February 2021

By Kersti E. Muul

Conservation Scientist/Specialist and Community Naturalist

Around 1:15 on Thursday, February 25, 2021 I received a call from the Marine Mammal Stranding Network (MMSN) regarding a grounded adult bald eagle at Don Armeni Park. Local Response, Rehab and Research group (SR3) was en route to assess and attempt capture if necessary. I went to assist them and was going to transport the eagle to Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS).

The eagle had not flown or moved from it's spot in over an hour. When I arrived, the MMSN had taped a perimeter around the bird to keep it safe from onlookers. 

It is not abnormal for eagles to be on the ground resting, eating, or even in territorial disputes (especially this time of year). However after observing this eagle for just a few minutes, it was obvious to me this wasn't the case.  The bird appeared 'sick' to me. 

District 1 Seattle City Councilmember Lisa Herbold offered this update on vaccination availability for West Seattle in her news letter to constituents

Between the West Seattle bridge closure, significant congestion on detour routes off the peninsula, and limited access to the lower bridge, District 1 residents are virtually cut off from vaccine and healthcare providers.  And District 1 residents – especially those 65 and older - are lagging behind other parts of the city in accessing vaccine, according to Public Health – Seattle & King County’s data dashboard:

information from Twelfth Night Productions

Twelfth Night Production (TNP) is proud to present four one-act plays from All in the Timing by David Ives. The four short plays are hilarious and sometimes absurd, providing witty perspectives on life and meaning, with a sometimes sharp tongue and often uproarious word pay.

The four shorts featured in the live stream include: 

·       In Sure Thing, a couple on a first date has the opportunity to reset and try again each time they say the wrong thing. 

·       Words, Words, Words takes the “infinite monkey theorem”-- the idea that given enough time, three monkeys in a room could eventually compose any given text, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet -- and turns it into reality.

This is the second in a series of columns prepared by the staff at the award winning West Seattle Nursery.  The Nursery is open for shopping, following COVID guidelines and they offer an array of trees, shrubs, bedding plants, garden supplies, decor and gift items. They are located at 5275 California Ave SW and you can find them online at https://www.westseattlenursery.com

Unlike other bees, mason bees are solitary: they do not live in a hive, support a queen, or make honey. They are gentle, non-aggressive bees, and rarely sting. 

The State Supreme Court in a ruling on Thursday in the case of State of Washington v Shannon B. Blake they rendered a state law on possession of drugs unconstitutional. Justice Sheryl Gordon MCloud wrote:

"We begin with the rule that state legislatures have the police power to criminalize and punish much conduct. But the due process clauses of the state and federal constitutions limit that power. The key limit at issue here is that those due process clause protections generally bar state legislatures from taking innocent and passive conduct with no criminal intent at all and punishing it as a serious crime.

By Patrick Robinson

If you’ve paid attention at all to the last few year of political discourse and in the past year to the discussion about the pandemic one thing should have stood out. 

A lot of people don’t know very much. This is not to say that they don’t think they do. On the contrary. Social media in all its variants from Facebook to Twitter to the ill fated Parler and comment sections on countless websites has empowered people of every level of intelligence and education to be equal in voice. 

On every topic from politics to education, to sports to wearing a mask to stop the spread of a disease that has taken half a million lives, people feel the need to spout their belief. 

It’s rare however to find people in positions of leadership, higher education, or power engaging in these forums. Why?

Because they actually know better.