What’s it doing at your house?

Heron Habitat Helpers invites the public to join them for their annual meeting where they will celebrate their  accomplishments, discuss goals and great blue herons. Afterwards, they will lead a short tour along the edge of the ravine in hopes of seeing the returning herons. Light refreshments will be served.

Saturday March 3, 10:00am – Noon
Discovery Park Visitor Center

Click here for more information

Reverend Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, will speak on Tuesday in celebration of Black History Month at First Free Methodist Church, adjacent to the Seattle Pacific University campus.

As one of the leading speakers of today, King is author of Hard Questions, Heart Answers. Her book is a collection of her best and inspiring sermons and speeches in which she addresses the pressing problems America faced in the 1990s. In addition, she is founder of “Be A King,” whose mission is to” influence young people to transform the world culture with a kingdom mindset.” In 2009, King was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Advocate Award” from the Nation Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc.

The event is from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m., is free and open to the public. Parking is available in the church parking lot. King will be joined by SPU’s Gospel Choir, Worship Arts Ensemble and Wind Symphony.

Mark your calendar for March 24th when the Magnolia Community Center will be transformed into a ’70′s disco.

Tickets for the Blaine Auction are now available online at http://blaine.maestroweb.com (note: no “www” on that website). This popular auction has sold out the past two years. New this year- two VIP tables for the auction up for bid — one is a “That 70s Show Theme” and one is” Studio 54″.  Online Auction Chair Katie Kavulla says this year’s event should be a hit:

We’re excited for this year’s auction and for our fun theme — “That 70s Auction.” We expect that many parents will be decked out in their “flower power” finest, which will make it a great event. Plus, we have some fresh, new live auction items this year and a fantastic new auctioneer, Jack Forman of the kid’s band, Recess Monkey.

Catharine Blaine Auction:  March 24th at 5pm at the Magnolia Community Center. Tickets are $65.

Community members are welcome to attend the auction.   Click here for more information.

Catharine Blaine Vice Principal, Ms. Destrebecq has resigned.  In an email sent earlier today, she writes:

Dear Families and Community Members,

In my career, I have never been anything but an educator, and I have never known a community like Blaine’s. Over the past year and a half, I have learned so much from the students, the staff, and you, as I have embarked on the journey of school leadership. You have been instrumental in my professional development, as a school administrator, and for that I am extremely grateful. And most of all, you have been there for each other. Whenever there is a crisis, or someone in the community is hurting, I know that the Blaine community will band together to help those in need. I would hope that many of you would be my friends, if I weren’t your child’s assistant principal.

Like Ms. Swanson, I am also at a crossroads. After months of contemplation, I feel strongly that now is the opportune time to step back and evaluate my future and my career path. As a result of this introspection, I am saddened to let you know that I am resigning from my position in Seattle Schools and at Catharine Blaine. I have already tendered my resignation, and my last day will be March 9th.

This is a huge and exciting step for me, but much needed. I will be taking off my “principal hat” and working to impact positive change through other means. I will begin my new adventure by working part-time as a consultant at a global non-profit. I am excited about the change and the work that lies ahead, but will continue to remain open to other opportunities that may come my way.

I wish you all the best of luck in your own careers, and with your life-long career as parents.

Much respect,

Theresa

This news comes fast on the heels of Principal Heather Swanson’s recent announcement of her resignation.

In related news, it was announced that Nancy Coogan, Executive Director for the Central region schools, will be holding a Community Meeting to discuss the process for hiring a Principal, Wednesday, 2/29 at 7:00pm in Blaine’s lunchroom. Questions are welcome.

Park users can park on the north side of W Emerson St. and enter the park through the walk-in gate. Visitors can also park in the north parking lot and the Visitor’s Center parking lot.

The Seattle Department of Transportation’s Street Maintenance Division will have equipment and personnel available for snow and ice response throughout the weekend in case they are needed. Supplies of snow and ice-fighting materials have been replenished (granular rock salt and liquid magnesium chloride). Spreaders and plows will be mounted on twenty dump trucks, and four flusher trucks with liquid magnesium chloride will be ready to go into service. Supervisors and Managers will continue to monitor weather conditions throughout the weekend. If conditions warrant, night crews will patrol for ice, treating bridges and streets. Additional crews will be available to report to work at any time during the weekend and for the Monday morning commute, as needed.

photo by K. Kennell, taken during Magnolia's last snow storm

If you’ve been hearing loud booms in Magnolia, don’t be alarmed. The military is testing the cannons at Fort Lawton in preparation for tomorrow’s closing ceremonies.

Photo courtesy Annie Rocks

Expect more booms on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for the actual ceremony.

Click here to read more about the event and the history of the 111 year-old Fort Lawton.

Update-  here’s video of the aftermath from today’s derailment and fuel spill.  (Footage courtesy of reporter Steven Smalley)

WA State Department of Ecology’s Media spokesperson, Larry Altose writes of this morning’s fuel spill in Interbay:

The state Department of Ecology (Ecology), U.S. Coast Guard, the  Seattle Fire Department, Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) and BNSF Railway (BNSF)  are responding to an oil spill at the company’s railroad yard at Interbay in  Seattle.

BNSF has hired an environmental cleanup contractor, which  has begun to remove diesel fuel that is contained within drainage facilities at  the rail yard.  Ecology, the Coast Guard and SPU are overseeing the cleanup.

Some of the oil has entered the public sewer system, which flows  to the King County West Point Treatment Plant.  Plant operators are diverting  oil from incoming flows for temporary storage and disposal.  They also are  taking precautions to ensure uninterrupted treatment of normal wastewater.

A locomotive that derailed shortly after 8 a.m. today sustained  damage to a fuel tank.  All fuel in the nearly full 3,000-gallon capacity tank  emptied onto the ground.  The incident is under investigation. The contractor has placed oil cleanup and containment materials outside a  stormwater outfall pipe in Smith Cove, south of the rail yard, as a precaution. No oil has reached surface waters.

More information about the  spill will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

Route 33 will be rerouted off of Texas Way between Washington Ave and Illinois St, from 3pm February 23rd - 25th at 6pm.

A Metro Transit spokesperson writes

Heading toward East Magnolia, Route 33 will travel instead via Washington Ave and Illinois Ave to the temporary terminal northbound on Discovery Park Rdwy just south of Texas Way W, using all posted and temporary stops along the reroute. Route 33 heading toward downtown Seattle, will travel from its temporary terminal on Discovery Park Rdwy just south of Texas Way W and continue via the Discovery Park Rdwy loop, Illinois Ave and Washington Ave to its regular route using all posted and temporary stops along the reroute.

Thanks to reporter Steve Smalley for photos.

More than a dozen Seattle Fire units were on scene of a haz-mat spill just south of the Ballard Bridge earlier this morning.

Kyle Moore with Seattle Fire says that a locomotive with no cars attached derailed and spilled 2000 gallons of diesel. The locomotive is currently upright and the fuel is contained to the drainage ditch. Seattle Fire has contacted the EPA.

Magnolia Voice is following this story and will post udates.

Seattle Animal Shelter wants you to meet Pluto

Pluto is an eight year old, neutered, black lab mix. He has some old knee injuries so jogging and hiking are not good options for him, but he’d love to keep you company on strolls through the neighborhood or along the beach. (He takes a low dose of pain medication each day to keep him comfortable.) He’s crate-trained, a good student if you have treats, and will even alert you when he wants to go outside to “do his business” by standing at the door. Watch his video to see how cute Pluto really is!

He prefers a calmer atmosphere but would probably be okay living with kids age 15 or older who are respectful of him. He has lived with cats before, and should do well with other cats with proper introduction. He would like to be the only canine in your home. Pluto is full of life, hope, love, and curiosity about the world! Come and meet him and see what a great addition he’d be to your family.

Pluto (SAS ID #10-10786-1) is being pampered in a Seattle Animal Shelter foster home. If you would like to meet him, download a Dog Adoption Application and follow the instructions on the application for submission via email or fax. You may also pick up/drop off the application at the Seattle Animal Shelter, 2061-15th Ave. W. (1 mile south of the Ballard Bridge). The shelter is open Wednesday-Sunday from noon-6:00 pm, and closed on holidays.