One Week Left for Submissions to our Scholarship Essay Contest

by MITCH DIETZ

There is only one week left for submissions to our “What Makes a House a Home?” scholarship essay contest. Be sure to share this great opportunity with all the local high school students you know.

We already have some great submissions and are looking forward to more!

Visit our Facebook page and click on the “Essay Contest” icon to submit your entry at: https://www.facebook.com/cbolympia

Please ‘like’ our page while you are there!

Jim McNamara Inducted into The Olympia High School Hall of Fame

by MITCH DIETZ

(Jim McNamara and Gay Gildy)

Our own Jim McNamara was inducted into the Olympia High School Sports Hall of Fame this past weekend. Jim received a Lifetime Achievement award for his 37 years as the voice of the Bears!

In addition to being Olympia High schools best fan, Jim’s lifetime award honors his involvement and contributions for not only Olympia High School, but many youth sports throughout the area. Jim has spent countless hours and contributed much to the youth sports of our area.

When Jim and his wife Sally moved to Olympia to raise his three sons, he coached youth baseball winning three championships. As his sons entered Olympia High School, he joined Bob Dunn’s Football Booster Club and helped with fundraising; he helped make the football and basketball programs one of the best in the state. He sponsored one of the Youth Football teams for the first year of the program (Evergreen Olympic Realty) and served on the board of the organization. Jim was also on the board of the Northwest Baseball League that started the “Wooden Bats” tournament that still exists today.

When Capital High School opened, the announcer for Olympia High School football games moved to the new school. Jim agreed to fill in at OHS until they could find someone else to do the job and subsequently became the voice of the Bears for 37 years! “It was a great ride and a lot of fun to be involved with some really great teams,” said Jim.

Congratulations Jim on all your hard work and contributions to our local youth sports programs!

Spring Centerpieces

by MITCH DIETZ

Spring has definitely arrived here in the Pacific Northwest! With showers and sun – sometimes at the same time – our lush landscape is about to burst into bloom. Using clippings from spring blooms is a great way to add a pop of color with a natural centerpiece around your home.

Recently Houzz.com shared a some great ideas for spring arrangements. Check out the great suggestions here at: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/9799583/list/10-Beautifully-Blossoming-Spring-Centerpieces

Our scholarship contest has begun!

by MITCH DIETZ

Our essay contest, “What Makes a House a Home?” has officially begun! Be sure to share this contest with all the Thurston County high school students you know.

To submit an essay, simply go to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cbolympia

Our Scholarship Essay Contest is less than a week away!

Our scholarship contest begins in less than one week! We are really looking forward to reading all the wonderful essays from our local high school students.

We started this contest in 2011 and the first place winner that year, Tessa Niemer, wrote a fun and tender piece about her homes.   Here’s her winning essay:

My Birkenstocks and Fuzzy Socks

1^stPlace (2011): Tessa Rose Niemer, Olympia

I believe in Birkenstocks, chicken noodle soup, toaster ovens, and the feel of a sweatshirt just warm out of the dryer. I believe in holiday-themed fuzzy socks, the hum of a small room’s space heater, and I believe in the soothing rhythm of rain pattering against my bedroom window. I believe in the fresh-golden scent of pancakes cooking on the Sunday morning griddle and Spongebob Squarepants cartoons. I believe in what makes up my home.

Ever since I was three, I have shared my Sunday morning pancakes and Christmas-themed fuzzy socks with two households. Both were—and remain—vastly different. One belongs to my mother, one to my father, but both are a place I consider home. My father’s cozy apartment remains my haven of peace and quiet, scratched Jimi Hendrix records, really good hash browns, and, I have to admit, the better of the Sunday-morning pancakes. My mother’s house belongs to a quirky artist, scattered crossword puzzles, and lipstick-rimmed tea mugs sometimes filled with either paintbrushes or commonly misplaced reading glasses.

Home is comfort. Comfort is reading in bed while the rain falls on my roof; it’s wearing my “hippie shoes” and sporting ’80’s themed dance attire. Comfort is being true to your personality and having the confidence to be the eccentric dork that no one sees. If home is where the heart is, I’d like to be sure that my home is a place where I can let myself wear Christmas socks in May.
When I was younger, I would often get caught staying up way past the hour of decency reading the most recent book of my interest. This meant using towels to stuff the crack below my bedroom door to hide the light my camping lantern produced—but this proved useless if I accidentally dropped the lantern, causing shivers of sound to reach my mother’s nearby bedroom. I became accustomed to the noise of my mother’s hasty footsteps as she grouchily got out of bed, harshly turning her doorknob as she reached my bedroom in a mere two steps. If she had been going downstairs to make herself a midnight sandwich, her footsteps would have been nimble and pinched as she prodded down the stairs in her one-two one-two pattern. It’s funny how even things as simple as the pattern of footsteps, or the turning of a doorknob, can identify those around you as easily as the familiarity of their voice, or the sound of their body language.
That’s what home is, though. Home is having comfort in who you are; home is being a dork and wearing socks completely out of season. Home is recognizing the pattern of footsteps; it’s freshly cooked pancakes and reading too late. Home is the sound of body language. My home isn’t a singular unit; my home lies between and within two households. A house is where you live—but a home is where your heart is.

The Olympia Country and Golf Club

The Olympia Country and Golf Club has stood as an icon in West Olympia for almost 90 years. As of late, membership and patronage has declined however, under the new ownership of Dr. Angela Bowen, life is being restored to the club!

Amy Rowley with Thurston Talk, recently wrote a great article sharing the current and future plans for the club. You can read her article here at: http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/03/25/rebuilding-the-olympia-country-golf-club/

“What Makes a House a Home?” Scholarship Contest

by MITCH DIETZ

This is the third year we are proud to offer this great scholarship opportunity to Thurston County high school students.

We would like to again congratulate Starlynn Simon, last year’s first place winner, on her heartfelt essay. Starlynn put her scholarship to great use as she is currently attending The University of Washington in Tacoma.

Here’s her winning essay:

The Fourth Generation

My house is more than wood, nails, windows, shingles and stairs. My house is where every “first” for me has ever taken place, every memory and every moment that has made me, me. My name is Star, I am the youngest of six children and this house is where I was born. I have never had another address besides this one.

My house is neither big, fancy or new, in actuality, it is slightly run down with chipped paint, missing stairs, a few cracked windows and more than a few stray cats living outside. Though there has never been enough room for all the people and children that have been raised here, I honestly wonder if anyone has ever noticed. There is so much more to see, feel and experience here besides room.

My house has been passed down through four generations. My family is from France and this is where my grandparents first moved when they came to America. Every tree, every flower and every plant here was planted by my great grandfather and my great grandmother hands. The lavender trees, the lily of the valley and the iris’ were more than just landscaping for them; this was the only part of France they could feasibly bring with them. When I step inside my home and I see the vases of fresh flowers from the garden, the representation is almost overwhelming. The flowers represent my family coming to America to make a life for themselves, and future generations away from the hardship and death of the war between France and Germany.

My house is more than a shelter. It is filled with the memories of the children that have come and gone from here, the great grandparents and grandparents that have long since passed, memories that can never be moved and a sense of belonging that can never be taken away. This house is made up of four generations of character, integrity, grace, mercy, forgiveness, laughter and tears. This is my families’ home, this is my home, my sanctuary and this is where my heart and spirit will always belong.

Olympia Farmers Market Opens this Week

The Olympia Farmers Market opens this Thursday, April 4^th. For locally grown produce, fresh flowers, local bakery goods, wonderful art and so much more, be sure to visit the market! Hours are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,   Thursday through Sunday.

For more information and to see all the local vendors check out the Olympia Farmers Market website at: http://olympiafarmersmarket.com/.

Spring Break at Home!

by MITCH DIETZ

It’s Spring Break Time!  If you are staying close to home here are a few fun suggestions for you and your family.

1) Hands On Children’s Museum:  Spring break camps for K-4^th graders.  Explore the desert, take a trip thru space or visit the worlds famous islands.  See the Museum website for details and to register:  http://www.hocm.org/page.php?id=493

2)  The Somewhat True Story of Robin Hood will be showing at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts.  Bring your family to enjoy this adventure filled play.  See website for show times:  http://www.washingtoncenter.org/

3)  Enjoy the world of flight?  Visit our Thurston County treasure, The Olympic Flight Museum and explore the world of flight.  Open Wednesday – Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.   http://www.olympicflightmuseum.com/index.php

4) Want to paint your own masterpiece? Come check out Let’s Paint! located downtown. Let’s Paint is a fun and unique painting experience where you are guided through the evening’s featured painting, step-by-step by one of their instructors. At the end of your evening you walk away with you very own 16×20 personal piece of artwork! Check out their calendar of events at: http://letspaintoly.com/

5)  Olympia Farmer’s Market is Opening for the 2013 Season:  On Thursday, April 4^th, come down to the Market and enjoy some locally grown produce, hand-made items, great food and live music.    http://www.olympiafarmersmarket.com/

6)  Skiing?  Yes!  There is still time to hit the slopes and the late snowfall has made for great spring skiing.  One of our favorites is White Pass and they are open every day of spring break!  For snow report, conditions and hours of operation visit: http://www.skiwhitepass.com/

Whether you are sticking around the South Sound or travelling afar this spring break we wish you a wonderful time with your family.