Free AARP Tax-Aide service available

IRS-certified TAX-AIDE volunteers will be available at two local locations for free tax service.

Appointments are required.

Volunteers are available at the Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St., from Jan. 25-April 15. Make an appointment by calling 360-452-6147.

Get TAX-AIDE service from Feb. 2-April 15 at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St. (call 360-207-4130 or email to pataxaide@gmail.com), or at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St., by calling 360-457-7004.

Guild thrift shop sets closure

The Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild Thrift Shop at 204 W. Bell St. will be closed until March.

The shop, however, will be open to accept donations from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays, starting Feb. 6.

The shop’s grand re-opening is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, March 4, with a new assortment of furniture, clothing and kitchen items.

Check the organization’s Facebook page for updates and more information.

The guild is actively seeking new volunteers for the shop. Those interested are encouraged to stop by the shop when it is open to pick up an application.

All shop proceeds are donated to local medical needs, including Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, Sequim Free Clinic, EMT needs for Sequim’s fire department, and nursing scholarships at Peninsula College.

OPAS group to talk bird nesting, Great Backyard Bird Count

Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society’s Backyard Birding series continues with “Bird Nesting and the Great Backyard Bird Count,” presented by Bob Boekelheide and Ken Wiersema, at 10 a.m.-noon, Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Raindshadow Hall at the Dungeness River Nature Center, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.

With spring just over the horizon, OPAS offers this always-popular class on bird nesting. Attendees will learn where and how local bird species select and build nests and how nesting plays an integral part in pair bonding. Presenters will show sample nests, and will end with a “how to” walkthrough for birdwatchers of every age and skill level who wish to participate in the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count set for Feb. 17-20.

Admission to the seminar is free. However, a donation of $5 per person is suggested to support the group’s ongoing education and bird conservation programs. Current COVID-19 health precautions, as recommended by Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Clallam County Public Health, will be followed.

Tim’s Place offerings expand

Tim’s Place, a respite program at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave., has expanded to two days a week. It now is available from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The program offers activities for people living with physical or mental challenges such as memory loss, providing some free time for their caregivers.

Participants enjoy activities such as music, games, exercise and arts and crafts. Trained professionals and volunteers also take part. Lunch is provided.

The suggested donation is $30 per day. Information is available from the program director Rhonda Heyn at 360-912-3605.

Tim’s Place is named for the late husband of Carolee Dunn. She provided major funding for the program.

Newcomers to host meeting, George Washington

The Olympic Newcomers’ Club will host their first quarterly meeting of 2023 with guest presenter, George Washington (Vern L. Frykholm, Jr.). Open to anyone living on the Olympic Peninsula, this free meeting is slated for 1 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Community Room at the KSQM 91.5 FM studio, 609 W. Washington St.

Frykholm began portraying Washington in February 2012 and has performed more than 450 portrayals to more than 25,000 people. He has talked to: students at public, private and home schools; service clubs; libraries; business and church groups, and regional and national conferences.

He has portrayed the first U.S. president at the George Washington Inn for both Lavender Weekend in July (10 years) and the Northwest Colonial Festival in August (seven years).

The Newcomers’ Club was organized locally in the 1980s to offer information about the local area. Over the years, members have opened their membership to everyone as the group is primarily a social club hosting many events in member’s homes and offering group events such as bowling, cards, dining and monthly appetizers.

Space is limited to 40, so RSVP at olympicnewcomers.org prior to Feb. 6.

Human trafficking in spotlight at Studium Generale

Clallam County Prosecutor Mark Nichols will present a “Global Look at Human Trafficking” at a Studium Generale event starting at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 26, at Peninsula College’s Little Theatre, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

Four Soroptimist Clubs sponsor the event that examines the cases of men, women and children who were trafficked worldwide — including a case in Clallam County.

Soroptimist Clubs of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks encourage the public to come learn about the myths and misconceptions of human trafficking.

The program is free to students and public.

For more information, call Danetta Rutten at 360-460-1722.

Genealogy started workshop set

The Clallam County Genealogical Society hosts “I Know Nothing About Genealogy” beginners’ genealogy class starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, at the CCGS Research Center, 403 E. 8th St., Port Angeles.

There is no cost for the class and all are welcome.

For more information or to reserve a place, call 360-417-5000. See clallamcogs.org.

‘Tea to Die For’ session set

Death Café “Tea to Die For,” sponsored by Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, is set for 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, in Sequim and Wednesday, Feb. 22, in Port Angeles.

The Sequim discussion will be in the KSQM 91.5 FM Community Room, 609 W. Washington St., No. 17, while the Port Angeles talk will be held in the craft room upstairs at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.

Tea, coffee and snacks will be served. The groups are free and open to all.

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 or apprehensive about death, organizers say.

For more information, call 360-452-1511.

Nest box building class set

Learn how to build nest boxes and how they can build your own at a Nest Box Building Class set for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, at the Dungeness River Nature Center’s Rainshadow Hall, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.

Cost is $25 per nest box; funds cover materials and support the nature center’s programs.

A short presentation will be followed by hands-on assembly of the box that participants can take home and install in their yard. Materials, tools and expert assistance is provided.

Participants must pre-register. Call 360-681-4076 or register online at tinyurl.com/SEQnestbox.

Running Start meetings set

Peninsula College will host a series of Running Start Information Nights in Port Angeles, Port Townsend, Forks and via Zoom in February, March and April.

The events are designed to provide prospective Running Start students and their parents with an opportunity to learn more about the program and how high school juniors and seniors can earn college credit, tuition-free. They will also learn about strategies for success and what parents and families can do to be supportive.

A Running Start Information Night is set for 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, and Thursday, April 13, in the Little Theater on the main campus at 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles; an optional campus tour will be offered at 6:30 p.m.

Online Zoom sessions are also available at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, and at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22.

For more information, contact Cindy Lauderback at clauderback@pencol.edu or 360-417-6341. Or, visit pencol.edu/running-start.

Photo by Dow Lambert Bob Boekelheide and Ken Wiersema present “Bird Nesting and the Great Backyard Bird Count” at the Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society meeting on Feb. 4. Pictured here are Roufus hummingbirds on a feeder.