Dec. 1, 2008 at 10:30am

Around the Sound

Business-related events

Business owners not previously able to afford health insurance for their employees have a new tool available to them – government subsidies for employee health insurance. The state's Health Insurance Partnership combines public and private resources to help small employers and their employees purchase health insurance in the marketplace. A free educational workshop on HIP is being offered tomorrow between 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Phoenix Inn Suites in Olympia. Employers eligible for the subsidies are those: not currently offering health insurance; have between two and 50 employees; and have workforces that have half of their workers earning less than $10 an hour. The workshop is being sponsored by the Thurston County Chamber affiliated Chamber Benefit Services Fund, a leader in small business health insurance solutions. The event is held in cooperation with the Washington Health Care Authority and Choice Regional Health Network. Reservations are requested at (360) 357-3362 or www.ThurstonChamber.com.

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring its annual Holly-Jolly Christmas Auction tomorrow between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Great American Casino. For $20 admission, guests can enjoy a lovely plated lunch, visit with Santa, enjoy holiday music, as well as take advantage of shopping for family, friends, co-workers and employees in a casual setting. Reservations are required, call (253) 582-9400.

 The Tollefson Plaza's first holiday festival, "Tollefest," (tall∙uh∙fest) will be held on Saturday between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tollefest will include holiday activities that welcome families with members of all ages. This plaza, located between South 17th Street and Commerce Street, will be lined with carolers, food vendors and games for young children. In the heart of the plaza, there will be a tree-lighting at 4:15 p.m. There is no admission fee, but families are encouraged to bring canned and non-perishable items to donate to the food drive. The items will go to the Emergency Food Network. The event was made possilbe with the assistance of BCRA, Entertainment Masters, the Center of Faith Church, Print NW, AA Party Rentals and event sponsor Rainier Pacific Bank. Tollefest is supposed to engage the community and activate the location.

Send business-related events to News@BusinessExaminer.com.

| Email Steve