President Obama was just in the area on Sunday so he may not return for the grand opening of the Environmental Science Center's new facility on Oct. 23.

But at the suggestion of science center founder Georgette Valle, the Burien City Council formally invited the president or his representative.

Valle has been scheduled to have dinner with the president and anybody who knows the former state representative and Burien councilwoman knows she is a hard person to say no to.

So stay tuned for further announcements.

Meanwhile, the public is invited to experience the building from noon to 4 on Sunday, Oct. 23.

Here is additional information from a press release
The Environmental Science Center (ESC), a Burien based non-profit promoting environmental stewardship, sustainability and academic achievement through science-based education, will launch its new facility at Seahurst Park in October.

The opening festivities on Oct. 23rd are free and will include hot cider, snacks and a fun roster of activities such as microscope displays featuring local flora and fauna, a scientific drawing lab, and game stations where participants can win prizes.

Adults and children of all ages are invited to tour the display garden of native plants, learn about the building's green features, and explore the beach and forest at Seahurst Park with a naturalist. Under a long-term lease agreement with the City of Burien, ESC recently completed this $1.3 million renovation of a former caretaker cottage situated at Seahurst Park, just north of the turning circle and steps from the beach.

This new facility fills the need, currently unmet in South King County, for a family-friendly, inclusive setting where parents and children can engage in content-rich, enjoyable activities while learning about nearshore and upland ecosystems as well as environmental stewardship.

The center will host family programs on select evenings and weekends and will provide a classroom for students engaged in experiential field studies at the park during weekdays.

Seahurst Park consists of 169 acres of upland forest, a watershed with two freshwater streams, and shoreline over three quarters of a mile long. The park has been, and will continue to undergo a restoration to restore its beaches to natural habitat for forage fish and invertebrates.

The restoration process includes removal of seawalls to allow natural beach processes to occur. This location and restored set of ecosystems make the center in the park a unique facility in King County.