News Briefs: OFS Elections and West Oly Farmers Market

Olympia Film Society election update

Voting has begun for electing members of the Olympia Film Society board. Ballots were mailed to OFS members last week.

The deadline for returning ballot is May 28 (pushed back from the original deadline of May 18).

Eight candidates have applied for the board, including four incumbents and four new applicants. Each candidate’s complete application materials can be read at www.olympiafilmsociety.org.

Want to know still more about the candidates? There will be a “meet the candidates” night on Thursday, May 17, 6-8 pm, at the MIXX Radio Meeting Room (corner of Washington and State).

If you’re not already a member, you can sign up, and vote, by visiting the theater.

Also, the annual OFS Membership Meeting will be on Saturday, May 26, 1 pm, at the Capitol Theater.

For more information about OFS, visit www.olympiafilmsociety.org.

West Oly Farmer’s Market now open

The West Olympia Farmers’ Market is returning for another round with the West Olympia community. It will now be an weekday evening market, open from 4 to 7 pm every Tuesday from now through October 16.  Highlighting producers of Olympia’s vibrant west side, the neighborhood-based market provides a space for the many smaller-scale producers to sell directly to the eager public. Along with fresh vegetables and fruit, products will include eggs, baked goods, flowers, plant starts, native plants, crafts, and more.

The market has a new location! It is now located at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church on Harrison Avenue and Thomas Street. Come check out the new place! The market organizers are very excited to be partnering with Pastor Doug and the entire Gloria Dei team and thanks them for their support.

The market began as a vision of four West Olympia growers in the summer of 2010. After receiving overwhelmingly positive encouragement from friends, neighbors, and farmers, the group grew in number and quickly began taking steps to form a market.

The purpose of the market is to promote west Olympia producers by creating a neighborhood-scale market where small farmers and producers can sell directly to their community and increase the social and economic vitality of the community.

The market also provides a space for community groups to do outreach on topics of public interest, with a preference on horticultural and agricultural topics.

Based on the amount of support they’ve received so far, organizers expect the market to thrive. They’d like it to develop into a focal point for the growing movement in support of local agriculture and the economic and social vitality of the neighborhood.  “This market is one part of the larger movement towards a more stable food-security future for Olympia,” says Sarah Rocker, one of the market co-founders.