[News Release issued jointly by the City of Olympia and the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce]

(Olympia, WA) Local businesses were recognized for their participation in the Thurston Green Business Program today at the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce Forum Luncheon at St. Martins University. The purpose of the program is to recognize local businesses for their sustainability efforts.

Three businesses were given special recognition for their leading efforts in the large, medium and small business categories. They are Providence St. Peter Hospital, Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters, and Premiere Salon & Spa.

Read more...

For the last company picnic, our management decided that, due to liability issues, we could have alcohol, but only one (1) drink per person. I was fired for ordering the cups.

j/k

This was sent by Bubble~Trouble. I repost because I am booking company picnics for summer. Though this doesn't exactly look like my target audience, I would like to track down those cups!

What companies in the South Sound area will be hiring for picnics? You hook me up with a successful gig at a company and I'll throw in a private appearance for ya.

Regarding the earlier post about the dire financial straits of Bread and Roses, I think it may be instructive, for those who may be unfamiliar with the amazing stuff B&R does in this community, to explain what it does and why it is important to keep it going. The work that you all do is hard work, done with love, for those who are marginalized. I think it is important to tell that story as we are facing a future when more and more are going to need the kind of services you provide.

So, Rob, please give us a rundown of the importance of B&R.

Today the Evergreen Police Services Community Review Board, which is made up of students, staff, and faculty at Evergreen released its report on the incident on Feb 14.

It is attached in PDF format on this thread.

Basically, these were the major findings of the Board:

• that the Evergreen police followed protocol, but the officer should have attempted to leave sooner and park her vehicle so it could have a quicker exit route, and
  
• the initial arrest was justified and was not based on racial profiling, given the evidence and witness statements the officer gathered at the scene, and that the officer went beyond what was necessary to attempt to gather more statements, even when the crowd was growing more hostile
  
• their should not have been only one officer on campus, and back-up should have been called sooner
  
• that event staff were not trained and/or did not follow protocol, an
  
• their was little to no communication prior to the event, between the police on campus and the event staff/student activities people responsible for planning the event
  
  

It should be noted that this report is only for the campus police, and the scope can not include Olympia police actions.

This is how I spend my spring break: watching the ESD 113 Board eat lunch. Oh, and discuss important business, including two new agenda items addressing the Olympia School District's inability to fill its District 2 seat, vacated when Rich Nafziger abruptly resigned.

After all the experience watching the Olympia School Board go through 2007 Election II: Son of Rancor, it's somewhat surprising to see people having reasonable, non-fractious discussions of ongoing issues. (It's also good for one's perspective to remember that the Olympia School District is only one of many in the region--at present, our problems pale in comparison to the struggles of North Thurston, the district that's praying its scaled-back levy passes in May.)

The tables are arranged in a horseshoe facing a projector screen, and observers--Olympian reporter Venice Buhain, a teacher from McClane Elementary, myself, and a few ESD staffers, and Marilee Scarbrough, Policy and Legal Services director for the WSSDA--sit in a horseshoe outside the horseshoe. Vice Chair John Gott says that this is because the Board wasn't expecting visitors, and jokes, "We can put your chairs in the center if you like."

The initial informal debate: whether Kansas won, or Memphis lost, the national championship. That settled, the meeting commences at 12:09.

The PBIA will be holding a regular business meeting tomorrow, Thursday April 10th from 6-8pm in the MIXX 96 conference room (located on Washington St. betwen 4th and State). There is time made for public comment at the beginning of the meeting. Ratepayers as well as other interested parties are encouraged to attend. Download the agenda here (doc). (Inconsequential note: I won't be there to chair because I'm going to see CHRIS ROCK. I won't tell you where my seats are cause ya'll will be jealous. The multi-talented Terry Z. from Espresso Parts will be filling in.)

The Olympia Timberland Library is having a small scale book arts show in the front lobby display case for the month of June, and we would love to put your handmade or altered books on display. This is a great opportunity for artists who are interested in displaying their work locally in a casual venue.

Details...

On the eve of the Iraq War, retired Army Colonel Ann Wright resigned from the State Department, telling then-Sec. of State Colin Powell that without UN authorization the invasion and occupation would be a disaster. She was one of dozens of government insiders and active-duty military personnel who spoke out, leaked documents, resigned, or refused to deploy in protest of illegal government actions.

Col. Wright is one of the country's most prominent critics of the Iraq War and Bush's foreign policy. In her new book, Dissent: Voices of Conscience, Col. Wright and Susan Dixon tell the stories of these men and women. Peace Action is sponsoring her Puget Sound tour:

Col. Wright's Western Washington appearances:

The B&R advocacy center is currently facing a severe shortage of operating and maintenance funds, preventing us from providing services to those in need. Any donations will allow us to continue to give dynamic financial assistance to low- and no-income people experiencing crises.

Donations of any amount are welcome and can be mailed to or dropped off at the Bread & Roses Advocacy Center at 1009 4th Ave E., Olympia, 98506. We are open Monday-Friday 9am-1130am & 1pm-430pm.

Any questions can be directed to 754-4588 or 481-2559.