ESC Kids' Art Contest winner Anne Wilhite with Burien City Councilmember Joan McGilton.

The Environmental Science Center (ESC) on Thursday (Feb. 9) announced the winners of the Earth Day Kids’ Art Contest:

Congratulations go out to Anne Wilhite of Mr. Matthews’ 4th grade class at Marvista Elementary for winning the Grand Prize:

Ngan Nguyen of Ms. Miller’s 6th grade class at Cedarhurst Elementary also won as a Finalist:

Payton May of Mrs. Barker’s class, also Marvista Elementary, was selected as a Finalist:

A total of 103 pieces of artwork were submitted from eight schools and programs in the areas served by ESC. Students were asked to submit work that inspired others to take care of the earth. The work was judged by three jury members, two from the Burien Arts Commission. Judging criteria included artistic merit, creativity, and originality. Ms. Wilhite’s art expressed what the world could look like if we all do our part to protect the environment. Ms. May’s more literal artwork reminds the viewers to THINK of important actions, such as commuting and composting, that will provide a greener place for us all. Ms. Nguyen’s art inspires people of all backgrounds and ethnicities to take part in protecting the world.

To give special recognition to the Grand Prize winner, the former Mayor of Burien, Joan McGilton presented the award to Anne in front of her class. After the ceremony, students eagerly waited to have a chance to talk with the former Mayor and to shake her hand. ESC sincerely thanks McGilton for her continued support of ESC and our local schools. ESC along with its supporters is proud to continue inspiring each of these three young artists with an artist’s tote containing:

• Artist & Craftsman Donation- heart-shaped craft box, craft tissue paper, craft glue, and set of paintbrushes
• Utrecht Art Supplies Donation- artist’s sketchbook, set of pencils, and eraser
• Beading kit
• Sculpting sticks

Anne Wilhite’s will be featured on the invitations to ESC’s Annual Earth Day Dinner & Auction as well as on ESC’s website. Additionally, the Grand Prize included a one-year membership for a family of five to the Seattle Aquarium. One Finalist received a Family Fun Pack to the Woodland Park Zoo and the other received admission for four to the Seattle Bug Safari and admission for two to the Pacific Science Center and IMAX theater. All participants were recognized for their submissions with a certificate of participation. Thank you to all the students and teachers who submitted these wonderful works of art. We look forward to seeing more next year!

For more information about the Environmental Science Center visit www.envsciencecenter.org.

Washington’s only Reptile Man will slither into Des Moines on Saturday, Feb. 18, for a show at the Des Moines Activity Center.

The Reptile Man, aka Scott Petersen, has performed for more than 800 schools in the Northwest. Corporations such as Microsoft, Boeing, and Eddie Bauer have found this program to be exciting for all ages. He has been seen on Bill Nye The Science Guy, Evening Magazine, Northwest Afternoon, Town Meeting, Q13 Kids Club, and Watch This.

Scott is fully insured and has teaching credentials. He has a teachers State Patrol Certification on file with the State Superintendent of Public Education. This program will create an interest in the natural sciences and teach students about the importance of all animals in the balance of nature.

The program starts at 10:30 a.m. The Des Moines Activity Center is at 2045 S. 216th St., Des Moines.

Tickets are $3 in advance and $5 at the door, or $10 and $15 for families.

Advance tickets are available through the Des Moines Parks & Recreation Department at 206-870-6527.

For more information on The Reptile Man, visit www.reptileman.com/home.html.

Upcoming shows include:

• Harmonica Pocket Get Loose with Seuss, March 17, also at 10:30 a.m.

For more information on the Des Moines Arts Commission, visit www.desmoinesartscommission.com.

Here are some videos of the Reptile Man in action:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Brian Aston

by Mark Neuman

We spoke recently with our friend Brian Aston. Readers may recall that Brian is the young man who quite suddenly lost almost all of his vision about eight years ago at the age of 20 (read our previous coverage here).

The reason: A genetic disease called Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON).

The Highline High School graduate recalled the day his sight began to go away, eight years ago.

“I was at a memorial golf tournament in memory of my father who had passed three years earlier. I was on the 18th hole. I drove the ball down the fairway, got in the cart and drove to my ball,” Brian said.

“When I reached my ball I then looked for the pin or flag to take my next shot and I could not find the flag. I was with my Stepdad and we were basically arguing back and forth about where the flag was and we eventually walked to where he said the flag was and suddenly about fifteen feet away from the flag it appeared right in front of me.

“Just like that, in a matter of moments, my left eye was almost completely blacked out.”

Sight in his right eye deteriorated months later.

Brian is, however, experiencing recent improvement in his eyesight.

“I’ve been taking a vitamin called Idebenone, and in the last six months I have improved my vision tremendously. I’m sitting in the same spot at home I was sitting in when I did my KING-5 interview (last spring) and I can now see the blue lights on my cable box.

“I can’t read the numbers from this far back, but instead of just a big black blurry blob I see the cable box, I see our stereo system, I see the subwoofer behind it all.

“Six months ago I would not have been able to work with the ease and normalcy that I’m working (with) now.

“In the eight years since I’ve lost my vision I’ve only held a normal job for about six months” Brian said. “I now see way well enough to take the bus to work every day.

“I take the bus from where I live in the Kent Valley to the Southcenter area where I work at a call center. When I started just a little over a month ago, my nose was almost touching the (computer) monitor so that I could read people’s names when a call comes up.

“Now I’m over a foot away,” Brian told us. “My detailed reading sight has improved greatly.”

Brian started wearing glasses about three weeks ago. He’s been involved in a genetic therapy study for almost a year now.

He and many others with LHON could use our help.

“The National Eye Institute is where the funding for our study comes from. We need to raise about $60,000 as soon as possible. An outside consultant needs to be hired to finish the paperwork that will be submitted to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”

Rules prevent anybody directly involved with the study from writing the paperwork, which could amount to a thousand pages in length.

“So we have to hire a writer at a cost of a hundred grand,” Brian said.

“We need about $60,000. We need that money as soon as possible, so that we can get this guy hired and get the paperwork written and submitted to the FDA.”

The goal is to have the FDA come back with approval to begin human trials in the beginning of 2013.

For more information, go to Brian’s website:

www.TheGeneticHouse.com

Click on “Fundraising” to learn how to donate (direct link here).

Sustainable Burien’s next meeting will include a field trip to look at a sustainable garden from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 12th.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Sustainable Burien meeting on developing sustainable garden/farm.

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 12 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm.

WHERE: A local sustainable garden/farm TBA (call 243-9366 for address).

INFO: From an email:

“Rather than having our regular monthly meeting at the library on February 12th, we will be gathering at the private home of two of our members.  They have created many raised beds, planted berries and fruit trees, built a green house/chicken coop, and have been experimenting with beekeeping. We will be learning pruning techniques with Bill Wanless of Brooke/Wanless Gardens.  He will demonstrate how to prune new and old fruit trees and shrubs. We will also have a biochar stove demonstration.  Come and see what you may be able to create in your own garden.

Also, there will be a Bird Count  between Feb. 17-20. Some SuBu members will be participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count, and we invite others to join in the activity. It’s simple to do and only takes 15 minutes! Here’s a link: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/howto.html

The March meeting will be on March 18th, on the third Sunday rather than the second, and will be a joint presentation by Sustainable Burien and Environmental Science Center on Rain Gardens and Low Impact Development. We will be sending out detailed information soon.”

For more information, go to: http://www.sustainableburien.org.

A recent article in the Highline Times illustrates how little we as humans really understand of nature and salmon recovery: http://www.highlinetimes.com/2012/01/09/news/csi-highline-investigation-uncovers-more-salmon-s. This year Miller Creek has shown a remarkable amount of salmon returning to the creek.  There are far more fish returning than the Port of Seattle, the Cities of Normandy Park and Burien and the citizens of the area ever expected to count. When the third runway was under dispute, the Port of Seattle claimed that there were no fish in Miller Creek and therefore claimed there was nothing worthy of protection in the creek. Only through the constant efforts and insistence of the two groups-Trout Unlimited and CASE-was the Port forced to do a study on the fish populations in the creek. When the scientists came out to do an electric shock treatment on the creek, they found that Miller Creek was a creek that had fish population worthy of saving. Of course those of us who have lived around the creek-citizen scientists-knew this from their own personal observations.

While more fish are returning to the creek than ever expected, there are still some big problems for the fish. 40% of the fish are dying before they can spawn due to polluted storm water.For sure Burien needs to improve its Storm Water management system. Burien has known this for a long time but simply has not allocated the adequate funding to do the job correctly-to keep the waters clean. As individual citizens we can still do our part to help in the recovery of Miller Creek and the entire Sound. Please follow these simple practices in your own neighborhood and help to keep the fish that manage to make it back to the creek alive and spawning in Miller Creek.

HOW TO MINIMIZING SURFACE AND STORM WATER RUNOFF:

• Preserve plantings next to streams, lakes, wetlands and the Sound.  Plant trees and shrubs native to the Northwest whenever possible.
• Control pet access to streams and lakes.  Pet wastes-poop-degrade water quality.
• Maintain your vehicle regularly.  Leaking substances from vehicles contains toxic metals and are a major source of water pollution.
• Wash your vehicles on the grass, over dirt or at a commercial car wash.  Keep suds out of streams, lakes and the Sound.
• Recycle your motor oil at the nearest gas station.  Don’t dump it down the storm drain or pour it on the ground.
• Sweep your walks and driveway instead of hosing them down.  Dirt, gravel and debris from these paved surfaces contain contaminants that pollute water.
• Reduce the use of chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers.  If you fertilize your lawn, use a fertilizer with the lowest numbers available.  Try to use a fertilizer with a zero as the middle number-example 3-0-3.  The middle number is the amount Phosphorus in the fertilizer and it is this element that causes toxic algae problems in the shorelines.  By the year 2014, this element will be outlawed in fertilizers.
• Maintain your septic tank.

Sincerely,
Linda Plein

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Be sure to try and view the video full screen; here are some things to look for:

• Around the :16-second mark note how some enterprising, hardy neighbors put two bar stools out to sit and enjoy the weather!
• Around :38, the road either gets plowed, or perhaps shoveled…?
• Around :48, there’s proof that the storm didn’t stop the Postal Carrier.
• Toward the end someone left a plant watering can out.
• What else do you see? Please leave a Comment below!

Click here to view the embedded video.

UPDATE 1/20/12 11:50 a.m.: Saturday night’s ‘Moonlight Beach Walk’ has been canceled, “due to weather, unsafe roads, and the condition of Seahurst Park,” according to an email from our friends at the Environmental Science Center (ESC).

“ESC hopes to reschedule the event during the spring or summer,” the email adds. “Keep updated by checking the website: www.EnvScienceCenter.org.”

For more information about this event, contact Jennifer Dumlao at outreach@envsciencecenter.org.

Here’s more from a previous press release:

The Environmental Science Center (ESC) would like to remind our Readers about their free and family-friendly Moonlight Beach Walk, which will take place this Saturday, Jan. 21st from 7 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Local naturalists are volunteering their time to help guide visitors in discovering the unique marine life that lives in the intertidal zone.  Considered a marine reserve, the rock strewn beach provides vital habitat for creatures such as purple sea stars, burrowing sea cucumbers, Dungeness crabs, moon snails, and aggregating sea anemones plus an abundance of seaweeds.  These walks are a unique opportunity to see Seahurst’s beach at low tide and in the dark. When the tide goes out during the day most of the creatures on the beach go with it or burrow under something.  But at night, they stay on the beach.  Visitors should bring reliable flashlights to explore the nooks and crannies of the large rocks.  Remember that you’re in their house, so tread gently. The goal is to Do No Harm.

This year’s walk promises a new treat to returning beach explorers- a brand new warm building!  Our new center is at Seahurst beach: 2400 SW 140th Street in Burien.  Park in the lower or upper lot and walk along the trail that runs north from the turning circle at the lower parking lot.  Visitors should check-in at the center for some pre-beach activities and cider, hot chocolate or coffee.  Activities include a Matisse themed art project on sea life and a microscope lab with plankton to identify.

Please make sure to dress warmly with hats, gloves, and warm coats.  Also, wear rubber shoes so that you can wade out into the ankle-deep water around the tide pools.  And please practice beach etiquette:

1. DO NO HARM
2. Be extra careful where you step so you don’t step on animals or their homes.
3. When you want to look more closely at a creature, bend over and look rather than picking it up. Leave animals where you find them. Don’t move them to a new home!
4. Touch plants and animals gently with one wet finger. Animals living on the beach and in the water are cold and wet, your fingers are warm and dry. Simply touching a plant or animal may be enough to injure or kill it.
5. If you want to look under a rock, be gentle. Turning over a rock can be like someone turning on a bright light in your bedroom in the middle of the night. Lift it slowly and gently. When you’re done the rock needs to be gently returned to its original position.
6. SAVE THE CHILDREN ?Leave all shells and animals on the beach rather than taking them home. Shells and rocks need to be left on the beach because they provide a home for the next generation, an animal’s children, to live on.

For more information about the Environmental Science Center visit: www.envsciencecenter.org

It’s likely that local private schools will follow suit, so be sure to check with them to see if Thursday will be another snow day.

The National Weather Service says that there is a chance of a bit more snow tonight, but that it should turn to rain Thursday and Friday, with another storm moving in that will dump a lot more rain on us, causing concern for flooding in local rivers.

We suggest to our Readers that now would be a good time to clear around your local storm drains as the snow melts and the rains come.

Here’s the most recent weather advisory, issued at 3:57 p.m.:

HYDROLOGIC OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SEATTLE WA 357 PM PST WED JAN 18 2012

…CORRECTED TO ADD SPECIFIC MENTION OF RIVERS…

…FLOOD POTENTIAL THIS WEEKEND FOR SOUTHWEST WASHINGTON…

A WET AND ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN IS IN PLACE FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON FOR THE NEXT WEEK. AS WE WIND UP THIS SNOW STORM…WE WILL BE EVALUATING THE AMOUNT OF WATER EQUIVALENT THAT IS LYING ON THE GROUND WAITING TO MELT AND RUNOFF IN TO AREA RIVERS.

MEANWHILE…A PACIFIC STORM IS HEADING FOR WESTERN WASHINGTON FOR FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY THAT WILL BRING RAIN OF ONE HALF TO TWO AND ONE HALF INCHES BELOW 4000-5000 FEET ELEVATION. MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID FORTIES AND TOGETHER WITH THE WIND AND RAIN…WILL MELT THE LOWLAND SNOW. THIS AMOUNT OF RUNOFF COULD DRIVE RIVERS IN LOW ELEVATION BASINS ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. THIS INCLUDES THE CHEHALIS AND SKOKOMISH RIVERS. ANY FLOODING THAT DOES OCCUR IS EXPECTED TO BE MINOR. IN ADDITION…THIS COULD PRODUCE URBAN AND SMALL STREAM
PONDING OR FLOODING FROM SNOW AND ICE CLOGGED DRAINS AND CULVERTS JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE IN THE LOWLANDS OF WESTERN WASHINGTON.

THIS WILL BE A TRICKY SITUATION TO FORECAST AND UNCERTAINTY THAT THERE WILL OR WILL NOT BE FLOODING IS QUITE HIGH. RAINFALL INTENSITIES AND THE AMOUNT AND RATE OF LOWLAND SNOW MELT WILL DETERMINE HOW HIGH THE RIVERS RISE. THERE IS A LOT OF UNCERTAINTY IN HOW MUCH SNOW WATER THERE IS AND HOW FAST THAT SNOW WILL MELT.

RIVER MODELS DO NOT ALWAYS HANDLE THESE SITUATIONS VERY WELL SO SPECIFIC RIVER FORECASTS MAY NOT FULLY INDICATE THE EXISTING FLOOD RISK.

BEYOND THIS WEEKEND…WE WILL CONTINUE TO GET STORMS THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BUILD RISES ON AREA RIVERS INTO NEXT WEEK FOR ADDITIONAL PERIODS WHEN THERE MAY BE THE RISK OF FLOODING.

STAY TUNE TO THE LATEST WEATHER AND RIVER FORECASTS AND BULLETINS.

Here’s the latest 7-day :

Tonight: A chance of snow before 10pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Snow level 200 feet. Cloudy, with a low around 30. North northeast wind between 5 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday: A chance of rain and snow. Snow level 100 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 37. North northeast wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Thursday Night: A chance of rain and snow. Snow level 200 feet. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 34. North northeast wind between 7 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Friday: Rain. High near 44. South southeast wind between 5 and 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday Night: Rain. Low around 40. South southeast wind around 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

Saturday: Rain. High near 46. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday Night: Rain. Low around 37. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Sunday: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 43.

Sunday Night: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 38.

Monday: Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 43.

Monday Night: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 37.

Tuesday: Rain. Cloudy, with a high near 47.

Tuesday Night: Rain. Cloudy, with a low around 37.

Wednesday: Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 47.