Tag Archives: Pierce County

Explore Sehmel Homestead Park, Sept. 10

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Explore Sehmel Homestead Park and learn about its history and nature at a free event on Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. PenMet Parks and the Washington Native Plant Society will lead a guided walk through the park’s trails.

For more information, see Sehmel Homestead Park’s Facebook event or a News Tribune article.

Photo of walking tour at Sehmel Homestead Park

Learning about the meadow at Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor

If you can’t attend this event, please visit another time and explore the park’s natural areas!

Update: Over 40 people attended the walking tour and learned about family life on the homestead, plants and trees along the trail and ways to get involved in the park. Thank you for participating! Here are some tour pictures.

Disclaimer: Engage Northwest is a communications consultant with the Great Peninsula Conservancy on a similar project at Sehmel Homestead Park.

Apply for the Jane’s Fellowship program to develop leadership skills and help Pierce County communities

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If you are a grassroots leader in Pierce County and would like to develop leadership skills and build a stronger community, consider applying for the Jane’s Fellowship Program with The Russell Family Foundation. Up to 13 people will be selected for the next program, which runs from January 2017 – March 2018. Participants receive free training, a $6,000 stipend and a supportive peer network.

Applications are due October 3, 2016 and are available on The Russell Family Foundation’s website. To learn more, attend a public information session — several sessions will be held in August and September. Check out this video to hear what some Jane’s Fellows think about the program. Good luck!

Sound Transit proposes faster schedule for ST3

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In response to public comments about building transit faster, Sound Transit today proposed to build the ST3 projects sooner — between 2-5 years faster, depending on the project. ST3 is the proposed 25-year regional transit plan that would increase light rail, commuter rail and bus service in King, Pierce and Snohomish Counties.

The Sound Transit Board will vote on the transit projects and timelines on June 2 and plans to adopt the plan at its June 23 meeting in order to place ST3 on the November ballot. Here is a list of the proposed ST3 projects and new timelines.

Sound Transit received over 34,000 survey responses on ST3.

Here is a presentation summarizing the public comments received on the draft ST3 plan.

Picture of Capitol Hill light rail station

Located in the heart of the neighborhood, the Capitol Hill light rail station offers good connections to other travel options.

For more information:

Provide input on Sound Transit’s draft regional transit plan (ST3)

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Photo of people riding light rail

Riding light rail to the new UW Station

To expand the regional transit system, Sound Transit proposes to build over 20 light rail, commuter rail and bus projects during the next 25 years. Outlined in a draft plan called ST3, the transit projects would serve Snohomish, King and Pierce counties. ST3 would cost approximately $50 billion and be funded with new and existing transit taxes. See Sound Transit’s March 25, 2016 press release on the ST3 annoucement.

The public is invited to review and comment on the draft ST 3 plan now until April 29. Here’s how you can get involved:

  • View the draft plan and proposed projects, including an interactive map
  • Attend a public meeting to ask questions and give comments. Sound Transit will hold a series of 6 public meetings around the region from April 19 – 28.
  • Take an online survey
  • Submit comments in writing by email at soundtransit3@soundtransit.org or to Sound Transit 3, 401 S. Jackson St., Seattle, WA 98104

Based on community input, Sound Transit will finalize the ST3 plan and place a transit tax on the November 2016 ballot. If passed, the average household would pay approximately $200 more per year in taxes to pay for the transit improvements.

For more information:

Nonprofits – register by April 6 to participate in GiveBIG

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Nonprofits in the King County area — if you’d like to participate in the one-day online giving event called GiveBIG, please register with the Seattle Foundation by April 6. Many nonprofits in Pierce and Snohomish counties also participate.

In 2015, GiveBIG raised over $16 million in 24-hours to help local nonprofits in the areas of health, education, food, housing, environment and more. Social media helps encourage people to give generously on this one day. Many other organizations provide matches and additional funding.

Logo of GiveBIG

Custom logo that nonprofits can use to promote GiveBIG. Credit: Seattle Foundation.

The Seattle Foundation provides a toolkit of templates, logos and marketing materials to help nonprofits promote GiveBIG.

They also offer webinars to explain how to promote the event and make the most of “stretch funds.”

Here is a link to the online registration form due April 6. Best wishes!