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Shelton-Mason County Journal
WHAT%COOKIN'
By JANE METZGER
Special to the Journal
It was a 'great day for riding' at
the 2nd Annual Bike Poker Run
presented by the Tina DeLong
Griswold Foundation (TDGF) on
Saturday at the Lucky Dog Ca-
sino.
More than 30 motorcycle en-
thusiasts came out to participate
in the bike rally, which raised
funds to police help the families of
officers who lost their lives in the
line of duty.
The foundation was created by
Tammy Gipe, sister of Tina De-
Long Griswold, a Lakewood po-
lice officer who was killed along
with two fellow officers while on
duty in November 2009. The im-
pact of the crime sent shockwaves
through the Northwest, and for
the families of these officers, the
grief was magnified by the per-
sonal financial loss associated
with having to attend the legal
proceedings that followed.
"The financial burden on fam-
ily members following a tragedy
like this is a fact that often goes
unrecognized," said Tom DeLong,
president of TDGF, and brother of
DeLong Griswold. The foundation
provides support to families of law
enforcement who become victims
of crime, and offers financial as-
sistance for their out-of-pocket
expenses in attending court and
appearing as witnesses.
The annual Poker Run is a day
of fun, prizes, live music and a
barbecue. The event begins with a
Dick Bell (left) is all smiles after winning
See Poker run on page B-3 fully stocked Pepsi party fridge.
Journal photo by Jane Metzger
first
nrize - a
JournaF pnolos By Natalie Jonnsor
Above, Chris Ballew, of the band The Presidents of the United States of Amerma, performs as his alter ego Caspar
Babypants on July 18 at the Shelton Timberland Library, leading dozens of children in sing-alongs. Right, local
children and their parents turned out for the event.
Seattle rocker Ballew visits Shelton as children's performer
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncounty.com
Chris Ballew has had a
long career in the music in-
dustry, most notably in the
alternative rock band Thesongs at the Shelton Timber-
Presidents of the United land Library.
States of America. Many of these songs in-
Last Wednesday Ballew volved animals and all of
visited Shelton as his alter them had the sizable crowds of
ego, Caspar Babypants, per-
forming a set of children's See Babypants on page B-3
New
director
passionate
about
literacy
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncounty.corn
T',vo out of five people in
the United States struggle
with basic literacy skills
such as reading, writing
and math.
Damian Gates, the new-
ly appointed executive di-
rector at Sound Learning,
believes every one of them
has a story.
"There are all kinds of
reasons people don't do
well in
school~
that have
nothing
to do with
intelli-
gence,"
She said.
In fact,
Gates has
her own Damian
story. She Gates
said she
grew up
in the "backwoods of Ken-
tucky" and was the first
member of her family to
graduate from high school.
She is also the only mem-
ber of the family to gradu-
ate from college.
Gates now holds a mas-
ter of education degree.
"What I've done in my
life is push myself and
push myself," she said.
Through her 27 years of
expermnce in education.
Gates spent 18 years teach-
ing English in California,
and spent time as the prin-
cipal of the Quileute Tribal
School.
Gates, who lives in
Olympia, said she felt com-
pelled to apply to Sound
Learning as soon as she
saw the nonprofit was hir-
ing an executive director.
"I saw the ad -- it cap-
tivated my imagination
right away," she said. "It's
always been about literacy
for me."
While at Quileute, Gates
also worked as an adult
education director for the
school district.
"You're never too old
to learn. I admire people
who may have had a bad
experience in school who
make the decision to go out
there and do something to
See Literacy on page B-3
ill
"~"~ "then Judy and I moved up
here from Arizona some
• • 15 years ago, I told her
that she wouldn't be seeing many
sunsets. Before moving here we
visited only during the summer,
so Judy didn't quite get the rea-
son I was saying that. Well, on
Thursday, like many a summer
night, she reminded me of that
statement as the sun was setting
pinkish into the Olympics. The
clouds changed to that dark pur-
ple with the bright yellow reflect-
ing and glowed orange under the
slow wisp of condensed condensa-
tion. It was beautiful.
On July 14 we went to the
outside garage
sale at Spencer
Lake Bar and
Grill. Even
though the
weather
was a little
chilly, there
was a crowd of
By MIKE people shop-
CALLAGHAN ping. I mention
that because
on Aug. 4 there
is going to be another large sale
-- it will be the Annual Harstine
Island Rummage Sale. This event
is sponsored by the Community
Club and all the proceeds go right
back into the maintenance of the supplies, toys, jewelry, CDs, fur- mittee was asking for help and for
hall. This year, as usual, Barbara niture, linens and dishes. There volunteers. I hope you had time
LaJune has vohmteered her time are a couple of things they don't to think about that and have de-
to organize this event along with need including computers, mat- cided to donate some of your time.
Mary Nichols. You just have to tresses, old shoes and exercise The carnival will be from 11 a.m.
admire all the effort they put in equipment. For more information, to 2 p.m. on Aug. 11. This will be
to keeping money flowing into the contact Barbara at 426-0494. One Jennifer's first time in charge,
club's coffers. As I've mentioned more note. as you look around so if you have ideas or help she
before, the hall will be 100 years and gather your treasures, put would like you to call her at 426-
old in 2014 and at that age the them in a corner and wait to take 1861. I've taken my grandkids to
building always needs a little them to the hall until Aug. 2. this event many times over the
extra care. The rummage sale That way the volunteers will be years and they just have a won-
relies on your generosity. So look able to have time to sort through derful time. One of the main ideas
through the closets, garages and and organize the donations, of the carnival is that the games
storage areas for items you can I can't believe that August is are set up so that every child wins
get rid of that will make your just a few days away. The Chil- something no matter their
life simpler. They are looking dren's Carnival is fast approach-
for books, clothing, tools, farm ing. In last week's article the com- See Harstine on page 8-2
Thursday, July 26, 2012 - Shelton-Mason County Journal - Page B-1