Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – August 19, 2025
It was a momentous day in Garfield yesterday – the street in front of our house was paved. You see, Garfield has many streets and sections of streets that are…
Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – August 13, 2025
I hope everyone is having a relaxing and enjoyable summer! My family is back from vacation, I am over my jetlag (mostly), and although we enjoyed being across the pond,…
Initiative Saves Energy, Supports Washington Schools and Low-Income Families
Partners for Rural Washington, Zero Emissions Northwest and Washington State University Extension are joining forces to help rural school districts and their communities realize millions of dollars in savings by…
Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – July 7, 2025
Summer is most definitely upon us (despite a recent Saturday here where the high didn’t even reach 60). Kids are out of school, and it’s vacation month. And I want…
Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – June 19, 2025
Whenever my husband asks me if I want the good news first, or the bad news, I always respond, “bad news.” My preference is to take the hit and move…
Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – June 5, 2025
A fire station, a lawnmower, and a mammoth walk into a bar (just kidding, a mammoth wouldn’t fit in a bar). These are seemingly random, totally unrelated things. But not…
Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – May 12, 2025
These days, I feel a bit like Ross Geller holding the couch on the stairway in an episode of Friends, repeatedly shouting “pivot!” I’ve been debating about when to share…
Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – April 25, 2025
If ever there was a time to play the drum roll app on your phone, this is it (if you don’t have it, I highly recommend downloading it…you will use…
Nine rural Washington communities named for pilot initiative
Nine communities throughout Washington will be participating in a pilot initiative aimed at helping rural towns find the technical expertise and funding they need to tackle their often overwhelming infrastructure…
Hello from Garfield! Updates from Executive Director Jody Opheim – April 6, 2025
Community work is, I’ve realized, a little like getting ketchup out of a glass bottle. You’re working away, trying to break things loose, waiting…full of anticipation (cue classic commercial jingle)…