Community news briefs — July 6, 2022

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Burn ban in effect

Clallam County’s burn restriction began July 1 and will run through Oct. 1 unless conditions warrant a total burn ban, county fire marshal George Bailey said last week.

The restriction applies to all outdoor burning except recreational fires used for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, warmth, cooking or similar purposes, Bailey said. Recreational fires are permitted unless further banned by extreme weather conditions.

Recreational fires are limited to 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet high. Fires for debris disposal are not legal under any circumstances and are not considered recreational.

If conditions arise the restrictions may be upgraded to a “high fire danger,” Bailey said. This will prohibit all outdoor burning which includes recreational fires; the exception is within the Olympic National Park and other controlled campgrounds.

For more information, visit clallam.net or contact Clallam County Fire District 3 at 360-683-4242, or see ccfd3.org.

2nd Saturday book sale set

The Friends of Sequim Library’s 2nd Saturday book sale will be held 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on July 9 at Rock Plaza, 10113 Old Olympic Highway.

Stock up on summer reading material with books, puzzles, movies and music CDs. There are lots of new books for children. Come early for best selection.

Funds raised support library programs.

Give 65 fundraiser to boost Sequim Wheelers

Sequim Wheelers has teamed up again with Home Instead Charity Foundation and Home Instead Sequim in the Give 65 fundraising event, set to run between 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 12 and 11 p.m. Thursday, July 14.

Give 65 donations will support Sequim Wheelers — a nonprofit providing bike rides for people who cannot ride a bike themselves, including elderly and those with disabilities — and it has the chance to be matched up to $5,000. Home Instead Charities is providing $150,000 matching grants and every organization is eligible for up to $5,000.

Donate at give65.org/Sequim_Wheelers.

Sequim Wheelers is raising funds for ongoing business costs, like commercial liability insurance, bike maintenance, and eventually new bikes, organization founder Nicole Lepping said.

Last year, the nonprofit and Home Instead teamed up to raise $7,800.

For more about Sequim Wheelers, call 360-591-3200, or visit facebook.com/sequimwheelers or sequimwheelers.com.

Discovery Bay closed to shellfish harvesting due to biotoxins

Discovery Bay is closed for the recreational harvest of all species of shellfish due to diarrhetic shellfish poisoning, according the state Department of Health and Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services’ Environmental Health Division.

Tracie Barry, a Department of Health (DOH) marine biotoxins specialist, said to not eat the shellfish — even if they look healthy.

“There’s no way to know that shellfish are safe other than by laboratory analysis,” Barry said Monday. “Contaminated shellfish don’t look, smell or taste differently than healthy ones, and you can’t cook the toxins out.”

In addition to the closure at Discovery Bay, Sequim Bay is closed to all species of shellfish, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Cape Flattery to Lyre Resort/Low Point is closed to butter and varnish clam harvesting.

DOH said closed to all species refers to clams (including geoduck), oysters, mussels and other invertebrates such as moon snails.

In addition, all areas are closed for the sport harvest of scallops, although the closures don’t apply to shrimp. DOH warns that while crab meat is not known to contain biotoxins, the guts may contain unsafe levels.

For more information about the closures, call the marine biotoxin hotline at 800-562-5632 or visit the Department of Health’s marine biotoxin website at doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm.

Trivia night to raise funds for salmon, conservancy

The North Olympic Land Trust and North Olympic Salmon Coalition host a Trivia Night at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 7, at Barhop Brewing, 124 W. Railroad Ave., Port Angeles.

Cost is a suggested $5 donation, with proceeds supporting local salmon habitat restoration and land conservation.

For more information, visit facebook.com/northolympiclandtrust.

Lavender Weekend volunteer training workshop set

The City of Sequim and the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce host a Sequim Lavender Weekend Volunteer Training Workshop starting at 5 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, at the Sequim Civic Center, 152 W. Cedar St.

Anyone who volunteers during Sequim Lavender Weekend, July 15-17, or who is curious about everything that is happening during the weekend event is welcome and encouraged to attend, organizers say.

For more information, contact Barbara Hanna, City of Sequim Communications and Marketing Director, at 360-681-3422 or bhanna@sequimwa.gov.

Youth backpacks available at libraries

Filled with fun items to encourage toddlers and preschoolers to explore the natural world, Kids Nature Backpacks are now available for checkout through the North Olympic Library System (NOLS).

Each backpack contains a magnifying lens, binoculars, bug net, collection box, cards with nature questions, helpful tips for caregivers and two children’s books.

“On the Olympic Peninsula, we are lucky to be able to experience a wealth of natural habitats: forests, mountains, rivers, and beaches,” Youth Services Librarian Clair Dunlap said. “Spending time in nature is important for children’s development.”

Search “Kids Nature Backpack” in the online catalog at nols.org, call a local branch (Sequim Library is 360-683-1161) or email to discover@nols.org to place a hold on a pack.

For more information about this and other library non-traditional items, visit nols.org/nols-gear, call the library at 360-417-8500 or email to discover@nols.org.

Garden Walk set in Port Angeles

The Second Saturday Garden Walk is from 10-11:30 a.m. on July 9 at the Fifth Street Community Garden, 328 E. Fifth Street, Port Angeles — directly across from city hall.

WSU-certified Clallam County Master Gardeners Audreen Williams, Bob Cain and Laurel Moulton will focus on the fungi and bacterial pathogens that our spring weather has brought on, keeping fruit and produce from bird and other pest damage, and timing for fall and winter harvesting.

Other walks for the remainder of the year will be Aug. 13 and Sept. 10.

For more information, call 360-565-2679 or 360-477-0116, or see extension.wsu.edu/clallam/master-gardener-calendar.

Clothes Closet reopens

The Clothes Closet at the First United Methodist Church (110 E 7th St, Port Angeles) reopened its doors on June 29, and will be open for anyone needing adult clothing from 1-3 p.m. each Wednesday until another day can be offered.

This service, started and sponsored by the United Methodist Women about 25 years ago, offers clothing to anyone in need. All clothing is free and donations of clean, new or gently used clothes and shoes are accepted.

Customers are asked to use the parking lot door. Because of COVID, room capacity may be limited.

For more information, call the Methodist Church at 360-452-8971.