Ideally the unofficial mayor of a neighborhood has a dog that needs walking. They then have a habit of daily strolls during which they watch, observe, catch up with local gossip, pick up litter, attend to a little gardening and pruning, and add to their storehouse of community knowledge. And their dog is good at sniffing things out too.

I knew who one of the unofficial mayors was in my neighborhood, I'd enjoyed conversations with her, I'd picked up litter with her. Today while doing laundry, a miracle happened. The unofficial mayor visited with me, nothing really miraculous there, but another woman joined us, and I realized that I was in the presence of two unofficial mayors. I shut up and listened.

Respect the unofficial mayors and you will learn a lot about your community.

18 other couples have also been given the award this year.

From Olympian:

"These couples have courageously stepped forward to represent all people in Washington in a matter of fundamental fairness and equality," said Suzanne Holland, an ACLU board member. "They have advanced the cause of equal marriage rights by speaking with the media and in public forums, opening themselves and their families to controversy and public scrutiny."

"From the early 1890s until 1933, trolleys ran up Harrison Hill, turned south on Percival Street, swung around the block on Fifth and then ran north on Rogers Street all the way to the Westside Grocery at Bowman Avenue."

Quote from Building a Capital City, Olympia's Past Revealed Through its Historic Architecture, written by Heather Lockman and researched by Shanna Stevenson

Saturday December 3 - 11:00am to 4:00 pm

• BIGELOW HOUSE, ca., 918 Glass Avenue
• CLARK HOUSEca. 1901, 1126 Olympia Avenue NE
• JACOBSEN HOUSE ca. 1926, 1107 Olympia Avenue NE
• KALER HOUSEca., 909 Glass Avenue NE
• MCCLEARY/ ROBINSON HOUSEca., 101 Sherman Street NW
• WARD HOUSE, ca. 1889, 137 Sherman Street NW
• WHITE HOUSE, ca. 1893, 1431 11th Avenue SE

This is TODAY. From the Olympian:

OLYMPIA -- Residents will get to ask questions about next year's operating and capital budget, which carries $3 million in proposed cuts, on Monday before officials make decisions.

Department directors will be on hand to provide answers and explain the rationale behind their recommendations from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 900 Plum St. S.E. A public hearing before the City Council follows on Tuesday, before the council balances the budget on Nov. 29.

Yes, the Kurds are now running English-language advertisements aimed directly at the American and British people. I've read in other media outlets that American soldiers love working with the Kurds and vice-versa.