“Steamboat Neighborhood” Stickers Available Again

Thanks to generous contributions from three local businesses, the Griffin Neighborhood Association is once again able to distribute the iconic, oval “Steamboat Neighborhood” stickers free to area residents. Soon you will be able to pick up your sticker at businesses such as Companion Cove, the Island Market, Steamboat Island Coffee Shop, Urraco Coffee Company, Tipsy Whale, Our Community Credit Union (Steamboat Peninsula branch), the Griffin Fire Department Headquarters, and more.

These stickers are provided at no cost to the Association because of the support from these local businesses:

Our Community Credit Union

OCCU slider image

At OCCU you’ll find a variety of financial services including checking and savings accounts, personal loans, auto and RV loans, home improvement and land loans, financial education, online banking services, and more. Find out why OCCU says, “We’re community strong since 1941.”

Missy Watts, Realtor®, of Watts Property Group

When it comes to your real estate needs, the most important decision you will make is which broker to choose. Local resident Missy Watts has received the prestigious “Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)” designation, which only 5% of all Realtors have obtained. She has a deep familiarity with this region and she heads up an experienced and aggressive team of real estate experts.

“Having a broker in your corner who understands the area ensures that you will love where you live.”

Steamboat Tennis and Athletic Club

With the recent announcement that they’ll be opening a new fitness facility, STAC truly has become “your one-stop health and fitness solution.” They already offer a wide range of adult and junior tennis classes, private and group tennis lessons, and tennis events. Their new fitness facility will feature a training floor with strength and aerobic equipment, an indoor saltwater pool with 3 lanes for lap swimming, group fitness classes including yoga and spin, personal training, and much more.

Our Steamboat Neighborhood stickers have been seen on cars, trucks, boats, laptops. . . you name it. We’ve heard of area residents “finding” one another by spotting these stickers while traveling out of state.

Over the next week or so, GNA volunteers will be working to deliver supplies of these stickers to local businesses. Get your sticker while you support the businesses operating here in our neighborhood.

Read more about the history of the distinctive Steamboat Neighborhood sticker on our website.

Jim Hutchins, of South Sound IT, Retires and GNA Website Seeks a New Home

South Sound IT logo

Powered by South Sound IT

Jim Hutchins, a long-time supporter of our neighborhood and the Griffin Neighborhood Association, has announced his retirement. Over the years, many of us have relied upon Jim and his company, South Sound IT, to provide a variety of technology services meeting our business and personal technology needs. All of us at the GNA wish Jim the very best as he moves on to write the next chapter of his life with his wife, Meredith Hutchins. Meredith, of course, has served for many years as one of the three members of the Board of Fire Commissioners at the Griffin Fire Department. Jim and Meredith are avid world travelers, and we hope this announcement will portend many more adventures for the two of them.

For a number of years, Jim and South Sound IT have donated hosting services for this website to the GNA. This is no minor feat as the Association has operated online since 2003. A website that started using Microsoft FrontPage was ushered into WordPress maturity thanks to Jim’s generous donation beginning many years ago. We will be looking for a new WordPress host but it’s unlikely we’ll find another benefactor who has been as giving as Jim, to the Association and its webmaster.

It is possible, around April 12th, that we’ll go dark here. Between now and that date, we will be looking for alternative hosting arrangements. If we’re successful there will probably be only a relatively short interruption as we set up shop in the new location. However, if we cannot find another host for our WordPress site, you will continue to find us on Facebook, Twitter, a little on Instagram, and on Nextdoor. Email services will continue. Eventually, we’re sure to find a new home and we’ll bring our archive of years of online history back to the Internet.

Thank you, Jim Hutchins and South Sound IT, for your support of the GNA over many years. You will be missed here in cyberspace but we hope to continue to see you, hereabouts in the real world, for many years to come.

Annual Community Meeting – January 27

Native Plant Salvage Foundation logoThe Griffin Neighborhood Association will host its Annual Community Meeting Thursday, January 27, 6 PM to 8:30 PM at the Griffin Fire Department Headquarters.

This year’s keynote speakers will be Laura Westrup and Marcia Justis from the Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County and Joan Thomas from the Native Plant Salvage Foundation. The topic is ‘Gardening in the PNW‘ (or ‘What is that Growing in my Yard?’) and is sure to answer a lot of the questions we all have about the beautiful plants growing around us!

Thursday, January 27
6 PM to 8:30 PM
Griffin Fire Department Headquarters

The GNA will hold its annual election at 6:30 pm and the keynote will start at 7 pm.

Please Note: Due to Covid restrictions we will not be serving any refreshments and we do ask that everyone wear masks to the event.

Everyone is welcome!

Here are links to a variety of resources related to this year’s keynote speakers:
Washington State Native Plant Society
How to Determine Your Garden Microclimate
Thurston Conservation District soil testing
Great Plant Picks
Swanson Nursery
Territorial Seed Company
Mother Earth News
Insect Pests and Noxious Weeds
Gardening in Washington State

Master Gardener Foundation logo

GNA and Griffin PTO to Hold 2nd Trunk or Treat Event

Click image for a larger version.

Join the Griffin Neighborhood Association and the Griffin PTO at this year’s Trunk or Treat!

Sunday, October 31
4 PM to 7 PM
Griffin Elementary School Parking Lot

Please remain in your vehicle.
Social distancing will be observed.
Best trunk prize.

Donations of bagged candy are needed by October 28th. Drop-off boxes are located at the Griffin School, Griffin Fire Station, and Companion Cove.

Trunks Wanted! If interested, contact Becky at furacres@gmail.com.

We’re Planning This September’s Community Picnic

Last summer’s annual community picnic was canceled. But we’re determined to safely hold a family-friendly picnic this September! Mark your calendars and, if you can, won’t you lend us a hand?

Annual Community Picnic
Sunday, September 12
12 noon to 4 PM
Prosperity Grange and Tin Cup Driving Range

Admission will be free to current members of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, $5 per adult for those of you who are not members. If you haven’t yet joined, or have allowed your membership to lapse, now is a great time to join us. It’s easy, and you can do that online with a secure credit card transaction. If you prefer, you can join by mail or at the picnic.

There’ll be food, activities for children and adults, and much more. What’s “much more”? Let me tell you.

Northwest Beerwerks will be setting up a beer and wine garden and offering beverages for sale.

Magician John London will be presenting his magic show. Afterward, he’ll be creating balloon animals for the kids.

This year’s musical guest will be the band The Possible Solutions. Plus, there will be an open mic! We’re already hearing from talented neighbors who are interested in performing. We have 15-minute slots still available. Contact Becky for available times and details. Then bring your instrument.

Local nonprofit organizations will be available to describe their programs and services. If you represent or work with a nonprofit servicing our area, contact Becky to learn how you can set up a table at our picnic.

In addition, there will be prizes from local businesses and our event sponsors. Many of these prizes are in the form of gift baskets that will be raffled off. For example, Chelsea Farms is assembling a shellfish picnic basket comprised of a blanket, two bottles of wine, and a gift certificate good for ten pounds of clams, 5 dozen oysters, and a geoduck. The entire basket is valued at $250!

Would you help us plan the picnic or can you help us the day of the event? We have another picnic organizing meeting scheduled for August 12. Contact us if you can help.

Many thanks to our current sponsors and we expect to be adding more to this list, in the coming weeks.

Bay Shore Construction

Loading Dock Supply, LLC

Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club and Nicholson & Associates Insurance, LLC

Prosperity Grange

Do you operate a local business interested in a sponsorship at this year’s event? Contact us.

Bay Shore logo art

 

Annual Meeting Reviews 2020, Elects New Board Members, Discusses COVID Vaccines

This year’s Annual Community Meeting began with two videos. One highlighted the activities of the Griffin Neighborhood Association and its partners, in 2020 and the other is entitled “Coping with COVID.”

A required bit of business at each Annual Meeting is the election of Board members in positions whose terms of office have expired. This year we are grateful that several board members have allowed themselves to be nominated for a new term. Those were joined by three new Board members.

Returning Board members are:
Katherine Ball
Michael Ball
Paul Frindt
Michelle O’Dell
Mike Reavis
Joan Thomas

New Board members are:
Jan Robbins
Rick Robbins
Biene Wood

Many thanks to departing Board members Jan Hopwood and Dave Shuett-Hames. Your service to our community is greatly appreciated.

For this year’s meeting, the keynote speaker was Danny Veenhouwer, PharmD, MBA, Senior Manager Pharmacy Services at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Mr. Veenhouwer presented information and answered our questions about COVID vaccines.

We were privileged Mr. Veenhouwer was able to take time out of his evening to address the community on this very timely topic.

2020 was the Griffin Neighborhood Association’s thirtieth year! We are grateful for the support from all our neighbors and we’re looking forward to 2021.

Virtual Annual Meeting of the Griffin Neighborhood Association, Thursday, February 18

Each year the Griffin Neighborhood Association convenes an Annual Community Meeting. This meeting combines some Association business required in its bylaws with an opportunity to present a program of interest to the general community. This year we have planned an online meeting.

The meeting begins at 6:30 PM, when we will present two video programs. One is the GNA 2020 Year in Review, where we’ll recap some of the Association’s activities over the last year. The other video, “Coping With Covid,” includes many neighbors’ contributions here in the Griffin area. Thanks to all of you who contributed images that describe how you are coping with the ongoing pandemic.

At about 7 PM, we will hold our annual election of Board members. Each year, half the board of directors’ positions must be filled, either with returning or new members. Only those currently-paid up members of the Association can vote in the Board election. If you have not yet made your annual contribution, you can do so online using a secure transaction at this link. Make sure you’re paid up before the Annual Meeting to vote in our Board election.

At about 7:15 PM, our keynote speaker will begin. Our keynote speaker is Danny Veenhouwer, PharmD, MBA, Senior Manager Pharmacy Services at Providence St. Peter Hospital, who will present information on “COVID Vaccines.” The differences, the availability, and the safety of them.

GNA Virtual Annual Community Meeting
Thursday, February 18
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Use this link to attend the Annual Meeting:
https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZDViMmE1YjAtNzBlNy00Y2VkLWFiMTEtYjAyOTgzMjQxMTc1%40thread.v2/0?context=%7B%22Tid%22%3A%223db789f8-e3f1-45fd-ac6b-de5cea47e7bb%22%2C%22Oid%22%3A%22025428ce-9fac-476e-a9e1-6809ec591410%22%2C%22IsBroadcastMeeting%22%3Atrue%7D

A screen will appear that gives two options. Select “watch on the web instead’ (no need to install anything unless you are on your phone or tablet). Set back and enjoy the show! Simple as that.

The Annual Meeting will take place online as a live event using Microsoft Teams. As GNA President Mike Reavis explains, “This will be a little different than the Zoom sessions I am sure you are all familiar with.” For this event, there is no need for a camera or microphones on your part. Only the meeting host and our presenters will have the ability to speak, share their presentations, and have the option of turning on their camera.

“We are hoping this format will make it easier for everyone to attend the annual meeting and we will make a recording available after the event. As we all know, we cannot meet in person, so we are hoping this will be the next best thing.”

If you attend the meeting using a personal computer, you won’t have to install any software. Just attend it using a web browser. You can also choose to attend anonymously. If you attend using a mobile phone, you may have to install the Microsoft Teams mobile app, either from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

When you attend the event, you will find a Question and Answer tab on-screen, for you to type in questions during the meeting, and the presenters will then answer them.

For technical questions about what to expect with Microsoft Teams, please click this link.

We are looking forward to this year’s Annual Community Meeting. We hope you are, too.

Join Us for Tree Lighting at Companion Cove

Click the image for a larger version.

Come join us Saturday, December 5th, to watch a tree lighting ceremony from the comfort of your own vehicle. Join in singing Christmas carols with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Saturday, December 5
6:00 PM
Companion Cove

On Saturday, we will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the satellite food bank at St. Christopher’s Community Church. Please bring something to donate.

Then, beginning December 6th and continuing until Christmas, children can make an ornament and hang it on the Griffin Neighborhood Christmas tree at Companion Cove (please hang ornaments on the lower branches).

Presented by the Griffin Neighborhood Association.

See you on December 5th!

Trunk or Treat This Halloween at Griffin School and Companion Cove

Click the image for a larger version.

Join the Griffin Neighborhood Association and Griffin PTO for a Trunk or Treat on Halloween evening. This drive-through event will be held at the Griffin School and Companion Cove parking lots.

Griffin School and Companion Cove
Sunday, October 31
5:00 to 8:00 PM

Social distancing will be observed and we ask you remain in your vehicle. Non-costume masks are required.

Donations of bagged candy are needed. If you would like to donate, there are drop off boxes at Griffin School, Griffin Fire Station, and Companion Cove. Please make your candy donations by October 28th.

Trunks wanted! If you’re interested, contact Becky at furacres@gmail.com. Prize for the best trunk?

GNA Board Members Prepare BBQ for Griffin Fire First Responders

We all feel safe in our beautiful Steamboat community and that is in great part because of our wonderful first responders. The Board of the Griffin Neighborhood Association wanted to show our gratitude to them by cooking up and serving a meal. It pales in comparison to the risks they all take for us, but it definitely came from our hearts.

We were able to do this for them on Saturday, August 22nd. We also took this opportunity to welcome our new fire chief, Corey Rux. What a great time we all had getting to know one another and making plans for future endeavors together. We even managed to have some ‘entertainment’ of sorts after we ate. Did someone say Karaoke? Yes, they did and a few brave souls brought even more joy to the day with a song or two.

Fire Chief Corey Rux

Fire Chief Corey Rux

Thanks to all of the board members that participated and to our fire chief and crew, it was a perfect day.

For more information about the Griffin Fire Department, click here to see their website (check out their free services and resources page). You can email them at admin@griffinfd.org or give them a call at 360-866-9000. Their office hours at the Headquarters (3707 Steamboat Loop NW) are 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.