Archives for April 2018

SEATTLE ART MUSEUM PRESENTS AWARD-WINNER JONO VAUGHAN’S SOLO EXHIBITION

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

The Seattle Art Museum presents Project 42: Jono Vaughan (April 21–August 5, 2018), the solo exhibition of the winner of the 2017 Betty Bowen Award. Jono Vaughan’s multidisciplinary work memorializes transgender individuals whose lives were cut short by violence; she creates handmade garments that are then used in collaborative public performances.

On view at SAM will be three new works from Project 42, Vaughan’s ongoing series begun in 2012. Named for the short life expectancy of transgender individuals in the United States, the project calls attention to the persistent pattern of extreme violence against trans people. Each work in the series is a garment that commemorates an individual transgender person who was murdered. The three garments on view at SAM memorialize the life and death of Myra Ical, Deja Jones, and Lorena Escalera Xtravaganza.

Vaughan begins with a Google Earth image of a murder location and digitally manipulates it to create an abstract textile print. The style of the garments is inspired by the life and history of the individuals. Each garment is then worn by a collaborator in performance as a form of memorialization and celebration.

In SAM’s exhibition, two of the garments hang on the wall, which is covered with wallpaper of the same pattern as the dress. The third—a monumental and much larger, more sculptural garment—is displayed in the center of the gallery, with a 34-foot train lifting off from the dress and draping down from the ceiling. Vaughan, along with studio assistants and volunteers, have created numerous fabric flowers that will be available in the gallery for visitors to personally tie onto the train to complete the memorial to the individual. This is the first time that Vaughan has opened up this act of commemoration to the public.

SAM will host a flower-making workshop, free and open to the public, at which participants can create additional flowers for use in the exhibition. Drop-In Studio: Flower-Making with Jono Vaughan will take place June 7 as part of First Thursday programming. It’s one of a series of flower-making workshops the artist will lead with various community groups as part of her collaborative and awareness-raising approach to her work.

Finally, visitors to the exhibition may also witness one of four pop-up performances planned for the run of the exhibition. At each, a dancer or performer will enter the gallery unannounced to perform a memorialization of one of the three individuals commemorated in the exhibition.

ABOUT JONO VAUGHAN

Jono Vaughan holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in New York City and a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of South Florida in Tampa. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally in both solo and group exhibitions, including MOTHA and Chris E. Vargas Present: Trans Hirstory in 99 Objects at The Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington and We the People at the Minnesota Museum of American Art. Vaughan has received grants for a variety of visual art projects from The Arts Council of Hillsborough County, The National Performance Artist and Visual Artist Network, Art Matters Foundation, and the Pollination Project. She teaches Fine Art at Bellevue College and works in her studio in Seattle, WA.

Image credits: Installation view of Project 42: Jono Vaughan at the Seattle Art Museum. © Seattle Art Museum. Photo: Natali Wiseman.

ABOUT SEATTLE ART MUSEUM

As the leading visual art institution in the Pacific Northwest, SAM draws on its global collections, powerful exhibitions, and dynamic programs to provide unique educational resources benefiting the Seattle region, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. SAM was founded in 1933 with a focus on Asian art. By the late 1980s the museum had outgrown its original home, and in 1991 a new 155,000-square-foot downtown building, designed by Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates, opened to the public. The 1933 building was renovated and reopened as the Asian Art Museum in 1994. SAM’s desire to further serve its community was realized in 2007 with the opening of two stunning new facilities: the nine-acre Olympic Sculpture Park (designed by Weiss/Manfredi Architects)—a “museum without walls,” free and open to all—and the Allied Works Architecture designed 118,000-square-foot expansion of its main, downtown location, including 232,000 square feet of additional space built for future expansion. The Olympic Sculpture Park and SAM’s downtown expansion celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2017.

From a strong foundation of Asian art to noteworthy collections of African and Oceanic art, Northwest Coast Native American art, European and American art, and modern and contemporary art, the strength of SAM’s collection of approximately 25,000 objects lies in its diversity of media, cultures and time periods.

Tax exemption ending for alt-fuel, electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Tax exemption ending for alt-fuel, electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles
Exemption expires June 1

In March, Washington reached the 7,500-vehicle threshold for the clean-alternative fuel, electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicle sales and use tax exemption. As a result, the exemption expires June 1.

Washington residents can take advantage of the sales and use tax exemption through May 31 by purchasing or leasing clean-alternative fuel, electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

To qualify for the exemption, the vehicle must be purchased or leased for a base-model retail price of less than $42,500, meet the expectations outlined by the Department of Licensing, and be delivered to the buyer before the expiration date. Vehicles delivered after May 31 do not qualify.

Exemptions apply up to $32,000. Leases that are entered on or before May 31 qualify for the exemption on the remainder of lease payments due or until the total amount of lease payments reaches $32,000.

Interested buyers can find more information on which vehicles qualify for the clean-alternative fuel, electric, and plug-in hybrid exemption here.

Grants prioritized for diesel engine fleets in areas facing air quality challenges

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

EPA Grants Available to Reduce Emissions from Diesel Engines in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington

Grants prioritized for diesel engine fleets in areas facing air quality challenges

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the availability of grant funding to modernize local diesel fleets by retrofitting or replacing vehicles with cleaner, more efficient diesel engines. EPA anticipates awarding approximately $40 million nationwide in Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA) grant funding to eligible applicants, subject to the availability of funds.
“These grants will incentivize improvements to aging diesel fleets and improve air quality throughout the country,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “EPA will continue to target funds to areas facing significant air quality issues.” Diesel-powered engines move approximately 90 percent of the nation’s freight tonnage, and today nearly all highway freight trucks, locomotives, and commercial marine vessels are powered by diesel engines. EPA is soliciting proposals in the Pacific Northwest region and nationwide for projects that significantly reduce diesel emissions and exposure, especially from fleets operating at goods movements facilities in areas designated as having poor air quality. Priority for funding will be given to projects that engage and benefit local communities and applicants that demonstrate their ability to promote and continue efforts to reduce emissions after the project has ended. Applicants in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington must request funding from the EPA Pacific Northwest Region 10 office. Region 10 will accept proposals requesting up to $900,000 in grant funds. EPA anticipates awarding between 20 and 80 assistance agreements nationwide.

Eligible applicants include regional, state, local or tribal agencies, or port authorities with jurisdiction over transportation or air quality. Nonprofit organizations may apply if they provide pollution reduction or educational services to diesel fleet owners or have, as their principal purpose, the promotion of transportation or air quality. Applicants may apply until Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

Since the first year of the DERA program in 2008, EPA has awarded funds to over 730 projects across the U.S. Many of these grants funded cleaner diesel engines that operate in economically disadvantaged communities whose residents suffer from higher-than-average instances of asthma, heart and lung disease. EPA expects to release a separate Request for Proposals for Tribal applicants later this year.

More information on the Request for Proposals: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel/clean-diesel-national-grants.More information on the National Clean Diesel campaign: www.epa.gov/cleandiesel.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Northwest Region 10: EPA Region 10.

Follow EPA Region on Twitter: @EPAnorthwest and on Facebook: @eparegion10.

Teatro ZinZanni announces ‘world headquarters’ at former Red Hook brewery

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Teatro ZinZanni—whose mix of cabaret, comedy, cirque and fine dining has drawn sold-out crowds in the Puget Sound region for 20 years—today announced it has secured a 10-year lease, with two 10-year options, at the former Red Hook Brewery in Woodinville, Wash.

The company will mount a new show there for the holiday season in its famed spiegeltent beginning in November, with James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson returning to design the menu.

The new location will for the first time consolidate all of Teatro ZinZanni’s operations in one space, including scene shop, costume shop and administrative offices. The move opens the door to additional opportunities, including an on-site training studio for circus arts and a return of family and education programs. Teatro ZinZanni will also continue the tradition of food and drink at what was the Red Hook pub; an announcement on those plans is expected in coming months.

Teatro ZinZanni finishes a six-month engagement at Redmond’s Marymoor Park April 29.

“The Eastside embraced us during our recent stay, and we’re thrilled to make an ongoing home there,” said Norm Langill, Teatro ZinZanni’s founder and artistic director. “As we expand, Woodinville will be the production home for everything ZinZanni and be the launch pad for the expansion of our brand. We humbly refer to it as ‘world headquarters.’”

Teatro ZinZanni is mapping plans to expand beyond the Pacific Northwest. It has already announced a return to San Francisco in a new home on the Embarcadero, and is currently developing plans for a tent in a third market.

“A consolidated home base allows us the flexibility to not only do shows in Woodinville, but also additional places across the region and beyond as opportunities arise,” Langill said.

The move to Woodinville puts Teatro ZinZanni at the heart of the Hollywood District of Woodinville Wine Country, home to the Herbfarm, Chateau Ste. Michelle and more than 40 other wineries and tasting rooms.

Inquiries about group sales for Teatro ZinZanni’s upcoming show can be made at zinzanni.com.

Out for Undergrad (O4U) and Cargill Partner on Next Generation Diverse Workforce

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Out for Undergrad (O4U), creator of the nation’s most prestigious LGBTQ undergraduate leadership training conferences, has named Cargill in Minnetonka, Minnesota as the 2018 O4U Engineering Conference Host Sponsor. In 2017, Cargill scored 100 percent on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index (CEI), for the 13^thconsecutive year. Learn more about O4U at

https://youtu.be/7Hfn6sOh_qo

O4U Executive Director, Cindi Love, said:

“We are very excited and honored to welcome Cargill as the host sponsor of our Engineering Conference. We resonate deeply with their statement, ‘At Cargill, everyone matters and everyone counts.’ We believe mutual respect across differences is at the heart of increased productivity for every type of organization. Since 2004, O4U has invited a diverse class of the highest-achieving LGBTQ students from the top 30 US universities to attend our four industry-focused conferences sponsored by more than 130 of America’s leading corporations and universities. These firms send leaders to educate and mentor students about job opportunities in their highly competitive industries. Sponsors get to meet, interview and recruit the best and brightest LGBTQ and otherwise diverse students in the nation. Students tell us that these weekend immersions change their lives, inspiring them to live authentically, bringing their full and best selves to the workplace and pursuing challenging, ambitious and purposeful careers.” http://outforundergrad.org/.

Demetha Sanders, Cargill’s Interim Global Inclusion & Diversity Lead, said:

“Cargill is proud to host the 2018 Out for Undergrad Engineering Conference. We believe in the strength of an inclusive environment and the benefits of a diverse workforce. Inclusive and diverse teams improve decision making, add important perspectives to better solve business problems, and help enable Cargill to achieve its goals. We enthusiastically welcome these highly accomplished young LGBTQ students to Cargill.”

NAACP Statement on Starbucks and Growing Climate of Racism and Intolerance

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

NAACP Statement on Starbucks and Growing Climate of Racism and Intolerance

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s premier civil rights organization, issued the following statement following the disgraceful arrest of two African American men in a Philadelphia Starbucks.

“The arrest of two Black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks represents another ominous signal on the increasingly dangerous environment for African Americans. Less than two weeks after we honor the life and work of Dr. King and 50 years after the Kerner Commission found racism and police brutality at the root of public unrest in our communities; we still have a long way to go towards becoming a nation where a person is judged by the content of their character not the color of their skin.

“The Starbucks situation provides dangerous insight regarding the failure of our nation to take implicit bias seriously. We refuse to believe that our unconscious bias –the racism we are often unaware of—can and does make its way into our actions and policies.

“We know if two black men in Philadelphia require six police officers to handcuff and arrest them for waiting to order coffee, then we begin to understand the mindstate that allows for such overzealous and reactionary use of deadly force by those who are paid to serve and protect.

“Every day people of color find themselves at the mercy of the stereotypes and embedded fears of others. How else can we explain why 14-year-old Brennan Walker who missed his bus on his way to school would be shot at by a homeowner just outside Detroit? Or explain Saheed Vassell, a mentally-ill man in Brooklyn fired at ten times and shot dead by police officers. Or why Stephon Clark was shot at 20 times and hit 8 times mainly in the back by police officers in Sacramento, based on the assumption that he was the culprit responsible for breaking into cars. We are at least glad in the case of Starbucks that no one mistook a wallet for a gun.”

“All too often these issues are discussed in passing episodic ways by media. Racism and biases that make simply breathing while Black so dangerous will not just go away without our society committing more resources to discussion, education and training on implicit bias and racism. If we refuse to, we’ll continue to face the consequences of our failure to do so.”

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO

Treehouse Receives $10,000 Grant as Part of KeyBank’s $1.9 Million Community Impact Day

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Treehouse, which gives youth in foster care a childhood and a future, received a $10,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation as part of its April 3 Community Impact Day that distributed more than $1.9 million to almost 20 nonprofits in the greater Seattle area. KeyBank CEO Beth Mooney was in town from KeyBank’s Cleveland headquarters to announce the grants with Carol K. Nelson, Pacific Regional Sales Executive and Seattle Market President. The funds will go toward the statewide expansion of Treehouse’s Graduation Success program. The nonprofit has increased the extended high school graduation rate to 89 percent for its youth. In regions where the program is not yet available, the rate is only 49 percent.

Many of the nonprofit recipients were chosen by local Key Business Impact Networking Groups (KBINGs), employee groups that are a vital part of Key’s diversity and inclusion strategy to help KeyBank attract, engage, develop and retain a diverse workforce and inform Key’s business strategies. Seattle has eight active KBINGs: Key Executive Women’s Network, Young Professionals, Military Inclusion, African American, Asian/ Pacific Islanders, Hispanic/Latino, Champions of People of All Abilities and LGBTQA. The groups were on hand to help distribute the donations.
The KeyBank Young Professionals of Washington were responsible for getting funding secured for Treehouse.

“Our mission is to help our communities thrive,” said KeyBank’s Nelson. “Philanthropy is part of KeyBank’s DNA, and we are dedicated to building stronger communities and improving the lives of the people we call neighbors in the places we call home.”
In the Seattle region, KeyBank actively invests in the communities it serves through philanthropy, volunteerism and board service. “KeyBank’s support goes a long way to breaking down the many obstacles youth in foster care face,” said Janis Avery, CEO of Treehouse. “Collectively, we are weaving together the middle class safety net our most vulnerable youth need.”

About Treehouse
Founded in 1988, Treehouse is Washington’s leading nonprofit organization addressing the academic and other essential support needs of youth in foster care. More than 7,500 youth each year prosper through programs that focus on their academic success, fulfill key material needs and provide important childhood experiences every child deserves. Learn more at www.treehouseforkids.org.

SEATTLE – Treehouse, which gives youth in foster care a childhood and a future, received a $10,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation as part of its April 3 Community Impact Day that distributed more than $1.9 million to almost 20 nonprofits in the greater Seattle area. KeyBank CEO Beth Mooney was in town from KeyBank’s Cleveland headquarters to announce the grants with Carol K. Nelson, Pacific Regional Sales Executive and Seattle Market President.

The funds will go toward the statewide expansion of Treehouse’s Graduation Success program. The nonprofit has increased the extended high school graduation rate to 89 percent for its youth. In regions where the program is not yet available, the rate is only 49 percent.

The KeyBank Young Professionals of Washington were responsible for getting funding secured for Treehouse.

In the Seattle region, KeyBank actively invests in the communities it serves through philanthropy, volunteerism and board service.

“KeyBank’s support goes a long way to breaking down the many obstacles youth in foster care face,” said Janis Avery, CEO of Treehouse. “Collectively, we are weaving together the middle class safety net our most vulnerable youth need.”

3 Ways Millennials Can Help Their Baby Boomer Parents Get Fit

April 29, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Aging baby boomers who neglect their health and fitness don’t just harm themselves. Their lifestyles also affect their adult children, who eventually could end up caring for them – both financially and physically – as their health declines. Of course, that’s not the only reason those adult children might feel concerned. They also may like having mom and dad around, and want that to continue for years to come. So they have a vested interest in encouraging their parents to get fit and stay fit. But young adults who cringe at their parents’ eating and exercise habits may be reluctant to broach the subject. How can they start such a conversation? And what are some suggestions for healthy living their parents are likely to put into practice?

One thing that might be tempting, but probably won’t work, is a harsh lecture, says Jaime Brenkus (www.exercisewithjaime.com), a nationally recognized fitness expert and fitness coach for Evergreen Wellness®, which provides videos and articles to help older adults enjoy healthier lives.

“You don’t need to give them a sermon,” he says. “But you should remind them of how important exercise and healthy eating are, and how much you care about having them around for you and for the grandchildren.”

There is plenty of nutrition and exercise advice that can help older people, but Brenkus says a few starter tips include:

Encourage them to drink more water. This may sound basic, but not everyone drinks as much water as they should – even though this is a healthy habit that’s simple to accomplish. A CDC study, for example, revealed that 43 percent of adults drink fewer than four cups of water a day and seven percent don’t drink any glasses of water at all. (Presumably, they get their fluids from other beverages that have water in them.) Baby boomers grew up drinking a lot of soda and Kool-Aid. Later, they graduated to coffee and alcoholic beverages. Many of them have adapted to today’s bottled-water culture, but for some those old habits may die hard and water isn’t always their first choice when thirst beckons.
Recommend they try strength training. The most effective way to increase metabolism and to help reverse the aging process is stimulating muscles by lifting challenging weights to increase lean muscle mass, Brenkus says. “More strength will make daily life easier for them,” he says. “It will give them better balance and they will be less likely to fall. It also can strengthen the heart, and it makes them look and feel younger.”
Make sure they socialize. This isn’t directly related to exercise, but studies have shown that people who are active socially are healthier and live longer lives. Socializing, for example, helps reduce the stress that can contribute to a number of health problems. If socializing is combined with exercise (playing tennis, taking regular walks with a friend), then that’s all the better.

“Helping your parents adopt a healthier lifestyle is about encouraging them to change their habits for eating, cooking, shopping and fitness,” Brenkus says. “And even more importantly, it’s about helping them to change their thinking habits. “Maybe sometime in the past they tried a diet or fitness regimen and they failed at it. That doesn’t mean they can’t try again – and this time with you as their cheerleader.”

3 Ways Stress Takes A Toll On Your Body

April 28, 2018 by NWFacts 8 Comments

Did the latest challenge at work bring on a tightening in your stomach? Does constant worry about a loved one’s health make you physically ill yourself? Everyone at some point feels the effects of stress. Not everyone deals with stress in the best way, though.

“Often stressed-out people seek relief through alcohol, tobacco or drugs, but that just makes matters worse,” says Richard Purvis, a health and wellness practitioner and author of Recalibrate: Six Secrets to Resetting Your Age (www.richardpurvisauthor.com).

“Instead of relieving stress, those toxic substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state, causing even more physical problems.”

April is Stress Awareness Month, a good time to reflect on how the demands and anxieties of daily life put a strain not just on our minds, but on our bodies as well.

Stress, of course, is not always a bad thing. It does serve a positive purpose.

“It can keep us alert and prepares us to avoid danger,” Purvis says. “But stress becomes a negative factor when a person faces continuous challenges without any time mixed in for relief or relaxation.”

As a result, he says, people become overworked, and stress-related anxiety and illness can occur. The strain leads them to suffer from such ailments as headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain and problems sleeping.

Purvis says a few examples of how stress can play havoc on our bodies include:

Musculoskeletal system. When we experience stress, it’s natural for our muscles to tense up. “It’s the body’s way of guarding against injury and pain,” Purvis says. Usually, the muscles relax once the stressful event passes. But chronic stress keeps the muscles in a constant state of guardedness. “When muscles are taut and tense for long periods of time other reactions in the body are triggered,” he says. Chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and head can lead to tension-type headaches and migraines.
Respiratory system. Stress causes people to breathe harder. “That’s not a problem for most people,” Purvis says. “But if you suffer from asthma or a lung disease such as emphysema, getting essential oxygen can be difficult.” He says some studies show that acute stress events – such as the death of a loved one – can trigger asthma attacks in which the airway between the nose and the lungs constrict. Also, rapid breathing associated with stress – or hyperventilation – can result in a panic attack in some people.
Gastrointestinal system. Sometimes people who are stressed will eat much more than usual. Sometimes they will eat much less. Neither is healthy. “You can get heartburn or acid reflux if you eat more food or different types of food, or if you increase how much alcohol you drink or tobacco you use,” Purvis says. When you’re stressed, the brain sends alert sensations to the stomach. Your stomach can react with “butterflies,” nausea or pain. “Severe stress can cause vomiting, diarrhea or constipation,” he says. “If your stress becomes chronic, you might develop ulcers or severe stomach pain.”

So what’s to be done? Purvis points out that stress is a natural occurrence in life and happens to everyone.

“Since you can’t avoid your job, bills, or other life experiences, the best thing to do is learn to manage stress,” he says. “You won’t avoid stress entirely, but it is possible to minimize the effects by eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and taking care of yourself in general.”

Stevens Pass Reports Record Skier Visits For The 2017-18 Season Visits Hit 450,000 Mark

April 28, 2018 by NWFacts Leave a Comment

Stevens Pass Mountain Resort wrapped up another successful season Sunday, April 22 with skier visits up slightly over last year’s record season and notching the highest skier visit total ever recorded at the resort.

Stevens Pass has received slightly above normal snowfall, with 552 inches of total snow at mid-mountain and 468 inches in the base area this season. The snowiest storm cycle occurred February 14 through February 28 when it snowed nearly every day and the resort recorded 80 inches of snow.

“Despite being a relatively average year for snowfall, ski and snowboard visits at Stevens Pass continued to grow,” said VP of Sales and Marketing, Chris Danforth. “We believe much of this growth can be attributed to the Pacific Northwest’s growing interest in winter sports and our industry-leading learning programs.”

The resort kicked off the record-breaking season on November 16 with the third earliest opening in its 80-year history. While November and December snowfall was relatively normal, January delivered a healthy 132 inches of snow for the month and February saw 102 inches. The heavy mid-winter snowfall set up the resort for late-season success. While skier visitation was strong all season, March was a record-breaking month with visitation up 22 percent over last year and 47 percent over the five-year average. April also performed well with visitation up 18 percent over the same period last year and 38 percent up over the five-year average.

“While much of the Western United States, notably Colorado, Utah and California, saw below normal snowfall, the Pacific Northwest was once again blessed with dependable snow,” said President and CEO, Karl Kapuscinski. “Our guests were able to enjoy the best skiing conditions in the country, right in their own backyard.”

The resort will re-open for summer operations on June 22, conditions permitting. This will be the seventh full season of operations for the Stevens Pass Bike Park. In addition to mountain biking, Stevens Pass offers a number of additional mountain activities for guests to enjoy, including hiking trails, scenic chairlift rides, disc golf and many events throughout the summer.

About Stevens Pass Mountain Resort

Stevens Pass is located 78 miles east of Seattle on the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range and offers both winter and summer recreation. Stevens averages 460 inches of snow annually, covering 1,125 acres of skiable terrain – including 52 named runs plus numerous bowls, glades and faces. During the summer, guests can enjoy lift-accessed downhill mountain biking, scenic chairlift rides, disc golf and world-class hiking. The resort provides a variety of terrain for every age and skill level. Normal winter operations run from late November to late April. Summer operations typically run from late June to early October. Stevens Pass is a proud partner in recreation with the U.S. Forest Service.