Molly Walsh

Michael Siptroth has been a consistent advocate for human and environmental rights during his decades in the Pacific Northwest.

In the summer of 1988, Brigid Shea unfolded a copy of The New York Times and read a front-page story that changed the trajectory of her life, about a NASA scientist who had testified to Congress about the life-threatening consequences of releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The article helped fuel a three-decade career dedicated to combating the climate crisis and preparing communities for a changing world.
Over the decades, Shea has worn many hats as a reporter, consultant, Austin...

Over the past four years, Stephen Blake, a partner at North Park Consulting, has served as a Travis County contractor, helping county agencies to function more efficiently. His work with the county began through the Travis County Historically Underutilized Business, or HUB, program.
As the co-owner of a certified women- and African-American-owned business, a particular selling point for Blake was the county’s efforts to meet the needs of women- and minority-owned businesses. He approved of th...

For the Shelton-Mason County Journal

An exclusive photo gallery by MOLLY WALSH for OLY ARTS.
WHAT
Ballet Northwest’s The Nutcracker
WHERE
The Washington Center for the Performing Arts,
512 Washington St. SE, Olympia
WHEN
7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Dec. 13 and 14, 20 and 21;
2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, Dec. 14, 15, 21 and 22
HOW MUCH
$14-$35
LEARN MORE
washingtoncenter.org
360-753-8586
On a Wednesday morning in November, over 20 people gather around two long tables in downtown Olympia’s Hummingbird Studio. They’re student...

By MOLLY WALSH
Emerald City Music, established in 2016, features over two dozen rising and established talents each season. In its upcoming fourth season, performances will explore the nature of the chamber music genre, centering around one question: What is classical music? Utilizing visual elements and collaborations with outside organizations, this season features a diverse program from world-premiere pieces to the marrying of music and visual media.
Lining the boundary of classical compos...

As Washingtonians enter another week of a “new normal” under Governor Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, social distancing measures have gradually woven into a routine way of life for many households across the state. As schools, workplaces and even wedding ceremonies have transitioned to a virtual setting, music and performing arts organizations have also had to adapt to alternative locales, as large-scale gatherings have been postponed indefinitely.
During this time, concertgoers...

Time, space and community. The organizers of Olympia’s Fall Arts Walk are reflecting on these three words on the eve of this year’s festival. In a time where many in-person gatherings are an ever-distant memory, those involved in Arts Walk preparations, including City of Olympia employees, downtown business owners and local artists are all reinventing what it means to celebrate art in the South Sound.
As late September ushers in the autumn season, Olympia storefronts traditionally remain open...

Throughout this past year, many Americans have faced an uncertain future, continuing to wrestle with feelings of isolation, a need for social justice and a longing for connection. And for many musicians, this isolation has been compounded by empty theater seats and rehearsals restricted to a computer screen. Drawing from the experience of pandemic life, the South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) Music Department, will premiere their latest virtual performance, “Musical Encounters“, on Ap...

One doesn’t have to travel far in Thurston County to experience the diverse scenery of the Pacific Northwest. In the back yard of local Thurston neighborhoods lay acres of park land and trails available to all with mountain views, playgrounds, rental venues and beach access. Whether celebrating an anniversary, or a day out swimming with the family, Thurston County parks and trails can be an escape into the South Sound’s natural beauty.
Chehalis-Western and Yelm-Tenino Trail System
In Thurston...

Upon the entrance to Red Square at The Evergreen State College, the “Welcome Woman,” a Native American carving, has greeted students entering the campus since her creation in mid-1980s. Originally carved by Greg Colfax and Andy Wilbur-Peterson, decades of wear on the carving’s untreated wood surface left the statue extensively damaged.
To save the carving, a restoration project was conducted by Colfax and Bunni Peterson-Haitwas, an Evergreen graduate and the daughter of original carver, Andy ...

Winding down a stretch of road on the outskirts of Olympia, towering tree lines lead the way to a nestled oasis of shaded trails and Puget Sound coastline. Surrounded by a lush evergreen forest, Tolmie State Park is a 154-acre waterfront park in Thurston County that boasts outdoor recreation and exploration. Whether venturing onto the park’s trails for a nature walk, wading in the Puget Sound or partaking in a grass side picnic, Tolmie State Park has a bounty of activities for a day of fun an...

As the drum rolls drew nearer, a burst of creatures rounded the corner of Sylvester Park onto Capitol Way. Commemorating 25 years, a whole ecosystem congregated to honor the natural world at the annual Procession of the Species in Olympia. The procession is a public celebration of the natural world’s beauty and the joy of experiencing a diverse ecosystem. Weaving through the streets of downtown, multiple generations looked on at the towering orcas, giraffe and elephant winding down the avenue...

As the COVID-19 pandemic swept through Washington State, City of Tenino leadership, including Mayor Wayne Fournier, sought out creative methods to help Tenino residents and storefronts through the pandemic’s unprecedented economic challenges. Resurrecting a depression-era currency program, the City of Tenino implemented the COVID-19 recovery grant, a program that includes the distribution of wooden money to help stimulate the local economy.
“It was evident to everyone in Tenino leadership fro...