What’s Happening events calendar for Jan. 17, 2020 in Olympia

Friday

Gun Rights Coalition Lobby Day: From 8:30 a.m. to noon, gun rights advocates will be at the Capitol Campus lobbying to protect Second Amendment rights, including self defense. Information: Allen Acosta at islandal72@yahoo.com.

South Thurston Economic Development Initiative meeting: The Thurston County board of County Commissioners will conduct a special meeting from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Rainier Senior Center, 108 Michigan St. S., Rainier, to receive an update on economic development efforts in south Thurston County. Open to the public.

Friday and Saturday

Cascadia Grains Conference: This conference, in its eighth year, is aimed at rebuilding a regional grain economy in the Cascadia bioregion of Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and British Columbia. The Friday program includes presentations around Seattle and South Puget Sound. Saturday’s program runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SE, Olympia. Mel Darbyshire, the head baker for Grand Central Bakery, will be the keynote speaker. Highlights include an all-local beer and spirits garden; the Best of Cascadia Tasting, produced by the state Beer Commission, that will cap the Saturday conference from 5-8 p.m. at SPSCC. Registration and more information are available at www.cascadiagrains.com. Regular Registration is $125 and $150 for those registering at the door. Scholarships are available.

Saturday

MLK Day of Service Volunteer Work Party: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., join the City of Olympia in honoring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a service project at LBA Park. Volunteers and staff will plant native plants and pull Scotch broom to restore habitat. Tools, gloves, and light refreshments provided. Dress for the weather and wear boots. Visit http://volunteer.olympiawa.gov/ for more information and to register for the work party.

Elma Winter Wine Festival: The 13th festival is from noon to 9 p.m. at the Grays Harbor Fair & Event Center, 32 Elma McCleary Road, Elma. The Elma Chamber of Commerce event includes wine tasting, a beer garden, food booths, gifts and merchandise booths, a silent auction, and live entertainment. 21 and older only; valid photo ID required. Tickets in advance are $10 for entry only or $20 with a glass and 5 tastings at https://elmachamber.org/event/winter-wine-festival/.

Sunday

12th Annual Martin Luther King Peace Walk: South Sound Buddhist Peace Fellowship and the Open Gate Sangha invite everyone to participate in this annual event. Arrive at Marathon Park (west side of Olympia’s Capitol Lake on Deschutes Parkway) shortly before noon for a brief welcome and instruction, then walk in single file, silently, meditatively (no chanting or conversation and no signs) around the lake.

Nootka Rose baroque string ensemble concert: The Nootka Rose quartet will play “Viva la Musica,” a concert of Italian music of the baroque period at 3 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave SE, Olympia. Part of the St. John’s Concert Series, the performance will feature music of the 17th and early 18th centuries. Nootka Rose is comprised of Christine Wilkinson Beckman and Courtney Kuroda on baroque violins, Annabeth Shirley on baroque cello, and Elizabeth C.D. Brown on the theorbo, a dramatically long-necked form of lute. A free-will offering will be taken, with a suggested donation of $20. A reception with Italian-themed cookies and savories will follow the performance.

Monday

SPSCC MLK Day Lecture by Dr. Rich Benjamin: South Puget Sound Community College continues its Artist & Lecture Series with the first event of 2020, a Martin Luther King Jr. Day lecture with Dr. Rich Benjamin. The lecture will be held at 7 p.m. in the Minnaert Center for the Arts at the Olympia campus, 2011 Mottman Road SW. Tickets for the lecture titled “King and ‘The More Perfect Union”’ are available through The Washington Center for the Performing Arts for $15 or less. The lecture is free for SPSCC students, staff, and faculty.

Olympia Indivisible meeting on 2020 election: The theme is “2020: It’s Up To Us” for the meeting from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 114 20th Ave. SE, Olympia. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with live music from Artesian Rumble Archestra. Free child care available. For more information and to register, visit https://www.olympiaindivisible.org/

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration: The Commission on African American Affairs is hosting this event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Columbia Room, Rotunda, and Room 112 of the Legislative Building.

Candlelight rally to end mass incarceration: Prison Voice Washington is organizing this rally from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the north steps for the Legislative Building on the Capitol Campus. Flameless candles will be provided to represent the 1,300 men and women who will die in prison because their sentences are so long.

Timberland Regional Libraries closed today: The libraries are closed for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Tuesday

Diabetes Wellness Classes: The Mason General Hospital Diabetes Wellness Center is starting a new series in the Diabetes Prevention Program. These classes are in addition to the regular support group meetings held in Shelton and Allyn. Orientation for the program will be offered from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Washington meeting room, and again from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Pershing meeting room, both at Mason General Hospital, 901 Mountain View Drive, Shelton. Classes will then continue for six months at those designated times.

JBLM Veterans Job Fair: The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and RecruitMilitary are joining forces to attract, hire and retain military veterans and military spouses in the JBLM area. This free hiring event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Lake Conference Center, 8085 NCO Beach Road on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, is for veterans, transitioning military personnel, National Guard members, Reserve members and military spouses. Register at http://bit.ly/JBLM012120

March for Life: The annual rally opposing abortion is scheduled from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the north steps of the Legislative Building and the south steps of the Temple of Justice. Rally organizers estimate that roughly 5,000 people will attend. March for Life participants will begin gathering at about 11 a.m. near the Winged Victory Monument, the statue located in the traffic circle near the Legislative Building.

Wednesday

Springwood Parcel Volunteer Work Party: From 9:30 a.m. to noon, volunteers and staff will remove invasive plant species, including yellow archangel, which must be bagged before it heads to the dump to keep the underground rhizomes from taking hold in new soil. The parcel, formerly known as Zabel’s Rhody Garden, is at 1500 Springwood Ave NE. Parking is only allowed on Devon Drive Northeast. After parking, follow the signs to the entrance to the parcel. Meet just inside the gate. Visit http://volunteer.olympiawa.gov/ for more information and to register for work parties in advance.

Thursday

Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging Council of Governments meeting: The meeting will be at 2 p.m. in the Olympia agency office, 2404 Heritage Court SW, Olympia. Information: Contact C. Warriner at 360-664-2168.

History Talk at Schmidt House: Kristin Fabry, the former director of the Mason County History Museum in Shelton, will speak about the history of Mason County with stories brought to life in their museum. Her talk begins at noon at the Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater; doors open at 11:30 a.m. and close at capacity. Free, but donations welcome. Information: Contact Don Trosper at 360-786-8117 or email history@olytumfoundation.org.

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