‘Socks for Santa’ campaign to kick off
The Sequim Valley Lions Club will begin it’s 2nd Annual “Socks for Santa” campaign, beginning Friday, Nov. 25, and running through Dec. 16.
The new, warm socks will be distributed to the homeless in the community through the Serenity House organization.
Collection boxes will be set up at the following locations:
• KSQM 91.5 AM, 609 W. Washington St.
• Serenity House Thrift Store, 551 W. Washington St.
• Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce, 1192 E. Washington St.
• 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101 (Blyn).
Dec. 1 Studium to focus on ‘Cigarette Smoking and HIV’
Dr. Shahida Shahrir Mellon’s Studium Generale presentation titled, “Cigarette Smoking and HIV: Health Consequences and the Need for Cessation among People Living with HIV,” on Thursday, Dec. 1, will focus on the importance of understanding that smoking cessation has emerged as a critical, modifiable component to improve the health of people living with HIV (PLWH).
The free presentation is set for 12:35 p.m. in the college’s Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles. It will also be live-streamed through Zoom at pencoledu.zoom.us/j/82308557946 (meeting ID 823 0855 7946).
As PLWH live longer due to antiretroviral therapy, they now experience substantial comorbid, non-AIDS-related illnesses such as cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and cancer, event organizers said.
Shahrir Mellon recently received her Ph.D. from the University of Washington School of Public Health. Her research focuses on tobacco use, smoking cessation, and populations living with HIV. She currently works on several projects related to these topics for the University of Washington and the Veterans Health Administration.
She lives in Sequim with her family and serves on the Clallam County Board of Health.
Genealogy group accepting new members
The County Genealogical Society is now accepting new member and membership renewal applications for 2023. Membership runs from Jan. 1-Dec. 31.
A donation of $40/year for an individual and $50/year for a family to join is requested. To receive the Quarterly Bulletin by regular mail, an additional $5 donation is requested to cover the cost of mailing and copying.
Membership includes receipt of the society’s bulletin, email notification of events, substantial discounts for classes and seminars, Lending Library use, free use of the Research Center meeting rooms, and more.
Applications forms can be found at clallamcogs.org, or at the Society’s Research Center/Library at 403 E. Eighth St., Port Angeles. The center is open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesday-Friday, and noon-4 p.m. on Saturdays.
For more information, call 360-417-5000.
Master Gardener calendars available now
The annual Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County calendar is available now.
The 2023 calendar offers motivational insights on gardening, suggestions on what to plant and when to do it geared specifically for our climate on the Olympic Peninsula, reminders of upcoming gardening events, workshops, and talks, and photographs taken by local Master Gardeners.
Calendars are $8 each, or $7.50 each for two or more copies. Calendars are currently on sale for in-person purchase at the Washington State University Extension Office at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles, or at Fiddleheads Home &; Garden, 126 W. First St., Port Angeles.
To order by mail, send checks payable to “Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County” to: Master Gardener Program, Attn: Harmony Rutter, 223 E. Fourth St., Ste. 15, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
Orders can also be placed online at square.link/u/Andj1F7K.
Proceeds from the 2023 calendar and other fundraising by the Master Gardener Foundation of Clallam County support the sustainable gardening educational programming offered by local Master Gardeners and the Woodcock Demonstration Garden.
Check out online Farm Finder
Find ways to buy direct from Washington state farms, fishers, farmers markets and local grocers through the WA Food and Farm Finder (eatlocalfirst.org/wa-food-farm-finder). Now through Dec. 31, visit the website to find a shopping list of farm-fresh foods, holiday gifts and information about where to find locally grown holiday trees, wreaths and seasonal decor and additional resources.
The Eat Local First campaign is also giving away more than $1,200 worth of local, farm-fresh gifts to state residents, items specially curated from local farms, markets and restaurants. The deadline to enter is midnight on Jan. 1. Winners will be notified in early January.
World AIDS Day event set
Studio Bob (118 1/2 E. Front St, Port Angeles) will host a World AIDS day event consisting of an educational panel and a screening of an art film created by persons living with HIV/AIDS, starting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1.
“Night Sweats” is a poem originally written by one of Connecticut’s oldest living HIV+ activists Rev. Alexander Garbera in 1991, at the apex of AIDS-related deaths in the United States. Under the artistic direction of composer and filmmaker Noah Michael Smith, “Night Sweats” (the poem) has been transformed into a multimedia landscape with an original score of music, choreography and body art by Arien Wilkerson, and visual art by Noah and Ike Smith.
The New Haven Mayor’s Task Force on AIDS and the Guardian Health Association commissioned “Night Sweats,” a virtual multimedia performance program that incorporated music composition, storytelling, dance and video projection, in 2020; this screening will be the in-person premier of the film.
Tickets are $15, though no person hoping to attend is turned away for lack of funds, organizers said.
Get tickets at tinyurl.com/SEQaidsday.
Local office open to help disabled veterans to close early
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) office in the Worksource building, 810 W. Brackett Road, will be open 10 a.m.-noon on Wednesday, Nov. 23, to serve veterans who are needing help with claims or other information.
The office will return to its normal scheduled hours — 10 a.m.-3 p.m. each Wednesday — on Nov. 30.
Services are free and veterans do not have to be members of DAV to receive assistance.
The office is by walk-in; no appointment is necessary. Masks are required upon entrance.
For more information, call 360-775-6482.
Toy Brigade prepares to tour Sequim
Santa’s Toy and Food Fire Brigade returns to touring the City of Sequim in an antique fire truck from Monday, Dec. 5-Friday, Dec. 9, collecting toys and money for Toys for Sequim Kids, and food and money for Sequim Food Bank.
They’ll tentatively be driving 5:30-9 p.m. each day and parking at Centennial Place (northeast corner of Washington Street/Sequim Avenue) on Friday, Dec. 9. Listen for the music and look for Santa and elves handing out candy canes.
