Latest / Sound Neighbors Podcast / Sound Neighbors Episode 4: Weathering the Season (Oct 29, 2026)

Transcript

Sound Neighbors Episode 4: Weathering the Season (Oct 29, 2026) · Sound Neighbors Podcast

• 0:00
  Jean: Welcome to the Sound Neighbors podcast, episode four. I'm Jean, and this is the news for
• 0:08
  Jean: Johnson Point, South Bay, and the Greater Olympia area.
• 0:12
  Tyler: And I'm Tyler. Every story we talk about is on the website at www.soundneighbors.com
• 0:19
  Tyler: with the sources linked. And a quick note, this is a value for value podcast. No ads,
• 0:24
  Tyler: no paywall. It relies on donations from listeners like you.
• 0:28
  Jean: In this episode, rain shuts part of Henderson Inlet to commercial shellfish harvest, the
• 0:33
  Jean: county wants you ready for flood season, the property tax deadline gets a couple of extra
• 0:38
  Jean: days, and there's guardrail work on Boston Harbor Road. Plus, a night under the pier
• 0:43
  Jean: at Zittles Marina, Halloween on Johnson Point, and the forecast.
• 0:48
  Tyler: If you've noticed the rain picking up, so has the State Department of Health. On
• 0:52
  Tyler: Monday, October 26, it closed part of Henderson Inlet on the west side of Johnson Point to
• 0:57
  Tyler: commercial shellfish harvest.
• 0:59
  Jean: The trigger was 0.56 inches of rain at the Olympia Airport rain gauge. The closure covers
• 1:04
  Jean: what the state calls the conditionally approved area, near the head of the inlet. And it applies
• 1:09
  Jean: to all species. It's set to reopen on Saturday, October 31.
• 1:13
  Tyler: This one is automatic. That part of the inlet closes any time a half inch or more
• 1:18
  Tyler: of rain falls in 24 hours, because heavy rain can wash bacteria from the watershed
• 1:22
  Tyler: into the water. The state sets the length of each closer ahead of time based on sampling
• 1:27
  Tyler: that shows how long the water takes to recover.
• 1:31
  Jean: And it happens a lot. According to the Department of Health's latest annual review, that area
• 1:35
  Jean: closed 16 times in 2025, for a total of 111 days. The whole growing area also closed
• 1:42
  Jean: once for six days after very heavy rain.
• 1:46
  Tyler: The review flagged one sampling station in the conditional area as threatened with a
• 1:49
  Tyler: downgrade and it also said the state should look at whether the area could qualify for an upgrade.
• 1:55
  Tyler: The rest of the inlet met water quality standards. Thurston County is working to track down sources
• 2:00
  Tyler: of fecal pollution in the Dobbs, Fleming, Meyers, and Sleepyqueak watersheds using federal national
• 2:06
  Tyler: estuary program money. And the Henderson Inlet Shellfish Protection District is still looking
• 2:11
  Tyler: into pollution sources too. One important note, this closure is for commercial harvest only,
• 2:17
  Jean: and it doesn't change the inlet's classification.
• 2:19
  Jean: If you dig clams or gather oysters on the beach yourself,
• 2:22
  Jean: check the Department of Health's shellfish safety map before you go.
• 2:26
  Jean: That map is separate, and it covers both biotoxins and pollution.
• 2:30
  Jean: The shellfish program's number is 360-236-3330.
• 2:35
  Jean: Staying with the wet weather,
• 2:36
  Jean: Thurston County Emergency Management wants people to get ready for flood season now,
• 2:41
  Jean: before the big storms show up.
• 2:43
  Tyler: And they make a point that's easy to miss if you live out on the point.
• 2:46
  Tyler: Flooding doesn't only come from rivers. The county lists four kinds. Rivers and streams overflowing,
• 2:53
  Tyler: rising groundwater soaking ground that's usually dry, tidal flooding and urban flooding when heavy
• 2:58
  Tyler: rain overwhelms the drains. Fall and winter are when it happens most. Here's the part worth
• 3:04
  Jean: knowing. Property owners in unincorporated Thurston County can get up to 40% off flood
• 3:09
  Jean: insurance premiums. That's because the county has a Class 2 rating in FEMA's National Flood
• 3:14
  Jean: insurance program. Johnson Point, South Bay, and Boston Harbor are all in unincorporated Thurston
• 3:20
  Jean: County. The catch is timing. A new flood insurance policy usually has a 30-day waiting period before
• 3:26
  Tyler: it kicks in. So if you wait until a storm is in the forecast, it's usually too late. The details
• 3:32
  Jean: are at flubsmart.gov. The county's to-do list is pretty practical. Find out if your home,
• 3:38
  Jean: your work, or the roads you drive are at risk. Build or update an emergency kit,
• 3:42
  Jean: including one for the car and keep your tank fueled, store important papers and valuables up
• 3:47
  Jean: high, have a plan for where you'd go and include the pets, and never drive through a flooded road.
• 3:53
  Tyler: The county also wants everyone signed up for TC Alert, its emergency notification system.
• 3:59
  Tyler: That's at tcalert.org. County Emergency Manager Kyle Busch dead put it simply in the county's
• 4:04
  Tyler: announcement, preparedness doesn't have to be complicated. Know your flood risk, have your
• 4:09
  Tyler: your supplies, make a household plan, and know how you'll get emergency information.
• 4:13
  Tyler: Now a deadline that's moved, in your favor for once. Second half property taxes in Thurston
• 4:18
  Tyler: County are usually due on October 31st. That falls on a Saturday this year, so the treasurer's
• 4:23
  Tyler: office says you have until Monday, November 2nd, to pay without a late fee.
• 4:28
  Jean: There are four ways to pay. Online through the county treasurer's website, where an electronic
• 4:32
  Jean: check costs nothing extra. Debit cards carry a 1% fee and credit cards a 2.3% fee, and
• 4:39
  Jean: And the county says it doesn't get any of that money.
• 4:41
  Tyler: You can mail it to the Thurston County Treasurer at 3000 Pacific Avenue Southeast in Olympia.
• 4:46
  Tyler: It has to be postmarked by Monday, November 2nd.
• 4:49
  Tyler: And the county warns the postal service no longer guarantees a same-day postmark, so
• 4:52
  Tyler: mail early.
• 4:54
  Tyler: There's also a green drop box near the flagpoles outside the Thurston County atrium at that
• 4:57
  Tyler: same address.
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  Tyler: Or you can pay in person at the treasurer's office during business hours.
• 5:02
  Jean: go to the treasurer's office, 8 to 4 30, Monday through Friday, at 360-786-5550. And if you'd
• 5:09
  Jean: rather not think about it next time, the county lets you sign up online for paperless statements,
• 5:13
  Jean: automatic payments, or scheduled payments. If you like what you're hearing, feel free to
• 5:18
  Tyler: donate at www.soundneighbors.com. It's what keeps us going.
• 5:23
  Jean: If you head into town by way of Boston Harbor Road, plan for a little extra time. Thurston
• 5:29
  Jean: Thurston County Public Works started guardrail repairs on Boston Harbor Road Northeast near
• 5:34
  Jean: 40th Avenue Northeast on Monday, October 26th.
• 5:38
  Tyler: Expect lane closures while crews are out there. It's one of three guardrail jobs the county
• 5:42
  Tyler: announced. The other two are on Little Rock Road and Moon Road down in the South County.
• 5:48
  Tyler: The county gave a start date, but it didn't say how long the work will last or what
• 5:52
  Tyler: hours the crews will keep.
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  Jean: Mike Works posts road updates on its X account at Thurston underscore P.W. and keeps a map
• 5:59
  Jean: of closures on its travel impacts page. And a reminder from the county, never drive around
• 6:05
  Jean: a road closed sign. The fine is more than $400.
• 6:10
  Tyler: Here's one to put on the calendar a few weeks out. On Friday, November 20, the Puget Sound
• 6:14
  Tyler: Estuarium brings its peer-peer program to Zittles Marina on Galia Street, right here
• 6:20
  Tyler: on Johnson Point. It runs six to eight in the evening.
• 6:23
  Jean: The estuarium's biologists put lights under the water, and the lights draw in the creatures
• 6:28
  Jean: that live around the pier, where you can watch them safely.
• 6:32
  Jean: Volunteer beach naturalists help you figure out what you're looking at.
• 6:35
  Jean: Their list runs from octopus and anemones to sea stars and sea slugs.
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  Tyler: Tickets are $18 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under.
• 6:44
  Tyler: Households with an EBT card can register for free by emailing the estuarium with a photo
• 6:48
  Tyler: of the card and an ID.
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  Tyler: The estuarium says it's one of its most popular events, so sign up early.
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  Jean: And a little history.
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  Jean: A 1977 state court of appeals opinion says there's been a marina at that spot since
• 7:01
  Jean: 1925, and the Zittles bought the land in 1957.
• 7:06
  Jean: The magazine ran this one as an editorial, and the advice was simple.
• 7:10
  Jean: Bring the kids, and bring a warm jacket.
• 7:13
  Jean: Halloween lands on Saturday, October 31, and Sound Neighbors Magazine is asking a
• 7:18
  Jean: neighborhood question.
• 7:19
  Jean: Johnson Point welcome trick-or-treaters.
• 7:22
  Jean: You can vote yes or no in this week's poll at www.soundneighbors.com.
• 7:28
  Tyler: If your crew is heading out, it'll get dark early.
• 7:30
  Tyler: The sun sets in Olympia at 556 on Halloween, and civil twilight ends at 628, according
• 7:36
  Tyler: to timeanddate.com.
• 7:37
  Tyler: And remember, daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1st, so the clocks fall
• 7:41
  Tyler: back an hour.
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  Jean: The Thurston County Sheriff's Office has some safety tips.
• 7:45
  Jean: Go in groups, with parents along for the little ones, and map out your route ahead of time.
• 7:50
  Jean: After dark, carry a flashlight, stick to well-lit streets, and wear light colors or reflective
• 7:55
  Jean: tape.
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  Tyler: Kids should only stop at familiar homes with the outside lights on.
• 8:00
  Tyler: And check all the treats at home before anyone digs in.
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  Jean: Now, some things to put on the calendar.
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  Jean: On Thursday, October 29, there will be no school at North Thurston Public Schools, including
• 8:11
  Jean: South Bay Elementary, Nisqually Middle, and River Ridge High for fall conferences.
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  Jean: That runs through Friday, October 30th. On Thursday, October 29th, there will be the
• 8:21
  Tyler: county's Project Safer Trunk or Treat from 530 to 730 at 412 Lilly Road Northeast.
• 8:28
  Tyler: It's free and there's no registration. On Friday, October 30th, there will be
• 8:33
  Jean: Costume with a Cop in Lacey from 5 to 7 at the Starbucks at College Street and Pacific Avenue.
• 8:38
  Jean: Police officers will be there with candy and prizes for kids in costume.
• 8:42
  Jean: That same evening, Lacey's Haunted Night Market wraps up its season at the depot from 5 to 9.
• 8:48
  Tyler: On Saturday, October 31st, there will be trick-or-treating in downtown Olympia from 3 to 6,
• 8:53
  Tyler: with shops and restaurants handing out treats. The Olympia Downtown Alliance also has a pet
• 8:57
  Tyler: costume contest from 4 to 5 at Fifth Avenue and Washington Street. And over at the Hands-On
• 9:02
  Tyler: Children's Museum, the last day of boobash runs 10 to 4.
• 9:06
  Jean: Also on Saturday, October 31st, there will be a free Dia de Los Muertos celebration from 2 to 5 at
• 9:12
  Jean: Lydia Hawk Elementary in Lacey. Also on Saturday, families doing the Downtown Rubber Duck Scavenger
• 9:19
  Tyler: Hunt need to turn in their passports by 6 p.m. at La Lilama Candy Company, the box office at
• 9:24
  Tyler: the center, or Captain Little. Ten businesses gets you one entry in the gift card drawing,
• 9:29
  Tyler: and twenty gets you two. On Friday, October 30th, there will also be a Quo Party trinket
• 9:35
  Jean: swap at the Lacey Timberland Library on College Street from 4 to 5.30. It's free.
• 9:41
  Tyler: On Tuesday, November 3rd, ballots are due by 8 p.m. And on Thursday, November 5th, there
• 9:47
  Tyler: will be a free Harbor Wild Watch workshop on the Salmon Life Cycle at the Billy Frank
• 9:52
  Tyler: Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge from 1 to 3. Parking there is $3 cash. That same
• 9:59
  Tyler: day, there will be a free veteran resource and job fair at the Lacey Community Center
• 10:03
  Tyler: from 10 to 3 with a free lunch.
• 10:06
  Jean: On Friday, November 6, there will be Homemade for the Holidays, the South Sound Makers Market
• 10:11
  Jean: opening at noon at the Thurston County Fairgrounds.
• 10:14
  Jean: And on Saturday, November 7, there will be a free art and craft supply swap at the Lacey
• 10:18
  Jean: Timberland Library at 2.
• 10:21
  Jean: The full list is on the Town Square calendar in Sound Neighbors magazine.
• 10:24
  Jean: And as always, check with the organizer before you head out.
• 10:28
  Tyler: Now the weekend forecast from the National Weather Service for Olympia as of Wednesday,
• 10:32
  Tyler: October 28th. Friday looks wet, with rain likely mostly cloudy skies and a high near
• 10:38
  Tyler: 53. Friday night, a chance of rain, and a cold low around 32.
• 10:44
  Jean: Saturday, Halloween, brings a slight chance of rain before 5pm. Then, it dries out, mostly
• 10:50
  Jean: cloudy with a high near 54. Saturday night stays mostly cloudy with a low around 32,
• 10:55
  Jean: so bundle up the trick-or-treaters. Sunday looks like the pick of the weekend,
• 11:00
  Tyler: sunny with a high near 56. Sunday night, mostly cloudy with a low around 32 again.
• 11:06
  Jean: With lows right around freezing, it's a good time to bring in the tender plants
• 11:09
  Tyler: and cover the outdoor faucets. And that wraps up episode four. Thanks for listening.
• 11:15
  Jean: Sound Neighbors runs on value for value. If the podcast or the magazine is worth
• 11:19
  Jean: something to you, you can donate at www.soundneighbors.com.
• 11:24
  Tyler: And if you've got a story tip or an event for the calendar,
• 11:27
  Tyler: Send it our way through the website.
• 11:29
  Jean: I'm Jean.
• 11:30
  Tyler: And I'm Tyler.
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  Tyler: This has been Sound Neighbors.
• 11:33
  Tyler: Hyperlocal news for the South Sound community.
• 11:36
  Jean: Take care, neighbors, and have a good day.