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| August 9, 2012 Shelton Mason County Journal |  |
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August 9, 2012 |
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By NATALIE JOHNSON
, nataHe@masoncounty.com
If you are 55 years old or older,
ret.ired, and looking for volun-
teers, United Way may have a
program for you.
The Retired & Senior Volun-
teer Program (RSVP), serves Ma-
son, Thurston and Lewis counties
and gives seniors a way to stay
active and give back to their com-
munities, said Program Coordi-
nator Jennifer Thompson.
RSVP is looking to attract
more volunteers from Mason
County. Thompson said there are
many volunteer opportunities at
local non-profit organizations,
such as the Community Kitchen
and Sound Learning in Shelton,
and Faith in Ac-
tion in Belfair.
Volunteers
are eligible for
a variety of
benefits from
RSVP, including
supplemental
insurance with
medical, dental
Jennifer and vision cov-
Thompson erage, as well
as mileage re-
imbursement if
they have to drive as part of their
volunteer work.
"It's free. They just sign up and
they're covered," Thompson said.
While volunteers do not get
paid for their work, Thompson
said an active volunteer force
helps stimulate the economy.
"It's a huge way to give back to Mason County. fit their skills, then can choose
your community," she said. The program seeks to further which organizations they would
RSVP, started in the 1970s United Way's goals of servinglike to volunteer for.
and was being run by the Volun- "critical impact areas," or areas RSVP is part of the Corpora-
teer Center in Olympia, but lost of society that have profoundtion for National and Community
its funding in spring 2011. needs. Service's Senior Corps. It has two
United Way organizations Those critical areas, Thomp- ~sister programs- Foster Grand-
in Mason, Thurston and Lewis son said, are "serving seniors, parents and Senior Companion:
counties worked together to se- reading to children and home-In the Senior Companion pro-
cure grants allowing themtotake lessness." gram, younger seniors can help
over operation of RSVP. Volunteering also provides older seniors with things like
Last summer, Jeannie Gruber, many benefits to individual se- light housework, Thompson said.
at the time the executive director niors, she said. Seniors in the pro- Thompson encouraged anyone
of United Way of Mason County, gram stay active, make friends, interested in the program to con-
took over as program director at and learn new skills, sider volunteering.
RSVP RSVP works with organiza- "We're trying to reach out and
"We've been ramping up under tions in each of the three coun- get the word out -- there's so
Jeannie," Thompson said. ties it serves to identify volunteer many volunteer opportunities
RSVP now has more than 400 opportunities in communities,available," she said.
volunteers in the three counties Those interested in volunteer- To volunteer with RSVP, call
it serves, with about 170 of those ing go through a screening pro- 943-2773, ext. 21 or visit united-
spread out over 16 agencies in cess to determine which jobs best way-thurston.org/RSVP.php.
State, local
officials attend
ribbon cutting
By NATALIE JOHNSON
nataHe@n~asoncounty~com
After 16 months of con-
struction, Mason General
Hospital & Family of Clin-
ics hosted an open house
and ribbon cutting on Aug.
1 for its new surgical wing
and south entrance lobby.
Scott Hilburn, secretary
of the Public Hospital Dis-
trict 1 board, spoke during
the ceremony to dedicate
the hospital's new "state of
the art surgical wing."
"A project of this magni-
tude is the product of pro-
found faith," he said.
Hospital commission
members Don Wilson and
Nancy Trucksess also at-
tended the event, along
with hospital administra-
tion, staff, local elected of-
ficials and members of the
community.
Mason General Hospital
CEO Bob Appel comment-
ed on the large crowd in at-
tendance.
"It's just a delight to see
so many friends, neighbors
(and) community members
come out and help us cel-
ebrate," he said.
Anna's Bay Chorale per-
formed several songs for
the audience before and af-
Tina Miller, director of surgery at Mason General
, of the hospital's three new surgical suites
ter the ribbon cutting. For a project this size,
Members of the public inespecially in healthcare,
attendance were invited to Appel said there needs to
tour the new wing, to view be a great amount of com-
the new patient rooms, the munity support.
three surgery suites, and "We're truly fortunate to
more. be able to experience that,"
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Hospital, shows off equipment on Aug. 1 in one
he said.
Lt. Gov. Brad Owen
congratulated the hospi-
tal and the community,
calling the opening of the
new surgical wing a "major
milestone."
"This place is much
more than just a hospital,"
he said in a speech. "Mason
General has a strong pres-
ence in the community."
Owen spoke about the
hospital's position as the
fourth largest employer in
Mason.County, calling it~a
"critical contributing factor
in our local economy."
Last Wednesday's cel-
ebration heralded the com-
pletion of the first phase
of the hospital's Campus
Renewal and Construction
Project.
The entire project cost
$33 million, much of which
was funded by Build Amer-
ica Bonds.
Phase I added 20,000
square feet of space, in-
cluding a new surgical
wing with three surgery
suites.
Phase I also expanded
the hospital's 13th Street
entrance and lobby. Pa-
tient rooms and nurse sta-
tions have been remodeled
and the phase also added
a footpath, which extends
throughout the hospital
campus.
Appel said this is the
first major remodel at the
hospital in 25 years.
The new surgical wing
and 13th Street entrance is
scheduled to officially open
on Aug: 15.
Phase II of the construc-
tion project is scheduled to
start this month and run
until summer 2013.
That phase will include
a remodel of the hospital's
emergency department,
an expansion of the dining
room and meeting rooms
and the replacement of a
mobile MRI with a fixed
open MRI machine.
Mayor proposes dropping impact fees
By NATALIE JOHNSON
nataHe@mascm.county.com.
In an effort to promote growth in the city
of Shelton, Mayor Gary Cronce proposed
Monday that the city introduce a morato-
rium on the collection of all traffic impact
fees.
"We are in a recession that has been go~
ing on for some time and we don't know
when it's going to end," Cronce said dur-
ing Monday evening's city
commission meeting.
• ===================== .........................................,
I~iiii;i:.ili:i i~i ~ !!~] believe we are at a'
~crossroads with Shelton,"
he said. "We need to do
more and we need to move
faster."
Traffic impact fees are
assessed on new devel-
opment within the city,
based on the amount of
Gary new traffic the develop-
Cronce ment is projected to create.
The fees are paid into
a capital improvements
fund that pays for street projects in the city.
City Administrator Dave O'Leary said
that because of a slump in new construction
due to the recession, the city doesn't collect
much money in traffic impact fees.
"It's not been very much recently," he
said. "Since we haven't had the growth, we
haven't had the impacts."
As of June 30, the city has collected $9,250
in traffic impact fees for 2012. In 2011, it
collected $105,580, the bulk of which came
from expansion at Mason General Hospital.
In 2012, there have been no new residen-
tial building applications. In 2011, there
were two.
The Shelton Mason County Chamber
of Commerce's Shelton Alliance for Viable
Economic Revitalization (SAVER) has pre-
viously asked the city to consider waiving or
decreasing traffic impact fees for new devel-
opment.
Port of Shelton Commission Chair Dick
Taylor spoke in favor of the idea during the
public comment portion of Monday's meet-
ing.
"It happens in other places in the state of
Washington - I think it's time we did it here
in Shelton," he said. "I think that we need to
look at that now and make some hard, hard
decisions."
Mason County Commissioner Tim Shel-
don also spoke at the meeting:
"This is a long recession," he said. "I think
it's a great proposal. I would enact this kind
of incentive ... then publicize the hell out of
it."
Sheldon said recent improvements in in-
frastructure, such as the city's newly rebuilt
wastewater treatment plant, make Shelton
a good place to build.
"That puts us in a good spot," he said.
City Commissioner Dawn Pannell said
she agreed with the idea of waiving the fees
for a period of time, but she expressed sev-
eral concerns.
"If we are serious about pavement, why
get rid of one of our only sources of funding
for pavement?" she asked.
Commissioner Mike Olsen disagreed
with the idea and said that building projects
on existing residential lots in Shelton are al-
ready exempt from the impact fees.
"What's inhibiting growth in the city is
the economy," he said. "It's not the city's
fault, it's the economy, that's just the way
it goes.
Cronce disagreed.
"We have gone a long way to stifle
growth," he said.
Steve Goins, community and economic
development director for the city, plans to
prepare a brief on the proposal and present
it to the commission at a future meeting.
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Shelton-Mason County Journal -Thursday, Aug. 9,.2012 - Page A-3
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