In this past year writing about the healthcare system, I came to realize that most of us feel depressed and powerless. Pawns in a system rather than patients, wondering if it will ever get better. We …
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As a YCS parent I am urging our community to vote YES for kids in the upcoming levy. Our students are finally recovering from the years of pandemic sacrifices: they’re regaining
skills, …
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Reader opinion submitted by Tami Kirkham
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3/12/24
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Do you like trees? Then you should be a big fan of infill housing. That means building up, not out, and putting houses where we’ve already cut down all the trees. But Thurston County could …
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St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner (it’s officially next Sunday, March 17, this year).
Although I am not of Irish ancestry, my name, Shannon, is very Irish. That makes me …
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... cat v. bird research published in 2013 estimated that cats kill between 1.3 and 4.0 billion birds in North America each year.
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Several weeks ago, I received a few photographs sent by reader John Hutchings. John noticed that a single bird was spending its night in the roof vents of his house, choosing a different vent each …
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March is National Women of History Month. In 1980 President Jimmy Carter was successfully lobbied by a coalition of women’s group to issue a proclamation recognizing National Women’s …
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By Kathleen Anderson
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3/6/24
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I received my Mail-In Ballot a few days ago, probably you did as well. Basically, I was not concerned about the process until lately. There has been much alarm raised over the process of …
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This chili recipe is healthy, easy and delicious. My daughter tells me she can’t eat chili unless I made it. With the changing weather, this warm comfort food is perfect on raw, windy …
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By Shannon Beigert
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3/4/24
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In an alley one block north of Bigelow Park in NE Olympia, the biggest and likely oldest Madrona tree in Thurston County is in declining health, but still breathtakingly beautiful.
Its location …
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Introduction – In 2023, Liam Hutcheson located and documented 378 bird species in Washington, a new state record. I enjoyed hearing Liam tell the stories of his Big Year and I asked him to …
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Happy Leap Year! And to all the Leap Year Babies, Happy Birthday! Since it only happens every four years, I hope you are doing something epic this year to celebrate.
What does …
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As winter drags on in the PNW and your medical columnist returns from vacation, I decided to make this week’s health topic just that. I love vacations and as it turns out, they are good for our …
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By Debra L. Glasser, M.D.
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2/27/24
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Many people enjoy sandwiches from time to time. My family especially likes a favorite called Croque Monsieur. It is versatile, warm, filling, and may be served for breakfast, lunch, dinner or weekend …
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No two springs are exactly alike. And each spring, every gardener is one year older, so we’re never exactly alike either.
The more years of gardening behind us, the bigger the …
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Check the calendar. It is 1/3 rd of the way from the winter solstice to the summer solstice, and the birds have noticed. They’re beginning the spring migration.
Migration time for many …
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I have been talking to my friends and family about the younger generation recently and we all agreed we don’t have a clue what is going on. Teenagers and even younger kids, car-jacking Kias and …
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Olympia's city manager told the city council finance committee at a meeting on February 14 that " property taxes are not keeping up with inflation ."
That has not been my experience, …
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A quest to establish cordial relations with insects and bugs led me to “Insects and Gardens: In Pursuit of a Garden Ecology,” by Eric Grissell.
“Insects, at an estimated weight …
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Some years ago, I stopped at the store on my way home from work to pick up a few items, including a light bulb.
When I got home and was putting things away, I realized there was no light bulb. I …
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