The Olympia Brewing Company produced Olympia’s most famous export, Olympia beer, from its founding in 1896 by Leopold Schmidt till it closed its doors in 2003. Situated on the Deschutes River, the original brewhouse gave way to the more modern brewery site south of Custer Avenue built in 1906 featuring…
Works in Progress
I am totally opposed to Crown Columbia Water Resources LCC’s application for an area-wide water permit for water banking in the Columbia River Basin. Requesting an area-wide water permit for the Columbia River Basin is a new approach to water banking. It would provide Crown Columbia the opportunity to control…
Dying before spawning sucks as reproductive failure. Sockeye and pink salmon are susceptible to prespawning mortality (PSM) in the interior Fraser and Columbia River drainages and on the southeastern-Alaska coast from too much summer heating which is worsening with climate change. It also happened in the Klamath River to Chinook and coho…
The future standards of water quality within the state are determined by the people of Washington (RCW 90.48.010). While our water quality standards are reviewed by the federal EPA, ultimately, the future standards of water quality within the state are determined by the people of Washington . You can inform…
Standing for Washington, a Washington state political committee formed in March 2024 with initial support from the Rights of Nature Initiative nonprofit, launched a multi-city initiative campaign to recognize the rights of watersheds within those cities and grant them legal standing. The campaigns began in Olympia, Tumwater, and Everett, based…
Near the southern end of Puget Sound lies the intersection of two ancient trails. Estimated to have been in use for more than 9,000 years, the north-south Cowlitz Trail and the east-west Cowlitz-Yakama Trail were main routes for Indigenous people of the region to travel and trade. The trails…
Olympia Community Solar has enrolled over 515 Washington homeowners in their fourth annual Solarize campaign, their largest solar energy program to date. The campaign serves residents of Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Island, Whatcom, Skagit, Walla Walla county, and the City of Kenmore residents. Residents of nine counties can reserve their free…
Over the past few election cycles, we have come to see more clearly how corporate donors influence legislators, and just how many political candidates accept corporate donations. Candidates who accept donations from corporations are expected to do their bidding in a variety of ways. These include: By creating or supporting…
Syd Locke is running for the Washington State House of Representatives in Legislative District 22. Eleanor Steinhagen – a mother, worker, 20-year Olympia resident, and supporter of the campaign – sat down with him to talk about his priorities and experience ahead of voting in the August 6th primary. Why…
Public Lands Commissioner– what does this position even do? Are you tired of driving through some rural area that you have not been to recently and finding large ugly clearcuts where once there was beautiful forest? The Department of Natural Resources is required by state law to manage these lands…
The US Supreme Court’s July 1 decision to grant absolute immunity to a President’s official acts is indeed, as Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on X, “a sad day for America” and “our democracy.” Donald Trump and future presidents are evidently now free to follow their worst…
The Thurston Conservation District is sponsoring all-ages garden art events through the summer. Rock Painting Party 11 am start time July 13, 2024: Sunrise Park July 20, 2024: Yauger Park Upcycled Pollinator Waterers 11 am start time July 27, 2024: Sunrise Park August 3, 2024: Yauger Park Scarecrow Making 11…