Olympia Ice Rink Opens

Above: Skaters of all ages and abilities tried out the new seasonal ice rink in downtown Olympia Thursday night. The rink opens to the public on Friday, November 16.

Oly on Ice Opens November 16

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

If you fall down at Olympia’s new seasonal ice rink, Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off,” might be a great song to remember. 

The temporary ice rink at 529 4th Avenue West, called Oly on Ice, opens to the public on Friday, November 16, from 3:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Weekend hours are 10:00 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Sundays.

The rink was open Thursday night for show and tell to media, city staff, and the rink’s financial sponsors and their families. Plenty of upbeat tunes and encouragement kept skaters of all ages and abilities moving and laughing.

It will be open seven days a week from November 16 – January 6 except Thanksgiving with special operating hours during school winter breaks and on holidays.

For a full list of admission prices, hours, and special events, go to OlyOnIce.com or call City of Olympia, Parks, Arts & Recreation at (360) 753-8380.

Oly on Ice parking is available at the two lots immediately east and west of the ice rink. Do not park at Bayview Thriftway or other private lots adjacent to the rink.

Temporary restrooms are available on site during the run of the ice rink.

The rink is only 100 feet long and 40 feet wide, which might frustrate some, but even Dorothy Hamill, Michelle Kwan, Johnny Weir and Nathan Chen had to start somewhere.

Perhaps the best advice of the night came from Lia Prandi, 17, just one of several assistants on hand to help people get up off the ice.

“When you fall, tuck your hands in as soon as possible so they don’t get run over by other skaters,” she said. Prandi said she learned to skate at Sprinker Recreation Center in Tacoma.

Olympia city manager Steve Hall grew up in the Pacific Northwest and never learned how to skate. He strapped on skates for the first time and hugged the edge of the rink until he was comfortable letting go.

Stephanie Johnson, Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation arts and events program manager, demonstrated that she can skate backwards. Originally from Greeley, Colorado, Johnson said she learned to skate on a lake near her house that used to freeze.

Paul Simmons, Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation director, whipped around the rink. He said he grew up in Federal Way and has only ice skated about three times but has a lot of experience rollerblading.

“So many people have done so much to pull this off….This is how we’ll bring the community together in the winter months doing something really positive,” he said about the rink.

Above: Jonathon Turlove, Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation associate director, left, wriggles his size 14 feet into a pair of size 12 skates, the largest available. Kellie Purce Braseth, City of Olympia strategic communications director, puts on skates for the first time, while her husband Svin Braseth, right, is originally from Norway and has experience skating.

Landin Vargas, 11, of Olympia, had never been on skates before but skated for a full hour. He fell a few times but got right back up each time. His mom, Farra Hayes, skated on the ice with him. She works for Puget Sound Energy, one of the rink’s 40 financial sponsors.

As he took off his skates for the night, Vargas said he was definitely coming back. 

“I don’t get down on myself when I fall,” he said confidently.

Upcoming Special Events

Nutcracker on Ice, November 29, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Get your picture taken with your favorite characters from Ballet Northwest’s Nutcracker cast.

Pride Night, December 6, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Join Pizza Klatch for a night of fun – they’ll be selling wearable glow sticks to light up the ice! Rainbow attire encouraged all day.

Wizards on Ice, December 13, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Witches, wizards, squibs and muggles: Join the South Sound Reading Foundation and the Downtown Ambassadors for magical trivia and prizes. Skate-safe costumes encouraged.

Ugly Sweater Night, December 20, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Skate in your ugly sweater while the Capital High School Chamber Choir serenades skaters with holiday carols.

Fairy Tale Nights, December 27, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Face painting, balloon animals, and photo opportunities with your favorite fairy tale characters from Glitter & Suede Events and Venue.

Super Hero Night, January 3, 2019, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Come in your favorite skate-safe costume and get a giveaway from Olympic Cards & Comics while supplies last.

For a previous article about the ice rink, go to “Temporary Olympia Ice Rink Coming Soon,” October 19, 2018, at http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com/2018/10/temporary-olympia-ice-rink-coming-soon.html

Above: The Oly on Ice rink tent in downtown Olympia is on the isthmus between Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet.

Jones Announces Run for Olympia Mayor

Above: Nathaniel Jones, Olympia Mayor Pro Tem, announced on Wednesday that he is running for mayor of Olympia. The position is currently held by Mayor Cheryl Selby. File photo from January, 2016.

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Leadership and transparency are top priorities

Olympia Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones announced on Wednesday that he is launching a campaign for mayor of Olympia. 

The position is currently held by Mayor Cheryl Selby.

In a press release, Jones stated that he will restore confidence in the city’s direction and ensure that community members are not shut out of key decisions.

Jones has served as Olympia’s Mayor Pro Tem since being elected to the city council in 2011. He was reelected to a second four year term in November 2015. Among other assignments, Jones serves on the council’s Land Use and Environment Committee.

Regarding the homeless, Jones called for “compassionate accountability and effective management of unacceptable and unhealthy conditions” at tent encampments in downtown Olympia.

He also touted his role in creating final adjustments to the “Missing Middle” ordinance which changed zoning and land use rules to accommodate more housing options city-wide. The ordinance was adopted by the council on November 5.  

He also referred to his role in restoring Olympia’s downtown walking patrol and the launch of a mental health crisis response team.

Jones left his position at the state Department of Enterprise Services about 18 months ago to focus on city issues.

Regarding the mental health crisis response team, Jones told Little Hollywood that there will be a city council study session on the initiative on December 4. Implementation of the plan is expected in January.

“Trained first-responders will deescalate and address non-criminal disruptions without police. This will free up police to do their job and provide far more appropriate help to people in crisis. There’s a focus on downtown but the team will be available throughout the city,” he said.

Jones said he will have a campaign kick-off at a later date.

“It’s too early in the calendar for that now - heck we’re still counting (election) ballots. I announced now because I think it’s only fair for others to know what I’m doing,” added Jones.

Chum Salmon Return Home

Above: Reminding us that water is life, chum salmon return home to McLane Creek in Olympia.

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

With the month of November comes a reminder that chum salmon are returning home to McLane Creek and Kennedy Creek in south Puget Sound.

Although the salmon begin their journey from the ocean in mid-October and complete it in mid-December, November is the best opportunity to view them close-up and personal. 

Salmon viewing at Kennedy Creek is available only on weekends between 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and the day after Thanksgiving through November 30. 

Salmon viewing at McLane Creek is available everyday.

Thousands of people visit the creek trails to learn more about what makes a healthy salmon habitat and observe spawning and courting behaviors. 

Their dramatic journey is a powerful, moving sight to behold. 

Trained Stream Team Salmon Steward volunteers posted at both McLane Creek and Kennedy Creek this past weekend patiently explained the life cycle of salmon to hundreds of visitors.

Sometimes, they sprinkled in a few friendly jokes with the serious science, using humor to help the facts stick for all ages.

“They find their way back to their stream because of the female, because we all know males suck at directions. Otherwise, the males would be swimming in circles their whole lives around the whole ocean looking for his creek because he won’t ask for directions,” quipped a male Salmon Steward at McLane Creek on Saturday. 

The joke was well received, prompting endless questions for the steward.

Above: People view the salmon from an overlook at McLane Creek. McLane Creek originates in the Black Hills and flows 14.5 miles to Mud Bay, which is located at the southern end of Eld Inlet.

Kennedy Creek is one of the most productive chum salmon production streams in Washington State and is home to four of the seven Pacific salmon species: chum, coho, steelhead, and cutthroat trout.

It borders Thurston and Mason counties with its headwaters in Summit Lake in the Black Hills and empties into Totten Inlet at Oyster Bay.

Normally, the spawning population at Kennedy Creek is between 20,000 and 40,000 salmon.

Spawning adults can produce approximately 30 million to 60 million eggs annually but not all eggs will survive. On average, only two to three individuals will complete their natural life cycle and return to the stream where they hatched.

The salmon normally come to Kennedy Creek before McLane Creek, but this year was different. Little rain this past summer and nearby clear cutting resulting in a possible quicker run off may account for the difference.

The Kennedy Creek trail was developed by the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group (SPSSEG) with many partners. 

The land is owned by Taylor Shellfish Farms and maintained by Green Diamond Resources. A portion of the property was recently logged.

Rain is supposed to arrive this coming week, swelling the streams, and make navigation easier for the salmon. They don’t mind shallow water, but they need flowing water because it brings oxygen to the eggs. 

The females have a narrow window of time, about two weeks, in which to spawn otherwise the eggs aren’t viable.

Kennedy Creek Natural Area Preserve: For directions from Olympia, go north on 101. At milepost 356, turn left onto Old Olympic Highway. Continue on Old Olympic Highway until you see the Kennedy Creek Salmon Trail signs on your left. Go up the forest road, which is now a clear cut, for .75 miles. Turn right into the Trail parking lot.

Dogs are not allowed on the trail. A Washington State Discover Pass is required for parking at this site.

McLane Creek Nature Trail: For directions from Olympia from Highway 101, take the Mud Bay exit. Turn left onto Mud Bay Road NW, turn left onto Delphi Road. Go south on Delphi Road for 3.3 miles. It is open daily. A Washington State Discover Pass is required for parking at this site.

Salmon Stewards say that it is best to leave dogs at home during spawning season as they can spook the salmon. If you bring your dog, keep it leashed and away from live and dead salmon.

Stream Team is a multi-city and county-led environmental education organization. For more information about Stream Team, Salmon Steward docent opportunities, and citizen science activities, go to www.streamteam.info

Above: An American Dipper enjoys the natural, riparian environment at Kennedy Creek. American Dippers are fun to watch as they bob up and down near swift running water, then dive in for food. While completely submerged, they quickly probe the stream bed for aquatic insects, then hop back out.

Centralia School Super Promises to Restore Therapeutic Pool

Above: Former Centralia school board director Neal Kirby, standing, organized a meeting Monday night to hear an update from Centralia School Superintendent Mark Davalos on why a therapeutic whirlpool is still not functioning at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center in Centralia.

Seniors Want Results for Taxes Paid, Hold Superintendent Accountable for Promises

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Over 30 people, most of them seniors, showed up for a meeting Monday night to hear an update on why a therapeutic whirlpool is still not functioning at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center in Centralia.

The whirlpool has not been fully functional for over two years and was finally shut down in June by the county health department.

Before they finally shut it down, the department gave the school district two years to fix it, citing at least 15 different code violations.

Former Centralia school board director Neal Kirby organized the meeting at Thorbeckes because he was frustrated with the school board’s inaction on the issue. 

Centralia School District Superintendent Mark Davalos attended the meeting and brought Eric Wilson, the school district’s facility maintenance director, to provide information on next steps. 

With patience wearing thin, the seniors peppered the two officials with pointed questions and comments.

“This is my fourth year as superintendent and I inherited the issue as I came in….It’s about managing the money and taking care of all our obligations….Sometimes the wheels move slowly,” Davalos explained at the start of the evening.

Above: Brown water sits in the therapeutic whirlpool at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center. The pool has not been fully functional for two years and was shut down in June by the Lewis County Health Department for code violations.

The Centralia Community Pool at Thorbeckes is owned by the Centralia School District, built on City of Centralia property, and operated by Thorbeckes Athletic Club.

The funding mechanism for the pool facility is dependent upon a collaborative agreement among the entities. There are five years left on the ten year agreement and some are worried time might run out and no one will fix the whirlpool.

Kirby, 66, said he has arthritis in his back and keeps fit by hiking and swimming. He enjoyed using the whirlpool after he got out of the pool.

“It’s called a therapeutic whirlpool for a reason. It offers the heat and massage people need, especially for those who have had joint replacements and issues far worse than me,” he said.

“If we don’t fix this, I’m worried that something else won’t get fixed further on down the line. It’s really incumbent upon us to push to make sure this facility is maintained. I hope we can get it working as it was,” said Kirby.

According to the agreement, Thorbeckes pays for minor, internal repairs and maintenance and the school district and city share the cost of major repairs in equal amounts.

The community has repeatedly voted for school levies with pledges to the pool facility.

Above: Seniors enjoy their water aerobics class at Thorbeckes Aquatic Center in Centralia on Monday evening. Later, several participants attended a meeting to hear an update on why a therapeutic whirlpool is still not functioning at the Center.

With 21 classes per week, the facility sees hundreds of water aerobics participants every month with 1,870 in February, said Thorbeckes pool operator Jason Knispel, who attended the meeting.

Davalos said the pool facility costs about $300,000 annually to operate and the school district is committed to its obligations.  

Normally, about $50,000 to $60,000 per month is set aside to cover this cost, but an unexpected $200,000 pool repair last year diverted money from repairing the whirlpool in a timely manner.

“We paid it and ended up spending more than our annual set aside money….We’ve exceeded it a few times in the last few years, and we’ve been under that amount for a few years. We hope repairs will normalize but we’ve been hit with a couple of big costs,” Davalos said about the aging facility. The facility was built in 1978.

Utilities cost the school district and the city each about $40,000 per month.

Next Steps

According to Davalos, the district met with Thorbeckes and the city about a month ago to discuss the replacement of the whirlpool. All parties agreed that was the best course of action.

The district recently hired a firm to perform an analysis on what repairs are needed to bring it up to code. Those repairs would cost $40,000 in parts alone, said Wilson.

It was the firm’s recommendation to replace the entire unit.

Davalos and Wilson said that with the school board’s approval, the district will look into hiring ORB Architects of Tacoma to design and engineer plans for a new whirlpool.

Several individuals with long memories immediately brought up questionable electrical and plumbing issues that have dogged the facility. They balked at using the same firm that was used when the facility was built.

“I’ve been in business 42 years and I’m just seeing a tremendous number of red flags with ORB,” said local businessman and former Chamber of Commerce executive director Dan Duffy. “Personally, I think you’d be wiser to go with someone else or get other bids. I would not seek them out.”

Wilson readily admitted the whirlpool wasn’t built as designed and said other companies could be sought out.

“We’ll take that into consideration,” he said, saying it would take more time, perhaps a couple of months, to research alternative options.

By the end of the meeting, Davalos said that the school district will develop a request for proposals by the end of year, get started at the beginning of the year, and have it operational by mid-spring 2019.

“We’re here because the wheels are in motion…we don’t start something like this unless our intentions are to complete it. We are going to do our due diligence and do the right thing….We’re going to make it happen,” assured Davalos.

Several seniors said they would use the whirlpool for therapeutic reasons if it were repaired.

Seth Knox, Jr., 72, has been a resident of Centralia since 1985. He has had two hip replacements and has a metal plate in his back. He enjoys his water aerobics classes at the Center.

Knox, an Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne, served two tours in Vietnam, two tours in Korea, one in Germany and one in Alaska. 

“I would use the whirlpool if it were fixed,” he said.

Joy Dykes, 82, of Centralia, also said she used the whirlpool when it was operational.

“I miss it. I don’t take pills. I don’t like medicine. This is the answer,” she laughed, pointing at the pool. “I do water aerobics three times a week, yoga twice a week, and walk three miles a day in the summer. I do have arthritis really bad in my hands but there are some people who really, really need it,” she said.

Asked after the meeting to clarify water usage details, Wilson said the water usage numbers have always been high due to the nature of the facility. The total water usage for the entire facility reached 47,000 gallons per week.

This includes the pool, whirlpool, a leak in the whirlpool, sinks, showers, toilets, and evaporation factors.

“Over time, the water usage number has increased but significant increase could be attributed to a leak or other issues. Since the spa (whirlpool) has been shut down, the weekly total water usage has significantly decreased and the water bill has been thousands less per month,” said Wilson.

Community journalism in the public interest is needed now more than ever. It also takes time. Little Hollywood, based in Olympia, was asked to attend the Monday night meeting to shine the light on a two year old issue that has not seen local newspaper coverage or action. 

Little Hollywood welcomes news tips and donations in support of issues and concerns involving seniors, veterans, the houseless, and others not often heard in corporate media. Go to https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com to donate via PayPal or other methods.

Above, far left: Seth Knox, Jr., 72, an Army veteran of the 82nd Airborne who served two tours in Vietnam and two tours in Korea, listens to Centralia School Superintendent Mark Davalos on Monday night.

Truck Damages Downtown Building

Above: A pedestrian walks behind a semi-truck as the driver backs up to negotiate a wider turn onto Capitol Way South in downtown Olympia Tuesday morning. The truck had already hit the building’s metal awning. No one was hurt in the incident.

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

A semi-truck moving east on 5^th Avenue made too sharp of a turn onto Capitol Way and damaged a building in downtown Olympia Tuesday morning.

The scene at 501-505 Capitol Way South was witnessed and videotaped by Little Hollywood at about 9:20 a.m. 

After the metal awning and its lighting infrastructure was hit, the truck driver with Swanson Bark and Wood Products, Inc. of Longview backed up, negotiated a wider turn, parked, and jumped out to inspect the damage. 

No one was hurt in the incident.  

Little Hollywood contacted building owners and police to make a report. A logistics manager with the truck company said the driver was cited by Olympia police for illegal lane usage.  

The building, built in 1937, is owned by Thurston Building Company. The space, formerly occupied by g. miller men’s clothing store, is currently vacant. The clothing store moved to 111 Market Street NE, Olympia.

Above: Damage to the building at 501-505 Capitol Way South after a semi-truck driver made too sharp of a turn and hit the building Tuesday morning.

Community Service at Nisqually

Above: Members of the Olympia Mountaineers and Rotary Club of Olympia worked together Sunday morning to make the boardwalk a safer experience for visitors at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Unfazed by the rain, the Olympia Mountaineers combined forces with the Rotary Club of Olympia Sunday morning to scrape slippery moss and leaves off the boardwalk at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge.

Both organizations are well known for their stewardship and community service efforts.

It was a welcome collaboration for Peter Yager, Visitor Services Assistant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. After a brief talk about safety, Yager directed the volunteers to areas that needed the most attention.

Pileated woodpeckers, deer, frogs, hawks and eagles made their presence known throughout the morning’s work.

Above: Pacific tree frogs at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge on Sunday.

Later, Yager expressed his appreciation for the group’s efforts, saying the Refuge has only one maintenance worker and one part time Washington Conservation Corps crew worker.

“Twelve volunteers worked three hours for a total of 36 volunteer hours. That’s equivalent to a week’s worth of work. This was serious work that needed to get done,” he said.

Asked how many volunteers come to the Refuge do this sort of work, Yager said he doesn’t get as many requests to work as he thought he would. Yager came to the Refuge two years ago from Yellowstone National Park.

“I do have a group of middle school kids who come to pull Scotch broom every year and some Boy Scouts come and scrub the signs,” he said.

He welcomed the two organizations back. After all, the leaves are still falling.

For more information on possible service projects at the Refuge, contact Peter Yager, Visitor Services Assistant, Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, 100 Brown Farm Road, Olympia, at (360) 753-9467 or peter_yager@fws.gov.

Above: A safer boardwalk for visitors at the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge gave volunteers, including this writer, a great deal of satisfaction.

Temporary Olympia Ice Rink Coming Soon

Above: Scheduled to open November 16, a temporary ice rink currently being installed in downtown Olympia is anticipated to draw families and improve business in the downtown area.

By Janine Gates

Little Hollywood

https://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

Superhero Night? Rock n' Roll Live Music Night? Princess Night with the Lakefair Court? 

Get ready for some fun times in downtown Olympia this winter. 

A new park located on the isthmus at 529 4^th Avenue West will become a covered, temporary ice rink from November 16 through January 6.

The rink area is 4,000 sq. ft. and will hold a maximum capacity of 125 skaters. 

In comparison, the iconic Rockefeller Center ice rink in Midtown Manhattan is a little over 7,000 square feet and has a capacity of 150 skaters at one time. 

So move over New York - here comes Oly on Ice!

When the City of Olympia held a brief event this past July in 91 degree weather to celebrate the beginning of the project, it was hard to imagine.

But now, cooler, foggy mornings have set in and City of Olympia Parks & Recreation staff are busy setting up the tent and equipment.

General admission prices with skates range from $12 and lower for youth, toddlers, foster, military, first responder families, and seniors. There will be day time skating hours, cheap skate nights, 10-skate passes and group rates.

Free public parking will be available at the two lots to the immediate east and west of the ice rink. Free street parking can be found along Capitol Lake. During evening and weekend hours, additional free parking is available at all City of Olympia managed lots and metered spots. There are also pay-to-park lots neighboring the rink.

There is no ice rink parking across the street at Bayview Thriftway or other private lots adjacent to the rink.

Temporary restrooms will be available during the run of the ice rink.

To offset the rink’s costs and keep admission fees accessible, the city actively gathered partnerships to pull it all off.

Community sponsors include a mix of large and small local and regional businesses, including the Olympia AutoMall, Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital & Health Network, Propel Construction, TwinStar Credit Union, Browsers Bookshop, OBEE Credit Union, Graphic Communications, Capital Medical Center, Anthony’s Homeport/Hearthfire, and the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation, among others.

Business sponsorship categories ranged between $400 and $10,000. Depending on the amount contributed, businesses have at least one opportunity to have a table or tent set up at the venue sometime during the run of the ice rink.

“We definitely see this project as a great way to involve local businesses and organizations,” said Anna Robinson, marketing program specialist with City of Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation.

“Even the businesses that aren’t in a position to join us as sponsors are really excited about it. Bringing a fun, family-friendly activity to downtown during what is normally a pretty quiet time of year around here really seemed to resonate with people,” she said.

At the ceremony in July, former City of Olympia Mayor Bob Jacobs spoke on behalf of the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation. The space that became a park was the result of a lot of hard work.

Jacobs thanked the Trust for Public Lands for their assistance in obtaining a $600,000 grant from the Thurston County Conservation Futures Fund, which the Foundation turned over to the city for capital expenditures at the park.

Foundation board members and other donors also provided a $100,000 cash donation to the city for the park’s capital expenses. He also thanked parks staff for working with the Foundation on park design and improvements.

The park is so far unnamed. At the time, Jacobs suggested that it be called the Capitol Olympic Vista Park, in honor of it being in the center of the beautiful view from the State Capitol Building to the Olympic Mountains.

The park is near the privately owned nine story Views on 5th, a mixed use development currently under construction.

The city estimates that 10,000 skaters will visit the rink over the course of the seven week season.

Above: Former City of Olympia mayor Bob Jacobs, right, plays a game of bean bag toss with Luke Burns, City of Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation staff, on July 26 at the city’s new park on the isthmus in downtown Olympia.

For more information about hours and other frequently asked questions, go to OlyonIce.com

For more information about downtown Olympia, the area known as the isthmus, the Olympia Capitol Park Foundation, parks, and Views on 5th, go to Little Hollywood at www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and use the search button to type in key words.