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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
May 12, 2011     Shelton Mason County Journal
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May 12, 2011
 
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By NATALIE JOHNSON Community gardens are sprout- ing up throughout the county, and according to groups like Mason Matters, give people who ordinar- ily wouldn't have access to a plot of land of their own a chance to gain empowerment through gardening. Since January, Mason Matters has been working with this principle in mind, coordinating with Mason General Hospital and the communi- ty to create the HOPE Community Garden, which stands for Hands On Personal Empowerment. "The mission of the garden is to provide a green space that nourish- es not just through food but through a social gathering point," said Del- phina Liles, an AmeriCorps volun- teer with Mason Matters. On Monday, Mason Matters, Ma- son General, and supporters of the HOPE Garden hosted a ribbon Cut- ting to recognize the official comple- tion of the project. During the ceremony, hospital district commissioner Nancy Truck- sess recognized Liles for her work. "She was the force behind this when she stepped onboard," Truck- sess said. "This little girl may be small, but she packs a wallop and it's because of Delpina's efforts that we are here today." The garden, which is on hospi- tal property, is open for public use. Community members rent sixteen beds in the garden annually andfive different school programs use the garden as a learning tool. The garden also grows fresh veg- etables for the Saint's Pantry Food Bank. "I can't say enough about how exited I am that we have this gar- den right across from our hospital," Trucksess said. Habitat for Humanity also helped build the volunteer based project, and bu_iiLt raised garden beds and a tool shed. "It's the Cadillac of sheds - it's beautiful," Liles said. Getting the garden off the ground was a long and arduous process, Li- les said, but completely worth it. "I want to talk a little about what hope really means," she said. Upon arriving in Mason County and starting her position at Mason Matters Liles was given a mission - to work towards improving health and wellness in Mason County, and to look for creative and "out of the box," solutions to problems. "I found a lot of people who were enthusiastic about the community garden and I ran into a lot of people who said that they needed a space where they felt like they could phys- ically and creatively express them- selves, an outlet that would empow- er them," she said. One of those people personally Journal photos by Natalie Johnson Above, DelphinaLiles, an AmeriCorps volunteer with Mason Matters, was the driving force in creating the HOPE Community Garden at Mason General Hospital. At left, hospital District Commissioner Nancy Trucksess, left, Kim Klint, of Mason Matters, Jessica Hendy of Mason County Youth Programs and Delphina Liles of Mason Matters watch as five year old volunteer Rebekka Rigby performs the ribbon cutting for the HOPE Community Garden. empowered by the garden, Janiece being here ...I've never gardened, Brenston came to the project I'm from Chicago, I'm a city girl, through Mason County Youth Pro- and let me tell you she (Liles) put grams, me to work," she said. "I'm glad to "I've gained a lot of experience be a part of the community." Journal photo by Natalie Johnson Johnny Arrant, owner of new Shelton restaurant Gianni's Cucina, proudly shows off his new pizza oven. By NATALIE JOHNSON spaghetti and ravioli ... and then I'll add specials to Next week, Sheltonites the menu.., so I can chal- will be able to buy a little lenge myself, plus bring new slice of Italy right in their things to people," he said. backyard. Since January, Arrant has "I think there's a nichebeen renovating his leased for it here in town for it," he space in downtown Shelton, said. "I don't feel we've real- changing it from office space ly had a good pizza," he said. to a functioning restaurant. After losing his job in an He removed ancient lathe ailing construction market and plaster from the walls several years ago, Arrant, to reveal the original brick, and his daughter Lisa Donze, and a hidden garage door. started thinking about open- He also remodeled the front ing up a new Italian restau- area into a dining room, and rant in Shelton. On May 16, the rear into a kitchen, by they plan to open Gianni's adding a pizza oven, work Cucina, which Arrant said area, range, and range hood, means Johnny's Kitchen in which he said was the most Italian. challenging and expensive "For the last five years, aspect oftheremodel. Lisa and I have talked about "With my construction it, kicked it back and forth backgrotmd I was able to do and probably ,in the last two everything myself," Arrant years we got more serious," said. "We probably saved he said. $50,000." "Last year I got seriousArrant said that while he about kicking off." spent 25 years working in Arrant and Donze said construction, he began his that their pizza will beworking career in restau- unique in Shelton. Whilerants. the area already has many "I learned how to run of the major pizza chains, a big kitchen at a pretty they say they want to create young age, then got in the a more crafted, artisanal family construction busi- pizza, ness," he said. "It's a cross between Unlike many restaurants American bastardized pizza in the county, Gianni's will and the true Italian pizza, be open on Monday's Arrant which is thin and has a few and Donze said. toppings, just sauce and"I've been talking to peg- cheese," Arrant said. "We're ple that work in the restau- in the middle there." rants and bars and they got While pizza will be the nowhere to go when they're main focus, they also plan to off," he said. "I'm trying to have selected favorites from put a little service out there Italian cuisine, so they have a place to come "My passion is to bring ... or just a hip environment other stuff- weql start with to hang out in." Featured Agent Rick Coleman OLD FASHIONED SERVICE WITH HIGH TECH SKILLS Rick Coleman has lived in the Shelton area since 1973. Rick earned a Certificate of Proficiency in Real Estate from South Puget Sound Community College in 1983 and a Bachelor of Arts degree (with an emphasis in Business Administration) from Evergreen State College in 1988. He was elected President of the Mason County Board of Realtors in 1991 and 2000. In 1997 Rick was selected as the Mason County Association of Realtor's "Realtor ofthe Year". Rick served on the Mason County Planning Commission from 1989 to 2003 (serving as chairman in 1992, 1993 & 2002). For the past thirty years Rick has specialized in listing and selling waterfront properties, new construction, homes on acreage, acreage and land segregation. As a "full time" real estate agent Rick is an annual "Multi Million Dollar" producer. Since 1990 Rick have closed over $22,750,000 worth of fresh waterfront sales (158 transactions). Please call Rick at 490-1004 or email him at rrlcoleman@ aol.com for assistance with your real estate needs. NEED NOT BE PRESENT, JUST ENTER TO WIN! CONSIS~N~ • COMMI~ENT • CONNECTION Windermere REAL ESTATE WINDERMERE REAL ESTATE / HIMLIE, INC. Stop in today at 920 Railroad Avenue in Shelton or call us at 426-2646 Visit us on the web: www.wreshelton.com Make our home page your HOME page. Customer Appreciation Lunch Factory • Prizes • Special Pricing * 90 Day Layaway When you purchase an Amazing Blaze KingQD Woodstove with stocked Hearth Classic stove pad before 7/30/11 Fencing Sale lx6-6ft. Douglas Fir $119ea lx6-6ft Cypress Rot Resistant like cedar 2x4-Treated 8ft. 4x4 Treated 8ft AZEKe Decking Stain & Fade Resistant Highest quality PVC decking UNr R TmegeP Pellet BBQ #055 "Taste the Sizzle" $399.99 value • Mmnke Clean Burn Pellets" f,,i,U~Vi (5i0 Bags) • Be~ar Mountain Fire Log Brricks 240 3# Bricks ¥/e • Bear Mountain "~Am' Peell~ (50 Bags) • No)~h Idaho 240 T~PVl Emergy Logs Composite LOW Per Foot Maintenance Reg. I 12-16-20 foot sins t WE,R, GRAIN 5/4" X 6" 1" x 6" T~ LFI Slate Grey/Br0wnstone j, 0~8 Supply Limited LHV Efficient KEJ1107 Ultra ! BOCK .>'JI PACKAG I Clean Bum RAILROAD TIES 7X9 - 8ft (RR2) Also Stocking 9'-16' Switch Ties Shelton-Mason 6' X 10' mymp Cedar Topl=OMI UXISI 8' X 12' omm Treated Top 0OCKS Many sizes & styles PRICES GOOD FROM MAY6 - 21, 2011 • 360-479.4414 450 National Ave S Bremerton County Journal -Thursday, May 12, 2011 - Page A-3