Jan 14, 1997

Masonry Institute

Fredrick Ostmann has joined the Masonry Institute of Washington as executive director. Ostmann has experience in project development, construction and architecture. He will focus on three main interests for the institute: developing and disseminating information; assisting and supporting the design and construction community; and facilitating resolution of industry-wide issues.

Master Builders Assoc.

The Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties has elected its new officers and board members. New officers include: Zakir Parpia of Himalaya Homes, president; Jack Tenhulzen of Tenhulzen Remodeling Inc., first vice president; Pat McCourt of Barclays North Inc., second vice president; and Pat McBride of GMS Architectural Group, secretary. New board members include: Donna Bade Shirey of Shirey Contracting; Michael Bogan of J.M. Bogan Co.; Paul Bogel of U.S. Bank Builder Banking; Randy Clark of Select Homes Inc.; John Cochenour of Lexington Fine Homes; Bonnie Corcoran of Washington Natural Gas Co.; Chuck Crosby of Crosby Homes Inc.; Mariann Danard of Windermere Real Estate -- Everett Inc.; Steve Edwards of Abode Ltd.; Bob Johns of Reed McClure; Rick Lennon of Lennon Investments Inc.; Pete Middlebrooks of Law Offices of James C. Middlebrooks; Gary Potter of Potter Construction; Jim Potter of Kauri Investments Ltd.; and Ty Waude of Belmark Industries.

Robinson

Hillsboro, Ore., general contractor Robinson Construction Co. has had its address changed by the city. Although the company has not moved, its new street address is: 21360 N.W. Amberwood Drive, Hillsboro, OR 97124-9321.

Cleaner-running lawn mowers coming

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The greening of America's lawn mowers may be on the horizon. The Environmental Protection Agency said Friday it has reached an agreement in principle with manufacturers of engines used in lawn mowers and lawn tractors to make them less polluting. Commercial and residential gardening equipment account for about 7 percent of the ozone-forming pollutants from all mobile sources including automobiles, says the EPA. Ozone is a precursor of urban smog. Under a regulation expected to be completed later this year, the cleaner engines would be required by 2001 in residential mowers and by 2005 in the heavier commercial equipment. Equipment already in use prior to those dates would not be affected. The EPA said the principles agreed to by the manufacturers are expected to reduce by 40 percent hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions from mowers and the other equipment such as tillers and certain electric generators. The improvements will be achieved through the use of less polluting, more durable engine technology, said the agency. The manufacturers recognize that further control will be achievable in future years, said the EPA.

'Diamond Award' winners announced

The Commuter Challenge has announced 15 winners of its annual Diamond Awards. The awards will be presented Wednesday to King County individuals, businesses and organizations that developed innovative employee transportation programs to reduce commute trips to their work sites in 1996. Such programs include ridesharing, parking management, non-motorized transportation, telework, compressed work weeks and flex-time. The winners are: Business Interiors Northwest; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center; GM Nameplate; Northshore School District; Seattle Housing Authority; United Airlines; Washington Dental Service; Norm Manly, employee transportation coordinator at Foss Maritime; Interlinq Software Corp.; Paccar, Bellevue; Safeco Insurance Cos., Redmond campus; Katie McCulloch, employee transportation coordinator at Western Wireless; Boeing, Renton; USAA Property and Casualty Insurance; and Jana Brocato, employee transportation coordinator for the Port of Seattle at SeaTac. All 15 winners made efforts to reduce commute trips that go well beyond the requirements of Washington's Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) law. Key elements of winning programs included incentives to motivate employees to carpool or vanpool, take the bus, work alternative schedules, telecommute, walk or ride bicycles to work. For more information on Commuter Challenge and its activities, call Cathy Cole at (206) 386-5040.

Meeting on wild steelhead conservation

KELSO -- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists will discuss strategies to conserve wild steelhead trout this winter in the lower Columbia River tributaries at a public meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at Kesler's Restaurant at 900 Ash St. in Kelso. The National Marine Fisheries Service has proposed listing lower Columbia River wild steelhead as "threatened" under the federal Endangered Species Act. This winter, the Department of Fish and Wildlife must find ways to reduce the number of hatchery steelhead that spawn with wild fish. One possible method of reducing the number of spawning hatchery steelhead in the upper Kalama River is to detain returning hatchery steelhead at the Kalama Falls Hatchery and then return them in trucks to the lower river to give anglers a second chance to catch them. The proposal would prevent the interbreeding of wild and hatchery fish and improve fishing opportunities. The department also is seeking public comment on the development of long-term plans to rebuild wild steelhead runs in the region. For more information, call the Department of Fish and Wildlife at (360) 902-2258.

Ecology awards grants to communities

OLYMPIA -- The state Department of Ecology has awarded grants to local communities to help fund the following water quality improvement projects:

• A Centennial Clean Water Fund grant of $800,500 was given to the city of Centralia to improve and protect water quality in the Chehalis River. The project will replace approximately 8,000 lineal feet of gravity sewer in the downtown area. For information, call Gerry Anderson at Ecology at (360) 407-6276.
• A Centennial Clean Water Fund grant of $46,944 was awarded to the Confederated Tribes of the Chehalis Reservation near Oakville. The project will include gathering groundwater data to characterize the quality of the water in aquifers underlying the Chehalis Reservation. Potential sources of pollution include failing septic systems and land application of manure, fertilizers and pesticides. Call Kahle Jennings at (360) 407-6269.
• A $2,250 grant was given to the Lewis County Noxious Weed Control Board to control Eurasian watermilfoil in the South County Park Pond. Call Kathy Hamel at (360) 407-6562.
• A $2,855 grant was awarded to the Whatcom County Noxious Weed Control Board to control purple loosestrife infestations in Padden Creek. Call Kathy Hamel at (360) 407-6562.

Elementary school wants to name a state bug

KENT (AP) -- The environmental club at Crestwood Elementary School is going buggy this legislative session for a state insect. The club, Defenders of the Planet, has narrowed to three its list of finalists -- the dragonfly, the ladybug and the green lacewing -- with hopes one will be chosen as a state symbol. "We want a state insect like the dragonfly because it helps the ecosystem," said sixth-grader Jennifer Bacon. "And I like bugs and insects." The state has, among other things, an official song, tree, flower, gem and dance. So why not a state insect? More than three dozen other states have official bugs; the honeybee being the most popular. Students turned to University of Washington entomologist Richard Zack to learn about the state's native bugs and types that are beneficial to the environment. "Any person can find any of these insects during better weather," Zack said. The club is polling students in its own school for a preferred bug and sending out ballots to 500 private and public schools. State Rep. Les Thomas, R-Kent, has agreed to sponsor a state insect bill this session, which began Monday. "At first I kind of laughed," said Thomas, whose wife, Pauline works at Crestwood. "But we've got practically a state everything. There's no reason not to have one."

Marine refrigeration review class

SEATTLE -- The Washington Sea Grant Program is offering a marine refrigeration review class to prepare commercial fishers for Environmental Protection Agency certification. EPA certification will allow fishers to buy Freon or do repair work on their own refrigeration systems. The review course will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 29 at the Nordby Conference Center at Fishermen's Terminal in Seattle. Cost of the course is $25. The test for EPA certification will be administered at the Conference Center from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 5. The cost to take the test is $75. Space is limited, so pre-registration is recommended. Send checks payable to the University of Washington to: Sarah Fisken, Washington Sea Grant Program, West Wall Building, Room 124, Fishermen's Terminal, Seattle, WA 98119. For more information, call Sarah Fisken at (206) 543-1225.