GriffinNeighbors

Local Students Seeking Information about the Blueberry Farm

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 15:34:00 PDT

A group of students have undertaken a small ecological assessment of the Eberhardt Blueberry Farm. “We picked the blueberry field because of its evident diverse history,” writes Jana Raines, a student at The Evergreen State College. “Having gone from a thriving farm to naturalizing back to its current state makes it a fascinating location.” Raines and three others working on this project have already looked at the plant life, birds and animals in the area where the blueberry farm was located. But they need a little more historical information. Among those people living in the Steamboat area are a small number of folks who bought from or worked for Floyd and Laniera Savage, owners of the Eberhardt Blueberry Nurseries.

Would you be able to help Jana Raines answer a few questions about the blueberry farm?

When was the blueberry farm planted?
How long it was it in business?
How large is (or was) the blueberry farm?
When or how long ago was the blueberry farm abandoned?

If you have information to share about the history of the Eberhardt Blueberry Farm, please contact Jana Raines by email at seekeroflife@gmail.com or by phone at (360) 689-4888.

The Annual "Death to Scotch Broom" Blog Posting

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 14:50:00 PDT

Every year, around this time, all those yellow flags - those scotch broom flowers - come out to wave. Next will come the seeds and, next year, more scotch broom. There are noxious weeds and then there's scotch broom. Now is an excellent time of year to get serious about reducing the amount of scotch broom on your property.

So, responsible rural property owners want to know: What makes scotch broom so bad?

Scotch broom is a prodigious seed producer. The seeds have hard coats enabling them to survive in the environment for up to 80 years. Once established, scotch broom forms dense brush fields over six feet tall. The brush fields diminish habitat for grazing animals, such as livestock and native animals. Areas of dense brush shade out and kill native grassland plants in invaded areas, and favor invasion by other woody, non-grassland plant species.

Scotch broom prevents reforestation, creates a high fire hazard, renders rangeland worthless and greatly increases the cost of maintenance of roads, ditches, power and telephone lines. Wildlife suffers as the growth becomes too dense for even quail and other ground birds to thrive. Being slightly toxic and unpalatable it is browsed very little by livestock.

If you cut your trees, so that a lot of sunlight reaches the ground, you've probably now got scotch broom to cut.

How do you eradicate scotch broom?

There are two schools of thought, those who say pull out the whole plant and those who will tell you, if you're clever and your timing is right, all you need are a pair of lopping shears.

Read more »

Ask the Vet: I Have a New Puppy! What Vaccinations Does She Need?

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 14:56:00 PDT

I have a new puppy! What vaccinations does she need to keep her healthy?

Dr. Cindy Goldsmith, a veterinarian at the Steamboat Animal Hospital, answers:

Puppies and kittens need vaccinations to help prevent severe infections that may be life-threatening. They need a series of vaccines beginning at 6 - 8 weeks and ending at 16 - 18 weeks.

For dogs, vaccines are available for parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, leptospirosis, bordetella and rabies.

For cats we have vaccines for distemper, rhino tracheitis, calcivirus, feline leukemia and rabies.

It is important to complete a series of vaccines so your pet will be protected from these diseases. Your veterinarian can help determine which vaccines your pet needs to keep her healthy!

Dr. Cindy Goldsmith and her husband have lived in the Steamboat community for several years; their son goes to Griffin School. Dr. Cindy has special interests in medicine, surgery, oncology, and ultrasound. She provides an important perspective on animal health.

Text and photographs reprinted with permission from issue 8 of the Steamboat Island Register. For more information and to advertise in the Register, contact Amanda Waggoner at (360) 870-2126 or steamboatreg@gmail.com

The Red-Tailed Hawk

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 07:44:00 PDT

The red-tailed hawk is very good at adapting to different environments. They have no problem cohabitating with humans and have even made a home for themselves in New York City, where they feed on pigeons and rats.

The deforestation of the United States actually made more hunting grounds for the red-tailed hawk, who seems to find a utility pole the perfect lookout over a field or roadway.

The red-tailed hawk feeds primarily on rodents and can reach 120 miles per hour when diving from the sky to catch its doomed prey.

If you hear the screeching of a hawk look to the sky. If there is only a single hawk, the bird is probably hunting or guarding its territory, but if you see two hawks twirling around each other, be prepared to be impressed. This is a courtship flight, where the male may show off to the female for over ten minutes by swooping, diving and even grabbing her talons in midair. Hawks usually mate for life and perform this dance often, so keep your eyes on the sky this spring.

Text and photographs reprinted with permission from issue 8 of the Steamboat Island Register. For more information and to advertise in the Register, contact Amanda Waggoner at (360) 870-2126 or steamboatreg@gmail.com

Click here for more articles about the nature around us.

Restoration Hope Outreach Creating Events to Bring Community Together

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 22:39:00 PDT

This last Holiday Season, local residents were invited by a new group, called "Restoration Hope Outreach", to gather at Prosperity Grange for "Christmas Caroling at the Grange". The event was well attended, standing room only and for the first time introduced folks to Restoration Hope, along with the founders, Ingrid Ferris-Olszewsky, Catherine Haag and Heidi Sheffels.

Much more recently, on March 8th, Restoration Hope Outreach sponsored another event, the "Steamboat Senior Gathering at the Grange." This was a 'planning meeting' and the first of what's expected to be an ongoing series of events at Prosperity Grange.

But what is Restoration Hope Outreach? According to Heidi Sheffels, one of Restoration's organizers, "In brief, the main goal of Restoration Hope Outreach is to find ways to bring our community together. And what a better place to gather than our own local Grange?"

More than $700 in donations was collected during an hour and a half at Christmas Caroling at the Grange this past Christmas Season. Those donations were used to help families, here in our Community. Most of the money went to Griffin Elementary School, delegated by Mrs. Cetak, to be placed in a special friendship fund, to help kids in need throughout the year. The rest of the donations are for St. Christopher's Food Bank that delivers food to Steamboat residents.

In the case of the Senior Gathering, the hope to make this 'a monthly event' for our own Steamboat Seniors to gather, socialize, play cards, talk and share about the past, enjoy a potluck and possibly listen to a local speaker or musician, sponsored by Restoration Hope.

The next Steamboat Senior Gathering is planned for Friday, April 12th, 10am to 11:30am at the Prosperity Grange. "All local Retirees and Seniors Welcome! Bring a friend and enjoy your time together!"

"Aquaponics" Topic of Guest Speaker at Prosperity Grange's Monthly Meeting

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:15:00 PDT

Regular viewers of our online Community Calendar know the Prosperity Grange typically meets the first Wednesday of each month, except for except July and August. Their meetings begin at 7 PM, but there’s a potluck that begins at 6:30 PM. On April 3rd, the Grange will hear from a guest speaker about “Aquaponics”.

Prosperity Grange
Wednesday, April 3
Potluck at 6:30 PM, Meeting begins at 7PM
The public is invited

Local resident Kevin Benedict will be presenting a brief and fun talk on the topic of Aquaponics. According to Kevin, "This amazing, ancient and revolutionary farming technique raises edible fish and vegetables in an ecological, closed loop system. The size is up to you! Aquarium? Old hot tub? Swimming pool? This is truly the wave of the farming future."

Countries around the world that don't have our rich earth and water abundance are building thousands of acres of Aquaponics and are transforming the farming landscape of the planet.

Kevin is working with the new Aquaponics greenhouse at Evergreen University, in partnership with some young business folks that are building commercial applications in the area. Kevin is most interested, however, in learning and teaching individual households and small farmers about how to bring year round food and fish production to the back yard and the local community.

Kevin is a new member of our community. He moved on to the peninsula in February with his 11 year old son.

Kevin owns an entertainment and auction company, and promises on April 3rd that he “will stick to the old Show Biz axiom: 'Always leave them wanting more.’'"

For more information about Kevin Benedict, see his web site at http://www.greatsong.com/
For more information about the Prosperity Grange, see their web site at http://prosperitygrange.org/

FORKids Program Provides Meals for Children in Thurston County

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:16:00 PDT

In the summer of 2007, The Olympian ran an article which reported that (at that time) 671 children were homeless in Thurston County. Partly in response to that article, Robert Coit, the director of the Thurston County Food Bank, created a program called "FORKids". Modeled after similar Backpack programs, volunteers assemble packets that include non perishable, single serving, easy to prepare food. FORKids tries to provide nutrition based meals for two days to cover each child's weekend. Counselors at the participating schools contact the FORKids program with numbers for the week. The assembled supplies are put into plastic bags, stored at the Food Bank and delivered to the participating schools. The counselors then discretely put the food packets into the student's backpack.

A pilot program was held, for the first year, with the North Thurston, Olympia and Tumwater school districts. The focus were preschool and elementary students up to 6th grade. The non-profit Homeless Backpacks, Inc. services middle and high schools.

After the first years' pilot, our own Griffin School District was added, with Hawks Prairie Head Start, West Olympia Head Start, Marshall Middle School and Komachin Middle School.

As of this month (March 2013), ForKids is serving 1700 students a week in Thurston County. At the Griffin School, the program consistently serves around 37 students.

How can you support the FORKids program? There are a few ways. You can donate certain kinds of food which are nutritious and yet appealing for kids and which are easy for kids to open and prepare. Contributions of cash are always welcome. And you can volunteer to help assemble food packets.

Read more »

The Great Blue Heron

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 16:54:00 PDT

While Blue Herons live throughout North America, they are iconic of the Pacific Northwest, because they only live around water, and we have a lot of water, and unlike the colder parts of the country where they migrate south, here they are year-round residents.

Blue Herons gather in colonies of 5 to 500 to breed. Both the female and male build a nest of sticks. The eggs are a light blue, and both parents will regurgitate food for the young once they hatch.

The firstborn chick gets larger than its siblings because it learns how to handle food and be aggressive towards its clutch mates.

While primarily consuming small fish, the Great Blue Heron will also eat small mammals, insects, amphibians and small birds. They swallow their prey whole and have been known to choke on prey that is too large.

Text and photographs reprinted with permission from issue 8 of the Steamboat Island Register. For more information and to advertise in the Register, contact Amanda Waggoner at (360) 870-2126 or steamboatreg@gmail.com

Steamboat Neighborhood Stickers and Something Called "Social Capital"

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:24:00 PDT

Television, two-career families, suburban sprawl, generational changes in values--these and other changes in American society have meant that fewer and fewer of us find that the League of Women Voters, or the United Way, or the Shriners, or the monthly bridge club, or even a Sunday picnic with friends fits the way we have come to live. Our growing social-capital deficit threatens educational performance, safe neighborhoods, equitable tax collection, democratic responsiveness, everyday honesty, and even our health and happiness.

This is part of the conclusion reached in the book Bowling Alone, by Robert D. Putnam. In this book and his follow-up, Better Together: Restoring the American Community, Putnam describes our loss of what he calls "social capital" and how people across the country are inventing new forms of social activism and community renewal. Thinking about the concept of social capital, too, has caused the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association to consider what role it could play to increase a feeling of connectedness among those of us living in the Griffin Area.

It may seem a strange start, but the concepts in Putnam's books have produced the Steamboat Neighborhood stickers now seen on vehicles all along the length of our peninsula. What's the story behind the Steamboat Neighborhood logo and the more than 3000 stickers distributed free to residents in our area?

Missy Watts, a local resident, realtor, and member of the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association read Bowling Alone. At a GNA Board meeting last year, she described the principle of social capital and asked what the Association could do to help restore the social fabric of our peninsula's neighborhoods. "Growing up in the barrier islands called The Golden Isles off the coast of Georgia," Watts said, "one island and several neighborhoods from a bigger island had stickers that identified drivers as residents. It was always fun to see people 'in town', as we called the mainland, who were neighbors. Because the Golden Isles are a tourist destination, the stickers also identified us a locals, which was important to us as well." This was the genesis of the idea that lead to the stickers.

Local graphical artist Bryan Douglas created the distinctive heron and Steamboat Neighborhood artwork, contained within an oval frame. Mr. Douglas then did something a little bit extraordinary. He released the copyright to his work. The Steamboat Neighborhood logo is now licensed under Creative Commons and is available for use by individuals and businesses. Under this license, you are free to share - to copy, distribute and transmit the work and to make commercial use of the work.

The Steamboat Neighborhood logo is not a service mark for the Griffin Neighborhood Association. Residents and businesses in the Steamboat area are invited to use the logo to distinguish yourself and your business as one which is local to the Steamboat area. You do not need to attribute the logo to Mr. Douglas. But, you may not suggest the artist endorses you or your use of his work. You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work.

Click here for a high-quality image of the Steamboat Neighborhood artwork, which you are welcome to use.

It doesn't matter whether you are involved in a local faith community, volunteer for the Griffin Fire Department or at one of our local schools, are a member of the Prosperity Grange or the Griffin Neighborhood Association, or are a leader for one of your children's youth groups. You are helping to build social capital - the social fabric of our community.

And the next time you see someone driving a car with a Steamboat Neighborhood sticker on it, give 'em a wave. They're one of your neighbors.

Click here for more information about social capital.

Join our GriffinNeighbors online discussion group, "like" us on Facebook, attend an event on our community calendar, visit with your neighbors. . . Increase your connections here, in your home neighborhood.

Local Authors Tell the History of Schafer State Park Through Vintage Photos

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 15:31:00 PST

The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Schafer State Park from local authors Peter Schafer Reid and Barbara Seal Ogle. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by.

Schafer State Park, a US National Historic Site located to the north of Elma, not only represents a unique example of 1930s craftsmanship from the Works Progress Administration and other emergency programs but is also a window into the settlement of the Satsop River Valley. In the last quarter of the 19th century, this included the vast logging and lumber operations undertaken at the park and in the surrounding forest, as well as the bounty available from the river stretching far back into the history of Native Americans in the Northwest.

The park also memorializes an early example of philanthropy by private citizens and corporations in Washington State. It is an effort that has continued over the years and has been crucial to the expansion of the state park system. The authors are pleased to provide this book as the Washington State Parks System celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Highlights of Schafer State Park include:

Pioneer Days in the Satsop River Vallery
Life and Logging Before and During World War I
The 1920’s Boom and Establishment of Schafer State Park
The Depression Years of the 1930’s
World War II to the Present

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665.

Griffin Fire Department 2012 Annual Report Describes Some of the Many Ways They Serve

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 10:56:00 PST

Residents attending the Community Meeting on January 31st heard from Griffin Fire Chief John Wood. Chief Wood also made available at that meeting copies of the Department's 2012 Annual Report. If you missed the Community Meeting, you can download your own copy of that Report by clicking here. It makes for interesting reading, particularly if you think ours is a sleepy little fire district which sees little action. According to the Report, "The Griffin Fire Department serves approximately 6000 people located in a 26 square mile area . . . and responds to approximately 450-500 calls per year."

The web site of the Thurston County Assessor, states roughly 8.25% of property taxes go to support local fire districts. In our area, that money supports a fire department which provides not only aid in time of emergency, but a variety of other benefits to the community. A glance at the Report's Calendar of Events page reveals a little of the community education activities the Department undertakes. Among its other activities, the Department provides fire prevention training for students at the Griffin School District and Steamboat Island Cooperative Preschool. A visit to the Fire Department's web site reveals also that the Department provides address signs to help identify homes, notary public services, blood pressure checks, and offers smoke detectors and smoke detector batteries. By appointment, you can also have your child's car seat and its installation in your car checked.

The mission of the Griffin Fire Department is "To promote, deliver, and preserve a feeling of security, safety, and a quality level of service to the citizens of our community."

In 2012, the fire district celebrated 50 years of service to our community. The Annual Report includes an interesting recitation of the history of the fire department.

In 1968 the Department responded to its 100th call.
In 1978 they exceeded that number in just one year.

We commend the first responders, administration, and Commissioners of the Griffin Fire Department. The 2012 Annual Report provides a glimpse into some of the many ways the Department provides service to our neighbors.

For more information about the Griffin Fire Department, including information about how to volunteer to serve with the Department, visit their web site at http://www.griffinfd.org/

Luna Sea Café is Raising Roadside Espresso to a New Level

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 11:24:00 PST

Local residents on the Steamboat Peninsula have a new choice for their morning coffee, tea, and pastries. The coffee stand at 6233 Steamboat Island Road changed hands last December. It acquired a new name - the "Luna Sea Café" - and owner Leah Polhemus comes with some serious food service credibility and plans for dramatically improving the scope of the dining offered at this roadside location.

Originally from Alabama, Leah first came out to Washington 13 years ago. Although she eventually moved elsewhere, "I always make my way back here," she says.

"I love this neighborhood, I think it's a great community, but there are not many food service options in the area," says Leah. "For now I am serving espresso drinks - hot, iced, or blended - hot tea, and my pastries, which are always made from scratch, but I hope to have more food and beverages available as I am able to grow and expand." When asked about her expansion plans, Leah answered, "My ultimate goal is to be able to grow into a full-service cafe. I live out here too and I know myself and a lot of other folks who live out here would love to be able to get a good meal without having to drive thirty minutes each way to get it!"

One of the things that sets this café apart is Leah's homemade syrups. "I have my own real vanilla bean syrup, I make my chocolate sauce with pure dutch-process cocoa, I make a brown sugar salted caramel sauce and I make my own chai syrup as well, and I am always experimenting with new and interesting flavor combinations. So far the vanilla bean syrup has been really popular, as well as my lavender mocha."

Food-wise, among the best offerings are the bagels. They are made from scratch, boiled in honey and molasses and served toasted with homemade garlic and herb cream cheese. Leah also offers a variety of muffins, scones, croissants, danishes, coffee cake, cookies, granola bars, and biscuits.

That's a lot for that little café. "I am willing to taking suggestions for food people might want to have out here; I can do pretty much anything!"

Yeah, but how about the coffee? "I am so proud to be using coffee from local roaster Olympia Coffee Roasting Company," says Leah. "They were named Roast Magazine's 2013 Micro Roaster of the Year. Olympia is so lucky to have such a great local coffee roaster." Olympia Coffee Roasting also took the time to give Leah an education about the coffee industry and her brew comes out of a top-of-the-line handmade Italian brand La Marzocco espresso machine.

What about the name, 'Luna Sea Café'? "I have to credit one of my roommates with the name. We were sitting around the night I bought the stand and throwing around all sorts of ideas and silly names for it until he threw 'Luna Sea' out there. It just really felt right. I have always been a little out there I guess, some people have even called me crazy, and I have a tattoo of crescent moons on my shoulder, so it just seemed fitting. I mean, who doesn't love a good double entendre?"

The Luna Sea Café is open Monday through Friday from 5:30 am to 1:00 pm. Leah hopes to extend her hours and open weekends by the spring or summer with more options available such as homemade ice cream, real fruit smoothies.

"I really hope to have a BBQ pit or at least a grill by then so I can offer some slow-cooked meats with my homemade breads, which is just about my favorite thing in the world to eat."

We hope you'll join us in welcoming the Luna Sea Café to the Steamboat Peninsula. They're located right out in front of the Skookum Creek Outlet store at 6233 Steamboat Island Road. Please stop by and say hi! And, like them on Facebook.

St. Christopher's to Build a Community Food Bank Garden

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:38:00 PST

St. Christopher’s Community Church has begun clearing land for a new community garden to grow produce for local families. You may already be aware that St. Christopher's is an official satellite location of the Thurston County Food Bank. A site assessment was donated by South Sound Solar, who helped to find a good location on the St. Christopher property to situate the garden. Earlier this month, a work party convened to begin to clear the site for the garden.

The members of St. Christopher's have stepped up to help bring this project to fruition and folks from outside the St. Christopher's faith community are now coming forward to help, too. Can you help build this community garden?

You can help by:

Volunteering your time or expertise.

Making a donation of:

Building supplies

Deer fencing

Gardening tools and supplies

Seeds and/or starts

Or by making a financial donation.

Please contact the church office if you are interesting in digging in and joining this community-wide effort.

St. Christopher's Community Church
7902 Steamboat Island Road NW
Olympia, WA 98502

By phone at 360-866-2111 or e-mail office@stchristopherolympia.org

St. Christopher's Community Church is online at stchristopherolympia.org

The Griffin School Parent Teacher Organization, too, is planning a garden at the Griffin School. They have received approval from the school district, have identified a location, and even have received a grant to help fund the project. They plan to break ground and install garden beds in February. The garden will be used by teachers and students grades K-8 and some of the harvest will be donated to the Food Bank. Contact Elena Kuo-Harrison at harrisonkuo@msn.com for more information or to volunteer for the garden at the Griffin School.

Local Residents Working to Install a Little Free Library

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 16:48:00 PST


Little Free Libraries come in lots of shapes and sizes.

What is a "Little Free Library"? In some parts of the world, it's a movement to promote literacy and the love of reading. In practical terms, though, it's a box, sheltered from the weather but open to the public, from which people can take or leave books. Free books. Folks are welcome to come anytime and peruse the books in the Little Free Library. They can take a book, they can leave a book.

Here on the Steamboat Peninsula, a few local residents have approached the Griffin Fire Department with a request to allow a Little Free Library to be placed at the Fire Department's Headquarters. We hope to learn soon that the Fire Commissioners have approved a location. What we need now is the library itself. And some books to seed the library.

Organizers of this Little Free Library are seeking financial donations from our community to purchase the library box and the materials to mount it at the Fire Department HQ. Libraries of several different sizes are available and the size purchased for us would depend upon the amount of the contributions received. Contributions can be made online with a secure transaction through PayPal, using your credit card. Local resident Missy Watts is taking these donations to purchase the library box, since this is not a project of the Griffin Neighborhood Association. These are not tax-deductible donations (there is no officially-recognized non-profit organization set up for our local Little Free Library). Plus donations are subject to normal PayPal fees of 2.9% + 30¢ (for example, if you contribute $10, the Little Free Library will receive $9.41).

Once the library box is purchased, the fun part begins. What books would you like to recommend for the Little Free Library? Click here to leave your comments.
Are you interested in supporting installing a Little Free Library in our community, either by making a donation to purchase the box and the materials to mount it, or by donating a book or two?

Click here to learn more about the Little Free Library movement.

The Road to Wholeness

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 09:32:00 PST

As this year draws to a close and the season of giving is upon us, many will wonder what they truly want. This happens to me every year, because people ask me what I'd like to receive and I haven't a clue. This really frustrates the person asking, but it really is true. I really don't know.

Well, I do know what I want - it just isn't anything that can be bought. I want to be together with loved ones, sharing the joy of the season. I want peace, as many us do, especially in the wake of the recent tragic shootings.

And, wanting peace can be a satisfying answer for a while, at least for me.

But, if I ask myself, long enough, what is it I really want, I can come up with 4 answers: I want deep, meaningful, long-lasting friendships; I want health for myself and those I love; I want money - at least enough to pay the bills, but I really want enough to do something meaningful with; and I want time enough to do what needs to be done, but moreso time enough to spend quality time with friends.

Some with wisdom, tell us that if we want these things in our lives, we have to be friends with them. For instance, most people will not have money in their lives if they are not friends with money. That may be true, but it's not a very satisfying answer when you're broke and needing money. But I thought I'd try being friends with these 4 things. Then, maybe my life would be perfect.

Read more »

Advisory Board to Brief Commissioners on Stormwater Rules in January

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:47:00 PST

With as much rain as falls on us and our property and our reliance upon the health of our aquifers and the Puget Sound, you would think managing stormwater runoff would be among the foremost concerns hereabouts. However, in our area, as well as much of unincorporated Thurston County, the impact of development on runoff and the effects of that runoff on water quality rarely enters our minds. Stormwater pollution can pose serious health risks and significant environmental threats to the quality of freshwater, including our drinking water, and the Puget Sound. The Thurston County Storm and Surface Water Utility provides programs and projects to reduce flooding, erosion and pollution caused by stormwater runoff, while protecting and enhancing aquatic habitat. The Utility is supported by property taxes. As ratepayers to this Utility, we ought to familiarize ourselves with the Storm and Surface Water Advisory Board (SSWAB). This Board provides homeowners with an important means of influencing important local policies.

At their meeting on January 17, 2013, the Advisory Board will brief County Commissioners on new standards for the management of runoff caused by development. There is a real opportunity here for important public comment. That is, provided the public can become informed enough to participate in a meaningful way.

UPDATE: SSWAB will brief the County Commissioners during a meeting of the Commissioners on February 20 at 3:00PM. The meeting is in the Thurston County Courthouse Building, Room 280. The SSWAB will likely recommend the County adopt NPDES standard and the so-called "65/0" development standard. What is NPDES and 65/0? Read on to find out. . .

What is the Storm and Surface Water Advisory Board?

According to the web page for SSWAB:

The Storm and Surface Water Advisory Board reviews issues affecting Thurston County’s Storm and Surface Water Utility, and makes recommendations to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners. Among other things, the board examines utility rates, construction projects, public-information efforts, staff work plans and stormwater policies. Members are appointed by county commissioners.

SSWAB members are appointed to represent specific areas in the County. Tom Holz is the representative for Eld Inlet. Also near to us, Bob Allison represents the McLane Creek Basin and he is also the current vice-chair for the Board.

Read more »

Yuma Myotis One of the Bats Living Near Us

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 11:03:00 PST

There are 15 bat species native to Washington, one of which is Yuma myotis (Myotis yumanensis). This little bat is medium dark brown with a darker brown face and ears. Yuma myotis can live up to 20 years and have an average weight of 6 grams. They are about 3-5 inches long with a wing span of about 9 inches.

Yuma myotis love to live near calm or “slack” water, where they can fly swiftly just above the water’s surface to catch small insects like mayflies, midges and mosquitoes. Places with extensive open freshwater lakes and wetlands provide ideal foraging habitat.

Summer roosts for Yuma myotis bats include crevices in cliffs, old buildings, mines, caves, bridges, and abandoned cliff swallow nests. Here locally, that means thousands of Yuma myotis can be found roosting at Woodard Bay, the largest known colony in Washington State and only 1.5 miles from the Lonseth Preserve.

Bats are the only flying mammals and are extremely beneficial because of their ability to eat enormous quantities of bugs. Yuma myotis is an important riparian species, but likely has been eliminated along many streams in western states by habitat loss and disturbances to colonies while they are hibernating or when mothers are nursing offspring.

Sources: Bats About Our Town, Bats Northwest, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, Idaho State University.
See Michael Durham’s amazing bat photography and more at http://www.durmphoto.com.

Reprinted with permission from the Fall newsletter of the Capitol Land Trust.

Click here for more on the nature around us.

Our Potlatch Culture

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 12:07:00 PST

Countless Potlatch gatherings were held for millennia by the Native Peoples of the coastal Northwest. The Paddle to Squaxin 2012 was the most recent Potlatch held on south Puget Sound.

Historical Potlatches

A Potlatch is an important gathering or festival of Native Peoples celebrating a major event of the host. Guests from far and near attended a Potlatch. Feasts were held, music performed, dances were performed, stories were told, and spiritual ceremonies were conducted, but most importantly, the hosts gave away most of their wealth to the honored guests.

The term "Potlatch" is a Coastal Salish Lushootseed word meaning "throw through the air" or "throw at", relating to the practice of hosts giving gifts away at the Potlatch to visitors. This term is also part of the Chinook trade jargon, a language used by Native Peoples from Oregon to Alaska. Much of this jargon came from the language of the Chinook Tribe that lived at the mouth of the Columbia River. Other words came from languages of other Native Peoples, English and French.

Normally, a high-status person hosted a Potlatch. However, Potlatches were also held celebrating major events of the host family, such as the marriage of children, the erection of a house, a funeral, or the birth of a child. The entire village assisted in preparations for a Potlatch. Traditionally, the most important Potlatches were held during the winter, after food had been harvested and preserved.

A Potlatch could be held in a Potlatch House, erected in most larger villages, or in the host family’s long house. Both types of houses were constructed of cedar planks and were often quite large. The largest Potlatch House built by the Snohomish Tribe at Tulalip was 150 feet long and 43 feet wide. Most other Potlatch Houses were smaller. At least one traditional Potlatch house was located on Eld Inlet, and presumably all other inlets of Puget Sound.

The essential Potlatch practice of hosts giving away most of their wealth offended white settlers. Accordingly, white authorities attempted to ban Potlatches as part of their efforts to drive traditional practices from Native Peoples and "civilize" them into the ways of the white man. However, the Potlatch tradition continued.

Southern Puget Sound Native Peoples

In south Puget Sound, separate bands of closely related Native Peoples lived along the shores of each major inlet. The Clam Legend of the Puget Sound Native Peoples teaches that very long ago, the Raven stuck people into clamshells and dropped them all around Puget Sound. This started the various small bands of Native Peoples up and down Puget Sound.

A winter village was constructed at the closed or protected end of the inlet. Each winter village contained from one to three long houses of roughly 100 feet in length. The winter village of the T’Peeksin peoples of Totten Inlet was located at the southern end of the Inlet on Oyster Bay where Schneider Creek enters the bay. The winter village of the Squi-Aitl band of Eld Inlet was located at the southern end of the Inlet on Mud Bay, south of today’s Highway 101. This winter village had three long houses, each housing about 100 people.

Members of the band congregated in their winter villages during the cold months. This is where children learned much of their traditional stories and culture. During warmer months, members of the village moved out along both sides of the inlet, living in family units in temporary housing, and harvested food.

The Squaxin Island Tribe was created by administrative fiat of Isaac I. Stevens, the first Governor of Washington Territory, as part of the Medicine Creek Treaty in 1854. Seven bands of southern Puget Sound, including the T’Peeksin and Squi-Aitl, were combined into the Tribe.

Squaxin peoples continued holding Potlatches after contact with whites. This includes Potlatches held along both shores of Steamboat Island peninsula.

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Community Alert Regarding Vehicle Prowls and Auto Thefts

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:13:00 PST

Date:   November 26, 2012

Neighborhood/ Area:   Thurston County

Nature of alert: Vehicle Prowls and Auto Thefts Increase

Details: The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office is advising citizens of an increase in Vehicle Prowls and Auto Thefts in the greater Thurston County area. While this is a problem county wide, the largest increase has been to the West and Southwest areas.

Please take precautions to assist us in preventing these crimes. Some of these include removing items of value from your vehicle whenever possible. Please do not leave firearms unattended in a vehicle for any reason. Any access devices such as credit cards, checks, or other financial information can also be used by criminals to steal your money and /or identity.

Keep your vehicle locked and in a well lit or public location whenever possible. Never keep the title to the vehicle in it and a car alarm is also a good idea.

If you do experience a theft of items in the vehicle, or the vehicle itself, make sure to promptly report it to Law Enforcement.

If the crime is clear, call the non-emergency number for crime reporting: (360) 704-2740 (TCOMM-LE Dispatch).

For any crime in progress, call 911.

Thank you for your continued support of Law Enforcement in Thurston County.

Click here for the Thurston County Sheriff's Department web site.

Good GRuB Cookbook Benefits Community Garden Partner

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:16:00 PST

Overrun with zucchini? Too many tomatoes? Wondering how that innocent package of seeds or those vegetable starts turned into the bushels of produce filling your garden? Have no fear.

GRuB - Garden Raised Bounty - offers a fantastic new cookbook, The GOOD GRuB, Making the Most of the Garden’s Edible Gifts, for your enjoyment. Take advantage of your garden’s bounty with the GOOD GRuB cookbook. Packed with 240 tasty recipes, the chapters are organized by vegetable families to make finding that just right recipe quick and easy. Try dishes like Arugula & Beet Salad, Summer Vegetable Pie, and Zucchini Lasagna. Warm yourself up with Pumpkin Caraway Soup, Creamy Carrot Soup, or North African Stew.

Appetizers, beverages, breads, and desserts are among the recipes that round out the collection, all using fresh produce from the garden. There are also chapters devoted to fruits, herbs, and edible flowers, and one that will help you create gifts using garden ingredients. The final chapter, The Cook's Helpers, includes such helpful information as culinary terms, food equivalents, substitutions, and stocking the pantry. From Easy Tomato Sauce to Rhubarb Crumble, you are sure to find both old favorites and new winners in this collection.

GRuB is a non-profit organization working in Thurston and Mason counties in the South Puget Sound region of Washington State. Their mission is to inspire positive personal and community change by bringing people together around food and agriculture. To fulfill this mission GRuB partners with youth and low-income families to create empowering individual and community food solutions by offering activities, trainings, tools and resources to help build a just and sustainable food system. They are helping to create a community garden on our peninsula, at St. Christopher's Community Church.

Only $18 for this useful cookbook. All proceeds go to support GRuB’s work with low-income youth and families in our community. Order your copy from Linda Bondurant, one of the compilers and editors, and a local Griffin Neighborhood Association member, at 360-866-1214. Or click here to go online and find out about GRuB and order your copy of the Good GRuB cookbook. Or contact GRuB directly at 360-753-5522, 2016 Elliott Ave NW, Olympia, WA 98502.

Steamboat Island Cooperative Preschool Celebrates 40 Years With a Dinner; Seeking Alumni

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Mon, 08 Oct 2012 19:07:00 PDT

Are you an alumni of Steamboat Island Preschool? Please contact steamboatcooppreschool@gmail.com with your name and contact information.

Click here to find this event on Facebook.

Community Alert Regarding Residential Burglaries

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 11:54:00 PDT

Date: September 11, 2012, 2012
Neighborhood/ Area: Northwest
Nature of alert: Residential Burglaries

Details: The Thurston County Sheriff's Office wants to make residents aware of arrests made on area burglars.

BURGLARIES – NW AREA OF THURSTON COUNTY

On September 4th, 2012, a Thurston County Sheriff's Office Sergeant took a burglary report in the 1400 block of Summit Lake Shore Road where a cargo trailer, 3 quads and numerous other items had been stolen. It was determined that this burglary had occurred at about 3:30 am.

At about 8:47pm, a resident in a neighborhood in the Black Lake area (Evergreen Shores) called dispatch to report a suspicious trailer on the neighbor’s property. A Deputy responded and remembering the information passed on to him about this burglary, identified the trailer as being stolen even though the license plate and decals had already been removed. A female on scene was detained and two other subjects identified.

Other units responded, a search warrant was obtained and the trailer as well as a large flat panel television, tools, DVD player, and other numerous items from the burglary were recovered. Upon further investigation additional stolen quads were recovered in the wooded area near the suspect’s residence. A generator that was taken from another burglary / theft from Summit Lake was recovered. In addition, a quad stolen out of Lewis County was located and then another stolen quad from another Thurston County theft was located.

Photographs of vehicles in and out of the suspects property that had been taken by neighbors was obtained for follow up investigation.

The female taken into custody was booked for Possession of Stolen Property 1st and is the girlfriend of a male suspect.

Later that same day, at approximately 4:00 PM, another Summit Lake Rd resident reported that a person forced open the front door of her residence. The suspect fled upon realizing the home was occupied. The investigation into this crime continues.

The Sheriff's Office wants the residents of this area to aware of these crimes in order to be vigilant and cautious when at home. Please do not allow strangers into your residence and make sure you keep all of your doors and windows secure.

Click here for the Thurston County Sheriff's Department web site.

GNA and Cooper Point Neighborhood Association Sponsor Two Nights of Candidate Forums

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:17:00 PDT

The Griffin Neighborhood Association and Cooper Point Neighborhood Association have teamed up to bring westside residents two nights of candidate forums this next week.

Each forum will be moderated with moderators posing questions to the candidates.

Wednesday, September 19
7 to 9 PM
Jefferson Middle School
2200 Conger Ave. NW

Candidates in the following races have been invited to participate. However, not all candidates have yet confirmed they will attend. Click on the candidate names to browse to their campaign web sites.

Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 1

Cathy Wolfe (Prefers Democratic Party)
Karen Rogers (Prefers Democratic Party)

Thurston County Commissioner, District No. 2

Andrew Barkis (Prefers Republican Party)
Sandra Romero (Prefers Democratic Party)

Thurston County Public Utility District Commissioner

Linda Oosterman
Steve Fossum

Thurston Superior Court, Judge Position 2

Christine Schaller
Jim Johnson

Thurston Superior Court, Judge Position 4

Erik D. Price
Indu Thomas

Thursday, September 20
7 to 9 PM
Griffin Fire Department Headquarters
3707 Steamboat Loop NW

Candidates in the following races have been invited to participate. However, not all candidates have yet confirmed they will attend. Click on the candidate names to browse to their campaign web sites.

US Congressional District 10

Denny Heck (Prefers Democratic Party)
Richard (Dick) Muri (Prefers Republican Party)

State Representative 35th, District Position 1

Kathy Haigh (Prefers Democratic Party)
Dan Griffey (Prefers Republican Party)

State Representative 35th, District Position 2

Drew C. MacEwen (Prefers Republican Party)
Lynda Ring-Erickson (Prefers Democratic Party)

State Court of Appeals, Division 2, District 2

Pamela (Pam) Loginsky
Thomas Bjorgen

We are pleased to join with our neighbors on Cooper Point to present this important election season event.

Once Again, Voters Asked to Confront a Fistful of Measures on General Election Ballot

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:12:00 PDT

This November's General Election ballot will include eight ballot measures. As in the past, it's a mix of citizen's initiatives and measures arising from specific legislation. As has also been true in the past, there's a mix of high-visibility measures, such as R-74 (marriage for same-sex couples) and I-502 (marijuana legalization) and far more obscure constitutional amendments.

The easiest way to both check your voter's registration and access basic information regarding all the ballot measures and officials appearing on your ballot is to use the Washington Secretary of State's "MyVote" web site. Click here to go there. Select "My Candidates & Ballot Measures" to find your online voter's guide.

On the MyVote web site, it is possible for you to read further about each measure. Details include an explanatory statement, fiscal impact statement, and arguments for and against each measure.

State Measures

Initiative Measure 1185

Initiative Measure No. 1185 concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government. This measure would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.

Learn more about this Tim Eyman initiative at Yes on 1185.

Arguments against the initiative may be found at Permanent Defense.

Initiative Measure 1240
Initiative Measure No. 1240 concerns creation of a public charter school system. This measure would authorize up to forty publicly-funded charter schools open to all students, operated through approved, nonreligious, nonprofit organizations, with government oversight; and modify certain laws applicable to them as public schools.

Read arguments in favor of Measure 1240 at Yes on 1240.

Read arguments against Measure 1240 at No on 1240.

Referendum Measure 74

The legislature passed Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6239 concerning marriage for same-sex couples, modified domestic-partnership law, and religious freedom, and voters have filed a sufficient referendum petition on this bill. This bill would allow same-sex couples to marry, preserve domestic partnerships only for seniors, and preserve the right of clergy or religious organizations to refuse to perform, recognize, or accommodate any marriage ceremony.

Read arguments in favor of Measure 74 at Washington United for Marriage.

Read arguments against Measure 74 at Preserve Marriage Washington.

Initiative to the Legislature 502

Initiative Measure No. 502 concerns marijuana. This measure would license and regulate marijuana production, distribution, and possession for persons over twenty-one; remove state-law criminal and civil penalties for activities that it authorizes; tax marijuana sales; and earmark marijuana-related revenues.

Read arguments in favor of I-502 at New Approach Washington.

Read arguments against I-502 at No on I-502.

Engrossed Senate Joint Resolution 8221

The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on implementing the Commission on State Debt recommendations regarding Washington's debt limit. This amendment would, starting July 1, 2014, phase-down the debt limit percentage in three steps from nine to eight percent and modify the calculation date, calculation period, and the term general state revenues.

We could not find authoritative web sites either for or against SJR 8221. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.

Senate Joint Resolution 8223

The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on investments by the University of Washington and Washington State University. This amendment would create an exception to constitutional restrictions on investing public funds by allowing these universities to invest specified public funds as authorized by the legislature, including in private companies or stock.

Read arguments in favor of SJR 8223 at Yes for Students.

We could find no authoritative web site against SJR 8223. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.

State Advisory Votes

Advisory Vote 1 (Engrossed Senate Bill 6635)

The legislature eliminated, without a vote of the people, a business and occupation tax deduction for certain financial institutions’ interest on residential loans, costing $170,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.

Voters will be asked whether the tax increase should be repealed or maintained.

We could not find authoritative web sites either for or against ESB 6635. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.

Advisory Vote 2 (Substitute House Bill 2590)

The legislature extended, without a vote of the people, expiration of a tax on possession of petroleum products and reduced the tax rate, costing $24,000,000 in its first ten years, for government spending.

Voters will be asked whether the tax increase should be repealed or maintained.

We could not find authoritative web sites either for or against SHB 2590. Have you found any material online you would like to share? Leave a comment below.

The 2012 General Election Voter's Guide is now available online. Click here for the Voter's Guide.

Project VoteSmart is another online resource many have found a useful reference, both in making decisions regarding ballot measures and in assessing various candidates which appear on the ballot.

Griffin Foundation Auction, Prosperity Grange Dinner, Other Local Events for Your Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (GriffinNeighbors) — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 10:27:00 PDT

Back to school shopping complete? Check. Kids off to first days of school? Check. Here are some additional local events to add to your calendar:

Griffin Fire Department 50th Anniversary Open House
September 8
9:00am to 3:00pm
Griffin Fire Department Headquarters
3707 Steamboat Loop NW, Olympia, Washington 98502

Click here for our article regarding this event.

Griffin School Foundation 2012 Dinner & Auction. "The Steamboat Stampede"
September 8
5:30pm to 10:00 pm
Steamboat Island Driving Range

Traditionally, this event is one the largest private, non-profit auctions in Thurston County. Join us for this year's event which is on track to be an extraordinary evening! Live Auction officiated by Pat Cashman. Tickets are $50/person and includes admission, dinner and a drink.
Click here for more information.

Celebrity Chef Xinh Dwelley Dinner to Benefit Prosperity Grange
October 8
5:30pm to 8:30 pm
Prosperity Grange

Join local celebrity chef Xinh for a cooking demonstration, dinner and local wine, to benefit the Prosperity Grange. Door prize, raffle, silent auction. Tickets $50 each. Call Faye Olson (534-0456) or Jane Morgan (701-6502) for information and to purchase tickets. Thank you to sponsors Taylor United, Xinh's Clam & Oyster House, Blissful Wunders, and the Dirt Divas.

Madrona Grove Annual "An Apple Affair"
October 21
12:00pm to 4:00pm
Rignall Hall
Steamboat Island Rd NW and Urquhart Rd NW

Join us for An Apple Affair, Madrona Grove's annual apple tasting and community apple potluck. More details will be announced soon.

Do you have a local event you would like to promote? Email us at webmaster@griffinneighbors.org.