Category Archives: Community involvement

Participate in environmental review of proposed methanol plant

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Photo of Draft Scoping Report

The Draft Scoping Report identifies areas that the EIS will examine. It will be updated after the comment period closes.

Whether you are for, against or undecided on the proposed methanol plant for the Tacoma tideflats, please participate in the City of Tacoma’s environmental review process. The next public scoping meeting is Feb. 24, and comments are due by March 4.

Proposed by Northwest Innovation Works on property owned by the Port of Tacoma, the methanol facility would be the largest in the world. The City of Tacoma is conducting the environmental review. As a City planner said at the Feb. 10 public scoping meeting, more people are engaged in this project than almost any other Tacoma project in the last 20 years.

What would you like to know about it — jobs, climate change, water use or other topics? Now is the time to ask. You can speak or provide written comments at the public meetings, or email or mail written comments. Learn more about how to comment on the City’s webpage.

The Port of Tacoma, which signed a lease for this project with Northwest Innovation Works in 2014, will hold a study session on the project at its Feb. 18 meeting. Public comment is included on the meeting agenda.

Feb. 24 public scoping meeting

Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center ballroom

1500 Broadway

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. to sign up to speak. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

For more information

** Engage Northwest does not work on this project and currently does not represent any of the parties listed in this blog.**

 

Returning a trail back to the forest at Sehmel Homestead Park

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Photo of volunteers at Sehmel Homestead Park

Volunteers take care of the trail at Sehmel Homestead Park.

Thank you to the volunteers who replaced an unwanted trail with rocks, branches and trees and planted new plants at Sehmel Homestead Park on Saturday. This “Art of Wilderness Gardening” returned the old trail back to the forest.

Photo of volunteer

Volunteers made a difference and had fun, too!

Great Peninsula Conservancy organized this “trail decommissioning” event and partnered with PenMet Parks, Pierce County Master Gardeners, WA Native Plant Society, and Gig Harbor High School. Thank you for your time and for making a difference in our parks and natural areas!

More pictures of the Nov. 7 trail stewardship day are available on Flickr and YouTube.

Disclaimer: Engage Northwest is a communications consultant for Great Peninsula Conservancy on this project.

Celebrated U.S.-China relationship at Chinese Reconciliation Park

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Photo of welcome to Chinese Reconciliation Park

Flags wave and tigers dance to welcome Minister Qiu to Chinese Reconciliation Park

We welcomed China’s Minister  Qiu Yuan Ping to Chinese Reconciliation Park yesterday. Minister Qiu’s visit builds on Tacoma’s Sister City relationship with Fuzhou, and is part of China’s official visit to the United States. President Xi visits Seattle and Tacoma this week.

The special ceremony included speakers from Tacoma Public Schools, Chief Leschi School, The Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Tacoma City Council, and Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation. Two students from Tacoma’s Sherman Elementary were honored to present flowers and meet the minister.

Photo of Minister Qiu

Chinese Minister Qiu speaks at the Fuzhou Ting in Tacoma

Minister Qiu — the Minister of Overseas Chinese Commission in the China State Department — recognized the importance of Chinese workers in helping build the transcontinental railroad in the United States. The railroad strengthened America’s economy, and its terminus was Tacoma.

Minister Qiu emphasized education and collaboration in the U.S.-China relationship. Many Tacoma-based schools and colleges were represented at the ceremony, including Bates Technical College, Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound. They offer exchange programs and opportunities to learn about and study in China.

On Wednesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Tacoma’s Lincoln High School. Nathan Gibbs-Bowling, a teacher at Lincoln, was just named the Washington teacher of the year. President Xi will visit Mr. Bowling’s government class. This video shows how the students are preparing for this historic visit.

For more information

More photos from the event at Chinese Reconciliation Park are available on Flickr:  https://www.flickr.com/photos/engagenorthwest/albums/72157656606146903

Explore nature on Sept. 27 tour at Sehmel Homestead Park

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Photo of Sehmel Homestead Park

Walk on the trail at Sehmel Homestead Park

Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor boasts some of the best baseball and soccer fields in the South Sound. Did you know that most of this park consists of natural areas — meadows, ponds and forests? Find out more on a guided trail walk, September 27 from 2-4 pm. This free event is open to everyone!

You can learn about the park’s history, life on the homestead and opportunities to take care of the trail. Refreshments are provided. See the event flyer for details.

For more information, contact Great Peninsula Conservancy. Hope to see you there!

Disclaimer: Engage Northwest is a communications consultant for Great Peninsula Conservancy on this project.

Engaging with community on Earth Day

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Thank you, volunteers, for your time and effort on Earth Day and throughout the year! You make a difference in our community.

Many people say that making a difference in the community is the reason why they volunteer. Others may want to socialize with friends, learn new skills, or help advance a cause.

Earth Day and events throughout April are great times to encourage community involvement. People can team up with neighbors, family and friends to pull weeds, plant fruits and vegetables, pick up litter, and more. These activities help meet volunteers’ needs and an organization’s goals.

Make sure that volunteers feel appreciated – a simple thank you goes a long way. Other volunteer recognition could include t-shirts, free food, certificates, or acknowledgement in meetings, on a website, or in social media. Flat Anna to the rescue at Ocean Shores-lr

As you participate in Earth Day and similar events, remember to take photos. Or ask volunteers to take photos of themselves. These pictures can generate enthusiasm for the particular event, future events and even your organization. Consider holding a photo contest or sharing photos with a hashtag on social media. Pictures capture the community spirit! Enjoy the day, and thank you, volunteers!