Who is the Griffin Neighborhood Association?

The Griffin Neighborhood Association (GNA) is registered with the State of Washington as a non-profit organization. We are a nonpartisan group of neighbors living within the boundaries of the Griffin School District, Thurston County, Washington.

Any person owning property, a business, or residing in the Griffin area is eligible to become a member and participate fully in the Association. Membership is also open to community groups and students of the Griffin School District. If you live or work in the Griffin neighborhood or Steamboat Peninsula, the Griffin Neighborhood Association is you.

Originally organized as the Oyster Bay Neighborhood Association in 1990, we were registered with the State of Washington as the nonprofit Griffin Neighborhood Association in December, 1995.

Our Mission

The mission of the Griffin Neighborhood Association is to help build community consensus on major issues confronting the Griffin area, including growth, land issues, habitat, water quality, transportation and school planning. When appropriate, we research issues as honest brokers of information, provide forums for debate, attempt to arrive at community consensus and issue resolution, and present this consensus to appropriate decision makers.

The Griffin Neighborhood Association also undertakes and supports projects that benefit our community, help to build a sense of community, and educate the community on topics of interest.

Our Board and Officers

Our Board is comprised of current members of the Association, elected by members of the Association present at the Annual Meeting. Officers are elected from Board membership by members of the Board.

The Board typically sets an annual schedule of regular meetings. Tentative meeting dates, times and locations are posted on our Facebook Page and on Nextdoor.

Support the GNA When You Shop on Amazon

You can support the Griffin Neighborhood Association when you shop on Amazon if you begin your shopping trip with this link: https://SteamboatIsland.org/Amazon. If you click this link, you’ll be taken to Amazon, where you can shop normally. The prices you see won’t be any different. However, Amazon will share a very small commission with the GNA. We will use that money to help support our work here in our neighborhood.

In fact, at the bottom of our website – on every page – you’ll find a little Amazon logo. That’s the link, too.

No browser extension is required. No commitment on your part. Each time you shop on Amazon, you can choose to use this link or not. If you use it, any purchase you make until you close out your browser will benefit the GNA.

Thanks, neighbors!

Aerial Spraying to Eradicate Spongy Moths to Begin Soon Over a Limited Area

Local residents are likely aware that over the last year or more, the Washington Department of Agriculture has identified a portion of Steamboat Peninsula, along with other locations in Western Washington, as a home for a growing population of the invasive spongy moth (formerly known as the “gypsy moth”). You may have seen the traps attached to trees around the Peninsula as the Department of Agriculture worked to find where the moth populations were located. That work is now done and the Department is now taking steps to reduce the spongy moth population. One of the steps being taken is the aerial spraying of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki or “Btk”. We’ve now received notification from the Department of Agriculture that aerial spraying will be happening soon.

UPDATE: The three aerial sprayings have now been completed. They were conducted on the mornings of May 16, May 19, and May 20. No other sprayings are scheduled this year. The Washington Department of Agriculture will evaluate the effectiveness and may schedule additional sprayings at a later date, possibly next year.

The area identified for aerial spraying is relatively small; the entire Steamboat Peninsula is not being sprayed. The area centers on Steamboat Island Road and Sunrise Beach Road. The western boundary is a line running along Oyster Bay Road. The northern border is roughly the 4400 blocks of Oyster Bay Road and Steamboat Island Road. On the east is the Sunrise Heights Road, off Keating Road. The southern border is roughly the 2600 block of Madrona Beach Road. Click the image for a larger version.

If you live within this area you should consider signing up for alerts by email, a text message, or a phone call notifying you of when spraying will take place. Exact treatment dates are highly dependent on the weather. Click here to see the web page where you can set up the notification you prefer. Or call 800-443-6684.

“While Btk is not toxic to people or pets, it is sticky,” reads a recent postcard sent out by the Department of Agriculture. “When applied, it will leave a thin film on outdoor objects. You may want to cover outdoor vehicles or bring toys inside. If your belongings get Btk on them, it washes off with soap and water. Keep windows and doors closed during treatments and for 30 minutes afterward.”

A small airplane will apply the Btk treatments. These treatments usually start in the morning hours and continue until they are complete across the entire coverage area. There will be three treatments with three to 10 days between each one.

For more information about this aerial spraying and about the spongy moth, visit agr.wa.gov/moths. Email pest@agr.wa.gov. Call the Spongy Moth Hotline at 800-443-6684. And join the Spongy Moth Eradication Facebook Group.

HMS Off The Hook is the Griffin Area’s Deli and Specialty Grocery Store

HMS Off The Hook advertises itself as offering “premium meats and more.” Visit their location at 6541 Sexton Drive NW, in Steamboat Square, and you’ll find a lot more. True, they offer an excellent selection of prime beef, pork, and chicken. But they also offer cheeses, wine, crackers, and a variety of grab-and-go prepared meals. Pizza, soup, salads, sauces, desserts, and much, much more, means HMS Off The Hook is the neighborhood deli and specialty grocery store here on the Steamboat Peninsula.

“Looking for a quick and delicious meal on the go? Our fresh, grab-n-go options are designed to satisfy your cravings while keeping your schedule on track.” Follow HMS Off The Hook on Facebook, where you’ll find they often post specials and prepared meal items available for a limited time.

One surprising item they have on offer is Xinh’s cookbooks. Many of us remember her famous restaurant in Shelton. If you like to cook, you’ll want one of these cookbooks on your shelf.

Since 1960, Home Meat Service has been providing products in and around Shelton. HMS Off The Hook is their retail location here in northwest Thurston County.

HMS Off The Hook is among the local businesses whose generous contribution recently allowed the Griffin Neighborhood Association to purchase more of the Steamboat Neighborhood stickers for free distribution to area residents. We hope you will stop by HMS Off The Hook soon and shop. When you do, thank them for their support.

Yes, they have meats, but they offer much more.

Steamboat Square is a Growing Business Core in NW Thurston County

Steamboat Square has long provided a business core for the Steamboat Peninsula/Griffin area. In recent years, the Square has been on-the-grow, and it now offers an increasing variety of services and dining establishments. The Square has also hosted community events, including the Halloween Trunk or Treat and a Block Party.

Steamboat Square is a blossoming area with many great small businesses and local shops to attract locals, visitors, and people passing through! Steamboat Square has quite a variety to meet your various needs, from coffee to chiropractic, to salons and food – we offer it all! We are also currently leasing a few buildings and looking to add a family medical office, dentist, or physical therapist. We are so happy to host these wonderful businesses for such a special community!

Located just off US-101, Steamboat Square is the front door to the Peninsula. With space available to lease now and two more buildings available this summer, this may be the perfect fit for your business needs.

Steamboat Square is already home to Board & Brush Creative Studio, Elevate Hair & Skin, Steamboat Health & Wellness, Our Community Credit Union, Urraco Coffee, HMS Off-the-Hook, Tipsy Whale Mercantile, the newly-opened Red Velvet Bakery By the Sea, and more. Click here for a list of all the businesses currently located in the Square.

Steamboat Square is one of four local businesses whose recent contributions have enabled the Griffin Neighborhood Association to purchase the distinctive Steamboat Neighborhood stickers for free distribution. We hope you’ll visit a Steamboat Square business soon and pick up a sticker for your car, truck, or boat.

Click here to read the entire blog of the Griffin Neighborhood Association or to post a comment on any individual story.

The opinions expressed on the GriffinNeighbors blog, on Twitter, Instagram, and on Facebook are in no way intended to represent the opinions of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, its members, or Board.

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