A retrospective look at Surely Goodness, 2023

Shirley Stirling portrait

One of the priorities of The JOLT is to tell stories no one else is telling, stories about the great things people are doing here in Thurston County. Neglected and untold stories are my specialty, and I thank you for your suggestions! I have published approximately 50 articles for The JOLT, and we haven’t scratched the surface yet!

Today, I look back with gratitude on the year 2023, thinking of all the generous, talented, interesting people I have had the privilege to meet and write about, sharing their stories with you all, the readers of The JOLT.

Where did my travels around the county take me? From people helping veterans to others tending historic gardens, from recognizing teenage volunteers to honoring an inspirational centenarian, the stories are all over the map, literally and figuratively. People who serve their community through an organization such as Altrusa, Quilts of Valor, DAR, Senior Action Network, Boys & Girls Club to those who simply look around to see what needs to be done around them. From a grand volunteer choral ensemble to a couple of guys who travel hither and yon to honor and collect WWII stories, one with a movie camera and another with a Willys MB Jeep. From giving out food and holiday gifts to repairing a house and much more.    

The journey of my ‘Surely Goodness’ column started at the end of 2022. If you want to peruse my stories, I have listed them below, starting with the most recent. Each title is a URL link. You can also visit the main website, www.thejoltnews.com, and enter the story number in the search box on the website's upper right corner. (All JOLT stories have a story number, or you may enter words or phrases in the search box.) Also, so you don’t miss any of our great content, please sign up for The Daily JOLT headlines newsletter at www.theJOLT.news, a landing page designed for easy sign-up.

I hope you enjoy looking through the list of my stories. Best wishes to all for a happy new year!

13390 Vets2Tech - 1,000 graduates in 10 years

13319 Quintessential Altrusa - Shirley Pearsall

13185 Saving the roses – Gary Ritchie, the rose doctor

13032 To separate the war from the warriors and honor their service – Vietnam vets

12949 BrenRose founder Tammy Levario seeking paths to help youth have brighter futures

12851 The fabulous Gabi, owner of Olympic Cards and Comics and philanthropist

12691 Happy Heritage Day and Happy Birthday to Thurston County!

12605 Bite-sized bits of history include Olympia locations - HMDB

12503 A courageous veteran who remains undaunted - Yelm

12337 Masterworks Choral Ensemble New Artistic Direction: Ben Luedcke Ushers

12140 Dofflemyer Point lighthouse history to be revealed

12036 Share an outstanding caregiver story - Senior Action Network

11960 Treasure hunting with Gabe Shanafelt & friends - Geocache

11867 Sue Lean, History Machine

11762 The Garden Party celebrates volunteers in our community - Interfaith Works

11684 They cleaned 1,000 veteran graves!  DAR & Fran Maudsley

11589 What can one person do? A lot! Gladys Burns

11416 Honoring WWII vets with a Willys MB Jeep - Dave Gaston

11357 LTC Barbara Nichols: August 19, 1922 - June 16, 2023

11327 Rishi Sharma preserves the stories of WWII

11108 Meet Max, a local boy fighting cancer, helped by a loving community

11045 Helping Joy stay in her home

10948 Hope for Heroes Heals with horses

10853 Memories, Milestones & Magic to Come - Masterworks Chorale Ensemble

10782 The gift of getting around, Bus Buddy program

11664 10705 Bronka, Holocaust Concentration Camp Survivor, Mountaineer & Oldest Mt. Rainier Record Holder

10625 Anne Larsen receives the Evan Ferber Peacemaker Award

10509 Mr. Radio and the stories of our lives – Dick Pust

10436 250th Boston Tea Party event at the South Union Grange

10283 Pilgrim and witch! Jerri McCoy

10211 Capitol campus: Historic landscape with cherry blossoms

10114 A new gold star shines in Lacey: A loving tribute to those left behind

10002 Ever heard of the Washington Pioneer Pursuit Contest?

9877 Presently living in the past - Bev York

9795 He is - they are - America!  Emeka

9708 Rebuilding Together Thurston County

9632 Cheryl Hougham, Volunteer at the Legendary Bigelow House Museum

9437 High School Good Citizens 2023 - Sacajawea Chapter DAR

9336 Student Essays of American Revolutionaries - DAR

9264 Celebrate! Boys & Girls Club Community Youth of the Year 2023

9178 Fisher House, the “Ronald McDonald House” of the military

9114 Quilts of Valor: Cindy Hoover wraps the gift of love

8963 Middle-school students amass to restore west Olympia forest on MLK Day

8594 First ‘Wreaths Across America’ ceremony places 90 wreaths at Masonic Memorial Park

8335 Thanking veterans, giving thanks for our nation and families at the Vietnam wall

8119 Honor Vietnam era veterans

6961 100 guests for 100 years – Barbara Nichols month declares the City of Lacey

6568 Olympia teacher Laura Chase of Sunrise Beach School wins DAR classroom grant

Shirley Stirling, of Lacey, writes about good things people in Thurston County are doing. If you’d like to nominate someone to be profiled, contact her at shirley@theJOLTnews.com or comment below.