HMS Off The Hook is the Griffin Area’s Deli and Specialty Grocery Store

HMS Off The Hook advertises itself as offering “premium meats and more.” Visit their location at 6541 Sexton Drive NW, in Steamboat Square, and you’ll find a lot more. True, they offer an excellent selection of prime beef, pork, and chicken. But they also offer cheeses, wine, crackers, and a variety of grab-and-go prepared meals. Pizza, soup, salads, sauces, desserts, and much, much more, means HMS Off The Hook is the neighborhood deli and specialty grocery store here on the Steamboat Peninsula.

“Looking for a quick and delicious meal on the go? Our fresh, grab-n-go options are designed to satisfy your cravings while keeping your schedule on track.” Follow HMS Off The Hook on Facebook, where you’ll find they often post specials and prepared meal items available for a limited time.

One surprising item they have on offer is Xinh’s cookbooks. Many of us remember her famous restaurant in Shelton. If you like to cook, you’ll want one of these cookbooks on your shelf.

Since 1960, Home Meat Service has been providing products in and around Shelton. HMS Off The Hook is their retail location here in northwest Thurston County.

HMS Off The Hook is among the local businesses whose generous contribution recently allowed the Griffin Neighborhood Association to purchase more of the Steamboat Neighborhood stickers for free distribution to area residents. We hope you will stop by HMS Off The Hook soon and shop. When you do, thank them for their support.

Yes, they have meats, but they offer much more.

Steamboat Square is a Growing Business Core in NW Thurston County

Steamboat Square has long provided a business core for the Steamboat Peninsula/Griffin area. In recent years, the Square has been on-the-grow, and it now offers an increasing variety of services and dining establishments. The Square has also hosted community events, including the Halloween Trunk or Treat and a Block Party.

Steamboat Square is a blossoming area with many great small businesses and local shops to attract locals, visitors, and people passing through! Steamboat Square has quite a variety to meet your various needs, from coffee to chiropractic, to salons and food – we offer it all! We are also currently leasing a few buildings and looking to add a family medical office, dentist, or physical therapist. We are so happy to host these wonderful businesses for such a special community!

Located just off US-101, Steamboat Square is the front door to the Peninsula. With space available to lease now and two more buildings available this summer, this may be the perfect fit for your business needs.

Steamboat Square is already home to Board & Brush Creative Studio, Elevate Hair & Skin, Steamboat Health & Wellness, Our Community Credit Union, Urraco Coffee, HMS Off-the-Hook, Tipsy Whale Mercantile, the newly-opened Red Velvet Bakery By the Sea, and more. Click here for a list of all the businesses currently located in the Square.

Steamboat Square is one of four local businesses whose recent contributions have enabled the Griffin Neighborhood Association to purchase the distinctive Steamboat Neighborhood stickers for free distribution. We hope you’ll visit a Steamboat Square business soon and pick up a sticker for your car, truck, or boat.

Board & Brush Creative Studio for Your Next Event

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Generous contributions from Board & Brush Creative Studio and three other local businesses have made it possible for the Griffin Neighborhood Association to purchase “Steamboat Neighborhood” stickers for distribution to local residents. Board & Brush is located in the Steamboat Square, 6541 Sexton Dr., Bldg H, Suite 101.

Are you looking for a night out with friends? Is your inner DIY itching for a fun new project without having to buy all your own supplies and make a mess at your house? Then BOOK A WORKSHOP for the ultimate paint and sip experience at Board & Brush Creative Studio in Olympia.

You may already know that Board & Brush is a terrific place to host a variety of events including birthday parties, bachelorette parties, and baby showers. But have you considered Board & Brush as a venue for your office’s next Team Building event?

Here at Board and Brush Creative Studio in Olympia, we specialize in bringing people together in the art of wood crafting. We have workshops that guests can register for where they pick from our large variety of wood designs to create something unique for their home or to give as a special gift. We host all types of events, Baby Showers, Birthdays, Bachelorette parties, and one of our more popular, Team Building. We have put many Team Building workshops together so your team can have a fun bonding experience. If this sounds like something you would be interested in putting on our calendar. Visit our website at boardandbrush.com/olympia/ from there go to Book a Workshop and select Book a Corporate Event to get started. We hope to work with your group soon.

The Griffin Neighborhood Association encourages residents to support local businesses like Board & Brush. We believe we all thrive when our local businesses thrive and we’re happy to have Board & Brush in our neighborhood! We hope you’ll stop by Board & Brush to pick up your own Steamboat Neighborhood sticker.

Enjoy a night out soon at Board & Brush.

For more information about Board & Brush Creative Studio or to book a workshop, visit their website. You can also email them at Olympia@boardandbrush.com. Follow Board & Brush on Instagram, too.

 

New Local Residents Amy and Streiter VanQuaethem Join VanQuaethem Family Chiropractic

2020 has certainly been a crazy year for this world and for our family!  In March, my husband, Streiter, daughter, Laney, and I headed on spring break from our Maui home. What was supposed to be a fun vacation turned into a complete shift in life as we knew it. While we were enjoying the Florida beaches, Coronavirus started taking its toll. My father in law had a sudden stroke here in Olympia, and Florida was closing, so we flew to Washington to be with our family. Thankfully, he recovered. However, he would be unable to practice Chiropractic again.

After much consideration and a couple of trips home to Maui, we decided that, during this challenging time, it was more important to be near family. We joined our enthusiastic brother, Dr. Taylor VanQuaethem’s office in West Olympia and started our new practice here. It has been humbling to go from a large practice that served the islands of Maui and Lanai to a practice that we are building from scratch. We are optimistic for the future, appreciative of our new life, and grateful to have found a great home on the beautiful Steamboat Peninsula.

Update: Local residents Amy and Streiter VanQuaethem have moved from VanQuaethem Family Chiropractic to Steamboat Island Chiropractic, located at 6541 Sexton Drive NW, Ste A201, Olympia, WA 98502. They are accepting new patients. Call (360) 943-6206 to schedule an appointment. The Griffin Neighborhood Association is happy to welcome the VanQuaethem family to the Griffin area and to add Steamboat Island Chiropractic to our local business directory.

Local Business Funds Purchase of “Steamboat Neighborhood” Stickers

 

Bay Shore logo art

Those popular “Steamboat Neighborhood” stickers are once again available, thanks to a generous donation by Bay Shore Construction. Stickers are now being distributed at several business locations around the Steamboat Peninsula.

We are grateful a supply of the Steamboat Neighborhood stickers could be produced, because of the support of a local business.

Bay Shore Construction has provided septic, water, and sewer excavating services since 1989. Find out why they say, “Modern technologies. Exceeding expectations.” Call them at (360) 866-9200 for an estimate. Bay Shore’s project manager and estimator, Brandon Thompson, is also available at brandon@bayshoreconstructionoly.com  Bay Shore is one of the local businesses in our online business directory.

These stickers can be seen on cars, trucks, and boats. And they’ve not only been seen locally, but out of state, too.

Click here to read more about the unique Steamboat Neighborhood artwork.

You can pick up your sticker at Companion Cove, Island Market, Steamboat Trading Post, Urraco Coffee, Steamboat Health & Wellness, Sunrise Hair Design, Steamboat Animal Hospital, Subway, the Steamboat Coffee Shop, Steamboat General Store, Character’s Corner, Our Community Credit Union, and Flowers By Kristil.

Thanks, again, to Brandon Thompson and Bay Shore Construction, for making available a new supply of these stickers.

Food Drive at Steamboat Animal Hospital and Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club

Thurston County Food Bank logoThe entire month of November, two local businesses – Steamboat Animal Hospital and Steamboat Tennis and Athletic Club – will be available to take your donations of food and winter supplies. These donations go far to help families living right here in the Griffin area. These are distributed by St. Christopher’s Community Church. As many of you already know, St. Christophers is our local satellite for the Thurston County Food Bank.

Each location will have two boxes for your donation. One is for people and pet food and the other for warm, winter weather gear (hats, gloves, scarves, stocking caps, socks, etc.).

Here is a list of the most sought-after items:

  • Canned protein (tuna, chicken, beef stew, salmon, ravioli, spam)
  • Peanut butter
  • Canned fruit in natural juice
  • Canned soups (meat and vegetarian)
  • Boxed cereals
  • Macaroni and cheese, ramen soup
  • Canned chili (meat and vegetarian)
  • Canned vegetables
  • Oatmeal packets
  • Single-serving snacks (chips, cookies, crackers, and fruit snacks)
  • Granola bars
  • Laundry soap
  • Dish soap
  • Baby wipes
  • Baby diapers (all sizes)
  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toilet paper
  • Deodorant
  • Winter weather gear (warm hats, gloves, scarves, stocking caps, socks, etc.)
  • Dog and cat food (both dry and wet)

You are invited to drop your donations during regular business hours at:

Steamboat Animal Hospital
6531 Sexton Dr NW

Steamboat Tennis and Athletic Club
3505 Steamboat Island Road NW

The Griffin Neighborhood Associations thanks these two local businesses for their continued support of our community and for sponsoring the November food drive.

Local Business News from Flying Heron Yoga and Sovereign Cellars

The Griffin Neighborhood Association works to promote local business on and around the Steamboat Peninsula. You can see some of these efforts if you follow us on Facebook or Twitter. In case you don’t, here’s some news you might have missed.

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The Steamboat Square is on the grow. Our Community Credit Union recently opened a branch. This Saturday, the new Flying Heron Yoga will begin its regular schedule of studio classes. Owner Heidianna Brown has announced an opening schedule of Gentle Yoga and Flow (Vinyasa) Yoga. A meditation class, Warm Slow Flow, and Strength and Balance class is also on the schedule. Additional classes and class times will be added.

The last Sunday of each month is a community class, offered at no charge. It’s “teacher’s choice” of class style and RSVP is required, due to limited space.

Flying Heron Yoga is located right on Sexton, next to the Subway Sandwich shop. Click on the image here, for a larger version of the class schedule that includes contact information at the bottom.

Sovereign Cellars, our local winery on the Eld Inlet side of the Peninsula, has announced a special Sweetheart Sale on its gold medal-winning 2014 merlot. Regularly sold at $35 a bottle, it’s available for a limited time at $20 a bottle. This special price ends on Valentine’s Day or while supplies last. Contact Dennis Gross, the winemaker at Sovereign Cellars, at (360) 866-7991 and dwgrosswine@yahoo.com, for purchase details.

Are you a local resident who owns or operates a business? Let us help you tell your story. Add your business to our  online directory. And, if you’re a resident on or near the Steamboat Peninsula, visit our local business directory whenever you are looking for services close to home.

 

Our Community Credit Union Opens Branch in Steamboat Square

Steamboat Square OCCU branch photoOur local business district is on the grow as Our Community Credit Union announced the opening of their newest branch located in the newly-expanded Steamboat Square, at 6541 Sexton Dr. NW. The 2100 square foot facility includes seating and ample space to provide customer service. There’s also an indoor teller machine that accepts both check and cash deposits. Current members of OCCU will certainly benefit from the closer location. And local residents who are looking for alternatives to for-profit banks now need not go very far to learn of the advantages of joining a credit union.

“We believe this is a perfect fit for the families and businesses in the Steamboat community, in addition to being a great convenience for our OCCU members who commute from Shelton,” said Bert Fisher, President/CEO of OCCU. “We are excited to get to know the Steamboat community and have the opportunity to provide them with local, affordable, financial products and services.”

Our Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit, full-service, financial alternative to a bank. One member’s savings deposit is another member’s loan. As a member-owned financial cooperative, credit unions are not-for-profit. They function to serve their membership. As a result, credit unions can pay very competitive dividends on savings and offer great interest rates on loans. Anyone living, working, or attending school in Washington State can join. You can even join OCCU online. A minimum deposit of $25 into a savings account is all it takes to become a member.

OCCU offers a wide variety of financial services. Personal checking and savings accounts, different kinds of loans, mortgages, and home equity lines of credit, and Visa cards. Retirement planning and investment advisory services are available. For those of you seeking business services, including an assortment of merchant services, “you will get the kind of rates and attention you deserve as a business owner.”

An online banking portal and mobile apps are available, too. You can access your OCCU account details and perform various tasks, online, from practically any location on the planet. Click here for more details regarding their mobile apps.

Founded in 1941 by employees of Simpson Logging Company, OCCU is now a $350 million, 5-star community-oriented financial institution with 29,000 members. Steamboat Square is their 8th branch. Their other locations are in Shelton, Union, McCleary, Elma, Montesano and on Vashon Island.

To learn more about OCCU, come to their new branch and visit. Their hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:35 pm, and Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. Or visit their web site at www.ourcu.com.

Sovereign Cellars’ Spring Release Wine Tasting Event, June 24 and 25

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Dennis Gross, winemaker for Sovereign Cellars, invites local residents to the Sovereign Cellars’ Spring Release Wine Tasting Event. “Our vintage wines have turned out exceptional. Please come enjoy friends, hors d’oeurves and our four great Sovereign Cellars red wines.”

Saturday, June 24th and Sunday, June 25th
1 pm to 5 pm
7408 Manzanita Dr. NW, Olympia, WA 98502
Take Steamboat Rd to 79th turn right and follow the signs.

For more information about Sovereign Cellars and their award winning reds, click here to visit their web site.

 

Building Earth Farm Announces Summer CSA, Fruit Subscription

The folks at Building Earth Farm wish you all, “Happy Spring, local food-lovers!”

“We are already planting seeds for this year’s garden, the initial tilling has been wrought, the weed whacker had it’s first outing today, and the promise of summer’s sweetness is just beginning to swell. We need to know ASAP if you plan to join us for our 2017 summer/autumn food adventure.”

The quick details are:

2017 CSA price is $575/full Share and $290/half Share

The schedule for the CSA is:

June 17, 24
July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
Aug 5, 12, 19, 26
Sept 2, 9, 16, 23, 30

Fruit Only Shares – $330 for 8 Weeks, provided every 2 weeks.

They will finalize the start date for Fruit Only once they’re sure how the season is moving but the tentative schedule for the fruit subscription is:

June 17
July 1, 15, 29
Aug 12, 26
Sept 19, 23

Signups are now open and are required by May 5th. Deposits for CSA and summer fruit share are due by May 15. First come, first served.

For those of you not sure what a CSA entails, or want more information about The Building Earth Farm’s CSA and Fruit Subscription, read on!Read More