🌱 How a $7.6 million fire station upgrade could hit Tumwater wallets

Hey there, Tumwater! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How a $7.6 million fire station upgrade could hit Tumwater wallets
• What Tumwater’s police chief change means for your city’s leadership
• Want a say in February’s school ballot pamphlet?

📸 Have a great pic of holiday decorations from around Tumwater? Post it to Tumwater photos of the day! ☃️ 🟢-🟠-🟣-🔴-🟡-🔵 ☃️

Today's riddle: Can February March? 🤔 (Answer below!)

From our Partner
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Weather forecast:

• Tuesday: Rain; breezy in the morning, with a high of 55 and low of 42 degrees.
• Wednesday: A couple of showers, temps: high: 49, low: 42.
• Thursday: Periods of rain, with a high of 49 and low of 39 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• $7.6 million to revamp Tumwater fire station that opened in 1995 (theolympian.com) — Tumwater’s North End Fire Station (T2) is slated for a $7.6 million expansion to handle rising call volumes and 24/7 staffing, including Medic 8. City leaders are weighing bond financing as they balance this project with other needs like a community center and operations facility, so residents could eventually see funding options brought to the City Council and possibly voters.
   

• Tumwater's mayor-elect tells police chief his last day will be Jan. 2 (theolympian.com) — Tumwater residents will see a major leadership change at the police department, as Mayor-elect Leatta Dahlhoff has told Chief Jay Mason his last day with the city will be Jan. 2. Mason, calling service in Tumwater one of his greatest honors, is urging full support for Deputy Chief Carlos Quiles, who will lead the department under the new administration.
   

• Thurston County Auditor's Office seeks ballot measure committee members for Feb. 10 special election (chronline.com) — Tumwater residents should know the Thurston County Elections Office on 29th Avenue SW is recruiting volunteers to write pro and con statements for February 10, 2026 school ballot measures. Olympia and Tenino school district voters can apply by December 19 to help shape the local voters’ pamphlet.
   

📸 Around Tumwater

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Tumwater

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

Thursday December 18

• Holiday Concert
  Olympia High School Olympia, WA 98501
  7:30 pm

Friday December 19

• Friday Sing & School Spirit!
  Centennial Elementary Olympia Olympia, WA 98501
  8:20 am

📣 Tumwater Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

Tuesday December 16

• YMCA: Winter Party
  Thurgood Marshall Middle School Olympia, WA 98502
  4:00 pm
• Winter Concert 1 (JV)
  Capital High School Olympia, WA 98502
  7:00 pm
• Holiday Concert
  Olympia High School Olympia, WA 98501
  7:30 pm

Wednesday December 17

• JMS Orchestra Concert
  Capital High School , 2707 Conger Ave NW , Olympia
  7:00 pm

Thursday December 18

• Winter Solstice Mandala
  The Olympia Center , 222 Columbia St NW 2nd Floor , Olympia
  6:00 pm
• HistoryTalks! Tribal Sovereignty: A History of Colonization and Federal Indian Policy
  Lacey Museum and Cultural Center , 4160 6th Ave SE Suite 101 , Lacey
  6:30 pm
• Winter Concert 2 (V)
  Capital High School Olympia, WA 98502
  7:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Tax Lien Live Event, Olympia
  Hilton Garden Inn Olympia , 2101 Henderson Park Ln SE , Olympia
  12:30 pm

Saturday December 20

• Solstice Celebration
  WET Science Center , 500 Adams St NE , Olympia
  10:00 am
• Holiday Bazaar w/ Santa
  Forza Coffee Company featuring Phoebe's Pastries and Pies , 1800 Cooper Point Rd SW STE 13 , Olympia
  12:00 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• There’s a small German Shepard(?
  ) running around on Louise St and 56th Ave. Trosper Lake Estates Neighborhood. No collar. I’ll try to get a pic if I see him again. (Nextdoor Eagles)
• Loose dog spotted: young (approx.
  1yr) dark sable Belgian malinois with rich light brown eyes seen at 2:30pm 12/14/25 running in Lakeside Estates neighborhood on Trosper Road,… (Nextdoor Eagles)

• HB Travels posted a job opening for Online Cruise Booking Agent in Olympia. Apply here.
• PSG Global Solutions posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Olympia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Tumwater here.

🗞 Nearby News

Olympia

• Jackknifed semi blocks all lanes of northbound I-5 near Olympia Monday morning (theolympian.com)
• Your tips for parents dealing with holiday stress (theolympian.com)
• WATCH: Freedom Foundation reports 250,000 union opt outs post-Janus decision (blackchronicle.com)

Lacey

• Lars Larson: Blood on highway fails to move OR,WA governors (oregoncatalyst.com)

Ok Tumwater! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don't know, but April May!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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