Category Archives: Griffin Neighborhood Association

GriffinNeighbors Website Changes

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Twelve years ago, the Griffin Neighborhood Association went online with the GriffinNeighbors web site. Over the years, change came slowly to the website. Through it all, though, the underlying technology on which the original website was built was not changed. That is, until now. We are now unveiling a trimmer web site that boasts higher integration with social networking, is easy to read, and runs on a low-cost and sustainable platform.

Wordpress-logo

Yep, we’re now on WordPress.

The new website retains most of the features of the old. Our home page provides the latest news from the Griffin Neighborhood Association. A new section, top left of the home page, highlights some of the big goings-on here on the Steamboat Peninsula.

The most recent posts on our Facebook Page and Twitter feed are on display. You don’t have to have a Facebook or Twitter account to read and benefit from what we’re sharing on those social networks.

It’s easy from our website to find us on Facebook, Twitter, or to get to this area’s Nextdoor network.

A new section on the home page displays upcoming events from the calendar on our Facebook Page.

The new website should display well, whether you’re viewing it on a PC, a tablet, or a smartphone.

The most recent posts from our blog are displayed on our home page, too. A couple of clicks take you to our archive of more than 500 articles, including our series on local history and local nature.

It’s easy to add your own comments to our blog, too, and like and share our posts on some of the most popular social networks.

ridiculously-old-computer

No, the original website was not built using this kind of PC.

Our growing directory of local businesses has a clean, easy to read layout.

Pages describing the Steamboat Conservation Partnership and providing resources to help you and your close neighbors to prepare for a disaster were moved from the old site.

Some Association members may find it convenient to pay their membership dues as an annual subscription. It’s easy to set up on our Join Us page. With a subscription, annual dues are automatically charged annually to your credit card. Want to cancel your subscription? There’s a button for that, too, on our Join Us page.Read More→

GNA Offers Updates, Information on Local Developments, and Columnist John Dodge at Annual Community Meeting

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john-dodge

John Dodge

Thursday’s Community Meeting was the once yearly opportunity for the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association to report to the community on recent activities, to vote in new members of the Board, and to provide a program of interest to residents on the Steamboat Peninsula. This year’s featured speaker was Olympian columnist John Dodge.

Bud Blake, Thurston County’s newest member of the Board of County Commissioners, attended the meeting and was able to speak with residents before and after the program. Mary, his wife, also attended and spoke with those eager to meet her and Commissioner Blake.

Also before the meeting, representatives of Feline Friends and Open Hands Food Bank Garden at St. Christopher’s Community Church met with interested residents.

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This Year’s Community Picnic will Focus on Local Businesses and Farms, Food and Fun

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It’s summer picnic time again! On Sunday, July 27th the Griffin Neighborhood Association will host its annual community picnic. Last year’s picnic, with its emphasis on local businesses and farms, was widely praised by those who attended. Folks liked it so much, we’re going to do it again!

Sunday, July 27
12 noon to 4 PM
Prosperity Grange, Steamboat Golf, Griffin Fire Department Headquarters

Food and Fun

Xinh Dwelley, of Xinh’s Clam and Oyster House, will be preparing her fresh seafood specialties. The Griffin Neighborhood Association will be preparing hamburgers and hot dogs with all the fixings. The folks from the Steamboat Trading Post are donating beverages.

Is this a potluck? Any main dishes, salads, or desserts will be very welcome and there’s plenty of space for dining inside the Prosperity Grange. You do not have to bring a potluck dish. But we’d love to serve anything you may choose to bring.

The Griffin Fire Department will hold an open house on our picnic day. You are invited to come in, learn about your local volunteer fire department and check out some of their equipment. Practice your swing at the Steamboat Golf driving range. Make a new friend with one of the alpacas from Lighthouse Alpaca Ranch. Watch a demonstration by a local craftsperson or organization. As more details become known, you can learn more about the day’s events on this web site or on our Facebook Page. We’ll have a little program of events to distribute, the day of the picnic.

Local Businesses and Farms

Last year, nearly 40 local businesses, farms, and organizations were represented. Click here for a recap of last year’s picnic. This year will be even bigger! Come and learn more about the products and services available right here in our own neighborhood. Try some samples, participate in a raffle, meet your neighbors who own or operate local businesses or produce the freshest food you’ve tasted.

Do you own or operate a local business or farm? We’d love to have you participate. You don’t have to have anything to sell at the event. In fact, the focus of this event is not on buying and selling. For more information and to confirm that you will attend, click here for an information sheet and an application. But don’t delay, since spaces are allotted on a first come, first served basis. If you’re interested in attending, but have questions, leave a phone message for our event coordinators at 360-252-6047 or email us.

Can You Volunteer?

Would you like to help us organize this event? Or could you help for just an hour or so on the actual day of the picnic? We could really use a hand. Leave a message for us at 360-252-6047 and we’ll get back to you very quickly.

Watch this space for more details and we hope to see you July 27th!

Community Picnic, Farmers and Local Business Fair a Success!

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Cool and overcast weather didn’t dampen spirits as an estimated 300 or more area residents came together this last Sunday to enjoy a community picnic and farmers and local business fair. The event was hosted by Prosperity Grange, Restoration Hope Community Outreach, and the Griffin Neighborhood Association. Proceeds for the event were for the benefit of the Prosperity Grange. The grange is currently reviewing bids to upgrade their building’s electrical system.

If you missed this year’s picnic, there’s a photo album growing on our Facebook page. Click here to see that album.

This was the first effort on the part of the hosts to hold an event intended to meet so many simultaneous objectives. Funds were being raised for the benefit of the Prosperity Grange, organizers sought to highlight the many local businesses and farms operating in our area, and (lest we not forget) this is the community picnic held every year around this time. At the close of the day, everyone agreed the event was a terrific success.

Not only was attendance higher than we’ve seen in recent years, we also saw many more families with children. Thanks to the Steamboat Island Cooperative Preschool, Cedars on the Sound, Lighthouse Alpaca Ranch, and others for giving the kids something to do, following the afternoon meal.

A number of local farms and businesses made donations either directly to the Prosperity Grange or in the form of gifts for a silent auction and a golf driving game that was held during the picnic.

A special thanks is made to the extraordinary contributions made by sponsors of the event. Xinh Dwelley, of Xinh’s Clam & Oyster House, prepared claims and curried mussels (seafood donated by Taylor Shellfish Farms). Steamboat Trading Post (formerly Steamboat Island Fuel, at the corner of Sexton and Old Steamboat Island Rd.) donated beverages and bags of chips. Steamboat Golf hosted a game to benefit Prosperity Grange and allowed most of the event (and the parking!) to take place on their property.

Here is a list of the farms and businesses present and some of the donations made during last Sunday’s picnic:

Did we leave anyone out?

Many of these farms and businesses are listed in our online local business directory. Do you own or operate a local business, then click here for information about how you can be added to our directory.

Past and present members of the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association staffed a pair of grills and offered hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers to everyone at the picnic. Even a surprise inspection by the Thurston County Health Department didn’t slow the pace of production.

At the information table for the Griffin Neighborhood Association there was on display the Little Free Library which will soon be placed near the front door of the Griffin Fire Department Headquarters. The library was donated thanks to generous contributions from local residents and the Friends of the Olympia Library. Contributions to cover the costs of the purchase and installation of the library are still being taken. Click here for more information about the Steamboat Little Free Library.

There was one tragic set of circumstances associated with this year’s picnic. Bliss, of Blissful Wunders Chocolats, made a sizeable donation of his truffles. But where was all this candy, on Sunday? Rumor has it that Bliss (who was selling his chocolates elsewhere this weekend) delivered his donation to the grange hall on Thursday. These were discovered in the refrigerator by the Steamboat Bluegrass Festival, held in the grange hall on Friday night. We understand the Bluegrass Festival was quite a success and we’d like to think that was, if only in a small part, because of the chocolates meant for our community picnic.

We hope to see you all at next year’s community picnic. But wait! Do not forget the Blueberry Bash, Sunday August 25th at St. Christopher’s Community Church! We’ll see you all there.

And, around 3:15, the sun did come out.

Did you attend the community picnic? What suggestions do you have, for next year’s picnic? Leave your comments here.
 
 

Neighborhood Beach Party – August 27 at Frye Cove Park

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Join us for a Griffin Neighborhood Beach Party on Saturday, August 27, at Frye Cove Park.

Bring a salad, dessert, snack, or just bring yourself. We’ll provide beverages, hamburgers, hot dogs, clams, and all the condiments.

Saturday, August 27
12 noon to 4 PM
Frye Cove Park
4000 NW 61st Ave, Olympia, WA

Enjoy fresh shellfish dishes with an Asian twist prepared  by Xinh Dwelley, of Xinh’s Clam & Oyster House.

Low Tide Exploration with beach naturalists – 10 AM to 1 PM. Low tide is at 11 AM. Thanks to the South Sound Estuary Association for providing their beach naturalists, for this activity.

Kids activities include opportunities to create an estuary print, visit with the Pacific Northwest Shell Club, learn about phytoplankton and much more!

Donations of non-perishable food and cash for the St. Christopher’s Food Bank are welcome.

 
 

All Are Welcome to a Community Meeting, Wednesday, January 26

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Click here to download a copy of our flyer.

Please join us for a Community Meeting on Wednesday, January 26, at the Griffin Fire Department Headquarters. The meeting begins at 7 PM, but folks are invited to come by beginning at 6:30, for coffee, snacks, and conversation.

The annual Community Meeting is an opportunity for the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association to report on its activities over this last year.

You do not have to be a member of the GNA to attend the meeting. However, if you are a current GNA member, you can nominate and vote on Board members.

We have a number of guests from the local community coming to speak with us and to field questions from those in attendance. We’ve received confirmations that these local officials will be attending the Annual Meeting:

Fred Finn, State Representative, 35th Legislative District
Karen Valenzuela, Thurston County Commissioner
John Snaza, Thurston County Sheriff
Greg Woods, Griffin School Principal
John Wood, Griffin Fire Department Chief

We’ll get an update on building activities at St. Christopher’s Community Church.

There will also be a presentation from Thurston Energy. Thurston Energy was recently profiled in an article by John Dodge, in The Olympian. While that article concentrates on the ways this program benefits local businesses, the same kind of benefits are available to home owners. The program is particularly beneficial to home owners who are customers of Puget Sound Energy for either electrical or gas service. Because of a subsidy paid by PSE, home owners can receive a PSE certified HomePrint™ Energy Evaluation from Thurston Energy, at a big discount ($95 to qualifying PSE customers). Smart home owners have learned a great deal of cost savings can be produced by a relatively few energy-saving improvements to their homes. Thurston Energy can help identify specific improvements and can provide information about local contractors and other resources for everything from energy conservation to solar power installation.

We’ll also be collecting donations of food and cash for the branch of the Thurston County Food Bank operated locally by St. Christopher’s Community Church. Please bring a donation of canned food or cash to help our neighbors right here in the Griffin area.

This is always a good time to either consider joining the Griffin Neighborhood Association or renewing your GNA membership. Click here to join or renew your membership in the GNA.

For more information about the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, click here. Links on that page will take you to the Bylaws and frequently asked questions regarding serving on the Board.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of the GNA, please click here to read our Board FAQ. Contact any Board member for more information. The phone numbers of all Board members are on this page.

We look forward to seeing you at our annual Community Meeting.

Griffin Neighborhood Association Annual Meeting to be Held January 26th

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Griffin Neighborhood Association will hold its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, January 26, at the Griffin Fire Department Headquarters. The meeting begins at 7 PM, but folks are invited to come by beginning at 6:30, for coffee, snacks, and conversation.

The Annual Meeting is the opportunity for the Board of the GNA to report to the community on its activities over this last year. If you are a current GNA member, you can nominate and vote on Board members, too.

We have a number of guests from the local community coming to speak with us and to field questions from those in attendance. We’ve received confirmations that these local officials will be attending the Annual Meeting:

Fred Finn, House Representative, 35th Legislative District
Karen Valenzuela, Thurston County Commissioner
John Snaza, Thurston County Sheriff-elect
Greg Woods, Griffin School Principal
John Wood, Griffin Fire Department Chief

We’ll get an update on building activities at St. Christopher’s Community Church.

There will also be a presentation from Thurston Energy. Thurston Energy was recently profiled in an article by John Dodge, in The Olympian. While that article concentrates on the ways this program benefits local businesses, the same kind of benefits are available to home owners. The program is particularly beneficial to home owners who are customers of Puget Sound Energy for either electrical or gas service. Because of a subsidy paid by PSE, home owners can receive a PSE certified HomePrint™ Energy Evaluation from Thurston Energy, at a big discount ($95 to qualifying PSE customers). Smart home owners have learned a great deal of cost savings can be produced by a relatively few energy-saving improvements to their homes. Thurston Energy can help identify specific improvements and can provide information about local contractors and other resources for everything from energy conservation to solar power installation.

We’ll also be collecting donations of food and cash for the branch of the Thurston County Food Bank operated locally by St. Christopher’s Community Church. Please bring a donation of canned food or cash to help our neighbors right here in the Griffin area.

This is always a good time to either consider joining the Griffin Neighborhood Association or renewing your GNA membership. Click here to join or renew your membership in the GNA.

For more information about the Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, click here. Links on that page will take you to the Bylaws and frequently asked questions regarding serving on the Board.

If you are interested in serving on the Board of the GNA, please click here to read our Board FAQ. Contact any Board member for more information. The phone numbers of all Board members are on this page.

We look forward to seeing you at our Annual Meeting.

Participate in a Brief Survey About GriffinNeighbors Online

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Thank you for reading the GriffinNeighbors Blog. Or, maybe you’re visiting the GriffinNeighbors web site, which displays the most recent posts to the Blog, on the right side of the screen. In any case, thank you for using some of the online resources used to help neighbors keep in touch, in the Griffin area.

Here’s your opportunity to give us some information we’ll use to chart our future direction online.

You are invited to participate in a survey. GriffinNeighbors represents an online community within the boundaries of the Griffin School District and is sponsored by the Griffin Neighborhood Association. There is a web site (http://www.GriffinNeighbors.org/), a blog (https://www.steamboatisland.org/), a free online discussion group (send an email to webmaster@griffinneighbors.org if you would like to join), and a Twitter feed (http://twitter.com/GriffinNeighbor). GriffinNeighbors is not currently on Facebook. This survey is intended to gauge the opinions of residents in the Griffin area and to gather some information about how those residents participate in the GriffinNeighbors online community.

You may participate in the survey by going to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5VDSKGJ

You are welcome to forward this link to others in the local area.

The survey will close on October 19. Please feel free to take the survey (there are 9 questions) at any time that is convenient to you.

Thanks so much for taking the time to take our survey and tell you a little about what might be useful to you, in the way of online tools.

 

Griffin Neighborhood Beach Party – Saturday, July 31 – Frye Cove Park

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The Griffin Neighborhood Association invites our neighbors to bring a salad, dessert, snack, or just bring yourself. We’ll provide the rest.

GRIFFIN NEIGHBORHOOD BEACH PARTY

Saturday, July 31

2:00 to 6:00

Frye Cove Park
4000 NW 61st Ave, Olympia, WA 98502

Join us for a variety of good food and the company of our neighbors.

3:00 pm – Guided beach walk, with People for Puget Sound

Shoreline Restoration Demonstration tour, with the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group

Kayak rentals from Kamilche Adventures (rent a kayak for 1/2 hour or more)

Touch tank with local aquatic life and a playground

Come and discover the beach and walking trails of our beautiful Frye Cove Park.

In addition to hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers and potluck items, Xihn, the award winning chef from Xihn’s Clam and Oyster House, will be preparing BBQ oysters, mussel curry and sauté clams.

Donations of non-perishable food and cash for the St. Christopher’s Food Bank are welcome.

Mark your calendars for Saturday, July 31st.

Many thanks to the businesses and organizations that are making this year’s summer picnic possible:

Taylor Shellfish Farms    –    People for Puget Sound
South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group     –     Kamilche Adventures
Chelsea Farms – Xinh’s Clam & Oyster House

Join Us for a Neighborhood Potluck Picnic – Saturday, August 9

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The Griffin Neighborhood Association invites you to our annual NEIGHBORHOOD POTLUCK PICNIC!

Saturday, August 9
3 PM to 6 PM

PROSPERITY GRANGE
3701 Steamboat Island Rd. NW

Bring an Entrée, Salad or Dessert

We’ll supply hamburgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, the buns and condiments, drinks, and something to eat it all off of.

Come meet your neighbors and catch up on local news.

Click here to download a copy of our flyer for this event.