Category Archives: Environment

Capitol Way Corridor Improvements Open House

Submitted by: Kristin Gilkerson, Senior Program Specialist, Public Works and Transportation, City of Olympia The City of Olympia is planning a transportation project on Capitol Way/Boulevard between Union Avenue and Carlyon Avenue. These changes will slow down speeding drivers and make it easier for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders to use the street.  We areContinue reading “Capitol Way Corridor Improvements Open House”

Help Harvest Produce for the Food Bank at the Capitol Campus

You may recall a post earlier this year about the Olympia Kiwanis Club and the Thurston County Food Bank working with volunteers to plant and harvest produce at the east Capitol Campus. That work is now yielding a lot of fresh food for the food bank – 46,000 pounds of so far. In the pictureContinue reading “Help Harvest Produce for the Food Bank at the Capitol Campus”

City Council To Discuss Vacant South Capitol Homes Used For Business Purposes

The Olympia City Council will conduct a work session on Tues, Sept 16 at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers that will discuss, among other topics, the situation in the South Capitol Neighborhood with vacant homes being owned and operated as businesses.  Work sessions are open to the public and I think it would be worthwhile for asContinue reading “City Council To Discuss Vacant South Capitol Homes Used For Business Purposes”

Learn About Electric Vehicles and Tax Credits

Submitted by Lynn Fitz-Hugh, Restoring Earth Connections Restoring Earth Connections kicks off its year-long Climate Challenge series on Thursday, August 21st from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at Good Shepard Church, 1601 North Street SE, Olympia.  This first session will focus on how to reduce your transportation footprint.  The Federal Tax Credit for buying used and new electric vehicles willContinue reading “Learn About Electric Vehicles and Tax Credits”

SCNA Comment on Olympia Comprehensive Plan and Environmental Impact Statement

Submitted by Gordon White: The City’s been pretty busy in its update to the Comprehensive Plan (Comp Plan). The Comp Plan update will direct many changes to the land use and zoning densities of our neighborhoods. Increasing the supply of housing is an important goal of this update. In order to fully evaluate and assessContinue reading “SCNA Comment on Olympia Comprehensive Plan and Environmental Impact Statement”

SCNA on Proposal to Allow Businesses in Residential Neighborhoods

The following is submitted by Gordon White, board member of the South Capitol Neighborhood Association (SCNA). Attached to this post is a letter drafted by a group of South Capitol neighbors  commenting on a city proposal to allow small-scale retail businesses anywhere in residential neighborhoods. The proposal would also eliminate all residential zoning districts inContinue reading “SCNA on Proposal to Allow Businesses in Residential Neighborhoods”

What’s Growing” in the Olympia Kiwanis Food Bank Garden, East Capitol Campus

Submitted by Derek Valley of the Kiwanis Club of Olympia. ============================================== For thirty-five years the Kiwanis Club of Olympia has been raising  organic vegetables to share with neighbors in need.   Our Kiwanis community service project, since 2007, has used the large, raised beds on the east Capitol Campus in partnership with the State of WashingtonContinue reading “What’s Growing” in the Olympia Kiwanis Food Bank Garden, East Capitol Campus”

How to Help Preserve Trees in Our Neighborhood

The Tree Ambassador Project, a program of Restoring Earth Connection and Inspire Olympia, wants your help.  The Tree Ambassador program has trained volunteers who travel their neighborhoods in pairs, meeting with neighbors and sharing with them the benefits of keeping their big trees on their properties. See this handout for more on these benefits. We alsoContinue reading “How to Help Preserve Trees in Our Neighborhood”