Photo credit: Story of Stuff Project

– From the Story of Stuff Project.
“First organized in 1992, Buy Nothing Day has spread to 65 countries around the globe. In the US, it takes on the largest ‘consumer holiday,’ Black Friday. And this year, globally, this day is also celebrated on Friday, November 24th. Participation has grown every year as people see commercialism creeping further and further into our lives, making the holidays a time of stress and anxiety.

We want to get back to the original stories of the holidays. Spend time with those you love. Count the blessings you have, not the Stuff that you want. Prioritize doing something instead of buying something. Join our global Community around the world in celebrating the gifts you already have.”

“By celebrating Buy Nothing Day, we take the pressure off retailers to force employees to work overtime, and we help reclaim the holidays as a time to rest and to strengthen our social bonds.”
Read more


– “Will you take the pledge to celebrate Buy Nothing Day?”
“This year I pledge to join people around the world in celebrating Buy Nothing Day on November 24th, 2017. Instead of shopping for more Stuff, I will choose to spend time with the ones I love and take action to make positive change in my community.”
Click here to sign the petition.

Photo credit: REI

– From Seattle-based REI
“Black Friday is better when you #OptOutside”

“In 2015 and 2016, REI skipped the Black Friday frenzy. We closed our stores and gave employees a paid day off. Millions of people like you joined us outside. Awesome.

So let’s do it again. Let’s make a new tradition. That’s how a moment becomes a movement. Join us. #optoutside.”

“So consider this your invitation. On November 24, REI will close our doors and #OptOutside. #OptOutside with us and spend the day with several million of your closest friends.”
Read more

Photo credit: Yelm’s international award-winning photographer,
Rory Sagner Photography & Fine Art

This Thanksgiving Day message was first published here in 2009:

– Editor’s Note:
THANKSGIVING DAY has been an annual tradition in the United States since 1863 & became a federal holiday in 1941. President Lincoln issued this proclamation which set the precedent for America’s national day of Thanksgiving on October 3rd, 1863, which is as pertinent today as during the Civil War to heal our nation’s wounds:


By the President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln
A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State
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Photo credit: Hillsdale College YouTube video


– America the Beautiful sung by Hillsdale College’s Choir (Michigan)
“Written by Katharine Lee Bates and composed by Samuel A. Ward, “America the Beautiful” is one of the most well-known and beloved American patriotic songs. The song celebrates the natural beauty and the “patriot dream” of the United States.

Hillsdale College is an independent institution of higher learning founded in 1844 by men and women “grateful to God for the inestimable blessings” resulting from civil and religious liberty and “believing that the diffusion of learning is essential to the perpetuity of these blessings.”
Click here for the video.


– America the Beautiful sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
Click here

Olympia Regional Airport, closest official weather service station to Yelm (16 miles), broke the high temperature record for any November 22nd. Today’s high was 66 degrees (18.9 C.), breaking the 1957 record high of 63 degrees (17 C.).
Read more


– “Record highs already broken in Western Washington Wednesday”
By Jordan Steele and Travis Pittman,KING-5 TV News.
Read more

– Heavy Rainfall Warning for our area
Issuing Office: Seattle/Tacoma
Source: National.Weather.Service

4:10am PST, Wed Nov 22

… HEAVY RAINFALL TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING CONTINUES THE INCREASED THREAT OF LANDSLIDES IN WESTERN WASHINGTON… THE RECENT RAINS HAVE INCREASED SOIL MOISTURE TO HIGH LEVELS ACROSS WESTERN WASHINGTON, WITH ADDITIONAL HEAVY RAINFALL EXPECTED AT TIMES TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING. ADDITIONAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF…A HALF TO ONE AND A HALF INCHES OVER THE INTERIOR LOWLANDS. THIS AMOUNT OF RAIN WILL CONTINUE THE INCREASED THREAT OF LANDSLIDES. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CURRENT CONDITIONS, VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/SEATTLE, SELECT HYDROLOGY INFORMATION UNDER RIVERS AND LAKES, AND THEN SCROLL DOWN FOR THE LINKS TO THE LANDSLIDE INFORMATION PAGES.
Read more

– Flood Watch for Thurston County, Washington
Issuing Office: Seattle/Tacoma
Source: National.Weather.Service

4:00am PST, Wed Nov 22

… FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON…
Read more

Courtesy: American Express

* American Express ‘Shop Small’ program supports Yelm local businesses and elsewhere,
* Support small businesses in a big way – Let’s Shop Small®,
* Shopping local gives to our community in huge ways,
* Gov. Jay Inslee’s Proclamation that designated Nov. 25 as Small Business Saturday,
* Click here for the map of the American Express Small Business participants in Yelm.
Read more from American Express.


– “Local Spots to Shop on Small Business Saturday”
“The products, services, and locales of these mom-and-pop shops differ, but all take pride in providing outstanding customer service, maintaining relationships, and being part of their communities.”

“Small Business Saturday, launched by American Express in 2010 to promote local retailers, restaurants, and services, is looking to continue its successful charge in 2017. Last year, an estimated 112 million shoppers bought at small businesses, a 13 percent increase over 2015.

Officially recognized by Congress in 2011, Small Business Saturday joins Black Friday and Cyber Monday as the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Support from public officials in all 50 states has added to the effort.

According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), small businesses provide jobs for 58 million Americans. Local firms give back to their communities, create healthy neighborhoods, and offer residents more choices. Shoppers and retailers are building relationships within their communities, and Small Business Saturday is becoming a holiday tradition,” By Patricia Doherty, Departures Dispatch.
Read more

– Flood Watch for Thurston County, Washington
Issuing Office: Seattle/Tacoma
Source: National.Weather.Service

3:59am PST, Tue Nov 21

… FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON… THE FLOOD WATCH CONTINUES FOR … WEST CENTRAL WASHINGTON, KING, LEWIS, PIERCE, SNOHOMISH, AND THURSTON.

* FROM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON *
A WARM FRONT AND THE PLUME OF SUBTROPICAL MOISTURE WITH IT WILL BRING 2 TO 5.5 INCHES OF RAIN TO THE OLYMPICS AND MOUNT RAINIER TODAY AND TONIGHT, AND 1 TO 4 INCHES OF RAIN TO THE CASCADES NORTH OF MOUNT RAINIER. THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BE NEAR 8000 FEET.

A SECOND FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL BRING ANOTHER 1 TO 4 INCHES ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY, WITH THE SNOW LEVEL FALLING FROM 7000 FEET TO 4000 FEET AS THE SYSTEM MOVES THROUGH.

* THE TWO SYSTEMS IN CLOSE SUCCESSION PRESENTS A THREAT OF FLOODING ON RIVERS IN WESTERN WASHINGTON. FLOODING COULD BEGIN TONIGHT OR WEDNESDAY. IT LOOKS LIKE THE THREAT IS FOR A RELATIVELY MINOR FLOODING EPISODE.

* MODELS SHOW SEVERAL RIVERS CRESTING NEAR OR JUST ABOVE FLOOD STAGE INCLUDING THE SKOKOMISH, COWLITZ, NISQUALLY, WHITE, SNOQUALMIE, STILLAGUAMISH, SKAGIT, AND NOOKSACK. HOWEVER, THIS DOESN’T MEAN THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOODING IS LIMITED TO THESE RIVERS. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS. YOU SHOULD MONITOR LATER FORECASTS AND BE ALERT FOR POSSIBLE FLOOD WARNINGS. THOSE LIVING IN AREAS PRONE TO FLOODING SHOULD BE PREPARED TO TAKE ACTION SHOULD FLOODING DEVELOP.
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Yelm Community Center
Photo credit: Yelm Chamber of Commerce


– Editor’s note:
One of the “Most Popular” current Nisqually Valley News stories is about Yelm’s Community Center operating in red ink.
Why is this even in question?
After all, Yelm voters twice rejected the bonds to construct the community center after which then Mayor Ron Harding did an end-run around the voters, improperly utilizing a low-income grant plus a $1 million addition to the Yelm Library Bond without public input to build the facility, which the complicit council voted/approved (including then-councilor JW Foster)! Within the last year and a half, Councilor Joe DePinto has questioned the ability of the city of Yelm to recoup projected annual expenses. This facility is going to be a boondoggle on Yelm taxpayers’ backs for years!


– “Yelm Community Center Running In the Red”
“Labor, Overtime, Repairs, Debt Service Totals Unaccounted For”

“Yelm City Administrator Michael Grayum presented a two-year update regarding cost and revenue of the Yelm Community Center at the council study session last Tuesday.

The building remains a center of controversy as two bond proposals failed and the city spent a combined $70,000 out of the water and sewer fund and more than $71,000 out of the reserve fund. The total cost of the project was almost $2.7 million and about $2.5 million was funded by bond proceeds and the legislative capital budget.

A big grievance from the community has been the cost to rent the facility, Grayum said. The current rate is $50 per hour for the North or South event rooms or $100 for both and events without alcohol require a $250 damage deposit and events with alcohol require a $500 deposit. City sponsored events are free while commercial events are double. Rentals Monday through Thursday have a minimum of two hours while rentals Friday through Sunday have a five hour minimum. The kitchen costs an additional $100 for the full day along with an additional $50 per day to use audio and visual equipment,” by Andrew Kollar, Nisqually Valley News.
Read more

Yelm’s Timberland Regional Library, 2nd floor
Photo credit: Yelm Community Blog


– From the Yelm Timberland Regional Library:
Are you aware that Yelm Library now holds fireside jams for Adults, Teens middle & high school?

Description reads:
Bring your acoustic instrument and be ready participate at this open music session. Open to seasoned pros and absolute newbies. Limited numbers of ukuleles and guitars will be available for use. This program is supported by the Friends of the Yelm Timberland Library.

Remaining dates are Nov. 22, and Dec. 13 & 27. All are on Wednesdays, 5:30-7PM.
Read more

– The Thurston County Auditor’s Office released election results at 3:56pm today.
Total votes listed below do not include write-ins.

City of Yelm Mayor
Candidate Vote
Joe DePinto 618 = 49.48% (DePinto picked-up 3 votes since Thursday)
JW Foster 631 = 50.52% (Foster picked-up 0 votes since Thursday)
Difference = 13 votes
Total Votes 1,249

Next vote tally is November 27th.