Community Spotlight — March 2024

We Need Space! A Collaborative Zine Workshop

March 2, 2024

Olympia Timberland Library, 313 8th Ave SE, Olympia

Zine making workshop explores themes from Window Seat Media’s Community Roots Oral History Project exhibit on display February 8-March 11. Our need for affordable spaces to play, live and work is a common thread. Materials provided and no zine experience necessary. All ages welcome.

2:00—5:00 PM

Food Planet Future: The Art of Turning Food and Climate Perils into Possibilities

January 8 – March 29, 2024

Evergreen Gallery, Daniel J. Evans Library, TESC, 2737 McCann Plaza Dr NW, Olympia

Photographer Robert Dash uses a scanning electron microscope to highlight foods, pollen, seed with climate and biodiversity stories.

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday

9:00—6:00 PM

Dancing to the Music of the Forest

March 8, 2024

Capital High School, 2707 Conger Ave NW, Olympia

Multimedia dance performance with biofeedback from trees translated into musical notes. Explore mycelial networks in forests and how to protect Legacy Forests. Friends of Trees. Buy sliding scale ($10 to $50) tickets on-line to save time. Credit cards not accepted at the door: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/287f34db-a672-41a0-86f6-e10e1abce50e

7:30 – 9:00 PM

Lacey Cultural Celebration

March 9, 2024

Saint Martin’s University, 5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey

Dance, music and martial arts performances and vendor and community resources booths. Free family fun. City of Lacey Parks and Recreation.

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Greet Your Creatures: Open Studio and Jazz Soire

March 9, 2024

Olympia Armory Creative Campus, 515 Eastside St. SE, Olympia

Fundraiser for Processions on April 26 and 27. Vendredi’s Bag Live Jazz and light appetizers. Procession of the Species. Ages 21+. Suggested $20 donation.

8:00 – 11:00 PM

Movie: The Dark Crystal

March 10, 17, 23, 31, 2024

Capitol Theater, 206 5th Ave SE, Olympia

Magical puppet movie about a young Gelfling on a quest to save his world. Dir: Jim Henson, Frank Oz, 1982, 95 min. OSF Kids Club. Free for kids 12 and under. Tickets .5 hour before show at box office.

Check for times at https://olympiafilmsociety.org/dark-crystal/

Story Swap

March 13, 2024

Harbor House, 217 Thurston Avenue NW, Olympia

Sandra Niman recounts tales that connect to the tumultuous history of the Emerald Isle. Afterwards, Story Swap is an opportunity to share personal stories or folk tales of old.

Free, but donations appreciated. South Sound Story Guild.

6 p.m.

Trash to Treasure

March 16, 2024

WET Science Center, 500 Adams St NE, Olympia.

One person’s trash is another person’s awesome new craft. Use recycled materials and your own creativity to make something new! Free.

10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Gender Benders Craft Night

March 19, 2024

Friendship Hall (YWCA) 220 Union Ave SE, Olympia

This is a social gathering space for 18 + trans, nonbinary, intersex, gender-nonconforming, and genderqueer folx to craft together. Every month there will be a different craft activity. All supplies provided. Snacks and beverages provided.

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Abolition Action Hour

March 21 and April 18, 2024

Join monthly Action Hours to close jails and detention centers, defund police, invest in communities, and protect Indigenous rights to land and water. Presented by Olympia SURJ. Register: https://act.surj.org/a/action-hour

3:00—4:00 PM

Amphibian Egg Mass Surveys

March 23, 2024

Pleasant Glade Park, 5011 Pleasant Glade Road NE, Lacey

Community science egg mass monitoring event to better understand amphibian population trends in our urban ponds. Equipment will be sanitized between uses.If you don’t have your own waders, we will work to accommodate you. Please dress warmly in layers. Survey groups limited to 6 participants 8+ age. Stream Team. Registration https://streamteam.info/events/

8:00 AM

Hope Village Benefit Concert

March 23, 2024

Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1925 Boulevard Rd., Olympia

Olympia Symphony violinist Lisa Pearson and composer-pianist Dawn Sonntag in a benefit concert for Hope Village, a transitional tiny home community for those with housing insecurity. Works by Beethoven, Brahms and Sonntag.

Free; donations accepted at door or online at www.wpcoly.org/give

7:00 PM

Earth Day Activities

April 20 and 21

Park and preserve cleanups, bike rides, outside interfaith services, and just plain fun in Thurston, Mason and Lewis Counties– many activities are planned but the details are still fuzzy.

Check after April 1 for a list of 8—10 regional events in Black Hills Audubon Society’s newsletter. https://blackhills-audubon.org/

Community Spotlight – September Through October 2024

Open Book Club: Offsite Event at The Brotherhood 119 Capitol Way N– September 3 & October 1- 7-8:30pm Come and talk about whatever you’ve been reading and hear about what others are reading in a casual bar environment (21+only) with other book appreciators. Meets every first Tuesday in the back left corner of The Brotherhood Lounge

10 Ways to Age in Place -Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE – September 5 4:30-5:45pm
Most people plan on staying their homes as they age. Find out what you need to know. Presented by Lewis Mason Thurston Area Agency on Aging

Listen Here: A Lunch Break Story Time for Adults – Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE –September 6 12-1 pm In-person or via Zoom Register for event

Automotive Basics Workshop – Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE – September 7 2-:4:30 pm Learn the basics of vehicle maintenance from the mechanic team at Busy Bee Automotive. Click to register.

2 Films for Palestine – A Benefit for the Middle East Children’s Alliance – Olympia Film Society 206 5 Ave SE Olympia – September 8 6pm doors 7 pm first film Olympia fFlm Society, Palestinian Action of South Sound and the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice present 2 films: Imprisoning a Generation (50 minutes) and Returning to Zarnouqa (14 minutes) with Q&A with the director to follow. $10 suggested donation (no one turned away for lack of funds)

Tenants’ Rights Workshop – Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE – September 10 6:30-7:45 pm Join us for a special presentation about tenants’ rights in Olympia and WA State. Learn how to protect your rights from the legal experts at Northwest Justice Project.

Cover Crops in the Garden – Community Court Garden 909 8th Ave SE Olympia-September 12 5-7 pm. Join the Thurston Conservation District for a hands on workshop to learn more about the benefits of cover crops in the home garden. Register on the website https://www.thurstoncd.com/education/upcoming-events/

Lantern Lights the Library:Live Music – Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE –
September 13 7-9pm Come experience local music and get loud at the library. Thank you to Lantern Records

OlyEcosystems 10 year anniversary celebration – West Bay Woods – Rogers & Dickinson St. West Olympia near the Westside Food Coop
September 14 1-4pm We will celebrate our 10-year anniversary and first 500 acre conservation milestone in the West Bay Woods where it all began. Treats provided.

South Sound Sierra Club monthly meeting – Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St NW Olympia – 3rd Tuesday September 17 5:30 meet & greet 6pm -program. Hope springer, Recycling & Waste reduction Specialist with Thurston County Solid Waste will answer questions about what can be recycled

Places We Call Home: Claudia Castro Luna -Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE- September 18 6:30-8:30pm Join us for an evening exploring the rich tradition and tapestry of Latino poetry with WA State Poet Laureate (2018-21) Claudia Castro Luna. Refreshments provided. Stay for a hands on poetry writing exercise.

Stream Team Fall Events –Visit Stream Team info:

Salmon Stewards Tumwater Falls at Brewery Park Field Training – September 7
McLane Creek Trail Maintenance – McLane Creek Nature Trail – September 13 9am-12:30pm
Nisqually Watershed Festival Booth Volunteer – September 28 10am-4pm

2024 Washington Low Income Housing Alliance Lunch & Learn Series –
Equity, Racial Justice, and Culture September 19, October 17 and November 14
11:30 am-1pm Register at https://www.wliha.org/24Lunch%26Learn

50 Years of Interfaith Works – Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd – September 21 4-7 PM Join us for a time of storytelling through interactive audio exhibits as we celebrate 50 years of Interfaith Works. Hors d’oeuvres, Desserts, and Beverages will be served. Event Tickets—$100 Faith/Spiritual Community Leader Event Tickets—$50 If the ticket price is out of range for you, please get in touch!
https://www.interfaith-works.org/events.html

Death Cafe – Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE – September 23 5:30-6:30 pm
At a Death cafe, people, often strangers, gather to eat cake, drink tea and discuss death. A Death Cafe is a group directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session.

Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation registration open for Fall classes.
Check website for activities and classes

Tumwater Falls Fest –Tumwater Falls@ Brewery Park 110 Deschutes Way SW Tumwater September 28 10am-4pm Enjoy the sounds of local musicians, children’s activities and demonstrations. Local artists and local food options. Explore the scenic half-mile loop trail along the Deschutes River and welcome the return of wild salmon.

Energize Olympia Workshop – Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE – September 30 6:30-7:30pm The City of Olympia is launching Energize Olympia – a new program to connect Olympia residents to discounted ductless heat pump installations through a group purchase program. Come learn about the program at this free workshop.

Discovery Speaker Series Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE – October 3 6:30-7:45pm –
Join Puget Sound Estuarium for our Discovery Speaker Series every last Thursday of the month learn about current environmental research or sustainability projects.

Olympia Fall Arts Walk October 4 (6-10pm) October 5 (12-6 pm)
Artists, makers and performers will showcase art of all forms at more than 100 neighboring business locations in downtown Olympia. Live performances. 5 block downtown street closure to create a pedestrian-friendly space

Harvest Festival South Union Grange Hall (10030 Tilley Rd SW #860, Olympia 98512)
October 5 10-3pm Come join Thurston Conservation District and friends as we celebrate the harvest. This family friendly event will feature pie baking contest, cider pressing, soil test drop-off and information, native bulb and seed sale pick-up, kids arts & crafts activities, food trucks, live music and more! https://www.thurstoncd.com/harvest-festival/

Medicare and You:The Who, What, How and Why about Medicare and Medicaid
Olympia library 313 8th Ave SE October 7 10:30-11:30 am – The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services is providing a free workshop about Medicare and Medicaid information, enrollment options and other services.

Permaculture Rising Grow Your own Produce Workshop Series-Online with Zoom
Wednesday, September 4: Putting Up the Harvest
Wednesday, October 9: Garlic, Cover Crops, and Compost
Wednesday, November 6: Nourishing Soups, Wildlife in the Garden, Planning for the Coming Year

Indigenous Peoples’ Day – Squaxin Park 2600 East Bay Drive NE – October 14
Time to be determined – Speakers, performances, education, food https://www.olympiawa.gov/community/events___activities/index.php