Post office parking lot to get makeover

The Sequim Post Office, 240 S. Sunnyside Ave., announced last week the planned resurfacing of the post office parking lot. Resurfacing begins today, Wednesday, Oct. 31, and ends Thursday, Nov. 1.

Business will be conducted as usual, and a team will be on-site during the work to guide customers safely through the lot during construction, post office officials said.

Customers will be able to more safely and easily navigate the lot, and the update will also beautify the entrance, Sequim Postmaster Rob Garfinkle said.

“We make a conscious effort to meet customer needs and serve them in any way we can,” Garfinkle said. “This remodel is just one way we’re trying to support the community.”

Mujeres de Maiz benefit/auction set

The Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation is hosting its 13th-annual Dia De Muertos Fall Auction Benefit on Saturday, Nov. 3, at Pioneer Memorial Park, 387 E. Washington St. Cost is a suggested $12 donation; no advance tickets are sold.

Set for 3:30-6 p.m., the event features quesadillas and other snacks, while beer and wine will be available. The benefit has two silent auctions features one-of-a kind items. During a break between auctions, program organizers host Mexican tin ornament painting; paint and take home a new ornament for the tree for $5.

All proceeds go to educational programs and projects of Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation, a Sequim-based 501(c)(3) providing access to education to women and children in Chiapas, Mexico. For more about the foundation, see www.MujeresDeMaizOF.org, email to mujeres@olypen.com or write to: Mujeres de Maiz Opportunity Foundation, P.O. Box 1954, Sequim, WA 98382.

For more information about the event, call 360-809-0393.

Apply to be a legislative page

Washington state Sen. Kevin Van De Wege (D-Sequim) invites students of ages 14-16 to apply to be a page for the next legislative session.

In each session, lawmakers can sponsor students to serve for one week — five business days — as legislative pages. During those five days, students are immersed in the Legislature while assisting senators and staff.

In addition to interacting with lawmakers and staff, pages hear lectures from guest speakers and attend page school where they introduce and debate their own bills in a mock committee setting, Van De Wege says.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a student who didn’t enjoy their week as a page,” he says. “Even those who arrive in Olympia feeling shy or nervous typically discover within the first few hours that their shared experience with their peers is as enjoyable as it is enlightening.”

Learn more about the page program at leg.wa.gov/Senate/Administration/Page Program/Pages/default.aspx.

NOLT, Wind Rose host trivia night

Join North Olympic Land Trust & North Olympic Salmon Coalition for “For the Love of Land, Salmon & Wine,” an evening of nature-themed trivia, set for 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W Washington St. Win prizes and enjoy an extended happy hour. All proceeds from the suggested $5 donation benefits local land conservation and wild salmon habitat restoration. All ages are welcome. Food and non-alcoholic beverage options are available.

See northolympicland trust.org/event/trivia-farms-fish-forests-wine/.

Garden club hosts special guest

The Sequim Prairie Garden Club welcomes visitors to the group’s monthly meeting, set for 10:30-11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 5, in the clubhouse at Pioneer Memorial Park, 387 E. Washington St.

Guest speaker is Master Gardener Susan Kalmar, who has a degree in ornamental horticulture and experience in greenhouse management, including designing drip irrigation for seasonal plants. Attendees can look forward to learning how drip irrigation saves water usage and time, resulting in “happy and hardy plants.” Kalmar uses a hands-on mock-up system to demonstrate the installation process; instruction includes planning, purchasing and connecting the equipment.

See www.sequimprairie gardenclub.org for more information.

ONP offering electronic entrance passes

Starting this week, visitors to Olympic National Park can buy their park passes online prior to their visit via www.YourPassNow.com.

Once visitors purchase and save their digital pass, they need to print and bring the pass to be scanned at a park entrance station. While in the park, the paper copy is presented at entrance stations and displayed on the vehicle dashboard, particularly when the vehicle is parked at trailheads, campgrounds and park lodges.

Park users can purchase seven-day passes for private vehicles ($30), motorcycles ($25) and individuals/bicycles ($15), and annual passes ($55).

The federal inter-agency annual pass, the America the Beautiful – The National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Pass Series, is not available through YourPassNow, but is available for purchase at Olympic National Park and online.

City departments set temporary closure

The City of Sequim is closing its departments in early November for internal training. The departments will be unavailable at the following times:

• Public Works, Department of Community Development: noon-4 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 6, and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7

• City Manager and Administrative Group, Finance, Human Resources, and Police Sergeants: noon-4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, and 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. For more information, contact Connie Anderson, Deputy Director of Administrative Services, at 360-681-3442 or canderson @sequimwa.gov.

Newcomers’ group sets lunch

Community members are invited to the Olympic Newcomers’ Club’s November luncheon, set for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the Legends Room at The Cedars at Dungeness, 1965 Woodcock Road. The guest speaker is Jacqueline Laverdure, Education and Outreach Coordinator at the Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary.

Socializing starts at 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon. Lunch is a traditional Thanksgiving meal with oven-roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, sage dressing, cranberry sauce, salad and pumpkin pie for $20 each. A program only fee is $5.

RSVP by Friday, Nov. 2, at www.olympicnewcomers.org/news/monthly-luncheon, by emailing warren.new comers@gmail.com or calling 630-992-5613.

Senior Nutrition menu set

Sequim Senior Nutrition Site menus are served at 4 p.m. at Suncrest Village Retirement Apartments, 251 S. Fifth Ave. Suggested donation is $5 (60 and over), $8 guest and a 24-hour advance reservation is needed. RSVP (at least 24 hours in advance) to 360-683-8491. Menus are subject to change.

Thursday, Nov. 1: Green salad, tuna casserole, dill carrots, dessert

Friday, Nov. 2: Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert

Monday, Nov. 5: Green salad w/egg, chicken and rice, soup, dessert

Tuesday, Nov. 6: Carrot slaw, cheeseburgers, baked fries, dessert

Wednesday, Nov. 7: CLOSED.

NOLS gets top rating from state auditor

The Washington State Auditor’s Office recently awarded the North Olympic Library System (NOLS) the highest rating available for the organization for financial and accountability audits.

As a junior taxing district in the State of Washington, NOLS is required to have the State Auditor’s Office conduct a biennial audit of financial and accountability practices. Copies of the 2016-2017 audit reports, and those for prior years are available at www.nols.org under the “Board and Administration” section of the website.

“Accountability, transparency, and good stewardship of public assets are core values for NOLS,” Library Director Margaret Jakubcin said. “We’re proud to have once again received high audit ratings. The auditor also complimented NOLS’ Financial Operations team for their sound fiscal management practices, good record keeping and efficiency.”