Preview of Autumn at Sky Nursery

 

Photo by RJ Perna

RJ Perna got a preview of Autumn when he visited Sky Nursery.

Photo by RJ Perna

Note the beautiful blue sky in the background. No signs of wildfire smoke.

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

However, the sunset was a mixed message. The sun is yellow (good) but the sky is gray (suspicious). There still many be smoke in the atmosphere.

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Ballinger Thriftway raffle for Seahawks jerseys

Ballinger Thriftway 20150 Ballinger Way NE, Shoreline, WA 98155

 SEAHAWKS JERSEY GIVEAWAY! 

Want to score one of these awesome Seahawks jerseys? 

 Then come get your raffle tickets!!

Every donation goes directly to our local food bank @concern4neighborsfoodbank and we’ll be matching the final donation amount!

Football season is here!! Don’t miss out on entering for the chance to win a jersey, and supporting our community all in one !

So grab your entries, share with your Seahawks crew, and let’s tackle hunger together! 

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Shoreline Music Summit October 3, 2026

Join Sonic Guild and the Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter on October 3, 2026 for a free music industry conference designed for artists, producers, songwriters, managers, students, and music professionals.

The Summit brings together the region's creative community for a full day of inspiring conversations, practical workshops, networking, and live performances.

Whether you're releasing your first song or growing a long-term career, you'll leave with new ideas, meaningful connections, and actionable tools to support your next chapter. We are grateful for the support of 4culture and our other community partners.

Here are the details:
Saturday October 3, 2026
11am to 9pm
Bracken Building, Shoreline Community College 16101 Greenwood Ave N, Shoreline 98133
Free with RSVP

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Move Into Stillness: a women's gathering of movement and rest, September 20, 2026

Summer was full, and back to school is already here. If you have spent the last few months caretaking for everyone around you, this is your invitation to be cared for.

Shakti Sisters invites women across North Seattle and Shoreline to Move Into Stillness on Saturday, September 20, 2026.

We start by dancing. The kind where nobody is watching and nobody cares how it looks. Come shake off your joy, your frustration, your grief, all of it. This is a place where you can anchor in all of that, in community with other women.

The session closes with yoga nidra, a guided deep rest that leaves most women feeling lighter than they have in months.

All women are welcome, whether you dance all the time or have not moved freely in years. The event runs on a sliding scale, so cost is never the reason to stay home.

Bring a sister and register to save your spot.

Sunday September 20, 2026 from 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Columbia Bank Northgate
828 NE Northgate Way, Seattle WA 98125

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Wildfire task force led by Bothell firefighter

Wildfire Task Force with Leader Jim Vandertoorn of Bothell Fire

When the Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires rapidly expanded, the pre-positioned task force was ready to respond.

Bothell’s own BC Jim Vandertoorn, who served as a Task Force Leader, shared his first hand perspective, noting that in more than 30 years as a Washington firefighter, he had not encountered fire behavior or destruction comparable to what crews experienced.

Crews conducted structure protection, extinguished spot fires, and supported coordinated suppression efforts to protect homes and communities. BC Vandertoorn credited the pre-positioning of the task force in Cle Elum with reducing response time and helping protect numerous residences.

He also recognized the crews from Gig Harbor Fire, Bremerton Fire, Eastside Fire & Rescue, South Kitsap Fire, Bainbridge Island Fire, and Browns Point Fire for their teamwork and commitment during a demanding 40-hour operational period.

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Bella's Voice raises $10k for animals affected by Spokane wildfires

Donors at Bella's Voice get stickers on the window
Photo courtesy Bella's Voice

Bella's Voice reports

We did it!!
We reached our goal and raised $10,412 for animals affected by the Spokane wildfires!

Here's the breakdown:

• $5000 from Bella's Voice
• $1782 from BV Shoreline donors
• $1323 from BV Lynnwood donors
• $748 from Givebutter
• PLUS... a generous donation of $1559 in checkout roundups from our friends at Resilient Hearts Animal Sanctuary (RHAS)! 

This donation will go to SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. who are caring for animals in urgent need of vet care, shelter, food, and more!

Also, RHAS is offering help transporting animals from rescues and shelters impacted by the fires to any receiving partners that have capacity to take them. Please reach out directly to Resilient Hearts to coordinate!
Thank you so much to everyone who participated in our 5K Match for Spokane fundraiser! 

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August 2026 Primary Election final results

The final results for the August 2026 primary election were released at 6:41pm on August 19, 2026.

37% of the registered voters in the state cast ballots.

The top two candidates in each race, listed below with their percent of the vote, will advance to the November general election.

U.S. Representative - Congressional District 1

Suzan DelBene (D) incumbent  60.45%
Mary Silva (R) 19.54%

U.S. Representative - Congressional District 7

Pramila Jayapal (D) incumbent 84.36%
Nirav Sheth (R) 9.82%

State Representative Pos. 1 - Legislative District 1

Davina Duerr (D) incumbent  77.4%
Maggie Wang (R) 22.45%

State Representative Pos. 2 - Legislative District 1

Shelly Kloba ((D) incumbent 50.38%
Jenne Alderks (D) 23.67%

State Senator - Legislative District 32

Cindy Ryu (D) 45.95%
Jesse Salomon (D) incumbent 39.93%

State Representative Pos. 1 - Legislative District 32

Keith Scully (D) 34.47%

Danica Noble (D) 24.44%

State Representative Pos. 2 - Legislative District 32

Lauren Davis (D) incumbent 68.6%
Imraan Siddiqi (D) 29.59%

State Senator - Legislative District 46

Javier Valdez (D) incumbent 90.56%

Sandra Stephens (R) 9.18%

State Representative Pos. 1 - Legislative District 46

Gerry Pollet (D) incumbent 51.59%

Will Dreher (D) 30.75%

State Representative Pos. 2 - Legislative District 46

Darya Farivar (D) incumbent 89.41%

Rodney "Star" Thornley (I) 9.96%

Assessor

Rob Foxcurran 47.07%

Dominique Scarimbolo 19.23%

Shoreline Councilmember Chris Roberts came in third with 18.63% of the vote

JUSTICES OF THE SUPREME COURT

Justice Position #01 - Supreme Court

Colleen Melody 67.69%
Scott Edwards 20.18%

Justice Position #03 - Supreme Court

Jaime Michelle Hawke 34.83%
Mike Diaz 42.51%

Justice Position #05 - Supreme Court

Theo Angelis 48.66%
Sharonda Amamilo 22.81%

Justice Position #07 - Supreme Court

Debra Stephens 67.15%
Todd Bloom 17.14%

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The Osprey: 'For all,' not 'for some': Shoreline Council rejects anti-transgender initiatives

Seattle resident Oliver Wolf speaks during public comment at a meeting
of the Shoreline City Council on Monday, August 19. (David Mendez/The Osprey)

By David Mendez

The Osprey News

The Shoreline City Council on Monday unanimously passed a resolution to oppose a pair of state ballot initiatives targeting children — especially transgender children — in Washington public schools. In doing so, Shoreline became one of the first cities in Washington to publicly oppose the ballot initiatives, titled IL26-001 and IL26-638.

The resolution, proposed by Councilmembers Laura Mork and Chris Roberts, is a statement of legislative intent. With it, the Shoreline City Council sought to live up to the city’s motto: “A Welcoming Place for All.”

“We need to be and we ought to be a place where people feel safe,” Roberts said from the council dais Monday night. “We want people to live here, we want people to feel comfortable working here, we want people comfortable going to school here. And that’s something that we, as elected leaders of this city, ought to continue to push for.”

The initiatives

The initiatives, both sponsored by Let’s Go Washington and bankrolled by hedge fund manager Brian Heywood, explicitly target transgender children and programs that aid children in crisis.

One initiative, IL26-001, seeks to amend the Washington Parents’ Bill of Rights — or, as its proponents suggest, restore its original language — to give parents greater control over their kid’s experiences in public schools. That includes the choice to opt kids out of comprehensive sexual health education, and the right to obtain all public school records kept on their child — including medical or health records, records of mental health counseling, and immediate notifications if their child is taken to a youth shelter or host home.

Opponents to the bill say that it risks student privacy protections and access to mental health care and carves into safety valves for at-risk students — especially those who may be experiencing abuse at home.

Text from initiative IL26-638, which would impose biological sex tests for all girls wanting to join girls’ sports in public schools. (Washington Secretary of State)

The other, IL26-638, seeks to effectively ban transgender students from participating from school sports. Its most controversial provision requires that all students wanting to play on a girls sports team undergo a “routine sports physical examination” that also verifies their biological sex with genetic testing, hormone testing or — most controversially — a genital exam. Athletes looking to join boys teams would not be required to undergo exams specifically seeking to verify their biological sex.

Ballot proponents for IL26-638 — titled “Protect Fairness in Girls’ Sports” — argue that “biological men are competing in girls’ sports in Washington State, and it’s destroying fairness.” That argument was signed by Ahnaleigh Wilson and Frances Staudt, a pair of current and former high school athletes who competed against, and lost to, transgender athletes in middle and high school competitions.

It’s unclear how many transgender athletes play in middle and high school sports nationwide, much less in Washington. A UCLA study suggests that “as many as 122,000 transgender youth could be participating in high school-level team athletics” nationwide. A nationwide 2025 survey found that about 8.06 million students played high school sports in the 2024-’25 season. Together, that suggests that transgender kids make up about 1.5% of the national high school student-athlete population.

That number may be higher if not for repeated legislative attempts across the nation to discourage transgender athletes from athletics entirely. An ACLU research brief found that anti-transgender laws “specifically ostracize and exclude transgender and nonbinary youth from the full participation in education,” adding that “transgender and nonbinary youth living in states with a sports ban were, as the law intended, less likely to be involved in school sports.”

Which is the point, suggests American soccer star Megan Rapinoe.

“In their witch hunt for a few trans kids in the entire state who play school sports, I-638’s backers will drive thousands of girls out of sports because their parents cannot afford the necessary testing or refuse to submit their daughters to genital inspections,” Rapinoe wrote in a July essay for Marie Claire.

“That’s a feature, not a bug, of these laws. Preventing girls from playing sports is the whole point. Spaces that leave girls and women feeling empowered are the spaces they want to constrict — and then eliminate.”

Other speakers shared stories of being physically and verbally assaulted in public. Seattle resident Guinevere Godsdaughter was maced while waiting for the bus, she said. Shoreline resident Violet Kawaguchi has been repeatedly harassed while walking to use public transit.

“As a trans person of color in Shoreline, while walking to the 1 Line station, I’ve had people yell at me outside of their cars. I’ve had people yell racial slurs at me. An old decrepit man in a Charlie Kirk shirt and a MAGA hat, yelling the t-slur at me,” Kawaguchi said.

“People in Seattle are harassed daily for being trans. This needs to stop.”

Supporting this legislation is “bare minimum stuff” to Shoreline resident Norbert Steele. 

“Realistically, I would like to see the city go much further with this sort of thing and start treating the incidents that are going around right now…take these seriously,” he said.

“As someone else said, these things are the wedge that cracks open basically everything and rots our society.”

The ballot measures found no purchase among the members of the city council.

“The bad news is there's a lot of misunderstanding about what these bills are. It's usually posed around safety, which is ridiculous — and what misses the point is this isn't aimed at adults, right? The first measure is aimed at children,” Councilmember Keith Scully said.

“For me, it's especially insidious because it tells a 12 year old girl that her body has to pass inspection, usually by a man, before she's allowed to participate.”

Councilmember Valerie Snider found that the initiatives would trample on student privacy rights.

“Kids don't always feel safe at home. They need to feel safe at school, talking to a counselor. I know that kids going to therapy will hit that 13-year-old mark and [a parent] can't even log in on their behalf to pay the medical bill — because they're entitled to that privacy,” Snider said.

“It's not to be shared with their parents unless they decide they want to share it with their parents. And that needs to be maintained at our schools as well.”

The resolution passed quickly in a 5-0 vote — with Mayor Betsy Robertson and Deputy Mayor Eben Pobee absent for personal reasons — and the meeting ended shortly after.

When asked why she sought to put this resolution before the council, Councilmember Mork intimated that it was the only correct thing for the city to do.

“We have all sorts of signs and posters calling ourselves ‘A Welcoming Place for All.’ If we’re not going to support this, they should say, ‘A Welcoming Place for Some,’ right?” Mork told The Osprey after the meeting.

“If you’re gonna say that’s our motto, that’s our value, than that’s what you’ve gotta do. It’s not part, it’s all.”

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False alarm at Town Center in LFP

It's always worth a second look when the fire ladder is fully extended. This was at the Echo Lake Neighborhood Picnic in July. Photo by Carl Dinse.

A startling scene by Ace Hardware in Lake Forest Park Town Center on Monday turned out to be a false alarm.

Early evening on Monday, August 17, 2026 shoppers and passers-by were surprised to see a full contingent of police and fire trucks by Ace Hardware on the upper level of Town Center.

A fire truck had the ladder extended and firefighters were on the roof of the building.

Fortunately, it turned out to be a false alarm.

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Reminder: 40th Pl NE is closed for roundabout construction in Lake Forest Park

Traffic Alert – 40th Pl NE Closure

This is a reminder that, due to construction work, 40th Pl NE is currently closed to southbound traffic from NE 185th St.

Road closure in Lake Forest Park
Photo courtesy LFPPD

As a reminder, the City's SR 104 Roundabout project began a local detour on Monday August 17, 2026.  As such, for approximately the next three months, southbound 40th Place NE is closed at SR 104 Ballinger Way NE. 

A number of signs have been posted throughout the corridor directing traffic northbound to the 35th Avenue NE arterial for southbound travel onto SR 104.  

Please be mindful of this closure and do not attempt to access SR 104 via 40th Place NE.  Two-way circulation is maintained southbound all the way to the work zone for local residents, but no turnaround is available.

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and cooperation while this work is completed.

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Red Sky at Night

 

Photo by Lee Lageschulte

We apparently still have a lot of wildfire smoke in the upper atmosphere to create the red sunset.

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Your Life, Solved: 42 Practical Ways AI Can Help You Save Time, Reduce Stress, and Get More Done is now available

Your Life, Solved: 42 Practical Ways AI Can Help You Save Time, Reduce Stress, and Get More Done is now available.

The book is built around everyday situations where AI can help you finish tasks faster, reduce mental overhead, and solve problems more effectively. 

Every chapter includes practical examples that you can begin using right away, regardless of your experience with AI.

One early reader shared on Goodreads:

"It doesn't just give you the information about what you can do... It also walks you step-by-step with the how-to for each potential use."

"I've only been using AI for a few weeks now, but it's made a huge difference in my life... after reading this book, I can see all the ways I could be using AI that I never considered."

If you'd like to support my work directly, the HomeTechHacker Book Store now offers:

• Signed paperbacks
• Signed hardcovers
• DRM-free audiobooks
• Exclusive bundles
• Discounts on multiple books

Buy direct

You can also purchase from your favorite retailer using my universal book link:

Paperback availability at retailers other than Amazon may take a little longer as distribution works its way through each bookstore's catalog, but the ebook is already widely available, and additional formats will continue appearing over the next few days.

Marlon Buchanan, author

This is my sixth published book, and it continues a mission that's been at the center of everything I've written: helping people use technology with confidence so it becomes a source of freedom rather than frustration.

If you enjoy the book, I'd be grateful if you'd leave a review wherever you purchased it. Reviews make a tremendous difference for independent authors and help other readers discover the book.

Thank you for your encouragement, your feedback, and your support. I hope Your Life, Solved gives you practical ideas that save time and make everyday life a little easier.

Marlon Buchanan, author

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At Shoreline-Edmonds line - Iran war, troop treatment hot topics at Sunday sign-waving

Story & Photos by Pamela Mieth

The flailing war with Iran, news of terrible troop conditions, and the continued assault on truth, the Constitution, integrity and democratic principles drew a stalwart crowd of protestors to the Shoreline-Edmonds line this past hot and humid Sunday.

The "Social Justice Sundays" sign-wavers hope to remind passers-by of what is at stake every day and most especially in the mid-term elections in November.

Do we have a country and government that is a shining beacon of hope and democracy or one that bombs innocent fishermen in international waters and treats its military members like so much expendable chaff? 

• One that believes in enforcing immigration rules fairly and humanely or indiscriminately and abhorrently? One that regulates the financial sector to protect the public or enrich the privileged? 
• One that believes environmental and food safety regulation are important to public health and well-being or better left as a free-for-all to companies in search of profit?

Between now and the election, there is time to get involved, get educated on the candidates up for election, contact elected representatives to encourage votes to uphold treasured, vital democratic principles and work towards policies that benefit all people not just the top 1 percent, help those in our community through volunteer efforts and charitable donations, and be kinder to each other.

And you can join others standing up every Sunday in August (8/23 and 8/30 remaining), 1-2pm, at the intersection of Aurora Avenue North and N 205th St, at the Shoreline-Edmonds line.

Bring a sign or borrow one (some are available to borrow) and donations of of non-perishable food, toiletries, and school supplies will be accepted. Sign-waving is organized by local group Everyday Activists (@@everydayshoreline.bsky.social).

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What’s Happening This Week in Shoreline: August 19 - 25

By: Kate Ledbetter, www.DestinationShoreline.com

 
What’s Happening This Week in Shoreline: August 19 - 25
There’s another great week ahead in Shoreline! We’re highlighting a few must-attend events, including the Ridgecrest Art Walk on Thursday, a perfect evening to explore local art and businesses; the 50^th Annual Dahlia Show at Sky Nursery on Saturday & Sunday, ShoreLake Arts’ 6th Annual Battle of the Bands, showcasing emerging musical talent from across Washington, and on Sunday Kids Day at the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market. Get out and enjoy one of the last few weekends of Summer!
 
Shoreline Area Events You Should Know About this Week. We highlighted our must-attend events of the week!
(Follow the event links for additional information, directions, and add to your calendar links.)
 
Wednesday, August 19th
Free haircuts, mini-manicures, and mini-facials at Evergreen Beauty College Back-to-School Event
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Evergreen Beauty College – North Seattle Campus
This is the perfect way to get the kids ready for school — all while supporting the talented future professionals at Evergreen Beauty College! All services are provided by students under the supervision of a licensed professional.
 
Fix-It Night @ STL
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Shoreline Tool Library
We will help you fix and learn to fix your broken tools, lamps, toys, furniture, appliances, and any other broken items that you can carry in on your own.
 
Thursday, August 20th
Ridgecrest Art Walk Hosted by Shorelake Arts
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Downtown Ridgecrest
Join us for the Ridgecrest Art Walk starting at NE 165th Street in Shoreline!
 
Steve Schneider to sign his photography book of Rock musicians
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Ridgecrest Books
Steve Schneider will be signing his book The First Three Songs, Rock and Roll at 125th of a Second during the Ridgecrest Art walk inside the Ridgecrest Books on August 20, 2026 from 5-8pm.
 
Friday, August 21st
Harmony Audiology Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
10:00 AM - 2:39 PM, Harmony Audiology in Mountlake Terrace
Join us as we officially cut the ribbon on our new home, with light refreshments provided by Harmony Audiology.
 
Saturday, August 22nd
Shoreline Farmers Market
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, Corner of 192nd & Aurora
Shoreline's community hub for farm fresh & local foods, flowers, baked goods, local honey, live music, food trucks, kids programming, and so much more.
 
Shoreline Walks - Lake Ballinger / Interurban Trail Walk
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Meetup Location: Lake Ballinger Center, 23000 Lakeview Drive, Mountlake Terrace  
 
50th Anniversary Dahlia Show
Saturday & Sunday August 22-23, Sky Nursery
Since 1976, the Puget Sound Dahlia Association has been gathering gardeners together around the diverse, rewarding and endlessly evolving world of dahlias. Join us this summer in the greenhouse for a Dahlia Show unlike any other, to celebrate these incredible blooms and the people who grow.
 
Briarcrest Neighborhood Picnic
3:30 PM - 6:00 PM, Hamlin Park
Come and meet your neighbors and learn about the work the neighborhood association is doing. We will have kid activities including a cake walk.
 
ShoreLake Arts’ 6th Annual Battle of the Bands 
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Pfingst Animal Acres Park
Get ready for a summer night full of music, energy, and local talent! ShoreLake Arts proudly presents the 6th Annual Battle of the Bands, a dynamic showcase of emerging and developing bands from across Washington State.
 
Sunday, August 23rd
Kids Day at the Lake Forest Park Farmers Market
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM, in front of LFP City Hall (17171 Bothell Way NE)
Bring the whole family for a day filled with fresh local food, live music, and fun for all ages!
 
50th Anniversary Dahlia Show
Saturday & Sunday August 22-23, Sky Nursery
Since 1976, the Puget Sound Dahlia Association has been gathering gardeners together around the diverse, rewarding and endlessly evolving world of dahlias. Join us this summer in the greenhouse for a Dahlia Show unlike any other, to celebrate these incredible blooms and the people who grow.
 
Tuesday, August 25th
Neighborhood Work & Play Space at Shoreline Covenant Church
1:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Shoreline Covenant Church
Stop by our Neighborhood Work & Play Space! We have indoor and outdoor play areas, with a bounce house, bubbles, and water play for kids; snacks and coffee; and quiet rooms for work or board games.
 
What’s Up Next in Shoreline (Save the Date):
(Follow the event links for additional information, directions, and add to your calendar links.)
 
Wallingford Avenue Block Party
Sunday, August 30 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM, Parkwood Elementary
Join Urbanist Shoreline for an end-of-summer block party! You know we love pedestrian and bike friendly streets, so we'll be closing down Wallingford Avenue next to Parkwood Elementary School to hang out with friends and neighbors, play games, and eat ice cream. 
 
Arts in the Garden: Build a Woodland Troll or Create a Jimothy Craft Workshop
Thursday, September 3 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM, Kruckeberg Botanic Garden
Experience the beauty of art in the garden during a peaceful summer evening at Kruckeberg Botanic Garden Foundation, hosted by ShoreLake Arts.
 
Annual Ikebana Exhibition
September 5 & 6, Sky Nursery
This year's theme, 'My Ikebana' is about expressing the unique artistic voice of each talented exhibitor. Join us in celebrating a love for plants and the singular beauty of Ikebana – transforming natural materials into artistic arrangements with appreciation and care.
 
For Upcoming Events in Shoreline visit: DestinationShoreline.com/Calendar
 
Destination Shoreline is brought to you by:
Salvation - Artists and Makers Collective - a Boutique and Gallery
Shorelake Arts bringing people together through art, culture, and shared experiences.
Seniors Helping Seniors®, Supporting Independence for Seniors in Shoreline
Shoreline Chamber of Commerce – Supporting local businesses in Shoreline
City of Shoreline - Official city news and resources.
 Become a Destination Shoreline Partner, learn more here.
 

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Jobs: WSDOT Acquisition & Relocation Agent (PAS4)

WSDOT

Acquisition & Relocation Agent (PAS4)
Shoreline, WA – Northwest Region
$76,545 – $102,967 Annually

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is currently seeking a right of way professional to serve as an Acquisition and Relocation Agent (PAS4) for the Northwest Region in Shoreline, WA. The specialist will support the delivery of transportation projects through complex property rights acquisitions and relocation activities. 

This position works within the Real Estate Services Office (RES) to coordinate real estate transactions and ensure compliance with the Federal 1970 Uniform Relocation Act. RES stewards the agency’s property assets and supports program delivery through guidance and policy development related to property valuations, acquisitions, relocation, and property management. This position directly supports the fish passage program and WSDOT's mission to provide an integrated, multimodal transportation system.

See link for more information, including details on how to apply: LINK

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Jobs: WSDOT Fiscal Analyst 2

WSDOT

Fiscal Analyst 2
Shoreline, WA – Northwest Region
$56,914 – $76,545 Annually

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is looking for a skilled and detail-oriented Fiscal Analyst 2 to join our team in Shoreline, WA! In this role, you’ll play an important part in ensuring the financial activities that support our region are accurate, accountable, and aligned with state and federal requirements. You’ll apply your financial expertise to review and analyze complex transactions, identify issues and trends, and help ensure resources are managed responsibly and effectively.

See link for more information, including details on how to apply: LINK

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Local Resident Graduates From Pacific University

FOREST GROVE, Ore. (August 18, 2026)

Patricia Kennedy of Seattle, Washington graduated in August 2026 from Pacific University in Oregon with a Doctor of Philosophy in Education & Leadership degree.

Founded in 1849, Pacific University is Washington County, Oregon's only comprehensive university, offering over 50 undergraduate majors and 28 graduate and professional degrees. 

The No. 1 private research institution in the Northwest, Pacific serves its communities through campuses in Forest Grove and Hillsboro, healthcare clinics throughout the Portland area and through 34,000 alumni pursuing lives of purpose globally.

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Cartoon by Whitney Potter: Eye Exam

 

Previous cartoons by Whitney Potter here

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Section of Ballinger Way SR 104 closed overnight for lane striping

Work is now complete for the fish passage and the roads are being striped
Photo by David Carlos

The section of Ballinger Way SR 104 by the WSDOT fish passage project will be closed for a second night on Wednesday, August 19, 2026 for lane striping.

The closures are from 8pm to 5am.

• SR 104 reduced to one lane near 35th Ave Northeast.
• 35th Ave NE closed between SR 104 and NE 187th Street. Local access will be permitted during the closure.
• NE 185th Street closed near the intersection with 35th Ave NE.

Flaggers will alternate traffic through single-lane closures. Signed detours will guide people around road closures. Emergency vehicles will have access to homes within the work zone.

This lane striping is one of the final steps for the SR 104 Lyon Creek fish passage, as contractor crews working for the Washington State Department of Transportation work toward completion of this project.

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Jobs: WSDOT Communications Consultant 4 in Shoreline, WA

WSDOT

Communications Consultant 4
Shoreline, WA – Northwest Region
$67,737 – $91,022 Annually

Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) is seeking two talented Communications Consultants to join the Northwest Region in Shoreline, WA. 

In this highly visible role, you’ll lead real-time incident response communications, serve as a WSDOT spokesperson, and respond to media, community, and stakeholder inquiries often when the need is immediate and the work is critical. 

From maintenance and emergency response to planned construction and major incidents, you’ll help people understand what’s happening on our state highway system and what it means for their travel. You’ll take complex, fast-moving information and turn it into clear, timely and useful communication across a variety of platforms. 

This role calls for strong judgment, creativity and the ability to see both the immediate issue and the bigger picture. If you enjoy working in a fast-paced environment, collaborating across teams and finding the clearest way to tell an important story, we’d love to hear from you.

See link for more information, including details on how to apply: LINK

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WA, bipartisan coalition secure $700 million Google settlement over app store monopoly

A federal court today approved a $700 million settlement in a multistate antitrust lawsuit against Google. The lawsuit challenged Google's control over Android app distribution and in-app payments. The approval of the settlement ends a five-year case and gives relief to consumers nationwide who were affected by Google's actions.

About $13 million of the total settlement will be refunded to Washington consumers, about 2.4 million of whom would be eligible. Most of the settlement funds will go directly to people who made purchases on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023. Most recipients won't need to fill out a claim form and will receive their payments through PayPal or Venmo.

If consumers don't have access to PayPal or Venmo, they can file a claim through a separate process to receive their payment. Additional information about the lawsuit and settlement is available on the settlement website.

“When giant companies gain an illegal stranglehold on a market, we take action and deliver relief for consumers,” Attorney General Nick Brown said. “Fighting monopolies is one of our office’s core responsibilities, and I’m proud that millions of Washingtonians will now get refunds because of our litigation.”

The settlement forces Google to change its business practices. For at least five years, app developers may use alternate payment systems, inform customers about lower prices outside Google's billing system, and list their apps on competing stores without fear of retaliation. Android users can download apps from outside the Play Store for at least seven years.

In 2021, Washington joined a bipartisan group of attorneys general who sued Google for illegally dominating Android app distribution and for charging consumers up to 30% per transaction.

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Travels with Charlie: Getting Close to Perfection

Photo by Gordon Snyder

Who doesn’t like Cherry Tomatoes? Especially picked off the vine; while they are still sunshine warm; and popped into your mouth. Unique!

Charlie and I just wandering outside, I spotted these.

Thank You Summer for one of your Tasty Presents.

Cheers,
Gordon Snyder

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