Community forum
on water issues scheduled
The Washington State Department of Ecology is hosting "A Community Forum: Managing Water in Your Watershed" in Sequim. The meeting is a chance for people to learn more about the instream flow and water management rule process in the Dungeness River area. Comments on approaches to managing water, especially during summer low flows, will be welcome. The forum will be from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, in the public meeting room at the John Wayne Marina in Sequim. Those attending the forum can find out more about their watershed and the proposed rule through printed materials, posters and one-on-one discussions with water resource managers. There will be a presentation from 6-6:30pm on "Water Management Challenges in the Dungeness," and a question and answer session will follow.
‘Making It Last:’ how to
think and act green
Energy efficiency, ethical investing, natural landscaping and carbon credits are just a few of the topics to explore at "Making It Last" March 21-22 at Peninsula College in Port Angeles. All events are free and open to the public. The celebration of all things green kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday, March 21, in the Little Theater with keynote speaker Eric Corey Freed, an award-winning green architect with OrganicARCHITECT in San Francisco.
Saturday, March 22, brings a free, daylong exploration of green possibilities for the peninsula that includes a dozen workshops in the Little Theater and a variety of exhibitors in the PUB from 9 a.m.-
3 p.m. to discuss green ideas, the latest innovations and opportunities for community collaboration.
Rounding up mule, draft horse teams
The Clallam County Fair is looking for local draft horse/mule team enthusiasts to present a show on the first day of the fair, which is Aug. 14. Clallam or Jefferson county citizens who might have teams that pull logs, wagons, weights or pack are asked to attend a meeting at 4 p.m., Wednesday, March 26, at the fairgrounds. For more information, call the fair office at 417-2551.
Easter celebration set in P.T.
The CommUnity Easter celebration will be at the Wheeler Theater in Fort Worden at 11 a.m., Sunday, March 23. The Rev. Pamela Douglas-Smith, minister of Unity of Port Townsend, will speak. For more information, call Unity at 360-385-6519 or go to the Web site at www.unitypt.org. All are welcome.
Friends of Olympic National
Parks hosts events
Historic preservation specialist Russ Dalton will speak about the history and restoration of the Elwha Valley’s Humes Cabin at next week’s Friends of Olympic National Park annual meeting at 7 p.m., Thursday, March 20. The program and meeting are free and open to the public and will be held at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center at 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles. The public also is invited to join Dalton and the Friends of Olympic National Park on a five-mile guided hike to Humes Ranch on Saturday, March 22. Hikers should meet at 9 a.m. at the Whiskey Bend Trail head in the Elwha Valley and should bring their own lunch, water and raingear and come prepared for a variety of weather conditions. More information about the Friends of Olympic National Park is available online at www.friendsonp.org.
Irrigation Festival kicks off with dinner
The Irrigation Festival Kickoff Dinner marks the beginning for much of the festival. It introduces 2008 festival dignitaries and the recently selected 2008 royalty. It also is a major fundraising event for the festival and there will be a live auction for festival pins and donated items, as well as a silent auction. The dinner is Saturday, March 29, in the Club Seven Room at 7 Cedars Casino, starting at 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased in advance at Pacific Mist Books or KeyBank in Sequim.
Septic system work group to meet
The Clallam County On-site Septic System Work Group will meet from 6-8 p.m. Monday, March 24, in Room 160 at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles. The group will discuss requirements for septic system maintenance providers and review funding options for implementing the Clallam County On-Site Septic System Management Plan. The meeting is open to the public and citizens are encouraged to attend. For more information about the work group and the septic system management plan, visit www.clallam.net/html/septic.htm or contact Clallam County Environmental Health Services at 417-2543.
Spring into disaster preparation
For years, fire departments and safety officials have reminded residents to change all smoke alarm batteries when daylight saving time begins.
"Spring heralds increased risks for flash flooding, thunderstorms and wildfires throughout the Pacific Northwest and daylight saving time is a great time to inventory and restock emergency kits and rehearse disaster plans," FEMA regional administrator Susan Reinertson said.
An "Are You Ready" citizens’ guide is available at www.fema.gov and www.ready.gov and from FEMA’s publications warehouse by calling 800-480-2520.
Groups tackle underage drinking
The Sequim PRoTECT Coalition in collaboration with the federal government’s Interagency Coordinating Committee for the Prevention of Underage Drinking is sponsoring a town hall meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, March 24, at the Sequim High School auditorium, 533 N. Sequim Ave. Child care is available for children 2-7.
Underage drinking is an important issue for communities to consider. Parents, teachers, officials, youths and other community members need be educated about the impact that underage drinking has on their community and learn how important their roles are in preventing underage drinking.
Wildlife refuge holds volunteer training
The Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge is seeking volunteers to assist visitors and staff. Primary duties include greeting visitors and providing information about the refuge’s trails and wildlife. Additional opportunities include wildlife surveys, invasive species mitigation, maintenance, trail roving, beach clean-up and administration.
The refuge will hold its annual new volunteer training from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Friday, April 11, (lunch provided 12:30-1:30) at the Sequim Prairie Grange hall, 290 Macleay Road. In addition, the refuge will hold its annual refresher for current volunteers from 1:30 -3:30 p.m. For more information and to reserve your space at the training, call 457-8451 or send an e-mail to david_falzetti@fws.gov.
Supplies needed
for neighborhood garden
The Community Organic Garden of Sequim is seeking donations from the public. The club’s wish list includes quality hoses 50 feet or longer, rain barrels, cedar and hardware for building a 4-foot picket fence, a 6-foot by 8-foot storage shed, wood and hardware for building an additional shed, wooden benches, picnic tables and garden tools. Monetary donations are accepted and appreciated. All donations are tax-deductible. For more information, call Liz Harper at 683-7698.
