VALLEY SCHOOLS HOST 2012 REUNION
Alderton and McMillin School Reunion
Scheduled for June 16, 2012
McMillin (School) Grange, Hwy 162,
McMillin WA
This year's reunion will be on Saturday, June
16, from noon to 3pm. The reunion theme is "Puyallup Valley Memories" and
prompts attendees to recall history and experiences of growing up and going to
school in the Puyallup Valley.
Last year we announced that this would be the
centennial of the Alderton school. It turns out that it is the centennial
year for the Alderton Store and 2015 will be the school's centennial. We
will be recognizing the history of the Alderton Store and it's impact on the
lives of the students and community.
The reunions attempt to offer more than just
reminiscing time. Organizers create displays to browse through, a slide show to
view, and some years, a live stage show. In the past, the Alderton-McMillin
Reunion Committee Actors have presented a trip back to the school classroom.
In 2010, when the theme was "Reruns: Reliving your School Days" we focused on
the television memories with a re-enactment of a 30 minute "What's My Line"
television show.
So, you see what you have been missing if you
have not attended the last few years. Ask anyone who has attended these
reunions how they liked them. We think it is worth your time to attend every
year. There is always something new. The reunion committee works very hard to
bring a full reunion experience to all who attend. As a non-profit group they
depend on attendance and donations each reunion to finance the next reunion.
Help preserve an important Valley tradition by attending and encouraging others
to attend. Classmates can bring family and/or friends. Families of
deceased classmates are also encouraged to come. Information
is available at
amreunion@hotmail.com .
Also see side bar for more reunion items.
PIERCE COUNTY COUNCIL
ONCE AGAIN IGNORES COUNTY RESIDENTS
ON SUMNER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AMENDMENT
(Orton Junction)
All 7 Council Members Ignore Urban Sprawl Into
Farmland
In the Name of Saving Selective Farmland from Future Development
UPDATE:
DECISION CHALLENGED BY APPEAL
An appeal has been filed with Washington State
Growth Management Hearing Board by Futurewise, Friends of Pierce County,
American Farmland Trust, PCC Farmland Trust, and Tahoma Audubon.
RESULT: NET LOSS OF FARMLAND
The Pierce County Council, after hearing
public testimony that presented valid arguments for postponing their decision
until more questions could be answered, took the vote on the issue anyway.
If you viewed the Council Meeting, especially over the Internet, you may
have noticed that all council members referred to pre-prepared notes to make
their statements in favor of granting the amendment. It appeared to some
of us that public testimony is a matter of record and has little, if any,
influence in the decisions made by this Council.
IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO CARE
Use this opportunity to learn more about the struggles of preserving
this rural valley so when the next threat arises,
you can be there in its defense. Strength through understanding,
Read articles below about: challenges to the Orton Junction claims, impacts of
Orton Junction on the Puyallup Valley, the misleading "saving farmland" claim,
legal issues, ethical issues, and reaction to the County Council decision to
allow Orton Junction.
____________________________________________________________
CLAIMS
MADE FOR THE ORTON JUNCTION DEVELOPMENT:
CHALLENGED
by MAXINE HERBERT-HILL
Here are the
claims for this development: Links to Maxine's comments
1.
To capture the shoppers who go to King county and keep that money in Sumner and
Pierce County.
2.
To provide a “community center” through a YMCA that will serve our youth.
3.
To provide jobs.
4.
To provide businesses that Sumner otherwise cannot accommodate in its current
commercial lands.
5.
To provide residential development that cannot be built in Sumner’s current
available land.
6.
To offer a Farmers Market to support the agriculture and farming of the valley.
_____________________________________________________________
Orton Junction:
Impacts On the Puyallup Valley
by Maxine Herbert-Hill
TRAFFIC
RURAL NEIGHBORHOOD
SURFACE WATER
FUTURE FARMING
LAHAR ESCAPE ROUTE
________________________________________________________
Orton Junction:
The Misleading "Saving Farmland" Claim
by Maxine Herbert-Hill
LINK TO ARTICLE
_________________________________________________________
Orton Junction:
The Only Farmland Currently Threatened by Development
Editor's View
Against the
recommendations of County Staff and the Planning Commission, the County Council
unanimously approved the amendment to the Sumner Comprehensive Plan that will
develop approximately 200 acres of prime farmland along the south side of SR410.
In a
last minute maneuver by the developer to show good faith (or provide a Council
with an out) the revised proposal mandates that for every acre of Agriculture
Resource Land (ARL) to be developed, four acres of ARL must be preserved in the
Alderton / McMillin Community Plan (AMCP) area. Sounds good, but what it
does is splinter the farmland throughout the valley, because there is no
provision for protecting land adjacent to one another. What do you think
the developer will do ......CLICK
HERE TO CONTINUE READING.
_______________________________________________________________
Foreclosed "Cascadia" Development Sells
Seattle's HomeStreet Bank
announced on March 24, 2011 its sale of the 4218 acre tract to Newland Real
Estate Group out of San Diego CA. The new buyer is one of the nation's
largest planned community developers. New home construction could begin as
early as this fall. It sounds like new owners will closely follow the
master plan developed by Patrick Kuo the original owner of Cascadia.
We wish them the best of luck and
encourage them to pressure Pierce County to reconsider rerouting the proposed
new Rhodes Lake Road replacement corridor to the south plateau option.
Easier access to and from Cascadia for residents, services and commercial
traffic. Link the plateau to an east/west transportation corridor to
Frederickson and I-5, not to a two-lane farming highway up the valley which
becomes an extension of the SR410 and SR167 interchange, which is currently at
over-capacity.
Anyway, welcome Newland.
Here's hoping you can help us preserve the rural character of the Puyallup
Valley. We hope that you care enough to help us in our endeavor. You
can reach us through the County Planning and Land Use Services office - they
know us well.
__________________________________________________________________
HISTORICAL PVPG
EFFORTS
PVPG: Fought To Block New Roadway
The Puyallup
Valley Preservation Group was originally formed to inform the residents of the
valley, County, and State of the impacts to the Puyallup Valley culture and
environment from urban development. In particular, the effort was made to inform
this and surrounding communities of the Pierce County’s plan to ......
(click
here to continue)
Puyallup Valley
Economic Revival Vision
Lets talk about creating a
"Farm Fresh Corridor"
Transportation In the Puyallup Valley
Developers Push For New Roads Into Center of Valley
Community Plan Stresses Rural
Character - not urban traffic
Community Says "NO"
Pierce County Planning Commission Also Says
"NO"
PIERCE COUNTY COUNCIL says "Yes"
County Council Votes Unanimously to Proceed with Valley
Road Project
Citizens, Farming Protection Groups, Valley Community
Plan,
Public Safety
Issues, and False Assumptions Ignored by Council
Hopes for Puyallup Valley Farm Market Corridor Buried in
Gridlock
Farm Fresh Corridor Not Possible
With New Cascadia Road to Valley
What Is the Rhodes Lake Road Corridor Project?
Project Background & Update
Puyallup Valley - Not a Regional Transportation Corridor
More Effective Transportation
Networks Available
Rhodes Lake Road Corridor South Plateau Connection
Part of a Real Transportation Network
Orting Benefits From PVPG Proposed South Plateau Connection
Controls Valley Traffic Problem Too
Puyallup
Valley Preservation Group