A presentation on the school safety survey results will be presented. The Healthy Youth Survey is taken by students to find out their perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors regarding a wide range of health-related issues and is a collaborative effort between OSPI, the Department of Health, the Office of Community Development, and the Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse.

Grandview United is currently surveying the community about some of these same issues. Surveys are available online at www.grandviewunited.org. The community is invited to participate in this survey. The data will be used to develop a data bank of people interested in providing mentoring or other skills with the youth of Grandview. The surveys focus on safety and activities that youth of Grandview would like to see in our community.

Grandview United will be hosting a community meeting on May 5th at 5:00 p.m. at Compass High School/Administration Building. The results of the Healthy Youth Survey as well as look at the current responses from the survey underway by Grandview United will be presented. Parents, students, and community members are invited to attend.

The Citizens for Safe Yakima Valley Communities will host their 3rd annual Youth Career and Job Fair from 1–5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 23 at Southeast Yakima Community Center.  Yakima valley high school students are encouraged to attend.  This collaborative community effort aims to employ 150 high school age youth in part-time summer jobs from June 15–July 10. For students to be eligible they must attend the Career and Job Fair on March 23 to participate in the program. The job fair is free to students to attend. Southeast Yakima Community Center is located at 1211 S. 7th Street.

To be successful at our goal, we need your support.  If you have, or can create, a 4-week job at 20 hours a week for a youth, please call us at 248-2021 x112.  For a $685 investment, a youth will experience their first job.  Please join us in supporting and growing self esteem, confidence, and hope for our youth.

To provide youth jobs, contact:
Ken Marble, President, Horizon Distribution, Inc. (HDI) (509) 453-3181 x221
Bill Dolsen, President, The Dolsen Companies (509) 248-2831 x123
Ester Huey, Director, Southeast Yakima Community Center (509) 575-6114

Here are the links to review the draft surveys.

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – Student Survey

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – Community Leader Survey

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – Resident Survey

Click Here to take and test the Youth Master Plan – School Staff Perception Survey

Grandviewnews.net has now opened eReporter access to the community. The newly established community eNews publication announced Sunday public eRporter access for publishing articles of interest to the community. Click this link to the Grandview eReport submission form and become a Grandview News eReporter today!

Can passers-by see under your tree? Give thieves less temptation and store gifts out of view from your windows.

Sunnyside, Wa. – The Sunnyside Police Department has some tips to help people avoid theft during the holidays:

When shopping:

• Don’t park in unlit areas.
• Be extra careful carrying a purse. They are prime targets in crowded shopping areas.
• Do not carry large amounts of cash with you.
• Be aware of strangers approaching you. This is the time of year for many solicitors, etc. be aware of your surroundings and possible distraction techniques.
• Put shopping bags in your trunk. Don’t try to cover items with a blanket, if possible take packages and large items home and then go back out shopping rather than leaving them in your car.

At home:

• If you are leaving for the holidays have a neighbor or family member watch your house and pick up your newspapers and mail.
• Make sure your holiday gifts are not visible through windows in your home.
• If you are leaving town leave lights on an automatic timer.
• When large gifts are received (like electronics, televisions, computers, etc) do not leave empty boxes by your garbage can. Dispose of them in a recycling receptacle or elsewhere.

Fire Consumes Travel Trailer and Garage - Staff Photo

At around 11 p.m. last night a Grandview police officer discovered what appeared to be a travel trailer being consumed by fire. It was located in the 900 block of West 4th Street in the alley behind one of the homes.

As Grandview police secured the area, Grandview Fire was dispatched to the scene and extinguished the blaze as it spread to a nearby garage and power pole. No one was injured in the blaze and the cause was unknown at time of publication.

The Grandview Fire Department wants everyone to be safe and warm this winter holiday season.

Toward that end, the department echos a press release this past week from our State Fire Marshal’s Office providing tips to “ensure a safe and happy holiday season.”

“Cold weather causes a higher fire threat due to increased uses of heating sources, such as electrical space heaters, fireplaces and wood stoves,” state Fire Marshal Mike Matlick said in the press release. “This coupled with increased cooking activity, the use of extra holiday lights, candles and other decorations, pose an even greater threat for fires and fire deaths.”

Captain George Saenz of the Grandview Fire Department sited an incident last week where tragedy was narrowly averted when the department responded to a smoke filled apartment. An occupant thinking the stove burner was on “low,” left an unattended pot cooking on the stove top and then left the residence. Unfortunately the stove burner was on “high” and overheated the pot of food, filling the apartment with smoke and putting all residents in the building at risk.

“During the winter break is an ideal time for families to review their home fire safety plan, ensure their smoke detectors are working and practice their exit plans” added Saenz.

As we enter the hectic holiday season, the department offers the following tips:

General Heating Tips:

Keep any heater at least three feet away from anything that might burn, i.e., curtains, walls, furniture, papers, etc.
Keep children and pets away from heaters.

Cooking Safety:

Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food.
Keep any flammable items away from your stove top.
Keep children and pets away from any cooking appliances.

Holiday Lights:

Maintain your holiday lights.
Do not overload electrical outlets.
Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.

Holiday Decorations:

Use only nonflammable decorations.
Never put wrapping paper in the fireplace.
Choose a flame-retardant artificial Christmas Tree.

Candle Safety:

Avoid using lit candles.
Never put lit candles on a tree.

A little holiday fun to get you in the mood!

eNews is soon to be available in Grandview, Washington. No community should have to wait a week to get their news, and now Grandview won’t have to.

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