Madison Park Times October 2024 by Pacific Publishing Company

Madison Park Times

Euonymus fortune — spots of light for our dark winters

Once the last, vividly colored deciduous leaf drops and our spectacle of autumn color is over, the Northwest

gardener’s eye for beauty turns to the sculptural forms of naked branches and the looming power of conifers. Beautiful as all this is, it helps to have unexpected spots of bright leaves to catch the eye, especially within the con-

fines of the small urban garden. There are a handful of winter bloomers, but to lighten the dark carpet of winter for the entire season, nothing can rival Euonymus fortunei. From a genus of over 170 species,

Celebrate the neighborhood on Oct. 12

By Friends of Madison Park

In just its first 18 months, Friends of Madison Park has brought renewed joy and energy to our neighborhood- thanks to the help of volunteers and the generous contributions from our businesses and residents.

CELEBRATE OUR NEIGHBORHOOD

SATURDAY, OCT. 12

PARTY FOR THE PARK is a celebration of our community and its future. Register now before time runs out.

Please join us to ensure the continued Sparkle on our trees, Music in our park, and the laughter of our children in the parks and at the beach with parades,

stories, games, and so much more throughout 2025.

REGISTER at https://www. friendsofmadisonpark.com/ party-for-the-park. Thanks to our generous sponsors, all contributions fund Madison Park events and projects.

The evening promises an open bar, dancing, and the chance to win a $1,000 Dinner at Canlis, a Charming Ski-in Cabin in Winthrop for 6 guests, 10 personal training sessions at 1-on-1 Fitness, an Iron Springs getaway, sports tickets, and a romantic weekend at the Four Seasons Hotel plus a $500 gift package — to name a few.

FRIENDS Page 7Æ

both deciduous and evergreen, the many cultivated varieties of E. fortunei have climbed up trellises, spilled over rock walls, and sprawled between

Courtesy

Steve Lorton Tree Talk

Meeting Mary

Afew weeks back a friend texted me to say how lonely she is. She didn’t say she was lonely. She said how little enthusiasm she has for her work or for “anything, really.” She has no steam. She is always tired.

My training as a dancer has made me sensitive to the pitch and tone of all things; to how closely we have to pay attention to hear not only what someone is saying, but what they are trying to say. “Why don’t I give you a call?” I wrote back, fulfilling a promise I made to myself the day I met Mary.

And because these days I write only what I enjoy writing, and by doing so I have the writing life I have always wanted, I was immediately gratified by meeting Mary. What writer wouldn’t be?

Mary is the reason the reason I am taking my voice back, something that feels necessary for my well-being. I don’t think texts are enough for important conversations, so I will no longer let myself think that they are. I know people enable dictation and talk into their phones, creating texts the length of a page, and I’ve vowed not to be one of them.

Despite current trends, I am coming to terms with the fact that if our voices are to be heard, they must be spoken. Aloud. To someone who will listen. And we are going to have to be adamant about this because there is so much money to be made by keeping us communicating solely on our devices. All you have to do is watch the documentary The Social Dilemma to understand why.

A neighbor told me to watch it like he meant it, which he did.

The film isn’t overly confessional, as I recall, but it did confirm that we may have a societal problem when the very software engineers who developed our social media platforms admit they don’t want their own children to use them. Watching it felt a bit like when I was 15 and just realizing something about my life – that it is actually my life.

As soon as my friend answered, it was pretty clear she had likely spent too much time alone since the death of her partner, so that she talked on and on, as if propelled by the sound of her own voice. I feared I’d made a mistake. She is grieving. She is righting herself. I kept trying to interject, and kept failing. So I decided just to listen.

But this amount of listening takes time. More time than a lot of us have in a day. Yet the image of her sitting on her couch alone and obviously devastated, urged making the time right out of me.

Eventually our conversation took on a

more natural give and take. When I spotted Mary sitting on a bench near the shoreline, I’d just come from a chance encounter with a coyote: Our eyes met, then we both looked forward in the direction where I was cycling and he was running, then we looked over at each other again. We did this back and forth one more time before the grasses made a crisp, snapping noise as he tore through the brush.

Mary was reserved at first. But I had to tell someone about that coyote – and with that, everything changed.

Just offshore, two herons stood motionless as our conversation led to Mary’s assessment of present day Seattle (I was pretty blown away by how closely she follows urban policy making), and to Kamala Harris. “Well,” she said, “we’ll see.”

Everything she implied by those three words fed my fear of what November could bring. I tried to ignore the butterflies in my chest, knowing what looms. But you get in trouble pretty quickly if you assume what someone’s politics are. I sat quietly, thinking how our chat up until then never had me thinking right or left. I thought how most of us mistrust extremes in general, how some discussions revitalize us, and I thought that we always have to listen to one side to get to the other, and be sure to listen again.

One of the herons speared a small, silvery fish. Sometimes I think the most valuable thing I’ve learned up until now, the one thing that has really stuck, is simply to breathe in moments like these. They remind how good it feels to do something for its own sake. Like most writers, I long to write. But I will do most anything for time away from the routine of the desk.

Mary said I’d be inspired by our sitting together, that I’d know just what to write when I got home.

Actually this piece was pretty much written before I got home. Mary began it the moment she wanted to hear more about “my” coyote.

And my friend who is having a hard time?

I hope she is a little less lonely now that all those words locked inside of her found their way out to be heard by us both.

Mary Lou Sanelli’s newest title, In So Many Words, is recently released. Please ask for it at your favorite independent bookstore, and help her celebrate at Third Place Books (Lake Forest Park) on Oct. 3, at 7 p.m. or stop by her signing booth at the upcoming Italian Festival Sept. 28 and 29. www.marylousanelli.com

WSDOT faces $900 million funding gap by 2027-2029 biennium

By TJ Martinell

The Center Square

The Washington State Department of Transportation’s accounts face a combined $900 million funding shortfall by the 2027-2029 biennium, according to a state Senate committee. The reasons cited include increased costs to capital projects, reduced gas tax revenue, and less-thanexpected federal grant funding for Move Ahead Washington transportation package projects.

For the current biennium under the 2024 supplemental budget, WSOT’s budget and revenue are evenly matched at $14.55 billion. However, at current funding levels numerous accounts will be in the red, including:

• $7.4 million in the State Patrol Highway Account

• $137 million in the Puget Sound Ferry Operations Account

• $74.7 million in the Motor Vehicle Account

• $556 million in the Move Ahead Washington Account

• $73.8 million in the Capital Vessel Replacement Account Senate Transportation Committee Budget Coordinator Haley Gamble warned members at the committee’s Friday meeting that “while we’re only looking at a six-year window, I can tell you that the red numbers grow in the out years. The financial outlook gets steadily worse as we move into the future.”

One of the ongoing issues is that “the revenues have never really recovered from that COVID drop we saw.”

Gamble added that an impending gas tax revenue forecast update showing lower than estimated levels will also affect state agency funding.

“The budget has been balanced with some significant fund transfers from the operating budget recently,” she said. “Whether or not we’ll see that continue or whether we’ll see those transfers adjusted, we don’t know.”

A major contributor to the fiscal impacts were assumptions that Move Ahead Washington would receive $650 million in competitive federal funds. However, Gamble said that “we have not seen those federal funds coming in at a rate that was assumed.”

Another problem she noted was that bids for contracts put out by WSDOT have been increasing. “We don’t know if that will continue as the economic climate changes, but that’s a another unknown for 2025.”

Although the transportation budget does not have to restrict spending to the economic forecast under state the way the operating budget must, Gamble speculated that “I would imagine that OFM [Office of Financial Management] would not allow you to proceed if that was not a balanced budget for at least a two-year period. If they can’t guarantee that they can pay that contract, it’s very difficult for them to sign contracts.”

Mary Lou Sanelli Falling Awake

Shake it off, Shake it off: Preparing for October’s Great ShakeOut

Do you know about

The Great ShakeOut? Each year on a specific day and time, millions of people worldwide take part in quick real-time earthquake drills wherever they are – at work, school, home, or out and about. It just takes a few minutes!

I’ve been doing it for several years now, and it’s pretty darn fun (even if my family sometimes thinks I’m a bit too prepared).

How does the Great ShakeOut drill work? At 10:17 a.m. on Oct. 17 – so, at 10:17 on 10/17 – you pretend an earthquake is happening and do exactly what you would do if the earth was really shaking. More on that later. It might look and feel embarrassing to you at the time, but my thought is always “Embarrassment be damned – this is my life and safety we are talking about!”

If you want a reminder about the exercise, you can download the MyShake phone app (from your phone’s app store; works in Washington, California and Oregon) and set it up to remind you (this app, which I’ve mentioned before, will also alert you to actual earthquakes in your area and elsewhere). The app is optional, but it will alert you at the time of the event and play sounds to let you know how LONG to do the drill for. (It’s just under a minute.). The ShakeOut site also offers an audio alert that you can play instead (useful if you don’t want to do the

drill at 10:17 a.m. but want to practice another time at home.)

Doing this one simple exercise just once a year can help you and your family be more prepared for the Big One. And in Seattle, the Big One might be just around the corner –and you wouldn’t have had any practice! Have I sold you on this yet? If so, go to the website to learn more: www.shakeout.org/ washington/

Otherwise, read on as I tell you more about how this fun exercise works.

THE NEW EARTHQUAKE ACRONYM: DCHO

You might have heard this nugget of earthquake advice in the past: find the nearest doorway and hold on tight. The current thinking is a bit different. In an emergency, you likely won’t have time to get to a doorway. You should take cover as best you can right near where you are.

During the Great Shakeout, that’s what you’ll do. When an earthquake happens, you’ll DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON. The Great Shakeout website has more on this, but here are the basics from the site:

DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and reduces your chances of being hit by falling or flying objects.

COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand.

If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath for shelter.

If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall.

Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.

HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

Under shelter: hold on to it with one hand; be ready to move with your shelter if it shifts

No shelter: hold on to your head and neck with both arms and hands.

The website also has recommendations for people with mobility issues. Per the ShakeOut website, if you use a cane, DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON or sit on a chair, bed, etc. and cover your head and neck with both hands. Keep your cane near you so it can be used when the shaking stops. And if you use a walker or wheelchair: LOCK your wheels (if applicable). If using a walker, carefully get as low as possible. Bend over and COVER your head/neck with your arms, a book, or a pillow. Then HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

WHAT IF YOU’RE NOT INSIDE WHEN YOU DO THE EXERCISE?

The USGS website (usgs.gov) has some guidance on what to do if you are outside during an earthquake: If you are OUTSIDE — get into the OPEN, away from buildings, power lines, chimneys, and anything else that might fall on you.

If you are driving at 10:17 on 10/17, I recommend you just think about what you might do if there

was an earthquake. The USGS does recommend that in the event of an (actual) earthquake, you stay inside your car until any shaking stops.

HOW I DID IN THE LAST GREAT SHAKEOUT

Last year, I was out of town for the Great ShakeOut and promptly forgot about the drill during my busy trip, though I’d planned to do it. The ShakeOut that year had a separate test the night before (I don’t think this is a regular thing), so I got a surprise alert at 3 a.m., not during the usual drill time. Imagine my surprise when my phone buzzed with an “alert” warning in the middle of the night while I was asleep in a hotel room. But hey, a FINE opportunity to practice. I was a bit groggy and confused, since the drill wasn’t supposed to happen yet, but I went ahead and did it (to the consternation of my spouse). I rolled out of bed, scooted my bum over to the hotel room’s nearby desk, and held on to the desk leg until the app told me the exercise was over. I figure I might have made it through an actual earthquake with a few less scratches. (I also got to do the real drill the next morning, but it was a lot less exciting and I was a bit grumpy about it.)

Anyway, thanks as always for reading. I hope you’ll consider participating this year and sharing the Great ShakeOut website with your west coast friends and family.

Dana Armstrong

McGilvra School

The elementary school I attended in Riverton Heights near SeaTac differed significantly from J. J. McGilvra’s in Madison Park regarding the student body, income levels, and attire. It was expected to see kids wearing bib overalls and optional shoes, which worked well for sliding down hills of tall grass on waxed boxes from the grocery store. Our toys were swords and pistols that my dad made for us with his coping saw.

Richard Carl Lehman Revisiting the Park

Carl Max Lehman, also known as Dad, worked for the Seattle Star Daily newspaper and supplied the numerous newspaper stands throughout the city. The barkers who shouted the headlines could be heard for blocks. One of them, Turko, had a distinct voice and occupied a prime spot in the city center on 3rd and Union. His demeanor and personality helped him make sales, as he remembered everyone, and they remembered him.

I rode with Dad some days. Downtown was alive with activity, and people asked how we were doing. It was the active heart of Seattle that seemed to lift everyone’s spirits. We would stop at Hooverville and walk around the many small shacks. Dad always brought food for people in need. I remember how thin and hungry the kids were, and I have never forgotten that sight. Our two-bedroom house was brand new and dry, a welcome change from the soggy garage we had lived in before. One day, when I came home from school, my parents seemed sad. World War 2 was beginning, and our lives were about to change. We had to say goodbye to our dog Lucky, who we gave to a neighbor, and our friends as we prepared to move south. My dad trained as a pilot there, and I attended overcrowded schools in the New Mexico area. The teachers had to handle several grades simultaneously, and English was

barely spoken. As a result, there were many disagreements among all of us.

I attended other similar schools in the Southwest — the last one was in the Mohave Desert, where most students were military dependents and “Oakies,” who were the poorest of the poor. All of them were good kids who had lost their homes due to the war. The “Dustbowl” refugees watched the garbage can for anything discarded to eat, like the crust of bread from a sandwich. One kid said to me, “I’ll give you this whole turnip for one half of your sandwich.” That sandwich was gone in a second.

Life got tough after we lost Dad. Uncle Hank took leave from the military to drive us back to Seattle. We joined an aunt and another uncle and moved into my grandparents’ garage behind the house, which still stands today. It was cold sleeping on donated army cots, but it was warm in the house where we sat for breakfast and looked out at the lake, unencumbered by any housing.

Houseboats that were mostly one story had been pulled up from the lake onto the east side of the alley between 42nd and 43rd. I joined my schoolmates to walk down muddy alleys to McGilvra school, which was the highlight of the day. Some kids here were not wearing hand-me-down clothes; some wore brand-new ones as if they were in a Mickey Rooney movie. Our mouths dropped as we watched long, shiny chauffeur-driven cars drop children off. Those kids may have been rich, but once inside, we were all the same and got along, dealing with the hands we were dealt.

She taught in the homeroom classroom in the mornings. Mrs. Meham focused on math, Mrs. North concentrated on English and spelling, and Mr. Tucker on geography and sports. To end the day, it was back to homeroom and Mrs. Noon. She always spoke kindly, suggesting that even war and other hardships must be dealt with, along with the good and bad that life grants us. Her perception of the future was uncanny.

There was no shortage of teachers in the early forties. Granted, many were elderly, childless cat women, probably 45 years old. Mrs. Noon was, in a word, amazing! People still remember her. Without her, we could not have survived the war, the shortages, the air raids, and the blackouts.

The media of the 1940s left a lot to be desired, although current-day media is undoubtedly messing with our heads. The radio was always turned down during the news hour, and adult conversations were muted, so we never knew what was happening. However, on family movie night, the news would air between features, cartoons, and upcoming movies, exposing us then. During summer vacation, we kids collected bottles discarded by servicemen visiting Madison Beach and heard graphic details about the war, but we never dared to repeat them.

Making friends at J. J. McGilvra was not easy in the beginning. Finally, joining forces with six friends, we became a pack and supported each other. One of these friends and I were involved in a minor altercation. Mr. Chichester, the principal, and his friendly paddle joined us in the boiler room. Why does the principal always look and sound like a principal: tall, stoic, forced base voice? With all his education and fortitude, why did it take so long to remove his coat and roll up his sleeves?

Hands below the knees and straight legs, and WHAM! In this sharing of pain, we shook hands and smiled. We felt like we were growing up. Another incident with us skipping school resulted in this same punishment, but we agreed this would be the last time.

Our teachers always had time to address our questions and share what was happening worldwide. J. J. McGilvra Elementary has been a mainstay for as long as I can remember. Kids from all walks of life have been proud to be students there. It has been the cement that bonds the young and adults together. Where would we be without it?

U.S. Senate panel presses for answers from Sea-Tac airport following cyberattack

By Carleen Johnson

The Center Square

Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, & Technology, chaired by Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., pressed officials from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Wednesday about last month’s cyberattack that disrupted travel for a week.

“Our aviation industry is under constant threat from cyberattacks, up 74% since 2020,” Cantwell said.

“Last month, Seattle-Tacoma International Airport was hit by a ransomware attack forcing airport leaders to shut down systems that run everything,” said Cantwell, noting she passed through the airport during the chaos to find all display boards down, meaning she was unsure which gate she should go to for her flight.

The Aug. 24 attack was confirmed to be a ransomware incident perpetrated by the “Rhysida,” a Russian-based ransomware-as-aservice operation that allows criminals to use the platform to extort victims

The attack led to outages affecting key systems, including baggage handling, check-in kiosks, ticketing, Wi-Fi, passenger display boards, and the Port of Seattle’s website and app. Maritime operations run by the Port of Seattle were also impacted.

According to a statement from the Port of Seattle, swift action was taken to isolate critical systems and prevent further unauthorized access. However, during Wednesday’s congressional hearing, Sea-Tac’s airport’s Managing Director Lance Lyttle told committee members that while they did everything to protect compromised data, the infiltrators were able to gain access to personal identification information.

“Our team was able to bring the majority of impacted systems back online within a week,” Lyttle said. “The threat actor was able to encrypt some of our computer systems and copy some data. The matter is under criminal investigation by the FBI.”

He added, “Rhysida demanded a ransom, but we did not pay it.

“On Monday, they [Rhysida] posted on their dark website a copy of eight files stolen from port systems and are seeking ransom to buy the data,” Lyttle explained. “We are currently reviewing the files published on the leaked site as well as others we believe were copied.”

He went on to say, “We will identify any individual whose personal information has been compromised and provide appropriate support.”

Lyttle did not say how many individuals’ private data was stolen or whether that information was entirely the port and airline employees’ or potentially passengers’.

John Breyault, vice president of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud with the National Consumers League, urged committee members to consider the harm to passengers caused by these incidents.

“Flights are delayed or canceled, personal information is compromised, and families can find themselves stranded for days,” said Breyault, who shared the story of one family stranded in Seattle for days due to last month’s cyberattack on Sea-Tac airport.

Time for some cozy dishes

By Kate Schenk

This time of year, I start the welcome transition from light meals with the last of summer’s produce to cozy dishes with brawnier ingredients. This Caraway Cabbage Pasta, which has been in my repertoire for years, fits the bill perfectly.

Growing up, my mom often made this as a quick weekday meal. The smell of onions sizzling in butter always transfixed me, signaling that good things were on the way. She’d then add thinly sliced cabbage along with the secret ingredient — caraway seeds — to give it that signature flavor, before tossing everything with hot noodles. The resulting dish: comforting and nutritious, a winning combo for harried, hungry families.

Thanks to a few humble ingredients, this dish is also affordable — a welcome reprieve from Seattle’s restaurant scene, which is now one of the most expensive in the nation. Plus, cabbage and onions are hardy vegetables that can last for months, so keeping them on hand ensures a satisfying meal that can be whipped up with little planning. We can all use more of those recipes in our arsenal.

View the below as a guideline with limitless variations. My mom liked to start by frying a bit of chopped bacon until crisp and adding it back in at the end. She also preferred a high ratio of cabbage to pasta, but the amounts can easily be adjusted to taste. I like to serve it as is, but freshly grated parmesan or a dollop of sour cream on top certainly wouldn’t hurt.

CARAWAY CABBAGE PASTA

The beauty of this dish is that there are no hard-and-fast rules. Use an entire pound of pasta if that’s your jam, try it with crumbled Italian sausage instead of pancetta, or keep it vegetarian by skipping the meat altogether. Leftovers taste great with a fried egg on top.

Serves 4-6 as a main course

▶ 4-6 ounces pancetta or bacon, chopped (optional)

▶ 3 tablespoons butter

▶ 2 tablespoons olive oil

▶ 1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced

▶ 1 small head green cabbage, quartered, cored and thinly sliced (about 8 cups)

▶ Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

▶ 1 1/2 teaspoons caraway seeds

▶ 12 ounces egg noodles or other short pasta (my mom always used bowtie but any shape will do)

Set a large pot of salted water on to boil. If using meat, add bacon or pancetta to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the fat is rendered and the meat is crisp. Remove from pan with a slotted spoon and set aside. The drippings can either be discarded (continue with recipe as written) or left in the pan (simply adjust the amount of added butter accordingly).

Add the butter and olive oil to the same skillet over medium/medium-high heat. Once the butter has melted, add the sliced onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the shredded cabbage, a few good pinches of salt, lots of freshly ground black pepper and the caraway seeds. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is tender, 8-10 minutes.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in the salted water

and delicious fall

accommodate many dietary restrictions and preferences.

until al dente; drain. When the cabbage is tender, add the cooked pasta and reserved pancetta/ bacon, if using, and toss well. Taste a final time for salt and adjust if necessary. Serve with more black pepper on top and watch it disappear. Kate Schenk is a Certified Nutritionist, recipe developer and family meals enthusiast, who has lived in Queen Anne for 13 years. When she’s not working, she enjoys neighborhood walks with a good podcast and watching movies with her family.

Courtesy of Kate Schenk Ingredients for Caraway Cabbage: this simple

meal can be made to

Courtesy of Kate Schenk Caraway Cabbage: this simple and delicious fall meal can be made to accommodate many dietary restrictions and preferences.

Courtesy Maximo Swanson

Kate Schenk, a Certified Nutritionist, prepares her signature fall dish: Caraway Cabbage Pasta.

It’s raining microplastics, Part II

In August’s article – It’s Raining Microplastics, Part I – I explored the scope of the microplastic predicament, including plastic’s ubiquity in our air, water, soil, and bodies. Eliminating exposure to microplastics and the chemical motley within is implausible, as microplastics know no boundaries; but there are simple steps each of us can take to reduce our individual exposure. We can start by minimizing microplastic ingestion via water and food, lessening microplastic inhalation in our homes, and choosing to curtail the plastics we purchase, wear, and interact with.

Not only are microplastics found throughout the human body – in organs,

blood, breast milk, and semen – but they commonly contain toxic additives that are released into the body as the plastics break down. Carcinogenic chemicals including formaldehyde, heavy metals such as cadmium and lead, and hormone disrupting agents like Bisphenol A (BPA) are routinely added to plastics to enhance durability and flexibility, provide stain or water resistance, or alter the color. When we ingest and inhale microplastics, we consume the chemicals therein. How can we reduce our consumption?

Water: Let’s begin by focusing on the water we drink. A 2024 Columbia University study supported by the National Institute of Health (NIH) revealed an average of 240,000 tiny plastic particles within one liter of bottled water. By comparison, tap water sports an average of 5.5 particles per liter. To minimize microplastics, avoid bottled water!

Neither the Environmental Protection Agency nor Washington state laws currently require tap water to be tested for microplastics. California paves the way; in 2022 it became the first state to mandate microplastic monitoring of drinking water.

NEIGHBORHOOD MARKETPLACE

Perhaps Washington will follow! Though Seattle tap water remains unevaluated for microplastics, it is in compliance with the EPA’s federal guidelines which set limits on over 90 other contaminants. However, legal does not necessarily mean optimal. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) establishes more stringent health guidelines. Nine contaminants in Seattle Public Utility tap water exceed EWG guidelines, including eight potential carcinogens.

An activated carbon water filter in your home can help remove many remaining contaminants and microplastics after Seattle Public Utilities does a decent job removing most. Carbon block filters are more effective at removing microplastics than are granulated carbon filters (which are made of loose carbon particles that enable microplastics to more easily meander their way through and into your cup). As a bonus, carbon filtered water is decidedly delicious!

Home Health: Our clothes, furniture, and carpets are packed with plastics. As we move and play in our homes, minute fibers abrade off, floating into our air and settling on the floor. A HEPA air filter effectively removes most particles (including microplastics) larger than 0.3 microns. Unfortunately even the best filters are not as effective at removing the smaller nanoparticles, but they are a start. Perhaps begin with one in your bedroom.

Vacuums with HEPA filters likewise improve home health, sucking up microplastics that have settled on the floor. Regular vacuuming with a HEPA filter vacuum could be especially beneficial for infants and toddlers who spend extra time exploring at ground level, interacting with plasticladen dust. In fact, a 2021 study found infant poop to be loaded with 10 times the polyester (a type of plastic) as adult feces. Go gadget vacuum!

Food & Drink Containers: Not only are children and adults inundated with plastics through the air and on the floor, but via food and drink. As the bottled water

study above suggests, plastic containers shed plastics into their contents. Consider glass, stainless steel, or ceramic cups and containers instead.

Plastic baby bottles are particularly concerning as the vigorous shaking and heat exacerbate the breakdown of the bottle such that several million microplastics particles shear off a bottle into the milk or formula each feeding. On a positive note, plastic baby bottles are marginally healthier than they were fifteen years ago because the FDA enacted a 2012 ban on Bisphenol A (BPA) – an endocrine disrupting chemical found in plastics – in baby bottles and sippy cups. Unfortunately there are still no BPA restrictions for plastics marketed to adults or children over age three. Furthermore BPA is merely one of hundreds of hormone disrupting chemicals found in plastic bottles; the others remain unregulated and under researched. Even water bottles labeled BPA free, often contain cousin chemicals that are likewise toxic. If prevention is the best medicine, simply avoid plastic food and drink containers.

Food: As my August article elucidated, farmers increasingly coat their fields with biosolids or human waste that serves as fertilizer. This sludge from wastewater treatment plants is laden with microplastics among other toxins in human poop. Because biosolids are not permitted for use in organic agriculture, choosing organic ensures your food was not grown in biosolid soil. Of course, choosing organic does not guarantee your food is plastic free. Both organic and conventional farmers often spread plastic sheets over their fields to suppress weeds and reduce evaporation and erosion. These plastics eventually break down into nanoplastics small enough to enter cells; they could theoretically move through the root system and into the tissues of the crops. Preventively, the best bet is to get to know the farmers at your local farmers market to understand their practices and make informed choices.

Clothes: Select clothing

Annie Lindberg

from Page 1

McGilvra Elementary School Proposed Closure Information

As our community slowly absorbs the senseless loss of our neighbor, Ruth Dalton, we must now turn to deal with this week’s proposal by the Seattle School District to close our neighborhood school in the next school year. Madison Park opened its first public school in the neighborhood in 1899, and the present-day McGilvra Elementary School has been a landmark for the community since 1913.

Friends of Madison Park will share plans as they develop and represent the families and neighbors working to retain the school in our community.

Go to the McGilvra PTA Save our School page, which will be updated with events and the groups the school is partnering with -https:// mcgilvraelementarypta.wordpress.com/news/ or email advocacy@mcgilvrapta.org.

AUTUMN IN THE AIR

Fall and Winter events and long-range projects are in full swing. Just to name a few:

DON’T MISS LITTLE BEATS

Musical and dance performances are scheduled from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the first Saturday morning of each month from October to March. This is a fun, interactive way to spend time with your kids, friends, and neighbors in the fall and winter months. Make a morning of it: Grab breakfast, coffee, or lunch at one of Madison Park’s fantastic bakeries or restaurants before or after the show!

Our $25 series package includes entry to all of our six shows. Packages are priced per person, child, or adult. Please note that this is not a drop-off event. All children require their own adult supervision. Reserve your spots by pre-purchasing your ticket packages today! Or buy at the door for $5/each person.

When: First Saturday of each month, October to March, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. (doors open at 10:30 a.m.)

Where: Washington Pioneer Museum Hall at 1642 43rd Ave E (just south of Madison Park Beach)

JOIN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD WORK PARTY!

Supported by Seattle’s Adopt-A-Street Program, we will rake, weed, scrub, and beautify our neighborhood business area. We did our first cleanup in the Spring and look forward to a great turnout again to help us get ready for the holiday months ahead!

When: Saturday, Nov. 16, from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

3 simple ways to support Friends of Madison Park Subscribe to our Newsletter at the bottom of our HOME page https://www.friendsofmadisonpark. com/

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made of natural fibers, including cotton, linen, wool, hemp, alpaca or cashmere. Minimizing plastic clothes - nylon, polyester, fleece, acrylic, and spandex - will not only reduce the microplastics you inhale within your home, but also microplastics wafting across our planet. Clothes labeled water- or stain-resistant generally harbor more hidden endocrine disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals and are best avoided

Amazon’s return-to-office mandate could boost downtown Seattle’s recovery

By Spencer Pauley The Center Square

Amazon workers will be required to return to their offices five days a week starting at the beginning of next year, a decision that could boost the downtown Seattle area’s ongoing post-pandemic recovery.

In a message posted on the company website, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that the company is requiring workers to return to their offices five days a week to be better set up “to incent, collaborate, and be connected enough to each other and our culture to deliver the absolute best for customers and the business.”

Jassy added that Amazon executive staff have observed that it’s easier for workers to collaborate and brainstorm when interacting with each other in person.

“We understand that some

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of our teammates may have set up their personal lives in such a way that returning to the office consistently five days per week will require some adjustments,” Jassy wrote in Monday’s message.

The decision to have workers return to the office full-time is seen as a key step in the recovery of downtown Seattle. Amazon is the area’s largest employer.

Downtown Seattle Association Director of Media Relation James Sido told The Center Square he has seen estimates of 55,000 Amazon workers based in the Emerald City’s downtown area.

“Downtown’s largest employer bringing people back more frequently is a home run for downtown,” Downtown Seattle Association CEO Jon Scholes said in a news release. “Amazon’s decision reinforces the value of in-person work to

clumps of ferns and ground cover conifers with dense coverings of small, evergreen leaves that are often celadon and cream or lime green and yellow. They pull the eye to the form, texture and contrasting deep green of other plants producing a vignette that, without them, would be lost to winter grey.

With variety names like E.f. ‘Golden Prince’, ‘Ivory Jade’ ‘Canadale Gold’ they come as shrubs that can reach 4 to 5 feet with a width two-thirds their height. Or, they grow in mounds, 2 to 4 feet high, or they crawl along the ground. The latter are commonly called Winter Creepers. These cascade over rocks, snake between taller plantings, often sending down roots where the stems are flat against the soil. One of these varieties, E.f. radicans ‘Colorata’ has purple leaves. Disease resistant, they are not fussy about soil, albeit they are happiest in loose, rich, moist soil, yet tolerate drought. Adaptable to full sun or deep shade, these sturdy evergreens have another great virtue: hardiness. They’ll stand up to freezing temperatures that may hover at zero for days. They’re also great subjects for large containers and, if flooded every couple of weeks, even in the hottest weather, they seem indifferent to scorching temperatures.

Shop nurseries this month and next for these versatile plants. Get them in the ground early to enjoy through the coming dark months. Most

when possible. Regardless of the material, make a point of washing clothes, towels, and sheets at least once before wearing, to help remove chemicals. Further, focusing on purchasing durable clothes that you love, and plan to wear repeatedly, makes a positive difference as research suggests fabrics shed the most fibers during the first couple wears and washes.

The suggestions above embrace prevention as the best medicine. Research has yet to clarify the extent to which microplastics are harmful.

the success of companies and organizations.”

According to the association’s data, approximately 90,700 workers reported to their offices in the downtown area last July. That is the second-highest rate of return since March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic became widespread.

The 90,700 workers represents a 14% increase from July 2023. However, the July average is only 62% of the daily worker foot traffic that was reported in 2019, meaning the downtown core has still not fully recovered from the pandemic.

Despite a lot of positive reactions to the return of Amazon employees to their downtown Seattle offices, some workers panned the announcement. One Amazon employee even posted on LinkedIn, calling the return to the office “live-action role playing and virtue signaling.”

often sold in 4-inch and 1-gallon containers, they are easy to tuck into the garden. Water them in well when you plant them. After that, nature should give them all they need. A light dose of fertilizer (12-12-12 is a good choice) in March and again in July will encourage robust growth. Tip pruning will result in plants that stay compact sporting thick, lush bouquets of foliage. Trimmed springs, taken inside will embellish a window sill, a kitchen table or night stand and, quite often, the cutting will root if you keep the water in the container full and fresh. Flower arrangers love these long-lasting boughs of foliage.

When you visit the nursery to shop for Euonymus, you might be led to Euonymus alatus, commonly called Burning Bush. This is the most famous member of the deciduous side of the family. You’ve likely noticed this shrub at this time of year when the leaves turn flame red before they drop exposing handsome but odd stems with bark that grows, forming wing-like ridges along the branches. This is a very interesting plant and valued for its burst of autumn glory, but unlike its cousins, it does little to embellish the winter garden.

Shop now, plant soon, enjoy the bright, glossy leaves through the dark months ahead. Aptly named, Euonymus fortunei is, to the gardener and the winter garden, a discovery of good fortune.

But clearly it’s best not to wait to curtail the consumption and inhalation of particles that are known to enter cells and harbor carcinogenic and endocrine disrupting chemicals.

Annie Lindberg is a licensed acupuncturist, Chinese Medicine practitioner, and Ayurvedic practitioner. She also holds a Masters of Environmental Studies. She owns and practices at The Point Acupuncture & Ayurveda, located in Madison Park and is a regular Madison Park Times health columnist.

Fed rate cut may spark the real estate flame

This summer was busy with listings and showings, but the rate of actual sales was incredibly slow. Like no summer I can remember in my 20-year career. It felt reminiscent of the Great Recession. This is a level of buyer behavior not seen before. Though mortgage interest rates declined incrementally during the summer, falling under seven percent to a little above six percent, it hasn’t been enough to move the needle. The available inventory of homes in our area is five months. That’s well within what real estate analysts call a neutral market of four to six

months of inventory. Last spring, we had only 1.4 months of inventory. That’s a massive jump in available inventory in a relatively short amount of time.

My team currently has active listings in mint condition that have showings almost every day. Last spring, they’d have been under contract within weeks. Last year, it would have been days.

For the few properties that did get offers, getting through to the closing process has been difficult. Nationwide, there were more failed transactions this summer than we’ve seen since the Great Recession. Our team had nearly

$20 million worth of transactions fail to close so far this year because buyers bailed out, forfeiting their earnest money in many cases. Anywhere in the process, buyers would terminate the contract. We had one buyer simply not show up to the settlement on the day of closing with no warning. Even his broker couldn’t find him. This is unprecedented.

Buyers are feeling the weight of high monthly mortgage payments, driven by soaring home prices and elevated interest rates. Many are questioning whether it's worth the commitment, with some willing to walk away from substantial deposits — $20,000, $30,000, even $100,000 — rather than face mortgage payments approaching $20,000 per month over the next 30 years.

However, it’s important to shift

the focus from immediate financial strain to long-term opportunity. Real estate has always been one of the most stable and profitable long-term investments. While the current environment may feel daunting, buyers should consider the cyclical nature of the market. The Federal Reserve is already approving a substantial reduction in interest rates, which would allow homeowners to refinance to more favorable terms.

This isn’t just about the "now" — it’s about securing a valuable asset that appreciates over time. In moments of uncertainty, those with a strategic mindset can seize unparalleled opportunities. By holding onto the vision of longterm financial growth and stability, today’s buyers can navigate short-

Chris Sudore Property Views

term challenges and position themselves for future success.

RATES CUT

As I write this, the Federal Reserve just announced a halfpoint rate reduction set to take effect on October 1. While it may take a little time for bond markets to respond, this move is a signal for even lower mortgage rates in the near future. We've already seen buyers benefit. One recently secured a 30-year fixed mortgage at 5.9 percent by buying down a few points. In contrast to last year, when rates soared near 8 percent, the current climate represents a significant improvement.

With this recent cut, we can expect further mortgage rate declines over the coming weeks. For savvy buyers, this presents an unparalleled opportunity. Right now, there’s prime inventory on the market that should already be under contract, but many remain available. This moment offers a rare chance to acquire a premier property at a compelling price, coupled with a more manageable interest rate and monthly payment. In real estate, timing is everything. With rates easing and exceptional homes on offer, this is the perfect time to secure your

dream property and benefit from both a favorable purchase price and a reduced monthly overhead. Don't wait — opportunities like this are fleeting.

This could be the spark that lights the flame again. Historically, we see a high rate of transactions in September and October, as summer vacations end and everyone gets back on a more predictable schedule of school and work. Consumer habits follow that schedule. With the rates scheduled to come down at the beginning of October, we should see a spike in buyer activity. It could happen quickly, since so many buyers saw a whole lot of houses this summer and are familiar with what’s available. Then we usually also see an uptick before Thanksgiving and again before the end-of-the-year holidays. The rate cut could spur this even more than usual.

IF YOU’RE IN THE MARKET NOW

If you’re a buyer who's been looking but just can’t commit, the recent rate cut could mean more competition. Sure, there’s more inventory out there than we’ve seen in a few years, but you haven’t been the only one setting up showings and seeing houses. You’ll likely have company. Get your financing in order. If you’ve seen homes you

love, make a short list and get ready to decide. The inventory means you’ll likely have some negotiating room regarding inspections, contingencies, and price.

Even if rates don’t lower as much as you might hope, buying a home is an investment in your future. It’s a way to build wealth for you and your family. Many of the sellers I’m working with now, bought in the 1980s and 1990s, which during these years, rates often hovered between 10 - 18 percent. They were patient, and refinanced when the rates fell. They built equity and are ready to cash out. It’s a solid plan and something to emulate. Rates will come down and you’ll have the opportunity to refinance later for more monthly savings.

If you’re a seller, you’ve got to be patient. This past summer has defied all the accumulated data about how many showings you need to get an offer. All the effort that went into getting your home in turnkey shape, and then keeping it staged and immaculate inside and out, is stressful and exhausting. There may be sellers tempted to take their homes off-market through the holidays, so the ones that remain will enjoy the benefits of less inventory.

While the predicted rate cuts will immediately benefit buyers,

the longer-term effect will be more homes coming on the market. Many homeowners who wanted to move stood still with their lower mortgage rates. Whether upsizing or downsizing, they would not sell and move into a different property until rates fell.

On either side of the equation, though, you need the help of an experienced broker. One who has been through the ups and, more importantly, the downs of real estate. Trust a broker who has a track record of success through all fluctuations of the market. My team and I represent our client’s best interests at all times and lead aggressive negotiations, backed by our data-driven approach and nearly 20 years of success in the industry.

This is a real estate market like we’ve never seen. My office, team, and home are here in Madison Park, and we love helping our neighbors make the right moves for them and their future. If you have any questions about navigating this real estate market, let’s set up a time to talk.

Chris Sudore is a Madison Park Resident. He is Managing Broker Coldwell Banker Bain | Global Luxury. Reach him and learn more at KingCountyEstates.com or at Chris@KingCountyEstates.com

Brown balls for spring blooms

Ishouldn’t smile, but I always do at this time of year when springflowering bulbs magically appear at our local box stores. Inevitably, I’ll receive questions at a Master Gardener Clinic or after a public lecture about the appropriate time to plant these little bundles of future color and heralds of the next long-awaited springtime. (The short answer to this often-asked question is “Plant ‘em if you got ‘em

Bruce Bennett

– the sooner, the better, but, later is OK too, even if you happen to find a spare bag of them in January.” This column may be about ‘bulbs.’ But, included in the term are more than just true bulbs, such as tulips. There are also plants with tuberous roots, tubers, corms, and rhizomes and this information can be applied to all of them.

With summer’s many drifts of color fading and

the need to feed, water and deadhead still with us, it may be time to turn gardening energy and thought toward planning of 2025 shows of springblooming bulbs for your garden. When it comes to ease of planting and excellent bang-for-your buck, bulbs win handsdown. And, if you include the various possible bloom times, your landscape can showcase of early flowers from February through to April and late-bloomers from May to October. It may be tempting to stay with the tried-and-true combinations of crocus, daffodil, and tulip combinations, but, with a little research and walks around your favorite garden centers, you may discover a wealth of spring-blooming varieties, both new and old, that can do your landscape proud in the Pacific Northwest.

liven them with a totally unexpected color.

Nothing quite lifts a winter-weary gardener's heart like the sight of spring’s first Snowdrops (Galanthus) and Crocus (Crocus sp.) pushing their way up through the snows (or mud) of late winter. Early daffodils, diminutive species tulips (Tulipa sp. & Greigii), Grape Hyacinths (Muscari armeniacumi), Grecian Windflowers (Anemone blanda), English Bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Ornamental Onions (Allium) and dozens of others are readily available and should be considered if you can stretch your gardening budget to do so. The small Species and Greigii Tulips are a great for early spring color and the Alliums round off the spring bulb season with their tall slender stems that bear ball-shaped blooms in shades of white to violet and purples. Quick Tip: When the allium flowers have goneby and dried, instead of deadheading, think about using a can of spray paint to

Virtually all of these bulbs can be placed anywhere that has some sunshine. Locations with too much summer shade are usually good because the bulbs will be up-and-blooming before the heavy leaf cover of late spring is in effect. However, try to avoid root congestion from trees and large shrubs and keep them away from moist areas which tend to shorten their normal life spans. The thorniest challenge always is to avoid disturbing the bulbs you have planted in years past in your eagerness to add another perennial or annual to your garden. To avoid this, use your favorite marking system.

Another important consideration is bulb foliage. Try to plant near shrubs or perennials that will help cover the leaves as they turn brown and dried. This is especially true for daffodils whose foliage lingers the longest of all the spring bulbs. Although it is tempting to remove the bulbs' dying foliage, tie it in knots or braid it, don't! The bulb uses those leaves to add food to the bulb for the next year's blooms. Planting your tulips and daffodils behind a plant that will grow taller after the bulbs have bloomed is a practical solution. The dying foliage of smaller bulbs can be obscured with plantings of candytuft, brunnera, hostas, hardy geranium or most mediumheight groundcovers.

An equally important aspect of planting is to visualize how bulbs will

look in terms of color combinations with nearby plants and shrubs. Plan your bulb placements as you would shrubs and perennials in the yard. I enjoyed ‘Red Apeldoorn’ tulips flowering next to my variegated Pieris japonica, ‘Little Heath’ as well as black ‘Queen of the Night’ tulips planted behind the gray branches of Lavender ‘Grosso’. Also, you will have a more satisfying show if you clump bulbs. Consider planting in groups or drifts. With the smaller, minor bulbs you will need many more to make a color statement. Remember to position the bulbs in the soil to a depth where the top of the bulb is twice as deep as the bulb is tall. Once they are in the ground, fill in the soil above them, water them in and wait, with anticipation, until next springtime arrives.

Although bulbs tend to be rather forgiving of poor soil, increase your odds for optimal flowering by adding compost to our usually heavy clay soil or an overly sandy soil. Fertilize lightly by adding a bit of bonemeal to the soil under the bulbs when planting. Depending on the size of the job and whether you are planting in clumps, drifts or naturally, your best tools can be a trowel, shovel, bulb auger, dibbler (see left) or bulb hole digger. I generally use a small shovel when planting groupings as I can loosen the soil easier and spare experiencing another sore back. This is especially important for tulips and generally your efforts will be rewarded with larger

PIXABAY PHOTOS

flowers and more years of return blooming. Do remember that tulip bulbs are not long-lived. Unless you are growing the small species tulips, expect the large hybrids to provide you with less than five years’ worth of blooms (and all this time you thought you were doing something wrong –NOT so!).

When you are ready to purchase your bulbs you will no doubt be faced with a large number of choices. Restrain yourself and choose just a few colors that will complement the surrounding plants of your landscape and choose bulbs that

have varied blooming times, which will provide a colorful show for several months. Some research in gardening books and catalogues and on the internet will help you to become familiar with the characteristics of each as well as their virtues. Buying wholesale is best for price, but for variety, there are many garden centers and hundreds of catalogue sources out there. If you are within an easy commute to the University of Washington, start by visiting the Elizabeth Miller Library at the UW’s Center for Urban Horticulture. And, although coming at a higher retail price, most

nurseries have a wide variety of bulbs available. As I always tell my classes, “Do your research before you buy and plant!” Doing so will save you time, disappointment and money. Until next month, Happy Gardening All!

Contributing columnist, Bruce Bennett, is a WSU Master Gardener, lecturer and garden designer. If you have questions concerning this article, have a gardening question or two to ask concerning your home or simply want to suggest a topic for a future column, contact Bruce at gardenguy4u@gmail. com.