Sno-Isle 2020 Environmental Recognition

(Other years: 2023, 2022, & 2021)

We received many nominations to recognize our friends working on environmental and social justice issues. We recognized many inspiring people throughout Island and Snohomish counties at our December 17th 2020 social which was attended by more than 65 people.

Recognition Receipients (followed below are the Recognition Statements)

 
Recognition Statements: 
 

United Student Leaders Whidbey Island
Outstanding impact raising awareness of environmental and social justice issues in Island County and beyond. Since beginning leading climate protests a little over a year ago, They have expanded their focus to include human rights issues as well. Their communication with local banks about their role in climate change, monthly meetings with the South Whidbey school board to get environmental science and ethnic studies classes added to the high school curriculum, the many educational Webinars they hosted, and their effort to get the Langley City Council to declare a climate emergency are all evidence that they have become a formidable force for change in their community. 


Black in Edmonds: Alicia Crank
Her leadership list is vast and varied,and her courageous work in promoting racial justice and equity in Edmonds and beyond. As Black Lives Matter protests ramped up this past summer, it became clear that many White residents did not understand how those protests had anything to do with life in Edmonds. Rather than sit back and lament, she stuck your neck out, gathered a panel of Black residents, and invited the entire community to listen while she facilitated a long overdue conversation about what it is like to be Black in Edmonds. By shining a light on racist experiences that many in Edmonds were not aware of, she gave voice to those who needed to be heard and deepened the interracial understanding of those who needed to listen. Due to the positive response, she hosted additional conversations and is laying the groundwork for the change needed if Edmonds is to become a truly welcoming and safe place for ALL residents and visitors. 

Mary Rollins, Mike Town, Peter Goldman, Kara Briggs, Sam & Rachel Chesley and Kathy Johnson: Wild Wallace

We recognize their outstanding long-term effort in the Sky Valley to prevent the sale of the Middle-May Forest and other Forest sections adjacent to Wallace Falls State Park, which was subject to clear cut by the Dept of Natural Resources. This was an incredible effort involving coalition-building, research, public comment, legal consultation, lobbying of officials, leading educational tours of the area - and more - to protect this unique second growth forest ecosystem. While, unfortunately, a portion was recently auctioned off, the coalition remains mobilized and continues to work on this issue.   We are honored to have some of these Wild Wallace Champions here tonight, including Mike Town, Irene Nash, Sam & Rachel Chesley, Kathy Johnson, Mary Rollins, and Peter Goldman, founder of the Washington Forest Law Center. We want to especially honor the courageous leadership of the Sauk-Suiattle Tribe, represented here tonight by Kara Briggs.


Students Saving Salmon
This year the Snohomish County Conservation District selected the Edmonds group Students Saving Salmon as a recipient of their 2019 Youth Conservation Leader Award. The students describe their group this way:"Our purpose as a club is, in the long term, to bring coho and chum salmon populations back into Edmonds’ streams through field studies and observations, releasing juvenile salmon, habitat restoration, and outreach. We are working to inform the community about what is happening concerning our salmon and how they can help develop and maintain a healthy habitat for them and the people of Edmonds.


Whidbey Environmental Action Network
Steve Erickson and Marianne Edain founded the Whidbey Environmental Action Network 30 years ago with the goal of restoring and preserving the native biological diversity of Whidbey Island and the Pacific Northwest. They monitor what’s happening on Whidbey, educate the public, provide tools for effective public participation, prevent damage to ecosystems when possible and restore them when necessary. When all else fails, they use their (self-taught and highly effective) legal skills to enforce laws to protect the environment. They’ve led on a wide variety of issues – from making the GMA matter, to protection for wetlands, forests, and critical areas, cleaning up toxics– and that’s just a partial list. They show no signs of slowing down - they are currently working to ban aquaculture farming, leading opposition to Navy training in state parks, and working to mitigate the coming effects of sea level rise. 

 
Duane Farmen: Perrinville Woods
his decades-long efforts to protect the Perrinville woods. This year was another in a series of battles to save over 150 mature trees located on 5 acres of wildlife habitat that includes a wetlands and steep slopes while absorbing large amounts of stormwater runoff that otherwise would go into the already overwhelmed Perrinville watershed.  Duane was a valuable source of information and guidance as members of the community rallied to stop the city from giving away land on this property to the developer. City Council was apparently so impressed by the huge amount of public concern for this rare remaining neighborhood woods, that they placed a 4 month moratorium on further development permits.
 

Sno-King Watershed Council Bill Lider
With great delight, we are celebrating a major success in the tireless work of Bill Lider and the Sno-King Watershed Council.  Based on their work, the Washington State Dept of Transportation recently recalled approval of the Snow Ridge development project planned for east of Lynnwood. This is one in a number of poorly conceived housing developments in Snohomish County that would remove valuable trees, put significant slopes at risk of slides, and increase flooding, while circumventing review and permitting processes. Bill and colleagues at Sno-King Watershed Council have pointed out engineering design errors in the plan, and also the inadequacies of review processes by Snohomish County Planning and Development Services. They have identified similar problems in other projects such as Ironwood and the now bankrupt Frognal Estates; but success in fighting bureaucracy is challenging.Next up: Ironwood hearing Dec. 22. See the chat box for further info. about supporting Sno-King Watershed Council’s appeal of the Ironwood Development.

 
BirdFest, Bird Count, Demo Garden & events: Alan & Bonnie Mearns, Susie Schaefer

They have greatly enhanced our understanding and appreciation of native plants and birds through their ongoing efforts in activities such as the annual Puget Sound Bird Fest, the annual Christmas bird count, and educational programs at the Edmonds Wildlife Habitat Native Plant Demonstration Garden. They rose to the challenge this year to make these programs available on zoom so that they could continue to reach their audience. Alan uses his background as a NOAA ecologist in advocating for wildlife and marine ecological monitoring, in order to reverse loss of urban habitat. Susie’s advocacy for birds and habitat reflects 40 years with Pilchuck Audubon society; similarly Alan has collected bird population data for nearly 4 decades. Both have worked for 20 years to protect the Edmonds Marsh. We appreciate their dedication to bringing community science to the public eye.


LWV Climate Forum: Joan Smith
When the coronavirus pandemic resulted in cancellation of a scheduled in-person climate forum, Joan Smith, chair of the LWV NR Committee led the group to change the whole approach.. The result was “Climate Change Emergency: Health and a Million Trees”, a Zoom workshop featuring an overview of the climate crisis from Dr.Richard Gammon, an outline of health effects from Dr Jon Witte, and an exploration of the Forterra plant a million trees in Snohomish County by Elby Jones.  We’ll have a link to the YouTube video in our resource list.

 


Alice Armstrong, Jeanine San Clemente & Jon Witte for their inspirational presentations in the webinar: Hope for Climate Anxiety, sponsored by Green Snohomish.
The Workshop was given from Three Perspectives:
1. Dr, Jon Witte, MD. -  Human Health and Wellbeing
2. Dr, Jeanine San Clemente, Ph.D.  - Climate Grief 
3. Dr. Alice Armstrong, Ph.D., - Mental Health
This workshop considered the reality of the climate crisis as it relates to human mental and physical health. With the recognition that this can be overwhelming, the workshop emphasized working together to visualize a new future, and outline ways to work towards this future. One essentilal message given was: “Action is the best antidote to fear, and even small daily actions can encourage our own wellbeing as well as benefit our place on planet earth”.  Future workshops will be announced.


Interfaith Climate Action: Gayla Shoemake, Gayle Leberg
Gayle Leberg designed and submitted effective and informative ads for Earth Day in the Everett Daily Herald, the Edmonds Beacon, and My Edmonds News. She made the contacts with the publications, and networked widely with allies -- ending up with support from over 63 individual and group co-sponsors. With Gayla Shoemake at the helm, Interfaith Climate Action began a Community Solar Collaboration effort with the City of Edmonds and nonprofit groups. This included meetings with the City, the Port, the Waterfront Center, and Edmonds Center for the Arts. They are hoping to move ahead after the pandemic. 


Local political work - card writing in LD 10: Malcolm Cumming, Dianna Maish, Gunda Vesque, Carole Tyson
Many endorsing organizations stop with their endorsements.  But we continue, promoting our candidates campaign events as well as Get Out The Vote Efforts through our newsletter and targeted emails.  Additionally, some Sno-Isle Group members and friends actively support endorsed candidate campaigns.  For instance, Malcolm Cumming, Dianna Maish, Marty Jones, Gunda Vesque, and Carole Tyson organized and participated in a postcard writing effort supporting Angie Homola’s and Dave Paul’s campaigns for State legislature; in all, South Whidbey and Sierra Club volunteers wrote 1600 postcards that were mailed to constituents. 


Sno-Isle Political Committee Volunteers:
Diana Maish, Malcolm Cumming, Marty Jones, Maralyn Chase, and Janet Way: for their efforts and time-commitment throughout this year’s election cycle; 9 previously-endorsed local candidates were re-endorsed and won their elections.  19 non-previously endorsed candidates were interviewed.  Of these, 11 candidates were endorsed and 5 were elected. 


National Election Volunteers:
Cynthia & David Jones, and Denise Marion: for their work with the successful Sierra Club’s Independent Action national election activities.  This included leading and participating on the Text & Email teams.  The Text team reviewed and editing scripts and helping texters troubleshoot and respond to the replies they received.  The Email team wrote letters, sent batches of letters to volunteers, tracking their completion, and resolving questions from letter writers.  Importantly, they recruited more volunteers to help.  As the campaign progressed, their roles expanded requiring 2-4 hour per day.  And they continue these efforts today, supporting the successful Georgia Senate run-off election.