“Bill’s Towing & Recovery is offering a “Tipsy Tow” service that includes free tows and free rides home to those who find themselves incapable of driving after celebrating the new year.

The service is available in the greater Yelm, Rainier, and McKenna area from 9 p.m. on New Year’s Eve to 3 a.m. on New Year’s Day,” quoting Chris West at KOMO-TV 4 in Seattle.
Read more on how the program works.

Yelm Cinemas Saturday morning Special Screenings announced for January.
All screenings are OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Click here for Yelm Cinemas showtime information.

Yelm Cinemas at Prairie Park
Photo courtesy of Yelm Cinemas

The screenings are as follows:
1. Saturday, January 7
Margin Call

An all-star cast including Kevin Spacey, Demi Moore, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker, and Penn Badgley. The movie encompasses a 36-hour period at a large investment bank (loosely modeled on Lehman Brothers), presenting the affects of the 2008 financial collapse and closely documents actions taken by a group of employees during the crisis.

Doors open at 8:15a.m., and the film will begin at 9 a.m.
Tickets are $6.75 for all seats.

2. Saturday, January 21
Revenge of the Electric Car

In Revenge of the Electric Car, director Chris Paine takes his film crew behind the closed doors of Nissan, GM, and the Silicon Valley start-up Tesla Motors to chronicle the story of the global resurgence of electric cars. Without using a single drop of foreign oil, this new generation of car is Americas future: fast, furious, and cleaner than ever.
Revenge of the Electric Car is narrated by Tim Robbins,” quotingt he movie’s website.
Doors open at 8:15a.m., and the film will begin at 9 a.m.
Tickets are $6.75 for all seats.

These special one-session screenings are only at Yelm Cinemas – OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

“Yelm Paramount Christian Church 2011 Christmas Video – Music Videos”
“This video was played in the Yelm Christmas Eve Service, 2011. Music is from Kutless “This is Christmas” from BEC Records,” quoting Godtube.
Click here

Yelm Celebration Services
December 31, 2011 5:00 pm 6:00 pm
Click here

This writer sent a Letter to the Editor of the local newspaper in response to the city’s downplaying of the Supreme Court decision in Knight vs. City of Yelm:

“In the NVN December 23 issue, in light of the Mayor’s small-minded comments regarding the final decision of the state’s highest court where 7 of 9 justices sided with a citizen (JZ Knight), the Supreme Court clearly stated that municipalities cannot run roughshod over, and must consider, the public’s interests to ensure adequate water sources before approving a developer’s plat application. The decision is a significant event in support of property owners across the state.”

“This decision will be a showcase for future citizens desiring to challenge local governments who endanger their precious water resources. The aftershock from this earthquake will echo 100 years from now where Knight vs. City of Yelm will be cited for upholding the rights of private property owners to challenge unlawful land use decisions.”
Read more

Photo credit: Mr. Wilcox’s Legislative Office website

“The Washington Food Industry Association recently announced the years winners of their prestigious grocery industry awards for their contributions to the industry.”

“The Keystone Awardfor excellence in Government Affairs: Representative J.T. Wilcox of Wilcox Farms in Roy,” quoting the Progressive grocer website.
Read more

The City of Yelm has unfilled openings on the Parks Advisory Committee, Planning Commission & Tree Advisory Board. According to Yelm Community Development Grant Beck in response to a question at the December 27 council meeting, a participant does not have to reside within the City of Yelm.
Contact City Hall or e-mail to express your interest.

Ed. Note: The City of Yelm continues to have issues with lack of citizen participation in city government.

“A bipartisan plan for Washington’s 10 U.S. House districts, unveiled Wednesday, creates a new Olympia-centric 10th District and radically expands two Western Washington congressional districts,” quoting Joel Connelly in the Seattle P-I.

From the Thurston County News Release:

RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE FREE

Pick-up Information

LeMay compost collection/yard waste customers: Put trees in or near your compost cart (in sections 3 ft. or less). Call 923-0111 for information.

Drop-off Locations

All Thurston County residents: Take trees to the Waste and Recovery Center at 2418 Hogum Bay Road NE, Lacey. Dec. 26 – Jan. 16 (closed Jan. 1) Mon. – Fri.: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sat. & Sun.: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Rainier residents: Take trees to the drop box at 13010 Rainier Acres Road from Dec. 26 – Jan. 14. Fri. & Sat.: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Yelm residents: Take trees to Yelm City Park anytime from Dec. 26 – Jan. 10.

Flocked trees are accepted. Please remove all ornaments, lights, tinsel, stands, and nails from trees prior to recycling. Multi-family complex residents should check with their property manager for tree placement locations.

“Our Co-op is taking a turn towards a more farmer-based approach to our food supply. By reducing the amount of product we source from faceless distributors at the end of long, unaccountable, international supply lines, the better off we feel we will be. In fact, if we make this approach work, we will be creating a system of sustainability for the farmers we buy from, and for our Co-op,” quoting the Yelm Food Co-op.

Yelm Food Co-op
404 1st Street, SE
Yelm, WA. 98597
Phone: 360-400-2210

Monday Saturday 10 am 7 pm
Sunday 12 pm 5 pm.
www.yelmfood.coop
Follow us on Facebook @ Yelm Food Co op

TELL THE YELM FOOD CO-OP YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!

With the increase in requests for families needing help in our area during the holidays, I recently connected with Yelm Community Services Director Cindy Marchand-Cecil to gather information for Yelm Community Blog readers on the vital programs and social services this agency has continuously provided since 1971 to Yelm and Rainier, the Nisqually Tribe, and the surrounding rural Thurston County community.

While fragments of the recent Press Releases were covered in the local newspaper, all of them are here for the public, providing a detailed record of all this fine organization does to uplift our area neighbors:

1. “Two Sixth Graders make the Yelm Community Services Homeless Shelter their Special Project”
Read more

2. “Yelm Community Services: Puget Sound Energy Warm Home Fund Begins January 7, 2012”
Read more

3. “Northwest Harvest and Safeway Team up to ‘Help Us End Hunger'”
Read more

4. “Wal-Mart Contributes $1000 to Yelm Community Services”
Read more

5. “Yelm Community Services receives $2,500 gift for holiday hams/turkeys”

Cindy Marchand-Cecil, Executive Director of Yelm Community Services, Rod Barker,
Manager, Yelm Safeway Store, Yael and Steve Klein

Read more from the Press Release.

Ed. note:
My wife & I have been quietly donating holiday turkeys/hams for several years to ensure every family in need receives one for their family. With the recent op-ed critical of Marchand-Cecil, the facts of which were not investigated prior to the published comments, we are going public with our support for Yelm Community Services, their staff and Board!

Marchand-Cecil told the Yelm Community Blog that they would not have financial challenges if area patrons would just purchase their annual car tabs via Yelm Community Services.
Read more to learn how to renew your car tabs locally to support a worthy cause.

Yelm Community Services
624 Crystal Springs Road NW
Yelm, WA 98597
Phone: 360.458.7000
www.yelmcommunityservices.com

Supporting our public servants during these challenging times is our top priority:
Southeast Thurston Fire/Bald Hills Fire, Yelm & Rainier Police & Thurston County Sheriff, Yelm Community Schools and Yelm Community Services (UCBO).

TELL YELM COMMUNITY SERVICES YOU READ ABOUT THEM ON THE YELM COMMUNITY BLOG!