Need art supplies? A great gift for yourself or a friend? Check out the closet clutter of over 70 area artists! Here are some cool things you could find there: Art Books & Magazines; Mats & Frames; Instruments & Recordings; Tons of Art Supplies; Original Art, Jewelry & Handcrafts; Art Equipment; and More!!!!

Join us Saturday, May 31, from 10am-3pm, at the National Guard Armory, 515 Eastside St SE. FREE ADMISSION! Who knows what you could find there! For more information, contact Stephanie Johnson, Arts & Events Manager, at (360) 709-2678.

Contact: Stephanie Johnson
Arts & Events Manager
Olympia Parks, Arts & Recreation
(360) 709-2678
sjohnso1@ci.olympia.wa.us

Richard Carl McKinnon, longtime resident of Olympia, passed early on the evening of May 7th at Capital Medical Center. Rick is survived by his beautiful wife, Susan Christian, sons Mark McKinnon, Joel Martell, Rick McKinnon and George Wauchope, and daughters Marla Canning and Melissa Mercer. He was also father to Ian Patrick McKinnon, who preceded him into the hereafter in 1990. Rick is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rick often welcomed people into his home who didn’t have a safe place to go. Thus, he has a large extended family of people that have lived with him at some point in their lives.

Rick was born in Johnson City, NY during the depression, and grew up in Niagara Falls and upstate New York. He served in the Marine Corps from 1952-54, and while he did not enjoy his time in the Corps, he loved this country passionately and encouraged everyone to participate in the democratic process. He took great pride in his education, earning a BA from the Evergreen State College, and an MA from the Leadership Institute of Seattle. He was also immensely proud of his sons Joel and Rick S. for completing their Ph.D.s.

Rick moved his family to Olympia in 1972 in order to find a new way to live. He loved the natural beauty of this area, and lived for the last 29 years on Totten Inlet in a renovated oyster factory. Rick considered his most valuable contribution to the Olympia community to be co-founding the Crisis Clinic of Thurston and Mason Counties with his previous wife Kathy Jordan.

Rick liked to go fast and retired from racing motorcycles at the age of 71, building and rebuilding (and rebuilding and rebuilding) every component on his racing bike. He was known to suddenly disappear on his motorcycle, taking marathon trips to California. Rick was a craftsman who was drawn to many media, especially metal and wood. This work gave him great joy.

Aptly nicknamed “Old Gnarly Rick” by his family, he was a man of powerful, complex emotions. A gentle person by preference, he was friendly to strangers and fiercely loyal to his friends; all babies trusted and loved him. He was known for his ferocity in confronting impoliteness, disrespect or injustice.

He was a defender of the defenseless and unhesitant in challenging oppression - often at high volume and with much cursing. He was curmudgeonly, generous and kind. As he edged into his later years, we saw the sweetness become his defining characteristic. He died too soon, the victim of a lifetime addiction to smoking. Do not smoke; do not allow your children to smoke. May our darling rest in peace.

For the creation of outstanding hyperlocal content on OlyBlog concerning the Olympia School Board. Thanks, Jim!

Read Jim's posts here.

Olyblogger of the month for April is sponsored by Jusby the Clown.

We're looking for local businesses that would like to sponsor our "Olyblogger of the Month" program by donating gift certificates or goodies. The current sponsor will be acknowledged on the blog with an icon that would run for the month of sponsorship (something like the Zhonka block on the left).

There is a fantastic website that I've talked about before called electoral-vote.com, where "The Votemaster" breaks it down for you every day. This is what I read while I sip my tea in the morning. He churns out an enormous amount of data on a daily basis, and it really helps in understanding the news that's reported via the regular media channels. I also like it because it's citizen journalism at its best. He's just a guy (CS prof) who lives in Amsterdam, and is the best at what he does.

• National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League: 100%
• American Civil Liberties Union: 100%
• Americans for Democratic Action: 95%
• Children's Defense Fund: 90%
• League of Conservation Voters: 95%
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: 92%
• Service Employees International Union: 94%

This gives Baird an average rating of 95%, and makes him the second most liberal member of the WA caucus (behind Adam Smith). There are 91 more liberal members of Congress. Baird also appeared on the Colbert Report segment called: "Better Know a District" that you can view here.

Olympia's influence on Rock documented in this movie:

Shadow Distribution is proud to present the US theatrical release of "Girls Rock!" a film by Shane King and Arne Johnson. "Girls Rock!" had its theatrical release in New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, San Francisco, Berkeley, Portland, OR, Chicago on March 7, 2008, and is now rolling out throughout the country.

"The first time I saw the students at the Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls kicking out the jams on their guitars and drums," says "Girls Rock!" co-director Arne Johnson, "I giggled happily...and then was inexplicably moved to tears."

Read more...

Part 2
Part 3

[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...

The City of Olympia invites local artists to apply for a project to design tree guards on Olympia’s West side. The City will commission one local artist to design a suite of five visually or conceptually related vertical tree guards at the intersection of Black Lake Boulevard and Harrison Avenue, for the functional purpose of protecting trees and supporting locked bikes as well as adding an aesthetic amenity to West Olympia. Fabrication of the tree guards will be undertaken by the South Puget Sound Community College Welding Program, with consultation from the artist.

For a prospectus, visit www.olympiawa.gov/cityservices/par or call Stephanie Johnson, Arts & Events Manager at 709-2678.

NEWS RELEASE -- Released jointly by the City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, Thurston County, LOTT Alliance, and Washington State University Thurston County Extension:

Olympia, WA. By mid-April, five agencies are expected to formalize an agreement to work as partners to develop an action plan for Budd Inlet restoration. The agencies are: the City of Olympia, Port of Olympia, Thurston County, LOTT Alliance, and Washington State University Thurston County Extension. The consortium grew from a joint meeting held in 2007 between the Olympia City Council and the Port of Olympia Commission.

“To our knowledge, we are the first consortium of Puget Sound local communities and agencies to step forward with an agreement to work together on action planning and implementation,” says Olympia City Manager Steve Hall. “We are in close contact with the Puget Sound Partnership appointed by Governor Gregoire and the State Department of Ecology.”