Citizen of the Year deadline nears

Know of a volunteer “all-star” who has selflessly given of themselves for the betterment of Sequim over a period of time? Consider nominating them for the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce’s Citizen of the Year honor.

A reminder that applications are open through Wednesday, Feb. 16.

For details and applications, visit sequimchamber.com or call 360-683-6197.

Free virtual guardianship seminar Feb. 9

Clallam County Parent to Parent and Parent to Parent of Arc of the Peninsulas are hosting a free virtual seminar, “Guardianship; What’s It All About?” on Wednesday, Feb. 9, on Zoom.

Beginning at 6 p.m., attorneys Jonete Mehmke and Minta Andreve from the law office of Rehmke Law, P.S., will address the following questions, among others: What is a guardianship? What are the benefits and the consequences? Does your child, or sibling, need a guardian? Who should be named a guardian? How do the recent changes in Washington state affect a guardianship already in place?

Following the presentation, from 8-9 p.m., there will be a question-and-answer session.

Registration is required; register at penarc.recdesk.com/Community/Home.

For more information about registering, contact Kimberly Adams 360-516-8275 or kadams@penarc.org.

SBYC to host KSQM’s Sorensen

The Sequim Bay Yacht Club invites the public to attend the club’s next meeting, set for 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9, in the Hendricks room of the John Wayne Marina Building, 2577 West Sequim Bay Road.

The guest speaker is Susan Sorensen, public relations representative for KSQM 91.5 FM. KSQM is a listener-supported, commercial-free community radio that broadcasts from downtown Sequim. Sorensen will discuss the mission and operations of KSQM, and give numerous examples of the impact of the station on the community, and answer questions. Masks are required to attend the meeting.

This is a rescheduled meeting originally slated for Jan. 12.

For more about the club and its events, visit sequimbayyacht.club.

Studium to share stories of those with chronic illness

“The Nightstand Collective,” a storytelling project featuring portraits of the lives of the chronically ill through the material culture from 79 bedroom nightstands, will be presented at Peninsula College’s Feb. 10 Studium Generale. The event starts at 12:30 p.m. on Zoom; join the meeting at pencol-edu.zoom.us/j/82278252780 (meeting ID 822 7825 2780).

Featuring stories, tools and spiritual practices from the space of interruption that illness brings, the event will also look at the project’s Victoria and Albert Museum exhibit in London, and share the audio piece, “Voices from the Nightstands.”

Emma Jones is a storyteller and social scientist whose work ranges from the natural world and magical realism, to the human experience of chronic illness. Her ongoing documentary storytelling project, “The Nightstand Collective 2015,” invites people living with chronic illness to document their lives by creating a visual and textual inventory of the contents of their nightstands and bedside tables.

The program is made possible in partnership with funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Cats and wildlife talk at Audubon

“Cats and Wildlife: The Devastating Consequences of Cuddly Kitty” is the topic of conversation at the next Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society meeting set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, on Zoom. The event is free and open to the public. Register at olympicpeninsulaaudubon.org/events-calendar.

Mounting scientific evidence is showing what conservationists have suspected for a long time, that in the United States alone, free-ranging cats are killing birds and other small animals by the billions, meeting organizers note. Dr. Peter Marra of Georgetown University will present scientific data on the threats free-ranging cats pose to wildlife and public health in the United States and around the world. He will also present new information and propose new solutions regarding the controversies surrounding the complex problem of free-ranging cat populations.

Marra is Director of Georgetown University’s Institute for Environment and Sustainability.

Volunteer opportunity with Sunshine Festival

The organizing committee for the Sequim Sunshine Festival is seeking volunteers to assist with festival events. There are a variety of opportunities and time frames available, during the event set for March 4-5.

Volunteers receive a volunteer T-shirt.

To volunteer for the Sun Fun Color Run, visit runsignup.com/Race/Volunteer/WA/Sequim/SunFunColorRun. To volunteer for all other events, visit volunteersignup.org/XJH3C; participants can sign up online and order their T-shirt size.

For more about the Sequim Sunshine Festival at visitsunnysequim.com/263/Sequim-Sunshine-Festival, or contact City of Sequim Marketing Coordinator Patsene Dashiell at pdashiell@sequimwa.gov or 360-681-3421.

Friends group sets sale

The Friends of Sequim Library 2nd Saturday Book Sale will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Feb. 12 at Rock Plaza, 10175 Old Olympic Highway.

The group will also have use of another storefront nearby.

This month, the sale will feature a broad range of Eastern religion in like-new condition, a new selection of large print publications, children’s books for the bedtime story age, recent conspiracy theory books and more, organizers say.

Masks and social distancing will be requested; attendees are urged to come early for best selection.

All goes to the library system for extra programs and the Sequim branch building remodel.

Special guest to present, dialog with equity leaders

Peninsula College welcomes Dr. Gariot Louima for a short presentation and a dialogue with equity leaders at Peninsula College at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 16, in honor of Black History Month.

Louima is the first Associate Vice President for Strategic and Diversity Initiatives in the history of Earlham College, located in Richmond, Ind. In this newly created role, he will advance strategic initiatives that widen the path to an Earlham education and build upon the College’s longstanding commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

This online event will be hosted by ʔaʔk̓ʷustəƞáwt̓xʷ House of Learning, Peninsula College Longhouse, Studium Generale, Magic of Cinema, and Upward Bound, and is free and open to the public.

Join the Zoom presentation at pencol-edu.zoom.us/j/84298574012 (meeting ID 842 9857 4012).

For more information, email to longhouse@pencol.edu or kreavey@pencol.edu.

Volunteers sought for advisory committee

Olympic National Forest officials are seeking volunteers to serve on the Olympic Peninsula Resource Advisory Committee. Committee members review and recommend projects that benefit Olympic National Forest resources through Title II funding of the Secure Rural Schools Community and Self Determination Act.

Committee members are officially appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture for a term of four years. There is no compensation for committee members as these are volunteer positions. However, travel expenses can be reimbursed. Members are expected to meet at least once per year for an annual RAC Meeting, either virtually or in person.

Citizens interested in applying for RAC membership can find applications on the Olympic National Forest’s website by visiting bit.ly/3KpyOGx. Completed forms may be submitted by mail to: Olympic National Forest, Attn: Amber Brazil, 295142 Hwy 101 South, Quilcene, WA 98376.

Applications must be received or postmarked by Feb. 28. For more information, call Amber Brazil at 360-765-2255.

Free online parenting class

Prevention Works!, a community coalition that promotes positive childhoods in Clallam County, is offering “Up Your Parenting Game: Support Yourself & Your Family,” a free, online-, four-class series starting Feb. 16 taught by Rachel Hardies.

Classes are 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays: Feb. 16, Feb. 23, March 2 and March 9.

Topics covered include: understanding of how your nervous system works; how to use that knowledge to help your child; an attentive play process to help improve your relationship with your child, and exploring ways to respond to child behaviors (aggression, whining, not doing what you’ve asked, etc.).

The classes include door prizes, food coupons and more.

Register at pw4kids.org.

Deadline for parks commissioner applications

The Clallam County Parks & Recreation District No. 1 is seeking to fill a vacancy on its board.

The commission oversees the facility at 610 N. Fifth Ave., formerly known as the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center (SARC); it is leased for operation and maintenance to the Olympic Peninsula YMCA.

This is a two-year term that expires in December 2023. Applicants must be registered to vote and must reside within the portion of the Sequim School District boundaries included within Clallam County.

Interested persons should submit a letter of interest, a brief background and any relevant board experience to the board clerk at clerksarc@gmail.com, by Feb. 15.

For more information, email to clerksarc@gmail.com.