What’s Happening for Dec. 29
Monday
Auditor’s Office to swear in newly elected officials: The ceremony will take place at 2 p.m. at the Minnaert Center for the Arts at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Sheriff John Snaza will deliver the Pledge of Allegiance, and Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst and State Rep. Laurie Dolan will address attendees. The public is invited to attend. The elected officials to be sworn in include: port commissioner, mayors and council members, school board directors, fire commissioners, parks and recreation commissioners, and cemetery commissioners.
Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees special meeting: The Timberland Regional Library Board of Trustees will hold a special board meeting at noon at the Administrative Service Center in Tumwater to finalize levy rates and approve the 2020 budget. The agenda will be posted online one business day prior, and the public meeting can be viewed online at https://www.trl.org/board-trustees
Wednesday
Polar Bear Plunge: This chilling annual ritual – when swimmers run into the water to start off the new year – will happen at 1 p.m. at Long Lake Park, 2790 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey, but arrive at noon for music and meeting fellow plungers. Information: Call Lacey Parks and Recreation at 360-491-0857.
Free day in state parks: Visitors to Washington State Parks won’t need a Discover Pass for day-use visits. (Note: The free days do not apply to Sno-Parks.) That gives visitors the opportunity to take part in a First Day Hike, a nationwide initiative that aims to get people outdoors on New Year’s Day. This year, more than 40 hikes are planned at dozens of state parks all over Washington, including at Millersylvania at 10 a.m., at Twanoh at 9 a.m., at Lewis & Clark at 10 a.m., and at 4 Grays Harbor parks. For more information on the Millersylvania hike, contact Ranger Lance Schlosser at millersylvania@parks.wa.gov or 360-753-1519, or to get more information on all the New Year’s hikes in Southwest Washington, go to https://www.adventureawaits.com/337/2020-Southwest-First-Day-Hikes-121019
Friday
Olympia Comic Creators Meetup: Olympia’s comic book artists and writers will meet from 5-7 p.m. every first and third Friday at Gallery Boom, 520 Adams St. SE, Olympia. The group will work on a comic anthology to be finished, printed and exhibited at the annual Olympia Comics Festival in June. If you are interested in drawing, writing or any form of comic book creation, you are welcome to join the group. Refreshments are often served but you are free to bring your own. All inquiries can be sent to Lorenzo Ross at zomatic1@gmail.com.
Saturday
Poetry Open House: What’s the most poetic way to live in 2020? Explore this question with Olympia Poet Laureate Sady Sparks during the Poetry Open House from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Harbor House on Percival Landing, 405 Columbia St. NW. Expect word games, poetry stations, warm beverages, and the Puget Sound. This is a casual, drop-in event. All ages encouraged to attend.
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