Letter from the Publisher
Welcome to the New Neighbors Guide!
On behalf of the local community, we welcome you to Thurston County. Whether you’re here temporarily or plan to make this a permanent home, we know you’re going to love our region. With our natural beauty, lakes, streams and forested trails, this is the perfect location for outdoor fun. With some of the best coffee in the world and a vibrant food and entertainment scene, Thurston County has something for everyone.
Let’s face it, moving to a new city can be costly and time-consuming—but it’s also exciting! This guide is written by a mix of perspectives from native Thurston Countians to people who moved here from out of the area. Our group reminisced about what we wish people had told us when we first moved here.
This resource guide offers tips and reminders to get you settled and to get the nuts and bolts of your new home well underway. This resource will also help you get connected to your local community, schools and health care, and help you put down “roots” in your daily life here. From great ideas for your home and events to engage in the community, we have you covered.
As we put together this issue, we look forward to providing you with information and education about all the “best things” in Thurston County and we hope to give you a sense of place where you belong and can engage and feel connected. We welcome you, our “new neighbor,” to Thurston County.
Kindest regards,
Robin Lucas, Publisher
This Issue’s Content
New to Thurston County?
Here’s What You Need to Know There is always so much to do when you move. This checklist will help you to quickly navigate a few important, but often dreaded, tasks related to relocating. Update your Drivers License If you have a valid Washington driver license, you have ten days after you move to change…
Olympia Federal Savings: A Legacy of Community and Service
For more than 120 years, Olympia Federal Savings (OlyFed) has built its success by staying true to its community and people. With nine locations and just over $1 billion in assets, OlyFed has earned a reputation for prioritizing people. Their commitment is evident in every aspect of OlyFed’s operations, from the customers it serves to…
Living in Thurston County
Thurston County is centrally located to some of the best the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Any day of the week, you can embark on a new adventure. Visit spectacular mountains, like Mount Rainier, one of the most glaciated mountain peaks in the continental US, or Mount St. Helens, the most active volcano in the…
Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation: Classes, Activities and Events for Public Enjoyment
The City of Lacey offers a comprehensive variety of classes, camps, tours, and activities that are open to the public. “We have something for everyone,” says Jeannette Seiler, Recreation Supervisor of Lacey Parks Culture & Recreation. From tots to teens to adults, you can find classes for fitness, skill building, and hobby enhancement to name…
Enrolling in School in Thurston County
Parents have more options than ever before in choosing an academic environment that best fits the needs of their student. In Thurston County, there are 60 public primary schools, 17 public high schools, and 19 private schools that are approved by the Board of Education. Eight school districts provide primary and secondary education to the…
South Sound Success Story: Heidi Duncan of Duncan Insurance
It could be that some superheroes come into being from a toxic spider bite, but other superheroes are just born into their roles as descendants of “do-gooders” before them. That’s the case with Heidi Duncan of Duncan and Associates Insurance Brokers, based in Olympia. From the time she was young, little Heidi dreamed of following…
Making Your House a Home
Tips to transform a house into a home with decor and furniture from the heart Design tips provided by Sage Interiors in Tacoma Your entry is the initial introduction to your home and sets the stage for you and your guests. Place a cozy rug or floor mat inside the door to define the entry…
Cabinets by Trivonna Evolves into Maple + Marble
It’s the same team with an expanded vision. With careful strategic planning, Cabinets by Trivonna owners Amber and Rick Bevacqua have expanded their business to offer their current and future customers more comprehensive services. To reflect this evolution, the new name is Maple + Marble. “We have a contracting license to be more helpful with…
Olympia Overhead Doors: Family-Owned and Dedicated to Serving the Community
When you have any need regarding a garage door for residential or commercial use, Olympia Overhead Doors has a team of friendly, skilled professionals to serve you. Owners Mike and Renee Collins are carrying on a tradition of guaranteed, personalized service for all makes and models – whether you need something new, require major or…
Getting Settled into a New Home
After the last box is moved into your new home, you might think the hardest part of moving is over. And you’re right, but there are still things to take care of before you can relax completely. Get Your Utilities Set Up You don’t want to arrive at your new place late at night and…
Capital Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric: Proudly Delivering Comfort to Its Customers
Since 1937, Capital Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric has been caring for customers in the South Sound. For three generations, the family-owned business has remained customer-focused and community driven. Today the business is owned and operated by the Schmidtke brothers, Bill, Chuck and Dean. The company was formed by their grandfather, Bill Schmidtke, who started…
Panowicz Jewelers: Over 70 Years of Serving the Community
Over 70 years of serving Olympia and the wider Puget Sound area, Panowicz Jewelers continues the tradition of family ownership with the third generation. Led by Leslie Panowicz, granddaughter of founder Anton Panowicz, Sr., the legacy of exceptional jewels, craftsmanship, and community endures.While ownership has evolved, the values that built the business remain unchanged. Since…
Noctua Emporium: Experience Vintage & Antique Treasures
Noctua Emporium invites you to enter a magical place where treasure hunters explore vintage finds, rare collectables, local artistry, and so much more. The beloved Talcott Building supports Noctua’s timeless atmosphere. “It was vacant a long time and we wanted to do it justice,” explains L’Wren Alexa, owner. It is now home to a highly…
Capitol City Honda: Community Centered in Its Second Generation of Service
“We focus on customer service. We always have,” says Kelly Levesque, owner of Olympia’s Capitol City Honda. She and her husband Chris, who is the Dealer Manager, work hand-in-hand in the business that has been in the family for 50 years. “It’s a small town,” notes Kelly. Repeat business is essential. To better serve new…
Local Dining Favorites
Thurston County is home to some of the best places to dine and enjoy a meal with loved ones. Below is a list of some of our favorite establishments that you should try, now that you call Thurston County home. Brewery City Pizza West Olympia, Lacey & TumwaterIn West Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater offering hand-crafted…
A Taste of Gig Harbor
Explore Gig Harbor’s creative culinary scene with a sampler of stops around the harbor, Uptown and historic Millville. Millville Pizza Co. Croatian settlers plotted Millville, just west of the Gig Harbor sawmill, in 1888. Tradition lives on at cozy Millville Pizza where the pies are named after fishing boats, and the wood-fired oven glows all…
Insert Coin Olympia – Award-Winning Arcade with Food and Fun for All Ages
When you imagine an action-packed arcade with a mixture of nostalgic games adults love and a plethora of games for kids, you have a good start with Insert Coin Olympia. Owners Keli and Dan Coleman have expanded that concept to include excellent food, a full bar for the over 21-crowd, axe throwing, an ice cream…
Health & Wellness Close to Home
Moving to a new community means finding new healthcare providers for you and your family. Thurston County offers a wide variety of independent health practitioners and large healthcare systems to meet the needs of every member of your household. You’ll find high quality services, which rival larger communities, conveniently close to your new home. Thurston…
Service and Convenience at the Heart of Light Dental Studios
We can all agree on the qualities for the ideal dental provider: round-the-clock service, free consultations, same-day appointments, entire-family bookings, empathetic service and affordable care. It’s nearly impossible to find a full combination of such attributes. But then there’s Light Dental Studios. Based in Puyallup, the dentist-owned company—with 30 locations in the Puget Sound—has customer…
LOTT Clean Water Alliance
Serving Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County Water is a priceless resource, yet many of us rarely think about what happens after it leaves our homes. In the Puget Sound region, the benefits of clean water surround us everyday thanks to the work of LOTT Clean Water Alliance. Serving more than 134,000 sewer customers, LOTT…
Warm-Weather Wellness Tips for Seniors
Warmer weather often awakens a desire to get outside and be active. But seniors who have a higher sensitivity to heat need to use caution when making plans in the sun. Put on Your Walking Shoes Walking is an excellent physical activity. And doing so in a park or forest is a great way to…