The work party dates are Saturday, Dec. 3rd and Saturday, Dec. 17th.

“We have all heard that washing your car at a car wash (instead of in the driveway) and putting dog poop in the trash can make our streams healthier for salmon and people,” Elissa said. ”This December, consider working with neighbors to help control invasive plants (especially English ivy) to keep streams healthy. English ivy grows very quickly and spreads rapidly, and when it climbs into trees, it becomes very heavy and can cause trees to blow over in wind storms.  Trees are important because they shade the stream and keep it cool for salmon, and the tree leaves, branches, and the insects that live on them provide food for fish and insects that live in the water. Trees also filter pollution out of the air and soil, making the water clean.”

Volunteers are needed for the following cleanup events:

• Saturday, Dec. 3, 9 a.m. – Noon for 12/3: neighbors will be gathering at SW 158th Street near 7th Ave SW to remove ivy from trees along the stream.  This stream is a tributary to Miller Creek, which supports spawning coho and chum salmon.
• Saturday, Dec. 17, 9:30 a.m. – Noon: volunteers will remove ivy and blackberry from Walker Preserve, meeting near the access at 2nd Ave SW and SW 168th Street in Normandy Park.  Ivy removal in this city park began in 2008, and it is looking great!  There is some new ivy growth on some of the trees, and a few areas where it needs to be removed from the forest floor so other plants can thrive.  Over 100 spawning coho salmon have been seen in Walker Creek since October this year.

“Please bring water to drink, and wear warm clothes and rain gear.”

RSVPs are appreciated so they can provide snacks, gloves and tools. Contact Elissa Ostergaard, Miller and Walker Creek Steward, at elissa.ostergaard@kingcounty.gov or (206) 296-1909.

Ecology's map shows the widespread contamination from the Asarco Plume.

The Washington State Department of Ecology will be holding a public meeting on Dec. 6th, as part of its comment period about a cleanup plan for the Tacoma Smelter Plume.

The free meeting, which is open to the public, will run from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Des Moines Activity Center, located at 2045 South 216th Street.

If you’re not familiar with Asarco or the Tacoma Smelter Plume, it’s a story of historic, major air pollution – over 1,000 square miles of King, Pierce, Thurston and Kitsap counties may have arsenic and lead soil contamination from this one plant in Tacoma (including the Burien area).

According to Ecology’s website:

This plan includes soil cleanup for the most contaminated areas of the plume and for play areas. It also manages risk by educating people about how to protect themselves.

Why it matters

Over 1,000 square miles of King, Pierce, Thurston, and Kitsap counties may have arsenic and lead soil contamination. You could be affected! Arsenic and lead are toxic, especially to children.

What to comment on

Our reading guide explains more about what’s in the plan and what to comment on. Ecology is offering different services, depending on where you live. You may also have specific questions if you are a parent, teacher, developer, land use planner, real estate agent, or thinking about buying or selling a home.

How to submit comments

Check the comment period webpage for where to send comments. We also list all the staff available to answer questions.

Public Meetings

All meetings run from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.:

• Nov. 9, 2011 McMurray Middle School cafeteria, 9329 Cemetery Rd., Vashon Island
• Nov. 16, 2011 Curtis High School cafeteria, 8425 40th St. W., University Place
• Dec. 6, 2011 Des Moines Activity Center, 2045 South 216th St., Des Moines

Public Health – Seattle & King County wants our Readers to know that they are awarding mini-grants worth $750 for community groups who participate in parks clean-up events between now and the end of the year. 

Groups who choose to participate will hold a cigarette butt clean-up event at one of several identified parks (download a PDF list here). Each event pays $750. Groups do their own organization, including purchasing gloves etc. but instructions are provided.

Organizations are considered eligible and may apply if:

• They have a federal tax ID number.
• They have not already received $4,250 in funding from any King County Department.
• They don’t already receive funding from tobacco or alcohol companies.

Eligible organizations may apply for more than one event and may suggest parks for future events.

This mini-grant opportunity is part of a larger regional effort to support parks who want to implement tobacco or smoke-free policies. Tobacco/smoke-free policies in public places are widely supported by the public. They help protect park users from exposure to second-hand smoke, save on maintenance costs for the parks, and provide healthy spaces for people to live and play.

More information on this grant opportunity is online here.

If you have any questions, please send an email by clicking here.

REMINDER: Burien’s 13th annual ‘Clean Sweep’ will be held from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. this coming Saturday, April 30th, and new this year will include a Scavenger Hunt for volunteers celebrating the new banner art by local students on SW 153rd Street.

This is a great opportunity to make a difference in the community by sweeping sidewalks, trimming shrubs, planting flowers, picking up trash and more. During last year’s Clean Sweep, more than 400 people removed 8.15 tons of garbage from our city’s streets, parks and commercial areas.

In return for volunteering, participants will receive a FREE breakfast, lunch and a chance to win prizes. Clean Sweep is presented by the city of Burien and the Discover Burien Association. Event sponsors are the law firm of Linn, Schisel & DeMarco, P.S., Prudential Northwest Realty Associates and Waste Management.

On the day of Clean Sweep, volunteers must register and sign releases at the Fire District No. 2 Station at 8th Ave SW and SW 151st Street in downtown Burien beginning at 8 a.m. Enjoy a continental breakfast during morning registration, including donations of bread from Grand Central Bakery, bagels from Panera Bread and coffee from Pacific Coffee Company. El Dorado West Retirement Community is contributing bottled water for thirsty volunteers.

Although participants will be provided with some cleanup materials, George recommends participants bring useful yard tools such as shovels, rakes, clippers and brooms. Linn, Schisel & DeMarco, P.S. is supplying a limited number of gloves, so volunteers might want to bring their own work gloves.

Businesses in Burien’s main downtown area may dispose of unwanted items by placing them in the alley or in front of the establishment before 9 a.m. April 30 for pickup. Please call Debra George at 206-941-7199 in advance to arrange for disposal. If items are not picked up by Noon, call George to let her know your location and she can arrange for pickup that day.

In cooperation with Burien’s Environmental Science Center, some Clean Sweep participants will be stenciling labels around storm drains as a reminder that storm water runoff drains are not waste dump zones.

This year, Clean Sweep will also include a new Scavenger Hunt, in which participants count the new decorative banners along SW 153rd Street, which feature artwork by Burien students (read our previous coverage and see photos of them here). The banners are a project of the City of Burien Arts Commission, which partnered with Discover Burien to have the banners printed and installed. Clean Sweep volunteers can pick up forms to enter the hunt at the firehouse and be entered into a raffle of prizes from businesses on SW 153rd.

As a thank you for their hard work, volunteers will be treated to a hotdog-style lunch at the firehouse contributed by The MARK Restaurant & Bar. Coffee is being donated by Pacific Coffee Company, juice by Highline Medical Center, hotdogs by Restaurant Depot and bread by Grand Central Bakery. Clean Sweep participants will also be entered into a drawing for door prizes generously donated by local businesses. A bicycle door prize is being contributed by Prudential.

Discover Burien is a nonprofit organization that works on the economic development, promotion and marketing of Burien.

For more information, call the Discover Burien office at 206-433-2882, Debra George at 206-941-7199 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.

It’s time to get your brooms, shovels, rakes, dustpans and work gloves ready and mark your calendars – Burien’s 12th annual “Clean Sweep” event will be held from 8am – 1pm on Saturday, April 30th, starting at Fire Station #2.

Volunteers are needed from 8am – 1pm, and in return you’ll receive breakfast, lunch and a chance to win prizes.

“Make a tangible difference in the community by helping friends and neighbors spring clean an even bigger Burien than last year,” reads an Event Listing on Discover Burien’s Facebook Page (you can RSVP there – we already did).

This annual event is presented by The City of Burien and the Discover Burien Association.

Last year over 400 people spruced up Burien’s streets, parks and commercial areas (see Scott Schaefer’s “Sound Slideshow” from last year’s cleanup here).

To donate, volunteer or get more information for this year’s Clean Sweep, call 206-433-2882. You can sign up early if you have large teams or to choose the area you’ll be spiffing up. Otherwise you are welcome to just show up on the day of the event.

To participate, volunteers must register at the Fire District No. 2 Station at 8th Ave SW and SW 151st beginning at 8 a.m. Although groups may preregister, group leaders must show up at the firehouse to sign releases.

Among the clean-up tasks are sweeping sidewalks, trimming shrubs, planting flowers and picking up trash. While a limited number of rubber gloves are being provided, it is recommended that participants bring their own work gloves plus yard-work tools such as brooms, shovels, rakes and clippers.

In appreciation of their hard work, volunteers will be treated to a hotdog-style lunch at the firehouse contributed by the Mark Restaurant & Bar.

Clean Sweep participants will also be entered into a drawing for door prizes, including a bicycle, generously donated by local businesses.

Here are the details:

WHAT: 12th annual “Clean Sweep.”

WHEN: Saturday, April 30th from 8:00am – 1:00pm

WHERE: Meet at Fire Station #2, located at 8th SW & SW 151st.

SPONSORED BY: The City of Burien and Discover Burien.

As is usually the case in Burien, there are volunteer park cleanups going on this weekend, with two of note:

1. SHOREWOOD PARK: Saturday 8/14/10, 10 am-12 pm:
The Shorewood event is scheduled at Shorewood Park from 10am – 12 pm. Please just show up if you’re interested – bring pruners and gloves if you have them. Shorewood Park is located at 28th Ave SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, turn left so you are heading west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Ave SW make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side.) No Restroom Facilities.

The second Saturday of the month will alternate between Salmon Creek Ravine (odd months) and Shorewood Park (even months.) Work will happen from 10-noon. The “Shorewood on the Sound” neighborhood group has taken the lead on Shorewood Park and is now adding their wonderful environmental skills to Salmon Creek Ravine. Please check www.seahurstpark.org for updated locations of the work parties!

2. EAGLE LANDING PARK: Sunday, 8/15/10, 10 am-1 pm (Monthly – 2nd Sunday of the Month)
Please just show up if you’re interested – bring some water/gloves, and loppers if you have them. Volunteer Park Steward is Jim Branson. Eagle Landing Park is located at 14641 25th Ave SW. Follow SW 149th street heading past 25th AVE SW and the park is located on the left (west ) side of the street. The parking lot is small so if you park in the neighborhood please take care not to block neighbor’s driveways. No restrooms on site – the closest facilities are at Lake Burien Park (149th & 18th Ave SW). Please also check http://eaglelandingpark.org/ for updated information on volunteer work parties and information on Eagle Landing Park.

We predict that, like many recent seasonal changes, this weekend will suddenly feel like summer has arrived. Therefore, it’s going to be a great time to be outside, and what better way than by helping out your community by doing some park cleaning?

Here are two events that will surely satisfy your urge to help Burien’s parks:

SHOREWOOD PARK: Saturday 6/12/10 10 am-12 pm
The Shorewood event is scheduled at Shorewood Park from 10am – 12 pm.  Please just show up if you’re interested – bring pruners and gloves if you have them.  Shorewood is located at 28th Avenue SW and SW 118th Street (follow Ambaum to 116th Street, head west on 116th Street and follow to 28th Avenue SW, make a left and go 2 blocks, the park entrance is on your left side.)  No Restroom Facilities.

The second Saturday of the month cleanups will alternate between Salmon Creek Ravine (odd months) and Shorewood Park (even months.)  Work will happen from 10-noon.  The “Shorewood on the Sound” neighborhood group has taken the lead on Shorewood Park and is now adding their wonderful environmental skills to Salmon Creek Ravine.  Please check www.seahurstpark.org for updated locations of the work parties!

EAGLE LANDING PARK:  Sunday, 6/13/10  10 am-1 pm  (Monthly – 2nd Sunday of the Month)
Please just show up if you’re interested – bring some water/gloves, and loppers if you have them. Volunteer Park Steward is Jim Branson.   Eagle Landing Park is located at 14641 25th Ave SW.  Follow SW 149th street heading past 25th AVE SW and the park is located on the left (west ) side of the street.  The parking lot is small so if you park in the neighborhood please take care not to block neighbor’s driveways.  No restrooms on site – the closest facilities are at Lake Burien Park (149th & 18th Ave SW).  Please also check http://eaglelandingpark.org/ for updated information on volunteer work parties and information on Eagle Landing Park.

Story & Photos Courtesy Carmen Scott
Des Moines Historical Society

Many of the pioneer families of the Des Moines, Burien, Sunnydale, SeaTac and Highline areas are represented at the historic Hillgrove Cemetery, located on South 200th Street a few blocks east of Des Moines Memorial Drive.

Last Thursday (May 27), several teams of young students from the Puget Sound Skills Center, under the Direction of Fire Services Instructor and Battalion Chief John Madson, spent a hard day at work mowing hip high grass, weed whacking, trimming, raking, and removing overgrown vegetation.

By day’s end, the grounds were walkable and ready for Memorial Day visitors.

An observer will see a great many long-term local names:

The Markwells, who operated an early Mill in Des Moines.

The Drapers, who founded and operated the Draper Children’s Home orphanage.

Rilda Martin Moses, Valedictorian of the 1912 Des Moines High school Graduating class, and as Mrs. Moses, she was still teaching kindergarten classes at Des Moines, into the 1960s.

One Johnson gravestone remembers a wife and mother who lived only from 1872 to 1906, 34 years.

Another remembers Jennie Yeisley, 1865 – 1890 At Rest.

Memorial day presents an opportunity to remember the pioneers of yesteryear, and appreciate all they did to forge a future for us, the generations that followed.

The Memorial Day clean-up efforts were arranged by Jim Lingwood, representing the Hillgrove Cemetery Board, and by Jim Langston, representing the Des Moines Historical Society.

A special thanks goes to the city of SeaTac for loaning the use of their grounds-keeping tools and equipment.

Here are more photos of the event:

Also, here’s a Sound Slideshow of Hillgrove Cemetery, as Produced by Scott Schaefer last Fall:

Click to Play Scott Schaefer’s SoundSlideshow

We hope all our Readers have found some way to commemorate National Volunteer Week and/or Earth Week this week; if not, here are three ideas on things you can do to lend a hand locally this weekend:

1. SEAHURST PARK:  Saturday, April 24th from  10am – Noon  (Monthly – 4th Saturday of the Month):
Lisa Aumann of Burien Parks says: “We’ll be working on the main entrance road into Seahurst Park, above the entrance to the upper parking lot. Volunteer Park Steward is Kevin Alexander – please sign in with him. Park just inside the upper lot, and come across the street to help us clear ivy from trees along the road. Seahurst events will be held the 4th Saturday of the month from 10-noon. Seahurst is located at 140th ST SW & 16th Ave SW and please check www.seahurstpark.org for updated locations of the work parties! ”

“We will also have some Volunteers for Outdoor Washington (VOW) folks joining us to dig out culverts along the lower section of the North Nature Trail.  We will have shovels but if you have gloves please bring them and dress for the mud!  For more information on VOW please check them out at http://www.trailvolunteers.org/”

2. BURIEN’S ANNUAL CLEAN SWEEP: Saturday, April 24th from 8am – 1pm:
Grab your work gloves, tools, and a raincoat if needed, and meet at 8am at the Burien Fire Station, 15100 8th Ave. S.W. Individuals and groups are assigned an area to pick up trash and debris along streets, sidewalks and parks. Participants meet back at the fire station at Noon for a merchants-sponsored barbecue lunch. Clean Sweep is being extended to newly annexed commercial areas in the North Burien. For information call Discover Burien at (206) 433-2882.

3. RUTH DYKEMAN CHILDREN’S CENTER SPRING CLEANUP: Saturday & Sunday, April 24-25, from 9am – 4pm:
Ruth Dykeman Children’s Center is seeking volunteers to help with their spring cleanup on Saturday and Sunday April 24-25th, from 9am to 4pm at their campus on SW 152nd. Duties will include raking, planting, pruning, laying bark and reseeding their campus so it is inviting for youth and families that come to their facility.

We hope to be out there helping as well this weekend, so if you see someone wearing work gloves while holding a camera, be sure to give us a smile!

The first salmon of the season on Miller Creek was sighted last Saturday at the Cove in Normandy Park, and stream steward Dennis Clark is putting the call out for volunteers this Saturday (Oct. 17th) to “help create a more healthy stream for this fish and its buddies.”

Here are the details:

WHAT: Help plant 37 trees and do a final bit of weeding on Miller Creek (at South 144th St. west of Des Moines Memorial Drive) in Burien. You’ll work under the yellowing leaves of the cottonwoods and enjoy a classic fall day out-of-doors.

• Do you care about a healthy environment for your children?
• Do you want to improve Highline for fish, wildlife, and people?
• Do you like caring for trees that you’ll be able to watch grow year by year?
• Do you want to get rid of the stress of the workweek by whacking non-native, invasive weeds?
• Do you want to meet some of your Highline neighbors?

If so, recruit your friends and family and join us to help restore a section of Miller Creek!

We will weed and mulch around trees and shrubs planted in October 2007 and October 2008; we will plant some new trees

What do you need?

• An eager attitude
• Sturdy shoes or boots
• Water bottle
• Gloves (if you have them)
• We provide gloves, tools, and snacks!

WHEN: Planting time is 9am this Saturday, October 17. With enough volunteers, we can get the work done in two hours.

WHERE: South 144th Street, one block west of Des Moines Memorial Drive (northeast Burien, just north of SR 518 and east of SR 509 (see map below).

INFO: For more details, download the flier here (PDF)

RSVP: RSVP so Dennis can provide enough tools and doughnuts for all. If you are a student, please have your parent/guardian download and complete this form (.doc file).

Want to plant trees but can’t make this date? I have another planting project with a private group that would welcome other volunteers on Sunday, October 25, 9 a.m. Let me know if you’d like to join.

This project is a cooperative effort of the Cities of Burien, Normandy Park, and SeaTac; the Port of Seattle; and King County. These governments are working with residents to improve water quality and create healthy streams in the Miller and Walker Creek basins.

Advance sign-up is encouraged to help us plan.

For sign up and questions, contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward, dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, or by phone at: 206-296-1909.