Blog of the Griffin Neighborhood Association

"Conservation Funding for Your Forest/Farm Improvements" - April 23

2008-04-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

The Delphi Association is sponsoring a special presentation by Jeff Swotek of the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), who will be speaking about opportunities for conservation funding on your property. There will be informational packets available and Jeff will have lots of time to answer all your questions regarding the different projects available and how the whole process works.

Wednesday, April 23
7 PM
Black Lake Fire Department
5911 Black Lake Blvd. SW

In a letter to the Delphi Association, Mr. Swotek wrote:

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, is an often little known Federal agency. The main mission of our organization it to provide national leadership in conservation and wise use of our natural resources. We are not a regulatory agency but rather a technical assistance and financial assistance agency for everyone who owns, leases, or uses lands in all counties throughout this county.

You can check out our website at www.wa.nrcs.usda.gov and learn more about us and our programs. I might draw special attention to our Environmental Quality Incentives Program which provides financial assistance and technical assistance.

In a nutshell, this is a competitive program where landowners, renters, and alike bring their list of projects that they would like to do on their forest or farm and apply for the program. The applications are all ranked and we take the funding as far as we can based upon the ranking and the cost of the projects that you would like to do on your land and develop contracts. Lets take your typical forestland application. Say you are a customer who would like to do 40 acres of thinning, 10 acres of Maple control, 38 acres of Alder hand slash. . . Each project you would like to do and its location generates points in our ranking and we can tell you how much, should you be awarded funding from us, you could receive so much for each acre of thinning, Maple control, Alder hand slash. . .

You can develop a schedule of what you would like to do when (from 2 - 10 years) and have the money for all of your projects reserved under your name if you are awarded funding. All we would do is provide you a minimum specification for each project, you do the work or hire it done, you contact us, and we pay you on a per acre basis. We like you to maintain the project for the life of the project and I can better explain this when we get together. Financial assistance is also available for culverts and many many other projects under this same program.

Well now that I have tried to explain the financial assistance side, lets look at the technical assistance side of the program. For each of your projects we can provide free technical assistance or provide you additional funds to select from a list of "Technical Service Providers" or TSPs. The technical assistance takes the form of project planning, development of the minimum specifications, assistance in in the layout of project as well as the final certification of the projects.

It is important to note how we work. By participating in the program your information and your land are respected. All of your information is protected under the Federal Freedom of Information Act and is not releasable. We do not come out to your property unless invited by you and when working with us there is no public access. So rest assured we respect your rights as landowners.

We hope Griffin homeowners, too, will be interested in learning more about this program.

For more information about the Delphi Association, visit their web site at http://www.delphiassoc.org/

Other interesting information new on the website is the McLane 2008 timber sale that will occur April 24, 2008. For information and all the available documents, check out the Delphi Association website at:
http://www.delphiassoc.org/capitol_forest.htm

The Delphi Association would like to direct your attention to an interesting article that was just in the Olympian regarding County zoning and the planning fund:
http://www.delphiassoc.org/articles.htm

Willis Family Trust to Continue with Plans to Build Conference Center on Steamboat Island Road

2008-03-27T20:07:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, the County has permitted to hang over our heads for more than five years a proposal to build a conference center on the corner of Steamboat Island and Sunrise Beach roads. For much of that time, we have waited for the Willis Family Trust, developers of the project, to deliver the Environmental Impact Statement requested by the County in early 2005.

This last month, the County sent a letter to Robert Patrick, the representative for the developer. In this letter, the County requested two simple things: (1) information “indicating the applicant intends to pursue the project” and (2) the “timeline for starting the Environmental Impact Statement process”.

The County gave the developer 2 weeks to respond or, according to the letter, the project “will be expired”. Click here to read the letter.

When Mr. Patrick could not meet even that deadline, the County granted yet another extension.

Folks, you couldn't make this stuff up.

When the extension was granted, the County added that the applicant’s response must include information as to what the applicant has actually accomplished toward completing the required Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS).

Representatives from the County's Development Services specifically stated in their letter to Mr. Patrick the project “will be expired” unless the county receives the requested information or materials by the deadline.

On the day the extended deadline was set to expire, the developer's representative made a full payment ($9890) for the application fees required by the County to move the application forward.

No DEIS was delivered to the County. No timeline. No information whatever. Just a check.

In the face of rumors the County will raise its application fees, the Willis Family Trust simply paid the current fees and provided absolutely nothing the County requested.

We believe the application should be lapsed, as the developer has failed to meet the conditions stipulated by the County.

Mr. Willis clearly intends to go forward with his project, despite the poor reception given by residents in the area, the sagging economy, and the presence of many competing banquet and convention facilities.

We are now waiting to see if the County will expire the application, as they promised they would.

What You Can Do

If it has been awhile since you reviewed the facts surrounding the project, and the reasons the GNA and so many neighbors oppose it, please click here to visit our web pages.

Print out a copy of the window sign opposing the project. You can download a sign here.

Please consider making a contribution to our legal fund. All contributions to the legal fund are held exclusively for the use of fighting this project. You can make a secure contribution, using your credit card, here.

Tell your neighbors. Many of them may have mistakenly come to believe that, after 5 years, this application has already been expired.

The developer, Mr. Willis, is determined to convert residentially-zoned property to his own commercial use. We want the County to enforce its existing regulations prohibiting this use of residential land.

Learn more about the proposed Steamboat Island Conference Center and contribute to our legal fund online at http://www.griffinneighbors.org/confctr.htm .

Stay tuned, as the Board will continue to provide you with updates as events materialize.

Thank you for your continued support of the Griffin Neighborhood Association.

UPDATE: On March 31st, the President of the GNA sent to Michael Kain, Thurston County Planning Manager, a letter. In this letter, GNA President Gary Goodwin asks the County to do what the County said it would, if the conditions described in its letter to the applicant were not met. The GNA has asked the County to "return the check [for application fees], inform the applicant that the project has expired, and inform the applicant that he may file a new application for a special use permit under the existing zoning controls if he wishes to pursue the proposal."

Click here to read the letter in which the GNA is asking the County to confirm the application has now been expired.

Save the Date: Garden Rhapsodies Tour - July 26

2008-03-27T01:57:00.000-07:00

This year, the annual Garden Rhapsodies Tour in Thurston County will be in the Griffin area with five gardens selected on the Steamboat Island and Oyster Bay peninsulas.

The garden tour features lovely gardens cared for in an earth-friendly manner. Gardens included in the tour do not have to be strictly organic but they should use preventative techniques and pesticides only as a last resort.

Garden Rhapsodies Tour
July 26th
10:00AM to 4:00PM

This is an educational event and a fund raiser for three local non-profits: The Master Gardener Foundation, Native Plant Salvage Project and the Olympia Symphony Guild.

More information will be posted here, closer to the event.

Or, contact Jennifer Johnson, Environmental Educator, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department, Environmental Health Division at (360) 754-4111 ext. 7631 or by email at johnsoj@co.thurston.wa.us

Update to South Sound Logistics Center Proposed by Ports of Tacoma, Olympia

2008-03-24T21:03:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to be able to update our prior post on the South Sound Logistics Center (SSLC), proposed for a part of South Thurston County. See also the link to the Olympian article, which will provide more information about this latest turn of events. Our prior post also links to several other Olympian articles on the plans to build a large warehousing facility within 1/2 of a mile of Millersylvania State Park.

From The Friends of Rocky Prairie, we received this notice:

Dear Friends,

Port of Olympia has helped us by withdrawing their request to postpone our rezone. Click here to read the Olympian article “Port rethinks request for county to delay rezoning”.

The Port of Tacoma has not withdrawn and they stated this past week that they could still sell the property to industry!

Let's keep the pressure on!

Please! We need all of you to attend the rezone meeting March 26th, 6:00 pm at the Thurston County Expo Center (Thurston County Fairgrounds).

See you there!

--Friends of Rocky Prairie

Directions to the Thurston County Expo Center:

Heading to Lacey on I-5 North

Take exit 109, turn right on Martin Way. Take Martin Way and make a right onto Carpenter Rd. Follow for about 3 mikes to fairgrounds on left. Follow signs to Expo Center.

Heading to Lacey on I-5 South

Take exit 109, turn left on Martin Way. Take Martin Way and make a right onto Carpenter Rd. Follow for about 3 mikes to fairgrounds on left. Follow signs to Expo Center.

Save The Date: Emergency Preparedness Fair, Sep 27

2008-03-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

As may of you may know, the GNA has undertaken as one of its ongoing projects an effort to increase the emergency preparedness of families and businesses in our area. This project, a partnership with the Griffin Fire Department, Griffin School District, the Red Cross and local emergency planning agencies, is described in somewhat more detail on our web site.

On Saturday, September 27, the Thurston County Emergency Management Council will hold its Second Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair. This will include preparedness demonstrations, vendor booths and a lot of very useful information you can use to prepare for the inevitable. Whether its an earthquake, Avian Flu, or an extended power outage, a comprehensive event such as this one cannot be beat, as a way of preparing.

Saturday, September 27
9AM to 4PM
St. Martin's University
Worthington Center & Pavilion
5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey

For more details about the Second Annual Emergency Preparedness Fair, contact Vivian Eason at 360-786-5243 or email her at easonv@co.thurston.wa.us

Thurston County Emergency Management has useful online resources, to help you to begin your planning. Click here for that web page.

For more information about the Griffin Neighborhood Association's emergency preparedness efforts, click this link to visit our web page.

Be prepared (it's more than just part of the Boy Scout Motto)!

Friends of Rocky Prairie Ask for Support for Rezone in South Thurston County

2008-03-16T15:07:00.001-07:00

Perhaps you have already read or heard about the South Sound Logistics Center (SSLC), proposed by the Port of Tacoma and Port of Olympia. Located within a 1/2 of a mile of Millersylvania State Park, plans are already on file for a high-cube warehousing facility. In this biologically diverse area of rural Thurston County, plans show a structure with a building footprint of 3,028,00 square feet, the size of 28 football fields.

We've seen this sort of thing already; construction of a project that in no way reflects the rural setting on which it is sited. Both the Ports and the County have sought to downplay the significance of the plans or even the likelihood of the project going forward. Meanwhile, plans are now on file with Thurston County.

The Friends of Rocky Prairie "is a group of concerned homeowners and residents in Washington’s South Puget Sound region, including the Thurston County rural communities of Maytown and Tenino." According to Friends of Rocky Prairie:

The plans for the SSLC contain numerous possibilities including a rail switching yard, chemical manufacturing plant, solid waste transfer station, warehousing and a truck to rail distribution site. This would create a massive 24 hour per day industrial complex the size of Olympia, and would inundate roads from Olympia to South Thurston County with 1000’s of trucks and blocked railroad crossings.

A citizen has filed an application with the county to rezone the Port’s property in order to bring it into conforming use with the surrounding rural lands, including the State Park, the Fish & Wildlife Preserve, and long-term forests.

You can help.

Learn more about the issues. The Friends of Rocky Prairie have a page dedicated to the rezone, on their web site. Click this link to visit that page.

If you believe the County ought to rezone the property, you may sign a petition. The Friends of Rocky Prairie would like to obtain the names, addresses and phone numbers of as many County residents as possible, by Wednesday, March 19. There is a link here to that petition.

The Olympian has run a number of articles on the project. Among these are:

Crowd of 300 speaks out on port project
Logistics center meets opposition
Ports to meet on cargo center
Plans for cargo center collide with concerns about prairie
Ports team up on depot Web site
Neighbors rail against cargo site

Puget Sound Needs Our Help - Workshop and Community Conversation

2008-03-03T15:00:00.000-08:00

The Puget Sound Partnership is sponsoring a series of workshops in communities surrounding Puget Sound. A workshop and community conversation will be held this Friday, March 7. This is our opportunity to get involved in restoring and protecting Puget Sound. Share our local perspective about the status of Puget Sound health and its greatest threats, and help establish priorities for the future. Workshops will take place from 1 to 5 p.m., followed by an open community conversation about Puget Sound health from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Puget Sound Partnership Action Area Workshops and Public Meetings
The Evergreen State College, Lecture Hall 2
Friday, March 7
Workshop 1 - 5 PM
Community Meeting 5:30 - 7:30 PM
click here for a map

At the workshops, the overarching goal is to work toward a shared understanding of current status and threats to Puget Sound. Attendees will be invited to add their local knowledge and perspectives to the status and threats assessment of Puget Sound through small and large group discussion. Workshop participants will also have the chance to review a summary of a Sound-wide inventory of current actions and make recommendations.

During the community conversations, members of the public will be invited to review the workshop discussion and share their comments and concerns about the status of Puget Sound’s health and its greatest threats.

For more information on this event, click this link.

Puget Sound Partnership, Toll-free: 800.54.SOUND, Phone: 360.725.5444, Email: info@psp.wa.gov

GNA Members Elect Board

2008-02-26T13:11:00.000-08:00

At their February 20th Annual Meeting, Griffin Neighborhood Association members voted-in a slate of 16 area residents to serve on the Board of the GNA. The Board manages the affairs of the GNA and Board members serve without compensation.

Two members of last year’s Board chose not to have their names placed in nomination. Matt Coyle and Jack Sisco retired from the Board, with the thanks of GNA members present at the Annual Meeting. We’ll be sure to see more of Jack, in particular, as he is fully-engaged in efforts to develop the Steamboat Area Conservation Partnership.

Three new members have joined our Board.

Here are the names of our Board members:

Beau Altman
Gayle Broadbent
Fred Finn
Gary Goodwin
Jerry Handfield
Norm Johnson
Steve Lundin
Mark Messinger
Eric Moll
Kathy O'Connor
Kathleen O'Shaunessy
Elizabeth Rodrick
Velma Rogers
Dave Schuett-Hames
Bob Whitener
Chris Wickham

You can best support the work of this Board by joining the Griffin Neighborhood Association. Click here to join the GNA. It's easy and you can do it entirely online.

We’re proud of the diverse backgrounds of our Board members. Here’s a little information about a few of those on our Board:

Dr. Beau Altman is a Psychologist specializing in human behavior in crisis situations, emergencies. When asked, what do you do, Dr. Altman responds, "I teach people how to prepare for and how to survive emergencies when they occur on land, water and in the air!"

For more than 40 years Beau has been a major contributor to the development of emergency equipment, safety instruction and evacuation procedures for planes, ships, and buildings.

Beau is a teacher and trainer. His background and experience in crisis management and human behavior, safety and survival training and education may be particularly useful in the GNA's ongoing emergency preparedness efforts.

Fred Finn is a business man and graduate of Johns Hopkins University and Fordham University Law School. Fred is a past Griffin School Board member involved with numerous business and civic organizations and is a candidate for the 35th District legislature. For more information on Fred’s candidacy, click this link.

Gary Goodwin writes, "When we bought property on Steamboat Island Road, there were 31 acres of trees west of us and 42 acres of trees east of us. Now all the trees are gone, there are four homes to the west, and a commercial facility proposed to the east. I am involved in the GNA to help protect the rest of our Community from a similar fate."

Jerry Handfield is the father of four grown children and one grandson with two more on the way. He is the Washington State Archivist. The Archives is responsible for managing the life cycle of all state records and preserving valuable legal and historical records for local and state government. Jerry is a resident on Gravelly Beach Loop since March 2002, member of the GNA Board since 2003, and served as both Secretary and President (2005 – 2007).

Steve Lundin retired as a senior counsel to the Washington State House of Representatives in 2001 after nearly 30 years. He has undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Washington. Steve and his wife Linda Bondurant have lived in the Griffin area since 1975.

Steve has written numerous articles about the history of the Griffin area and a book entitled “Griffin Area Schools.” He recently published a book entitled “The Closest Governments to the People - A Complete Reference Guide to Local Government in Washington State.”

Mark Messinger is a consultant to individuals, business and government. One of his children currently attends Griffin School and the other will be at Griffin next year. He’s been a resident in this area for 6 years.

Eric Moll is the Chief Financial Officer for Mason General Hospital. He has a CPA and MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Elizabeth Rodrick has worked for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for 30 years. She is a Land Conservation Manager. Elizabeth does conservation planning to identify important landscapes to protect for fish and wildlife. She also coordinates habitat acquisition grant applications and contracts and works with several land trusts including the Capitol Land Trust. Elizabeth looks forward to serving on the board and getting to know folks better.

Velma Rogers was born in Venice, California, but her family is the namesake for Hunter's Point. Her public interests are conservation issues, retrofitting development on her own property and working to raise local awareness of the devastating effects of over-building, over-using and not protecting our unique environment and resources.

Chris Wickham has lived in the Griffin area since 1989. His children, now grown, attended Griffin School. He is currently employed as a Superior Court Judge at Thurston County Superior Court.

Learn More About The "Local Solutions to Global Warming" Bill

2008-02-12T20:20:00.000-08:00

It's been mentioned on this blog that there is a strong connection between growth management - the direct actions of our County government - and global climate change. Driving is the largest source of global warming pollution in Washington State, and irresponsible development dramatically increases driving. Achieving smart growth goals and reducing sprawl development is absolutely essential to reducing carbon dioxide pollution. Here in the Griffin area, we know we're right in the crosshairs of development which, if not undertaken in a well-considered manner, will not only increase carbon emissions, it will threaten our property values, the availability and health of our drinking water supplies, and significantly reduce our quality of life.

According to Fuse, a progressive network, "Now we hear that a critical bill to combat global warming is stalled in the Legislature, and we have just six days to get it moving or it's dead for the year. The Local Solutions to Global Warming bill tackles the global warming pollution created by irresponsible development and traffic. This bill will fight global warming by protecting farm and forest land, encouraging energy efficient building and promoting livable, family friendly communities."

But, don't take Fuse's word for it. You can read about this bill, yourself, here.

I found especially notable is the statement against the bill, in the Senate Report of the Bill, which begins:

"This bill wrongly assumes climate change is human caused and human influenced while there is no scientific conclusion to support this theory."

Personally, I am growing weary of a debate framed in such terms. While there may be room to disagree on the degree to which the environment is able to absorb the deleterious impact of human activities, it is rational to seek to reduce traffic on our roads, to identify and develop within urban growth boundaries and to reject arguments that affordable housing can only be built if we develop further and further from urban centers.

To learn more about this bill and another, Senate Bill 6516, and to send a letter to Senator Sheldon, click here to visit Fuse.

--Mark Messinger

Free "Streamside Living" Workshop - March 19th

2008-02-12T15:00:00.000-08:00

If you have a stream on your property, are interested in reducing erosion, or looking for more ways you can protect water quality and enhance salmon and wildlife habitat, you will be interested in this free workshop. The workshop is entitled "Streamside Living: A Landowners Guide."

Wednesday, March 19
6:30-8:30pm
Griffin Fire Hall
3707 Steamboat Loop Rd

Although the workshop is free, advance registration is requested. Register at: (360) 427-9670 ext 680 or by email at elpiper@wsu.edu

click here to download the poster

The workshop is sponsored by Mason County Extension, Mason Conservation District, South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group, and Thurston Conservation District and is made possible by a grant from the Department of Ecology.

Thurston County Sheriff's Office Releases Video of Gravelly Beach Break-In

2008-02-09T10:59:00.000-08:00

The Thurston County Sheriff's Office has released more information which neighbors may be able to use to help nab the perpetrators of one or more of what's developing to be a string of daytime burglaries in the area of Gravelly Beach Loop.

As was written previously here, a home was broken in to, on January 22, in the 4800 block of Gravelly Beach Loop. The incident occurred between 11:00 AM and 4:55 PM.

Since January 22nd, two more break-ins have occurred, in the same area. The Sheriff's Office has now released new information which may help us to capture those responsible.

From the Sheriff's Office release:

Sheriff seeks identity of teenage burglars

Three residential burglaries have occurred in the last 2 weeks in the Gravelly Beach Rd. N.W. off Steamboat Island Rd. N.W. area. They occurred on 1/22/08, 2/5/08, and 2/6/08. The suspects appear to be operating during the daytime hours. They have taken over $25,000 worth of guns, jewelry, electronic items, and a 1992 Toyota Camry, taupe in color, WA. License 467 RLS. In one burglary, on Wednesday 02/06/08, the suspects were seen by a surveillance camera and captured on video. The Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying these suspects before they can commit any more crimes.

We believe that there are probably at least two suspects. Both appear to be white males in their late teens to early twenties. The video shows that they are driving a van that is probably blue or gray in color. In the video the suspects changed hats several times which gives the appearance of several suspects.

A video is available here.

Here are some stills from the video. Do you recognize any of these people?

If you have any information which might advance this investigation, please contact Chief Criminal Deputy Jim Chamberlain, 360-786-5659 or Detective Lt. Chris Mealy, 360-786-5508.

UPDATED: The Olympian is reporting that a warrant has been issued for the arrest of Mitchell E. Coxwell, 23, living on Steamboat Island Road. According to the news article, "Detectives think he is driving a stolen blue Volkswagen Passat with Washington license plate 642RMC."

Washington's 97 Delegates Are Waiting for You at Saturday's Caucus

2008-02-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

Democratic and Republican Precinct Caucuses are this Saturday, February 9, from 1PM to 3PM.

If you are a Democrat, following “Super Tuesday” you know two things for certain:

The Democratic nomination is still up for grabs
Your only chance to influence the outcome is this Saturday’s caucuses

Washington State will be sending 97 delegates to the National Convention, making it one of the largest prizes left on the map. Saturday's caucus will decide who Washington State's delegates will support.

Fuse, a progressive network, has an excellent piece in which they “address all your excuses for not going.” It’s at http://fusewashington.org/about/163/caucus and that page will provide you with much of what you need to know.

In the Steamboat Island area, there are two Democratic precinct caucus locations: Prosperity Grange and Griffin School. The link above will link you to a “caucus finder.”

It’s important that you understand that the choice you make, on a Democratic ballot in the February 19 Presidential Primary is meaningless. It’s an “advisory vote” and no delegates to the party’s conventions will be allocated, based on the results of that ballot.

Please remember to vote in the Primary, anyway, since you will want to vote on the question of the Griffin School District M & O Renewal Levy.

You can vote, in the caucus, if you are 17 now, but will be 18 years old by this November 4.

Oh, and I am recommending Fuse’s page, even though they have neglected to mention the third candidate running for the Democratic nomination: Mike Gravel.

If you are a Republican, you know Mr. McCain is within striking distance of tying up the nomination~~, but Romney is far from out of the race~~.

Republicans will allocate delegates both from the results of this Saturday’s precincts and the February 19 Presidential Primary. This means you will want to participate in both the caucus and complete a ballot for the Primary.

Don't forget to vote for the Griffin School District M & O Renewal Levy, on your Primary ballot.

For information regarding the Republican Precinct Caucuses, visit the Thurston County Republicans at http://www.thurstonrepublicans.com/caucus2008.html There you will find a raft of information, including a caucus lookup link.

Steamboat Area precincts are holding their Republican Precinct Caucuses at Jefferson Middle School, 2200 Conger NW.

We’ve seen phenomenal turnout in the primaries and caucuses of other states.

One thing is for certain, Super Tuesday didn’t settle this thing.

. . . and, the writer’s strike has not robbed us of any of the entertainment value of this political season.

Learn More About Rain Gardens

2008-02-03T21:30:00.000-08:00

As Thurston County continues to grow, increasing amounts of native forest and prairie lands are replaced by roads, roofs, driveways and other impervious surfaces. Rainfall, formerly intercepted by the forest canopy or absorbed into the soil, now flows across the surface of the landscape as stormwater runoff.

This creates two problems: localized flooding of yards, streets and parking lots; and the pollution of local waterways and Puget Sound. As the stormwater runs over the surface of the land, it picks up pollutants - like motor oil, pesticides, excess fertilizers, trash and fecal bacteria from pet waste - and carries them into local waterways and ultimately Puget Sound.

Highly engineered municipal stormwater management improvements such as catch basins and pipes that convey water to central storm ponds are one solution. But a promising low-impact approach to development enables individual homeowners to help protect streams and wetlands.

Rain gardens are modest depressions in the landscape of people’s yards.They act much like the original native forest landscape; collecting, absorbing and filtering stormwater runoff from your roof, driveway,walkways and yard, before it enters the street and catch basin system.

How is a rain garden constructed?

Rain gardens are typically excavated to a depth of about two feet. Then a mix of highly amended, compost-rich soil is used to fill the depression to a level at least 6 inches below the surrounding lawn. The depression enables ponding to occur during periods of heavy rain, and the soil/compost mix rapidly soaks up and retains water. Plants that do well in both wet and dry conditions, including Northwest native plants and non-native ornamentals help turn the rain garden into a colorful, attractive landscape amenity.

How do rain gardens work?

By collecting stormwater runoff, rain gardens reduce flooding on adjacent properties. As they absorb water, they filter out pollutants from lawns and driveways, intercepting them before they enter municipal stormwater systems or local waterways. They also help recharge groundwater aquifers.

While easy to create, rain gardens must be built with care and designed to accommodate the correct amount of rainfall. Soil conditions must be carefully assessed to determine the correct depth of soil/compost mix.

How can I learn more?

If you want to find out how to incorporate a rain garden into your landscape - and learn about other low impact development practices - come to a hands-on workshop.

Stream Team, in cooperation with Stewardship Partners and the Native Plant Salvage Project, are offering free workshops around Thurston County:

Monday, February 25, in Yelm
Thursday, March 6, in Olympia
Thursday, April 3, in Tumwater
Thursday, April 17, in Lacey

Registration is required. Participants will be mailed site-assessment instructions in advance to help maximize their learning at the workshops.

For more information or to register, contact Erica Guttman at ericag@wsu.edu or (360)754-3588 ext.110

-- Text from the latest "StreamTeam" newsletter.
Thurston County Storm and Surface Water Utility

More online resources:

Rain Garden Network at http://www.raingardennetwork.com/
Virginia Department of Forestry Rain Garden web page at http://www.dof.virginia.gov/rfb/rain-gardens.shtml
Wikipedia entry on Rain Gardens at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_garden
Dowload a 6-page Rain Gardens manual, from WSU Extension Service, at http://clark.wsu.edu/volunteer/ws/ws-raingardens.pdf

UPDATE: Well, we don't like to gloat, but it looks as though we scooped The Olympian, on the topic of rain gardens. Click here to read their February 18th article.

Thurston County Sheriff Needs Your Help to Solve Jan 22 Burglary on Gravelly Beach Loop

2008-01-29T22:35:00.000-08:00

On January 22, 2008 Thurston County Sheriff's Office Deputies responded to a residential burglary complaint at the 4800 block of Gravelly Beach Loop. The victim discovered that the rear glass door had been broken and this is believed to be where entry was gained. The incident occurred between 11:00 AM and 4:55 PM.

Neighbors observed a black mid 1990’s Ford Ranger with silver colored tool box leaving the area at a high rate of speed around 3:45 PM.

If you have any information that could help solve this crime please contact the Thurston County Sheriffs Office.

Contact Info: Any information should be called in to the Sheriff’s Office at 360-786-5500 or Crime Stoppers 493-2222.

Tips and Hints:

Report all suspicious persons/vehicles.
Make sure all doors and windows secured.
Leave blinds open.
If you have an alarm system, make sure that it is activated and operational.
Have an inventory of all valuables, record serial/model numbers

Most residential burglaries occur in late morning to early afternoon hours, while we are at work.

UPDATE: The Sheriff's Office now has video and more details, following two more daytime burglaries in the same area. Click here to read the update.

Griffin School District Releases "Levy 101" Information on Upcoming Levy

2008-01-26T12:55:00.000-08:00

An insert in the latest issue of the "GriffinLink," sent to many postal customers within the school district, contains a description of and background information for the upcoming Maintenance & Operations Renewal Levy. This levy, which will be sent to voters in the upcoming Presidential Primary, on February 19, asks for approval to renew the levy approved by voters in February, 2006.

Among other details, the insert to GriffinLink provides a history of M & O Levies, dating back to 2001, and illustrations which show how rising home values don't necessarily increase the amount of school taxes collected.

It appears the GriffinLink is not available online, but we have scanned a copy of the levy insert and it is available for download. Click this link.

Should you wish to read the entire 10-page issue of the GriffinLink, you may download that using this link.

Other documents are available, too, regarding the levy, on the Griffin School District's web site. Go to http://www.griffin.k12.wa.us/ and seek out the link for "Levy Information."

Griffin School District to Ask for Replacement Levies; Community Forum Jan 31

2008-01-14T23:36:00.000-08:00

Griffin School District will submit a ballot proposition to voters at the February 19, 2008 special election asking for approval of for maintenance and operation (M & O) replacement levies.

A forum on this proposal will be held at the school library at 7 PM on Thursday, January 31. The "Yes for the Griffin Kids" committee has asked me to explain school maintenance and operation replacement levies and respond to any questions people may have about property taxes at this forum.

If you are not yet registered to vote at your current address, you must register to vote by January 19, 2008 in order to vote in the February 19th. You can now register to vote online at
https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/onlinevoterregistration/Registration.aspx If you're not registered to vote, click this link today!

This Griffin School District proposal will consist of a ballot proposition that is submitted to school district voters at the February 19, 2008 special election authorizing Griffin School District to impose the following M & O replacement levies:

$1,671,300 for collection in 2009; and
$1,766,900 for collection in 2010.

These are replacement levies replacing voter approved levies for collection in 2007 and 2008. School district M & O levies are authorized if voters approve a ballot proposition providing for the levies by a simple majority vote (50% plus one vote).

School district M & O levies are restricted by several factors. First, state law limits the amount of these levies that any school district may impose. Second, these are excess property tax levies that are only imposed if voters approve a ballot proposition authorizing the levies.

School district M & O levies are approved in dollar amounts, not in tax rates. If assessed values rise in the school district, the tax rate of the school district levy will lowered. If for example, the total assessed value in the school district doubled, the tax rate that is used to levy these taxes would drop by about 50% to generate the authorized amount of taxes.

Click here to visit the web site of the Griffin School District. Once there, find and click the "Levy Information" link to read further details on these levies.

If you have any questions about school district excess levies, please feel free to contact me. I hope to see you at the forum.

-- STEVE LUNDIN

Upcoming Precinct Caucus and Presidential Primary Information

2008-01-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

Plato said, "One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." Well, folks, you pretty much cannot avoid it; this year's an election year. And, with the Seahawks out of the playoffs and the writer's strike in New York and Hollywood, the political season could be some of the best entertainment around. Here in Washington State, voters have good reason to be confused about their role in the presidential campaigns; after all, our voices are heard only after "Super Tuesday" and then there's that bit about who's picking their delegates when. You see, the Republican Party in Washington State is allocating part of their delegates from the results of the Presidential Primary, on February 19, and the rest from the results of the Precinct Caucuses. The Democratic Party, however, will allocate all their delegates beginning with the Precinct Caucuses on February 9.

This means, particularly if you are a Democrat, the Precinct Caucuses (and not the Presidential Primary) are where your voice will be heard, so far as the presidential candidates are concerned.

If, as expected by many analysts, the February 5 Super Primary narrows the fields to the top two or three candidates for each party, Washington’s Caucuses and Presidential Primary could be pivotal in selecting party nominees. We've already seen participation rates, in primaries and caucuses in the East, at higher-than-normal numbers. It's not been since the early 1950's that there's not been a sitting President or Vice President on the ticket.

Community involvement includes exercising your right to vote.

To vote in the Presidential Primary you must be registered to vote at your present address by January 19, 2008.

If you are not yet registered to vote, you can now register to vote online at
https://wei.secstate.wa.gov/onlinevoterregistration/Registration.aspx If you're not registered to vote, click this link and get to it!

February 6: Precinct Caucuses

Attend your precinct caucus, particularly if you are a Democrat.

If you are a Democrat, and are not able to attend your Precinct Caucus, you may designate a surrogate, to speak for you. For more information on this and other details for the Democratic Party Precinct Caucuses, click this link.

For Republican Party Precinct Caucus locations, click this link.

‘Not certain which precinct is yours? Click this link to look up your precinct location.

February 19: Presidential Primary

There’s a ballot drop-off location conveniently placed in front of the Griffin Fire Department Main Station at 3707 Steamboat Loop NW. For other locations, click this link.

Then, mark your calendars and participate in your American Democracy.

Washington State Republican Convention
Begins May 29, 2008
Spokane

Washington State Democratic Convention
Begins June 14, 2008
Spokane

Democratic National Convention
August 25 - 28, 2008
Denver, Colorado

Republican National Convention
September 1 - 4, 2008
Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota

General Election
Tuesday, November 4, 2008

For more information:

Thurston County Elections
http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/auditor/Elections/electns.htm

Thurston County Democratic Party
http://thurstondemocrats.org/

Thurston County Republican Party
http://www.thurstonrepublicans.com/

Furniture Drive to Aid Flood Victims - Sat, Jan 12

2008-01-05T09:51:00.000-08:00

As you know, December's flooding, particularly in South Thurston, Lewis and Grays Harbor counties, was catastrophic. The outpouring of assistance, both from volunteers and in donations, has been extraordinarily heartwarming.

Interfaith Works, an effort coordinating the activities of several local faith communities, held a Furniture Drive, last month, that filled a 57 foot trailer and about three small trucks with over 150 pieces of furniture. They are looking to repeat this success again and sent to us the following message:

2008 FURNITURE DRIVE TO AID FLOOD VICTIMS

More furniture is needed. Please help.

Saturday, January 12, 2008
9:30 am to 1:00 pm

Please bring furniture to the parking lot of:
Olympia Christian Reformed Church
2121 Log Cabin Rd SE
Olympia

Furniture will be collected at the Harbor Wholesale Grocery trailer.

Donated furniture must be GENTLY USED – clean, no stains, no rips, no peeling paint and no odors. We are accepting beds, dressers, sofas, chairs, dining tables and dining chairs.

If you have any questions please call Donna Kelly at The Furniture Bank of Thurston County - 705-1756.

Please spread the word among members of your community. Thank you!

Interfaith Works
360-357-7224

Free Workshop "Managing Horse Properties, Naturally" on Jan 9

2007-12-20T13:50:00.000-08:00

The Thurston and Mason Conservation Districts are sponsoring a free workshop, "Natural Ways for Managing Horse Properties" on Wednesday, January 9. Learn how to control dust, mud, bugs and weeds naturally, while reducing dependency on fertilizers, herbicides and other chemicals.

This workshop will be useful for owners of any livestock, including cattle, goats, llamas, alpacas and others. Alayne Blickle will showcase and explain different designs for low-cost ways to put native trees, shrubs and animals to work for you on your property. Alayne is the creator and Program Director of Horses for Clean Water, she writes and travels throughout the world educating about efficient and ecological horsekeeping practices.

Free bird & bat box designs will be available, as well as resource information and details about purchasing native plants at upcoming Conservation District Native Plant Sales.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008
6 PM to 9 PM
The Thurston Conservation District Office
2918 Ferguson St SW, Building 1 Tumwater, WA 98512
click here for a map

In Thurston County, please contact Sara at (360)754-3588, ext 136 or scarter@thurstoncd.com. In Mason County, please contact Karin at 360-427-9436, ext 22 or karinls@masoncd.org to register or to obtain more information.

Sponsored by the Thurston and Mason Conservation Districts with funding from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Public Hearing on Residential Development Moratorium - Jan 14

2007-12-10T12:31:00.000-08:00

The Thurston County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on January 14, 2008 at 6:00 p.m., in Room 280, Building 1, of the Thurston County Courthouse Complex, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, Washington, 98502.

The purpose of the public hearing is to accept public comment on the amendment of Ordinance No. 13405 which established a moratorium prohibiting residential plats and subdivisions under Title 18 of the Thurston County Code as amended by Ordinances No. 13450, 13518, 13565, 13673, 13766, 13822, 13886 and 13864. On December 3, 2007 the Board of County Commissioners took emergency action and adopted Ordinance No. 13961 amending the residential subdivision moratorium.

Click here to access any portion of the Thurston County Code.

To view the amended subdivision moratorium map or a close up view of the area added to the moratorium click on the following links:

- Map: Residential Subdivision Moratorium Areas – amended 12/3/2007

- Map: Close-up of the area added to the Residential Subdivision Moratorium
(parcels in orange were added to the moratorium on 12/3/2007)

Those wishing to testify at the January 14, 2007 public hearing should appear and be heard. To ensure that written comments are considered by the Board of County Commissioners, they should be received by January 14, 2008. Send letters to the Board of County Commissioners Attn: Celinda Adair, Associate Planner, Thurston County Courthouse, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, Washington, 98502. Emails may be sent to adairc@co.thurston.wa.us.

If you need special accommodation to participate in the public hearing, please call (360) 754-4001 by 10:00 a.m. at least three days prior to the meeting. Ask for the ADA Coordinator. Citizens with hearing impairment may call the TDD line at (360) 754-2933.

PROJECT STATUS UPDATE: RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISION MORATORIUM AREAS

The remaining moratorium areas will be analyzed and evaluated for removal or rezoning as a separate work program beginning in January 2008. In January a project schedule/timeline will be posted.

For more information, see the Thurston County web page at http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/GMA/subdiv-moratorium.htm

Shoreline Living Workshop: Creating a Sound Landscape - Thursday, Dec 13

2007-11-29T13:06:00.000-08:00

A free workshop will teach Mason and Thurston County shoreline residents how to preserve and replant shorelines to stabilize slopes, protect Puget Sound, and provide wildlife habitat. It will be held on Thursday, December 13, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Griffin Fire Hall, 3707 Steamboat Loop Road, just off Hwy. 101.

NOTE THE DATE CHANGE. The workshop has been postponed from December 3 and will now be held on December 13.

The workshop is sponsored by WSU Mason County Extension through a grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

Griffin Main Fire Station
Thursday, December 13
6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Click here for a copy of the poster for this event. But, note that the poster reads "December 3" and the event has been re-scheduled for December 13.

Topics will include how to create a beautiful landscape that protects the shoreline and requires little maintenance once established, what you can do on your own and when to call in the experts, how to have a view and trees, too, and other shoreline stewardship tips.

Bring your questions and take home answers along with reference materials for later use.

Though the workshop is free, advanced registration is requested to ensure materials and space for everyone. Call 360-427-9670 ext. 680 to register or for more information.

Contact Person:
Karen Paxson
Water Resources Program Assistant
WSU Mason County Extension
11840 N. Highway 101
Shelton, WA 98584
Phone: 360-427-9670 ext. 686

"Calling All Local Businesses" and "New Neighbor Welcome Baskets"

2007-11-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

Calling All Local Businesses!

There have been many requests from local businesses to be in the Peninsula People Business Directory. We produced our first edition of the Directory this last summer.

Click here to download your own copy of our summer Directory.

We are now working on a revised edition of the Directory. We would like to add even more local businesses.

If you own a local business and would like to be included in the next edition, please contact us by email.

Do you know of a local business who is not already in the Directory? Please have them contact us at directory@GriffinNeighbors.org.

New Neighbor Welcome Baskets

We need more Brochures, Business cards, Flyers, discount certificates and more doggie treats/toys from the business that are in the Directory now. We have run low on the supplies being used to assemble new Welcome Baskets.

If you have materials for the Welcome Baskets, please bring a supply to the offices of Fred Finn. GNA Board Member Fred Finn has generously offered space to collect materials to be assembled into Welcome Baskets. The entrance is through Kristial's Florists, located near the
Subway on Sexton and US-101.

We could also use help collecting a supply of other brochures and literature from State and County agencies in regard to Air and Water quality, Shoreline protection, Fish and Wild life, Noxious weeds and on and on. Those are part of the Welcome Baskets, too.

Anyone can gather these educational items and bring them to our supply area in the back of Fred Finn's office at Island Square. Please package your materials neatly in boxes, labeled envelops or banded together to keep the card table neat.

If you drop of a supply of items for the Welcome Baskets, please be sure your materials are in boxes, labeled envelopes, or rubber banded together.

Do You have New Neighbors?

Those folks who have or know of new families in the area can go to Fred's office and create their own Welcoming Basket to take to their new neighbor. Or, they can leave a message at 252-6047 or email us and we'll help.

A Welcome Basket is a good way to meet and greet your neighbor.

Many thanks to those folks who have helped in this community activity by gathering these materials to share with our new neighbors.

Only you can make a difference!

Thank you for your interest and your contributions.

Progressive Campaign Calls for Thoughful Property Tax Reform

2007-11-27T00:49:00.000-08:00

Fuse, an organization based in Seattle and working for progressive issues, is calling Washingtonians to "Say No to Tim Eyman's Tax Plan."

Chris McCullough, Political Director of Fuse, writes in a recent email that "Reenacting I-747 would be a terrible mistake. I-747's 1% blanket cap preserves the worst inequities of our current property tax system while slowly bleeding local governments of their ability to provide essential services."

Send a Message to the State Legislature: We Want Real Property Tax Reform, Not a Tim Eyman Stunt

McCullough's email continues:

The Legislature has a real opportunity to enact thoughtful, fair property tax reform in our state. We can reduce the tax burden on those who can least afford it while ensuring local governments can pay for schools, roads, police, and fire protection.

Please sign our petition today - we have to send the Legislature a powerful message demanding real property tax reform in Washington State, not a Tim Eyman stunt.

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/proptaxreform

Our property tax system is broken. I-747's 1% cap is lower than the rate of inflation, which means local governments can collect fewer dollars in real terms every year. At the same time, seniors and low-income people are being taxed out of their homes as property values rise.

There are better options. One proposal from the Washington State Budget & Policy Center is a property tax "circuit breaker", which would offer tax credits to lower and moderate income homeowners who are paying more than a certain threshold of income in property taxes. Eighteen states have successfully enacted similar proposals.

There are other potential solutions as well, but the Legislature is focused on Tim Eyman's approach, and won't seriously consider anything else without a powerful message from their constituents. Sign our petition today, and let them know that you demand thoughtful property tax reform.

http://www.fusewashington.org/page/s/proptaxreform

The Legislature should not reenact a thoughtless law for the sake of political expediency. We can do better than Tim Eyman's vision of the future . Please sign our petition asking them to do the job we elected them to do -- enact thoughtful property tax reform.

Thank you,

Chris McCullough, Fuse

Fuse is bringing people like you together to make our state more progressive. Fuse offers busy but concerned people fast, easy and fun ways to make your voice and values heard and make a difference.

Support our member-driven organization: Fuse depends on the support of our members. If you'd like to support our work, you can give now at:

http://www.fusewashington.org/donate

Nov 29 Special Legislative Session to Deal With Property Tax Limits

2007-11-26T13:19:00.000-08:00

As reported in The Olympian this last November 8, "A sharply divided state Supreme Court has struck down a six-year-old citizen initiative that capped yearly increases in property taxes to 1 percent." The 5-4 court decision said that Initiative 747 was unconstitutional because it amended a law that didn't exist any longer in the form the initiative stated. According to The Olympian, "I-747 limited yearly increases in local governments' property taxes to 1 percent, unless voters approved more. An exception was made to allow additional collections for new construction."

To make matters more interesting, local governments are to tell county taxing agencies by November 30 what their tax requests will be for 2008.

Tim Eyman, whose organization created I-747, wrote in an e-mail following the court's decision, that local governments "will be like pigs at the trough."

"Taxpayers now face the nightmare scenario," he said. "We're in for absolute chaos."

In the couple of weeks that have followed, it seems likely the nightmare scenario he described was the product merely of political posturing. What is equally clear, though, is that those of us in Thurston County have a front-row seat to important events - events we can influence.

Once State Attorney General Rob McKenna decided that an appeal was unlikely to produce a different result, Governor Gregoire called a special session of the Legislature. The date she chose was one when representatives were already going to be in town, preparing the the normal session beginning in January. That special session begins this Thursday, November 29.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

PUBLIC HEARING - NOV 29
The House Finance Committee will have a public hearing at 8:15 AM November 29 in Hearing Room B of the O’Brien Building. The Senate Ways & Means Committee has not yet announced its hearing time. Stick around and watch the House and Senate from the galleries.

Click this link for information about visiting the Capitol campus.

WRITE YOUR REPRESENTATIVES - Tell them whether you support a cap or what kind of cap, what limits and what exceptions.
Senator Tim Sheldon
Representative Kathy Haigh
Representative William "Ike" Eickmeyer

We have already read reports the Olympia City Council has made it known they might seek an increase in property taxes. Tumwater and Lacey have both announced they will hold to the 1 percent cap.

The Olympian recently reported, "The general Thurston County property tax rate will drop from $1.21 per $1,000 of assessed value this year to $1.04 per $1,000 next year, under a preliminary $269.3 million 2008 budget set for unveiling Monday [Nov 19]." The general property tax affects all county residents. It does not include city, school or road taxes in unincorporated areas of the county.

A lot of us were stunned, earlier this Fall, when our property assessments arrived. Some of us were able to file appeals. For most of us, though, the bottom line is what the tax impact of those assessments will now be. Participating in this week's special session may prove to be very good tonic.

-- MARK MESSINGER

"Blog Action Day" Focuses Attention on Global Climate Change

2007-10-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

Today is Blog Action Day. More than 15,000 blogs representing more than 12 million readers worldwide writing about one thing: the environment.

Over the most recent few years, we've learned about the increasing signs - in some instances, much faster than many scientists had originally imagined - of an emerging climate crisis. While our public leadership has remained largely intransigent in their thinking, individuals and even corporations have been taking steps to remedy, and even profit from remedies, to global climate change.

What can we, ordinary residents, homeowners and voters do about climate change? The problem sometimes seems so big, it's hard to imagine we can make a difference.

But we can make a difference.

First, think about the environment. Think about how your actions affect the environment.

If you own or rent a residence, arrange to purchase Green Power, from your electrical utility. If you get your electricity from Puget Sound Energy, sign up for their Green Power program. It’s easy, not too expensive, and you’ll be supporting the efforts of one of the country’s foremost developers of renewable electrical resources.

Encourage local businesses to sign up for Green Power, too. Most business do not, but they could. They need to know that you want them to use Green Power.

If you drive a car, purchase carbon offsets. A carbon offset is an investment which supports the development of renewable energy resources roughly equivalent to the carbon output of your vehicle. Carbon offsets are also available for airline travel. Carbon offsets represent an investment in building a reduced-carbon economy.

If you shop for anything, use reusable bags. The question is no longer, “Paper or plastic?” Bring your own bag and use it over and over. As we have written on this blog before, "broken, degraded plastic pieces outweigh surface zooplankton in the central North Pacific by a factor of 6-1. That means six pounds of plastic for every single pound of zooplankton." Which means, when birds and sea animals or looking for food -- more often, they are finding plastic.

Recycle. Most of our communities have good curbside recycling programs in place. Use them; they’re very easy.

Compost. If this and recycling gets you to a smaller-sized garbage can, that’s great. Even if it doesn’t, though, it’s easy to do and an important component to reducing the quantity of material that goes into our community’s landfills.

Reuse. Join the local Freecycle group or find a similar group, to help find new homes for useful stuff that you would otherwise throw away. In addition to Freecycle, FreeSharing and Sharing is Giving are clearinghouses for these kinds of local reuse groups.

Buy organic. Even better, buy local organic. Setting aside debates regarding whether organic is more healthful for you to eat, there’s the issues regarding the commercial production of food. Organic is generally a much more friendly method of food production. With locally-produced organic, you can be assured your organic purchases weren’t shipped from great distances. Ask your local grocer to not only label the organic food she sells, but label it by its source.

Vote. Make those who would be your elected representatives tell you what they will be doing to address global climate change. Understand the effect that your local government, largely through its land use policies, has on global climate change. Help convert your concern about the environment into policy by making your elected representatives understand the importance of the issue of global climate change. The policies we establish, now and in the near future, could result in either new economic opportunities or warfare over scarce and changing resources.

Talk. Ask others what they are doing, to combat global warming. Talk to your elected representatives about what they plan to do.

Again, just think about the environment. Think about how your actions affect the environment.

-- MARK MESSINGER