What’s happening this week around Thurston County
Saturday, Nov. 4
YWCA Women of Achievement awards: For the 29th year, YWCA Olympia will honor and celebrate inspiring women during its annual Women of Achievement Gala from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4 at South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia. This year’s nominee is Mauricea Warnick, who owns Clockwork Cleaning Co. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Thelma Jackson. Tickets are $75 and include dinner.
Sunday, Nov. 5
Student Orchestras of Greater Olympia (SOGO) launches 24th season: The fall concert starts with the Conservatory Orchestra performing Joyride by Markowski, a new rendition of the popular Ode to Joy, followed by Music for a Midnight Carriage Ride by local composer Austin Schlichting, which has a Halloween theme. The orchestra will wrap up with the ever-popular 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky. The SOGO Brass Choir and Academy and Debut Orchestras also will perform. The concert begins at 4 p.m. at the Washington Center for the Performing Arts, 512 Washington St. SE, Olympia. Admission is $8-23, with a $4 service fee. Children 6 and under get in free.
Monday, Nov. 6
Medicare presentation: Head to the Olympia Timberland Library, 313 Eighth Ave. SE, from 4 to 5:45 p.m. to hear a free, unbiased presentation on Medicare, provided by staff from the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) and sponsored by Senior Services for South Sound. The program is an introduction to options for new Medicare beneficiaries but will also be helpful to current Medicare beneficiaries who are evaluating their options for 2024. 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, contact the Olympia library at 360-352-0595. Or email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134.
The Friendly Flower Garden Club: This group will meet Monday, Nov. 6, at the Mountain Greens Mobile Home Park Clubhouse, 5280 55th Lane SE, Lacey. Social time will begin 9:30 a.m. and the meeting will follow at 10 a.m., followed by a bring-your-own brown-bag lunch and light refreshments. The program: “Birds at our Feeders.” George Walter has prepared a slide show on our seasonal and year-round birds and will share his knowledge about feeders and seed selection.
Tuesday, Nov. 7
General election: Voters are filling positions on the Thurston County Board of Commissioners, Port of Olympia commission, city councils, school boards and more, and deciding whether to approve the so-called “Public Safety Tax,” a new two-tenths of 1% sales and use tax that would primarily fund local law enforcement as well as prosecution, public defense services and election security. Anyone who has not received a ballot or perhaps misplaced their ballot may request a replacement by contacting the Auditor’s Office’s Elections Division at 360-786-5408 or elections@thurston.wa.us. Voters also can download a ballot at VoteWA.gov and visit the Voting Center at 2400 Evergreen Park Drive SW in Olympia. For a ballot to be counted, return envelopes must be postmarked by Tuesday, Nov. 7, or deposited into one of the county’s 30 official drop boxes by 8 p.m. on election day. No stamps are needed in either case. Locations for the drop boxes can be found on ThurstonWAVotes.gov, in the voter’s pamphlet and in the ballot packet.
Thurston County public hearing on Lacey Joint Plan: The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7, to receive public testimony on a proposal to update the Lacey Joint Plan. The Growth Management Act requires counties and cities to adopt Joint Plans to guide development in the Urban Growth Areas. The Lacey Joint Plan was last updated in 2003. This update will include new goals and policy language and minor corrections to the future land use and zoning maps. A request by City of Lacey to consolidate Low Density Residential into one zoning designation of Low Density 0-6 is included in this update, and a request for UGA boundary expansion, as well as three citizen-requested zoning amendments. View the proposed Joint Plan draft online on the project webpage. Those wishing to testify should appear in-person at 3000 Pacific Ave. SE, Room 110, Olympia, or attend virtually. If you are unable to attend the public hearing, you can submit written comments to Leah Davis, Associate Planner, at Leah.Davis@co.thurston.wa.us no later than noon Tuesday.
Wednesday, Nov. 8
City of Olympia comprehensive plan update on the natural environment: The city of Olympia is updating the plan using a phased, chapter by chapter approach. An online public meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Nov. 8 to provide an overview of the update process, present a summary of draft chapter updates based on staff and community input, and hold space for Q&A. Read more on the city’s webpage.
Welcome to Medicare In Person Presentation: This gathering at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Olympia Center, 222 Columbia St. NE, will provide 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. This presentation will be helpful also to current beneficiaries who are evaluating their choices for 2024. Email Jrich@southsoundseniors.org or call and leave a message at Senior Services SHIBA program at 360-586-6181 ext. 134.
Eco-Poetry Reading Series with Kathleen Byrd, Poet Laureate of Olympia: Kathleen Byrd is hosting a seasonal reading series from 4-5:30 p.m. at Browsers Bookshop on the theme of eco-poetry. This series is focused on poetry reading, rather than writing. The group will meet in an upstairs loft space at Browsers Bookshop at 107 Capitol Way N., so a Zoom option is available for remote participation.
Thursday, Nov. 9
35th District lawmakers to hold town hall on Highway 3 Freight Corridor (Belfair Bypass) project: 35th District lawmakers will host a town hall meeting Nov. 9 in Belfair to put the spotlight on the soon-to-launch Belfair Bypass project on State Route 3. Sen. Drew MacEwen and Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture will be joined by representatives of the state Department of Transportation. State officials will discuss the project route and timeline and answer questions. The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at The Hub, 111 NE Old Belfair Highway in Belfair. The new Highway 3 Freight Corridor project will skirt Belfair, creating an alternative route for through traffic that will improve travel times and reduce traffic congestion.
Medicare Related Cost Savings Programs: These programs will be introduced in a Zoom presentation at 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9. The program will cover Medicare Basics, the Medicare Savings Program, the Extra Help Program, and Wellness and Preventative benefits available through Medicare coverage. To get a link to register, 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.
Friday, Nov. 10
SPSCC Theatre Collective Presents “Hurricane Diane”: South Puget Sound Community College Theatre Collective presents “Hurricane Diane” at the Minnaert Center for the Arts main stage on the Olympia campus from Nov. 10-19. “Hurricane Diane” by Madeleine George is a contemporary comedy about climate change that combines “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” and elements of ancient Greek drama. Diane is a gardener with supernatural abilities owing to her true identity, the Greek god Dionysus, who has returned to the modern world to gather followers and restore the Earth to its natural state. She decides that there’s no better place to start than a suburban New Jersey cul-de-sac. The cast includes Heather Matthews, Kimberlee Wolfson, Meghan Goodman, Andrea Weston-Smart, as well as SPSCC student Anna Holbrook. Admission is a suggested $10 donation at the door. SPSCC students, staff, and faculty get in free. More information, including performance dates and times, is available on the college’s Arts & Entertainment Calendar.
Saturday, Nov. 11
Thurston County Veterans Day commemoration: Thurston County Veterans Council will present the annual Veteran’s Day Celebration from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Capitol Rotunda in the state Legislative Building on the Capitol Campus in Olympia. The celebration will feature the American Legion Band and other presentations.
“Fantasy A Gets a Mattress” screening: This film, shot entirely on location in Seattle will be screening at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 11-12, at the Capitol Theater in Olympia. It is a dark comedy about the Seattle hip-hop scene, rapid urban change, the housing crisis, disability, artistic ambition, and what it takes to break through. The film took four years to make, and 80% of the shooting locations no longer exist. Fantasy A, autistic Seattle rapper, suffers trials and tribulations from total creeps as he attempts to become a superstar. Come out and meet special guests (including the mattress itself?!). The film won Best Narrative Feature at both the Seattle Black Film Festival and Local Sightings Film Festival.
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