December 2021 facebook.com/MadisonParkTimes
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Singing in choir practice
Aegis Living Madison residents celebrate their love for music with song
Featured Stories
Revisiting the Park Page 4
By Jessica Keller
Madison Park Times editor While many residents at Aegis Living Madison assisted living facility haven’t performed in a choir for years, they are getting a second chance of sharing their love for music and singing as members of a recently formed choir. The choir formed three months ago at the behest of a resident who asked the activities director about starting one. Suzan Setel, the music therapist at Aegis, was up for the challenge and took on the task as choir director. The choir, which is growing in popularity, meets for about an hour once a week, Setel said. At a practice in late November, the choir members sang and performed American Sign Language to “One Love” by Bob Marley, which Setel said is a particular favorite of theirs. While singing is the objective, Setel said choir practice promotes many health benefits, adding they work on breathing, stretching, vocals and learning, as well as singing as part of a group. “We must remember how good it is for our bodies,” she said, adding that singing is medically supportive: It lowers stress, and as stress goes down, inspiration and motivation go up. “Singing is very physical, even when it’s small movements from our mouths.” Setel said, while the choir practices spiritual songs, including “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” it is not a religious choir, although many of the members have memories of singing in church when they were growing up. Choir member Elaine Ethier said she has been singing her whole life and that music lifts her spirits. “Singing is praying,” she said, adding it doesn’t matter if people don’t think they sing well. “I think all you need is hips and rhythm.” Choir member Shirley Lillis said singing helped ease her grief after her father passed away. “Music lifts your heart,” Lillis said. “It’s just a wonderful way to feel.” All agreed they were grateful Aegis staff supported the idea of the choir and that Setel coordinated all the pieces. “It’s something of value for all of us,” Ethier said. “I think that it’s a good thing that happened here.”
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Photo by Jessica Keller Aegis Living Madison resident Shirley Lillis, front, and Beverly Bingham, back row, practice American Sign Language to accompany the song ‘One Love’ by Bob Marley during a choir practice in November.
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December 2021
Seattle Center Winterfest 2021 features variety of holiday festivities
Photo by Mary Henry The Korean fir has short, plump needles of waxy green that are gleaming silver underneath
The inimitable Korean fir By Steve Lorton Tree Talk
T
HE PAST: 1969-1970, Tongdu-Cheon, Korea. In those days, The Republic of Korea was an impoverished nation, still recovering from the war. I was in charge of an Army education center for the 7th Infantry Division. The complex consisted of four large Quonset huts staffed by Korean nationals. Showing even the slightest interest in anything Korean among the employees brought out a national and cultural pride I’d never seen anywhere. I learned that the oldest surviving astronomical observatory in Asia (and possibly the world) is in Gyeongju, dating back to the seventh century. Sejong the Great, who reigned from 1418 to 1450, created Hangul, changing written Korean from Chinese characters to a 24 letter alphabet (10 vowels, 14 consonants). The legendary naval admiral Yi Sun-Sin defeated the invading Japanese in 1592 with an iron clad battle ship, known in English as the Turtle Ship. The impressive list rolls on through history. In August of my first year, I expressed interest in starting a little garden of native plants in front of the education center. The suggestion was met with jubilation. We chose a plot of ground between the center’s entry and the road. We dug an oval about 10 feet wide and 30 feet long. One by one, volleyball-size river rocks began arriving to encircle the plot. I vetoed the idea of painting them white. I’d seen too much of that growing up, white stones around a flower bed planted with geraniums and petunias, zinnias or marigolds. It looked like a burst of flowers coming out of a mouthful of dentures. It made me shudder. By October, it was time to plant what shrubs and trees we could bring in from the surrounding mountains, first among them a rhododendron mucronulatum,
which, in the following April, would explode in a glorious display of pink blossoms on its bare deciduous branches. MidNovember of that year, someone arrived with a battered tub filled with a Korean fir (Abies Koreana). The perfectly symmetrical little conifer had short, plump needles of dark waxy green that were gleaming silver on the underside. We kept it outside, decorated it for the holidays, then planted it in the oval on an unseasonably warm day in early January. I’d never seen a more beautiful conifer, and it did more to hearken memories of Christmas at home than anything that season. THE PRESENT: Walking through Madison Park recently, I was startled when, at some distance, I saw a conifer that caught the light and shimmered in a silvery glow. On closer inspection, I saw it had conical cones that stood upright on the branches, like chubby candles, between 3 and 4 inches tall and half as wide. It was a Korean fir. I felt I’d run into a young adult whom I’d known and loved as a child. In his book, “Trees of Seattle,” Arthur Lee Jacobson lists eight Korean firs spotted around the city. I’d only seen this plant on this side of the Pacific one other time but knew that those cones, which were dark brown at this point, had started out a vivid purplish blue. The tree was about 20 feet tall, 10 feet wide (half to two-thirds its mature height). The evenly spaced limbs were horizontal, branching out and swooping up a bit at the ends. The dense covering of short needles stood straight up. In size, form and texture, it was as good a conifer as I’ve ever seen for an inner city garden. Best of all, it blocked the view of a telephone pole and distanced the house behind it from the street without robbing an inordinate amount of light from the rest of the little entry garden. I wondered why this
impeccable conifer hasn’t been used in gardens all over the city. It is well suited to our climate. THE FUTURE: Heretofore, so much has come to the West from Japan and China, it has been easy to overlook the gifts from what was formerly referred to as a third world country — Korea. No more. The united efforts of its stalwart people have now filled American lives with the likes of Samsung, Celltrion, Kia and Hyundai. Korean films light up our screens and sweep awards ceremonies. Suddenly, Korean restaurants are in vogue. Few are the sophisticated diners who don’t know and savor kimchi. Witness our relatively new neighborhood restaurant, Hanok, at 4021 E. Madison St. The food is exquisite. With this growing recognition of things Korean, it follows that Korean plants are, at last, catching the eye of horticulturalists. In cruising the Internet, I see a number of reputable wholesalers and some retailers carrying Korean fir. It should not be hard to find or order. There are a few named varieties, chosen and registered for variations in their foliage, their growth habit and, I’d speculate, the vigor of their cone crops. So here’s my Christmas gift to our readers. Add a touch of the exotic, the relatively undiscovered, and something quite perfect to your holiday garden. Grace your deck or entry with a potted Abies Koreana, then plant it out, as spring meanders up the globe. You’ll be enchanted by it for a life time. Charge forth with the wisdom of Sejong The Great, the intrepid adventurousness of Yi Sun-Sin and the innocent curiosity of a GI who became besotted with the plants, indeed all things, of Korea. You might even surround the planting bed with large roundish rocks. Just don’t paint them white. Happy holidays! Merry Christmas! Happy new year!
Seattle Center invites residents to celebrate the holiday season at Seattle Center Winterfest, which takes place through Dec. 31, virtually at www.seattlecenter/winterfest and in-person at Seattle Center. Winter Train & Village Explore a 40-foot-long, turnof-the-century model train and wintery miniature village from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily inside the Armory Food & Event Hall. Visitors may pick up an entry sheet at the village train station and look for clues in a challenging scavenger hunt. Donations are accepted to keep the train operating. Seattle Center Luminata Twinkling tree lights line pathways to complement colorful lighting on campus buildings and grounds. The illumination, provided by Climate Pledge Arena, includes a special International Fountain light and music show at 6 p.m. daily through Jan. 1, 2022. Awesome Exhibition This interactive exhibit of LEGO® models features 38 large-scale LEGO® creations incorporating nearly 1 million LEGO® bricks. The exhibit, through Jan. 16, 2022, in Fisher Pavilion, includes an 8-foot-tall, 660-pound Orca, the world’s first life-sized LEGO® brick Harley-Davidson and a NASA SLS rocket almost 25 feet high.
Learn more and purchase tickets at https://AwesomeExhibition. com. Weekly Ice Sculpting Watch a world class sculptor at work in creation of original ice art from noon to 2 p.m. Saturdays, to Dec. 18, on Fisher Green. Master carvers Chan Kitburi and Janson Iwakami will shape ice into seasonal and holiday-themed sculptures. Weekend Armory Mainstage Performances The Armory Mainstage hosts professional live entertainment midday on Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 26, excluding Dec. 25. Performances include choral music, jazz and rock bands, dance, acrobatics and a variety of family-themed entertainment. New Year’s Eve Celebration The premier cover band Groove Nation performs a fourhour set on the Armory mainstage, from 8 p.m. to 11:45 p.m. Outside, Fountain of Light at International Fountain features DJ Arson Nicki accompanied by a video artist who projects images onto the fountain waters, from 10 p.m. to midnight. All activities are subject to change. Masks are required for anyone (age 5+) inside Seattle Center buildings and at outdoor events of 500 or more, where proof of vaccination verification or recent negative COVID-19 test may be required.
Child flu vaccine numbers down this season Courtesy Washington State Department of Health Childhood flu vaccine rates have dropped significantly this fall compared to the previous two flu seasons. Now, the Washington State Department of Health is encouraging families to get themselves and their children vaccinated as soon as possible to keep people safe and out of the hospital, especially as the state heads into the holiday season. Flu is a highly contagious disease that can cause severe illness and death, even in healthy people. Recent data from the Washington state immunization information system shows flu vaccinations were down about 25 percent during the months of September and October for kids ages 6 months through 5 years old. Since last year’s flu activity was very low, the state expects fewer people to have natural immunity this year due to a lack of exposure, especially in younger age groups. Flu activity is unpredictable. The timing, severity, and length
Image by Press from Pixabay can change from one year to the next. Typically, flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May. The flu vaccine is available at pharmacies, clinics and health care provider offices across the state. To search for flu vaccines, visit Vaccines.gov. The flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older. People age 5 and older who are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine can receive it on the same day they receive the flu vaccine. For weekly flu activity reports, educational materials, vaccine information and other flu prevention resources, visit www. KnockOutFlu.org.
Mask up Washington
December 2021
Pacific Publishing Company – Queen Anne & Magnolia News • Madison Park Times
Gifts of getting prepared
By Margie Carter
MP Emergency Management Team
M
oving into the season for gift giving seems confusing in these uncertain times. On the one hand, we are all keen to be jolly, carry out holiday
traditions and get into the spirit of giving. Yet, many of us are trying to create a new normal out of the lessons learned during the recent years of total abnormality for our lives. I’m a bit conflicted about “getting back to normal” being centered on shopping, let alone celebrations being built
around consumeryear is to get playful ism. Still, after such with the interseca rough few years, tion of uncertainty it feels good to kick and preparedness. up our heels a bit I share these gift in frivolity, and gift ideas as possibilities giving can have a for you as well. sweetness to it, especially outside of Emergency kits an obligatory list of or “go bags” people to shop for. To survive a We not only have disaster, you need to Margie Carter budgets to balance, consider food and but emotions. We water, health and need some distrachygiene, light and tion from all the calamity, while heat, communication and power, conscious another hardship is tools and storage. You can purlikely around the corner. chase pre-assembled kits if time My gift-giving strategy this is short and you have a good bank account. You can wade through hundreds of commercial options, from tiny kits in a backpack to significant disaster resources in a duffle. Or you can customize a personalized starter kit, taking into account each person’s context, skills, resources, medical and comfort needs. Basic ideas can be found at http://www.seattle.gov/ emergency-management/prepare.
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Literature for book worms Perhaps you have a big reader in your life that might get motivated for emergency preparation by hunkering down with a book — history, science or fiction. Possible gifts might include: Sandi Doughton, “The Full Rip”; Thomas P Hopp, “The Great Seattle Earthquake”; Jon Mooallem, “This is Chance”; Peter Heller, “The Dog Stars”; Amanda Ripley, “The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes and Why”; Rebecca Solnit, “A Paradise Built in Hell: The Extraordinary Communities that
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Tools and tech/communication and power Staying safe in the event of a devastating earthquake requires having an easy-to-use tool for utility shutoff and basic tools in the event of power loss, fire or the need to set up a temporary shelter. You’ll need a way to purify water, stay warm and communicate with others. Items like generators or satellite phones can be pricey but extremely useful. Fairly affordable items include portable battery or solar powered lights, portable solar panels to keep technology recharged, license free two-way radios, such as BTECH MURSV-1. A terrific review of supplies can be found in The Best Emergency Preparedness Supplies for 2021 | Reviews by Wirecutter (nytimes. com). Choose something that makes sense for anyone on your gift list.
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“A small cadre of neighborhood volunteers has recently rebooted the work of supplying our MP emergency communication hub box, and we are still in need of a few items that would make a communication hub run smoothly. Donation of actual items or funds to purchase these would be great gifts for our community at large.” Arise in Disaster.” The Office of Emergency Management has a disaster book club and archives all the titles they’ve read to date, http://www.seattle.gov/emergency-management/prepare/disasterbook-club. Items for Madison Park communication hub box A small cadre of neighborhood volunteers has recently rebooted the work of supplying our MP emergency communication hub box, and we are still in need of a few items that would make a communication hub run smoothly. These include a couple of sturdy pop-up canopy tents, portable battery and solar powered lights. Donation of actual items or funds to purchase these would be great gifts for our community at large. Gift of volunteering Never forget that one of the greatest gifts one can offer is the gift of time. You could create a gift certificate for a certain number of hours or a particular emergency preparation project that would be of great help to a friend or family member. You might consider volunteering with any number of organizations that serve people living in emergency situations right now, such as homelessness, food insecurity, trauma from crime, violence, racism or poverty. Your MP Emergency Preparation Team would always welcome your gift of volunteer time. Please contact one of us: • Sarah Armstrong, saraharmstrong215@gmail.com • Mary Beth McAteer: msimiele1@gmail.com • Margie Carter: margiecarter@ comcast.net
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December 2021
Making the best of wet weather
By Richard Carl Lehman Revisiting the Park
I
t was all quiet on the Ave in Madison Park one mid-winter in the early ‘50s. Usually the two popular taverns, the Attic and the Red Onion, were heard before they were seen. One night, I joined two friends at the Attic, and we proceeded to lift our spirits. As the night progressed, we got an invitation to come to a party on Perkins Lane in Magnolia. Toasting beer mugs, we rousingly replied, “Yes!” On this cold and dreary, wet and windy evening, we headed west. There is no short cut to Magnolia —never was, never will be. Driving down several narrow unlit lanes, we found Perkins Lane at sea level on the edge of Puget Sound. There before us was a gigantic two-story home completely lit up, with music streaming outside. Amazingly, a large segment from Madison Park was there, happily imbibing and soaking in the heat from a fireplace burning real wood. Later in the evening I noticed a large group of females outside on the covered porch. It seems one of them was distraught over her relationship with a young man that ended just days before. She proceeded to be cured by overindulging in cocktails. This cure drove her to the only rest room in the house, which was on the second floor. Sadly, she locked the door, didn’t answer our pleas to open, and there didn’t seem to be another way in. The only recourse for the other females was at the south end of the porch where a long infinite yard led to the water’s edge. Men found relief further down the dark, wet, windy beach. Laughing along the way, I found myself in front of a lawn swing. It was too quiet — it was unsettling. Suddenly, a wave crashed on the bulkhead and shoved me onto the lawn swing. I could not believe it. Soaking wet, I managed to pull myself together and join those who had not experienced the 20foot wave. Standing in front of the fire, the group of us drank our beverages while engulfed in a rising steam cloud and discussed the issue at hand: The gal who locked herself in the bathroom must’ve passed out. We knew it was locked by way of a dead bolt. The only solution was to get a brave soul to climb a ladder two stories to the window of the bathroom, not knowing if it was open or not. A friend yelled, “Hey! Dick’s already wet and he’s an iron worker.” I bowed humbly and stated, “Can’t! Union law.” Yah, sure. Minutes later I climbed an old wooden ladder up two stories where a 15-foot moss-covered slanted roof lay before me — but, there was an open window! One
Fish and Wildlife opens winter crabbing
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has opened winter crabbing in Marine Area 10 through Dec. 31. Crabbing will be allowed seven days a week. Licenses purchased this year are valid through Dec. 31. People will need to get a winter catch card to submit a catch total after the winter season has concluded. Go to https:// wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulations/crab/seasons-areas/ seattlebremerton for more information.
United Way seeking volunteers
The United Way of King County is seeking volunteers to help working families with tax preparation. The organization will offer free tax preparation in early 2022 to working families with the assistance of IRS-certified volunteers who will help filers claim all the tax credits and refunds to which they’re entitled. United Way of King County needs 1,000 volunteers to help in this effort. This year, there will be both in-person and virtual opportunities. In addition to tax-preparation assistance, volunteers also help filers with information about public benefits, financial counseling and other services. To learn how to volunteer, go to https://www.uwkc.org/volunteer/free-tax-prep/.
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foot in the gutter, I saw a board half the size of a 2-by-4 that, if it was nailed down, could be a hand hold. I shoved off, grasping the long board. Thankfully, it was nailed down. I reached for the window and opened it, fully noticing the young lady leaning against the cabinet while sitting on the commode. I climbed past her saying, “Sorry about the intrusion” and opened the door to a sea of happy females. Still sleeping, she was carried to another room to recover. The hostess fetched me a smallish robe, another beer and we proceeded to watch my clothes dry in front of the fire while reliving the weirdness of what just happened. This story went down in infamy. More fun to be had Seattleites really have to reinvent the wheel during these wet falls and winters. Our gregarious group was spending a Friday evening in the park when we received an invite to a banquet room facility at a popular hotel downtown. I handed the invite to the host at the entrance and walked into a room where a live trio (Frank Suga) played. Friends from everywhere exchanged greetings. Free champagne was offered by young ladies to a dressed-to-the-nines crowd. At least two tables offered games and prizes as noted on the invitation (poker). It was a friendly atmosphere where being known and knowing many people proved that Seattle was a small town. I kidded that I had to circle the block twice to find a parking spot. At the entrance a group was gathering, so I joined in anticipation of making some bucks. The
gig was “elevator racing.” Two race drivers with their coats and ties gone, sleeves rolled up, were at the ready. Yes, this was the making of a Le Mans contest. Two drivers stood opposite the two elevators. When the phone rang, they charged to the elevator and pressed “basement.” The doors shut. Phone rings, man yells, “Elevator 2 by a nose!” What a thrill. Now the crowd is growing, girls are serving drinks, and there’s another race. I won $26! Soon, word hit the front desk. Did they want a cut? No. It was past closing time in their restaurant and bar, but we were getting our second wind. Then someone yelled, “cops!” People ran down the exit stairs. I ran to the coat room where there was an open window. Drink in hand, I stepped out. At that time, I was an iron worker but I had never been that high with size 9 ½ dress shoes on a ledge. The cops and hotel employees gathered people to the street. Apparently high stakes games could be illegal. As I stepped out onto the ledge, the lights were turned off. I was at a corner and looked around and there was a guy standing there laughing. I asked if he was OK and realized he was my good friend, Dick Wolki. We laughed so hard, we almost fell off. “Strange meeting you, here,” we chimed simultaneously. “Don’t move. I’ll open the window by you. Then, I’ll buy you a drink.” Once inside, I poured two gin on the rocks from the bar, and we proceeded to head down the street to El Gaucho with drinks in hand. A perfect evening followed with steak and eggs, endless coffee, laughter and camaraderie!
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Bert’s Red Apple Market is Madison Park’s own Farmers Market
Christmas Holiday Shopping List Fresh Produce Everyday!
Bert’s Fresh Deli:
• Assorted holiday Pies. • Customized Party Trays. Fresh Bakery Items. “Bert’s Own” • Homemade DIPS and PARTY APPETIZERS. • Great Specialty Cheese Selections.
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December 2021
Pacific Publishing Company – Queen Anne & Magnolia News • Madison Park Times
social emotional academic artistic
Your 2022 health wish list
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s we apto suffer from the proach this deleterious knockexceptional programs season of on effects on our waddler giving, I thought it health and welltoddler would be fitting to being. Many people preschool highlight some of still work from pre-kindergarten the potential gifts home; others have you could give to not yet found a susyourself and your tainable solution for health for 2022. their activity needs, We are apand some continue proaching nearly postponing doctor’s Dr. Dan Michael two years since the appointments and Northwest Sports preventative apstart of the pandemic, and while a pointments. The list capitol hill • madison valley 206-329-5187 “new normal” has goes on. Admissions@HarvardAvenueSchool.com All these pandemic impacts are begun to take shape, we continue HarvardAvenueSchool.com mixed in with health issues that plagued our nation before COVID-19, like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, as well as an opioid-use epidemic that claims more than 130 lives per day by way of overdose. While these may be national issues, they are also household issues. Anyone reading this article has almost certainly been impacted by at least one of the aforementioned health issues, and so it is my hope that at least one person reading this article will take action on at least one of these wish list items in 2022. Control your blood glucose. Do this, and you will simultaneously combat your risk and severity of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Controlling your glucose, MLK Fame Community Center keeping it from getting too high 3201 East Republican Street, Seattle, WA 98112 (or too low), and you will control (206) 257-5572 | www.mlkfame.com | many aspects of your health. mlkcommunitycenter@gmail.com
We Wish All Of Our Neighbors A Very Happy Holiday Season! Give the gift of a donation this year directly to the Center
We thank the Community for supporting our recent Fundraiser and ongoing support
“The time to re-engage or re-imagine — with virtual care — your regular medial and preventative care is now."
Follow the American Heart Association’s recommended activity guidelines, and actually follow it without fail. The association recommends people get at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise at least five days per week, for a total of 150 minutes per week. If you do vigorous activity, then do at least 25 minutes at least three days per week. See your doctor regularly, and get tested. We have all gotten into the habit of neglecting preventative and low-urgency medical care with the rise of the burden of COVID-19 patients on our medical systems. The time to re-engage or re-imagine — with virtual care — your regular medical and preventative care is now. We have also neglected tests that may not be urgent but are important, so be sure to get those done in 2022. Test your vitamin D. Supplement if you are deficient, and then be sure to re-test after you supplement to see if you have successfully restored your levels. Know that supplementation is one thing, but
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absorption of what you supplement is another issue entirely and should be confirmed. Build your movement competency, then build strength and power around it. Movement competency is a spectrum, and some people are great movers, some are indeed very bad, and most others are somewhere in between. Before you can build strength and power into your activity (i.e. vigorous aerobic exercise), you need to first be competent in that movement and build capacity over time and repetition before you can increase the intensity of it. Learn something about your body and your health. One thing about our health is that it did not come with a user manual at birth, and so we must all take the time to learn about our health and our unique selves. Preferably this knowledge comes from a reputable source, and most importantly that you understand what you are doing and why you are doing it. Complete one major health goal with a friend, family member or coach. Our health is connected as much to our individuality as it is to those around us, and the healthy habits of those around us can influence us just as much as the unhealthy habits. We also enjoy things and stick with them longer if they are enjoyable and fun, so for 2022, get a goal, set it with a friend, stick with it and, most of all, have fun doing it.
Munchie Myths and Facts What causes the munchies?
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Cannabis has a wide array of effects on the body, ranging from making you feel relaxed, to giving you dry mouth and red eyes. One of the more interesting effects is making you feel really hungry. So, what is it that cannabis does to your brain and body that makes you want to keep eating? Let’s look at the science behind what causes the munchies, and some of the best foods to eat after you’ve gotten stoned. THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, modulates specific neurotransmitters, called POMC (proopiomelanocortin) neurons, which control important physiological functions, such as sleep, mood, appetite, and heart rate. POMC neurons typically send out a chemical signal to tell your brain when you’re full. In mice that were given THC, the THC actually turns off adjacent cells that are supposed to tell POMC neurons to slow-down. So, activity of these neurons actually increases. The THC also activated a receptor inside the POMC neurons which signal the brain to produce endorphins which are responsible for increasing appetite. So, to explain it more simply: THC modules an important group of appetite-controlling neurons in the brain in a way that increases the desire to eat through the release of endorphins. Additionally, THC activates and stimulates receptors in the olfactory bulb, which is the part of the brain that registers smell. The heightened sense of smell also corresponds to a heightened sense of taste. These elevated senses are believed to contribute to the desire
to eat more food, simply because it is more enjoyable. Anyone who has suffered from an insatiable case of the munchies knows that delving into a craveable snack is especially satisfying while high. As it turns out, the reason it’s more satisfying is because you can literally perceive the flavors and smells of the food better than normal. These two effects combine, first prompting hunger by releasing endorphins that induce appetite, and second prolonging appetite increase through heightened sense of taste and smell. POMC neurons cause you to start craving a big bag of Doritos, while the olfactory bulb is what inspires the motivation to finish the entire bag. It’s truly a double-whammy. Not all cannabis is equal, however, and some varieties of cannabis can actually suppress appetite. Yup, that’s right. One of the most notorious appetitesuppressing cannabinoids is THCV (tetrahydrocannabivarin). THCV is similar, molecularly, to THC, it has many of the same psychoactive properties, however, THCV has been shown to suppress appetite in limited studies.There hasn’t been as much research on the effects of THCV (mostly due to lack of funding for scientific research). Certain sativa strains are known for their energetic high that seldom accompany a munchie spell. Durban Poison, one of the original cannabis strains from Africa, is a pure sativa with unusually high levels of THCV. Sativa strains, especially those like Durban Poison, are excellent choices for preventing the munchies and staving off appetite.
Want another trick to prevent the munchies? Eat beforehand, especially a filling food with sustenance. Anything that will “stick to your gut” so to speak, will help curb your appetite while you’re baked. If you’re already high, distraction is probably your best bet. Another weird trick is to brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth while high is extremely satisfying, and most people won’t want to eat after the feeling of brushing their teeth (it also helps to cure dry mouth). If you’re already stoned, and dedicated to feeding your munchy cravings, here are some great foods you should consider eating: 1. Honey-roasted nuts. The sweet & salty combination is deeply satisfying to your tastebuds. Nuts pack-in the protein and useful minerals for a healthy snack. 2. Popcorn! It’s only junk food if you cover it in fatty butter and salt. Otherwise, popcorn is a light snack with plenty of fiber! 3. Fruit (of any kind). Fruit is hydrating, which helps to tackle dry mouth, but the sweet flavors only become more enhanced when you’re high. Fruit is full of vitamins and antioxidants, which is a healthy and satisfying choice. Certain foods taste way better when high, so getting stoned is also the perfect time to try healthier snacks that you often don’t like when sober. Vegetables, like a juicy carrot, can have an especially refreshing crunch when you have dry mouth. And you can feel good about the boost to your diet! Cody Funderburk
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December 2021
A Veterans Day celebration at Aegis Living Madison
Aegis on Madison celebrated Veterans Day with music, the assisted living facility’s new choir, poems and patriotism. Starting the festivities were The Jewel Tones, a harmony group who sang classic favorites, followed by a poetry reading and songs from the Aegis on Madison choir. Eighteen veterans were recognized for their service with pins and words of thanks. They were: • Chuck Aftoora, Army; • Dr. Ed Barker, medic; • George Eggler, Army; • George Gilman, Army; • Steve Kelly, ROTC; • Steve Kiesow, Navy; • Mas Koba, Navy; • Aileen McGinis, Boeing 1042; • Norman Olson, Boeing aircraft photographer; • Leon Pope, Navy; • David Prongay, Navy; • Roy Prosterman, Air Force Reserve; • Joe Quinn, Army; • Jannie Rood, Red Cross Auxiliary Europe; • Lou Satz, Army; • Dr. David Swan, National Guard; • Stephen Warner, Army; • Aegis Living Madison staff D’Andre Valentine, Navy wellness nurse.
Photos by Jessica Keller Top: Members of the Jewel Tones harmony group perform popular standards to Aegis Living Madison residents who attended the Veterans Day celebration, Nov. 11. Right: Aegis Living Madison residents Betsey and Bob Blossey sing during the Veteran Day festivities at the assisted living facility. Bottom: Aegis Living music therapist Suzan Setel secures a pin to Navy veteran Steve Kiesow’s jacket during the Veteran Day celebration last month where 18 veterans were recognized.
December 2021
Pacific Publishing Company – Queen Anne & Magnolia News • Madison Park Times
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Seattle downtown facing challenging recovery after COVID By Ruairi Vaughan Contributing writer
In late January 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported in Snohomish County. As the virus spread across the country, Seattle was one of the earliest cities to experience the devastating economic effects of the virus. Downtown Seattle was hit particularly hard; the workforce of the district’s many office buildings disappeared overnight as work-from-home policies came into effect. This, in turn, caused the small businesses that served the office workers to rapidly close down. Added to that economic strain was the pressure on the area’s thriving tourism industry, which cratered as people everywhere began to avoid public spaces. Seattle’s downtown is the city’s economic heart: over 80,000 people live there, and almost four times that number are employed by businesses in the area. Most of the infrastructure that existed before the pandemic — transport networks, small businesses, restaurants and even parking garages — had effectively nothing to do when office workers stopped commuting, putting thousands of jobs in peril. This problem was not limited to Seattle
“The foundation and the number of assets we have in place as a downtown is incredibly strong." — Jon Scholes Downtown Seattle Association but spread across the nation’s city centers. Jon Scholes, a leader in Seattle’s business community, has argued that the pandemic “reinforced how fragile our downtowns are: We can’t take anything for granted.” Seattle’s city leadership agrees with Scholes. In the summer, the city announced that it would be investing $9 million into revitalizing downtown, and then-outgoing Mayor Jenny Durkan made the effort a top priority for her final months in office. The city is also considering rebooting projects, such as a new streetcar in central downtown, that were put on hold by the arrival of the pandemic. The effort to revive downtown is being spearheaded by the Downtown Seattle Association, the group led by Scholes. The DSA is a consortium of over 1,700
businesses, nonprofit groups and residential organizations that have been involved in city life for more than six decades and frequently partners with — and sometimes opposes — the city government’s actions on economic issues. To strategize the recovery of downtown, the DSA hired a prominent local expert in industrial and organizational design, Surya Vanka. Vanka has spent months examining urban revival efforts across the world — from homelessness policies in Melbourne, Australia, to earthquake recovery in Mexico City — to analyze the most successful tactics used by crisis-struck cities. The problem is a daunting one, and Vanka’s comprehensive strategy reflects the scale of the task at hand. When he spoke at the “State of Downtown” virtual conference hosted by DSA member organizations, he told his audience that recovery would not only need money, it would also require “the creativity of ordinary citizens coming together and reimagining their city.” Part of that reimagining will involve the creation of a more equitable city. Vanka is adamant that “when we serve those folks who are typically overlooked, we end up with solutions that work for everybody.” Downtown business leaders across a variety of sectors are optimistic that Seattle will make a strong recovery from the pandemic.
Tom Norwalk, the CEO of Visit Seattle, spoke at the “State of Downtown” conference. While he admitted that the damage to the tourism, cruise ship and airline industries was “broad and felt everywhere,” he expressed confidence that travelers would soon be returning to the city. “By 2023, we think we’ll see a return to pre-COVID levels of travel,” Norwalk predicted at the conference. Seattle had an advantage, he said, because all the things that make the city attractive to visitors — the history, arts scene, technological prowess and abundant natural beauty — are all still here. Seattle’s business leaders anticipate a very different downtown environment once the COVID-19 pandemic recedes: — the nature of office work has been fundamentally changed, many downtown business lots are empty, visitors and locals alike will be more cautious than before. Nevertheless, Scholes is confident the city will bounce back. “The foundation and the number of assets we have in place as a downtown is incredibly strong,” he said. Scholes said the best way for Seattleites to help the city’s recovery is for people to “come downtown!” “Seriously, come downtown!”
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December 2021
Give Thanks by Giving Back This is the time of year for gratitude: for our families, friends, neighbors and communities. At Windermere, we strive to show our thanks by giving back to the people and communities that mean so much to us. As we begin shopping for the holidays, we want to support the local businesses that define our neighborhoods and connect us to one another. This year, we’ll be shopping with local stores, restaurants, artists, booksellers, retailers and more to back our gratitude for these neighborhood landmarks with actions that support them. We encourage you to join us in our efforts by shopping consciously and locally this season.
All in, for Seattle small businesses. All in, for community.
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