This week, Trish met with Amy Geier, the Outreach and Development Coordinator for Concern for Animals in their office located at 1414 State Avenue NE, Olympia, WA  98506.   Amy is one … more

As a younger woman I was often seen driving around town with a coffee cup on the roof of my car. I no longer drink and drive. I also had many honks, waves, finger pointing and untellable … more

One month ago, the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) announced the approval of a 10.7% increase for premiums in the individual health insurance market through the Washington Exchange. This … more

Having been born and raised in Thurston County, I have fond memories wrapped up in this place.  I remember when the Olympia Farmers Market was in the Shakeys Pizza parking lot, when the Carnegie … more

This is the time of year when the last of the summer vegetables are harvested. Our tomato plants are producing their final fruit. It is a good time to use our veggies to prepare a delicious comfort … more

Have you had enough reading about Hurricane Helene and all its impacts? Here’s another story about the hurricane, and it may surprise you. September and October are the peak months for the … more

The recent horrific reports of the devastation of Hurricane Helene brought to mind the need for volunteers to aid the residents affected by the storm. We in the Pacific Northwest have other … more

One of the perks of writing for The Jolt is that we are surrounded by other columnists who inspire us to try to do our best. The newest addition to this great lineup is Sound Words by Amy Lewis. Her … more

I recently had the opportunity to learn all about the Quiltmakers of Olympia from members Diane and Penny. They have an upcoming Quilt Show on October 4 and 5, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the … more

One of the pleasures of writing this column is getting to meet new people and talk seriously about writing and the purpose of literature.  Especially when it’s in a coffee spot.  I am … more

Aloha! I just spent some time in Hawai'i. In Kona, I discovered a lovely little cafe called the Hungry Honu. They served a delicious chicken salad, and kindly shared their recipe with me. more

Writing a column about planting bulbs – like daffodils and other spring-blooming flowers – is part of the job description for garden columnists. We are expected to expound on the best … more

Earlier this year Thurston’s Birds published a column by Liam Hutcheson about the proposed killing of Barred Owls as part of the recovery plan to recover the endangered Spotted Owl. To say the … more

I am a weather nut. I watch the news for the weather and follow it online because I find it fascinating. Lately, I have been learning more about El Nina, the weather phenomenon predicted to … more

The What, How, and Why of the Fall Vaccines – Influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. Influenza Vaccine, also known as ‘Flu Shots’ The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends an … more

Thom and Trish Lynn had the honor of getting an invitation for the sneak peak of our newest 24/7 Emergency and Specialty Veterinarian Hospital.   BluePearl has locations all across the … more

‘Let’s keep reading, listening and learning from each other. Blow a few of those matches out.’ The two works are by Evergreen State College faculty members Clark and Hendricks. Books are largely a conversation between an author and their audience.  Some authors have enormous audiences, such as Stephen King or Louise Penny. Some audiences are narrower tastes, loving the … more

The latest silly gardening trend is called “chaos gardening.” Like many silly things, it started on TikTok. The idea is closely related to the “guerilla gardening” pamphlet a … more

Earlier this month Thurston’s Birds described September as the best month for finding unusual birds. It’s peak migration time and sometimes these migrating birds become lost or … more

It’s that time of the year again…when fall is in the air and before the great pumpkin arrives, apples are the gold standard, found in pies, cakes, sauces, and butters, among other … more