Campfire ban in place at ONP, ONF

Olympic National Park and Olympic National Forest last week announced a complete ban on all campfires, including at campgrounds on the park’s coastal areas.

The move to Stage 2 fire restrictions is because of continued hot and dry conditions that are forecasted to continue with no relief in sight and the need to align with state and county campfire restrictions.

Gas or propane camp stoves may still be used in the wilderness backcountry and campgrounds but should be operated well away from flammable vegetation and forest litter. Extreme caution is urged with any open flame.

“We have already seen wildfires start throughout western Washington and these types of conditions are highly conducive to wildfires starting on the peninsula,” Interagency Fire Management Officer Jeff Bortner said. “By following these restrictions everyone can help reduce the risk of unintentional wildfires.”

The public is urged to be aware of the high fire danger and take precautions to ensure fire safety. Visitors to public lands should always use caution to prevent human-caused wildfires. To reduce the risk, park officials ask residents to remember that: fireworks are always prohibited on federal public lands; before going camping, they should learn of any new restrictions that may be in place; and, if smoking, to always dispose of cigarette debris in some type of an ashtray.

To report a fire, dial 911.

Genealogical group sets beginning class

The Clallam County Genealogical Society will offer a class for beginning genealogists on Saturday, Aug. 26.

The “I Know Nothing About Genealogy” class begins at 1:30 p.m. at the society’s Research Center at 403 E. Eighth St., Port Angeles.

Society members will help attendees “climb” their family tree by introducing methods, resources, some basic concepts and more.

The class and the use of the group’s library facilities are free to the public.

For more information, call the Society at 360-417-5000 between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, or noon-4 p.m. on Saturdays. The Research Center is open at those times and visitors are welcome. Or, visit clallamcogs.org.

Learn about Honor Flight at meeting

Clallam County Veterans are invited to hear about to the Puget Sound Honor Flight in a special presentation set for 6-7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, at the Northwest Veterans Resource Center, 216 S. Francis St., Port Angeles.

Hear from Renee and Jim Peavey, Puget Sound Honor Flight coordinators, about the Puget Sound Honor Flight mission, a program that celebrates Western Washington veterans with a free trip to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at the memorials built in their honor.

Also presenting is Steve Talkington, a retired U.S. Navy Chief and previous Puget Sound Honor Flight board member. Having served two tours in Vietnam as medical corpsman, Talkington recently completed his Honor Flight.

Refreshments will be served after the presentation.

Event co-sponsors are VFW No. 6787 in Carlsborg and the Michael Trebert chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The Honor Flight Network is a national nonprofit organization comprised of independent hubs working together to achieve the Honor Flight mission, and currently honors those who served during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and veterans of any service era who are critically ill. It relies on grants and donations from individuals, organizations, and corporation to fund the flights for honored veterans.

No federal funds are allocated to this program.

Apply now for OMC Foundation scholarships

Applications are now available for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s $500,000 scholarship fund that looks to help increase the number of healthcare workers in Clallam County, allowing current OMC employees to further their education and others to pursue medical careers at Peninsula College.

The application is available at omcf.org.

Growing the workforce is one of the most significant challenges facing the healthcare industry and OMC today, foundation representatives said; the foundation initiated this program to increase the potential employee pool that OMC can draw from.

It is anticipated that half of the $500,000 will go to employees seeking continued education in health care, while the other half will go to area students who want to take medical courses at Peninsula College.

Scholarships will be prioritized for individuals pursuing health care education in fields that provide direct patient care.

Questions regarding the application submission process can be directed to the OMC Foundation office at 360-417-7144.

Summer’s final ice cream social set

The final Sequim Prairie Grange ice cream social of the summer is scheduled for 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, at 290 Macleay Road.

Inside the grange members will be scooping ice cream desserts, and outside the grounds will be motorcycles, classic cars and trucks on display.

Attendees can choose between a sundae, banana split or a root beer float for $7, with part of the proceeds going to the local chapter of the American Legion Riders.

For more information, call Dave at 360-797-4777.

Bake sale to boost guild’s efforts

Sequim Guild of Seattle Children’s Hospital will be selling homemade baked goods from two booths at the Pumpkin Patch Flea Market — at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Kitchen-Dick Road) from 8 a.m. until items are sold out on Saturday, Aug. 26.

Prices range from $5-$15 for cookies, pies, breads, jams, jellies and more. The goodies are hand-crafted in the kitchens of the Sequim Guild Sisters.

All funds received from sales will go to uncompensated care and research at Seattle Children’s Hospital.

‘Wear and Share’ at Sequim event

A “Wear & Share” event for the whole family will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 85 W. Washington St. Lightly used clothing, shoes, and accessories will be available for free. Attendees are asked to bring their own shopping bags to gather the items for babies, children, youth, men and women.

Those who would like to donate items that are clean, free of tears or stains and lightly worn, may bring them to the church from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, and 9 a.m.-noon on Friday, Aug. 25. Of particular need are clothes for school age children and youth. Those who donate are encouraged to stay to help sort and fold their donated items with women from the Relief Society, who have organized this annual event for more than 10 years.

For more information, email Sharon Ryan at RyanSharon49@gmail.com.

Guild seeking donations

The Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild Thrift Shop is always seeking high-quality donations, including clothing, housewares, and small furniture.

The shop is open for donations from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays and when the shop is open for business. The guild is also welcoming more volunteers; contact a store volunteer for more information.

Rainbow Girls set ice cream social

The Port Angeles Rainbow Girls host a free ice cream social and membership event for girls age 10-16, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, at the Port Angeles Masonic Temple, 622 So. Lincoln St.

For more information and to RSVP, contact Tricia Gormley at 360-912-1073 or parainbow33@gmail.com.

For more about Rainbow Girls, visit nwrainbow.org.