Veteran's Day Salute to Our Orting Heroes

The public is invited to honor area veterans on Veteran's Day Friday at Orting's Soldiers Home. They are  providing music from the Puyallup Community Band and remarks from two veterans who are cycling across the country. The program begins at 2 p.m. at 1301 Orting-Kapowsin Highway. Call 360-893-4511 for more information.

Click here to see a tribute story about my Patriot Heroes I penned a few years ago, but still is relevant especially on Veteran's Day. http://fromortingwithlove.blogspot.com/2008/09/my-patriot-heroes.html

To learn the complete history of the Orting Soldier's Home, click on this link 
http://www.dva.wa.gov/PDF%20files/Orting%20History.pdf

Orting's Carol Goldstein in the News!

Most of us in Orting know Carol as Mary Kay lady extraordinaire and active community member, but today another side of her was featured in the Tacoma News Tribune. Click on the link to read all about it. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/11/07/1896770/poll-workers-still-busy-with-all.html

Community Help Needed For The Holidays

Submitted by Jeannie Pestinger.

Please join the Orting Food Bank, Orting School District, Orting Community Network and the Community at large in sponsoring those in our midst who need a lift for the Holiday season.

The Food Bank store is extremely low this year and the number in need has doubled since last year.

There are options for how you can help:

1. Your organization/individuals may sponsor families, which includes providing the list of items below. Please turn them in to the Orting Food Bank at 112 Varner Avenue SE or box them up and deliver them to the families.  What is the  number of families and size of families (2,4,6, 8) you would like to help?
2. If you have access to large quantities of certain food items, and/or would like to donate in that way, please call or email right away.

Jeannie Pestinger (360 893-6617   jpestinger@earthlink.net is organizing the “gathering” of food so please respond with your option.  The gathering needs to be done by November 17^th  and turned into Orting Food Bank by then.  

 If you need assistance with that, please let me know. Think ahead for Christmas also – maybe sponsoring a family or even a gift for one.

 

Food for Thanksgiving meals+plus:

Already donated:  Turkeys (Arrow Lumber 200) Potatoes (Arrow Lumber 1000#) Onions (OFB) Eggs (OFB) Milk (OFB)

Needed:

Evaporated milk in cans (NOT sweetened kind)

Stuffing (All sizes, even stove top for small families)

Canned chicken broth

Canned/jarred Gravy

Celery heads

Canned Sweet Potatoes/Yams

Small marshmallows

Butter/Margarine - cube not tub

Canned green beans

Cream of Mushroom Soup

Cream of Chicken Soup

Dried onions for top of green bean casserole

Canned Corn

Bread Crumbs

Canned cranberry sauce

Canned black Olives

Fresh Fruit - apples, oranges or tangarines

Pumpkin Pie - preferably not frozen type

Apple Pie - preferably not frozen type

Canned whip cream

Rolls

Turkey Loafs (25)

Extra's not required but nice to have for homeless:

Gift Card to Safeway for their cooked complete Thanksgiving meal. (This year it costs $39 $49 $59...according to size)      

Charcoal briquettes

Matches

Socks

Gloves

Pumpkin Patch Adventures

Hannah taking a break with her perfect pumpkin

I love the smell of the air in the fall. The fresh, crisp bite on my face and the scent of fall leaves displaying their glorious array of colors is reason enough for a stroll outdoors. 

Grace, Wyatt & Hannah

During October it is especially fun to gather with the family and embark on a pumpkin patch adventure.

Getting a pumpkin for the fall season has turned into a day of entertainment and helping the grandkids learn about life on the farm.

Grandpa Jim & our pumpkins

We've made some very special memories over the years trekking to the fields, sipping hot apple cider, petting the farm animals, climbing on hay bales, shooting pumpkins and apples from giant slingshots, tromping through the fields of marvelous shaped orange gourds, and hauling wheelbarrows full of grandkids and pumpkins back to the car after a successful pumpkin hunt.

The places to go in Orting are Sasaki Farm and Scholz Farm. It's a great weekend to make the trip!

• Sasaki Farms Pick-your-own pumpkins, pumpkin patch, noon-dusk daily, 15308 188th St. E. 360-893-5973
• Scholz Farm and Pumpkin Palace, U pick pumpkins, farm store and fun in the field for the family. 9-6 daily. 14310 128th St E 253-848-7604

In Memory of Dale Jones

I knew it would be coming and had braced myself for the news, but when Madeline called me to say that Dale had died the night before, the tears still welled up as I grieved the loss.

She asked me to help draft an obituary for the family to work on, and I was thankful for something tangible to do for them. As I wrote the details down that are the customary brief bullet points summarizing an inadequate smattering of who Dale was and what he accomplished, I reflected on the impact he had on my life and who he was to me personally.

Dale & Ken Wolfe

I always secretly thought of Dale as the King of Orting. I am honored to know many of the people who have cared for Orting throughout their lives here, but none can  compare with the deep passion I personally witnessed in Dale Jones.

My respect for Dale went far beyond his public service as an elected city official. It was everything he did behind the scenes that went unseen, without thanks and recognition, all for the love of his hometown.

Dale & Ken at Pumpkinfest

When I would stop and visit the Jones, Dale would sometimes greet me  with a grin, and sometimes with a growl, but always with concern, for Orting and for me.

I knew Dale was the person in Orting that I could count on when in need.When my husband hit an oil patch on I5 and wrecked his motorcycle, it was Dale who came to the rescue, trailer in tow, riding in like a knight on his stallion.

Dale was the first person who came to mind to call for help when I had problems after wandering off the trail along the Carbon River while on a bike ride and wondered if I'd need to be rescued while my husband was out of town.

Dale & Madeline at Harman's Party

I hope many people join me in honoring Dale and supporting his family at the graveside service for friends and family that will be held at the Orting Cemetery on Thursday, October 13,  at 11 AM, followed by a 1 PM memorial service at Edgewood Bible Church, 1720 Meridian Avenue East, in Edgewood.

Chief Drake and Dale

Following is the obituary published by Dale's daughter, Shelly Schlumpf.

Dale Jones was born January 1, 1940 and passed away October 7, 2011 after a lengthy illness at his family home in Orting.  The first baby born in Pierce County in 1940, Dale was nicknamed “Forty” by family and friends.  He attended Orting High School and Washington State University and was a proud Cardinal and Cougar.

Dale and his siblings were second generation Orting Cardinals and much like his parents, he dedicated most of his life to the Orting community in a variety of ways. 

He served as Orting’s mayor and a city council member and served on several city commissions.  Sports were always important to him and he enjoyed running the downs markers at OHS football games for over 20 years where his father helped to install the football field lights.  He was very active in the Orting Lions Club and a proud Orting High School alumni member.

Visiting in the park

Dale enjoyed being involved in community projects like Orting’s Bell Tower, The Gazebo, Orting Station and Fountain and hanging city Christmas lights and downtown event banners.  He helped with school projects, the Lions Community Sports Park and Orting’s Community Float which he drove in many of the annual Daffodil Parades.   He also volunteered at his church and helped with various construction projects.  

Dale was interested in all things “Orting”.  From flood control to police, fire and public works, transportation to economic development, he believed in celebrating Orting’s heritage while looking forward to smart growth and maintaining a quality of life for the city he loved.

A veteran teamster, during his career Dale owned and operated a trucking company serving four western states and currently owns an RV and mini storage business.  

Dale visiting at the Lions Club

Dale is survived by his wife of 51 years, Madeline, three daughters and their families:  Shelly Schlumpf, Janice and Kevin Sienkiewich and Tracy and Robert Odd; sister Muriel Wilkins, six grandchildren, Nick, Jennifer, Joseph, Carly, Ashley, Mitchell and two great grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents Bill and Jeanette Jones, brothers, Benjamin and Larry, sisters Billie Jean Zumbuhl and Diane Cope and son-in-law, David Schlumpf.

A graveside service for family and friends will be held at the Orting Cemetery on Thursday, October 13, at 11am, followed by a 1pm memorial service at Edgewood Bible Church, 1720 Meridian Avenue East, Edgewood, Washington.

Dale and Madeline Jones with city officials breaking ground for the Orting Station

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Multicare Hospice or the Heart Foundation.

Transit tax 20 year impact for Orting

A blog reader shared that she wrote the following note to Representative Jim McCune and Senator Randi Becker, and received a response from McCune.

She emailed  me..."This is the info that I received from Jim McCune, I asked him to look into getting that tax off our license tabs, but sounds like they locked it in for about 20 more years.  So again, the small communities that are cut service, will continue to pay for something they didn't have and will have less of in the future. The east county area has a lot of low income people, and that added dollars on their cars, trucks, trailers, personal and work will continue to have to pay for the city people to ride the buses. This has been a beef with me for a long time..."

She emailed Becker and  McCune June 18, 2011...

"Thank you for all of your work this session.  Hopefully we are on our way to correcting some of the problems that we have created. In regards to the RTA tax, Pierce Co is cutting back service to many areas, including mine in Graham; how do we get that tax removed from our license tabs?  They even add the tax to my living quarters horse trailer;  my horse doesn't ride the train or the bus, but I am tempted to try just to make a point of it.  We are also retired so we don't ride the commuter train or bus anywhere."

McCune responded July 19, 2011... 

"Here is the information I received: After some extensive research, we cannot find a provision in the Sound Transit code allowing cities to redraw the lines on who is included and who is not within the Sound Transit boundaries.  There was a two-year window to be excluded from the Sound Transit boundaries from 1996-98, but this no longer applies.  If a city were to exclude itself from Sound Transit going forward, they would still have the taxes applied to pay off any existing bonds so we’re looking at least 20 years before you’re free and clear."

Sam Colorossi's Transit and Tax Perspectives

City Council member Sam Colorossi shared his perspective on yesterday's blog post with me in an email and gave permission for me to share it.

"In my mind these taxes are two very different programs with two different commitments.  First, the RTA tax, if my memory serves me right, was floated to the public many years ago for creating the taxing district to fund the RTA project in the Puget Sound Area. The measure failed at the polls.  So the members of the RTA committee studied the voting results and resubmitted the plan, only this time they gerrymandered the lines throughout all areas that voted favorably for the plan.  When they resubmitted the plan for the second vote it past and the taxing district was established.

I cannot remember if Orting was included favorably for being a part of the construction plan however I do remember seeing a rail line proposed as far south as McMillin.  So those living in Orting who voted favorably for the RTA system knew full well they would not see Orting become a local benefactor of the long range plan.  One of the taxing forms for this program is the tax on any vehicles that uses the highways system.  The tax is collected yearly based upon the value of the vehicle being licensed by the Motor Vehicle Department.

    

On the other-hand, the Pierce Transit tax is a part of the sales tax package.  Many years ago, the Orting City Council felt it would be nice to have bus service to Orting.  So they petition Pierce Transit to become a part of their taxing district.  But, first, this had to go before the citizens of Orting and be voted on.  The measure passed at the ballot and we began receiving bus service.  Not, all that smoothly, but none the less, we had service.  After several years Pierce Transit was having troubles generating enough bus traffic, to and from Orting, to pay the bills.  So, Pierce Transit cut our services in the late 1990’s. As Mayor of Orting at the time I, personally, threaten deannexation.  Pierce Transit acquiesced with a service called the “Orting Loop.”  This was a very limited, “on call service”, if you will.

Now, times have changed.  The economy is in the tank and Pierce Transit has had to make some very tough decisions.  That they have done.  They have chosen to discontinue service to Orting.  With that commitment, they have broken an agreement to provide us service especially since we voted our community into their taxing district.   We will soon have no service, so should the citizens of Orting have to pay a tax for something that we are not receiving? 

In my mind, we cannot equate the Pierce Transit tax with the RTA tax, and therefore agree with Mayor Temple’s position.  These are two different types of taxing commitments that were made over the past years."

Thanks to Sam for sharing his thoughts and the background on the issue. 

If you'd like your opinion posted on this topic or some other that effects Orting, please send me an email to jrmadison@comcast.net and please express your perspectives appropriately for family readership.

Colorossi and Transit photos from Google Images.

Tempted to put horse on Sumner train

An Orting reader responded to a Google News link that ran on my blog last week with the following email note to me regarding an exert from Orting Mayor Cheryl Temple.

"...the comment from the mayor, that we won't have bus service, does that mean that we can stop paying the RTA tax that they hit us with?  Even on my horse trailer I have to pay the RTA tax, I have been tempted to take the horse to Sumner and try to put her on the train, her vehicle pays the tax so she should be able to ride!!!"

The comment she was referring to was in a recent article in the Bellingham Herald that said, "Pierce Transit will no longer serve Orting and Buckley, and Bonney Lake and Sumner will see reductions, along with other parts of the county. In Orting, “we’re frustrated” by the loss of service, said Mayor Cheryl Temple. “Our ultimate goal is to find a way to serve the people.”

To read the entire article go to:

 http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/06/25/2076511/leaders-in-east-pierce-discuss.html#ixzz1SWTSXTaY

You can email your opinions and ideas to Mayor Temple at ctemple@cityoforting.org  or if you'd like them published here in the blog,  email them to me at jrmadison@comcast.net

A peek at the past

A short trip to the corner of Calistoga and Washington Avenue ( Hwy 162) in Orting, gives you a wonderful glimpse into days gone by, hometown 4th of July celebrations. The mural painted by Linda Petchnik on the side of the Nunnally Realty building depicts July 4, 1902.

The description with the scene says:  "The parade began at 10 a.m. with eight old soldiers proudly carrying the stars and stripes and marching to the band. Afternoon activities included pole vaulting, greased pole climbing, and tug of war. There was foot, bicycle, sack, and horse racing. The evening was pandemonium with the noise of rockets and firecrackers. The band gave a dance at the opera house." *

To help you get your bearings when you're looking at the mid-left of the mural, Thompson's Store is the site of Union Bank today. On the far right, the feed store is the site of Orting Law, office of Jacqueline McMahon, and to the left of that is the home that is owned today by David and Mary Inge and houses Orting Manor events venue business.

The gazebo in the center is near where a more modern version of the gazebo stands in the park today, and continues to be a gathering place for community events.

The reference to the dance at the opera house, is the building now known as Eagle's Hall at the corner of Bridge St., Corrin St.,  and Harman Way.

Take a peek at the past with a bike ride or walk around town to view the historic murals of Orting. Shoot me an email and let's visit a bit while you're here. Old friends or new, you'll love 'Orting, the small town with the big view!'

*Reference: The History of the Town of Orting. Research by Alice Rushton and Myron Thompson.