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I am looking to bridge the gaps in our community. I don't like the lines that have been drawn between cultures. I can't fix any injustices that have occured in the past, but I would like to take some responsibility in the rebuilding of our community, the right way, where everyone is treated justly and valued equally.  I am interested in meeting other folks who, like myself, genuinely embrace diversity. People who wish to take it a step beyond embracing diversity and are willing to make an effort to "ditch the good ol boys club" reputation our little town has aquired over the years by creating a community built on acceptance, appreciation, and equality. I believe it's long over due......
Thanks for reading and please feel free to voice your position on this matter. Goodnight = ).

******UPDATE*******  It's been 2 days since this entry was made and I'm a little surprised after 119 views, there hasn't been any feedback. So I'm wondering if I'm the only one who sees a problem with the cultural devide, or  are folks feeling intimidated regarding this issue? Is there another reason that I'm not aware of?

 
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I am honored to introduce Darrel and Kathy Smith, an unforgettable couple who have left footprints on the heart of our community. The Smiths were married 21 years ago and moved to Pacific the following April in 1992, when they found their lovely home. Kathy says she and Darrel were impressed with the nice neighborhood with new homes and kids playing outside. One particular attribute to the area that the couple enjoyed over the years, was the walking path around the river. The Smiths truly appreciated the beauty of nature and the river trail was one they admired every season, all  year-round. This nature loving couple also looked forward to traveling to the coast with all of the impressive scenery where they would fly kites and walk the beach. Furthermore, the Smith's had a special connection to the Sedona, Arizona area which felt spiritual and inspirational to them and they cherished their time there together. By trade, Darrel was a teacher at Green River Community College and Kathy spent many years in the banking industry as well as utilizing her skill as a technical writer. Another high priority in this couple's life has been their active community involvement. In fact, they have both been devoted members of Pacific Partnerships from day one. Unfortunately, around the time Pacific Partnerships was founded, Darrel was diagnosed with a rare illness. For many years, Darrel's health seemed unaffected so he and Kathy were able to live a full life together. Even as Darrel began experiencing symptoms, his positive and resilient personality shined through. He had always been one who asked for little and gave a lot, who accepted what he had and worked with it. It was his positive outlook that encouraged others and everyone who knew him loved him. Darrel and Kathy were inseparable much of the time. They are truly soul mates. Already having been blessed with a wonderful family, combined with strong friendships which blossomed through their involvement in Pacific Partnerships, the Smiths had a strong support system which has been priceless in the past several months. Sadly and suddenly, Darrel's condition deteriorated and 3 months ago, he peacefully passed away at home surrounded by those who loved him most. Only days after he attended his last Pacific Partnerships meeting as he was determined never to miss them.... now that's devotion.  Our city's flag flew at half mass to honor the life of such an amazing man. Kathy is such an inspiration as she is left to carry the torch for herself and her best friend. Despite her intense grief and loss, her good will is still extended to all who cross her path.  
Kathy and her canine companion will be relocating soon so before they move forward, let's give our thanks and let them know how much Kathy and Darrel impacted our community in such a positive way.  Darrel and Kathy's story is one of strength, unconditional love, commitment and devotion. We can all learn something from role models like these. Thank you to the Smiths and Kathy we wish you all the love and happiness in your new home. Please don't be a stranger, we miss you already!
In closing, Kathy would like to see our community members inspired to take an active role in the development of their own community and thinking beyond the 4 walls of their own homes. Thank you for reading and please stay tuned for more of Our Community's Finest = )


 
I am looking forward to posting more of Our Community's Finest this week. I have several wonderful folks on my list but I would sure welcome referals from all of you. I hope you all had a fantastic weekend!
Thanks for reading = )
 
I just wanted to let everyone know I will be offline until Sunday evening so I hope you all have a fantastic weekend! Enjoy the weather but please remember sunscreen, it's supposed to be a hot one!
 
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It's my pleasure to introduce Frank Hatten, a Pacific Resident of 21 years.  Frank and his wife Arlene agreed Pacific was the place to call home when they came across a friendly community of folks who knew their neighbors, in a small town with a low crime rate, featuring a very visible police force. After all of their years in Pacific, the Hattens still enjoy the friendly people in our community and agree this is a great town. Frank and Arlene are incredibly dedicated to their community. They are active members of their church, and both strong members of The Pacific Partnerships. In fact, Frank is the Vice-President of the group! The Hattens are a kindhearted couple who liked to spend time hiking, fishing, and country dancing at the fairs. Now they generously volunteer to help their communities on a regular basis. Frank said he enjoys volunteering a lot of hours, and it shows. If you have noticed the flags perched on the light poles up and down 3rd avenue, then you are a witness to one of many contributions Frank made to our community this year. He noticed the Saturday before Memorial Day the annual tradition of posting the flags had been overlooked. He decided there was only one thing to do, and took it upon himself to singlehandedly correct this oversight. Thank you Frank! Another great contribution Frank makes to our community every year, earned him his infamous nickname "Trash King"! Our Pacific “Trash King” gathers over 1000 pounds of trash in our community for our annual "Earth Day". Yes, you heard it right, over 1000 pounds of trash!

Moving forward, Frank would like to see more young people involved in community building efforts. Frank also made an insightful observation about our city’s “Main Street” (3rd Avenue) when he pointed out the lack of luster. He would like to see hanging potted flowers and other decorations along the street to add charm to our city. After all, this is our city hall, post office, community center, fire department and police department, our city center.

Thank you to Frank and his lovely wife Arlene for their dedication to making our community a better place. Stay tuned for more of Our Community’s Finest = )


 
Sadly I am reporting that there is a fantastic community service under threat of losing funding due to lack of participation. I attended the Pacific Partnership meeting tonight and learned that not enough folks are taking advantage of a wonderful community service. Every Monday at the Senior Center from 11AM until 1PM Stone Soup is served and not only is it delicious, it's FREE! Anyone in our community is welcome, so bring a friend and make it a date! What do you have to lose? Your tastebuds will be delighted with a tasty meal at a price we can all afford. Not to mention, you may make a new friend or two!
 
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Let's say our prayers, keep our thoughts positive and our eyes and ears open in
the hopes of finding this young lady safe and sound. Pacific Resident Tatyana
Khmara, age 27, was last seen between 6-8 PM Friday night at Pacific Park. Her
car was left there and she didn't show up for work Saturday morning. Here is the
link to KOMO News: http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Police-searching-for-missing-Pacific-woman-165910506.html . If you have seen or heard from her since Friday, or have any details about this case, please call 911 immediately. In the meantime, I will add updates as I find them and I'll ask you to do the same.Thank you for reading.
Update: http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2012/08/divers-in-pacific-searching-river-for-missing-woman-27/
I am so happy to see she has been located! http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/local/missing-woman-last-seen-mystery-man-brother-says/nQ9hZ/#cmComments

 
Thank you Robert for your support and encouragement http://speedtrapcity.blogspot.com/2012/08/proclamation-rachel-kringle.html#comment-form . I am truly honored to be a Candlelighter. I love showing off our outstanding community members because they deserve to be recognized. I do hope to include more members of Pacific Partnerships because they have been such a monumental support to our community, not only as a group, but as individuals. With so many exceptional people who contribute so generously to all aspects of our community, I'm not going to be out of commission anytime soon!
Thank you for reading and soon you will see more of Our Community's Finest = )
 
    I am aware of at least 3 separate groups of people working toward a solution for our city. I am happy to see that so many folks care and are willing to get involved. This is a good sign. With all of the other committees out there, I realize that starting another seems a bit much. However, the objective of each committee varies and the suggestion I'm going to run by you is different also. 
    I propose we establish a group of community members specifically to; first collect reliable information, and then compile our facts to create at least 2 realistic options should Pacific fail as a city. This way, we're not letting our imaginations run wild and making it up as we go. Factual information eases fear of the unknown, stops the spread of misinformation, and gives people choices. At this point, no one can predict what will happen. This is putting great stress on our community. A back up plan provides us with a "safety net" just in case. This doesn't mean abandon your goal to save the city, it means sometimes things are beyond our control so we prepare. I'm looking at this like an insurance policy. We don't purchase a life insurance plan because we gave up on life and don't care anymore. We purchase life insurance because we can't predict the future and we want to protect what we value most. 
    I'm looking for opinions here and to see if this is something you'd be interested in, so please share your thoughts. Thanks for reading and I hope you all had a wonderful weekend = )
 
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I am pleased to introduce Glenda White, an active member of our community for the past 20 years. Glenda is the friendly lady whose familiar face you may recognize if you've visited Pacific's Post Office or Union Station Gift & Collectibles. If you are looking for a kind lady with a big heart and a strong commitment to our community, you have found her. Glenda is the Mother of 6 children and a  Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, and Great-Great-Grandmother who speaks highly of her family with pride and love. Glenda was first drawn to Pacific when she found her home and business on a nice property in a small community. This property has quite a history as it was previously a gas station, then a restauraunt, and a grocery store. Glenda enjoys when Pacific's long time residents stop by and share stories about the previous establishments and the people who owned them before. Glenda is a founding member and dedicated volunteer of Pacific Partnerships which was established in 2006. Pacific Partnerships contributes to our community in many ways, for example, sponsoring "Pacific Days" and the "Tree Lighting Ceremony" (both events give opportunity for food donations to be collected for the Senior Center Food Bank). Please visit the webpage http://pacificpartnerships.org to learn more about Pacific Partnerships and/or volunteer. Even before Pacific Partnerships, Glenda was committed to community. She was a member of "Candlelighters", an inspirational group of volunteers focused on community building. Glenda also assisted the fire department in  the mapping, addressing and naming of Pacific's streets and was a member of Kiwanis. 
Moving forward, Glenda says she would like to see more community volunteers. She ended with saying, "I like the town, even with all it's faults, it's my home".  Thank you Glenda, for your allegiance to our community and being a leader who's set a strong example for all of us. Stay tuned for more of Our Community's Finest = )