December 2008 Archives

TEMPERATURE RECORDS
Yelm recorded no record high temperatures this month, however several record low temperatures were set:
21 was the record low on Dec. 14th
21 tied the record low on Dec. 15th
13 was the record low on Dec. 19th
10 was the record low on Dec. 20th
From AccuWeather

SNOW RECORDS
"He ["weather service meteorologist Jay Albrecht said"] said Sea-Tac set a record Sunday [Dec. 21] with 3 inches of snow, but that in some areas, including South Sound, records of snow are not well kept.

But South Sound officials said Saturday and Sunday's [Dec. 20 & 21] snowfall was among the heaviest in recent history," quoting The Olympian.

"This month already is thought to be the snowiest December on record in the Olympia area, according to the National Weather Service in Seattle. Between 1 and 2 feet of snow has fallen since Wednesday [Dec. 17], depending on where you live in Thurston County...

The previous snowfall record for December in the Olympia area was 10 inches in 1955, according to a weather service database, Haner said.

The snowiest month on record for the Olympia area is 14.2 inches in January 1972, he said. Some areas of Thurston County have exceeded that amount, but not the Olympia area.

The weather service recorded snow depths at the Olympia Regional Airport until 1997, when it moved to automated monitoring. It now relies on a network of weather spotters to measure snow depth. There's no reliable way to measure snow depth using an automated system, Haner said," quoting The Olympian.

"With the federal and state administrations looking to economic stimulus packages to aid states and communities struggling because of the economic turmoil, Rep. Tom Campbell has put together a list of needed projects in his 2nd District that can help create jobs and stimulate Washington’s economy.

President-elect Barack Obama is calling for a massive economic stimulus program to help the economy of the U.S., the 50 states, and local communities. In a meeting with 48 state governors earlier this month, including Gov. Chris Gregoire, Obama said his administration will work closely with Congress and the states to seek the ‘wisest course for the future.’

Obama asked the nation’s governors to help “draft and shape” a multibillion-dollar stimulus plan that also would aid states struggling with deficits. The economic stimulus package will be before Congress as soon as it convenes, and expects to get it passed before the end of January.

Gregoire had said Washington would need at least $600 million in federal money for short term road and bridge projects to help ‘kick-start’ the state’s struggling economy.

Campbell has identified a number of projects in the 2nd District that are ready to move quickly, including Yelm Loop Road, a 4.2 mile two lane corridor that will loop State Routes 510 and 507 to bypass the Yelm city-center, relieving the city's growing traffic congestion.

“About 100 people could be employed during the construction,” Campbell said, “and they could get the project underway as early as April and complete the project by the end of 2009.”

One of several worthy construction projects in Orting Campbell would like to see considered is a project that would complete ‘signalization of the SR-162 Whitehawk Boulevard intersection. This would be the first phase of a project to provide a bypass to motorists traveling between SR-410 and the South Hill plateau, relieving congesting through Orting’s downtown corridor.

Two other Orting projects ready to go are: the creation of two softball fields, one baseball field, two soccer fields and other park amenities; and a 40,000 gallon storage facility and other improvements which would give Orting a promising new opportunity to attract a Nestle Waters bottling facility that would provide 50 permanent family-wage jobs for Orting’s economy.

And, Campbell is also encouraging federal or state stimulus assistance for Mashell Ave., Eatonville’s historic main street, which would be suitable for an Eatonville Downtown Plaza, a much needed improvement to revitalize Eatonville," quoting Rep. Campbell's December 30th Press Release.

Contact: Rep. Tom Campbell at (360) 786-7912 or campbell.tom@leg.wa.gov

Representative Tom Campbell
Photo from Representative Campbell's official website

"Washington hospitals will be required to screen vulnerable patients for a potentially deadly germ called MRSA under proposed legislation spurred by a Seattle Times investigation."

"Hospitals would also have to isolate infected patients in private rooms. And for the first time since 2004, hospitals would be subject to surprise inspections by the state Department of Health.

These measures, if passed, would establish Washington as one of five states that have taken extraordinary steps to mandate how medical centers battle germs and protect patients.

'If hospitals won't take meaningful steps to stop drug-resistant infections then we'll pass legislation to make sure they do,' said Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Roy, who is sponsoring the measures.

At least a dozen more states are debating similar legislation that would mandate some form of screening.

MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is spread by touch or contact and can slip through small breaks in the skin. Most infections occur on the skin and are easily treated, but the germ can be fatal if it gets into the blood.

Six out of seven people infected with invasive MRSA contract it from a health-care facility, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Campbell said the patient-safety initiatives were in response to last month's Seattle Times series "Culture of Resistance," which detailed how MRSA infection rates have soared as hospitals often ignored steps to control the threat.

In the first comprehensive tracking of the germ, The Times found that the number of hospitalized Washington patients infected with MRSA escalated over the past decade from 141 a year to 4,723...

Campbell also seeks to reinstate surprise inspections to more accurately gauge hospital infection-control programs. At the request of hospital officials, Washington legislators in 2004 voted unanimously to require a four-week notice by state health inspectors — even the exact hour of arrival...

Before drafting the bill, Campbell said he consulted with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Consumers Union, a nonprofit group that has helped introduce MRSA screening legislation in other states.

Campbell, a chiropractor, is a member of the legislature's Health & Wellness Committee. Last year, he successfully spearheaded the state's first law that requires hospitals to publicly disclose certain infection rates, and he's sponsored numerous laws that have strengthened oversight and licensing of health-care professionals.

Officials at the Washington State Hospital Association, a lobbying group for most of the state's hospitals, said they are reviewing Campbell's proposals and will take a formal position once the legislative session begins on Jan. 12.

Overall, the association supports a uniform strategy to screen patients for MRSA and does not oppose surprise inspections, said spokeswoman Cassie Sauer," quoting the Seattle Times.

And, this ridiculous comment about Rep. Tom Campbell of Roy having his name missing from a list of leading Republicans.

"After all, he's the chairman of the Environmental Health Committee. Doesn't that make him its "leading" Republican? Lisa Fenton, the caucus' communications director, [was asked] why being chairman doesn't qualify Campbell as being the "leading" Republican on the committee.

Here's her reply:

Rep. Campbell was appointed to serve as the chairman of the committee by Speaker Chopp. Rep. Shea has been appointed to serve as the lead for the Republican caucus by our leadership. While it is true that Rep. Campbell is technically a Republican, he serves more as an independent member of the Legislature. He doesn’t caucus with either the Democrats or Republicans," quoting the Tacoma News Tribune blog.

My, oh my, what kind of absurd rationale is that?

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG CONGRATULATES REP. CAMPBELL IN HIS PERSISTENCE IN KEEPING THE HOSPITAL INFECTIONS ISSUE IN THE HEADLINES AND ACTUALLY GETTING LEGISLATION MOVING! TOM, DOESN'T MATTER THE PARTY'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT OR NOT - YOUR FINE WORK FOR WASHINGTONIANS SPEAKS FOR ITSELF AND STANDS ON ITS OWN MERITS...

Senator-elect Becker's Campaign Banner

"Incoming state Sen. Randi Becker, R-Eatonville, said she is ready to take on the Second District job.

'I’m very excited, honored and humbled to be given this responsibility,' Beck said in a prepared press release. 'I promise that the concerns and issues that are important to my constituents will be my top priority throughout the entire legislative process.'

In a phone interview Wednesday [Dec. 10], Becker said she plans to tackle transportation issues, specifically finding the funding for the Yelm’s downtown bypass.

Currently $56 million of the project is unfunded...

'Right now I’m in the learning process,' Becker said. 'I do know we’re going to have to work hard to protect the funds we have and to get funds.'

Becker said her plans involve working with the City of Yelm and state Rep. Tom Campbell, R-Graham.

'I know Rep. Tom Campbell has been working on the bypass,' Becker said. 'I’d like to work with (him) and get into the process.'

While Becker’s position doesn’t officially start until January, she said she is getting out in the community, attending meetings and building contacts," quoting the Dec. 12th NVN.

And this:
"State Senator-elect Randi Becker, R-Eatonville was appointed last week as the ranking member of the Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.

She was also appointed to three other committees.

Becker will be serving on the Senate Health and Long-Term Care, Transportation and Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committees.

Transportation was a key appointment for Becker, who has professed support for the Yelm Avenue bypass and Cross-Base Highway.

'To be appointed as a freshman senator to four different committees is an honor by itself,' Becker said in a prepared release.

'But being asked to represent the caucus as the lead Republican on higher education and workforce development policy is truly a privilege.' ...

The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee deals with issues relating to the state’s public and independent colleges and universities, community and technical colleges and private career schools.

The Senate Health and Long-Term Care Committee considers policy and financing issues relating to health care delivery and access, emerging public health issues, long-term care for all vulnerable populations and regulatory matters involving health professions and health care facilities.

The Senate Transportation Committee drafts the transportation budget, finds revenue sources for transportation funding and is responsible for dealing with issues relating to transportation policy and transportation agencies.

The Senate Agriculture and Rural Economic Development Committee deals with issues relating to agricultural land, the production, sale, and marketing of agricultural products, food safety and policies and programs that affect economic development in rural areas of the state," quoting the Dec. 19th NVN.

CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. BECKER ON DEFEATING TWO-DECADE-LONG INCUMBENT MARILYN RASMUSSEN. AFTER 20+ YEARS, CHANGE IN THE REPRESENTATION OF THIS DISTRICT IN THE STATE SENATE IS WELCOME. ELECTED POSITIONS WERE NEVER INTENDED TO BE FILLED FOR DECADES. WE WISH SENATOR-ELECT BECKER WELL IN HER NEW POST. THIS DISTRICT IS NOW REPRESENTED IN OLYMPIA ALL BY REPUBLICANS, SO WE'RE COUNTING ON SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ON MANY ISSUES FOR LD2!

Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo courtesy of Guustaaf Damave

"Chilly weather is one reason to curl up in a warm blanket and read through a pile of good books.

Timberland Regional Library is offering another great reason the 12th annual Adult Winter Reading program.

Running from Friday, Jan. 2 to Saturday, March 14, the program provides an opportunity to participate in an easy-going community activity and to win prizes.

Begin by reading five books or listening to five audio books on Jan. 2.

Good reading materials are offered at www.TRL.org and from Yelm Timberland librarians.

Fill out a form for each five books completed and turn it in at the local Timberland library by March 14.

When prizes are drawn Friday, March 20 at TRL headquarters in Tumwater, participants may receive a call that an overnight getaway at a resort or a book-and-beverage basket is theirs.

Libraries will award additional prizes locally at various times during the program. Businesses and Friends of the Library groups have donated all of the prizes.

Participants must be 18 or older and have a current Timberland library card," quoting the NVN.

YELM LIBRARY JANUARY, 2009 ACTIVITIES OF NOTE
- Games, Unplugged Teen Program
- Yelm Anime Club Teen Program
- Guitar Hero Teen Program-
- Page Turners Book Discussion
and more!

Check-out all of the Yelm Library events.
CLICK HERE
then the month on the right column, then check Yelm under the LOCATIONS box on the left.

SUPPORT OUR LOCAL LIBRARY -- THE KEYS TO KNOWLEDGE !

The Nisqually Valley News published on December 19th a story about the Final Thurston Highlands Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) released on November 24th
[Ed. Note: What took the local newspaper so long to publish this important story?]:

"Final EIS for the Highlands issued by City of Yelm
The City of Yelm Community Development Department issued the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community."

"The City of Yelm Community Development Department issued the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Thurston Highlands Master Planned Community.

The final statement addresses all comments submitted during the review period.

Many of the comments addressed the length of the document.

People, including JZ Knight’s attorney Keith Moxon, felt the document was too long.

The text of the draft EIS is 331 pages, including tables, excluding figures.

Chapter Three is 154 pages and summarizes approximately 1,200 pages of separate technical reports.

[Ed. Note: Yes, many comments were about the length of the document. Why even the City of Yelm Planning Commission Chair Carlos Perez wrote to Community Director Grant Beck and said in reference to the exceedingly long document, "'By those rules [State of Washington's Administrative Code, WAC] the Thurston Highlands DEIS is not in compliance."]

'Several methods could have been used to achieve a shorter document; for example, using a smaller font, narrower margins, no subheading structure in the impact analysis or mitigation measure sections, and more cross-referencing to the technical reports,' the city countered.

'The city felt those methods would have made the draft EIS more difficult to read.'

'No one wants to have to continually flip back and forth while reading,' Community Development Director Grant Beck said.

[Ed. Note: Shorter document? Difficult to read?? Oh, come on, Mr. Beck! Beck says, 'No one wants to have to continually flip back and forth while reading,' Grant, please spare the public such an embarrassing response from a City official! You and your colleagues at City Hall chose to not follow State regulations regarding this matter, to which even your own Planning Commissioner Chair wrote in the NVN, covered here previously.]

Other comments asked for additional time to review the document.

The standard review period is 30 days from the document’s release date.

The review period was set for 45 days.

Additional comments from Moxon addressed the document’s clarity and thoroughness.

'It should be noted that, almost without exception, the (Moxon) comments that follow below request additional information and analysis in the draft EIS that would have further increased its size, not reduced the volume,' the city countered.

The primary purpose of the EIS is to provide an impartial discussion of significant environmental impacts, and reasonable alternatives and mitigation measures that avoid or minimize adverse environmental impacts.

[Ed. Note: Yes, that is true, however AFTER responding to public issues raised during the Draft EIS process; public Draft EIS comments in this case that were denied a response from the City of Yelm prior to the Final EIS, covered here on August 28th.]

The final EIS will be used by decision makers, along with other regulations and policies, in taking action on the proposed master planned community," quoting the NVN.

[Ed. Note: I hope the community speaks up and lets the City know public input during this process was flagrantly disregarded, as stated in SEPA & the WAC. And, for such an outrageous lack of respect for the public by Mr. Beck's ridiculous comments in the NVN!]

Additionally, the NVN omitted extensive reports from and the City's response to Olympia engineer Ed Wiltsie and 25-plus year veteran ecologist Bill Hashim, experts in their respective fields. They each wrote on a whole host of issues submitted in response to the Draft EIS. And, there were comments from/to the other 50 people who took the time and energy to write the City.

View all of Final Thurston EIS info: CLICK HERE
then scroll down and click: Thurston Highlands Final EIS.

AND FINALLY, A THURSTON HIGHLANDS 5,000 HOME DEVELOPMENT IS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY, WITH A RECENT SUPERIOR COURT RULING AND THE STATE'S DEPT. OF ECOLOGY TESTIMONY THAT THE CITY OF YELM DOES NOT POSSESS ENOUGH WATER RIGHTS TO SUPPORT THE NEW CONSTRUCTION PERMITS THEY HAVE ISSUED TO DATE, AND/OR ANY NEW ADDITIONAL PERMITS.

UPDATE December 30, 2008
Another blow to a Highlands-type development are these headlines in recent days:

- Housing Starts Fall Through the Floor
The sharp fall in construction means that builders can no longer get credit.
From the Center for Economic and Policy Research

-Home prices tumble record 18 percent
Closely watched index falls by sharpest annual rate on record in Oct.
From the AP.

"Joe Lambrix of Olympia is building an electric vehicle infrastructure in the South Sound, one 120-volt plug-in at a time.
The founder of the nonprofit group Plug In Olympia is motivated on several fronts.

On the personal level, Lambrix, wife Kathy and daughter Sarah, drive two all-electric vehicles, so it helps to have places around town to recharge the car batteries when they’re commuting to work or running errands.

Since forming Plug In Olympia in May 2007, Lambrix has persuaded about 10 businesses, four state agencies, Intercity Transit and the City of Lacey to install electric plug-in stations in their parking lots. Some of the state agency sites are for state employees only, but most of the sites are open to anyone who needs an energy boost for their electric vehicles.

But the Lambrixes’ passion for electric sockets in parking lots runs deeper than personal convenience. It’s the family’s way of promoting increased ownership and use of electric vehicles, which, in turn, reduces the nation’s dependency on foreign oil and curbs greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

'We want to build a national infrastructure,' said Lambrix, 52, an Intercity Transit bus driver. 'Our goal at Plug In Olympia is to go nationwide.'

When it comes to green energy, the Lambrix family walks the talk. About one-third of the electricity used at their home on Olympia’s west side comes from their array of 18 solar panels they installed on their roof in December 2006. They also have a solar-powered hot water heater. They planned to add another six solar panels to the system before the year’s end.

The solar array allows the family to make a claim that few can: They produce the electricity that powers their vehicles.

They bought their first all-electric vehicle in April 2007 – a three-wheeled, shiny blue Zap Zebra that Lambrix uses to commute to work and run errands around town. The vehicle’s range is about 25 miles per charge.

The family added a Miles in June. It’s a four-passenger sedan with a 35- to 45-mile range and top speed of about 35 mph...

The family has about 8,000 miles on their two vehicles at a fuel cost of about a penny per mile, or a total of about $80.

The same mileage in a car averaging 25 miles per gallon of gasoline priced at $3.50 per gallon would have cost the family $1,120.

Lambrix is realistic about the limitations of electric vehicles. The family owns a gasoline-fueled car for longer trips out of town. And he realizes electric cars powered by electricity from coal-fired power plants isn’t a real answer in the battle against global warming. The cost and the need to dispose of electric car batteries are other challenges for electric vehicle supporters.

'But I think technology will solve many of the environmental problems with electric cars,' Lambrix said.

Lambrix said he’s invested more than 1,000 hours and $1,000 of his own money in Plug In Olympia, driven in part by a conviction that the auto industry and politicians have held back the development of the electric vehicle.

'When I think about what’s happened to our environment, and after seeing the movie ‘Who Killed the Electric Car?’ it just burns me up,' Lambrix said.

'My ultimate goal is to meet the president of General Motors, shake his hand and say to him: ‘We’ve built the infrastructure for electric cars, now when are you going to build the electric cars?’'" quoting a story published November 28th in The Olympian.

"PLUGINOLYMPIA.COM A Washington State Registered 501C-3 Not-for-Profit Organization"

ONE DAY, MAYBE YELM WILL HAVE PLUG-IN STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC CARS & BE MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY CONSCIOUS!

This Christmas Guest Entry from last year is timless.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

AN HONEST RECOMMENDATION
A Christmas story by Guustaaf Damave

The light of the of the street lamp barely made it to the ground, so thickly was the snow coming down. At three in the morning the street was empty. A faint bluish glow emerging through the flakes directly above betrayed where the full moon was revealing itself. It was a cold winter's night in 1964, a week or so before the Dutch holiday of Saint-Nicholas. The snow had covered all traces of the day's comings and goings and was quickly covering a fresh track of footsteps leading to a broken window. Inside, the beam of a flashlight moved across the wall, from painting to painting. The thick white carpet outside hushed every sound. Carefully avoiding the sharp glass, the man climbed out of the window with two paintings under each arm and dissolved into the curtain of icy flakes.

I was born in that old town, the son of a fine artist. That year I was eight. I enjoyed going for long walks looking at shop windows, building sites and ships moored on the river Spaarne, on which we lived. The snow made it a little bit harder to get around, but the river and canals being frozen over, more than made up for that. A trip with a note from my mother and a ten guilder bill to the grocery store only took half as long walking over the ice.

For a young child the sight of the full moon on a cold and crispy night stirs the sense of wonder and imagination like nothing else. I had looked at it often and read about it. The idea that the light came from the sun meant that the sun shone at night too! Was there really no one living there on that moon? I wasn't so sure about that. On my many walks through the streets of our nine century old town I frequently included one particular store in my route. In the window there was an instrument of magic and mystery called telescope. If only I could own this. Many of the questions that occupied me could be settled once and for all. I would be able to look at the moon and the stars whenever I would like. My life as I knew it would definitely be over and new and brighter existence would be mine. The telescope... I wiped the fog of my breath off the store window. The price tag was the appropriately astronomical sum of twelve guilders.

In the Netherlands, Saint Nicholas' eve is the primary occasion for gift-giving. Even though it is his birthday being celebrated, Sinterklaas is the one who gives the presents. Children are allowed to express their wishes by putting a note in one of their shoes and putting it near the fire place. I had my own ideas about where exactly these presents came from but I carefully played along with the traditional protocol so as not to interfere with any of its mechanics. I had written down the telescope as the only item on my list and the address of the store that was displaying it in its window. It was a lot to ask for, and I was one of ten children. All the same, if there ever was a chance that this telescope could be mine, this was it.

As the long awaited evening drew closer and the air became thicker with expectation, I made my daily rounds to the store window and imagined everything I would be able to see once I could look through the telescope's eye piece. The glance that my mother gave me however, when I came home, made me think that I had asked for too much and that I would probably have to settle for perhaps a new sweater.

Early that morning they found the broken window and the empty spaces on the wall. It is not hard to guess at the motives of the mysterious man who broke into the museum on that icy cold night so close to gift giving day. More mysterious than his identity was his particular taste in art. Maybe his choices were dictated by the convenient size of certain works or their proximity to the shattered window. Still, there were quite a few works to choose from and the burglar left slushy footsteps throughout the contemporary wing of the Frans Hals Museum.

That afternoon as I got ready to leave to continue my explorations of the snowy landscape the newspaper dropped on the floor inside the front door. It reported the art theft from the museum on the front page. I knew my father would be interested in this and took the paper to him in his studio. He read the article with rapt attention. He looked at me and said that they stole one of his works. He went to the front of the house to tell my mother about it. A burglary in the museum is serious business I thought, but they did not seem particularly distraught.

Over the next few days there were frequent phone calls and visitors interested in purchasing one or more works of this artist whose work was stolen from the museum. The unknown burglar had unwittingly brought abundance to our house. I knew that my chances of having a close-up view of the moon had taken a turn for the better. Saint Nicholas' eve was only two days away now and as I was approaching the store window with the object of my desire and felt pretty sure that indeed it would be mine. But as I came closer I was struck with shock and horror. It was gone! Someone must have bought it. I had to muster all my restraint not to let tears roll down my cheeks. I slowly turned around and walked away. I wandered the cold dark streets in a blur of disappointment. When I came home too late for dinner my mother asked what was the matter. I explained to her that the telescope was gone, the only thing I really wanted. "That's terrible," she said.

When the evening of great expectations arrived the air was charged with excitement. Knowing that I would not get what I really wanted, I was prepared to pretend to be happy with whatever I would get. But when the package with my name on it was pulled out of the large pile I could not believe my eyes. It had a long familiar shape. In a frenzy I ripped off the paper. I was surprised and delighted that I did get the telescope. It had disappeared from the store because it was making its way to me. My father also had his best present ever because there is no more honest recommendation than that of a thief in a hurry.

© 2007 Guustaaf Damave

The author, Guustave Damave

Outgoing Yelm Community Schools Superintendent Alan Burke

"Yelm Community Schools will promote assistant superintendent Andy Wolf to head the district, after superintendent Alan Burke announced his plan to take a state schools job.

Burke, who has been at the district for 18 years, will be in a leadership position in the incoming administration of Randy Dorn, who was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction last month. Burke’s resignation from Yelm is effective Jan. 30.

The Yelm board will decide on Wolf’s contract at a special meeting scheduled for today.

The board picked Wolf without posting the position or considering other candidates.

'We would not turn down Andy Wolf,' said board vice president Ed Sorger. 'We couldn’t find a more committed person. When you’ve got that in your own backyard, why waste taxpayer dollars, when we as a board are elected to make those kinds of decisions? '

Wolf, a graduate of Yelm High School who returned to the Yelm district as a principal at Fort Stevens Elementary School six years ago, credited Burke’s work with the district.

'I have been fortunate enough to have a great mentor,' Wolf said. 'We have a great team out here. He’s put together a great team.'

Burke’s job title with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction is unknown because Dorn and his transition team will reorganize the office, said Dorn’s transition team leader Robert Harkins.

Burke, who has known Dorn for 30 years, said he expects that he will work on matters of instruction, but he does not know whether the future of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning would fall under his supervision.

Dorn is a critic of Washington’s standardized test, saying that the multi-day test needs to be simplified and is unfair. His criticism of the test was a major part of his campaign platform against incumbent state Superintendent Terry Bergeson.

Burke said that he “absolutely” agrees with Dorn about the WASL," quoting the December 22nd Olympian.

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG WISHES ALAN BURKE WELL IN HIS NEW ENDEAVORS AND SAYS ALL OF THE BEST TO ANDY WOLF IN HIS NEW POST!

UPDATE
From the NVN of December 26th:
"State budget cuts will hurt schools
Yelm facing staff layoffs"

Former LD District 2 Rep. Candidate JeanMarie Christenson with Gov. Chris Gregoire

"As newly-elected officials prepare to take office, candidates who weren’t elected are scrambling to cover campaign debts.

The Committee to Elect JeanMarie Christenson held an online auction last week to help pay the remaining debt from her campaign.

Proceeds went to cover campaign expenses incurred during the campaign.

On Dec. 10, Christenson posted a debt of $1,802.11 to the Public Disclosure Commission, or PDC.

That debt is listed as a loan to herself.

Candidates who weren’t elected have until Wednesday, Dec. 31 to take in contributions, PDC officials said...

Thirty-two items were up for auction, donated by individuals and local businesses. Items included a lime green color scheme gift basket valued at $45, a hand-made quilt valued at $800, a gourmet soy candle valued at $18, Shaklee Basics Essential Vita Strips valued at $45 and an evening of storytelling and song valued at $150.

Christenson’s 2008 campaign raised more than $19,000," quoting the NVN.

See the complete auction list: CLICK HERE

CONGRATULATIONS TO MS. CHRISTENSON FOR HER WILLINGNESS TO SERVE THE PUBLIC IN RUNNING FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE TWICE. THAT IS NO SMALL TASK!

Will of the Wind Logo

Everyone loves a wind chime and you can get yours locally from Will of the Wind, based right here in the Nisqually Valley - Rainier.

Checkout their weathervane specials: CLICK HERE.

Banners
Flags
Kites
Weathervanes
Wind Chimes
Wind Socks

"From hand-tuned melodious wind chimes to high flying colorful kites, our goal at Will of the Wind is to provide decorative wind things for your home, garden and leisure time of which you can be proud and that will bring beauty and delight for years to come."

Telephone: 1-800.937.4619

TELL WILL OF THE WIND YOU HEARD ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Winter Solstice
"In astronomy, the solstice is either of the two times a year when the Sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator, the great circle on the celestial sphere that is on the same plane as the earth's equator. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs either December 21 or 22, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Capricorn; the summer solstice occurs either June 20 or 21, when the sun shines directly over the tropic of Cancer. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter and summer solstices are reversed.

Longest Night of the Year
The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. The sun appears at its lowest point in the sky, and its noontime elevation appears to be the same for several days before and after the solstice. Hence the origin of the word solstice, which comes from Latin solstitium, from sol, “sun” and -stitium, “a stoppage.” Following the winter solstice, the days begin to grow longer and the nights shorter,"
quoting InfoPlease.com.

"Sun., Dec. 21, 2008, 7:04 AM EST (12:04 UT), marks the solstice—the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere"

WINTER ARRIVED IN YELM AT 4:04AM THIS MORNING ALONG WITH A WEEK OF WINTER SNOW STORMS!

The National Weather Service has issued a major snow event alert for this area with damaging winds beginning this afternoon, followed by 2-4'' of additional snow on top of the already-accumulated 4" of snow here and ice on top of that by Sunday morning.
The ice will potentially cause many tree limbs and power lines to break, so this morning would be a time to stock-up on supplies, in case you cannot get out or lose power for the next few days.
CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL REPORT.
CLICK HERE for the latest official Yelm area forecast.

Dear friends and patrons of the former Sebastian’s Best,

We’ve missed you! We hope this holiday season finds you well and happy. We’ve been bustling around settling into our new environments: Elena is in preschool, Amy is teaching Kindergarten, and Sebastian has been interviewing for Pastry Chef positions.

Even though we don’t have a retail location, we’ve been getting many requests for bread and holiday pastries. While we’re not equipped to produce a large variety of items, we’ve decided to provide once a week bread ordering dates in January.

Here are the details:

- Each Monday in January (the 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th), Sebastian will make as many as 26 loaves of Bavarian Bread (our Spelt Sourdough recipe) depending on demand. Get us your orders to us by the Friday before, so we can purchase ingredients. Please specify sliced or unsliced.

All of these items ship beautifully, and of course, we are happy to ship them for you if you so desire. A handling fee of $3 will be added to any items you’d like us to ship. The shipping charge itself will depend on the size and destination of your order—we’ll calculate this for you and let you know before final processing.

Pick up location for all baked goods is our home in Rainier—we will create a special pick-up point on our porch, complete with self-serve drop box for your payment. This will be an unmanned station (just like they do it in Sebastian’s village), so please be sure to bring correct change, pens to write you checks, etc.) If you or someone you know would like to host a similar unmanned station in your neighborhood, let us know—we would be happy to provide free goodies in exchange.

You can always reach us at: 360 292/5497 E-Mail: admin@sebastiansbest.com

Happy Holidays!

Sebastian Amy and Elena

TELL SEBASTIAN'S YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

December 21st:
Late breaking fruitcake news!

Unmanned fruitcake and nut tort stand now operating at Gordon’s Garden Center! This stand will stay through January, as we test our Bavarian Bread Tuesday sales at the same location. Thank you Kellie Petersen and Gordon’s staff for you kind support of our business, and for providing our customers with easy pick-up near the old bakery location! (A snow fairy told me that Gordon’s staff even cut up some fruitcake and tort in little bits for passersby to eat and enjoy.)

Gordon’s is open:

Tuesdays through Saturdays 10:00 - 5:30

Sundays 10:00 – 5:00.
They will also be open this Monday the 22nd.

Gordon’s phone number is: 360 458-2481

If you are leaving a check, please make it payable to Sebastian and Amy Schefer. You can also leave cash in our little envelopes there. (Instructions on-site)

As we previously shared, the Walnut Caramel Tort is selling for $36 for a 10” tort—last we checked there were some partial torts still available. Fruitcake is $17.25 per pound—Sebastian portioned different sizes and gift wrapped them. Both the Fruitcake and the Tort keep for extended periods (fruitcake, as you probably know, keeps almost forever, and walnut caramel torte keeps nicely for 6 weeks unrefrigerated)...

Mayor Harding, Community Relations Director Teixeira & Community Development Director Grant Beck have answered no emails from this writer in recent months.

That's fine, for if there was an urgency, the city would have received a Freedom of Information request (FOIA) from me, which they would HAVE to address by law.

In any event, more kudos to the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) for picking up on a Yelm Community Blog story and getting an answer concerning the Wal-Mart connector between Yelm Highway and 103rd Avenue, covered here extensively on November 23, 2008 & May 24, 2008:

"The only thing keeping Wal-Mart from building a connector to 103rd Avenue is a permit from the state Department of Transportation.

A stipulation for approving the superstore was that the connector had to be built 18 months after right-of-way was purchased, Yelm Community Development Director Grant Beck said.

The right-of-way acquisition was completed July 2007...

Once the Yelm Loop is constructed, the connector will be ripped out and replaced to become part of the bypass. [Ed. Note: That is years into the future, as covered here previously, because the Bypass construction funding is tenuous, at best.]

'It’s just a city street for now,' Beck said.

The only thing stopping them is a permit to get onto the property.

Beck said he contacted WSDOT Sept. 4, but still hasn’t heard from them...

The permit is still being processed, but it should be complete within the next two weeks, said Dale Severson, development services engineer for WSDOT.

'It’s just a matter of getting all the pieces together,' Severson said," quoting the December 5th NVN.

AND ON ANOTHER ISSUE, THE NVN TOOK UP A STORY RECENTLY COVERED FOR YELM COMMUNITY BLOG READERS IN TODAY'S PRINT EDITION WITH THEIR QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
"Do you think acquiring funding for the Yelm Ave. Bypass is an achievable goal in the current economic environment?"
The majority of the responses were not so optimistic.

THANK YOU NISQUALLY VALLEY NEWS FOR COVERING THESE IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ISSUES! AND FOR READING THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG.

THIS FILM SO APTLY DESCRIBES WHAT IS HAPPENING AROUND YELM WITH ALL OF THE DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT IS TO COME IN THE FUTURE BECAUSE OF IT!

"Featuring interviews with Robert Redford, Willie Nelson, the iconic Texas Governor Ann Richards, environmentalist Wendell Berry and many others, THE UNFORESEEN is a powerful meditation on the American dream – on the destruction of the natural world as it falls victim to the cannibalizing forces of unchecked development. It is an intricate tale of personal hopes, victories and failures; and of debates over land, water and the public good," quoting the film's website.

Winner of the 2008 Independent Spirit Award “Truer than Fiction” Prize.

THE CITY OF YELM FILED AN APPEAL IN THE WATER ISSUE CASE BROUGHT BY JZ KNIGHT, AS EXPECTED.
WHAT IS AN APPEALS COURT GOING TO SAY TO THE CITY AFTER THE JUDGE DIRECTED THE CITY TO FOLLOW STATE STATUTES?

Opened at Yelm Cinemas, December 5th, 2008, and extended until Thursday, December 18th due to strong demand.

Check-out YELM CINEMAS for show times.

Yelm-based Intention Media announces the movie FUEL is being shown in limited release in the U. S. now as their current, featured project:

"Most Americans know we’ve got a problem: an addiction to oil that taxes the environment, entangles us in costly foreign policies, and threatens the nation’s long-term stability. But few are informed or empowered enough to do much about it. Enter Josh Tickell, an expert young activist who, driven by his own emotionally charged motives, shuttles us on a revelatory, whirlwind journey to unravel this addiction—from its historical origins to political constructs that support it, to alternatives available now and the steps we can take to change things. Tickell tracks the rising domination of the petrochemical industry—from Rockefeller’s strategy to halt ethanol use in Ford’s first cars to the mysterious death of Rudolph Diesel at the height of his biodiesel engine’s popularization, to our government’s choice to declare war after 9/11, rather than wean the country from fossil fuel. Never minimizing the complexities of ending oil dependence, Tickell uncovers a hopeful reality pointing toward a decentralized, sustainable energy infrastructure—like big rigs tanking up on biofuel at Carl’s Corner Texas truck stop, a new Brooklyn biodiesel plant serving three states, a miraculous Arizona algae-based fuel farm, and the Swedish public voting to be petroleum free by 2020. Sweeping and exhilarating, Tickell’s passionate film goes beyond great storytelling; it rings out like a bell that stirs consciousness and makes individual action suddenly seem consequential.

Josh Tickell, a leading expert on alternative fuels, grew up in Louisiana, where members of his family suffered from diseases linked to pollution from oil refineries. After discovering biodiesel, he earned an MFA in film from Florida State University's School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts to chronicle and vitalize the green-energy movement. He has been working on Fields of Fuel for 10 years. Tickell also authored a controversial companion book, Biodiesel America—How to Achieve Energy Security, Free America from Middle-East Oil Dependence, and Make Money Growing Fuel."

--© Sundance Film Festival

Intention Media is handling the distribution of FUEL, which is headed by filmmaker Betsy Chasse (co-creator of the hit film What the Bleep Do We Know?!) of Yelm.

A REMINDER:
Click here for Yelm Cinemas showtime information.

Yelm Cinemas at Prairie Park
Photo courtesy of Yelm Cinemas' website
&
Yelm's Casa Mia Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant

Proudly announce a winter gift idea:

Gift Certificate
$28 dinner for two and movie for 2

Valid 7 days a week during December, January & February.

Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo courtesy of Guustaaf Damave

KUDOS TO THE NISQUALLY VALLEY NEWS (NVN) FOR KEEPING THE YELM LIBRARY'S FUTURE IN THE PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT!

In the December 12th NVN edition, the Question of the Week is:
"Do you have any concerns about the future of the Yelm library, as its current lease expires in 2012?"

50% are "very concerned" & 25% are "slightly concerned", based on respondents answering an online poll.
That's 75% that has some concern!

This writer raised this very issue in a Letter to the Editor published in the NVN on December 5 saying,

"3. On Nov. 21st, your newspaper quoted Harding on the Yelm Library issue saying,
“Building a new library is not an option, said Mayor Ron Harding.
As the end of the lease draws near, Harding said the city’s options will be released to the public.”

In 2012, Timberland Regional Library no longer splits the library's rent with Yelm and all rental fees will fall to the city. The rent in the current facility will go up with the new lease, resulting in more than a 100% increase in library expenses all borne by the City of Yelm, because it has not committed to a public library building.
Why is the Mayor waiting until near the end of the lease to share the city's options? No public building and a very expensive lease to wait 3 ½ more years with no public input could be too late."

This issue was also thoroughly discussed here on November 26th.

DO YOU WANT THE YELM LIBRARY TO BE A PART OF THE FABRIC OF THIS COMMUNITY BEYOND 2012?

PROWL ON DOWN
Wolf Haven hosts fall fun

National Wolf Awareness Week, the third week in October, is a banner time for Wolf Haven International, a nonprofit wolf sanctuary and conservation organization near Tenino, Wash.

"National Wolf Awareness Week is a time to dispel misconceptions about wolves and to teach about the important role these predators play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. It takes place the 3rd week of October every year. Wolf Awareness Week 2009 will take place October 11-17, 2009," quoting Defenders of Wildlife.

WOLF HAVEN
"We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is "working for wolf conservation" by: protecting our wild wolves; providing sanctuary for captive-born wolves; promoting wolf restoration in historic ranges; and educating the public on the value of all wildlife.

Wolf Haven International
3111 Offut Lake Rd. SE
Tenino, Washington 98589
(800) 448-9653 - phone

DREW HARVEY THEATER FOUNDER RETURNS TO YELM AND CONTRIBUTES TO ARTS SCENE!

"Since the Drew Harvey Theater closed its doors in 2003, many of the people who participated in its productions or sat in the audience have thirsted for the theater experience.

Acting classes have been available in the high schools, but for younger children, the opportunities to act in and help stage productions is limited.

Some of the schools below high school level, however, have put on performances during the year.

Several groups have formed to amp up the opportunities for youths.

The “Improvable Dream,” workshop, begun last November, teaches children how to act improvisationally.

Another program, Theatrical Academy, USA, is also targeted toward youths. Two plays are produced each year, each of them under the direction of Kendra Gebbs.

Gebbs said she started the group after moving to Yelm.

She said she moved here because she wanted her children to be able to participate in productions at the Drew Harvey Theater, which was affectionately called The Drew.

However, the theater closed before they got the chance to step on the stage.

Nancy Hillman, who ran the Drew Harvey Theater and directed most of its plays, is back in Yelm after spending the past two and half years in New York City.

Though many people have asked Hillman when she will restart the Drew or another community theater, Hillman said her plan is to volunteer and assist with theater programs that already exist.

'After 10 years (running The Drew), I just got burned out,' Hillman said.

She is currently volunteering her time to four groups, the Theatrical Academy, USA, Seasoned Readings, Yelm High School’s acting club and Rainier High School’s after school performing arts group.

Hillman said it’s her goal to get these groups together for a combined theatrical recital sometime in the future.

That recital would give each group a chance to demonstrate their skills and show the strength of theater in Yelm and surrounding communities, Hillman said.

Three of the acting groups were established before Hillman returned to Yelm.

Seasoned Readings was started when a group of adults sought out an avenue to perform. It is a group that will perform a series of rehearsed scripts.

Scripts will be held by the actors during a performance, though the actors will have likely memorized their lines.

Props are used in a limited fashion, or not at all, and there is no set.

Hillman, a professionally trained actor with experience on Broadway in New York, said she noticed a growing popularity for these types of plays in the Big Apple.

She said her goal is to raise the standard of art education. Often, she said, schools have limited time and resources to commit to the performing arts.

Hillman said she also prefers to provide a service rather than make a good living.

'When I worked as an organizer, I made a lot of money, but it only really benefits the one person you’re working for,' Hillman said.

'When you work with teachers, they never do it for the money. They do it for the enrichment of the community.'

Hillman said she is working with Rainier High School drama coach Ted Fredericks, and Yelm High School English and drama teacher Anna Garrison.

Both teachers warmly accepted the volunteer help offered by Hillman.

This is the first year at their respective schools that the teachers have taken on the drama programs.

Theater programs are important because they provide life-long lessons for children. Primarily, self-esteem, self-expression and communication skills are built.

'When they study theater, they apply it to everyday life,' Hillman said.," quoting the Nisqually Valley News.

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG WELCOMES BACK THE TALENTS OF NANCY HILLMAN TO YELM AREA ARTS!

"The Nisqually Indian Tribe is helping a local landowner reclaim a stretch of Tanwax Creek for salmon.

Yelm Schools played a role in restoring the creek, volunteering student labor through mid-October.

McKenna Elementary and Fort Stevens Elementary students volunteered two hours each on Oct. 7. Prairie Elementary and Mill Pond Elementary students volunteered two hours each on Oct. 9. Mill Pond and Prairie returned Tuesday, Oct. 14. Yelm High School went out on Oct. 16.

Tribal technicians, volunteers and school groups are clearing a five-acre infestation of reed canary grass along the creek, allowing coho salmon to access important habitat on James Tucker’s property.

The volunteers and school groups are organized by the tribe’s Stream Stewards program, the Nisqually River Education Project and the Pierce Conservation District.

The tribe is using a grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation paired with funds that Tucker is receiving from the Natural Resources Conservation Service to buy and plant native plants that will eventually out-compete the invasive grass.

The lower five miles of Tanwax Creek is infested with reed canary grass that blocks salmon migration and spawning. Imported to the area as cattle feed decades ago, reed canary infestation is a common obstacle for salmon in small streams.

When Tucker bought the property four years ago, he began immediately trying to remove the reed canary grass, but was never able to get a handle on the problem. 'I wanted to try to restore the wetlands down there,' Tucker said...

After initial mowing, volunteers will plant a variety of native trees and shrubs that will eventually prevent the grass from growing back. Tribal employees and volunteers will periodically visit Tucker’s property to check the plants and mow the area if needed.

Coho salmon will especially benefit from increased access to habitat in Tanwax Creek," quoting the NVN.

"The small town of Ithaca, NY decided that the best way to keep money in the community was to start printing their own (legal) currency. 'It's a community spirit - an idea that we're all working to help support each other as a local community solidarity,'" quoting this YouTube video.

This sure would be a creative idea for Yelm and vicinity!

"A new Rainier business aims at nurturing the community’s creativity and bringing beauty to the world.

The Center for Creative Arts was opened more than two weeks ago by Rainier Artist Cari Von Sternberg.

'I was just going to open an art studio,' Von Sternberg said. 'I just kind of got out of the way and it just took off.

'I want this to serve the community in so many ways.'

Von Sternberg now has a lineup of teachers offering a variety of classes each day.

Classes include painting, yoga, stained glass, voice, writing and Tai Chi...

Roberto Mazzarella has taught for more than 50 years.

He will teaches yoga, voice and writing...

Mazzarella believes offering constructive classes will help keep kids out of trouble.

Rick Stillwagon has been teaching Tai Chi for six years and says getting involved in martial arts helped with anger problems.

Stillwagon also said the center could help keep kids out of trouble.

Von Sternberg’s daughter, Aria Reid, is also an artist and will be teaching for the first time.

Reid will be teaching stained glass classes.

Her artwork fills the windows of the center.

In an effort to encourage people to try out their skills, Von Sternberg and Reid will be hosting free classes to new students the week after Thanksgiving.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3 Von Sternberg’s art class will be open to new students who are interested in making a holiday craft.

Reid will host a free class for new students interested in designing their first stained glass piece...

A grand opening celebration is planned for 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12. The celebration will feature a raffle for free classes as well as an art show. Refreshments will be provided.

Friday nights will be reserved for lectures and informal meetings, where people can get together just to chat about what’s new in their lives, or to share a pot luck.

Classes range from $9 to $15 per class.

The Center for the Creative Arts is located at 302 Binghampton [Rainier], in the yellow building just behind Signature Service Real Estate.

For a schedule of classes and registration information, call Cari at 360-458-1311, email cari@fineart9.com or go to www.FineArt9.com," quoting the NVN.

Unresolved Aches & Pains: Back, Neck, Hips or Feet?

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Yelm's City Council Meeting is tonight at 7:30pm.

This month marks the last time the council will meet at 7:30pm.

Council Approves Resolution to Change Meeting Time
"Starting in January 2009, City of Yelm Council Meetings will begin at 7:00 pm in the Council Chambers at the Public Safety Building," quoting the City of Yelm website.

"INTRODUCING PARROTIQUE"

"Of course, a shop named Parrotique specializes in all things parrot.

Specifically, the owners of the business, which recently opened in Yelm, have an interest in large breed parrots.

Hand-raised parrot chicks are the only birds they sell, and the shop carries all of the accessories that a parrot owner could need or want, including items to spoil their feathered friend.

'We kind of pick up on where all the Petco, PetSmart and Wal-Mart stores have been scared out of selling,' said Bob Vincent, store manager.

Due to bad publicity stemming from unethical practices of bird breeding and selling employed by some sellers, Vincent said, chain stores not only stopped selling the birds, but also the supplies.

'So now there’s a plethora of people out there without them (toys),' Vincent said.

'The birds need the toys to chew on and climb on because birds deal with anxiety by chewing.'

Birds can become aggressive toward people or chew themselves up if they don’t have toys to chew on...

Scudder and Vincent work on the breeding program together.

Scudder said she is one of the few licensed large parrot breeders in the state...

The advantage to buying from Parrotique is the wealth of knowledge available to customers.

Scudder and Vincent said they draw on university studies for the best breeding and training techniques. And, when a customer purchases a bird, they work with the pet owner to teach them to care for, and bond with, a parrot.

Usually, the birds are sold as chicks, but Scudder waits until the bird is weaned from hand feeding before allowing them to leave the shop.

As a bird is growing the future owner can visit their bird, learn to handle it properly, obtain feeding advice, learn what cage is best and which accessories to buy.

Though the process makes the pet owner wait, it is important to buy from a licensed breeder because many parrots are endangered species, Vincent said.

For people who already own a parrot, more than just toys are available. Vincent and Scudder sell books and will help answer customers’ questions," quoting the Nisqually Valley News.

Puget Sound Partnership

"The Puget Sound Partnership is a community effort of citizens, governments, tribes, scientists and businesses working together to restore and protect Puget Sound.
Despite its size, Puget Sound is ecologically delicate; and while its symptoms of trouble are not easily visible, they are undeniable and getting worse.

The charge given to the Puget Sound Partnership by Governor Gregoire and the
Legislature is to create a real Action Agenda that turns things around and leads to a healthy Puget Sound.

Our Action Agenda will prioritize cleanup and improvement projects, coordinate federal, state, local, tribal and private resources, and make sure that we are all working cooperatively. We will base decisions on science, focus on actions that have the biggest impact, and hold people and organizations accountable for results.

Our goal is to make Puget Sound healthy again, and create a roadmap for how to get it done. If we work together, we can have both a thriving Puget Sound economy and a clean and healthy Puget Sound ecosystem," quoting the Puget Sound Partnership.

Yelm-based SuperConsciousness Magazine ran a wonderful story on this effort last May. (free subscription required).
CLICK HERE

This unabridged comment to The Olympian echoes the frustration of many about issues in Yelm:

"What happened here? The water issues in the Town of Yelm and unrestrained approvals of commercial and private developments are the real issues. If JZ Knight’s court actions brought that attention and concern forward to more readers and folks in state government authority for the good of the average Yelm citizen, then great. Yelm needs media attention brought upon Yelm City Council addressing these very important issues. We are not being heard here and our concerns are ignored by City Council.

In case I am “labeled” as you are reading, I am not a RSE follower, but merely a very concerned citizen and a Christian in the Yelm community. I am not lead easily by anyone, which would include the church if I felt its message was destructive toward mental and physical safety and welfare of me, my family and others. I have lived in Yelm for over 35 years, witnessing many of the changes here. I welcome growth, progress, and convenience, but mismanaged it is destructive, affecting quality of life and future generations.

Yelm traffic is worst than ever, schools are overcrowded, water problems, more pollution due to more traffic and taxes keep getting higher and higher. The leaders in Yelm are making unintelligent decisions which are negatively affecting those who live here or want to live here in the future. The Mayor and City Council operate with dollar signs behind closed doors, greedily pulling in as much revenue as they can without thought to citizens concerns, quality of life, the small business owner, the children that are attending our overcrowded schools and taught by teachers working more than their share. These are the real issues.

We rarely get real information in the Nisqually Valley News on what Yelm city government is doing or not doing. I’m frankly not interested in more “bashing” news articles. Truth, accountability and credibility in Yelm city government and spending are more important. We all know who JZ Knight is, she has lived here for years, and I don’t need to read about it every week on the front page of the Nisqually Valley News. I am interested in how the City Council will combat the budget crisis, what cutbacks are anticipated, and if and what their solution will be relating to fixing the real issues in the Yelm community. Do they realize many people will not considering moving to Yelm because of Yelm’s reputation and the mess we have here?" quotIng The Olympian comment section.

And submitted to the Yelm Community Blog & the Nisqually Valley News for their December 5th edition:

Dear Mayor Harding:
I read your letter in this column last week. I agree that you treat all citizens of Yelm equally...with equal disdain and lack of caring for our future good. You said, "I have had people urge me to respond to these ads." How many people? I decided to review the letters that were written during the public comment period for Thurston Highlands. I focused on the many names that were unfamiliar to me to see what their opinions were. EVERY letter, sir, had some concern about this project. Be it about water, traffic or depleting our downtown businesses with the proposed commercial district in this area, every citizen who wrote had grave concerns about Thurston Highlands. It is standard to note that each letter represents at least 5 - 8 citizens, as many who have concerns do not take the time to write. That is quite a few people, sir. Still, you and your business partners ignored these questions like parents who think they know better. But we are not your children, sir. We are citizens and, frankly, your employer. So you will take the time to respond to these ads, but not to the people who questioned the project.

Mr. Mayor, I object to your continual use of the phrase "Knight and her handlers." That is quite a sexist statement. From what little I know of Ms. Knight, nobody handles her. Would you call the people who work for you, your "handlers?" Do you assume that a woman is not capable in such matters on her own?
Again, I say thank you to JZ Knight for making the kind of noise that apparently all the rest of us could not make. I thank Judge Wickham for evaluating the case and finding on behalf of the citizens of Yelm.

Finally, regarding, "the time and money spent on this matter," any money that has been spent falls squarely on your shoulders for persisting in this folly. Do not point the finger elsewhere. I do not understand why you and the developers cling so tenaciously to this bad idea. You are the ones spreading propaganda, and it is on behalf of Thurston Highlands. What is in it for you, sir?

Respectfully,
Melody Rae

This writer's Letter to the Editor was published in the NVN on December 5th, as well:

Dear Editor;

Some observations of local news items in recent days:

1.On Nov. 21st your newspaper reported the city will appeal the loss of the water case, "[Mayor] Harding said the city has always proved water at final plat."

If that is true, then why would the city have to appeal the case? The Judge ordered the city to prove water at final plat for the 5 developments at issue, rather than after final plat at the building permit phase, as the city defended in Court?

Mayor Harding said in his Letter to the Editor “the City of Yelm will grant water use at the time of a building permit is issued, with no priority to any individual or organization.” Interesting, despite of the fact the DOE said Yelm does not have adequate water rights to cover what the city has approved to-date.

2. On Nov. 28th, the Mayor’s Letter to the Editor and front-page story said “a full-page ad placed in the Nisqually Valley News by channeler JZ Knight [is] 'standard propaganda.' “

If that is true, then why would Mr. Harding not specify what he believes is "misleading and false."
His answer is the "standard denial" with no substantiation.

3. On Nov. 21st, your newspaper quoted Harding on the Yelm Library issue saying,
“Building a new library is not an option, said Mayor Ron Harding.
As the end of the lease draws near, Harding said the city’s options will be released to the public.”

In 2012, Timberland Regional Library no longer splits the library's rent with Yelm and all rental fees will fall to the city. The rent in the current facility will go up with the new lease, resulting in more than a 100% increase in library expenses all borne by the City of Yelm, because it has not committed to a public library building.
Why is the Mayor waiting until near the end of the lease to share the city's options? No public building and a very expensive lease to wait 3 ½ more years with no public input could be too late.

4. Mr. Harding spoke about the Bypass to the City Council on Tuesday, November 25th saying construction funding will come in early 2009 from unused right-of-way (r-o-w) money and he hoped construction could begin on Phase One in 2009.
The WSDOT site says of r-o-w acquisition:
"The purchase of Right-of-way is underway and will continue through 2011."

- If the r-o-w acquisition is still not completed, how does the city know what, if anything, will be left over to use for construction?
- Regardless of what Mayor Harding is touting, there is no end-run around the legislative process. Governor Gregoire signs the next Transportation Budget prepared by the State Legislature sometimes in the first half of 2009. Until that time arrives, nothing is assured. In the meantime, Harding lost a Bypass champion with the defeat of Senator Marilyn Rasmussen; her influence reinstated the Governor’s veto of gas-tax funding for the Bypass r-o-w in 2008. With the State budget and revenue sources in crisis, everything is in flux. The Wildcard in funding Bypass construction is the possibility of a Federal infrastructure stimulus package in early 2009 from the in-coming Obama Administration. However, the Bypass would be vying for funding with every other unfunded and/or underfunded road project in the state.

5. The Thurston Highlands final EIS was released last week. With Thurston County Commissioner Diane Oberquell stepping down next month and leaving behind a legacy of a major County budget deficit on her watch, her new replacement Sandra Romero is a no-nonsense champion of smart growth, which will certainly impact Yelm’s grow-grow-grow modus-operandi, if the economy doesn’t keep growth here in check already.

6. The City of Yelm 2009-2010 budget hearing is still open until Dec. 9th for public input I told the Council on Nov. 25th that a revenue reduction of the General Fund of 15% is not enough with a contracting economy that has a long way to go before hitting bottom with home prices, home sales, sales tax revenue, building permit starts, home assessments and property taxes all falling through the floor. They should be looking at a 25% reduction or more to protect their ability to provide services in the future to Yelm residents.

These are serious matters that require the Mayor and City Council to be up-front with the taxpayers of Yelm and vicinity as we all navigate increasingly stormy waters.

Steve Klein
Yelm, WA.

"A little history on how All Green carpet Cleaners came to be in Yelm:

In 2005 Dawn was working with Opera Pacifica to open an art exhibit for the Centralia Arts Walk and also preparing for the run of the “Mikado” when a bathtub was left unattended and nearly came through the ceiling along with gallons of water. It was a horrendous mess that Shane, of Crosham Carpet Cleaning, effortlessly cleaned up with the Host System and rescued the Fox Theater from a terrible mold infestation and severe water damage. The team was duly impressed and never forgot this awesome experience. Nor did Dawn forget Shane and they are together today.

While working at Western State Hospital as an administrative assistant for the Director of Adult Services, Dawn realized that their quality of life began to suffer. All though it was a consistent paycheck with all the benefits, the commute, the hours and the daily subjects were long and miserable, the family was unhappy. She wanted to do something that would be healthy for family and the environment.

In January of 2007 Dawn asked Shane to teach her to clean carpets with the Host System. Shane had given up his own business at the beginning of 2006, but they knew it was a business with integrity and believed Yelm was ready to wrap their minds around something different… the “better not wetter” system that is so popular in Seattle, Bellevue and Mercer Island.

The system is an all natural dry cleaning compound and no water is used. Every 50,000 feet of residential carpet that is cleaned by the host system, verses a system that uses water, saves an average of 220,000 gallons of good drinking water.

They took a road trip to Montana to pick up a machine and then spent the next 5 months cleaning antique rugs, carpets and furniture of their family and friends. June 1, 2007 was the official first day of business. The original name was Down Under Carpet Cleaning in honor of Shane; it was too much of an Aussie thing that the general public did not get, so the name was changed to All Green Carpet Cleaners in 2008.

Dawn does the work herself during the week and Shane assists on the weekends while maintaining a full time position at JZ Rose. Business is building slowly on word of mouth and recommendations.

All Green Carpet Cleaners are members of the Northwest Eco-Building Guild

And the only carpet cleaning service in the Green Pages.

This year they are participating in Thurston County’s Waste Free Holidays. They are offering a 20% discount through this program.

They are gifting limited time Holiday special, $159 for the whole house and $99 for campers, trailers and RVs.

Look for them at the Yelm Christmas Parade. They love this community and believe that through participation you gain a right to have an opinion about what happens in it.

“We are in the pursuit of quality life and every bit we do to spread conscious thinking matters.” The business is run as a waste free business; receipts are e-mailed, the cleaning product is composted, quotes are given over the phone to reduce emissions and we use ethanol gas to fuel the van. The machine is powered by electricity and meets all the USDA standards for low VOC’s."

All Green Carpet Cleaners
360-359-1338
allgreen@fairpoint.net
Dawn Young & Shane Hick

TELL ALL GREEN YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

EARTH ARTISANS ONE YEAR ANNIVERARY

In celebration of our first anniversary, Earth Artisans is having a gala party:
Saturday, December 6 from 4:30 to 8:00, (or until...)

The gallery is located at:
325 Sussex Ave. W. Tenino, WA.

We will have "2 Wild Women" exhibiting, both very much "out of the box":
-Tenino native, Cheryl Johnson from Seattle will be exhibiting ceramic masks
and
- Bonnie Meltzer from Portland, with her "very" mixed media art, whimsical, fun (and sometimes politically biting), using found items and recycled corporate discards.

Other local artists with items on display:
Neil Kabor, Lisa Baack, Loralin Toney, Rosalind Berg, Tony Hoss, Agustina Martinez, Yoshimi Aoyama, BJ Lemke, Kevin Schmidt and Pam Cannasax.

We will also have wine and goodies and hopefully live music.

The public is invited!

Elisabeth Schenk
earthartisans@scattercreek.com

TELL EARTH ARTISANS YOU READ ABOUT THEIR 1-YEAR ANNIVERSARY GALA ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Opening at Yelm Cinemas, December 5th, 2008,
a Q & A will follow with Josh Tickell immediately after the screening.

Check-out YELM CINEMAS for show times.

Yelm-based Intention Media announces the movie FUEL is being shown in limited release in the U. S. now as their current, featured project:

"Most Americans know we’ve got a problem: an addiction to oil that taxes the environment, entangles us in costly foreign policies, and threatens the nation’s long-term stability. But few are informed or empowered enough to do much about it. Enter Josh Tickell, an expert young activist who, driven by his own emotionally charged motives, shuttles us on a revelatory, whirlwind journey to unravel this addiction—from its historical origins to political constructs that support it, to alternatives available now and the steps we can take to change things. Tickell tracks the rising domination of the petrochemical industry—from Rockefeller’s strategy to halt ethanol use in Ford’s first cars to the mysterious death of Rudolph Diesel at the height of his biodiesel engine’s popularization, to our government’s choice to declare war after 9/11, rather than wean the country from fossil fuel. Never minimizing the complexities of ending oil dependence, Tickell uncovers a hopeful reality pointing toward a decentralized, sustainable energy infrastructure—like big rigs tanking up on biofuel at Carl’s Corner Texas truck stop, a new Brooklyn biodiesel plant serving three states, a miraculous Arizona algae-based fuel farm, and the Swedish public voting to be petroleum free by 2020. Sweeping and exhilarating, Tickell’s passionate film goes beyond great storytelling; it rings out like a bell that stirs consciousness and makes individual action suddenly seem consequential.

Josh Tickell, a leading expert on alternative fuels, grew up in Louisiana, where members of his family suffered from diseases linked to pollution from oil refineries. After discovering biodiesel, he earned an MFA in film from Florida State University's School of Motion Picture, Television, and Recording Arts to chronicle and vitalize the green-energy movement. He has been working on Fields of Fuel for 10 years. Tickell also authored a controversial companion book, Biodiesel America—How to Achieve Energy Security, Free America from Middle-East Oil Dependence, and Make Money Growing Fuel."

--© Sundance Film Festival

Intention Media is handling the distribution of FUEL, which is headed by filmmaker Betsy Chasse (co-creator of the hit film What the Bleep Do We Know?!) of Yelm.

Council Approves Resolution to Eliminate Dog License Fee
"The City of Yelm has eliminated the fee when obtaining registration tags for your pet dog.
You must still register your dog, but you will not be charged a fee," quoting the City of Yelm website.

City of Yelm dropped License Fee
as reported in the NVN.

Kudos to the Yelm Animal Alliance whose formation and work in 2008 have brought forth issues facing Yelm on animal control, forcing the City of Yelm to make some changes to the way they had been doing business.
"Business as usual" is not the way it is with the city's animal control policies, largely thanks to Yelm Animal Alliance bringing education and awareness to the Mayor, City Council and City's Maintenance Department.
See these rescued dogs, who are now in happy homes.

WITH MORE ANIMALS BEING ABANDONED BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC TIMES, YAA IS NOW MORE VITAL THAN EVER!

TELL YELM ANIMAL ALLIANCE YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Click here for Yelm Cinemas showtime information.

Yelm Cinemas at Prairie Park
Photo courtesy of Yelm Cinemas' website
&
Yelm's Casa Mia Italian Pizzeria & Restaurant

Proudly announce a winter gift idea:

Gift Certificate
$28 dinner for two and movie for 2

Valid 7 days a week during December, January & February.

Also, Yelm Cinemas will be giving away a Wii for Christmas. To join the contest people need to bring in food to the Theater for the Yelm food bank. Each item of food counts as an entry for the Wii giveaway!

BUY YOURS AT YELM'S CASE MIA RESTAURANT AND TELL THEM YOU READ ABOUT THIS ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG?