Join Volunteers from all over Olympia Saturday, June 28 from 10am – 1 pm, to help rid Decatur Woods Park of English Ivy. This will be a fun work party that is suitable for all ages. Tools, gloves and refreshments will be provided. Decatur Woods Park is at 1015 Decatur Street SW in Olympia. Volunteers are asked to park via 11th Avenue because of construction on Decatur street. Walk, bike or carpool if possible.

All are welcome, but those 17 and under must have signed parental permission, 14 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. No need to RSVP, just show up! Contact Olympia Volunteers in Parks (VIP) Coordinator Todd Smith at 753-8365.

A need for dense urban high rise living units: This need arises from ecological pressures. Our footprint as a society can be greatly reduced if we live more densely urban. On this there is wide ranging agreement. Who would disagree? Suburban sprawl has one of the most deleterious effects on ecology. It swallows up viable and useful farmland. It swallows up wilderness. It's not desirable. It's not sustainable. If we want to keep going as a culture, as a society and as a species, then we will need to "grow up." Wise and efficient land use is a major part of that equation.

go to original

...

Friends of the Waterfront has been calling for a comprehensive community-wide visioning process to determine the shape of our waterfront area. The general public should determine how this vital area will be used to support the high quality of life we all want to continue to enjoy in Olympia.

The next step in the city's consideration of the isthmus rezone proposal is the public hearing before the Olympia Planning Commission at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 24, at the Olympia Center. Tentatively, people will be able to sign in starting at 5:30 for a slot to testify.

Meantime, we seek Letters to the Editor in support of our position. We also have yard signs, and window signs available for distribution.

Please visit our website (www.friendsofthewaterfront.org) for all the information on this proposal and links to city files and letters to the editor. See the Images section of the website for interesting commentary on the proponents' misleading graphic depictions.

So, sitting here watching all this fresh water rain down, and I'm sorta regretting not setting up my rain barrels.

I gave an extra two to my neighbor (and they are all setup, so kudos to them!), but I'm looking at this next weekend as a time to set my rain barrels up-

I just wanted to post to remind everyone that the this is something you can do to make a difference...

...I know that most folks are stressing & obsessing about oil & gas prices, but I'm looking beyond to the real issue: water shortage.

I'm one of those guys that constantly see a "bait & switch" in the media (whether that bias is there or not I'm not sure, but I still can't help myself from obsessing, so...), and the emphasis that the media puts on oil eclipses the real news of water shortages.

I'd hope that folks in the South Sound can give this issue some thought, and create sustainability a bit at a time, everyday, by monitoring water use and thinking of conservation.

I don't have stats here, but I have heard that the newer model dishwashers (EnergyStar stuff) are actually more efficient that hand washing, so I guess that is a bit of good news, and with the rain barrels I'm looking to cut down on my water consumption for the garden and trees during the dry times (whenever they get here =)

Info Update: from the daily-O: brewery water

360º Panorama:

Here's a more detailed 180º Panorama:

Near the beginning was the Police Department's presentation: "Telling our story." The Chief of Police, Gary Michel, told of some of the recent accomplishments of the department, including the city's very low statistics for certain crimes, like burglary for example. I couldn't find information about the presentation in the council meeting packet (I didn't take notes, sorry.). The Chief's presentation made the police department sound very good. If all I had to base my understanding on was the presentation, I might think that there were very few to no problems with the police department's operations.

The Puget Sound is in serious danger. Pollution has wreaked horrible consequences on this majestic waterway. For example, 92% of wild salmon runs are no more, and several stocks of other species are collapsing as well. Why is the Puget Sound in danger? Ask an expert.

Take it from William Dietrich. He published an article in the Seattle Times yesterday. It's about this very subject. It's very well written and it's titled: "Puget Sound: One man's indictment, love poem and call to arms", here's a link: seattletimes.nwsource.com/