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Year: 2012

Clippings for the week of November 30, 2012

Clippings for the week of November 30, 2012

Washington State Library News Each week, Steve Willis, of the Washington State Library, randomly grabs a microfilm reel from the State Library’s large collection of Washington newspapers and comes up with interesting or odd stories. Here’s one that’s both, from the May 13, 1920 issue of The Big Bend Empire, in Waterville. (Photo) (The Wenatchee World, 11.21.12) http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/nov/21/the-year-rainmaker-hatfield-came-to-town/ Many students are influenced or inspired by a book they’ve read. An annual contest sponsored by the Washington State Library encourages students…

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December Library jewel #1: Territory Volunteer papers

December Library jewel #1: Territory Volunteer papers

(Image courtesy of Washington State Library) Many of the collections or documents featured in our “Library jewels” blog series go deep into Washington history. Our first jewel for December goes back to soon after the creation of Washington Territory. It’s the Washington Volunteer papers from 1854 to 1861. The State Library has the story on these documents: The Washington Territorial volunteers were authorized by an Act passed by the Washington Territorial Legislative Assembly January 26, 1855 to organize a militia….

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WSL Updates for December 6, 2012

WSL Updates for December 6, 2012

Volume 8, December 6, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list Topics include: 1) FREE GENEALOGY WORKSHOP 2) LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2013 DEADLINE APPROACHING 3) GATES MILLENNIUM SCHOLARS PROGRAM 4) AWARDS FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS 5) GRANTS FOR AMERICA’S HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS 6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Reed honors companies that give back

Reed honors companies that give back

Secretary Reed presents TreeTop President and CEO Tom Stokes with his company’s Corporations for Communities award. There are many companies in Washington that make it a priority to give back to their communities and beyond. Secretary of State Sam Reed has honored several of these companies for their good deeds. Reed hosted the 2012 Corporations for Communities awards ceremony in his office in Olympia Wednesday afternoon. TreeTop Inc. of Selah was the winner in the large-company category. Jim’s Pharmacy of…

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When liquor Prohibition ended

When liquor Prohibition ended

Members of the state Liquor Control Board and Gov. Martin in 1934. (Photo courtesy of Washington State Archives) Dec. 5 might not be a red-letter day for most of us, but it’s significant for U.S. constitutional scholars and those who came of age during the Great Depression. It was on this date in 1933 when Prohibition was repealed thanks to the ratification of the 21st Amendment to our nation’s Constitution, thus ending a 13-year period when Americans couldn’t make, possess…

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Initiative signature requirement re-set

Initiative signature requirement re-set

The task of qualifying an initiative or referendum for the Washington ballot just got a little harder. The state Constitution pegs the number of signatures required for an initiative at 8 percent of the most recent vote for governor. The requirement for a referendum — forcing a public vote on something the Legislature has passed, as in the recent R-74 on gay marriage — is 4 percent of the governor vote. In returns certified Wednesday, votes cast for governor this…

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Holiday Tree is up, lighting event Friday

Holiday Tree is up, lighting event Friday

For those of you looking forward to seeing the state Holiday Tree in the Legislative Building rotunda, your wait is over.  The big tree is up. Several Department of Enterprise Services workers spent Monday morning putting up the 25-foot Noble fir, donated by Rayonier Inc. The tree will be fully decorated late this week. The fir was cut from the company’s property near Humptulips in Grays Harbor County. The public tree lighting ceremony in the rotunda takes place this Friday…

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December 2012 WSL Training News

December 2012 WSL Training News

Discover free and inexpensive trainings available online and around the state; compiled by Jennifer Fenton, CE/Training Coordinator, Washington State Library Featured Free Trainings: Registration information for the below trainings and webinars is available at: http://www.sos.wa.gov/library/libraries/training/trainingCalendar.aspx    Washington State Library is pleased to offer the following FREE online training in December:  First Tuesdays: Exploring Washington Rural Heritage Digital Collections December 4, 9:00-10:00 a.m. PT Join us as Washington State Library’s Evan Robb and Ross Fuqua provide an introduction to searching, browsing,…

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Clippings for the week of November 23, 2012

Clippings for the week of November 23, 2012

Editor’s Note: In last week’s Clippings, the Stevenson library was inaccurately said to be part of the Libraries of Stevens County. It is actually a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District. [The Stevenson Community Library, a part of the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District, has announced the winners of its juried art show, held every October with the exhibit on display at the library. Dennis Peterson of Stevenson judged the artwork and awarded first place to James M….

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Talking poetry at the Capitol

Talking poetry at the Capitol

If you are a big fan of the State Library and poetry reading You should have been at the Capitol for a special meeting For two talented poets were there talking verses and rhymes And, without doubt, it ranked up there with the best of times Dubbed Poet Meets Poet, it featured Kathleen Flenniken, our state’s Poet Laureate. The other star attraction was Miles Hewitt, a senior at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, who is among five high…

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