by Jordan Nailon   The South Sound Shock FC would like to foster a good ol’ fashioned “futball” rivalry with the upstart Tumwater Pioneers FC. Both teams compete in the... ☞

Spring is in the air, love is all around and it’s a good time to check in with a two traveling bands based around couples that’ll be coming through town... ☞

Aries (Mar 21-Apr 19) Don’t mistake excitement or enthusiasm for progress or accomplishment. For more information, look closely at children.  A reasonable order of operations would have one complete a... ☞

Each Thursday night during the OlyBlues partner dance on the third floor of the Eagles Hall (downtown at 4th Avenue and Plum Street), the good people of Olympia have a... ☞

Introducing you to new locally-owned businesses… Shirlee Woolsey started making beaded necklaces when she was 16, going to now famous Shipwreck Beads on Mud Bay Road to shop. Years later,... ☞

Date/Time: 4/25/2013, 18:14 Hours Location: 3200 Yauger Way, Olympia Incident:  Skate or Die   For the initiated, skateboarding can become more than a pastime.  The hard static rumble of wheels... ☞

By Waponigirl on Flickr.

Now, I'm sure you see it clearly now. But, what a lot of people call the upper waterfalls on the Deschutes in Tumwater is actually a derelict dam. It is also (according to my list) the oldest dam in Thurston County by nearly 40 years.

There are a surprising number of dams in Thurston County (35 total), now that I think of it. All but one were built in the last 100 years. The busiest decade for dam building was the 1960s (with eight built). I'm also surprised by the number built in the 1980s and 90s (five each).

The stormwater pond dam over at SPSCC has a surprisingly high risk rate, "From 7 to 30 lives at risk."

Most of the dams -- 15 out of 35 -- are both earth fill and were built to create recreational reservoirs. Three of these actually have "ski" in their names.

There are also dams in surprising places, Grass Lake for example. This is a small lake surrounded by a City of Olympia park. The dam was built in 1966 for the original purpose (I assume) of irrigation.


View Larger Map

Grass Lake dam illustrates what I take away from the list of Thurston County Dams. Most of us read the word dam and see the Elwha dams, the Grand Coulee or even our own La Grande Dam. Something big, blocking a big river. But, most of these dams are smallish, practically fading into the landscape. You don't even know a dam is there.

ThurstonTalk

 

The team from Small to Tall, including Dr. Ben Ruder, have fun and educate families at the Lacey Spring Fun Fair.

When is a dentist not ‘just a dentist’?  Pretty much every day if you are one of the talented and compassionate dentists at Small To Tall Pediatric Dentistry.  The care they give to each patient in the office is the same care they extend into our community, supporting non-profit organizations and individuals throughout the South Sound.  The Small to Tall team has supported, financially or with their time, more than twenty-one different groups.

But the Small to Tall dentists and staff aren’t supporting our community just to grow a lengthy list.  They simply know it’s the right thing to do.  Dr. Ben Ruder shares, “If there are things we can support financially, with donations or with our presence we feel everyone can benefit.”   And the organizations around our area benefit greatly.

One example is Small to Tall’s support of the South Sound Reading Foundation (SSRF).  If you delivered a baby at a local hospital, then you have benefitted from the SSRF.  Thank the SSRF for the board book you went home with (ours was titled Mama, Mama).    In addition to their Books for Babies Program, the SSRF has more than ten programs aimed at supporting literacy for children – promoting reading 20 minutes a day by making sure books are in every home and childcare center in our area.

As parents of small children themselves, the Small to Tall dentists are proud to support SSRF’s work.  “I really enjoyed attending the annual fundraising breakfast and learning more about the great impact this organization has on our community,” says Dr. Scott Rowley.

Dr. Scott Rowley performs a lap exam, a knee to knee exam, involving parents helping the youngest patients feel at ease, during Dental Health Month at the Hands On Children’s Museum.

Coming up soon on the calendar is the Lacey Spring Fun Fair, an event that Small to Tall is proud to participate in and sponsor.  This free community event draws thousands of people every year, celebrating the season with a variety of fun activities for kids and adults.  Stop by Small to Tall’s booth at the Lacey Spring Fun Fair and pick up educational materials about oral hygiene.  During the two day event, all of the dentists and their staff will rotate through the booth.  “It’s not just the dentists who feel passionate about community support – it’s a philosophy supported by the entire office,” adds Rowley.

Like many parents in the area, I am thrilled with the new Hands On Children’s Museum.  Small to Tall is too.  They were key donors during the construction process of the new museum, but their involvement doesn’t stop there.  They partner with the museum to highlight Children’s Dental Health Month each February, coordinating free dental screenings.  Many dentists from the Thurston-Mason Counties Dental Society pitch in throughout the month.  This free service is invaluable to area families who may have skipped early childhood check-ups due to finances or simply didn’t know screenings start with the emergence of the first tooth.

And community involvement of other area dentists is something Dr. Ruder sites as the norm, not the exception.  “I really feel that the dental profession as a whole, not just Small to Tall, supports the arts, school groups like PTAs and other non-profit organizations around the Olympia area.  Whenever I go to a performance, school event or a non-profit benefit, it’s always reassuring to see how many dentists sponsor or offer support to these organizations,” shares Ruder.

When reading through the list of organizations Small to Tall supports, I was struck with not only the larger organizational support including the Boys & Girls Clubs of Thurston County, South Sound YMCA and Providence St. Peter’s Hospital, but that it included so many smaller, more personal connections.

These connections exist because Small to Tall really loves their patients, who travel from Grays Harbor, Mason, Lewis, Thurston and South Pierce County to take advantage of the specialized pediatric care services offered at Small to Tall.  Dentists in other counties refer patients to Small to Tall, knowing that their youngest patients will get just what they need from Drs. Rowley, Ruder, and Psaltis.  In turn, Small to Tall supports the school auctions, PTAs, dance teams, Scout troops, theater productions, and sports fundraisers of their patients.  “It’s built into our business and a core philosophy that we share,” remarks Rowley.

Melissa, a Small to Tall dental assistant, shares oral hygiene tips with a Thurston County child.

One of the favorite outreach activities of the team at Small to Tall is visiting local preschools where they demonstrate, in larger than life scale, how to take good care of your teeth.  Floss made of rope and teeth made from stuffed pillowcases make preschoolers laugh, but also get them excited about taking care of their own teeth, ridding their mouth of the dreaded “sugar bugs.” When kids are excited about their own dental health, parents will follow.

And ultimately, that’s the big goal of community outreach and support.  “We are supposed to be advocates for children’s oral health, to make sure they have healthy teeth and quality experiences when they come to the dentist,” shares Ruder.  “That certainly extends beyond the borders of the dental office.  We want to make sure we are advocates not just in our office, but in our community. Going out to schools and other venues, we can reach out to kids, in an environment they are familiar with, to educate them.  It’s a community effort and that is really just part of who we are.”

Small to Tall Pediatric Dentistry

222 Lilly Road

Olympia, WA 98506

360.459.5885

 

14 May 2013, Olympia WA—At a little after 5pm seven military cargo aircraft in formation flew over the eastside of Olympia.

Google Plus One Facebook Like

Event:  Sat, 06/01/2013 - 10:00am - 6:00pm Full day depth creativity workshop. No experience necessary. You will learn and use a simple 7-step process for accessing your deepest wisdom and answers to life's questions. Simple yoga asanas will be integrated into the day to welcome our bodies into the creative process. For registration: www.naturalcoach.com Offered by Joanne Lee, a local business owner (The Natural Coach), artist, gardener, and communitarian. Google Plus One Facebook Like

ThurstonTalk

 

By Kate Scriven

The South Sound YMCA supports Thurston County school curriculums through WeDo Robotics programs and their engineering based camp, Brick Lab.

You may have recently read our article detailing the extensive summer camp options in Thurston County.  And amazing programs are available throughout our area for either one week immersion in your child’s favorite topic or extended programs for summer-long fun.

There is one, however, that stands out from the pack – The South Sound YMCA Summer Camp Program.  Several features of the Y’s camps give it this distinction.  I recently spoke with Ron White, Director of Child Care Services at the Y, to learn more about these unique traits making their camps a premier choice for Thurston County families.

Safety is Job Number One

With more than twenty years as a licensed child-care provider in Thurston County, the Y knows how to run a safe and effective child-care program.  Many area families experience this quality care first hand using the Y-Care program, housed in local elementary schools.  When Y-Care closes in June, families can receive the same level of care in the Summer Camp Programs.  In fact, because of the smaller size of the summer program, White believes they get “the cream of the crop” for their summer instructors, selecting the best among their Y-Care providers.

“Because we are licensed year-round, the level and quality of care and expertise provided at the Y is honed throughout the year – our instructors do this year-round and there is a difference when you do it full –time,” shares White.

YMCA’s Camp Bishop, located on Lost Lake near Shelton, offers a week-long overnight camp for kids third through seventh grade.

“We have a great team that work with the campers.  In addition to wanting the kids to have a good time, they are focused on creating safe and active adventures,” says Joyce Neas, Executive Director of the Briggs Community branch of the South Sound YMCA.

Building Kid’s Learning Throughout The Summer

When you look at the vast array of camp options you might not think “educational” at first glance.  You’ll likely think “FUN!” – which is what your kids will think, too.  But, the classes offered are carefully planned, building on what students learn in the classroom, helping bridge the learning slump that often occurs in the summer.

One example is the YMCA’s new program, “Brick Lab.”  It may look like LEGO play, but it is actually a carefully crafted science and engineering program in which students are given complex problems to solve using spatial skills and building materials.  The program connects to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) program used in the Olympia School District, supporting learning goals already in place.  LEGO Robotics and WeDo are also offered, again connecting to programs in our local schools.

Shifting focus to the right brain, the Y offers a wide variety of Arts Education classes for students with a creative bent.  Most noteworthy is the long standing ArtsAlive program, hosted at Roosevelt Elementary.  The month-long sessions focus on theater and set design, allowing local kids to experience live theater at an affordable price.

Arts, cooking, nature, and adventure sports are all examples of the multi-disciplinary themes available.  Browse the full listings here.

Extended Adventures Beyond Day Camp

The Farm-to-Table camp has kids getting dirty on real area farms, visiting farmer’s markets, and cooking with fresh produce.

Registration for the YMCA Camps is broken down by week.  Your child can attend one to eleven weeks of summer fun.  Families can also extend the fun with optional excursions that are offered on an “al-a-carte” basis for families including trips to the Seattle Science Center or catching a Mariners or Rainiers baseball game.

“Each day is an adventure for the kids.  There are a lot of choices this summer and each one has something really exciting planned.  Our camps create lasting memories for kids,” summarizes Neas.

For those looking for an in-depth experience, the South Sound YMCA offers a week-long resident camp – Camp Bishop.  Located near Shelton on Lost Lake, this close-to-home traditional summer camp has cabins, a dining hall, a fire pit for sing-alongs, canoes….the works.  A classic childhood camp experience, right next door in Mason County.  With campers in third through seventh grade, Camp Bishop focuses the week on building core values and personal goal setting.  Campers set goals throughout the week – passing a swim test or learning specific canoeing skills – and earn beads showing progress.  Success is experienced by all and celebrated at week’s end.  Directed by the YMCA’s Brenda Banning, the camp is an excellent opportunity for kids to experience independence, responsibility, and success.

Getting In on All The Fun

With offerings this vast, there is an extensive brochure to help you navigate the choices.  Visit the Y’s website and download the PDF, or pick up a copy at the Briggs Community or Olympia Downtown branches.  Camps are held at both branches as well as at M.T. Simmons, Chamber’s Prairie, and Roosevelt Elementary Schools.

When registering, review the matrix near the end of the brochure to see which classes are offered on a particular week.  Also note the letter codes in the class descriptions.  These indicate locations of classes and a preview of these will help you decide which camp choices to offer your kids.

Field trips can be added to most weeks of camp including Day Camp Day at the Seattle Mariners!

Financial assistance is also an option.  White explains, “We are proud to be able to support the lower income families in our area with quality, safe care for their kids throughout the summer.  In addition to being the only summer camp program to accept DSHS payment in the area, we also offer scholarships for those in need of assistance.”

While only the licensed child care camps, easily identifiable in the brochure, accept DSHS payment, all Y camps offer financial assistance to families with demonstrated need.

Living in Boston Harbor, chances are, we won’t be driving to a camp across town at Chamber’s Prairie Elementary.  However, I do know that no matter which camp my daughter enthusiastically joins this year, she’ll be safe, have fun, and really learn something in the process.  That’s a good value any day of the week.

 

ThurstonTalk

 

Stop here to find all the sports camps happening this summer around Olympia.  For a complete list of a wide-variety of summer camp options, click here.

Kids can hone their skills at summer soccer camps in Olympia.

Soccer Summer Camps

• Kidz Love Soccer – Centrally located at Percival Landing Park, this camp is suitable for the littlest kickers.  Kids get a quick skill lesson and scrimmage through the summer-long program.  It’s suitable for kids with all skill levels.
• Challenger Sports Academy - Challenger Sports runs professionally staffed summer camps throughout the country.  The British Soccer camp program will be in Lacey at Komachin Middle School during the week of July 8 and at Pioneer Park in Tumwater the following week.  If you want to add a little culture to your summer, host one of the British soccer coaches at your home. Full day and half day camps available.
• Seattle Sounders Summer Camp – Soccer enthusiasts will love the week-long training camps offered by the Seattle Sounders FC.  The camp is designed for beginner to intermediate soccer super stars.  You can find the full or half day camp at Pioneer Park during the week of July 8 or at Joint Base Lewis McChord starting on July 29.
• Geoduck soccer camp is at The Evergreen State College is run by student athletes and adults.  The full-day camp includes an afternoon of swimming and recreation.  The soccer camp is during the weeks of June 24 and July 29.

Basketball Summer Camps

• Live.Learn.Hoop camps run weekly throughout the summer.  Camps are divided by gender and geared for fifth through eight graders.  The camp lasts from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm each day of the week.
• Geoduck basketball camps focus on ball skills during the morning and then swimming and rec games in the afternoon.  Intended for kids ages 8 – 15, the Geoducks are offering basketball camps the weeks of June 24 and July 15.

Volleyball Summer Camp

• Bump, set, and spike at the Geoduck volleyball camp during the week of July 22.  Like the other sports camps, the afternoon is spent in the pool and playing recreational games.
• High school and middle school students are invited to the Olympia High School Bears volleyball camp.  Coach Laurie Creighton leads the camp which includes over 12 hours of instruction.

Sailing Summer Camp

• 

  Olympia Yacht Club Junior Sailing Instructor Laura Smit (right) instructs campers on knot-tying skills as fellow instructor Liam Lloyd looks on (left).

  The City of Olympia offers sailing camps at three age groups (5 – 7, 8 – 11, and 12 – 18).  Young sailors, all the way up to high school students, are welcome to learn new skills (or perfect current ones) under the guidance of certified sailing instructors.

Other Sports and Recreational Summer Camps

• On a weekly basis from June 24 through August 12, find youth kayakers on Budd Inlet.  All the equipment is provided to get kids going.  Includes field trips to Nisqually Delta and American Lake as well as environmental stewardship.
• Rock climbing camp may be the perfect activity for your own spider.  Learn the basics or improve techniques.
• During the City of Olympia’s Sand N’ Sun camp, kids will visit a new beach every day.  Four weeks exist for this camp sprinkled throughout the summer.
• Find a wide variety of sports and recreational camps at the South Sound YMCA.

Did we miss a sports summer camp in Olympia?  Send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com.

 

ThurstonTalk

 

Submitted by Olympia Youth Chorus

Olympia Youth Chorus presents “Bach to Rock” Saturday, May 18 at 4pm. The concert will bring to listeners a sampling of choral music from J.S. Bach and Hildegard von Bingen to Sister Act’s “Joyful, Joyful.”

Those attending will enjoy a mix of early Michael Jackson and more as the singers explore several decades of music, including classical, contemporary, and maybe even a few unexpected surprises!

This is a fun concert for all ages, so plan to join us and be entertained by some of the finest young talent (ages 5-18) Olympia has to offer.

The concert will be held at the Westwood Baptist Church located at 333 Kaiser Rd NW in Olympia on Saturday, May 18 beginning at 4 p.m.

Admission is $10 for adults and $7 for seniors and students.  Children 3 and under are admitted at no charge.  Tickets can be purchased by emailing Olympia Youth Chorus at olympiayouthchorus@gmail.com.

Event:  Sat, 05/18/2013 - 1:30pm - 4:00pm

Come hear leaders of Citizens for a Clean Harbor (CCH) from Aberdeen/Hoquiam discuss their opposition to 21 new oil tanks in the Port of Grays Harbor. You've heard about coal trains and oil pipelines, but this new oil trains plan also affects us locally.

The plan involves 50 oil tanker trains a month coming from North Dakota, on a route through the Columbia Gorge, Centralia, and along the Chehalis River to Hoquiam. The oil would be then shipped in huge Panamax oil supertankers in Grays Harbor and along our Pacific coastline.

The Ports of Grays Harbor and Olympia are colluding with the oil industry that has been waging war against climate stability. What can we do to stop them?

Join us at the Olympia Center (downtown at 222 Columbia St NW) on Saturday, May 18 at 1:30 pm for "Talking Crude," for this unique chance to hear from our neighbors, and discuss how to stop the oil trains! For questions contact Olympia Confronting the Climate Crisis at Bourtai31@gmail.com For background see Citizens for a Clean Harbor at www.cleanharbor.org/

Event Schedule:

1:30 Paul Pickett will talk about the climate crisis, and explain how burning more oil will add CO2 to the 400 ppm we already have in the atmosphere;
1:45 Zoltan Grossman will speak about fracking for oil in the Bakken shale, and explain how the Port of Olympia is colluding with big oil by downloading materials necessary for fracking;
2:00 PM Arnie Martin and Arthur (R.D.) Grunbaum will present their slide show about the proposed oil trains, storage tanks, and huge tankers in Grays Harbor;

Google Plus One Facebook Like

read more

I used to crew on a big, black boat. A 42′ Sparkman & Stevens called the Oh My God (A.K.A. the GodBoat; the Oh My Godzilla; the Black Pearl and the Ship of the Damned). We terrorized the South Puget Sound Racing Circuit, with a rag-tag crew of social dropout, hairier than average men, and […]

ThurstonTalk

 

By Tom Rohrer

The need for speed on a motor vehicle can literally be a driving force for an individual.

From the early days of his youth to the present day, Olympia’s Joel Garlinghouse has been hooked on the adrenaline rush of going fast, whether riding his 50cc dirt-bike as a five-year-old, or racing quads in the pro class at the D and W Flat Track in Rainier.

“It’s in my blood, I just have it,” said the 25-year-old Olympia native and Capital High School graduate. “I could not ride a quad for two years, then hop on, and be able to ride it just as well as before.  It’s natural talent that’s in my blood.”

Olympia’s Joel Garlinghouse (far left on podium) poses for a picture after a third place finish in a Pro-Am Quad World Off Road Championship Series (WORCS) race. Over the course of his racing career, Garlinghouse has competed against such riders as Sammy Halbert, a professional flat track motorcyclist, and Dillon Zimmerman a pro ATV rider on the WORCS tour.

After a few months since competing, Garlinghouse will have the opportunity to put his talent out on the track this weekend.  D and W Racing will begin its summer racing schedule on Saturday, May 18 at the Flat Track in Rainier.   An experienced motorcyclist and quad rider, Garlinghouse now races in the pro class of the quad division of the D and W races, and will also be traveling to areas somewhat close (Longview) and far away (Sioux Valley, South Dakota) later this summer.

As a youngster in the local dirt bike racing scene Garlinghouse excelled, winning the AMA District Championship every year between 1996 to 1999, along with tallying up the 1996 and 1997 Elma Indoor Championships and the 1999 Catawampus Caveman Series Championship.  He then took a hiatus from competitive racing before returning to race in the off road quad contests at Straddleline ORV Park in 2009.

For athletes in all sport, such a long period away from competition can lead to diminished skills and a lack of confidence.  This was not the case for Garlinghouse, as he was able to earn two third place finishes in 2009, earning a podium position in the Pro 6 hour team race (a 211-mile endurance ride that took six hours) and a Pro Am Quad WORCS race.  Garlinghouse’s high level of performance during his first year back is a testament to his skill and confidence on a vehicle.

“That confidence and courage as part of my mindset just helped me get back into it,” Garlinghouse said.  “Growing up racing as a kid, that prepared me for the competitive aspect and regardless if it’s on a quad or a motorcycle, I’m confident in my abilities.”

“I’ve seen Joel wheelie through an entire house, and honestly just do things so easily that others physically cannot do,” said friend Kyle Questi.  “He knows his motors, and it’s like he’s just connected to the throttle.  What he does easily on a quad or a bike would be the hardest thing some riders ever attempt.”

After racing in the physically grueling and demanding off-road contests at Straddleline, Garlinghouse decided to move to flat track racing in Rainier.  It is a transition he believes was necessary but still comes with its own challenges.

“I was breaking parts, bouncing off trees and rocks in the woods, was getting off the quad bleeding from blisters, so I decided to come back to where I started,” Garlinghouse said.  “But (flat track) is probably more expensive, in large part because I go through tires faster and I’m burning through them every two races.”

Expenses in all motorsports add up quickly, whether it’s for repairs, parts, race fees and transportation or other associated costs.  While Garlinghouse is sponsored through some local businesses, like South Sound Honda, Lew Rents West, and Pints and Quarts, his competitors usually have higher price vehicles and a payroll that allows them to compete more consistently throughout the year.

And yet Garlinghouse consistently finishes ahead of those very competitors, thanks to the motivation guided by his love of the sport.

“I have only pennies in my quad, and there are quads out there with $40,000 of top dollar equipment inside,” said Garlinghouse.  “Finishing ahead of these racers is amazing and really the best feeling there is.  I pay for everything from my own pocket and that’s the hardest challenge I face.  But what separates me (from other riders) is my background and just the love of the sport.”

Unlike many other competitors, Garlinghouse’s “support team” in the pit at races consists of only two individuals: fellow Capital High graduate Geoff Sheltstad and longtime friend and mentor George Prindville, a motorcycle rider in the 30-plus division.

“I’ve been friends with George my whole life, and he’s seen my love of racing ever since I was a youngster,” Garlinghouse said. “He’s someone I looked up to always and still do.”

He also noted that his parent’s love of motorsports helped instill his active lifestyle as a young age and that they still continue to support him.

“My dad’s friend Mike Harret built the motor that I race with and does the internal motor work for me.  They just always supported me growing up, and I’ve come to respect that even more as I’ve gotten older because I know how expensive it is,” Garlinghouse said.  “I just grew up around them and motors and that’s what I love to do still.  I really appreciate them because instead of being inside playing video games all day, I was outside building bicycle jumps and riding around.”

Last year, Garlinghouse took third and fourth place in the Rainier Cycle Bowl Pro and Prom Am Quad divisions respectively.  During a typical race weekend, Garlinghouse will participate in 5-lap qualifying heats, along with three other riders, in order to qualify for the final.  The final races feature twelve riders total, and are much longer, going for 20-25 laps.

In the heat of the moment, when he is inches away from his fast paced competition, is when Garlinghouse puts his talent on display.

“It’s crazy out there. We are a foot away from each other’s tires, inches away from bumpers,” Garlinghouse said of the experience on the dirt track. “If we touch we can go head over the bars. You have that fear of getting hurt, and that’s where I get the patience that helps me make moves to get ahead.”

The fear of losing has driven Garlinghouse to improve his mental and physical approach to racing. To keep up with the rigors of the sport, Garlinghouse runs and lifts weights, leaving him less susceptible to muscle fatigue that is common during races.  Equally important to his success is his focus during the chaos of a race.

“You have to react quickly, you have to think ahead, and you have to react to what the other racers are doing,” Garlinghouse said.  “I take my time because patience pays off but you still have to be aggressive.”

Later this summer, Garlinghouse is going to be putting his talents up against the best in the country, as he expects to travel to AMA ATV Nationals in Sioux Valley, South Dakota in mid-June.

“That’s going to be one of the biggest trips I’ve ever made and it’s exciting because there are riders from across the country, top flight riders,” Garlinghouse noted.

Along with competing in South Dakota, Garlinghouse will likely make a trek over to Spokane for a race, and is slated to compete in a flat track event on ice at Comcast Arena in Everett in December.  However, Garlinghouse’s focus remains on the Flat Track at Rainier, a place he has come to love for the excitement it provides him and the support offered by fans.

“It’s really like a family atmosphere, and the racers, fans, we all get along,” Garlinghouse said.  “You have the kids racing in the young divisions in the afternoon, and then they’ll come up and talk to you after.  And there are families of other racers who will come talk to you, offer you encouragement.  It’s fun to get that support and to be someone that kids look up to, especially because I was that same kid once.”

Though he has now lived a quarter century (while racing a majority of those 25 years) Garlinghouse is still driven by a child-like enthusiasm that will likely never leave him.

“I still compete because I love it too much, and if I didn’t, I wouldn’t still be racing because it’s too expensive, too time consuming,” Garlinghouse said.  “And in reality, that helps me compete, helps me go up against these other racers because I know I have to put everything I’ve got into winning.  I appreciate the opportunity to race, and it’s one I will never ever take for granted.”

For more information on D and W Racing at the Rainier Flat Track, click here.

To inquire about sponsorship for Joel Garlinghouse email garlinghouse02@gmail.com or call 360-789-9302.

 

ThurstonTalk

 

Submitted by Westport Winery

Westport Winery’s Fleur de Lis Festival is Sunday, June 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This celebration of flowers is free to attend and open to all ages. The winery is known for its extensive iris plantings which bloom for this festival. In addition the winery’s nursery has brought in a wealth of exciting new iris plants for purchase at this event.

For the fourth year, the Westport Art Festival will host Art in the Vines during this event as a precursor to their annual summer art festival at the docks in Westport on August 17 and 18. This is your opportunity to discover the latest creations from some of the best known artists in the region.

At 11 a.m. to launch the festival Westport Winery will open their new lavender labyrinth and unveil the centerpiece sculpture by North River artist Sherryl Jackson-Butts. The sculpture titled “Love” is a female form holding a large purple heart in the air. The piece was created using over one mile of fencing wire.

The labyrinth was designed by winery co-owner Kim Roberts in collaboration with lavender grower Sarah Bader. Bader is the owner of Lavender at Stonegate in West Winn Oregon. She is the author of The Lavender Lover’s Handbook. Bader will be attending the unveiling and autographing her books (available at Westport Winery) throughout the day.

The winery has added lavender to its considerable fresh farm offerings with over fifteen varieties available in their nursery and grown as a crop. They have also included numerous lavender inspired products to their menu including a delightful lavender lemon drop and their famous lavender vanilla bean shortbread cookies.

The lovely and talented Ericka Corban will be performing throughout the festival. Ericka is known for her Autumnal Equinox CD recorded live at Westport Winery in addition to being a featured artist on Starbucks’ play list.

Montesano author Ruth Kivi will be autographing her book Dad Goes Home from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. McAshton’s Shave Ice will be on site and offering icy snacks for all ages. The winery will also be hosting Yappy Hour for people and their canine pals from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on this date as well as every Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Westport Winery and Vineyards By-the-Sea with the outdoor sculpture garden, grape maze, and bakery, is located on the corner of Highway 105 and South Arbor Road halfway between Aberdeen and Westport. Come see for yourself why Westport was named the 2011 Washington Winery to Watch by Wine Press Northwest, voted Best Wine Tour by King 5 Evening Magazineviewers, and Best Wine in Grays Harbor by The Daily World.

The winery, bakery, gift shop, nursery, and restaurant open daily at 11 a.m. with lunch offered daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On Friday and Saturday dinner is served from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and dinner reservations are recommended by calling 360-648-2224.

 

ThurstonTalk

 

Submitted by City of Olympia

City of Olympia’s Parking & Business Improvement Area (PBIA) is offering matching grants of up to $3,500 each for the creation of new parklets in downtown Olympia. Businesses, non-profit associations, and community groups can submit parklet design concepts by 5:00 PM, May 31, 2013. All grant money provided by the PBIA is intended to help offset the initial cost associated with the supplies and materials needed for the construction of the parklets.

What are Parklets?

Parklets are parking spaces converted into “mini parks” providing space for people to sit, converse, and enjoy the city around them.

PBIA chair, Darren Mills, says “Downtown Olympia is in need of public gathering spaces and parklets not only provide a space for people to gather but widen our somewhat narrow sidewalks.” In 2012, The PBIA awarded similar matching grants to Darby’s Café and Jakes on 4th which resulted in the creation of the first two parklets in downtown Olympia. “People of all ages are taking advantage of the parklets as a place to see friends, hang out, and relax,” says Rob Cameron, owner of Jakes on 4th. Sara Reilly, owner of Darby’s Café, says, “We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response to the parklet from customers and people just walking by.”

Mills said, “One of best outcomes of parklets is the partnerships that they create between the sponsoring business owner, the city, PBIA and the public. They also bring economic benefit to the city by encouraging people to come downtown and spend dollars in our locally owned businesses.”

To learn more about parklets and future downtown projects, please visit the Downtown Project page on the City of Olympia website. For additional information on parklet development and how to apply for a parklet in front of your establishment, please feel free to contact the City of Olympia Downtown Liaison, Brian Wilson, at 360.709.2790 or via email at bwilson1@ci.olympia.wa.us.

 

Front: Jesse Smith, back: DuWayne Andrews, Jr., Zack Wheeler,
Bobby Barnts. Photo by Michele Smith LewisWhat do you call eight men and women with impressive training and experience in musical theater, solo performance, and even opera, singing and dancing their hearts out for two-and-a-half hours? You call it rock and soul — a soul-stirring evening of some of the best of the music that defined an era.It’s Only Rock and Soul at Centerstage Theatre in Federal Way brings is an evening of favorite hits of the ’60s and ’70s that is well worth a drive. We drove up from Olympia and it was a late night for us, but if it had gone on for another hour that would have been just fine with me.All but two of the cast are Seattle and South Sound favorites. Those two, Trista Duval and Zack Wheeler are newcomers to the area with strong professional backgrounds in other parts of the country. Duval has performed professionally in Massachusetts, Florida and Texas. Wheeler has performed in film and on stage in New York. He even performed in benefits for Bill and Hillary Clinton and for Al Sharpton.DuWayne Andrews, Jr. was in Seattle Opera’s Porgy and Bess and has been seen at Tacoma Musical Playhouse in The Color Purple and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He sings and dances with power and energy. He’s mesmerizing on “War,” the powerful anti-war anthem written by Edwin Strong and first recorded by the Temptations.Stacie Calkins, queen of soul in the South Sound, starred in Dream Girls, The Color Purple, Tommy, and many of the Purple Phoenix Productions including The Lena Horne Songbook and Aretha at the Apollo. In this show she does a great medley of Aretha Franklin songs and a stunning rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” in duet with Jesse Smith.Bobby Barnts is making his Centerstage debut in It’s Only Rock and Soul. He’s an opera singer, having performed with both Seattle Opera and Tacoma Opera, but he proves in this performance that he can belt out rock and roll and tender ballads with the best of them. His amazing call-and-response duo with Wheeler on “Hello It’s Me” and “Desperado” leaves the audience breathless.Centerstage audiences know Smith from his lead role in Tommy and Ain’t Misbehavin’ and their previous summer rock extravaganza, I’m Into Something Good. His acting, his joyful smile, his energy and his smooth voice draw the audience in and make them feel like they’re a part of the songs.Ashanti Mangum’s previous outing at Centerstage was in Ain’t Misbehavin.’ In Seattle she’s performed at Intiman, the 5thAvenue and Seattle Opera. She is absolutely spellbinding in that great heart-tugger from Hair, “Easy to Be Hard” and in the haunting “Whiter Shade of Pale.”Meg McLynn. Photo by Michele Smith LewisMeg McLynn starred in Purple Phoenix Productions Patsy Cline tribute and Tommy and the English Panto Pinocchio. She does a knockout “Angel in the Morning” that segues into Janice Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart,” and her rendition of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” complete with psychedelic lighting is one of the highest of highlights in a show filled with highlights.Rather than doing the songs chronologically, they are grouped by theme and style, with a “chemical sequence” (recalling the ‘60s drug culture), boy-group and girl-group medleys, and songs of war and peace. The five-piece band led by David Duvall is outstanding as always, and Duvall’s arrangements are masterful, especially on some of the chemical sequence numbers and the Beatles medley and a rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine” that’s unlike any I’ve ever heard.
Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. through May 26, 3200 SW Dash Point Road,
http://www.centerstagetheatre.com/

ThurstonTalk

 

The Bettie Brigade is an all-female player-run flat track roller derby league serving the Joint Base Lewis-McChord community.   The league also includes a junior derby team.

Photos here are from their May 11, 2013 home meet.

To learn more about Bettie Brigade, click here.