From some folks in the Hunter Point area, we received this message regarding a found dog:
Hello,
We found this dog today in the Hunter Point road area. No name or chip. We lost the neighborhood email list and we were wondering if you could sent this along in case anyone is missing this cute dog.
We can be reached at lencionifamily@comcast.net
The Thurston County Democrats have posted the applications and, in some cases, cover letters, from 10 individuals who have applied to replace Bob Macleod as County Commissioner, District 3. Click here to read those, if you’re inclined to do so.
The short list is now comprised of:
Corinne Tobeck
Ed Crawford
Erik Landass
Gayle Broadbent
Jack Turner
Jacqueline Brown Miller
Karen Valenzuela
Mary Moore
Richard Emde
Russ Lehman
Sharron Coontz
Susan Bogni
Walt Jorgensen
A piece we wrote previously, about Bob Macleod’s resignation, describes the process the Thurston County Democrats will follow, in order to send a list of at least 3 candidates to the Board of Commissioners.
UPDATED: Click here for the Olympian’s coverage of this list, which raises the number of candidates to 13).
Just in time for the holidays, the Federal Trade Commission is allowing cell phone numbers to be released to telemarketers today.
The FTC has provided a DoNotCall program, for our use. Call 888-382-1222 from the phone you wish to put on the do not call list. Or, you can go to www.ftc.gov/donotcall and register up to three numbers at a time. You will receive an email for each number and you must respond within 72 hours to complete the registration, which is good for five years.
Non-profit organizations and political parties are exempt from the Do Not Call list. Also, those companies which can claim they have an “established business relationship” with you are also exempt.
Telemarketing firms are supposed to register and download a list of do not call numbers so that they can eliminate the do not calls from their calling lists.
You can file a complaint against a telemarketer you think may have broken the rules online by going to https://www.donotcall.gov/Complaint/ComplaintCheck.aspx. But, your phone number must have been in the registry for at least 31 days.
If you would like to read about a case in which a telemarketing company failed to give an accurate call back number so that consumers could complain, go to http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2008/05/scorpio.shtm. Each of the defendants in the case received a $530,000 fine, but they only had to pay a small fraction of it, and they were then free to continue with their pestering calls.
Local electric customers find Puget Sound Energy’s “Green Power” program to be an easy way to reduce their carbon footprint. As we enter our peak electrical use, for the year, now is a great time to consider “going green.” For more than a year, all the electricity supplying our home has come to us through renewable sources. One day, we’d like to heat our water using solar, and maybe generate some of our own electricity. But, until that happens – and even after it does – PSE’s Green Power program is right for us.
According the the PSE web site, “Through the Green Power Program at Puget Sound Energy (PSE), you can support the development of electricity generated from renewable sources in the Northwest for as little as $4 per month. PSE’s Green Power Program is one of the top 10 Green Power Programs in the country (source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 12/2007).”
The purchase of Green Power, through PSEs program represents an investment in renewable power. “PSE uses the funds collected from the Green Power Program to purchase green power, educate the public and market renewable energy, and administer the program. PSE is required to report annually on our Green Power Program’s progress to the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Committee (WUTC) and Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development, who in turn present their findings from throughout the state to the Washington State Legislature.”
You can purchase 100 percent of your energy from renewable sources for only $0.0125 per kWh on top of your monthly electric charges. But, you can choose buy only a portion of your electrical needs through the program, for as little as $4 per month.
For more information on the Green Power program and to sign up click here for the PSE web site.
Join the thousands of Puget Sound Energy customers who have already signed up to supply all or a portion of their electrical needs using green power (the Olympia area has the second highest participation rates, behind Bellingham, in the program).
The City of Bellingham, incidentally, has chosen to purchase its municipal electrical supply entirely through the program. I look forward to the day when both Olympia and Thurston County governments make that choice, too.
Click here to read a recent article, from the Olympian, which describes how other local families are reducing their carbon footprints.
— MARK MESSINGER
The South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group invites you to “Welcome back the chum salmon of Kennedy Creek.”
Click here for more information and driving instructions.
“Kennedy Creek is one of the most productive salmon runs in South Puget Sound. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to experience these wild salmon on the 1/2 mile, ADA accessible trail, with 11 viewing stations, interpretive signage, and volunteer guides.”
The trail is free and open to the public from 10 am to 4 pm on the following days in November:
The Puget Sound Partnership, a community effort of citizens, governments, tribes, scientists and businesses working together to restore and protect Puget Sound, has recently released a draft Action Agenda to restore the health of the Sound by 2020.
A public comment period on the content of the draft Agenda ends this Thursday, November 20. The Partnership is working to prepare the final version of the Action Agenda for release on December 1, 2008.
Click here to download a copy of the 94-page Agenda. Then, click here to submit a comment.
The agenda includes important suggestions regarding what ordinary people and homeowners can do, to help improve the health of the Sound. Many of these we’ve seen before.
Some easy steps you can take to clean things up:
Vehicle Operations
What comes off and out of your car makes its way into Puget Sound
- Drive less
- Check for leaks
- Use substitute for copper break pads
- Ask for steel tire weights instead of lead
Fertilizers & Herbicides
What does not get used up by plants makes its way into Puget Sound
- Pull and smother weeds instead of spraying
- Follow package directions exactly
- Improve soil
- Use native plants
Car Washing
What products (soaps, waxes, cleaners) you use wash into Puget Sound
- Use commercial car washes
- Wash on pervious surfaces like a lawn
- Use car wash kits for charity car washes
Pet Waste
What is left on the lawn will be washed into Puget Sound
- Scoop your poop and put it in the trash!
Household Products/Chemicals
What goes down your sink, toilets, and drains makes its way into Puget Sound
- Choose least toxic alternatives for household cleaners
- Use more elbow grease, less chemicals
- Use your local waste facility to dispose of chemicals properly
Septic Systems
What a septic system cannot handle makes its way into Puget Sound
- Maintain your septic system
- Do not overuse or abuse its abilities (toilet paper only)
- Fix failing septic systems
The Agenda defines specific indicators and benchmarks to answer the question “How will we hold ourselves accountable?” (page 10). Among these are a target for “Net increase of 10,000 acres of commercial shellfish growing area open for direct harvest based on improved sanitary conditions.”
Futurewise, a public interest group, has released a notice to its members which reads, “I hope you’ll agree that the Partnership has gone a long way and deserves praise. While we applaud their effort thus far, we also believe the Action Agenda can and must be improved. The Partnership must clearly identify benchmarks and sustained funding to get us to a healthy Puget Sound by 2020. Further it should build off our existing community protections and take advantage of the region’s recent vote in favor of expanding light rail.”
This is a hefty Agenda, but folks in the Griffin area have an abiding interest in the quality of the Sound, share responsibility for the health of the South Sound, and many of us benefit in many ways – economically and in our quality of life – from the presence of the Puget Sound. Recent alarming reports of the probable deaths of 7 orcas, in the north Sound, highlight the critical situation which presently confronts us.
Local residents would do good to keep up on the activities of the Puget Sound Partnership and encourage our elected officials to take an active role in implementing provisions of the final Agenda.
In what ways do you support this Agenda or believe the Agenda does not merit your support? Click the “comments” link below and leave your comments.
The Olympian is reporting that Thurston County staff is recommending workforce reductions. Despite these efforts, though, the budget shortfall is still estimated to be at least $1.2 million.
Click here to read the article.
Its especially noteworthy that so much – two-thirds – of the County budget pays for the criminal justice system. As a result, “the budget calls for fewer deputies to respond to and investigate certain crimes, less help at the Permit Assistance Center and more delays in resolving court cases.”
Several building inspectors are to be laid-off, too.
The Olympian has already reported the County may end a drug court program which diverted low-risk, non-violent drug offenders away from the jail system.
It is especially ironic to see how deep some of these cuts will go, after reading (just a few days ago), “The amount that Thurston County must pay three women who won a sex- discrimination lawsuit against the county will total almost $3 million after attorney’s fees are taken into account.”
And, don’t forget, just this last August, when a public record request disclosed that “Thurston County paid almost $1.47 million over four years to process and defend against challenges to the county’s 2004 comprehensive-plan update.” The County largely came out on the losing end of that protracted court battle.
The new County Commissioners will have their work cut out for them. Then again, it might be good that, at some point early this next year, there will be not one – but two – new Commissioners on the Board.
On November 7th the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has released a Community Alert regarding “a recent rash of thefts of vehicle’s catalytic converters, particularly in residential areas.”
If you have any information which may lead to those perpetrating these thefts, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-786- 5500 or Crime Stoppers 493-2222.
The entire contents of the notice reads:
The Thurston County Sheriff’s Office has seen a recent rash of thefts of vehicle’s catalytic converters, particularly in residential areas. Due to the fact that these converters are found in exterior locations and that valuable precious metals including platinum, palladium, and rhodium are used in their construction, converters are a target for thieves. With scrap metal being a common avenue for the criminal element to make money, each of these converters are valuable commodities. The problem is especially common among late-model Toyota trucks and SUVs, due to their high ground clearance and easily-removed bolt-on catalytic converters. Welded-in converters are also at risk of theft from SUVs and trucks, as they can be easily removed with a battery powered reciprocating saw. The saw removal of the converter can often inadvertently damage the car’s wiring or fuel line resulting in dangerous consequences.
Thieves can get $40 to $100 for a converter from an unscrupulous scrap metal dealer. Toyota 4Runners are particular targets — not only do their catalytic converters contain plenty of platinum, their high ground clearance makes them particularly easy targets. A thief with a socket wrench can remove a 4Runner’s converter in minutes.
Since thieves crawl under the vehicle to remove the converter, it is easy to hide while the crime is taking place. Most victims report that they didn’t hear anything during the night – leading us to believe that speed wrenches or normal hand tools are used around residences. Each unit weighs less than 8 pounds, and is easily lifted and moved.
The nature of this crime makes repeat occurrences attractive, since the converter needs to be replaced for the vehicle to be operated. The only real way to protect against the crime is to make sure that the vehicle is stored inside.
Since many of us don’t have the option of storing our vehicles inside, it is important to remember that lighting is a thief’s enemy. Make sure that you have adequate outdoor lighting illuminating your driveway or vehicle storage area. Report any suspicious activity by calling 911 immediately. Know who your neighbors are and consider forming a Neighborhood Watch program.
For information on forming a Neighborhood Watch, contact the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office Community Outreach Division at (360) 786-5855.
Contact info: If you have any information, please call the Sheriff’s Office at 360-786- 5500 or Crime Stoppers 493-2222.
The Olympian yesterday reported that our Commissioner, Bob Macleod, will be resigning as of December 31st. “He noted his diagnosis for an unspecified medical condition in the letter,” Christian Hill, for the Olympian wrote, “but later confirmed in an interview it is Alzheimer’s disease.”
Macleod, a Democrat, will be replaced in an appointment selected by the remaining two commissioners, from a list of three candidates. The list of candidates will be offered to the commissioners by the Thurston County Democratic Party. If the commissioners cannot agree on a replacement within five days of Macleod’s vacancy, the Governor will make an appointment.
Sandra Romero, newly elected to the Board of Commissioners, will move up her oath of office, in order to participate in the process of designating a replacement.
According to the news article, “The commissioner appointed to fill Macleod’s unexpired term will be up for election next year. The seat again would be open for election in 2010, when Macleod’s four-year term expires.”
Click here to read the entire article in the Olympian.
Click here for Bob Macleod’s biographical information and the organizations on which he represents the County, from the Thurston County web site.
Click here to visit the web site of the Thurston County Democrats.
UPDATED 11/17: From Thurston County Democrats, we received this communication, which clarifies a few points made in the article published in the Olympian:
Just a week ago, we were all saddened when Bob Macleod, Thurston County Commissioner, announced his mid-term resignation from the District 3 position effective December 31, 2008, due to health concerns. Our community is united in its gratitude for the 6 years of service Bob gave as our commissioner and the preceding decades of community service he generously provided while serving as news director at KGY radio. We all hope the challenges of his declining health may be minimized and that he may continue to stay active to the extent he feels comfortable.
We are now ready to begin the difficult task of “filling his shoes” for the remainder of his term. In accordance with Article II, Section 15 of the Washington State Constitution, the two other commissioners, Cathy Wolfe and Sandra Romero, will have 60 days after December 31 in which to appoint a successor [emphasis added] who will serve until November 2009, when a successor to serve the remainder of Bob’s term will be elected. The Thurston County Democratic Central Committee (Precinct Committee Officers) will provide the names of three candidates from which Cathy and Sandra are to choose one as the temporary successor.
Although our newly elected Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) do not take office until December 1st and the upcoming holiday season poses some scheduling challenges, we do intend to provide the three names to the two other commissioners by mid-January at latest. This is the process we will follow:
Applications
Applications from Democrats resident and registered to vote in Commissioner District 3 are now being accepted, provided they are postmarked or emailed by December 1st. In addition to providing contact information (name, address, phone numbers and email address), applicants must indicate
(1) why they want to serve as county commissioner,
(2) what they believe makes them uniquely qualified to fill this vacancy,
(3) how they are prepared to stand for election in 2009 and then again in 2010, and
(4) what they intend to accomplish during their term as county commissioner.Applications may be emailed to commissioner@thurstondemocrats.org or post mailed to PO Box 164, Olympia, WA 98507.
Review Process
By mid-December (before the holiday vacations), the PCOs officially elected in 2008 whose precincts are in Commissioner District 3 will meet to interview the applicants and develop a ranked list to submit to the full Thurston County Democratic Central Committee (TCDCC). This date of this meeting will be announced after December 1st.
In early January, a special meeting of all PCOs officially elected in 2008 shall be convened to review the recommendations of the district PCOs and develop a final ranked list of three candidates to submit to the two remaining county commissioners.
Each meeting will be chaired and moderated by the Thurston County Democrats’ chair or designee.
Public Comment
Written comments from the public are welcome and may be sent to commissioner@thurstondemocrats.org. All comments received by December 15 will be distributed to all PCOs who are participating in the review process.
John Cusick, Chair
Thurston County Demcocrats
The Olympian has today run an article entitled “Will legislator fill commission seat?” which suggests that Representative Brendan Williams might appear on the list of candidates. Click here to read that article.
Dang. Like, is there nothing Google doesn’t do? Today comes news that Google.org, a research arm of Google, has made public a site which can be used to track the local and national incidence of the flu. Interestingly, Google is claiming they can respond more quickly and thereby beat even the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), by two weeks, in tracking the spread of the flu.
Click here to visit the site where you can select Washington state and see a graph of reported incidence of the flu, as well as trend lines that represent flu outbreaks from prior years.
Make sure, if you visit this web page, to click on the drop-box and select “Washington” from the list of states. Otherwise, you’re just looking at the graph for the entire U.S.
By all accounts, we’re entering our flu season. The web site also hooks into the American Lung Association to help to provide you with local flu shot information, if you enter your ZIP Code into a search field. According to Google, the Rite Aid on Cooper Point Road will have flu shots November 18 from 2:00pm-6:00pm.