Ruby Dance Rocks the Hylebos!

Chinook salmon returned to Hylebos Creek early last week - Yeah! And last Saturday, One hundred n inety-seven friends of the Hylebos turned out to the King County Weyerhaeuser Aquatic Center to celebrate those fish and to raise funds to support Hylebos conservation efforts.

More than $30,000 was raised for Hylebos Creek conservation at the Friends’ 4th annual Ruby Dance Stewardship dinner. (Yes, it was a dinner, but no fish were on the menu. Didn't think that would set a good tone for the fall salmon runs)

Our event emcee was KING-FM 98.1 Host Sean MacLean, of whom I've blogged before. Sean kept the silent auction bidding moving along tastefully and with good cheer. And he kept us on schedule during the program, which I always love. The only complaint I could have is that he spilled the beans about a certain individual falling victim to a weasel attack!

And what can I say about Tom Murphy, our keynote presenter?! I was so honored that Tom chose to be our speaker. He has done an outstanding job with the Federal Way Public Schools and working in our area to help build community.

Tom presented a powerful dissertation on the importance of green space to quality of life, and the role of conservation in helping to build a quality community. "There is no neutrality," he said, when it comes to protecting the environment. You either choose to be a part of the solution, or you are part of the problem.

I want to thank my good friend Mike Hrachovec for urging the attendants to support the Friends with donations. They did, and we saw our biggest fundraiser yet to date. There's about a million people I want to thank, too, the staff and board who worked so hard on this, our sponsors, like Boeing and schnitzer Steel, and on and on. I want to, but you know what? That'll all be on the web page and I have a sinus infection and I'm tired, so there.

Yes, Metropolitan Market supplied the wine and cheese and now I'm delivering the whine.

Suffice to say, that we had a fun evening and the money raised will support the Hylebos Creek Conservation Initiative, our program for preserving and restoring 745 acres of stream and wetland habitat in Federal Way, Milton, Fife, Edgewood and Tacoma.