July 2008

Get ready to pay for those disposal bags at local stores.

Monday July, 28 the City Council voted to impose a fee on disposable shopping bags to encourage residents to bring their own reusable ones.

A separate ordinance also bans expanded polystyrene food containers.

"These new laws are an integral part of the City?s Zero Waste strategy-- and translating Seattle?s environmental values into concrete actions," said Council President Richard Conlin in a statement released by the city.

"They will help marine life, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and move ou

Steel Lake is on the move, going down south where the oranges grow to take on the rest of the Western region state champions after their sweet, juicy, extra-inning 10-9 victory over PacWest in the Senior All Stars Little League State Tournament championship game at Moshier Field July 19.

Brian Thomason connected bat to ball for the game-winning RBI in this one and he had a single message for the southern, central and northern California champs, the New Mexico champs, the Arizona champs, the Hawaii champs, the Oregon champs, the Utah champs, the Idaho champs, and the.....

Big meet with the bigger swims from Marine Hills Fish and the Tree, swimming past their rival Twin Lakes Penguins, 366-350, in Seattle Summer Swim League fast-stroking action at the Marine Hills Pool Tuesday, July 22.

So the result was Marine Hills head coach Wendy Neely’s team, all lining the edge of the pool ready to do something.

This was a close meet, a long meet, too. That was a lot of swimming, including some 30-something exhibition swims, hence, the start of 6 p.m.

1. A man filed an online police report indicating that his car was broken into. The report states that the man lives on the 35100 block of Enchanted Parkway South. The incident took place around 8:57 p.m. on the evening of July 18. The report states that the man returned to his vehicle to find that an unknown person or persons had entered the vehicle without his permission. The man is the registered owner of a maroon 2004 Ford. The thieves had stolen a bottle of stool softener and approximately 170 oxicodone pills. The contents of the vehicle were scattered inside.

The Sound Transit Board unanimously approved on July 25 placing a 15-year mass transit package on the November ballot.

The plan rapidly increases express bus and commuter rail service and creates a 53-mile regional light rail system.

"Today we heeded the public's call to deliver a mass transit system that responds to high gas prices and rising congestion. This faster, better and cheaper plan will provide serious relief for our commuters," said Sound Transit Board Chair and Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels.

Last year at Des Moines Beach Park, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed legislation creating the Puget Sound Partnership tasked with the job of cleaning up Puget Sound.

On July 24, Gregoire returned to the park, as part of a two-day, seven-stop tour to reiterate the importance of a clean Puget Sound to Washington's economy and culture. The visit was sponsored by Gregoire's re-election committee.

The goal of the partnership is to clean Puget Sound by 2020, Gregoire said.

Landmark on the Sound in Des Moines hired some unusual new temporary employees last week to help clear overgrowth from the 1.7 miles of walking paths and trails on the perimeter of the 27-acre campus.

The employees ate and even slept on the job, yet they performed their work perfectly.

The new workers were goats.

Goats prefer a diet of nutrient-dense, broadleaf plants and brush, and so Landmark on the Sound, the former Masonic Home retirement community, contracted with Goat Trimmers, a family-owned and operated business in Tacoma to bring 90 of these happy munc

Hidden in a small garage in an obscure and wooded corner of SeaTac are miniature cities and gardens inhabited by countless people, many smaller than your pinky finger.

These are the clay creations of 60-year-old animator, Bruce Bickford.

His garage is filled from top to bottom with what he estimates to be 30 to 40 years of work.

While Bickford can do wonders with a pencil and paper, he is best known for his clay animation, or claymation, particularly his collaborations with offbeat musician Frank Zappa.

His work with Zappa escalated him to cult fame

Bids for a marina maintenance dredging project have been requested by the City of Des Moines. The deadline for contractors to submit their bids is Aug. 14 at 2 p.m.

"It's a fairly simple project. It's not complicated at all - just expensive," notes Harbormaster Joe Dusenbury.

Federal Way Symphony's Music Camp was a summer music experience filled with fun, plus knowledge. Musicians Todd Zimberg and Lonnie Mardis conducted the annual camp, held July 15 through 19.

The students experienced four days of exploring new ways to enjoy and use their instrument of choice.