Front porch

Published 10:18 pm Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Good dog

U.S. Customs and Border Protection narcotic detector dog Rover retires this week.

The black labrador worked for five years and nosed out 3,178 pounds of marijuana, 101 pounds of cocaine, 116,325 ecstasy pills, 236,175 ephedrine pills and $1,430,780 in currency during his career at the Customs office at the Blaine border crossing.

Service dogs are usually first offered to a handler for adoption. Customs canine-unit officer Joe Barber, who was Rover’s second handler, has eagerly adopted him. “Rover will be very comfortable in his retirement. Plans include lots of playtime, sun bathing and lazily lounging on the sofa. He’s earned it.”

Climate change talk: Blair Henry, president and co-founder of the Northwest Council on Climate Change, is a guest speaker today in Lynnwood.

He will attend the 2008 Visionary Awards for Community Transit at 11:30 a.m. at Embassy Suites, 20610 44th Ave. W., in Lynnwood.

CT will announce the employer of the year, the employee transportation coordinator of the year, and the commuter of the quarter and the year.

Henry will speak at noon about large-scale wind energy projects.

No tickets are available at the door.

Practice makes perfect: Adults learning to speak English can visit the Mukilteo Library.

Practice conversational skills in a friendly environment at 7 p.m. Mondays at 4675 Harbour Pointe Blvd. in Mukilteo.

The Snohomish County Literacy Coalition helps sponsor the program.