Category: General

This is the position of the Concerned Eastside Neighbors, a group focused on the proposed rezoning and development in the upper part of our neighborhood

See the full position statement here: CEN Position Statement

New Bridge Community Church initiated a conversation about their hosting a community garden on their property off Central Ave., between 8th & 10 Ave., including raised planter beds & irrigation water. A first meeting occurred on that property this fall with representatives from the church (Doug & Rhonda) & the ENA (Sandia & Meta) to scope out the best garden plot locations, and to imagine what such a garden would entail.

•  Following that initial on-site meeting, both organizations (NBCC & ENA)  are now in the process of ascertaining from our members what levels of interest & energy there actually are  for the creation & use of such a Community Garden.  NBCC is clearly interested in hosting this project, but they do not have the people-power to spearhead or manage it. NBCC is “committed to hosting a community garden for one season, following which [they] want to evaluate whether it is working” for them; the meaning thereof to be explored ahead of time, of course.

• On the church’s end,  the current assessment is to include just where on the property is best for them & their deciding what financial commitment they can make (beyond their offer to cover the water fees) toward the set up of such a garden enterprise (i.e. lumber for beds, for fencing, a tool shed, etc.)

• On our (ENA’s) part, this assessment is mostly of what actual interest exists in neighborhood residents for such gardening space; where water is available & community members would  share some tools & some supply purchases – esp. bigger ones; would seasonally ‘rent’ their own growing bed(s), exchange expertise, etc. (The size & price of a ‘bed’ is still to be determined, but space would be approx. 8 – 12 x 4’ – the cost of one in similar projects in Olympia is ~$35/year).

In order for this project to get off the ground in time to be ready for the 2014 planting season,  only a few months away now, we need  PROMPT RESPONSES to the following questions.  These responses will be the major basis for us deciding whether there is enough interest & energy within our neighborhood, at this time, to make this community garden happen.   Let us know:

• 1)  are you truly interested in having a gardening plot & gardening on such a site  at least in the 2014  growing season?

• 2)  which of the following would you commit to for this first year, at least:

  • a)  helping with the registration (even recruiting) of interested gardeners;

  • b)   assessing quantities of carpentry supplies needed to build planting beds;

  • c)   ordering such supplies;

  • d)   assessing & ordering needed soil mix;

• e)   coordinating volunteers at some time, sooner or later;

             f)    participating in at 1-2 work parties to help with the creation of the beds/plots.

• g)   committing to ½ -1 hour/week help throughout the growing season for upkeep of the whole project, via clean-up alone or within a work party, or a meeting.

Please  RESPOND to THE ABOVE QUESTIONS – BY Jan 18th – if  you want to be & would be committed to being involved for at least the first season- 2014. For starters, we figure we need at least 3-4 people who are committed to helping with the initial organizing, another 5+  who are committed to helping with the initial building of the garden beds &  10 households who want to garden at this site next season.  So, TELL YOUR NEIGHBORS & FRIENDS  SOON of this community opportunity!

BY Jan 18, 2014, we at least need a small core of people/gardeners to express a commitment of interest & willingness to help with above mentioned activities to get this baby off the ground & keep this Community Garden possibility alive for the 2014 season.

Cut & paste your answers to the questions & send to: [email protected].
You can address any questions YOU have to Sandia as well.  AND, check back here for updates on the responses over the next 6 weeks.

Sandia Slaby,  ENA Secretary

All of my years of experience in working in the neighborhoods has taught me how to get neighborhood needs met. The Eastside Neighborhood has a very specific need and I have been working over the last couple of weeks to get your need met. I am confident that the neighborhood and the greater community will be pleased with the results. I would be happy to meet with you or any of your neighbors who are not clear on my position.

Thank you for all you are doing Brad. I know these situations are very difficult and time consuming for a president. Know that I truly appreciate your dedication to your neighbors.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Have a great day.

Julie Hankins

 

Dear Mr. Bowerman,

My name is Dick Cvitanich, and I have the privilege of serving as
Superintendent of the Olympia School District. The role is filled with
many joys and challenges. One of those challenges is the current state of
Madison Elementary School. I am sure you are aware of the problems we have
encountered through the accounts in the media. If not, I would like to
briefly explain the issues.

Due to water intrusion underneath the stucco exterior, the plywood
sheeting and many structural components have rotted, making the building
unsafe for students, staff, and families. We first noted the issue earlier
in the summer and believed the scope of work could be completed prior to
the opening of school. After further investigation we have determined the
problem is more extensive than originally thought. As a result, we will
not be able to open school on time at Madison Elementary.

Our desire is to keep Madison Elementary children in their eastside
neighborhood rather than spread them throughout the school district.
Fortunately, New Bridge Church, formerly district property, accepted our
request to use their facility. This was a gracious gesture and we are
currently making plans to move some of Madison’s students to that site.
Since Madison is a relatively small school, we will be able to accommodate
grades K-3 at New Bridge. Grades 4 and 5 will be transported to Roosevelt
Elementary where they will be able to better access a full library,
orchestra, band, etc. In addition, our pre-school will relocate to ORLA
which is housed in the old John Rogers Elementary School. It is
anticipated that this temporary arrangement will last through December. We
hope to have students return to Madison Elementary on January 6th, 2014.

I wanted you to be aware of our plans for several reasons. First, I know
that schools are anchors to a successful community. It is a gathering
place for families during the day and evening. As the leader of your
community, I wanted you to be aware of our commitment to retaining that
sense of community that is so important. Secondly, we recognize the
temporary location of our school may present some inconvenience for
neighbors. Bus routes and transportation patterns will be slightly
altered; different than what residents are used to negotiating. Finally, I
want you to know that our staff would be happy to meet with
representatives of the community at any time should they have questions.

Although the arrangement is temporary, we want our new location to be
embraced by our students, staff, parents, and the entire eastside
community. The stability a neighborhood school provides to children for
learning, and the sense of comfort it provides for families is paramount
to our mission. In short, despite the challenge our goal is to make our
eastside students feel at home.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with questions. I can be
reached at 360-596-6117. Thank you for your support as we begin our school
year.

Sincerely,
Dick Cvitanich, Superintendent

We voted to give Sidewalk $150,000, which is $50,000 more than we gave them last year, and we gave the Family Support Center $100,000, which is less than we gave them last year, because we intend to give both of these providers more money from the consolidated homeless grant later this year.

I’ve provided The Olympian a response to their editorial from last Thursday morning’s issue, in which they make a number of errors –principally, that it’s not rapid rehousing OR shelter, it’s rapid rehousing AND shelter (which is why Interfaith Works submitted both the Sidewalk AND The Peoples House proposals). I believe my response will run some time this week. It essentially says that the HOME Bd made funding recommendations that we felt struck a fair balance between capital projects (such as Habitat homes, a veterans shelter at Drexel House, facility improvements at the Yelm homeless shelter, the Peoples House, etc), and services (such as operations at Quixote Village, rapid rehousing at Sidewalk and the Family Support Center, emergency apartments for clients of the Housing Authority, and operations of both Rosie’s Place and Haven House at CYS). It also points out that we had nearly $5M in requests for only $2.1M, so of course, not everyone got what they were asking for.

I understand your neighborhood is concerned about the proposed location of The Peoples House. That’s a different matter, however, than whether or not we need a shelter. We definitely do. We’ll all have to work together on where.

Thanks for your interest in the issue of homelessness in our community. Solving it will require a lot more transitional housing, affordable housing and permanent supportive housing than we currently have. In the meanwhile, to get the homeless out of the woods and off the streets requires shelters. It’s not ideal, and it’s not the permanent solution, but it’s a humane step along the way to a more permanent solution. I’m grateful we have providers like Interfaith Works willing to step up for all of us.

Karen Messmer