What’s Happening calendar for Feb. 14

Friday

My Family My Choice rally: This rally will take place on the north steps of the Legislative Building from noon to 2 p.m. Event organizer MY Family MY Choice Coalition estimate attendance of 1,000.

Saturday

Suffrage anniversary celebration: Join the League of Women Voters of Thurston County and the Olympia Historical Society and Bigelow House Museum at a special event from 1-3 p.m. at the Bigelow House Museum, 918 Glass Ave. NE, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of suffragist Susan B. Anthony’s birth and the 100th anniversary of the League of Women Voters. The program begins at 1:30 pm and visitors will enjoy displays, music and refreshments. Historic costumes encouraged! Admission by donation. Information: olympiahistory.org and lwvthurston.org

20th Annual Paper Airplane Flight School & Contest: The Olympic Flight Museum will host the annual family friendly event from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the museum, 7637A Old Highway 99 SE, Olympia. The event focuses on a variety of paper airplane folding techniques while professional guides educate guests on flight. Distance and Spot Landing contests will begin at 2:30 p.m. with prizes awarded in various categories. Admission for Flight School participants is $8 and includes instruction, construction materials and a snack. Spectator and general admission is $5. Children 6 and younger get in free. All ages and skill levels welcome. Reservations are not required. Information: olympicflightmuseum.com or 360-705-3925.

Grass Lake Nature Park Volunteer Work Party: From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., volunteers will be digging out invasive Himalayan blackberry and Scotch broom, then planting native vegetation. Full-length pants and a layered long-sleeved shirt are strongly encouraged. Group will meet near the kiosk sign inside the park. Limited parking available at 814 Kaiser Road NW. Look for the Park Stewardship sign right off of Kaiser Road. The entrance is north of Sixth Ave. NW and south of 11th Ave. NW.

Wetland Day & Treatment Plant Tour: What do wastewater treatment plants and wetlands have in common? They both improve water quality. Celebrate wetlands and tour LOTT’s wastewater treatment plant at 1 p.m. Tour participants must be 10 years or older and wear sturdy closed shoes. The event is free at LOTT’s WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Information: 360-664-2333 or www.wetsciencecenter.org.

Valentine’s Stewardship Party: From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Capitol Land Trust will be hosting a volunteer work party to remove Scotch broom at Darlin Creek Preserve, in the Black River watershed near Capitol State Forest. Tools, gloves, and light snacks will be provided. Please dress for the weather; the work will happen rain or shine. Sturdy shoes are recommended. Minors must be accompanied by an adult or have a Waiver Release form filled out ahead of time. Information: https://capitollandtrust.org/valentines-stewardship-party/

Sunday

Native Plant Excursion -- Winter Alpine Snowshoeing: Journey through the Cascade sub-alpine ecosystem with eco-educators. Plant Excursions are group hikes with botany and ecology experts, plus outdoor enthusiasts. Bring your snowshoes and field journals at 10 a.m. on the trailhead. You will learn how to identify native plants, animal tracks, birds and fungi. Advanced registration is required at www.nativeplantsalvage.org/plant-excursions. Workshop details and directions will be sent to all participants ahead of the event. Snowshoes are required. This event is for ages 10 and older. Guardians should consider length and difficulty of hike and child’s ability to honor group learning for all participants. Contact NPSF at info@nativeplantsalvage.org with questions. Workshops cost is $35 per participant.

Monday

Timberland Libraries closed: All branches are closed for the Presidents’ Day holiday.

Free federal individual income tax return preparation: The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers will be at McLane Black Lake Fire Department Station 91 headquarters, 125 Delphi Road NW, Olympia, from 4 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday by appointment through April 13. They will prepare and e-file individual federal income tax returns. To schedule an appointment, visit their website at taxaidewa20.org or call 360-670-0286.

Tuesday

Founders Day Reception and Silent Auction: The Capitol Furnishings Preservation Committee will host this annual event to benefit the historic furnishings in the State Capitol. This year’s program will include a review of the latest restoration project and highlight the ratification of the federal 19th Amendment which extended voting rights to women. The event runs 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Governor’s Mansion on the Capitol Campus. To register, visit http://www.washingtonhistory.org/support/heritage/CapitolFurnishings/

Wednesday

Public meeting on proposed trail improvements in LBA Woods: The Olympia Parks Department is proposing trail improvements at LBA Woods (the woodsy portion of LBA Park in southeast Olympia). City staff took comments from the first round of public engagement and has a proposed trail plan to share. Residents are welcome to comment on the plan at the meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Room 207 at City Hall, 601 Fourth Ave. E. The presentation and survey also will be available online at Engage Olympia starting on Feb. 20.

Thurston Planning Commission public hearing on Critical Area Determination: The Thurston County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. in the Thurston County Courthouse Complex, Building 1, Room 152, 2000 Lakeridge Drive SW, Olympia, to accept public comment on proposed amendments to Title 24, Critical Areas, of the Thurston County Code. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to lengthen the time frame a critical area determination is valid. Currently, a critical area determination is valid for one year. The proposed amendments would provide consistency with other common application types, clarifying the process for citizens and providing more flexibility for property owners to plan for future permitting. Information: www.ThurstonPlanning.org.

Thursday

Medicare 101 presentation: This free workshop will be from 10 a.m. to noon at the Olympia Senior Center, 222 Columbia St NW. Whether you are new to Medicare or want a refresher course, this class can help. No registration necessary, however space is limited. Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors will provide free and confidential help with Medicare choices. For questions about the program or Medicare, call 360-586-6181 ext. 134. SHIBA staff and volunteers are trained by the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner.

History talk on George Washington of Centralia: Schmidt House history talks will host “George Washington of Centralia,” presented by local authors Brian Mittge and Kerry MacGregor Serl, who wrote a book about the son of a slave who became the father of Centralia. The talk is at noon; doors open at 11:30 a.m. and close at capacity. The talk is free, but donations are welcome. The book will be on sale and authors signing after their talk. The Schmidt House is at 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater. Information: Contact Don Trosper at 360-786-8117 or history@olytumfoundation.org.

Breadmaking the Pioneer Way: As part of its on-going program called Pioneer University, Tumwater Historical Association will offer a talk and demonstration on pioneer era breads and breadmaking processes. The program will take place at 5 p.m. at the Tumwater First Baptist Church, 405 X St. SE, and will be led by Beverly York, long-time living history presenter and member of THA.

Want to submit a community event for inclusion in What’s Happening? Send it 10 days or more in advance, written in the format you see above, to news@theolympian.com. Pictures are appreciated.

This story was originally published February 14, 2020 at 4:56 AM with the headline "What’s Happening calendar for Feb. 14."