Steve Klein addresses current issues impacting Yelm and vicinity and provides a meeting place for anyone with an interest in this area to provide their ideas and opinions
“Huge news: In September, we’re finally getting a climate town hall.”
“CNN has committed to hosting a presidential town hall focused entirely on our climate crisis. This is a direct result of pressure from folks like you and climate organizations rallying support across the country — and it shows some huge momentum for our campaign and our movement. We don’t have a full-fledged climate debate yet, but this is incredible progress,” by Inslee For America. Read more
“CNN to host climate crisis town hall with 2020 Democratic candidates”
What: Prestige Senior Living Rosemont is excited to invite community members to join residents and staff for a day of fun and entertainment at its Senior Rodeo on July 26, 2019 from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
“Prestige Senior Living Rosemont residents, staff and community members will enjoy a country style dinner, followed by live performances from local high school rodeo athletes and country duo Cowboy Buck and Elizabeth at 5:30 p.m.
“This high energy show will include interactive, live musical comedy, featuring ventriloquism and interactive song and dance.
“As a partner in active aging, Prestige is dedicated to helping older adults achieve an optimum level of health and wellness throughout all aspects of their lives. The rodeo’s free activities are inspired by Prestige’s Celebrations wellness program, which fosters happiness and longevity among residents through new experiences and meaningful connections.
“For more information and to RSVP for this event, call (360) 458-1800.
“You are invited to the 3rd edition of “Yelm Jazz in the Park event”. A NON-profit event for the Yelm Community.” “Aug 2nd & Aug 3rd.”
“Bring your family and friends, picnic basket and blankets, or maybe enjoy the food supplies offered on site. Regardless of what you bring with you, be prepared to be transported to a vacation state of mind.
“Enjoy Summertime Food and Tunes at Yelm’s Jazz in the Park”
“Jazz music is an intensified feeling of nonchalance, said French playwright Francoise Sagan. The same air of easy unconcern could describe warm, lazy summer days and long, balmy nights spent outdoors with family and friends. Thanks to hosts like Yelm’s Pizzeria La Gitana, enjoy exceptional food, music, and ambiance at the third annual Jazz in the Park.”
“This year’s music takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Friday, August 2, and 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, at Yelm City Park. Bring a picnic blanket and lawn chairs for relaxing or hit up the beer and wine garden and on-site food vendors while enjoying free serenades from local musicians,” by Kathryn Millhorn, Thurston Talk.
Hearing Examiner approves 118 residential lot development
The City of Yelm’s Community Development Dept. released the approval of the Hearing Examiner approving (subject to conditions) of a “subdivision of a 19+ acre parcel into 118 single-family residential lots. The property is located at 9306 Mountain View Road S.E. between Mountain View Road and Killion Road, approximately 1,000 feet north of Yelm Avenue West (SR 510).”
Editor’s note: While the Hearing Examiner conditionally approved this development, “the City recommends denial of the present preliminary plat application as it cannot now find that water will be reasonably available upon final plat approval.”
Tami Merriman, Associate Planner for the City of Yelm, provided this response for publication to this blog about another applicant’s project for the Nisqually Landing Apts., “The site plan review application is submitted and in review. While no determination has been made, the City will most likely be able to make a concurrency finding for water as the application, if approved, is valid for 18 months. 50 apartments would require approximately 38 water connections, as multifamily units use less water than a single family home. With our current water connections, we anticipate having adequate number of connections at the time of development.”
The key conditions are as follows (see bold highlights):
“The primary issue concerning preliminary plat approval concerns the City’s ability to provide potable water and fire flow to the site at final plat approval. The City is the sole water purveyor within the City limits. Since 1994 the City has recognized the need for and has attempted to acquire new water rights to serve development within the City. In 2010 the Washington State Department of Ecology (ECY) approved additional water rights that would have allowed the City to serve the present plat and other development within City limits. However, ECY’s approval was appealed. Said appeal was denied by the State Pollution Control Hearings Board and Thurston County Superior Court. However, the State of Washington Supreme Court in the case of Sarah Foster v. The Department of Ecology, et. al., 184 Wn. 2d 465 (2015), reversed the decisions of ECY, the Board, and the Superior Court. As a result the City has not acquired additional water rights, and as of the date of the preliminary plat hearing (July 9, 2019), has only 240 water connections available for new development. The proposed preliminary plat would consume 118 of said connections, approximately half thereof. Thus, it is questionable whether the City could provide water serve to all plat lots at the time of final plat approval unless it obtains additional water rights.
“The Washington State Legislature adopted the 2018 Streamflow Restoration Act in response to the Supreme Court decision. The Act requires ECY to issue new water rights for up to five pilot projects for the purpose of monitoring and reporting the effectiveness providing of out-of-kind mitigation for new water rights. ECY selected the City of Yelm as one of the pilot projects, and the City is working diligently to update its water rights application. The City anticipates submittal of such application in 2019. The City will then review and update its concurrency policy as it relates to approval of preliminary subdivisions. The City believes that it will have water available at the time of new demand. However, the City recommends denial of the present preliminary plat application as it cannot now find that water will be reasonably available upon final plat approval.“
“The City will file a new water rights application in the near future in accordance with its already approved, pilot project. Therefore, it is more probable than not that adequate water will be available at final plat approval. Such finding is based on the specific characteristics of the proposed preliminary plat that includes a likely two to three year period prior to applying for and receiving final plat approval. Furthermore, the City has 240 water connections presently available.
Editor’s note: The South Sound tribal nations are represented by the Squaxin and Nisqually tribes with 2 canoes each to join an expected 100 canoes arriving in Bellingham on July 24. Read more
From The Lummi Nation’s “Paddle to Lummi 2019”
Sqweshenet Tse Schelangen
July 24-28, 2019
“On behalf of the Lummi Nation we would like to extend an invitation to “Paddle to Lummi” 2019, Sqweshenet Tse Schelangen “Honoring Our way of Life” July 24-28th. The Lummi people are honored to welcome all our relations traveling the traditional highways of the ancestors to participate in this year’s journey. Together we will celebrate, honor and preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Coast Salish people. We are expecting approximately 10,000 people and over 100 canoes coming to our shores. With their arrival we will share in potlatch traditional song, dance, and testimonies that have provided our people over the generations with hope, healing, and happiness.
“The journey honors the rich traditions of Coast Salish tribes of the Northwest, who travel the waters to meet and gather for trade, ceremony, and celebration. Canoe Journey holds special significance to Coast Salish Tribes as it truly honors and nourishes the unique relationships and connections with the land, water, and one another. The Lummi people are delighted and honored to host this year’s event.
By Joel Pett Lexington (KY.) Herald Leader July 18, 2019“
“‘Send her back’: A dark reminder of who we are”
“It happened in the first half of Wednesday’s speech. Donald Trump, our president, began to talk about Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota who was among the four women of color he had attacked Sunday in a racist tweet. Everyone knew Trump would speak about the women at some point to the Greenville, North Carolina, crowd. Did we know what would come next?
“‘Send her back.’
“The chant rose quickly from a handful of voices to a chorus of bigotry. It was a chilling moment. It was “lock her up” in a white hood. It was despicable.”
“But there was some backlash this week when people pointed to the president’s Sunday tweet and declared that it wasn’t who we are. Because it is, of course, part of who we always have been in America. And in North Carolina.”
““Send her back,” Donald Trump’s supporters chanted, without seeing the irony that it was they who were moving backward. “Send her back,” they cried, and it was both a reminder and a warning that here in North Carolina, in America, going back is not that far of a journey,” by the Charlotte (NC) Observer Editorial Board.
“Michael de Adder My editorial cartoon satirizing Trump and the border crisis went viral. Then I lost my job.”
“Trump makes the case for editorial cartoonists pretty much every day. Are we really willing to allow such an important journalistic tradition to die out?”
“The image, which referenced President Donald Trump as well as the recent deaths of a father and child attempting to enter the United States along the southern border pulled no punches. There was a time when a pointed cartoon like that would increase a cartoonist’s value in the eyes of his or her newspaper. But instead of increasing my value with my newspapers, the next day I lost a freelance job with Brunswick News Inc., a position I held for 17 straight years.
“Social media thinks I was fired for that cartoon. My former employers have continued to insist it wasn’t. I’ve said repeatedly that cartoon was simply the final nail in the coffin and hastened my demise, by Michael de Adder, on NBC News.
“Opinion: America must reject Trump’s racism at the ballot box”
“Trump no longer pretends to be the voice of forgotten working-class Americans. He has become the voice of insecure white Americans, whom he encourages to resent foreigners, immigrants and uppity minorities. His border policy — separating babies from their mothers, putting children in cages — is the fulfillment of an ugly revenge fantasy. Cruelty isn’t an unfortunate byproduct of Trump’s crackdown on asylum seekers. It’s the whole point.”
“The next 16 months must be a referendum on Trump’s weaponized racism. The answer must be a resounding no,” by Eugene Robinson, Washington Post.
Buzz Aldrin photographed his first step on the moon, July 20, 1969. Credit: NASA.
Editor’s note: Like the JFK, MLK, Jr., and RFK assassinations, the Greatest Generation and Baby Boomers remember exactly where we were when Apollo 11 astronauts landed on the moon and made their first steps. The world joined in wonder after a decade of war and tragedy! George Will accurately captured those times. Read more
“Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin recalls first moments on the moon on 50th anniversary of mission”
Mermaid Festival founder Natalie Ames Credit: Mermaid Festival
“Mermaids to gather in landlocked Yelm for Saturday festival”
“Saturday, a group of mermaids will gather in Yelm.
“These mythical creatures — half human and half fish — are generally said to be found, reasonably enough, in the water. So what’s luring them to the prairie?
“It’s the first Yelm Mermaid Festival, where mermaids (or regular folk in mermaid attire) can meet and greet other mermaids, including a few professional mermaids; listen to stories told by a mermaid and harp music played by another; shop and do mermaid-related craft projects,” by Molly Gilmore, Contributing writer, Tacoma News Tribune.
Yelm Mermaid Festival
What: This new festival will gather mermaids from as far as Seattle for mermaid meet and greets, music and storytelling, costume contests for children and adults, and more.
“Thurston County Spay Station – Walmart 17100 State Route 507 SE, Yelm”
“July 30 @ 6:45 am – 6:00 pm”
“Are you low income? Low Income for Thurston County is: (1 person $29,300) (2 persons $33,500) (3 persons $37,700) (4 persons $41,850) (5 Persons $45,200). Then let us spay/neuter your cat or dog for low cost (cats $20), (dogs $55)! If you have a cat or dog that you would like to have spayed or neutered, it’s a wonderful time to take advantage of this low cost option! We also offer vaccines, flea prevention, and microchips at low rates! Please arrive at 6:45am! Reservations strongly advised,” by Pasado’s Safe Haven.
Nancy Hillman, Cameron Jayne Yelm’s Prairie Days Parade Saturday, June 29, 2019 Courtesy: The Triad Theater
“Theatre Actress, Educator, and Director Nancy Tribush Hillman Has Passed Away”
“Tribush Hillman held multiple credits on the Broadway stage. She won the role of Kim in the final Broadway company of Bye Bye Birdie, appeared in the 1966 Broadway play, Happily Never After, and directed and co-conceived the Broadway production of A Reel American Hero, in 1981. But she is perhaps best known as a brave, and fearless original cast member, both Off-Broadway and throughout its original Broadway run, in Oh! Calcutta!, a controversial revue that challenged the role of sexual honesty on stage. She later served as Jacques Levy‘s assistant director on the production until its closing, and the early run of the 1976 revival. Through Oh! Calcutta! Tribush Hillman created a lifelong family; the remaining cast members still gather for yearly reunions, organized zealously by Tribush Hillman herself, (who was adamant about keeping family, especially theatre families, together). Tribush Hillman was also involved with the original inception team of A Chorus Line,” by Broadway World. Read more
Click here for The New York Times story of June 17, 2019 on Nancy’s return to New York for the 50th anniversary of the debut of Oh! Calcutta!
“Nancy Hillman – Iconic Leader of Yelm’s Theater Community – Dies”
“Nancy Hillman was the grand architect of a rich and vibrant theatrical community centered in Yelm – first at the Drew Harvey Theater, and then later for her private production companies, Standing Room Only (SRO) and Stage Struck Productions. These used the renamed Triad Theater as their home base, and besides numerous community theatrical productions that seemed to run year-round, Nancy also ran acting and dance classes for young kids and teens. At its height in the late 1990’s, the Drew Harvey was filled on a near-daily basis with hundreds of children receiving instructions and performing routines,” by Bruce A. Smith, The Mountain News, Eatonville. Read more
The Yelm Community Blog remembers Nancy Tribush Hillman.
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