Cartoon by El Machete

El Machete on November 30, 2025

Community Spotlight

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Church Book Nook Sale – Shop online here for 25% off discounted books. If you buy 5 or more books, you will receive an additional 10% on your total purchase. December 1 – Midnight December 6 – All proceeds will benefit the Thurston County Food Bank.

Rally against the use of Flock Cameras in Olympia – City Hall, 601 4th Ave E – December 2 @ 6PM – While City Council hears a briefing from the Police Department about the Flock Automated license Plate Reader Cameras now in use at several heavy traffic locations, you can protest their use outside City Hall. Though the Olympia Police Department states it will not share data from the cameras with Customs and Border Patrol, there are 88 other Washington police departments with access to Olympia’s data who do. Audits of flock show 10 police departments had “back door” searches performed without explicit consent.

Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network Virtual Community Session – Preparing for the 2026 Legislative Session – Register for the Zoom session here – December 2 @ 6 PM – Learn how you can advocate to promote policy priorities for immigrant justice, including participating in Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day 2026.

Saving the Nisqually Delta slideshow by author Janine Gates – Traditions, 300 5th Ave SW – December 4, 5:30-7:30PM – The slideshow will be followed by a panel discussion with invited guests, including former Washington State Senator Karen Fraser, who chaired the Nisqually River Task Force in 1985, and Port of Olympia commissioner-elect Krag Unsoeld.

Citizen activism saved the Nisqually Delta from past threats, but today, the delta is still at risk from the cumulative impact of urban and industrial encroachment. We’ll discuss key moments in Washington State environmental history and ongoing issues related to the ecological integrity of the Nisqually Delta. Please bring your memories, thoughts, and ideas about past or present environmental issues!

Earth Friendly Giving for the Holidays – Good Shepherd Church, North St. and Henderson Blvd (across from Olympia High School or by Zoom Register here – December 4, 6:30 PM – Restoring Earth Connection is sponsoring a discussion about earth friendly ways of giving and celebrating and, greenhouse reduction goals for the new year. We will also have time to connect with each other around these issues as we are building a community of resilience.

Building Bridges First Friday Open House – Islamic Center of Olympia, 4324 20th Way NE, Olympia – December 5, 12 PM and every first Friday of the month – All people with a sincere desire to get to know a Muslim, our faith and values are welcome to attend. Observe the weekly sermon, join or observe the prayer, enjoy ethnic snacks and engage in circle time and Q&A with our affable and knowledgeable faith leader. Bring your family, friends and colleagues, and experience the diaspora of the most diverse faith community in the Puget South Sound. For more information, visit masjidalnur.org or contact mustafaus@msn.com

Planting on Powell Creek Protected Lands along the Nisqually River – Powell Creek Protected Area – December 6, 9AM-12PM – Help us reach our goal to add 3,000 trees at our Powell Creek protected lands. Join Nisqually Land Trust to plant native trees & shrubs on our protected lands along the Nisqually River. We will take some time near the end to walk down to the Nisqually river shoreline and take in the incredible views. Tools, work gloves, hot drinks, water and pre-packaged light snacks will be provided. Please RSVP for directions

Kids Button Blanket Workshop with Ruth Whitener – Olympia AHA – Arts & Heritage Alliance- Museum – 203 Columbia St NW, Olympia – December 6, 10AM-12PM – Join artist and Squaxin Island Museum Assistant Curator Ruth Whitener for a button blanket workshop just for kids! Discover this Coast Salish tradition and make your own mini blanket to take home.

Tall Tree Tour with Propagation Nation – Washington Park Arboretum in Seattle – December 6, 10-11:30 AM – Want to visit more giant sequoias and coast redwoods thriving in Washington? Sign up for the December tour here

Thurston County Media Class – Manage a YouTube Channel – TC Media, 440 Yauger Way SW Olympia – December 6 @ 12PM – You’ve created the next viral video sensation. Now what? Learn to distribute content, manage your account, and maximize your internet presence in this single session workshop. Sign up here or call 360-956-3100 to enroll.

Paint a Baby Monster Tote – Olyphant Art Supply, 601 Capitol Way S, Olympia – December 7, 1-3PM – Ages 12+ – $35/per person, supplies included. Click here for more info and tickets

Parks Stewardship Volunteer Opportunities through the City of Olympia Parks and Recreation –

Tools, gloves and light refreshments provided. Youth under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

Sierra Club South Sound Group Monthly Community meeting – Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW, Olympia – December 16@ 6 PM and every third Tuesday of the month through May. Join the Sierra Club to learn about environmental priorities across Thurston, Mason, Grays Harbor and Lewis counties. For more information, please email sosound.sierraclub@gmail.com

Welcome Blanket Knit-In and Roundtable Discussion – Olympia City Hall, Room 207 –

December 17, 3-5:30PM – Join us for a discussion with local immigration advocates from AGUA (Accompaniment Group for Unity and Action), LISO (Legal Immigration Services of Olympia) and the Thurston Rapid Response Network. Come at 3PM to start a yarn square, or 4PM for the roundtable. Both events are free to the public – please register in advance

For more information, contact welcome.blanket.nw@gmail.com

OlyEcosystems Volunteer Work Party to replant the new Stormwater Park South pond – 1215 West Bay Drive, Olympia – December 20, 10AM-2PM – The new stormwater pond would benefit from a few more trees and shrubs. We will be replanting this new area with native plants at this volunteer work party, and we’d love your help. Please join us for a community planting.

South Sound Labor School Saturday sessions – The Evergreen State College – January 31, April 25, July 25 and October 31,2026, 8AM-4PM – Washington Labor Education and Research Center will present training sessions to strengthen unions and communities. The sessions will offer “union curious” workers, rank-and-file union members, union leadership and staff and members of community organizations the education they need to make our communities stronger and more effective . Participants will engage in workshops, panel discussions and community strategy sessions. The $20 registration fee for each Saturday session covers a light breakfast, lunch and refreshments throughout the day. For more information on the South Sound Labor School program please visit http://www.tlmlabor.org or contact Thurston – Lewis – Mason Central Labor Council President Rachelle Martin at president@tlmlabor.org / (360) 261-2090

Cartoon by El Machete

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