“Having spent hours building and working in the new ‘Seeds of Change, the Give Back Garden’ as
part of the courts youth program, Miles Cruz gives Thurston County Commissioner Sandra Romero
a quick tour before the Sept. 7 festival at the Family and Juvenile Court facility in Tumwater.”
Photo credit: Steve Bloom, The Olympian.

– “Juvenile Court garden sows seeds of change for Thurston County youth”
“At first, 17-year-old Miles Cruz was skeptical about Thurston County Juvenile Court’s garden program.

It sounded like a lot of work — hot, dirty work under the summer sun.

But within a matter of days, he was actually wanting to get up in the morning and get out to the garden.

‘We were all skeptical, but that changed really quickly,’ Cruz said. ‘This program has been a great experience for everyone involved.’

For Cruz, one of the biggest benefits of the garden is the self-esteem boost the garden program provided. He said he came to the program after battling drug addiction and then having run-ins with law enforcement,” by Amelia Dickson, The Olympian.
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“Thurston County and Mason County officials cut the ribbon during a dedication
ceremony at the Thurston-Mason Mental Health Triage Center in Tumwater,” Aug 26.
Photo credit: Lui Kit Wong, Tacoma’s News Tribune.

– “Relief could be in sight for Thurston County’s mentally ill
“Soon, Thurston and Mason county residents who are picked up by police during a mental health crisis won’t be taken to the county jails.

They won’t be held in maximum security cells intended for high-risk offenders in an already crowded facility. Instead, they’ll be taken to the new Thurston-Mason Mental Health Triage Center.

The building, at 3285 Ferguson St. in Tumwater, will likely open in mid-September.”

“This triage center has been a vision and a dream of mine, and of many others, for many years.” Cathy Wolfe, Thurston County Commissioner,” by Amelia Dickson, The Olympian.
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