Voter registration deadlines approach
As the deadline for registering to vote or changing addresses for the upcoming general election draws near, county voter registration roles are swelling. As of Oct. 2, Clallam County has 44,810 registered voters. The auditor’s office has registered 664 new voters since the August primary. Auditor Patty Rosand said she expects the county easily will top the 45,000 mark by the time all of the registrations filter through the Secretary of State’s office and the mail. Voters who are not currently registered in Washington have until Oct. 20 to register in person in the auditor’s office. The deadline has passed for registering online or by mail.
Ballots for military and overseas voters were mailed Oct. 3 and the rest of voters will have ballots mailed to them on Oct. 15. Ballots need to be voted and returned or postmarked by Nov. 4.
If a voter does not get a ballot by Monday, Oct. 20, he or she should contact the auditor’s office for a replacement. Call 417-2221 or toll free at 866-433-8683.
Tour of the Totems offered
The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe will host a Tour of the Totems at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, at the Tribal Center, 1033 Old Blyn Highway. The tour includes a visit to the "House of Myths," known locally as the "carving shed," where the totem poles are created. Advance reservations are required. Call Eric Adams at 681-4606 to reserve a spot on the tour. The cost is $20 per person.
Prepare for GED
If you or someone you know needs assistance in preparing for the GED (General Educational Development) Test, help is as close as Sequim Community School at 220 W. Alder St., Room 7E.
Four mornings a week, Monday-Thursday, Peninsula College instructors are providing one-on-one and small group instruction in GED test preparation, assistance in practice testing for the GED examination and help in transitioning to college classes for those who wish to further pursue their educations. Independent study options also are available. The open-entry class meets from 8-11:30 a.m. throughout the fall quarter.
Community residents who already have their high school diplomas but who wish to improve their skills in reading, writing and math in order to prepare for the job market or a return to school also are welcome. Instruction will be tailored to individual needs.
For more information, call Peninsula College at 417-6380.
Well 101: Operations
and Maintenance
Clallam County Environmental Health is offering a Well 101 classes. The class is for operators of small Group B water systems and for private well owners. Participants will learn how to inspect, maintain and protect the well water system and about testing the water quality. The classes will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim. The class is free and open to the public. No preregistration is required. Phone 417-2506.
Gardiner passing lane meeting set
A public meeting to present an update on the proposed Gardiner truck-passing lane is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, in the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road.
Department of Transportation assistant engineer David Garlington and regional administrator Kevin Dayton will discuss their findings and address specific safety and environmental concerns brought up in a prior committee-sponsored meeting.
Construction for the truck-passing lane is slated to begin in May and is one of four to go on U.S. Highway 101 within an eight-mile stretch between Discovery Bay and Sequim.
State Rep. Kevin Van De Wege, D-Sequim, and Patsy Feeley, assistant to Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, also are expected to be in attendance.
For more information, e-mail jalynndbr21@earthlink.net.
Tickets available for Harvest of Hope
Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s annual Harvest of Hope Winemaker’s Gala is set for Saturday, Oct. 11, at the SunLand Golf & Country Club in Sequim.
There are only a few tickets remaining for this gala that raises funds for patients of the Thomas Family Cancer Center at Olympic Medical Center.
The theme of the evening is "A Night in Tuscany" and will feature Sequim chef Steve Little and winemaker Rob Griffin from Barnard Griffin Winery. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m., with dinner served at 6:45 p.m. The live auction features such items as tickets to the taping of "American Idol," "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," tickets to the Fifth Avenue Theater and Seattle Symphony, a Hawaiian vacation, and a tour of the Barnard Griffin Winery in eastern Washington.
For more information and ticket prices, contact the foundation office at 417-7144.
Humane society
encourages doggie adoption
The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society, in partnership with the American Humane Association, has set aside October as Adopt-A-Dog Month. Companionship, health benefits, social interaction and devoted love are just a few of the benefits of having a dog and rescuing one from the humane society is beneficial to both the dog and the new owner.
The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society is open between 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and people are invited to visit with the available dogs and find one for a forever home. For more information, call the shelter at 457-8206.
Discuss the debate
The final presidential debate will be shown live on a large screen on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Port Angeles Public Library, corner of Lauridsen Boulevard and Peabody Street.
The debate watch party is free and open to the public, with ample parking available on the south side of the library. The debate between John McCain and Barack Obama is scheduled to be aired on C-SPAN, beginning at
6 p.m., but viewers are urge to arrive no later than
5 p.m. to participate in preliminary activities, which will include announcements and the launching of a Get Out The Vote campaign, directed by Mark Scoville. Light snacks will be offered, including coffee and cookies.
Following the debate, there will be an opportunity for members of the audience to share their reactions to the exchanges between the candidates. For more information about the event, contact Charles Strickland at 417-2984.
Public invited to razor clam meeting
National Park Service and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists will hold an informational meeting about the Kalaloch razor clam population and projections about this year’s razor clam harvest from 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the Forks Library.
The biologists will discuss the status of the Kalaloch razor clam population, results of ongoing research and monitoring of the razor clam population and the forecast for the potential 2008-2009 harvest season.
For more information, e-mail Barb_Maynes@nps.gov or call 565-3005.
Pile burning begins in ONF
To reduce hazardous fuels in a controlled manner, Olympic National Forest officials expect to begin annual pile burning throughout the forest soon. The exact date will depend on local weather conditions and will occur in areas that have experienced recent logging activity. The burning may continue to November.
As a result, residents and visitors may see or smell smoke and witness glowing at night. People should not be alarmed. The fires are monitored closely and local authorities will be notified and kept informed.
Questions may be directed to the Hood Canal Ranger District front desk at 360-765-2200.
