What’s Happening for Oct. 4

Thursday

Panorama Republicans host Bud Blake: Bud Blake, the Thurston County commissioner running for re-election, will address the Panorama Republicans at 2 p.m. in the Quinault Auditorium on the Panorama Campus, Lacey. Information: doddsbpan@gmail.com.

Thurston Young Professionals After Hours: Thurston Young Professionals will host their networking event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater. Attendees will enjoy Olympia Beer, a taco bar and appetizers, and a chance to enjoy a spooky Schmidt House. All 21- to 35-year-olds are welcome. You do not have to be a member of the chamber to attend; no cover charge. The host provides appetizers.

Poet speaks at Saint Martin’s University writers series: Poet Kathleen Flenniken will present a lecture for Saint Martin’s Les Bailey Writers Series titled “A Case of — and for — Poetry.” Free and open to the public. Flenniken’s collection “Plume” is a meditation on the Hanford Nuclear Site and her home town of Richland. The collection won the Washington State Book Award and was a finalist for the William Carlos Williams Award from the Poetry Society of America and the Pacific Northwest Book Awards. She was the 2012-2014 Washington State Poet Laureate. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. at the university’s Worthington Conference Center, 5300 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey.

The Wisdom of the Drum: Javoen Byrd — also known as Ayanwumi, in Oyo, Nigeria — will host a drum demonstration at 7:30 p.m. at the Olympia Timberland Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE. Yoruba drums are used to speak the language and spread messages across townships in Africa. Byrd divides his time between pursuing a graduate degree in ethnomusicology and Ile Ife, Nigeria, where he travels to study Yoruba language, traditional Yoruba religion and drum. This program will occur after regular library hours, no other library services will be available. Free and open to the public. Information: 360-352-0595 or TRL.org.

Blessing of the Animals: Gather on the feast of St. Francis for a special blessing of the animals. Bring your furry friend (or a photo or a stuffed toy) for a “drop in” blessing from 5:45-6:15 p.m. and/or join in a community celebration at 6:15 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 1224 Legion Way SE, Olympia.

Puget Sound Brews & News: This speaker series presented by the South Puget Sound Salmon Enhancement Group at Boston Harbor Marina, 312 73rd Ave. NE, Olympia, will feature Roger Tabor and Zach Moore discussing “Putting the Spotlight on Chinook.” The presentation begins at 6:30 p.m. Bring your own or purchase an SPSSEG pint glass to receive $1 off all draft beers for the evening. Information: www.facebook.com/events/1924732207592540/

Friday & Saturday

Fall Arts Walk: The semiannual community event celebrating the arts runs 5-10 p.m. Friday and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday throughout downtown Olympia. Free. Information: bit.ly/2x7pUKG.

Friday & Sunday

African Children’s Choir performs: The choir will perform twice this week in Olympia — at 7 p.m. Friday at the Calvary Chapel, 919 Division St. NW, and at 9 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday at Hope Community Church, 2425 Black Lake Blvd. SW. The program features well-loved children’s songs, spirituals and Gospel favorites. Music for Life (the parent organization for The African Children’s Choir) works in Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and South Africa, educating more than 52,000 children and helping more than 100,000 people through its relief and development programs. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. Information: africanchildrenschoir.com.

Friday through Sunday

Girls joining Boy Scouts boot camp: The Pacific Harbors Council of the Boy Scouts of America is getting ready for an influx of girls wanting to join Scouts BSA after the first of the year. The Scouts will conduct their first BSA Boot Camp for girls ages 13-17 interested in joining Scouts BSA in 2019. The event will take place from 6:30 p.m. Friday to 11:30 a.m. Sunday at Camp Thunderbird on Summit Lake, 15 miles west of Olympia on state Route 8. The camp is open to prospective members and their parents and guardians. There will be a combination of classroom learning and outdoor training. Information: 253-682-2217 or pacificharbors.org.

Saturday

October Book Sale at the Lacey Library: The sale will run 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the library, 500 College St. SE.

Shuruq IV — Olympia Arab Festival: Join the Rachel Corrie Foundation at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. SW, Olympia, to celebrate and experience the food, culture, traditions, lifestyles and peoples of the Arab world. Free and supported in part by grant funding from the Washington State Arts Commission and National Endowment for the Arts. Information: bit.ly/2y337hO.

Olympia Fire Department open house: Activities run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fire Station 1, 100 Eastside St. NE. There will be demonstrations, chances to use real fire equipment, games and snacks. Free.

Test drive an electric car: Test-drive different electric car brands in one place at this Ride & Drive event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Capital Mall, 625 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia. You can test-drive multiple models of electric cars with no sales pressure. Energy advisers will be on hand to answer questions about set up, charging and more. Free.

Saturday & Sunday

Oysterfest: The festival that includes the West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington State Seafood Festival runs 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday next to the Port of Shelton Airport, 21 W. Sanderson Way, Shelton. Seafood of all types, plus lots of other types of eats. Beer garden, wine tasting, live music and activities for kids. Admission is $5. Information: oysterfest.org.

Sunday

Tumwater Historical Association celebrates the Oregon Trail: The celebration of the trail’s 175th anniversary will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Tumwater Falls Park, 110 Deschutes Way SW. The event will feature hands-on activities and demonstrations that showcase the pioneers’ way of life. There also will be a bake sale, cake, door prizes, living history re-enactments, singalongs, and music demonstrations. Stream Team volunteers also will be on hand to teach the public about the salmon fighting their way up the Deschutes River. Free. Information: Corinne Tobeck, 360-790-2829.

Sunday & Monday

Casting call for youth and adult actors: Broadway Olympia Productions is having auditions for “A Christmas Story the Musical,” which is based on the Christmas movie about a young boy growing up in Indiana who dreams of getting a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. The group needs adult actors for a variety of roles as well as actors ages 7-14 to play Ralphie, Randy, and other youth roles. Performances will be at the Capitol Theater in Olympia during the holiday season. Information: broadwayolympia.com or send an email to audition@broadwayolympia.com.

Monday

Open house on Tumwater’s Urban Forestry Management Plan: Tumwater’s Tree Board will host this event from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Tumwater Fire Department Headquarters Training Room, 311 Israel Road SW, Tumwater. It is designed to gather feedback on preserving and enhancing the city’s urban forest to update the management plan. There will not be a formal presentation. Those unable to attend can email comments to cdd@ci.tumwater.wa.us or call 360-754-4180. For more information, contact Brad Medrud at 360-754-4180 or bmedrud@ci.tumwater.wa.us

Free Introduction to Square Dancing: Olympia Area Square Dancers will offer free lessons starting at 6:30 p.m. at Lac-A-Do Hall, 1721 46th Ave. NE, Olympia. Couples, singles, and families welcome, ages 10 and older. Information: OlympiaSquareDance.com or 360-438-1284.

“A Deadly Wind” book launch party with author John Dodge: Head to the Olympia Film Society’s Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia, for a 7 p.m. celebration of the release of Olympia author and journalist John Dodge’s non-fiction book detailing the 1962 Columbus Day Storm. The public event is free, but donations at the door will benefit the Olympia Film Society. Autographed copies of the book will be available for purchase following a slide show presentation, book reading and question and answer session about the most destructive windstorm to strike the West Coast in recorded history. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tuesday

Stonecroft’s Christian Women’s Connection: The group’s monthly luncheon is at noon on the lower level of the Panorama Chalet on Circle Drive in Lacey. The event will include an auction of donated items, gift baskets, decor, crafts, baked goods, and other gifts. Come at 11:30 am to browse the items. The speaker will be Linda Reinhardt from Vancouver, who will talk about “Choices and Where Will They Lead?” The cost is $16 which includes lunch, dessert, coffee/tea, and piano music. For reservations, call Sylvia at 360-943-0627 by Oct. 5 if possible.

Communicating to Connect workshop: Liv Monroe will lead a workshop based on Marshall Rosenberg’s philosophy of Nonviolent Communication from 6:45 to 9 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, corner of Washington and 21st Street in Olympia. Participants learn tools for resolving conflicts, improving relationships, and transforming blame, criticism and violence into mutual understanding and caring. Free, but contributions accepted. Information: 360-357-4503 or livmonroe@gmail.com

Democratic Study Group at Panorama Annual Issues Forum: The event runs from 1:30-3:30 p.m. at the Quinault Auditorium (lower level), 1835 Circle Lane SE, Lacey. The public is welcome. The issues and speakers are: I-940, Leslie Cushman; I-1631, Ari Simmons; I-1634, Andrew Johnson; I-1639, Stephen Prolinis; Lacey Park and Recreation District, Andy Ryder. Jon Tunheim will discuss his campaign for Thurston County Prosecuting Attorney as well. Information: 360-438-5454.

Bioluminescent night kayak fundraiser for Nisqually Reach Nature Center: Kayak Nisqually is offering kayakers a change to enjoy the magic of bioluminescent plankton in the Nisqually Delta at night, while raising money for environmental education and citizen science. For this fundraiser tour, you pay $20 to Kayak Nisqually, and then make a donation by cash, check, or credit card for the Nisqually Reach Nature Center. The standard price for a Kayak Nisqually tour is $89, so a donation of $70 or more toward the center and its mission would be greatly appreciated. Participants should arrive no later than 5:25 p.m.; paddlers will be off the water and ready to leave by 9 p.m. To register, go to https://fareharbor.com/embeds/book/kayaknisqually/items/78405/availability/115010237/book/?full-items=yes

Wednesday

Zonta Club of Olympia’s 90th Anniversary reception: The public is invited to join the Zonta Club of Olympia’s celebration of its 90th Anniversary from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the state Capitol Rotunda, 416 Sid Snyder Avenue SW, Olympia. There will be light refreshments, a historical retrospective, and celebrating. Admission is free.

This story was originally published October 4, 2018 at 3:46 AM.