SOURCEBOOK

OLYMPIA AND BEYOND

A 2020-21 GUIDE
TO COMMUNITIES
AND SERVICES
IN THURSTON COUNTY
TABLE OF CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

WELCOME TO SOURCEBOOK
A PUBLICATION
OF THE OLYMPIAN
605 11th Ave SE
Suite 102
Olympia, WA 98501
360-754-5420,
theolympian.com

DESIGN/EDITING
Liz Wishaw,
lizwishaw.com

ADVERTISING
John Canfield,
Andrew Bacon, and
Karen McClennen —

48
Marketing Executives;
Ashley Person and Lynn
McInally —
Marketing Concierges;
Melissa Jenkins —
Local Marketing
Director
HAVE FUN
AT THESE EVENTS PHOTOGRAPHY
outdoor farms, virtual Steve Bloom,
gathering and festivals Tony Overman,
Drew Perine, Joshua
celebrate the local arts, Bessex,
history and community The Olympian/
The News Tribune
The Olympian’s annual guide
CONTRIBUTORS
to living in the South Sound Kirk Ericson

E
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
very day, in print and online, The Olympian is busy

5 9 10 14 Dusti Demarest
providing information that will connect its readers
Editor to government, services, neighbors, entertainment
and recreation. But once a year we bring that information
GET AROUND HEALTH CARE GOVERNMENT OLDER ADULTS together for this handy Sourcebook.
Bike, vanpool, bus Where to seek A message These community This annual publication offers an easy way for visitors,
or train? These are health care from Gov. Jay organizations offer newcomers and even longtime residents to get in touch
your transportation at local hospitals, Inslee and a map meals, friendship, with all that South Sound has to offer. Many generations
options in the clinics when you of the Capitol activities to engage of readers have found organizations to join, learned about
ABOUT THE COVER
South Sound. need it. campus. seniors. local government and school districts, mastered the IMAGE
public transit system, and found their way around the Bicyclists traverse the
path around Heritage
state Capitol using this guide. Park in the spring. The

15 19 22 32
Local organizations and community events also rely on parks near Capitol
campus as well as the
being included in its listings to connect with people. campus are prime spots
We hope you will find the 2020-21 Sourcebook useful. for getting outdoor
The Olympian is honored to provide this guide to our recreation, while social
EDUCATION AREA SERVICES RECREATION EAT + DRINK community.
distancing. Looking
for more spots to visit
From PreK to a This checklist Get outside and Tumwater without the crowds?
doctorate degree, shows where to get explore these embraces its beer See page 22.
these institutions a license, register 10 local parks history at this
can expand your your vehicle and —without the former Olympia
learning curve. how to vote. crowds. beer factory.

2 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 3

CONTACT US
GET TO KNOW YOUR
LOCAL NEWSPAPER
W
hether it’s breaking news about an accident
blocking traffic on Interstate 5, a story about
a new restaurant opening up or a profile of
a student athlete, The Olympian — and theolympian.
com — is the South Sound’s No. 1 source of news and
information around the clock.
The morning newspaper is enhanced by a 24-hour
online edition. It’s a reliable source of breaking news as
it happens in the community, the state and the nation.
Is school canceled? Did the City Council pass the
rezoning ordinance? Has the jury returned a verdict in
that murder case? From a weather warning or fallout
from an emotional public hearing at the state Capitol,
readers know they can find the latest news in The
Olympian and at theolympian.com.
At about 2.5 million page views each month,
theolympian.com dominates the Thurston County
media market and extends its reach far beyond the
region.
Video coverage of community events, breaking
news, athletic competitions and community
celebrations are popular features.
Readers can submit a letter to the editor at
theolympian.com/submit-letter.
Multimedia extras can be found on The Olympian’s
website. The Olympian also has an entertainment
guide at theolympian.com/entertainment.
Submit an item for the entertainment calendar at
calendar.theolympian.com.
The Olympian encourages reader participation,
whether it is a letter to the editor, a suggestion for
a story or a news tip. File your own photographs by
going to The Olympian’s home page at theolympian.
com and clicking on “submit a photo.”
The newspaper also stages community forums and
sponsors a range of community activities as a means
of staying in close contact with readers and providing
them with information they need in their daily lives.
4 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
TRANSPORTATION
LOOKING I
ntercity Transit is South Sound’s bus system,
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES but it’s more than just buses. Thurston
To start a newspaper subscription, County’s transit agency is recognized
TO GET
make a payment or stop delivery nationally for its diverse and innovative services.
during a vacation, check out
theolympian.com or call the Students traveling to school (when schools are
circulation department.
Phone: 800-905-0296
Hours: Call between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m.
AROUND
open), commuters going to work, and elders
riding to appointments or activities all take
advantage of transportation options with
Monday through Friday; and between 7 Intercity Transit.
THE SOUTH
and 11 a.m. Sundays. You can also use In typical years, which clearly doesn’t include
our automated call system 24 hours
a day, seven days a week, or email 2020, bus routes provide more than 15,000
customerservice@theolympian.com. passenger trips each weekday, and bus service,
SOUND?
combined with the agency’s vanpool program
OBITUARIES and other services, supports about 5.1 million
Phone: 360-570-7768. trips each year.
Hours: Via phone on weekdays, 8:30 The year 2020 has brought major changes to
a.m.-3 p.m. ― Intercity Transit buses, vanpools,
Intercity Transit.
Office hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. shuttles, trains, bike lanes have you First, the good news: Starting on Jan. 1, travel
Monday- Friday covered throughout the region. on Intercity Transit buses and Dial-A-Lift vehicles
became free of charge.
ADVERTISING
Now, the bad: As of October, the COVID-19
Retail advertising: 360-754-5462.
pandemic has resulted in significant reductions,
Classified: 360-754-5454
including cuts to the number of routes, the
Advertising sales director:
Melissa Jenkins, 360-754-5457
NEWSROOM
If you have a news tip, a meeting
notice, a story idea, an upcoming
sporting event or a new business
to announce, we want to hear from
you. Include the name and telephone
number of a contact person for
daytime and evening callbacks. Email
to news@theolympian.com.
Phone/Fax/Email: For general
information or newsroom inquiries,
call 360-754-5420. Fax number is
360-357-0202. Email address is news@
theolympian.com.
City desk: To report a news tip,
call 360-754-5420 or email news@
theolympian.com.
Executive editor: Dusti Demarest,
360-357-0206
Sports desk: Our sports desk is
shared with The News Tribune.
Call Jon Manley at 253-597-8656 or
sports@theolympian.com.
Business desk: 360-754-5403;
news@theolympian.com.
Statehouse bureau: 360-357-0209
The Olympian file
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 5
TRANSPORTATION
number of riders, and the
suspension of the popular Dash
service between downtown
Olympia and the Capitol
Campus, and the Travel
Training and Bus Buddies
programs.
While the Olympia Transit
Center in downtown has been
closed for much of the year,
the agency expects to reopen
it by the end of October.
The customer service lobby,
however, will remain closed
until further notice.
Intercity Transit requires
face coverings and social
distancing on its vehicles.
Riders can still use the
advanced reservation service to
6 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
secure a spot for essential trips,
but the agency aims to phase
out advanced reservations
as its service levels increase,
which is scheduled to start
Dec. 6.
To keep up with the changes
wrought by the coronavirus, go
to intercitytransit.com or call
360-786-8585.
LOCAL BUS SERVICE
Bus routes operate in
Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and
Yelm.
As of October, bus service
is offered from 8:30 a.m. to
8:30 p.m. on most routes.
Intercity Transit will continue
to expand service hours and
The Olympian file
SERVICES FOR PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES
Intercity Transit provides
door-to-door paratransit
service for people with
disabilities that prevent them
from using fixed-route buses.
The service, called Dial-A-Lift,
operates by reservation and
requires special certification.
It’s free. All Intercity Transit
buses are accessible for people
who use wheelchairs or other
mobility devices, or who have
difficulty walking or climbing
stairs. Accessible features on
buses help people access
fixed-route service. To learn
more about Dial-A-Lift,
call 360-705-5896 or go to
bit.ly/1YTt8FZ. Intercity Transit
answers Dial-A-Lift questions
at dial-a-lift@intercitytransit.
com.
trip frequency and says it
anticipates reaching pre-
COVID-19 service levels in early
2021. For current schedules, go
to intercitytransit.com/bus/
routes.
Intercity Transit is served
by two major transit centers
— the Olympia Transit Center
in downtown Olympia and
the Lacey Transit Center off
Sixth Avenue between Sleater-
Kinney Road and College
Street. Transfer stations
include Capital Mall, Tumwater
Square and the Lacey
Corporate Center. Fifteen-
minute transit service operates
during peak travel times on
major corridors (Martin Way/
Pacific Avenue.)
SHUTTLE IN
DOWNTOWN OLYMPIA
Before COVID-19 struck,
state employees, downtown
shoppers and anybody else
could use Intercity Transit’s
Dash service between the
Capitol Campus and the
Farmers Market in downtown
Olympia. However, as of
October, the service is
suspended because of the
pandemic. Intercity Transit
established the free Dash
service in 2006 to increase
travel to downtown businesses
and to relieve parking and
congestion. Before the service
went into hibernation, Intercity
Transit’s brightly colored Dash
buses operated weekdays
every 15 minutes between 7
a.m. and 6 p.m. On Saturdays,
it operated every 10 minutes.
The Dash operated six days
a week (Monday through
Paid Advertising Supplement
Saturday) April through
September and weekdays
only October through March.
The Dash allowed visitors
to park downtown at the
Farmers Market, Maple Park or
Professional Arts lots and bus
to the Capitol Campus. Check
IT’s website at intercitytransit.
com for resumption of this
service. For more information
about downtown Olympia
parking, go to bit.ly/1WLm68f.
LONG-DISTANCE
TRAVEL
Before COVID-19, many
people turned to Intercity
Transit to take them beyond
Thurston County, but those
services have been suspended.
However, Intercity Transit does
offer reservation service to
and from the state Route 512
Park and Ride. The suspended
services were provided for
long-distance travelers who
wanted to ditch their cars
and save on gas to connect
with Sound Transit and
Sounder Rail service to visit
the Seattle area. Popular long-
distance travel destinations
included SeaTac Airport,
sports stadiums, downtown
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook •
OTHER RESOURCES
As of October, the free, one-
on-one travel training program
for people who are new to
using Intercity Transit has been
suspended, as has the Bus
Buddy program for people who
need a little assistance traveling
by transit — or who might want
to just get comfortable using
the bus before riding solo.
Go to intercitytransit.com for
more details. Customized trip
planning is available through
Intercity Transit’s customer
service staff and the online trip
planner at intercitytransit.com.
One-Bus-Away real-time
transit tracking information
is accessible by smartphone,
web or telephone to confirm
bus arrival by route. See the
green One-Bus-Away icon at
intercitytransit.com.
• For van and carpool
matches: rideshareonline.com.
• For Olympia-area traffic
conditions: wsdot.wa.gov/
traffic/Olympia.
• Sound Transit:
soundtransit.org.
• To contact Intercity Transit,
call 360-786-1881 or
800-287-6348; email mail to:
customerservice@
intercitytransit.com or
tellus@intercitytransit.com;
or go to intercitytransit.com.
For vanpool information,
call 360-786-8800.
OCTOBER 2020 | 11
7
TRANSPORTATION
Tacoma and downtown
Seattle. Intercity Transit also
connected with Pierce Transit,
serving the Tacoma area;
with Mason Transit Authority
serving Mason County;
and Grays Harbor Transit
serving Grays Harbor County.
Intercity Transit also makes
connections with Rural &
Tribal Transportation serving
south Thurston and Lewis
counties, Amtrak at Centennial
Station on Yelm Highway
and Greyhound in downtown
Olympia.
PARK AND RIDE
Six Park and Ride lots are
free and open to the public
in Thurston County at the
following locations. All
accommodate carpools and
vanpools. Some also have bus
service.
• Hawks Prairie Park and
Ride; near Interstate 5 and
Marvin Road at exit 111,
a quarter-mile off the I-5/
Marvin Road-state Route 510
interchange in northeast Lacey.
Supports Express bus service,
carpools and vanpools.
• Martin Way Park and Ride;
I-5 and Martin Way at exit 109
in Lacey. Supports Express bus
service, carpools and vanpools.
• Centennial Station Park
and Ride; Amtrak Station
at 6600 Yelm Highway SE.
Supports local bus service,
carpools and vanpools.
• Grand Mound Park and
Ride; I-5 at State route 12
in south Thurston County.
Supports transit service
provided by Lewis County’s
Twin Transit, carpools and
8 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
vanpools.
• Summit Lake Park and
Ride; Summit Lake Road at
state Route 8 in west Thurston
County.
• Mud Bay Park and Ride;
Madrona Beach Road near U.S.
Highway 101 in west Thurston
County.
For information on Park and
Ride lot locations throughout
the state, visit wsdot.wa.gov/
travel/highways-bridges/park-
and-ride.
VANPOOL
As of October, Intercity
Transit’s vanpool program
remains operational, providing
an option for many commuters
who travel in the south and
central Puget Sound and
southwestern Washington
regions. However, COVID-19
has reduced the number of
riders. Its vanpools once carry
seven to 15 riders each, but
will accommodate fewer riders
to provide adequate social
distancing. Vanpool fares
are free the first month and
then average $65 a month,
depending on the size of
the group, distance traveled
and other factors. Intercity
Transit estimates that riders
on the shortest vanpool
route save about $2,000 per
year in transportation costs,
and riders on the longest
route save $12,300 per year.
Intercity Transit is part of a
tri-state ridematch program
that connects long-distance
commuters with carpools
and vanpools. Email vans@
intercitytransit.com for
additional information.
BEYOND INTERCITY TRANSIT
Thurston County’s airport shuttle
to SeaTac Airport: The Capital
Aeroporter Airport Shuttle, based
in Tumwater, offers an airport
shuttle that will pick you up at
your door and drop you off at
SeaTac Airport, and pick you up
and drive you home
on your return trip.
Go to capair.com or call 800-962-
3579 for rate information.
Traveling by rail: Travelers can
catch the Sounder Commuter
Rail to Seattle at either Sound
Transit’s Tacoma Dome or
Lakewood Stations. Trains to
Portland or Seattle are available
at the Amtrak Station at 6600
Yelm Highway in Lacey. Travelers
can make connections to
Tacoma’s Link light rail service
in downtown Tacoma and at
Freighthouse Square next to the
Tacoma Dome Station.
Commute by bike: Commuting
by bike is for people who live
up to 10 miles from work. Many
roads and streets throughout
Thurston County have bike lanes,
and Intercity Transit buses are
equipped with bike racks to
accommodate bus-bike travel.
Intercity Transit’s online trip
planner can provide information
on bicycling and walking routes
in addition to bus travel. Pick up
a Thurston County bicycle map at
area bike shops or visit trpc.org.
Bolt Bus: The Bolt Bus gives rides
to cities along the Interstate 5
corridor. Contact the company at
boltbus.com.
HEALTH CARE
AdobeStock file
WHERE TO
Peter Hospital, which brought
diagnostic imaging and
TAKE CARE
radiology services to the site,
as well as immediate care.
Providence Medical Group
OF YOUR
operates a call center for those
looking to set an appointment
HEALTH NEEDS
at one of its clinics. The phone
number is 855-776-4362.
Capital Medical Center,
through a partnership with
T
UW Medicine, operates the
hurston County is home
UW Neighborhood Clinic in
to two hospitals: 390-
Olympia on Ensign Road.
bed Providence St. Peter
Hospital in east Olympia and At the hospital, which has
650 employees, the Women’s
the 107-bed Capital Medical
Services Center expanding
Center in west Olympia.
its labor and delivery rooms
Both offer an array of
to 11. The hospital embarked
services, including 24-hour
on a $16 million physical
emergency rooms and birth
transformation of the
centers as well as ties to several
hospital in 2016, increasing
primary care clinics. Primary
its operating rooms to seven.
care remains a big focus.
Robotic-guided spine surgery
Providence Medical Group
is available.
operates several primary
The hospital, too, has ties
care clinics in the county. It
to a number of primary care
renovated a former chemical
clinics and specialty clinics
dependency center on College
that operate as Capital
Street into the Providence Multi-
Physician Services. The
Service Clinic, a collaboration
physician referral service can
among the medical group,
be reached at 800-798-5143.
Pacific Medical Centers of
The hospital’s main number is
Seattle and Providence St.
WHERE TO CALL
Capital Medical Center
main hospital:
360-754-5858
Providence St. Peter
Hospital main hospital:
888-492-9480
Choice Regional Health
Care Network:
360-539-7576
Sea Mar Community
Health Centers:
360-704-2900
360-754-5858.
Providence St. Peter
Hospital, the largest private
employer in the county with
about 2,800 employees, has
a hybrid operating room that
includes imaging equipment
and the da Vinci surgical assist
robot. The main hospital phone
number is 888-492-9480.
MultiCare of Tacoma has
added urgent care clinics to
Thurston County: 704 Trosper
Road SW, Tumwater; 5128
Yelm Highway SE, Lacey; and
345 Cooper Point Road NW,
Olympia.
In addition to hospital
services, South Sound has two
outreach programs for low-
income and uninsured people.
One is a 211 phone line for
referrals to resources; the other
is the Choice Regional Health
Care Network (360-539-7576)
for help with finding medical
care or health insurance.
Another option for low-
income or uninsured people
is Sea Mar Community Health
Centers (360-704-2900). It
operates medical, dental and
behavioral health clinics.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 9
GOVERNMENT: STATE CAPITOL CAMPUS

State of the state

“IN ADDITION TO DOING THE PEOPLE’S WORK, STATE GOVERNMENT DRIVES LEGISLATIVE BUILDING

A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF OLYMPIA AND THURSTON COUNTY’S ECONOMIES.”

The six-year project to construct
the state’s domed Capitol
culminated in 1928. The
building’s lantern top stands
287 feet above ground and the
structure is rated as the fourth
tallest masonry dome structure
in the world. The state landlord
agency, the Department of
by Gov. Jay Inslee Enterprise Services, describes

W
the monument as a centerpiece
elcome to Olympia, the capital city of Wash- of a five-building design from
New York architects Walter
ington! People from all walks of life and Wilder and Harry White that
corners of the state come together here. In won a competition in 1911.
The agency says the Capitol
addition to serving as the seat of state government, has survived three major
Olympia boasts abundant natural beauty, a thriving earthquakes in 1949, 1964
and most recently 2001, which
arts community and innovative educational institu- set into motion a $120-million
tions. renovation, system upgrade
and repair of seismic damage.
I invite you to explore this dynamic city and take
time to visit the Capitol Campus. While the COVID-19 Visitor services information —
including tours — is available at
pandemic has closed indoor access to buildings to 360-902-8880. At this time, all
keep visitors and those who work at the Capitol public tours of the Legislative
building and governor’s
healthy and safe, there is still much to explore. mansion are suspended.
Here you will find beautiful and historic architecture,
including the Legislative Building, the Temple of FUN FACTS
Justice and the Executive Residence. The Capitol Unofficial state nickname
Campus grounds offer public art, commemorations, Evergreen State
plants, and trees native to our state.
State flower
It may look different for the foreseeable future, Coast rhododendron
but the gears of state government continue turning.
State marine mammal
Legislative sessions begin in January and run 105 days Orca
in odd-numbered years and 60 days in even-numbered
State tree
years. Learn more about the Legislature and visiting Western hemlock
the Capitol Campus at leg.wa.gov.
State bird
In addition to doing the people’s work, state Willow goldfinch
government drives a significant portion of Olympia
State gem
and Thurston County’s economies, while many other Petrified wood
jobs are tied to advocacy and trade groups that bring
State fossil
people to Olympia year-round. Columbian mammoth
Olympians, students, visitors and state employees
help make this capital city a gem of Washington state.
I hope you enjoy all this great city has to offer, I am
proud to call it home.

10 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 11

GOVERNMENT: STATE CAPITOL CAMPUS

DASH SHUTTLE* PARKING INFORMATION nue

P1 VISITOR INFORMA-
LEGEND Fourth Ave
8

64

TION CENTER PARKING. e

Fifth Avenu
68

Located at 14th Avenue and Campus building 33

Port of 101
Olympia Shuttle route Capitol Way. Center phone Point of interest 7
5
number: 360-704-7544.
HERITAGE Legion Way
AREA IN

Water Street
Cost: $1.50 an hour or $12 P Visitor parking
Olympia Saturday Heritage
PARK DETAIL
East per day. (See parking information)
Farmers service
Bay April Park
Market Sylvester
through Sept. P2
Park
NORTH AND SOUTH 18
75

Stop DIAGONAL PARKING.

CAPITOL CAMPUS KEY
65

West Located along the north and

Bay
south diagonals on the 1 Legislative Building 14

5
Plum St.

Capitol Campus. Cost: $1.50 n e

Eighth Avenu
11

Percival State Ave. an hour or $12 per day. 2 Governor’s Mansion THURSTON COUNTY

Columbia St
Landing P3
Fourth Ave.
NATURAL RESOURCES 3 John L. O’Brien Building (House offices)
PARKING LOT. Located off
Washington Street. Cost: 4 John A. Cherberg Building (Senate offices)
CAPITOL Ninth Avenu
e

Wa
LAKE

reet

ashington St
$1.50 an hour or $12 per day.

Adams Stre
Capitol Ninth Ave.
P4 5 Irving Newhouse Building (Senate offices)

Franklin Stre
Lake PROFESSIONAL ARTS
BUILDING PARKING LOT. 6 J.M. Pritchard Building (cafeteria) e
Satellite 10th Avenu

reet

et
11th Ave. Parking Located at 11th Avenue and
Washington Street. Cost: 7 Temple of Justice/Supreme Court ue
lot Union Aven

Capitol Way
$1.50 an hour or $12 per day.

et
8 Insurance Building
14th Ave.
DESCHUTES PARKWAY Centennial
OLYMPIA
9 General Administration Building 9 Park
ALONG CAPITOL LAKE.
Capitol Way

Legislative Intercity Transit buses run to 18

Jefferson St.

10 Visitor & Convention Bureau P4

Building the Olympia transit center 11th Avenue
for transfer to the Capitol
5
11 Archives Law WWII
Campus and other destina- 17 e
Enforcement Memorial 12th Avenu

Chestnut St
tions weekdays every 15 P3
12 Natural Resources Building Memorial
minutes. Cost: $1 for a single 12th Avenue 12
The Dash shuttle is free and ride or $2 for an all-day pass. P2
13 Highways-Licenses Sunken

Cherry Stre
runs between the Capitol 11

Pleasant Lane
7 Garden e
13th Avenu

reet
Campus and Olympia Farmers TOUR AND SCHOOL 14 Office Building No. 2 (DSHS)
BUSES. Buses can unload Winged 13
Market, making stops about Tivoli
and reload passengers on 15 Transportation Building Victory

et
every two blocks along Capitol the Capitol Campus at the Fountain 14
East Plaza e
14th Avenu

Cherry Lane
Way. The service runs every Winged Victory monument 16 Employment Security Department 1 8
P2
(garage below)
12 to 15 minutes from 7 a.m.- (at the junction on the north Vietnam
and south diagonals). Veterans Capitol
17 Capitol Court Building
6 p.m. weekdays. It also runs on Korean War Gateway
2 Memorial Boiler Park
Saturdays every 10 minutes PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES. 18 Helen Sommers Building 5 Memorial Works
from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. from April Those in need of auxiliary Sundial 10 20
aids or services for attending 3 19
through September (Saturday 19 Press houses 4 P1 Water
hearings or participating in
service does not serve east Garden
other legislative activities 20 1500 Jefferson Building
Capitol Campus). should call the House of 6 16

Water Street
P TO INTERSTATE 5

Columbia Street
Representatives at 15

Jefferson Street
P
360-786-7271 or the Senate

Sylvester Street
Maple Park Avenue SE
at 360-786-7400.
* Dash shuttle service is

d.
Capitol Way

Blv
suspended as of October 2020, As an alternative, any

on
due to COVID restrictions. legislative number can be 17th Avenue

ers
reached directly via the State

nd
Telephone Relay Service at

He
800-833-6384 (voice) or
800-833-6388 (text).

12 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 13

OLDER ADULT SERVICES
ACTIVITIES,
RESOURCES FOR
OLDER ADULTS
― Because of the COVID-19 pandemic,
organizations have had to limit and
rearrange their offerings. Contact
these groups by telephone or email
before attempting to use their
services.
Washington State Senior Games / Courtesy
14 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Lewis-Mason-Thurston
Area Agency on Aging
The agency partners with several local agencies
to provide transportation, respite care, caregiver
training and support, legal help, case management
and other services. Seniors also can call the agency
to get information about transportation, housing
options, meal sites, senior centers, hospitals, hospice
and other services. Thurston: 360-664-2168, Mason:
360-427-2225, Lewis: 360-748-2288 or lmtaaa.org.
Senior Services for South Sound
It serves about 5,000 senior citizens annually. With
30 employees and more than 250 volunteers, Senior
Services is one of the go-to agencies for the region’s
low-income and at-risk seniors. Olympia: 360-586-
6181, Lacey: 360-407-3967 or southsoundseniors.org.
Sage Olympia
The nonprofit provides services and advocacy for
gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender elders. The
nonprofit organization promotes the wellness of
LGBT seniors in the Thurston County area with a
range of referrals, services and other activities. 360-
602-1204 or sageolympia.org.
Several senior activities are available at:
• The Olympia Center at 222 Columbia St. NW.
Activities include meals, field trips, guest speakers,
social clubs and more. To learn more, call 360-586-
6181.
• The Virgil S. Clarkson Senior Center is in
Woodland Creek Community Park, 6757 Pacific Ave.
SE. The facility features social activities, senior
health seminars, classes and noon meals Monday
through Friday. To learn more, call 360-407-3967.
• For seniors who want to flex their political
muscles, the Washington State Senior Citizens’
Lobby is a forum for senior advocacy groups EDUCATION
throughout the state. 360-754-0207 or go to
waseniorlobby.org.
•The Washington State Senior Games offers
competitions for athletes ages 50 and older and
CHOICES ABOUND
out-of-state participants are welcome. The 2021
games are scheduled for July 6-Aug. 2 at sites
throughout the area and expected to draw about
FOR LEARNING
2,000 people. For information and registration, visit ― From early education to secondary higher education institutions, these
washingtonstateseniorgames.com. private and public schools have options available to fit your education needs.
• 15 file
The Olympian
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook
EDUCATION: PREK-12TH GRADE
A
range of early
childhood through
secondary education,
along with alternative options,
is available to students from
Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater
who attend one of Thurston
County’s three largest public
school districts.
Lacey
With about 14,500 students,
North Thurston Public Schools
is the county’s largest school
district.
It has three comprehensive
16 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
32 | The Olympian
high schools, one alternative
high school, four traditional
middle schools, a magnet
middle school and 13
elementary schools.
305 College St. NE, Lacey, 360-
412-4400, nthurston.k12.wa.us
Olympia
Olympia School District is
the second largest district
in the area, serving nearly
10,000 students. It has 11
elementary schools and four
middle schools. Capital and
The Olympian file
Olympia high schools, the two
comprehensive high schools,
are cross-town rivals.
The district offers alternative
or choice programs at all
levels. It operates the Olympia
Regional Learning Academy,
which offers an online
academy, an elementary
Montessori program and
programs for homeschool
families.
1113 Legion Way SE, Olympia,
360-596-6100, osd.wednet.edu
Paid Advertising Supplement
Tumwater
The Tumwater School
District has about 6,300
students.
It operates two
comprehensive high schools,
an alternative program for high
school students in grades 10-
12 called Secondary Options,
two middle schools and six
elementary schools.
The district runs New
Market Skills Center, which
teaches high schoolers around
the region construction trades,
automotive and other technical
skills.
621 Linwood Ave. SW,
Tumwater, 360-709-7000,
tumwater.k12.wa.us
Other Thurston County
School districts
GRIFFIN SCHOOL DISTRICT
6530 33rd Ave. NW, Olympia,
360-866-2515, griffinschool.us
RAINIER SCHOOL DISTRICT
307 Alaska St., Rainier, 360-446-2207,
rainier.wednet.edu
ROCHESTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
10140 U.S. Highway 12 SW, Rochester,
360-273-5536,
rochester.wednet.edu
SHELTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
700 S. First St., Shelton, 360-426-1687,
sheltonschools.org
Paid Advertising Supplement
TENINO SCHOOL DISTRICT
301 Old Highway 99 N., Tenino,
360-264-3400, teninosd.org
YELM COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
107 First St. N., Yelm, 360-458-1900,
ycs.wednet.edu
Private K-12 Schools
CAPITAL MONTESSORI SCHOOL
730 Lilly Road SE, Olympia
360-438-3639,
capitalmontessorischool.com
CHRISTIAN LIFE SCHOOL
4205 Lacey Blvd. SE, Lacey
360-491-0654
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
6701 Fairview Road SW, Olympia
360-923-0071, ccsoly.com
EAGLE VIEW CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
13036 Morris Road SE, Yelm
360-458-3090,
eagleviewchristianschool.com
EVERGREEN CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
1010 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia
360-357-5590, ecsolympia.com
FAITH LUTHERAN SCHOOL
7075 Pacific Ave., Lacey
360-491-1733, flschool.org
GOSPEL OUTREACH
CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
1925 South Bay Road NE, Olympia
360-786-0070, gospeloutreach.org
HOLY FAMILY SCHOOL
2606 Carpenter Road SE, Lacey
360-491-7060, holyfamilylacey.com
MASON COUNTY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
470 E. Eagle Ridge Drive, Shelton
360-426-7616,
masoncountychristianschool.org
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
4706 Park Center Ave. NE, Lacey
360-493-2223,
olympiachristianschool.org
NORTHWEST CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL
4710 Park Center Ave. NE, Lacey
360-491-2966, nchs-olympia.org
NOVA MIDDLE SCHOOL
2020 22nd Ave. SE, Olympia
360-491-7097, novaschool.org
OLYMPIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
1215 Ethel St. NW, Olympia
360-352-1831, ocssda.org
OLYMPIA COMMUNITY SCHOOL
3318 33rd Lane NE, Olympia
360-866-8047
olympiacommunityschool.org
OLYMPIA WALDORF SCHOOL
8126 Normandy St. SE, Olympia
360-493-0906,
olympiawaldorf.org
POPE JOHN PAUL II HIGH SCHOOL
5608 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey
360-438-7600, popejp2hs.org
ST. MICHAEL PARISH SCHOOL
1204 11th Ave. SE, Olympia
360-754-5131, stmikesolympia.org
SHELTON VALLEY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
201 W. Shelton Valley Road, Shelton
360-426-4198,
sheltonvalleychristianschool.com
SUNRISE BEACH SCHOOL
1601 North St. SE, Olympia
360-791-8348,
sunrisebeachschool.org
WA HE LUT INDIAN SCHOOL
11110 Conine Ave. SE, Olympia
360-456-1311,
wahelutindianschool.org
OCTOBER 2020 | 33
17
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook •
EDUCATION: COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
“TAKE THE CHALLENGE OF YOUR LIFE. REACH OUT TO YOUR
GOALS. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE.”
― Lailah Gifty Akita
R
esidents seeking professional
development, personal enrichment
or higher education degrees have a
variety of choices.
The Evergreen State College
2700 Evergreen Parkway NW, Olympia,
360-867-6000, evergreen.edu
With famous alumni such “The Simpsons”
creator Matt Groening, U.S. Congressman
Denny Heck and Grammy-award winner
Macklemore, Evergreen is known for its unique
and outstanding approach to higher education.
Named No. 2 in the nation by the prestigious
Washington Monthly among masters’ granting
universities, Evergreen’s beautiful 1,000-acre
campus is a major draw for students interested
in environmental studies and sustainable
agriculture.
Evergreen opened in 1971 as a public liberal
arts and sciences college. Enrollment is about
2,300 students.
Graduates fill top roles in local government,
business and nonprofit organizations. The
college has been named by Inside Higher Ed as
one of the best in the country for veterans and
serves a high proportion of returning adults
and other nontraditional students.
Saint Martin’s University
5000 Abbey Way SE, Lacey, 360-491-4700,
stmartin.edu
Saint Martin’s has been at its location in
Lacey since Benedictine monks founded it in
1895. It is the only Benedictine university west
of the Rocky Mountains.
About 1,300 undergraduate and 250
18 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
graduate students attend classes at Saint
Martin’s main campus between Pacific Avenue
and Martin Way in Lacey. The university
serves about 350 more students at its extended
campuses on Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
Centralia College and Tacoma Community
College.
South Puget Sound
Community College
2011 Mottman Road SW, Olympia,
360-754-7711, spscc.ctc.edu
SPSCC has about 6,100 students pursuing
certificates, associate’s degrees and other
types of continuing education.
After nearly 20 years of leasing space in a
shopping center in the Hawks Prairie area, it
opened a campus in Lacey’s Woodland District
in September 2015, which also serves as home
to an entrepreneurial center, in partnership
with the Thurston Economic Development
Council.
Centralia College
600 Centralia College Blvd., Centralia,
360-736-9391, centralia.edu
Founded in 1925, Centralia College is the
oldest continuously operating community
college in the state. It is about 25 miles south of
Olympia, and serves about 6,700 full- and part-
time students.
Other education choices: Brandman
University, 1445 Galaxy Drive NE, Suite 201,
Lacey, 360-493-6392, brandman.edu/lacey;
Charter College, 4520 Lacey Blvd. SE, Suite 40,
Lacey, 360-292-7179, chartercollege.edu.
BALLOT BOXES
IN THURSTON COUNTY
Nearly 30 ballot drop boxes can
be found throughout Thurston
County, from as far south as
The Olympian file Rochester and Tenino, to Boston
Harbor and Steamboat Loop in
the north. Stamps aren’t needed
SETTLE INTO THE AREA
if you drop your ballot into one of
these receptacles. Drop boxes are
open 24 hours a day until 8 p.m. on
election night, and the boxes are
emptied regularly by election staff,
according to the Thurston County
― A newcomer’s checklist of how to get documents Auditor’s Office.
for vehicles, enroll in school and hook up ultilities Here’s the list of ballot boxes,
provided by the Auditor’s Office:
Driver’s license Rochester
Fire 1, Station 3, 18346 Albany St.
SW
Due to COVID-19, people must make an appointment to
Grand Mound Center, 19949 Old
appear at driver’s licensing office. To check the availability Highway 99 SW
for appointments in your area, go to fortress.wa.gov/dol/
Bucoda
dolprod/dsdoffices. 103 S. Main St., Across from Liberty
For information on services that can be handled online, go Market
to dol.wa.gov/onlinesvcs.html or call 360-902-3900. Tenino
Drivers must apply for a license within 30 days of School District Administration, 301
Old Highway 99 N.
becoming a resident, which is accomplished by establishing
a permanent home in the state, registering to vote, receiving Rainier
City Hall, 102 Rochester St. W.
state benefits, applying for any state license or seeking in-
state tuition. Yelm
Lackamas Elementary, 16240 Bald
When applying for a driver’s license, vision and color
Hill Road SE
recognition tests are required.
If your previous license has expired, you might be required Yelm Schools Administration, 110
1st St. N.
to take a written and driving test.
If you move from another state and apply for a Washington Littlerock
Littlerock Fire 11, 10828 Littlerock
license, you must bring two valid documents proving age Road SW
and identity and your current license. More about valid
identification at dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/idproof.html. Nisqually
Nisqually Tribal Administration
Most Department of Licensing locations accept debit and Building, 4820 She Nah Num Drive
credit cards. More information on fees can be found at dol. SE
wa.gov/driverslicense/fees.html.
Thurston County: Driver’s license examinations, by MORE BALLOT BOXES
ON PAGE 19
appointment only, are in Lacey at 645 Woodland Square Loop
SE. The phone number is 360-459-6754. Hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5
p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays; 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursdays; and 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Saturdays.
Mason County: Driver’s license examinations are in
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 19
NEWCOMER CHECKLIST
BALLOT BOXES
CONTINUED
Olympia
The Evergreen State College, 2700
McCann Plaza Drive
Griffin Fire 13, Station 1, 3707
Steamboat Loop NW
McLane Black Lake Fire, Station 95,
5911 Black Lake Blvd. SW
Church of The Good Shepherd,
1601 North St. SE
Haggen NW Fresh, 1313 Cooper
Point Road SW, at far end of parking
lot
Thurston County Courthouse, 2000
Lakeridge Drive SW
City Hall, 601 Fourth Ave. E.
Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 1515
Harrison Ave. NW
Crains Office Supply, 1006 Fourth
Ave. E.
Lacey
Fire District 3, Station 35, 3701
Willamette Drive NE
Woodland by Bonaventure:
Retirement and Assisted Living
Community., 4532 Intelco Loop SE
Lacey Post Office, 5815 Lacey Blvd.
SE, next to the drive-up mailbox on
Clearbrook Drive Southeast
Martin Village, 5600 Martin Way E.
(parking lot by Taco Bell)
Lacey Fire District 3, Station 34,
8407 Steilacoom Road SE
Lacey City Hall, 420 College St. SE,
Lacey
Tumwater
Tumwater Timberland Library, 7023
New Market St. SW
Tumwater School Administration
Office, 621 Linwood Ave. SW
South Bay
South Bay Fire 8, Station 81, 3506
Shincke Road NE
South Bay Fire 8, Station 83
5046 Boston Harbor Road NE
20 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Shelton at 2511 Olympic
Highway N., Suite 100. The
phone number is 360-427-
2165. Hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5
p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays
and Fridays; 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Thursdays; and 8:30 a.m. - 2:30
p.m. Saturdays.
Pierce County:
Examinations are at the Tacoma
Licensing Service Office, 6402
Yakima Ave. S., Suite C. The
phone number is 253-593-2990.
Hours are 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Tuesday-Friday; and from 8:30
a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
Vehicle registration
New residents must license
their vehicles within 30 days
of establishing residency.
But first, you must get a
Washington driver’s license.
To register vehicles, bring the
title and registration. If you’re
still making payments, copy
the front and back of the title. If
you don’t have the title, contact
a vehicle licensing location for
instructions. If you’ve owned
the vehicle for less than 90
days, bring vehicle bill of sale or
dealership purchase agreement.
Also, bring cash or check for the
license fees. Annual license fees
for passenger vehicles vary by
weight. Contact a Department
of Licensing location to learn
the exact fee for your vehicle.
Boats must be registered
within 60 days of the owner
becoming a resident. Boats
must be registered unless they
are less than 16 feet long and
have a motor capacity of 10
horsepower or less. Canoes,
kayaks and boats without a
motor or sail don’t need to
be registered. Boats used on
Paid Advertising Supplement
federal or navigable waters,
no matter the size, must be
registered.
Thurston County: Vehicles
can be registered at several
places in Thurston County,
including the Auditor’s Office,
2000 Lakeridge Drive SW,
Olympia. The phone number is
360-786-5406. Hours are 8 a.m.
- 4:15 p.m. Monday through
Friday (Opens at 9 a.m. on the
first Wednesday of the month).
Mason County: Vehicles can
be registered in Mason County
at several places, including the
Auditor’s Office, 411 N. 5th St.,
Shelton. The phone number is
360-427-9670. Hours are 9 a.m. -
4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Pierce County: There are
several places to register
vehicles in Pierce County,
including Lakewood Vehicle/
Vessel Licensing Agency
at 10102 Bristol Ave. SW,
Lakewood. The phone number
is 253-588-7786. Hours are 9
a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays, and 10
a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturdays.
Enhanced driver’s
license
The enhanced driver’s
license, or enhanced ID
card, confirms your identity
and citizenship, and is an
acceptable alternative to a
passport for re-entry into the
United States at land and sea
border crossings.
When you apply for an
EDL/EID, you must be able
to establish (or re-establish)
your identity, U.S. citizenship
and Washington residency.
For complete details, call 360-
902-3900, or visit dol.wa.gov/
driverslicense/edl.html.
Utilities
Puget Sound Energy:
Electricity and natural gas:
General inquiries, customer
service, emergencies or to
report an outage: 888-225-
5773. TTY and TRS options:
TTY for speech/ hearing-
impaired: 800-962-9498; TRS
telecommunications Relay
Service: 866-831- 5161. The
Olympia customer service
office is at 2711 Pacific Ave.
SE, and is open from 9 a.m. - 5
p.m., Monday - Friday. Most
customer services can be
accessed at pse.com.
CenturyLink: Order
products at centurylink.com or
866-706-8592.
Xfinity: xfinity.com.
Public Utility District No.
1 (or Thurston PUD): Provides
OCTOBER 2020 | 25
water services in rural areas
of Thurston County. Thurston
PUD is governed by three
elected commissioners. Public
meetings are at 5 p.m. the
second and fourth Tuesdays of
every month. Due to COVID-19,
meetings are online. To find out
how to attend the meeting, go
to thurstonpud.org and click on
the meeting notice.
City of DuPont: Questions
about water service can be
directed to City Hall, 1700 Civic
Drive, DuPont. 253-964-8121.
City of Lacey: City Hall is
at 420 College St. SE. Hours
are 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-
Friday. Services include voter
registration, police reports,
building permits, animal
licensing, bus tickets and
passes, recreation registration
and notary public. 360-491-
3214.
City of Olympia: Water,
sewer, stormwater or garbage-
recycling billing and service:
360-753-8340. City Hall is at 601
Fourth Ave. E., Olympia.
City of Shelton: Water,
sewer and garbage billing:
360-426-4491. City Hall is at 525
W. Cota St.
City of Tumwater: City Hall
is at 555 Israel Road SW. Call
360-754-5855, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday-Friday.
School enrollment
New students are required
by state law to provide a birth
certificate or other accepted
proof of birth date, and
immunization records.
North Thurston Public
Schools: 305 College St. NE,
Lacey. 360-412-4400. Go to
nthurston.k12.wa.us.
Olympia School District:
1113 Legion Way SE, Olympia.
360-596-6100. Go to osd.
wednet.edu.
Tumwater School District:
621 Linwood Ave. SW,
Tumwater. 360-709-7000. Go to
tumwater.k12.wa.us.
Voter registration
Future voters can register
three ways in Washington. You
can register online by going to
voteWA.gov. You’ll need your
state driver’s license to register
online. You can register by
mail by going to sos.wa.gov/
elections/voters, where you
can print out a paper form.
Upon completion, mail it to
your county elections office.
Finally, you can register in
person at your county elections
office. In Washington, you can
register in person and vote
on the same day. You must
complete a voter registration
form if you are registering for
the first time in Washington
or if you have moved to a new
county.
You are offered a chance to
register when getting a state
driver’s license. In Washington,
you do not have to register
by political party or declare
political party membership.
Thurston County: Thurston
County Auditor, elections
division. 2000 Lakeridge Drive
SW, Olympia. 360-786-5408.
Mason County: Mason
County Auditor, 411 N. 5th St.,
Shelton. 360-427-9670, ext. 468.
Pierce County: Pierce
County Auditor, 2401 35th St.
S., Room 200, Tacoma. 253-798-
7427.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 21
RECREATION
10 PLACES T
he pandemic has reduced
our range and ability to
gather with others, so
TO EXPLORE
we now must weigh distance and
density when plotting our moves
outdoors. Places with fewer people
OUTSIDE,
that require shorter drives or walks
have become the most attractive.
We in the southern reaches
MINUS THE
of Puget Sound live in a place
teeming with federal, state, county
and municipal parks, trails and
PEOPLE
campgrounds maintained by the
Department of Natural Resources,
and urban getaways that offer 6
feet of distance between you and
people outside your bubble.
By Kirk Ericson
Photo by Olympian staff Here is a list of 10 spots, all
22 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
of which — except for Jarrell
Cove State Park — are within
a 25-minute drive of Olympia.
Some of the spots require a
Discover Pass, which costs $30
a year or $10 for a day pass and
is required to park at a state-
operated park. But for most of
the following destinations on
the following list, entry is free.
CITY PARKS
GRASS LAKE NATURE PARK,
OLYMPIA
Size: 171 acres
Attractions: Loop trail
about 1 mile long. More than
100 bird species and 200 plant
species have been identified on
the site.
Address: 814 Kaiser Road
Northwest, on Olympia’s west
side.
If you want an urban outing
with few distractions other
than flora, fauna and quiet,
Green Lake Nature Park is it.
The milelong trail on the city’s
west side winds through the
birthplace of Green Cove Creek
and is, according to the city
of Olympia, “One of the most
environmentally intact wetland
systems in northern Thurston
County.” Many bird and plant
species have been recorded
here, including wood ducks,
teals, herons, egrets, quail,
ring-neck pheasants, Cooper’s
hawks, ospreys, bushtits, birch
and red alder trees, nipplewort,
kinnikinnik, red flowering
currant, lotus and quaking
aspen. The park doesn’t have
any benches, restrooms, picnic
tables, elevation gain or choice
of trails. It’s just one trail that
loops through a thick forest. It’s
the walk through the woods
— if all you want to do is walk
through the woods.
BARCLIFT PARK,
TUMWATER
Size: 3 acres
Attractions: Basketball
court, picnic area, play area,
tennis court and paved trail
around park.
Address: 690 Barclift
Lane, near the cemetery
along Cleveland Avenue in
Tumwater.
This tiny park next to the
Calvary Catholic Cemetery off
of Cleveland Avenue remains
unknown to many locals
because of its size and the
park’s main entrance is tucked
deep inside a neighborhood
in Tumwater, not far from
Olympia High School. It’s close
and not crowded, and it’s good
for the kids. The play area has
structures for children, and the
basketball and tennis courts
are in good condition and are
usually clear. The expanse of
Whether you are hiking,
paddling, or riding (a horse,
mountain bike, or an ORV), these
seven tips from Mountains to
Sound Greenway Trust offer
advice on how to recreate
responsibly during this public
health crisis:
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
• Check the status of the place
you want to visit. If it is closed,
don’t go. If it’s crowded, have a
backup plan.
• Plan ahead: Prepare for
facilities to be closed, pack lunch,
and bring essentials like hand
sanitizer and a face covering.
• Explore locally: Limit long-
distance travel and make use
of local parks, trails and public
spaces. Be mindful of your
impact on the communities you
visit.
• Practice physical distancing:
Keep your group size small. Be
prepared to cover your nose and
mouth and give others space. If
you are sick, stay home.
• Play it safe: Slow down and
choose lower-risk activities to
reduce your risk of injury. Search
and rescue operations and health
care resources are both strained.
• Leave no trace: Respect public
lands and waters, as well as
Native and local communities.
Take all your garbage with you.
• Build an inclusive outdoors:
Be an active part of making the
outdoors safe and welcoming for
all identities and abilities.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 23
RECREATION
well-tended grass has plenty
of room for catching, throwing
and kicking endeavors such as
Frisbee, football and soccer.
Trees provide plenty of shade
on hot days. And it’s quiet,
surely because of the park’s
next-door neighbors.
WANSCHERS COMMUNITY
PARK, LACEY
Size: 16 acres
Attractions: 100 yards of
sandy beach on Hicks Lake;
picnic tables; grills; a wide,
paved trail; dirt trails; an open
play area; views of Mount
Rainier; shore fishing.
Address: 2606 Hicks Lake
Road SE (corner of 25th Avenue
Southeast and Hicks Lake
Avenue Southeast), Lacey
This park is tucked into a
neighborhood in Lacey that’s a
24 •Advertising
Paid 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Supplement
half-mile off of the busy arterial
of Ruddell Road. Unless you
know it’s there, you’ll miss it. On
clear days, the views of Mount
Rainier are dramatic. Floating
in Hicks Lake and seeing the
western flank of the fifth-tallest
mountain in the contiguous U.S.
provides a distinct Washington
experience. The park was
provided by Lettie Wanschers,
whose estate turned the 15.77-
acre property over to the city
after her death, according to a
city of Lacey website. A wide,
paved trail cuts through tall
tree stands, and a few dirt trails
branch off from the main trail.
STATE PARKS
LAKE ISABELLA, MASON
COUNTY
Size: 64 acres
Address: West Delight Park
Road, just south of Shelton off
of U.S. Highway 101 in Mason
County. Take the state Route
3 exit, turn west onto Golden
Pheasant Road, then turn right
after about 1 mile onto West
Delight Park Road. The park
is 25 minutes from Olympia. A
Discover Pass is required.
Attractions: This park in
Mason County has one of the
largest, open-to-the-public
meadows in the area. It abuts
Lake Isabella, but there’s no
developed entry to the lake,
which probably keeps the
crowds down. The park has a
disc golf course.
Lake Isabella isn’t on the
list of parks on the State Parks
Department’s website, so that
might reduce visitors — it’s
mostly frequented by locals
OCTOBER 2020
walking dogs. This park has
a lot of space to spread out.
It has a 4-mile-long trail that
courses through and along
the edge of a grassy meadow
before it starts cutting in and
out of the trees. A few trails
flare off the main trail, offering
deeper exploration of the
woods. This park has lots of
room for dogs to explore, but
they must be on a leash. The
real attraction to this park is
the visual of acres of gently
sloping meadow that’s covered
in grass that ranges from green
to brown, depending on the
season. When the grass turns
golden, you can imagine a field
painted by artist Vincent Van
Gogh.
JARRELL COVE, MASON
COUNTY
Size: 67 acres
Address: 391 E. Wingert
Road, Shelton. Jarrell Cove
State Park is on Harstine
Island, which is reached from
state Route 3. Turn onto East
Pickering Road from Route
3 and follow Pickering Road
across the bridge. Take a left
| 7
The Olympian file
If you time it right and
you can find a place to
park at the shoreline
near Harstine Island
State Park, you can
reach McMicken Island
by crossing a tombolo
— a sand spit that’s
exposed at low tide.
and follow the road toward the
north end of the island. It’s a
50-minute drive from Olympia.
A Discover Pass is required.
Attractions: 1 mile of biking
trails, 1 mile of hiking trails,
boating, crabbing, diving,
swimming, fire circles, ocean
beaches, camp sites. Call 888-
226-7688 to make camping
reservations.
With a visit to Jarrell
Cove, visitors with water
transportation can reach a
cluster of other state parks
and properties that are on
islands: Harstine Island,
McMicken Island, Stretch
Point, Eagle Island and Hope
Island. Although, if you time it
right and you can find a place
to park at the shoreline near
Harstine Island State Park, you
can reach McMicken Island by
crossing a tombolo — a sand
spit that’s exposed at low tide.
Jarrell Cove is named after
Philura Jarrel, the first pioneer
woman to settle on the island,
according to the Washington
State Parks website.
THURSTON COUNTY
PARKS
FRYE COVE PARK
Size: 67 acres
Address: 4000 NW 61st
Ave. It’s a 20-minute drive from
Olympia. From Olympia, get
on U.S. Highway 101 toward
Shelton. Take the Steamboat
Island Road exit and follow
Sexton Drive to Steamboat
Island Road Northwest. Turn
right. Follow Steamboat Island
Road to Young Road. Turn
right. After a mile, turn right
onto 61st Avenue and follow it
to the end.
Attractions: The park has
400 feet of saltwater beach on
Eld Inlet, a new playground,
shellfish gathering, more than
2 miles of trail, some of which
is steep, two covered shelters,
and updated restrooms and
picnic areas. This is a day-use
park — overnight camping isn’t
permitted.
Here’s another park that
has views of Mount Rainier,
but this time from a saltwater
perch. Frye Cove is secluded
— it’s on the midsection of
a peninsula that ends at a
point just across from Hope
Island Marine State Park.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 25
RECREATION
One of the big draws of Frye
Cove is the opportunity to
reap shellfish. Oysters have
been spread on the beach,
and you might find patches
of native littleneck clams and
Manila clams, according to the
state Department of Fish and
Wildlife. Butter clams can be
found on the beach, but aren’t
abundant. Some geoducks
might be found below a -2 foot
tide level. Check the dates for
shellfish season at this park at
Fish and Wildlife’s website.
BURFOOT PARK
Size: 50 acres
Address: 6927 Boston
Harbor Road, about 15 minutes
from downtown Olympia.
From Olympia, drive north on
Plum Street, which turns into
East Bay Drive. After a couple
of miles, East Bay becomes
Boston Harbor Road. After
you’ve traveled about 8 miles
from downtown, Burfoot Park
will be on the left.
Attractions: Three covered
shelters, 1,100 feet of shoreline
along Budd Inlet, restrooms,
a beach trail, a play area for
children, lots of grass and
several picnic tables in three
large shelters: Main Shelter,
Forest Shelter and Meadow
Shelter. All of the shelters can
accommodate at least 30 people
and each has a large barbecue.
Burfoot Park faces west,
toward the Olympic Mountains,
creating a prime location to sit
and watch the setting sun and,
if the season is right, a white-
capped mountain range. It has
1,100 feet of shoreline along
Budd Inlet, and the beach trail
is short and a bit steep.
26 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
DEPARTMENT OF
NATURAL RESOURCES
WOODARD BAY
NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION AREA
Size: 917 acres
Address: 6998 Woodard
Bay Road Northeast, Olympia,
situated on the western side
of Henderson Inlet, due east of
Boston Harbor. A Discover Pass
is required.
Attractions: A roughly
mile-long paved trail takes you
through a second-growth forest
and offers several opportunities
to divert onto trails that wind
away from the main trail. The
main trail ends at Woodard Bay,
where you can see a disabled
trestle that’s become home to
bats and harbor seals.
The Woodard Bay
conservation area, formed by
the state Legislature in the late
1980s, is a very fine place to
be an animal. Here’s a list of
of them, from the Department
of Natural Resources, that
call Woodard Bay home:
“Shorebirds and songbirds,
harbor seals, river otters, bald
eagles, a large maternity colony
of bats, and one of the most
significant heron rookeries
in the state. … Trails may be
closed seasonally to protect
nesting herons and eagles.”
One of the finest panoramas
in South Sound can be caught
by looking south from the vista
at the end of the main trail.
Especially in summer, you’ll
witness dozens of species of
birds creating a cacophony of
sight and sound on a canvas of
water, earth and sky.
MIMA MOUNDS NATURAL
AREA PRESERVE
Size: 445 acres
Address: 12395 Waddell
Creek Road Southwest.
From Interstate 5, take the
Maytown Road exit and
drive west toward Littlerock.
Continue on 128th Avenue
through Littlerock, and turn
right on Waddle Creek Road.
Continue for about 1 mile.
Sign on left will show Mima
Mounds Natural Area Preserve
entrance. It’s a 20-minute drive
from Olympia, and a Discover
Pass is required.
The Olympian file
Attractions: Mima Mounds
is a prime place to thoroughly
explore a prairie environment in
Thurston County. The preserve
has trails that include a paved
half-mile loop, and two longer
gravel paths. An interpretive
center carries information on
the geology, prairie ecology and
educated guesses about the
genesis of these mighty mounds
of mystery. Take in the view
from the top of the interpretive
center.
The hillocks that dot
this nature preserve have
intrigued visitors, naturalists
and geologists for decades
— origin theories range
from earthquakes to giant
Paid Advertising Supplement
gophers. But mystery aside, on both sides of Capitol Way.
this stretch of prairie offers an The thousands of state
easy getaway. The trails are employees who once worked
long and flat, with virtually in the buildings are mostly
no increase in elevation, and working from home — as of
provide plenty of room to October — so the campus is
maintain distance from others. not crowded — barring the
Spring draws additional occasional rally. The campus
visitors to this preserve was designed by the renowned
because the prairie is carpeted Olmsted Brothers landscape
in blooming flowers. On a clear design firm. Visitors will find
day, visitors can see Mount plenty of spots to sit and
Rainier and Mount St. Helens. take in the views, including
Capitol Lake and the Olympic
OTHER OPTIONS mountains.
CAPITOL CAMPUS
Size: About 100 acres
Address: The Capitol
Dome is a prominent feature
of southeast Olympia. The
campus straddles both sides of
Capitol Way South. The campus
is closed to parking as of early
October, but the grounds are
open to visitors. Parking is
available on the residential
streets just south of the Capitol,
but only for an hour.
Attractions: A vast display
of tree species, including
English oak, giant sequoia and
Japanese snowbell, memorials,
public art, flower gardens
and walkways can be found
throughout the Capitol Campus,
OCTOBER
theolympian.com | 2020-21 2020 |• 27
Sourcebook 23
 RECREATION: CITY/COUNTY PARKS

25 St. Peter Hospital

35 23

Carpenter Rd.
37 21

Cooper Point
5
39
Harrison Ave. State Ave. Martin Way

Plum St.
4th Ave. Pac
ifi cA Saint
38 Capital 40 22 29 ve. 42 49 Martin’s
30 51

Capitol Way
Mall 71 47
27 17 College

Rd.
48
70 20 53
66 5 Lac
.
50
Fones Rd.
14th Ave. 46 ey Blvd
26 44
101 Olympia 34
36 Lacey

Boulevard Rd.
South Puget 69
Sound Comm. 61 24 Chambers

Henderson Blvd.
College 58 Lake
Squaxin
Island
PUGET
28
43 52 45
TUMWATER
SOUND 60 Tumwater Hicks 360-754-4160
59

College St.
Totten Lake
Boston Sapp Rd. 57 Pioneer Park.
Inlet Ketron
Harbor Island 56 5800 Henderson Blvd.
Henderson Anderson

Des
8 Inlet Island 5 58 Tumwater Historical Park.

Ruddell Rd.
ch
Eld 15 777 Simmons Road SW

ut
3

Capito
Inlet

es
73 Trooper Rd. 62 Yelm 59 Tumwater Falls Park. C Street and
Hi

Riv
2 64 gh
MASO N 4 57 way Deschutes Way (Private, 360-943-2550)

l Blvd.
Nisqually 55

er
13 63 60 Tumwater Hill Park.
COUNT Y Reach

Marvin Rd. NE
Budd Libby Rd. NE 3115 Ridgeview Court SW
Inlet 68
61 5th and Grant Pocket Park.
101
10
10
77
THURSTON COUNTY 17 Chehalis Western Trail.
14th Avenue to Waldrick Road and
37 Woodruff Park.
1500 Harrison Ave. NW
5th and Grant Streets, Tumwater Hill
33 360-786-5595 Silver Spring to Yelm-Tenino Trail 38 Yauger Park.
62 Palermo Pocket Park.
Summit PI ER C E Palermo Vally, next to City Well Fields
1 Mima Prairie. Pioneer Cemetery Gate 18 Deschutes River Park. 3100 Capital Mall Drive SW
8 Lake 5
COUNT Y
AREA IN DETAIL and Bordeaux roads
39 East Bay Park. East Bay Drive
63 V Street Pocket Park. 415 V St. SE
19 Black River Natural Area.
77
8 2 Indian Road. Off Boston Harbor Road
54 40 10th and Decatur Street Park.
Mud Olympia 3 Burfoot Park. 6927 Boston Harbor
20 Deschutes Falls Park.
10th and Decatur Streets STATE
Bay Lacey Road NE 360-902-1000 / 360-753-5686
Tumwater Chambers Long
Lake
4 Frye Cove Park. 4000 61st Avenue NW
OLYMPIA LACEY 64 Tolmie State Park
Lake 5 Yelm-to-Rainier Trail. 65 Millersylvania State Park.
72
2 Black
72 Ye 360-753-8380 360-491-0857
CAPITOL Lake 41
lm
Hw
In downtown Yelm 12245 Tilley Road SW
Lake 21 Bigelow Park. 41 Rainier Vista Park.
STATE y.
S 6 Guerin Park (To be developed) 66 Capitol Campus.
66 St. Clair E 1220 Bigelow Street NE 45th Avenue and Ruddell Road
FOREST Pattison 7 Off-road Vehicle Park. 14th Avenue and Capitol Way
12
12
2 22 Heritage Park. 601 Water St. SW 42 Civic Plaza. Southwest corner
Lake 9 15015 State Route 8 West 67 Mima Mounds Natural Area
Ca

23 Garfield Nature Trail. of I-5 and Sleater-Kinney Road

d.

pi

8 Boston Harbor Boat Ramp

kR

r 43 Wonderwood Park. 68 Luhr Beach Boat Ramp.

to

600 N. Rogers NW
oc

lB

9 Fort Eaton Monument

i ve

46th Avenue NE off Meridian Road

er

Between College Street and Ruddell Road

lvd

24 Governor Stevens Park

ttl
Black R

North
.

10 Woodland Creek Wetlands.

Li

60
78 JOINT BASE north of 32nd Avenue 69 Interpretive Center Park
25 Grass Lake Park.
5 LEWIS-McCHORD Yelm Hawks Prairie Road
Cooper Point Road/14th Avenue NW 44 Homann Park. 70 Marathon Park
121 11 Lawrence Lake Park. Alanna Drive and Carpenter Road 71 Sylvester Park. Off Capitol Way
Yelm 75
75
75 B 26 Harry Fain’s Legion Park.
al Lawrence Lake Road (not shown) 45 Long Lake Park.
18 7
74
74 d 2020 Eastside St. SE 72 McLane Nature Trail.
5
Ra

H 12 Kennydell Park on Black Lake 2700 block of Carpenter Road

i ll R Off Delphi Road
ini

Offut 27 Yashiro Japanese Garden.

Littlerock d.
er

Lake 13 Louise H. Meyers Park. (To be 46 Brooks Park. West of College Street 73 Chehalis Western Trail.
65 900 Plum St. SE
Rd

developed) between 13th and 14th Avenues

COUNT Y

67
.

6
67 507 28 L.B.A. Park. Woodard Bay to Martin Way
Maytown
d.

14 Glacier Heritage Preserve. 47 Lake Lois Park.

il R

333 Morse-Merryman Road SE

Rainier YELM
Va

(Call for access) Carpenter Road and 7th Avenue

29 Lions Park. 800 Wilson St. SE
11 15 Johnson Point Wetlands. 48 Core Area Mini Parks.
Mcintosh 148th Ave. SE 30 Madison Scenic Park. 360-458-3244
Lake (Undeveloped) Fred Meyer shopping complex
1600 10th Ave. SE
De

14
4
14 Tenino ch 74 Yelm City Park. First Avenue
19 u te 16 Ruth Prairie Park. Vinson Road off 49 I-5 Park. Interstate 5 and
s

19 121 507 sR Lake 31 Park of the Seven Oars. and Mosman Street
iver Lawrence Vail Cut-Off Road (not shown) Sleater-Kinney interchange
HARBOR

31
31 32 Harrison Avenue and West Bay Drive 75 Cochrane Park. Off Mill Road
50 Woodland Creek Community Park.
9 SE 32 Percival Landing. 625 Columbia St.
Rochester wy 9 11 6535 Pacific Ave. SE
183rd Ave.
Grand
Mound
Ol
dH
Clear 33 Priest Point Park.
51 Thomas W. Huntamer Park. TENINO
Lake 2600 East Bay Drive NE 360-264-2368
12 THURSTON COUNTY 34 Stevens Field.
Woodview Drive SE and 7th Avenue
52 Wanschers Community Park. 76 Tenino City Park.
24th Avenue and Washington Street
Bucoda Corner of 25th Avenue SE and 309 Park Ave.E. (not shown)
GR AYS

35 Sunrise. 505 Bing St. NW Hicks Lake Avenue

Prather Rd.
Skookumchuck
Lake
off Division Street NW
36 Watershed Park.
53 Lacey Museum. 829 Lacey St. SE FEDERAL
5 54 Regional Athletic Complex. 77 Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually
Alder Lake Henderson Boulevard
8345 Steilacoom Road SE National Wildlife Refuge.
55 William A. Bush Park. Off Interstate 5 at Exit 114
Yelm Highway and Chardonnay Drive 78 Black River National
LEWIS COUNT Y 56 Thornbury Park. 54th Street Wildlife Refuge

28 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 29

EAT + DRINK
WHERE TO
DINE OUT —
AND GET A
GREAT VIEW
― Some of the most
picturesque and popular
spots to eat outdoors in
Thurston County, with
some added details
about the restaurant’s
COVID-19 precautions.
By Olympian staff
D
uring the Northwest’s
all-too-brief summer,
some of us can’t bear
to go inside till after dark.
When temperatures soar, lots
of us can’t stand the heat and
need to get out of the kitchen.
For both groups, it’s prime time
for dining out of doors. And
now, in the time of COVID-19,
dining al fresco versus dining
indoors has taken on the added
attraction of reducing your risk
of infection.
Here’s a roundup of some
of the most picturesque and
popular spots to eat outdoors
in Thurston County, with
some added details about
the restaurant’s COVID-19
precautions. Most of the
following restaurants don’t
have outdoor seating during
the winter, so call to check first.
30 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
As of October, restaurants in
Thurston County are limited
to 50% capacity indoors.
Most restaurants offer online
ordering.
With a water view
• Anthony’s Hearthfire
Grill (1675 Marine Drive
NE, Olympia; 360-705-3473,
anthonys.com): The key
summer attraction is the
patio over the water, which
has an unobstructed view of
the sound that will make you
feel miles away from Olympia
traffic. The restaurant offers
moorage for those who arrive
The Olympian file
by boat. Its sister restaurant
Anthony’s HomePort is next to
the Olympia Farmers Market
and also has outdoor seating.
To protect against the spread
of COVID-19, the restaurant
says it has spread out its tables
and increased sanitization and
service practices. You can also
order online for pickup.
• Budd Bay Cafe
(525 Columbia St NW, Olympia;
360-357-6963, buddbaycafe.
com): Among the many
waterfront restaurants, Budd
Bay Cafe is notable for its
expansive view from the
Capitol Dome to the Olympic
Mountains. Gourmands swear
by the Sunday seafood brunch.
Budd Bay has online ordering
with curbside pickup.
• Tugboat Annie’s
(2100 West Bay Drive NW,
Olympia; 360-943-1850,
tugboatannies.com): On
the other side of the bay,
Tugboat Annie’s offers another
perspective on Budd Inlet from
its elevated deck. There’s free
moorage for diners who arrive
by sea, and you can rent kayaks
there, too. As of October, it’s at
reduced capacity, with limited
staff.
• Swing Wine Bar (825
Columbia St. SW, Olympia; 360-
357-9464, swingwinebar.com):
OK, Swing isn’t on the water.
But from the back garden,
there’s a sweeping view of
Capitol Lake and Budd Inlet.
It’s a commanding place to
watch the sunset. Swing has
the menu of a full restaurant,
but it is a bar and is open
only to people 21 and older.
The restaurant was closed
in October and November,
according to its website, but
plans to reopen in December.
For landlubbers
• Eastside Big Tom’s
(2023 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia;
360-357-4852, eastsidebigtoms.
com): In The Olympian’s
informal poll of best outdoor
dining spots, the No. 1 pick
was this drive-through burger
joint with outdoor tables. It’s
loved for its burgers, fries and
breakfast items — and for Goop,
its special sauce. Milkshakes
(some in wildly creative flavors)
are a specialty, and there’s an
ice cream shack on site. Oh,
and the owner has a Scooby
Doo-inspired Mystery Machine.
• Ricardo’s Kitchen and
Bar (676 Woodland Square
Loop SE, Lacey; 360-413-
9995, chefricardo.com): With
misters spraying water when
it’s hot and fire pits offering
warmth on a cool evening,
the steakhouse aims to make
customers comfortable.
There’s a reflecting pond, too.
Vegetarian trigger warning:
The meat the restaurant dry
ages is displayed just inside the
front door. The restaurant has a
COVID-19 to-go menu.
• Pellegrino’s Italian
Kitchen (205 Cleveland Ave.
SE, Olympia; 360-709-9020,
pellegrinositaliankitchen.com):
Shaded by brightly colored
umbrellas, Pellegrino’s patio
offers a pleasant garden setting
where you can enjoy pasta and
other Italian offerings.
• Uncork and Unwind (324
Custer Way SW, Tumwater; 360-
943- 9463, uncorkandunwind.
net): This wine bar has a small
menu, yet it deserves mention
for its adorable garden seating,
including a bench swing. It’s
open Wednesday through
Saturday, and only to people 21
and older.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 31
EAT + DRINK
A
THE RECRAFTING n enduring image in the
world of Washington-
grown products is the
OF TUMWATER’S
depiction of Tumwater Falls on
bottles and cans of Olympia beer.
BEER LEGACY
But can you visualize the falls
framed by the label’s downward-
pointing horseshoe, the position
― Beer, cider and spirits bring a resurgence to this that allows luck to flow out and
former brewery district with production, shops. over an enterprise?
For more than 100 years, that
luck held. In 2003, fortune ran out
for the Olympia Brewing Co. and
Tumwater, when the brewery’s
By Kirk Ericson overseas owner, London-based
Photo by Steve Bloom/The Olympian SABMiller, shut down the 107-year-
32 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
old business. Hundreds of people in South
Sound lost their jobs, and the hundreds of
thousands of square feet of vacated space
in the brewery and its satellite buildings
became a blight, falling to rot, vandals,
arsonists and a series of dashed intentions
by business people and civic leaders. The
past 17 years have been a solid run of bad
fortune for the former Olympia Brewery.
To fix a problem, sometimes it’s better
to back up a bit and approach the problem
slowly and methodically.
Or, as Tumwater Craft District project
manager John Peters put it in late
September while motioning in the direction
of the nearby vacant brewery, “It’s easier to
At the start of this process
there was not a single
brewery, distiller or
cider maker in the city of
Tumwater. And now there are
some of each.”
— John Doan, Tumwater city manager
take a step than a leap.”
The city of Tumwater and a legion
of other parties, including entities as
varied as South Puget Sound Community
College and a Gig Harbor-based distillery,
are helping reimagine and reconfigure
Tumwater’s beer legacy into an enterprise
that fuses education, commerce,
entertainment, community mingling and
environmental stewardship.
An essential physical part of that effort
is steadily emerging on a 5.5-acre parcel
of land in Tumwater that overlooks the
Deschutes River and is just a half-mile
down the boulevard from the vacant
brewery.
The Tumwater Craft District, situated
between Capitol Boulevard and Tumwater
Valley Drive, is designed to capitalize on
the flourishing local, regional and national
interest in the production and consumption
of craft beer, spirits and cider. But the
craft district’s approach is comprehensive,
drawing in consumers and students,
retailers and farmers, city employees and
commercial developers.
The craft district is intended to be a
solution to fundamental questions about
commerce in an era of deindustrialization.
It’s not just about creating a place where
people can drink small-batch alcohol while
enjoying a lovely view of the river, the
mountain and people strolling by.
The backers’ hope is that this district,
along with the creation of an urban trail,
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 33
EAT + DRINK
some road work on Capitol
Boulevard and the repair
of the original Olympia
beer brewhouse, kick-
starts something vital and
sustainable in Tumwater, and it
might eventually help solve the
problem of having as many as
1 million square feet of empty
factory space in the city.
The genesis of the district
When the Tumwater
brewery closed in the summer
of 2003, South Puget Sound
lost a major employer and the
city of Tumwater, overnight,
had an enormous commercial
site on its books sitting fallow.
In the subsequent years,
a handful of owners have
appeared and disappeared, but
the old brewery property sits
unoccupied, showing virtually
nothing for the past 17 years
but years of deterioration.
“It’s not good to have this
deteriorating hulk in the middle
of our town,” Community
Development Director Mike
Matlock told The Olympian in
early 2019.
By 2019, the city was already
about four years into a fresh
tack, hoisted by the idea
that a comprehensive and
new approach to commercial
development might just create
the environment necessary to
stimulate interest in the old
brewery property.
“There are ways that we
can work to incentivize
redevelopment,” John Doan,
Tumwater city manager, told
The Olympian in September.
“We’re adding value to
the legacy of brewing in
Tumwater.”
34 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
That idea had its birth with
the realization that Tumwater
and Olympia beer have name
recognition that spans the U.S.,
Doan said.
“We realized there was
brand equity in Olympia
beer that crossed the entire
country,” Doan said. “We were
in a workshop and we were
talking about being back
East and being in situations
where we said that we were
from Tumwater, Washington.
People would say, ‘Don’t you
have a brewery there?’ Or
‘Isn’t that where Olympia beer
came from?’ Some people
remembered the ads with the
artesians.
“So we thought,” Doan
continued, “this has a value
still. How do we figure out
how to capitalize on that?
There was sort of a brainstorm
about education, what does
that look like and the story
evolved. What about a center
of excellence where we taught
people how to make beer? And
the example we looked at was
Walla Walla.”
The city of Walla Walla
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
had worked with its in-town
community college, which
has a wine-related education
program, to buttress its move
toward a new commercial
enterprise for the southeast
Washington city. Before its
emergence as a wine town,
Walla Walla — to outsiders,
at least — was known for its
prison, the Washington State
Penitentiary.
Not anymore.
“They’ve essentially
rebranded themselves as sort
of the Napa of Washington,”
Doan said.
Tumwater officials, Doan
said, hit on an idea: Because
the cousin of brewing is
distilling, a combination of the
two might compound people’s
interest. A state-conducted
study to assess the viability
of such of project came back
positive, with a suggestion,
Doan said: “Don’t forget cider
making.”
The past few years appear
to have validated the city’s
initial sense that this alcohol
trident — beer, spirits and cider
— could animate a resurgence
for Tumwater.
“At the start of this process
there was not a single brewery,
distiller or cider maker in the
city of Tumwater,” Doan said.
“And now there are some of
each.”
Central to Tumwater’s
pursuit is the involvement of
South Puget Sound Community
College. The college created
a craft brewing and distilling
program that graduated
its first class in June 2020.
The program turned out
19 students, six of whom
are building breweries and
distilleries around the country,
and several others who were
already employed, according to
a news release from the college
in June.
“We are delighted to
graduate our first cohort of
Craft Brewing & Distilling
students,” SPSCC president
Timothy Stokes said. “They
will be a catalyst for growing
the craft beverage industry
in our state. Their success
is the result of tremendous
partnerships with the industry
as well as state and local
leaders.”
“This is one of those just luck
things that the president of the
college happened to come from
a distilling family,” Doan said.
“He was very intrigued with it
and their trustees were willing
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
to advance the ball and create
an education program.”
A new batch of students
in the community college’s
program began their course
work the first week of October
at the program’s new location:
Inside the first building to
rise on the grounds of the
Tumwater Craft District.
Craft district project
manager Peters, who also is a
co-owner of the property, gave
The Olympian a tour of the site
in late September, one week
before SPSCC became the first
tenant to open its doors — in
this case, doors to classrooms,
labs and production facilities.
Peters, 35, is a 2004 Olympia
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 35
EAT + DRINK
High graduate who studied
civil and environmental
engineering, getting his
bachelor’s degree at Gonzaga
University in Spokane and
his master’s degree from the
University of Washington.
The first structure to emerge
on the site covers nearly
26,000 square feet, stands
three stories tall and will be
split almost equally between
the community college and
Heritage Distillery Co., a
craft spirit distillery that
opened in Gig Harbor in 2012.
Heritage also has locations in
Eugene, Oregon, and Roslyn,
Washington, and has two sites
in the Seattle neighborhoods of
Ballard and Capitol Hill.
The structure during that
last week of September was
empty of people, except for a
few workers toiling on the stills
and piping in the community
college’s production area,
which sits on the ground floor.
Peters’ involvement in this
craft district enterprise got its
start when a pair of visitors,
including Tumwater’s city
manager Doan, visited him on
a sunny day in 2016 on his 20-
acre farm off of Wiggins Road
in Olympia. Peters had 2 acres
of hops growing on the farm,
and it was those hops that had
attracted his visitors.
“We were just intrigued by
it,” Doan said. “We thought,
‘Oh, this is cool. Somebody here
is growing hops.’ ”
His visitors spent just an
hour at the farm, Peters said,
but the results of that visit
reverberated beyond mere
curiosity about hops. When the
36 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Capitol Boulevard site became
an object of consideration for
the craft district a year later,
Peters and his partners acted.
“We had been keeping an
eye on that (Capitol Boulevard)
property,” Peters said.
In 2017, Peters and partners
bought the property, which had
been in the hands of a South
Sound bank since the previous
owner walked away from the
parcel in the early years of the
Great Recession. They broke
ground in 2018.
“This fit in really well with
our interests,” Peters said. “We
didn’t use brokers to get our
tenants … we wanted a type
of place that will draw people
who want to be here.”
SPSCC and Heritage
Distillery each occupy three
stories in the craft district’s
debut building, with the
ground floor for both rising
two stories to accommodate
the size of their production
apparatus.
For the college, the top
floor consists of classrooms,
the second floor is lab space
and the bottom floor is for
production. For Heritage, the
top floor is for drinking and
food consumption, the second
floor for event space and
the distillery’s personal cask
program, and the bottom floor
will be for production.
Heritage’s two top floors
will have sitting and viewing
space with expansive views
of Tumwater Valley, and if
the skies are clear, Mount
Rainier. Heritage, which touts
itself as “North America’s
most awarded craft distillery,”
hopes to open its craft district
site before the end of the
year, Hannah Hanley, chief
marketing officer, said in an
email.
“We were attracted to the
area for a few reasons,” Hanley
wrote. “The city of Tumwater
was focused on trying to revive
production given the history
of the beer industry in the
area, this combined with their
work with SPSCC and the
Legislature and commitment to
creating a center of excellence
and learning drew us in. … we
knew we wanted to be part
of the historical aspects of the
property (the brewery and
distillation properties along
with the partnership with
SPSCC). … We like to say ‘It’s
still the water’ since we use
stills and we’ll have access to
the same water.”
Six buildings are planned on
the craft district site, Peters
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
said, and site work has begun
on the next structure, to be
occupied by Ninkasi Brewing
Co. of Eugene, Oregon. Ninkasi
will be brewing, and serving,
its beer at the location and may
be open by the middle of 2021,
Peters said.
Also on tap is an outdoor
amphitheater, which will
provide space for craft shows
and entertainment.
“The amphitheater is a
longer-term deal,” Peters
said, “and it won’t be purely
concerts. We’ll have craft and
festival shows, too.”
As Tumwater and its
partners try to craft a new
identity from the remains of
the city’s old identity, step by
steady step seems to be the
mantra here.
“We’re taking the long-term
approach here,” Peters said.
SIP AND SAVOR
THESE REGIONAL OFFERINGS
Talking Cedar, 19770 Sargent Road SW,
Rochester, (360) 858-7846,
talkingcedar.com
Three Magnets Brewing, 600 Franklin St.
SE #105, Olympia, (360) 972-2481,
3magbrewing.com
Top Rung Brewing, 8343 Hogum Bay
Lane NE, Suite E, Lacey, (360) 915-8766,
toprungbrewing.com
Hoh River Brewing, 2442 Mottman
Road SW, Tumwater, (360) 705-4000,
hohriverbrewery.com
Well 80 Brewhouse, 514 4th Ave.,
Olympia, (360) 915-6653, well80.com
Salish Sea Organic Liqueurs, 2641
Willamette Drive NE, Suite D, Lacey, (360)
890-4927, salishseaorganicliqueurs.com
Sandstone Distillery, 842 Wright Road SE,
Tenino, (360) 239-7272,
sandstonedistillery.com
Axis Meads, 2633 Willamette Drive NE,
Suite B, Lacey, (360) 764-8196,
axismeads.com
Medicine Creek Winery, 947 Old
Pacific Hwy SE, Olympia, (360) 701-6284,
medicinecreekwinery.com
Stottle Winery, 2641 Willamette Drive
NE, Suite E, Lacey, (360) 515-0356,
stottlewinery.com
Walter Dacon Wines, 50 S.E. Skookum
Inlet Road, Shelton, (360) 426-5913,
walterdaconwines.com
Tumwater’s annual Artesian
Brewfest: 1-8 p.m. Aug. 21,
tumwaterartesianbrewfest.com
Olympia Brew Fest: First week in August,
olybrewfest.com
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 37
CITIES
A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR
OPEN FOR
BUSINESS
― You’ll be captivated by Olympia’s arts,
cultures and heritage and inspired to take
part in shaping its future.
by Cheryl Selby
Photo by Steve Bloom/The Olympian
38 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
O
lympians are incredibly
fortunate to live and work
in a beautiful and vibrant
capital city that consistently draws
praise from around the country. We
are continuously listed in the “Top
100 Best Places to Live” in America,
because of our thriving arts scene,
recreational assets, affordability and
excellent public schools. Numerous
travel journals recognize Olympia as a
culinary destination for our fantastic
farmers market, coffee shops, bakeries
and overall artisan food scene.
But we don’t need others to tell us
how wonderful our community is. We
know that we’re surrounded by the
stunning natural beauty of the Pacific
Northwest and serve as the entry point
for amazing outdoor opportuni-
ties on the Olympic Peninsula.
As I write this, the world is
facing many disruptions and
challenges from a global pan-
demic to climate change and an
uncertain political landscape.
Olympians are known for their
resiliency, resourcefulness and
“can do” attitude. These are the
attributes that bode well for
our recovery on the other side
of these challenges.
Olympia is open for business
(and fun!) but I would be remiss
if I didn’t remind visitors that for
the foreseeable future, they will
need to abide by Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
rules for travel to our region.
Safe and healthy travel of our
visitors is our highest priority.
I hope when you do visit or
Paid Advertising Supplement
consider a move to our region,
you’ll be captivated by our arts,
cultures and heritage and be
inspired to take part in shaping
our future. Whether you serve
on a citizen advisory commit-
tee or take part in one of our
many public engagement op-
portunities — there are many
ways residents can be involved
with our city as we grow.
I’m proud to be the mayor
of a city with engaged citizens
that work together to address
challenges and embrace op-
portunities in our own smart,
passionate, kind and quirky
Olympia way.
I hope to see you around
town.
The Olympian file
39
OCTOBER 2020 | 3
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook •
CITIES

southernmost reach of Puget
Sound. These falls provided a
ready source of power, and the
nearby prairies provided rich
land for farming.
Initially called “New Market,”
the thriving community soon
became the first American
settlement on Puget Sound,
providing a respite for
subsequent groups of settlers
as they completed the
arduous journey west and to
communities farther north.
No historical account
of Tumwater is complete
without mentioning the
Olympia Brewing Company,
founded over 100 years ago
by Leopold Schmidt. Known
for its innovations in brewing
and product promotion, this
company was an industry
The Olympian file
leader and a state and
community powerhouse for
many decades. Closed over a
dozen years ago, the brewery is
located near the confluence of
Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway
101. The city, in partnership
with private developers, is
focused on the revitalization of
the brewery district to preserve
the historic structures and
build on the legacy of brewing.
Tumwater, adjacent to the
state capital of Olympia, is the
home of many state agencies.
It has a strong manufacturing,
commercial and retail base
providing a solid financial
foundation for a full array of
public services. Tumwater
School District provides an
award-winning educational
experience in modern facilities
with great community support.
The beautiful Brewery
Park, owned and maintained
by the Olympia Tumwater
Foundation, a local nonprofit,
now surrounds Tumwater
Falls. Every autumn you can
watch the salmon fight their
way upstream. The Tumwater
Valley Golf Course is located
nearby, in a picturesque
setting along the Deschutes
River. The golf course also
provides extensive playing
opportunities, preservation of
the river corridor and a venue
for community events.
Tumwater is a great place
to live, shop, work, play, do
business, and raise a family.
For more information, visit the
city website at ci.tumwater.
wa.us.

W
A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR elcome to Tumwater!
Tumwater is a growing city with

RICH HISTORY,
a rich history, a small town feel,
founded with a pioneering spirit, and based in
equality. These values still hold true today as we

PIONEERING SPIRIT celebrate the 150th year of incorporation as a

city.

FURTHERS GROWING
Centuries before Euro-American exploration
and settlement, Coastal Salish Indians, whose
descendants are members of the Nisqually,

CITY’S POPULATION Squaxin Island and Chehalis tribes, gathered

― Tumwater is a great place to live, shop,
work, play, do business and raise your
family near the state capitol.
by Peter Kmet
shellfish and frequented the inlets, rivers and
prairies in this area.
A small group of settlers that crossed the
Oregon Trail founded Tumwater in 1845. The
group was led by Michael T. Simmons and George
Bush, the latter the son of parents from India and
Ireland. Their group came here because Oregon
Provisional Government laws at that time banned
Black people from owning land. The party chose
this location because of the falls created as the
Deschutes River cascades the final 80 feet into the

Paid Advertising Supplement OCTOBER 2020 | 9

40 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 41
CITIES

distinguished service members, The makerspace and prototypes and it provides

and the outstanding veterans
who choose to make our area
their home. Lacey is an avid
supporter of the Lacey Veterans
Services Hub, a unique one-
stop center that includes nearly
70 Veteran programs and
service providers. Veterans can
get free assistance with VA
benefits, housing, employment,
nutrition, education, healthcare,
mental health and legal aid.
Last year, more than 7,000
appointments were scheduled
at the facility. To find out more,
visit laceyveteranshub.org.
The Lacey Makerspace
continues to be a great
community resource. Located
on the campus of Saint
Martin’s University, the
makerspace provides students,
entrepreneurs, business owners
The Olympian file
is a collaborative
space where
local makers can
develop new ideas
and prototypes
and it provides
our community’s
workforce
hands-on training
opportunities.
and community members
access to state-of-the-art
equipment and other cutting-
edge engineering and business
resources. The makerspace is a
collaborative space where local
makers can develop new ideas
our community’s workforce
hands-on training opportunities.
Visit laceymakerspace.org to
learn more.
The city’s work to support
current and potential Lacey
businesses remains strong.
Lacey’s economic development
website, locationlocationlacey.
com, is a valuable resource for
local entrepreneurs, business
owners, and site selectors. The
site provides access to current
data, training opportunities,
available nonresidential
properties, and much more.
Lacey truly is one of the best
places to be a business owner.
Be sure to learn more about
Lacey by visiting ci.lacey.
wa.us, liking us on Facebook,
following us on Twitter, and, of
course, visiting us in person.

W
A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR elcome to the City of
Lacey! It gives me great
pride that Lacey earned

COME DISCOVER a spot on Money’s 2019 “100

Best Places to Live in America”

WHY THIS TOWN

list — coming in at 75! We are
very proud of this ranking, which
would not be possible without our

EARNED ‘BEST community partners and residents

who help make Lacey a great place
to live, work, and play.

PLACE TO LIVE’ Lacey continues to be recognized

― Lacey earns spot on Money’s ‘100 Best Places To
Live in America’ list for its community, residents.
by Andy Ryker
as a family-, military- and business-
friendly city. The Lacey city council
and city staff work hard to provide
programs and services, create
partnerships and connections, and
offer opportunities that support our
community.
Lacey and the surrounding
region have a proud, longstanding
relationship with the military, its

42 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com 43

Paid Advertising Supplement OCTOBER 2020 | 15
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook •
 H Yelm
ere’s a look at
the outlying
communities, where
the influence of Washington’s
earliest settlers is still seen
— in the original sandstone
buildings in Tenino’s
downtown and in the names
of the towns, such as Bucoda,
which combines the names of
three early settlers.
Tenino
Location: Southeast of
Olympia, off Old Highway 99.
CITIES
History: Opinions vary on
A SLICE OF where Tenino got its name.
Some say the city was named
for an American Indian word
QUIETER LIFE for “junction” or “meeting
place,” and others insist
railroad officials named Tenino
for a railroad engine numbered
― Drivers passing through the South Sound on Interstate 5
10-9-0.
get a glimpse of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater. But not too Population: About 1,695,
far off the freeways are the small towns and communities according to the 2010 Census.
that define much of what makes the South Sound special. Features: Historical
attractions in Tenino include
the Northern Pacific Railroad
Depot, which houses the
Tenino Depot Museum.
Included in the museum is a
printing press used to make
Tenino’s famous wooden
money, which was issued in
the town during the Great
Depression.
The depot and many of
the massive buildings lining
the streets of the town are
constructed with original
sandstone from the five
sandstone quarries that
were operating in 1910. In
the summer, visitors flock to
the Tenino Quarry Pool, an
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
44 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
abandoned rock quarry now
used as a swimming pool.
Centralia
Location: Centralia earned
its name by being the central
point between Seattle and
Portland.
History: This Lewis County
town is nicknamed the Hub
City and originally was named
Centerville.
Centralia is home to the
oldest community college in
the state. Centralia College
opened its doors in 1925.
Centralia once was part of a
donation land claim owned by
one of the territory’s first black
settlers, George Washington.
Washington, whose mother
was white, was the son of a
slave owned by the James
Cochran family of Virginia.
In the 1850s, Washington
moved to the Oregon Territory
with the Cochran family, where
he farmed 640 acres along
the Chehalis River. When the
railroad came through in 1872,
Washington platted a town on
his land. By 1880, there were 78
residents in Centerville.
Population: 16,336,
according to the 2010 Census.
Features: Centralia has
a variety of antique shops
downtown and factory outlet
stores near I-5. McMenamins
Olympic Club Hotel & Theater
features a movie theater,
restaurant, pool hall and bar
serving beers brewed at the
club. It draws tourists because
of the historic elements it has
preserved.
Location: Yelm is at the
junction of state Routes
507 and 510, about 15 miles
southeast of Olympia in eastern
Thurston County.
History: The city was
incorporated Dec. 10, 1924.
Yelm is a Salish Indian word
that means “heat waves from
the sun.” Yelm was known as
a village site for the Nisqually
tribe. Since the 1980s, Yelm has
been home to JZ Knight, who
claims to channel a 35,000-year-
old warrior named Ramtha,
and the Ramtha School of
Enlightenment, run by Knight.
Population: 6,848, according
to the 2010 Census.
Features: In recent years,
shopping centers and a cinema
complex have sprung up in
Yelm. A city council vote to
relocate City Hall will allow
city services to expand. A Boys
and Girls Club and a Veterans
Service Center will be housed
in the former hall.
McCleary
Location: A mill town
in Grays Harbor County,
McCleary is off state Route 8,
a short drive west of Olympia
and southwest of Shelton.
History: Builder and mill
owner Henry McCleary
founded the town in the 1890s.
In 1941, McCleary sold most of
his land to Simpson Logging
Co. of Shelton.
Population: 1,653, according
to the 2010 Census.
Features: During the
summer, the town has a
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 45
CITIES
celebration that has been
known to draw thousands from
neighboring communities. The
Bear Festival, formerly the Old-
Timers’ Reunion, is held the
second weekend in July and
has been a popular community
event since 1958.
Oakville
Location: Between Elma
and Rochester on U.S. Highway
12.
History: In 1871, James
Harris was sent from Illinois
to scout, for several families, a
location suitable for settlement
and a post office. Harris opened
the post office and named the
town Oakville for its many oak
trees.
Population: 684, according
to the 2010 Census.
Features: The town
celebrates the Fourth of July
weekend each year with a
rodeo and re-enactment of
the “Last Horseback Bank
Robbery.”
Rainier
Location: 12 miles southeast
of Olympia and 6 miles
southwest of Yelm.
History: Established in
1890 amid the “ten al quelth”
prairies, an American Indian
word meaning “the best
yet,” the town of Rainier was
named in 1884 by Northern
Pacific officials because of its
proximity to Mount Rainier.
The area was homesteaded
by Albert and Maria Gehrke in
1890, and there still are many
Gehrke families in the area.
Population: 1,794, according
to the 2010 Census.
46 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Features: Rainier Round-
Up Days includes a bluegrass
music festival and an array of
attractions over three days on
the fourth weekend in August.
Elma
Location: Southwest of
McCleary, along state Route 8.
History: Primarily a farming
community, Elma was settled
in 1853 by D.F. Byles. It was
later named for Union soldier
Elmer Brown and incorporated
in 1888.
Population: 3,107, according
to the 2010 Census.
Features: Grays Harbor
Fairgrounds offers events such
as 4-H livestock competitions,
Grange activities and auto
racing throughout the year.
The two nuclear power plant
cooling towers from the
terminated Washington Public
Power Supply System project
are visible south of town on
Fuller Hill.
Rochester
Location: On U.S. Highway
12, just west of I-5 in the
southernmost part of Thurston
County.
History: The unincorporated
community was platted in
1890 by Gaily Fleming of
Centralia, who named it for
her hometown of Rochester,
Indiana. Rochester is best
known for celebrating many
residents’ Scandinavian
heritage through Swede Day
Midsommar Festival.
Population: 5,369 in the
Rochester/Grand Mound area,
according to the 2010 Census.
Features: Rochester is home
to Lucky Eagle Casino and
Hotel, run by the Confederated
Tribes of the Chehalis
Reservation, and Great Wolf
Lodge, a conference center,
hotel and indoor water park,
just off the Rochester/Grand
Mound exit on I-5. The lodge is
a joint venture of the Chehalis
tribe and Madison, Wisconsin-
based Great Wolf Resorts.
Littlerock
Location: 14 miles
southwest of Olympia.
History: A pioneer named
Mr. Shumach called it “Little
Rock” for a stone that he
felt was shaped as a perfect
mounting block. When 1850s
pioneer Thomas Rutledge
moved the mounting stone
— used for women to mount
horses — into his front yard,
neighbors and townsfolk
decided the “little rock”
landmark should become the
town’s moniker. That rock
still sits in the front yard of
Rutledge’s descendants, a
few miles south of town. The
community is unincorporated.
Features: Littlerock is home
to one of South Sound’s most
famous geological mysteries:
Mima Mounds. The Mima
Mounds Natural Area Preserve
comprises 637 acres of prairie
land patterned by soil mounds
about 8 feet high and 30 feet
across. Although varying
opinions and colorful legends
abound, the origin of the
mounds is unknown.
Some say glaciers created
the mounds or that they are
American Indian burial sites.
Others say the mounds were
formed by giant prehistoric
gophers or seismic activity.
Bucoda
Location: Pronounced “byu-
KOH-dah,” Bucoda is just south
of Tenino, on state Route 507.
History: The town was
established Dec. 7, 1870,
and named Seatco — from
an American Indian word
meaning ghost or devil —
after its infamous prison. The
prison gained a considerable
reputation for harsh treatment
of prisoners during its
operation in the late 1800s.
The Legislature renamed
Seatco in 1890 for the first
two letters of the last names
of the three principals in the
town’s mining business, James
Buckley, Samuel Coulter and
John David. The town was
incorporated in 1910.
Though it was a sawmill
town from 1857 to 1954,
Bucoda’s early claim to fame
was the territorial penitentiary,
which was run by Thurston
County Sheriff William Billings.
Under an agreement reached
with the Legislature in 1877,
Billings built the prison at his
own expense, the state paid 70
The Olympian file
cents per day for the prisoners’
keep and Billings was allowed
to sell or use their labor as he
pleased.
In 1887, the penitentiary was
relocated to Walla Walla after a
controversy involving prisoners
being used for mining labor.
Population: Bucoda is
Thurston County’s smallest
incorporated village, with
a population of 562, a 10.5
percent decrease from 2000,
according to the 2010 Census.
Shelton
Location: Off U.S. Highway
101 in Mason County
History: The logging town
is known for its wood products
and commercial shellfish
industry. It sits on the shores
of Oakland Bay, which is home
to the largest commercial
production of manila clams in
the nation.
In the 1890s, Sol Simpson
founded Simpson Logging
Co. The company was the
backbone of Shelton’s economy
through five generations of
Simpson family members. In
recent years, the company has
restructured to form Green
Diamond Resource Co., which
manages about 320,000 acres
of timberland in Thurston,
Mason, Lewis, Grays Harbor
and Pacific counties, and
Simpson Timber Co., which
operates lumber-production
plants in Washington and
Oregon.
In 2015, Simpson announced
that the company would close
two mills, as part of an asset
sale agreement with Sierra
Pacific Industries of Northern
California. Sierra Pacific is
building a new, state-of-the-art
sawmill and lumber planing
operation on the Shelton
waterfront site, expected to be
operational this year.
Many of the businesses in
town have been restored to
resemble Shelton in the 1920s,
a time when Shelton saw some
of its most significant growth.
The 1926 construction of
the Olympic Loop Highway
provided easy access to the
town’s business center. Recent
growth in Shelton has included
several shopping centers and
restaurants on the town’s west
side and a downtown brew
pub.
Population: About 9,834,
according to 2010 Census.
Features: Many Sheltonites
say the west-side growth
has added traffic to Shelton’s
established downtown
business center. In addition to
the historical flavor and sense
of community in Shelton, the
town is best known for its
celebrations, including the
Mason County Fair, Forest
Festival and OysterFest.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 47
 EVENTS
ENJOY THESE During the pandemic, organizers have
moved many of their events online. But it
is a rare weekend when there is not some
LOCAL EVENTS
sort of event to enjoy, whether it is a major
festival or a more intimate gathering.
At the time of publication, some events
were not confirmed. Check ahead to make
sure the event is still ongoing and wear a
― The communities of the South Sound are home to festivals, mask if you’ll be in a crowd.
parades, celebrations, fairs and so much more. Here is a look at many of the events that
take place throughout the year:
ONGOING
A collection of movies available to stream
in Olympia Film Society’s virtual screening
room. olympiafilmsociety.org
Artbus Folk School hosts an all ages,
open acoustic mic night at 7 p.m. on the
second Monday of each month via Zoom.
arbutusfolkschool.org
Join Puget Sound Estuarium beach
naturalists in virtual estuary inspired arts
and crafts projects! Tune in every Monday
at 3 p.m. for a Facebook livestream.
OCT. 25-30
Olympia Arts Walk goes virtual this year
with a monthlong celebration. Find details
and events here.
OCT. 25, 27-31
Harlequin Productions perform “Dracula”
as a free radio play at 7:30 p.m. each night
on its website. Reservations are required.
harlequinproductions.org
OCT. 25- 31
Get lost in the giant Rutledge Corn Maze
or hunt through its pumpkin patch for
your perfect pumpkin. Daily 10 a.m. - 6
p.m. Reserve tickets ahead of time online.
rutledgecornmaze.com
Ashley Creek Farm’s Pumpkin Fest
is delightful, entertaining, fun and
memorable with gourds of all shapes,
sizes and colors. Garlic and flowers also
available for purchase. Daily, 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. ashleycreek.com
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
48 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Paid Advertising Supplement Paid Advertising Supplement OCTOBER 2020 | 27
Schilter Family Farm’s u-pick pumpkin
patch with a harvest festival including a
corn maze and many other activities. Daily
10 a.m – 6 p.m. Halloween, 10 a.m. – 4
p.m. Reserve tickets ahead of time online.
schilterfamilyfarm.com
OCT. 29-30
Pick pumpkins at Hunter Family Farm.
Try the hay maze, giant corn maze and
junior corn maze and other fall fun.
Noon to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
Online prepurchased tickets required.
hunterfamilyfarm.com
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
Olympia Farmers Market hosts its
Saturday and Sunday holiday season and
holiday shopping delight bonus days (Dec.
22-24). olympiafarmersmarket.com
Give your kids an opportunity to get
creative – making a holiday ornament!
Register by Nov. 13. Pickup starts Nov. 23
at Lacey City Hall.
Give your child a chance to chat with
OCTOBER 2020 | 29
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Santa at the North Pole via Lacey Parks
and Recreation! Registration closes Nov.
23.
NOV. 19
Bring out your crew for a night of big
laughs as The Washington Center for the
Performing Arts hosts a semi-final round
of the popular Seattle International
Comedy Competition! 7:30 pm.
washingtoncenter.org
NOV. 27-DEC. 20
Visit Schilter Family Farm’s beautiful
lighted nativity and take a wagon ride
out to our field to pick and cut your
fresh Christmas tree. 9 a.m.-dusk daily.
schilterfamilyfarm.com
DECEMBER
Ballet Northwest performs ‘Nutcracker’
on film, available throughout the month.
balletnorthwest.org
Join Mrs. Claus and one of Santa’s elves
and create the perfect Christmas treat,
at home! Register via Lacey Parks and
Recreation by Dec. 4.
DEC. 8-31
Bring the family by Huntamer Park each
evening and sing nightly songs and
hear holiday stories while enjoying the
Christmas tree.
JANUARY – MARCH
Olympia Farmers Market hosts
its winter season every Saturday.
olympiafarmersmarket.com
JAN. 1
Start the new year with the Polar Bear
Plunge held by the City of Lacey at Long
Lake Park.
49
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook •
EVENTS
JAN. 9
Need a good laugh? The Washington
Center for the Performing Arts’
signature comedy series means good
times with friends or a unique date night
for those ages 18 and older. 7:30 p.m.,
washingtoncenter.org
JAN. 30
A past winner of both the Seattle
International Comedy Competition and The
Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in Atlanta,
Gabriel Rutledge performs at 7:30 p.m. at
The Washington Center for the Performing
Arts. washingtoncenter.org
FEBRUARY
The Olympia Old-Time Music Festival is
about sharing traditional old-time fiddle
music.
Lacey Parks and Recreation hosts its Mom
& Son Dance and Daddy & Daughter
Dance at the community center.
FEB. 5
Catch a Bee Gees Gold tribute at The
Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
washingtoncenter.org
FEB. 26
Two shorts from the king of daredevil
comedy Harold Lloyd, “Speedy” (1928) and
“High and Dizzy” (1920) in The Washington
Center for the Performing Arts’ silent
movie series. washingtoncenter.org
MARCH 19
15 songs, 7 performers, one epic night as
Broadway Olympia presents “Mercury
Rising — A Queen tribute” at The
Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
washingtoncenter.org
MARCH-APRIL
The hunt is on at Tumwater’s annual
Easter Egg Dash.
APRIL
The Olympia Farmers Market opens
four days a week for its spring season.
50 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Paid Advertising Supplement
olympiafarmersmarket.com
The spring arts walk and Procession of the
Species takes place later this month.
APRIL 3
Side-splitting comedy and mind-blowing
magic are brought into the spotlight
as comedy magician Grant Freeman
brings his unique, raunchy show full of
surprises to The Washington Center for the
Performing Arts. washingtoncenter.org
MAY 8
Award-winning concert pianist Sarah
Hagen changes gears in this piano-
filled comedy, “Perk up, pianist!” at The
Washington Center for the Performing Arts.
washingtoncenter.org
MAY
The Olympia Wooden Boat Fair
celebrates this historical style of boat
maker.
Runners can take part in the Capital City
Marathon, the oldest in the South Sound.
Arts Olympia holds its annual art show and
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
sale. capitalcitymarathon.org
Take the family to the Lacey Spring Fun
Fair to enjoy rides, entertainment, great
fair food, and activities while supporting
local artisans, small businesses, and
community groups. laceyspringfunfair.com
JUNE
Where do 12,000 rubber ducks go? Check
out the Deschutes Duck Dash early this
month.
Capital City Pride is Olympia’s celebration
of the LGBTQ community.
The annual Olympic Airshow showcases
aerial performances, displays and a kids’
zone.
JULY 26-27
All’s Faire, Thurston County Fairgrounds’
largest medieval/fantasy festival is a family-
friendly event at 3054 Carpenter Road,
Lacey. Daytime activities include castle
battles and tournaments, blackpowder
demonstrations, kids carnival, live music
and stage acts, arts and crafts, as well as
merchants and vendors. Free. $10.
OCTOBER 2020 | 17
JULY 3
The Lacey Fireworks Spectacular and
Freedom Concert at Rainier Vista Park
gets started at 4 p.m. with kids activities.
Concert at 5 p.m., followed by fireworks at
10 p.m.
JULY-AUGUST
Music in the Park is a free outdoor
concert series sponsored by the Olympia
Downtown Alliance in July and August.
downtownolympia.org
JULY 4
Tumwater holds its Fourth of July
celebration, with the community’s annual
parade starting at 11 a.m. at the corner of
Capitol Boulevard and Lee Street.
JULY 4
The Artesian Family Festival and
Thunder Valley Fireworks Show will be
held at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course.
There will be music, games, food and
fireworks starting at 6 p.m.
EARLY JULY
Tahuya Day celebrates this small Mason
County town that includes parade, arts and
crafts, kids activities and music.
JULY-AUGUST
Lacey in Tune children’s entertainment
series, Llunchtime concert series and
summer evening concert and film series at
Huntamer Park in Woodland Square offer
free entertainment and activities. 360-491-
0857.
JULY
Annual McCleary Bear Festival features a
fun run, car show, live music and parade.
Lakefair started as a community
celebration in 1957 and continues as one
of the South Sound’s major festivals. The
five-day event at Heritage Park in Olympia
includes games, music, rides, food and
concludes with a fireworks show over
Capital Lake.
Paid Advertising Supplement
Allyn Days includes a salmon bake and
geoduck festival. There will be plenty of
seafood, live music and a beer and wine
garden.
JULY 6-AUG. 2
Washington State Senior Games in
venues around the South Sound. As many
as 2,000 people are expected to take part.
JULY
Oregon Trail Days, Tenino, on the fourth
weekend of July. There will be a parade,
blackpowder gun shoots, food, vendors
and a rock and gem show.
JULY 31-AUG. 4
Thurston County Fair is an old fashioned
family event at the Thurston County
Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Road,
Lacey. Held since 1871, the fair includes
entertainment, food, animal events, rides
and games.
FIRST WEEK IN AUGUST
Olympia Brew Fest features more than 60
products from more than 30 breweries. It
will run 1-8:30 p.m. at Port Plaza, Olympia.
AUG. 4-8
Grays Harbor County Fair features
live music, food, animal events, rides
and games at the Grays Harbor County
Fairgrounds, 32 Elma McCleary Rd, Elma.
AUG. 14
Saint Martin’s University hosts its Food &
Wine Festival.
AUG. 17
Taste of the Market is a fundraiser for the
Olympia Farmers Market. Try a variety of
samples from local restaurants, bakeries,
wineries, breweries and coffee roasters.
Farmers-market.org
AUG. 17-21
Southwest Washington Fair attracts more
than 65,000 visitors over its five-day run
each August at the Southwest Washington
Fairgrounds, 2555 N National Ave.,
Chehalis.
AUG. 21
The Tumwater Artesian Brewfest
takes place 1-8 p.m. at the Tumwater
Valley Golf Course, Tumwater. More
than 50 Northwest breweries will be
on hand.
LATE AUGUST
Find the largest gathering of
garlicious eats at the Washington
State Garlic Fest at the Southwest
Washington Fairgrounds, 2555 N
National Ave., Chehalis.
LABOR DAY WEEKEND
The Olympia Harbor Days Tugboat
Races and Festival will come to
Percival Landing and Port Plaza in
Olympia. The 45th annual event
includes entertainment, food,
standup paddleboard races and
vendors.
SEPTEMBER
The Brats, Brews & Bands Festival
is a fundraiser for the Gateway
Rotary Club. The 21-and-older event
will be 1-10 p.m. at the The Hub, 676
Woodland Square Loop, Lacey.
OCTOBER 2021
The Olympia Fall Arts Walk brings
art and entertainment to more
than 100 businesses in downtown
Olympia. olympiawa.gov
Oysterfest is a celebration of
mollusks during the first full weekend
of October. There will be shucking
contests, all types of seafood and
more in Shelton.
OCTOBER 2021
The Farms Forever annual
fundraiser dinner benefits
farmland preservation.
communityfarmlandtrust.org
51
OCTOBER 2020 | 5
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook •
 ALUMNI GROUPS
Washington State
University Alumni
Association (WSUAA) South
Puget Sound Chapter: This
chapter of WSUAA covers
Thurston and Mason counties
and is engaged in expanding
the ways that alumni and
friends of WSU can become
meaningfully engaged with
the university. Engagement
involves promoting WSU
and higher education in
Washington, connecting
alumni and friends with
WSU, student services and
scholarship opportunities.
For further information about
WSUAA and local alumni
events, email alumni@wsu.edu
and ask to join the group on
Facebook.
ARTS ORGANIZATIONS
Entertainment Explosion:
An ensemble of seniors,
ages 55-100, who like to
sing and dance for a variety
of audiences. It has been
performing since 2006. As the
COVID-19 virus subsides in
2021, the group will again be
available to perform anywhere
in Thurston County, seven days
a week, any time of day. To
book a show or ask questions
about joining EE, contact
Scott at 360-250-8413 or scott@
entertainmentexplosion.org.
Hummingbird Studio: This
is a free, inclusive art program,
RESOURCES sponsored by Kokua Services,
art and in building community.
Since COVID-19, Hummingbird
artists meet exclusively via
Zoom to work on art projects
from home while engaging
with other artists from
Thurston County and beyond.
Check out the program at
hummingbirdstudio.org,
Facebook and Instagram.
Information: Randi Miller at
360-705-4665, ext. 120, randi@
kokuaservices.org.
Olympia Arts & Heritage
Alliance: Know as OlyAHA,
the nonprofit organization is
working to establish a museum
in downtown Olympia for arts,
culture and heritage. 2020-
2021 programming includes
“It’s the Water,” an exhibition
in the windows of the historic
City Hall/Fire Hall building
at Capitol Way and State
Avenue in downtown Olympia,
highlighting the arts, history
and cultures of the region on
the theme of water. Board
meetings are 5-7 p.m. the
first Monday of each month.
Information: olyaha.org,
info@olyaha.org.
Olympia Artspace
Alliance: A local nonprofit
organization formed in 2011
to preserve, develop and
advocate for affordable live,
work and exhibition space for
artists in Olympia. Check out
the ongoing series of artist
installations in the windows
of The Goldberg Building
at Fourth and Capitol Way.
CIVIC GROUPS
Friends of the Lacey
Timberland Library: The
purpose of the Friends of the
Lacey Timberland Library is
to encourage the public use
and support of the library;
supplement library services
and materials; and provide
programs in accordance
with library policies and
needs. Members raise money
throughout the year to support
many special programs
offered by the library. In
addition to cash donations and
membership dues, donations of
used books are collected and
sold at book sales. Members
are given access to exclusive
presales before each public
book sale. Book sales are 9:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on the first
Saturday of February, April,
June, August, October and
December. Board meetings
are at noon on the second
Wednesday of January,
March, May, July, September,
and November. Information:
laceylibraryfriends@gmail.com,
laceyfriends.org.
League of Women Voters
of Thurston County:
Open to all people over the
age of 16, the League of
Women Voters of Thurston
County is a nonpartisan
political organization that
encourages informed
and active participation
in government, works to
increase understanding of

GET INVOLVED
― Find a local organization to participate with
and share your expertise, talents and friendship.
52 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
where artists of all abilities are
welcome to share in creating
Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Board meetings are 9 a.m. the
third Friday of each month.
Information: olympiaartspace.
org, info@olympiaartspace.org.
major public policy issues
and, after member study
and agreement, influences
public policy issues through
education and advocacy.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 53
RESOURCES
The League promotes civics
education, voter registration
and voting. It annually publish
a citizens’ directory of elected
officials, “They Represent You.”
Information: lwvthurston.org,
lwvthurston@gmail.com.
Thurston County Bus
Buddy Program: The free
Bus Buddy Program, such as
the one founded in Thurston
County in 2014, has now
spread into a dozen states and
a Canadian province. There
are currently 12 volunteer
bus buddies working as
travel companions, providing
personalized support, teaching
new bus riders how to take
Intercity Transit buses to
destinations, transfer to other
buses, and connect with other
regional transit services. On
a one-on-one basis they travel
within Thurston County to
Yelm, Olympia, Lacey and
Tumwater. To book a ride on
the free bus, contact Scott at
360-688-8832 or SSchoengarth@
intercitytransit.com.
CRAFT ORGANIZATIONS
Lacey MakerSpace: The
Lacey MakerSpace is an
innovation lab open to the
public. People can work on
projects, take classes, and
collaborate with fellow makers.
Visit the space on the campus
of Saint Martin’s University,
and gain access to laser
cutters, 3D printers, welders,
vinyl cutters, woodshop, CNC
(computer numerical control)
machines, and more. Founded
as a collaboration between the
city of Lacey, Saint Martin’s,
and the Thurston Economic
54 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
Development Council, the
mission is two-fold: empower
local innovators to create new
products and businesses,
and teach hands-on skills
on the latest fabrication
technology. Public hours are
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and
Sunday; member hours are
10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday
through Friday. Information:
info@laceymakerspace.org,
laceymakerspace.org.
Nib ‘n’ Inks/South
Sound Calligraphers:
This is a friendly group of
calligraphers with interest in
many calligraphic styles and
the related fields of art, paper
crafts and book arts. Each
meeting features a unique
program led by a presenter
or instructor. Members range
from interested beginners
to professionals. Learn new
techniques, share good ideas
and meet fellow letter lovers.
Learn more at nibninks.com.
The group meets at the North
Olympia Station 83/South Bay
Fire District at 5046 Boston
Harbor Road NE on the fourth
Tuesday of the month at 6
p.m., when meeting is possible.
Information: Sandra Parker,
nparker3@comcast.net.
Olympia Weavers Guild:
A nonprofit organization
of active weavers, where
members share their skills at
community events, including
the state and county fairs.
Members may attend all
meetings, committees and
study groups; apply for
grants to fund weaving
studies; borrow from the
extensive library; rent weaving
equipment; access classes and
Paid Advertising Supplement
workshops for a shared cost
of facilities and instructors;
sell hand-woven goods at its
annual fundraiser; and share
guidance, encouragement,
and inspiration with fellow
artisans. Visitors are welcome
to attend two meetings before
deciding whether to join. The
guild meets the last Friday of
the month, September through
June, with no meetings in
July and August. Meetings are
10 a.m.-noon on Zoom until
further notice. Information:
info@olympiaweaversguild.org,
olympiaweaversguild.org.
The Puget Sound Writers
Guild: This is a critique group
of serious writers building a
craft and seeking to publish
commercial-length fiction. It
meets Wednesday evenings
(currently on Zoom). Members
write in mainstream, action/
adventure, literary, historical,
fantasy, alternative history,
and mystery genres.The
guild occasionally offers a
series of classes for those
who want to learn the craft
of writing. Information:
pugetsoundwritersguild.org,
Facebook or call Laura at 360-
438-1771.
Washington Stars Quilt
Guild: Guild members share
their passion for quilting
through meetings, classes and
community outreach programs.
The guild meets on the first
and third Tuesday of each
month. Prospective members
are always welcome. The
public is invited to purchase
a quilt from our online quilt
store. There is a quilt show
in odd-numbered years.
Proceeds from the store and
quilt show support community
outreach and educational
missions. Information:
washingtonstarsquiltguild.
com, WSQG@
WashingtonStarsQuiltGuild.
com.
CULTURAL GROUPS
Esperanto Group of
Olympia: This group provides
information about and furthers
the use of the international
language Esperanto. Meeting
times vary. Information:
eddyellen@aol.com.
Kikaha o Ke Kai: This
nonprofit organization is
dedicated to maintaining
and perpetuating Hawaiian
culture through the paddling
of outrigger canoes. Formed
in 1996, the group paddles
Paid Advertising Supplement
OCTOBER 2020
6-person canoes on Tacoma’s
Foss Waterway and around the
Pacific Northwest. Paddlers
from ages 5 to adults in their
70s are welcome. Season runs
March through September,
though the most dedicated
paddlers continue through
the cold winter months.
Information: Kikaha.com,
kikaha.info@gmail.com, 253-
237-4425. Practice site: 1930
East D St., Tacoma. Practice
times: 5-7 p.m. Tuesdays
and Thursdays and 8-11 a.m.
Saturdays.
Olympia Genealogical
Society: Offers virtual
monthly meetings on the
second Thursdays of the
month (September through
June) with programs on
genealogical topics, and a
virtual spring seminar in March
with national-level speakers.
Information: P.O. Box 1313,
Olympia WA 98507; 360-754-
6230, OlyGenSoc.org.
Prillar Guri Lodge #30,
Daughters of Norway:
Prillar Guri members are
actively involved in regional
Scandinavian activities and
offer interesting speakers at
meetings. Prillar Guri lodge
actively participates with
| 13
the local Sons of Norway
lodge to host Olympia’s
Norway Day Festival held
the third Saturday in April.
Membership is open to women
of Nordic birth or descent
(Norway, Denmark, Finland,
Iceland or Sweden) or have a
relative or spouse of Nordic
descent. Meetings are on the
third Monday of the month
(September-May) at 6:30 p.m.
at Columbian Hall, 6794 Martin
Way E., Lacey. Information:
daughtersofnorway.org,
Facebook.
Safi School Project:
This nonprofit organization
incorporated in 2006 and
based in Lacey works to
empower and improve the lives
of young people in Tanzania
through education. Safi works
with students and teachers
in Arusha, Tanzania, East
Africa. All activities are done
in collaboration with local
schools and communities. Safi
seeks to grow its membership
and support. Information: Safi
School Project, P.O. Box 8275,
Lacey, WA 98509,
info@safischoolproject.org.
DANCE CLUBS
Flutterwheels Square
55
OCTOBER 2020 | 21
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook •
RESOURCES
Dance Club: This square
dance club dances twice
a month at Lac-A-Do Hall,
1721 46th Ave. NE, Olympia.
Mainstream and Basic 51
Levels with round dancing.
It participates in the Olympia
Area Square Dance lesson
program. Regular meeting
times are 7 p.m. the first and
third Saturdays of each month.
Information: text or call 206-
300-4682.
Love to Dance Club:
Remember Ballroom Dancing?
While the pandemic has
stopped dancing for a
while, this club will be back
sponsoring two ballroom
dances each month as soon
as allowed. The plan is to
continue dancing on the
second and fourth Fridays
of the month, with an
introductory class from 7-8 p.m.
and dancing from 8-11 p.m.
with live music. Stay tuned for
developments via emails. Email
lovetodanceclub@gmail.com or
call 360-754-6697 to be put on
the mailing list.
Mas Uda Dancers: This
local group teaches all levels of
dance classes and workshops
and performs throughout the
area at fairs, festivals and
private events. Mas Uda also
sponsors an annual weekend
benefit for local charities. The
next benefit is set for April 16-
17, 2021 at South Bay Grange.
Information: mas-uda.com,
Facebook, 360-459-3694.
Olympia Area Square
Dancers: This association of
square and round dance clubs
holds many lessons and dances
at Lac-A-Do Hall in Olympia.
56 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
There are dances almost every
evening of the week. Lac-A-
Do Hall is at 1721 46th Ave
NE, Olympia. Information:
OlympiaSquareDance.com,
360-438-1284.
ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS
Capitol Land Trust:
Capitol Land Trust’s mission
is to further collaborative
and strategic conservation
of southwest Washington’s
essential natural areas and
working lands. In addition
to protecting and enhancing
wildlife habitat, it manages
four nature preserves that are
open to the public and offers
hands-on field experiences to
local students. Information:
capitollandtrust.org,
info@capitollandtrust.org.
Thurston Climate
Action Team: For the past
decade, the Thurston Climate
Action Team has partnered
with local governments
to plan a response to the
climate crisis that leads to a
healthy, just and prosperous
future for all residents and
future generations. Local
governments are preparing
to adopt a Climate Mitigation
Plan designed to do that.
During this time of crisis,
TCAT is committed to finding
and implementing local
climate solutions specifically
designed to reverse and repair
systemic inequities; and
provide affordable homes,
living-wage jobs, education
opportunities and a healthy
community and ecosystem for
all. There are many volunteer
opportunities within TCAT,
from working on one of our
action groups, publicizing our
activities, and helping with
fundraising. For meeting times:
thurstonclimateaction.org,
info@thurstonclimateaction.
org.
Master Recycler
Composter Program of
Thurston County: The
Master Recycler Composters
of Thurston County is a
volunteer service program.
Master Recycler Composter
(MRC) volunteers are
trained on how to reduce
waste and increase public
awareness of opportunities
to prevent waste, recycle
and compost in Thurston
County. MRC volunteers
are trained and certified
as community educators
to provide professional,
unbiased, researched-based
waste reduction, recycling
and composting information
to the public through clinics,
educational programs and
community service projects. It
also hosts annual, three-month
training on how to become
a certified Master Recycler
Composter volunteer. Annual
service requirements are
expected. Information:
360-867-2162,
extension.wsu.edu/thurston.
Native Plant Salvage
Foundation: Native Plant
Salvage Foundation helps
to protect water quality and
wildlife habitat through action-
based educational activities.
Volunteer opportunities include
rescuing plants from areas
slated for new developments;
streamside vegetation projects;
installing and maintaining
learning landscapes at area
schools; and assisting with
public workshops on plant
identification, “naturescaping”
and propagation. Information:
3054 Carpenter Road SE,
Olympia, WA 98503, 360-867-
2164, thurston.wsu.edu.
Olympia Beekeepers
Association: The Olympia
Beekeepers Association
welcomes all experienced,
novice and future beekeepers
from Olympia and the
surrounding areas. The OBA
offers affordable classes,
a mentoring program, a
lending library, and monthly
meetings with guest speakers.
Apprentice, journeyman and
master beekeeper certification
programs are available.
Meeting times at 7-9 p.m.
the second Monday of each
month, but they have been
canceled due to COVID-19.
To receive OBA updates,
sign up for the newsletter
at olympiabeekeepers.org/
newsletters. Information:
president@olympiabeekeepers.
org, 360-515-7274,
olympiabeekeepers.org.
FAITH COMMUNITIES
The United Churches of
Olympia: The United Churches
is a federation of two protestant
denominations: Presbyterian
Church (USA) and United
Church of Christ. The churches
joined together in 1916 and
have been one church in
worship, service and mission.
It is a liberal, progressive
church that welcomes all, loves
God, follows Jesus Christ and
is empowered and nurtured
by the Spirit to engage in our
community. It meets weekly at
10:30 a.m. Sunday for worship,
children’s and adult faith
formation, and in small groups.
Currently, meetings are virtual
due to coronavirus. Contact the
church office at 360-943-1210
or admin@theunitedchurches.
org to receive the Zoom links to
participate.
FRATERNAL GROUPS
Olympia Elks Lodge #186:
The fraternal organization
offers bingo, dances, happy
hours, and many types of
entertainment at 1818 Fourth
Ave. E, Olympia, subject to
COVID limitations. Space
rental, programs serving
veterans, children and others
in need, have contributed
over $2.2 million directly to
the community. Meetings
are at 7 p.m. the second
and fourth Thursdays of the
month. Information: 360-753-
0186, olympiaelks@gmail.
com. Secretary office hours
are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays.
GARDENING GROUPS
WSU Master Gardener
Program of Thurston
County: Washington State
University Master Gardener
Program is a volunteer service
gardening organization
cultivating plants, people and
communities since 1973. The
Thurston County program is
part of the statewide WSU
Extension Master Gardener
program which combines
horticulture training and
public service. WSU Master
Gardener volunteers are
trained and certified as
community educators
to provide professional,
unbiased, researched-
based home gardening and
horticulture information to
the public through the clinics,
demonstration gardens,
educational programs and
community service projects. It
also hosts an annual, six-month
training on how to become a
certified WSU Master Gardener
volunteer. Annual service
requirements are expected.
Information: extension.wsu.
edu/thurston, 360-867-2162.
Pierce County Iris Society:
This group of gardeners is
dedicated to enlightening
fellow gardeners about the
many different types of iris
available to enhance any
landscape. It is affiliated with
the American Iris Society. It
meets the second Tuesday of
the month at Julian Estates
Retirement Living, 13305
94th Ave E., Puyallup. It hosts
an annual show and display
garden at Point Defiance Park
in Tacoma. Information: Pierce
County Iris Society Facebook.
HOBBY GROUPS
Olympia Amateur Radio
Society: Amateur Radio is a
service and a hobby, with an
extremely practical side. It is
easy and inexpensive to start,
builds electronics and technical
acumen, helps the community,
and is useful in an emergency.
The Olympia Amateur Radio
Society is involved in many
aspects of amateur radio,
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 57
RESOURCES
including classroom training,
mentorship, programs and
operations. The club has
weekly and monthly Zoom
meetings open to anyone,
member or not. Information:
Club president Bruce at 360-
259-9300, mont7881@yahoo.
com or vice president Lee at
360-951-2538, ki7ss@arrl.net.
Olympia Philatelic Society:
This friendly group of stamp
collectors has been around
since 1935, and covers all kinds
and specialties. Newcomers
welcome at meetings the
second and fourth Mondays
at 6:30 p.m. in the activity
room at Olympics West
Retirement Inn, 929 Trosper
Road, Tumwater. Information:
olympiaphilatelicsociety.org.
MILITARY ORGANIZATIONS
American Legion Post
3, Olympia: The purpose
of the American Legion is
to assist veterans and their
families along with promoting
Americanism through its
programs. To be eligible for
membership, you must have
been or are serving in one of
the armed forces. The group
meets the second Tuesday of
the month at 7 p.m., except
in July. The post home is at
202 Central St. NE, Suite 140,
Olympia. Information:
360-357-9780, Post3Olympia.org
or Facebook.
American Legion
Auxiliary, Unit 3 Olympia:
The purpose of the American
Legion Auxiliary is to assist
veterans and their families
along with promoting
Americanism through its
58 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
programs. To be eligible for
membership, you must have
or had a family member that
served or is serving in one of
the armed forces. The group
meets the third Saturday of
the month at 10 a.m., except
in July. The unit’s home is
202 Central St. NE, suite 140,
Olympia. Information: 360-357-
9780, Post3olympia.org.
Olympia Area Chapter of
Military Officers Association
of America (MOAA): MOAA
is the nation’s largest and
most influential association
of military officers. Members
come from all branches of
service and include active
duty, reserve, National Guard,
retired and former officers and
family members. Our chapter
objectives are to support
legislative actions that protect
the rights and interests of
current and potential members
plus promote national security,
encourage and facilitate
camaraderie and support
philanthropic efforts toward
making a better community.
The chapter meets the third
Wednesday of every month at
the Seventeen 51 Restaurant
and Bistro at Panorama. The
dinner meetings start at 6 p.m.
Until the state reaches phase
4 of the COVID-19 reopening
program, the chapter will
host meetings at 6:30 p.m.
via Zoom. For reservations,
contact joyblue@comcast.net.
Information: info@moaaolympia.
org, moaaolympia.org or
Facebook. Chapter mailing
address is P.O. Box 5957, Lacey,
WA 98509-5957.
Stars and Stripes Quilts of
Valor Quilt Group: This local
group makes red, white and
blue quilts for veterans and
active duty service members
who have been touched by
war. The group meets via Zoom
at 10 a.m. on the first Tuesday
and the third Monday of the
month. For more information,
contact Sherry Houser at
360-701-3395 or sehouser3@
hotmail.com.
MUSICAL ORGANIZATIONS
Olympia Jazz Central:
Olympia Jazz Central is a
local nonprofit, all-volunteer
organization with the
mission to educate and foster
appreciation for jazz music;
encourage and support local
students of jazz; advocate for
and support jazz musicians;
and promote live jazz
performance in the greater
Olympia area and surrounding
region. OJC has awarded
grants to area youths to aid
their music studies. It brings
world class jazz performers
to local venues. It has a social
media presence via Facebook
with information about music
events and other items of
interest to jazz aficionados.
OJC maintains a calendar
of live and livestream music
and radio events on its
MeetUp page. Information:
olympiajazzcentral@gmail.com.
Sound Studios Olympia:
Sound Studios Olympia is
a nonprofit school of music
where people can take lessons
on a variety of instruments
at a location just east of
downtown. The organization
opened Sept. 1. Throughout
the year, the studio will offer
in-studio lessons and virtual
lessons. Organizers believe
that people learn music
to share it, so one of the
studio’s primary focuses is on
performance opportunities for
students, as well as events for
the community. Information:
soundstudiosolympia.org,
info@ssoly.com.
NONPROFIT SOCIAL
SERVICES
The Crisis Clinic of
Thurston and Mason
Counties: The Crisis Clinic
provides the only service
of its kind for Thurston and
Mason counties. The service
includes active listening,
emotional support, problem-
solving, as well as information
and referrals. It has provided
confidential and anonymous
crisis intervention services to
callers since its founding 48
years ago. In 1972, the crisis
lines of several organizations
were consolidated and
expanded to create The Crisis
Clinic. The clinic strives to
empower people — especially
those in crisis — through
telephone intervention, and
information and referral, every
hour of the year. It trains
clinic volunteers and educates
community groups in crisis
intervention skills. The clinic
answers its phone lines 24
hours daily. Information:
info@crisis-clinic.org,
crisis-clinic.org.
Olympia Free Clinic: The
Olympia Free Clinic provides
health care services to
underinsured and uninsured
adults at no cost to the patient.
Services include medical care,
mental health counseling
and medications, women’s
health, transgender and
nonbinary gender health care,
chiropractic care, physical
therapy and acupuncture.
Patients are also connected
to other community resources
and receive assistance with
activities such as enrolling
in health insurance or food
access programs. Contact
the clinic at 360-890-4074.
Visits are by appointment.
To make an appointment,
call 360-890-4074 ext. 3, email
clinic@theolympiafreeclinic.
org, or complete an online
appointment request form at
tinyurl.com/TOFCappointment.
Information:
theolympiafreeclinic.org.
Senior Services for South
Sound: Founded in 1973,
Senior Services for South
Sound’s mission is to improve
the quality of life for people as
they age by offering a wide
range of programs for seniors
and their families, addressing
the ever-changing demands
of the community and senior
concerns. The progressive
and comprehensive services
programs include the Brighter
Days Adult Day Program,
Meals on Wheels, senior
transportation, Care Connection
Caregiver Registry, supportive
services, health and wellness
programs, adult learning,
and many more COVID-19-
adapted services and programs.
Information: SouthSoundSeniors.
org or admintemp@
SouthSoundSeniors.org.
Thurston County Draft
Counseling Center: This
organization provides
information and nondirective
counseling to help young
people facing the military
draft protect their rights and
make informed choices. It also
provides information about
conscientious objection for
people who are already in
the military. Contact Glen
Anderson at 360-491-9093 or
glenanderson@integra.net.
OUTDOORS GROUPS
Capitol Volkssport Club:
The Capitol Volkssport
Club (CVC) is a member of
the American Volkssport
Association whose stated
mission “to promote and
organize non-competitive
fitness activities that
encourage lifelong fun, fitness
and friendship for all ages
and abilities.” The club offers
organized group walks that
follow specific routes. Most
walks are 10K with a 5K
option. Monday walks meet
at the Bayview Thriftway, 516
Fourth Ave W, Olympia. Walks
begin at 10 a.m. June through
September and 2 p.m. October
through May. Thursday walks
begin at 10 a.m. The start
points and walk locations
vary and may take place in a
neighboring county. Tuesday
summer walks begin at 6 p.m.
Start points and walk locations
vary but are usually in Thurston
County. Participants should
arrive at the start point and
register for the walk at least
15 minutes prior to the start
time. Cost: $2 for members; $3
for nonmembers; free walkers
are also welcome. Information:
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 59
capitolvolkssportclub.org.
NW Youth Conservation
and Fly Fishing Academy:
The academy is a youth
education project of the
Washington Council of Trout
Unlimited and is made possible
with the help and support of
the Washington State Council
Fly Fishers International, along
with volunteers from the local
FFI fly clubs, TU chapters and
WDFW. It is held the last full
week of June at the Gwinwood
Community Center on Hicks
Lake, Lacey. The academy
is co-educational, ages 12 to
16. Curriculum focuses on
conservation, natural resource
stewardship and fly-fishing
essentials. Fly-fishing classes
include fly casting, fly tying,
knot tying, reading water
and water safety. Cost is
$300 for the whole week, and
includes lodging and all meals.
Information: nwycffa.com;
Facebook.
Olympia Mountaineers:
The Olympia Mountaineers
is the South Sound chapter of
The Mountaineers, the premier
Northwest recreational and
adventure club. Mountaineers
volunteers offer education
and organized activities in
climbing, scrambling, hiking,
sea kayaking, conservation,
navigation, first aid and
youth and family activities.
People are invited to attend
the monthly potluck and
Adventure Speaker Series,
where local Mountaineers
and guest speakers share
a presentation of their
adventures around the world.
Olympia Mountaineers also
60 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
maintain an extensive library
of around 1,400 titles, including
books, maps, games, atlases,
DVDs, CDs and videos covering
most outdoor activities.
Information: Mountaineers.org,
Mountaineers.org/Olympia.
Puget Sound Anglers
South Sound Chapter:
Puget Sound Anglers (PSA)
South Sound Chapter is a
nonprofit organization, one of
17 independent chapters in
Washington state. Members
have common goals and
interests, bound only by
integrity and fellowship,
with the goal of preserving,
protecting and enhancing the
sport fisheries of Washington
state. The group meets at
7 p.m. the first Thursday of
every month at the Lacey
Community Center, 6729
Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey.
Information: sschapterpsa.com,
deeglenn2@comcast.net.
Puget Sound Fly Fishers:
The Puget Sound Fly Fishers
(PSFF) of Tacoma was founded
in 1956 and has a long and
proud history of involvement,
action, camaraderie and fun.
PSFF is an affiliate club of Fly
Fishers International (FFI), a
national fly-fishing organization,
dedicated to the conservation
of resources and education in
the art, science and sport of
fly-fishing for over 30 years.
PSFF is a family-oriented
club that meets the second
Thursday of every month at
Tower Lanes, 6323 Sixth Ave.,
Tacoma. Evening meeting is 6-9
p.m. (dinner optional); fly tying
and casting available weekly.
Information: psff.org.
South Sound Fly Fishers:
The South Sound Fly Fishers
(SSFF) of Olympia is an
affiliate club of Fly Fishers
International (FFI), a national
fly-fishing organization
dedicated to the conservation
of resources and education in
the art, science and sport of
fly-fishing over 30 years. SSFF
is a family-oriented club with
monthly meetings, regular
fishing outings, education,
conservation and community
outreach. SSFF meetings are
the third Tuesday of each
month (except December)
at the North Olympia Fire
Station, 5946 Boston Harbor
Road NE. Doors open at 6:15
p.m.; meeting and program
starts at 7 p.m. Information:
southsoundflyfishers.com.
South Sound Sailing
Society: This is a local group
of folks who share a love
for sailing. It has over 200
families and individuals who
enjoy meeting, racing and
cruising together. Owning a
boat is not a requirement for
membership, and meetings
are open to anyone who is
interested. Members meet at
7 p.m. on the second Tuesday
of every month, except July
and August, at the Olympia
Yacht Club, 201 Simmons
St. NW. Doors open at 6:30.
Due to COVID-19, members
currently are meeting via
Zoom.To join a Zoom meeting,
email programs@ssssclub.com.
Information: ssssclub.com.
Trout Unlimited Olympia
Chapter: Trout Unlimited’s
mission is to conserve, protect
and restore North America’s
cold water fisheries and their
watersheds. As the local
chapter, Olympia leads and
participates in grassroots
conservation efforts around
local watersheds, as well
as participating with other
chapters statewide in
advocating for fish. At its roots,
it is a conservation organization
with a fishing problem. It leads
engagement efforts through its
women’s fly-fishing initiative, a
Veterans Services partnership,
and youth engagement through
participation in the Stream
Girls program. Events are
open to all members and the
public, usually on the fourth
Wednesday of each month, at
the North Olympia Fire Station.
Follow the group on Facebook
or Instagram to learn about
events or projects.
POLITICAL ACTION
GROUPS
Olympia Coalition to
Abolish Nuclear Weapons:
This group informs and
organizes the local community
with a variety of strategic
activities to prevent nuclear
war and abolish nuclear
weapons. It meets monthly
through online video on
the third Thursday of
each month. Contact Glen
Anderson at 360-491-9093,
glenanderson@integra.net
or parallaxperspectives.org/
category/nuclear-weapons.
Retired Public Employees
Council, Chapter 2 Olympia:
The Retired Public Employees
Council (RPEC) seeks to
protect public pensions, Social
Security, Medicare and other
important programs, and
ensure that retirees enjoy
a dignified and respected
retirement. The group has
12,000 members statewide
with 1,100 members in the
Olympia area chapter. It
works with other similar
organizations to exert
influence in the legislature and
elsewhere to work towards
the goals of the membership
and educate members on the
issues. The Olympia chapter
meets at 1:30 p.m. the second
Thursday of each month
(September through May)
at the Olympia Center, 222
Columbia St. NW, Olympia.
Information: rpecwa.org,
360-352-8262.
SERVICE CLUBS
Altrusa International
of Olympia: This service
organization has been
in Olympia since 1966
and is dedicated to the
encouragement of literacy
from birth to adulthood.
The group provides a baby’s
first book at Providence St.
Peter Hospital. It maintains
a children’s reading corner
at the Thurston County Food
Bank. It gives career awareness
awards for graduating seniors
and provides books for Camp
Quixote residents.The group
is currently meeting via
conference call at 6 p.m. every
fourth Tuesday of the month.
For information, contact
Marilee Breselow at 360-556-
9603, marileebreselow@gmail.
com; Susan Peterson at 360-
357-5248; write to Altrusa
International of Olympia, P.O.
Box 2045, Olympia, WA 98507;
or Facebook.
Beta Sigma Phi: The
Washington Theta Master,
Olympia Chapter, is an
international sorority that is
nonacademic. It is open to
women ages 18 and older. It
is active socially, culturally
inquisitive and seeks ways to
help the community. Its motto
is ‘life, learning and friendship.”
The chapter meets at noon
the second Monday of the
month. Other chapters in the
area meet on other days; some
meet twice a month. Meeting
times vary. Contacts are
Arlene Army at 360-426-3585 or
arlenearmy1942@gmail.com, or
Carol Frahm at 360-438-8833 or
frahmfmca@hotmail.com.
GFWC Avalon: This
women’s club is affiliated with
the General Federation of
Women’s Clubs headquartered
in Washington, D.C. It is
a leadership, social, and
comradery club. It has
opportunities to help those in
need in the local communities.
It is 100% charitable and has
fundraisers to provide for
chosen charities. The group
meets at 12:30 p.m. the second
Thursday of every month. Go to
GFWC.org for information about
the affiliated clubs. Call 407-467-
5680 for meeting details.
Kiwanis Club of Olympia:
The Kiwanis Club of Olympia
has served the community
through various service and
fundraising projects since
1921. It partners with local
landowners and the Thurston
County Food Bank to grow
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 61
RESOURCES
thousands of pounds of fresh
produce each year for those
in need. It also maintains a
firewood “bank” for those
in our community who rely
on woodburning stoves as a
primary source of heat in the
winter. Each year it awards
$12,500 in scholarships to
Capital and Olympia high
school graduates. The group
meets at noon Mondays via
Zoom (for now). To receive
a Zoom invite, contact club
secretary George Caan at olkc.
secretary@gmail.com. For those
interested in membership,
contact Jon Halvorson, the
club membership chair, at
halvo@comcast.net. Website:
olympiakiwanis.org
Olympia Host Lions: The
group is part of Lions Clubs
International, the world’s
largest service club organization
with more than 1.4 million
members in approximately
46,000 clubs in more than 200
countries and geographical
areas around the world. The
group annually sells 40-pound
boxes of apples to the free Low
Vision Resource Center and
Camp Leo Summer Camp for
Children with Diabetes. The
Olympia Host Lions meet at
noon every Tuesday, currently
via Zoom. Contact Kathleen
Anderson at andersonwrit@
aol.com for login information.
Information: e-clubhouse.org/
sites/olympiahost/index.php or
Facebook.
Random Acts of Kindness:
The local chapter of the
national group meets at 1 p.m.
the second Wednesday of
the month, January through
62 • 2020-21 Sourcebook | theolympian.com
October. Its main function
is helping to meet some of
the needs in the community
through different organizations.
Members take turns picking
an organization and getting a
list of needed items, then other
members bring those items
to the next meeting and the
original member delivers them.
Donations also are collected at
each meeting, then allocated
in October. The group works
as a committee so no definite
officers or dues. For more
information, contact Peggy
McHugo at 360-491-4598 or
peggyanddenns@hotmail.com.
SOCIAL CLUBS
Capital City Newcomers
Club: Established as a social
organization, the group
welcomes adult residents
within the Olympia area,
offering an opportunity to
develop new friendships and
participate in diverse activities
for women, men and couples.
In addition to a monthly
general meeting and luncheon
(reservations required),
activities include hiking,
bridge, bunco, mahjongg,
healthy eating, monthly coffee,
dine-ins, wine tasting, book
clubs, crafts, theater and the
arts. For more information,
contact Evelyn Hinken at
360-273-0844 or
micahdanrose@comcast.net.
WELLNESS
ORGANIZATIONS
Harmony Hill Healing
Retreat Center: Harmony
Hill’s mission is to inspire
healthy living for all and
transform the lives of
those affected by cancer.
Healthy Living for All is a
lifestyle program dedicated
to inspiration, self-care,
nourishment and nutrition.
Wellness programs available
at harmonyhill.org/healthy-
living/. Harmony Hill also
offers no-cost monthly cancer
programs for cancer survivors
and caregivers. Information:
360-898-2363, harmonyhill.org
or email Holly Greenwood at
holly@harmonyhill.org.
Overeaters Anonymous:
This is a community of
people who through shared
experience, strength and
hope are recovering from
unhealthy relationships with
food and body image. The
group includes overeaters,
anorexics and bulimics among
other challenges. The program
is based on the Big Book
of Alcoholics Anonymous.
All are invited. Currently
meetings are on Zoom. To
find a local meeting, visit
oasouthsoundintergroup.org
and for meetings in other parts
of the world (on Zoom) visit
oa.org.
WILDLIFE ORGANIZATIONS
Wolf Haven International:
This nationally recognized,
globally accredited sanctuary
for captive-born, displaced
wolves has a mission “to
conserve and protect wolves
and their habitat.” Wolf Haven
offers guided educational
walks by reservation through
the public portion of the
sanctuary. In addition to rescue
and sanctuary, Wolf Haven
offers a variety of educational
presentations focused on
wolves and conservation-
related themes. Wolf Haven
also participates in two
federally managed Species
Survival Plan programs to
ensure the health and survival
of two kinds of endangered
wolves: the red wolf and
the Mexican gray wolf.
Information: wolfhaven.org,
info@wolfhaven.org, 360-264-
4695, ext. 220. The sanctuary
is at 3111 Offut Lake Road SE,
Tenino.
WOMEN’S GROUPS
American Association of
University Women (AAUW),
Olympia Branch: The
Olympia branch is one of many
in Washington state and is
celebrating its 95th anniversary
as a branch in 2020. AAUW is a
powerful advocate and visible
leader in equity and education
through research, and
measurable change in critical
areas impacting the lives of
women. The branch meets the
third Tuesday of the month; it
is currently having meetings on
Zoom; bimonthly newsletter.
Information: olympia@aauw-
wa.org or the national website,
aauw.org.
Soroptimist International
of Olympia: This volunteer
organization is for service-
minded women who want
to improve the lives of
women and girls in the
greater Thurston County
community and throughout
the world, leading to social and
economic empowerment. The
international organization has
over 75,000 club members in
133 countries and territories.
Meetings are the second and
fourth Tuesday of each month
(no regular meetings in July
and August). All members
and guests are welcome to
attend both meetings. The
second Tuesday is a business
meeting during lunchtime
to discuss club matters. The
fourth Tuesday is a program
meeting in the evening to hear
topic-related speakers and
discussions. The club’s service
projects are a Live Your Dream
Award, YWCA “Girls Without
Limits!” “Expanding Your
Horizons,” Steps in Opportunity
Tech Award, Hope Africa
University, supporting children
in foster care, and fighting
human trafficking. Information:
SIOlympia@Sororptimist.net,
soroptimistolympia.org or
Facebook.
Woman’s Club of Olympia:
The Woman’s Club of Olympia
has existed since 1883 and is
still meeting. The club meets
at noon the first Tuesday of
each month and at 7 p.m.
the second Wednesday at
the historic Abigail Stuart
House, 1002 Washington
SE, Olympia. Meetings are
September through June.
Join the group for social
time, fun, volunteering and
educational opportunities.
Contact Sandra Groves at
wcomembership@gmail.com or
womansclubofolympia.org.
YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS
Boys & Girls Clubs of
Thurston County: With seven
locations, Boys & Girls Clubs
of Thurston County (BGCTC)
provide youths (ages 5-18) with
safe, positive, and enriching
places to go after school and
during school breaks. Programs
offered focus on academic
success, good character
and citizenship, and healthy
lifestyles. Low membership
fees, scholarships and generous
community support keep
the clubs accessible for all
youth. Club staff provide
mentorship and support to
help youths work toward
great futures. Club locations:
Olympia, Lacey (2), Rochester,
Tenino, Tumwater and Yelm.
Information: BGCTC.org, 360-
956-0755, or Facebook.
4-H: 4-H has been helping
school-age youths discover
their sparks for over 100 years.
Sparks are interests or passions
that light a fire in a person’s life.
In today’s world, having a spark
gives a young person a sense of
direction and encourages goal
setting. Through 4-H hands-on
projects, youths identify their
interests with help from adult
mentors. Projects range from
raising farm animals or caring
for a pet to outdoor adventures
and creative arts. Thurston
County 4-H offers a variety of
activities and programs that
appeal to young people from all
backgrounds, urban and rural.
To learn more about Thurston
County 4-H opportunities
for school-age youths and
adult volunteers, contact the
Washington State University
Thurston County Extension 4-H
Youth Development Program at
360-867-2157, tc4h@co.thurston.
wa.us or extension.wsu.edu/
thurston/youth.
theolympian.com | 2020-21 Sourcebook • 63