Category Archives: Uncategorized

Food Drive This Saturday at Island Market

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In 2008, the Thurston County Food Bank served a record 37,000 clients, a 39% increase from 2007. These numbers continue to increase, in 2009, as the global economic slowdown worsens. Our own St. Christopher’s Community Church is a local distribution point for the Food Bank. Hunger is a local issue.

This Saturday, April 11, local residents will come together to collect food and cash donations for the Thurston County Food Bank. A collection point will be staffed from 11 AM to 5 PM at the Island Market, 3403 Steamboat Island Rd., Olympia, WA 98502.

Saturday, April 11
11 AM to 5 PM
Island Market

Food Donation Ideas:

  • High protein food such as canned chili, peanut butter, beans, or canned meat.
  • Pasta and Macaroni and Cheese.
  • Canned fruit and vegetables.
  • Soup.
  • Baby Food and Formula.
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables that store well in a refrigerator.

Cash and Checks (payable to “Thurston County Food Bank”) will be greatly appreciated.

The Food Bank also has a “wish list” for supplies to support their FORKids program. This program provides weekend food for homeless and needy elementary school children. These children receive free breakfasts and lunch at school during the week and need nourishment for the weekend. The food is supplied by the food bank and put into the child’s backpack for the weekend.

  • Oatmeal packets
  • Cup of Soup
  • Fruit cups
  • Small boxes of raisins
  • Vienna sausage
  • Beanies & Weenies
  • Cocoa mix
  • Cold cereal boxes
  • Easy Mac and Cheese
  • Tuna and Crackers
  • Cheese and Crackers
  • Ravioli cups
  • Cup of applesauce

Please, no peanut products, for the FORKids program.

Griffin area residents realize that hunger is a local problem and they are coming together, the day before Easter, to help neighbors in their time of need.

Olympia Transportation Workshop – April 13

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The City of Olympia is holding it’s 2nd Annual Transportation Workshop in mid-April. While it’s promoted largely whithin city limits, Griffin area residents will want to be heard as the big city folks come together to seek new approaches to meeting the Olympia Comprehensive Plan goals. All of us travel to Olympia, particularly to the congested west side, where congestion on Black Lake and along Henderson is only liable to get worse.

2nd Annual Transportation Workshop
Monday, April 13, 2009
7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
The Olympia Center, Columbia Street & Olympia Avenue

Among the concepts that will be presented are:

  • Primary bus corridors: Work with Intercity Transit to develop streets with high-quality bus services.
  • Connectivity: Continue to develop a gridded street network, as well as bicycle and walking paths.
  • Complete streets: Build streets that support all modes and contribute to a sense of place.
  • Financing: Examine new funding sources for walking, biking, bus and motor-vehicle improvements.

Come share your thoughts. Whether you walk, bike, ride the bus, or drive a motor vehicle, your ideas about the future of transportation in Olympia are sought.

Click here for more information or contact Sophie Stimson at (360) 753-8497 or sstimson@ci.olympia.wa.us.

Free Eld Inlet Heritage Meeting and Workshop Series Begins March 29

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Area residents are invited to participate in a free Eld Inlet Heritage Meeting and Workshop Series, beginning March 29th.

This is a special series of workshops designed specifically for shoreline landowners and featuring a variety of speakers, workshops, history, food and fun!

This series of workshops is a new program aimed at helping shoreline landowners along Eld Inlet to attain the best and most sustainable practices for managing their shoreline and providing them with assistance to do just that. Participants that live on the shoreline of the Eld will also have the opportunity during these workshops to apply for a scientist to assess their property and may receive free plants, labor and other assistance.

March 29th
1:30 to 4 p.m.
“Rain Gardens – Your Key to managing Drainage & Protecting South Sound”
Native Plant Salvage – Erica Guttman
Mason County Public Works
W. 100 Public Works Drive
Shelton, WA 98584
Participation is free, but seating is limited.
Please call Karin at (360) 427-9436 x 22 (Mason Conservation District) for more information and to sign up.

The workshop will begin at 1:30 p.m. They anticipate that the program will be full, so please make every effort to arrive a little early so you can get checked in before hand, allowing them to start on time.

What to bring: This workshop will be as hands-on as possible. They encourage everyone to bring: A soil sample or soil samples from an area or areas in your yard that you are considering turning into a rain garden. Make sure you are planning at least 10 feet away from any structures and at least 50 feet away if you are uphill of a septic system, or at least 15 feet away from septic a septic tank or drain field in flat terrain.

To take the soil sample: carefully remove your top vegetation in a small area, then dig down about 12 to 18 inches; place a few cups of soil from this level in a plastic bag and label its location and depth. If you can go deeper (up to 24 inches), that provides additional helpful information about your underlying soils. Put a few cups of this lower level of soil in a plastic bag; label its location and depth. Refill your hole and replace your plants. If you are thinking about making more than one rain garden, or you have different sites you are considering, then bring additional soil samples if the different areas aren’t near each other in your yard.

If you want more information about what rain gardens do, please check this link. We will also discuss this with you at the workshop.

Potluck and Eld Inlet Heritage meeting
April 17
6 to 8 p.m.
Olympia Community School
4346 Sunset Beach Dr NW.

This is going to be a potluck and Eld Inlet Heritage meeting (bring a dish to share and get to know your shoreline neighbors) with guest speaker historian Drew Crooks.

For more information about the Potluck and Eld Inlet Heritage meeting, contact Gabby Byrne, Education and Involvement Coordinator, People For Puget Sound, at (360) 754-9177 or click this link to email.

We’ll pass along whatever information we receive, about additional events in this series.

What’s Your Water Footprint?

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We’ve probably all heard and are now familiar with the term “carbon footprint.” But, there’s another concept that’s emerging into public consciousness: the water footprint. The Wikipedia defines “water footprint” as “an indicator of water use that includes both direct and indirect water use of a consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business.”

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we may take water for granted; many of us might not realize just how fragile are our water resources. Personally, my family’s well is very shallow (less than 50 feet) and there are shoreline residents who in recent years have experienced salt water intrusion into their freshwater supply. Thurston County simply doesn’t know what the freshwater carrying capacity of the Steamboat Island peninsula is; it’s not part of the equation, when applications for development are approved. There are many reasons why individuals and corporations should pay attention to the quantity of water resources they are using.

For example, Levis recently accounted for the water use associated with the lifespan of a single pair of their jeans. They found about 900 gallons of water were consumed from the production cycle, all the way back to the cotton plants, through to the owner’s wash cycles. As a consequence of thsi work, Levis is actually telling their customers to think twice, before they wash their pants!

That cup of coffee you might have had, this morning? An estimated 37 gallons of water are behind that (the amount of diesel fuel consumed is beyond the scope of this little article).

A hamburger? 634 gallons. Beef production is very water-intensive. One pound of ground beef takes an estimated 1500 gallons of water.

A glass of wine? 31 gallons of water.

The folks at Good have put together a reference page which describes common products or activities during a normal day. It reports on both “direct” water use – that is, the water you actually use, and “virtual” use, which is the water that helped to make the things you use. Click here to see that page.

In the next months and years, we’re going to hear more and more about issues related to the availability and control of freshwater resources on the planet. “Water footprint” is going to be an increasingly important factor, both for individuals and for the corporations that expect to survive in a future of fragile natural resources.

Click here for more information regarding water footprint.

Erik Landaas Bows Out of Commissioner Race

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Back on March 2, we wrote about how Erik Landaas had thrown his hat in the ring, to challenge appointed Commissioner Karen Valenzuela. Today, the Olympian is reporting he’s dropped out of the race.

The Olympian is reporting that Landaas works for Grays Harbor County government, coordinating chemical-dependency programs. His office receives some federal money and a law called the Hatch Act, which was created to prohibit federal employees from participating in partisan political activity, prevents him from running for the commission.

For One Hour, Switch Off Your Lights, 8:30 PM, March 28

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1,760 cities, towns and municipalities in 80 countries have already committed to VOTE EARTH for Earth Hour 2009, as part of the worlds first global election between Earth and global warming.

Switch off your lights for one hour, 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM, local time, Saturday, March 28

On March 28 you can VOTE EARTH by switching off your lights for one hour.

Or you can vote global warming by leaving your lights on.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. The World Wildlife Federation is urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009. This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

Click here for more information.

Shellfish in Your Front Yard – Free Workshop, May 23rd

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Attend a Washington Sea Grant workshop in Olympia and learn about identifying, cultivating and safely harvesting shellfish on your beach.

Register now for this free workshop:
Saturday, May 23
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Prosperity Grange #315, 3701 Steamboat Island Rd. N.W., Olympia, Washington

Participants will learn about the biology of bivalve shellfish, which shellfish grow best on their beach type, and various methods for enhancing tidelands with clams, oysters and mussels. Each workshop will also focus on ways to protect water quality so that harvested shellfish will be safe to eat.

Workshop instructors include local shellfish farmers and Washington Sea Grant staff. Each workshop will feature classroom and on-the-beach activities.

Bring a sack lunch and your mud boots!

One-on-one technical assistance will also be offered to all participants, as part of the Bivalves for Clean Water program*.

Space is limited, so pre-registration is required. To register or for more information, contact Teri King or Janis McNeal, Washington Sea Grant, at wsgcanal@u.washington.edu or 360-432-3054.

*Funding for the Bivalves for Clean Water program is provided in party through EPA Grant Number C9-00044905 to the Washington Department of Ecology from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Department of Ecology allocates and administers funding for this project.

King5 Investigation Highlights Differences Between Types of Smoke Detectors

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Seattle television station King5 recently ran a segment regarding the choice between the more common ionization type smoke detectors and the more rare photoelectric smoke detectors. According to the report, ionization detectors are better at signaling the presence of flaming fires, whereas photoelectric detectors respond better to smoking, low flame kinds of fires.

Click here to read or view the King5 report.

While most detectors sold are the ionization kind, some authorities note that house fires often begin small and smoky, such as those that start in seat cushions or when fabrics contact a baseboard heater. While the television report features statistics about the number of deaths in house fires where operating smoke detectors were present, King5 concluded the report not by advising homeowners to switch from ionization to photoelectric type, but instead they recommended the purchase both kinds of detectors.

The Griffin Fire Department offers free smoke detectors and smoke detector batteries to local residents. Be sure to check with them, though, regarding what type of detectors they are distributing.

Interested in shopping for smoke detectors, online? Purchases at Amazon.com made via the web site of the Griffin Neighborhood Association benefit the GNA at no cost to you.

The First Alert SA302CN detector combines both photoelectric and ionization detectors, in one device. It also has an interesting testing and disabling feature, using your television’s remote control:

First Alert SA302CN Double Sensor Battery-Powered Smoke and Fire Alarm

Kidde produced a dual-sensor detector, too, whose features are worth a look:

Kidde PI9000 Battery-Operated Dual Ionization and Photoelectric Sensor Smoke Alarm

If you are looking for a good photoelectric detector, and not a dual-detector, here’s one that’s well-reviewed. It’s also got an escape light:

First Alert SA720CN Smoke Alarm Photoelectric Sensor with Escape Light

Purchases made using any of these links will benefit the Griffin Neighborhood Association.

Looking for more choices, at Amazon.com? Click on this link to visit the Amazon.com Home Page

Public Transit Options; They’re Out There and a Local Group Discusses How to Enhance Them

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Some local residents came together, earlier this week, to discuss ways in which public transportation options into our area might be improved. Among the steps discussed were the creation of a part-and-ride and service by Intercity Transit, between the peninsula and points in West and Downtown Olympia. Until such time as there are better transit services, however, there are existing options about which residents here might not be aware.

BUS SERVICE

Mason County Transportation Authority runs a route from Shelton to the Capital Mall, and on into the Olympia Transit Center, 10 times each weekday and four times on Saturdays. This is MTAs Route 6, which makes the run from the Island Market to the Olympia Transit Center in 20 minutes. There are only two regularly-scheduled stops, at the Island Market, in the early morning. But, with a phone call to MTA, riders can request stops during any of the other right runs of the day.

Call the MTA Customer Service Center at least two hours before the approximate pick-up time to request a stop. Their phone numbers are (360) 427-5033 and 1-800-374-3747. Office hours are Monday thru Saturday 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM.

In the list below, call/request times are estimates and you should confirm these times, with MTA, when you call to request a stop.

To Olympia from Steamboat:
6:20 am (scheduled stop)
6:50 (scheduled stop)
8:30 (call/request)
11:00 (call/request)
12:25 pm (call/request)
3:05 (call/request)
4:05 (call/request)
5:05 (call/request)
6:05 (call/request)
7:05 (call/request)

To Steamboat from Olympia
(All stops at the Island Market only occur when rider asks the driver to make a Steamboat stop.)
7:15 am
7:35
9:30
11:55
1:20 pm
4:05
5:00
6:00
7:00
8:05

Fares are $1.50 one-way and monthly passes are available for $28 ($18 for ages 6-17). Reduced rates are available for seniors, active military, and disabled persons.

All Mason Transit vehicles are equipped with bike racks.

VANPOOL

Intercity Transit runs a successful vanpool program. IT owns, maintains, manages, insures and licenses a fleet of 8-, 12- and 15-passenger vans. IT can help locate commuters who want to start or join a vanpool. Many employers subsidize the cost of vanpool service to Olympia. To find a vanpool, complete a Ridematch Application or call IT at 360-786-8800. Click here for more information on vanpooling options.

FUTURE TRANSIT OPTIONS

A group of local residents is working to identify opportunities to enhance the availability of transit alternatives into our area. Options include polling residents as to their interest in improved bus service, creating a local park-and-ride lot, and promoting currently-available transit options.

If you are interested in helping to improve transit services to our area, contact the Griffin Neighborhood Association at gna@griffinneighbors.org


What transit options would you like to see? Click on the “Comments” link below and give us your thoughts.

Add This to Your Property Assessment Toolkit: Free AHA Guide

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Although it’s too late to file an appeal against this year’s assessment (property owners have only 30 days from the date the Value Change Notice was mailed or by July 1 of the Assessment Year, whichever is later), homeowners might want to download a copy of this 86-page guide from the American Homeowner’s Association. Although its copyright is five years old, “The Homeowner’s Property Tax Reduction Kit” does a decent job of reviewing common sources of assessment errors and provides tips on building a case for you to take to the County’s Board of Equalization.

Click here for the County’s Assessor’s web site and click here for their page entitled “Appealing Your Assessed Value”

Have you mounted a successful appeal on the assessment of your property? If so, what resources did you find useful, in building your case? Click on the “Comments” link below, and leave your comments for the rest of us.