Food Bank’s ‘Fill the Cart’ continues through April 15

The Sequim Food Bank hosts a “Fill the Cart” food drive through Monday, April 15.

Community members are encouraged to donate canned goods and other non-perishable items, and to consider donating nutritious foods like canned vegetables, whole grains and low-sodium items to promote healthier eating habits. Those unable to drop off donations at the food drive locations below can contribute financially to the cause at sequimfoodbank.org/donate.

Drop off locations include: Dungeness Courte Memory Care, 651 Garry Oak Dr.; Sequim Health and Rehabilitation Center, 650 W. Hemlock St.; The Fifth Avenue, 500 W. Hendrickson Road; Sherwood Assisted Living, 550 W. Hendrickson Road; The Lodge at Sherwood, 660 Evergreen Farm Way; Trustwell Living at Sinclair Place, 680 W. Prairie St., and Assured Hospice, 1102 E. First St., Port Angeles.

Thrift shop to be open

The Sequim Hospital Guild Thrift Shop at 204 W. Bell St. will be open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, April 4-6. There are lots of changes inside and out!

Donations accepted and appreciated between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, and when the shop is open for business. The guild is always looking for more volunteers.

Plant walk, talk set for Saturday

Michael Pilarski leads a Plant Walk from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at the Dungeness River Nature Center at Railroad Bridge Park, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.

The event is limited to 20 participants and covers information about collecting wild plants for commercial or home use. Pilarski will introduce the main edible and medicinal plants found in western Washington, and participants will walk park trails and talk about plants they see.

Cost is $30 for Nature Center members, $35 for non-members. Two scholarships are available for participants with lower income (to apply, email to friendsofthetrees@yahoo.com).

See friendsofthetreesbotanicals.com for more information.

‘Tea to Die For’ session scheduled

Death Cafés “Tea to Die For,” sponsored by Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, are set for Monday, April 8, in Sequim and Wednesday, April 24, in Port Angeles from 4-5:30 p.m.

The Sequim discussion will be held in the KSQM-FM Community Room, 609 W. Washington St., No. 17, while the Port Angeles talk will be held in the VHOCC conference room, 829 E. Eighth St.

Tea, coffee and snacks will be served. The groups are free and open to all and do not require prior registration.

Conversations are held every second Monday in Sequim and every fourth Wednesday in Port Angeles. They are meant to foster relaxed and informal discussions surrounding death and dying and open to anyone curious about end of life.

For more information, call VHOCC at 360-452-1511 or visit volunteerhospice.org or facebook.com/volunteerhospiceofclallamcounty.

Federation of the Blind to meet

The National Federation of the Blind of Clallam County will hold its monthly meetings at 1 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St., Sequim.

Its next meeting is set for Monday, April 8. Participants are welcome to join for lunch at noon.

For more information, call club president Kyle Parrish at 360-775-0958.

Medicare navigation help available

Local SHIBA volunteers from the Olympic Area Agency on Aging and Office of the Insurance Commissioner provide in person counseling to help with Medicare navigation from 10 a.m.-noon on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St.

The assistance is free and includes one-on-one, confidential counseling to help answer Medicare questions.

For more information, email to shiba.o3a@dshs.wa.gov.

NOLT Conservation Breakfast to honor writer McNulty

The North Olympic Land Trust’s 2024 Conservation Breakfast is scheduled for 10-11:30 a.m.on Saturday, April 6, at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

The event will celebrate the 2023 publication of “Salmon Cedar Rock & Rain,” a book described as “a tapestry of local voices woven together including indigenous voices from the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe, Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, Makah Tribe, and Quinault Indian Nation.”

Featured speakers include authors Tim McNulty and David Guterson, Seattle Times reporter Linda V. Mapes and Loni Grinnell-Greninger, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Council Vice Chair.

McNulty, a poet, conservationist and nature writer who has made his home on the Olympic Peninsula since 1972, will be honored with the 11th Outstanding in the Field Award for his work to connect people and place and encourage environmental action through his writing and community efforts.

Refreshments such as hot drinks and baked goods are included at no cost with an RSVP, though donations are appreciated. Organizers recommend attendees bring a reusable mug or thermos to cut down on waste.

To learn more, RSVP or make a contribution to North Olympic Land Trust, visit northolympiclandtrust.org or call 360-417-1815.

PC to host dialogue on Washington’s native nations

Peninsula College invites the public to participate in “History and Future Considerations for What Is at Stake for Washington’s Native Nations,” a dialogue featuring Dr. Joshua Reid and Melvinjohn Ashue, from 12:35-1:25 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, in the Little Theater at the main campus, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., in Port Angeles.

Participants unable to attend in person can join the livestream on Zoom; get a link at pencol.edu/events.

Marking the 50th anniversary of the Boldt Decision, this installment of the Studium Generale lecture series will explore impacts of this crucial court case, which affirmed the fishing treaty rights of federally recognized tribes in Washington state. The conversation will highlight achievements made since the decision, delve into the challenges facing Western Washington’s Native Nations and Indigenous communities, and envision prospects over the next 50 years.

Speakers will include Dr. Joshua L. Reid, a registered member of the Snohomish Indian Nation and renowned associate professor of American Indian Studies and History at the University of Washington, and Melvinjohn Ashue, a member of the Hoh Indian Tribe who brings an impressive academic and professional background and who works at Peninsula College as an Instructional Consultant.

This event is a collaboration with ʔaʔk̓ʷustəƞáwt̓xʷ House of Learning, Peninsula College Longhouse, and is made possible by the support of the Peninsula College Foundation.

For more information, contact Kate Reavey at kreavey@pencol.edu or call 360-417-6268.