Opinion
1390 results total, viewing 1 - 20
These tiny insect-eating warblers are perhaps the most amazing of all our Thurston County breeding birds. They weigh less than one-half ounce yet manage to migrate hundreds and sometimes thousands of … more
What I cherish about the arts scene in Thurston County is the sense of originality that electrifies its core. This week’s column celebrates the originality displayed in Olympia Little … more
Almost all of us have heard it (yes, pun intended), the famous philosophical quote that — “If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” … more
Hope springs eternal … and readers, it is SPRING! SPRING should always be in all caps, in my opinion. And you know what is really giving me hope lately?   I’m seeing more and … more
This week I found myself humming a tune from a song in the musical "Camelot."  These are its opening lines:   “Tra la! It's May! The lusty month of May! That lovely … more
Growing up as a choir person, I will never forget the words to the song “Part of that World” from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.” I remember countless moments when we … more
Recently I received a message from a regular reader and was immediately reminded of my first-ever bird identification.   On a sunny morning in May 1977, I was living in an apartment along ... more
You can learn a lot about this area from bulletin boards and telephone poles.  Because the greater Olympia area is home to a disproportionate number of over-educated creative types, many of … more
Kathleen Anderson died on March 27, 2025, at age 81. She was a great-great-grandmother, an entrepreneur, a social service professional, and a print and television journalist. Prior to her … more
Ah Arts Walk. This was just the breath of fresh air our community needed! The weekend was vibrant, the atmosphere warm, and the surroundings colorful and full of cheer. I engaged in many of the … more
Last fall, I wrote about a new tool called BirdCast that ornithologists use to track the patterns and timing of bird migrations. As this screenshot shows, this tool … more
The main difference between reptiles and mammals is how they breathe. Mammals, such as humans, cats, dogs, etc. have the instinct to breathe. Our instinct to take a breath is caused by the … more
Last week I vacationed in Skagit and Whatcom counties. I was fortunate to visit the blooming tulip gardens and fields of Mount Vernon for the first time. The visual beauty and delicate fragrances of … more
A Thurston county mom of a fifth grader and I recently reviewed a draft of her daughter’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). The mother, Stacie Billings (not her real name), understood ... more
People on my street were without water for eight hours earlier this week. In the 30 years I’ve lived here, my house and my hose have never been without ... more
Last week, I had two entirely unique experiences in the arts scene of Thurston County. On Saturday, I had the opportunity to watch a rehearsal for Studio West Dance Theatre’s production of the … more
This past weekend many children participated in a traditional spring ritual — receiving baskets lined with green artificial grass and gathering “eggs” of various sorts to fill those … more
True story: I was recently searching for a photo of a messy backpack or locker. None compared to what I saw in my teaching career. My next attempt ... more
This glorious week of sunny weather put most of us in a good mood. People were smiling and chatty in the line at the grocery store. Neighbors walked their dogs without coats on, and the dogs wagged … more
On March 22, the Thurston County Republican Party hosted its annual Lincoln Day Dinner at Hangar 51 at Olympia Regional Airport. Brandi Kruse, a popular local podcast host and former news … more
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