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Hello Olympia! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning.
In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: Coordinated strategy for safer streets, inside a subsidized multifamily sale, and birding with breakfast + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.
Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.
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📰 In the news
Coordinated strategy for safer streets: Thurston Regional Planning Council is pursuing a Safety Action Plan to reduce crashes in Thurston County, funded by a $332,520 federal grant and an $83,130 local match — learn how the plan works.
Aid levels poised to rise: The Washington Senate passed Senate Bill 5828 to restore scholarship funding for private college students after last year’s cuts, and the measure awaits House action that could affect Olympia-area families — read the full story.
Inside a subsidized multifamily sale: Olympia’s 82-unit Merritt Manor sold for $19.55 million, helping preserve affordable housing in Thurston County, with two and three bedroom homes and community amenities built in 2020 — read the full story.
Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.
Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.
Highlights this week:
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🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+
Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance
Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.
From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.
As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.
It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.
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🫶 We got your back
Tapas night, upgraded: Octapas Cafe nails the shareable vibe with Tapas Calientes and Tapas Frias, from patatas bravas and boquerones to garlic shrimp, Dungeness crab cakes, and a grilled-octopus cameo. The sip-friendly lineup includes house sangría… so rally your people and turn “let’s just grab a bite” into an actual plan.
Bike TLC, no fuss: Deschutes River Cyclery sits downtown, locally owned and run by riders who actually wrench. Tunes, fresh rubber, and the parts upgrade you’ve been putting off. Expect quick turnarounds and no-nonsense advice that gets you rolling for Capitol Forest blasts and weekend errands alike.
A cozier movie night: Skip the megaplex and discover new-to-you flicks with Olympia Film Society, a nonprofit programming films, music, and the occasional oddball gem inside the historic Capitol Theater, sticky floors not included. A rotating weekly lineup plus Sunday Kids Club makes midweek wind-downs and weekend resets delightfully easy.
Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.
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📆 Fun for the whole fam
Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →
All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
🥁 Tumwater Youth Showcase Percussion Night @ The Washington Center for the Performing Arts | Thursday (3/5) at 6:30 PM – Percussion Night at the Washington Center features Tumwater Hill Elementary marimba bands, Tumwater High percussion, and Black Hills High percussion, all in a joyful racket. Kids with better timing than your group chat, and you can clap on purpose. Tickets on the Washington Center site.
🐦 Birding with Breakfast @ Woodard Bay Natural Resources Conservation Area | Saturday (3/7) at 7:30 AM – Grab your thermos, a DIY breakfast, and binoculars for a Woodard Bay wander, from quiet woods to Henderson Inlet overlooks where the locals have feathers. Beginner and intermediate birders welcome, no registration. Park with a Discover Pass or use the county lot up the hill.
🐰 Winter Rabbits @ WET Science Center | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – Turns out those cute backyard fluffballs are tougher than we are. This all-day nod to winter rabbits serves up games, crafts, and the kind of nature trivia that makes you feel hardy while you sip coffee, they eat twigs, and everyone wins.
📖 Saturday Story Club @ Hands On Children’s Museum | Saturday (3/7) at 10:00 AM – If your kid needs to wiggle while you clutch a coffee, Saturday Story Club has your back. Liza Purdy turns books into sing-alongs, movement, and stomp-around adventures in the cozy Acorn classroom, all charm, zero chaos. Free with admission or membership, no sign-up required.
🎶 Kyle Thompson @ Forza Coffee Company | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Kyle Thompson from Lavon Blue is bringing an acoustic set to Forza’s dining room, where caffeine meets happy hour. Expect handcrafted coffee, beer, and wine, plus actual conversation volume. It’s a low-key weekend reset, local, cozy, and friendly to kids, wallets, and attention spans.
🍿 OFS Kids Club: Little Amélie or the Character of Rain @ Capitol Theater | Sunday (3/8) at 1:00 PM – Take a parenting win and duck into OFS Kids Club for Little Amélie, an Oscar-nominated, English-language French animated gem set in post-war Japan. It’s tender, curious, and actually kid-friendly, and it buys you 78 blissful minutes. Free for children 12 and under.
🎨 Paint Your Pet @ Insert Coin Olympia | Sunday (3/8) at 4:00 PM – Paint night at Insert Coin, but make it your pet. You send a photo, they pre-sketch the canvas, and you sip a decent drink while an instructor talks you into whiskers that actually look like whiskers. All ages, all supplies, zero judgment, maximum bragging rights.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🔥 Worth a peek
We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.
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📻 Olympia report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 54°F – Low: 43°F – Precip: 97%
Rain before 1pm, then showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 4pm, then rain. Cloudy. High near 54, with temperatures falling to around 51 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 9 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible. Later: Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 43. West southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Tomorrow – High: 50°F – Low: 44°F – Precip: 82%
Rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. West southwest wind around 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible. Later: Rain likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Someone Googled you this week 👀
It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.
Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.
Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.
This house is wild
This 3,285-square-foot, 4-bed, 3.5-bath daylight rambler sits on 1.4 acres with views of Lake St. Claire and Mount Rainier. The main level showcases a granite and stainless kitchen, living spaces, and the primary suite. A finished lower level adds two bedrooms and a theater room with projector and 10-foot screen. Outside, a yard meets a 16×48 shop and RV garage.
Take a peek inside →
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