From Ziprealty:

Olympia, WA April 2006 Market Update

Here are recent real estate statistics* for Olympia, WA. These numbers represent single family (SFR) homes and condos. Percentage of homes on the market where the price has been *reduced* as of 5/05/2006: 21.3%

Thursday night I went to the general meeting for my neighborhood association. About 25 people were there, including the president, Jody May.

A fellow from the city Parks & Rec department gave a long update about what's going on with parks in the city. A lot of it was incidental to the neighborhood, but a few things were in our part of town:

• They're about done with buying Madison Scenic Park from the school district.
• At one point, the Sonics were looking a sponsoring a renovation of the Lions Park basketball court, but nothing's come of it. (Imagine that!)
• He also talked about the Woodland Park Trail, although I can't find my notes, so I don't remember what he said about it!

At some point the topic of the old Madison School came up, and Jody noticed that a couple of representatives of the church buying it were there, so after the parks guy, she asked one of them to talk.

New Bridge Community Church has just about completed buying the old school from the school district. (Hmmm....) But they won't be able to be in it for a while, because there's a lot of work to be done first. (Asbestos & such, IIRC from an earlier presentation.) Questions from the audience about blackberries, the ball field, and graffiti.

Apparently people have been climbing up on the school roof and partying! But the church guys say they want to be good neighbors even before they move in.

Then Jessica Archer got up and talked about the neighborhood sign project. The ENA got a $2000 matching grant from the city to put up entrance signs...now we have to raise the match! I'm going to be posting all the info about the project to the ENA site once I get it from Jessica.

I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed that the downtown Quizno's has closed down. Was there not long ago and the windows are papered up with a notice from the power company on the door. It also appears that the Lacey Quizno's has shut down as well. I'm no big fan of Quizno's, I actually had the most revolting thing I have ever eaten at the downtown Quizno's, but I think it is sad they couldn't make a go of it, not that I'm in favor of franchise operations in Olympia. Perhaps some local business will use the space to better the community rather than suck money out of our community.

From kgw.com:

Washington's closely watched same-sex marriage case was argued before the state Supreme Court in March of last year, and the long, long wait for a decision continues.

Some court-watchers are now speculating that this hot potato could stay under wraps until after the November election.

[...]

"We had obviously hoped we'd have a decision by now. The whole country is watching," says Jeff Kingsbury, the Olympia city councilman who is anxious to wed his partner of 14 years. With a laugh, he adds "After all, if you plan a traditional summer marriage, it takes time."

The court, per custom, is mum. Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, who once said he hoped the court could produce an opinion during the legislative session, now says "I can safely tell you that the court is aware of the intense public interest in this case. Beyond that, we WILL rule and then you will know what each and every one of us thinks."

Last night at a party I heard that Storman's (which owns Ralph's and Bayview, but I don't think Bayview has a pharmacy, right?)is refusing to fill prescriptions for the morning after pill. Does anyone know if this is true? I spend a lot of money at these stores, and if this rumor is true, I guess I'm going to be spending a lot of money buying extra gas to drive out to Top Foods instead.