Windows on environmental issues opened for Ta’Leah Van Sistine with an opportunity from her college in Wisconsin, which paid for study in Queens, New York. At that point, she encountered a power plant that was converting to sustainable energy sources. That plant had at one time earned the nickname of “Asthma Energy.” When she traveled to Washington, D.C. for an internship at The Washington Post, Ta’Leah delved into climate anxiety and its subsequent therapies. A brief stint with the Audubon Society showed her its efforts to make environmental appreciation more inclusive. The blind were included on outings and led to identify bird species by their sounds.
One of her most rewarding times, a month with the American Conservation Experience, was spent planting coyote willow trees near Zion National Park in Utah with a team of like-minded volunteers. Journalist work beckoned with the Everett Herald.
Ta’Leah’s recent articles on the Mountain Loop Mine operation near Fairmont Elementary proved instrumental in curtailing that business activity and restoring a healthier environment for students. She has supported trees in articles aimed at climate mitigations. An article on the proposal to re-establish grizzly bears to the North Cascades had her discover the person who had last viewed a grizzly in Washington.
Ta’Leah is especially interested in solution-oriented articles and anticipates some on outdoor education and successful trash programs like Ridwell. She foresees articles on wildlife corridors and other aspects of mountain wildlife. Climate solutions would have her investigate youth programs, religious efforts, and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie forest conservation agendas. Jim Bloss suggested she might wish to consider the impact of methane. She is enthusiastic about being in a state that embraces environmental and climate change activism. More at League YouTube site.
Upcoming Events
Lots of events are scheduled or suggested:
- Kate Lunceford encouraged table participation on April 26th at the Evergreen Fairgrounds.
- Kate also announced that Tom Campbell would speak at a Futurewise event at the Everett Transit Center on June 1st at 10:00 A.M.
- Nancy Johnson reported that the next Electrify Everything topic is “Electric Vehicles.”
- Joan Smith mentioned an upcoming field trip to the Art Walk at Everett Transit Center before the Annual Meeting on May 22.
- Joan also mentioned a trip to the New Oso Memorial, followed by lunch at the Rhodes River Ranch, 22016 Entsminger Rd., Arlington on June 12th, 10:30 A.M. Carpool!
- Phyllis Busch has suggested a field trip to the Cascadia Art Museum in Edmonds for July and Joan is looking into a Kayak Point restoration tour for August.
Stay tuned for speaking up at future council meetings on the topic of rural cluster developments.
NEXT MEETING: May 17th, 10:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M, by Zoom. The guest speaker will be Linda Neunzig, Snohomish County Agricultural Coordinator. She will update us on the state of the agricultural lands in the Comprehensive Plan for 2024 and give us an overview of issues about which we should educate ourselves as we enter the election season! In September, we will hear and get lessons from Snohomish County Planning Department on their new Environmental Equity Tool!