News Briefs

08/27/08

Peninsula College offers

ESL class in Sequim

Beginning Sept. 8, in Sequim, Peninsula College will offer small group instruction in English as a Second Language, ESL, at Sequim Community School, 220 W. Alder St., Room 7E. The classes will include practice in reading, writing, speaking, listening, pronunciation and interaction skills. Classes will meet from 1-3:30 p.m. and again from 5-8 p.m., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. For more information, call 417-6380 or 877-452-9277, ext. 6380.

Do something easy for safety

Troopers of the Washington State Patrol are asking drivers to do something easy for safety.

"When you come upon a trooper or other emergency vehicle beside the roadway, please either move left or slow down as you pass," said State Patrol Chief John R. Batiste. "Please give our troopers some room to work beside the road."

It is not unusual for impaired drivers to hit parked police vehicles outright, as happened in Spokane just a few days ago. But today’s request is aimed at sober and courteous drivers who still pass too close to troopers standing beside a stopped vehicle.

Moving left or slowing down is required by law, but troopers will focus on education not enforcement. The best option for drivers is to move left if safe. If you’re on a road with multiple lanes going in the same direction, move completely into the next lane over. If it’s not safe to move, troopers ask that you slow down.

SNAP seeks volunteers

for anniversary celebration

Special Needs Advocacy Parents seeks volunteers for "A Community with Heart Includes Everyone," a celebration of 10 years of nonprofit service to community members with developmental disabilities. Volunteers are needed to help with planning and at the event with an exhibit of participants’ art, silent auction, raffle, music and set up and tear down. The free event will be held from 1-5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at the band shell in Sequim’s Carrie Blake Park. For more information, call event coordinator Victoria Jazwic at 360-477-0747 or

e-mail victoriaspath@yahoo.com.

Defensive driving

refresher course offered

The AAA Driver Improvement Program is accepting reservations for its one-day refresher course on defensive driving skills. The course gives practical guidance for traffic accident prevention and enhances driver safety and confidence. Successful course completion qualifies drivers 55 years of age and over for automobile insurance premium discounts. However, all ages are welcome to attend. The course is from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., with one hour for lunch, on Friday, Sept. 19, at Pioneer Memorial Park clubhouse in Sequim. The fee is $16. Preregistration is advised. For information or to register call 800-462-3728.

Well 101 class offered

Clallam County Environmental Health is offering a Well 101 class. The class is for operators of small community water systems and for private well owners. Participants will learn how to inspect, maintain and protect their well water system and about testing the water quality. The class will be held from 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, Aug. 28, at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., in the public meeting room, No. 160. The class is free and open to the public. No preregistration is required. Call 417-2506.

Serenity Shop supplies

back-to-school scholars

The Serenity Thrift Shop in Sequim will donate profits from now through September to help provide school supplies for students from families in Serenity House programs. This year, the back-to-school drive will help prepare more than 60 students, providing supplies, backpacks and other items that crop up as necessities in the first weeks of the new school year. The Sequim store also accepts donations of back-to-school supplies and financial donations to help purchase supplies. All donations are tax deductible. The store is located at 215 N.

Sequim Ave. and is open weekdays 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Serenity House is a partner agency of the United Way of Clallam County.

Clallam County beaches open

The Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dungeness Spit westward to Cape Flattery is open for all species of shellfish collection, according to the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services. In addition, Discovery Bay and Sequim Bay are open to butter clams only. For more information, call the Marine Biotixin Hotline at 800-562-5632 or visit the Department of Health’s Marine Biotoxin Web site at ww4.doh.wa.gov/gis/biotoxin.