Hi neighbors, my name is Jonnita Thompson and I’m a new Lead Neighborhood Coordinator for the Thurston County Food Project. There was a lot of energy at our recent ENA Annual Meeting when we heard from Chris Hyde, Souper Sunday and The Food Source Network founder and Berenice from the Thurston County Food Bank. The theme of addressing food insecurity of our neighbors and friends.

I’d like to invite you to support the Thurston County Food Project. It’s a really easy way to donate to the food bank. I drop off a green bag, you fill it and put it on your porch the second Saturday of even months and I stop by and pick it up. It really couldn’t be easier to make a small but meaningful gesture to support our community. You can sign up to be a donor here;

https://thurstoncountyfoodproject.org/79-2/

The next pickup is scheduled for Saturday, February 8 and I’d love to add you to the route!

Nathan Allan, ENA Board Member and Innkeeper at the Swantown Inn is championing lighting up Central Street for the holidays.

The church has loosely made an offer to help with the lights, with one of their members who built the original snowflake willing to help us replicate and improve on the original.

If you are at all interested in attending a workshop and helping to build at least a couple more, please reach out to Nathan via email at na****@sw*********.com, or he is also creating a Facebook Event for an informational session on November 16th at 10am at the Swantown Inn’s Grand Victorian Ballroom.

Your neighbours are hosting block parties all over our neighborhood.

• Potluck Dinner!
• Bring something for the grill!
• Plates, cups and utensils providied

The party hosts will provide some food and activities. Please bring your own potluck dish and/or beverage. People of all ages are welcome to attend. If you have a yard game to share, or a musical instrument you’d like to play, bring it! You may also want to bring a chair or two.

Locations:

• Lybarger – 10th to Union
• McCormick – 13th to 14th
• 5th Ave – Fairview to Edison
• South East corner of Lions Park

December 1st – Santa at Oly Lights

December 2nd, 6-8 PM at the New Bridge Community Church outdoor pavilion – Christmas cookie decorating featuring award-winning local artist, Lisa Donze who will be ice sculpting. Sugar cookies and decorating supplies will be provided. Come decorate some cookies to take home or to give away bringing holiday cheer to someone in your community. (We will have outdoor heaters, but you’ll want to dress warmly)

December 5th – Santa at Oly Lights

December 9th, 6-8 PM at the New Bridge Community Church outdoor pavilion – Movie night and hot cocoa bar. Gather up your friends and family to come watch Elf and make your own fancy cup of hot chocolate. (We will have outdoor heaters, but you’ll want to dress warmly)

December 10th, 5 PM at Oly Lights Porch

December 14th – Santa at Oly Lights

December 17th, 3:30-8:30 PM at New Bridge Community Church – Eastside Neighborhood Holiday Market – Food trucks, locally made products, and plenty of options for last-minute Christmas shopping. 

December 18th, 6 PM at Oly Lights Porch

December 23rd – Christmas Carols and Candlelight at New Bridge Community Church outdoor Pavilion (We will have heaters, but you’ll want to dress warmly)

December 24th – Carols and Candlelight at New Bridge Community Church outdoor Pavilion (We will have heaters, but you’ll want to dress warmly) 

Where? Salvation Army Worship Center, 1505 4th Ave E, Olympia, WA (Corner of Central)

What? Local Talent Acts

The Eastside Neighborhood Association is sponsoring a free, family-friendly variety show that will be held at the Salvation Army on the corner of Central and 4th Ave SE.

People of all ages are welcome to attend. In addition to performances, the event will include an intermission with refreshments, and a chance to get to know one another in a friendly social setting.

Our goal is to include a wide variety of performances that will appeal to people of all ages. It is not a competition, just an afternoon of entertainment. The show will include performances such as poetry, singing, guitar, story-telling and piano.

We expect it to be a fun event, and hope you bring your friends!

If you have questions, you can send them to Roger Horn at ro********@ya***.com.

We now have a very active pair with seven puppies located on Henry Street, which is just off 11th Avenue Southeast. The coyotes have been seen a lot more often during the day, not just in the green spaces but in driveways and other developed areas.

A neighbor has shared this album, along with the fact that they have killed a number of the neighbors cats. If you own a pet, we strongly advise you to keep it inside at night.

Department of Fish and Wildlife will not do anything. The coyotes were here long before it was as populated as it is now, just like the neighborhood deer.