COMMUNITY INVITED TO A RECEPTION HONORING MAYOR MARK FOUTCH, MAYOR PRO TEM LAURA WARE, AND COUNCILMEMBER TJ JOHNSON Olympia, WA. Outgoing Olympia Mayor Mark Foutch, Mayor Pro Tem Laura Ware, and Councilmember TJ Johnson will be honored with a retirement reception next week. The reception will be Tuesday, November 27, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at The Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington Street SE, Olympia.

"Collectively, the three outgoing members have over 32 years of Olympia City Council service," said Olympia City Manager Steve Hall in announcing the reception. "Their knowledge, commitment, and experience will be missed," said Hall.

Foutch has served on the Olympia City Council for 16 years. He began his tenure as a Councilmember in 1992; served as Mayor Pro Tem for 10 years; and was elected Mayor in 2004.

Ware was first elected to the Olympia City Council in 1996. She has served as Mayor Pro Tem since 2004.

Johnson was elected to the Olympia City Council in 2004. He also served on the Council in a prior appointed term.

The reception is open to the public. RSVP is requested, but not required, by calling Olympia City Hall, (360) 753-8447 by Noon on Tuesday.

Earlier today an email discussion was widely posted on several listservs featuring comments exchanged between Olympia Mayor Mark Foutch and a citizen of Olympia in which the Mayor attributed certain comments to me which were grossly inaccurate. In a subsequent letter to him I allowed for the possibility that he may not have actually written that message. But at tonight's City Council meeting he verified that he did make this reference and apologized for misrepresenting me. The following is the letter I sent to the Mayor shortly before tonight's meeting:

I attended the City Counsel meeting this evening (at least the first half). I heard all the people talk, the usuals , the pro-troops, and the anti-war folks. Then I heard the Counsel response. I was very disappointed in everyone. The pro-troops people made themselves look as though they were saints and did nothing towards the anti-war protesters. They do clean up nicely I must say. They also gawked at the speakers and the Counsel Members, and one came close to being thrown out. I was disappointed in the anti-war protesters for another reason. That is because very few showed up. If this was such a huge issue to all of you why are you not there telling the city, your elected officials what you think? Lastly I was disappointed in some of the Counsel's responses, epically Counsel Member T.J. Johnson. He acted childish calling one pro-troops supporter out on the fact that he had ran and not been elected. This is not needed, it is inflammatory and divides us more. I am not with or against the actions of either side. However, I am very disappointed in all sides involved and hope that we can all come together at some point and discuss our differences and own up to our failures.

But I am Just Another Voice

I have to go pick up some Gosling's Black Seal Rum for Thanksgiving. So many tasty ways to drink it. I like to dip fruitcake in it, or drink it mixed with orange juice.

What are some favorite rum uses?

I am so proud of the people who marched peacefully against the Port's military use. I can understand nonviolent civil disobedience, but I also understand simple sign-holding, sidewalk-standing, activism.

I was in the anti-WTO march in Seattle, and several marches against this war. I admit I was too weak to sit in the streets. I just marched with my home-made sign.

Thank you, fellow Olympian anti-war ACTIVISTS. The Olympian, a so-called "news" paper, printed the names of those who were arrested.

It's funny the Olympian, a so-called "news" paper, doesn't have more stories about the antiwar protests from around the country, or THE NUMBERS OF MARCHERS!! Cry, for our beloved country, and shame on our cowardly news media. Also, thanks T.J. Johnson for your peaceful, powerful protests. You are a man for all seasons.

So who is going to go crabbing and try and put some tasty crustaceans on the Thanksgiving table?

Is anyone else having the tracker not push threads with new posts to the top? It's displaying that there are new posts, but staying in the middle or bottom. Does that make sense?