A special gallery exhibit will display creative writing, visual arts, music and dance, developed by young people at Rainier Beach Community Center's summer day camp. The exhibit will debut on Friday, Sept. 1, 5 to 7 p.m., at Rainier Beach Community Center, 8825 Rainier Ave. S.
The event will give summer day camp participants a unique opportunity to share their work with parents and the community. The event also serves as a special celebration for youth as they prepare to return to school.
Join us for a special family event, a performance by the puppet troupe Snap Dragon, on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m., at the Alki Bathhouse, 2701 Alki Ave. SW.
The troupe will present the American myth "Paul Bunyan."
Admission is $6 for adults and children, or $9 for the whole family. Call 206-684 7430 for more information.
City Light is Climate Neutral for Second Straight Year
First Electric Utility in the U.S. to Reach Emission Standard
SEATTLE - As part of Mayor Greg Nickels’ efforts to make Seattle a leader in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, City Light has achieved “net zero” greenhouse-gas emissions for second year in a row.
“We are not just talking the talk, we are walking the walk,” Nickels said. “Along with 284 other cities across the country, we are taking real steps to combat climate disruption.”
On Feb. 16, 2005, the day the Kyoto Treaty became law in 141 countries, Nickels challenged his mayoral colleagues to commit each of their cities to achieving the treaty’s target of bringing carbon emissions to 7 percent below 1990 levels by 2012. To date, 284 mayors have joined him.
Seattle is already doing its part. For the second consecutive year, Seattle City Light has met the high standard of providing energy that is climate neutral. This means the utility has reduced emissions of greenhouse gas to the extent possible, and has purchased offsets for any remaining emissions.
“We knew we could take a leadership role in reducing greenhouse gas pollution,” said Jorge Carrasco, superintendent of Seattle City Light. “The Utility achieved this goal in several ways. First, it avoids producing greenhouse-gas emissions wherever possible through conservation programs and by using renewable resources such as hydro and wind-powered electric generation. We do emit some greenhouse gas as a result of power purchases and operations, such as vehicles used to maintain the electrical system. To offset these emissions, the Utility buys greenhouse-gas emission offset credits from organizations that have reduced their own emissions,” Carrasco added.
Customer support for conservation and renewable energy programs helps City Light keep its emission down. This year, City Light estimates that its greenhouse gas emissions will be about 100,000 metric tons. City Light purchased 300,000 metric tons of offsets, to cover 2006 and to apply to future years. These offsets result from the capture and destruction of a potent greenhouse gas. These offsets are monitored and verified by a third party.
City Light has purchased offsets from many types of projects. City Light funds the use of biodiesel (which has a much lower emission rate than petroleum diesel) in City vehicles, Seattle Public Utilities solid-waste trucks, and King County Metro buses; provides cruise ships with shore power so they can shut down their diesel engines while in port; and supports the use of cement substitute materials, which both reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and solid waste.
“The cost of purchasing offsets is about $2 a year per customer,” said Carrasco. “It’s a small amount to pay for the reduction of climate-altering emissions. This utility is 90 percent hydroelectric generation. If the climate does change, and we have less water available for City Light’s reservoirs, our customers will spend much more for electricity generated by more expensive means.”
For a dog: $40 for one year ($20 if spayed or neutered); or $62 for two years
($30 if spayed or neutered).
For a cat: $25 for one year ($15 if spayed or neutered); or $40 for two years
($22 if spayed or neutered).
“Clearly, now more than ever it makes economic sense to license your pets instead of risking citation. But the bigger issue is providing your pets with the protections a license offers,” says Don Jordan, Seattle Animal Shelter director. “It’s like a life insurance policy – if your pet is lost and doesn’t have a license tag or microchip, odds are you’ll never see your pet again. Only 17 percent of the nation’s 3.8 million stray dogs and 2 percent of the 2.3 million stray cats ever make it home. But, with the dual protection of a pet license and a permanent microchip, you have a much better chance of being reunited with your pet if it is ever lost or stolen.”
Pet owners have many options for purchasing or renewing their pets’ licenses:
Online at http://seattleanimalshelter.org,
At the
At most city of Seattle Neighborhood Service Centers, or
At select
If a pet wearing its license shows up at the shelter, the owner is notified. If humane law enforcement officers find a licensed pet in the field, they will attempt to return it to its owner instead of taking it to the shelter. Experience shows that an injured animal wearing a license is more likely to receive veterinary care if the owner is not around.
Without exception and as part of the agency’s “zero tolerance policy” regarding unlicensed pets, humane law enforcement officers will continue patrolling city parks and neighborhoods and will issue citations to pet owners for each pet without a current license. Officers will also follow up with known delinquent pet owners who have expired licenses. In addition, officers will conduct emphasis patrols in specific off-leash areas to ensure compliance with pet licensing laws.
The Seattle Animal Shelter is located at
At the upcoming meeting, Parks will ask the community provide ideas for a Pro Parks Levy funded project to make improvements to the Green Lake Plaza & Shade Garden. Voters approved the project in the 2000 Pro Parks Levy. The Levy language stipulates that Parks "create passive recreational areas, gathering areas, shade garden and seating around Green Lake Community Center."
The Pro Parks Levy provides $361,000 for the design, construction and project management of the improvements. Approved by Seattle voters in 2000, the $198.2 million Pro Parks Levy funds more than 100 projects over eight years. Projects include improvements to sports fields, playgrounds, trails and community centers and parks. Funding also increases green spaces, supports Zoo programs and enhances park maintenance. This project will help build a stronger community and healthy families, one of Mayor Greg Nickel's highest priorities for Seattle.
For more information, please contact Parks Project Planner David Goldberg at 206-684-8414 or davidw.goldberg@seattle.gov, or visit the project web site at www.seattle.gov/parks/proparks/projects/greenLakePark.htm.
Seattle, WA - The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs seeks submissions from professional Northwest artists working in all expressions of two-dimensional media for "People+Place: Works Inspired by People, Their Environment or How the Two Interact," a purchase program for the Seattle Public Utilities Portable Works Collection.
Purchases for the portable works collection are made directly from slides and digital images of available work created in the last three years. Purchases are made possible by Seattle Public Utilities 1% for Art Funds. Artists living in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and British Columbia may apply.
Applications must be delivered to the Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs by 5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 29 or postmarked by midnight that day. The application is available at www.seattle.gov/arts (select Funding Applications). Those unable to download the application may call (206) 233-3930 or send an e-mail to arts.culture@seattle.gov.
Purchases are chosen by a jury of arts professionals charged with selecting artwork of high quality that reflects diversity of expression. City utility employees advise the selection process. The city of Seattle's Portable Works Collection includes approximately 2,800 works and is exhibited throughout city offices, engaging employees by helping to create an interesting and diverse work environment. Artworks in the collection are also made available for exhibit loans to museums.
The Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs promotes the value of arts and culture in and of communities throughout Seattle. The 15-member Seattle Arts Commission, citizen volunteers appointed by the Mayor and City Council, supports the city agency.
Tell Us What You'd Like To See!
Parks and Recreation, Friends of Denny Park to hold three meetings on Denny Park project
Seattle Parks and Recreation and Friends of Denny Park will hold three public workshops to get ideas for the creation of a children's play area and multigenerational gathering area in Denny Park, Seattle's oldest park, 100 Dexter Ave. N.
The workshops will take place:
The project is funded by a $15,000 Small and Simple award from the Neighborhood Matching Fund and $100,000 from the Cumulative Reserve Fund. Parks has hired The Berger Partnership to develop schematic drawings.
For more information, please call Kate Mortensen at 283-3868.
SEATTLE - Mayor Greg Nickels praised the City Council today for its final approval of a funding package that eliminates the city’s arterial street maintenance backlog, improves bicycle and pedestrian safety, and repairs vulnerable bridges across the Seattle.
“It’s a great day for Seattle’s roads and bridges,” said Nickels. “Look out potholes, your days are numbered. This package allows us to finally deal with the growing backlog of repairs afflicting our city’s streets and bridges. I’d like to thank the City Council for supporting my ‘Bridging the Gap’ initiative and recognizing the need to get our streets working again.”
The package approved today keeps whole the mayor’s commitment to eliminate the arterial street maintenance backlog. The Council supported the mayor’s proposed commercial parking fee and business transportation tax, which ensures those who use the streets most also contribute to fixing them. If the levy lid lift wins voter approval in November, the city will be able to accomplish all the major goals Nickels proposed when he announced the "Bridging the Gap" plan in May.
