TSO Events
April – June, 2021
All events are being held online. To receive email about future events and how to register for them, please see our Contact Us page to sign up for the TSO email distribution list.
The History and Art of Bonsai (Online Seminar)
presented by Bruce Williams
Thursday, June 3, 2021 at 10 a.m.
This presentation by Bruce Williams, Master Gardener and Master Pruner, might better be called “Bonsai for the Curious”. Given by a local bonsai hobbyist, this is a journey through the incredible, worldwide history and heritage of the art of bonsai. There will be inside information on how these magnificent, living art forms are created, as well as suggestions if you wish to learn more.
Bruce Williams has been both a Master Gardener and a Master Pruner since 2016. He is secretary of the Puget Sound Bonsai Association, on the board of the King County Master Gardener Foundation and is a docent at the Pacific Bonsai Museum.
Bruce is a member of the Master Gardener clinics at the Renton Fairwood Library and Renton Farmer’s Market. He works at the Children’s Garden at the Bellevue Demonstration Garden. His primary gardening passion is bonsai. He grows trees from seed and propagates plants for the Master Gardener plant sale.
TSO Presents Summer Course Preview (Online)
Meet the Instructors
Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Take a TASTE of TELOS by previewing FOUR Summer Courses presented by the instructors. Presented in 15 minute increments.
| Irene Pasternack | Recover from and Prevent Injury Build physical/emotional balance. |
| Jerry Bunce | Views of the News Current affairs discussion group. |
| Mark Waldstein | Readers Theater You TOO can win an academy award! This is so fun. |
| Bruce Bigley | Thackeray’s Vanity Fair Read and discuss Vanity Fair. |
A Virtual Tour of Jacob Lawrence’s: The American Struggle Exhibit at SAM
lead by Andrea Smith-Clarke
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Andrea Smith-Clarke will give us a virtual tour of the Jacob Lawrence exhibit: The American Struggle that was showing at SAM this year. The paintings question the stories we’ve been told by amplifying narratives that have been systematically overlooked from America’s history. This exhibition reunites Lawrence’s revolutionary 30-panel series—Struggle: From the History of the American People (1954-56) for the first time since 1958 and SAM was its only West Coast venue. These modernist paintings chronicle pivotal moments from the American Revolution, through to westward expansion and feature Black, Female and Native protagonists as well as the founders of the United States. Lawrence interprets the democratic debates that defined the early nation and echoed into the civil rights movements, during which he was painting the Struggle series. The individuals who populate Lawrence’s compositions are given voice through quotations and excerpts from his thorough research to develop the Struggle series. The titles of the panels are key to understanding how Lawrence has envisioned a more all-embracing American history, creating a powerful dialogue with them that resonates in our social and political culture today.
Andrea Smith-Clarke has been a docent at Seattle Art Museum since 2015, and specializes in Adult tours, Private groups and “Art Beyond Sight” tours for low/no vision visitors. She received a B.F.A. from Ohio University in Theater and Costume Design and an M.A. in Art History from the University of Washington. She has lived in the Seattle area since 1983 and retired from Harborview Medical Center where she worked in Health Information Management as a Medical Records Coder. Andrea much prefers being a TELOS student and began taking classes in 2019. She also facilitates the American History Book Club. Her favorite things are art, books, Shakespeare, the Opera and old movies. Andrea’s motto is Fear no art!
Cleaning Up Puget Sound: How Tires, Toxic Stormwater and Salmon Don’t Mix
(Online Seminar)
presented by Alyssa Barton and Stephanie Blair from Puget SoundKeepers
Thursday, June 10, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Join Stephanie Blair, PhD candidate at Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center, and Alyssa Barton, Policy Manager at Puget SoundKeepers Alliance, for a talk about tires, salmon and stormwater. You will learn about Puget SoundKeepers Alliance’s legal and advocacy work to stop polluted stormwater and WSU’s research on Coho pre-spawn mortality and toxics. You’ll learn about the research demonstrating that low impact development (LID) can stop toxic stormwater pollution and save salmon; the original 2009 legal decision requiring municipalities to control polluted stormwater runoff with LID; ongoing citizen science research on coho pre-spawn mortality (Urban Runoff Mortality Syndrome); how researchers recently identified the toxic chemical in stormwater—-6PPD-quinone—that is killing coho and what they’ve learned about 6PPD—quinone’s toxic effects; the newest municipal general stormwater permit for western Washington, and what needs to change.
Stephanie Blair is a PhD candidate in the School of the Environment at Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center. She investigates the lethal and sub-lethal biological effects in salmonids exposed to urban runoff pollutants with a focus on the blood-brain barrier. Stephanie’s article on the toxic mode of action in coho urban runoff mortality syndrome was recently featured as an Editor’s Choice in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. She is a member of the Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians in Michigan and Nome Eskimo Community in Alaska. Stephanie draws on her cultural and scientific experiences to develop Place Based and STEAM curricula for middle and high school students, with an emphasis on inspiring urban native youth to pursue careers in sustainability.
TSO Presents Summer Course Preview (Online)
Meet the Instructors
Tuesday, June 15, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Take a TASTE of TELOS by previewing FIVE Summer Courses presented by the instructors. Presented in 15 minute increments.
| Irene Pasternack | Moving to Heal Movement to music. |
| Claudia Lawrey | Ballet for Balance Improve body mechanics. |
| Jane Morton | Stories from the Eastside Chronicle the development of the Eastside (of Lake Washington). |
| Doris Toppen | Creative Writing Prime the pump of your creative center. |
| Fred Silber | New Yorker Discussion Group Orson Welles: Man & Myth, Golden Age of Broadway |
Restoration Ecology: Case Studies from Pacific Islands (Online Seminar)
presented by Dr. Sheldon Plentovich
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Dr. Sheldon Plentovich is a conservation biologist who lives in Hawaii but works on islands throughout the Pacific. She has ongoing projects in Palau, Federated States of Micronesia and the main and northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Sheldon grew up chasing birds and bugs around Virginia, Alabama and North Carolina and went to school at University of North Carolina, Wilmington, Auburn University and University of Hawaii, Manoa. Her doctoral research focused on the effects of generalist predators on island ecosystems. She has lived, worked and surfed in Hawaii for the last 22 years. She is currently with the Pacific Islands Coastal Programs and works collaboratively with partners to achieve landscape scale restoration on islands throughout the Pacific.
Dr. Plentovich has a Ph.D in Zoology with Graduate Specialization in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. She also has an M.S.
Simply Stunning – Better Photos With Your Apple Devices
presented by Paul Schmid
Monday, June 21, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Let Paul Schmid show you how to take better pictures with your iPhone then make them great on your Mac, iPad or iPhone. In this 90 minute session you will discover iPhone camera features like the rule-of-thirds, exposure, portrait mode and more. Then in Photos, you will check out powerful but easy-to-use editing tools like crop, filters and adjustments.
Paul Schmid aims to create joy through his passion for teaching! At Bellevue College he teaches classes on Apple devices and Shakespeare. Paul has taught people how to have more fun with their Apple devices in classes like: Master Your Mac!, Create!…On Your iPad and Have More Fun With Your iPhone.
Storm Warning: Historic Weather in the Evergreen State
presented by Feliks Banel and Sponsored by Humanities Washington
Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Local broadcaster and historian Feliks Banel explores our region’s darkest weather days and most infamous storms. With archival photos, radio, and TV clips, Banel takes us back in time to hear stories of those who survived some of the worst Pacific Northwest weather in recorded history. Further, Banel explores how these storms can revive our shared humanity. Frightening weather can bind communities together to share resources, commiserate, and protect each other. Participants are encouraged to share their own memories of how they survive being snowed in, washed out, or left without power in the wake of a big storm—and why we remember those moments for the rest of our lives.
Feliks Banel is a writer and producer, and serves as editor of COLUMBIA, the quarterly magazine of the Washington State Historical Society. He has been a host and contributor for KIRO Radio on matters of Northwest history and culture for many years; he created the history series This NOT Just IN for KUOW Public Radio; and he produces documentaries for the Seattle Channel.
Banel lives in Seattle.
Ice Age Floodscapes of the Pacific Northwest
presented by Bruce Bjornstad
Monday, June 28, 2021 at 10 a.m.
The scale of the Ice Age floods in the Pacific Northwest was so huge that today it is often difficult to see and appreciate the power and magnitude of such mega floods from ground level alone. Bruce Bjornstad will present photos and videography, mostly from an aerial perspective, that brings the unique flood features and landforms into clear focus and reveals the amazing story of repeated mega floods as recently as 14,000 years ago.
Bruce Bjornstad is a licensed geologist/hydrogeologist and retired Senior Research Scientist from Battelle’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. He received a Bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of New Hampshire and a Master’s degree in geology from Eastern Washington University. Over the last 40 years he has written numerous documents and reports on the geology of the region as well as two geologic guidebooks, “On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods” that transformed the Pacific Northwest as recently as 14,000 years ago. Bruce is also the creator of an online YouTube Channel titled: “Ice Age Floodscapes”. Most recently, Bruce has published a new, full-color, coffee-table-style book titled: “Ice Age Floodscapes of the Pacific Northwest: A Photographic Exploration”.
Brain Power AT ANY AGE
presented by Dr. Joyce Shaffer
Tuesday, June 29, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.
Dr. Joyce Shaffer in her presentation will provide evolving neuroscience that can inform your strategies aimed at maximizing your “Brain Power AT ANY AGE” throughout your vigorous longevity. She will show you visual and metric data on the impact that evidence-cases interventions could have on YOUR BRAIN, so you’ll say: “Give me the guidelines! I’m doing this!”
She will emphasize ways researchers are suggesting we can prevent, delay onset and/or reverse cognitive decline and show you the skills and strategies to maximize your investments of time and effort.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
Evidence-based activities for “Enriching Heredity.”
How to maximize the purchase of the evidence-based activities you choose to use.
Effective ways of continuing your unique efforts for your unique Brain Power AT ANY AGE™.
Fun, easy ways to share these benefits with your community.
Dr. Joyce Shaffer received her PhD in Psychology from Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY; two MAs in Psychology—one from Hofstra University and one from Towson State University in Baltimore MD where she also received her BA. She also received her Registered Nurse Diploma from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. She has licenses as a Psychologist and a Nurse in the State of Washington. She specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, brain health & neuroplasticity. She also conducts Forensic Psychology and has served as a Court Expert for Harborview Medical Center. She teaches as a Clinical Associate professor at the University of Washington and is the Program Coordinator of Western State Hospital Admissions Ward. Dr. Joyce is the managing member of Ideal Aging, LLC, and cofounder: Brain Power AT ANY AGE international project to prevent, delay onset and/or prevent dementia.
Tiny Houses for the Homeless in Seattle: Two Organizations Working Together
presented by Barb Oliver from Sound Foundations NW
Wednesday, June 30, 2021 at 10 a.m.
Every person living on the streets deserves a place that is warm, dry, safe and healthy. Sound Foundations NW has teamed up with the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) to help meet the demand for building several more tiny home villages. Tiny home villages provide people with transitional tiny homes as well as providing the essential services that they need and community. Sound Foundations NW primary focus is to provide LIHI with quality tiny homes while LIHI sets up all the infrastructure for the villages: land acquisition, setting up communal spaces like the kitchen, rest rooms, laundry and shower facilities. Sound Foundations NW is ramping up to full production, building tiny homes assembly line style. The program now has a track record of proven success.
Barb Oliver, Director of Operations at Sound Foundations NW will talk about how this promising partnership works and the how Sound Foundations NW works, through community involvement, apprenticeship programs and lots of volunteers to help move homeless men and women off the streets and into a home.
Sound Foundations NW – Organization History
The involvement of Alki United Church of Christ (Alki UCC) with Camp Second Chance started with good intentions and virtually no planning. We raised $21,000 at our annual fundraiser specifically to build tiny homes for the homeless. After taking some time to figure it out, we learned that Camp Second Chance, a local City of Seattle sanctioned encampment for people experiencing homelessness, needed tiny homes and we were ready to build. We recruited a group of core volunteers and began our first tiny home on March 16, 2018. Some of our volunteers had excellent skills; some none at all. We all wanted to help and were ready to roll up our sleeves to get the job done.
We realized we needed to be more efficient in our building process, so we set out to fine tune each step. We improved some design elements to make the tiny houses more like real homes. We started to built the next homes assembly-line style April 7th and finished August 25th. We worked. Every. Single. Saturday.
When we finished the last tiny home, we experienced the joy as the residents received the keys to their new homes! For five months we helped build a community of not only physical structures but also community connections. We shared work, meals and laughter with our neighbors at Camp Second Chance. We learned to be efficient in time and material costs, and in the process created a system that other volunteers who share our passion can follow. But most importantly, friendships were sparked between the Camp Second Chance residents and Alki UCC volunteers.
After the first homes were built, we started Sound Foundations NW, a network of volunteers from all over Seattle who have a deep commitment to the tiny home movement for the homeless. Still an important outreach project of Alki UCC, Sound Foundations NW unites the broader volunteer community with the church’s mission of helping others in need.