Thursday, October 1, 2026
Former Lacey Historical Commission member Tula'i Patane was honored with a distinguished public service award by the Lacey City Council at a meeting on June 16.
The honor recognizes Patane's volunteer service on the eight-member commission, which meets on the third Wednesday of each month at Lacey City Hall.
She left the commission to pursue an educational goal. Patane told the city council she hopes to return to public service once that work is finished.
"I had requested to step down from the historical commission board because I am about to defend my paper to obtain my doctor's degree," Patane said.
Patane joined the commission in late 2022 and served until mid-2026. During that period, she balanced full-time employment and graduate studies while attending commission meetings remotely.
"I still work full time, and I am a full-time student," she said.
The award recognizes projects that the commission completed during her service.
According to Lacey Parks, Culture & Recreation Director Jen Burbidge, the Lacey Historical Commission partnered with the Thurston County Historical Commission to develop an interpretive kiosk at the Regional Athletic Complex. The kiosk provides historical information about the area and serves as an educational resource for visitors.
The commission also accomplished the following:
• Completed reservation assessments of the Jacob Smith House and McKinney building
• Accepted more than 30 acquisitions to the museum collection
• Opened the new Lacey Museum on Sixth Avenue
• Identified 343 properties for the city's historic property inventory
Burbidge said the museum's location widens public access to local history. And, property inventory aids the city's preservation planning, since it helps Lacey officials weigh buildings of cultural value in land use decisions.
Mayor Andy Ryder presented the award on behalf of the council.
"Our boards and commissions are such an integral part to what we do at the city of Lacey," Ryder said. "All of our advisory boards are so important to making sure that we're connecting with our community."
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Snevets
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ViaLocal
Snevets - what does it mean when you post nothing but blank space? Jw
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Snevets
I thought I had posted Thank you .
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