Community Corner
🌱 How a herd of goats is reshaping overgrown land in Key Center
And check out Skate Night on the Key Center Patch calendar
Good morning Key Center! Your connection to what's happening around town is here. Take a sip of coffee and read on. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a herd of goats is reshaping overgrown land in Key Center
- Why hundreds of rare native oaks are coming to the Key Peninsula
- How new Medicaid rules threaten Key Center's Mustard Seed Village
Also on today's calendar: Skate Night.
Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Sunshine and a few clouds, with a high of 66 and low of 51 degrees.
- Friday: Low clouds breaking, temps: high: 70, low: 50.
- Saturday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high of 70 and low of 48 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• 'Deadherds' Take a Bite Out of Fire District's Blackberries (keypennews.org) — Goats are tackling the overgrown blackberry brambles on Key Peninsula Fire District property behind Sunnycrest Nursery in Key Center, saving the district thousands compared with heavy equipment. Longbranch's Grateful Goat Farms is testing "goatscaping" as a new business, learning how many animals, days, and techniques it takes to clear the 3.5-acre site while protecting wetlands and avoiding pesticides. 
• Groves of Oregon White Oak, Past and Future (keypennews.org) — Key Peninsula land near Vaughn and Key Center will soon host hundreds of newly planted Oregon white oaks, part of a state-funded forest improvement effort. The article explains why this rare native oak matters, how it once shaped regional prairies and wildlife, and what restoring small groves could mean for the peninsula's long-term landscape and sense of place.
• Mustard Seed Village Faces Medicaid Cuts to Assisted Living (keypennews.org) — Key Center's Mustard Seed Village assisted living homes are being squeezed by a state freeze on Medicaid reimbursements tied to new federal rules, leaving a roughly $65,000 budget gap. Leaders say they'll keep Medicaid beds and residents but may need more private-pay tenants, loan adjustments, fundraising, and local partnerships to maintain staffing levels and services for elders on the Key Peninsula.
📸 Around Key Center
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Key Center
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Skate Night →
Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S Vaughn Rd NW, Vaughn
6:00 pm
Friday October 2
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Madrona Fest 2026 →
Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S Vaughn Rd, Key Center
10:00 am - Skate Night →
Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S Vaughn Rd NW, Vaughn
6:00 pm
Saturday October 3
Friday October 9
📣 Key Center Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Marine Life Center: Open →
Harbor Wildwatch, 3207 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor
11:00 am - Feeding Frenzy! →
Harbor Wildwatch, 3207 Harborview Drive, Gig Harbor
4:00 pm - COM - MES / Field - HSC
MES - Field
5:00 pm - PHS- Volleyball vs North Thurston
PHS - Main Gym, PHS - Aux Gym
5:45 pm - Volleyball - Girls Junior Varsity at Onalaska High School
Onalaska High School (Onalaska, WA)
6:45 pm - GHHS - RAF - SOCCER (V) GAME VS SILAS
PHS Roy Anderson Field
6:45 pm - Volleyball - Girls Varsity at Onalaska High School
Onalaska High School (Onalaska, WA)
8:00 pm - Pretty Psychic Tour with "Psychic" Comedian Peter Antoniou at Ocean5 →
Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Drive Northwest, Gig Harbor - Rotary Club of Gig Harbor (Morning Rotary) Breakfast & Program →
Gig Harbor WA
Thursday October 1
Friday October 2
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
🗞 Nearby News
Gig Harbor
- Two Gig Harbor pizzerias tried this Tacoma address. Another will close this week (thenewstribune.com)
- BECU expands with new branches in South Sound as merger vote continues (thenewstribune.com)
- A tombstone tourist visits greater Gig Harbor cemeteries (gigharbornow.org)
Steilacoom
- Steilacoom Historical School District (businessviewmagazine.com)
Ok Key Center! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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