Summer Solstice Potluck Picnic

On July 19, over 20 South King County Group members and friends experienced a wonderful break in the weather to enjoy our annual solstice potluck picnic. We met at Gary Grant Park near the north terminus of the Soos Creek Trail. We celebrated our Group's many accomplishments for the past year, both politically and on the ground. We also discussed plans for the rest of the year, including encouraging South King County cities to become Cool Cities and begin to address climate change.

We welcomed several new and old members and recruits. Potluck dishes were wide-ranging and delicioius, with a distinctive summer flair - freshly picked salads, berries, and homemade desserts. Our evening was capped off with a leisurely and informative walk south on the Soos Creek Trail, led by our Group's resident bird expert, Mark Johnston. We heard the throating sounds of bull frogs at a nearby pond, marveled as acrobatic Barn Swallows swooped overhead, and observed a variety of birds perching high up in trees or low in the bushes skirting still ponds.

Cool Cities

On Wednesday, June 27, Jessica Eagle and Group Chair Dan Streiffert met with Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke to discuss Kent becoming a Cool City by developing and implementing a plan to combat climate change.

Over 600 "Cool Cities" nationwide are implementing plans to not only curb their carbon emissions and other global warming pollution, but also save money through energy efficiency and creating environmental and healthy communities. Mayor Cooke is supportive of the program and hopes to put a plan into action. If you live in the City of Kent, contact Mayor Cooke at mayor@ci.kent.wa.us to thank her for considering making Kent a Cool City.

Our Group is also targeting the City of Federal Way to become a Cool City. If you would like to help, please contact Jessica Eagle at jessica.eagle@sierraclub.org. Also, we will be showing Al Gore's Academy Award-winning film, "An Inconvenient Truth," September 12 at 7:00 PM at the Federal Way Regional Library.

ExCom Openings

If you would like to direct some of your environmental enthusiasm and have the opportunity to help plan Group activities, actions, etc, please consider running for election to our Group's Executive Committee. We meet bi-monthly in central locations in south King County. Contact Group Chair Dan Streiffert at danstreiffert@comcast.net.