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
“Where to Find Christmas Lights in Olympia and Surrounding Areas”
By Aigner Loren Wilson, Thurston Talk:
“The cold nights and frozen walks have begun in Thurston County and with them have come the holiday light displays in Olympia and surrounding areas. Around this time of the season, people and businesses bring out their best and brightest light displays to ring in the holidays and new year. Some do it for the joy of it, others for charity, and a rare few for sport. If you are looking for some holiday cheer, check out these Christmas lights in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and throughout Thurston County.”
Yelm
Off W Yelm Avenue toward Railway Road SE, Yelm
Off W Yelm Avenue onto SW Edwards Street, Yelm
Yelm is a city of lights. Beginning on Yelm Highway, people driving or walking through the heart of the town, can see the Christmas lights hung up on several of the local businesses on main street. Off Yelm Highway there are a few neighborhoods with flashing lights that can be seen from the main road. Notable ones are listed above.”
“Rep. Denny Heck gives first interview after announcing retirement from Congress”
From All In with Chris Hayes, MSNBC:
“Rep. Denny Heck announced this week that he is retiring from Congress. He tells Chris Hayes, ‘If we want to be better than this, it’s time to step up.'”
Click here for the heartfelt December 5th interview every voter in the 10th District should hear!
From JZ Rose: “Come enjoy the sounds of Christmas this Saturday at JZ Rose 🎄🎁🎄”
“You are Invited to Join our Holiday Tradition. Bring in the Joy of the Christmas this Saturday Dec. 7th. w/ The Dickens Carolers at JZ Rose!” Click here
– The Dickens Carolers at JZ-Rose is a Yelm holiday tradition, ringing in the joy of the season! “Adorned in elegant Victorian dress, each ‘a cappella’ quartet consists of two ladies in luxurious velvet and two gentlemen wearing handsome tailcoats and top hats. Your holiday favorites, both traditional and contemporary, are sung in beautiful four-part harmony. The sights and sounds of The Dickens Carolers are indeed a holiday treat.
“The Dickens Carolers: a professional, Victorian-costumed Christmas caroling organization performing throughout the Puget Sound since 1978.” Read more
From Soap for Hope, AAA’s annual toiletry donation drive:
Soap for Hope was created in response to our members and clients who
picked up travel-sized soaps and shampoos on their vacations and wanted
to do something meaningful with them instead of throwing them out. Our
stores began collecting unused soaps, shampoos, conditioners and lotions
acquired from our clients’ trips and 11 years later we’ve donated more
than 1.1 million toiletry items to local charities throughout Washington and northern Idaho.
Thanks to the generous support of our members, local communities and
partnering organizations, AAA Washington collected more than 111,000
items in 2018. This year, we’re hoping to top that number.
Thank you for helping to make a difference in your local community.
Acceptable Donations
It’s easy to help! Please consider donating the following unopened, travel- and full-sized items to your local AAA store:
Bar soap or body wash
Shampoo
Conditioner
Deodorant
Lotion
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Shaving Cream
Razors
Combs and brushes for all hair types
Menstrual pads and tampons for all body types
Charity Selections
Our AAA stores have selected local charities, shelters and food banks to receive these items, so your donation stays in your community to serve your neighbors in need. Here are the 2019 Soap for Hope recipient organizations:
Olympia Aberdeen Salvation Army, First Baptist Meal Ministry, Tumwater School District
“Things to Do in Olympia and Surrounding Areas This Weekend: December 6-8”
From Thurston Talk:
“We’ve warmed up a bit from last week, but there is still a chill in the air that makes you want to drink hot cocoa and look at lights. If you are looking for holiday cheer, there is plenty of it right here. From photos with Santa and holiday bazaars to home tours and concerts, there are many things to do in Olympia, Tumwater, Lacey and throughout Thurston County this weekend. You can access the full calendar here. Check out our highlights below.”
Trim the Tree with Hand-Painted Ornaments with Prestige Senior Living!
What:
Prestige Senior Living Rosemont invites community members to join them for an afternoon of painting on Saturday, December 7 at 1 p.m., where residents and guests can decorate their own unique ceramic holiday ornaments. Held in partnership with Out Back Ceramics, this creative workshop will feature artistic and creative opportunities for all ages and abilities. Attendees will have the option to decorate four unique ornaments while enjoying hot apple cider and cookies. This artistic event was inspired by Prestige’s Celebrations wellness program, which was designed to nurture the mind, body and spirit and empower seniors to explore new or treasured hobbies, pastimes and skills. By embracing the philosophy that “life is an activity,” Prestige is dedicated to offering life enrichment programming to support and care for its residents and to help older adults achieve an optimum level of health and wellness throughout all aspects of their lives. No painting experience is necessary and costs $5 per ornament. For more information, and to RSVP, please call (360) 458-1800.
An excerpt of his letter to supporters is published here:
“It is incredible work but it takes its toll. Being away so much from Paula, my best friend and wife of nearly 44 years, can be lonely even when I am in a crowded room. At our age, however many “good years” we have left together is not a growing number.
“In the spirit of complete openness, part of me is also discouraged. The countless hours I have spent in the investigation of Russian election interference and the impeachment inquiry have rendered my soul weary. I will never understand how some of my colleagues, in many ways good people, could ignore or deny the President’s unrelenting attack on a free press, his vicious character assassination of anyone who disagreed with him, and his demonstrably very distant relationship with the truth.
“As has been observed, however, to some degree he is a symptom and not the cause or at least the only cause. The truth is that civic discourse began degrading before him. At times, it is as though there are no rules or boundaries. Success seems to be measured by how many Twitter followers one has which are largely gained by saying increasingly outrageous things, the more personal the better. There are simply too many hyperbolic adjectives and too few nouns. Civility is out. Compromise is out. All or nothing is in.”
“None of this discouragement in any way diminishes the bone-deep gratitude I feel for the privilege to serve in Congress and for all who have made this incredible journey possible — my family, the voters of the 10th District, my staff and all the countless people who have extended a thousand kindnesses along the way. So, unless it hasn’t been clear enough: Thank you! But it is time for me to retire.
“I make this decision completely confident that there will be outstanding people step forward to take up the challenge to represent this beautiful corner of our great land. My only wish is that whomever emerges will remember the eternal wisdom of my former colleague John Dingell who was the longest serving member of the House in US history (59 years and 21 days) and who recently passed away. He would tell all incoming freshmen smart enough to seek his advice: “You have a very important job, a VERY important job . . . and you’re not a very important person.”
“John taught us that we don’t “have” power but that we hold it in trust. It has been a privilege to hold this trust the last many years.“
“Finally, after more than 40 years of intermittent public service, know this: I got more out of it than I gave it, and I gave it all I had.”
The 31st Annual Christmas in the Park Parade! Saturday, December 7th, begins 9:30am
– Editor’s Note: Former Mayor Ron Harding said this about Christmas in the Park, “a traditional centerpiece for the city of Yelm and those who have called this place home for many, many years.”
This IS true as I can attest, for I was here for the very first Christmas in the Park celebration in 1988 after moving to Yelm in September 1988.
“Community Invited to Key Ceremony Celebrating A New Journey For a Local Veteran”
“We hope you join Homes For Our Troops as they present the keys to Sgt. Aaron Boyle and his family!
“This is a great example of what our community can do when we come together. More than 250 people from the greater Yelm area came out last month to help our neighbor landscape his new, specially-adapted home. Now it’s time to celebrate the beginning this new journey!
“This event is held following the Christmas in the Park Parade, so before you make your way to the the key ceremony, be sure to swing by the park, take your picture with Santa, warm up with a chili dog and a cup of hot cocoa. We look forward to seeing you at both of these fantastic community celebrations!” by the City of Yelm. Read more
“Olympia Chamber Orchestra Holds Free Concert in Yelm Dec. 8”
” The Olympia Chamber Orchestra will hold a free concert to perform all of your favorite holiday tunes beginning 3 p.m. Sunday, December 8 at the Yelm Community Center,” by the City of Yelm.
“The magic of THE POLAR EXPRESS™ comes to life in Elbe, Washington. This story of a child’s Christmas Eve journey comes alive on-board THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride. All ages can enjoy the warmth and fun of the Christmas season as you depart for a trip to the North Pole.
THE POLAR EXPRESS™ Train Ride, like the movie, is a 90-minute roundtrip immersive theatrical experience. Passengers will be entertained by Chefs, enjoy Hot Chocolate and Cookies, and listen to a reading of THE POLAR EXPRESS™. Upon arrival at the North Pole, Santa will board the train and give each child the first gift of Christmas (a silver bell). This event will surely become an annual tradition for the whole family. Families are encouraged to wear their pajamas for the ride and join in on the magic of Christmas!” Click here to buy tickets.
The Chehalis-Centralia Railroad’s Polar Express rides thru Dec. 22
“The Polar Express trains feature the reading of the popular book during a Christmas-themed trek to the North Pole, where Santa will board for the return trip. Each child will be given the first gift of Christmas by Santa on the way back to the depot. Children are encouraged to come in their pajamas, but dressed for warmth. There will be cocoa and cookies provided on board, as well as singing and other entertainment. Train ride is approximately 1 hour. Cost is $38 per person, ages 2 and younger get in free. The train depot is at 1101 Sylvenus St., Chehalis. Free parking. Information: 360-748-9593 or SteamTrainRide.com Read more and purchase ticekts.
“Robert Woelk and Debbi Fisher created a clinically proven method of helping veterans deal with their PTSD using horses in Yelm.” Credit: Hope for Heroes
“At Hope for Heroes, horses are the therapists”
By Simon Del Rosario, KCPQ-13 TV News, Seattle.
“At Hope for Heroes Horsemanship Center in Yelm, military veterans learn that the horses are simply reflecting their own feelings.”
“Veteran suicide is an epidemic in the U.S. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, about 20 military members and veterans commit suicide every single day.
“The majority of U.S. veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder choose not to get treatment through the VA. The nonprofit Hope for Heroes provides a different, free option for military members and veterans, one where the horses are the therapists,” Read more
