Yelm Issues: November 2007 Archives

Maia, Adam & Bellaluna of Clean Freaks Carpet Care

Local award-winning entrepreneurs and marketers Adam and Maia Dealan-de host a FREE MARKETING SEMINAR, Wednesday, December 5th at the Prairie Hotel.

"We recently had the opportunity to participate in a live (via satellite) question and answer session with billionaire president of Virgin Airlines, Sir Richard Branson. With over 700 business owners in attendance Sir Richard didn’t end up addressing the question we submitted, but he did share inspiring and thought provoking stories and insights about wealth, service and that moment of opportunity.

Sir Richard got our minds whirring with his story about the birth of Virgin Airlines. Before he had the audacity to take on behemoth British Airways he was simply a record executive who got stuck in Costa Rica when a small local airline dropped the ball, stranding Sir Richard and hundreds of others in a small island airport. Thinking outside the box in that brief moment of opportunity, Sir Richard did the math and realized that if he chartered a plane and filled the seats at $39 a pop he and his wife could fly off the island for free, and even make a small profit. He wrote the price on a piece of cardboard, walked around the airport holding it high and soon filled a charter plane.

After that success he called Boeing to find out what the cost would be to rent a used plane… once they realized he wasn’t a crank call (!) they worked out a one-year trial lease program and Virgin Airlines was born. Sir Richard’s billions, his charity Virgin United!, his visionary space tourism program Virgin Galactic and wildly fun and free lifestyle evolved from this seized opportunity and we thought…

Wow! We Want That…

Our session with Sir Richard was part of a long quest to get serious about studying marketing and money-making. We’ve owned and operated three businesses in the Yelm area over the past nine years. We’ve put in a lot of hours and followed a lot of the “wisdom” in our various industries, but still we wanted…

More Wealth And Freedom!

We started picking the brains of the most successful people we could get in touch with and put into practice wealth strategies learned from live seminars and one-on-one discussions with multi-millionaire and bestselling author of Body-For-LIFE, Bill Phillips, marketing guru Joe Polish, 22 year-old millionaire-entrepreneur Cameron Johnson (who made his first million while still in High School!), and lifestyle wizard and bestselling author of The 4-Hour Work Week, Tim Ferriss, among many many others. We have flown all over the country and invested tens of thousands of dollars to find out what really works.

In 2007 it all came together for us in our current business as…

We Doubled Our Profits!

And had record sales every month of the year, all while taking an extra day off every week (…and several vacations!). In November we were chosen one of 10 Finalists for a National Spokesperson position and a 2007 Chevy Corvette in our industry’s “Better Your Best” Contest in front of over 700 business owners (profiled in The Olympian 11/28/07).

Before we found out how to run a profitable, fun business we often felt…

Burnt Out… Maxed Out… And Ready To Snap!

We worked long hours and did great work, but never seemed to make the money or have the freedom that we wanted. We’ve had employees, and we’ve done the work ourselves. We’ve tried “brick and mortar” businesses, service businesses and multi-level marketing, but no matter what we tried we often felt stressed as we worked late into the night, sometimes seven days a week!

(Maybe you can relate.)

Several of our friends and local business owners have been in the same position and we’ve been unofficially coaching, brainstorming and sharing what we’ve learned with like-minded people wanting a change. Finally, we decided to “go big” and offer some of what we’ve learned and the strategies that have worked for us at a…

FREE Marketing Seminar!

If you have any questions or to pre-register, please give us a call toll free 1-800-894-4840 or visit www.lifewealthtraining.com. Please come (and bring a friend!) on Wednesday, December 5th at 7:00 PM at the Prairie Hotel Conference Room. The cost is FREE, and we hope that investing an evening with us will help you move on the path to transforming your own dreams into reality!"

Maia and Adam Dealan-de,
Founders of LifeWealth Marketing And Business Training

CONGRATULATIONS GOES TO CLEAN FREAKS CARPET CARE AS OUTLINED BY THE OLYMPIAN
"The Dealan-des this month were honored in a competition with 75 other carpet-cleaning companies nationwide that compared marketing plans and customer-relations strategies. The Dealan-des' presentation was judged among the 10 best in a contest run by a Tempe, Ariz.-based marketing firm that counsels carpet-cleaning businesses. The consultant, Joe Polish, began his career as a carpet cleaner," quoting The Olympian in this November 28th story.

WON'T YOU TELL CLEAN FREAKS CARPET CARE YOU HEARD ABOUT THEIR AWARD-WINNING SERVICE ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG?

Thursday, November 29
Tom Keeslar & Robert Stanley (original Bloomline band member)
are back with "unplugged" versions of their original ska/ rock-styled songs. 8pm

Saturday, December 1
Live People ~ Rock. 9pm

Saturday, December 8
Paul Rodriguez performs heartfelt Americana acoustic rock & blues. 9pm

RediCab is available to take you home in style after an evening at Bar Cinco. Serving Thurston, Pierce, King and Lewis Counties.
360 400-TAXI (8294).

Notable Notes
• Overflow parking available at the dental arts building next door
• Tuesday thru Friday - Happy Hour from opening till 6pm - $1 discount on all Bar Cinco Specialty Drinks and 50¢ discount on all beers
• Tuesdays - 25% off on all bottles of wine. Try a special wine at a discount
• Free Internet Access
• Gift Certificates Available

BAR CINCO
704 Yelm Ave. W • Yelm, WA • 360-400-9000

PLEASE TELL THE BAR CINCO STAFF YOU READ ABOUT THEM IN THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Honeybees are mysteriously disappearing around the globe. What can you do as an individual, to contribute to the return of the honeybees?
The most obvious answer is: get started with beekeeping. Create a home for one or more colonies of honeybees and care for them.
How is this done?
A class on “How to get started with beekeeping” will provide you with answers to the questions you have. You will be able to see and touch all the materials you need, and you will learn which locations are best suited to have bees. After attending the class you will know from where to order a package of live bees to get started next spring and where you can get more education.
A small honey tasting contest lets you sharpen your senses for your own future honey flow.
The class is given by Thomas Mani on Saturday December 1st, 2007
11am to 1pm
at Gordon’s Grange in Yelm (white building beside Gordon’s Gift Shop)
Cost: $10
Please sign up for the class by email at tmani@fairpoint.net

PLEASE TELL MR. MANI YOU READ ABOUT HIS CLASS IN THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG.

YELM 2008 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING TONIGHT
"A Public Hearing will be held for the 2008 Budget at the November 27, 2007 Council Meeting tonight. The Public Hearing is expected to be continued to the December 11, 2007 Council Meeting," quoting the City of Yelm website.

[Ed. Note: Does anyone care? Will anyone attend besides city staffers, the NVN, the Yelm Community Blog & a few others?]

YELM GETS MONEY FOR ROAD PROJECT
"Three local cities (Lacey, Tenino & Yelm) received funding for road projects from the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board...

A grant for $550,000 was given to Yelm to widen the road and build sidewalks on Coates Avenue N.W. This project provides an extension of a downtown bypass route, removing local traffic from the state highway. The grant brings the total board investment in the Stevens Drive corridor to more than $2 million," quoting The Olympian.

YELM MAYOR CALLS PEOPLE WHO COMMENT ON TRAFFIC ISSUES HERE "ANTI-GROWTH;"
COUNTY OFFICIALS CALL YELM'S UNBRIDLED GROWTH "IRRESPONSIBLE"


Mayor Ron Harding Photo from City of Yelm website

Yelm Mayor Ron Harding said in his monthly column in the Nisqually Valley News on November 23, 2007
titled "Stopping Growth is No Solution"
"Anti-growth critics are quick to use traffic issues, water and the environment as means to try to prevent growth within our city.
Setting limits to city improvements is not the answer to managing growth effectively and protecting resources. Preventing growth doesn't eliminate the effects of growth around us.
Stopping growth means foregoing improvements to our community. More importantly, it would halt the rapid improvements taking place for our transportation system."

[Ed. Note: I have never heard one person say to the city they are anti-growth. There have been many people, myself included, that told the city more modest, controlled growth is the better option, to protect our environment and resources. Further, many have said to take the course of unlimited growth as this Mayor and City Council have done is "irresponsible." That was not my word, rather the word used by the Thurston County Planning Commission about the City of Yelm approving so much development without providing proper highway infrastructure first to support such explosive vehicular traffic. The Thurston County Planning Commission's comments were shrugged aside by the City's Staff Report saying they did not understand the issues here. Hogwash! This is not some uneducated group of people, rather a Planning Commission that deals with issues in the much larger cities of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater. Their questions and comments reflected a group of engaged and informed people that had more of a grasp of what is going on in Yelm than does some of this city's officials.]

Graham Fire and Rescue prepares for major emergencies
Reprinted with permission of the Eatonville Dispatch
by reporter Bruce Smith

While radio stations remind us daily to “Prepare Three Ways for Three Days,” Fire Chief Reggie Romines and Assistant Chief Gray Franz announced this week that Graham Fire and Rescue has joined forces with dozens of other agencies throughout Pierce County to prepare for major winter storms, and also for what some officials are calling, “Our Katrina.”

The “Our Katrina” scenario is described by Sheri Badger, Vulnerable Populations Coordinator for the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management, as a “huge, regional event where calling 911 will not bring any immediate assistance.” Such local disasters could be massive earthquakes, large volcanic eruptions, terrorist attacks or even storms more powerful than last December’s deluge that dumped over seventeen inches of rain within 24-hours in South Pierce County.

“We have four or five, fire and medical units on duty at any one time,” says Romines. “At the same time, we have 70,000 people to protect, including twelve schools. In a major disaster, what we are able to do will not be enough.”

Romines and Franz describe their planning as beginning with that fact.

“Our first job will be to survive the event, then evaluate our local conditions and provide assistance where we can. In the kind of major disaster we are talking about, it will take an army of responders - the military, the Red Cross, FEMA and others - to help us get back on our feet. So, one of our primary jobs will be to communicate exactly what we need and where we need it.”

Each Graham fire station has enough food, water, and supplies to sustain its fire-fighters for at least a week. “Not enough to feed all of Graham, certainly,” said Romines, “but enough to keep us going. Then, in turn we’ll be able to receive the shipment of food and medical equipment stockpiled at Fort Lewis and McChord.”

Each fire house also has reserves of diesel fuel and generators to provide lights, power medical equipment, maintain communications and provide enough heat so that each of stations can become a focal point of recovery.

“We also have upwards of 50 Seattle and Tacoma fire-fighters who live in the area, so they will be joining our ranks after they recover at home.”

Likewise, Graham’s off-duty fire-fighters will respond in-place and coordinate neighborhood emergency efforts. They also have contact lists of nearby families of fellow fire-fighters on duty, so that they can check on the loved ones of their comrades.

After the initial hours, Graham’s fire-fighters will shift into more supervisory roles - directing the outside responders and volunteers, and organizing rescue efforts reaching more deeply into the community. Paramedics will establish medical facilities in the fire stations, triaging those they can in-house and arranging transport out of the area, possibly by helicopter, for those who need advanced care. However, large-scale feeding and medical treatment will probably take place in churches, schools or other community sites that will be managed by the Red Cross and other agencies.

As the response unfolds, the fire department will maintain its primary role as first responders in the community. Each fire engine, with its own built-in electrical generator and loaded with supplemental medical supplies, food, water, and rescue gear like chain saws, pulleys and ropes, can function as a rolling rescue and first aid station. In addition, each engine is a localized communication center.

“We use the same kind of line-of-sight radios that the Sheriff’s Department and other country agencies use,” said Romines. The inability of rescuers to communicate effectively was a significant impediment in both Katrina and in New York during 9-11. “We even have a ham radio at our Gem Heights station and a list of volunteers ready to come in and maintain contact with the outside world,” Romines said.

To assist these efforts, Emergency Management’s Badger recommends that everyone be ready to survive in place for a week by building kits of food, water, medication and warm clothing, and stockpiling a cache at each place of our life: home, work, and even in the car in case we’re in traffic “when the big one hits.”

YELM EMERGENCY PLAN IS UNDER WRAPS FOR "SECURITY"

Last Spring while working on another story, this writer called the Yelm Police Dept. and requested a copy of the Yelm Emergency Plan. I was told that the Yelm Emergency Plan is classified as a security item and is only to be released on an "as needed" basis.
I asked how would the public know what to do in a sudden emergency & was told instructions would be disseminated then.

That is a very interesting response. How can the public know where to turn and what to do in a crisis, and in particular, if communication media are not available? We have all seen power lines, cellphone towers and telephone lines knocked out for days here from wind storms.
Knowledge and preparation of the public in advance is paramount, as Graham attests.

When Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans, there was no public disseminated plan there either.
People gathered at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, which was not a gathering point in their emergency plan because of key vulnerabilities. Since the public did not have the information that the Superdome was unfit as an emergency shelter, the Superdome site became a crisis of its own, as we all now know.

Will our community continue to remain in the dark as to the Emergency Plan?

The Yelm Community Blog invites the Yelm Police to share any emergency plan information with Blog readers.

County may trim property tax

"The general Thurston County property tax rate will drop from $1.21 per $1,000 of assessed value this year to $1.04 per $1,000 next year, under a preliminary $269.3 million 2008 budget set for unveiling Monday [Nov. 19].

The lower tax rate is partly the result of the county's decision this month to comply with Gov. Chris Gregoire's request to maintain a 1 percent limit on annual increases in property tax revenue, even though the state Supreme Court overturned Initiative 747, which established the limit.

The lower rate is also the result of an 18.9 percent rise in the assessed value of property in the county this year, which means the tax burden is spread over a larger base," quoting The Olympian.

Further,
"WA GOV CALLS SPECIAL SESSION ON PROPERTY TAXES"
"Gov. Chris Gregoire has called for a one-day special legislative session to reinstate a 1 percent property tax increase cap recently struck down by the state Supreme Court.

Gregoire sent a letter to House and Senate leaders Monday [Nov. 19] night, telling them the Nov. 29 special session is necessary because she is 'very concerned about the effects of the court's decision on the property taxpayers across the state,'" quoting The Olympian.

This writer and his wife had been looking for a reliable source of raw milk - unpasteurized/unhomogenized, like I remember as a child. Then, we were introduced to the Yelm Co-op as a distributor of such a product.

"Dungeness Valley Creamery is a family farm on Towne Road that sells raw Jersey milk from their own herd of Jersey cows. There is nothing quite like real, whole milk. It tastes like ice cream, only better, and the milk from Jersey cattle is possibly the richest, best tasting milk in the world. This is the milk that the English use to make Devon clotted cream, but now you don't have to go to England anymore to get a taste. You can get it right here in Washington State.

Most milk in this country is produced at big industrial dairy farms and is sold, pasteurized, through big agricultural cooperatives. A dairy farmer is given a simple choice: sell everything through the cooperative, or sell nothing. Leaving the cooperative means making a big jump. The Browns (Jeff, Debbie, Sarah, & Kayla) decided to take it."

From the Dungeness Valley Creamery November, 2007 Newsletter,
"So why raw milk instead of pasteurized?
Debbie says that "pasteurization kills the good bacteria, plus raw milk tastes better."
The process of pasteurization is meant to eradicate harmful bacteria, such as those that cause salmonella.
Unfortunately, it also kills beneficial elements such as vitamins C, B12, and B16.
Advocates of raw milk claim that pasteurized milk is responsible for ailments such as heart disease and allergies."

This writer and wife and another couple drove to Sequim last weekend for a tour of the Creamery and were totally impressed with the fine stewardship this family lives & the love they put into their animals and dairy farm. Congratulations to Jeff & Debbie!

Be sure to check out A Campaign for Real Milk website.

YELM IS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE AN OUTLET FOR DUNGENESS CREAMERY PRODUCTS AT THE YELM FOOD CO-OP DELIVERED EVERY TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
NOTE: THEY SELL OUT QUICKLY. IF THERE IS MORE DEMAND, THEY WILL STOCK MORE WEEKLY.

PLEASE TELL THEM YOU READ ABOUT DUNGENESS CREAMERY RAW MILK ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Representative Tom Campbell
Photo from Representative Campbell's official website

From Rep. Tom Campbell's Nov. 15th Press Release:
Rep. Tom Campbell today applauded Gov. Chris Gregoire’s initiative to increase tracking of the drug-resistant staph infections known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). Gregoire yesterday (Nov. 14) directed the state Department of Health (DOH) to convene a panel of scientific experts to recommend a plan to monitor MRSA and what to do about it.

Campbell requested, in a letter to the governor last week, she use her ‘emergency powers’ to require DOH to list MRSA as a ‘reportable medical condition.’ “The issue is too important to wait until the legislature can take it up in January,” Campbell wrote.

Today, Campbell said he applauds the governor’s first step, “and I look forward to working with her and her office in the upcoming session to ensure safety of the people of Washington.”

He said he didn’t get all he had asked for with the governor’s first step, “but I believe this is a substantial and meaningful step that will begin to engage our public health agency on the necessary job of tracking and containing this potentially lethal infection.”

Campbell said he has drafted a bill to pre-file for the January 2008 session to make MRSA a reportable condition like is currently required in reporting a number of other health problems like the measles.

Currently, the state doesn’t require doctors or other health-care professionals to document cases of MRSA as it does with other disease. “So, there’s no way for the public to have access to this information,” Campbell said.

Campbell (R-Roy) said he was pleased by the Governor’s letter to DOH. “Her actions were desperately needed and leadership at this time is very appreciated.”

And this story from Pierce County.
VIGILANCE ON MRSA INCREASED
Reprinted with permission from the Eatonville Dispatch
by Graham reporter Bruce Smith

"MRSA is entering our consciousness, and for some it has also infected their skin. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, pronounced mer-sa, is the new wrinkle in public health.

Although called a “superbug” by some, the germ getting heightened attention is the simple “staph” infection that has been common since time immemorial. The new twist is that most staph is now drug-resistant to common antibiotics like penicillin and cephalosporin, all members of the methicillin family of pharmaceuticals.

“70% of all skin infections nowadays are MRSA,” says Ron Morehouse, certified physician assistant at Graham’s Quick Care clinic. “I’ve treated eleven cases since October.”

MRSA infections typically look like a severe spider bite, with a “bull’s eye” center of bright red swelling surrounded by inflammation. Other forms can resemble a bad rash, lesions, or boils, the latter being blister-like inflammations underneath the surface of the skin.

“Fortunately, MRSA is treatable with other antibiotics,” says Joby Winans, MRSA specialist with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. “In fact, some cases do not need any medication at all.” Winans said that many cases of MRSA can be treated merely by lancing and draining the infection, and a good follow-up scrubbing. She strongly recommends these procedures be performed by a professional health provider because MRSA is highly contagious through direct contact with affected areas or the liquid discharges. Once treated, MRSA infections must be covered with a clean bandage until the healing is complete.

Overall, most MRSA is not serious.

“There are millions of cases of MRSA each year, nationwide, and the vast majority are successfully treated,” Winans said.

However, MRSA can get deadly. This happens when MRSA penetrates beneath the skin layer and enters an organ, either through a wound or surgery.

This latter, “hospital-acquired,” MRSA is very difficult to treat, stated Winans, adding that the National Center for Disease Control announced recently there were nearly 100,000 cases of “invasive” MRSA nationwide last year, and 19,000 were fatal.

These deaths are the focus of a growing political and medical storm.

State Representative Tom Campbell, (R-Graham-2nd LD), has been trying to compel the Washington State Department of Health to closely monitor the deadly form of MRSA.

“The state has had an insufficient response to this health crisis, and the public is concerned. The Governor should use her ‘emergency powers’ to require the Department of Health to list MRSA as a ‘reportable condition’, and not wait until the legislature meets in January. We need to deal with this issue quickly. We need to know how many people have this condition, understand how they contract it, and correct the situation. More people die of MRSA than AIDS in this country. This is serious,” Campbell said.

Fortunately, Gov. Chris Gregoire has responded to his call. Statewide monitoring of MRSA is expected shortly.

Locally, the T-PCHD is already doing just that. Seven years ago, it formed a task force composed of the county’s major health providers, who share data and create solutions.

“Good Sam is part of the task force,” said Winans, “along with Madigan, Multi-Care, and many nursing homes and clinics.”

Winans also suggests simply ways to minimize exposure to MRSA: “Use good hygiene. Don’t share towels, and don’t share sports equipment. Use gloves to deal with wounds. Wash your hands after doing laundry.”

In addition, the MRSA task force has produced a booklet containing many helpful ideas, including how to deal with infected pets, who are just as susceptible to staph infections as humans. Titled, “Living with MRSA,” it is available through health providers or directly from the T-PCHD at (253) 798-6500 (Pierce County)."

Pierce County appears to be far ahead of even the State and Thurston County on this issue.

"Saturday, Nov 10th, we received the first order from our new produce/fruit supplier. Beautiful stuff, all certified organic, most of which is not available from farms really close to Yelm, but still comes mostly from farms around both WA and OR.

We have:
Madjool dates
Braeburn and Gala apples
Bosc and Bartlett pears
Bananas
Cranberries
Meyer Lemons
Limes
Satsuma tangerines
Valencia oranges
Black, seedless grapes
Hachiya Persimmons
Haas avocados
Beets
Brussel sprouts
Celery Hearts
Garlic
Red and Green Bell peppers
French fingerling potatoes (delicious!)
Russet baker potatoes
Yukon Gold potatoes
Onions
Shallots
Beefsteak tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes
Garnet Yams

We will be offering a selection of frozen foods by the end of the month when our new freezer is in.

We have raw, un-pasteurized milk from the Dungeness Creamery in Sequim...with the cream floating on top!!..and full of beneficial cultures and enzymes.
Local and organic eggs, lots of dairy products, organic coffees, beverages, soups, pastas, grains and flours and on and on.
Bulk foods through our Buy Clubs for great savings on bulk purchases.

If you haven't visited the store yet, come in and see us Tuesday to Saturday from 10a.m. - 7p.m.

If you came by several month ago and haven't been back since [shame on you :-))], you'll be surprised how far we've come in a few short months.

It's our owner/members, our fabulous volunteer staff and all the wonderful customers that we have that are making this a success. Help us grow this to ever greater heights. for those of you who are owner/members,
THIS IS YOUR STORE!!"

Tom Dewell
Board President/CEO
Yelm Food Co-op
tom@yelmcoop.com

The Yelm City Council held a Public Hearing on the amendments to the Comprehensive Plan last night. There were three people that expressed comments on the Transportation Chapter of the Plan: this writer, Matthew Schubart representing JZ Knight and Professional Engineer Ed Wiltsie.

The Council seemed quite agitated with our remarks and one member exhibited outright anger towards what was said. When the Mayor asked for comments from the Council prior to the hearing, Council member John Thompson said he had heard this all before and proceeded to quote a letter from absent Council member Bob Isom that Isom would vote to approve the Comp. Plan. This was before the Public Hearing. Clearly, the entire Council had decided how they would vote prior to the Public Hearing.

I have NEVER heard of such a thing in all my years of community involvement dating back 35+ years attending city's meetings wherever I lived in the USA; in Kentucky, Florida, California, Texas & New York.
So much for listening to the public that they have been given the mantle to serve, although most of this Council are the same people that motioned for a moratorium on moratoriums from the public during the Wal-Mart application and voted to restrict the public from mentioning the word "Wal-Mart" in Council Chambers a few years back.

So, the Thurston County Board of Commissioners Public Hearing on Yelm's Comp Plan Dec. 4 plus the Growth Management Hearings Board are the next steps to shining the light on the traffic issues here, yet this time from Yelm's partners in the Regional Plan, who are likely to delve into why their own Thurston County Planning Commission rejected the Yelm Comp Plan and called it "irresponsible." Yes, there have been a few improvements in what the city has done, however to deny there is a traffic issue here is in conflict with public safety and taking responsibility for the public well-being, which this Council was elected to preserve and protect.

And frankly, I am amazed that there have been no professional traffic numbers done here in over 2 years.

The Nisqually Valley News ran a very abridged story on this Public Hearing titled "Former mayoral candidate accuses city of deception," omitting an important interaction invited by Council member Don Miller between the Mayor, City Council and Mr. Schubart. HMMM! This former mayoral candidate learned a great deal about this town in running to serve as its Mayor in 2005 and how it's run, so I have been speaking up on issues based on a wealth of knowledge gathered from being active as an observer in this city's government for 3 years. For those of you interested in reading what I said Tuesday evening (Nov. 13), instead of relying on the NVN's spin with its omissions, below is the full, unabridged testimony:

To: Yelm City Council
From: Steve Klein
Subject: Public Hearing on Comp. Plan Amendments
Date: November 13, 2007

I have some additions to add at this Hearing regarding the Transportation Chapter of the Yelm Comprehensive Plan.

Your Nov. 5th Staff Report on the Comprehensive Plan Update states, “It appeared by TCPC comments that they did not have a clear understanding of what was presented to them. They voted to not recommend approval of the Yelm Comprehensive Plan Transportation and Introduction update to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners."

I would like to say I find this assessment totally false, as the Thurston County Planning Commission knew exactly what they were talking about as they deal regularly with these issues in the larger cities of Olympia, Lacey & Tumwater. Asking questions for more information does not denote they did not understand clearly. Yet, Ms. Merriman told the Yelm Planning Commission Oct. 15th that “more education of what was presented to them should have been provided.” Then that is Yelm’s responsibility for not preparing them better. Chris Lane commented he is a commercial realtor, yet he is for responsible development. He said that to do nothing to restrict development and not address transportation impacts is irresponsible. He was unable to comprehend another 5,000 vehicle trips per day from 568 new residential units from separate proposals, in a town that can’t handle their traffic now.

Further, the Nov. 6th Staff Report on Level of Service Methodology states, “Because there has been much confusion during the 2007 Comprehensive Plan update surrounding transportation levels of service, the Community Development Department has prepared this memo…

I would say the confusion has originated from Yelm’s own Community Development Department as exhibited by the following:

A. On July 24, Grant Beck told the Council that there was a concurrency issue at Longmire because Tahoma Terra divisions when properly added all together showed Longmire failed with a LOS F, where individually they did not fail. The developer had to be notified they were required to mitigate this by sharing the cost of a traffic light, thanks to the hearing examiner calling this to Mr. Beck’s attention after a public comment the day before. Yelm had incorrectly separated the phases to achieve a passing LOS without developer mitigation.

This was an important piece of information and all of this was omitted from the Council Minutes.

B. On September 17, Yelm Planning Commission advisor & TRPC’s Kathy McCormick told the Planning Commission the designation in the Comp. Plan of Highways 507/510 in Yelm as Highways of State Significance (HSS) was incorrect. The State designates these as Highways of Regional Significance (non-HSS) and they are Level of Service (LOS) D mitigated, which is consistent with the regional plan. She said the Traffic Chapter of the Comprehensive Plan was in conflict with the Regional Plan, since it must conform or be consistent with the Thurston County Transportation Plan and they must address that fact. They did nothing, except to remove the word “acceptable” from level of service F in the urban core. Staff did not remind the Commission they had to resolve the conflict.
All of this was omitted from the Planning Commission Minutes.
Now in your Staff Report, Community Development acknowledges the error on the highway designation and has that finally corrected. However, the Yelm Plan is still in conflict with the Regional Plan.

C. Two days prior to the Thurston County Planning Hearing (Oct. 8), for the very first time in this Comprehensive Plan discussion that began over a year ago, Yelm’s assistant planner Merriman sent a recommendation to the Yelm Planning Commission to add the Strategy Corridor designation for Yelm’s 507/510 in the Comprehensive Plan, which she asserted lays aside level of service requirements.
Really? After almost a year of discussion, staff reports, memos, public comments and taxpayer-paid staff hours spent on this, level of service requirements are just shoved aside. Why was this just revealed when another jurisdiction was just 2 days away from looking into Yelm’s practices? And this just came to Community Development’s attention then? I’d like to know, as I am certain you would, why they did not know about that and advise the Planning Commission prior to this.
Strategy Corridors aside, the City of Yelm does not have the ability to undermine the level of service intentions of the Growth Management Act.

D. At the October 10th Thurston Planning Commission Public Hearing I mentioned the glaring omissions of the Minutes of Yelm’s Planning Commission and City Council. The Thurston Planning Commission acknowledged their disturbance about that, too. They asked Mr. Beck about what steps have been taken to get roads to LOS D since the concurrency mark was set 1998, where LOS D is the Regional Plan and must be followed.

Mr. Beck mentioned the Bypass and inner loop (side connector streets). They asked him how the Loop could be considered when not funded. He told them $33 million was funded for right-of-way acquisition and he expected construction funding of $35 million by 2009. Interesting, when the WSDOT package for this highway is now unfunded at $56 million, meaning the total cost has risen to $92 million, so Mr. Beck was $21 million short in his testimony. Do you really think $56 for the Loop is going to be funded for work to begin in 2009, as Mr. Beck theorized?

The Commission asserted that outside of the Loop and connector streets, little has been done to bring LOS down to level D, almost 10 years since the concurrency mark was set, and all while large developments and a big box store were approved. Chris Lane asked Mr. Beck that if traffic is out of your control in the City and from outside of the City, then why are you still issuing building permits, and to 568 new homes?

Bottom line: I am just talking about the Comp Plan Traffic Chapter here with these inadequacies, which leads me to wonder what other issues are not properly addressed relating to water and storm water runoff.

I am therefore requesting that you no longer permit and/or participate in the unsafe transportation situation here allowing more traffic to be added without properly addressing the results of your actions in this Comprehensive Plan. I ask you to table the adoption of this Chapter. I further call into question the development practices within the City of Yelm. I concur with Mr. Lane that it's irresponsible to add to the problem when Yelm can't deal with its traffic now.

TCPC Chair Roper said the issue is Yelm’s comprehensive plan adopting LOS F in 1995 while the regional plan identifies LOS D as an acceptable standard. There appears to be no plans to move towards the target. The plan should meet concurrency or the plan should be changed, she stated. I agree. Thank you.

Stephen R. Klein

Photo of Sandra Parent courtesy of her website

"Throughout mythical history, the wearing of “hooded cloaks” has been recorded in every period of time & walk of life; enigmas (monks, red riding hood, ringwraiths, etc.) of unique appearance, encased in a form of guardianship, where secrets & mysteries lie hidden beneath woven folds & veiled faces.

Cloaked in garments of false ”hoods”, our personalities “cloak” our secrets as well as our pain & powers. We speculate what lies beneath the mask of another, while unknowingly our image is just a sculptured reflection, a likeness most often transparent to others.

As an “observer” of a “cloaked being” sculpture, feelings of buried ancestral memories surface – a remembrance of shrouded times," quoting Ms. Parent's website.

You can purchase Ms. Parent's gorgeous sculptures in Yelm at JZ-Rose.

TELL THEM YOU READ ABOUT THIS ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG.

Photo taken by Karsten Dörre on Wikimedia

How to Start Beekeeping?

An introduction into beekeeping given by Thomas Mani

Monday, 19. November 2007,

6.30 pm
at Gordon’s Grange

Cost: $10

Please sign up by email at tmani@fairpoint.net or by phone (360) 894-6038

THIS IS FABULOUS KNOWLEDGE TO HAVE FROM AN EXPERIENCED BEEKEEPER.
PLEASE TELL MR. MANI YOU READ ABOUT HIS CLASS IN THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG.

We love the holidays! Come celebrate with us by making your own Swiss Dough Boys (and Girls!) in one of our classes, or ordering specialty pies (Pecan, Pumpkin), dinner rolls, or other goodies for your gatherings. Thanksgiving orders placed by November 13th will get 10% off. Christmas orders placed before December 15th will get 10% off

Consider us for your party needs: we have special hor d’ourve trays available. Choose from puff pastry delicacies, mini-Salami sandwiches, and mini-quiches, as well as a selection of sweet treats in tiny sizes.

See you at the bakery!

SEBASTIAN'S BAKERY
105 Yelm Ave. E.
458-9313
--Amy, Sebastian and Elena

TELL THEM YOUR READ OF THEIR WORK IN THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

KING-5 was in Yelm yesterday reporting on the windstorm damage and filed this video report.

The Olympian reports:
"About 20,000 Thurston County Puget Sound Energy customers were in the dark Monday night because of downed power lines from Monday morning's windstorm, a PSE spokeswoman said....

Monday's windstorm brought sustained winds of 35 miles per hour to Olympia Regional Airport, with a peak gust there of 44 miles per hour, recorded at 10:44 a.m., said Seattle National Weather Service forecaster Johnny Burg.

A trained weatherspotter in the Lake Lawrence area south of Yelm recorded a 84 mile-per-hour gust about 9:30 Monday morning, Burg added."

Yelm City Council Considers Comprehensive Plan Update

"The Yelm City Council will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, at 7:30 PM at Yelm City Hall to take comments on proposed amendments to the Yelm Comprehensive Plan.
The complete record before the City Council for consideration can be viewed by clicking the headline," quoting the City of Yelm website.

The Yelm Community Blog wishes Fran Sherill a wondefrul retirement and sends thanks for a fabulous job of leading
Yelm's Adult Community Center into the 21st century.

CONGRATULATIONS FRAN!

There will be a party for Fran Sherill today from 2 - 4pm at the center.
The whole community is invited to attend and share in the cake, coffee & punch.

Babes in Belts logo

Babes In Belts will be hosting - The Preparedness Expo 2008 - Our Changing World - at the Yelm Chamber Home and Garden Show April 12 and 13, 2008. We would like to invite all preparedness vendors to come on board. We have scheduled a 30x40 tent with Omar the Tentman for the event. Here are some details to consider:

* The theme is Global Warming and Our Changing World
* Location is Yelm High School (We are working with the Chamber to guarantee our tent is in the flow of traffic.)
* We would like one or two food vendors and food storage sampling, wonderful tastes and smells to draw the crowd
* Booth cost is $200 (which will cover the space and the tent rental. Let us know if you need electricity)
* Advertising in show program and website links through the Chamber is available.
* There is also the opportunity to be a speaker at this event.
* You will be required to sign a Release and Waiver of Liability and Indemnity Agreement.

To reserve your booth contact: diane@babesinbelts.com
$100 deposit reserves your space. A minimum of 8 vendors required to reserve space for the 30x40 tent with Yelm's Chamber of Commerce. Cut off date is November 26, 2007. We are prepared to "house" 12 booths, but a larger tent can be scheduled if needed. (Alternative 8x10 booth rental from the Chamber inside the school building is $250.)

I know you will have questions. Once registration is completed we will hold a meeting for all vendors to provide more details and map tent layout. Be sure to indicate with your reservation whether or not you will need electricity.

We invite you to join with Babes In Belts to create this opportunity for individual and community preparedness "awareness" for a sustainable future.

Open to any and all vendors you may know who are involved with preparedness.

Diane Dondero
Making Safe Homes the Future - Now
safehomes@babesinbelts.com
360-446-5746

Planning Commission Term Expirations

The City of Yelm is seeking applications from Yelm residents to fill two term expiration vacancies on the Yelm Planning Commission. The Commission meets on the third Monday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at Yelm City Hall.

A City of Yelm Application and letter of interest are required. Deadline for submitting applications is November 26, 2007. For more information, contact Tami Merriman, Community Development Department, 360-458-3835.

Historic Preservation Commission Term Expirations

The City of Yelm is seeking applications from Yelm residents to fill three term expiration vacancies on the Yelm Historic Preservation Commission. The Commission meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 4:00 p.m. at Yelm City Hall.

A City of Yelm Application and letter of interest are required. Deadline for submitting applications is November 26, 2007. For more information, contact Tami Merriman, Community Development Department, 360-458-3835.

Further, the Yelm Library Advisory Board still has a vacancy. Yelm residents are invited to call to the Library's Kristin Blalack for details. 360-458-3374

Jean Marie Christenson with WA. Gov. Christine Gregoire
Photo courtesy of Ms. Christenson

"Dear Friends,

I am running for State Representative of District 2, which
includes most of Thurston and Pierce Counties.
While campaigning I have often been asked:
"What does a State Legislative Representative do?"
Here is my answer: "Representatives make the State's laws."
When I am elected and you contact your local
Representative to tell them how you want them to vote,
will be the person you will be speaking with.

JeanMarie Christenson.

JeanMarie is committed to creating more jobs, preserving civil liberties, the protection of our environment, and the freedoms insured by our Constitution for all Americans.

JeanMarie supports education, schools and teachers, remembering that our future lies with our children.

JeanMarie desires to protect the environment by finding new alternative energy solutions, capitalizing on renewable resources in our own district, and actively participating in developing these local commodities and assets.

JeanMarie encourages rural and agricultural economic vitality with domestic food production.

JeanMarie requires fiscal accountability with the wise use of taxpayer dollars, " quoting her website.

"JeanMarie Christenson, a Democrat who ran for the Legislature in 2006, is among the first to announce she’s running again.

She announced last week she’s taking another run at incumbent Rep. Jim McCune, R-Graham, in the 2nd Legislative District.

Christenson, 59, is a personal growth counselor who lives between Rainier and Yelm. Last year, she won 43.5 percent of the vote to McCune’s 56.5 percent.

She said she got a late start last year, and has been told she’ll need an early start and $100,000 to even have a chance at winning a legislative race in 2008.

Her campaign can be contacted at 360-446-5620 or at jeantalk@fairpoint.net," quoting Tacoma News Tribune's Joe Turner's blog on October 31, 2007.

Low Impact Development in the Nisqually Watershed

"Low impact development (LID) is a natural approach to manage, clean and infiltrate stormwater by mimicking natural
hydrology. LID can be applied to new developments as well retrofits and can be less costly than standard development.

[Ed. Note: This is an important meeting for our area]

Friday, November 16, 2007 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

at the

Yelm School District HQ Conference Room

Agenda
• Nisqually Watershed Program overview
• Low impact development
• Principles & techniques
• Comparison with conventional stormwater management
• New developments
• Retrofits
• Financial advantages of LID
• LID techniques
• Rain gardens
• Green roofs
• Other bioretention
• Financial lending for LID projects
• Marketing LID, the growing market of LID

Low Impact Development in the Nisqually Watershed
Time: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Yelm School District HQ
107 1st Street North
Yelm
(Directions sent upon registration)
Fee: $25 for general public
$40 for 3 continuing education clock hours for Real Estate Salespeople and Brokers.
Fee includes resource materials and refreshments.

Audience: Developers, builders, planners, site designers, engineers, real estate professionals, homeowners, and the general public.

TO REGISTER
Download registration form
or contact Kelly McGinnis at
360-786-5445 x 7915
martink@co.thurston.wa.us

To pay by credit card
(VISA or MasterCard)
contact Kelly at 360-786-5445 x7915

This workshop highlights the Nisqually Watershed Program, focusing on LID as a major way to protect and care for this precious area. If you are a developer, builder, stormwater manager, planner, site designer, real estate professional, lending professional, homeowner, or interested citizen who lives, works and/or plays in the Nisqually Watershed, this workshop is for you.

Co-sponsored by Washington State University and Stewardship Partners," quoting the Nisqually Stewardship Partners emailer.

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

Wednesday, November 14
Our Past, Our Present: Share Your Memories on video for city archives
Elders of the community are invited to join in a conversation about their life experiences at school, on the farm, with pets, in Yelm…and more. Members of the Yelm Historical Society will facilitate. This session will be videotaped as a resource for present and future generations.
3 - 4:30 PM

Last month, the Friends of the library presentation of Violin Soloist Ian Mardon garnered over 225 listeners.
Let's turn out in large numbers for these two fantastic programs, too.
Wednesday, November 14
Planet Percussion: Music from the World
Jay Sicilia, founder of Planet Percussion Band, plays an amazing variety of instruments, bringing the rhythms of music and dance from many different parts of the world to Yelm.
7 - 8 PM

Sunday, November 18
Soar with Us: Pursue Your Dreams and Celebrate Your Abilities
Dylan Kuehl, young internationally known performer and artist with Down’s Syndrome, and his teacher/mentor, Marian Lancaster, present a program of creative movement, visual art and poetry. They demonstrate the powerful potential in each of us for turning challenges and perceived limitations into wonderful accomplishments.
2 - 3:30pm

Abigail M. Haddock

INTRODUCING YELM COMMUNITY'S R U READY?

"Mission: To affect a paradigm shift in consciousness regarding emergency preparedness so that the concept of preparedness becomes common thought resulting in confident and self reliant communities in times of earth changes.

Goal: To provide inspiring emergency preparedness consultation and training to businesses and communities.

We now live in great times of change. We see pictures on the nightly news of catastrophic destruction and severe situations occurring all over the world. Daily, each one of us faces the potential of climate change, geological shift, political actions, terrorism, economic fluxuations, mutating bacteria, viruses and disease pandemics, environmental impacts and war.

It is easy to put these thoughts out of our daily contemplation and not accept their reality. Thinking “these things will not affect me” or “those things happen in other parts of the world” or “the Government has a plan to take care of me” will not save you or your family in the event of an emergency or disaster. It is now the time for all of us to stand and take accountability for ourselves. It is time to take action. It is time to prepare for all possible hazards.

We will be our own first responders, therefore we must learn the necessary skills to become self reliant and self sufficient.

Take your own personal inventory. Can you and your family survive a month without resources from the outside?

Abigail M. Haddock is an Emergency Manager with over 30 years experience in preparedness and self sufficient living. She enlivens audiences with stories and humor and inspires them with practical solutions," quoting R U Ready's website.

This writer took one of Ms. Haddock's classes and found the knowledge very useful. The information provided made me pause and ponder how some of the scenarios would affect me and my family and give direction for taking a course of action.

The Olympian reports "Temperatures on the rise over the years in South Sound"

"Average temperatures in South Sound have grown slightly warmer in the past century.

For example, Olympia's January temperatures were almost three degrees warmer on average in the past two decades than in the previous 30 years, according to the Western Regional Climate Center. Between 1949 and 1979, the average January temperature was 36.9 degrees. In the next 25 years, the average January temperature was 39.4 degrees, the climate center reports...

In general, climate change is causing warmer temperatures, reduced snowpack and rising sea levels in Washington, according to the state Department of Ecology. But with this year's winter expected to be characterized by La Nina's colder, wetter weather, forecasters say that climate change's regional footprint won't be obvious."

The Olympia Regional Airport is the closest National Weather Service Station to Yelm, being 16 miles away.

Daylight Savings Time ends this Sunday in most of America at 2 A. M. local time.
Time to turn the clocks back one hour.
Here is alot of information of DST.

Dear Readers;

This writer would like to acknowledge NVN Publisher/Editor Keven Graves and his reporter Megan Hansen for the well balanced and informative story on Lacey Pastor Jeff Adams and his desire to expand his Church to Yelm.
This writer is thrilled that Mr. Adams and College Street Christian Church's expansion desires here have now been made public. The Yelm Community Blog welcomes having Pastor Adams as an acknowledged part of our community, as his Church looks to expand in Yelm.

THANK YOU, MR GRAVES. I TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU FOR SHARING THIS INFORMATION WITH YOUR READERS &
AREA NEIGHBORS.

The link to this story will be posted here as soon as this week's NVN electronic edition is loaded.