What’s Happening for May 2

Thursday

Olympian columnist Dorothy Wilhelm book event: Wilhelm will be at The Olympian, 522 Franklin St. SE, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to talk about her new book, “True Tales of Puget Sound,” and sign copies. Free. Information: 360-754-5477.

Public meeting on plans for Kaiser Woods Park: The City of Olympia Parks Department is in the planning process to build mountain bike trails at Kaiser Woods Park, 4300 Park Drive SW. These will be the first dedicated mountain bike trails in the city park system. A public meeting is planned for 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Olympia City Hall council chambers, 601 Fourth Ave. E., to discuss the project.

Panorama Republicans: Mariya Frost, the Washington Policy Center’s transportation analyst, will review the 2019 Legislative Transportation Package and subsequent sales tax increases on gasoline, modes of transportation, etc. Frost also will offer specific reforms. The program starts at 2 p.m. in the Quinault Auditorium at Panorama, 1751 Circle Lane SE, Lacey. Free. Information: doddsbpan@gmail.com

Toastmasters open house: Do “leadership” and “fun” belong in the same sentence? Find out for yourself at the Stately Speakers Toastmasters Club open house at noon in the Tumwater Fire Department Community Room, 311 Israel Road SW. Admission is free and there will be two guest speakers. Information: Call 360-413-0014.

“Let It Not Happen Again: Lessons of the Japanese American Exclusion” Humanities Washington is sponsoring a talk at 5 p.m. at the Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College St. SE, by Clarence Moriwaki, who will share the story of how 227 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes on Bainbridge Island in 1942, starting a national strategy of internment during World War II. Moriwaki is the president of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Community. Free.

Goldfinch Productions fundraiser: A new theater company is hosting a kick-off fundraiser from 6-9 p.m. in Heritage Hall at the Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey. Admission is $45, which includes dinner; the event includes annoucement of the first season, entertainment, music, dance, beer and wine, and an auction. Information and tickets: https://www.facebook.com/events/384731235496517/

Capital High School presents “The Theory of Relativity:” This musical presents seemingly unrelated solos, duets, monologues and scenes to explore interconnectedness and the challenges faced as people move from adolescence to adulthood. The PG-13 rated contemporary musical will show at 7:30 p.m. May 2-4 and May 9-11 at the Capital Performing Arts Auditorium, 2707 Conger Ave. NW, Olympia. Tickets are $10 general admission, $8 for students and senior citizens. Get tickets at Purplepass.com, at the Capital ASB office, or call the box office at 360-596-8053.

SPSCC’s Professional Technical Programs Open House: The event runs 4:30-6:30 p.m. in the South Puget Sound Community College Center for Student Success (Bldg. 22), highlighting the college’s programs across health care, information technology, office administration, and various trades. Future students are invited to join instructors and advisors from more than 20 programs to get hands-on program and career information, learn about scholarships and funding, and apply to the college. Attendees also can learn about SPSCC’s new flexible Online and Evening Studies and enjoy snacks, door prizes, and giveaways. RSVP at spscc.edu/prof-tech-open-house but it’s not required to attend.

Friday

Olympia Design Month opening reception: Olympians for People-Oriented Places will host this event to kick off a month’s worth of events and activities with a reception at 6 p.m. followed by a screening of “Urbanized,” a 90-minute documentary about how cities around the world create human-scale, resilient and beautiful communities. The event will be at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. E., Olympia. For information about all the events, go to http://www.opopnow.org/new-events

2019 Medal of Honor and Peace Officers Memorial ceremony: About 500 people are expected to attend the ceremony from noon to 3 p.m. at the Law Enforcement Memorial located near the Temple of Justice overlooking Capitol Lake and the north Capitol Campus. Ceremony set-up begins around 6 p.m. on Thursday, requiring the closure of the parking lot, short roadway behind the Temple of Justice, and the north and south diagonals until after the ceremony. There will be a 21-gun salute during the ceremony. Free.

Saturday

Soroptimist International of Olympia’s South Sound Exceptional Woman Awards Banquet: The third annual awards will honor 19 women, the unsung heroes, who help their organizations - internally or externally - and make our community a better place. Doors open at 6 p.m. at Olympia’s Hotel RL, with the banquet starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $85 per person and can be purchased through http://buytickets.at/olympiasoroptimists/239846.

Plant sale to benefit Santo Tomas: The Thurston-Santo Tomás Sister County Association is hosting its 7th annual plant sale fundraiser for university scholarships for youth in our sister town in Nicaragua. The sale will offer perennial plants and bushes, tomato and other vegetable starts, strawberry plants, raspberry canes, oyster mushroom kits and more from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 117 Thomas St. NW, Olympia. Information: TSTSCA@gmail.com

Tenino Farmers Market opens for the season: The 15th year of the market in the city’s downtown historic district kicks off from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with a vine cutting, historical photos and festivities. The market will be open every Saturday through Sept. 28. Information: http://www.teninofarmersmarket.org

Olympia residents brainstorm about homelessness: Attend the last of Olympia’s community workshops on a long-term response to homelessness from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Capital High School commons, 2707 Conger Ave NW, Olympia. Can’t attend or have questions? Go to engageolympia.com

Lacey STEM Fair: This annual free event showcasing science, technology, engineering and math projects from school clubs and teams throughout Thurston County runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Huntamer Park, 629 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey. Events includes hands-on activities for kids, demonstrations, displays and more. Event happens rain or shine, but robotics demonstrations might be modified. Information: http://www.ci.lacey.wa.us/living-in-lacey/the-community/arts-and-events/stem-fair

Sunday

Tumwater Historical Association Homestead Quilters quilt show: The show, titled Sunbonnet Sue Welcomes Spring, features Sunbonnet Sue and Overall Sam quilts and provides Sunbonnet Sue history. Quilt preservation techniques will be available, as well as Sunbonnet Sue patterns and coloring handouts for children. The show will be from noon to 4 p.m. in Tumwater’s historic Brewmaster’s House (formerly Henderson House) at 602 Deschutes Way, near historic Crosby House, which will also be open to visitors. On the lawn between these homes, the historical association’s “Pioneer University” will provide hands-on experiences with pioneer cookery, ropemaking, butter churning and more. Quilt show admission is $3 for adults.

Monday

Little Red Schoolhouse fundraiser: Dirty Day’s Pizza Parlor, 3939 Martin Way E., will host the fundraiser from 4-7 p.m. Buy some pizza and beverages, grab a raffle ticket, and sponsor a kid’s school supplies for a year.

Tuesday

Where’s the Water series on Streams, Salmon & Orcas: The League of Women Voters will again host a program related to Thurston County water issues. This event at 6 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, will feature Nove Middle School students’ water quality studies; Ann Marie Pearce, an education outreach specialist for the county, talking stream water quality; Gabe Madel, a state Fish & Wildlife fish biologist talking about salmon; Kirsten Harma, a coordinator with the Chehalis Basin Partnership, talking about salmon habitat restoration; and Cindy Hanson, an Orca Network education coordinator, talk protecting endangered orcas. The program is free. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

Hear from members of Tajikistan Parliament: Friendship Force of Greater Olympia is hosting a delegation of three members of Parliament and three administrative staff members from Tajikistan. Delegation members are traveling at the invitation of the Open World Learning Center; this is the first time the state has received a delegation at the Parliamentary level, and the first time Olympia has hosted. Washington’s Secretary of State will welcome the delegation at a breakfast meeting, and the group will meet with legislators, the Lieutenant Governor, Olympia’s Mayor Pro Tem, and U.S. Rep. Denny Heck. Members of the public wishing to hear directly from the visitors are encouraged to attend their panel discussion of their work and culture scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Lacey Timberland Library meeting room, 500 College St. SE.

Wednesday

Former U.S. Ambassador to keynote Thurston Chamber’s annual meeting: Former U.S. Ambassador Suzan “Suzi” LeVine, who is now commissioner of the state Employment Security Department, will deliver the keynote address at the gathering at 11:30 a.m. at Hotel RL in west Olympia. LeVine served as U.S. Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein from 2014-2017 at the request of President Barack Obama. Reservations are required for this event; register at thurstonchamber.com. Information: Contact Krystal Barkus at events@thurstonchamber.com or 360-970-9458

SPSCC Career Day: The event will run 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union Building (Bldg. 27). More than 50 employers across a variety of fields and industries will be present to share career information with students, recruit new employees, conduct informational interviews, and more. The 31st annual Career Day will be supported by an event app to help attendees connect with employers before and after the event. Free.

Healing chronic illness through music: Thirty years ago, Donatella Moltisanti discovered that her debilitating physical pain disappeared when she began studying opera. Now a sound healer, Moltisanti will lead a Soul Singing event at 8 p.m. at Hot Yoga Olympia, 1963 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia. Tickets are $40 at the door.

South Sound Story Guild: The group meets at 7 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW. Visiting storyteller Pam Maben from Portland will tell her favorite traditional tales. Sign-up to tell a story at Story Swap at 8 p.m. Free.

Volunteer work party at Yashiro Japanese Garden: Volunteers will gather from 9:30 a.m. to noon to weed and rake the trails and landscape at the park at 1010 Plum St. SE. Meet at the side entrance to the park. Parking is available at the Lee Creighton Justice Center, 900 Plum St. SE. The city is now asking volunteers to sign up for work parties online. Prior to arriving, visit volunteer.olympiawa.gov and click “Join” on the volunteer work party you would like to attend. All volunteer work parties are listed under “Opportunities.” Information: 360-753-8365 or email parkstewardship@ci.olympia.wa.gov.