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…

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…

OlyFed: Positioned to Meet the Needs of Their Growing Community

So, you moved to Thurston County recently. Congratulations! You’re one of more than 20,000 new people who have moved to this beautiful area over the past five years. According to Ryan Betz, Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer at Olympia Federal Savings, “This growth brings diversity, new economic opportunities, housing options, cultural…

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…

Giving Back in Thurston County

A great way to quickly learn about your new community and meet new friends is to get involved with a nonprofit organization. Every community offers numerous opportunities to support these worthwhile causes. Finding organizations that are meaningful to you will make the experience most rewarding. These four questions can help you find your perfect nonprofit…

Lott Clean Water Alliance

Serving Lacey, Olympia, Tumwater and Thurston County Water is a priceless resource. Treating wastewater might not be on the top of your ‘Things to Know About List,’ though Puget Sound area residents are surrounded by its benefit of clean water. Fortunately, LOTT upholds its mission to preserve and protect public health and the environment by…

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 – Tailored to YOUR Budget

The owners of Cabinets by Trivonna, Amber and Rick Bevacqua, and their team enjoy getting to know their clients and how they use their space. Their goal is to design a space that’s not only beautiful but as functional as possible for their specific needs while keeping their budget in mind. They start by scheduling…

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…

Barn Nursery — Exceptional, One-Stop Garden Center

Stop in to smell the roses or sniff the snowdrift clematis when you visit The Barn Nursery. This family-owned business cares for your gardening spirit. You’ll find healthy plants of all sorts, as well as what you’ll need to keep them that way. With a focus on customer service, the Barn team helps people find…

Merle Norman – Time to Revisit: It’s Not Your Grandma’s Cosmetic Store

The Merle Norman Day Spa in Lacey is fully engaged in today’s beauty industry. Let go of any preconceived notions you might be carrying. It has been a year since Missi Pacheco purchased the franchise from Madelin White, who is well-known and loved for her five decades of business in our community. Pacheco started working…

La Gitana Pizza: Authentic Dining Experience

Pizzeria La Gitana whisks you away to an authentic European dining experience and you don’t have to leave Thurston County. The attention to organic, high-quality ingredients served in a sweetly romantic yet casual setting keeps people coming back for more. With strong community ties, La Gitana continues to be popular and appreciated. People return for…

Enjoy a Weekend in Beautiful Gig Harbor

Spring and summer months are beautiful in the Northwest, but they are especially picturesque in Sunset Magazine’s pick as one of Washington’s “Prettiest Harbor Towns” – Gig Harbor. Keep that in mind when you are researching locations to just get away. Whether you are looking for a romantic getaway or a fun family outing, Gig…

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 29 locations in the Puget Sound—has customer…

MultiCare Opens Emergency Department in Lacey

MultiCare Health System opened a new 10,000-square-foot neighborhood emergency department in Lacey this past December. The new facility is located at 4312 Pacific Ave SE. MultiCare Emergency Lacey was built in response to the growing need in the community for emergent medical needs and will provide around-the-clock care with the convenience of being in patients’…

Find Your Place – Find Your Y

Is your family looking for a place to stay healthy and meet new people? Look no further than the South Sound YMCA. As the largest provider of youth programs in the South Sound, the YMCA believes ALL kids deserve the opportunity to discover who they are and what they can achieve. Whether it’s through childcare…

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…