ABERDEEN, Wash. - Just about all of the remaining tenants of the SouthShore Mall spoke out yesterday to try and keep one tenant who's lease is up at the end of the month. One tenant said at the beginning of the regular meeting "I think we all agree that we wish there could be a solution for Gregory, and the Gregorian Group.
Mall Manager Jamie Walsh said the Gregorian Group was finishing a rent-free lease on 9,000 square feet of store space "I don't think that we want to have business relationships with people where there are no exchanges of money. I think that it's very important that we try to clean things up, and one of the things that we need to do is that we need to not have people in the mall that are not paying rent.
After multiple tenants offered to pay whatever rent would keep the Gregorian Group in the mall, Walsh said she also had concerns about their insurance and that the non profit does not have its 501(c) (3) status yet.
Gregory Johnson started the Group in 2009, and over the past year has turned the empty retail space across from the former Radio Shack in the Southshore Mall into a haven for Grays Harbor youth. After declining a possible offer for office space in the Cafe Court, Johnson said he continues his search for a new home.

Walsh told tenants that the mall had some big plans in the works including three new businesses expected to move in this month, as well as lawn care and new paint in the parking lot.

Olympia, Wash. – The Washington Health Benefit Exchange today announced the selection of CHOICE Regional Health Network to provide in-person assistance as part of the Washington Healthplanfinder Customer Support Program. Washington Healthplanfinder is a new way for people to find, compare and enroll in health insurance in Washington starting Oct., 1, 2013.

CHOICE is one of ten organizations, including public health agencies, coalitions, regional health networks, and other community organizations that were chosen statewide to help residents enroll in a qualified health plan starting Oct. 1, 2013 for coverage that takes effect on Jan. 1, 2014.  CHOICE will serve seven counties, including Clallam, Jefferson, Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston. Lead organizations will share in the close to $6 million in grants funds being provided by the Exchange.

“We are excited to partner with such knowledgeable and trusted organizations that are experts at reaching people in their communities,” said Richard Onizuka, Ph.D, CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange. “Their work will help connect hundreds of thousands of people with quality health coverage – many for the first time.”

CHOICE will provide residents with impartial information to help them determine which health insurance option best fit their needs. These efforts may take place through in-person meetings, online communications and over the phone. CHOICE will also build and oversee a network of partners in the Central Western Washington area to serve both urban and rural populations.

South Bend, Washington – The Pacific County Emergency Management Agency will be hosting an event to distribute starter emergency supply kits to low income families of Pacific County. Participants will learn how to respond personally to a disaster as well as how to use the supplies in their kits. Everyone is encouraged to attend this training; however, kits are limited and will be distributed on a first come first serve basis.

The event will be held at Pacific County Fire District 1 (26110 Ridge Avenue in Ocean Park) on Wednesday, June 19, 2013 at 6:00 p.m.  Pre-registration is required to attend this event.

Supplies to create these kits were donated by Pacific County residents in a disaster preparedness supply drive that was held in January. Supplies gathered include 101 bottles of water, 26 flashlights, 13 fleece blankets, 50 knit hats, and many others. 

For more information please contact Kirsten Harvill at 360-875-9409 or kharvill@co.pacific.wa.us.

ABERDEEN, Wash. - The Grays Harbor Community Foundation is proud to announce a new fund for Public Art Projects/Works in Grays Harbor. The fund creation, initiated by Tom Quigg and Pat Oleachea was stimulated by the new “Breaker” three-dimensional public artwork at the Weatherwax Triangle.

Quigg has long been a proponent of community self-esteem, and highlighted the many successful individuals from Grays Harbor, in his book, “A Culture of Success.” The book was developed years ago by Mr. Quigg to inform the community that there are many from Grays Harbor that have accomplished much in their community, state, nationally, and internationally. It provides short descriptions of the success of many individuals with roots in Grays Harbor in their field of endeavor, and is available free of charge online at: http://tomquigg.withwre.com/the-harbor-a-culture-of-success.

Tom put his community pride to work as a member and now as President of the City of Aberdeen Arts Commission. Tom was instrumental in the development of Aberdeen’s newest public art piece, “Breaker” by Adam Kuby of Portland, Oregon.

Being involved from the beginning, and learning much about the process has motivated Mr. Quigg to approach the Gray Harbor Community Foundation with a significant donation to establish a fund to support the development of permanent public art works in Grays Harbor. Several other community members have already committed to contributions as well.

OLYMPIA, Wash. - With boating under the influence continuing to be a major factor in accidents and deaths on our nation’s waterways, thousands of officers with local, state and federal agencies will again team up for Operation Dry Water (ODW) in a coordinated effort to be on the water providing heightened enforcement and awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Operation Dry Water 2013 is June 28-30, just before the Fourth of July, a holiday known for drinking and boating, and deadly accidents. Operation Dry Water is a nationwide education and enforcement initiative launched by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard.

Since the launch of Operation Dry Water in 2009, the percentage of boating fatalities with alcohol listed as a contributing factor has decreased from 19% to 17% in the United States. Despite the decrease, Boating Under the Influence (BUI) still accounts for a disproportional number of on-the-water deaths. In 2011, alcohol was a contributing factor in just 8 percent of boating accidents overall, but figured in 17 percent of boating fatalities .