What’s happening this week around Thurston County

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this listing had the wrong date for the presentation on schools in Tanzania. It will take place Saturday afternoon at St. Placid Priory and on Zoom.

Monday, Jan. 15

Martin Luther King Jr. community celebration: The New Life Baptist Church in Lacey is again providing a community celebration and commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on his national holiday, Monday, Jan. 15. The church is located at 7838 Pacific Ave. SE. The event recognizes the life, work, and legacy of the Nobel Peace Prize winner and drum major for justice. Senior Pastor Rev. David L. Reaves and the church’s Community Engagement Ministry invite the Thurston County community to join the event that was warmly embraced by many in 2023. All are welcome. Questions can be directed to Dr. Thelma Jackson at 360-259-7304.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Inspiring Kids Preserve: Join Capitol Land Trust on this annual day of service to honor the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. — and help improve important wildlife habitat. This project will take place at the land trust’s 108-acre Inspiring Kids Preserve on Henderson Inlet. Volunteers will remove invasive plants such as scotch broom and English ivy from areas where they are threatening vulnerable native plants. The project will involve using hand tools, walking on uneven ground both on and off trail, and through knee-high grass. Distance walked will be up to a mile. A portable toilet will be available in the parking area. Snacks and warm drinks will be provided. Space is limited. Learn more and RSVP on the land trust website. Driving directions will be sent after registration.

Tuesday, Jan. 16

Thurston Board of County Commissioners’ public hearing on agriculture code changes: The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, to accept comment on proposed changes to the Thurston County code to clarify and expand allowed uses in agricultural areas. You can view more detailed information about the proposals at www.thurstonag.org. The hearing will take place in Suite 110 at 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia or online. You can submit written or emailed comments no later than noon Tuesday, Jan. 16. Send comments to Maya Teeple, Senior Planner, at maya.teeple@co.thurston.wa.us or by mail to: Thurston County Community Planning and Economic Development, Attn: Maya Teeple, 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Suite 100, Olympia, WA 98501. Proposed amendments include new and revised definitions for agricultural uses, increased flexibility within Long-Term Agriculture, and clarified language and standards in the Agritourism Overlay District. Zoning map changes are not included as part of this hearing and will have a separate hearing in the future.

Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 1 p.m. is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements and Programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. To get a link, email jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134. A registration link will be sent to you.

Wednesday, Jan. 17

Welcome to Medicare In Person Presentation: The presentation at 4 p.m. at The Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NW, is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. It covers Parts A and B, Medicare Advantage Plans, Part D Prescription Plans, Medicare Supplements and Programs available to limited-income beneficiaries. For more information, email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext 134.

Thursday, Jan. 18

Welcome to Medicare Zoom Presentation: This presentation at 10 a.m. Thursday in an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries. To get a link, email jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134. A registration link will be sent to you.

Olympia World Affairs Council monthly speaker program via Zoom: Dr. Kristie L. Ebi will speak about “Climate Change: An Update on Recent National and International Activities” at 7:30 p.m. Ebi has been conducting research and practice on the health risks of climate variability and change for 25 years. She has just returned from the annual meeting of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, called the Conference of the Parties (COP28) held in early December in Dubai UAE. For more details and login information, visit the OWAC website.

Wonderful, Weird, and Worrisome Objects in Washington State Museums: Most museums display no more than 10 percent of their holdings, often citing “not enough space” as the reason. But there are also a wide range of cultural, philosophical, political, environmental, historic, and even superstitious reasons why museums keep some objects from public view. In this talk, explore a wide range of hidden objects found in the back rooms of museums in Washington state and around the country. Examples include a Spokane institution that holds Bing Crosby’s toupées and a museum in Lynden that’s home to a 150-year-old pickle. This talk takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Quarry House, 319 W. Park Ave., Tenino, and is hosted by the Tenino Timberland Library.

Friday, Jan. 19

Quixote Village 10-year anniversary: Quixote Village, a tiny home village at 3350 Mottman Road SW, is turning 10. Celebrate with the community at its free Open House from 3-5 p.m. Friday. Light refreshments will be provided.

Saturday, Jan. 20

Make Some Noise at the WET Science Center: Put your ears to the test! Listen to a variety of interesting sounds and guess what they are. Build a recycled musical instrument to join the jam session and make music from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the WET Science Center, 500 Adams St. NE, Olympia. Admission is free.

Cultural Community Center Resource Day: ASHHO will host a “Cultural Community Resource Day,” a bimonthly event designed to foster connections and showcase the wealth of free and low-cost resources available in the local community. It will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at ASHHO (which means “come join” in Bengali), 5757 Littlerock Road SW #4, Tumwater. Discover opportunities to connect with fellow community members and explore resources that contribute to the well-being of Thurston County, from educational support and health services to cultural enrichment. Runia Soul Cafe will be open, serving ethnic soul food.

Presentation on Schools in Tanzania: The Chipole Connection supports the work of the Benedictine Sisters of St. Agnes in Tanzania. Sister Redempta Ndunguru, a graduate of Saint Martins University in Lacey, will give a presentation on the order’s schools and daycare programs in Tanzania. This is a fundraiser for all the programs the sisters support. The presentation will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the multi-purpose room at St. Placid Priory, 500 College St. NE, Lacey. The program will also be available to watch on zoom, Meeting ID: 822 8609 9765, Password: 270201. For more information, email chipole.connection@gmail.com or visit the Facebook page Chipole Connection.

Would you like to have your event included in our weekly What’s Happening listing? Email the details to news@theolympian.com at least 10 days before the event. Please put What’s Happening in the subject line.