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.

Jeff Wright, a Tool Grinder from Burien, has been recognized for contributing to the non-profit ‘Outdoors For All’ Foundation.

“Jeff has been volunteering with us for over 15 years as a “volunteer coordinator and assistant program staff” for our summer adaptive rock climbing program,” said Heather Timins, Volunteer Coordinator for the foundation. “He also teaches adaptive downhill skiing, helps with our Annual Auction and is on our volunteer based Program Committee. As you can see, Jeff is a huge asset to our program.”

“There is no one more committed to Outdoors for All,” added Brian Glaister. “I’d be hard-pressed to believe that someone could be more deserving of this recognition than him.”

Here’s a Q & A with Jeff courtesy the foundation:

How long have you been volunteering for Outdoors for All? What year did you start volunteering?
I started volunteering the year before Ed Bronsdon started with Out- doors for All. I do not even keep track.

How did you learn about Outdoors for All and what prompted you to get involved?
I volunteered for an organization call Ski for Light. One of the participants told me about Outdoors for All.

In what ways are you involved as a volunteer with Outdoors for All?
Winter ski, Rock climbing, Outdoors for All Auction, Program community, Demo days, if I have free time I will come out and lend a hand.

What keeps you coming back to volunteer each year?
It is one of the ways I give back in life.

What do you enjoy most about your volunteer experience?
This cannot be described, it must be experienced.

What have you learned or how have you been personally affected from your experience with Outdoors for All?
It makes me grateful for what I have in life.

Do you have any advice for individuals considering volunteering with Outdoors for All?
Come with an open mind and help out. Magic with happen if you let it.

Do you have an inspirational story you can briefly tell about your volunteer experience?
Brian uses a walker to get around. This winter I was one of the people that helped Brian use a slider (walker on skis) ride a chair lift and ski down the ski slope.

Hobbies/spare time activities?
The activities that I volunteer with at Outdoors for All.

About Outdoors for All

The Outdoors for All Foundation is a national leader and one of the largest nonprofit organizations providing year round instruction in outdoor recreation for people with physical, developmental, and sensory disabilities since 1978. Our roots began with fifteen children with disabilities learning to downhill ski at The Summit at Snoqualmie. Today we now offer numerous year round recreation opportunities for over 2,000 participants a year all with the help of a dozen dedicated staff and over 700 volunteers.

You can read more about the organization at www.outdoorsforall.org.

There will be two projects to complete during the event:

1. Temporary repair and painting of the fence along Normandy Road
2. Bark spreading over the trails in the park.

Volunteers are asked to wear work clothes, and bring a hammer and gloves. Lunch will be provided!

For more information, download a flier here (PDF file).

Bob Frank, Burien resident and member of St. Bernadette Parish, received the St. Vincent de Paul “Least of My Brethren” Award for outstanding service to the needy in Burien at the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Seattle/King Co. Council’s Appreciation Dinner on Sunday, March 27.

The event, held at Kennedy Catholic High School, celebrated the special volunteers who make home visits and run programs to assist neighbors in need.

Bob Frank was one of seven awardees in King County who received the St. Vincent de Paul’s Least of My Brethren Award. The Least of My Brethren Award is taken from the biblical passage of Matthew 25:40 where Christ says “Whatever you did it to one of the least of by brethren (Feed the Hungry, Clothe the Naked, Visit those in prison) you did it to me.”

For over 17 years, Frank has served the poor as a member of the St. Vincent de Paul all-volunteer group at St. Bernadette Parish. He has made home visits to help to neighbors in need preventing eviction, hunger, utility shut-off and more. He has been a past president and co-president of the group and is the food room coordinator for food distribution.

About the Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Seattle/King County
St. Vincent de Paul is known for its home visits to the poor, community thrift stores, case management programs, and food and meal programs which provide more than 1.6 million meals annually. More than 20,000 home visits and other contacts were made in King County to help 68,000 people this past year. St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores recycle more than 4000 tons of materials annually. More than 121,000 hours of volunteer service annually are given by generous people like Bob Frank. Total calls answered for help in Seattle/King County were 52,150 in 2010—up 58% over 2008

The Catholic lay-run charity, which helps neighbors in need regardless of creed, assists the needy in 142 countries. In Seattle and King County, the Community Information Line (2-1-1) refers more people to St. Vincent de Paul than any other charity for basic needs assistance.

More information available at their website here: http://www.svdpseattle.org.

Volunteers are needed on Saturday, Feb. 5th to help clean up and improve Arbor Lake, located at 2nd Ave. South and South 124th St. in north Burien.

The work party runs from 9am – 11am, and volunteers will be helping improve the health of Arbor Lake by removing invasive, non-native plants, including Scotch broom and Himalayan blackberry. Volunteers will cut and pull these plants out, considered “hard work but satisfying.”

“Volunteers of all ages are welcome but children under age 14 need to be accompanied by a parent or an adult,” reads a flier released by the city. :Those under 18 will require a signed permission form (available at sign in or in advance by calling the number below).”

Here are the details:

WHAT: Arbor Lake Improvement Work Party.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 5th, from 9am – 11am.

WHERE: Arbor Lake, located at 2nd Ave. S. and S. 124th St. in north Burien (map below). Meet at the southwest corner of the park at 2nd Ave. S. and S. 124th St. in north Burien. NOTE: No restroom is available.

INFO: More info from a flier:

Why are we doing this stewardship project at Arbor Lake?
Because you want us to! At a September 2010 meeting with 25 lake neighbors, park users said they want to protect and improve the habitat value of the lake. Removing invasive plants will allow the existing native plants around the shoreline to grow better. We also plan to add more native plants to fill in the gaps left by the removed invasive plants in autumn 2011. A thriving natural buffer on the shoreline will provide food and shelter for birds and small wildlife and improve habitat for fish.

Arbor Lake also is the headwaters of Miller Creek and water flowing from the lake eventually sustains salmon living in the creek downstream.

What do volunteers need?

• Sturdy shoes or boots
• Leather-palmed gloves (we also will have plenty to loan)
• Filled water bottle
• We provide tools and snacks!

Sign Up and Questions
Advance sign up is encouraged to help us plan. Please contact Dennis Clark, Miller/Walker Creek Steward, dennis.clark@kingcounty.gov, 206-296-1909.

On November 20, 2010, 20 volunteers removed half of the invasive Scotch broom, blackberry, and other invasive plants on the west and south shoreline. Help us remove the other half!

View Larger Map

Burien native Jerrod Sessler wants our Readers to know that he is spearheading a new venture, called “BTownHelpers” that is aimed at helping local residents in need.

“There is a growing number of people in the Burien community that want to see our country become more healthy,” he said in a statement. “Many of us realize that it starts with one step by each of us and the best place to do that is at home. So a group of people, of which you can join if you choose, is offering to support members of our local community with needs. There is no obligation or sign-up. If you choose to follow the twitter feed (@BtownHelpers) then you can keep up with opportunities to serve.”

Many of our Readers may recall a story we did on Jerrod, who is a cancer survivor of over 10 years.

“The doctors told me it was terminal. And here I am now,” he told us in September, 2009.

So he knows a thing or two about needing help, and helping in return.

Jerrod Sessler

Jerrod adds:

The holidays always bring opportunities to serve and we have helped by adopting families, giving gifts, delivering Christmas trees, preparing or purchasing food. We have collected clothing for kids such as warm coats for the winter. We have cleaned up local parks and walking areas. We have worked with local businesses to put left over food or other items to use for the people of the community. We have helped local small businesses that are closing their doors for economic reasons. Help includes hauling out valuable items from their business, assisting with business management issues around losing a business, personal counseling and prayer as well as other related items.

There are no limits to what we can do when we put our heads and our hearts together with the vision of expressing our love for one another.

Email: Btown@freggies.com

Twitter: BtownHelpers (set up mainly for people to follow who are able to help when needs arise)

More details to follow for those interested in serving and for those in need.

Regards,
Jerrod

‘Partnership for Youth Justice’ is a King County Superior Court juvenile offender program, and they’re looking for volunteers.

This program offers an alternative to the formal court process by diverting youth and their families to Community Accountability Boards (CABs) in their own community.

It’s offered to first time offenders of misdemeanor offenses; cases are heard and outcomes are determined by trained community volunteers.

The commitment to volunteer is once a month for three hours.

Here’s more info from the county’s Superior Court website:

The Partnership for Youth Justice program of King County Superior Court is a community response to a community problem. Concerned citizens just like you are reaching out within their neighborhoods to assist youth offenders and their families, and they are making a difference. Visit the Partnership for Youth Justice webpage for program and contact information.

Why Do Neighborhood Youth Need Your Help?
Each year thousands of boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 17 have a brush with the law. Typical offenses include shoplifting, vehicle prowling, fighting, or possession of drugs or alcohol. These youth often lack the skills and insight needed to steer clear of trouble. Most need to be reminded that each person is responsible for his or her own acts.

What Would You Do as a Volunteer?
Volunteers from your local community, with the help of a trained court advisor, make up a Community Accountability Board (CAB). The CAB interviews the offending youth and his or her parents, then determines a constructive accountability plan. The plan, written in the form of a legally binding contract, may require community service, skill building classes, counseling, restitution, or a fine. Youth sign the contract, pledging to fulfill its terms, and a program monitor follows up to make sure the accountability plan is successfully completed. The main goal of the CAB is to help young offenders reestablish a sense of community values and a sense of personal responsibility for their actions.

The youth is asked:

• Who was harmed by your offense?
• What was the harm that was done?
• What do you need to do to “make it right”?

Benefits of the Program

• A Conference… rather than a hearing
• A Contract… rather than a sentence
• A Community… rather than a judge

It Works!

• Intervention is provided early, when it counts!
• 95% complete their diversion requirements successfully
• Family confidentiality is maintained
• Local communities hold their own youth accountable
• Court congestion is reduced by approximately 3,000 cases per year
• Taxpayers save over $2 million per year

Please call Shirley Noble at 206 296-1133 or via email shirley.noble@kingcounty.gov if you are interested in volunteering, or learning more about it.

Miller/Walker Creek Steward Dennis Clark alerts us to a very unique holiday volunteer opportunity: “pluck” coho salmon eggs at Miller Creek in Normandy Park on Dec. 17th!

“Volunteers are needed to help pick dead/diseased (salmon) eggs out of the incubation trays to keep the other eggs healthy,” Clark said in an email. “This activity is suitable for people as young as 12 and all ages are welcome to observe. No special skill is required other than basic eye-hand coordination to pluck unwanted eggs out of the trays.”

Clark adds:

Volunteers will work indoors but the building is unheated and water does splash around so rain gear is useful.

Volunteering is a great activity for families looking for a unique and close-in activity during the winter school break!

Volunteers also are welcome in January as well, although the need is not as acute.

If you are interested in helping pluck “bad eggs” for an hour or two any day of the week, please contact Russ Welker at 206-824-2044 or rwelker@q.com.

Here’s more from Clark’s email:

What’s red, round, and shows up in the tens of thousands each December in Highline? No, not Christmas tree ornaments – coho salmon eggs!

Each year, volunteers from Trout Unlimited receive coho salmon eggs from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hatchery at Soos Creek near Auburn. The eggs are raised for about a month in a small hatchery building on the grounds of the Southwest Suburban Sewer District plant on Miller Creek . Continuously bathed in clean well water, the eggs incubate and turn into 2-3 cm long fish (alevins). Just as the fish have absorbed their yolk sacks in mid- to late-January, volunteers then outplant the salmon throughout Miller Creek and Walker Creek as well as Des Moines Creek and other smaller streams in Highline. Once in the streams, the baby fish have to survive the same evolutionary pressures that naturally-hatched fish experience: high and low water flows, water quality problems (soap from car washing, leaking oil, dog poop, etc.), food scarcity (more bugs, please!), and predators (great blue herons). Nonetheless, the outplanted hatchery fish help compensate for “pre-spawn mortality” among adult coho salmon – as documented in the CSI: Highline fish-counting program – and damage to salmon egg nests (“redds”) caused by flooding/high flows.

This year, the eggs will be delivered to the hatchery in Normandy Park on December 17. Particularly during the first two weeks, volunteers are needed to help pick dead/diseased eggs out of the incubation trays to keep the other eggs healthy. This activity is suitable for people as young as 12 and all ages are welcome to observe. No special skill is required other than basic eye-hand coordination to pluck unwanted eggs out of the trays. Volunteers will work indoors but the building is unheated and water does splash around so rain gear is useful. Volunteering is a great activity for families looking for a unique and close-in activity during the winter school break! Volunteers also are welcome in January as well, although the need is not as acute.

- Dennis Clark
206-296-1909 additional contact information
Miller/Walker Creek Basin Steward
Miller/Walker Creeks Basin Stewardship

Here’s a video of chum salmon migrating up Miller Creek in Normandy Park, on Nov. 27th, courtesy Barb and Darrell Williams during the Community Salmon Investigation for Highline program:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Photo of salmon eggs courtesy Miller and Walker Creeks Stewardship Community Salmon Investigation (CSI) Page.

Volunteers are needed to help clean up Seahurst Park this Saturday, Sept. 25th, from 10am – Noon.

Work will happen at the top area of the North Maintenance Road, and volunteers are asked to meet at the intersection of SW 130th and 16th SW (link to Google Map).

If you come, be sure to dress appropriately, and bring heavy gloves and long-handled shovels if you can.

According to an email:

We’re going to go back to an area we worked in early 2009. With the help of volunteers and about 200 goats we cleaned up an area at the north end of the Park, where the top of the maintenance road exits into Shorewood. Because we’ve been busy in other parts of the Park, the blackberries and some ivy have grown up in that area, so we need to go back and knock it down to allow the native plants to continue growing.

If you can, bring heavy gloves and a long handled shovel, but we’ll have gloves and tools available. Boots, blue jeans and a long sleeved shirt are recommended.

Come on out if you can!

Gerri Allsopp, a Normandy Park resident since 1959, pauses after shoveling weeds at the cove Saturday morning. This was Allsopp's first day volunteering with the Stewards of the Cove. "I have more time since my family has grown up," she said. "I have always wanted to come help." Click on image to see larger version. Photo by Nicholas Johnson.

Stewards of the Cove is a Normandy Park-based group of volunteers that works to preserve and protect Miller and Walker Creeks.

They work on the removal of invasive plants, care for new native plants, protect salmon spawning areas, streamside vegetation as well as maintain water quality.

Stewards of the Cove volunteers are needed on the 2nd Saturday of each month. Join your neighbors and together enjoy the natural wonder of the Cove. Stay for as long as you can (one hour of stewardship per month per household is a lot of tender loving care for the Cove).

For more information, check out their website here.