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Click HERE to go back to current news items. September 2007: PRKC Comments on Vision 2040 The Puget Sound Regional Council (PSRC) is an association of cities, towns, counties, ports, and state agencies that serves as a forum for developing policies and making decisions about regional growth and transportation issues in the four-county central Puget Sound region. In July the Council published a draft of the Vision 2040 which is a regional strategy to accommodate the additional 1.7 million people and 1.2 million new jobs expected to be in the region by the year 2040. More information on PSRC can be found at www.psrc.org. PRKC is supportive of the goal and policy guidelines outlined in Vision 2040. We applaud the thought and holistic approach that shaped the document. PRKC provided comments in the form of a position paper. In this paper we point out that the importance of public participation can not be understated. We present several areas of the Vision that should be augmented with an approach toward community engagement and ownership. The paper articulates that resources and tools need to be utilized and developed and good, clear and predictable communication between agencies and jurisdictions, businesses and the public will build trust and foster innovation and participation. Our comments stress that regional municipalities, jurisdictions, businesses and citizens must be held accountable for their participation in shaping the future of our region and the value of encouraging local manufacturing and production for local consumption. The complete text of our response can be found here. As always, we welcome your feedback. August 2007: American Tree Farm System recognizes
Family Forest Stewardship Plans August 2007: King County Residents Vote for Parks! The votes are counted from the King County election August 21st and regional parks were the clear winners. Proposition No.1 -
Regional and Rural Parks Levy Thank you to the many PRKC volunteers who worked to get the vote out on this election and thank you especially to the voters of King County! August 2007: Note from Carnation Farmers Market Manager
Heidi Bohan Buy fresh produce, herbs, flowers and more to show your support at the following locations:
August 2007, PRKC Vision and Charter Completed! The PRKC Vision and Charter outlines our commitment to excellence, transparency and accountability. The purpose of the Charter is to:
PRKC is currently recruiting board and committee members. We are especially interested in finding people with farm, business, education or earth science backgrounds. The PRKC Charter details committees and board responsibilities. If you think you may be able to devote some time to our mission, please inquire by email to Lauren@PRKC.org. Thank you! July 2007, PRKC Awarded Small Change for a Big Difference Grant PRKC was awarded $2500 grant money for education, restoration support, restoration projects and storm drain stencil projects through the Small Change for a Big Difference King County grant program. Thanks King County! June 2007, PRKC Charter Drafted - Public Comment Needed! The PRKC Charter outlines our commitment to excellence, transparency and accountability. The purpose of the Charter is to:
We would like your feedback on The PRKC Charter Draft. Send comments and feedback to info@PRKC.org by Aug 1, 2007 June 2007, PRKC Intern Coordinates Storm Drain Stenciling Project A junior in Skyline High School's Environmental Systems program, Rashi Eisenberg, began doing her internship with PRKC in May 2007 as our Stencil Project Coordinator. In this role she supports PRKC’s efforts to create storm water drain stenciling kits and start volunteer-based neighborhood stenciling parties. Storm drain stenciling, with a picture of a fish and the words "drains to stream", helps raise awareness that common chemicals, such as soap, car washing and lawn products that get washed into storm drains have a direct and significant negative impact on the health of our streams, rivers and lakes. Take a look at the video "Storm Drain Stenciling in Klahanie" Rashi did of stenciling Lancaster Park in Klahanie on June 21st. Thanks to Rashi's efforts, neighborhood storm drains in Klahanie, Trossachs and (hopefully) Alderra will be stenciled this summer. Coordinating a stencil party is easy and fun. If you live in a neighborhood with storm drains, and would like to find out how you can coordinate a stencil party, email info@PRKC.org. June 2007, Paul Newman buys Nestle Farm in Carnation Read all about it at the following links: King 5, Seattle Times, Newman's Hole in the Wall camp Link.
June 2007,
Washington Food System Directory now Online Designed as a resource for learning about sustainable food and agriculture in Washington, the directory provides online access to more than 80 nonprofit organizations and public agencies. It is organized in thirteen categories, ranging from Children’s Gardens and Culinary Community, to Land Preservation and Urban Agriculture, the Washington Food System Directory provides an overview of organizations and agencies devoted to healthful, sustainable food production, both urban and rural. May 2007, Kudos to the Klahanie NAAK and Volunteers on the Barklay Square Project The project began March 2007 at the annual meeting of the Barclay Square Association. With the approval of the board, Judy Willingham (member of NAAK & Barclay Square Assn.) made a presentation regarding the volunteer effort needed to reclaim the native areas surrounding Barclay Square on three sides. The blackberries particularly had strangled out the mid-growth and thinned out the ground cover along both Klahanie Blvd. & 256th. Scotch broom had previously been pulled the past autumn. Barclay Square volunteers began that next Saturday morning and continued for 5 weeks. A Saturday off occurred each month for the Barclay Square volunteers. The work parties continued through May 5th when all the invasive blackberries had been pulled. Planting of the native areas is expected to begin October and November for the rainy season’s ability to keep the plants watered and allow roots to be established until spring growing season. Read the detailed report located here. Pictures of the project can can be found in the PRKC Gallery. May 2007, Puget Sound Steelhead Listed as Threatened NOAA Fisheries Service announced that it’s listing Puget Sound steelhead as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act. Steelhead salmon are currently found in Issaquah and Patterson Creeks and the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers. More information is available at http://www.nwr.noaa.gov/ESA-Salmon-Listings/Salmon-Populations/Steelhead/PS-Stlhd-Petition.cfm. May 2007, Mother's Day Message in Seattle PI Local author and active PRKC community member, Allyson
Schrier, wrote a terrific article in the Seattle PI about toxic
chemicals in the products we buy. Check it out:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/315014_health10.html. May 9 2007 Photo Flight Local photographer Alan Bauer, in partnership with LightHawk, organized a detailed photography flight of our area. If you would like to see if we have aerial pictures of your project or area of interest, please email your contact details and request to info@PRKC.org.
May, 2007 Photo Flight Local photographer Alan Bauer, in partnership with LightHawk, is organizing a detailed photography flight of our area to take place in the next few weeks. If you would like aerial pictures of your project, area of concern or area to showcase rural life, please email your contact details to info@PRKC.org. April, 2007, Ken Konigsmark Receives Ruth Kees Award High Point resident Ken Konigsmark is the recipient of the 2007 Ruth Kees Award for a Sustainable Community. A longtime leader in environmental issues, Ken helped to preserve thousands of acres of land in the Issaquah Alps and throughout the Mountains to Sound Greenway. He is well known for his pragmatic, collaborative approach to environmental protection and unwavering professionalism in all of his dealings. Visit the Issaquah RCO's website for more details. Congratulations Ken and thank you for your dedication and tireless work in ensuring our community and wildlife enjoy a healthy future for generations to come. April, 2007, Update on the 80 Acres King County agreed to sponsor our Conservations Futures Fund grant application, has contacted the land owners and is starting the Appraisal process. The CFT application has been submitted and the Citizen's Oversight Committee review is set for April 21st. See the Contribute page for detailed information about the 80 Acres and how you can help ensure it's protection. March, 2007 WTA in the news!
Ever see that white bus parked along the Issaquah-Fall City Road or going up and
down Highlands Blvd? Chances are it is the WTA bus! Washington Trails
Association (WTA) is a valued King County Parks partner for building backcountry
trails in our community, such as the new Grand Ridge Trail. For more information, read the
Seattle Times archive article: "Volunteers gear up for a summer of trail repairs across Washington." January 12, 2007 Aerial Tour - A Resounding Success!
Thanks to the support of LightHawk and Galvin Flying Services and our friends with Cascade Land Conservancy, Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, King County and Washington State DNR, PRKC hosted an aerial tour for important officials. Our guests included Rod Brandon, King County Director of Environmental Sustainability, Kathy Lambert, King County Council member for our region, Kevin Brown, King County Director of Parks and Recreation and John Mankowski, Environmental Policy Director for Governor Gregiore. Winter, 2006 - The 80 Acres
Towards the end of Summer, 2006, we became aware of an approved plan to clear 80 acres bordering Grand Ridge Park and the Mitchell Hill Forest. These 80 acres are truly special with stands of ancient cedar and high forest canopy. Water seeps out of the ground, meanders through the forest floor and trickles down the steep banks on Canyon Creek which is prime wild salmon habitat. PRKC user groups are concerned because the new Grand Ridge trail runs along the border of the 80 acres and clear cutting will severely and negatively impact the "back country" trail experience through Grand Ridge Park. |
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