POULSBO — The sounds of mariachi music, taste of salsa and smells of freshly-made burritos could prove just as beneficial to efforts to reopen the Marine Science Center as last weekend’s thundering bands and ice-cold smoothies.

At the same time, the green leaves of trees could translate into a different shade of green for the center as well.

Los Cabos owner Roberto Soltero and Pa’s Plants owner Wally Harrison are both sponsoring two-week fund-raising drives to help bring the defunct center back to life.

Earlier this week, Soltero approached Bight of Poulsbo Founder Bill Austin with an offer to give 30 percent of his restaurant’s daily proceeds to the effort to reopen the MSC. The effort began on Wednesday and will go to the end of the month.

“I’ve been in Poulsbo for eight years and people have been good to me,” Soltero explained. “My business has been doing good and I would like to return something to the town.”

While Mudstock organizers from the Bight of Poulsbo deemed the event a success, Soltero said he expected to see more people there, which led to his decision to further his own efforts to reopen the center.

“I noticed it was a big attraction for kids and that’s what made me interested in giving something back,” he said.

Before he sold the Bayside Broiler in downtown Poulsbo, Soltero noticed that the MSC was a big attraction for visitors and children, especially.

“People come to town this town to see the center and kids loved it,” he said. “It was great family entertainment.”

Now that the center is closed, anything folks can do to help reopen it is important, Soltero said, noting that he expects to raise $12,000 for the MSC during his event.

“I wish we could all get together and do a little bit because that would make a difference,” he remarked.

One local business owner has already answered Soltero’s call to action as Pa’s Plants on Big Valley Road is matching Los Cabos’ 30 percent effort with one of its own.

“I liked his idea and thought we might do it for a couple of weeks,” said owner Wally Harrison.

As part of that effort, Pa’s Plants will be open Tuesday through Saturday instead of its normal Saturday-only schedule, Harrison explained.

“With our business, it might just be a buck and a half and we’ve got 700 or 800 trees, but if we sold 100, it would be delightful,” he said.

While he is able to match Soltero’s 30-percent example, Harrison encourages other business owners to do whatever they can to help the community effort to reopen the center.

“If we can get other businesses doing something for a week, for a day, it would help,” he said.

For Austin, who is at the forefront of the efforts to reopen the center, Soltero and Harrison have set a great example for others to follow.

“I think it’s a grand idea and it gives me more faith in humanity after all,” Austin said.

Their contributions are a big boost and hopefully their idea will catch on throughout the rest of the community, he commented.

As for the 30-percent contribution, Austin simply said, “It’s more than I could have expected.”