What’s Happening calendar for Feb. 27
Thursday
Community presentation on the Yelm Highway Community Park Master Plan: Using information gathered from a previous community meeting and online survey, the design team developed three conceptual layouts for the future community park. Come see these preliminary designs and provide feedback to staff and the designers from 6 to 7:15 p.m. at Olympia City Hall, 601 Fourth Ave. E. If you can’t make the meeting, the conceptual designs and survey also will be available online at Engage Olympia through March 22.
35th District lawmakers to hold town hall meeting in Shelton: Reps. Dan Griffey and Drew MacEwen will hold a town hall meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Oakland Bay Junior High School, 3301 N. Shelton Springs Road, Shelton. The lawmakers will provide an update on the ongoing legislative session and then invite constituents to voice their concerns, share ideas, and ask questions. Residents with questions are invited to contact Rep. Griffey’s office at 360-786-7966 or via email at dan.griffey@leg.wa.gov. To contact Rep. MacEwen’s office, call 360-786-7902 or email him at drew.macewen@leg.wa.gov.
Friday
Adult Swim – Mad Hatter’s Gin & Tea Party: Fall down the rabbit hole at this 21-and-older-only event from 7-10 p.m. at the Hands On Children’s Museum, 414 Jefferson St. NE. Play a few rounds of Crazy Croquet, share a curious cup of tea with friends, or “Drink Me” a Dillinger’s cocktail as you explore the Wonderland of the museum. DJ Mia Ohms will offer beats for dancing, you can go through the looking glass in the Optical Illusion Photo Booth, or join the Mad Hatter and make your own hat or fascinator. Tickets are $24 in advance at https://bit.ly/2QYaXCz or $28 at the door.
Elections and ballot security discussion: How election officials are protecting the integrity of Washington state elections will be the topic of a panel discussion co-sponsored by the Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service and the Office of the Secretary of State from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the ABC conference room of the John A. Cherberg building on the Capitol Campus. The event is free and open to the public. A buffet lunch will be provided. Secretary of State Kim Wyman will provide opening remarks. Speakers will include Justin Burns, Chief Information Security Officer for the Security Operations Center of the Office of the Secretary of State; Paul Gronke, professor of political science at Reed College in Portland; and Julie Wise, King County Elections Director. The Cherberg building is at 304 15th Ave. SW, and the ABC conference room is on the first floor. A livestream of the event will be available on TVW.
Saturday
League of Women Voters Community Conversation: The League of Women Voters of Thurston County presents The Vote: Past, Present, and Future at 1 p.m. at the Olympia Regional Learning Academy, 2400 15th Ave. SE. Keynoting the event will be Mary Hall, Thurston County Auditor. The program is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. Information: lwvtc.org/events.
Leap Year Bingo: Oly Bingo Night becomes Leap Year Bingo this month at the Olympia Senior Center, 222 Columbia St. SW. Cost is $20 for game packs. The evening includes a full-service bar, Jello shots, 50/50 raffle and $5 themed dinner. Doors open at 6 p.m. for dinner; games start at 7 p.m. Must be 21 or older. Information: 360-586-6181.
Volunteer work party at Priest Point Park’s Ellis Cove: From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., the work party will focus on removing English ivy around an “island” area on the Ellis Cove trail. The Ellis Cove parking lot is located at 555 Flora Vista Road NE. Meet at the parking lot. Limited parking available. Visit http://volunteer.olympiawa.gov/ for more information and to register in advance for the work party.
Sunday
Documentary screening to benefit Madison-Avanti Giving Garden: “The Biggest Little Farm” will be screened at 1:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater, 206 Fifth Ave. E., Olympia. Doors open at 12:30 p.m. General admission is $9 and it’s $6 for Olympia Film Society members. The film is family friendly. Funds raised will be used to build a new greenhouse at the Giving Garden.
Randal Bays CD launch party: Olympia-based Irish fiddler Randal Bays will launch his latest CD, “Up The West,” with a concert and party at 7 p.m. at Octapas Cafe, 414 Fourth Ave. E, Olympia. Musical guests include Mikey Beglan, Susan Waters, Colm MacCarthaigh, and Clint Dye, plus Portland’s Nancy Jarrell will teach and leadi some Irish dancing. Tickets sold on a sliding scale of $10-$20; available at the door or online at https://bpt.me/4524236
Monday
Introduction to the 2020 Census: The Census will impact federal funding for local communities and representation in congress for the next 10 years, so it’s important that everyone gets counted once, and in the right place. The offical count begins March 12. Learn how you can be a part of the nationwide effort at this sesssion from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Olympia Timberland Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE.
Free Federal Individual Income Tax Return Preparation: Head to the McLane Black Lake Fire Department Station 91 Headquarters 125 Delphi Road NW to get tax filing help from AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers. They offer free help with federal returns from 4 to 8:30 p.m. every Monday through April 13. To schedule an appointment, go to taxaidewa20.org or call 360-670-0286. There are seven other Tax-Aide sites in Thurston County open on different days and hours. Most sites operate on a first-come, first served or walk-in basis. The McLane Black Lake Fire Department, ROOF Community Services and Yelm Timberland Library sites, however, ask that taxpayers schedule appointments in advance. Taxpayers of all ages and income levels are welcome; an AARP membership is not required.
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.