Happy Earth Day, Everyone –

The Mountain News received a press release today from Pierce County that initiates a wonderful community-oriented contest to highlight the environmental needs of Puget Sound and ways of keeping it clean.  The following is their message:

A picture is worth a thousand words…or at least a prize

Next week (April 24-30) more than 60 local restaurants, pubs, coffee shops and coffee stands will be using “Puget Sound Starts Here” coasters and coffee sleeves.  If you take a photo of yourself with a “Puget Sound Starts Here” coaster or coffee sleeve and post it to the Puget Sound Starts Here Facebook page, you can win cool prizes. 

 Want to see where you can get your coaster or coffee sleeve?  Go to http://www.piercecountywa.org/pssh to find a location near you.

 April is “Puget Sound Starts Here Month” and this contest is one of many events dedicated to improving water quality in the Puget Sound, local lakes, rivers, and streams.  The messaging on the coasters and coffee sleeves highlights simple actions people can take to prevent water pollution.

 The contest creates a unique, beneficial partnership between a network of local governments, organizations and businesses.

 “Forza is happy to be supporting the ‘Puget Sound Starts Here’ campaign by using these coffee cup sleeves,” said Erika Lowery, spokesperson for Forza Coffee Company.  ”Forza strives to establish ourselves as partners in the community working toward important causes like improved water quality in Puget Sound.”

 The purchase of coasters and coffee sleeves was funded by a grant.  The grant was awarded to Pierce County Public Works and Utilities Surface Water Management division by the Puget Sound Partnership to manage a local effort to support the regional “Puget Sound Starts Here” campaign.  The campaign is led by the Puget Sound Partnership, S.T.O.R.M. (Stormwater Outreach for Regional Municipalities) and the Washington Department of Ecology, and it is supported by a coalition of nearly 500 organizations and local governments.

 For more information about what you can do to help, go to www.pugetsoundstartshere.org.

 MEDIA CONTACTS:

 Tiffany O’Dell, Pierce County Public Works and Utilities

253-798-2464, todell@co.pierce.wa.us

 Mary Powers, Public Works and Utilities, PIO

253-798-2464, mpower1@co.pierce.wa.us

Mountain News Note:

 There are plenty of local restaurants and coffee shops participating in this exciting effort to clean up Puget Sound.

 Eatonville:        Jebino’s Italian Restorante

 Graham:           Le Cupcake    

                        Mongolian Grill

                        Sun’s Teriyaki

                        R&R Live Sports Bar and Grill

                        Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant

                        Amici’s Italian Restaurant

 South Hill:         Ram Restaurant

                        Forza Coffee

 Parkland:          PLU Dining Hall

 Media coordinator for the DPW&U, Tiffany O’Dell, told the Mountain News that to win a prize contestants have to take a picture of themselves with the coaster and post it on Facebook at the “Puget Sound Starts Here” page.  Winners will be selected daily, and prizes include colorful “T” shirts and draw-string back-packs that have the “Puget Sound Starts Here” logo.

 One of the big winners already is Pierce County, who received private funding to continue this contest when Washington state grant monies – appropriated last year – dried up in this year’s budget crunch. 

If you win, please let the Mountain News know.  We’ll take your picture and post it here!