What’s happening this week around Thurston County

Tuesday, March 7

Gratitude Party for Dee Doiron: Grateful skiers are hosting a party to celebrate Doiron’s many years of promoting skiing at Crystal Mountain as director of Evergreen’s Ski School, where hundreds learned to ski and perfect their technique. Doiron also coordinated the program’s ski buses to Crystal Mountain, then continued for many years to arrange for bus service after Evergreen’s program ended. The party will run from 2-4 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave. SE. There will be a photo documentary, many stories and wild tales, cake, ice cream, and beverages. To be included, please RSVP to 360-753-1487 or 360-951-8843, and leave a message with name, number of people, and phone contact.

Buying Your First Home workshop: This free workshop is open to all who are interested in learning about the process of buying a house. Folks who identify as low-income are especially encouraged to attend. A presentation from local Realtor Erin McCready (Homeward Sound Realty/RE/MAX Realty South) and local mortgage lender Kim Harmon (Fairway Mortgage) will be followed by a Q&A session. The workshop begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 7, at the Olympia Timberland Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE.

Wednesday, March 8

Hospital executives talk about the future of health care: “Cutting-Edge Advances Shaping the Future of Health Care” will be the topic tackles by Darin Goss, CEO of Providence Health and Services Southwest Service Area, and Will Callicoat, President of MultiCare Capital Medical Center, at the Thurston Chamber’s March Forum. The event begins at 1130 a.m. Wednesday, March 8, at the Norman Worthington Conference Center at Saint Martin’s University, 5300 Pacific Ave SE, Lacey. Register in advance on the Chamber’s website; prices are $35 for members and $40 for non-members.

Graphic memoir author visit: Join the Olympia book launch of MariNaomi’s newest graphic memoir, “I Thought You Loved Me,” a collage-comics memoir about queer friendship and the unreliability of memory. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8, at the Olympia Timberland Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, and will consist of a reading (with visuals) by MariNaomi, followed by a moderated conversation with the author and Frank Hussey of Danger Room Comics, and then a short Q&A and book signing.

Thursday, March 9

A public forum on Thurston Area Tribal Nations and the Centennial Accord: The League of Women Voters of Thurston County, (LWVTC) recently engaged in a Study of Thurston Area Tribal Nations. One topic in the forthcoming study report is the unique agreement between tribes with rights in Washington state and executive branch of state government: the Centennial Accord of 1989 and the Centennial Accord Millennium Agreement of 1999. To learn more about these agreements, the LWVTC is inviting the public to an educational forum from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 9, at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW; it also will be available via Zoom. Speakers will include representatives of area tribal governments and the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Indian Affairs. To join by Zoom, you must register in advance to receive a confirmation email with the Zoom link and information about joining the meeting.

Friday, March 10

140th anniversary celebration for The Woman’s Club of Olympia: The Woman’s Club of Olympia, a local non profit, is hosting a 140th anniversary celebration of its founding in Olympia from 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the club’s historic Abigail Stuart House, 1002 Washington St. SE. Visitors can tour the clubhouse and learn about the club’s history and current membership activities. Speakers, video, music and refreshments will be provided. All are welcome.

“Material Matters” Art & Craft Exhibition: “Material Matters” is a collection of new work in a diverse array of materials at Childhood’s End Gallery, 222 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia. Five local artists present their work in cut feathers (Chris Maynard), batik (Lisa Kattenbraker), ceramic sculpture (Garrison Coverdale), watercolor (Julie Creighton), and carved blocks (Sara Gettys). An artists reception is planned from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 10, or drop by during gallery hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday or 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Saturday, March 11

Spring Cleaning for a Healthy Home: Join Thurston County Public Health staff for a 2 p.m. workshop about green cleaning and make your own green cleaning product to take home. Learn how to read labels and choose safe products. Green cleaning is safer for you, your kids and your pets, as well as for drinking water supplies. Related activities will be available from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia.

Artist Talk with Chris Maynard: Childhood’s End Gallery will host an artist talk with Chris Maynard at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 11. Maynard is an Olympia artist whose artwork using hand-cut feathers have gained international acclaim. Learn about his creative process and hear the stories behind his latest creations featured in the gallery’s “Material Matters” exhibition on view through April 23.

Harmony Sweepstakes A Cappella Festival: The 2022 Pacific Northwest a cappella champions, Verdant A Cappella, will return to host the annual regional a cappella competition in Olympia, one of eight around the country. The winning group will be flown to perform in front of celebrity judges and a sold out house of enthusiastic a cappella fans at the National Finals. The music begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 11, at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Tickets are $28 general admission, or $23 for seniors, students or military.

Sunday, March 12

Sea Stroll -- Historic Shoreline Tours: Learn how the cultural and ecological history of Olympia’s historic shoreline intertwine during the Puget Sound Estuarium’s Sea Stroll walking tour. Starting from the Estuarium at 309 State Ave. NE, the tour loops around the downtown core to track the historic changes to Olympia’s shoreline. The tour takes about two hours and is 1.5 miles long so wear walking shoes. The Sea Stroll tour also includes a tour of the Estuarium facility. The tour cost is $15 for adults, free for those 12 and younger.

Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event.