What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Sunday, Feb. 12

Chocolate and Wine Festival at Medicine Creek Winery: Bring your Valentine — or someone else you like — to Medicine Creek Winery’s 16th annual Chocolate & Wine Festival from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 12. A $25 ticket will get you a glass of wine and all you can eat chocolates, plus live music by Pump House. The winery is at 947 Old Pacific Highway SE, on a farm in the Nisqually Valley. Buy tickets in advance on Eventbrite.

Monday, Feb. 13

Free Introduction to Square Dancing: Olympia Area Square Dancers will have you dancing right away at this introductory course at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13 at Lac-A-Do Hall, 1721 46th Ave. NE, Olympia. Couples, singles, and families are welcome, for ages 10 and older. For more information, go to OlympiaSquareDance.com or call 360-438-1284.

Tuesday, Feb. 14

Deadline for comments on proposals for Thurston County Comprehensive Plan and Development Code Amendments: The Thurston County Board of Commissioners is seeking public comment on proposals for the official dockets of Comprehensive Plan and Development Code Amendments. Residents of unincorporated Thurston County, and those who may be affected by regulatory changes at the county level, are asked to review the potential comprehensive plan and development code dockets, or amendments to those dockets, which establish priorities for county planning work. The Planning Commission and the Board of Commissioners will hold public hearings on the merits of the items approved for the official dockets prior to adoption of any final regulations. Copies of the 2022-2023 Official Dockets with new proposal summaries are available on the Community Planning website under “Amendments and Updates” by selecting either “Comp Plan Docket” or “Development Code Docket,” or visit the Building Development Center at 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia. Comments must be received by Feb. 14. Send written comments to Dana Bowers, Associate Planner, by e-mail at Dana.Bowers@co.thurston.wa.us or hand deliver or mail comments to: Thurston County Community Planning & Economic Development Department, C/O Dana Bowers, Associate Planner, 3000 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia WA, 98501.

Take the Chocolates and Leave -- an Anti-Romantic Book Launch with Alissa Tu: Tell Valentine’s Day to get bent with the book launch of Olympian author Alissa Tu’s debut experimental memoir, “Confessions of a Modern Day Kumiho,” at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, at Browser’s Bookshop, 107 Capitol Way N., Olympia. There will be chocolates and valentine cards to take, but you won’t want to leave before Tu starts reading as her alter ego: the man-eating nine-tailed fox known as the Kumiho. You can get a copy of the book and have it signed at the free event.

Legacy Washington’s “Love, Equally” public exhibit opens: Secretary of State Steve Hobbs will host a public reception celebrating 10 years of marriage equality in Washington state and the grand opening of Legacy Washington’s newest exhibit, “Love, Equally: The Journey to Marriage Equality.” The exhibit includes a book that celebrates the history of marriage equality with profiles about some of the champions of the cause; online content including stories, interviews, personal profiles and more. The reception starts at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 14, in the State Reception Room on the third floor of the Legislative Building, 416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW, Olympia.

Thursday, Feb. 16

U.S. Forest Service virtual community forum: The Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. Forest Service will host a virtual community forum from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16. Regional Forester Glenn Casamassa will discuss the service’s current and future efforts to reduce wildfire risks to communities and improve forest health. The public can attend the event through eventbrite. American Sign Language interpreters will be available during the event. Read about the service’s ongoing wildfire crisis strategies on the Forest Service website.

Olympia World Affairs Council: The council will host its monthly lecture program at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, via Zoom. The topic will be “US-Korea Relations Under Globalization and Post-Globalization,” presented by Dr. Yong-Chool Ha, Korea Foundation Professor of Korean Social Science at the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies. For details and log-in information, visit the OWAC website.

Olympia kicks off Black History Month events: All are invited to join the Hawk Foundation for Research and Education in African Culture, in partnership with the City of Olympia and Olympia School District, for a three-day event series exploring and celebrating Black history. From 1 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16, Dr. Sylviane A. Diouf, historian on African Diaspora and Visiting Scholar at the Center for the Study of Slavery and Justice at Brown University and Lloyd International Honors College, will present on the Maroon Peoples of the Southern United States. Registration is required through the City of Olympia’s calendar.

Friday, Feb. 17

Black History Month Keynote at the Washington Center: Dr. Joy DeGruy, researcher, educator and author of “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome,” will present an in-person keynote and symposium on “Steps to Healing and Mental Wellness Within the Black Community” from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, in the Black Box Theater at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. This is a free event and all are welcome, but space is limited, so registration is required by Feb. 15 or until all spaces are filled.

13th Olympia Old Time Festival: The Oly Old Time festival returns after a two-year hiatus, celebrating and sharing traditional old-time music and dance. The three-day festival, a program of Arbutus Folk School, kicks off at noon Friday, Feb. 17, at the South Bay Grange, 3918 Sleater Kinney Road SE, and wraps up at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19. Tickets are $20 for the Friday and Saturday evening shows and are available online until noon Thursday, then at the door if not sold out. However, kids 12 and under get in free, and all workshops are free.

Saturday, Feb. 18

A Community Celebration of Black History Month: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, you can join a free, community celebration with presenters, music and food at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NE, Olympia. It is the final part of the City of Olympia and Olympia School District’s three-day event series exploring and celebrating Black history.

Whale Tales: Join the WET Science Center in celebrating World Whale Day! Learn more about our largest marine friends and create whale-themed crafts from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.

Author talk with Ron Holcomb: Local writer Ron Holcomb will discuss his new book, “Constant Chaos,” at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, in the upstairs space at Browsers Bookshop, 107 Capitol Way N., Olympia. Holcomb’s collection of true stories of triumph and human tragedy during his 40 years with the Washington state Department of Ecology explodes the myth of the pencil-pushing government worker. Spill responders are on call 24/7, mitigating environmental emergencies and natural disasters, sometimes at great risk to themselves. Admission to the event is free.

New Traditions concert: Cyd Smith has been called a brilliant innovator in the field of songwriting, but she’s also an accomplished guitarist and stellar vocalist. At 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, she will be joined by the Hood River Rogues, steel guitar wizard Ben Bonham, Ronnie Ontiveros on bass as well as Olympia guitarist Vince Brown. Call Traditions Fair Trade and reserve your seat Tickets are $25, or $18 for those with low income. Desserts and drinks will be available.