This and That

15

Jan

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Columns, Contributors, Mindy Chambers, This and That

Olympia Wants To Get a Buzz On.

A bee buzz that is. The Olympia City Council voted Tuesday night to join the Bee City USA movement to ensure healthy habitats for our fave pollinators. Pollinators are popular in OlyTown. Mason bee homes and honey bee hives grace many properties around the city and residents proudly display signs proclaiming their environs as “Pollinator Friendly,” giving humble bumbles and their pals freedom to dart around gardens full of their beloved bloomers. The city wants people to know more about how important these pollinators are to food production and how to keep them safe from pesticides, diseases and predators. The…

Text CAMPUSALERT to 888-777 to Receive Security Alerts Related to the State Capitol Campus

13

Jan

By Mindy Chambers

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Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers, This and That

Text CAMPUSALERT to 888-777 to Receive Security Alerts Related to the State Capitol Campus

However, be aware that even when accurate security information is most needed, the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) isn’t getting it right. On Sunday, for example, DES sent an alert that fencing on the state Capitol Campus would come down by Tuesday morning. Tuesday night, the fencing was still up. And DES announced it would stay up through at least Inauguration Day (Jan. 20). The Sunday alert came many hours after the fencing was installed and was contrary to information provided by the Washington State Patrol. It also made no mention of the fortress-like conditions that would greet campus visitors…

09

Dec

By Mindy Chambers

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City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Mindy Chambers, This and That

No Rhyme or Reason

Act II of the City of Olympia’s tale of the poet laureate is about to open. What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet.Juliet, Act II, Scene I, “Romeo and Juliet” As you may recall, the previous act of this drama ended when the city declined to award the distinction to the one poet who applied for the position during the most recent call for entries and declined to respond to calls to reconsider, saying it was unusual to receive just one entry. The poet, Lene`e Reid, whose application has been…

09

Oct

By Mindy Chambers

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City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers, This and That

City parks and COVID

A huge gathering of sports teams and fans at Yauger Park certainly piqued observers’ concerns. One poster to Facebook wrote this warning: “Olympia area friends be careful today if you walk through Yauger Park or bring your kids to play. There's a baseball tournament starting up, and the majority of folks watching and wandering around in close proximity are not wearing masks …” (photo from City of Olympia website) This came in a week in which 121 new COVID cases were reported – the most new cases in one week since Thurston County health officials began tracking the virus on…

Ballots drop on Friday – get your recycle bin ready!

06

Oct

By Mindy Chambers

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City of Olympia, Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers, This and That, Uncategorized

Ballots drop on Friday – get your recycle bin ready!

Ballots for the Nov. 3 general election will go in the mail on Oct. 8, followed shortly by dozens and dozens of expensive, colorful, glossy mailers, made of dead trees, extolling candidates’ virtues. The deluge, in fact, already has begun. A fund-raising letter from Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction candidate Chris Reykdal hit local mailboxes on September 28. A big postcard touting her record on education from 10th Congressional District candidate Marilyn Strickland was in the mailbox on Monday – lots of cute kids here, to be sure. Personal fave so far – a “photograph,” letter, and return postcard/envelope from Democratic…

A Simple Donation Can Save A Life This Winter

29

Sep

By Mindy Chambers

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Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers, This and That

A Simple Donation Can Save A Life This Winter

Socks! Tarps! Tents! Sleeping bags! Hygiene and First Aid supplies! The rainy season is upon us, and those living outside will face our cold, windy winter weather with fewer than ever options to get out of the elements. Local officials say fewer than half of last year’s 400 overnight shelter beds will be regularly available this winter. With the closure of the Community Care Center, people have few options for places to dry off and get warm during the day. You can help. Do you have a tent, tarp, sleeping bags, blankets, or other camping and survival supplies that…

28

Sep

By Mindy Chambers

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Columns, Contributors, Features, Mindy Chambers, This and That

DemoBurger Demolition Derby

Demise of the Demoburger? In a lengthy “discussion” on Facebook, now removed, debate raged among Thurston County Democrats earlier this month about the fate of the Demoburger Booth … you know, that purveyor of grease-laden, onion-covered gut bombs the Dems served at festivals and fairs … pre-pandemic. Turns out the old chuckwagon needs a massive and expensive overhaul in order to meet state safety regulations, including a new range hood (who could have guessed that?). The fight centered on why the information was posted on Facebook, what the Dems had voted to do (pull the plug on the booth or…

19

Sep

By Mindy Chambers

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Columns, Contributors, Mindy Chambers, This and That

This And That

Not making friends wherever he goes. C Davis, or CDavis Plover as he calls himself on Facebook, is a candidate for Thurston County Commissioner – at least his name will be on the ballot. Many things have gone terribly wrong with this campaign, including late filings of a state Public Disclosure Commission financial report (not that there was much to report he’s raised just $2,250 and spent less than that); lost the endorsement of the Thurston County Republican party; had his voter registration successfully challenged, and faced serious allegations regarding his past behavior with under-age young women. His latest social media…

18

Sep

By Mindy Chambers

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Columns, Contributors, Mindy Chambers, This and That

This And That

A bit more on facemasks and campaign donations: The hot, new campaign look sparked by trend-setting candidate for Governor Loren Culp appears to have caught on locally. According to his report to the state Public Disclosure Commission, Thurston County Commission candidate Gary Edwards shelled out nearly $270 for facemasks. For the purchase, perhaps he used some of the $1,000 campaign contribution from a local marijuana retailer, which advertises some amazing events including "Munchie Monday is here again! Who doesn't love to kick back with some stoney snacks," and an upcoming Halloweed sale. That contribution is a bit of a surprise: In 1998,…

17

Sep

By Mindy Chambers

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Columns, Contributors, Mindy Chambers, This and That

This And That

Putting your money where your mouth is… literally. Back in June, Republican candidate for Governor Loren Culp left no doubt how he feels about the now ubiquitous facemask, the fashion statement of 2020. "I will not comply with Jay Inslee's unconstitutional and ridiculous mask requirement. We need a real leader in Olympia, not a dictator." So it's a bit of a puzzle why his campaign expenditures filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission show he's spent about $5,000 on facemasks of some kind. Here's one example of what $15 will get you. Despite masks' lack of popularity among the Culp…