Have you bought coffee recently? You may be getting lees than you thought.

The container on the right weighs 1 lb 15 oz, and the ‘new look’ container on the right contains only 1 lb. of coffee.

The lids are the same size and the shape of the containers is the same, but the newer box is about an inch shorter and contains about half as much coffee.

What a ripoff!

The County is about to cost the Ridgefield School District over $2.3 million dollars in school impact fees for the Ridgefield School District.

Some of you may be aware that the Ridgefield School District has been feeling some economic growing pains of late.  To that end, the district put out a bond measure in February that failed, and a levy last month that passed.  The levy was for approximately 6 million dollars.

What you may not know is that the County is now on the cusp of approving almost 1000 new dwelling units near the 179^th street intersection.  As part of the budgeting process for those projects, the county will be voting on May 7^th  on how much they are going raise your taxes and, possibly,  go into debt through bonding, to subsidize these new residential developments.

Importantly, as to School Impact fees, the County only charges $6530 per dwelling unit for a school impact fee on new construction for homes constructed within the Ridgefield School District.  On the other hand, the City of Ridgefield charges $8883.75 per dwelling unit for school impact fees.  The difference between what the City collects from its citizen’s new construction for the RSD, and what the County collects, is $2,353.75/dwelling unit.  Therefore, unless the County requires the developers to pay the same impact fee as if the dwelling unit had been built in the City, the Ridgefield School District will lose $2,353,000 dollars that would go to help the school district absorb these new students in these 1000 new dwelling units.  It is conceivable that this deficit will require the School District to come back yet again to the voters of the RSD for an additional levy in 2021 and beyond based upon this new growth that does not pay for itself.

The County is supposedly entering into development agreements with the 3 major developers regarding their financial obligations to the County. Please let the Councilors know that you are already carrying a heavy tax burden for your schools and, at a minimum, the new developments (1000 new dwelling units) should be required to pay the same school impact fees ($8883.75) as those being paid by new construction dwelling units in the City so that City residents and County residents pay the same impact fee to cover the ballooning cost of education in the Ridgefield School District.  The County should make it a requirement part of any development agreement for development in the Urban Holding area that each dwelling unit pays the same impact fee as if the construction were being completed in the City.

You can comment by sending written comments to Sonja Wiser at “Wiser, Sonja” Sonja.Wiser@clark.wa.gov or  show up at the hearing Tuesday night May 7th.

Since this is the same night as the architects for our new library are holding an open house at the library, or if you are unable to attend the meeting, you could also email our County Councilor, Julie Olsen, by googling https://www.clark.wa.gov/councilors/write-councilor and checking the box in front of Julie’s name. There is space to write comments.

There is a rumor the County Council Meeting may have been canceled

 

This article appeared in Saturday’s Columbian. I have shortened it, but the gist is the same.

“An Oregon woman who lost both legs after being hit by a freight train has filed a lawsuit against several railroad companies. (List of companies follows.)
Police say Cindy Rodriguez was looking at her phone while walking across tracks when the train hit her at a suburban Portland crossing in April, 2017. Documents say her legs were amputated and she suffered respiratory failure and other injuries.
The lawsuit says the companies ignored dangerous conditions and did not warn the public, and employees failed to use an emergency brake.”

She is asking for $33.8 million dollars!

Well duh…Doesn’t everyone know railroad crossing are dangerous? And looking at a phone while walking can cause problems? And a train takes a long time to slow down even with an emergency brake?

I am sick and tired of our having to pay for stupidity. Sorry, but this woman was stupid. Any kindergartener could tell you to be careful at a railroad crossing.

I hope the judge has enough guts to throw out the case before it costs taxpayers a lot of money.

What do you think?

A student in one of the Ridgefield schools is in need of an acoustic guitar. It doesn’t need to be new so if you have one you would like to donate or know somebody who does we would appreciate it!!
Please contact Carla at Ltcarla@comcast.net if you can help.

Apartment in downtown Ridgefield for rent for one person. Clean, fresh, unfurnished 600 square ft 2nd floor with high gabled ceiling, small loft for storage and laundry facilities.  Air conditioned and heated.  Small gardening area for personal use.  Available March 15, $1100/month including utilities.

Need security deposit of $500 plus first and last months’ rents.  One year lease.  No smoking or pets.  Call Carol Pinnell 503 313 9975.

Since we’ve moved into town, my car is not being driven much, so I’ve decided to sell it. The car is in mint condition, and very comfortable to drive.

It’s a silver 2015 Honda CR-V, the touring model with all the bells and whistles you’d expect in a luxury vehicle, including GPS, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Voice Recognition, Vehicle Stability Assist, Lane Departure Warning, Power Tailgate, Tire Pressure Monitoring, Collision Mitigation Braking System, USB/HDMI ports, Moonroof, Power Windows, Driver Position Memory, Advanced Air Bags, Smart Entry System, Child Proof Door Locks, Automatic Window Wipers, HomeLink Garage Opener, Climate Control System, Intelligent Multi-Information Display, AM/FM Radio, CD Player, Bluetooth® Audio, Touch Screen, LaneWatch™, Multi-View Rear Camera. WHEW!

I bought the car new in September of 2015, and it’s spotless. It’s only been driven 17,000 miles. Price is $27,000. Call today before it’s gone: 360-887-2160.

Having trouble keeping your New Year’s resolution to exercise?  This has never been an issue for Lefty.  For you newbies to Ridgefield, it is his red barn you see on the way into town.  He routinely hauls wood, cuts, splits and stacks the wood. Not bad for 80-something!  It is his neatly stacked pile that you see at the entrance to downtown. It’s fir wood. The barn and the fields on either side of the road used to be covered with trees when Lefty and his bride, Marilyn, had a tree nursery on the property.

~ Contributed by Sarah Scott

 

I wanted to share some great news with the residents of Ridgefield.

Ridgefield Living magazine is returning to your mailboxes beginning in February. We have been on forced hiatus since June due to some problems the State of Washington had when we announced we were expanding our free circulation from 1,50 homes to 4,300 homes.

There were legal problems, all of which I am not privy to, that were settled by our corporate headquarters in N. Carolina and now we can bring Ridgefield’s favorite magazine back to you all.

Several changes: First I will no longer be the Editor, that role will be aptly fulfilled by Cindy Lebeau, with whom I will be working as Content Editor. Since I’ve lived here for a dozen years we want to keep my knowledge of the community front and center to better serve our readers. Cindy will be handling the administrative details, advertising, as well as contributing to the editorial content decisions.

The second change: The magazine will now be called RIDGEFIELD LIFE. But will have the same type of stories about residents, their children, businesses, pets, gardens, hobbies, and leisure and community support activities. And, as before, we will continue to seek suggestions as to stories our readers are looking for.

You can send ideas and suggestions to me at rick.browne@n2pub.com or to Cindy at cindy.lebeau@n2pub.com.

We’re delighted to bring your magazine back and hope that not only enjoy what we produce but want to take an active hand in contributing ideas, family photos, and your enthusiasm.

Merry Christmas and see you in the New Year

Rick Browne

Ridgefield Life

Content Editor

Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.

Brad Paisley

We’re all in the holiday spirit!

I’ve posed this before on Thanksgiving, but I think it bears repeating. Author is unknown.

I am Thankful for

The mess after a party?

Because it means I have been surrounded by friends.

The taxes I pay?

Because it means I am employed.

The clothes that fit a little too snugly?

Because it means I have enough to eat.

My shadow that watches me work?

Because it means I am in the sunshine.

The lawn that needs to be mowed?

Because it means that I have a home.

The spot at the far end of the parking lot?

Because it means that I can walk.

The complaining I hear about the government?

Because it means we have freedom of speech.

The lady in church who sings off key?

Because it means that I can hear.

The exhaustion I feel at the end of the day?

Because it means I have been productive.

The huge heating bill?

Because it means that I am warm.

And I am thankful for friends like you!

Happy Thanksgiving

Author – Anonymous

Congratulations to Frank Shuman, whose winning ticket was drawn Saturday in the raffle sponsored by the Ridgefield Community Gleaners Association. Frank won the lovely original watercolor painting generously donated by Patricia Thompson and painted by Kathy Winters. All proceeds from the raffle will be used to purchase fresh produce for the Ridgefield Family Resource Center during winter months when gleaning is over for the season.

Thanks to Tony Zebrun of the Starliner Cafe, who donates space in his refrigerator to store perishable produce during the time the Resource Center is not open.

Ridgefield Community Gleaners are volunteers who collect vegetables and fruit from local gardens to provide to Ridgefield families who are supported by the Ridgefield Family Resource Center. For more information, send inquiries to rcgleaners@gmail.com.

Draper Orthodontics has been an FYI advertiser for the last five years, and has just renewed for another year. I asked Amy Draper to write up information about their business. Here’s what she wrote:

 

   “Draper Orthodontics is located just up the road in Woodland and has been serving the Ridgefield community for the past six years.  Dr. Draper and his family are Ridgefield residents and love to support the schools and the community of Ridgefield.  

   If you are interested in braces or Invisalign for yourself or your children, please give us a call and we will gladly set up a complimentary consolation to meet with you.

   At Draper Orthodontics, we pride ourselves in giving our patients the individualized care they deserve and love the small town feel of our office and community.  We pride ourselves in treating each patient as our own family.

Mention that you saw this advertisement on FYI98642 and receive $500 off full orthodontic treatment for all new patients starting in 2018.

Smile With Us Ridgefield!”

You bought a lottery ticket, right? Rushed out there and grabbed one in hopes it could make your life better? Even though your one ticket may not win, you did it anyway, because it’s worth a shot, right?

So did you vote?

There’s still time. Mail your ballot so it’s postmarked today and you may be the tie breaker. You may also drop the ballot in the box at the Pioneer Street exit, east of I-5, at the end of North 1st Circle.

Remember to set your clocks back an hour when you get up this morning. Daylight Savings Time is over, and we’re back to dark evenings.