By chas
The British Columbia provincial government last week approved plans for a $782-million project which will see one treatment plant built at McLoughlin Point in Esquima.
The Vancouver Sun has a more detailed story on the plans for the plant and some local concerns. The Victoria Times Colonist has a series of stories on the evolution of the sewage treatment plans and the local implications for the environment and for British Columbia politics.

...continue reading
By chas
Seattle City Council approved Council Bill 116907, which updates the City’s Land Use code, allowing “urban farms” and “community gardens” in all zones, with some limitations in industrial zones. Seattle residents now have more freedom when it comes to growing their own food or raising their own chickens.
Residents will now be able to sell food grown on their property and construct rooftop green houses (adding no more than 15 feet to building height limits)! “The code changes related to rooftop ...continue reading
By chas
All Library locations will close Monday, Aug. 30 through Sunday, Sept. 5 due to citywide budget cuts. Please note Monday, Sept. 6 is the Labor Day holiday and all libraries will be closed. Regular Library operations will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Services unavailable during the one-week closure:
Most Library services will be unavailable during the one-week closure.
No materials will be due and no fines will be accrued.
The last day to check out Library items before the closure is Sunday, Aug. 29. The Central Library, 1000 Fourth Ave., and the Library’s website (...continue reading
By chas
The Environmental Working Group has posted yet another consumer tip – this one for parents and students to help them get ready for the return of school – an environmentally sensitive School Buying Guide.
Buying school supplies is an annual end-of-summer tradition. It’s also an opportunity to look for safer products for your children and their classrooms. The good news is that with a little time and attention, a backpack full of non-toxic school supplies is in reach.
Purchase ...continue reading
By chas
Back in 2004 more than 23,000 streetlight outages were reported and sometimes it took months for a light to be repaired. City Council has made changes and now the backlog has been reduced to less than 1,000 outages and there is a policy in place to repair streetlights within 14 days of notification that they are out.
To see the existing outages and to report a streetlight outage, go to http://www.seattle.gov/light/streetlight/tracker.asp to see the map, report streetlight outages and to track their ...continue reading