Quarterly Community Meeting
Thursday, March 20 at 6 pm on Zoom
Meet the new Washington State Sierra Club Director, Ben Avery. Ben has had to hit the ground running, with the challenges of a new president, a challenging legislative session and resurrecting the Outings program, as well as working to align groups, staff members and committees.
This will be an opportunity to get to know Ben, to ask questions, and to learn about upcoming activities and events. Note the earlier meeting time. |
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Three Kicking Gas Meetings!
March 17 at 5:45 pm in Lynnwood
March 22 at 10 am on Zoom
March 31 at Noon on Zoom
Save Money and Make the Switch to Electric Heating and Cooling your Home!
The Kicking Gas Campaign will help you transition with subsidies for ductless heat pumps and electric cooking.
You can avoid the serious health dangers of indoor fossil fuel combustion and reduce adverse effects on our climate.
Co-sponsored with the Sno-Isle Sierra Club.
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| Whidbey Island Keystone Preserve |
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Thursday, March 20
Tour 11 am to 1 pm
Keystone Preserve is a breathtaking, 216 acre property on Admiralty Bay near Coupeville. Those joining this outing will walk around the preserve with a Whidbey Camano Land Trust host and be allowed to experience the area before it is open to the public after current restoration work is completed. See the ecological restoration in progress during the 2 to 3 mile walk. |
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Advocate for Our Values
This year's state legislative session is beyond challenging: a $12-14 billion deficit means that critical programs directly affecting people, climate, and our environment are facing significant cuts. Now is the time to advocate for our values, which may include asking legislators to find other revenue sources. If you haven't already, subscribe to the Sierra Club Legislative Updates and action items. |
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| We can't give up: The proposed amendment to allow reduced buffers for Snohomish County wetlands is still alive. Public input has resulted in a delay to allow further study, with a presentation to the county Planning and Community Development Committee by a panel on March 18 at 11 am. Following that meeting, timing for a public hearing will be announced. Your presence at both meetings as well as your input then or now will be helpful. Email contact for Snohomish County Council: contact.council@snoco.org . |
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Reasonable Forest Management
Tell our Commissioner of Public Lands to stop the timber sale known as Stilly Revisited. Logging in this area would fragment and destroy large parts of one of few remaining stands of old growth forest in the Puget Sound lowlands. Additionally, it is located on slopes even steeper than those that failed in the tragic Oso slide of 2014. Call Commissioner Upthegrove at 360-902-1000 or email him at cpl@dnr.wa.gov |
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NW Forest Plan Needs Your Input
March 14 Deadline
The Northwest Forest Plan has guided management of 17 national forests in Washington, Oregon and California for the past 30 years. The plan has serious shortcomings that we now have an opportunity to change. We need an ecologically sound and socially just plan that upholds Tribal sovereignty. As the U.S. Forest Service considers changes to the current plan, they need to hear from advocates like YOU! |
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Public Comment Opportunity
How do you want your local government to address climate change? Take this opportunity to tell the state Department of Commerce how your area should best plan for resilience and address the impacts of climate change in land use plans. Comments are accepted until March 20. |
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Learn About Sea Level Rise Planning
The Washington State Dept. of Ecology is offering opportunities for the public to learn about new requirements for cities and counties to address the impact of sea level rise and increased storm severity in their shoreline planning.
In a series of lunchtime webinars beginning March 5, scientists and practitioners will present information on sea level rise adaptation planning and tools.
Beginning March 17, a self-paced course will provide an overview of sea level rise and coastal hazards that impact location and design of alternatives to bulkheads or armor. |
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Health Impacts of Climate Change
Sundays, March 9,16, 23 and 30
Social 2 to 3 pm, Meeting 3 to 4:30 pm
Snohomish PUD
2320 California St, Everett
Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility will offer programs on the Health Impacts of Climate Change at the Sunday meetings of Snohomish County Indivisible during the month of March.
Dr. Jon Witte will make the 45 minute presentations, with other physicians providing additional information and assistance in fielding questions. |
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Go Birding with Local Audubon Group
Tuesday, March 11, 8 am to 4 pm
Carpool from Marysville to Darrington
Birding stops include Bryson Road, C-Post Road and Fortson Mill Ponds.
Tuesday March 18, 8 am to 3 pm
Carpool from Monroe to Carnation
Explore habitats including wetlands, lakes, and forests, while watching for raptors, swans, waterfowl, and woodland species. |
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| Three Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Current Events |
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Community Workshop
March 13, 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm
Everett Community College
Joint Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the State Department of Commerce survey. Survey requests feedback which will inform the regional Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.
Creative Climate Action Art Contest submissions due June 25. |
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| Snohomish PUD Grand Opening Celebration Tour |
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Saturday, March 22, 11:30 am to 2:30 pm
The new North County Office
17601 59th Ave NE, Arlington
This facility will replace offices in Stanwood and Arlington, with an onsite warehouse and rentable community meeting spaces. Events include Clean Energy Center and Battery Storage Project tours, plus Training Yard tours. Watch pole-top rescue and equipment demonstrations with PUD linemen. Food trucks will add to the family friendly atmosphere. |
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Watershed Education Experience
March 28, 10 am to 4:45 pm
Also last Fridays April through July
Northwest Stream Center
600 128th St SE, Everett
The Watershed Education Experience is a comprehensive overview of stream and wetland basic ecology, emphasizing the interconnections between humans, forests, wetlands, streams, fish and wildlife. It is intended for everyone interested in the natural world and the ecology of the Pacific Northwest, including land use policy makers, developers, real estate agents, lawyers, teachers, and wetland property owners. |
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Free Event: Save the Food Fest
Saturday, April 5, 11 am to 3 pm
Rosehill Community Center
304 Lincoln Ave, Ste 108, Mukilteo
Have fun while learning how to stop wasting food and save money at this event sponsored by WSU Snohomish County Extension's Sustainable Community Stewards. At 11 am visitors can attend a workshop on preserving and storing food properly; at 1 pm lessons will be offered on creating a waste free kitchen. In between workshops, there will be art and recipe contests, a kitchen supplies raffle, and trivia games. |
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Students Work for Climate Policy
United Student Leaders of Whidbey were successful with their recent school board presentation requesting creation of a climate policy. Many community members attended the meeting and spoke in support of the students. After discussion with the students, the board agreed to create a climate statement for now, with promise of creating a policy in the future. Students expressed concern with the proposed timeline of 6 months to a year. |
| United Student Leaders at School Board meeting |
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How You Can Make a Difference in Difficult Times
Message from Sno-Isle Sierra Club Co-chair, Nancy Johnson
Are you exhausted from watching as our hard-won climate, environment and equity gains erode due to the state budget deficit and reckless federal decisions? What on Earth can we do? Join a protest? Write to legislators? Meet with officials? Pen letters to the editor? Volunteer with local groups to resist? These are critical and important steps we can take. They make a real difference for our communities and the world, while lessening our feelings of anger, despair and grief.
Here's another action you may not have thought of: Many local government boards, commissions and advisory councils are begging for rational, committed and informed constituents to join their organizations. We need more climate, environment and justice advocates to fill these spots to ensure a more equitable future for everyone.
For example, a climate champion on the Edmonds Port Commission is long overdue. With Edmonds Port Commissioner Steve Johnson announcing his retirement effective March 30, the Port of Edmonds is seeking applicants for the commissioner-at-large position. Applications will be accepted through the close of business at 4:30 pm March 12. The Port expects that the final commission vote to appoint a candidate for the vacancy will be April 28. The application process and requirements, application packet and district map with boundary descriptions are posted on the Port's website. Applicants must reside in the Port District.
When you hear of a similar vacancy in your area, please email Marjie Fields so we can publicize it in our newsletter. (Marjie.Fields@Washington.SierraClub.org).
Thank you for all you do! |
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We must always take sides.
Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.
Silence encourages the tormentor,
never the tormented.
Elie Wiesel
Holocaust surviver,
political activist, and author. |
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