A “work party” is scheduled for this Saturday, March 13th at the Salmon Creek Ravine in Burien beginning at 10am.

The goal of this two-hour “party” is to save this park from invasive plants like English Holly, English Ivy, English Laurel and Himalayan Blackberry (EDITOR’S NOTE: Looks like we’re going to have to defeat the English again…).

These events are always a satisfying form of both exercise and social interaction, but we recommend that you RSVP early to the organizers.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Invasive plant work party at Salmon Creek Ravine

WHEN: Saturday, March 13th beginning at 10am

WHERE: Meet at the intersection of Shorewood Drive and SW 130th – the top of Goat Hill near the Shorewood on the Sound sign.

INFO: From the Shorewood on the Sound blog:

Help to protect our local forests by coming to a work party at the Salmon Creek Ravine on March 13th at 10:00.

We’ll provide tools and gloves and a specific project to work on for 2 hours.

Meet at the intersection of Shorewood Drive and SW 130th – the top of Goat Hill near the Shorewood on the Sound sign.

This is your opportunity to participate in a group effort to save this beautiful forested park from invasive plants like English Holly, English Ivy, English Laurel and Himalayan Blackberry.

RSVP/CONTACT: RSVP to Jean Spohn at jeanspohn@comcast.net, or if you have any questions.

“Creating a Sustainable Gardening Community” will be the main topic at the next Sustainable Burien meeting at 2pm on Sunday, March 14th at the Burien Library.

The speaker will be Craig Bye, who will talk about:

• Creating a sustainable gardening community.
• Info about Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle (CHOSS), their mission, goal, and community outreach
• Mentoring programs and how the community can get involved

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting will feature Craig Bye, who will speak about creating a sustainable garden community.

WHEN: Sunday, March 14th from 2pm to 4pm; doors open at 1:30pm.

WHERE: Multipurpose room of the Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd.

INFO: From a press release:

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE GARDENING COMMUNITY

Our speaker will be Craig Bye, who will talk to us about:

• Creating a sustainable gardening community.
• Info about Community Harvest of Southwest Seattle (CHOSS), their mission, goal, and community outreach
• Mentoring programs and how the community can get involved

Check out their website at: http://www.gleanit.org/index.html

The remainder of the meeting will be covering our projects, such as our community gardening efforts and accomplishments; various projects toward the Wild Strawberry Festival (i.e., Bike Rodeo, Film Festival, our booth and free wild strawberry plants).

Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the (new) KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

by Ralph Nichols

Sixty-four hundred miles – the distance from Sea-Tac International Airport to Santiago, Chile – is a long way. It’s a lot farther still if you’re here and have immediate family members in earthquake-ravaged Chile.

Patricio Mendoza, the owner of EC Computers in downtown Des Moines, knows this all too well.

For almost 48 hours after an 8.8 magnitude earthquake rocked Chile on Feb. 27, Mendoza could only wonder how his son Victor, his father Humbetor, his sister Cecilia, and his niece Erika Cecilia (who lives in the Seattle area, and whose initials give the computer shop its name) had survived.

Communications with the outside world are difficult with widespread power outages and many of the country’s cell phone towers knocked down. Mendoza has since been told the tremor “was so big,” and “lasted so long and was so strong.”

Despite his anxiety, he hoped and prayed for the best – and waited for their calls.

Then late Sunday and again on Monday he finally heard from his niece and his sister. Both were well – and they had word that Victor, who lives near Viña del Mar, a seaside community of almost 300,000 where Mendoza is from, was OK too.

But there was nothing like hearing his son confirm this himself when, at last, Victor called him Tuesday evening.

These reports brought welcome news because “at first I thought the worst,” Mendoza said. “This was one of the biggest earthquakes we have ever had. The destruction is total. It’s all around.”

Mendoza is still waiting for word about his 80-year-old father Humbetor, who he assumes is OK but who lives where power remains out.

In an irony of timing, Mendoza returned only a month ago from a six-week trip to his home town, which is not far from Santiago, the nation’s capital, and an extended visit with his relatives who live in that region.

He also accompanied his niece there. Cecilia, 19, had “worked for the last year to pay for her dream trip to Chile,” he told the B-Town Blog this week.

“She was supposed to get back to the states on March 1. Her flight was scheduled for Feb. 28.” But with canceled flights and possible damage to airport runways, “she’s still stuck down there.” If everything goes all right, he said, she now should return on March 9.

Cecilia sounded much calmer than she did in her first call just a couple of days after the quake, which continues to be followed by strong aftershocks, he added.

Mendoza’s first reaction after hearing about the earthquake was, “I want to get a ticket and go there. The first thing I wanted to do is help my family. But the airlines have raised the ticket price four times or more for this tragedy.

“I still plan to go when the price goes back down. I can’t afford it now. I want to see how my father is doing and how my son is doing. I want to see my father personally because he’s 80 years old and alone. I know he will say he’s OK, but I still want to know.

“It’s pretty bad to be this far away and not be able to go down and help,” he said.

And after helping his family, Mendoza also wants to do what he can – including taking clothing and other necessities – to help others there who are trying to rebuild their lives and property.

“People are hungry, people are upset. I’ve been in strong earthquakes where aftershocks continue for days. You feel so little after that. You cannot sleep in the day. You cannot sleep at night. You have no peace. It takes weeks to recover.”

Mendoza said that although he’s not there now, “at least I can bring some of the resources they need to them” if he can find a way to get there.

“A lot of people from Des Moines have called or stopped by the shop, concerned about my niece and my family,” he continued. “I thank all of you for your moral support. It has really helped.”

The days are getting longer, the sky brighter, flowers are starting to bloom, bugs are coming out and its Photo Friday – what better way to celebrate the coming days of Spring than by celebrating with a stunning “Springtime In Burien” photo slideshow by area Pro Photographer Francis Zera?

This set of amazing macro nature photos is Exhibit A in why we love Photography – through the eye of a talented artist like Francis, one can see things that you normally might not notice, and see it in a beautiful new way.

According to Francis, who shot these pics Wednesday:

Today’s brief spell of late-afternoon sunshine got me thinking about spring, and I had an opportunity to wander around a private garden on the east side of Burien.

The plants and trees were just starting to bloom, and I found some pretty interesting stuff, including this insect that was swimming around in a dewdrop that was poised on a new tulip leaf.

This little guy appears to be a Hypera zoilus Kaldari, aka Clover Leaf Weevil, swimming in a dewdrop. According to the Wikipedia entry, they seem to prefer dry places to wet, so I’m thinking it might have been simply unlucky enough to have been nailed by a big raindrop and subsequently trapped inside the droplet by the surface tension.

It was still alive when I photographed it, and was moving around within the confines of the droplet.

For those technically inclined, I was using a Canon 5D Mark II with a 180mm f/3.2 macro lens.

Here’s Francis’ stunning spring slideshow:

Click to View Francis Zera’s Photo Slideshow

Francis Zera is a professional architectural and commercial photographer, as well as Co-president, Seattle/Northwest chapter, American Society of Media Photographers. See his portfolio at http://www.zeraphoto.com or follow him on Twitter here: http://www.twitter.com/zeraphoto. Francis can be reached at 206-659-ZERA.

We’re pretty sure that the last time a tsunami hit the northwest coast of the U.S. was in 1964, shortly after a major earthquake struck Alaska; far as we know, it damaged some places on the Oregon coast, including Cannon Beach.

Saturday morning (Feb. 27th), imagine our surprise when we saw an “Advisory” posted in our Weather Widget in the right sidebar. Clicking on it revealed that yes, a “Tsunami Advisory” had been issued for the northern and central Washington coast after a huge, 8.8 quake hit Chile´.

We don’t think this is cause for panic in the Puget Sound region, but we wanted to share this info because, well, who knows – maybe a tsunami-based wave will hit the shorelines near Burien? Maybe not?

The advisory warns that, if indeed a tsunami wave makes it up the coast, takes a right turn through the Strait of Juan de Fuca, makes another right and heads down through the upper islands of Puget Sound…when (and if) it hits Pier 48 in Seattle it’s predicted to be .13 feet high, which, according to our rudimentary math skills, equals a measly 1.56 inches high.

According to this NOAA website, the predicted time for this wave to strike Seattle is 1641 PST – for us non-military types, that’s 4:41pm Saturday afternoon.

If you happen to have a video camera and a lot of free time this afternoon, why not hang out near one of Burien’s beaches around 4:30-5pm and see if you can videotape a 1.56 inch wave barreling in from the north? We’d love to post it – please email us if you do!

And if you know anyone who lives on the coast, or in Hawaii, please make sure they’re aware of this advisory, as it could be very serious in those areas.

According to the National Weather Service:

Persons in tsunami advisory areas should move out of the water… off the beach and out of harbors and marinas.

Tsunami advisories mean that a tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near water is imminent or expected. Significant widespread inundation is not expected for areas in an advisory. Tsunamis are a series of waves potentially dangerous several hours after initial arrival time. Estimated times of initial wave arrival for selected sites in the advisory are provided below.

Here’s the “Tsunami Advisory” language as posted at 9:18am:

Tsunami Advisory

Statement as of 9:18 AM PST on February 27, 2010

… A tsunami advisory remains in effect for the northern and central Washington coast…

A tsunami advisory remains in effect for the northern and central Washington coast.

There is no Tsunami Watch or warning in effect for the Washington coast. Repeat… there is no Tsunami Watch or warning in effect.

A powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake occurred at 1034 PM PDT Friday near the central coast of chile. It has generated a tsunami wave… which is now spreading out across the Pacific Ocean.

The first tsunami waves are expected to reach the Washington coast between 250 PM and 310 PM PST this afternoon. The following are the
estimated arrival times of the first waves.

• Seaside or… … ..246 PM PST
• Westport WA… … .257 PM PST
• Neah Bay WA… … .307 PM PST

The largest tsunami waves are expected two hours after the first arrival.

The waves are not expected to be large enough to cause coastal flooding along the Washington coast. However… some coastal areas could experience dangerous currents and surges in harbors and bays. Forecast tsunami wave amplitudes follow.

• Long Beach WA… ..0.46 ft
• Westport… … … .0.78 ft
• Moclips… … … ..1.27 ft
• Neah Bay… … … .0.65 ft
• Port Angeles… … 0.33 ft
• Bellingham… … ..0.46 ft
• Everett… … … ..0.13 ft
• Seattle-pier 48… 0.13 ft

The minimum wave height for a tsunami advisory on the Washington coast is 6 inches or 15 centimeters.

The initial wave will not be the largest. Coastal residents are advised to stay out of the water… off the beach… and away from harbors and marinas. Wave heights and currents are amplified by irregular shoreline and are difficult to predict. The tsunami may not be visible among the common ocean surf… yet tide gages will likely report some fluctuations.

Mariners in water deeper than 600 feet should not be affected by a tsunami.

Repeat… no Tsunami Watch or warning is in effect for the northern and central Washington coast.

And just ‘cuz we found it and we love science, here’s a pretty cool simulation video of what might happen if a tsunami hit Elliott Bay:

UPDATE: 1:45pm PST: So far, no tsunami yet in Hawaii, but this type of rare event is considered and “inexact science.” Here’s a link to a website that’s broadcasting a live TV signal from Hawaii.

Also, here’s the live webcam feed from Burien’s Seahurst Park Beach, just in case; refresh this page to see the latest:

There will be a FREE, low-tide, nighttime beach walk tonight (Fri., Feb. 26th) at Seahurst Park Beach from 7:30pm to 9pm.

These are always fun, adventurous family (or creative “date night”) outings, where residents can explore the unseen lifeforms that live all around us, yet are seldom seen.

Here’s a blurb from a flier:

Night Low-Tide Beach Walk

MOONLIT WAVES LAPPING THE SHORE

Imagine you’re on the shoreline at a lovely low tide. Rocks that are covered all year lie exposed to view while the sea denizens remain happily cold and wet in the dark.

All around you, people waving flashlights are intently studying the amazing and abundant sea life as local naturalists help you discover the wonders of your Puget Sound shoreline.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Featured Education family event nighttime beach walk at Seahurst Park Beach.

WHEN: Friday, Feb 26th from 7:30 pm to 09:00 pm.

WHERE: Seahurst Park Beach, Burien.

CONTACT: Barb & Darrell Williams via email: darbarwill@gmail.com; phone: (206) 901-1964.

INFO: From a flier:

Join People For Puget Sound, the Burien Environmental Science Center and Seattle Aquarium in a night low-tide exploration.

Adventure with us out into the intertidal zone at our night time beach walk.

Trained naturalists will wow you with intertidal stories of nature-in-action as rocks that are normally covered with water are exposed.

Sea stars, barnacles & crabs of all sorts are just the beginning of what we’ll see.

Bundle up – We adventure rain, sleet or cold so don your winter clothes, boots and a flashlight for best results.

Bonus – we’ll show you the best way to save the critters you’ll see with direct action through our photo postcard campaign.  Be sure to get your picture taken “standing for clean water” before you head down to the beach.

Family-friendly; children must be accompanied by an adult.

Reservations recommended.

BUNDLE UP AGAINST THE WEATHER AND BE SURE TO BRING:

• Bright flashlight with good batteries
• Wading boots (you’ll be in ankle deep water)
• Warm hat & dry gloves

Free and family friendly!

The Museum of Flight is holding an Engineering Fair this weekend, and the one event that stood out to us was the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest, which is scheduled to take place Saturday, Feb. 13th from 8am to 5pm.

High School engineering students will be busy creating sturdy (and perhaps not-so-sturdy) bridges made entirely of Popsicle sticks and white glue, which to us sounds like a lot of fun (especially if they have to eat a lot of Popsicles beforehand to prepare).

Here are the details:

WHAT: Engineering Fair & the 15th Annual Popsicle Bridge Contest

WHEN: Saturday, Feb 13th from 8:00am-5:00pm

WHERE: William M. Allen Theater at the Museum of Flight, located at 9404 East Marginal Way South in Seattle; Phone: 206.764.5720

INFO: From the Museum of Flight’s website:

The Younger Member Forum of the American Society of Civil Engineers will put on a competition of bridges built using only Popsicle sticks and white glue. Each year teams of high school students from local schools build bridges that are strong, efficient, as well as aesthetically pleasing. The bridges will be judged and then tested to failure with a hydraulic press. Be sure to be in the room as each bridge snaps and broken Popsicle sticks fly everywhere. At 12:00 noon the winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded.

In the Museum’s Side Gallery, the Puget Sound Engineering Council will celebrate the annual National Engineers Week with an Engineering Fair. Local chapters of national societies representing the entire span of engineering disciplines will staff booths all day where those interested in engineering careers can learn more about the exciting opportunities available. Several university engineering departments and student clubs will also be represented.

Here’s a video about the Popsicle bridge competition:

Since it’s Valentine’s Day week, there’s no better time to learn about the “Science of Love,” and Highline Community College is here to help with a seminar this Friday, Feb. 12th from 2:20pm to 3:10pm.

Here are the lovely details:

WHAT: Science of Love

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 12th, from 2:20pm – 3:10pm.

WHERE: Highline Community College, Building 3, Room 102, located at 2400 S. 240th St., Des Moines.

COST: FREE and open to the public.

INFO: Psychology professor Ruth Frickle presents this special Science Seminar that looks at what is love and the different kinds of love, attempting to answer such questions as:

• What is love?
• Does it really exist or is it a myth?
• Are there different kinds of love?
• Can love last?

For more info, visit http://flightline.highline.edu/scienceseminars.

BTB Contributor Gregory Rehmke tips us that if you like Burien’s parks, enjoy nature and dig geology (pun intended), you might enjoy visiting Eagle Landing Park over the next few days to see some “Geology In Action,” as two large trees have slid down the hill to the beach just north of the wooden stairs.

Eagle Landing Park is located at the west end of SW 149th Street, where it meets 25th Ave SW, in Burien. The walk from the parking lot to the beach is about a quarter of a mile down a long wooden staircase, dropping 275 feet in elevation.

According to Greg:

“Steady rain has saturated the soil around these trees, and high tides have significantly undermined the four or five large trees right next to the wood stairs.

When those trees go down they will probably take the stairs and perhaps the whole bottom platform with them (see pictures below).

Monday, Feb. 1st, and Tuesday, Feb. 2nd will have very high tides, which could impact these trees:

• Mon., Feb. 1st: 13.5 at around 6:40am
• Tues., Feb. 2nd: 13.6 at around 7:15am

Gregory Rehmke
www.LibertyFlix.org
grehmke@gmail.com

According to a poster at the park entitled “Geology In Action”:

Seeing slow motion
You may not feel the earth move here, but the evidence is all around you. This whole bluff is scoop shaped, the result of a catastrophic landslide sometime in the last century. Small piles of debris show where springs and heavy rains have washed gravel and dirt down from the hillside.

Wetlands at the base of the bluff are a sign that water seeping through the hilltop’s sandy soil has run into something it can’t ooze through. In this case, it’s a layer of hard clay left behind by glaciers during the last Ice Age.

Creeping topsoil tilting trees
Gravity is causing the park’s topsoil to creep toward the beach and it’s dragging the trees down, too. Where the soil is moving slowly, the tree trunks develop a curve that keeps their growing tips pointing toward the sky.

Where the soil is moving faster than the trees can grow, the trunks are still straight. They’re tiled though, in the same direction they – and the soil – are creeping.

Here are some photos Greg took on Sunday, Jan. 31st showing the creeping “Geology In Action”:

If you plan on going to witness nature at work, be sure to take some pics and send ‘em to us at editor@b-townblog.com if you capture anything interesting!

Story & Photos by Michael Brunk

Tucked away in one corner of the Southwest Suburban Sewer District facility in Normandy Park is a small, unassuming building. It is here, just yards away from Miller Creek, that the Duwamish-Green Chapter of Trout Unlimited has their hatchery operation. On Saturday, January 23rd, members of Trout Unlimited and volunteers from across the community gathered here. Their purpose: to transport and release 110,000 young Coho Salmon fry into various creeks in the local area.

According to chapter member and local conservationist Andy Batcho, the Coho fry have been raised from eggs acquired from the Soos Creek Hatchery in early January. The fry are born with a yolk sac that provides nourishment at first, but soon the sac is consumed and it’s time for them to be released into the wild.

“It’s a balancing act,” says Dennis Clark, King County Steward of the Miller and Walker Creek basins. Despite the fact a wild Coho female will lay around 3,000 eggs, only 10% of those will hatch. This, combined with other factors, such as unexplained deaths of adult salmon before they can spawn, means that very few native fish are able to successfully reproduce.

Clark explained that hatchery operations are a useful piece of the overall strategy to bolster fish populations, but that it’s important that the newly planted fry not overwhelm the native fish. Timing and release location are two critical elements in ensuring that the hatchery-raised salmon are forced to compete and become healthy adult fish as a result.

In talking to the people at the hatchery and out in the field planting the young salmon, it is clear that this is an effort that attracts a broad swath of people from across the community – families with young children, retired engineers, doctors, local politicians, scientists, sportsmen and others. Despite the cold, gray weather, they come together with a desire to contribute something back to the environment.

By itself this volunteer-run effort is quite literally just a drop in the ocean, but combined with the hard work of many others in our region it adds to the incremental improvements in the overall health of the habitat in which we all live.

There are far worse ways to spend a Saturday morning.

Here’s a Photo Slideshow of the event:

Click to View Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

The Washington State Department of Ecology awarded grants of $50,000 each to four South King County communities that will help them comply with federal regulations regarding toxic runoff from streets and other surfaces.

The grant money will be applied toward anything from equipment purchases and storm drain cleaning to public education and outreach.

Recipient cities include:

• Des Moines
• Kent
• Normandy Park
• SeaTac

Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D – Des Moines), who chairs the state House Ecology and Parks Committee, says the timing of the awards couldn’t be better.

“Toxic runoff is one of the major causes of pollution to Puget Sound,” Upthegrove said.  “Research clearly shows it is a threat both to drinking water and marine life.  These grants will help communities that are already operating on lean budgets still meet federal requirements to address this very serious environmental health issue.”

About 14 million pounds of toxic pollutants – including petroleum, pesticides, and heavy metals – enter Puget Sound each year.  This constant influx of hazardous substances kills fish, closes beaches to swimming, and threatens drinking water supplies.  It imperils the region’s economy, not only because of the state’s reliance on water resources, but because cash-strapped municipalities lack sufficient funding to pay for cleanup efforts.

All four cities plan to use part of the grant money for detection of pollutants within their stormwater systems.  By pinpointing the source sites where pollutants enter these systems, they can take the necessary steps to address the problem.  Public education efforts will also be undertaken, to help teach people how they can help prevent toxic runoff from their homes and businesses.

“The clock is ticking for us to save Puget Sound, and how cities deal with toxic runoff is going to determine whether or not we’ll be successful,” Upthegrove said.  “This extra boost in state funds will help these communities move forward with pollution prevention efforts.”

Here’s a rare opportunity to have a real, unique yet very effective hands-on experience helping local wildlife – a salmon fry “out-planting” will be taking place this Saturday, Jan. 23rd at 9am at the Southwest Suburban Sewer District’s Hatchery in Normandy Park.

Basically thousands of baby salmon “fry” will be released into Miller Creek, which is a very cool thing.

You can come, help out, or just watch and take photos (Photographer Michael Brunk will be there as well).

If you’d like to participate, you’ll need boots, a clean ice cooler(s) and likely a raincoat given the weather of the past few weeks.  The Chapter does have some coolers equipped with aerators which some can be used for longer trips to the streams.

Keep in mind that parking is limited, so you might want to car pool, bike or arrive a bit early. SW Suburban Sewer District is located at 1015 Southwest 174th Place in Normandy Park; phone: (206) 244-2202.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Salmon Fry out-planting

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 23rd at 9am

WHERE: Southwest Suburban Sewer District Hatchery

INFO: From an email announcement:

President Dr. John Muramatsu & Hatchery Manager Russ Welker of the Duwamish-Green Chapter of Trout Unlimited have announced that the Coho fry in our Southwest Suburban Sewer District Hatchery will be ready to plant into local streams next Saturday, January 23rd at 9AM.

Those wishing to participate in fry out-planting should meet at the SW Suburban Sewer District at or about 9AM.  Parking is somewhat limited.

You’ll need boots, coolers and likely a rain coat given the weather of the past few weeks.  The Chapter does have some coolers equipped with aerators which some can use for longer trips to the streams.

This year, we will be mixing the hatchery water with stream water to help the fry adapt to cooler stream waters while being transported.  Fry should be slowly transitioned into the stream by mixing stream water at the release site to reduce temperature shock.

If you have access to a planting site on your property, great, if not, the release team will provide release locations.

For those that would like photos, bring your camera.  There is an easy access spot ~30’ from the hatchery on Miller Creek for “photo ops”.

For any questions, contact John Muramatsu at psmuramatsu@earthlink.net.

The National Weather Service issued an unusual Advisory Monday (Jan. 18th) – this one for a “minor tidal overflow” that will be in effect for Puget Sound Tuesday morning and possibly again Wednesday morning.

According to the report, “very high astronomical tides combined with lower than normal atmospheric pressures” as well as high winds may cause some flooding.

So, if you live near the shoreline and your street/yard/area has a tendency to flood, you might want to put out some sandbags just in case.

Here’s the actual advisory:

… Coastal Flood Advisory for minor tidal overflow is in effect for Puget Sound and the north interior from 5 am to 11 am PST Tuesday…

The National Weather Service in Seattle has issued a coastal Flood Advisory for minor tidal overflow from Puget Sound to the north interior… which is in effect from 5 am to 11 am PST Tuesday.

Minor tidal overflow may occur along some of the shorelines and nearby low-lying areas around Puget Sound and the north interior Tuesday morning… around the time of high tide. Minor tidal overflow is caused by very high astronomical tides combined with lower than normal atmospheric pressures. The Table below shows time of high tide for areas around Puget Sound… along with the normal tide table value and the expected total tide.

Time of tide table expected expected location high tide value anomaly total tide

• Seattle 7:30 am 12.2 ft 1.6 ft 13.8 ft
• Port Townsend 7:06 am 9.1 ft 1.8 ft 10.9 ft
• Bellingham 8:12 am 9.6 ft 1.9 ft 11.5 ft

Minor tidal overflow problems usually begin at 13.5 feet around Seattle and 11.5 feet around Bellingham… and the current forecasts for those areas just meet or exceed those levels. In addition… the atmospheric pressure could be a little lower than forecast… and local winds may cause water to pile up along shorelines more than expected… possibly higher than the expected total tide values. Southeast winds 20 to 30 knots are forecast over the northern inland waters Tuesday morning as another deep low pressure system moves northward offshore. Winds over the waters of Puget Sound are expected to be south 10 to 20 knots Tuesday morning.

Another very high astronomical tide will occur Wednesday morning. The forecast tides for Wednesday morning are slightly lower than for Tuesday… but computer model forecasts indicate the anomaly will still be large enough so that minor tidal overflow problems remain a possibility.

Precautionary/preparedness actions…

Minor tidal over flow can cause local flooding along shorelines and nearby low-lying areas.

The City of Burien has been awarded a $750,000 grant from the state Salmon Recovery Funding Board to return the northern shoreline of Seahurst Park to a restored, more accessible, and more natural condition, with hopes it will restore salmon habitat.

The money will be used by the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department, and construction is scheduled for fall of 2010. Crews will remove a seawall, rock riprap (huh?), groins (what th–???), paving and fill.

In addition to the $750,000 grant, the City of Burien will contribute $133,000 from a state grant and the Army Corps of Engineers will contribute $1,800,000 through the American Recovery Reinvestment Act.

Since being armored in the 1970s, beach elevations in Seahurst Park have dropped 3 to 4 feet due to wave scouring and the disconnection of the beach from sources of sediment. The changes in the beach have significantly degraded the quality of habitat for salmon and the organisms they depend on, particularly forage fish.

A similar project on the southern shoreline of the park to remove the seawall and restore the beach was completed in 2005. The northern section is much larger in scale and will include recreational elements such as a playground, picnic areas and trails.

The Salmon Recovery Funding Board on Dec. 11th announced it was awarding over $2.6 million for nine projects, including Seahurst Park, to protect and restore salmon habitat in King County.

Monday, Dec. 21st will be the “shortest day of the year” as the annual Winter Solstice happens at precisely 9:47am PST, marking the beginning of Winter for us Earthly Northern Hemispherians.

At 9:47am, the Sun will be directly over the Tropic of Capricorn, which is about 23.5 degrees south of the equator. As the earth rotates around the Sun on its tilted axis, the Northern Hemisphere “leans away” from sunlight, making for “shorter days” and colder temperatures.

Winter Solstice is often referred to as “the shortest day of the year,” but that’s wrong – it still contains 24 hours, ya silly goose. It just has the least amount of sunlight. So stop calling it the “shortest,” will ya? You’re giving the Earth a “short day complex.” Next thing ya know, it’ll be driving a big truck.

Some fun Winter Solstice facts:

• While most Winter Solstices occur on Dec. 21st, there have been years when the solstices have occurred on Dec. 20th and/or Dec. 23rd, but this is fairly rare. The last Dec. 23rd solstice occurred in 1903 and will not occur again until the year 2303. A Dec. 20 solstice has occurred very rarely, with the next one occurring in the year 2080. So mark your Outlook Calendars now.
• Winter solstice’s varying dates are mainly due to the calendar system with 365 days in a year with 366 in a leap year.
• Solstice is a Latin word which means “sun stands still,” referring to the appearance that the Sun’s noontime elevation change stops its progress, either northerly or southerly.
• Solstices occur twice a year – Dec. 21st and June 21st, because our planet is tilted by an average of 23.5 degrees as it orbits the sun – the same phenomenon that drives the seasons.

So…Happy Winter Solstice to one and all! And remember, the days will all be getting longer from now until June 21st!

The National Weather Service has released an updated forecast for this weekend, and they’re saying we may, just possibly have a 30-40% chance of SNOW starting Friday night (Dec. 11th) continuing through Sunday.

Of course, weather prognosticators are never wrong, are they? We sure hope not.

Here’s their latest day-by-day predictions, as of 9pm Wednesday Dec. 9th, most certain to change as the clock ticks:

• Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. East northeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 38. Calm wind.
• Friday Night: A 30 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a low around 28. Calm wind becoming north northeast around 6 mph.
• Saturday: A 40 percent chance of snow. Snow level 300 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 40.
• Saturday Night: A chance of snow. Snow level 300 feet. Cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Sunday: A chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 41.
• Sunday Night: A chance of rain and snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 36.
• Monday: A chance of rain and snow. Cloudy, with a high near 42.
• Monday Night: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 42.

Cliff Mass adds:

A lot of you are wondering about snow. I have been wondering too. The problem is that the models are not consistent for this weekend and early next week. This morning our local model forced by the GFS..the NWS’s best large scale forecast model, indicated a major snowstorm late Monday. But I don’t trust any of it at this point and you shouldn’t either. Thursday and Friday until dinnertime looks dry for western Washington…and cold. You can bank on that.

BTW, a record low of 18 was set at SeaTac Airport Wednesday morning (Dec. 9th). The previous low was 21, set in 1972.

Sustainable Burien’s next meeting will be a potluck on Sunday, Dec. 13th from 2pm to 4pm at the main floor conference room of the Burien library.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien’s monthly meeting: “Join us for potluck and a roundtable discussion.  Bring ideas and a dish to share.”

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 13th from 2pm to 4pm – doors open at 1:30pm

WHERE: Main floor conference room of the new Burien Library, located at 400 SW 152nd

INFO: “Come join us for learning, exploring and more…”

From their website:

Sustainable Burien is an organization started in January of 2008. We recognize the need to promote and participate in the creation of a sustainable community in Burien. We invite all residents and businesses to participate in creating a sustainable local community by sharing their ideas, passions, knowledge and talents.

At our meetings we will be collecting burned out CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light) bulbs and dead rechargable batteries. People are welcome to bring any extra food items [produce from your garden, fruit from your trees, etc.] that they have and barter with others. Also bring any coupons for food that you get in the mail or from the newspaper, we’ll pass them on to the food bank, who can make good use of them.

Gatherings are held on the second Sunday of each month, – from 2:00 – 4:00PM at the (new) KCLS Burien Library (doors open at 1:30PM). For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

Please call Rebecca or Bill at 243-9366 if there are questions.

by Ralph Nichols

When the United States eventually returns to space after the shuttle program is retired next year, “we can go back to the moon and on to other planets,” Apollo 8 astronaut William A. Anders said at the Museum of Flight in Tukwila recently.

Anders, a retired major general in the US Air Force Reserve, was keynote speaker at a private luncheon hosted by the museum and the Seattle Symphony honoring the Apollo missions. It was held on the 40th anniversary of the launch of Apollo 12 – the second mission to land men on the moon.

In remarks given between symphonic works at the concert, Anders, the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 8 mission – the first manned lunar orbit mission, recalled that President Kennedy, determined “to demonstrate that America was not second rate … and would not lose the missile gap,” would land a man on the moon by the end of the 1960s.

“And that was done,” added Anders, whose reflection on the Apollo 8 mission, “We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth,” has become a famous quote.

Even more famous are his pictures, the first taken of the earth from the moon, including “Earthrise,” which he took on Christmas Eve, 1968:

“The space program today,” he said at the Museum of Flight, “has had some spectacular flights … and spectacular successes with the space shuttle. But the shuttle will be grounded next year.”

Now NASA is working on new space vehicles, and with the vision of companies like Boeing and leaders like Bill Allen, the long-time CEO of the aerospace giant, the United States “will go back into space.”

Our friends at the UW-APL/PSSC Environmental & Marine Science Observatory at Seahurst Park have not only repaired their beach and underwater webcams, they’ve upgraded them to high definition.

This means that now you can watch HD footage not only of the beach, but from underwater as well!

Here are some pretty cool video clips ranging from time lapses that show the changing tides (fast-moving) passersby and sunsets, to clips of dogfish and more; as always, we feature these feeds on our Webcams page along with other local cams:

[display_podcast]

For video highlights from the Seahurst Beach Underwater camera, click here.

For an archive of Seahurst Beach HD clips, click here.

More info from their website:

The observatory is a collaboration between oceanographers and engineers at the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory and the Puget Sound Skills Center’s Environmental and Marine Science program. The Marine Science program has a wonderful shoreside facility located at the north end of Seahurst Park in Burien, Washington. To support the salmon hatchery located at the facility there are two saltwater intake pipes that run 850 feet from the building out to 25 feet of water. Those pipes provide an ideal means to run power and fiber optic ethernet cables for underwater instruments, providing a permanent, real-time, high bandwidth presence on the bottom of Puget Sound.

The observatory was installed through a combination of volunteer efforts and a science and engineering development project at APL-UW funded by the National Science Foundation. That project is working to install a cabled-to-shore profiling mooring at the MARS observatory in Monterey Bay, California. The installation at Seahurst provides a plug compatible observatory interface for testing that system in diver accessible depths right in our own backyard.

Data from the CTD is collected every 1.5 seconds. Time-lapse video frames are taken every 10 seconds. Daily time-lapse videos are archived. Full-rate video is captured and archived when motion is detected. For presentation on the front page of the web site a snapshot is taken once per minute and twenty seconds of full-rate (10 fps) video is taken every five minutes.

by Mark Neuman

Construction continues on the new Environmental Learning Center located at the north end of Seahurst Park.

“The vision of the Environmental Science Center (ESC) is to construct a world-class, state-of-the-art Learning Center,” said Jan Glick, ESC Executive Director. “The framing is almost done. As the fall comes in it’ll be sealed up and roofed. To finish the project we still have to raise an additional $350,000.”

From the ESC’s website:

“The new Learning Center will be constructed on the former site of the Caretakers’s Cottage, and will be built to include many green features. It will be located conveniently next to a freshwater stream, .7 mile of saltwater waterfront, plus 178 acres of forested trails which all will be incorporated into ESC’s curriculum.

In addition, the Learning Center will accommodate two full classrooms (fifty person capacity) of students or community groups for environmental educational programs.”

Target date for building completion is April 2010.

“We have raised about $950,000 going back to 2001,” Glick said. “We need to raise another $350,000 to pay for the $1.3 million project.

“We are in discussions with several foundations and corporations in Washington state. We are optimistic we will be raising some significant portion of the needed $350,000 from institutional donors.”

But the probable size of those potential grants still leaves a gap between realized and needed funds.

“The other thing that is happening right now is that the price tag on the project is $100,000 lower than first estimated a few years ago. This is due to the current soft construction economy,” Glick said. “We are now receiving lower bids from various contractors.

“This combination of interest from institutional funders and the lower cost is providing us an opportunity to finish off the fundraising.”

This is where area residents can help, Glick points out.

“We are making an appeal to the community now to make donations and help open up to the public this community asset. It’s a great community asset. It will be open to the public. It will be free.

“We serve over 10,000 kids a year, mostly from the Highline School District but also from all over the Puget Sound area.

“We’ll have indoor demonstrations and exhibits. It is located right next door to the Marine Technology Center and its salmon hatchery.”

The ESC also offers naming and recognition opportunities for Learning Center donors. Contact the ESC office for further information.

The ESC is a 501(c)3 organization and contributions are tax deductible.

For online donation information go to:

www.envsciencecenter.org

Then click “Capital Campaign” on the left hand side.

Or call 206-517-5199 and talk to Jan Glick directly.

Mailing Address:

Environmental Science Center
126 SW 148th Street
Suite C100-170
Burien, WA 98166

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• Ground Broken For New Environmental Learning Center
• Spring Classes Starting Up At Environmental Science Center
• Learning Comes Naturally At Environmental Science Center

At precisely 2:18pm PDT today (Tuesday, Sept. 22nd), the autumnal equinox takes place, shifting us into the wonderful Fall season chock full of colorful, crunchy leaves, football, and our favorite, walking through freshly-woven spider webs every flippin’ morning.

However, oddly enough, today’s weather will be anything but fall-like, with a high predicted to be in the mid-80s (perhaps this is Summer’s last hurrah?). According to Meteorologist Cliff Mass:

A huge, high-amplitude upper ridge is developing over the west coast … This is really amazing…with unusually high pressure developing aloft and at low levels. Such a major ridge is associated with warm temps aloft and with offshore flow and added warming at low levels … Very, very warm temps in California, offshore and downslope flow over the Cascades, warming over our region.

Western Washington should surge into the mid-70s tomorrow and mid-80s on Wednesday and Thursday. Impressive for late September!

Back to Fall – according to people much smarter than us, the September equinox is defined as:

“When the sun crosses the celestial equator and moves southward, out of the northern hemisphere. The location on the earth where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon is known as the ’subsolar point.’ The point is located on the equator during both the September (fall) and March (spring) equinox. At those days, the earth’s axis of rotation is perpendicular to the line connecting the centers of the earth and the sun. “

Some say that you can stand an egg on its end “only on an equinox” (Sept. or March), but, according to Snopes, that isn’t necessarily true:

“”Rarely does a year go by in which a local TV station doesn’t send a reporter out to a neighborhood park to capture images of people decidedly placing eggs on the ground and watching in amazement as the eggs stand on end. Rarely do we see any new stories reporting that this same feat can be achieved every other day of the year as well.

“The Chinese are thought to have originated the practice of standing eggs on end during the equinox. Just as the equinox symbolically restores balance to the world by signalling its rebirth after a season of darkness, the equinox literally balances the day by dividing it into equal portions of darkness and light. If the symbol of fertility — eggs — could be balanced on end during a day equally divided between day and night, this was a sign that all nature was in harmony. That the balancing of eggs could be achieved on any day of the year was of no importance; what everyone wanted and needed was a familiar, reassuring ritual to demonstrate that all was right with the world.”

However, we still invite all Readers to try and balance an egg on its end today, take some pics and email ‘em in – we’ll print the most interesting and make you famous, at least in Burien.

Here’s a tip on how to successfully get eggs to balance:

• Because most eggs’ yolks are off center, try shaking the egg – this will break up the yolk and lower the egg’s center of gravity to help it balance.
• And because egg shells have tiny bumps on them, they can act as “feet” to stand the egg up.
• Have one person stand the egg up while the other takes the pic.
• Stop bumpin’ the table dude, I’m trying to make the egg stand on its end!

We haven’t seen one of these since July 29th, when the temps hit 104-degrees – an actual Weather Advisory – this time for quite the opposite: a cold/wet and “breezy” front to come in Saturday.

Consider yourselves warned, especially those of you planning on attending say, an outdoor wedding late Saturday afternoon:

… A cool and wet Labor Day weekend is expected across western Washington…

A cold front will move across western Washington on Saturday… bringing periods of rain… cooler… and breezy conditions. The front will be followed by an unseasonably cool and showery upper level trough Saturday night through Labor Day. Temperatures in The Lowlands Sunday and Labor Day will struggle to hit the lower 60s during the afternoon hours.

Snow levels in the mountains will be around 6000 feet Saturday night into Labor Day. Temperatures above 3500 feet will remain in
the 40s during the daytime hours. Cold temperatures will be accompanied by occasional showers and breezy conditions.

People planning travel into the mountains this weekend should be prepared for fall-like conditions. Dress warm and take rain gear. Hypothermia can occur with these expected conditions.

Need further evidence to get your rain coat out? Local celeb Meteorologist Cliff Mass talks about this weather event on his blog here.

Photo courtesy Gregory Rehmke.

The saga continues…last January, Dr. Clark replaced my left shoulder. It was such a success and such a blessing to be pain free on the left side that I, once again, entrusted myself into his brilliant hands and the wonderful surgical nurses of Highline Hospital. They did their magic while I slept, and I am now the proud, PAIN FREE, owner of two bionic shoulders.

After they finished, they passed me off to the ICU staff, and then I was taken to my lovely room on the 4th floor. It was like old home week; I was re-acquainted w/ the great nurses and the CNA’s that help me last time and, I made some new friends. Their professionalism, sense of humor, and willingness to see to my comfort was superlative! I especially appreciated the night shift staff that tippy toed in and took my vitals without turning on that horrible bright light and barely waking me up – Thanks guys.

My favorite Reiki person came by and treated me; sadly, the young lady from Highline High School, who serenaded us with her lovely violin music last time, seems to be on summer vacation.

Our community is so blessed to have such a fantastic hospital, staffed with such professionals in our community! Thank you all for making my stay, not only safe, and healing, but fun as well.

P. S. Keep the candle burning in the window, the chicken stroganoff looked so good on the room service menu I may have to come back. Now if you could just get down pillows and beds a wee bit more comfy…

(Kathy Keene moved to the Burien area in 1987 and worked for Boeing for 17 years. Kathy opted for an early retirement in 2005 to pursue her new love of designing and selling jewelry as well as becoming more involved with the community.)

[EDITOR'S NOTE: We welcome guest columns from all area residents – do YOU have a story you'd like to tell? Email us!]

Manning shovels at the Environmental Learning Center groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday were (L to R) Burien Mayor Joan McGilton, King County Executive Dow Constantine, Georgette Valle, State House Rep. Sharon Nelson, State Rep. Tina Orwall, ESC Board President Kerry Lohr, ESC Director Julie Burr, and Burien Parks Director Michael Lafreniere.

Ground was broken Tuesday afternoon (June 23rd) by numerous local and state dignitaries for Burien’s new world-class, state-of-the-art Environmental Learning Center, located at the Seahurst Park beach.

This new facility will replace the current “caretaker’s cottage” building, and will serve as a learning center where children and educators can come together to learn to understand, appreciate and protect precious natural resources, especially Puget Sound.

This future Environmental Learning Center will also be a gathering place in a stunning setting for Burien.

The City of Burien has granted a 30-year lease to remodel the old caretaker’s cottage into a state of the art facility, which will also serve as a model for green building techniques.

The mission of the Environmental Science Center is to promote environmental stewardship, sustainability and academic achievement through science based environmental education.

For more information, or to make a donation to the Capital Campaign, please visit the ESC website.

The official groundbreaking ceremony for the new Environmental Learning Center will be this Tuesday, June 23rd, from 3:30pm to 5pm.

The ceremony will take place at the location of the existing Caretaker’s Cottage, with refreshments served, as well as remarks by King County Council Chairman Dow Constantine at 4pm. All are invited!

The ceremony will be about 50 yards south (closer to the parking lot) of their existing office in the Marine Tech Center at the end of SW 140th St in Seahurst Park in Burien. The nearest parking is about 200 yards from the building. To get to Seahurst Park, from Ambaum Blvd SW turn west on SW 144th St., then right on 13th Ave SW then follow that road as it curves and becomes SW 140th St and goes downhill to the shore. There is some parking very near the end, if that is full there is additional parking part way up the hill.

Summer officially begins tonight (Sat. June 20th) at 10:45pm PDT, with Sunday considered the “first day of summer” as well as the longest day and shortest night of the year.

Of course, it’d be nice if the weather gods would cooperate, but instead of basking in the heat of a new summer’s day, we’ll all be shivering as temps strain to reach 60 degrees, with a 60% chance of rain Sunday, which of course is the final day of Burien’s annual Strawberry & Arts Festival, where we have a booth near the Skate Park (come on by and enter our contest to win one of 38 local prizes valued at over $2,100!).

But we’re all rugged Northwesterners aren’t we, and we’re not going to let a little cold or dampness stop us from having fun, so strip off your shirts, show off some skin and relish in the start of another fine Summer Solstice Day (and if you’re planning on some kind of unusual pagan ritual this weekend, be sure to send us pics)!

Tonight (Friday April 3rd) starting at 8pm at Lake Burien School Memorial Park there will be a FREE star (and planet, and perhaps even satellite/UFO?) gazing gathering where people can look through an advanced 8-inch Meade computer-controlled telescope.

Pending weather, this will also happen Saturday night (April 4th) at the same time and location.

You’re invited to come celebrate 400 years of stargazing since Galileo first looked through a telescope in 1609 (and no, he didn’t do it in Burien).

Local amateur astronomer Jim Burrows will be your host, so come to the park and look for the telescope setup.

We know this is last-minute notice, but it was only decided on this afternoon once the weather cleared. Keep in mind though that it’s going to be another cold night, so bundle up and be sure to bring your Snuggie blanket thingy.

Lake Burien School Memorial Park is located at SW 148th and 16th Avenue SW in Burien (map below).

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BTB Advertiser Highline Audiology will be holding a special, free, three-day event this week, from Tuesday March 17th through Thursday March 19th.

This event will include a free hearing screening, consultation, demonstration of the Dual (the exact same hearing aid now worn by BTB Publisher/Editor Scott Schaefer, who highly recommends getting your hearing tested if you’ve ever rocked out like he has…), and a free No-Risk Trial of the Dual.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Highline Audiology’s free Hearing Screening, Consultation, Dual Hearing Aid Demo & No-Risk Trial

WHEN: Tuesday through Thursday, March 17th, 18th, & 19th, 2009.

INFO: Call (206) 246-8677 to reserve your appointment.

Also, be sure to check out their new website, designed by (of all people)…us: www.highlineaudiology.com

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by Mark Neuman

It’s hard to imagine a more beautiful spot to “go to school” than Seahurst Park, showcasing the Olympic Mountains and Puget Sound right here in Burien.

Our friends at the Environmental Science Center (ESC), located at Seahurst Park, announce their Spring Course programs starting March 27.

Course topics include:

• Water Heroes – Keep our watershed healthy (Classroom Presentation & Activity)
• Digging up Dirt – A Field Investigation Using the Scientific Method (Three Classroom Sessions)
• It’s a Jungle Out There - With focus on eelgrass beds found in Puget Sound (Classroom Presentation & Activity)
• Exploring Intertidal Puget Sound – Beach etiquette and stewardship are stressed (Classroom Presentation & Field Study)

“ESC strives for a ratio of 1 instructor for every 10 students in the field in order to provide high quality instruction and personal attention for every student, as well as to meet teacher’s requests for specific curriculum emphasis,” says Julie Burr, ESC Executive Director.

“For schools with more than fifty percent of their student population on free or reduced lunch, please inquire about our program cost fee waiver,” Julie said.

Programs are aligned with 2009 Washington State Essential Academic Learning Requirements, Science Standards, and Environmental Education Standards.

ESC staff will work with teachers to modify programs to fit their curriculum needs.

Know a teacher or school principal/administrator? Send them this article or give them a call! ESC works with thousands of students from schools all around the Puget Sound area every year.

For more information, here’s how to contact Julie and her staff:

Email: Julieb@envsciencecenter.org

Phone: 206-246-2144

Website w/class info: www.envsciencecenter.org/Programs/programs.htm

Here’s how to get there (see map below):

• From Ambaum Blvd. in Burien, head west on SW 144th
• Turn right on 13th SW. That road will take you all the way to Seahurst Park; drive down to the beach, where parking is available (if it isn’t, there’s a second parking lot near the top)
• Walk north along the beach a couple hundred yards and there you are!

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Highline Community College’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST), located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines (map below), is holding a “Science on the Sound” speaker series beginning Saturday, Feb. 7th.

“Science on the Sound” is a semi-monthly seminar that features experts discussing issues pertinent to the Puget Sound and the region.

Upcoming speakers for Science on the Sound include:

Feb. 7: Sea Otter Recovery
: Caroline Hempstead, who specializes in marine mammals at the Seattle Aquarium, discusses efforts to establish a permanent population of sea otters on the Washington coast.

Feb. 21: Oceans and Human Health
: Usha Varanasi, director of Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, discusses the importance of healthy oceans to our personal health and the health of our societies.

March 7: Puget Sound Octopus
: Learn the basics of octopus anatomy and behavior from Seattle Aquarium naturalist Giovannina Souers. She will also share stories about octopuses at the Seattle Aquarium.

March 21: Working the Sea, Writing the Sea: 
Writer and sailor Holly Hughes will share her experiences of living and working on the sea, as well as her writing and poetry.

Sponsored by: HCC’s Marine Science and Technology Center (MaST)

Here are the details:

WHAT: Science on the Sound speaker series

WHEN: Feb. 7 and 21; March 7 and 21, Noon to 1 p.m.

COST: FREE

WHERE: Highline’s MaST Center is located on Redondo Beach in Des Moines; address: 28203 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines, WA 98198.

INFO: www.highline.edu/mast/

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by Gina Bourdage

The 25th annual American Cancer Society’s 2009 “Relay For Life” kick-off happened last Wednesday (Jan. 21st) at Highline Medical Center.

The evening began with hors d’oeuvres from Sal’s Deli and music from the group “Critical Mass,” a local jazz band comprised of some very talented members from the Burien community, including doctors from Highline Medical Center.

Entering its fourth year in Burien, “Relay For Life” gathered together team leaders, board members and local businesses to go over the goals for the June 13th – 14th event at Highline Stadium. Involvement in the “Relay For Life” provides lifesaving support for the American Cancer Society and programs.

Contributions and fundraising allow much-needed programs and efforts to be funded in the advancement for a cure, while sustaining ongoing efforts for survivors and families of cancer. Each team spends one day and one night celebrating and remembering those whose lives have been affected by cancer and provides them a way to fight back.

Margie Rodriguez, a two-time cancer survivor, was on hand to speak about what having cancer has done to change her perspective on life:

“It has taught me how to live. To enjoy the moment.”

Each year 3.5 million people in more than 4,900 communities participate. This year Burien has 11 teams signed up to participate and are looking for more. Last year the Highline Community had more than 515 register participants and raised more than $85,000. Four year participant and team captain of team Fam Damily, Patty Murray was present this year for the kick off 2009. Last year Murray’s team raised more than $10,000 through efforts from handmade painted pots sold for $5 each and garage sales.

Other teams include:

• The City of Burien
• City of Sea Tac
• Aviation High School
• Mt Rainer High School
• Many more

The event coordinators are hoping to have competitions between each city and high school team, however they are not all represented yet… (clearing throat voice Evergreen High School among others).

The event will start with a survivor’s lap and the evening will continue with music, entertainment and refreshments. Each team will take turns having at least one member on the track for the relay up to 24 hours. As the sun sets over campsites and darkness falls, the night is brightened by the glow of illuminated bags called luminaria, each of which has a special meaning. Some celebrate the lives of those who have battled cancer and have lived to tell their stories. Many remember the lives of those who have been lost to this disease. All represent someone special who has been profoundly affected by cancer and the family and friends who continue to fight back in their honor.

This year the overall fundraising goal is $95,000.

Will you be part of helping the fight for a cure? To participate, become a team captain or make a volunteer or monetary contribution please contact:

Gary McNeil
Event Co-Chair
Email: gmcnsoccer@comcast.net
Phone 206.390.3184

or

Kelly Cochran
American Cancer Society
Email: Kelly.cochran@cancer.org

For more information on Relay For Life visit www.highlinerelay.org.

Here’s a video with some more information:

by Mark Neuman

One of our area’s hidden gems is Seahurst Park.

And tucked away at the beach there is another diamond – the Environmental Science Center.

The Environmental Science Center (ESC) is the only community-based, not-for-profit environmental education organization in south King County with programs for all ages.

With a primary focus on K through 12, ESC offers school-day programs including classroom lessons and field trips, after school programs, summer camps, and community presentations.

Since its founding in 1999, rapid expansion in programs has led to an increasing number of program participants served, with more than 8,000 clients during 2008, up from 5,000 clients in 2006.

“We want to foster the next group of environmental stewards,”  said ESC Executive Director Julie Burr. “Kids don’t get out there, really out-of-doors, like they used to. We reach out with special effort to minority or lower-income children.”

Julie recently spent time showing the B-Town Blog around the Center, and brought us up to speed on a big project they have in mind.

“We have a vision for an Environmental Learning Center,” Julie said. “And we have the perfect spot to build it on.”

Years ago, when Seahurst Park was the property of King County, a park caretaker actually lived in a cottage just a few yards from the building ESC currently works out of.

The caretaker is long gone, and the cottage is boarded up.

“We will renovate inside and expand the cottage a bit on its south side.”

The result will be a 2,200 square foot facility which will seat fifty students.

It will take about $1.3 million to fully renovate. The fundraising has been going on for a while, with $900,000 having been raised to far.

“The remaining $400,000 is proving the toughest. Several major corporations sincerely want to help, but have had to drastically cut back their civic donations” due to the current economic state of affairs.

Corporate groups who have contributed toward the Learning Center include Boeing, Alaska Airlines and Waste Management.

“We greatly appreciate, as well, our funders who help keep our regular programs running,” Julie said. These groups include:

• The Russell Family Foundation
• The JiJi Foundation
• The Bottler Charitable Trust
• The City of Burien
• The Horizon Foundation
• The Seattle Foundation
• King Conservation District, WRIA 9

Julie received a special gift last month.

“My daughter, Jesann, bless her heart, went out and raised $1,540 from her friends for the Learning Center. She didn’t tell me about her efforts at all,” Julie recalled. “Then on Christmas Day she gave me the checks. What a sweetheart.”

No gift is too small (or too big!), so if you would like to contribute, please feel free to contact Julie anytime:

Julie Burr
Executive Director
Environmental Science Center
Julieb@envsciencecenter.org
phone 206-246-2144

DIRECTIONS:: From Ambaum Blvd. go west on 144th. Turn right on 13th. That road will take you all the way to the beach, where parking is available.

The Environmental Science Center and the cottage are about 200 yards north of there.

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