Category Archives: Other Community Events

SPU Seeks Creeks/Watershed Advisory Council Members

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Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is currently recruiting members for its Creek, Drainage and Wastewater Community Advisory Committee. Members provide input and analysis on policy issues and ensure that SPU services are serving all Seattle communities. Community members are encouraged to apply.

First round of applications are due October 1.  Additional applications will be accepted on a rolling date basis.

The commitment involves a two-year term, with option to reapply for a final term, each with approval by the SPU Director.  The committee meets once a month in the Seattle Municipal Tower, 700 Fifth Ave., from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Boards and Commissions Room, L280.

For more information, contact Sheryl Shapiro, Program Manager, 206-615-1443 or email at Sheryl.Shapiro@Seattle.Gov.

Murray Combined Sewer Overflow Public Meeting

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Please join your neighbors and other West Seattle residents for a community meeting to discuss Combined Sewer Overflow control alternatives and facility siting in the Murray Basin Monday, September 27, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Hall at Fauntleroy.

King County Wastewater Treatment Division has been working with the Murray Community Advisory Group (also known as the Murray CAG) this past summer to find possible locations within the basin to site a Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) facility. In fall of 2010, King County will decide on proposals for CSO control in the Barton and Murray areas. The decision made for a CSO control facility will have lasting impacts on your neighborhood or an adjacent neighborhood, so you are invited to attend a Murray CAG meeting to discuss the suggested alternatives.

You aree invited to attend this meeting to hear about the alternatives and to provide your comments. Time is running out before these alternatives are evaluated by King County and a decision is made, and this may be the last opportunity you will have to voice your opinion.

CSOs occur in older parts of King County’s wastewater system that carry both wastewater and stormwater to the treatment plant. When heavy rains fill the pipes, excess stormwater and sewage flow directly into local waterbodies. Historically, CSOs were designed into the system to avoid damage to facilities and sewer backups into homes and businesses and onto streets during storms.

Today, CSOs are a concern because untreated wastewater and stormwater may be discharged to Puget Sound during large storms posing risks to public health and the environment. To meet state regulations, King County’s goal is to reduce the number of CSOs each year, with a long-term goal of no more than one untreated discharge per location per year. These locations are top priority because people are most likely to come in contact with water during recreational activities such as swimming.

If you have questions about this meeting or the CSO Beach Projects in general, you can reach me by email at martha.tuttle@kingcounty.gov or by phone at 206-684-1207.

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Seattle Central Waterfront Vision Presentations

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Seattle Parks Foundation is sponsoring a forum – Reshaping Seattle’s Central Waterfront – with presentations by firms shortlisted for the role of lead designer.

The presentations will take place on Wednesday, September 15th, from  6:00 to 9:30 pm in Benaroya Hall’s S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, 200 University Street, downtown.

With the removal of the Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle is poised to reclaim its Central Waterfront and reconnect our city to Elliott Bay. The City is now in the process of selecting a design and engineering team to engage the public in developing a dynamic and forward-looking design for the waterfront. As the first step, a range of local, national and international designers have submitted qualifications.

This presentation will be the public’s opportunity to hear the shortlisted designers present their skills, experience and approach to the project. Designers will answer questions from the public. A lead designer will be selected in part based on the quality of their presentation and ability to engage the public. The City will start the design process in October 2010.

This event is being sponsored by the Seattle Parks Foundation.  To learn more about the project: www.seattle.gov/dpd/centralwaterfront, or visit Parks Facebook fan page – Seattle Central Waterfront.

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Parks & Rec Invites Everyone to ‘Big Day Of Play’ @ Magnuson Park

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Free family friendly event features fun run, live music, play

On Saturday, August 28, Seattle Parks and Recreation will host Big Day of Play at Magnuson Park, from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

The day will begin with a 5K Fun Run/Walk, followed by a Free Kids’ 1K Run for children 10 and under. To register for the Fun Run/Walk, visit the registration website.

The Main Stage schedule for the day is as follows:

  • 10:45 – 11:30 a.m.: Recess Monkey
  • 11:30 a.m. – 12 noon: Speakers Tracy Taylor from KING TV, former NBA player James Donaldson and City Councilmember Richard Conlin
  • 12 noon – 12:30 p.m.: ADEFUA African Dance and Drumming
  • 12:30 – 12:50 p.m.: Hawaiian Dance
  • 12:50 – 1:10 p.m.: Inspired Child (Step/tap Dance)
  • 1:10 – 1:30 p.m.: Capoeira (Brazilian Martial arts)
  • 1:30 – 1:50 p.m.: Hip Hop (exhibition) (Zulu nation and elements of Hip Hop)
  • 1:50 – 2:20 p.m.:  Yata Eritrean Group (exhibition)
  • 2:20 – 2:30 p.m.: Tae Kwon Do
  • 2:30 – 2:50 p.m.: Pacific North West Drumline
  • 2:50 – 3 p.m.:  Taekgyeon
  • 3 – 3:15 p.m.: Life Long Recreation Line Dancing Group
  • 3:15 – 3:40 p.m.: Sterling the International Yo Yo Champion
  • 3:40 – 4 p.m.: Zumba (demo)
  • 4 – 4:40 p.m. Rainier Beach Orchestra

There will be fun activity booths throughout the day, free food samples from PCC Natural Markets, food and vendor booths, paddling and sailing activities, free raffle prizes and a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. To register for the basketball tournament, click here.

To learn more about the event go to http://www.seattle.gov/parks/healthyparks/big_day.htm.

Metro Route 75 goes to Magnuson Park – you can catch the 75 in Ballard by taking either the 21 or the 22 from West Seattle.  Metro’s Trip Planner is here http://tripplanner.kingcounty.gov/cgi-bin/itin_page.pl?resptype=U

There will be free shuttle buses to the event and back again from the following community centers:

  • Rainier Beach, 8825 Rainier Ave S
  • Rainier, 4600 38th Ave S
  • Yelser, 917 E Yesler Way
  • Garfield, 2323 East Cherry St
  • South Park, 8319 8th Ave S
  • Southwest, 2801 SW Thistle St
  • Delridge, 4501 Delridge Way SW

A complete schedule is below:

FREE SHUTTLE BUS SCHEDULE FOR BIG DAY OF PLAY

August 28, 9:30-5:00 at Magnuson Park

Registration Procedures:

  • Call registration line (206-684-3406) with what site and time you need to be picked up at
  • The number of adults and children and any large items (strollers, etc.) that need transported
  • Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult
  • Children ages 13-17 must bring a completed E-13 form with them (staff monitoring pick up sites will confirm form is filled out and signed) and they must have it on them at all times until they arrive back at their original pick up site.
  • Leave a phone number so you can be reached if we have any questions

For registration, info, and questions for the shuttle bus – call 206-684-3406 (Martha Winther)

Southeast/Central:

  • Rainier Beach Pick up time: 9:05 am – Registered riders told to be at RBCC no later than 8:55 am
  • Rainier Pick up time: 9:20 am – Registered riders told to be at Rainier no later than 9:10 am
  • Yesler Pick up time: 9:40 am – Registered riders told to be at Yesler no later than 9:30 am
  • Garfield Pick up time: 9:55 am – Registered riders told to be at Garfield no later than 9:45 am

Arrive at Magnuson approximately 10:30 am

Bus returns for 2nd pick up: (if necessary)

  • Rainier Beach Pick up time: 11:30 am – Registered riders told to be at RBCC no later than 11:20 am
  • Rainier Pick up time: 11:45 am – Registered riders will told to be at Rainier no later than 11:35 am
  • Yesler Pick up time: 12:05 pm – Registered riders told to be at Yesler no later than 11:55 am
  • Garfield Pick up time: 12:20 pm – Registered riders told to be at Garfield no later than 12:10 pm

Arrive at Magnuson approximately 1:00 pm

(If driver needs a lunch break – 30 minutes available now)

Return Trip – Depart Magnuson – 1st trip – 1:45 pm

  • Garfield Approximate arrival time: 2:15 pm
  • Yesler Approximate arrival time: 2:30 pm
  • Rainier Approximate arrival time: 2:50 pm
  • Rainier Beach Approximate arrival time: 3:05 pm

2nd Return Trip Bus arrives back at Magnuson around 4:00 pm

Depart Magnuson – 2nd final trip – 4:45 pm

  • Garfield Approximate arrival time: 5:15 pm
  • Yesler Approximate arrival time: 5:30 pm
  • Rainier Approximate arrival time: 5:50 pm
  • Rainier Beach Approximate arrival time: 6:00 pm

Southwest:

  • South Park Pick up time: 9:05 am – Registered riders told to be at South Park no later than 8:55 am
  • Southwest Pick up time: 9:25 am – Registered riders told to be at Southwest no later than 9:15 am
  • Delridge Pick up time: 9:40 am – Registered riders told to be at Delridge no later than 9:30 am

Arrive at Magnuson approximately 10:15 am

Bus Returns for 2nd pick up: (if necessary)

  • South Park Pick up time: 11:15 am – Registered riders told to be at South Park no later than 11:05
  • Southwest Pick up time: 11:35 am – Registered riders told to be at Southwest no later than 11:25
  • Delridge Pick up time: 11:50 am – Registered riders told to be at Delridge no later than 11:40 am

Arrive at Magnuson approximately 12:45 pm

(If driver needs a lunch break – 1 hour available now)

Return Trip Departs Magnuson – 1st trip – 1:45 pm

  • Delridge Approximate arrival time: 2:25 pm
  • Southwest Approximate arrival time: 2:40 pm
  • South Park Approximate arrival time: 2:55 pm

2nd Return Trip Bus arrives back at Magnuson around 4:00 pm

Depart Magnuson – 2nd final trip – 4:45 pm

  • Delridge Approximate arrival time: 5:25 pm
  • Southwest Approximate arrival time: 5:40 pm
  • South Park Approximate arrival time: 5:55 pm
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Murray Basin (Lowman Beach Park) Overflow Meeting Tonight

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King County Wastewater Division has established a stakeholder group for discussing the options for the Combined Sewer Overflow project for the Murray Basin – located presently at Lowman Beach Park.  The proposals include some options which would necessarily have a huge and negative impact on Lowman Beach Park.  The stakeholder group, the Murray Basin Community Advisory Group, has been addressing these issues and concerns and is expected to work with the County to produce recommendations by the end of September.

All  Murray Basin Community Advisory Group meetings are open to the public to observe discussions. Info to date can be found at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/construction/seattle/beachcso/basins/murray/cag.aspx

The mission of the group is to:

  • Provide a forum for dialog and information sharing;
  • Consult with representatives of the community on the selection of a community acceptablealternative or suite of alternatives to reduce Combined Sewer Overflow episodes;
  • Provide advice, as community representatives, on potential solutions and ways to address community concerns and to advise King County on CSO solutions in the Murray basin;
  • Help King County make a stronger connection with the community;
  • Help King County provide information to the community so community memberscan provide meaningful input, help the County solve the serious problems of combined sewer overflows, and help the County reach a reasonable andtechnically feasible solution.

12th Annual Arts in Nature Festival @ Camp Long

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Mark your calendars for the 12th annual Arts in Nature Festival, scheduled for Saturday Aug. 21st & Sunday Aug. 22nd at Camp Long!

It will be a weekend packed with arts and outdoor experiences for people of all ages and from all walks of life.

Festival goers will have access to a wide-range of performing arts including:

  • Music
  • Dance
  • Aerial & fire performances
  • Puppetry
  • Marching bands;

And, visitors will also get to experience sound & visual art installations in the

  • Museum of Sound
  • Interactive arts activities such as Haiku
  • Printmaking
  • EcoRhythm Instrument Building
  • Fabric Animals & Birds
  • Participatory Chime Clusters and
  • Naturalist activities.

Music will range from jazz and classical to bluegrass, indie and experimental. Some of the festival highlights include performances by Hey Marseilles, Earth, Lelavision, and Pearl Django.

As a benefit show during the festival, Chris Ballew will be performing songs of the Presidents of the United States of America (tickets $25) on Sunday evening.

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Kayak the Duwamish & Learn About the River

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The Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition is again holding their summer community kayak tours on July 14 and again on July 28 from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

Join guides from DRCC, Alki Kayak Tours, Camp Long, National Wildlife Federation, and the Seattle Aquarium, to learn all about the natural and built environments of the Duwamish River.

Kayaking experience is not necessary. Explore the river to learn about Superfund sites, river history, and community activism. You’ll also see amazing habitat restoration sites and wildlife, including summer nesting ospreys, seals and sea lions, and shore birds.

Tours will also provide basic information about how to make a water quality violation report, and how to take simple water quality tests. Please see the DRCC Superfund web page for details about the cleanup documents.

Youth 18 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Meet at Duwamish Waterway Park, 7900 10th Ave. S. All gear is included. All tours cost $40 per person and are payable to Alki Kayak Tours.

Some scholarship funding is available for community members, please contact DRCC for more information.

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King County Combined Sewer Overflow Hearings

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King County Wastewater Division is hosting two information sessions which focus on projects to control combined sewer overflows.  The meetings are designed to answer questions to date, explain the project science and engineering.

Community members interested in learning more about King County’s proposals to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) near recreational beaches on Puget Sound are invited to attend these upcoming technical information sessions.

The information sessions will focus on the science and engineering behind the county’s proposed alternatives to build CSO control facilities in West Seattle and North Beach neighborhoods.

Project managers and technical staff will answer questions the county has received to date from community members, including how flows were calculated, why parks are among the sites being considered for location of the new facilities, the feasibility of “green” infrastructure, how much storage capacity is needed to effectively control CSOs, and how a project might impact a neighborhood during and after construction.

People are welcome to come for the entire day, or attend individual sessions based on interest level. A detailed schedule will be posted on the project website at http://www.kingcounty.govCSOBeachProjects.

While the sessions will present a high level of technical detail, the presentations will be geared toward anyone with an interest in science and engineering. Online feedback forms will continue to be available on the project website for people unable to attend the sessions.

People are also invited to provide feedback by calling Monica Van der Vieren at 206-263-7301 or by e-mailing CSOBeachProjects@kingcounty.gov.

A portal to information about the Wastewater Treatment Division, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks is at http://www.kingcounty.gov/environment/wtd/Newsroom.aspx.

Local Whale Expert To Speak at Duwamish Longhouse

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The Whale Trail is hosting an exciting event featuring John Calambokidis, with an introduction by Kathy Fletcher at the Duwamish Longhouse on June 17, beginning at 7:00 pm.

The Whale Trail presents John Calambokidis speaking on gray whales and other large whales of the Pacific Northwest. Kathy Fletcher, People for Puget Sound, will give remarks on Saving the Sound: What We Can Do.

Advance tickets are available at BrownPaper Tickets with a $5 suggested donation

John Calambokidis is a renowned marine mammal biologist and founder of Cascadia Research. John recently conducted the necropsy on the gray whale that stranded on Arroyo Beach in West Seattle.

John’s talk will focus on the recovery and recent studies of the larger whales in the region, including the recent gray whale strandings in Puget Sound. He’ll also talk about the resurgence of humpbacks along the coast, and recent sightings and studies of blue and fin whales.

Kathy Fletcher, Executive Director of People for Puget Sound, will update us on the health of Puget Sound and efforts towards its recovery.

Come learn more about the great whales that pass through our waters, and what we can do to help them.

The event is presented by The Whale Trail, whose mission is to inspire appreciation and stewardship of whales and our marine environment by establishing a network of viewing sites along the whales’ trails through Puget Sound and the coastal waters of the Pacific Northwest. The Whale Trail is a project of Coast Watch Society, a 501(c)3 organization.

John Calambokidis is a Research Biologist and one of the founders of Cascadia Research, a non-profit research organization formed in 1979 based in Olympia, Washington. He periodically (1991-2010) serves as an Adjunct Faculty at the Evergreen State College teaching a course on marine mammals. His primary interests are the biology of marine mammals and the impacts of humans. As a Senior Research Biologist at Cascadia Research he has served as Project Director of over 100 projects. He has authored two books on marine mammals ( the award-winning Guide to Marine Mammals of Greater Puget Sound from Island Publishers, with R. Osborne and E.M. Dorsey and Blue Whales from Voyageur Press, with G.H. Steiger) as well as more than 150 publications in scientific journals and technical reports. He has conducted studies on a variety of marine mammals in the North Pacific from Central America to Alaska. He has directed long-term research on the status, movements, and underwater behavior of blue, humpback, and gray whales. His work has been covered on shows by Discovery Channel and others and is featured in a National Geographic TV special and magazine article released in March 2009.

Kathy Fletcher is founder and executive director of People For Puget Sound, a citizens’ organization formed in 1991 to protect and restore Puget Sound and the Northwest Straits. She also sits on the Northwest Straits Commission and the Puget Sound Partnership’s Ecosystem Coordination Board.

For more information or questions contact Donna Sandstrom at info@thewhaletrail.org

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Lowman Beach CSO on Next Parks Board Agenda

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The Seattle Parks Board June 10 meeting will be at the  Activity Resource Center at Woodland Park Zoo, – located near the West Entry. Commissioners will tour the new West Entry at 5:00 pm. Members of the public are welcome.

The meeting begins at 7:00 pm and includes the annual briefing on the Woodland Park Zoo and a briefing on the Lowman Beach Park–King County Combined Sewer Overflow Project.

For more information, contact Sandy Brooks, Park Board Coordinator at 206-684-5066 or check out their website  www.seattle.gov/parks/parkboard.

Current Park Board Commissioners are:

  • Neal Adams, Vice Chair
  • John Barber
  • Terry Holme
  • Jourdan Keith
  • Diana Kincaid
  • Donna Kostka
  • Jackie Ramels, Chair

The Agenda for this meeting is:

  • I. Call to Order 7:00 p.m.
    • Consent Items:
    • Approve June 10 Agenda; May 13 and 27 minutes; Acknowledgment of Correspondence
  • II. Superintendent’s Report 7:05
  • III. Oral Requests and Communication from the Audience 7:20 (for subjects that have not had or are not scheduled for a public hearing) NOTE: Speakers will be limited to 2 or 3 minutes each, to be determined by the chair and based upon # of people testifying. A maximum of 10 minutes testimony will be heard during Oral Requests portion of the agenda. Testimony in excess of 10 minutes will be heard prior to “Old/New Business”
  • IV. Briefing: Woodland Park Zoo Annual Report 7:30 Presented by Zoo Director Deborah Jensen and Deputy Director Bruce Bohmke
  • V. Briefing: Lowman Beach Park-King County’s Combined Sewer 7:55  Overflow Project, Presented by Kevin Stoops, Seattle Parks Director of Planning and Development
  • VI. Old/New Business 8:20
    • Committee Reports
  • VII. Adjourn 9:00

*Times listed for all agenda items are approximate & agenda items may not be taken in the order listed. Please address all correspondence to: voice mail: 206 684-5066 or Sandy Brooks, Coordinator e-mail: sandy.brooks@seattle.gov

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