ENA Board Meeting

August 12th, 2025 7:00 PM

Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave SE

Minutes

Board members present:

Sherry Chilcutt (President), Karen Sweeney (CNA representative), Jim Sweeney (Secretary), Nathan Allan, Abigail Twombly, Therese Vogel, Cheryl Bayle

1. Approval of Minutes

The July 8^th minutes were approved as submitted.

2) CNA report

The CNA held its meeting on Monday August 11^th at Larry Dzieza’s house.

Karen said the City has posted comments from the Affordable Housing Forum.

The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on the Middle Housing code amendments on Monday August 18^th.

Karen and Jim discussed the City’s progress updating the Land Use and Economic Development chapter of the Comprehensive Plan, in particular the new Urban Residential land use designation and small commercial uses in residential areas.

3) New Bridge event

Members talked about ‘Eastside Neighborhood Nights’ events at New Bridge church. Everyone enjoyed these free family events and we’re looking forward to their Christmas market. Sherry was able to talk to pastor Jon Cardona.

4) Upcoming events

We discussed holding a holiday snowflake workshop in September. Nathan offered to host the workshop at the Inn and will let us know the date. We will need to develop plans for making different types of snowflakes and decide what materials to buy. It was suggested we print flyers with QR code links to plans, instructions, costs etc. on the ENA website.

5) August newsletter topics

Annual picnic & apple pressing – September 20.

Snowflake workshop – on September 20^th after the annual picnic.

Sherry offered to interview the owner of the new Beauty Temple salon on 4^th Avenue.

Sherry suggested a membership drive with prizes for membership renewals, such as a Sooper Sunday Cookbook. Nathan suggested signs promoting membership, and Abigail offered to help with the design.

November 8^th Veterans Day events at the Armory and Madison school, plus street tree planting. Nathan discussed the benefits of trees in neighborhoods and there was general support for planting oak trees on Legion Way from Central to Edison Street.

Electric bikes are available in the neighborhood.

The City’s lawn aeration program.

6) Annual Picnic and Apple Press Sept 20^th 

Schedule:

Setup will start at 2:00

Apple pressing starts at 3:00

Food – burgers, sausages, potluck at 5:00

Music – 2 bands will each play 45 minute sets:

Yarrow at 5:30

G-Strings at 6:15

Sherry is checking with Tim Smythe about supplying apples.

Nathan has room for apples in his walk-in cooler if they’re in stackable containers.

Karen said she can bring a canopy and extra tables and chairs.

Someone will bring sidewalk chalk.

Abigail will work up the posters and we will put sandwich board signs out well ahead of time.

The Board will meet at Lions Park on September 9^th to talk about the layout, schedule and so forth. Sherry will send a reminder email.

7) Swag to encourage new membership

The Board discussed different kinds of swag we can offer for membership renewals, such as stick-on’s.

The meeting ended at 8:25 PM

The next Board meeting will be at Lions Park on September 9^th

ENA Board Meeting

July 8, 2025 7:00 PM

Swantown Inn, 1431 11th Ave SE

Minutes

1) Approval of June 10^th Minutes

The minutes were approved as submitted.

2) Treasurer Report

Checking             $400.16

Savings             $2,949.04

Total                $3,349.20

Jim R. said he discussed grant funding with Brittany Gillia. The City will reimburse expenses right away but prefers that we bundle all receipts for an event. The ENA can also use its own funds to reimburse individuals. Jim will send around a form for us to record volunteer hours.

3) CNA report

Karen described a new ‘WhatsApp’ tool allowing members of neighborhood associations to share information. She and Jim met with Grace Fletcher, Southwest neighborhood secretary, who created a group named “ONA Board Members.” They discussed potential uses for the app, including emergency preparedness. The information will be shared with the CNA at their meeting on July 14.

4) Block parties reports

Board members described the four block parties and how many attended. It was suggested we do short write-ups and provide pictures for the newsletter and the website.

5) Upcoming events

Sherry volunteered to work on the annual calendar. Nathan suggested we send it out at the beginning of each year.

The matching grant includes $1,000 for the winter snowflake project. It was agreed we should start on this soon and Nathan offered to host an August workshop.

6) July newsletter topics

• Block party reviews
• August snowflake workshop
• Sherry said there is a new business on 4^th
• Sherry will forward contact info for her new neighbor to Nathan as a potential interviewee.
• CNA report

7) Annual Picnic/Cider Press Sept 20^th

Jim R. will reserve the shelter from 2:00 to 8:00.

Setup will start about 2:00.

We will start apple pressing about 3:00.

There will be live music starting about 5:00.

Jim R. will start grilling food about 5:00, and possibly sooner if we finish apple pressing.

Ask everyone to bring apples.

Let everyone know it’s a potluck.

Jim S. will contact Parks about access to water.

We may need to arrange to have a canopy over the apple press in case of rain.

Sherry will check with the balloon guy from the Farmers Market, and possibly Timberland library.

Cheryl will bring a bucket of sidewalk chalk.

Sherry will reach out to Tim Smythe.

Nathan will look into ordering a Vista print sign.

8) Support Soup movement ongoing

Chris Hyde is asking for help with funding and a delivery vehicle.

9) Sea Level Rise walks meet at City Hall

• Tuesday, July 15 from 3:30–5 p.m.
• Wednesday, July 30 from 4–5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, August 19 from 9–10:30 a.m.

9) Other

Cheryl announced the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum is sponsoring an event November 8^th on Legion Way. They are asking for help with funding. Sherry said she will donate $100.

Our new mailbox address is:

1910 East 4th Avenue PMB 140

Olympia, WA 98506-4632

Sherry and Jim S. described the June 11^th collision which destroyed one of the Gateway Art pieces on 4^th and Pacific. OPD provided a case number and the City’s Claims Department is pursuing damages to replace the art. Jim S. suggested it as a future newsletter item: “What happened to the Gateway art at 4^th and Pacific?”

The meeting ended at 8:35.

The next Board meeting will be August 12^th at 7:00 PM.