It was at the 1978 TESC graduation ceremony, I think, that I saw a student speaker conclude his speech by taking off his tie and making a big huge deal about how he wasn't going to wear one anymore. Not him, he was an Evergreen grad! Then, about two or three years later, I saw this guy's picture in a special article in the Seattle Times or P-I about up and coming young Seattleites. And there he was. Yes, you guessed it. In the picture he was a wearing a tie.

Third time's a charm, or they say, and that is certainly the case with Evergreen being the third attempt to create a college on Cooper Point.

In 1894 one John R. Chaplin reserved 25 acres, "to build upon said College Site a plant suitable for college purposes and to be occupied and used for the same, which shall cost not less than $50,000 and which shall be completed within two years from date." Apparently, the college never went beyond paper and the venture fizzled out.

Six years later, the same Mr. Chaplin spearheaded another attempt. The 1900 venture was called The People's University. Could you imagine if it was here today all the jokes about "P.U."? This time the new school made it as far as getting a flag pole on the Cooper Point campus (apparently situated in the Athens Beach area).

While the Cooper Point site was still awaiting development, a building was used on Plum street and the University did in fact operate for a short time with students, faculty, and even a school paper, The College Independent. But it died out about 1906. When TESC began to form, some Olympia oldtimers recalled Chaplin's dream. He was remembered either as a charlatan or utopian, depending on the teller of the story. I'm sure some oldtimers of the future will have the same mixed messages about a few of the TESC leaders during the formative years.

http://www.walmartmovie.com/
WHEN: November 13, 2005 07:00 PM
TICKET PRICE: FREE

DETAILS: WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price takes the viewer on a deeply personal journey into the everyday lives of families struggling to fight goliath. From a family business owner in the Midwest to a preacher in California, from workers in Florida to a poet in Mexico, dozens of film crews on three continents bring the intensely personal stories of an assault on families and American values. This will challenge the way you think, feel... and shop.

WHERE: Olympia High School Performing Arts Center Lecture Hall 1302 North St SE Olympia, WA 98501 Olympia, WA

DIRECTIONS: From I-5 heading south take the 2ND AVE. exit toward Tumwater. Stay STRAIGHT to go onto N 2ND AVE SW. Turn LEFT onto CUSTER WAY SW CUSTER WAY SW becomes NORTH ST SE.

Also screening on 11/17 here

http://www.walmartmovie.com/

WHEN: November 17, 2005 12:00 PM
TICKET PRICE: FREE

DETAILS: Screening of film. Followed by discussion of Walmart in our area communities, including the proposed building of a Supercenter in Tumwater.

WHERE:
2011 Mottman Rd SW
Olympia, WA

DIRECTIONS: From I-5 take exit 104 (hwy 101 North) Take Mottman Rd/South Puget Sound Community College Exit (1st exit) Left off Ramp Right onto Mottman Rd (2nd light) 1/2 mi. turn left into 2011

Please join us to mourn the loss of 2000 U.S. soldiers in Iraq, the scores more killed from other nations, and uncounted thousands of Iraqi citizens. Please bring candles. (More info on moveon.org)

If you're near the capitol campus this week, stop by to say hi to Jody Tiller! She's doing a one-week fast right now on the steps of the Capitol building. Jody is a veteran and is doing the fast, along with others, to send a message to Gov. Gregoire to bring home the National Guard. A web site has been set up with more information: www.hungryforpeace.org. Today, as the 2,000th soldier has died and countless Iraqis have been killed, I am grateful for Jody's sacrifice.

From the Olympian:

Many motorists complain about roundabouts, the giant traffic circles that are growing in popularity in South Sound.

As Olympia officials consider adding three more roundabouts to Boulevard Road, one question looms: Are the circles improving public safety on area roadways?

Preliminary information in Lacey and Olympia indicates that there are fewer injury accidents in roundabouts and that the severity of injuries is diminished. The new traffic-calming devices are working.

In fact, they're working so well:

Bolstered by the encouraging accident statistics, Olympia officials are poised to add up to three roundabouts along Boulevard Road. At a recent public meeting, neighbors were divided on the issue of roundabouts. Like 'em or hate 'em, local officials are building a credible case that roundabouts improve safety for the motoring public.

For 3 decades or so, there was a grey wall of metal sitting in Budd Inlet known as the "Mothball Fleet." The ships were left over from WWII and remained an imposing presence until the early 1970s. During my Junior High years, I had a friend with a motorboat, and we enjoyed getting close to those ships and giving the local Coast Guard a fun cat and mouse chase. Today, of course, they would shoot us for being terrorists. But I digress before I even get started.

In March 1976, this newly vacated area which had served as the home for the Mothball Fleet for so long, became a stage for the Sea World whale drama. Early that month six killer whales were chased into Budd Inlet by aquarium hunters from Sea World, Inc., who employed boats and a seaplane. All six whales were trapped in a net. But in one of those coincidences that makes me think there must be a God and it has a sense a humor, this capture happened at the same time the International Orca Symposium was taking place at TESC. This was a gathering of whale activists and researchers who helped provide some of the people power behind the small navy of protesters that quickly surrounded the hunters. They came in rowboats, kayaks, canoes, at one time more than a hundred protesters were on the water. From shore it looked impressive. Three of the whales broke loose and refused to leave the others, as if joining in the protest. There were student schemes to cut the net and free the orcas, but before a fortnight had passed, legal steps had been taken by Dan Evans to force Sea World to release the others.