What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Monday, Oct. 14
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day at Squaxin Park: Join the Squaxin Island Tribe and the City of Olympia to celebrate local Indigenous culture, history, and communities from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14 at Squaxin Park, 2600 East Bay Drive NE. The celebration will feature performances, speakers and food. Families are welcome. Admission is free. Parking at Squaxin Park is limited, so attendees who won’t be walking from nearby neighborhoods are encouraged to carpool or bicycle. The City of Olympia is offering complimentary event shuttle service from the east side of the Olympia Farmers Market parking lot every 30 minutes from 11 am to 3 pm.
Thurston County Auditor’s Office services closed Monday: The Auditor’s Office’s Financial Services, Licensing, Recording and Passport divisions will close Oct. 14 for staff training. Elections Voter Services will remain open. All divisions will reopen with normal business hours on Tuesday at 8 a.m. Licensing customers with immediate needs can visit one of the eight local subagents throughout Thurston County.
Tuesday, Oct. 15
Candidates meet with Sierra Club: The South Sound Group of the Washington state Sierra Club is turning its monthly meeting into an opportunity to hear from candidates for State Legislature, Thurston County Commission and other governing authorities about their environmental priorities. Social time starts at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, Room 100, with the program beginning at 6 p.m. Zoom will not be available
Zoom presentation on the Medicare Open Enrollment Period: Medicare’s Open Enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 until Dec. 7, allowing Medicare beneficiaries to reevaluate their coverage. Join this presentation to learn or review how you can join, switch or drop your Medicare Part D, your Medicare Advantage (Part C) or switch back to original Medicare. Learn how you may not be able to enroll in a Medigap plan. Changes take effect Jan. 1. To sign up, get more information or set up an individual appointment, email thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134. (Senior Services for South Sound is the local Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program, sponsored by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.)
Thursday, Oct. 17
The Woman’s Club of Olympia open house: The Woman’s Club is hosting this event at its historic Abigail Stuart House from 5 to 7 p.m. on Oct. 17. The public is invited to visit, tour the house, share a glass of wine and refreshments to see how The Woman’s Club, which has been in existence for 141 years, has continued to remain a community organization providing support, volunteers and a venue for community events. The Abigail Stuart House is on the national and state historic registries Please join us for this event at The Abigail Stuart House is located at 1002 Washington St. SE.
Medicare Open Enrollment Period (OEP) in-person information session: This presentation is at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Mason County Senior Activity Center, The Pavillion, 190 Sentry Drive, Shelton. Learn or review how you can join, switch or drop your Medicare Part D or your Medicare Advantage (Part C), or switch back to original Medicare. Learn how you may not be able to enroll in a Medigap plan. Changes take effect Jan. 1. Send email with questions or to set up an individual appointment to thurstonmasonshiba.volunteers@southsoundseniors.org or leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. (Senior Services for South Sound is the local Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program, sponsored by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner.)
Friday, Oct. 18
“What the Constitution Means to Me” at Harlequin Productions: Harlequin Productions presents “What the Constitution Means to Me” by Heidi Schreck from Friday, Oct. 18 through Nov. 3 at the State Theater in downtown Olympia. Lauren Love will direct. Heidi Schreck’s boundary-breaking play shows how Heidi resurrects her 15-year-old self -- who earned her college tuition by winning Constitutional debate competitions across the United States -- to trace the profound relationship between four generations of women and the founding document that shaped their lives. The play stars Jenny Vaughn Hall (This Flat Earth, A Doll’s House, Time Stands Still) as “Heidi”, the role played by Schreck herself during the Broadway run. The State Theater is at 202 Fourth Ave E, Olympia. Tickets are available online, by phone at 360-786-0151, or in person 12-5:30 pm Tuesday through Saturday at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE. General admission tickets are $43, with discounts for seniors (60+), military, students and youth.
Saturday, Oct. 19
Candidate Meet & Greet at New Life Baptist Church: This Lacey church is inviting candidates and the public to gather between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday so voters and candidates can meet and candidates can discuss their policies and positions. The church is at 7838 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey.
Talking Headstones Tour and Cemetery Dedication: The city of Tumwater has organized this free event at the Union Pioneer Calvary Cemetery, 5700 Littlerock Road SW. The Cemetery Dedication will be from noon to 12:30 p.m. The Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution have been working to clean, restore, and level all 221 headstones at the cemetery, and dedication ceremony will honor the work they have done and teach about what the cemetery means to the community. Then at 12:30 p.m., the Talking Headstones Tour will begin and last until 2:30 p.m. Costumed interpreters representing notable figures from Tumwater’s past will tell stories about Tumwater’s history. Walk through the cemetery and stop at eight different headstones where you will get a three-minute history of who is buried there and what impact they had on Tumwater. The tour will take about 30 minutes and then visitors are free to walk the cemetery grounds exploring the 221 headstones. Open to all ages.
Tenants Rights Workshop: The Olympia Timberland Library is hosting this free presentation about tenants’ rights in Olympia and Washington state. Learn how to protect your rights from the legal experts at the Northwest Justice Project. There will be time for questions and answers during and after the presentation. The workshop will run from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE.
Saturday Passport Fair at Thurston County Auditor’s Office: The Thurston County Auditor’s Office will hold a Passport Fair from 9 am to noon Saturday at the Thurston County Atrium Building, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia. In addition to passport application services, the Auditors Office will provide photo services for constituents in need of a new passport photo. Thurston County staff are trained to ensure that photos meet the strict requirements set by the State Department for passport submissions, whether for renewals or new applications. After May 7, 2025, passengers on domestic flights will be required to have a passport or enhanced driver’s license to fly, so obtaining a passport now will ensure smooth travel transitions in the future. For more information on Passport Services, visit the Thurston County Auditor’s website.
Saint John-San Juan concert series kicks off Oct. 19: Are you ready to swing? St. John Episcopal Church in Olympia kicks off its concert series at 7 p.m. Saturday with a big band concert celebrating legendary jazz artists. The RKO Jazz Orchestra, directed by saxophone star Tracy Knoop, will celebrate local jazz legends Bill Ramsay and Milt Kleeb at the church at 19th Avenue and Capitol Way. Admission, open to the public, is by donation. Knoop is one of the best-known jazz artists and teachers in the region, performing with such greats as the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Mel Torme and others.
“Bridging Divides through Effective Communication” workshop: This free hybrid event online and in-person will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday in the Lacey City Hall Meeting Room, 420 College St. SE. Lunch will be provided. Sponsored by the Asian Pacific Islander Coalition/South Puget Sound, topics will focus on enhancing communication skills, fostering understanding across diverse groups, and strengthening leadership skills that can bridge divides and inspire unity. Three speakers will facilitate activities with participants. The event is co-sponsored by the Community Foundation of South Puget Sound, the YMCA, and League of Women Voters of Thurston County. Register by Oct. 16. Questions? Contact Lin Crowley at lincrowley@gmail.com
Wolves Shape Ecosystems, Right? Wolves affect their ecosystems in many ways, from limiting diseases to changing rivers. Learn more during a presentation by Wolf Haven International staff at 2 pm. Saturday at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. SE, Olympia. Wolf crafts available all day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All ages are welcome, and admission is free.
Heaven on the Half Shell -- Washington State’s Oyster Odyssey: Get to know the Pacific Northwest’s most beloved bivalve at this 2 p.m. Saturday talk at the Mason County Historical Museum, 427 W. Railroad Ave., Shelton. Author David George Gordon will discuss three species — the Olympia, Eastern, and Pacific oysters— along with the people who have cultivated these delicacies for many generations. Learn about the Native American sea gardens and clam beds that existed 11,500 years ago, as well as the contemporary efforts in our state to cultivate oysters, both native and introduced. Gordon is the principal author of “Heaven on the Half Shell: The Story of the Oyster in the Pacific Northwest”, recently revised and updated by University of Washington Press. A former science writer for Washington Sea Grant, Gordon has written 22 books on topics ranging from slugs and snails to sharks, gray whales, and Sasquatch. Admission is free.
Orca Recovery Day: Join Thurston Conservation District and City of Olympia at Squaxin Park (Formerly Priest Point Park) for their annual Orca Recovery Day! Volunteers are invited to be a part of the solution for the endangered Southern Resident orca whales. During this restoration event, volunteers will work to restore forested habitats by planting Pacific Northwest trees and shrubs. The day will also include a guided shore walk, refreshments, and a chance to learn about other organizations helping to better orcas. Register online in advance.
Sunday, Oct. 20
Fall Plant Sale: Roosevelt Elementary School PTA is hosting its popular 2024 Fall Plant Sale offering a wide selection of edible and perennial plants, flowers, shrubs, herbs, small trees and veggie starts. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the school, 1417 San Francisco Ave. NE, Olympia. All proceeds benefit the Roosevelt Elementary PTA. Cash and credit cards will be accepted.
Puget Sound Book Artists 13th Annual Members’ Exhibition: The Puget Sound Book Artists Exhibition on the theme of Time Travel is underway until Dec. 13 at the Daniel J. Evans Library at The Evergreen State College in Olympia. There will be an open case event from 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, 2024. The display will be a total of 55 artists’ books from 42 different artists representing all parts of the Puget Sound and the western United States.
TCMedia open house: Are you an online media creator, filmmaker, or podcaster? Or want to be? Then, you should come to the Thurston Community Media (TCMedia) Open House from 2 to 5 pm Sunday. TCMedia provides Thurston and beyond with access to equipment, facilities and the tools to learn and create media like a professional. Get hands-on demonstrations of the TV studios, equipment, and new podcast suite! There will be door prizes every hour, including TCMedia memberships, class vouchers, and goodies from local businesses. Free entry for all. For more info about TCMedia, visit tcmedia.org or call 360-956-3100.
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This story was originally published October 12, 2024 at 12:00 PM.