Today's New York Times has a nice article about Lucia Perillo, the distinguished Olympia poet who died recently.

Learn how to create a beautiful landscape that will survive the rocky soils and cooler temperatures typical of South Thurston County areas.  Plant and wildlife experts will show you how to create a custom plan for your yard, select plants for year round beauty, reduce maintenance headaches, conserve water, and attract birds and butterflies unique to South Thurston County.

Reserve your spot in this FREE class by emailing info@nativeplantsalvage.org or online at www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar

Location: Maytown Assembly of God Church

Optional Part 2: December 15, 6 – 9 p.m.
Local landscape experts will be on hand to review the custom planting plan you create after Part 1 and help your dreams move to reality.

Author and teacher Shon Meckfessel will lead a discussion about the situation in Syria and what can be done, and will present the film The White Helmets.  The event is Tuesday, October 25th, 7 PM, at Traditions Fair Trade Cafe, 300 5th Avenue SW, in downtown Olympia. Meckfessel is curator of SyriaSources.org and has lived in Syria. He recently returned from a trip to the region where he interviewed Syrians in Jordan and Lebanon. This event will feature a Skype call-in with a member of the White Helmets, a Syrian civil defense organization.
 
Sponsored by: 
Economics for Everyone,
Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice,
Students for Justice in Palestine - TESC,
and GI Voice

On 09/10/2016, I was walking home from work when I saw what looked like a domestic violence situation. I stopped and interrogated both the seriously injured woman and the man shouting at each other. The man, known as "Blue," walked off, pissed as all hell, and I began talking to the woman.

This picture was taken at the Interfaith shelter at First Christian Church, this is what she looked like when I found her.

She told me she fell of her bike trying to swerve away from a car. She had been to Capital Medical Center twice and St. Peter's once in the 5 days before. She told me that after she admitted to being an addict, doctors treated her like a criminal, not a patient. At Capital Medical Center, they manhandled her, leaving her with arm damage which has left damning consequences.

Having once been homeless, I am familiar with how medical facilities treat the homeless, whether addicts or not. Even in hospitals, the homeless are
treated like criminals for simply trying to live another day.

Cassandra's plan was to go to Harborview, and I didn't have means to get her there. So, I took her directly to the First Christian Church shelter. The shelter staff and Cassandra worked out a solution, while I stayed until I knew what the outcome would be. A staffer by the name of Bryan took Cassandra to St. Peter's Hospital, hoping that if she had a non-homeless advocate, that she would receive better treatment.

Here are the pictures I took of Cassandra at First Christian, she told me that she wanted her story heard.

Replant a Wetland/Riparian Buffer
On Saturday, November 12th volunteers will enjoy a day of restoring a wetland buffer and riparian forest in this South Thurston Capitol Land Trust property, supported by staff from WSU Extension/Native Plant Salvage Foundation and Thurston County Water Resources/ Stream Team.  This is a great opportunity to learn about native plants best suited to different conditions while restoring the ecological function of this wetland and adjacent forest complex. 

Volunteers are also invited to assist on November 9th & 10th to prepare for the event.

Register by emailing info@nativeplantsalvage.org or at www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar. Directions and further information will be sent out to registered volunteers prior to the event.

Join us at a beautiful Capitol Land Trust property to learn about beaver habitat and ecological restoration, all while helping re-plant a restored wetland system. All helping hands are welcome to volunteer, supported by us and our partners, Thurston County Water Resources/Stream Team, for an invigorating day of volunteering and learning.

Volunteer for however many (or few!) hours you want to, or just come to learn this Sunday, October 30th anytime between 10:00 a.m. - 4:30p.m. We'll have hot drinks and food to keep you fueled throughout the day.

Location:  The Tilley Wetlands Preserve is an extraordinary ecosystem, providing important habitat to wildlife including elk, beavers, porcupine, innumerable songbirds, and diverse waterfowl species.

Workshop:  At 10:30 a.m., Thurston Co. environmental educator Chris Maun will provide an overview of beaver habitat and behavior. We’ll spend the rest of the time learning about the plants that will help return this area to natural function while replanting the wetland. 

Carpools will be organized from Olympia’s west side, or meet at the site. Volunteers are also invited to assist on October 27th & 28th to prepare for the event. Please let us know if you are interested in one either of those prep dates.

Ask questions or RSVP by emailing info@nativeplantsalvage.org. Directions will be sent upon registration.

Don't forget to check out our website for more great fall and winter opportunities!

Curious about what bog habitat looks like? Want to help restore forest habitat? Join WSU Extension/Native Plant Salvage for a bog workshop and planting event in South Thurston County on Sunday, October 23, from noon to 4:30 p.m. Volunteers will have the chance to explore a special bog habitiat on property owned by the Capitol Land Trust (CLT) and learn about the unique plants visible in fall. Volunteers will be replanting a forest understory on where CLT has recently removed invasive ivy.

Directions and more info upon registration by contacting info@nativeplantsalvage.org or calling (360) 867-2167.  

More great upcoming events can be found at: http://www.nativeplantsalvage.org/calendar/

Tiken Jah Fakoly created a fresh new African reggae style by recording in Jamaica and then adding West African instruments. The Mali-based political exile from Ivory Coast uses the same technique on this new set of reggae covers, on which he is joined by a remarkable cast. It starts with Is It Because Im Black?, a hit in Jamaica for Ken Boothe in 1973, which now begins with gentle African kora, ngoni and balafon as Fakoly duets with an on-form Boothe, before Jamaicas legendary rhythm section Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare kick in. There are also appearances by U Roy and Max Romeo on an inventive set that includes such re-worked 70s classics as One Step Forward, along with a Buju Banton song and a French-language tribute to Fakolys compatriot Alpha Blondy.

Find out more:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqmUkjZhYOM&list&BomayeEntertainment.Seattle.TikenJahFakoly

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmFJglsAUXM&BomayeEntertainment.Seattle.TikenJahFakoly