November 1, 2001
Etc.
KID SAFETY: Seventeen low-income families whose children attend school in the UW’s Experimental Education Unit received free child and infant car seats, thanks to the University Police Department. The UW police, along with many other police departments in the state, received the car seats as part of a grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. Traffic Sergeant David Girts then contacted Vicki Tompkins, social worker for the EEU, for help in identifying needy families. Last week, UW Police Chief Vicky Peltzer presented the car seats to Jennifer Annable, the EEU principal. Tompkins will set up a class with the parents selected to receive the car seats and UW Police Officers will instruct the parents in the proper installation and use of the seats.
BIG BIRTHDAY: Millie Russell, assistant to the vice president for minority affairs and a lecturer in the Biology Program, found this year’s birthday to be a little bit more of a celebration than usual. Seattle Mayor Paul Schell declared the day, Oct. 29, Dr. Millie L. Russell Day. This proclamation, along with a congratulatory letter from Gov. Gary Locke, was presented to Russell by friends, colleagues, and family at a surprise birthday party. Also presenting was Rep. Jim McDermott, who was there to read the Extension of Remarks that he has added to the United States Congressional Record for Oct. 29. Russell was honored for her lifetime of service in education.
BIG CRANE: The Wind River Canopy Crane outside Stevenson, erected by the UW and U.S. Forest Service in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest, is among the tower cranes featured in the Discovery Channel documentary Giant Cranes, premiering Nov. 2 at 10 p.m. and repeating Nov. 3 at 2 a.m. UW researcher Jerry Franklin and crane operator (and UW staffer) Mark Creighton are interviewed at the Wind River facility, where the 25-story crane is used to gather samples and install instruments in the canopies of trees as tall as 220 feet, no doubt a surprising use of a crane for most viewers. There are only eight such cranes operating in the world’s forests and the Wind River crane is the tallest.
BIG BENCHES: The Arboretum Foundation is again teaming with the Northwest Flower & Garden Show and Pacific Place Shopping Center to sponsor a competition for garden benches. All benches entered will be on display at Pacific Place and at the flower show in January and February of 2002 and will be auctioned to benefit the Washington Park Arboretum. For bench specifications and an application, call 206-726-1954. The competition is open to anyone who’d like to create a one-of-a-kind lawn or garden bench. Applications and designs must be submitted by Nov. 15. The grand prize is a day trip for two to Victoria, B.C., via the Victoria Clipper, with admission to the Butchart Gardens.
Do you know someone who deserves kudos for an outstanding achievement, award, appointment or book publication? If so, send that person’s name, title and achievement to uweek@u.washington.edu.
