“Katie Herzog gets a demo to create ink for printable solar panels
at the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA.”
Photo credit: Eric Keto, Crosscut


– “What if clean energy was as easy as pressing ‘print’?”
“Imagine if you could turn almost any surface into a solar panel: office windows could power the buildings that house them. Your backpack could charge the devices inside while you walk down the street. In a disaster, the tent walls of emergency shelters could generate enough energy to improve conditions for the people inside.

What if solar power was so cheap and efficient that even cloudy places like the Pacific Northwest could rely on it? Scientists at the Clean Energy Institute at the University of Washington are making this future a reality by developing light, thin, cheap, flexible solar panels you can print like newspaper,” by Sarah Hoffman, Crosscut.
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– Editor’s note:
While Yelm’s Senior Center is no longer affiliated with the Senior Services for the South Sound organization, this is a vital resource serving Olympia and Lacey.


– About Senior Services for South Sound, serving Yelm’s Senior Activities Center
“Established in 1973, Senior Services for South Sound offers progressive and comprehensive services for seniors. Our mission is to improve the quality of life for people as they age. Senior Services offers a wide range of programs for seniors and their families include Adult Day Program, Meals on Wheels, Senior Community Dining, Senior Transportation, Care Connection Caregiver Registry, Social Services, Health and Wellness programs, Adult Learning, and Independent Living programs.

“One of the largest program offered by Senior Services for South Sound is the Senior Nutrition Program provided in both Mason and Thurston counties. This program alone provides over 120,000 meals each year to 3,000 seniors.

“Senior Services for South Sound is proud to provide dozens of activities programs at the Virgil Clarkson Lacey Senior Center and Olympia Senior Center.”
Read more


Click here for their Facebook site.

Rep. JT Wilcox (R-Yelm)
Photo credit: WA. House Republicans


– “Spokane lawmaker gets free pass on press-bashing. Why?”
“When Washington state Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, stood in front of a crowd last Saturday and lambasted the media, calling them, “dirty, godless, hateful people,” we immediately saw it for what it was: a watershed moment for House Republicans to stand up and repudiate such remarks.

“We called state Rep. J.T. Wilcox for a response. Surely the highest-ranking minority member would have some choice words on Shea’s verbal attack. Surely Wilcox would no longer support Shea’s appointment to a new state task force that’s supposed to affirm the public’s interest in open government and a free press.

“But the Yelm Republican shrugged it off, saying, ‘We both had different experiences with the media.'”

“We can praise him for his healthy perspective on the role of the Fourth Estate, but his condemnation for someone who doesn’t respect it is nowhere to be found. And that’s worrisome,” by The News Tribune Editorial Board.
Read more


– Editor’s note:
While Gov. Inslee reached out last Monday to the House Republican chief of staff with his concerns, what did House Minority [Republican] Leader J.T. Wilcox do? Also shrug off the Governor by his flippant remark below! The Governor followed the correct process in reaching out to Wilcox’s office and Wilcox does nothing but escalate his rhetoric!


– “Gov. Inslee condemns state lawmaker’s remarks calling journalists ‘dirty, godless, hateful people’”
“Shea, a Republican from Spokane Valley and member of GOP House leadership, made the remarks over the weekend at a gun-rights rally in Spokane.”

“Inslee Chief of Staff David Postman said the governor’s office reached out to the House Republican chief of staff with concerns Monday about Shea’s remarks, though it didn’t ask for Shea to step down from the task force.

“Inslee’s office doesn’t have a role on the task force.”

“In text messages Tuesday, House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, said “strong concerns” from Inslee were relayed to him.

“But Wilcox added that the governor’s office neither raised the issue of Shea’s role on the task force nor asked for a conversation with him.

“‘There are better ways to talk than Twitter,’ wrote Wilcox, who has said Shea will represent the views of the Republican caucus on the task force, as opposed to his own,” quoting Joseph O’Sullivan, Seattle Times.
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– “Remove press-bashing Rep. Matt Shea from public-records task force”
Originally published August 21, 2018 at 2:48 pm Updated August 21, 2018 at 3:32 pm

“State Rep. Matt Shea’s weekend comments calling the press “dirty, godless, hateful people” show he is not the right person to try to reach common ground with the media regarding access to legislative records,” by The Seattle Times Editorial Board.
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– “South Puget Sound Habitat for Humanity Stores Help Restore Thurston County”
“Most people know Habitat for their affordable home ownership program. But there is another way that Habitat is giving back to our community.

“Habitat has two Habitat Store locations in Thurston County – one in Olympia and one in Yelm. These discount home improvement stores sell new and used furniture, appliances, and home improvement materials at 30 to 90 percent off retail prices. Paint, plumbing, couches, cabinets, flooring, fixtures – all of it and more can be found at a Habitat Store.

“Shawna Dutton, SPS Habitat’s marketing, development and communications manager, describes what a huge impact these stores have in our community. ‘The store sells donated items at reduced cost and uses the proceeds generated from those donations to cover 100 percent of the overhead of our organization in addition to building 1-2 homes per year,’ she explains, ‘which allows 100 percent of donations that come in from organizations and individuals in our community to go directly into our homebuilding program. This sets us apart from a lot of non-profits.’

“The work SPS Habitat does is needed in Thurston County now more than ever,” by Crystal Mazzuca, Thurston Talk.
Read more

– Weather record – high temperature tied for any August 22nd @ Oly Airport
Olympia Regional Airport, closest official weather service station to Yelm (16 miles), tied the high temperature record for any August 22nd at 90 degrees (32 C.), the previous 90 degree record set in 1956. The average high for any June 20th is 77 degrees (25 C.).
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– Air Quality Monitor in Lacey, closest to Yelm, out of the unhealthy ranges
Read more

Photo credit: Standing Room Only (SRO)


– Pack a picnic and bring your lawn chairs – it’s SRO’s 1st annual Shakespeare in the Park!
FREE ADMISSION – in beautiful Cochrane Park!
(750 Mill Rd SE, Yelm, WA 98597)


“Love’s Labour’s Lost”
“Standing Room Only brings one of Shakespeare’s most delightful comedies to life this summer. When four idealistic young courtiers forswear the company of women in favor of study and a stoic life, it is not long before four young French beauties put their oath to the test. Round it all out with an eccentric Spaniard, a rambunctious clown, and a slew of other colorful characters. Pack a picnic, grab the family, and head to Shakespeare in the park to enjoy young love, witty language, and outlandish follies with this summery crowd-pleaser by the Bard!”

Directed by Kevin McManus and Andrew Doyle
Produced by Kellie Petersen
A Standing Room Only Production


Friday, August 24th – Standing Room Only (SRO) Benefit Dinner & Shakespeare Performance-6pm
Robert and Heidi Corl Residence, Yelm, WA
Click here

Saturday, August 25th – Shakespeare in The Park-5pm (Come to Comedy Night after!)
FREE ADMISSION – in beautiful Cochrane Park
Click here

Sunday, August 26th – Shakespeare in The Park-3pm
FREE ADMISSION – in beautiful Cochrane Park
Click here

Ring of fire activity week of Aug. 20, 2018
Photo credit: © Provided by Fox News Network LLC


– Editor’s note:
– “Washington State is unprepared for ‘the big one” –
Yelm’s Optimum Preparedness on what you can do”
Blog post from Oct. 30, 2016 is still pertinent today!
Click here

– “Ramtha’s Recommendations for Sovereignty – for everyone”
First taught in 1987 and still pertinent to this day.
Click here


In The News:
– “‘Big One’ talk swirls as 69 massive earthquakes hit the Pacific’s Ring of Fire in 48 hours”
“A large swath of earthquakes hit the Pacific’s “Ring of Fire” earlier this week, prompting some to wonder if it is a precursor to the oft-discussed massive earthquake, colloquially known as “the Big One.”

“Sixty-nine earthquakes, including 16 tremors registering 4.5 or above on the Richter scale, recently hit the area known as the “Ring of Fire,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which , but did not issue a warning.”

“Luckily, the earthquakes did not reach the western coast of the U.S., which partially sits on the Cascadia subduction zone, a fault that stretches from mid-Vancouver Island to Northern California. The recent tremors have sparked concern that “the Big One” could be near, according to the , but the USGS has made no mention of this,” by Chris Ciaccia, Fox News, on MSN.
Read more


– “6.2 earthquake strikes off Southern Oregon coast, 2 aftershocks”
“The National Weather Service says there’s no tsunami threat after a 6.2 earthquake struck 165 miles off the Oregon Coast near Reedsport, Oregon around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday [Aug. 22, 2018],” by KGW-TV Staff, Portland.
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– “Venezuela hit [Aug. 21] by 7.3-magnitude earthquake”
“Buildings in the capital Caracas have been evacuated and shaking has been felt across the Caribbean”

“The United States Geological Survey said a 7.3-magnitude earthquake had struck off the South American country’s northern coast at 5.31pm local time on Tuesday, east of the city of Carúpano at a depth of 123km (76 miles). The Colombian Geological Service said it was a 7.0-magnitude quake,” quoting UK’s Guardian.
Read more


– “Megaquake strikes West Pacific — Deep activity to spread — HAVE A PLAN + BE PREPARED”
8/18/2018 by Dutchsinse.
Read more


– “New earthquake research shows where ‘Big One’ could strike”
“New research from the University of Oregon provides a clearer picture of where the “Big One” could strike along the Cascadia Subduction Zone,” by Glenn Farley, KING-5 TV News, Seattle.
Read more

Olympia engulfed in smoke, Aug. 21, 2018.
Photo credit: Steve Bloom, The Olympian.


– From the National Weather Service
…AIR QUALITY ALERT EXTENDED UNTIL NOON PDT THURSDAY…
“An Air Quality Alert for smoke was issued by the following agencies: Washington State Department of Ecology, Northwest Clean Air Agency, Olympic Region Clean Air Agency, Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and Southwest Clean Air Agency. Current air quality readings in western Washington range from Unhealthy to Very Unhealthy. This will continue through Thursday due to smoke from wildfires across the region. Winds will shift to an onshore, westerly direction, later this afternoon. There is a large amount of smoke out over the Pacific Ocean that will then be pushed through the region. Westerly winds will continue Thursday and gradually bring improved air quality through the day on Thursday.”
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– Air Quality Monitor in Lacey, closest to Yelm
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Ronelle Funk
Photo credit: Ronelle Funk Insurance Agency


– Editor’s note:
Ronelle Funk posted this on Facebook –
“Our Yelm office is 10 years old! We want to thank our customers for 10 great years.”
CONGRATULATIONS to Ronelle Funk and the Funk Insurance Team for their service to our community!


What: Yelm Chamber’s Drive 507 Business After Hours
Date: August 23, 2018
Time: 5:07 PM – 6:30 PM PDT
Event Description: Drive 507 Business After Hours is a fun, casual networking opportunity for Chamber members, Community members and business professionals. This months Business After Hours Location is at Ronelle Funk Insurance Agency.

Location:
Ronelle Funk Insurance Agency
10501 Creek Street, SE
Suite 3
Yelm, WA. 98597
Read more


– UPDATE: September 12, 2018
“Ronelle Funk Shares Her Love of Star Wars Through Customer Appreciation Events”
By Heidi Smith, Thurston Talk.
Read more