Tell Your Children – a Local Poetry Project – Invites Your Support

The Auburn-based North West Renaissance Poets is partnering with a Tacoma poet and actress to produce a short film scripted entirely with poetry. Tell Your Children, coming in 2016, was created by Emilie Rommel Shimkus and “fuses original poetry and independent film to make a series of 4 micro-shorts (4-minute films).” With 3 live action films and 1 animated film, the project focuses on characters from myth, legend, and faery tale. “We have always used stories to teach the next generation about our place in the world. We use adventure and magic to pass on lessons and important ideas, like consequence, sacrifice, sympathy, community, and resilience.”
Grant-supported and Currently Crowdfunding—Rommel Shimkus was awarded a grant from the Tacoma Arts Commission and 4Culture (via the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program for 2015/16) to produce Tell Your Children. The project is currently running a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign, through October 14 to supplement the grant money, cover production costs, and pay the cast, crew, and contributing artists. The initial goal was more than 50% funded on the first day of the campaign.
New Venues for Encouraging Poetry & Artistic Collaboration—For more than 30 years, Northwest Renaissance Poets & Publishers, a 501c3 organization, has operated with the straightforward mission of “bringing poetry to the Puget Sound region,” through workshops, readings, and publications. When NWR member, Rommel Shimkus, approached the board about a producing partnership, it seemed like a natural fit. “There are so many fruitful collaborations with poets and painters, photographers, glass artists, even dancers,” said Rommel Shimkus. “A new collaboration between NW poets and filmmakers seems exciting and full of untapped potential.”
Inclusive, Female-centric Set—“We have several goals with this project,” said Rommel Shimkus. In addition to making a quality, beautiful piece of film art, Tell Your Children focuses on encouraging collaboration between artists of varying genres. “We are also proud to make this film with the talents of the amazing women working in the PNW film industry.” Tell Your Children features an all-female cast, and is written, produced, directed, and will be shot by professional, experienced female filmmakers.
Tell Your Children will be shot on location in Tacoma later this fall in November 2015. It will screen at the Grand Cinema in Tacoma in a free, open-to-the-pubic event in 2016.
Questions? To learn more about the project and partnering organizations, visit Kickstarter.com and search for “Tell Your Children.” (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2095404221/tell-your-children)
Contact: Producer Rose Hall (rose@adventusfilms.net) or creator Emilie Rommel Shimkus (emilierommel@hotmail.com)

Remembering Enumclaw

Many of my readers have strived and thrived here in this quiet little farm community all their lives, while others claimed it home long ago.  For me it’s been a new adventure learning and adapting to a different lifestyle than I  am used to. Like a tourist on a pilgrimage it has been rewarding but often lonely. Founding the Enumclaw Echo 16 months ago helped me learn more about this conflicted community with it’s unresolved identity crisis, and mentally survive. I am growing and changing and so will the focus of this website. The Echo may not survive long due to social and economic factors too problematic for me to explain. But in the future you can expect some controversial viewpoints until I am done, and move on.  However today I give you a gift, my faithful followers, of some of my most meaningful pictures I took on this journey. In all I took over a thousand photos and wrote 178 stories about people and community events.  I think these samples typify the Enumclaw spirit.

BOY SCOUTS HELP MAINTAIN THE TRAIL

Scottish Country Dance Class at the Danish Hall

Prom King in the EHS Parade

LAURA CURNAN AT HIGH POINT VILLAGE TABLE AT POM AUCTION

ANNUAL VIKING FEAST

DARREL AND HIS ELECTRONIC READERBOARD

Bras for the Cause Peoples Choice Award goes to Marilyn Nelson with 64 votes for her creation TICKLED PINK

ROTARY DUCK RACE: CAPTURING THE FIRST TEN OF EVERY HEAT

THE SAX MAN ROB

CUPCAKE CONTEST

ENUMCLAW RODEO

WAITING FOR JUDGES DECISIONS AT POLO PARTY HAT CONTEST

Steve Neason cuts kale for people who are buying fresh greens at Mason Jar Farms

Actor Randall Thomason & Judy Kent Provonost atTen Decades film

A crowd gathered at the Chalet Theatre that hosted this event for free as well as permitted the use of the stage for auditions for the film

Art in the Garden

The free 4th of July delicious and bountiful pancake breakfast was packed with people who appreciate the community service of the Rotary.

Polo match

 

These folks enjoy the soup, cornbread, and conversation at Simply Soup.

Gateway Concert Band. French Horn player Tod Frazier tunes up. He was also a guest conductor.

John Buss patrols city streets by bike

Ed Bickforde coaching Ria
Zsigmondovics at the Senior Center

Zane Perry, president of the Video Production Club at the EHS Film Fest

Our town pays respects on Memorial DAy

Round table led by Erika Shook at visioning workshop

Tony Bennett, a professional judge for design and horticulture at flower shows shows off native plants for sale at the Annual Enumclaw Garden Club.

Cherry blossoms show first signs of spring at city hall park

Wine Walk downtown

Road work on Griffin

 

Family Bingo at the Danish Hall

Suspicious Hurst Letter Reveals Email Conspiracy

Editorial

By Susan Etchey

Circulating on the internet and in some voter’s mailboxes is a letter written August 15 by State Representative Christopher Hurst denouncing three Enumclaw City Council members. The obvious target is incumbent Councilman Darrell Dickson. Hurst’s daughter, Kim Lauk, is opposing Darrell Dickson for Council Seat #2.

Hurst accuses Darrell Dickson, and council members Hoke Overland, and Juanita Carstens, of misdeeds and calls for code of ethics investigations: “I am asking the State Attorney General, State Public Disclosure Commissioner and State Auditor to conduct a thorough investigation into the personal finances and business interests of our council members as they relate to land use, decisions, and zoning proposals,” states Hurst. 

Unfortunately for us, the Enumclaw voters, Hurst knows full well that with the slow progress of such investigations the final outcome will not be known until long after the city council elections are held on November 3. For the most part, the attacks in Hurst’s letter are directed at Darrel Dickson’s emails. Hurst claims to have read and interpret many of his emails, and then using snippets of quotes taken out of context, he twists their intended meaning. Hurst never seeks any reasonable inquiry or clarification from the author. Thus, Hurst’s accusations are made without the benefit of a thorough examination of the facts.

Recently Hoke Overland wrote numerous and thoughtful responses to the Hurst letter and then posted them on a popular public Facebook page entitled “Enumclaw” after the letter surfaced there a couple of weeks ago . Overland demonstrates that Hurst’s allegations are false. And, in addition, questions Hurst’s real motives.

So, how did Hurst access these emails? When you follow the paper trail the answer is obvious. On May 18 the City of Enumclaw received a public records request from a non-resident of
Enumclaw seeking all emails sent and received on the email account of City Councilman Darrel Dickson, dating all the way back to May 11,2011. It seems no strange coincidence that Hurst’s daughter, Kim Lauk, had just filed on May 15 to run against the incumbent, Darrel Dickson, for Council Seat # 2 .

Adhering to legal enforcement of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), two employees of the City of Enumclaw – AT TAXPAYER’S EXPENSE – were required to gather the emails. After many hours over several weeks a total of 7,846 Dickson emails were provided. That would include all emails sent to Dickson from citizens like you and me as well.

Who requested all these emails? None other than Hayley Rumback, of Arlington, Virginia. Rumback is a big time Washington, D.C. area political consultant. He specializes in “OPPOSITION RESEARCH” for numerous clients throughout the United States who employ his help to win their political campaigns.So, the question is who hired Rumback to research Darrel Dickson? And, at what cost? Where is the paper trail? What public disclosure is required for this kind of political activity? The question arises: was information from these emails obtained to help Hurst’s daughter, Kim Lauk, launch a smear campaign? Is there a violation of Washington States’ campaign finance laws concerning the request and purchase of those 7, 846 Dickson emails ?
The law reads: “No payment shall be made to any person required to report under RCW 42.17A.700 and no payment shall be accepted by any such person, directly or indirectly, in a fictitious name, anonymously, or by one person through an agent, relative, or other person in such a manner as to conceal the identity of the source of the payment or in any other manner so as to effect concealment.
The commission may issue categorical and specific exemptions to the reporting of the actual source when there is an undisclosed principal for recognized legitimate business purposes.”

Obvious clues to a possible Rumback-Hurst connection are statements made by Hurst twice in his own letter in which he states his suspicions of conflict of interest are based on a “small sample of emails.” (Out of more than 7,800 this could be called “cherry picking.”) The only way Hurst could have obtained any Dickson’s emails to make charges against him and other council members, would be by making a FOIA request himself, or hiring someone else to do it for him. Indeed, it seems apparent from the thousands of emails at his disposal Hurst’s purpose is an attempt to assassinate his daughter’s opponent in a smear campaign by deliberately creating doubt and suspicion.

Hurst portrays himself as a legislator with a keen insight and knowledge of the City of Enumclaw’s decision-making processes. Yet, as far as I know in the past three years Hurst has never attended the Community Economic Development committee meetings he references in his letter or sat in on a single city council meeting regarding the city’s land use, zoning or economic development issues. Let it also be known, that Hurst’s daughter, Kim Lauk, never attended such meetings regularly until declaring her candidacy.

Editor’s Note. The Enumclaw Echo is no longer functioning as a non-profit 501(c)3 with a Board of Directors. It is now a personal news blog produced by the editor, Susan Etchey.  It was Etchey who filed a public records request on Sept. 4 at Enumclaw City Hall to investigate the source of the email leaks. Feel free to share her articles. 

OPINIONS vs. FACTS

This honest comment from City of Enumclaw’s council member Jim Hogan sent to the Echo and posted on my website deserves your attention. He responded to the the article I posted Monday, August 31. (see below)  I urged respect and appreciation for our elected officials paid only $325 a month for many hours a month of labor. All the while they endure criticism and opposition. During campaign seasons everyone has a stake in the race. Everyone has their own agenda. People get very vocal and opinionated. Hogan is not running for office again and his opinion is based on experience….

“Thank you for your very fair and accurate assessment of what being a city council member is all about. As I end my 16 years in city government (4 years on Design Review Board and 3 full and one partial term on City Council) it is nice to see someone recognize how difficult and thankless the job can be. I ran unopposed in all three elections – but there are always plenty of people to complain and criticize the hard decisions we make. It says a lot when we have 4 open seats and only one contested race. There aren’t too many people wanting to roll up their sleeves and do the job. We have a hard time even getting people to sit on boards and commissions. There are so many ways people can be involved in how this city is run. Thanks for taking the time to cover this election. The Courier Herald barely covers local government anymore.”

Political Affairs: Darrel Dickson Answers Candidates Questionnaire

(The following impartial questionnaire was designed by the Enumclaw Echo. Both Candidates were given three weeks to respond. The Echo does not endorse political candidates. This is for voter’s education only. It is in alphabetical order. )

Candidate for City Council Position #2

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Name: Darrel Dickson (Incumbent)
Age: 54.
Marital Status: Married to Enumclaw Physician and Surgeon Dr. Holly Dickson. We have six children that attend or will attend Enumclaw Schools.
Career or Profession: President and Founder of PCMI Group of Companies
Education: Financial and Estate Planning Bachelor of Science degree Brigham Young University Provo Utah 1986. Enumclaw High School graduate 1978.

QUESTIONS

1) Why are you running for a position on the City Council of Enumclaw? What is your motivation?
Experience Counts! I have 30+ years of business ownership experience and the formal financial education to make difficult city decisions and to stand up for you! I want the best for you and our community. I have a desire to support our small town. I want to help Enumclaw be a place where Families and Businesses thrive. My ancestors settled in Enumclaw in the 1880’s. I care deeply about improving our community for children through seniors to live and increasing quality of life. I have a record of making things happen that are beneficial to the Enumclaw Community. I believe that by working together we can make a difference!

2. What changes to better the quality of life in Enumclaw are you hoping to make as a member of the city council? Improve our Streets. Support our local school system. Promote all types of housing types for the needs of our seniors and to increase affordability for our aging population. Provide better activities for our Youth and Teenagers in a safe environment. Work to create modest economic growth to provide for the services that we need including roads, parks, fire, police, utilities and all around safety. Improve our parks and obtain better access and use of them.

3)  What is your experience or background dealing with political and or governmental issues affecting the quality of life in Enumclaw? As a current City Councilman I am the Chair of the Enumclaw Expo, and Community Economic Development Committees and a member of Public Works.  During my tenure we have seen modest economic growth, and better use and management of the Expo Center and our Gas Company has the lowest gas rates in the state.  During my service as a council member, the city deficit was been cut by more than 50%.  Working with the community, I helped rescue the 2015 Public Fireworks celebration.   

4) What volunteer work, time and labor, have you contributed to improve the quality of life in Enumclaw?
Volunteer work includes the following: Enumclaw Parks Board Member 2 years. Served on a Foothill and Battersby Trail service cleanup projects, served on Southwood Elementary landscape eagle service project, helped fund and provide new roofing on a Gazebo at an Enumclaw Park, provided time and materials to an Eagle service project to include new picnic tables and concrete pads at Farman’s Park, served two years as the “Duck Master” or director of the Enumclaw Rotary Duck Race raising a total $80,000 for the benefit of the Enumclaw Regional Healthcare foundation. Flag pole installed for a local church. In addition my wife and I have been sponsors/contributors to several local nonprofit groups and events.

5) Are you a member of civic organizations that help residents struggling with financial, social, educational or health?
Here is the list of service organizations I am involved with currently: Enumclaw Rotary Member for 14 years, Past President of Enumclaw Rotary Club in 2011, Youth Church Group Leader and Scout Leader, Rotary Foundation Board Member, Scout Committee Board member.

6) What are your five top priorities for management of the city you believe will have a positive impact on the economy of Enumclaw?
The Economic Development Task force spent two years developing a Strategic Plan for Economic Development. The plan was adopted by the City Council and the Mayor. The key points of the plan include the following goals: Promote Employment Growth in the Retail/Services and Medical and Light Industrial Sectors. Attract one or more Senior Communities with High Quality Housing and Amenities. Encourage/Attract Upper Middle Income Residential Development. Increase Tourist Visits. Promote the Agriculture, Food, and Beverage Industry. I supported the economic plan and continue to encourage the execution of the timeline identified in the plan.

8) Do you think the city can improve its marketing of the downtown as a tourist destination? Absolutely yes! As a community economic development committee and council we are working on opening Cayuse pass year round, and a food beverage and agriculture and tourism plan. Recently I met with the director of the Port of Seattle about working with cruise passengers to provide for services and advertisements for our businesses to the cruise ship customers. This is a huge opportunity for our community to capture business downtown. In my opinion, we need to provide better quality giving directions to our historic downtown and improve our sign code to help businesses.

9) Young single adults complain the is nothing to do in Enumclaw night other than going to bars or drugs. What can the city do to encourage fun businesses like bowling alleys, skating rinks, etc.
Look to community members, and leaders for help in creating private/public partnerships and make applications for Grants (Federal and State) and private sources to help fund Fun Businesses for Youth and Families. This would be a model similar to the success that we are now enjoying at the Enumclaw Expo Center and the Enumclaw Golf Course. The city has a substantial amount of parks some of which the land could be used to partner with private entities for activities. The City has a history of forming Co-Ops to for needed enterprises including Enumclaw Creamery, and Mutual of Enumclaw. I would like to see the city look and encourage this pattern of success to fund fun businesses for youth and families.

10) Are you pleased with the barren appearance of city parks usually not used much? No I am not pleased. Do you see a need for improvements and what would you suggest? Yes, I see a need for improvement. Recently I was involved with an Eagle service project that installed concrete pads and picnic tables at the underutilized Farmers Park in Enumclaw. I have helped several of these types of scouting service projects at Enumclaw Parks over the years. In my opinion I would like to see the administration have several service projects ready and approved (Always have a project available) for service by the city administration and available for future service community groups to complete the projects and improve our parks.

11) What Key elements of the city’s new comprehensive plan do you think are most important to implement first. Improve our streets. Help support and improve our downtown business success. Job growth, preserving our quality of life while having modest economic growth to provide services such as parks, police, fire services and utilities, as well as taking care of our streets, and addressing quality housing needs for all ages from new families through seniors is a priority. Support to our local school system. Improve our parks and provide for more use of them.

12) What are your achievements in your political life that you feel have had the most impact? As a Public Servant or city activist what has been your major accomplishments?
I am proud to have been part of the helping form the transportation benefit district in getting annual funding to help improve our streets. Also, I am thrilled that the Expo Center has been turned over to a local non profit corporation and is being run by local community members, and the financial losses to the city have stopped and the community is going to get better use of the Expo Center. And I am encouraged that our deficit has been cut in half since I have been a council member over three and a half years as a council member. We have done this by cutting costs, and having modest economic growth. In addition we have seen industrial/commercial construction go from no permits two years ago to about 55,000 square feet this year which will create new jobs in our community. Along those same lines we have seen new home constructions go from 4 per year a few years ago to a modest approximately 25 per year this year. For additional information please see annual reports I have written in 2012, 2013, and 2014 on the website www.votedickson.org.

13) If you could speak to every voter in person what three things most would your like them to know most about you?
I am Generous. My wife and I have a proven track record of giving back to the community. I love our Small Town and Open Space, and recognize the need for modest economic growth to pay for city services. I am not afraid to stand up for you; I have the formal financial education and leadership skills to do so. I have your best interests at heart.

Political Affairs: Kim Lauk Answers Candidates Questionnaire

(The following impartial questionnaire was designed by the Enumclaw Echo. Both Candidates were given three weeks to respond. The Echo does not endorse political candidates. This is for voter’s education only. It is in alphabetical order. )

 

Kim Lauk

BIOGRAPHICAL DATA

Name : Kimberly Lauk

Age:       26

Marital Status (children): Brandon Lauk and I have been married for 7 years. We are raising our 3 kids, Logan 6, Jayden 4, and Maison 2, on Porter street in the heart of Enumclaw.

Career or Profession: Right now I am a stay at home mom. We decided that this was the best fit for our family until all of our kids are in elementary school and at that point I will be returning to work.

Education: I am a proud EHS graduate and am working toward my degree at GRCC.

 

 

QUESTIONS

1)Why are you running for a position on the City Council of Enumclaw? What is your motivation? Many things have motivated me to run for city council one of which is that when my three children are grown up and living on their own I want to ensure that Enumclaw is not one giant subdivision with a Walmart and Fred Meyer in the middle and strip malls down the side. We have an amazing community here and I want to see that preserved not covered over with asphalt and packed in poorly planned housing developments.

2)What changes to better the quality of life in Enumclaw are you hoping to make as a member of the city council? I went before council last year to talk about our growing drug problem in Enumclaw but was met with some council members telling me, “We don’t have a problem here”. I disagree and no one took me up on my offer to walk through town together so that they could see the issue first hand. This is something that needs immediate attention and if elected I intent to change this. Drug and gangs go hand in hand and I don’t want these types of problems here.

3) What is your experience or background dealing with political and /or governmental issues affecting the quality of life in Enumclaw? This is my first time running for any political position but I am very in tune with what is going on in our city and see the need to step up and make a difference.

4) What volunteer work, time and labor, have you contributed to improve the quality of life in Enumclaw? The first week in August marked the 3rd annual Breastfeeding Awareness Week educational nurse-in program that I have hosted in Enumclaw. I also run a citizen service group here in town called Enumclaw United that a friend and I started last year. We host community clean up events, senior “honey-do” list projects with free services to local seniors as well as setting up neighborhood watch programs. My husband and I are also doing our best to raise our kids with respect, morals, and ethics so that they can grow up and have a positive impact on the word around them.

5) Are you a member of civic organizations that help residents struggling with financial, social, educational or health? Which ones and how long? Our family donates to Plateau Outreach Ministries. My other group helps community members in need and focuses on senior and family issues and assistance.

6) What are your five top priorities for management of the city you believe will have a positive impact on the economy of Enumclaw?

1. Protect our rural and historic town from real estate speculators who would overbuild our great town with endless developments and subdivisions. Keep Enumclaw rural.

2. Public safety – protect our kids, families and seniors from crime.

3. Introduce and pass Ethics and Code of Conduct laws for Enumclaw elected officials. They have been proposed, but our current council refuses to pass them and we are one of the few cities that does not have such laws to protect citizens from council member conflicts of interest in land use and zoning law changes and decisions.

4. Protect farmland and forests around Enumclaw. This council has proposed developing Enumclaw farmland and nearby forests which would dramatically increase our population and make us like Federal Way. That is wrong and I will work to prevent this from happening.

5. Protect our local small businesses. My opponent has supported a Walmart and Fred Meyer, but these big box stores would put many if not most of our current small businesses out of business. I will keep that from happening.

8) Do you think the city can improve its marketing of the downtown as a tourist destination? What are your suggestions? Yes, there is always room for improvement and the mayor’s downtown revitalization proposal for taking already city owned properties that are currently problematic areas and turning them into family friendly community assets is a great way to address this issue. While this project has great potential for business growth in the future I also see the need to support our small businesses now if we want to see them survive and grow, the more successful businesses you have the more likely you are to attract new ones. Keeping big box stores out of Enumclaw is the first step.

9) Young single adults complain there is nothing to do in Enumclaw at night other than going to bars or drugs. What can the city do to encourage fun businesses like bowling alleys, skating rinks, etc.

The city will not attract these types of businesses if we don’t support the ones we already have.

10) Are you pleased with the barren appearance of city parks usually not used much? Do you see a need for improvements and what would you suggest? Yes it is true that some of our city parks are empty some of the time, but we take our children to the parks on almost a daily basis and see many other families doing the same thing. A “park take back day” (along the lines of National Neighbors Night Out) might be a good way to start seeing an increase in park use again. Many people use parks just by seeing them and not more density of businesses and housing developments. Open space is always valuable to people and increases our quality of life. You don’t have to just sit in a park to be using it! People enjoy seeing them.

11) What key elements of the city’s new comprehensive plan do you think are most important to implement first? Most important is to change it and make sure that development pays for itself and does not shift development costs to current taxpayers. Infrastructure must be in place before development occurs. Our current roads into and out of Enumclaw on HWYs 169, 164 and 410 are already overcrowded and can’t handle any more traffic today. SR 169 and 410 both have bridges near the end of their lifespans that must be replaced before we consider more development. If you can’t get to and from Enumclaw because of traffic, then our quality of life diminishes drastically. Some days now it takes 25 minutes to get from Enumclaw to Buckley due to too much congestion. That puts residents at risk when there is an emergency and no one wants to be sitting in traffic. Development should come when we are ready for it.

12) What are your achievements in your political life that you feel have had the most impact? I have never served in public office before, but am well suited to run and serve, in part because I am just a mom raising my family with my husband. I do not own lots of real estate or businesses that will increase in value if I use my power to help them when I am elected. I will be serving my fellow citizens, not my own pocketbook and personal business interests. That is a significant contrast.

13) If you could speak to every voter in person what three things most would you like them to know most about you?

1. I am honest and hard working and really care about my family and community.

2. I don’t have conflicts of interest on real estate or business deals that would cloud my judgement when serving as a council member.

3. I have a vision to protect our rural historic community for future generations and don’t want to see Enumclaw overdeveloped and ruined.

Political Affairs: Candidates Answer the Enumclaw Echo Questionnaire

OPINION

by Susan Etchey

On Wednesday, September 2nd the Echo is publishing a candidate’s questionnaire completed by the two opponents Darrel Dickson and Kimberly Lauk running for Enumclaw City Council Position #2. The election is November 3rd.  The purpose of the questionnaire, designed by the Echo, is to educate the the voters about these two individuals running for office.  An informed voter is the best voter.  This questionnaire is impartial  with both candidates asked the same questions. All replies are in their own words.

As editor of the Echo I have had 30 years experience covering news in Florida for numerous community newspapers similar to those now owned by Sound Publishing in Washington State. I have learned that most community leaders who choose to run for office and serve the public are underappreciated and often disrespected. Their job is tough, not a piece of cake, which anyone who cares to really know what is involved can better understand by attending or watching the council meetings. The City of Enumclaw provides televised meetings and all our local issues of true importance are discussed in depth.  Often our council members are criticised for their votes. But, as Harry Truman said “If you don’t like the heat, get out of the kitchen.” It takes a special person with a tough skin to put up with the usual disgruntled citizens. People are more likely to complain than give a pat on the back. So, when you vote you may want to bear in mind your candidate will never be perfect, will make mistakes, they are human.

Our city council members are paid a ridiculously low $325.00 a month. Their responsibilities and time for comparable effort and expertise are  worth a great deal more  in the commercial world. Not only do the members work at the two mandatory meetings a month in which vital economic and legal issues are deliberated, but they also sit on two to four other committees meeting monthly. There are numerous occasions when they go out on the limb working with community on resolving issues. All of this requires homework, discussions, correspondence, phone calls. I doubt that any council member doing due diligence spends less than 40 hours a month trying to fulfill their duties.  Try reading some of the ordinances they are required to vote on yourself and you may appreciate how weighty their decision making is.

Your right to vote and speak out is the only way we can have a democratic process. I hope we all fulfill our responsibilities in a spirit of goodwill. Study the issues and then make a sound decision.

Council to discuss parking restrictions on Griffin

The following text is from the City of Enumclaw agenda for it’s next council meeting on Monday, August 24 at 7:30 pm

Ordinance 2573 – Griffin Ave Parking Restrictions

Last summer the Council Public Safety Committee (PSC) asked for a review of the safety of the Griffin Avenue and Wells Street intersection. The review completed by staff engineer, Rand Black, in April 2014
is available to view online at City of Enumclaw website, agenda packet. page 31.

Analysis:
Although the collision rate suggests that the intersection is operating at a reasonably safe level, staff recommended an initial approach of restricting at least one stall of parking on Griffin Avenue on the east
side of Wells Street closest to the intersection. At the September 2014 PSC meeting, the committee voted to restrict only one stall on the north side of Griffin Avenue as an initial approach, with follow up a
few months later to assess the results and potentially restrict a second parking stall to the east of the first. Due to workload, staff is now forwarding this recommendation for full Council consideration in the
form of Ordinance 2573.

Conclusion:
This ordinance is a recommendation of the Public Safety Committee.

Recommendation:
Adopt Ordinance 2573 regarding parking restrictions on Griffin Ave.

If you missed this concert there’s one more chance!

Guest Writer

JoAnn Lakin

Gateway Concert Band

Summer Resounding was the theme for last Monday night’s concert in the Rotary Centennial Park in Enumclaw given by the Gateway Concert Band

What a delight to sit and listen to such beautiful music on a summer evening. This community band is ably conducted by Jack Prindle and is composed of about 35 members ranging in age from 15 to 86.

There were pieces I was not familiar with the names, but all were delightfully played. One piece, Prelude And Firestorm, reminded all of us of the fires to the east. This was conducted by Stephanie Magnusen.

Then a piece by John Philip Souza, Invincible Eagle, was dedicated to Christopher Kerns, featuring a piccolo.

Prairie song was melodic and somewhat plaintive with solos by a clarinet, then flute, horn, and a saxophone, which seemed to be conversing with one another, then joining together, then the whole band. Very sweet, very gentle to listen to.

Other melodies treated our ears in the evening breeze. Such a treat. There was a fairly big crowd, but there was room for more.

A piece called Shock Wave was very busy and featured the band’s percussion section.

Mr. Prindle chooses music for the following season in the fall. He does publish a list and anyone is welcome to sponsor a piece by purchasing the music. Consider this option as it is a tax exemption for you—this being a non-profit organization.

One unique piece was entitled “Buggy Ride”. One could envision an old horse and buggy in the olden days, then one hears a “horseless carriage” beep at the horse and you can imagine the horse’s reaction and alarm, eventually calming down. This was a fun piece to listen to.

Shanty is an original work about a young man going out to sea for the first time, his hard work, his thoughts about the girl he left behind and a storm the weather through.

One of the final pieces is called “Fidgety Feet”, a well recognized tune that was played back in 1918 by the original Dixieland Band. This one featured the trombones of the band.

Jack invited all to the recording session being held September 14 at the Enumclaw High School Auditorium.

He also mentioned that if there is anyone who would like to join the band, he would like to have them come to one of the band’s practice nights, which is always on Mondays, 7 P.M. at Enumclaw Middle School.

Did you miss the concert? Want to go? There is one more performance, next Monday evening, August 24 at Christ the King Lutheran Church grounds in Sumner. Not only that if you come at 5:30 there will be a hamburger barbecue with all the fixings.

Jack also reminded the audience of upcoming concerts Sunday, December 6 at 2 P.M. and Monday, December 7 at 7 P.M. at Enumclaw High School

The concert was concluded by a piece called “Alabaster Cities”, a tribute to those lost on 9/11/2001.

JoAnn Lakin is an author with a published book entitled Unexpected Diversity Tales available at Amazon.com

ANNOUNCEMENT FROM CITY HALL

The City of Enumclaw is contemplating developing some City owned properties located downtown, into a downtown park, mixed-use buildings and a community/senior center. Please help determine the future of Downtown by taking the Downtown Plan Redevelopment Preferences Survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/EnumclawDowntownPlan

Your input is greatly appreciated. Please take a few moments to fill out the Downtown Plan Redevelopment Preferences Survey on line.

Thank you for your input in shaping the future of Downtown Enumclaw.

This survey is open to all and is also available on the City’s website. You are receiving this email because you have indicated an interest in the City’s future planning. If you have any questions, or want to unsubscribe to further emails on this topic, please feel free to contact me.

Erika Shook, AICP

Community Development Director

City of Enumclaw

eshook@ci.enumclaw.wa.us