Got Green and the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA) did a demo of their plans to “recycle” an abandoned house Wednesday morning (July 21) in White Center, with 14 participants ranging in age from 19 to 55.

This project utilizes federal stimulus dollars provided through a Dept. of Labor “Pathways Out of Poverty” training grant to prepare low income communities for livable wage jobs in Green Construction industries.

Got Green is also preparing graduates to become ambassadors for home weatherization and other solutions to climate change in their own communities.

The house used for training is scheduled for demolition on the future site of the Strength of Place Initiative (SOPI) Village affordable housing development.  Program graduates (all low-income workers of color) hope to provide weatherization services to Seattle area homeowners and small businesses under the “Weatherize Every Building” project being launched by the City of Seattle this fall.

Got Green (a local grassroots organization that promotes Green Jobs, Energy Efficiency, and Racial Justice) is organizing this Home Weatherization training to promote the movement for Green Collar Jobs as the best way to fight poverty and global warming at the same time. Got Green is Seattle’s home-grown branch of the national movement for equity and opportunity in the new Green Economy.

More info on Got Green is available here.

Photographer Francis Zera was there to capture the following Photo Slideshow:

Click to Play Francis Zera’s Photo Slideshow

by Scott Schaefer

This weekend, some rude dude named “DEX” dumped a plastic bag containing two large books I didn’t ask for on my front walkway.

That’s right – the new white and yellow pages arrived on my doorstep totally unsolicited on Saturday (July 17). This surprised me, because as I recall, I actually opted out of receiving any more of them last year, since they’re about as useful to me as um, say, the printed version of The Seattle Times.

As you may have guessed, unlike Prince, we’re very bullish on the internet. We get at least 80% of our daily news from it, both on our laptop and iPhone (the other 20% is usually from NPR radio on KUOW). We look things up using Google (sometimes Bing just to try it out), and we have grown tiresome of printed phone books full of ads (even a refrigerator magnet for a plumber is glued to the cover!), as well as the primitive, thumb-staining search technique of having to scan through dozens of listings and ads to find what we’re looking for.

Like newspapers or bound encyclopedias, the obsolescence of phone books is inevitable in this new internet age. But considering that in the US alone, 97% of this $14 billion industry is earned from printed product alone, it’s obvious why these mammoth media dinosaurs want to try and hold on for as long as possible.

Hello? Is there any way that print can duplicate searching online and getting the results you need right away?

The answer is a resounding NO.

What’s worse, I went through this exercise last year and took the time to opt out of receiving these books, which are headed straight to the recycling bin as soon I can pry the fridge magnet ad off the cover and toss it in the garbage (eees nice DEX – not only did you deliver these unsolicited and against my wishes, now you’re making me create more landfill with your damned magnet ad, which is NOT recyclable!).

Receiving these hulking phone books seems to me to be a huge waste of resources – not only the paper (which, I will admit, appears to be printed on mostly recycled paper), but also the distribution costs, fuel, plastic bags (which they claim are made of “45% post-consumer recycled content,” which means that 55% is NOT recycled), not to mention the frustration of customers like me who ALREADY OPTED OUT LAST YEAR.

That’s why I’m tossing out the following idea (pun intended), free of charge, to councilmembers for the City of Burien:

Ban all unsolicited phone book deliveries in the city of Burien.

If someone wants one, make it so they have to call the distributor to get it. But please, stop letting these wasteful folks dump their unsolicited, unusable litter on my property.

And isn’t there a fine for this kind of littering?

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go back to opting out of receiving these wasteful piles of dinosaur dung AGAIN – you can do the same here:

1. Go to http://selectyourdex.dexknows.com/SelectYourDex/searchByZipCodeAction.do and enter your zip code.
2. Select “Proceed to Select Your Dex.”
3. Enter your name and address.
4. Select “0″ next to each directory you wish not to receive.
5. Press “Submit” and you are allegedly done.
6. Bookmark this page so when you get another delivery next year, you can try again.

Another option is to dial 1-877-243-8339 to opt-out from DEX (and have the chance to yell at a human operator).

Call 1-800-929-3556 to opt-out of receiving Yellow Book directories.

To opt-out of the Verizon phone book, dial 1-800-555-4833.

This past Saturday White Center residents witnessed an invasion of purple-shirted volunteers as the White Center Community Development Association kicked off their 8th annual “Spring Clean” event.

This year’s event broke records for attendance as over 550 volunteers registered. Projects included street clean up, flower planting, mural painting, park maintenance, and more.

After a long day of work under beautiful, sunny skies volunteers were treated to entertainment and lunch back at King County Housing Authority’s Greenbridge Plaza.

Photographer Michael Brunk was on hand at several of the project sites and captured scenes from Saturday’s efforts in this slideshow.

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

“Got Green?,” a program of the White Center Community Development Association, is hosting its first open house from 6pm-8pm on Wednesday, March 17th at the Columbia City South Side Commons Building, located at 3518 S. Edmunds Street.

According to the WCCDA:

Expect food, entertainment, multimedia presentations and the chance to network with Got Green and their community partners on how to support Green jobs, Green initiatives, youth, low-income communities of color and more.

Child care is available – this event is open and free to the public.

Please see flier below for more information, or visit the Got Green website:

Beverly Park Elementary School (located at 1201 South 104th Street), is one of 11 schools honored for completing the first level of King County’s Green Schools Program.

It is one of four Highline School District schools recognized; the others include Gregory Heights Elementary in Burien, Madrona Elementary School in SeaTac, and North Hill Elementary School in Des Moines.

Each school received a “We are a King County Green School” banner, a certificate of recognition, a success story on the program Web site and mention in a press release issued by King County.

Participating schools receive assistance on how to conserve resources such as paper, electricity and water, and they are often rewarded with reduced utility and garbage disposal costs.

“Each of these 11 schools has involved its whole school community – students, teachers and administrators – in reducing garbage and increasing recycling,” said Dale Alekel, King County Green Schools Program manager.

Highline Schools honored include:

• Beverly Park Elementary School (unincorporated King County)
• Gregory Heights Elementary School (Burien)
  
• Madrona Elementary School (SeaTac)
• North Hill Elementary School (Des Moines)

These schools completed level one of the program by initiating or improving recycling practices and engaging in waste-reduction strategies, such as decreasing paper use. Success stories for each school are at this website.

According to the King County website, some of Beverly Parks’ achievements include:

Waste Reduction and Recycling:

• Beverly Park Elementary School increased its recycling rate from 33 percent to 38 percent.
• To compost food and yard waste, paraeducator Karen Eng spearheaded the creation of two outdoor worm bins. With help from the Green Schools Program, sixth grade students from teacher Rosanne Esposito’s class participated in a King County Green Team workshop on how to compost using a worm bin. Each lunch period, selected students collect food scraps and tend the worm bin.
• The school started recycling breakfast milk cartons and currently recycles approximately 150 milk cartons and 120 juice cartons per day. Custodian Archie Champion has led this effort.
• Recycling containers provided by the Green Schools Program were added to the lunchroom for milk cartons, juice boxes, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and food scraps.
• School staff placed recycling stickers on all recycling containers. Provided by the Green Schools Program, the stickers list what can and cannot be recycled.
• Beverly Park has adopted and promoted a double-sided copy policy which has helped decrease paper waste.

Participation in the King County Green Schools Program has grown each year. To date, 10 of King County’s 18 school districts have received assistance or are now participating, and in doing so they have increased recycling, reduced energy and resource consumption, and engaged students in benefiting the environment.

The program has helped more than 300 schools cut waste and save resources since its inception in 2003. By providing hands-on assistance, including school visits, tailored recommendations, help with outreach to students and staff, and recycling containers and stickers, the Green Schools Program provides schools and school districts with the support they need to set up and maintain effective conservation practices.

In addition to providing schools with the hands-on help they need, the program offers a website, www.kingcounty.gov/GreenSchools, with useful tools and resources.

Schools interested in receiving assistance to improve conservation practices can contact Dale Alekel at dale.alekel@kingcounty.gov.

Nearly 800 freshmen and transfer students from Seattle Pacific University will participate in an annual community service project in White Center on Saturday, Sept. 26th called “CityQuest.”

Students and staff will be at the following locations from 10:30am to 2:30pm doing various community service projects:

• Nature Consortium at 14th Ave SW & SW Holly. Their tasks will include mulching, weeding, and possible trail work.
• Green Seattle Partnership at 5951 Delridge Ave SW. They will help with urban forest and creek restoration by invasive plant removal and mulch spreading.
• Lincoln Park, 8011 Fauntleroy Way SW. They will remove invasive plants.
• Hicks Lake, at 10 Ave SW, near the intersection of SW 112th Street. They will remove blackberry bushes and scotch broom.

CityQuest brings together students, faculty, staff, & alumni for more than 30 different community service projects throughout Seattle.

So if you see a group of college-aged students wearing work clothes cleaning up the ‘hood on Sept. 26th, be sure to thank them!

For more info on SPU’s CityQuest in your neighborhood, call SPU Urban Program Coordinator Owen Sallee at 206-427-1296 (cell).

A “Recycling Collection Event” is coming to Evergreen High School in White Center on Saturday, Sept. 12th and here are the details:

WHAT: King County Recycling Collection

WHEN: Saturday, September 12th from 9am – 3pm

WHERE: Evergreen High School, located at 830 SW 116th Street.

INFO: This is a recycling collection event for residents of White Center and King County.

In addition to this Recycling Collection Event, many items may be disposed or recycled at other locations throughout King County. For more information, visit the “What do I do with…” website or call the King County Recycling and Composting Information Line at 206-296-4466.

RESTRICTIONS: Certain household hazardous wastes that are not accepted at this event may be safely disposed through King County’s Wastemobile program, including one nearby from Sept. 11-13th at the Burien Fred Meyer (details here). View the Wastemobile schedule online or call the Hazards Line at 206-296-4692 for a list of locations.

PLEASE NOTE: Computers, monitors, laptops and televisions will no longer be accepted at this event. You may recycle these materials at NO CHARGE at the following locations nearest White Center:

Goodwill Burien Store
1031 SW 128th St.
206-957-1020

Salvation Army Burien Store
16033 1st Ave. S.
206-267-7272

Total Reclaim – Seattle
2200 6th Ave. S.
206-343-7443

For additional drop-off locations or more information, call 1-800-RECYCLE or visit 1800recycle.wa.gov.

Computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and printers are not included in the E-Cycle Washington program but will be accepted at this Recycling Collection Event. This event will also continue to collect other electronic materials such as cell phones, printers, keyboards, mice, fax machines, photocopiers, scanners, stereos, VCRs, and DVD players.

For more information, contact Karen May at 206-296-4353.

Saturday’s White Center Clean Up was a resounding success, and not only did The White Center Blog cover it, we pitched in to help as well!

Here’s a great photo slideshow by Photographer Michael Brunk:

Click to View Slideshow

The National Weather Service issued a “Special Weather Statement” Sunday afternoon about a strong, windy weather system that’s predicted to hit the area Monday night.

We’re no Cliff Mass, but one thing that struck us was the mention of the pressure in this storm, rated at 980 millibars. As comparison, Hurricane Katrina was rated at 920 mb (lower is stronger), and the Inauguration Day storm of 1993 was rated between 972-980 mb (for a great read on northwest storm systems, with info on pressures, click here).

While it’s a powerful system, since the storm will weaken as it pushes inland, wind speeds are predicted to be between 20-35 mph, with gusts up to 45. There could be downed trees and power outages though, so you may want to batten down all those flowers you worked on Sunday.

Here’s the statement:

Statement as of 3:51 PM PDT on May 03, 2009

… Very windy conditions are expected to develop in the western Washington lowlands Monday night and continue through Tuesday morning…

A developing storm system in the central Pacific is expected to deepen to around 980 mb as it moves through the Washington offshore waters toward northern Vancouver Island Monday and Monday night. A strong frontal system associated with this low will move through western Washington Monday night.

A storm and frontal system of this magnitude is more typical of late fall or winter than of early may.

At this point it appears that south winds of 20 to 35 mph with gusts to 45 mph will develop Monday night as the front moves through and continue through the early morning hours on Tuesday. Many deciduous trees are now leafing. So winds of this magnitude may break some large branches and possibly topple a few trees.

Local power outages are possible.

White Center’s 6th Annual Spring Clean Up is coming Saturday, May 16th, from 8:30am to 2pm, and volunteers are needed to help clean up.

“This is our 6th year, and we are always excited to make it the best one,” said Aileen Balahadia, Executive Director of the White Center Community Development Association (WCCDA).

This annual clean-up event is intended to make White Center a better place to live, work, and play by promoting community building and neighborhood revitalization.

King County Community Service Officer, Vary Jackson, notes “Right around May, I am full of energy and enthusiasm, looking to help plan, coordinate and participate in this wonderful community event ever since it was first sponsored by the WCCDA.  From a law enforcement perspective, I am a firm believer that a clean community is a sign of a clean, safe and strong community, thanks to my late partner, Deputy Steve Cox of the White Center King County Sheriff’s Storefront, who came up with the idea of assisting about ten residents in the White Center neighborhood to remove trash and debris for senior citizens and families with financial hardships who were unable to do so themselves.”

Sping Clean is brought to you by the White Center Community Development Association, as well as:

• Boeing Employees Credit Union
• Community Schools Collaboration
• King County Sheriff’s Office
• Seattle Neighborhood Group/Weed & Seed
• The Triangle Pub

To sign up as a volunteer, please call Soona Vili at the WCCDA at (206) 694-1082 or download and fill out this form (PDF) and email it to info@wccda.org.

Registered volunteers will receive:

• A complimentary t-shirt
• Continental breakfast
• Refreshments
• Lunch

For event information or to sign up as a volunteer, refer to additional information on the WCCDA’s website www.wccda.org.

Last year, over 250 community members mobilized at many different project sites including the community gardens at Greenbridge, downtown White Center, Hicks Lake at Lakewood Park, Holy Family Church, North Shorewood Park, St. James Place, White Center Food Bank, White Center Heights Park, and several residential blocks.

“Through continued community support, this year we expect a similar level of community participation to work on projects in White Center parks and open spaces, residential areas and downtown streets, sidewalks, and alleys” said Balahadia.

This annual event brings together youth and elders from diverse backgrounds and includes residents, business owners, property owners and interested folks from all over the area. It is a day to celebrate, build community, spruce up a public streetscape and have FUN!

For more information, please check the WCCDA website for updates and additional info.

Starting at 8:30pm tonight (Sat., March 28th), everyone is encouraged to turn their lights off for one hour for “Earth Hour,” a movement meant to raise the awareness of global warming.

Plus, under the right circumstances, it could be fun.

“Earth Hour” is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, which is asking individuals, businesses, governments and organizations around the world to turn off their lights to make a global statement of concern about climate change and to demonstrate commitment to finding solutions.

It is projected that one billion people will go dark for Earth Hour.

Already hundreds of icons and landmarks around the world have signed up to turn their lights off for Earth Hour 2009 including:

• The Eiffel Tower in Paris
• Sydney Opera House
• Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens
• The London Eye
• Perhaps your house?

For more information, check out earthhour.org.

Here’s another video with more info:

The White Center Blog gives a big green “Thumbs Up” to Clean Air Lawn Care, our latest Advertiser!

Do you know that 5-10% of the Nation’s Air pollution is attributed to small engines like the ones used in gas powered lawn care equipment – mowers, blowers, edgers and trimmers?

Or that gas lawn mowers consume some 580 million gallons of gasoline annually of which 25-35% escapes unburned – that’s on top of the 17 million gallons that are spilled annually by people filling up gas mowers?

Clean Air Lawn Care of West Seattle is “Changing the Way America Mows the Lawn” by using only battery and electric operated equipment powered by renewable energy sources. The solar panels on their trucks are used to harvest the solar energy and recharge their equipment throughout the day.

Adam Werner, Owner of Clean Air Lawn Care, has been a Seattle resident since 1995 and a West Seattle resident in the Riverview Neighborhood since 2004. He has been involved with his Riverview Neighborhood group to help save the Sound Ways property from private development. He is also a member of the Highland Park Improvement Committee and a new member of Sustainable West Seattle.

In 2008, Clean Air Lawn Care was able to reduce air pollutants by 2289 pounds or the equivalent of 70,158 vehicle miles driven. According to the EPA, in 1 hour, 1 gas mower:

1. Pollutes the same as 40 late model cars.
2. Emits the amount of hydrocarbons as a SUV driven 23,600 miles.
3. Contributes 93 times more smog-forming emissions than 2006 cars.

Another huge advantage of the electric equipment is the lack of noise – it’s 50-70% quieter than traditional lawn equipment. So not only do you not have to smell the gas burning, you don’t have to hear it either. This is great for working from home, napping children, and not disturbing your neighbors on a nice sunny afternoon.

Adam says that their equipment is so quiet, “We’ve had several customers tell them that they did not even know we were at their house!”

Adam and his crew are knowledgeable, professional and courteous. They provide all of Burien, White Center, Des Moines (and beyond) spring and fall clean ups, mowing, blowing, edging, trimming, weeding, mulching, hedge trimming (up to 7 ft) and other hourly work as required.

Outside of the electricity generated by the solar panels, Clean Air participates in the Seattle Green Up program and all additional electricity used is purchased from a renewable energy broker. The windpower they purchase is used to power the lawn equipment and offices, qualifying the entire organization as carbon neutral.

Be sure to stop Adam, Josh, or Chelsea when you see them in your neighborhood to get a look at the truck with the solar panels (see photo above). Josh would love to talk you about his passion for photography – his work can be seen at www.joshuakenneymiller.com/Abstract.html.

Chelsea would be more than happy to show you some of the jewelry she makes or even teach your kids to play the piano. Check out her work at www.seatemple.etsy.com.

Help your neighborhood become clean and quieter and help Clean Air Lawn Care “Change the Way America Mows the Lawn” – please click on their Ad, check out their website, or contact Adam directly at 206-941-4180!

From our sister site The B-Town Blog comes this story, which definitely affects citizens of White Center:

Since we first posted this story (on Monday, Nov. 24th) regarding area residents complaints about increased noise from Sea-Tac Airports newly-opened third runway, we’ve received numerous emails, comments and even phone calls about it.

We can safely say that the third runway noise problem is not fading away.

In fact, it only seems to be getting LOUDER, which means that we’ll be covering this story for as long as it’s a story.

We will be meeting with a representative of the Port of Seattle next week, so stay tuned for their viewpoint.

We’ll also be interviewing other residents and experts, which will include videotaping, photographing and doing our own decibel level checks as well, then continuing to post new updates as they come in.

And as always, if you have an opinion, complaint, anecdote, factoid or hot tip, please email us directly, call us during business hours at (206) 248-2565, or post a Comment below this story.

In the meantime, here are some letters we received from some of the people being affected first-hand:

We live in South Park and are definitely experiencing increased noise from planes which now pass much closer to our home since the 3rd runway opened. The noise is problematic now in terms of waking us up at times, and in making it difficult to talk on the phone or listen to the radio–and it’s not even windows-open season yet.

What are the implications of particulate and other emissions for those of us now experiencing low-altitude flights directly overhead?

Thanks,
Alan Puckett

I used to live off of 128th and des moines memorial blvd, right under the flight path. If you were in the yard, you could hear the planes flying over. If you were watching TV late at night with the volume low so everyone else in the house could sleep, you could hear the planes (and often times, not the TV). But it was under the flight path. So we got used to it.

Now, I live just south of Five Corners. Planes were NEVER audible. Yesterday we were watching TV at like, six o clock at night, and the planes were loud enough to drown out the sound of regular volume TV, not 2 am volume. It is ridiculous. I am not the home owner. But the home owner is UPSET. Like, pissed off, upset.

But, I remember a friend of mine saying that back in the day, the Port installed sound proof windows for everyone who lived near the airport (well, flight path, but whatever). The house off 128th had them. Are they gonna do that again now? They need to. I am sure home values dropped significantly because of the new noise. That is not good news in an already failing economy.

So, in conclusion, I be like, F the new third runway.

peace
dean p.

Hello,

Thank you for bringing this subject to attention. I live on the 800 block of 143rd St SW and last week I started hearing a heavy amount of airplane noise. In the past it was quiet and I only occasionally heard a plane or two. Now it’s noisy all the time and I don’t like it one bit. The least the airport could have done is notify the community of the flight path changes ahead of time. This will hurt our growing city; in recent Seattle magazine articles Burien has been praised for being conveniently located near the airport but not affected by the noise of flight traffic as it was out of the flight path area. I suppose I will get used to the noise but I am afraid others will decide Burien is too noisy and choose other places to live and conduct business instead.

Thank you,
Jessica Dobson

I live between 128 and 136th on 10th Ave S- The noise is awful. In fact planes were landing every 5 mins on that 3rd runway last night (Sun. Nov. 30th) until after 12 am. I have no soundproofing as live in a mobile and the Port deems that not worth doing the soundproofing. ( I have attached the e-mail I received from them) as you can see they have no plans on addressing the problem until the end of 2009. I had gotten use to the minor noise from runway 1 and 2, but now the planes are less then a mile above my place, and the 3rd runway is almost being used exclusively now, so there is no relief, cannot imagine what it will be like in the summer time.

My question is the approaches on the other 2 runways for the most part go over either property the port purchased and tore down houses or in businesses areas, so why did they not come to us and offer the same or at least tell us how it was going to be so we could make an informed decision in whether to remain living there or sell. Now you can bet there isn’t going to be anyone wanting to by my piece of property. Even the neighbors with all their sound proofing and in regular homes are complaining.

The port and/or FAA could care less. They got what they wanted.

Kathy E Anderson

YES!!! In early November we found a cute house in north Burien (near 128th and 12th)- we were slightly bothered by the nearby airport noise, but the reason we bought the house was because it was NOT under a flight path. The house also has a “port package” and we were assured that we could not hear the planes inside the house. We had heard about the third runway, but had assurances that it would not be over our home, and used rarely.

NOW we closed on the house and are set to move in- and went to the house to do some repairs and found that the airplanes are frequently and daily flying DIRECTLY over our home, and the noise is deafening both outside and INSIDE the home. We are heartbroken, we can’t back out of the house now, and we anticipate losing money on the house since property values will surely go down due to this.

This situation is untenable, and something needs to be done about this, fast.

Thanks,
Miriam L. Bearse

Courtesy Reader/Letter Writer Miriam Bearse comes this info:

Airplane noise isn’t just a nuisance!

What do we know about the effects of consistent airplane noise on health?

Airplane noise in a community can lead to:

• Increased stress, including higher levels of cortisol (stress hormone)
• Cardiovascular (heart) problems and hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Sleep disturbances
• A higher rate of premature birth of babies
• Cognitive impairment in children; including lower reading levels, impaired reading comprehension, and impaired recognition memory
• Mental health disorders and negative psychosomatic effects
• Higher levels of psychiatric hospital admissions due to severe mental health disorders
• Asthma and related health problems due to increased levels of airborne pollutants

Partial list of reports and studies on these issues:

• Davies, P. et al (2008) “Project 19: Health Effects of Aircraft Noise,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ongoing study: http://www.web.mit.edu/aeroastro/partner/projects/project19.html
• BBC News “Aircraft Noise Affects Learning,” 6/2/05, based on a British and Spanish study of 2,500 children living near airports: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/health/4603189.stm” http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/health/4603189.stm
• Health Canada “Healthy Living: Aircraft Noise in the Vicinity of Airports,” 11/5/07, Health Canada Publications, Ottawa ON
• Black et al “Aircraft noise exposure and resident’s stress and hypertension: A public health perspective for airport environmental management,” 11/07, Journal of Air Transport Management, volume 13, issue 5
• Morrell, S. et al “A review of health effects of aircraft noise,” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 1997: 21(2): 221-36
• Hiramatsu et al “Population-Based Questionnaire Survey on Health Effects of Aircraft Noise on Residents Living Around US Airfields…” 2/7/02, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Volume 250, issue 1
• Hiramatsu et al “A Survey on Health Effects due to Aircraft Noise on Residents Living Aroudn Kadena Air Base in the Ryukyus” 8/28/97, Journal of Sound and Vibration, Volume 205 issue 4
• Stansfeld et al “Aircraft and road traffic noise and children’s cognition and health: a cross-national study,” 6/4/05, The Lancet, Volume 365, Issue 9475
• Franssen et al “Assessing Health Consequences in an Environmental Impact Assessment: The case of Amsterdam Airport Schiphol” 11/02, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, volume 22, issue 6
• Rehm et al “Aircraft Noise and Premature Birth,” 7/8/78, Journal of Sound and Vibration, volume 59, issue 1
• Wickrama et al “Mental Health Admissions and Aircraft Noise,” 12/13/69, The Lancet, volume 294, issue 7

So…what are your thoughts on the third runway?

• Too noisy?
• No difference?
• Buncha whining?

Please let us know via email, phone (206-248-2565) or if you’re feeling kinda shy, just vote in our unscientific poll on the right sidebar.

According to the King County Parks Dep., about 30 old and diseased poplar trees are being removed from Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center,with plans to replant new trees within the next few weeks.

King County is removing a long line of Lombardy Poplar trees along the southern edge of the park because the trees are in declining health. A local tree service company has been contracted to take the trees down, and Parks crews will re-plant the area with native spruce, fir and cedars.

The project is expected to be completed by mid-to late November with an estimated cost of $35,000.

More information on the tree removal project is available by contacting Jason Rich, capital project manager, at 206-263-7314, or via email at jason.rich@kingcounty.gov, or by visiting their website.

The Moontown Foundation, in association with the White Center Community Development Association and the Got Green Project are having a day of conservation, service, fun and action that’s being called the “White Center Energy Festival & Prosperity Project.”

The event will take place on Saturday, Sept. 27th, from 8am-6pm at White Center Heights Elementary School, located at 10015 6th Avenue SW (map below).

On this national day of action, 200-300 volunteers will blanket the White Center Community and knock on over 7,800 doors in an effort to educate residents on home energy efficiency and supply them with a list of “50 simple things” they can do to conserve energy, save money and reduce their carbon footprint.

White Center has long been challenged by economic and social hardships, with high levels of poverty, crime, and poor educational outcomes. Approximately 32,000 people live here, of which over 50% are communities of color; yet one sixth live below the poverty line, twice the countywide average, and 16% of its residents live on less than $10,000 a year.

The event is designed to educate residents on home energy efficiency, promote awareness of the emerging green job revolution, as well as raise funds for an Eco Apprentice Scholarship Fund, which is targeted at helping low-income youth and young adults acquire green trade skills and career training at local vocational and community colleges.

For more information, please visit: http://moontownfoundation.org/specialevents.php

Volunteers will also sign-up residents for FREE home energy efficiency assessments (valued at $500) performed by trained professionals. Residents maybe eligible to receive free home improvement products, as well as low-interest home loans to help finance major residential energy efficiency improvements.

There are still needs for volunteers and donations, so if you’re interested please contact Stacy @ (206) 201.2314 or info@moontownfoundation.org.

More info at http://events.greenjobsnow.com/greenforall/events/show/5211.


View Larger Map

(okay, so we’re not even sure if “Autumnish” is a word but we like making new things up so bear with us) The National Weather Service has issued the following “Weather Advisory,” with wonderful phrases like “A powerful storm more typical of autumn will bring rain” and others that can just ruin whatever summer you’ve been enjoying thus far, so please plan accordingly:

… A powerful and wet Pacific storm will bring significant rainfall to western Washington tonight through Wednesday…

A powerful storm more typical of autumn will bring rain… locally heavy… to the area tonight through Wednesday. Storm total rainfall amounts are expected to be in the 2 to 4 inch range in the Olympics… and the 1 to 3 inch range on the coast and Cascades. Elsewhere… amounts will be less or generally in the quarter to one inch range. It is possible that the heavy rains could lead to water rises on small creeks as well as ponding of water in low lying areas.

In addition to the significant rainfall… this storm system will bring gusty winds and usher in a colder air mass Wednesday night. By early Thursday… the snow levels are expected to be mainly in the 6000 to 6500 foot range. People planning on hiking or camping in the mountains should be prepared for Fall-like weather and plan accordingly.

Full weather report here.