Sound Transit is seeking volunteers to help the agency plan, build and operate the regional mass transit system, and is seeking at least one volunteer to serve on the Citizen Oversight Panel (COP).

There will be several openings next year as current members’ terms expire.

The deadline to apply is Dec. 30, 2010.

Sound Transit relies on the oversight and expertise from this dedicated and independent group of volunteers.

The COP was created in 1997 to independently monitor Sound Transit and make sure it meets its commitments to build and operate a regional bus, light rail and commuter rail transit system. Voters approved local funding for the system in November 1996 and then again for major expansions in 2008.

The 15 COP members represent a variety of interests, professional expertise and experience. The COP meets twice monthly during normal business hours and acts as an independent oversight entity by digging into agency details, asking hard questions and reporting its findings to the Sound Transit Board of Directors.

To apply, please submit both a one-page letter and a resume to:

Aaron Reardon
Sound Transit Board Chair
401 South Jackson Street
Seattle, WA 98104-2826

The materials should be received by December 30, 2010.

The letter should include:

• Brief statement of interest in serving on the panel
• Specific qualifications for serving on the panel
• Highlights of related experience and expertise

To Qualify You Must:

• Be a registered voter within the Sound Transit District
• Reside and/or work in King County, Pierce County or Snohomish County within the Sound Transit district boundary
• Have experience/skills in one or more areas of expertise related to the panel’s responsibilities-business and finance management, engineering, large projects construction management, public facilities and service, government processes, and public policy development or review
• Be able to attend meetings twice each month during normal business hours.

Appointment Process
Copies of all letters and resumes will be provided to the Sound Transit Board for its review. The Board’s Executive Committee will review the nominations and recommend candidates. The Board of Directors will confirm the appointments.

Sound Transit actively seeks to include persons from diverse backgrounds and professional areas of expertise to support agency oversight, planning and operations. Persons of color and women are encouraged to apply.

The second annual “No Pants! Light Rail Ride” is coming this Sunday, Jan. 9th, from 3pm – 6pm, sponsored by Emerald City Improv, which encourages link light rail riders to ‘drop trou’ and ride like nothing’s going on.

This public prank is open to everyone, and to participate, you simply just show up, pay your fare, get on board and take your pants off while riding Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail; just be sure to wear a non-revealing undergarment of some kind.

Most pantsless pranksters are gathering just before 3pm at Westlake Center in downtown Seattle, but we encourage our Readers to buck that trend by boarding either at the SeaTac or Tukwila stations sometime between 3pm – 6pm, and riding the other direction. We think this will allow for more surprising reactions from unsuspecting travelers, and after all, humorous reactions is what this entire prank is about.

We also encourage everyone to take photos and/or video (without being too obvious) and email them to us for posting after the event.

This is affiliated with the “No Pants Subway Ride,” which is a global event started by Improv Everywhere in New York in 2002.

We sent our crew out in 2010, and here’s a video we produced of the event (read our sister site B-Town Blog’s coverage of last year’s event here), starring the frequently-pantsless Bart Bryan along with numerous other whimsical locals:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are other videos from last year:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are the event details:

WHAT: Second annual No Pants! Link Light Rail Ride.

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 9th from 3:00pm – 6:00pm.

WHERE: Most are meeting just before 3pm at Westlake Center in downtown Seattle, but that’s not a requirement; in fact, we discourage our Readers from starting there, as you will have to wait to board the trains, plus, you’ll be stuck with dozens, if not hundreds, of other “No Pants!” riders. If you board from the SeaTac or Tukwila stations, we think you’ll most certainly garner a stronger reaction from unsuspecting riders.

INFO: Created by Emerald City Improv, Luke Greenway.

From their website:

** Invite your friends!! **

Emerald City is proud to announce that we will again be having a No Pants! Light Rail Ride, as part of Improv Everywhere’s 10th annual No Pants Subway Ride. Cities around the globe participate. This year’s event will take place on Sunday, January 9th.

REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION:

1. Willing to take pants off on light rail
2. Able to keep a straight face about it (or at least try really hard)
3. Wear non-offensive underwear
4. Pay your fare
5. Bring a small bag or backpack to put your pants in during the event.

WHERE TO MEET: MEET AT 4TH AVE AND PINE ST, across from Westlake Center, a little before 3pm.

After the event: right now we are planning to meet at Fox Sports Grill again this year to talk about all of our stories over a beer. It was a great time last year.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You may NOT wear any revealing or “skimpy” clothes. If deemed too revealing, we will ask that you put your pants back on. This includes thongs, jock straps, ass-less chaps, whitey-tighties that can be seen through etc. Please use common sense.

Check out last years media page here.

Last year’s facebook event may be found here.

Questions? Contact:

Kelsey Wildstone
Cell: 206-913-1140
Kelsey@EmeraldCityImprov.org

Luke Greenway
luke@emeraldcityimprov.org

Professional actress and Chautauqua scholar Joan Wolfberg will take audience members on Eleanor’s transformative journey from a shy, awkward childhood, to the White House, and later to the United Nations. Roosevelt emerged as one of the most influential civil rights advocates of the 20th century.

Wolfberg’s presentation includes discussions of evolving attitudes toward the equality of women, civil rights, human rights, politics and freedom. This program is suitable for middle school students and up. It is made possible with the sponsorship of Humanities Washington and its Inquiring Mind program.

The presentation takes place at SeaTac City Hall, 4800 S 188th Street, in SeaTac. Free admission and free parking. (Donations always welcome.)

Visit www.highlinehistory.org for more information about the Highline Historical Society.

Have you driven down SW 160th Street and wondered what was going on behind those whimsical columns? That warm ochre and brick colored building is the home of Three Tree Montessori School, a rich and vibrant community that supports the fundamentally unique education principals of Maria Montessori. Montessori is a time-tested, science based approach to education, designed to nurture the whole child.

Come view the beautiful classrooms, gardens and playgrounds, meet the teachers, and learn about Montessori programs for children ages one through twelve.

There will be an Open House for a new community garden in Tukwila this Friday, Feb. 4th, from 6pm – 8pm, at St. Thomas Parish, located at 4415 S. 140th Street in tukwila.

The open house will be in the Social Hall, and the garden will be available for growing beginning in April.

If you’re a gardener without a space to grow your crops, this will be your opportunity to learn about the new Tukwila community garden and sign up for a plot. Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC), the International Rescue Committee (IRC), and St Thomas Parish invite you to an open house on Friday, February 4th from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

The open house is the presentation of eight months of planning work by Tukwila residents and project partners. The community garden is the first community organizing project in Tukwila by CLC’s Community Stewards program, in partnership with the IRC, the parish, and community members.

“This project brings together an amazing group of people from Tukwila – neighbors, students and teachers, refugees and farmers – to grow healthy food and build a great community,” said Skye Schell, project manager at Cascade Land Conservancy.

The community garden leadership team has planned approximately 70 plots for individuals or families (10’x10’), as well as communal growing space for large crops like corn, plots for the St Thomas food bank, and educational plots for students at Foster High School. Communities of refugees from Burma and Bhutan have been involved throughout the design process and will be gardening as well.

“We are excited about the community garden. Not only will it be an opportunity to enrich the beauty of our neighborhood and provide access to healthy food,” said St Thomas Pastoral Associate Donna Ferraro. “It will also be an outreach to the refugee community in our area to provide a space where individuals and families can grow food in an effort to be self-sustaining, and a source of fresh produce for our parish food bank.”

The open house will start with a potluck meal and music at 6:00 p.m. At 6:30, the garden design will be unveiled as well as an explanation of how people can sign up for individual plots or volunteer to grow for the food bank.

“This garden will offer access to healthy food, help support the St Thomas food bank, create educational opportunities for students and provide local refugees with a place to meet their neighbors and strengthen community ties. The IRC is thrilled to be involved with a project that holds so much promise,” said Evan Perry, IRC staff and community garden secretary.

If possible, please bring food for a potluck meal and musical instruments. The group is also seeking volunteers to help with fundraising and construction.

St. Thomas Parish is located at 4415 S. 140th St, Tukwila WA. The open house will be in the Social Hall.

About Cascade Land Conservancy:
CLC fills a unique and important niche as the largest conservation and community building organization dedicated solely to this region. As a national leader, CLC is shaping a future that will flourish environmentally and economically. They partner with thousands of leaders and residents across the region to create healthy, livable and prosperous communities. For over 20 years, CLC has led efforts to conserve more than 172,000 acres of forests, farms, shorelines, parks and natural areas and restore critical landscapes.

Cascade Land Conservancy’s Community Stewards Program engages and empowers community members to making lasting change in their cities through community-developed projects.

About IRC:
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) serves refugees and communities victimized by oppression or violent conflict worldwide. Founded in 1933, the IRC is committed to freedom, human dignity and self-reliance. This commitment is expressed in emergency relief, protection of human rights, post- conflict development, resettlement assistance, and advocacy. The IRC in Seattle provides the services and support needed to assist refugees, asylees and victims of human trafficking to rebuild their lives and become independent and involved members of the community.

Volunteers are needed to help restore the Duwamish Hill Preserve in Tukwila from 10am – 1pm this Saturday, Feb. 19th.

Event activities will include invasive weed removal and other restoration projects, and volunteers are asked to remember to dress for the weather:

• Boots or comfortable athletic shoes
• Work clothes
• Rain gear and appropriate layers.
• Bring refillable water bottle
• Snacks, drinks, tools and gloves will be provided

Here are the details:

WHAT: Help restore Duwamish Hill Preserve in Tukwila.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 19th from 10am to 1pm.

WHERE: Meet at the parking lot at the base of the preserve at 10am. The address of the preserve and parking lot is 3800 S 115th St Tukwila, WA 98168.

INFO:

Join volunteers to help restore this culturally significant park preserve.  Event activities include invasive weed removal and other restoration projects.

Upcoming Events: Volunteer events are held on this property the 3rd Saturday of every month.

About the Property:
In 2001, Cascade Land Conservancy, the City of Tukwila, and a local citizen group formed a partnership to work for the preservation of an undeveloped parcel of land on the Duwamish River.  The property will be managed as a public open space preserve devoted to the interpretation of the site’s Native American cultural significance and other aspects of Duwamish River Valley natural and cultural history.  The Hill is culturally significant for its association with southern Puget Sound Salish oral tradition and history, as a key location in the stories collectively known as the “Epic of the Winds.”

Please come out and contribute to this effort!

What to bring:
Please remember to dress for the weather.  Suggested Dress: Boots or comfortable athletic shoes, work clothes, rain gear and appropriate layers.  Volunteers should bring a refillable water bottle.  Snacks, drinks, tools and gloves will be provided.

Where: We will meet at the parking lot at the base of the preserve at 10am. The address of the preserve and parking lot is 3800 S 115th St Tukwila, WA 98168

For additional information contact, volunteer@cascadeland.org.

If you are under 18 and attending the event without a parent or guardian please come to the event with the waiver below signed by a parent or guardian.

Click here to download the CLC Youth Volunteer Waiver.

Click here to register for this event…

The City of Tukwila is offering free training for people who want to learn how to care for wetlands, streams, and buffers in two sessions: Thursday, Feb. 23rd and Saturday, Feb. 26th.

The program is part of the City’s newly formed “Environmental Stewards of Tukwila Program” which aims to educate and assist property owners and residents with issues regarding environmental quality within the City. The training will consist of classroom training and hand on practical application. At the training, participants will learn about: the benefits of wetland and streams; how wetlands and streams are defined and regulated; and how to care for them to promote healthy ecosystems.

Did you know that Tukwila contains over 120 acres of wetlands and 50,000 linear feet of streams? Streams and wetlands are integral parts of the urban environment and they are abundant with wildlife, including salmon, songbirds, and small mammals. They also assist with water quality, flood control and sediment control. Property owners and/or residents like you have wetlands and streams in your own backyard and protection of these natural resources is partly in your hands. Without the stewardship of concerned citizens, the City and future generations risk losing these natural ecosystems.

Here are the event details:

WHAT: Environmental Stewardship Training.

WHEN: 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, Thursday, February 23, 2011.

WHERE: City Hall Chambers, 6200 Southcenter Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188.

INFO: At this training you will learn how to take care of the streams, wetland and/or buffers that are located on or near your property. You will leave the class with an understanding of natural care techniques for maintaining healthy, vibrant streams and wetlands.

Here’s info on the second one:

WHAT: Hands On Environmental Stewardship Work Parties:

WHEN: 1st Work Party: 9:00 AM to Noon, Saturday, February 26, 2011

WHERE:  City Hall, 6200 Southcenter Blvd, Tukwila, WA 98188, Meet at the Flag Pole

INFO: Take what you learned in class to help the City and other community volunteers complete a small stream buffer restoration project at Cottage Creek, located on the grounds of City Hall.

The program is part of the City’s newly formed “Environmental Stewards of Tukwila Program” which aims to educate and assist property owners and residents with issues regarding environmental quality within the City. The training will consist of classroom training and hand on practical application. At the training, participants will learn about: the benefits of wetland and streams; how wetlands and streams are defined and regulated; and how to care for them to promote healthy ecosystems.

For more information, contact Brandon Miles, Senior Planner at HYPERLINK “mailto:bmiles@ci.tukwila.wa.us” bmiles@ci.tukwila.wa.us or by phone at (206) 431-3684.