Think Global, Act Local: Climate Action Activities in the South Sound

by Janine Gates


Above: People used various modes of transportation to get to William E. Bush Park on Yelm Highway to bring awareness of climate change issues on Saturday.

October 24 marked an international day of action to bring about a global awareness of climate change, and South Sound residents met that challenge in full force this weekend with several events. The activities were organized to acknowledge climate change and the personal efforts one can do to bring down carbon dioxide levels in the world.

Worldwide activities were organized to highlight the number 350, as in parts per million, which is the level scientists have identified as the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere. It is currently 390 parts per million.

There is an urgency to bring about awareness of the global warming issue before world leaders meet in Copenhagen, Denmark in December to finalize a new treaty on cutting emissions. The draft treaty now includes 350 parts per million as a goal for discussion.

Internationally, 4,500 climate change events were planned in 170 countries - about 1800 of them were scheduled to occur in the United States, in all 50 states - and expected to be the biggest demonstration in terms of number of events in a single day on any issue.

Bike and Walk for Climate Change Action

Many climate change activists walked or bicycled on the Chehalis Western Trail to meet this morning to hear speakers at the William E. Bush Park on Yelm Highway.


Above: Michael Dempster, a recently retired science and music teacher at Lincoln School, arrives by bicycle at William E. Bush Park.

Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero gave an overview about Thurston County’s efforts to help stop global warming.

“Is it politically possible to accomplish 350? You bet it is - it is our board goal in every action we take that we assess climate change," Romero told the crowd.

“Thurston County takes climate change very seriously. We just received a $617,000 grant from the federal government that will be used to hire two additional staff members to develop climate change policy, programs, and projects, perform energy audits on county facilities, develop green residential and commercial development codes, develop the county’s climate change response plan, and make energy efficiency improvements and retrofits to county facilities,” said Romero.

Romero also highlighted Thurston County’s efforts to support grassroots, activist-led organizations such as the Cool Thurston Campaign, which hosts periodic “global warming cafés” to educate community members on personal commitments one can do to make a difference in reducing one’s “carbon footprint.”

The county will also be converting to hybrids as new vehicles need to be purchased. The goal for 2010 is to receive a Green Fleet Certification through the Puget Sound Clean Cities Coalition and Evergreen Fleet Organization.

In terms of land conservation and prairie protection, Romero mentioned recent efforts to preserve 600 acres of wetlands near Tilley Road, and that the county temporarily changed current regulations to better protect prairies and oak woodlands until permanent regulations can be brought forward with the Critical Areas Update.

“We are walking the talk, by joining Kazakhstan, India, Bangladesh, Australia, New Zealand, Guyana, Ethiopia, China, Antartica, Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Micronesia, the Maldives, Egypt, and many more, to stop global warming,” concluded Romero.

Several organizations including the Interfaith Works Earth Stewardship Committee, Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice, and Earth Care Catholics organized the event.


Above: Bernie Meyer, who spoke as Mahatma Gandhi, and Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero on Saturday.

Blue Line March


Above: Environmental activists begin their "Blue Line March" at Olympia's Farmer's Market, tracing the predicted future shoreline along Marine Drive, Plum, State, Cherry, 5th Avenue, past the new city hall, 8th Avenue, Jefferson, Capitol Way, Legion Way, Water Street, 4th Avenue, ending at the Fourth Avenue bridge.

Another climate change awareness event, the Blue Line March, began at the Olympia Farmer's Market with about 200 people walking an outline of downtown Olympia that is predicted to be underwater based on the prediction of a four foot sea level rise during an 18 foot high tide and a 100 year flood.

If this prediction sounds unlikely, it is not. Olympia has had several 17 foot tides, and has had 100 year floods for the past two years. According to City of Olympia sea-level reports, much of downtown Olympia is at risk, lying only one to three feet above the current highest high tides.


Above: Blue Line March activists pass by the new Olympia City Hall, which is under construction on Fourth and Cherry St., and is predicted to be under water according to the City of Olympia's own sea-level rise reports.

Elaine Sanders, who uses oxygen and a walker, walked the Blue Line March, with the help of her partner of 25 years, Mickey Mooney. Asked why she came to the event, Sanders, who has lived in Olympia since 1980, said, "Because they need to hear us - all the world leaders, our Congress - they need to back the Clean Energy Jobs bill!"


Above: Mickey Mooney, left, and Elaine Sanders, participated in the Blue Line March on Saturday.

Barb Scavezze, coordinator for Cool Thurston Campaign, and an organizer and participant in the Blue Line March, said later, "I thought it was a fantastic event - it brought together young and old and everyone in between to show how much they care about taking action on climate change."

Cheryl Crist, who helped tie signs on poles along the Blue Line March, said after the event that she was thrilled with the day's events. "This is a good way to demonstrate what could happen with sea level rise and why we need to change our behavior. I am concerned because we need to hurry up. We lost a lot of time with the Bush administration denying the science. We need a treaty in Copenhagen and the U.S. must participate. No more standing aside as we did Kyoto."


Above: Teresa Mosqueda, left, and Cheryl Crist tie signs on a pole on the Fourth Avenue bridge at the conclusion of the Blue Line March.

What You Can Do:

There are many organizations and activities in the South Sound area to learn more about climate change.

Locally, the Earth Care Catholics and Interfaith Works Earth Stewardship Committee is sponsoring an extensive list of Earth Care videos, conversations, and presentations through next May at Traditions Cafe, 300 5th Ave. SW, from 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. For more information, call 459-5825.

The Washington State Unitarian Universalist Voices for Justice is holding a legislative conference, which will include the issue of global warming, on Saturday, November 7 from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation. For more information, contact Rev. Carol McKinley at coordinator@uuvoiceswa.org or www.uuvoiceswa.org.

Olympia based organization Climate Solutions urges people to call Senator Maria Cantwell at (206) 220-6400 and Senator Patty Murray at (206) 553-5545 to urge Congress to pass the Clean Energy Jobs Bill and learn more about global warming at www.climatesolutions.org.

A Cool Thurston Cafe will be held on October 27, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., location to be announced. Learn about the "Low Carbon Diet" program to help you lower your carbon footprint, and learn how to form a low carbon diet “EcoTeam” with friends, colleagues, or neighbors, take on “cool lifestyle practices” that reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and more. For more information, contact Barb Scavezze at barb@scavezze.com or call 360-878-9901.

Transition Olympia holds regular climate change awareness events. To learn more, go to www.transitionolympia.ning.org.

Andy Haub, City of Olympia Public Works, will be presenting the city's latest sea-level rise information to Olympia City Council members and the public on November 10, 7:00, Olympia City Hall.


Above: The Artesian Rumble Arkestra (ARK) musicians keep things lively during the Blue Line March on Saturday, meeting marchers at various locations along the way.

Trans-Alta and Ecology Reach Proposed Mediation Agreement on Mercury and Nitrogen Oxide Emissions

Above: Acting Superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park Randy King speaks with Jim Wilcox of Trout Unlimited, after the public hearing last Tuesday evening in Olympia.

The Washington State Department of Ecology held a public hearing last Tuesday night in Olympia about the new proposed agreement between Ecology and Centralia’s Trans-Alta coal-fired plant to reduce Trans-Alta’s mercury and nitrogen oxide emissions. Ecology air quality staff Sarah Rees and Alan Newman were on hand at the public hearing to explain the agreement process thus far and hear public testimony.

Several concerned citizens and representatives of various organizations gathered to comment on the agreement. Public comment will continue to be taken until November 9.

Trans-Alta, which began operating in 1971, is the state’s only coal-fired power plant, and provides enough power for one out of every 12 homes and businesses in Washington State.

The state recently renewed Trans-Alta’s operations contract for an additional five years. A report on the operational permit negotiations was recently heard in a work session of the Washington State Senate’s Environment, Water & Energy Committee in early October. TransAlta materials, distributed to members, highlight Trans-Alta's “sustainability in action” plan and touts its recent investment in a $300 million “flex-fuel” equipment upgrade to reduce its sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions. The plant also achieved a goal of recycling 50 million gallons of wastewater.

According to the agreement between Ecology and Trans-Alta, the Canadian-owned corporation will voluntarily reduce its emissions, self-report its progress, and reduce its emissions by 50% by 2012. The agreement does not address Trans-Alta’s greenhouse gas emissions.

Several environmental organizations and agencies have criticized the agreement, saying it lacks teeth because it is voluntary and doesn’t go far enough to curb emissions. Trans-Alta is known to be the largest source of mercury pollution and haze-causing nitrogen oxide pollutants in the state, accounting for a full 10% of the state’s global warming causing carbon dioxide emissions.

Organizations such as the Sierra Club say the negotiations were flawed from the start by not including the public earlier in the process. State mediation with Ecology began in 2007.

Several people took advantage of the opportunity to ask staff questions and receive answers prior to the beginning of the public hearing.

Students from The Evergreen State College spoke to the very nature of mercury emissions into the atmosphere. Adam Fleischmann commented that the mercury here in the Northwest comes from Asia, and Trans-Alta contributes to mercury emissions that go to Asia. “Mercury is a bioaccumulative. It strikes me as immoral to put our mercury on someone else.”

Student Maya Face said that Ecology wasn’t doing everything it possibly could to lower emissions, saying “any level is unacceptable." She asked Ecology staff why emissions could not be eliminated altogether. Rees replied, “That would require the facility to shut down altogether and that’s not where we were going with this agreement.”


Above: Washington State Department of Ecology staff member Elena Gilfoil, back to camera, talks with student Maya Face and Adam Fleischmann after the public hearing.

Jim Wilcox, president of the Olympia chapter of Trout Unlimited, agreed with Fleischmann and commented, “Are we not good neighbors in Washington?”

Mark Quinn of the Washington Wildlife Federation, advocated for a clean energy economy, calling coal “the dirtiest source of energy on the planet. Coal filters groundwater. It should stay there.”

Donna Albert of Montesano, a civil engineer, was the first to present testimony, but broke down in tears when she started reading the names of her four grandchildren, citing them as the reason why she was there. Ecology public hearing facilitator Jerry Thielen acknowledged that this was an emotional issue for many people. She completed her testimony later, saying, “we must stop burning coal…coal free energy is possible now.”

Doug Howell of the Sierra Club expressed frustration about the public process, saying he could not get Ecology to even put a phone into the room during the public hearing so people could call in with their concerns.

Randy King, Acting Supervisor of Mount Rainier National Park, testified in uniform and took issue with the description of Trans-Alta using the “best available retrofit technology” (BART) to reduce emissions.

Although Ecology and Trans-Alta agree that Trans-Alta is using the best available retrofit technology, this point is in dispute. The federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has the final say over state plans and whether or not a proposed technology meets BART standards, has stated that Trans-Alta’s nitrogen oxide burners do not meet BART requirements.

In strongly worded testimony, King said he was also testifying for the superintendents of the Olympic National Park and the North Cascades National Park and expressed concern that the agreement was negotiated without the participation of federal land managers.


Above: Autumn colors of the Cascades in September.

King questioned whether or not the process met the requirements and spirit of the federal Clean Air Act. “…The proposed (agreement) does not require the best technology to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide (which is) a key component of visibility impairment at the parks…. King suggested that a selective catalytic reduction technology is the preferred method to improve visibility.

“…A reduction of nitrogen oxides would lead to a direct improvement in visibility at Mount Rainier National Park, as well as contribute to…decreased health effects from fine particulate matter region-wide….(as) we are also concerned with mercury deposition…throughout the region,” said King.

While King made clear that the National Park Service is not asking Trans-Alta to close its plant, he did emphasize that it requests that the Department of Ecology take a “strong leadership role.”

According to King, over 1.1 million people visited Mount Rainier National Park in 2008, creating extensive economic benefits totaling in the millions, throughout the region. Mount Rainier National Park is 50 miles away from the Trans-Alta plant.


Above: Aerial of Mt. Rainier.

“National parks and wilderness areas not only guard the national and cultural assets of our Nation, but they are also our most sensitive gauges of environmental stewardship. Harm to these resources that our nation strives hardest to protect must signal an alarm for other resources and for us,” King concluded.

For more information, or to comment on the proposed agreement, contact Sarah Rees of the Washington State Department of Ecology, Air Quality Program at (360) 407-6823, sarah.rees@ecy.wa.gov or see more information at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/air/TransAlta/TransAltaAgreement.html.

The Sierra Club also has a new website to address the coal-fired energy plant issue at www.coolstatewashington.org.

Shiva speaks to South Sound community about food politics

Above: Dr. Vandana Shiva enjoys a cozy potluck and the company of Olympians before her talk at South Puget Sound Community College Thursday evening.

“Never before have we had structured hunger…due to corporate greed…misappropriation of land…and now, climate change,” said Indian physicist, environmental leader and activist Dr. Vandana Shiva at South Puget Sound Community College's (SPSCC) Minnaert Center Thursday night.

Shiva received a whirlwind one day tour of Olympia before she spoke to the capacity crowd of 500 about the interrelatedness of community building, food politics, corporate greed and climate change.

Shiva, who holds a PhD in particle physics, founded a movement in India to promote the use of native seeds and biodiversity. She has authored hundreds of articles both scientific journals and the popular press and several books.

Invited to Olympia by the SPSCC student group BRICK, Shiva started her day with a muffin at Blue Heron Bakery, and later, enjoyed a bountiful potluck lunch in a cozy Westside home filled with about 30 Olympians. An impressed Shiva said during her talk that the potluck “…was a community lunch created mysteriously….where there’s a will to share, and a will to give, things multiply….”

On the topic of food politics, Shiva said, “Cheap food is a lie…it is very costly…on water, biodiversity, and on our bodies....Toxic food is not worth being eaten. Nature never would have produced it....Never trust cheap. Trust quality and trust your community.”

Shiva urged the need for community building and said, “The reason community is so threatening to corporations is because it is ordinary people organizing. That is democracy. Democracy is dead when people stop shaping the present and the future.”

Shiva shared many examples of her efforts in India to organize people against corporate greed and water privatization issues. “The worst dictators cannot take away the right to water, but the largest five corporations can...." In 2002, she helped with an effort to stop Coca-Cola from using so much water out of a village aquifer that there was no water for the villagers. Women sat outside the gates and shut the plant down. “The state has no right to take over a public right....”

Speaking about genetically modified food, Shiva said corporations are trying to patent regular foods as a way to control the market on those products and forcing farmers to use chemical fertilizers. “Free market democracy - there’s nothing free about it. It’s based on taking away working democracies and freedoms."

Shiva described how she helped stop a law that would have made it illegal for Indian farmers to have indigenous seeds. Taking their inspiration from Gandhi’s historic Salt Walk, they created a successful “Seed Walk.” In Tamil Nadu, a law was passed that made it illegal to give training in organic farming. Farmers organized, and that law with withdrawn. Shiva said 200,000 Indian farmers have committed suicide in the last ten years. The preferred method is by drinking pesticide. “This is a genocide. Farmers are a group of people who produce our food and are being targeted by corporations. Civic action has to shape the response to the crisis, whether it be climate, financial or farming."

In closing, Shiva read a Palestinian poem that says, in part, “You can destroy my village, you can kill my tree…but I do not fear you…I have one seed that I will plant and grow again…”

Shiva said, “Your lived experiences, your trust in your holistic knowledge, and your community has to guide us into the future…Every initiative in your community is a seed - as it grows, so does our fearlessness, our courage, in our love and passion for life. We refuse to be subjugated…by this dictatorship over our everyday lives. The possibilities are limitless, the alternative is extinction.”

Several South Sound community organizations hosted information tables in the lobby, including Transition Olympia, the South Puget Environmental Education Clearinghouse (SPEECH), Olympia Seed Exchange, Olympia Fellowship of Reconciliation, Left Foot Organics, Thurston County Progressive Network, and Sustainable South Sound.


Above: Karin Kraft, Executive Director of Sustainable South Sound.


Above: Dr. Shiva and Judy Hollar of Thurston County Progressive Network. Hollar bought Shiva's latest book, "Soil Not Oil: Environmental Justice in an Age of Climate Crisis."


Above: Craig Corrie meets Dr. Shiva. Corrie bought Shiva's book, "Water Wars: Privatization, Pollution and Profit."

Art and Garden Party Delights SE Olympia Neighborhood

by Janine Gates


Above: The music of Barbara Collins and Jef Ramsey lure passersby into the backyard of artist Martha Chubb today.

The Bigelow Highlands neighborhood hosted a relaxing party today, with 17 homes and gardens participating in the event. The distinctive music of Barbara Collins and Jef Ramsey easily lured passersby into Martha Chubb's backyard, where she was hosting the very first show of her spectacular stained glass and tile mosaic artwork. The music, lemonade, iced-tea, and cookies encouraged people to linger over her beautiful yard and art. Chubb was busy selling some of her art while I was there, but she said her next show will be at Capitol Florist in November.



Above: Tile mosaic birdbath by Martha Chubb and up close detail.

The garden party began at the home of organic gardener Willow Oling, who designs, consults, and maintains gardens. Her business is called Gardens Over Time. A map was provided that allowed walkers to take their self-guided tour of the 17 home gardens. A delicate handwritten sign in Chubb's garden said that her garden was designed by Oling. In Oling's newsletter, she says her favorite summer shrub is Philadelphus, of the Hydrangea family. "Most of Olympia has a clay soil with some sand, which pleases Philadelphus."

The garden tour made me want to get home and start weeding!


Above: Martha Chubb's front garden.

Isthmus Ad-Hoc Committee Meeting Discusses Putting Bond to the Voters on August Ballot

by Janine Gates


Above: The Isthmus Ad-Hoc Committee gets ready to begin at Olympia City Hall last Thursday evening.

A third meeting of the Olympia City Council’s Isthmus Ad-Hoc Committee composed of selected city council members and interested parties met last Thursday night in the council chambers at Olympia City Hall. The goal was to discuss Mayor Doug Mah’s bond proposal, park acquisition and various construction bonds, and seek clarifications on community visions.

Based on a proposal by Mah, the Olympia City Council is considering whether or not to seek voter approval of up to $33 million for park land acquisition and development in downtown Olympia. The council authorized Mah to form an ad-hoc committee to develop a recommendation on the issue. Mayor Mah and Councilmembers Joan Machlis and Joe Hyer are part of the ad-hoc committee.

Mah said he hoped the ballot measure would accomplish “long standing commitments and community desires. “Let’s expedite the deliverables….This is a bold and meaningful investment and I hope to see something happen in 12-24 months.”

Friends of the Waterfront, represented by Bonnie Jacobs, the Olympia Isthmus Park Association, represented by Jerry Reilly, two city Park and Recreation Advisory Board members, and Oly 2012 members Jackie Barrett Scharer and Peter Stroble participated in the evening’s discussions.

Many members of the public observed the public proceedings, but were not allowed to participate. Jane Ragland Kirkemo, city Administrative Services Director, gave an overview of the different types of levies that the city could use to accomplish the bond measure.

The group was then strategically divided into two and were asked to address specific questions such as what specific vision or outcome should result from the proposed ballot measure and when should these outcomes could be achieved.

Jacobs and Reilly felt that the bond proposal would be a hard sell to the voters because the bond does not include the parcels owned by Triway Enterprises. Reilly looked for areas to trim the $33 million bond to make it more palatable to voters. He said acquiring the Capitol Center Building, a.k.a. The Mistake on the Lake, should be a priority.

With its assessed value plummeting, Reilly said the building could be an attraction to developers who could buy and invest the funds needed to bring it back 'on-line' and then, “we‘ll be stuck with it forever.” Reilly said his group is reaching out to philanthropy foundations for funding to acquire park space on the isthmus.

“Obviously, the economic environment is more difficult than a year ago, but we’re just getting started,” Reilly said.

Reilly suggested that the bond could be placed at $15 million, with the rest of the funds raised from other sources including philanthropy and perhaps the state. Reilly also stated that "for a lot of people, not including the Triway parcels in the bond will present a problem.”

Machlis said, “I would really not like to do a bond issue if it doesn’t complete what we said we would do. The Fountain block is the view corridor…the risk to me is the Capitol Center Building. We need reserves because we don’t know the cost of the demolition. That’s the big one for needing some kind of reserves. I see this as a compromise because not everyone buys into the idea of the area as a park.”

Reilly responded that scientific polling is needed to determine what people want. “We all have this perception of what the majority thinks, before it goes to a ballot. We need to ask the questions in neutral language.”

“We don’t have willing sellers for the west parcels,” said Machlis. “There would be a lot of controversy about that.”

Parks representative Brenda Bulger said, “From the parks point of view, we are only asking the citizens of Olympia, but people come from all over to use the area.”

“Are you saying the state should participate in some way?” asked Keith Stahley, City of Olympia Community Planning and Development Director, who served as moderator for one group.

“Absolutely,” said Bulger. “That’s the pro’s and con’s of a levy on Olympia’s shoulders…it’s not fair.”

Reilly said that is why this is an issue of statewide significance. “We need to bring other players to the table about this land…”


Above: An isthmus breakout group breakout group consisting of, right to left, Brenda Bulger, city Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee member, Jerry Reilly, chair, Olympia Isthmus Park Association, Councilmember Joan Machlis, and Bonnie Jacobs, Friends of the Waterfront. Standing: Jane Ragland Kirkemo, city Administrative Services Director, re-explaining various levy options.

Stahley moved onto the next question: when should these outcomes be achieved?

“As soon as possible,” said Reilly. “Percival Landing is a safety hazard.” Stahley agreed, saying it’s likely to get worse and “we have to do something in the short term.”

Bulger added that putting bandaids on Percival takes millions away from our parks.

Machlis asked Reilly’s opinion if he thought a $33 million bond would pass. Reilly said, "It would be very difficult to pass. Most Olympians would question why we have to do this on our own and why the Capitol Center Building would be torn down to improve the area for Larida Passage (the name of Triway’s proposed project on the isthmus). Plus, the bond would have to pass by 60% voter approval. If we minimize the cost as much as possible, it could work, but I don't think we'll get 60%.”

The two groups came back together and found two areas they could agree on: Percival Landing is the most important and financing is a priority. Bundling the future of Percival Landing into a bond that could fail could be devastating to its future.

Thad Curtz, a member of Friends of the Waterfront, observed the group that included Oly 2012 members and Councilmember Joe Hyer. “I thought the tone of the discussion in the group I was watching was very polite and rather constrained. They stuck pretty carefully to the list of five questions, and barely glanced at the issue of Triway's parcels. City staff certainly made a conscious decision about trying to structure the conversation, presumably because they thought it would be more helpful to whatever they hoped to accomplish if they didn't have the pro-rezone and anti-rezone people talking directly to each other.”

Peter Stroble, Oly 2012 member, said later that access to the waterfront is number one in his organization’s list of priorities. “If the ballot doesn’t work, we will have squandered the opportunity to save Percival Landing. We aren’t against bundling Percival Landing into a bond, but we want to be careful.”

Another area where agreement was found is that the Heritage Park Fountain Block, which is composed of Traditions Fair Trade and other businesses next to the popular fountain, should not be included in the ballot. The inclusion of the block on the ballot was deemed to be too confusing to the voters, would add money to the ballot measure, and voters may feel that they have already paid for it through the two percent utility tax they passed in 2004 for parks and pathways. It was stated that the Fountain Block is part of a known long-term plan for Olympia and can wait.

In commenting on the discussion in the sub-group in which he participated, Stroble said,“We didn’t really disagree on anything. This is the biggest local political issue the public has been involved with in decades. I think if our three groups got together and say this is possible, then we can get this thing passed. We need leaders in our community to inspire our community to do great things. I really believe this. Mah is trying to find a compromise. The view is impeded by that ugly brown building, so let's get rid of it,” said Stroble.

The next meeting of the Isthmus Ad-Hoc committee is Monday, June 15th at noon in the council conference room, Olympia City Hall, 900 Plum Street.

More information about committee can be found at www.olympiawa.gov.


Above: An isthmus ad-hoc committee breakout group with Peter Stroble, middle, leaning forward, speaking with Councilmember Joe Hyer.

Olympia Ranks #6 "Best Cities 2009" by Kiplinger's Magazine

by Janine Gates

Kiplinger's Magazine, a national magazine about personal finance, has ranked Olympia number six out of ten in the county in its list of "Best Cities 2009." Olympia celebrated the distinction with a party at the Olympia's Farmer's Market today.

Olympia Mayor Doug Mah, who just returned from Washington D.C. last week to seek funding for Percival Landing, said that our community is one that practices sustainability, embraces higher education, and shops and buys locally. Mah told the packed crowd in true pep rally style,"We are on the map in Washington D.C.! You need to invest in the community because we invest in this community, and with your help, we'll be Number One!"


Above: Jerry Farmer, left, sales manager for 94.5 Roxy radio station, serves as Master of Ceremonies, joined by Sandra Miller, General Manager of the Governor Hotel, and Olympia Mayor Doug Mah during today's festivities at the Olympia Farmer's Market.

Janine Gates Photography Photo of Procession Chosen by Kiplinger's

Marc Wojno, Kiplinger Senior Associate Editor, who wrote the story about Olympia, stayed at the Governor Hotel during his time in Olympia the same weekend as Artswalk and the Procession of the Species, April 24-25. Local photographer Janine Gates had the pleasure of meeting Wojno during his stay there, and chatted with him at length about local issues.

A photo by Janine Gates Photography is featured in the magazine's online "Walking Tour" of Olympia, available for viewing at www.kiplinger.com. The photo features the seemingly hundreds of zebras who danced at the finale of the Procession, held in downtown Olympia. The video also features the Capitol Building, various downtown businesses, and the Farmer's Market.

The only error in the story is quoting Olympia's population as 233,113. This is the approximate population of Thurston County, which is about 245,000. Olympia's population is about 45,000.

A good time was had by all at the Market, and free cake was served by members of the Olympia Downtown Association and the Thurston County Economic Development Council. Olympia Mayor Doug Mah signed copies of the Kiplinger magazine, which were pre-signed by Lacey Mayor Graeme Sackrison.


Above: Olympia Mayor Doug Mah autographed copies of Kiplinger's Magazine, in which Olympia was ranked number six out of ten "Best Cities 2009."


Above: Kiplinger's Magazine

Janine Gates files for Olympia City Council Position 5

Above: Janine Gates is excited to file for Olympia City Council #5 as Keith Mullen, Election Specialist at the Thurston County Auditor's Office, generates the needed form.

Janine Gates filed for public office today for Olympia City Council Position 5 against incumbent Jeff Kingsbury. Gates, an Olympia resident for 26 years, is a self-employed photographer and caregiver for the elderly. She has two children, ages 19 and 14.

"I am running for public office because there is a disconnect between our current council and the community,” said Gates. “I will bridge that gap by actively encouraging public participation in the City Council’s decision-making process and welcoming citizens to work with me to reach our shared goals. Together, we can protect our quality of life by defending our neighborhoods from inappropriate development and improving city services.”

Gates has garnered endorsements from leading members of the Olympia community, including former neighborhood association president Jeff Jaksich. "Janine organized the most inclusive and successful community forum I've ever seen on the isthmus issue and downtown development,” said Jaksich. “Through her pictures, words and actions, Janine has demonstrated a serious commitment to the community."

"I am truly honored by all the support I am receiving to pull this campaign together,” said Gates. “Our community has so many smart people who want to contribute to the conversation, but feel that their concerns are being dismissed. I’m eager to work with these individuals to bring urgently needed change to the City Council, make our city government more responsive to our citizens and their needs, and address the pressing issues facing our community."

For more information about Janine Gates' campaign for city council, go to www.janinegates.com.

Remembering Our Fallen Officers: "Words ring hollow when the sorrow is so deep..."

Above: First Husband Mike Gregoire wipes a tear away after the singing of the National Anthem by Rio Barber, surviving sister of fallen officer Joselito Barber at a ceremony today honoring Washington State's fallen officers.

by Janine Gates

Six Washington state officers were awarded the Medal of Honor today in a ceremony held at the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial on the Capitol Campus. The ceremony also honored three officers who died in 2008. More than 283 Washington law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty since 1854.

Fallen officers Sargent Nelson Ng, Ellensburg Police Department, Deputy Anne Marie Jackson, Skagit County Sheriff's Office, and Officer Kristine Fairbanks, U.S. Forest Service, were recognized by their families and officers who came from around the state to participate in the ceremony.


Above: A photo of U.S. Forest Service Officer Kristine Fairbanks. Fairbanks was shot and killed September 20, 2008 while investigating a suspicious vehicle on the Olympic Pennisula.

Governor Christine Gregoire read a proclamation recognizing May 10 - 16 as Law Enforcement Recognition Week, saying, "the law enforcement profession has become increasingly more complex, posing greater challenges and requiring officers to serve additional hours above and beyond their regular duties...."

The Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial was created with private funds in cooperation with the state as a sacred place specifically chosen for its beauty and tranquility, located behind the Temple of Justice, overlooking Budd Inlet. An effort many years in the making, the memorial was dedicated in 2006. The names of the fallen officers are etched in granite.


Above: The newly etched names of Ng, Jackson, and Fairbanks at the memorial.


Above: Elise Ng, 7, makes a rubbing of her father's name on the memorial after the ceremony at the Washington State Law Enforcement Memorial in Olympia today. Her father, Sgt. Nelson Ng, died at age 34 on August 11, 2008 of a duty-related illness. Ng had been named officer of the year for the Ellensburg Police Department in 2007.

Janine Gates for Olympia City Council Kick-Off Party: May 13

Join Janine Gates and Supporters for…

Janine's Olympia City Council Kick-Off Party!
Wednesday, May 13th
5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Fertile Ground Guesthouse
311 9th Ave. SE Olympia (behind the Olympia Timberland Library)

Come meet Janine and find out why she is running for Olympia City Council #5! Sign up to volunteer, endorse, donate and show your support for Janine in several ways.

Refreshments provided!

For more information about the kick-off party or her campaign for city council, go to www.oly-wa.us/Janine4Olympia.

In other news, an interview with Janine Gates was just published in the May edition of Works In Progress, available now at various downtown distribution locations.

“…being a councilmember will allow me more opportunities to connect the council with a larger segment of the community that needs to be heard,” Gates says in the interview.



Above: Fertile Ground Guesthouse

Janine Gates Enters City Council Race

Above: Janine Gates

For Immediate Release: April 27, 2009
Contact: Janine Gates (360) 791-7736 or Ja9citycouncil@aol.com

Community Organizer Janine Gates Enters City Council Race

Business owner and long-time community organizer Janine Gates has announced that she is running for Olympia City Council Position #5. Her website address is http://www.oly-wa.us/Janine4Olympia.

Gates’ top priorities will be to improve council responsiveness to citizen activism and restore public confidence in the council’s decision-making process. “We have so many smart people in Olympia who offer their expertise but are often made to feel they are the opposition. If elected, I would welcome and encourage citizen participation, respect the information gathered and work as a team toward a common vision for our community,” says Gates.

Gates says she will be attentive to small business concerns and will work to pursue incentives to help downtown businesses succeed. She is also interested in actively involving the public in the update of Olympia’s Comprehensive Plan.

Gates is self-employed as a photographer, www.janinegatesphotography.com, and caregiver for the elderly. She is a member of the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and a past member of the Lacey and Shelton Chambers of Commerce. Gates is also the volunteer president of the South Puget Environmental Education Clearinghouse (SPEECH) which publishes the South Sound Green Pages. As a freelance journalist, she publishes a local news blog, http://www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com.

Gates organized the successful “Envision Downtown Olympia,” forum with varied stakeholders last June. She plans to hold regular information gathering meetings with the public.

Gates says she opposed increasing heights on the isthmus in downtown Olympia from the very beginning. “I have lived downtown or near downtown for most of my 25 years in Olympia. I support significant housing downtown, but not on the isthmus. We can, and will, find more appropriate locations for housing,” says Gates. She was the first citizen to testify in front of the Olympia City Council against the proposed rezone. Gates supports Senator Karen Fraser’s isthmus-related legislative efforts.

Gates graduated from The Evergreen State College in 1987 with a B.A. in Communications and Community Development. Gates has previously worked for state agencies and the Legislature. She has two children.

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