be the first to welcome students to their school day.
Benefits include retirement, medical, dental (family), vision (family), paid leave, paid holidays, life insurance. Apply today at: https://www.shorelineschools.org/jobs View the job flyer.
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Mark Your Calendar, the King County Wastemobile is in Bothell August 18-20
Do you have Household Hazardous Waste in need of disposal? The King County Wastemobile is making a stop in Bothell from Friday – Sunday, August 18-20, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., to provide household hazardous waste disposal services for King County residents. The address is: 18115 Campus Way NE, Bothell, WA 98011. You may drop off items such as antifreeze, batteries, gasoline, fluorescent lights, and pesticides. To view the full list of what you can and cannot bring and learn some safety tips visit the King County Household Hazardous Waste webpage or call the King County Household Hazards Line at 206-296-4692. If you cannot make it to the Wastemobile, do not dispose of hazardous waste like cleaning products, batteries, or pesticides in the garbage or down the drain. Take your hazardous waste to the North Seattle Hazardous Waste drop-off site for safe disposal. Additional information is available at the above link.
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Clean Yards/Parks = Clean Shoes/Paws = Clean Waters!
Picking up after your pet isn’t just the law, it’s the healthy thing to do. Leaving dog poop in your backyard, parks, and trails allows you, your kids, and your pets to track it indoors, inviting a whole army of nasty bacteria into your house. The water quality of our rivers, lakes and Puget Sound is impacted when fecal matter is left on the ground. When it rains, runoff has the potential to wash pet waste into our natural waterways that generates harmful levels of fecal coliform making them unsafe for recreational use. Landfills are designed to safely handle substances like dog waste. Always remember to scoop the poop, bag it, and place it in the trash!
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Stay Current on City News
Want to keep up with what’s going on at the City? There are several ways to stay informed. Subscription options include notices of city meetings and events, planning announcements, emergency alerts, city newsflashes, and more! Click here for the full list of available subscriptions.
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