What’s Happening for Jan. 6

Wednesday (Jan. 6)

Meet the Teacher: Come meet academic faculty and hear about winter course offerings, 10:15 a.m., Olympia Senior Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia. Call 360-586-6181 or visit SouthSoundSeniors.org.

Thursday

Panorama Republicans: The group meets at 2 p.m. in the Quinault Auditorium on the lower level of the Quinault Apartment Building, 1835 Circle Lane, Lacey. Sharon Hanek will discuss Common Core, the federally mandated school curriculum. Meetings are one hour long and open to all. Information: Call Ron Bax at 360-438-5641 or email ron.ck722@gmail.com.

Memory Cafe: Come for an informational break connecting those with memory loss and their caregivers for conversation. Hosted by Senior Services for South Sound, 2:30-4:30 p.m. at River’s Edge Restaurant, 4611 Tumwater Valley Drive SE. Information: 360-407-3967 or SouthSoundSeniors.org.

Winter social and legislative reception: Thurston County Mainstream Republicans will host the event from 5:30-8 p.m. at Indian Summer Golf Course, 5900 Troon Lane SE. Meet legislators and local elected officials. Includes fundraiser, hors d’oeuvres and no-host bar. RSVP to Dorothy Milholin, 360-456-2992.

Friday

Grade School Activity Night: Ninja warrior-themed activity night includes costume contest, “Mission: Impossible” challenge, obstacle challenge. For Thurston County youth in grades 3-6. The event is 7-9:30 p.m. at Tumwater Middle School. Cost is $7. All students must be signed out at the conclusion of the event. For more information, call Tumwater Parks & Recreation: 360-754-4160 or visit ci.tumwater.wa.us/youth.

Saturday

Plant holiday trees: Stream Team hosts a restoration party at Woodland Creek Community Park. The event is 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Live holiday trees will be planted. Register at streamteam.info, email streamteam@ci.lacey.wa.us or call 360-438-2672.

Monday-Tuesday

SmileMobile: The Washington Dental Service Foundation SmileMobile, which offers dental services to children who might not otherwise have access to dental care, will be in Lacey. Appointments for children — infants through high school — can be scheduled by calling Washington Dental Service Foundation at 888-286-9105. It will be parked at Lydia Hawk Elementary School, 7600 Fifth Ave SE. The SmileMobile will provide examinations 1-4 p.m. Monday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday. Follow-up treatment will be provided through Jan. 20. Medicaid (Apple Health) and sliding scale fee are accepted.

Monday

Papercraft workshop: Card-making is an emphasis, but it’s not at all limited to cards. 1-3 p.m. $5 for supplies per workshop, paid to the instructor. For more information, call 360-407-3967 or visit SouthSoundSeniors.org.

Tuesday

Color blindness: In collaboration with his wife, Maureen, Jay Neitz has discovered how genetic mutations play a part in many of the most common vision problems that affect modern humans. 7 p.m. at Orca Books, 509 E. Fourth Ave., Olympia. Information: 360-352-0123.

Jan. 13

Adult coloring party: Learn with Olympia artist China Faith Star, known for her San Francisco street mural and Olympia Arts Walk cover mandala, 3-6 p.m., at Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College St. SE, Lacey.

Jan. 14

Digging up George Bush’s homestead: George and Isabella Bush came west by wagon train from Missouri, 170 years ago, headed for Oregon Territory. Arriving in 1845, they were one of the first families to settle in the place we now called Tumwater. Last summer, a group of students from The Evergreen State College, led by faculty member and archaeologist Ulrike Krotscheck, excavated the site of the Bush family farm. Team member Lexi Walsh will describe the experience from 7:30-8:45 p.m. at the Olympia Timberland Library All Timberland Regional Library programs are free and open to the public. The Olympia Timberland Library is located at 313 Eighth Ave. SE. For information, contact the library at 360-352-0595 or TRL.org.

Jan. 15

Middle school late night: Ninja warrior-themed late night features cornhole, black lights, a “Mission: Impossible” challenge, snacks and music from 7-10 p.m. at Tumwater Middle School. Tumwater Youth in seventh and eighth grades may attend. Tumwater students may bring up to two pre-registered guests. Pre-registration forms are available at TSD school offices or at Tumwater Parks & Recreation. Guests must bring valid school ID and must be in the appropriate grade. Cost is $7. Information: Call Tumwater Parks & Recreation: 360-754-4160 or visit ci.tumwater.wa.us/youth.

Jan. 16

SPSCC 2016 Artist & Lecture Series: Martin Luther King Jr. Banquet, featuring keynote speaker Nancy Giles, “CBS This Morning” contributor and comedian. Banquet is at 6 p.m., at the Student Union Building, at South Puget Sound Community College, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Tickets are $40 per person, and are available online at www.spscc.edu/mlktix or by calling 360-596-5334.

Quit smoking: Cindy Levy, a licensed mental health counselor and clinical hypnotherapist, offers help Saturdays in January, from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College St. SE. All Timberland Regional Library programs are free and open to the public. Information: 360-491-3860, TRL.org.

Jan. 21

Olympia Tumwater Foundation Noon History Talk: Free monthly talk will feature author Dennis Larson speaking about the 1852-54 building of Naches Pass at noon at the Schmidt House, 330 Schmidt Place SW, Tumwater. Seating is first-come, first-served; doors open at 11:30 a.m. Information: olytumfoundation.org, 360-786-8117.

Jan. 23

Oshogatsu in Olympia: Japanese New Year celebration, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. SE, Olympia. Live entertainment will showcase traditional Japanese dance, music, taiko drumming and vocal performances. The event includes cultural activities, make-and-take crafts, demonstrations and an art exhibition. Free with a suggested donation of $2 per person or $5 per family. Proceeds benefit the Olympia-Kato Sister City Association.

Jan. 30

Lunafest film festival: Soroptimist International of Olympia’s film festival is at 6:30 p.m.at South Puget Sound Community College, Building 26, Room 105 Lecture Hall, 2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia. Films by female filmmakers highlight women as leaders. Tickets can be purchased at siolympialunafest.bpt.me or at the door. Space is limited. Information: soroptimistolympia.org and facebook.com/SoroptimistOlympia.

This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 5:50 PM with the headline "What’s Happening for Jan. 6."