Vine River Bistro and Bakery coming soon to Yelm!

Occupying the former Gather Gastropub site.

Stay tuned for more details.

Gift of Gobble nominations are now open

From Bounty for Families:

Gift of Gobble nominations are now open! Nominate a family through a paper form at the Yelm Food Co Op or online at our website: Click here.

Happy Halloween – Be Safe, watch for our children out at dusk!

First published here in 2007:

“Halloween (or Hallowe’en) is an annual holiday observed on October 31, primarily in Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the United States. It has roots in the Celtic festival of Samhain and the Christian holiday All Saints’ Day, but is today largely a secular celebration.

“Common Halloween activities include trick-or-treating, wearing costumes and attending costume parties, carving jack-o’-lanterns, ghost tours, bonfires, apple bobbing, visiting haunted attractions, committing pranks, telling ghost stories or other frightening tales, and watching horror films…

Origin of name
“The word Halloween is first attested in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variant of the fuller All-Hallows-Even (“evening”), that is, the night before All Hallows Day. Although the phrase All Hallows is found in Old English (ealra hlgena mssedg, mass-day of all saints), All-Hallows-Even is itself not attested until 1556,” quoting Wikipedia. Read more

Yelm’s Wingstop set to open October 31st, 10am.

Click here to order.

From Joe DePinto’s Facebook post:

WingStop is doing a soft open right now…officially open tomorrow!

I was gonna stop in for some wings but it was packed!

Daylight saving time comes to an end soon. Here’s when clocks will ‘fall back’

The twice-a-year time change for most U.S. states is coming up in just a few weeks.

Excerpt from KING-5 TV News, NBC Seattle:

Daylight saving time is coming to an end for 2025 on Nov. 2, the first Sunday in November. 

Clocks will “fall back” one hour at 2 a.m. on Nov. 2, granting most people an extra hour of sleep. With the change comes earlier sunrises and nightfall well before 7 p.m. It won’t be until March 2026 that we adjust our clocks to “spring ahead” once again. 

Frequent measures in Congress have tried to make daylight saving time permanent in order to ditch the practice of changing our clocks twice a year. However, the bills usually die before they ever come close to becoming law. 

With little to no progress made on that legislation, Americans will continue to “fall back” in 2025 and “spring forward” next year. 

Local Civics 101: Bringing Civic Engagement to Yelm

From City of Yelm Government Press Release:

Thurston County Commissioner Rachel Grant and Yelm Mayor Joe DePinto will co-host Local Civics 101, a two-part community event dedicated to fostering civic engagement and expanding access to local government. The next session will be held on:

•              Monday, November 3, 2025, 6:30–8:00 p.m.

The session will take place at the Yelm Community Center, 301 2nd St SE, Yelm, WA 98597.

Presented in partnership with the Washington State Office of the Secretary of State’s Civic Engagement Project, this program is part of the Rural Communities Outreach initiative, ensuring Washington’s rural communities have equitable access to resources, representation, and opportunities to shape civic life.

Residents attending Local Civics 101 will:

•              Gain a deeper understanding of how local government works in practice.

•              Learn how city and county decisions affect everyday life.

•              Explore opportunities for meaningful community involvement.

•              Engage directly with local elected officials in an open, accessible setting.

Commissioner Grant shared:

“Democracy isn’t a spectator sport—when neighbors show up, ask questions, and get involved, our whole community wins. Local Civics 101 is about sparking that energy in Yelm, giving people the tools to engage, and proving that local government works best when everyone has a voice at the table. Come eat food, learn how your voice actually matters in local politics, and yes—there will be trivia! Ever wonder, ‘What does a county commissioner even do?’ Well, now’s your chance to find out—and maybe win bragging rights while you’re at it.”

Mayor DePinto added:

“Engaging in our democracy is not just a right, it’s our responsibility. Every vote matters and understanding civics empowers us to shape our community’s future. Together, let’s pave the way for informed participation and a stronger Yelm!”

Both events are free and open to the public. No registration is required.

Event Details:

Dates: Monday, October 20, 2025 & Monday, November 3, 2025

Time: 6:30–8:00 p.m.

Location: Yelm Community Center, 301 2nd St SE, Yelm, WA 98597

British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon Sign Agreement to Renew and Strengthen Their Collaboration and Partnership Across Cascadia

New Memorandum of Reaffirmation expands cross-border Commitment to Advance Innovation, Affordability, Sustainability, and Connectivity

From the Office of Gov. Bob Ferguson:

As part of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor conference, leaders from the Province of British Columbia, the State of Washington, and the State of Oregon today signed a Memorandum of Reaffirmation renewing their cross-border partnership designed to strengthen collaboration in innovation, housing affordability, sustainability, connectivity including high speed rail, and economic development across the Pacific Northwest.

The new agreement reaffirms and builds upon prior Memoranda of Understanding between British Columbia and Washington signed in 2016 and 2018, while formally extending the partnership to include Oregon for the first time.

“Ten years ago, we set out to do something ambitious — to create a cross-border partnership that united business and government, universities and nonprofits, around a shared vision of innovation, sustainability, and prosperity. A decade later, the Cascadia Innovation Corridor has not only endured but grown stronger,” said former Governor Chris Gregoire, Chair of the Cascadia Innovation Corridor and CEO of Challenge Seattle. “Even when forces threaten to divide our long-standing relationship, Cascadia reminds us that our own cooperation and trust can endure across borders. We’ve proven that working together across regions is not only possible — it’s powerful.”

Under the Memorandum, the three jurisdictions pledge to build on the 2016 and 2018 agreements between British Columbia and Washington, expanding cooperation across all three governments to advance shared priorities in innovation, housing affordability, environmental stewardship, and transportation connectivity. The renewed partnership focuses on strengthening collaboration in fields such as data analytics, artificial intelligence, and advanced computing — enhancing Cascadia’s global competitiveness.

“For decades, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon have built deep ties that are stronger than recent efforts to divide us,” said British Columbia Premier David Eby. “We know that British Columbia is stronger when we work together with our neighbors in the U.S. We are proud to reaffirm our commitment to work with the governors of Oregon and Washington and look forward to growing together as a global hub of innovation and economic opportunity.”

“This partnership reflects the shared values of our region — practical problem-solving and a commitment to progress,” said Washington Governor Bob Ferguson. “By addressing housing affordability, investing in clean energy, and creating the conditions for long-term economic growth, Cascadia will remain one of the most competitive and livable regions in the world.”

“This partnership strengthens our ability to expand housing supply and create more jobs,” said Oregon Governor Kotek. “Together, we can plan for a more connected, affordable, and economically stable future across Cascadia.”

Keep Trick or Treaters Safe this Halloween

Excerpt from the American Red Cross:

Halloween is just days away and kids will soon be out in their neighborhoods for trick or treat fun. The American Red Cross offers tips parents can follow to help keep the kids safe while enjoying the festivities.

• Don’t be spooked! Download the free Red Cross First Aid app before you head out in case there are any mishaps. 
• Trick-or-treaters need to see and be seen. Use face makeup instead of masks which can make seeing difficult. Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way. Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags. If possible, have everyone wear light-colored clothing.

• Use flame-resistant costumes.
• When choosing costumes, stay away from long trailing fabric.
• Make sure adults know where the kids are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children door-to-door.
• Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.
• Walk, don’t run.
• Only visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door and never go inside.
• Walk only on sidewalks, not in the street. If there are no sidewalks, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic. Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner. Don’t cross between parked cars, and don’t cut across yards or use alleys.
• Drivers — use extra caution as youngsters may forget to look both ways before crossing.
• A grown-up should check all goodies before eating. Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and remove any choking hazards. Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.

If you are planning to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home, follow these safety steps:

• Light the area well so young visitors can see.
• Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

Marine heatwave over Pacific Ocean could lead to flooding in north-west

Excerpt from The Guardian:

A marine heatwave known as a blob was especially severe this year in the north-western and central Pacific Ocean, which could lead in the coming months to increased flooding in the US Pacific north-west and especially wintery weather in eastern North America, according to climate scientists.

The temperature in August in the northern Pacific was 2.5C above preindustrial levels, according to Berkeley Earth, a non-profit that studies global warming.

That spike can lead to more thunder storms and affect marine species, according to Zeke Hausfather, a research scientist with Berkeley Earth.

“I kind of wonder, is this going to be a permanent feature?” said Nick Bond, a climatologist with the state of Washington and the University of Washington, who coined the term “blob” for the phenomenon.

Bond added: “A storm can come along and cool off the ocean some. You might have a sunny summer and it will warm up a little bit more than usual, so there are those kinds of fluctuations. But boy, what is out there in the central north Pacific? That is not going away anytime soon.”

Bond said he started calling such a heatwave a blob because “they are not static. They are kind of amorphous. They move around and evolve with time as the weather changes.”

Over the past decade, such heatwaves have become more severe and frequent.

Click here to read the full story.

BRING THE FLAVOR Wingstop Yelm Yelm Ave

From Wingstop:

When you’re craving insane flavor and customizable wings, Wingstop Yelm Yelm Ave is the place to go in Yelm, Washington. With over 11 iconic flavors, our cooked-to-order wings will satisfy any craving. From Lemon Pepper to Original Hot, our savory flavors will leave you satisfied after every order.

At Wingstop Yelm Yelm Ave, getting wings exactly how you like em’ is seamless. Order online for carryout and delivery from Wingstop Yelm Yelm Ave to get your hands on our classic or boneless wings as well as our tenders. For Buffalo wings, try our Original Hot or Mild flavors. Hungry for a signature classic? You’ll love our legendary Lemon Pepper or Louisiana Rub. Whatever flavors you like, pair them with our hand-cut, seasoned fries and other signature sides like Cajun Fried Corn or Buffalo Ranch Fries.

Since setting up shop in ’94, we’ve been putting flavor first. And we’re not about to stop. Our proprietary recipes, outstanding food and superior guest experience created a demand that could only be satisfied by more locations. In 1997, we began offering franchises, and today we are one of the fastest-growing concepts in the country, attracting top entrepreneurs, operators and brand partners with the drive and passion to own their own business.