… that the grand Bluthner piano in the State Reception Room has quite the history? Crafted in Leipzig, Germany, around 1890, it was purchased by Dr. Hans Moldenhauer in 1930. Dr. Moldenhauer, of Jewish decent, was born in Germany and emigrated to Washington State in 1938, just one year before WWII broke out. He brought his beloved piano with him to his new home in Spokane, and resided there until his death in 1987. He bequeathed the piano to the…
Move over spooks and goons. The Secretary of State’s executive team has mixed civics with Halloween … and the result is a total scream! Today the crew is decked out as Washington’s State Symbols – we have the State Seal, a Western Hemlock … and Dave is dressed up as a rhododendron bush. To learn more about the state’s official symbols (that is, to get your own costume idea), click here.
Two days after the Olympic marmot officially became the state endemic mammal, Secretary of State Sam Reed and others celebrated Washington’s newest state symbol with a “Marmot Day” event in our office Tuesday morning. (TVW plans to air the ceremony Wednesday at 9 p.m., with rebroadcasts Thursday at 9 a.m. and Friday at 6 p.m.) Sam recognized and thanked a group of students from Seattle’s Wedgwood Elementary School and their teacher, Kelly Clark, for thinking of the “marmot bill” and persuading…
To many folks, marmots are those furry mountain-dwelling animals that whistle loudly when you approach. (That’s why they’re nicknamed “Whistling Jack.”) In our office, they’ll be the focal point of a fun celebration on Tuesday involving students from a Seattle elementary school. The reason for this event is that there’s a new law (SB 5071) that went into effect Sunday declaring the Olympic marmot as the state’s endemic mammal. This also makes the marmot Washington’s newest state symbol. “Marmot Day” is a way for the…
Let’s just say we’re ready. Marmot Day is Tuesday, July 28. The Office of Secretary of State’s state symbol celebration starts at 11 a.m. in its office in the Legislative Building. You’re invited.
How in the world did the fuzzy, furry Olympic marmot become a symbol of Washington State? It all happened this year, when the Legislature passed Senate Bill 5071 declaring the Olympic marmot as the state’s endemic mammal. Gov. Gregoire signed the bill into law on May 12. It takes effect July 26. The idea for making the Olympic marmot a state symbol came from students at Wedgwood Elementary School in Seattle. The students suggested it to Sen. Ken Jacobsen, who…
It’s hard to forget all that talk at beginning of session surrounding a bill that was out to declare Aplets & Cotlets Washington’s official candy. (That didn’t go so well). Lawmakers have tried before — and failed before — to adopt an official symbol that epitomizes Washington’s history of sweet-making and the people’s collective sweet tooth. Back in 2001, local-made treat Almond Roca was rejected as the state candy, too. Someone just pointed out to me that Mars – you…