COMMUNITIES & NEIGHBORHOODS

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 tasks related to relocating. BY JULIE LEYDELMEYER

UPDATE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE

If you have a valid Washington driver license, you have ten days after you move to change your address. It’s free and simple to do online at dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/moving.html. A new card with your updated address will cost $20.

If you’ve moved from out of state, apply for a Washington State driver license within 30 days. Pre-apply online at dol.wa.gov/driverslicense/moving.html to expedite your visit at the nearest office. Remember to bring proof of identity and residence, in addition to the correct fees ($89/standard or $113/ enhanced) for the type of license you want.

REGISTER YOUR CAR

Updating your address for a vehicle already registered in Washington is easy and free! Go online to dol.wa.gov/licenseexpress.html.

If you’ve moved from out of state, register your vehicle in Washington within 30 days. Mailing the required documents and fees gets you plates in about three weeks. Download the forms at dol.wa.gov/vehicleregistration/moving.html.

USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

Intercity Transit provides bus service and vanpool options for commuters, in addition to dial-a-lift service for those with a disability. Plan your route online at intercitytransit.com.

REGISTER TO VOTE

Whether moving within Washington or new to Thurston County, the driver licensing office can assist with your voter registration. You can also register online at voter.votewa.gov. Voting in Washington is primarily done by mail, so be sure to register at least eight days before Election Day.

GET A PET LICENSE

Olympia, Lacey and Tumwater require licenses for all dogs and cats in city limits. Thurston County requires licenses for all dogs in unincorporated areas and offers voluntary licensing for cats. Even if your pet is indoors only, a license is required.

A list of license fees and licensing offices can be found online at jointanimalservices.org/licensing.

GET A LIBRARY CARD

Timberland Regional Library provides library services to the residents of Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston Counties. Library cards are free to anyone living or owning property in these areas. Applications are accepted online but require address verification. Learn more at trl.org.

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LIVING IN THURSTON COUNTY

BY JULIE LEYDELMEYER

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 Cascade Mountains. Create your own tour of the nearby vineyards, distilleries, and microbreweries. Admire the power of the Pacific Ocean and pools of sea creatures along miles of coastal beaches. Stroll the campus of the state’s capital. Take in the culture and nightlife of Seattle and Tacoma. Add in access to high-quality healthcare, a lower cost of living compared to the state overall, and a temperate climate, and Thurston County might be the perfect place to make your forever home.

COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS

Wearing face masks and following social distancing guidelines are required in Thurston County. Group activities such as in-restaurant dining, movie viewing at theatres, wedding ceremonies, and religious services, are allowed with capacity restrictions that vary by activity and size of the venue. Guidance may change based on increases or decreases in the county’s transmission rate. For the most current information, go online to thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/coronavirus.

HEALTH CARE

Medical providers in Thurston County are committed to providing high-quality care that rivals larger communities for general and specialized healthcare needs. Two hospitals and numerous medical clinics mean you will always have access to top-quality medical care and technology. COVID-19 testing is available at most urgent care clinics and at pop-up testing locations hosted by the Thurston County Public Health Department. Go online to thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/ coronavirus to find a testing location.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Ready to go out and explore? Whether you’re interested in fine dining, the performing arts, museums, shopping, Farmers Markets, hiking, golfing, and more—we’ve got you covered! Call ahead to verify business hours and capacity restrictions.

PARKS, FACILITIES AND TRAILS

There is something for everyone when you explore Thurston County’s 25 regional parks, which cover approximately 2,800 acres and include nearly 50 miles of recreational trail corridors. Each city also maintains parks, playgrounds, and community centers. There’s never a shortage of recreational opportunities in Thurston County.

SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES

Exceptional public and private schools can be found in Thurston County. Please refer to our Education section for more information. A community college and two universities provide lifelong learning opportunities. Five branches of the Timberland Regional Library serve Thurston County. Many services are available online: you can apply for a library card, request books, check their monthly calendar for virtual events and classes, Ask a Librarian, and more.

WEATHER

The Pacific Northwest weather can be unpredictable at times, but the weather in Thurston County also has a beauty all its own. The high temperature during the summer is on average about 77 degrees. The low in the winter averages 35. Rainfall averages 50 inches and snow 6 inches per year.

TRANSPORTATION

Interstate 5 runs through the heart of Thurston County, making it easy to find your way to Seattle or Portland by car. SeattleTacoma International Airport is a little more than 50 miles from Olympia. Within the county, Intercity Transit provides bus service and vanpool options, in addition to dial-a-lift service for those with a disability.

Health care for every stage of your life

Pregnancy care choices that fit your needs.

Choose an OB/GYN, Midwife or Family Medicine Obstetrician and take advantage of in-person or online video visits.

Find a provider, learn more or schedule a tour of our Tacoma and Puyallup Family Birth Centers at multicare.org/pregnancy.

I wonder if I’ll ever see my toes again?

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

Our menopause specialists treat hot flashes and more.

Call 253-403-5432 to schedule an in-person or online video visit with Tacoma Women’s Specialists.

Find an OB/GYN or Midwife near you at multicare.org/menopause.

9 Pierce County locations l multicare.org/womens-care

Oly Fed CEO is ‘Here for You, Here for Good’

by Emily Happy

“I believe every team member plays a critical role and everybody contributes to our success,” says Lori Drummond, president and CEO of Olympia Federal Savings, or Oly Fed for short. She should know. She has the unique perspective of starting as a receptionist and working her way through several positions during her 37 years with the company. “It’s given me insight into how every role in our organization is vital to creating an exceptional customer experience.”

After graduating from Washington State University with a degree in business, Drummond was encouraged by her father to apply for employment at Oly Fed. Initially, she says, she wasn’t excited about a receptionist position because she felt that it didn’t put her degree to work. But her dad, who was a banker, told her she’d be fortunate to work at a bank like Oly Fed. She got hired.

Drummond now oversees eight branches in Thurston and Mason counties, 120 employees, more than $770 million in assets, and a 114-year mutual savings and loan tradition. She explained that a mutual institution promotes thrift, homeownership and community involvement. There are no stockholders—“no one looking over our shoulder asking for a return on their investment,” she says. “Instead, we are accountable to employees, customers and our communities.”

Culture and reputation have always been paramount to Oly Fed. “When our culture is healthy and alive,” says Drummond, “our customers feel it and business thrives. We build a culture of entrepreneurship so that our employees take personal ownership for our business and growing it in meaningful ways. When our business grows, so do our community contributions.” Recently, Oly Fed won the Business Philanthropy Award from South Sound Partners for Philanthropy. Under Drummond’s guidance, Oly Fed’s charitable giving ranges from 10% to 20% of profits. Last year, that equaled nearly $400,000 in financial support and thousands of hours of volunteer service supporting hundreds of local organizations.

It seems that under the direction of Lori Drummond, Oly Fed is living up to its community motto: “Here for You, Here for Good.”

Image provided by Olympia Federal Savings

For Additional Information Olympia Federal 360.754.3400 or 800.865.3470 olyfed.com