LaceyLife August 2024
Enjoy Upcoming Summer Entertainment – It’s FREE!
Taking advantage of our free summer activities is a great way to enjoy the rest of the season without breaking the bank. You can take in some live music, watch a movie under the stars, and so much more!
Create lasting memories with your family and friends before the summer ends! Visit CityofLacey.org/Events to see the full schedule and make plans today!
Does Your Organization Promote Tourism in Lacey? Apply for Lodging Tax Funds Now!
If you host a special event or festival, operate a tourism-related facility, or provide tourism marketing in Lacey or the Lacey Urban Growth Area, we encourage you to apply for lodging tax funds to help support your efforts!
Interested organizations can apply for the use of 2025 lodging tax funds through Friday, August 30 at 5 p.m. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Learn more and apply online at CityofLacey.org/LTAC.
attracts nearly 30,000 people to Rainier
Vista Park in Lacey.
Night Market @ the Depot Continues Through October
Join us at 4 p.m. every-other Friday through October 25 at the Lacey Depot Park (5700 Lacey Blvd SE)! You’ll find food trucks, local vendors with a variety of items for purchase, music, activities, and more! It’s a great way to connect with your community and get your weekend started!
To learn more, visit CityofLacey.org/NightMarket.
Lacey Celebrates!
We take pride in leveraging limited public resources to improve our community. This new column will highlight projects we’ve recently completed and other initiatives of community interest. But don’t just take it from us, go check them out for yourself!
Expanded Parking at Regional Athletic Complex Now Complete!
Regarded as one of the finest outdoor sporting venues in the state, the Regional Athletic Complex (RAC) now has more than 340 additional paved parking stalls including 8 accessible parking stalls (ADA), 8 bus stalls, and 6 electric vehicle charging stations that are scheduled to be in service by the end of August.
In addition to the parking lot, the RAC project included Steilacoom Rd SE frontage improvements such as a sidewalk, bike lane, associated stormwater facilities, street lights, street trees, and other landscaping.
To learn more about the RAC, visit LaceyParks.org/RAC.
EXCITING NEWS! Lacey Parks is Now on Instagram!
We’re thrilled to announce our Lacey Parks, Culture, & Recreation Department, your go-to source for everything fun and engaging in our community, is now on Instagram! From aquatics to sports, cultural to fitness, we offer a variety of programs, activities, and events for youth, teens, and adults.
Stay connected — follow us on Instagram!
Fall Registration Opens Wednesday, August 28 at 9 am
Check out the fall Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation offerings in the new PLAYbook, available online August 20 at LaceyParks.org/Playbook. Then mark your calendar and get ready to registration for your favorite classes and programs.
REMINDER: Outdoor Watering Schedule Continues Through September 30
Temporary exemptions are available to water customers with new lawns and landscapes.
Learn more by visiting CityofLacey.org/Odd-Even .
Community Resources for Older Adults Experiencing Loneliness and Isolation
Loneliness and isolation can affect people of all ages, negatively impacting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. For older adults, this can lead to an increased risk of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, hypertension, and stroke, as well as a weakened immune system, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, depression, anxiety, cognitive decline, and more.
Seniors can reduce loneliness and isolation by participating in community programs, learning to use technology to stay connected with family and friends, volunteering, and accessing counseling and mental health services when needed.
RESOURCES FOR SENIORS
Our community offers a variety of resources for older adults experiencing loneliness and isolation.
Senior Services for South Sound (SSSS) has been a valuable resource for seniors in our community for over 50 years. The programs and services offered at the Virgil S. Clarkson Lacey Senior Center and the Olympia Senior Center enhance the quality of life of older adults by:
- Health and Wellbeing Classes: Various dance classes, gentle yoga classes, walking groups, and more.
- Personal Growth Opportunities: Language classes, current event conversations, senior driving workshops, etc.
- Art and Music Classes: Watercolor painting, woodcarving, needlecraft, ukulele group, and others.
- Support Groups: Bereavement support, dementia caregiver support, seniors against scammers, etc.
- Group Trips: Nature outings, sports events, historical tours, etc.
- And more!
SSSS’s Meals on Wheels Program delivers more than just meals to homebound, adults (age 60 or older) who are no longer able to cook. Although the main purpose of the program is to provide nutritious meals, it also offers a priceless opportunity for people to connect with the individuals delivering the meals.
In addition, their Home Share Program creates a living arrangement where a Home Provider offers accommodations to a Home Seeker in exchange for an agreed-upon level of support (financial, task assistance, transportation, etc.). One of the many benefits of this program is mutual
companionship, helping to reduce loneliness and isolation.
To learn more about SSSS, visit SouthSoundSeniors.org.
GetSetUp is an online, peer-to-peer platform, featuring classes conducted in English, Spanish, Hindi and Mandarin taught by seniors for seniors. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services contracts with GetSetUp to offer live, online classes from iPad basics to Tai Chi and everything in between! The classes help keep older adults mentally, physically, and socially active. They are interactive, easy to join, offered day and night, and free for Washington community members over 60.
Explore GetSetUp at GetSetUp.io/partner/Washington.
OTHER RESOURCES
Washington’s Community Living Connections Network helps individuals, their caregivers, legal representatives, and family members navigate and connect with information and access to long-term and home or community-based services and support systems. Their staff can help you explore options to meet your current needs or plan for your future needs.
Addressing loneliness and isolation in older adults requires a multifaceted approach involving healthcare providers, community organizations, families, and policymakers. By fostering a supportive and connected environment, we can improve the quality of life for older adults and reduce the negative impacts of loneliness and isolation
Visit WashingtonCommunityLivingConnections.org to search for resources.
View the August LaceyLife in pdf format.
