Crossposted from Tails from RASKC Penelope is a 1 ½ year-old, brown torbie, shorthair female cat (#A550272). Her adoption color is RED, meaning she is a spirited cat with a fun-loving personality. Penelope is an affectionate lovebug who likes getting attention on her own terms. This sweet girl has a big personality! She can get a little overstimulated with petting, so keep an eye out for signs she may need a break. Penelope can be a little shy and would do best in a calm, quiet home. She may also do best… Read More

Seafair has hosted Fleet Week on the Seattle waterfront since 1950, and is doing it again this week! Seafair, the Seattle Navy League and the Port of Seattle welcomed ships and personnel from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Navy to the Seattle waterfront Tuesday, July 31 during a majestic Parade of Ships. Ship tours are operating Aug. 1-5. The Centerline has published a blog post covering the Aug. 3-5 Seafair Weekend; featuring the annual sun-soaked showcase of hydroplanes, pirates and aerial displays – headlined by the Blue Angels’… Read More

King County’s Park and Trail Ambassadors Program – and the Adopt-a-Park or -Trail Programs – allow the local community to enjoy the outdoors while serving, maintaining and stewarding their own Big Backyard. Maintaining a network of 200 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, 215 miles of backcountry trails, and 28,000 acres of open space is a big challenge, and community volunteers help King County preserve these lands for visitors today and into the future. King County Parks receives on average 8,000 volunteers per year and, together, they donate more than 55,000 volunteer… Read More

Crossposted from Noxious Weeds Blog Although it is perhaps one of the prettiest noxious weeds, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is widely recognized throughout North America as a highly invasive and damaging weed in wetlands and along shorelines. Vigorous perennial roots and rhizomes, combined with incredibly prolific seed production, result in one of the most successful invasive plants we have on this continent. Unfortunately, dense populations of purple loosestrife significantly reduce the habitat quality of wetlands and shorelines for waterfowl, amphibians, fish and other critters. Purple loosestrife does not play well with other plants and… Read More

Crossposted from Public Health Insider By Meredith Li-Vollmer Temperatures this week are expected to rise into the low 90s, with some humidity. To my friends in Los Angeles and New Mexico, that’s scarcely hot enough to raise an eyebrow. But here in King County, most people don’t have air conditioning, so our local emergency departments see an uptick of people with serious health problems on days like this. Common ailments include heart problems, stroke, and kidney failure, as well as heat stroke. Many people don’t know that they are at risk for… Read More