Cartoon: I am You-Man by Grace Okay

Grace Okay on June 1, 2025

Community Spotlight

Workers Over Billionaires – We are over it! – Banner & Sign Wave – Sleater-Kinney I-5 Freeway Overpass and Street, 525 Sleater Kinney Rd SE, Lacey – September 1, 11am-12:30 PM – Labor & community are planning to stop the billionaire takeover through collective action in 1000’s of communities across the country to demand a country that puts workers over billionaires – Sign up here

Open Rehearsals for Treble Voices for Peace, a branch of the Olympia Peace Choir – United Churches of Olympia, 110 11th Ave SE, Olympia – September 4 and 11, 7-8:30pm. A place for all voices. No auditions. No experience necessary. For more information, see the olympiapeacechoir.org

Open Rehearsals for the Olympia Peace Choir – Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd SE, Olympia – September 8 & 15, 7-8:45 pm

Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It Series – Receive expert mending insight and access simple hand tools and scrap (feel free to bring more for the share pile) – Olympia Farmer’s Market – each Friday in September, 10am-3pm— From noon-1pm, there will be a specialized demonstration – First Friday enjoy a Mending 101, second Friday a Darning 101, third Friday learn how to repair leather, and final Friday learn how to mend denim.

“Under the big Top” Community Resource Fair – ASHHO Cultural Community Center, 5757 Littlerock Rd. SW, Tumwater – September 6, 11am-2pm – Connect to resources and information from local organizations, nonprofits and government agencies. Everything for all ages from housing and medical coverage to transportation, education and careers. Contact Khurshida Begum @ info@ashho.org, or 360-932-0632

Food & Yard Waste Composting Workshop – Closed Loop park Demonstration Garden inside the Thurston County Waste & Recovery Center @2420 Hogum Bay Rd.NE Lacey – September 6, 10am-11:30am. Free and open to the public

Friends of the Poor Walk/Run – hosted by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Register to receive pledges at https://fopwalkrun.org September 6, 10am-1pm – Enjoy a scenic 5K walk along a nature trail and neighborhood sidewalks and join this day of giving. Refreshments provided afterwards.

The Way of the Masks – Honoring the Spirit of the Lands, Waters, and Forests – Rally at the Capitol Steps. Join Se’Si’Le and the House of Tears Carvers to celebrate the sacred balance (xaalh) in all our relations. September 8, 4-5:30pm -. Commissioner Tye Menser will be speaking about the County Board’s efforts to protect our Legacy forests at 4:30pm.

Finding Inner Peace – Tushita Kadampa Buddhist Center, 211 Legion Way SW, Olympia – September 8, 15 & 22, 7-8:15pm – In this 3 week series, we’ll learn about different mindsets that prevent us from finding inner peace, and practice meditations. Everyone is welcome! Donation $12 – no one turned away. You may drop in any week or attend the full series.

Quotation/Myth Photography Exhibition – The Thurston County Museum of Fine Arts, which hosts pop-up museums in underutilized commercial spaces, has its first-ever photography exhibition at 120 Olympia Ave NE – Runs through September 13. Website https://www.tcmofa.org

2025 Heroes for Housing – TwinStar Event Center, SPSCC, 4220 6th Ave SE, Lacey – September 10, 7:45am-9am – Join the community in supporting Hones First’s work in providing the unhoused, housing insecure or very low-income community members with permanent, supported and sustainable rental homes in the local community. Free, but donations requested.

A 3 Part Class: What does Nonviolent Social Change Look Like? – Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW – Wednesday from Wednesday, September 10- Wednesday, September 24, 6:30-8:30pm – Guided by the instructor from Restoring Earth Connection, this course invites thoughtful reflection and practical insight on how timeless approaches to effect change can be applied to current challenges and personal action. Part 1 – slide on the history of nonviolent social change in the US; Part 2 – slide shown on how social change is effected & discussion; Part 3 4 pillar exercise and integration of the previous 2 sessions. Free

Story Swap, South Sound Story Guild – Harbor House, 217 Thurston Ave NE, Olympia – September 10, 6-8pm – Opening Teller, Bowen Lee, presented Japanese paper theater with a traditional story, then a modern version of that story. Followed by Story Swap, where audience members can tell their own stories.

History Talks! Black History USA Rail Tour – Lacey City Hall, Council Chamgers, 420 College St SE, Lacey – September 11, 6:30-7:30pm – Join Jarvis Harris and Joe Foss as they share insights from their 5-week journey touring Black historical sites and landmarks across the US. More information at https://laceyparks.org/events/black-history-usa-rail-tour/ Come in person or register to join online

McLane Creek Trail Maintenance – Hosted by Stream Team – September 12, 9:30am-12:30pm – McLane Creek Nature Trail

Fertile Ground Reweaving (Reunion) – September 13, 12-4pm– NE Neighborhood Pocket Park@ San Francisco St & Bethel – Come celebrate the new commons with food, art, harvest, plant and seed sharing, family games and more! More info here

Sea Stroll Tour – Puget Sound Estuarium on 309 State St. NE, Olympia – The walking tour explores changes to the Deschutes Estuary through time – including the filling in of the Moxlie Slough and development of the Port Peninsula- September 14, 10am-12pm the $18.00 Tickets available here

National Voter Registration Day – September 16 – The League of Women Voters reminds everyone to register to vote – More information on registering voters at National Voter Registration Day

Preparedness Expo – Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW – September 20, 10am-1pm – Come to the 2025 Thurston County Emergency Management Council’s Emergency Preparedness Expo and get prepared for emergencies. Learn more on the Thurston County website.

New Member Orientation for Thurston County League of Women Voters – Panorama’s Pavilion building (1751 Circle Lane SE, Lacey) September 20, 9:30am-12:30pm Questions? Contact membership@LWVthurston.org

United for Climate -1002 Washington St SE Olympia – Celebrate Thurston Climate Action Teams’ Climate Champions with hors d’oeuvres and dessert and hear the TCAT update – September 20, 5-7pm – Abigail Stuart House,. Register on TCAT website

Art on the Farm – GRuB, 2016 Elliot Ave NW, Olympia – September 24, Session times 10-11:30 am and 12:30-2pm – Join Hummingbird Studio under the tent on the GRuB Farm to make art and create in community – rain or shine. All materials are provided and it’s free! Please pre-register by email: hummingbird@kokuaservices.org

Know Your Rights Training (bilingual in English&Spanish), September 25, 6-8pm- On Zoom through the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network. Register here

E-waste recycling drop off – Olympia Timberland Library, 313 8th Ave SE Olympia – September 26, 11am-3pm – Drop off old technology and donate them to be recycled or refurbished for low-income individuals and families in need. Computers, monitors, phones& tablets, headphones, cameras, printers, TVs, CD/DVD/VHS players, mice flash drives, cords & cables, keyboards and most home electronics

Olympia Coalition to Abolish Nuclear Weapons – Lacey Timberland Library, 500 College St SE, Lacey – September 26, 1-3pm – Join the community in commemorating the International Day to Abolish Nuclear Weapons with a film that tells the gripping true story of a man who single-handedly averted a full-scale nuclear world war. Discussion to follow screening.

4th Annual Tumwater Falls Fest – Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls, 110 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater – September 27, 10am-4pm

Harvest Festival – hosted by the Thurston Conservation District – South Union Grange, 10030 Tilley Rd. S., Olympia – Join us to celebrate the annual harvest! The event will feature apple pressing (bring your own apples), pie baking contest, scarecrow making contest, face painting, agricultural demonstrations, workshops & educational booths – October 4, 10am-3pm

Lacey Children’s Day – Huntamer Park, 618 Woodland Square Loop SE, Lacey – October 4, 11am-2pm

Annual Meeting & Salmon Bake – Nisqually Indian Tribe’s Culture Center and Longhouse in DuPont – October 5 – ASHHO Cultural Community Center (5757 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater -Check Nisqually Land Trust for more information

Climate community assembly – sponsored by TCAT and the City of Tumwater – ASHHO Cultural Community Center (5757 Littlerock Rd SW, Tumwater) October 11, 10:30am-1:30pm – Climate community assemblies provide a participatory democratic model of public discourse that directly involves community members in the shaping and development of policies and the direction of community planning for climate change