Steve Klein greeted by Ramtha, March 3, 2012
Photo by Melissa Peizer, Ramtha’s official photographer,
Copyright © 2012-2016 JZ Knight, used with permission.

– On Nov. 23, 1985 in Tucson, Arizona awaiting a delayed flight
while headed to Kentucky for the Thanksgiving holiday, I purchased Shirley MacLaine’s then-latest book “Dancing in the Light” (after reading her “Out on a Limb“). I still have the TWA Boarding Pass in that very book, where I read about and was touched by her brother in another life:
Ramtha – The Enlightened One.

I was subsequently invited to attend a videotape recording of his teachings December 23, 1985 in Berkeley, CA, and when the “Hawaii” event video started and I heard his voice, tears welled-up from with me, as I KNEW that I knew him like a brother from some other life, too. I didn’t know how, when or where, I KNEW this entity. His “channeling” through the body of a woman, JZ Knight, did not bother me in the slightest, as I cared not if I heard him through a bullfrog, Ramtha’s sermon is what lit my soul on fire that night – “Behold God!” which he subsequently explained means that God lives within me (the greatest Temple there ever was is within each of us, our human body is where God resides, not some man-made church, synagogue, or mosque). I always thought that if the Universe is infinite, then I must be infinite as well and when Ramtha taught that we have never died, that was “manna from heaven” and I was “home”!


– Now I am not some fanatic seeking a guru,
for I am an educated man raised in a banking family with fine training, garnering Bachelors and Masters Business Degrees and being hired to work in a then-Fortune Top 50 company, in which I became a leading executive. Yet, I have known since a 3rd grader learning about the Universe and going out to contemplate the night sky that I had lived before and my soul never died. Though a 1967 Bar Mitzvah and 1970 Confirmant in the Jewish religion under the tutelage of wonderful Rabbis, I could never quite ascertain or correlate what I knew as a truth within me in any study with the grand, learned scholars of the day, or in any book – I had lived before.


– Yet, I knew I wanted to meet this being in-person, Ramtha.
In what would be called an unusual set of circumstances, a fellow “est” student (now Landmark Forum) told me in mid-February 1986 about an upcoming Ramtha seminar in Phoenix, AZ the weekend of February 22-23, 1986. Of course, I immediately enrolled and flew from my then-San Diego home to arrive after dark at the event location, The Ramada Hotel, Phoenix Airport. At that time, I was the overall Assistant Director of Sales for Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and on arrival, I commented to the hotel management that I had never seen a corporation change their logo for a group prior to this – that the lighted letters A-D-A in their “Ramada” sign were dark. I was then told the transformer that controls those letters had failed that afternoon and one would not be available for repair until Monday, after the Ramtha group left. The sign would remain all weekend: RAM HOTEL.
WOW, I then knew for certain I was in the “right” place.


– That was 30 years ago today!
I have been with Ramtha ever since, exactly 50% of my life.
I was with Ramtha when he formed a school in 1988 and have always been a “current student”.
And his school has been marginalized by society, by each of us students, by our relatives, and by me, so nobody would find out about it. Because when people are given back their power, everything changes. This school teaches that each of us are creators of our own reality, and to be self-inspired, as responsibility lies in our own hands. Our choices then trump fate. That is frightening for many. So I stand tall for truth found here.

As I told Ramtha last year, “I threw my bags in with you and have been with you ever since, I will never leave you, for your teachings are truth within me.”


– I acknowledge Ramtha and his channel, JZ Knight, for what I have been given.
Ramtha showed me the path to raise myself from the abyss that was leading me to an imminent death and answered so many of life’s questions I found no religion, no university, no political persuasion, and no government to be able to adequately and/or honestly address. JZ Knight has been my mentor, my friend, my employer, and my fellow student on a similar path.

That Ramtha chose the Yelm area for his school was one of the reasons I moved here 27 1/2 years ago, along with my love for the Pacific Northwest, first shown to me by my very good friend Jim Walden and his then-wife Janice (deceased), Jim being the well-known former Head Football Coach of Washington State University (WSU). I care not what anyone else says, a follower I am not, for I have integrated Ramtha’s teachings into my own life to become a greater human being as his student, enriched my life, been blessed to give so profoundly to others, and am filled with the love of God. I now know that I AM my own Redeemer.


– Thanks to Ramtha and JZ Knight, this day, I am home!
May everyone know this kind of fulfillment for themselves.
Onward TO THE FUTURE, for the next 30 years await my creation.


For more info: Ramtha dot com

Nathan B. & Deka D. with UW Poetry Contest awards
Photo courtesy: Phoenix Rising School

– From Rainier’s Phoenix Rising School (PRS), voted 2015’s Best School of Nisqually:
“Congratulations to Nathan and Deka for being among the winners of the University of Washington’s 2016 Neuroscience for Kids Poetry Contest.”

“Every year UW’s Neuroscience Department holds a writing or drawing contest for children. This year they were calling all poets in grades Kindergarten through 12. Each age group had developmentally appropriate contest rules. For example, Kindergartners did not have to rhyme while sixth graders were asked to submit a Haiku. Many of our students participated and everyone’s work was beautiful. Deka [Grade 3 to Grade 5 category] and Nathan [Grade 6 to Grade 8] were among the winners from a total of 478 entries.”

“‘How often do you see a child write poetry about the wonderful world of the brain and mind?!!’ says Miss Sonya, C.R.E.A.T.E. Education Specialist. ‘Here at Phoenix Rising, our students have learned so much about neuroscience, I thought it would be great for them to participate in this contest. It is so exciting that two of our students won! In my mind, they all did,” quoting Phoenix Rising School.
Read more


Click here to hear the winners recite their poems.


– PRS’s predecessor the Children’s School of Excellence (CSE) had 2 UW contest winners in 2007!
Airies Hygaard and Evan Hawkins both won in the K-2 grade category, as reported here in February 2007.
Read more

Photo courtesy: Entertainment Explosion

– A Really Big Shoe 10 – Folk Fest
Sunday February 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts [Olympia] Entertainment Explosion will present the 10th annual Really Big Shoe – “Folk Fest.” Proceeds from this entertaining afternoon are distributed to local school districts and CYS (sic) to help our needy and homeless students. Click here to view the flyer.
Read more from Yelm Community Schools (YCS).

Sandra Romero

On Monday, February 22, join Commissioner Romero and her guest, Thurston Thrives Community Coordinator, Liz Davis, for coffee, and learn how to help youth in Thurston County move beyond adversity to brighter futures. Note NEW LOCATION: Pizzeria La Gitana, 309 Yelm Ave E.


In 2011, Thurston County experienced a significant spike in cases of severe child abuse and neglect. Recent statistics have shown a small decrease in cases, but there is still concern about the elevated number of reports of children being harmed. To help address this and other health concerns, the Thurston County Board of Health formed Thurston Thrives in 2013. Now in its second year, the county-wide initiative brings community leaders together to align their efforts for a better Thurston County.

In addition to being the Thurston Thrives Community Coordinator, Liz Davis is also the co-founder and CEO of Northwest Venture Philanthropy. Liz has more than 16 years of experience across multiple disciplines in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She currently serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Thurston County and the Child Care Action Council, as a member of the Junior League of Olympia, and on the Washington Secretary of State’s Charities Advisory Council. In 2015, Liz was honored as a Champion for Kids by TOGETHER! and was named one of the 40 Under Forty by the Business Examiner. Liz holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the Washington State University and a Master in Teaching from The Evergreen State College.


Commissioner Romero meets once a month with community members for informal coffee chats on a wide variety of local issues. At the end of the guest presentation you will have an opportunity to talk about issues of concern, ask her questions about the county, and share ideas. Romero is the representative of District 2, which includes Yelm, Lacey, and Rainier.


What: Citizen meeting with second district County Commissioner Sandra Romero
When: Monday, January 25, 2016
Where:
Rainier: 9:30am – 10:30am, Rainier City Hall, 102 Rochester Street West
Yelm: 11:00am – 12:00pm, NEW LOCATION: Pizzeria La Gitana, 309 Yelm Ave E
Lacey: 2:00pm – 3:00pm, Forza Coffee, 130 Marvin Rd. SE

Michael Wagar
Photo courtesy: Nisqually Valley News

– Editor’s Note:
Michael Wagar marks his third anniversary at the Nisqually Valley News (NVN) this week.
While I did not agree with his newspaper’s seemingly rush to judgement in the misrepresentation of facts of area citizen Dr. Miceal Ledwith, his newspaper did follow-up with corrected details.

I acknowledge Wagar for what he has done to transform his newspaper since taking the helm at the NVN and for his public service on the Yelm Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. His has not been an easy role in a community with so many polarizing issues.

After three years on the job here, Michael has certainly come to better know the “players” in our community and has become more seasoned in his approach. While this Blogger may have been seen as a thorn in the side of Mayor Harding and City Hall, a relationship which Wagar lampooned in his closing message of 2013, his newspaper has come a long in questioning city hall actions, as in last year’s White Horse Tavern debacle. And what a refreshing change in such frankness readers saw on the front page last week with this sub-title, “Newly Elected Councilor DePinto Says ‘I Don’t Want to Call Anyone Incompetent’”. Up until 3 new Councilors all ran campaigns and were overwhelming elected on platforms of Yelm open government, I have rarely seen the NVN be critical of the status quo at city hall in the 27+ years I have resided here.

Best wishes to Michael Wagar in his continued endeavors to evolve the Nisqually Valley as a better place for all through stories that create open conversation and dialogue.


– Wagar began February 20, 2013 as Nisqually Valley News (NVN) Publisher/Editor
“As the Nisqually Valley News new publisher and editor, Michael Wagar knows he has big shoes to fill.”

“The former executive editor of the NVNs sister paper, The Chronicle in Centralia, started his new job Wednesday [February 20, 2013],” quoting the NVN, Friday, February 22, 2013.
Read more


– Wagar continues to serve as Officer of WNPA
Nisqually Valley News (NVN) Publisher Michael Wagar was elected to the board of directors of the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association at its 126th annual convention in October 2013.

Wagar is a Trustee and WNPA Journalism Education Committee Chair.
Read more

Photo credit: Copyright © 2016 JZ Knight. Used with permission.

Click here to register for the live-stream from Yelm or register at the door.


Click here to purchase “Insiders Reveal Secret Space Programs and Extraterrestrial Alliances,”
the book by Dr. Michael Salla, PhD.


– Noted from JZ Knight’s Facebook post:
This week [January 22, 2016], two Caltech scientists announced that an unseen giant planet some 10 times the mass of Earth may lie beyond the Kuiper belt, the icy ring of debris where dwarf planet Pluto resides. If true, it would become the first planet found in more than 150 years, since Neptune was discovered in 1846,” quoting the Los Angeles Times, January 22, 2016.

Ramtha described in 2001 that the planet of the beings who came to Earth and had a hand in jump-starting our genetic evolution has an extremely long elliptical orbit, as the research of the Caltech scientists shows. Ramtha explained that it takes 25,000 years for that planet to complete one orbit around our sun.
Read more

Carr Family
Photo credit: Carr Military Family Emergency Fund

– “Military family about to watch their dream home fall into the Nisqually River”
“A GoFundMe site has been set up to help the Carrs with mortgage payments. But soon those payments will be going to a home that’s no longer there.

The Carrs say there’s hope the bank will forgive the loan, but there’s no word on that yet.”
By Keith Eldridge, KOMO-TV 4 News.
Click here for the video report.

– “‘I can’t help but cry’: Family forced to leave as home teeters on edge of river”
By Tom Yazwinski, KCPQ-TV 13 News.
Click here for the video report.

Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall delivers the oath of office
to Yelm Councilors Molly Carmody and Joe DePinto,
as Rep. Denny Heck looks on – December 29, 2015.
Photo credit: Daniel Crowe

The three newly-elected Councilors have been busy questioning the status-quo and standing-up for their constituents. This was first demonstrated by Tad Stillwell questioning budget items after he was elected and inaugurated last Fall to fill unexpired Postilion 4. Now, Councilors Carmody and DePinto have also questioned several items of city affairs. To request public input and have transparency was the cornerstone of all of their campaign platforms.
I applaud them for following-through on their pledges, the very reason they were elected, and in not being intimidated or backing-down amidst The Great Intimidation.


– From Yelm Councilor Molly Carmody on the Yelm Community Watch page:
Hi Yelm Community Watch! I’m poking my head in to say that, in my work to better understand Yelm as a new Councilmember, I’ve been reading the Municipal Code. Did you know that in 1999, City Council established a Yelm Police Advisory Committee, to be comprised of local citizens? See YMC 2.51. It currently is completely inactive, with zero members. I encourage those of you with Public Safety concerns to submit applications to be on this volunteer committee. I can’t find an application form on the City website, but I bet that if you call the City and ask for an application to be posted or e-mailed to you, they’d be happy to oblige. We need more citizen input!
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– From Yelm Councilor Joe DePinto:
Many folks on the council don’t believe there is a need for additional police officers. If you feel we do or don’t need more police in Yelm, I would encourage you to let the council know your thoughts. I know it can be intimidating to some, but it is really important for your voices to be heard.
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– From Superintendent Andy Wolf about the Special Election Results:
Thank you for your support in passing the Yelm levy.

We will be reflecting on the election results (Thurston) (Pierce) and seeking input from our Key Communicators Task Force as to the options we have to address overcrowding at the elementary level and how we can disperse our student population across the district until new construction can be achieved.
Read more


– Yelm School Board to meet this evening about overcrowding
This open-to-the-public session will be held in the Yelm Schools District Offices, 107 First St. N., at 5:30pm.


– From The Olympian Editorial Board:
“In Yelm, voters rejected a $59.5 million bond measure to expand classroom space – the lone ballot loss”

“All eight Thurston County school districts put maintenance and operations levies on the ballot Tuesday. In every one, voters said yes – passing the property-tax levies by large, in some cases resounding margins.

The only setback was in Yelm. Voters approved the levy for Yelm Community Schools but rejected a $59.5 million bond proposal that would have added classroom space to accommodate the district’s fast-growing enrollment. It was the second such loss in two years for Yelm, leaving questions about how to move forward.”
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Click here for final vote results.

Photo courtesy: michaelmoore.com

– Editor’s note:
My wife and I saw this movie at the sold-out Grand Cinemas in Tacoma on Saturday night. We both agreed that EVERY American should see this movie. Regardless of your political affiliation, religious views, gender or age, Michael Moore has crafted a cinematic ensemble of our times, with his genius for irony!

Our only disappointment is that Yelm Cinemas and the Uptown Lounge owner Margaret Clapp did not have the vision to INSIST that her distributor obtain this film here in Yelm, which would have brought her theater and lounge record audiences for several weeks from all over the South Sound, as has been proven in the past with movies here of this genre.


– WHERE TO INVADE NEXT
“Academy Award®-winning director Michael Moore is back with WHERE TO INVADE NEXT: a provocative and hilarious comedy in which Moore will stop at nothing to figure out how to actually make America great again.

Just in time for election season, America’s favorite political provocateur, Michael Moore, is back with his new film, WHERE TO INVADE NEXT. Honored by festivals and critics groups alike, WHERE TO INVADE NEXT is an expansive, hilarious, and subversive comedy in which the Academy Award®-winning director confronts the most pressing issues facing America today and finds solutions in the most unlikely places,” from Michael Moore.
Read more
Click here to see the trailer.


– “Michael Moore is back: ‘Where to Invade Next’ may be his most optimistic film yet”
“The film, his first documentary in six years, made its New York premiere at the BAM Harvey Theater in Brooklyn on Wednesday and was greeted with warm laughter and a standing ovation. Its satirical premise is that Moore, a self described “one-man army,” will “invade” countries outside the U.S., steal their “best ideas” and bring them back to the country. What follows is something akin to a travelogue (largely though Europe) which provides unexpected emotional resonance and ultimately tells American audiences more about themselves than the rest of the world. ‘The American dream seemed to be alive and well everywhere but in America,’ Moore says in the film,” by Adam Howard, MSNBC.
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– “Where To Invade Next – Michael Moore Strikes a Melancholy Chord”
“Where to Invade Next is Michael Moore’s most disturbing film yet. Contrasting the progressive public policies practiced abroad with those here at home, Moore starkly drives home just how inhumane American society has truly become.

The movie is a simple exercise in comparing and contrasting American public policies with those of other countries. It’s full of Moore’s inner dialogue and characteristic humor. But it’s also profoundly moving because he cuts deep into the marrow of what’s wrong with American society and must be changed,” by Joseph A. Palermo, Professor, historian, author, Huffington Post.
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