Your Home Town Bulletin • August 2026
NW Landing office closed for Labor Day
The Northwest Landing office will be closed Monday, September 7, for Labor Day.
Northwest Landing Director Shirley Ely retires in July
Shirley Ely, who has served as director of both the Residential Owners Association and the Commercial Owners Association, is retiring July 31 after five years at the helm of Northwest Landing. Shirley has worked in community management for nearly 30 years. Before being hired as Northwest Landing’s director, she managed multiple associations, often many at the same time. She said, “I was blessed with some very good mentors. Not only my boss but attorneys and insurance agents with years of expertise in community management.” She says that her experience with the DuPont community has been very positive. “A lot of people I’ve met and worked with here, I’ll miss very much – city staff, board members, and homeowners. I’m really going to miss our exceptional staff members.”
Northwest Landing staff universally praised her for “a wealth of knowledge” and always willing to share her expertise. “You can’t easily replace her skills in this industry,” said Assistant Director Cara Monroe. Shirley says she plans to spend more time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Thank you to Rick Beaver
The Northwest Landing Residential Owners Association extends our sincere gratitude to Rick Beaver for his dedicated service as a member of the board of directors and board president. A longtime DuPont resident and passionate community advocate, Rick brought decades of leadership, business experience, and a genuine commitment to preserving and strengthening Northwest Landing. His thoughtful guidance and desire to serve the best interests of our residents have made a positive impact on our community. Thank you, Rick, for your service, your vision, and your dedication to making Northwest Landing a wonderful place to call home. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.
Celebrating Canoe Journey at Sequalitchew Creek July 31
Canoe Journey 2026-Paddle to Nisqually Medicine Creek Potlatch is a gathering and celebration of Northwest indigenous nations. The City of 
DuPont is honored to host the journey’s landing at Sequalitchew Creek on July 31.
Activities will take place throughout the day, with the ceremonial canoe landings expected between noon and 6 p.m. A special farmers market will be held on the lawn in front of City Hall from noon to 7 p.m. The market will feature handcrafted goods, artisan vendors, and a variety of local food trucks. The trail will remain open to the public. However, visitors should expect heavy pedestrian traffic throughout the day. ATVs will be transporting tribal elders to and from the ceremonial landing area. If you plan to use the trail, please be mindful of those around you and allow extra time. Public parking is available in the south lot at the DuPont Civic Center and at Powderworks Park. Check here for more information.
Historic Fort Tours: The DuPont Historical Society will offer guided tours of the 1843 Fort Site at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tour information here.
Planning an exterior home improvement project?
Please submit your Property Improvement Request well in advance. Applications must be received by the Friday before the next PIC meeting. The committee does not make decisions between meetings, so please allow up to two weeks for review and approval before starting your project.
Reminder that assessments due 1st of the month
Monthly assessments are due on the first of every month. Although there is a grace period of a few days, if you wait until the second week of the month, you will most likely receive a late notice and potential fine. The best way to make sure your payments arrive on time is to sign up for ACH, which stands for Automated Clearing House. What ACH does is sends an automatic payment to the ROA every month from your bank or credit union account. When assessment amounts change, that is also automatic through ACH. You can sign up through the Member Login webpage. Call the office at 253-964-1289 if you need help.
ROA support for July 4th, American Legion BBQ and street flags
For the past several years, the Northwest Landing Residential Owners Association has supported two events for the entire DuPont community: 4th of July Hometown Celebration and the American Legion’s DuPont BBQ Cookoff. The ROA provided funding for the DuPont Historical Society’s annual pancake breakfast, entertainment at Clocktower Park, and the fireworks show at the DuPont Civic Center. Our contribution for July 4th was $40,000 and for the BBQ, $8,000. Both events draw several thousand residents and visitors to DuPont.
Pictured here riding in the Northwest Landing truck are staffer Denise Ford and board member Kate Lynch.
This year, the ROA and Commercial Owners Association (COA) contributed a combined donation of $3,000 for flags to be flown in DuPont’s business 
district. The project was sponsored by the DuPont Chamber of Commerce and Lacey Sunrise Lions Club and will be available to the City of DuPont going forward.
The ROA supports several children’s activities for the 
9th Annual DuPont BBQ Cookoff, August 21-23. The cookoff is hosted by the DuPont American Legion Post 53. There is a weekend of fun (and tasty) activities. Tickets for Friday’s BBQ kickoff are $35 in advance ($40 at the gate), 5-8:30 p.m., and supports the DuPont chapter of the American Legion. Saturday’s activities will happen from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday is a “whole hog” event, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. when (yup, that’s right) a whole hog will be barbequed and served up. Entry is free. Pay as you go for samples, plates and beverages. Details and tickets are on the DuPont BBQ website.
Wean yourself away from ‘SummerWeen’
The Halloween enthusiasts among us may be delighted to find new spooky decorations popping up in stores right now. Many retailers are embracing a trend known as “Summerween”. Go ahead and shop for those special décor items. But please resist the temptation to put up your Halloween decorations any earlier than October 1. Watch for the announcement for the 2026 Tour of Haunted Homes decorating contest.
Last community yard sale for this year
Saturday, September 12, is the last yard sale date for Northwest Landing in 2026. Please note that yard sales are not sponsored by either the Northwest Landing ROA or the City of DuPont. Governing documents for Northwest Landing state that yard sales may be held two times a year and are announced by the ROA. DuPont Parks & Recreation will again offer Big Bargain Bonanza at Clocktower Park, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost is $25 for a 20×20-foot spot.
Northwest Landing Events
Board of Directors – 3 p.m. • Wednesday • August 19 – via Zoom– reservations required by August 17. Call 253-964-1289 or email to reserve. On Zoom. Please contact staff at if you have questions or concerns a violation notice or want to report a problem with a Northwest Landing property. Board meetings scheduled for 2026: August 20-3 p.m., October 7-5:30 p.m., December 17-3 p.m.
Property Improvement Committee (PIC) – meetings are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. – 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, plus March 31, June 30, and September 29. Except for underground irrigation systems, this committee must review all exterior modifications, including painting, roofing, adding central air conditioning, heat pump or solar panels, fences, sheds, patio covers, decks, landscape renovations, adding or removing trees. Some projects may also require a city permit. Underground irrigation systems require a city permit. Property Improvement forms can be downloaded from the homeowner’s portal on the website. Go to Member Logins. After you login, click on Documents, then open the folder Property Improvement Committee Forms. Call 253-964-1289 if you need help finding PIC forms.
Residential New Construction Committee (RNCC) – meetings are scheduled at 5:00 to 5:30 p.m. as necessary – 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, plus March 31, June 30, and September 29. This committee must review all new construction, for example a home addition, or a new home, and appeals of decisions made by the Property Improvement Committee.
Dear ROA,
I’m planning a project for my home, but I couldn’t find it in the Resident Handbook. Does that mean it’s allowed?
– Searching the handbook
Dear Searching,
Not necessarily. The Resident Handbook is designed to be a helpful guide to common association standards and community expectations, but it is not a complete accounting of all governing rules that apply in Northwest Landing. Most of the Resident Handbook is drawn from governing documents – the Declaration of Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions (CC&Rs), Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, Residential Design Guidelines, and Board-adopted policies. These documents can be found on our website – About Us-Governing Documents. These documents establish the standards that help preserve the appearance, character, and property values of our community. When reviewing a request or addressing a compliance matter, the association considers all applicable governing documents. If you’re ever unsure whether a project, improvement, or activity requires approval, we’re happy to help. Call the association office before you begin at 253-964-1289. We would much rather answer questions in advance than help resolve issues after the fact. Look for a revised version of the Resident Handbook in U.S. mail. The newest version will also be available on the website.
Have a question for Ask ROA? Send a message to
Lawns: Healthy lawns need regular weeding, keep lawn clear of moss, clover and dandelions. Repair and reseed bare spots. Mow lawns to maintain a height less than four inches. Edge lawns should along driveways, curbs, and sidewalks. All lawn clippings blown onto streets, driveways, and sidewalks should be removed after mowing. Do not dump lawn and tree clippings in the woods! You may think that’s a natural way to manage yard waste but it is a fire hazard and you may be introducing weeds to the woods.
You may allow your lawn to go dormant in the summer but be sure to water at least once a month, so it doesn’t completely die. Also be sure to remove weeds. The Pierce County Conservation District has some helpful tips for a “golden lawn.” Healthy lawns need regular weeding, keep lawn clear of moss, clover and dandelions. Repair and reseed bare spots. Mow lawns to maintain a height less than four inches. The Oregon State University Extension Service recommends mowing to 2 to 2.5 inches. Edge lawns along driveways, curbs, and sidewalks. All lawn clippings blown onto streets, driveways, and sidewalks should be removed after mowing. Do not dump lawn and tree clippings in the woods! You may think that’s a natural way to manage yard waste but it is a fire hazard and you may be introducing weeds to the woods. It’s also a federal offense on the west side of DuPont, where woodlands are part of the Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. Also see Washington State University’s Home Lawn Guide. Washington State University’s suggested timeline for fertilizing lawns in western Washington is November 15–December 7, April 15, June 15, and September 1.
Shrubs, trees and flowers need water here in summer. Maybe before moving to Washington, you thought it rains here all the time. Washington is the Evergreen State, right? Interestingly, the region around Puget Sound has more of a Mediterranean climate – lots of rain in winter. But we have dry summers. Make sure to water shrubs and trees so it reaches the roots. One way to do that while conserving water is to use a soaker hose, which slowly waters plants at ground level. Watering tips from Swansons Nursery.
Gardening resources for Washington state – flower beds, fruits, lawns, pest management, and more.
If you have suggestions about plants and plant care for the bulletin, email
Many of us moved from other parts of the country where the plants we see here in Washington were wildflowers. Here it might be a weed. Buttercup, for example. Some of us growing up with fond memories of holding the flower under someone’s chin to find out if they like butter, right? But, in Washington, they are an invasive weed. Many that we see on the roadside are actually garden escapees from long ago. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a weed is defined as “a plant that is not valued where it is growing” and a wildflower is defined as “an uncultivated plant” and “a flower that grows in natural places without being planted by people.” Sometimes, it seems to be a matter of perspective. Still, growing where we don’t want it can be a huge challenge and sometimes a health threat.
The photos here are yellow yarrow on the left and common tansy on the right. Tansy is native to Europe and Asia and is toxic, although it has been used as a medicinal plant. It is classified as a noxious weed in Washington state. On the other hand, yellow yarrow is cultivar of a native wildflower – common yarrow – and is a medicinal plant. It has a long blooming period, and you can find seeds and plants locally. You can see a large garden of them growing on the corner of McNeil and Cox streets.
City of DuPont Events
Teen Programs • Knitting Club, Sundays, 10-11 a.m.
Youth Sports • Ages 3-14 • T-ball, baseball, soccer and more
DuPont Farmers Market • Thursdays • August 6 and October 4 • 3-7 p.m.
Concerts in the Park • Thursday • August 6 • 6:30 p.m. • Clocktower Park
Dino Day! • Saturday • August 8 • 1:30-3:30 p.m. • DuPont Historical Museum • 207 Barskdale Ave. • free family activities including a fossil dig, scavenger hunt, and crafts.
One Coin, Two Sides: History & Archaeology of Fort Nisqually • Wednesday • August 12 • 6:30 p.m. • DuPont Historical Museum • free lecture by historian Steve Anderson
Summer Camps • Fairytale Friendships-grades pre-K-3, August 17-20 • Comic Book Capers-grades 2-8, August 17-20 • Mighty Kicks Soccer Camp-ages 3-6, August 24-September 28
Big Bargain Bonanza • Saturday • September 12 • 9 a.m.-3 p.m. • Clocktower Park • alternative to selling from home, rent a 20×20-foot space for the last yard sale date of 2026.
Coming in October • Downtown Trick-or-Treat • Friday • October 30 • 3-5 p.m. • Wilmington Drive
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