Nancy Hillman offered this area some of the best vehicles for our community’s talent to be expressed in her 10 years as Director of the Drew Harvey Theater, with her production/direction of fabulous plays and musicals.

Now, Nancy returns to Yelm offering her experience once again to the community.
If you have ever had a desire to sing, dance and act, now is your chance!

FOR ADULTS:
The Art of the Playful Actor Taught by Nancy Hillman
Wednesday nights @ the Blue Bottle Cafe, Yelm
Call 789-2486 to register

“In an 8 week period, we will use Improvisation, Monologues, and Scene work to show how to access, with ease, the most joyful and entertaining part of you. This skill can be used in every life situation, starting with professional presentations, through personal conversations, and all the way to theatrical productions,” says Ms. Hillman.

TELL NANCY YOU HEARD ABOUT HER CLASSES ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

I have been impressed with the fine investigative reporting on challenging area issues Olympian reporter Christian Hill has penned – so much so I wrote him a note after yesterday’s report in The Olympian on the Tumwater Brewery’s declining viability. I am sharing this with all of you, as this correlates with Yelm’s own situation:

Dear Mr. Hill,

I can always tell when you have written a story –
I have noticed you do your homework and delve into many aspects of a featured article.
I appreciate that.

This paragraph in the brewery story [Sunday, June 28th front page of The Olympian] is very astute on your part:
“Its a story etched in misfortune. A big corporation shuts down the century-old brewery, saying its no longer profitable. A start-up company, All American Bottled Water Corp., led by a chief executive with big dreams and virtually no business acumen, picks up the property for a song. That executive, L. Eric Whetstone, runs the business into the ground, leaving creditors on the hook for millions in unpaid bills after refinancing falls through and his criminal past as a scam artist is exposed in this newspaper. Creditors force the company and property into bankruptcy. A year of litigation and one unsuccessful offer for the property follow; then the lenders seize control of the property. They foreclose on it and put up a For sale sign.

And there it sits.”

Unfortunately, this is also indicative that banks and lenders just did not vet and due diligence on their developers, prior to the downturn that in-turn, contributed to that very economic downturn.

We know that well out here in Yelm with the bright-eyed dream of a 5,000 home development (15,000-20,000 more people) proposed for a town of 5,000, with little foresight given to environmental, water, traffic, groundwater recharge and other costs to the public, as “city fathers” tripped over each other shoving those issues aside all-the-while salivating at the prospect of supporting Mayor Harding’s “…stance in recent years for growth to pay for growth,” as he told the NVN printed on April 17th, 2009.

As I always said, none of Yelm’s leaders took an Economic 101 class to know that when the music [growth] stopped, someone was going to be without a chair [money to continue to pay for the infrastructure of what that growth required] with such short vision. [Ed. Note: Nor did they listen to and heed the public.] That happened and now Yelm taxpayers are left with $1.6 million in debt for the Golf Course well, almost $200 thousand in unpaid invoices and back-taxes owed to the city by the developers, and a [proposed] $71 million Yelm-taxpayer tab that begins with water rate hikes July 1st in an unapproved Water System Plan [with an option] to pay a Master Planned Community’s (MPC) water needs.

You have reported several aspects of that excellently, from the water case against the City of Yelm to the Thurston Highlands default and subsequent debt burden left to Yelm taxpayers.

I just had to write to acknowledge your work!

Most sincerely,

Steve Klein

1. “Small Towns Help to shape county”
was the title of The Olympian story Saturday, June 27 and had this to say:
RAINIER
Location: 12 miles southeast of Olympia and 6 miles southwest of Yelm
History: Established in 1890, the town of Rainier was named in 1884 by Northern Pacific officials because of its proximity to Mount Rainier, amid the ten al quelth prairies, an American Indian word meaning the best yet. The area was homesteaded by Albert and Maria Gehrke in 1890, and there still are many Gehrke families in the area.
Population: About 1,740, according to 2008 OFM estimates.

YELM
Location: Yelm is at the junction of state Routes 507 and 510, about 15 miles southeast of Olympia in eastern Thurston County.
History: The city was incorporated Dec. 10, 1924. Yelm is a Salish Indian word that means heat waves from the sun. Yelm was known as a village site for the Nisqually tribe. Since the 1980s, Yelm also has been home to JZ Knight, who claims to channel a 35,000-year-old warrior named Ramtha, and Ramtha School of Enlightenment, run by Knight.
Population: About 5,150, according to 2008 OFM estimates.
Features: In recent years, shopping centers and a cinema complex have sprung up in Yelm. A new library has opened near the cinema. Also, a Wal-Mart Supercenter opened in 2007.

2. Intercity Transit Named Best Transit System in the Country
for its size by the American Public Transportation Association

“In 2006, Intercity Transit [IT] officially set its vision to be a leading transit system in the country, committed to enhancing the quality of life for all citizens of Thurston County.

Three years later, that vision is realized. The American Public Transportation Association has named Intercity Transit the best transit system in the nation for its size. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) presented the Outstanding Public Transportation System Achievement Award to just three transit systems in the country this year, based on size categories. Intercity Transit won the title in the medium-size category of transit systems providing between 4 and 30 million rides annually. There are a total of 108 medium-sized transit systems in operation across the U.S….

“Intercity Transit is only the third Washington State system to receive the award and the first since 1991. The award was previously given to Seattles King County Metro (Seattle) and Pierce Transit (Tacoma).

‘This is a great honor,’ stated Intercity Transit General Manager Mike Harbour. ‘Its a tribute to our outstanding employees, the leadership of the Intercity Transit Authority, and our entire community that supports and understands the value of public transportation.’

The Intercity Transit Authority, the only governing transit board in Washington State to have citizen representation with full voting power serving with elected officials, redefined the agencys credo in 2006 adopting a new mission and vision that reflected its focus as not only a high-performing bus system but as the communitys mobility manager,” quoting the IT website.

Artists Heidel and Raya Bethel

“Paradise Studios is a premier architectural finishing and fine art mural studio that is recognized for its fabulous conceptualization, design and application of finely crafted decorative faux finishes, European plasters(including Venetian plaster, marmarino and more), and tromp loeil murals. We provide an unlimited spectrum of stunning, extraordinary fine finishes to achieve any effect imaginable. We are committed to artistic excellence and craftsmanship in every project. Every project is designed custom to you, your unique space, and your individual needs,” quoting their website.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
“Paradise Studios is a unique company formed by identical twin sisters, Heidel and Raya Bethel. With 15 years experience in fine art and studying with renowned artists in their early years, they have developed a diverse level of skill and creative direction. Through drawing and painting courses, Raya and Heidel have received extensive training that they have applied for years in project execution. The identical twins have worked on paintings side be side for years. Starting off their great works with oil on canvas, they eventually transitioned to small and large scale murals .They work in tandem on tromp loeil murals, matching painting styles exactly, allowing the finished piece to look like it was painted by one artist. They have a versatile ability to paint in styles ranging from realism to surrealism to impressionism to whimsical. Heidel and Raya have a great talent for painting reproductions capturing the beauty of a classic or renaissance piece of art.”

CONTACT
Paradise Studios
info@paradisestudiosart.com
Phone # (425)830-2911 Kirkland, Wa
Phone # (360)789-5744 Olympia, Wa

TELL PARADISE STUDIOS ART YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

Dear Readers;

No matter what each of us may feel about Michael Jackson’s flaws, his were no different than our own. These define the human condition that are all of our roadblocks towards evolution. His were just more publicized than ours!

We have a generation alive today that truly do not know the contribution that this man made to our evolving society; emerging from the ignorance, blindness and prejudice of the inequities amongst races.

Let THIS and his whole genre of works be Michael Jackson’s legacy. That there be no one untouched and unmoved by this man’s co-production of this piece the world-over is fitting this day, I say!

For those that are too young to know or to jar your memory from 24 years ago [yes, 24 years ago; Michael was 26!]:

“USA for Africa (United Support of Artists for Africa), was the name under which forty-five predominantly U.S. artists, led by Harry Belafonte, Kenny Rogers, Michael Jackson, and Lionel Richie, recorded the hit single “We Are the World” in 1985. The song was a US and UK Number One for the collective in April of that year. The considerable profits from the enterprise went to the USA for Africa Foundation, which used them for the relief of famine and disease in Africa; critics, however, claim that this money went directly to the (often military) governments of the affected countries rather than the people. A recording of the live performance was released with the Live Aid DVD set released on November 8, 2004,” quoting YouTube.

And, the final released version of the song went viral & touched the world in 1985 long before cell phones, laptops, I-Phones, Twitter, Facebook & Blogs! click here

Bless Michael Jackson for bridging Blues & Pop and in doing so, bridged yet another racial chasm with his music, starting with our youth and moving beyond to all ages.

“THERE COMES A TIME, WHEN WE HEED A CERTAIN CALL, WHEN THE WORLD MUST COME TOGETHER AS ONE…”

In his Op-Ed piece out today [print edition of June 26] in the Nisqually Valley News (NVN), Publisher’s Column writer Keven Graves titled story says “Replacing the perceived me with the real one.” This piece is very interesting because he is attempting to dispel the many myths he hears about himself.

Mr. Graves should not be surprised about that, because I was always taught “what goes around, comes around” and Mr. Graves sure does shovel misconceptions himself.

To wit: He has mentioned in the same column several times he and his family’s move from Yelm to near Rainier, the column from where I quote:
“Try and find an acre inside Yelm city limits. It didn’t exist at the time.

Nope, a savvy bloggist observed, I obviously fled Yelm because I didn’t want to endure an increased water bill two years down the road.”

This “savvy bloggist” said nor implied any such thing, as most any reader can see for themselves from this June 18th Blog entry about the city’s debt service comprising the huge city water rate increase, still unreported in Mr. Graves’ newspaper:

“HOW LONG IS SILENCE GOING TO BE THE MANTRA HERE?
HOW LONG WILL THIS ALL BE IGNORED BY THE NISQUALLY VALLEY NEWS?
[Ed. Note: After all, this newspaper is the first to publish front-page reports and editorials on their perceptions of malfeasance by the Cities of Rainier & Roy. Why does the City of Yelm get a bye?
And, the NVN’s publisher/editor has said several times in his Op-Eds he no longer resides in Yelm, therefore is not affected by city policies at his new residence? HMMM!]”
CLICK HERE for the full story.

Does this say anything that Graves “fled Yelm because I didn’t want to endure an increased water bill two years down the road?”
NO!
What this sentence DOES say is that the water rate increases do not affect him, so he does not personally know the burdens Yelm property owners will bear beginning July 1st, and the Yelm Draft Water System Plan debt spread to the taxpayer has not been covered by his newspaper.

Mr. Graves spoke in the column of his “extreme shyness,” yet he certainly is not shy about penning misconceptions to the public with his newspaper’s omissions & facts twisting.

This is now the third week in a row where the NVN has gotten a story incorrect;
the previous two weeks garnering e-mails to Mr. Graves & his reporter by me. I recommend Mr. Graves look at his own actions as to why he must write a column titled “Replacing the perceived me with the real one.”

OF COURSE, AS ALWAYS, YOUR THOUGHTS ARE APPRECIATED!

Photo from Jamie Honey’s website

1. LEARN TO LAUGH, LAUGH TO LEARN
Introducing The Fun Pro
“Healing benefits of laughter combined with encouraging neural plasticity by challenging the mind.
Learn out of the box thinking and have fun doing it!
Jamie Honey’s Improv classes Friday nights in Rainier, WA.

“Improv is for absolutely everyone! There are so many benefits to stretching your own limits and giving Improv a try…

Science has come out with some great studies about the benefits of laughter. Laughter stimulates the mind to be in the moment, and when we are in the moment, we are more productive, creative, and healthier.”

Everyone welcome. For more information,
CLICK HERE

Listen to Jaime’s audio message: CLICK HERE

Laugh it up,

Jamie Honey

2. FIREARMS CLASS
“Last year I decided to offer a firearms training class for novices at my house in Rainier. Having over thirty years experience with with both long and short firearms, I thought it may be helpful for those who are unfamiliar with guns. The class is available twice a month on alternating Sundays. It lasts about four hours and I cover basic safety, handling, shooting and maintenance of pistols, rifles and shotguns.
The cost is $60 per person and each person is required to bring a notepad as well as eye and ear protection. I provide the firearms, ammunition and targets. I accept up to five students per class and preregistration is encouraged. The class is very interactive and fun those that have taken it said they would indeed recommend it to a friend.

Feel free to call or email me if you have any questions. 360-259-5528.”

Joel Kaminskas

On June 9th, Mayor Ron Harding issued a Proclamation announcing Yelm’s annual Prairie Day festivities this week and urged all to join in and participate during this celebration.

Thursday, June 25, 2009 5:30 p.m. Social prior to Prairie Days Parade Prairie Days Parade
Thursday, June 25, 2009 – Prairie Days Parade – Line up starts at 6:00pm; Parade at 7:00pm
Thursday-Sunday, June 25-28, 2009 Prairie Days Celebration, Yelm City Park
Saturday, June 27, 2009 Chamber Education/Foundation Car Show, Yelm Middle School Campus

ENJOY THE FUN & FESTIVITIES!

Yelm Librarian Kristin Blalack announced to the Yelm City Council tonight that she was leaving her post, after 35 years of service (beginning in 1974) as librarian in the Yelm Schools and Yelm’s Timberland Regional Library.
Ms. Blalack said she will continue to serve on the Yelm Tree Advisory Board & work with Friends of the Library.

Kristin told the Mayor & City Council,
“I have enjoyed working with the city & seeing changes in the city.
I appreciate working with you guys here and loved interacting with the council for 19 years as Yelm’s librarian.”

Mayor Harding presented Kristin with an official certificate of appreciation for her years of service and a key to the city saying, “this is awarded to people who go above and beyond.”

Ms. Blalack told the Council she began her service in Yelm as a temporary librarian in the summer of 1974 and she met her future husband at the former, small city library in the corner of City Hall.

Ms. Blalack’s departure comes at a crossroads for the Yelm Timberland library. Mayor Harding had previously announced that there was no money for a new public facility, and with the 10 year exemption given by Timberland to Yelm to lease a facility in a private building due to expire in July, 2012, Mayor Harding has said the library will move into much smaller digs back in City Hall with curtailed offerings. That is VERY unfortunate since Yelm is THE single library in the whole 19 library Timberland system with the largest youth usage.
Losing this is sad, as Mayor Harding has said he is running for 4 more years to complete his goal of a youth center here. Passing up the value of a full-service, vibrant Yelm Library for our youth lacks vision and foresight.

Other introductions announced by Mayor Harding tonight:
1. Sue Davis is the new Yelm Finance Director, coming here from Orting and said, “Every fundamental – I should know everything.”
2. The two new City Council candidates for Pat Fetterly’s open Council seat were introduced by Mayor Harding in-audience:
Jennifer Littlefield
Tracey Wood
3. Mayor Harding announced he is the Grand Marshall in the Prairie Days Parade this year and will be in his own car with the council walking behind.

THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG WISHES KRISTIN BLALACK WELL IN HER FUTURE ENDEAVORS.
I HAVE FOUND WORKING WITH KRISTIN AS A FORMER LIBRARY BOARD MEMBER, LIBRARY PATRON AND BENEFACTOR TO BE MY SINCERE PLEASURE!

WHAT HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN THE LARGEST ANNUAL FUND RAISING EVENT IN YELM RETURNS THIS WEEKEND!
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

The Childrens School of Excellence cordially invites you to their Sixth Annual Auction on Saturday, June 27, 2009.
CLICK HERE for the invitation details.

Join them for a “Star-Studded Celebration” as they raise funds for the school.
A truly delicious summer menu, is planned!

CLICK HERE to purchase Dinner Tickets online.

CLICK HERE to view the online Auction Catalog, filled with fabulous items from local vendors and residents!

CLICK HERE for more about the Children’s School of Excellence.

Featured again this year is a one-hour session with Ramtha One on One donated by JZ Knight.