Photo by Paul Anderson

With the Northwest poised to become the country’s leading coal-export region, fights are emerging on several fronts, our online news partner The Seattle Times reported Sunday.

On the table are proposals to capitalize on Asia’s thirst for cheap energy by building a half-dozen terminals in Washington and Oregon that would export coal from the Rockies, The Times said.

Physicians fret about an explosion of locomotive exhaust, while mayors grumble about the potential for long traffic-snarling trains, The Times added. Washington state fears 1,200 new barge trips on the Columbia River could spark more accidents and marine-vessel groundings. Tribes worry that spilled coal could poison aquatic food webs.

Local environmental groups have been meeting in Edmonds for several months in an effort to organize opposition to the coal-filled trains that would run along the Edmonds waterfront, citing the health and environmental impacts of coal dust.

You can read the entire Times story here.

Captain Charles Moore

Edmonds Community College’s Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field (LEAF) School and the Mangrove Action Project will sponsor an event focused on sustainable oceans, “Safeguarding Big Blue,” from 7-9 p.m. this Friday, May 11, at the Edmonds Conference Center, 201 Fourth Ave N.

The event features Captain Charles Moore author of “Plastic Ocean,” speaking about the about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and tsunami debris that is beginning to reach our shores. In addition, Alfredo Quarto of Mangrove Action Project and Anne Mosness, organizers of Bluefestival, will discuss how production of farmed seafoods changes coastal ecosystems, economies and communities.

Quarto, who has been working for more than 20 years to oppose the destructive expansion of shrimp farming along mangrove coastlines, urges the public to “Question Your Shrimp,” and to greatly reduce consumption of imported shrimp. Mosness, a long time wild fish advocate, said she is concerned that policies, “…generally under the radar screen, could lead to expansion of marine fish farms in our state and nation’s waters, approval of genetically engineered fish, even certification of farmed fish as ‘organic’.”

Organizations will also present information about the health and sustainability of the local marine environment. For more information, call 425-640-1125 or email erin.ryan@edcc.edu.

Students in the LEAF School began working with the Port Townsend Marine Science Center Plastics Project and WSU Extension Beach Watchers in 2006 to monitor the amount of plastic washing up on local beaches.

This year, they have worked with the City of Everett and a volunteer advocate for the health of Puget Sound, retired Navy Commander Wally Davis, to continue biannual surveys looking for plastics on Jetty Island in Everett. Commander Davis has been working with the marine science center to statistically analyze all of the data on plastic collected over the years by the Beach Watchers. In 2011, he also collected environmental samples for plastic throughout the Inside Passage from Everett to Skagway, Alaska.

“Plastic is being eaten by invertebrates, fish, and birds and it accumulates in higher levels of the food chain. Large quantities of plastic have been found in the digestive systems of dead whales that washed up on the beaches of Washington. Some estimate that plastic in the environment may be responsible for killing at least 100,000 marine mammals a year and millions of birds and fish,” Davis said.

Before the evening’s “Safeguarding Big Blue” event, the LEAF school students, joined by students from Edmonds-based Scriber Lake High School, will conduct a plastic sampling on Jetty Island. The data they gather will help measure the impact of the recent Japanese tsunami on Washington beaches.

- What is the right thing to do with the creek in my yard?

- Do I have to worry about erosion?

- What type of yard care is best for my kids and pets?

To help you find answers to these and similar questions, People for Puget Sound is sponsoring  a free streamside property owner workshop from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday, May 12. This workshop is specifically designed for streamside property owners but  also welcomes Edmonds residents who don’t live on a stream but are interested in natural yard care, the Edmonds Marsh and having a beautiful garden.

Free refreshments and lunch are provided.  Topics include watershed characteristics; storm water/water pollution; streamside living do’s and don’ts; natural yard care; tree assessment, pruning and removal methods and the application process for restoration work on property.

To register for this workshop or learn more, contact Franziska McKay at fmckay@pugetsound.org or call 206-456-3802.

Thayer Cueter of the Just Frogs Foundation on the Edmonds waterfront displays two turtles, a Red Ear Slider and a Western Painted. The Painted, right, suffered shell damage after being kept indoors without proper light. After rehab at Just Frogs, it will be released into the wild, Cueter said.

The Edmonds Watershed Fun Fair at Yost Park drew kids and adults alike Saturday for activities, demonstrations, games and exhibits on Puget Sound stewardship.

A display explains how a watershed works, and how everything from car wash water to garden products can enter our waterways through stormwater runoff.

Last year's Watershed Fun Fair featured a Yost Park tour describing how a watershed works. (Photo by Laura Alexander)

You might be shopping for plants or farm-grown berries, looking for scrapbooking supplies, or seeking ways to prevent a home burglary. Or perhaps you want to fun family activity or even help raise money for families in need. (And did we mention, you can even make your way to the ballpark and support your local high school baseball team?) You’ll find opportunities for that and more in or near Edmonds Saturday, May 5. Here’s a sample:

Shopping

The Edmonds Museum Garden Market begins with approximately 40 vendors offering plenty of early-season produce and local crafts in the public safety parking lot at 5th and Bell in downtown Edmonds every Saturday through June 23. The market is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Edmonds Floretum Garden Club will hold its Annual Plant Sale between 9 a.m. and noon in the Edmonds PCC parking lot, located at the intersection of 100th Avenue West and Edmonds Way. A variety of annuals and perennials, small trees, shrubs and native plants will be available, plus garden-related gift items suitable for Mother’s Day. Proceeds will benefit the club’s scholarship fund, awarded yearly to local college horticulture students.

Urban Scrapbooker in the Westgate neighborhood is celebrating National Scrapbooking Day. Owner Brooke Snyder is offering a one-day, 25-cent paper sale and other special pricing. The store is located at 9810 Edmonds Way, and Saturday’s event runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

J. Rankin Jewellers is hosting a bridal and anniversary event both Saturday and Sunday, May 5-6. There will be a trunk show of Diana Bridal, Parade Designs and Sholdt Bridal and loose diamonds, with everything 20 percent off, including custom orders. Cynderellie’s will have a wedding gown on display and Frosted Cupcakes is supplying mini cupcakes. The store is located at 505-5th Ave. S. in downtown Edmonds.

Family fun

The Edmonds Watershed Fun Fair is a family event in Yost Park that focuses on why “Puget Sound Starts Here.” This event, which runs from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., will feature activities, demonstrations, games and exhibits for all ages on Puget Sound stewardship, water and energy conservation, recycling, wildlife habitat, and many other topics. Join Ranger-Naturalists for guided trail walks and other watershed discovery activities. Pot a bare root plant to take home with you, with help from members of the Edmonds Tree Board.

It’s baseball playoff time as Edmonds-Woodway and Meadowdale High School begin their quest for possible berths to the state 4A and 3A baseball tournaments in late May. Admission to these early-round playoff games is free. The Warriors, the number-one seed in 4A Wesco South, will face Arlington — the number-four seed in Wesco North — at 3 p.m. Saturday on E-W’s home field.  The Mavericks, the number-one seed in 3A Wesco, will host number-four seed Oak Harbor in a 3 p.m. game at Meadowdale High School.

Crime prevention

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office along with the Edmonds, Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace police departments are hosting a Burglary Prevention Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Meadowdale High School, 6002 168th St. S.W. in Lynnwood. Property crimes detectives will be on site and available to answer questions about current burglary crime trends. Vendors will provide advice about locks, alarms, surveillance systems and more.

Fun fundraisers

Clothes for Kids, a Snohomish County non-profit dedicated to providing clothing to eligible schoolchildren, is holding its second annual Celebrate the Children Luncheon and Auction at 11 a.m. at Edmonds Lutheran Church , 23525 84th Ave. W. Admission is $10.

St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church is sponsoring its 23rd Annual Egyptian Bazaar and Dinner at the Edmonds Yacht Club, 336 Admiral Way from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Admission is free to the festival, which offers freshly baked Egyptian desserts, authentic Egyptian and Christian souvenirs and books. There will also be a $15 full-course dinner available for festival goers ($8 for children).

Theater

Edmonds Heights K-12 will perform the Broadway musical “Xanadu” at 7 p.m. Saturday and a 2 p.m. matinee Sunday at the school, located at 23200 100th Ave. W. (former Woodway High School). Based on the film starring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, it features classic numbers like “Magic,” “Suddenly” and “Evil Woman.” Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door.

Learn about bats at noon from Barbara Ogaard of Bats Northwest. At 1 p.m., Laura Spehar, Master Gardener and Native Plant Steward, will speak about “Garden Design with Wildlife in Mind.” Keeley O’Connell of People for Puget Sound will give a talk on the Edmonds Marsh at 2 p.m. At 11:30 a.m. and 12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m., you can join Ranger-Naturalists for guided trail walks and other watershed discovery activities. Pot a bare root plant to take home with you, with help from members of the Edmonds Tree Board. Bring a picnic lunch, and enjoy the park trails and playground.

This event is sponsored by the City of Edmonds Parks & Recreation and Public Works Departments. Call 425-771-0227 for more information.

The utility’s program covers both solar photovoltaic systems and solar hot water systems. More than 130 customers have participated in the Solar Express program in the past two years.

The free Solar Information session in Edmonds is Tuesday, May 8, from 6-7 p.m. in the PUD Edmonds office, 21018 Highway 99, Edmonds

Residential customers can qualify for up to $2,500 for solar photovoltaic systems and commercial customers can qualify for up to $10,000. All customers with electric hot water systems can qualify for a $500 incentive for solar hot water systems. Residential customers may instead opt for a 2.9-percent APR loan up to $25,000 for photovoltaic panels and up to $14,000 for solar hot water systems. Customers may also qualify for additional federal tax credits and state production incentives.

For more information, including qualifications, call the PUD Energy Hotline at 425-783-1700 or visit www.snopud.com/solarexpress.

For more information please email Richard: r_bisbee@msn.com.

Large appliances, car batteries, cell phones, computers, monitors, printers, televisions, stereos, ink cartridges, medical equipment and scrap metal will be accepted at the free recycling event. Participants can also bring up to 20 banker boxes full of shredding materials to the Windermere North office, 4211 Alderwood Mall Blvd., between 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

“This is a great way to clean out your garage and help the environment to boot,” notes Lena Maul, broker/owner at Windermere North. Non-perishable food donations to benefit the Lynnwood Food Bank are welcome, but not required.

1 Green Planet provides free recycling drop-off for everyone and free recycling pick-up for businesses. For more recycling information, contact 1 Green Planet at 866-422-3755.