Category Archives: Health

Burn Ban lifted in Pierce County

Posted on January 22, 2013 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith As Mother Nature removes her icy grip on the Puget Sound Basin today, the fog and dirty air of the past ten days are slowly drifting away and allowing state officials to lift the prohibitions against … Continue reading →

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Air Quality Worsens Again – Stage 2 Burn Ban re-imposed upon Pierce County

Posted on January 17, 2013 by brucesmith49

The use of all heating devices that use wood as a fuel, including pellet stoves, have been banned again in Pierce County by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency as air pollution levels mount. This is a continuation of prohibitions against … Continue reading →

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Burn Ban reduced to Stage 1 as air quality improves – use of fireplaces still prohibited

Posted on January 15, 2013 by brucesmith49

Air quality in Pierce County is improving due to changing weather conditions and compliance with burn band restrictions, state officials announced today. As a result, the Stage 2 Burn Ban, which forbid all use of wood stoves, has been reduced … Continue reading →

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Air quality worsens as a Stage 2 Burn Ban declared in county – use of any wood stove now prohibited

Posted on January 13, 2013 by brucesmith49

A Stage 2 Burn Ban has been declared in Pierce County by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency as air pollution intensifies. This is the most severe ban the agency can announce, and it forbids the use of any wood … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 5 Comments

Another Stage One Burn Ban called for Pierce County

Posted on January 12, 2013 by brucesmith49

Editor’s Note: The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has just sent the Mountain News the following alert about another episode of dirty air. This is the third strech of time this winter that local residents have had to breather unhealthy air. … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 4 Comments

Gratitude emerges as the Great Darkness descends

Posted on December 9, 2012 by brucesmith49

By Bruce A. Smith As we enter the middle days of December we are cloaked with the twenty shortest days of the year. Coupled with the ever-present rain clouds, the darkness of our days begins about 3:30 pm or so … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Health | 4 Comments

Frederickson residents get enlightened about air quality

Posted on November 17, 2012 by brucesmith49

By Josh Magill The Frederickson – Clover Creek Community Council monthly meeting on Saturday morning featured a presentation on air quality in Pierce County. The primary presenters were Alexandria Teague from the Pierce County Planning & Land Services Department, and Kathy … Continue reading →

Posted in Bethel News, Business, Culture, Environment, Frederickson, Health, Josh Magill, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Pierce County hosting workshops on women’s heart disease

Posted on June 25, 2012 by brucesmith49

~ Let’s hear it for synchronicity. I received the following press release from the Pierce County Communications Department announcing their workshops on women and heart disease just hours after posting my latest essay on preventing heart attacks. I’ll endeavor to be at … Continue reading →

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Anatomy of a heart attack – going vegan with the Forks over Knives program

Posted on June 24, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith Part 4 in a series. I’m in the fourth month of my recovery from a heart attack, and I’m proud to announce that for the last half of that time I have been a vegan. Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Health | 28 Comments

2nd Annual Mother Earth News Fair coming to area

Posted on May 25, 2012 by brucesmith49

by Bruce A. Smith In testament to the “green power” of the Pacific Northwest, the Mother Earth News is hosting their second annual fair at the Puyallup Fair Grounds, June 2-3, next Saturday and Sunday.