What’s Happening for April 5

Friday

Climate Conversations series on migratory birds: Speaker John Withey, a terrestrial ecologist at The Evergreen State College, will talk about whether migratory birds keeping up with earlier springs, from 6:30 - 8 p.m. at Olympia City Hall, 601 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Free. Information: www.streamteam.info/getinvolved/calendar.

Roy Zimmerman concert: Singer-songwriter Roy Zimmerman will perform songs from his latest recording, “RiZe Up,” a blend of heart, hilarity, and social justice, at 7:30 p.m. at Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 2200 East End St. NW, Olympia. Tickets at the door; $20 suggested contribution will help support tiny houses to alleviate homelessness.

Saturday

Stormwater pond maintenance workshop: Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County invite property owners and HOA members to a free workshop on neighborhood stormwater pond maintenance 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Building 35, Room 251 at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Attendees will learn about common problems in stormwater systems, inspections and annual reports, and professional service providers. Registration in advance is required at stormforms.org/signup. Information: 360-867-2095 or stormwaterutility@co.thurston.wa.us.

Free screening of “The Trouble with Wolves”: Wolf Haven International will host a free showing of the 50-minute award-winning documentary by director Collin Monda. Doors open at 3:30 p.m., film begins at 4 p.m. at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. SE, Olympia, and will be followed by Q&A with Wolf Haven executive director Diane Gallegos. Information: https://conta.cc/2DeK0Uv

Springwood Parcel (formerly Zabel's Rhododendron Garden) Volunteer Work Party: Work will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 1500 Springwood Ave. NE. Volunteers will be removing English ivy and yellow archangel. Parking is only allowed on Devon Drive Northeast, then follow signs to the entrance and meet inside the gate. The city now asks that you sign up online before the work party at volunteer.olympiawa.gov. Click “Join” on the volunteer work party you plan to attend; work parties are listed under “Opportunities.” If you have participated before and have provided your email, just enter your email address and click “Forgot password” to sign up. Call 360-753-8365 or email parkstewardship@ci.olympia.wa.gov with any questions.

Sunday

Other Bank open house: YWCA Olympia will hold an open house on the transition of the YWCA Other Bank to the Thurston County Food Bank later this year from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at YWCA, 220 Union Ave. SE, Olympia. The Thurston County Food Bank will acquire The Other Bank in July and hygiene products will only be distributed at Thurston County Food Bank locations from then on. A second open house will be held 5-7 p.m. May 2 at YWCA. Information: ywca@ywcaofolympia.org.

Monday

Jaime Herrera Beutler to host telephone town hall: The congresswoman will host the town hall from 5:25-6:25 p.m. All residents of southwest Washington’s 3rd congressional district are invited to join for updates on her initiatives and to ask questions or share concerns. Sign up to receive a call at https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/forms/form/?ID=3247 or contact Herrera Beutler’s Vancouver office at 360-695-6292. Residents also can call in to join at any point during the event at 1-877-229-8493 and using the passcode 116365. Information: https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/

Native Plant Society author talk: Eileen Stark, who wrote “Real Gardens Grow Natives,” will talk about gardening to support biodiversity at 7 p.m. at the Lord Mansion Coach House, 211 21st Ave. SW, Olympia. Free. Book signing to follow.

Tuesday

Evergreen Talks at the Lord Mansion: Frederica Bowcutt, faculty at The Evergreen State College, will talk about the historical ecology of South Sound prairies annd the associated oak woodlands, which host rare species of plants and animals. Learn how these cultural landscapes developed thousands of years ago and how Native people tended them. Bowcutt teaches programs that integrate botany, environmental history and the history of science. The talk, which is free and open to the public, will run from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Lord Mansion, 211 21st Ave. SW.

Stonecroft Christian Women’s Connection: “Easter Bonnet and Tea Time” is the theme of the monthly luncheon at noon at 1751 Circle Lane SE, Lacey, upstairs at the Panorama Gallery next to the Seventeen51 Restaurant and Bistro. A British High Tea will be served for lunch. A prize will be given for the best hat. Brenda O’Gorman from the Rose and Crown chapter of the Daughters of the British Empire will offer a lesson on how to brew an excellent cup of tea. Cathy Rasley from Walla Walla will speak about “What Perks Up Your Life?” Music by violinist Elizabeth Wilhelmina. Make your reservations by April 4 if possible by calling Sylvia at 360-943-0627.

Wednesday

Thurston Green Awards & Expo: About 100 businesses applied for a Thurston Green designation this year and the community will celebrate them at the Thurston Chamber's April Forum at 11:30 a.m. at the Hotel RL Olympia. The luncheon will include a keynote address by Rachael Taylor-Tuller, owner of Lost Peacock Creamery, a goat dairy farm in Olympia. The event will also feature Green Business Expo and a chance to meet businesses and organizations in Thurston County committed to environmental sustainability. Cost to attend is $35 for general admission; $25 for online prepaid chamber members; $30 for members at the door. Register at thurstonchamber.com

Eye on Nature volunteer training and program overview: Eye on Nature is an environmental education program run through the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge; field trips are the culminating component of a year-long program in both the Nisqually and Chehalis watersheds. The program overview and volunteer training will take place from 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. Attendance is required for all new volunteers and encouraged for returning volunteers. If you are interested, RSVP by emailing Brandon@nisquallyriver.org

JA Jance author event: New York Times bestselling author J.A. Jance returns to South Sound to celebrate the release of her new thriller, “The A List,” which was released Tuesday, April 2. Jance will discuss and sign book at 2 p.m. at the Capital Event Center, 6005 Tyee Drive SW, Tumwater. Free.

South Sound Story Guild: Storyteller Cherie Trebon of Port Angeles will share stories of fools from the Greek myths, Shakespeare, and folk tales of many cultures at 7 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW. Listeners sign up to tell a story at Story Swap from 8-9 p.m. Free.

Beach naturalist training: The Puget Sound Estuarium’s 2019 Meet the Beach program is drawing near, and it is eager to recruit new beach naturalists. A general orientation will take place at 6 p.m. at the Estuarium, 309 State Ave. NE, Olympia, followed by training for new volunteers at 7 p.m. The training helps beach goers identify the plants and animals in local estuaries. To become an Estuarium Beach Naturalist, visit sseacenter.org/MTBtraining to submit a volunteer form and background check. All aspiring beach naturalists must attend the orientation in addition to three Beach Naturalist training sessions (two held at the Estuarium, and one on the beach). All training is free and requires no previous knowledge about the Puget Sound or marine biology.

Priest Point Park Volunteer Work Party: Work will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon at the park at 2600 East Bay Drive NE; meet at the kitchen/shelter #1. Volunteers will cut stalks and dig out root balls of invasive Himalayan blackberry bushes. The city now asks that you sign up for work parties online before the work party at volunteer.olympiawa.gov. Click “Join” on the volunteer work party you would like to attend; work parties are listed under “Opportunities.” If you have participated in a past work party and have provided your email, you will need to enter your email address and click “Forgot password” to sign up. Call 360-753-8365 or email parkstewardship@ci.olympia.wa.gov with any questions.

Thursday

Youth Climate Rally and Day of Action: Students and young leaders from across Washington state will gather in Olympia from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for a day of climate-focused workshops, rallying, and lobbying for action. The day will start at 10 a.m. with workshops at The United Churches of Olympia social hall, 110 11th Ave SE, Olympia. After lunch, there will be a rally from 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. outside the Legislative Building on the Capitol Campus. From 1:30 to 3 p.m. participants will be in the Rotunda speaking to legislators about climate justice. For information or to register: https://secure.latest.facebook.com/events/632651983819416/

“What’s up with mud?” program: The Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) will lead this program from 5:30-8 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. SW. There will be discussion about the role mudflats play in Budd Inlet, Deschutes estuary restoration, toxins and legacy pollution in Budd Inlet, Olympia's historic shoreline alteration and dredging, the shorebird population decline, and carbon capturing capabilities of estuaries. Free pizza from Blue Heron Bakery and a mud chocolate surprise desert will be served. Email olydert@gmail.com if you are willing to help with set up/tear down, food or photos.

This story was originally published April 5, 2019 at 6:04 AM with the headline "What’s Happening for April 5."