Yelm Issues: May 2007 Archives

Thurston County Commissioner Candidate Sandra Romero
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Romero

"Sandra Romero, candidate for Thurston County Commissioner (District 2), will be available to meet with voters at a Meet and Greet gathering at the historic Grange Hall in Yelm on June 6, from 7:00pm to 9:00 pm.

The event will provide opportunities for Sandra to hear about citizens’ concerns and for the community to get to know her and her qualifications for the post.

County Commissioners are the chief executives of the county and the legislative body of the county, and are charged with providing rural area services, such as roads, public safety and public health. They are also charged with regional responsibilities such as managing growth in a sensible manner.

Sandra Romero is a former State Representative who served the Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater areas for 12 years. While in the Legislature, she chaired the House Local Government Committee, was a leader in improving building codes and public contracting methods and worked extensively to ease the effects of extensive growth on our magnificent area.

As a member of the House Capital Budget Committee she helped secure funding for the award-winning Yelm sewer facility. As a member of the House Transportation Committee, she helped secure funding for the Yelm Bypass project and for the I-5 overpass of the regional Chehalis Western Trail which connects with south Thurston County regional trails.

Sandra and her husband, Fred, live in Lacey. They have two grown children. Their daughter Zoë works in the cruise ship industry. Their son Noel recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard, lives in Olympia with his wife and two young children, and works in information technology in state government," quoting Mrs. Romero's Press Release.

This Meet and Greet is co-sponsored by Jean Marie Christenson and Stephen Klein [host of this blog].

The City of Yelm website states,
"The Planning Commission consists of seven members, appointed by the Mayor of the City, subject to confirmation by the City Council."

This writer and his wife attended the May 22 Yelm City Council Meeting and had read Mayor Harding's appointment letter for Peggy Wolf Kennedy posted on the City website. While we applaud Mrs. Kennedy and feel she will make a fine addition to the Planning Commission, we were surpirsed at no mention of the names of the other two candidates, nor not one question raised from any Council member as to who they were and why Mrs. Kennedy was selected by Mayor Harding over the others.

Further, I contacted two Planning Commission members to request all of the names of the candidates.
I was told they did not know the names as the opening and candidates were never discussed with the Planning Commission.

This is very curious.

This writer wrote to the Planning Dept. asking for the candidates' names & have received no reply a full week later.
HMMM!

This writer received an email from the city's assistant planner today indicating she was away, hence the delay in responding.
Ms. Merriman stated she "researched the public records regulations to determine if the names of persons applying for boards and commissions were confidential, such as those applying for employment," adding "the importance of protection of personal information."

They are not.

Further, pusuant to my public record request under the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 42.56, the two names of the other candidates for the Planning Commission vacancy were Carole Christian, and Patricia Noffsinger.

Tacoma Power's Nisqually River Project
Photo from Tacoma Power's website

"Tacoma Power began generating electricity on the Nisqually River over 90 years ago. The original LaGrande Dam, completed in 1912, was replaced in 1945 with Alder Dam and the new LaGrande Dam. The Nisqually River Project is now Tacoma Power's second-largest hydroelectric resource, generating nearly 600 million kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to serve nearly 43,000 Northwest homes.

Alder Dam forms the 3,000-acre Alder Lake. The Alder Lake Recreation Area is ideal for boating, fishing, swimming and camping. Tacoma Power provides several top-quality recreational facilities at Alder Lake...

A popular community service at the Nisqually Hydroelectric Project is free group tours. Tours are available for school, civic, business and recreational groups during regular working hours by appointment. To make arrangements for a tour, call Tacoma Power at 253-502-8759."

Area residents Linda McCallum & Fred Lomax
Photo courtesy of ClassyCustom.com

Introducing
"Classy Custom, incorporated in 2004, is introducing a new category in Pet Doors, The Classy Custom Pet Portal™, where exceptional improvements in utility, are combined with decorative styles for the home.

Our decorative frames are easily applied to our Pet Door, making the Pet Portal™, with it's complimenting line of accessories, an exciting new trend for people who love their pets and their homes.

Frederick Lomax and Linda McCallum, husband and wife, live in the Pacific Northwest with their two huge Anatolian Shepherd dogs, Strider and Zoe.

Classy Custom was initially inspired by a small favor asked by long time friend Linda Evans. She asked Fred if he would help her install a pet door for her cat. He of course agreed," quoting Classy Custom's website.

CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES TO LINDA & FRED!

This letter was submitted to the Nisqually Valley News for publication and is reprinted here with permission of the autho, unabridged in any way:

To the Editor:
When I got a new job early in 2006 and had to move away from my adopted hometown [Yelm], I kept up on the happenings in and around Yelm through friends, the Internet, and the Nisqually Valley News.
Moving to the land outside of Chicago, IL, I felt almost as if I had stepped from one frying pan’s fire into another. The rumors and history of cronyism and corruption around here are legendary.

But my faith in the system was unexpectedly restored.
Last Saturday, May 5, I picked up one of the local papers here, the Daily Herald. The headline: “NOT WELCOME HERE” over a picture of a woman holding a “NO WAL-MART” sign. Being in a hurry for other things that day, I only read the first few paragraphs of the story on page 1. Here’s how it started:
“It began with a certified letter.
“The village of North Aurora wrote to tell Valerie Shoger the property next door to hers was being rezoned from “agricultural to B-2 PUD.”
“She was curious – and confused...
“A few days later, a neighbor knocked on the door and showed Shoger a headline answering her question: Wal-Mart.”
I read a few more paragraphs that day. When I finally got to the rest of the story on Wednesday (May 9), I discovered there was a vote by the village board scheduled for Monday, May 7.
With that date already passed, and expecting the worst from my experience in Yelm, I called Mrs. Shoger to offer my assistance in whatever way I could, to help keep Wal-Mart from moving in. After a couple of minutes of general discussion, learning that the certified letter had arrived this past March, and relating my Yelm experience, I volunteered to help.
“Haven’t you read the papers?” she asked.
“No, just Saturday’s,” I replied.
“We won!”

After we finished talking, I picked up Wednesday’s Kane County Chronicle. Still on the front page, “Wal-Mart evaluates next move” was the headline, with “North Aurora trustees reject it after protests” as the sub-head.
According to the story, “Trustees voted, 5-1, against the proposed annexation and zoning for a 203,819-square-foot Supercenter on 28 acres...A full-service grocery store would have been part of the store.”
Wow! Who would have thought? The people who were elected to represent the will of the people actually did just that!
Even though Wal-Mart had done its homework – Mrs. Shoger said they wouldn’t even do their final presentation (two hours’ worth that night) unless the board was ready to vote – the Village trustees decided not to be swayed. They looked at the whole picture and saw better ways to use that land than for Wal-Mart.
My hat goes off to those trustees for their decision.

Would that the elected officials of Yelm had the courage to listen to their constituents and take a stand.

Perhaps this is also part of the difference between these two situations:
Yelm officials are the Councilmembers, whereas the North Aurora officials are Trustees. As such, they are entrusted by the community to act for their greater good. The Yelm Councilmembers act on behalf of the City, and it seems as though that may or may not include the people that live there.

I would ask the elected officials of my adopted hometown to keep the community’s trust by acting not just to increase the size of the coffers, but to use the funds that arrive there righteously.
The system can work. It’s up to the people to be sure it does.
Mrs. Shoger has assured me that she will now be attending the Trustees’ meeting every Monday evening.

The people of Yelm, Rainier, Tenino, and Roy can do the same. Yelm, Rainier, and Tenino meet the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month; Roy meets the second and fourth Mondays.

If you don’t like the way your elected officials are doing things, get yourself elected in their place. This year, Yelm has four council seats available, Rainier has three, Tenino has three plus Mayor, and Roy has three.
Filing week runs from June 4 through 8, though you can file by mail as early as May 18.

We have the greatest country with the best system available – we just get to make it work right.

James Zukowski

PO Box 252
St. Charles, Illinois
work: (630) 444-7619
home: (630) 377-1629
jimz@spso.net

Yelm's Wal-Mart is expected to open in July.

Area resident Bettye Johnson
Photo courtesy of Mrs. Johnson

Yelm Prairie Arts Association presents

Yelm Art Walk’s
A LITERARY AFTERNOON

Saturday, May 26 from 3 – 5 p.m.

Blue Bottle – Yelm

Facilitated by Bettye Johnson,

founder, Writers Night Out Forum and the
award-winning author of Secrets of the Magdalene Scrolls

Area authors/writers/poets participating in this Literary Afternoon with readings from their books or soon-to-be published books, writings and poetry:

Suzanne Fairbrother, Ph.D., author of Finding the Goddess Within, soon-to-be-released.

John Glennie, author of The Spirit of Rose Noelle, and Playboys of the South Pacific, soon-to-be-released.

Bertha Rainen, author of No Excuses: My Plea for World Peace

Reni Storm and Bettye Johnson will read a story created by their combined efforts.

Fanny Dell Hendricks, poet

Question and Answers to follow presentations.

Art of Yoshimi Aoyama
Photo courtesy of Yukiko Aoyama

This writer is so pleased to announce the work from the mind of a beautiful woman from Japan who visits Yelm often.

Greetings!

My mother, Yoshimi Aoyama is taking part in the Yelm Arts Walk as an
artist at two Yelm businesses this week; Gordon's Garden Center and
Sebastian's Best Fine European Pastries. When you have time, please see
her beautiful art. Art Walk Week is till May 27, Sunday. (Sebastian's
Pastries is closed on Sunday)

Smile,

Yuki Aoyama

The Washington State Patrol has targeted Yelm in a seat-belt initiative.
This writer and his wife saw 4 WSP patrol cars lined up next to Quizno's in Yelm Tuesday evening.
Asking Officer Holthaus what was going on, he said the WSP received a State Grant and is patrolling certain
State roads, issuing citations for those not wearing seatbelts. The infraction is $112.

State Hwys. 507& 510 pass through Yelm and the WSP is out issuing tickets.

Click it or ticket.

Beware!

Yelm area resident Midnightblue Auld
Photo courtesy of Joe Lambert

Area resident Midnightblue Auld, Miss Thurston County’s Outstanding Teen 2007 is a candidate for Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen 2007,
competing May 26th-27th. This is a scholarship pageant and is the teen version of the Miss Washington and Miss America pageants.

Miss Auld states in her resume,
Why I should be Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen 2007: I should be Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen 2007 because I am eager to take on the leadership role and I see it as an opportunity to give of myself to others. I have the leadership, drive and communication skills necessary and am a good role model for today’s teens. My many leadership skills will afford me the opportunity to create awareness of the difference empowering women would make. The slogan “She has the power to change the world – you have the power to help her do it!” should be known by all. I am confident that I will be one heck of an outstanding teen.

Midnightblue's platform is as follows:
Empowering Women through Care.org
(Answer the following three questions)
Clearly define the Platform Issue to which you are sincerely committed and for
which you will be an activist during your year of service as Miss Washington’s
Outstanding Teen.

My Platform Issue is empowering women through Care.org. I will bring awareness to the fact that women have the ability to create lasting change in their communities and the world. I will advocate that we help meet the needs of less fortunate people around the world by helping women help themselves.

What, if any, are your most significant accomplishments to date concerning
your platform issue?

I have received a “Power Pack” from Care.org to help me to educate others with brochures and videos. I have also started talking to others about the talent show I hope to put on in my community.

Specifically, what do you wish to accomplish during your year of service as an
activist for your platform at the local and state levels?

During my year of service, one of my main goals is to organize a talent show in my community with all the proceeds going to Care.org. This will not only help financially, but it will also expose others to Care.org and will hopefully help me in getting people interested in supporting in other ways. I would also like to become a volunteer with CARE Corps Online and start my own web page to let others know about CARE’s live-saving work. Another thing I would like to accomplish is running a promotional booth during Yelm’s Prairie Days Weekend.

As Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen, how would you promote and market your
Platform Issue?

As Miss Washington’s Outstanding Teen I would like to promote my platform through public speaking and passing on Care.org’s message through brochures and videos. In the fall of 2007 when I am a full time college student I will have the opportunity to start my own club on this issue.

CONGRATULATIONS Midnightblue and best wishes in your next test!

So many of us remember that sweet little girl in her cute dresses giving the exit announcments at the Drew Harvey Theater. We are so proud of the lady you have grown into...

"The Yelm History Project is an attempt to relate the story of Yelm in a variety of ways. It is, actually, many stories. It is a story about the prairie, the surrounding forests, and the Nisqually River; all in the morning shadow of Ta Co Bet; Mt. Rainer. It is also the saga of the Nisqually people, who inhabited the land, shaped the environment, and spread throughout the region. The Yelm History Project, finally, relates the history of the people who settled the prairie, farmed the soil, and logged the forests."

Back by Popular Demand.
Yelm's Survival Center is offering Two Preparedness Classes scheduled for May 22 or 26, 2007.

They have plans for an in-depth 3 day intensive Medical Training Seminar. Conducted by a very experienced Medical Corpsman, a Nurse, and a Dentist. This class is to train us to be able to handle minor medical emergencies when we will not have access to normal medical facilities for extended periods of time.

Combat/Field Medicine School prepares civilians, with or without medical background.
Including but not limited to first aid, minor surgery, bone setting and casting, dental care and potential extraction.

Open to All

The school is open to all, regardless of knowledge, experience, or skill level.
No prior medical experience or knowledge is required.
The school is a must for families preparing to be on their own for extended periods of time, first responders and especially for travelers. This is hands on at its best.

What You'll Learn:
· how to disinfect serious wounds in the field
· how to suture wounds under mass casualty field
conditions,
· how to set broken bones
· how to protect yourself from nuclear, biological, and
chemical agents
· how to perform minor emergency surgery,
· mass casualty triage techniques
· shock and trauma management, and much more.

The Survival Center
Providers of Family Preparedness, Health, & Survival Supplies
1-360-458-6778
10-6 M-F PT

What - Preparedness Classes -- Three Instructors

When - May 22, 2007 7 pm and May 26, 2007 1 pm

Where - The Survival Center 19223 Cook Rd. McKenna Wa 98558 (1-360-458-6778 )

Cost per class: $20.00 includes a copy of the class Text book "Basic Preparedness" (a $20.00 value), handouts, Q & A section, Children's Section, plus snacks and samples. (if you already have a copy of "Basic Preparedness" bring it along and the fee is only $10.00.)

Space is limited so get your tickets now! (1-360-458-6778 )

In further news from The Survival Center:
The Survival Center Completes Emergency Preparedness Demonstration for Washington State DOT

OLYMPIA, Wa. May 16, 2007 - The Survival Center's Emergency Preparedness Training
Division completed a one day demonstration at the Tumwater, Washington Department of Transportation facility.

Demonstrations included the new solar powered flashlights, radios and hand crank cell phone chargers. The New Life Saver NOAA Weather Alert System for home and office was well received. The famous Mountain House Freeze Dried food with up to 30 year shelf life was an instant hit.

The Survival Center's newly designed variety of 3 day plus emergency kits helped many to see how well prepared they were. Most everyone liked to squeeze the New Soft Squeeze Hand Operated LED flashlight, one of the kit items.

"It is encouraging to see that the state of Washington is interested in its employees being prepared. In today's ever changing world Being Prepared takes on a whole new meaning," said "Uncle Richard" General Manager of The Survival Center.

Cell Phone Tower
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

Here are my observations of the interactions between the Clearwood Assn. members and their Board at their meeting today.
[Ed. Note: This writer was invited as the guest of one of the Clearwood property owners.]

1. Clearwood Assn. Board President Ron Smith stated up front that the NVN front page story about them being
offered a "boatload of money" was untrue, that the Board has not been contacted by any cell tower company.

The remark was a direct quote of this Blog writer from April 25:
[Ed. Note: Why on Earth these owners would want their pristine environment in which they invested invaded by a cell phone tower is beyond me. Is the loss of their protected community's culture worth the so-called convenience of cell phones ringing by the lake or on summer walks - not to mention the frequencies affecting all around?
Ignorance IS bliss! Is some multi-national company throwing a boatload of money at the Clearwood Assn. that this even gets on the docket? With all of the homes in Clearwood with land line phones, the argument about safety just does not hold water, IMHO. ]

All I did was ask a question which had not been answered publicly prior to today.

2. The Board was read their Clearwood Assn. newsletter about the process for agreeing to a cell tower in Clearwood. Mr. Smith acknowledged the Newsletter was incorrect about the process for cell tower contact. The process is as follows:
The Clearwood members will vote to allow/not allow the Board to contact cell providers & solicit their interest.
If they vote allowing contact to move forward, then the next vote will be to permit a company and tower site.

3. One of the members brought up the the tax exempt status granted the Clearwood Community by Thurston County and stated her understanding is that if a corporate/for profit entity is allowed in the community, the community would lose its tax exempt & non-profit status. Mr. Smith answered by saying the community would have to pay taxes, yet the non-profit status would remain on some things. He stated their financial adviser had looked into this issue.
[Ed. Note: This lady brought up a very good point and the answers by Mr. Smith were far from reassuring. Were I a member, I would request another independent financial consultant and/or lawyer be hired to examine all sides of a cell tower placement vs. Clearwood's tax exempt/non-profit status.].

4. Based on some of the comments by the members, many do not know the differences between cell tower microwave frequencies, radio waves, RFID, wi-fi and broadcast frequencies in general. A TV operates on a different frequency than a microwave, yet the 2 were compared as being safe. One lady spoke of the safety of microwave ovens in the home, yet failed to mention these are lead shielded even in the glass door, all microwave ovens suggest the user is a certain distance away when in use and an oven is a small percentage of the microwave frequency intensity of a cell tower.

5. The emotional tug "safety issue" about a having a cell phone in case a car goes into the Lake or a hiker trips and breaks his arm was mentioned by 2 members. However, no one mentioned the further endangerment of drivers driving down an already-dangrerous Bald Hills Rd. and using cell phones as a safety issue. HMMM!
Further, many companies offer a radio-signal-based pager that has operated safely for +40 years, as an alternative.

6. Were I a Clearwood Assn. member, I would want answered why and who gave the Board the authority to make preemptive contact with an engineer about a cell tower there, without a vote by the members. I would want to check the by-laws about the Board doing that. Perhaps that is perfectly within the by-laws to do. However, this observer found that the Board contacting an engineer on placement of a cell tower plus contacting a financial consultant on the affects of a cell tower to the Community's tax exempt status WITHOUT PRIOR member authorization, was clearly something that needs to be addressed.

7. One property owner asked if the Clearwood Assn. Board would be considering the affects of a cell tower on property owners outside of & adjacent Clearwood, noting that cell tower frequencies know no fence boundary. She was told a resounding NO by Board President Smith, adding that the Board's responsibility was only to what occurred within Clearwood boundaries.
[Ed. Note: That is a very myopic and short-sighted stand that COULD invite trouble for the Clearwood Assn., since a cell tower placed on a Clearwood perimeter would affect property values and potentially cause all of the same affects for neighbor's land directly adjacent. This could leave the Assn. open to future litigation about cell tower affects on neighbors land, costing the members legal expenses, etc. This would be wise for the Board to consider
before saying NO outright to consideration of Clearwood neighbors' concerns. Were I am member, I would want this considered.]

8. I would say there were about 100 people there and by a show of hands, the group was about 60% for, and 40% against a cell tower. While this is a small representation of the stated 3,000 residents, those that oppose the tower will have an uphill battle I must say. The lack of knowledge by many members about the harmful effects of microwave radiation emitted by cell towers coupled with the tug of emotion about having cellphone transmissions for safety will cause a cell tower to be voted in. Once that happens and the members agree on contacting a company, it's all over because the boatload of money offered will be portrayed as handling all of Clearwood's financial issues, many of which were described today and are numerous, indeed.
And, there WILL be a boatload of money once contact is made. All of this regardless that one member says he receives cellphone transmissions from his provider at Clearwood already - the nearest tower at Five Corners in Yelm.

Ben Franklin said:
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

The Clearwood society is to vote about giving up it's liberty from the frequencies, "white noise", health affects, lower property values, etc., etc., etc. to gain what it perceives as a little security just to make a cell phone from this place. They moved to Clearwood to get away from the city, its frequencies, and noise and to be out in the quiet of Mother Nature. There is enough evidence that the towers will displace bees, birds and other animals away from the tower.
Enjoy the eagles while you can.
Soon, they will be replaced by phone conversations on your hiking trails, cell phones ringing by the lake, and more cell companies tripping all over themselves to rent space on the approved company's Clearwood cell tower.

If you would like to share your views with the Clearwood Assn. Board, Connie Sheehan maintains the Clearwood Community Association website.
Her email address is: ConnieS@ywave.com

Added on May 22,
I encourage all of the 3,000 Clearwood Assn. members to gather all of the knowledge they can, educate themselves on all sides of the issue and make a decision for themselves and most importantly, to mail in their ballot and vote. I have endeavored to provide points for discussion and information in this and the May 14 & April 25 entries.

Author Jean Handley & Yelm Timberland Regional Librarian Kristin Blalack
Photo by Yelm community blog host Steve Klein

"For many years I have enjoyed gazing above my head when local quilters displayed their creations in the library. Months ago I asked Kristin Blalack, a librarian, when the next show would be. She explained that she didn’t have the time to coordinate such an effort. She asked me if I did. I volunteered.

So did Yoshi Tokita-Schroder who brought her mother-in-law Dorothy Schroder’s hand sewn pieces and Margie Carputo a member of our local Prairie Points Quilt Guild. Respondents came from a little article in the Nisqually Valley News and word of mouth spread. I filled in the blanks with my own quilts and we were ready.

A quilt is constructed of two layers of fabric, solid or patchwork with a batting as loft that is stitched through all layers in an appealing pattern. Examples of quilting have been found in Egyptian tombs; used by knights to protect their bodies from armor; worn by Catholic priests during Henry VIII’s reign to disguise their official garments in order to say Mass in private homes; hung from clotheslines to direct runaway slaves to the North; and utilized by soldiers of the Civil War who took them to serve as bedding and in some cases, their casket.

In the United States early on, quilts were made of linen, wool and silk and used whole as most busy households had no time for creativity. Wealthy women on the East Coast had time and access to a variety of colors, usually imported, to play with. With the advent of the Singer sewing machine, time was freed up, cotton was becoming available and dyes had become more varied.

Patchwork quilts were all the rage. At the end of World War II interest waned as women stayed in the workforce and bought manufactured goods. With the Bicentennial came a resurgence of our heritage and quilts were part of that. Fabric designers, stores, guilds, galleries and museums all blossomed with this new wave.

Today, men, women and children participate in quilting. Whole cloth of all kinds, patchwork, collage, bedding, wearables and more all belong to the expanding art and skill of the quilt. This spirit is carried on display in the Yelm Timberland Library through the month of May."

Jean Handley
Yelm, WA.

Yelm Timberland Regional Library
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

The Yelm Timberland Regional Library announces:

RACOGALU: Bohemian Music Concert (for adults and families)
Professional musicians interpret the folk and classical traditions of Bohemian music, performing songs and melodies that could be heard over a century ago in settlers’ homes. Light refreshments will be served. This free public event is part of Timberland Regional Library’s program series, “The Big Read: Timberland Reads Together, My Ántonia.” Sponsored in part by the Friends of the Yelm Library.

May 18
Friday
5-6 p.m.
Yelm Timberland Library

Then, head over to the:
World Music Drum and Song Circle
Friday, May 18, 2007
7-9 p.m.
Yelm Middle School Commons
Experience rhythms, instruments and songs from Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean with Geoff Johns.

Join cross-cultural percussionist and singer Geoff Johns for an evening of rhythm and song. Bring your drums and voices and join in the fun. Geoff will demonstrate, educate and perform on a variety of drums and percussion instruments, plus facilitate audience participation in drum-circles and sing-alongs. No experience necessary. All ages welcome.

Learn more about Geoff.
Sponsored by: Washington State Arts Commission.

So folks can come get their feet tapping to Bohemian music, grab a bite to eat and then head on to drum the evening away!

Return of the Popular Apple Strudel Class
with Chef Sebastian of Sebastian’s Best Bakery
105 East Yelm Avenue

It’s Apfelstrudel time!

Class includes ingredients, our Swiss family strudel recipe, coffee and tea, and your own strudel to take home ready for baking!

Friday May 18th, or Friday June 1st at 7:00pm

$34 per person or $60 per couple (people under 14 free)

The class is approximately 2 ½ hours long.

Please bring;

Rolling Pin

Cookie Sheet

Apple Peeler

Knife to cut the apples

Apron

360-458-9313

Each month a new class, a new taste!

Representative Tom Campbell
Photo from Representative Campbell's official website

Rep. Tom Campbell will be holding a Town Hall Meeting in Yelm

Saturday, May 19
10:00am until 11:30am
Yelm City Hall

And later that day:
12:00noon - 1:00pm
Roy City Hall

Mr. Campbell has been a champion of many issues for his district, covered here in recent months.
Join him for what is sure to be an informative session.

Yesterday's 85 degrees recorded at Olympia Regional Airport tied the record high for the date set in 1958.

Yelm Prairie Arts Assn. Logo
Photo courtesy of Yelm Prairie Arts Assn. website

"Yelm's annual Art Walk Week is really more than a week long and starts
May 15 with a celebration of the arts at Fort Stevens Elementary and a
live Mexican music performance at the Yelm library.

A grant from ACT 6, Yelm Art Consortia, funds a variety of programs in
the schools and community. Since school began last fall,
Artists-in-Residence have quietly been teaching, assisting, and
demonstrating techniques to help buttress arts education in the community.
quoting the NVN.

ACT 6 website

Yelm Prairie Arts Association website

No Cell Phone Tower
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

The Clearwood Association office has advised that the installation of a cell phone tower in the community was the only topic up for discussion at the May 19th meeting. Only members can make a comment at this session.

However, the proximity of a cell tower and its affects to others' properties not in the community cannot be overlooked.
Therefore, I asked for area resident Bioengineer and former Radiation Health Physicist Carroll Cobbs to share his experience in the context of a cell tower discussion in Clearwood next week.
Here is his report:

In 1996, the Clinton administration signed into federal law the Telecommunications Act, which essentially forbids denying cell tower placement on the basis of potential health effects. This was due to the strong lobbying efforts of the Cellular Telephone Industry Association (CTIA) despite a (still) growing body of evidence showing bioeffects at frequencies and intensity levels in the cell phone range. One of the key remaining researchers working to prove that low-level microwaves have deleterious effects is Dr. Henry Lai, an associate of mine at the University of Washington. Despite Henry's and my testimony and adoption of "The Cobbs Protocol" - my very restrictive test plan for cell providers - in San Juan County, the Washington State agency for radiological health (for whom I later briefly worked) has adopted the federal position, so there is now no legal or legislative challenge which can be mounted.
...Blake Levitt and Henry Lai came to speak here several years ago [in Yelm to the students at Ramtha's School of Enlightenment in association with Mr. Cobbs]. They remain two of the last voices in this country against cell tower proliferation. Recently in the news is growing speculation that cell towers (which operate to transmit signals from tower to tower at more powerful intensity levels and different frequencies than cell phone handsets) are the cause of dramatic changes in migratory patterns of birds and may damage bees and other creatures which navigate using geomagnetic signals. The effects on evergreens has been long established in Germany, but not reported here.
Given all that, the most effective remaining strategy has been to claim a reduction in surrounding property values, for which you need a petition signed by your neighbors, constituting a majority. This would be presented at the "Proposed Land Use" hearing, which is mandatory in Washington State before construction begins. But first, you need to find out whose property the tower will be sited upon, and how much Verizon or Sprint or whoever will pay for this site use, usually monthly.
The lack of cell phone reception in Clearwood is well known, and my guess is that the residents would likely vote to allow it. Propose that during the feasibility study period that only sites in the most remote and least populated areas of Clearwood be considered and never on or near any residences, facilities areas (Clearwood service buildings) or community buildings or areas. The cell tower building companies will of course prefer areas with easy access, but since Clearwood would be approaching them, a caveat for remote siting could be included in the proposal.
One thing that should be investigated is asking how many companies will likely want to "co-locate" antennas on the proposed tower. What this means is typically, the radiation field intensities quoted by cell companies are based on minimum configurations of antennas on the tower. However, once a tower is constructed, say primarily for Verizon users, the other companies serving the area (Sprint, Cingular, etc.) will want to "co-locate" or also place their antennas on the new tower so that their subscribers will also be served. The Telecommunications Act allows them to do this under "equal access" provisions, and they typically pay a lease fee to the tower owner for this privilege. This is what happened in Yelm: the original tower is now loaded with other companies' antennas, multiplying the field emissions many fold, but no one is measuring field effects any more, and even this unmeasured increase is allowed by the Telecom Act of 1996. [And, this tower is by an elementary school and no one knows the long term effects on these developing children's brains being exposed daily to such frequencies from all of those cell service providers!]
Arguing for bioeffects is still not allowed however, so even this argument may not be enough to force remotely siting the tower.

For more information, read Blake Levitt's books:
Electromagnetic Fields: A Consumer's Guide to The Issues and How to Protect Ourselves which is her first book and is an excellent primer on the subject

Cell Towers: Wireless Convenience or Environmental Hazard? Proceedings of the "Cell Towers Forum" State of The Science/State of The Law
for which Blake was Editor. This latter book contains websites, names, addresses and my test protocol which may assist you.

Contact for
Blake Levitt through her publisher
Harcourt, Brace & Company
525 B Street
San Diego, CA 92101
or Ms. Levitt's email: Blakelevit@cs.com

Contact for
Professor Henry Lai
Department of Bioengineering
University of Washington
Box 355061
William H. Foege Building, Room N251A
Phone: 206-543-1071
Fax: 206-685-3925
E-mail: hlai@u.washington.edu

Carroll Adam Cobbs, M.S., Bioengineer and former Radiation Health Physicist".
Mr. Cobbs can be contacted via email at fermione@fairpoint.net.

Mr. Cobbs formerly worked as Radiation Health Physicist for the University of Washington while completing his Master's in Bioengineering, and later briefly for the WA State Department of Radiological Health.
Currently, he is working on a Ph.D. in Psychology at Saybrook Graduate School and Research Center. The foci of his doctoral studies at Saybrook are Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) and Transpersonal Psychology as utilized in spiritual and physical healing processes.

"Arbor Day is a nationally-celebrated observance that encourages tree planting and care.

Founded by J. Sterling Morton in Nebraska in 1872, National Arbor Day is celebrated each year on the last Friday in April.

Yelm is having this town's Arbor Day celebration from 11am until noon Friday, May 11 in Yelm Park.
Washington State's Arbor Day is the second Wednesday in April.

The National Arbor Day Foundation has published a new hardiness zone map

The National Arbor Day Foundation has published a new hardiness zone map, based on climate data from the past 15 years, that clearly shows the warming trend across the country," quoting the National Arbor Day Foundation website.

City of Yelm street scene
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

1. The City Council voted in Resolution 472 updating the city's annexation policy in response to a citizen's request for residential annexation last month that was denied, while the city approved a commercial development saying the residential request did not have quite enough water rights, yet the commerically zoned area would use much less water.
HMMM!
Let's see;
The city accepts an application from Thurston Highlands for a major development WITHOUT proof of adequate water and denies a lady who owns a small parcel and requested annexation because she is short just a tad on water rights.
Has anyone asked city officals on the record why they continue to accept applications for commercial and large residential developments when water in town is uncertain?
How can the city approve a "Starbucks, AutoZone, Anytime Fitness, Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell, Desert Sun Tanning, and a teriyaki shop" all on the corner of Creek St & Yelm Highway "on a site plan for the 4-acre site that will ultimately house 34,000 square feet of retail space in four buildings," quoting the NVN and say these businesses use less water than a residential annexation request down the street?
Seems like the city is in a "cya" mode with Resolution 472 since their public explanations to the lady denying her annexation request were totally inadequate and everyone in the council chambers got to observe that.
I don't get it.
DO YOU?
Or, is there something else going on here?

2. The city council was told tonight that the 510 Loop has had an additional $12 million moved forward to secure right of way. The WA DOT says, "The Right of Way Plan was approved December 7, 2006, and right of way acquisition continues. Of approximately 100 properties needed for the project, 13 parcels have been acquired, 10 parcels are currently in negotiation, and 14 are being appraised. An additional $8 million was advanced in January 2007 from future biennium to acquire right of way from willing sellers this biennium.
NEPA re-evaluation is in progress and is expected to be completed by the end of December 2007."

Be sure to check out the chart of the "Planned vs. Actual Expenditures" on this project -- what an eye-opener!

3. The City Council was told tonight that the city was not successful in obtaining state funding for a rail line upgrade on the Yelm owned track. The city will appeal to the Federal government for funding. The council agreed to move this issue to a mid-summer study session to review suggestions for getting rail line funding.
Please see my comments on this subject, scroll to April 12's entry.
HMMM! What about dealing with the city's traffic mess, as the Loop is barely 40% funded and years away!
With all of the commercial & large residential developments coming, Yelm is going to need more traffic relief and soon.

4. The city council was told tonight that the Steven's St. extension will be completed by September 1.
The city has been asked by this writer about the potential traffic bottle neck at Edwards & Yelm Ave. West from added Stevens St. traffic. The city responded they feel there will be none. School busses clog that intersection now in the mornings without the added Stevens St. flow. Stay tuned as another light or traffic circle may be warranted there, and soon!

5. City job postings:
- The City of Yelm is looking for a water plant operator.
- The City of Yelm is seeking a Government and Community Relations Coordinator who plays an essential support role in providing key assistance to the Mayor and City Administrator. This position is responsible for coordinating and developing the City’s response on emergent public policy, legislative, community, and/or intergovernmental issues as assigned. Work is performed under general administrative direction from the City Administrator with initiative, discretion, and independent judgment in the performance of duties based on extensive knowledge of City policies, procedures and operations.
$46,800 to $55,896 annual salary

6. Construction has begun on the new Public Safety Building. This new municipal building will be home to the Police and Court Departments as well as be host to City Council meetings and various City functions. The $3M project was funded through “A” rated bonds. The expected completion date is March, 2008.

Bloomline Band
Photo courtesy of Bloomline Band

Local area Bloomline Band making healdines with newly recorded album:

"jon baroni: piano, vocals, perspective

tom keeslar: drums, percussion, agave meister

st_robert: geetars, bass, some keys and vocals, byte slave

the self-titled album "bloomline" tells of a journey from small town simplicity through the trappings of urban life and suburban dischord, culminating in a social breakdown and finally a realization of what is personally important in life.

the entire cd was recorded over the course of 8 months, which sounds like a lot until you consider all the time that was wasted talking about window treatments and waxing poetic about the good ol' days when a person could just walk round without a cell phone. drums were tracked at jon's and tom's houses, with most of the vocals and guitar tracking happening at the solitary confinement main room."

Sunday, May 20
"Bloomline" CD Release Party Local band featuring indie pop and rock influenced by The Police,
Peter Gabriel and others will perform at Yelm's Bar Cinco. Open to the public. 2 - 6 pm.

The Nisqually Valley News reported on this band last month.

City of Yelm welcome sign
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

Yelm will celebrate Arbor Day on May 11 at Yelm City Park from 11am until noon.
The National Arbor Day Foundation recognized Yelm for 10 years as a Tree City USA.

The City of Yelm Tree Advisory Board holds a fundraiser for the Adopt-A-Tree program and the Memorial Tree Program annually.
Click the hotlink above, then Citizen Committees, then Tree Advisory Board for more information.

Quoting the City's website:
"City of Yelm Tree Advisory Board Mission Statement

The Yelm Tree Board is empowered to:

Contribute to and maintain a comprehensive community tree management program for the care and establishment of trees on public property;
Promote proper tree maintenance;
Advocate no net loss of the community’s urban forestry canopy;
Make recommendations to the City Council concerning ordinances, rules, and regulations that pertain to trees on public and private property that best serve the interest of the community;
Obtain public testimony and/or input as deemed necessary;
Promote public education about trees;
Develop innovative and joint funding for an urban forestry program from a variety of sources.
Current Yelm Tree Advisory Board members are:
Kristin Blalack
Victoria Blazjewski
Glen Cunningham
John Graver
Rich Martin
Tim Peterson
Rick Roberts

Kevin McFarland, City Forester
Tami Merriman, Assistant Planner"

Yelm Food Co-op Logo
Photo from Yelm Food Co-op website

Yelm Co-op opened its doors Saturday, April 28.

Yelm Co-op Vice President stated on opening day,
"We had many new people coming to shop and as a result our membership rolls increased by nearly 10% in the first two days. Members receive a 10% discount off regular retail prices. Regular lifetime memberships are $135.00, seniors and low-income family memberships are $75.

We offer a wide range of natural and organic grocery, dairy, eggs and health and beauty products. We also have frozen and chilled products from organic meats to non-dairy desserts. We will be adding locally grown produce and fruits as they become available.

We are located at 1st Ave S and Mosman in the mini mall adjacent to the City Park. Hours of operation are Tues- Sat from 10am-7pm and Sunday from 10am-5pm.

We still need volunteers to work in the store in every position from cashier to shelve stocker to store manager. All volunteers get an additional 10% off all purchases after having worked at least 10 hours in a month and will have first shot at paid positions when they become available.

Finally, Yelm area residents won't have to make the long trek to Olympia to meet many of their natural product needs."

For more information on the store,
contact Tom Dewell at 894-8151

New memberships welcome.

Yelm Co-op Mission Statement

"Our mission is a consumer cooperative that serves our membership and our community by making available reasonably priced, high quality whole foods and other basic goods.

Our buying policies incorporate good nutrition, respect for the environment and support of sustainable local agriculture and production.

We support a workable democracy that fosters opportunities for participation, empowerment and growth in an environment of mutual respect and cooperation.

We will act as a socially responsible business operating in a manner that is fair and equitable to its members, and the community."

City of Yelm welcome sign
Photo courtesy of Yelm-based photographer Guustaaf Damave

The 2007 Yelm Sping Cleanup is this Saturday, May 5 from 8am until 11am or until all containers are filled.
Residents without transportation; Senior citizens & the disabled may arrange pickup service by calling City Hall by May 4th for arrangements. All City of Yelm Residential Garbage customers invited to participate.

Location: Yelm City Park
Permit is required and were mailed to all City addressees.
If you did not get one, please contact City Hall at 458-3244.

If you miss this up day, Thurston County has a similar program twice yearly called, "Community Recycle Days."
This is a self-haul option. The Spring 2007 events will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on:

Saturday, May 12, at South Sound Speedway
Saturday, May 19, at Thurston County Fairgrounds
Visit the Thurston County Wasteline
for more detailed information, or call WasteLine at (360) 786-5494.

LeMay Garbage and Recycling

Further,

The Olympian reports,
"The Thurston County Commission will have a public hearing at 6 p.m. May 7 to accept public comment on the limited areas of more intensive rural development, or LAMIRD, project and long-term agricultural lands designation criteria project.

The public hearing will be at the Thurston County Fairgrounds Expo Center, 3054 Carpenter Road S.E. An open house will precede the hearing at 5:15. Written comments may be submitted in lieu of testimony to Thurston County Development Services, Attn. Katie Knight, until the close of the public hearing. The LAMIRD and agricultural lands designation criteria proposals are at www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/GMA/index.htm and the Thurston County Permit Assistance Center."

"Area comic book shops and libraries will mark Free Comic Book Day on Saturday with giveaways.

Comic book stores worldwide will give comic books to customers as a way to support mainstream and independent comics publishers. Comics from publishers including DC, Marvel, Image and Dark Horse will be available.

Several branches of the Timberland Regional Library will give away comics, offer snacks and show children and teens their comic book and graphic novel collections.

• Yelm Timberland Library, 210 Prairie Park St., also will participate from 3 to 5 p.m. May 11. The event will include an anime movie.

For more information, go to www.freecomicbookday.com," quoting The Olympian.

FOOTBALL AS A METAPHOR FOR OUR LIFE

The game of football can be seen as our own life.
There is a ball, a coach, an opposing Team and your own team members.

Then there is a goal line.
If this game is our life,
then the goal line must be the end of our lives.

So what is going on in this game?

We could see it this way:
First the players (us) suit up.
The principle item in this equipment is a very strong helmet.
First and foremost we are protecting our brain.
In this game of life, how do we protect our brains as if it is the most important part of our physicality?

(1) We see that it gets prime nutrients for optimum operation.
(2) We do not take in any substance that would kill our brain cells.
(3) We are now aware we are responsible for the development of our
own intellect. Hence we use the brain to house the best knowledge
out there, according to our interests. With this fully operational
brain, we are now ready to play the game of life.

We have a coach who has a plan on how to reach the goal line with
the ball intact. We believe he can take us into the playoffs, he is
that good! When the opposition gets tough, he regroups us with a
plan to overcome that. This coach can be seen as our accumulated
knowledge and experience.

We have a ball, (made, by the way, of a once living substance)
and we hold this ball close to our chest. There is a ball of energy and
light in our chest area. We call it our soul and its job is to
record our life. We give attention to this soul so as to arrive at
the end of our life with the best recording possible.

What are our team players?
They are not so much other people, though that could factor in there.
Let's call them our intellect, our senses, our intuition (often called our sixth sense).
Perhaps too, our inspiration, what inspires us to greatness, to reach the goal
line unencumbered with only the ball held close to our Chest.

We are aware there are foul lines where we have been sidetracked
into doing things that will not get us to the goal line in the best
condition. But we do have a conscious that gets us back on track.

And what of the opposing team? They are our attitudes; doubt, fear,
guilt, lack are a few of these. But getting back up, resilience is
an important part of this game of life. We have been taught well by
our coach (knowledge and experience) and, we carry on, hopefully
unerringly.

When we retire these opposing attitudes we are no longer burdened by
the onslaught of that opposing team, and we reach the end of our
life with a great celebration of our accomplishments, with a
ticker-tape parade in our honor.

This game of life has been worth the great effort we have put into it.

There have even been times when we had that rare opportunity to kick
the ball, that is to say, to take a quantum leap forward!
To a great life, well lived.!

Delores Crowell
Ms. Crowell resides in Yelm, Washington
and is a student in Ramtha's School of Enlightenment