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Community Spotlight – July 2021

Late-Breaking Event:

Deadline for Democracy Rally

Friday, July 9, 11:00 AM

 

Washington State Capitol,
Legislative Building north steps
416 Sid Snyder Ave. SW
Olympia, WA 98504

Olympia Indivisible, Grey Indivisible Lacey, and Indivisible Tacoma invite you to join us on the steps of our State Legislature in Olympia for a short, peaceful, and uplifting rally to support passage of the For the People Act (S.1). Help us show Congress that Americans want a transparent, trustworthy process where all eligible voters can safely and freely vote.
Please, if you have one, wear a solid colored red, white, or blue shirt.

Master Gardener Plant Sale, Dirt Works at Yauger Park

Wednesday, July 7, 9am – noon

Master Gardener Foundation of Thurston County announces a 2021 personalized shopping experience hosted by MGFTC at the Plant Sale Nursery located adjacent to the Dirt Works Demonstration Gardens at Yauger Park. The nursery has a large inventory of beautiful perennials, sun loving shrubs and trees and native plants. Come and shop with the help of your very own MG personal shopper!

MGFTC is now scheduling Wednesday and Saturday appointments (the first and third Saturday of each month) for a one-hour shopping experience. Individualized plant-sale shopping events will run through the Spring and Summer months. Prices are highly competitive – credit/debit cards as well as cash and checks are accepted for payment.

Wild Grief Teen Day Hike, at Sunrise, Mt. Rainier

Saturday, July 10

If you are a grieving teen, this is a hike for you. We will hike through mountain meadows full of wildflowers, with breathtaking views of Mount Rainier and Edmonds Glacier. The hike is for teens only. You will have a chance to see how Wild Grief facilitates connecting with nature, your grief and each other. No previous hiking experience needed. We expect the hike to last at least 5 hours with time to honor our grief and soak up the beauty. More information is available at Wild Grief – Teen Day Hike.

Solar panels at the Farmer’s Market

Through the end of July

Sunflower Community Solar is installing panels at the Olympia Farmers Market. And…you can buy in and get an annual payment based on the electricity generated. Plus a satisfying punch at global warming! The project is the second community-owned system sponsored by Olympia Community Solar. Ownership of the project is publicly available in $300 solar units that represent about half a solar panel.

You can purchase your own solar unit or donate to a local non-profit. You or the non-profit of your choice will receive an annual payment for the Solar Unit’s electric generation. The project has 400 units available through the end of July. The Sunflower Project is dedicated to Steve Wilcox. Steve dedicated decades of his life to making the Farmers Market what it is today. Solar Unit donations in his honor may be made to the Friends of Farmers Market. Olympia Community Solar is a 501C3 non-profit organization with a mission to steward an equitable and accessible transition to clean energy.

Ecosystem Guild – Restoring watersheds through community

The Guild is looking for stewards and volunteers for the 2021 expedition season (COVID pending of course). It starts with a conversation. We assemble seasonal teams to meet the needs of your site and situation, building a shared long-term management plan. Guild members may join a team to rebuild commons in the Salish Sea, develop relationships with the land and each other, enjoy a moment of simple living, or to test strategies and technologies that support bioregional economies.We work collectively to create bioregional regenerative cultures, as our response to global ecological collapse. We are not an institution. We are a network of humans working for regenerative bioregional culture.

Or maybe you are interested in helping us locate a Mobile Ecological Field Station in your watershed, or want to build a Public Interest Science & Design Team to support your neighborhood. It all starts with a conversation. Email us and say hello.

Estuary Explorers Summer Camp

Camp sessions: Sea Stars: K-2nd grade, July 19-23, 9 am – 3:30 pm. Salmon: Grades 3-5, Aug 2-6, 9am-3:30pm. Orca: Grades 6-8, Aug 16-20, 9am-3:30 pm.

Explore the natural wonders of South Sound and discover the wild world of estuaries! Investigate the plants and animals living in Puget Sound, while learning how to become a steward of the environment. Engage in hands-on estuary-centered education with our trained staff and volunteers. Participate in a range of investigations — touch-tank time, live feedings of estuary animals, beach exploration, shark dissections, visit a local nature preserve. Prices: Members (Fish Friend Family Membership and above) = $175.00, Non-Members = $200. More information is available at Puget Sound Estuarium – Estuary Explorers Camp.

Big Brother/Big Sister orientation

July 20, 5:30 – 6:00 pm via Zoom

Learn more about the BBBS program. We will talk about the youth and families in the program, the role of volunteer Bigs, and next steps to become a part of igniting the potential of youth in our community! No program application needed to attend this orientation. Learn about the program and have your questions answered on the event website and sign up form. Or contact Moriah Candler 360-943-0409.

We must get rid of nuclear weapons

The Olympia Coalition to Abolish Nuclear Weapons meets via Zoom on the 3rd Thursday of each month starting at 5:00 pm sharp. Please join us! Contact Glen Anderson (360) 491-9093 in advance for the agenda and the Zoom link. See the related story in this issue.

Stonewall Youth turned 30!

Stonewall Youth is a youth-led organization that empowers LGBTQ+ youth to speak for themselves, support each other, educate our communities, and work for racial, disability and social justice. They started as peer supports in 1991 and have grown to encompass much more. For LGBTQ+ youth, there are dances, Open Mics, workshops, self-care days, camping trips, Glitter Camp, and performances led by youth staff and Fellows! We provide educational events, performances, art shows, potlucks and other events for the greater community. If you’re an LGBTQ+ youth who’s interested in our regular weekly programs, please check out our activities page. Looking for a job? You can look for announcements on our jobs page. We provide paid Fellowships for youth and internships for college students. All community members are welcome to participate in our public events and apply to join our Board of Directors. Folks age 23 and older are invited to volunteer!

In Washington state, we make it easy to vote (not like a lot of other states)

July 7 – Voter Pamphlet mailed. July 14 – Ballots mailed & available. July 26 – last day to register or update your voter registration online.

The County Auditor will send a primary ballot to every Thurston County resident registered to vote. No need to submit a request — its the way democracy needs to work. You can still register or update in person up to 8:00 p.m. on Election Day at any county Auditor’s Office, voting center or other designated location. And if you were convicted of a felony but have served your time you have the right to vote – so register!

So vote!

Primary Election Day is August 3. Grab your ballot, fill it out, return it by mail or drop box by election day.There are non-partisan primary races for Olympia and Lacey City Council seats, for District 3, Port of Olympia and for two Olympia School Board positions.. The top two candidates in each race will go on to the General Election in November. Your vote on Aug. 3 means more of a choice in November. The most common reasons for rejected ballots are late postmarks, unsigned envelopes or signatures not matching the ones on file – so pay attention!

Glen’s Parallax Perspectives

Nonviolent Grassroots Organizing

The July episode of Parallax Perspectives is “Nonviolent Grassroots Organizing.” The program is designed to help people make progress toward a goal related to issues of concern: peace, racism, climate, economic justice, criminal justice system, etc. Being empowered depends on being grounded in profound nonviolence and obtaining the skills and strategies to organize winning campaigns locally and beyond. The program airs on Thurston Community Media (www.tcmedia.org) at 1:30 pm Mondays, 5:00 pm Wednesdays, 9:00 pm Thursdays. View the program or get a summary plus more information at Parallax Perspectives under “TV Programs” and “Organizing.” Questions? Contact Glen Anderson at (360) 491-9093.

West Central Park

What would be music to your ears at free summer concerts?

Plans are underway to safely restart free summer music concerts at this neighborhood park at the intersection of Harrison and Division in West Olympia. There are a bunch of great bands ready and willing to help re-energize the outdoor stage — so many in fact that there are more bands than available summer weekends. What a problem! To solve it, WCP is looking for feedback from the community — how often would you come to a free concert at the park? How about small afternoon or lunchtime concerts? What days are best? What kind of music sounds like music to your ears? Use your imagination and transmit your desires via the contact form on the Park website or by email. Better yet, come on over to the park on Sundays to talk to the staff and volunteers, 11 to 1pm. One more thing: there’s a call for Stage Crew volunteers – dip your toe into the concert world for the experience and stay for the fun.

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