PORT TOWNSEND — The city of Port Townsend Water Department is conducting water system flushing in the southwest area of town through Wednesday and plans to flush the downtown and port area Thursday evening.
Water distribution lines need to be flushed periodically to prevent water quality problems, officials said.
Flushing traces of minerals and sediment from the pipelines may cause short-term changes in the appearance of the water, but the water remains safe to drink, they said.
Brownish-colored water can usually be eliminated by running taps for a few minutes. If the water does not clear up, call 360-379-5001.
Artistic chairs
PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Library Foundation invites local artists to “take a seat for the library.”
Artists’ proposals for creatively redecorated library chairs are being accepted now for the Art Blastapalooza auction at the Port Angeles Library on Sept. 15.
Twenty sturdy children’s chairs, no longer needed by the library, await transformation to new looks — and ultimately new homes.
Artists are invited to submit design proposals to redecorate one or more of these little chairs.
Completed Art Seats will be displayed in public library locations around Clallam County this summer and auctioned at the fundraiser in September.
Samples of the wooden chairs and complete project details can be viewed at any library overseen by the North Olympic Library System — those in Port Angeles, Sequim, Forks and Clallam Bay — or online at www.northolympiclibraryfoundation.org.
Artists can elect to decorate more than one chair. All artistic mediums will be considered, but finished chairs must retain their usability as seating.
To submit an artist’s proposal for the Art Seat project, send a full description for decorating a chair or chairs and artist contact information to ninacpitts@gmail.com. Sketches are encouraged.
Proposals also can be mailed to the North Olympic Library Foundation, Attn: Nina Pitts/Art Seat, 2210 S. Peabody St., Port Angeles, WA 98362.
For more information about NOLF, visit www.northolympiclibraryfoundation.org or contact Pitts at 360-457-4974 or ninacpitts@gmail.com.
Support group
SEQUIM — A woman identified only as Azella will speak about personal experiences with a stroke at a brain injury support group meeting Monday.
The support group will meet from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sequim Fire Department, 323 N. Fifth Ave.
The event is free and open to the public.
In association with Washington State Brain Injury Issue Association, this support group provides knowledge and understanding of brain injuries of any type ranging from concussions to strokes and aneurysms.
Azella will speak about how she has dealt with the effects of a stroke for the past 11 years.
Food and coffee will be served.
For more information, phone Azella at 360-406-1163.
Flight operations
COUPEVILLE — Field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island are scheduled to occur at the outlying field in Coupeville early to midafternoon and night Wednesday.
Training has been scheduled for early evening and late night Wednesday.
Operations will continue from midafternoon to early afternoon and late night Thursday.
Training may occur early evening and late night Friday.
Aircraft carrier-based flight training also will occur at Ault Field evening Monday.
Operations have been scheduled from evening to late night Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Training will continue morning to midafternoon Friday.
The schedule is subject to change to meet mission requirements.
Comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to the station’s comment line at 360-257-6665 or via email at comments.NASWI@navy.mil.
All other questions can be directed to the public affairs office at 360-257-2286.
KONP talk guests
PORT ANGELES — Here is this week’s schedule for the 1:05 p.m. to 2 p.m. local talk show segment on KONP radio, at 1450 AM, 101.7 FM and www.konp.com on the internet outside the Port Angeles area.
Station General Manager Todd Ortloff hosts the Monday through Thursday segments.
This week’s scheduled lineup:
Monday: Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols discusses recent criminal cases that have resolved through the courts, hate crime and local criminal justice statistics for the first two months of 2017.
Tuesday: Port Angeles School District Superintendent Marc Jackson, Facilities and Maintenance Director Nolan Duce, and board Vice President Sarah Methner on “School District Facilities’ Future … What’s Ahead.”
Second segment: Captain Joseph House is having a fundraising concert/dance with an Elvis impersonator, Clint Ingbretson.
Wednesday: Duane Webb, gastroenterologist, discusses “Colon Cancer: Causes, Treatment and Prevention.”
Second segment: Steve Burke, executive director at William Shore Memorial Pool, discusses the latest developments in the pool district.
Thursday: Norm Goodin and Dave Kanters talk about Vietnam vet combat medics.
Second segment: Danetta Rutten discusses legal marijuana and presents some brain science on its effect on the brains of children.
Earthquake preparedness class
BLYN — An informational meeting on the current threat of a 9.0-magnitude earthquake will convene at 6 p.m. Thursday.
The open meeting will be delivered by Clallam County Fire District No. 3 Assistant Fire Chief Dan Orr at the Jamestown Tribal Center, located at 1033 Old Blyn Highway.
The projected earthquake is anticipated as a result of a rupture of the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a 750-mile-long fault that runs along the Pacific coast.
According to a news release, the earthquake would be 2,000 times more powerful than the Nisqually earthquake in 2001.
Clallam County Commissioner Mark Ozias said, “While Clallam County will do everything possible within its limited resources, it is incumbent on our neighborhoods to become educated and prepared for what may be the largest-ever natural disaster in North America.”
Certified programs offered in PT
PORT TOWNSEND — Registration is open for two free certified Dirt Rich School programs set for April.
The public is invited to a 12-week permaculture design course lecture series or a three-month farmcraft internship, both held at the school at Compass Rose Farms, 1463 W. Uncas Road.
The lecture series will be held every Thursday from April 13 to June 29 and will focus on holistic home and land solutions that can be applied in rural landscapes and urban backyards through discussions and hands-on experience.
The on-site internship will be held from Monday, April 3, to Friday, June 30, and will teach about sustainable food production, water and energy harvesting, natural building, waste management, animal systems, appropriate technology, community development and homestead scale land management.
After completing the lecture series, attendees will earn a permaculture design certificate.
For more information or registration, visit www.thedirtrichschool.org.
Driving route
SEQUIM — The driving route on the north side of Carrie Blake Community Park is currently one way, flowing west to east.
Vehicle traffic enters from Blake Avenue and exits off Rhodefer Road.
There is no park entry for motor vehicles and no parking allowed on either side of Rhodefer Road for safety reasons.
This change was made to increase safety to visitors of the park and to accommodate additional parking spots to support the numerous events at the park, according to the city.
For more information, contact Joe Irvin at 360-582-2457 or jirvin@sequimwa.gov.
Classified employee week
PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School District passed a resolution honoring classified employees at its March 9 board meeting.
Last year, Gov. Jay Inslee declared March 14-18 as Classified Public School Employee Week in Washington state, continuing a tradition — started in 1975 by the Public School Employees of Washington — to recognize the contributions of educational support professionals who work in schools in support of student learning and success.
“We have an amazing classified support staff,” Superintendent of Port Angeles Schools Marc Jackson said.
“Thank you to our classified employees for their outstanding work.”
The school district currently has 243 classified school employees.
Student of Month
SEQUIM — Allison Van De Wege, a Sequim High School sophomore with a 3.9 grade-point average, was named Student of the Month by the Sequim Elks Lodge at its January Social Night Dinner.
She was selected for her high academic achievements and student involvement at Sequim High, according to a news release.
Her interests are cooking, hiking and being around people.
She is also involved in leadership class, dance and Aspire, volunteering at Sequim Food Bank, FBLA and Be the Change Club.
Her future plans are to attend college on the West Coast and major in elementary education.
She is the daughter of Kevin and Jennifer Van De Wege.
School board action
PORT ANGELES — At a recent Port Angeles School Board meeting, two new student representatives were sworn in to the board of directors.
Port Angeles Schools Superintendent Marc Jackson administered the oath of office to Lillian Eyl, a senior at Lincoln High School, and Kristin Kirkman, a senior at Port Angeles High School, who will serve through June.
Student representatives to the board report to the board about events and issues at their respective high schools and likewise as well as report to high school staff and students what is happening on the district level.
They will not vote on board action items.
In other news, school counselors were honored for their service and assistance to students and staff as part of National School Counseling Week, Feb. 6-10.
Jackson and Brianne Barrett, director of special services, honored the counselors.
“Thank you for your service and contributions as Port Angeles School District counselors,” Barrett said.
Counselors honored were Cecilia Jacobs, Dana Snell, Sabrina Caverly and Jason Gooding, Port Angeles High School; Sandra MacIntosh-Ryan, Lincoln High School; Nancy Bowman, Stevens Middle School; Laura Lill, Dry Creek Elementary; Colleen Harke, Franklin Elementary; Adam Taylor, Hamilton Elementary; Vicki Rockholt, Jefferson Elementary; and Amberlin Jaffrey, Roosevelt Elementary.
Rotary honors
PORT ANGELES — Several local students were recently honored at a Port Angeles Nor’Wester Rotary meeting.
Port Angeles High School student Alyssa Sweet received a Vocational Scholarship of $1,000 for her achievements in vocational and technical classes.
Stevens Middle School top honor students Jaida Wood, Carter Droz, Emma Olson, Brianna Tiemersma, Natalie Martinson, Ava Brenkman, Myra Walker, Henry Shaw, Robby Fors, Jake Jacobsen, Taylor Martin, Blake Parker, Shinia Kindall, Tarun Seera and Madeline Montana were recognized for their excellence in academics, sports and music.
Each middle school student had the opportunity to speak about their grade-point average, hobbies, favorite classes and future aspirations.
Student of Month
SEQUIM — Erin Dwyer, a freshman at Sequim High School, was recognized as the Sequim Sunrise Rotary February Student of the Month.
Erin lives in Port Angeles and moved to the area with her family 11 years ago from Fresno, Calif.
She was joined by her parents, Susan and Keith, and her teacher Mark Knudson, who nominated her.
“She mentors another student and is always willing to help and step in when there is a leadership vacancy in any of her classes,” Knudson said in a news release.
Erin is active in track, Future Business Leaders of America and the International Club, and enjoys sports, playing piano, skiing, reading and technology.
Her plans for the future include majoring in law with a focus on civil and immigration law.
SkillsUSA results
PORT ANGELES — Students enrolled in Port Angeles High School and the North Olympic Peninsula Skills Center (NOPSC) recently participated in Olympic Regional SkillsUSA contests in machining, cabinetmaking, autobody, digital film and TV production and leadership events.
The results are as follow:
• Machining, PAHS, Saturday, Jan. 28, with PAHS instructor Justin Parker: Ryan Moore, first; Cory Cooke, second; Bradley Lightfoot, third; Abigail Wilson, fourth; and Cole Gormley, fifth.
• Cabinetmaking, PAHS, Jan. 28, with PAHS instructor Tim Branham: Kaytlin Turner, first; Marcus Trijillo, second; Cody Anderson, fourth; and Lucas Verstegen, fifth.
• Digital Film & TV Production, NOPSC, Jan, 28, with NOPSC instructor Patric McInnis: Nathaniel Perry, Colby Backman, Team 1, Digital Film, first; Bryson Grenier, Blake Beeson, Team 2, Digital Film, second; Brandon Gomez, Ed Lester, Team 3, Digital Film, third; Jordan Campbell, James Murphy, Team 1, TV Production, first; and Holden Hapsburg, Johnathan Maestas, Team 2, TV Production, second.
• Autobody, NOPSC, Saturday, Feb. 4, with NOPSC instructor Dan Helpenstell: Hunter Dougherty, Collision Repair Job Demo, third; Zachary Baier, Collision Repair Job Demo, fourth; and Wes Duncan, Job Interview, third.
• Leadership, NOPSC and PAHS, Feb. 4, with NOPSC instructor Lillian Easton: Lucas Verstegen, Action Skills, Woods program, first; Allyson Gomez, Job Demonstration, Infant CPR, Medical Careers program, second; Madison Montgomery, Job Interview, Medical Careers program, second; Glenn Dekard, Job Interview, Woods program, third; Maham Ibrahim, Job Demonstration, Personal Protective Equipment, Medical Careers program, third; and Dawson Van Vorst, Job Interview, Woods program, third.
Students of Month
PORT ANGELES — Two Jefferson Elementary School students recently were honored by Principal Joyce Mininger and school board President Joshua Jones at a board meeting as Port Angeles School District Students of the Month.
Javen DeScala and Lily Halberg — both in sixth grade — were selected by Jefferson staff as part of a districtwide program honoring exemplary students during the 2016-17 school year.
Mininger shared some comments about the students from their former teachers:
“Javen’s sincerity and willingness to participate with questions and comments helps our class be a community of learners.
“Lily works hard, is kind to others and works well in groups.
“She has a bright outlook and is cheerful and motivated.”
Chain gang busy
PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office’s Chain Gang brushed and chipped county rights of way on Camp Hayden Road, Durwatcher Road, Evergreen Parkway, Huckleberry Hill and O’Brien Road from Feb. 27-March 4.
Notable items found along roadways were 17 needles, a marijuana pipe, a carpet, 16 tires, two bicycles, two stoves, clothes, shoes, a microwave, a toilet, four TVs, a computer, a bumper, a hubcap, a ratchet and an iPod.
Crew members found illegal dumpsites at Charlie Creek Road, 2 miles east of Clallam Bay, the state Highways 112/113 junction, Monroe Road, Elwha River Road, Granite Road, Black Diamond and Karpen Road, totaling 2,260 pounds of garbage from the dumpsites.
Crew members also cleaned 3 miles of Joyce-Piedmont Road and 200 pounds of litter, 3 miles of 18th Street and 120 pounds of litter, 3 miles of Truck Route and 300 pounds of litter, 3 miles of O’Brien Road and 300 pounds of litter, 2 miles of Township Line and 40 pounds of litter, and 11 miles of state Highway 112 and 1,300 pounds of litter.
Four crew members painted the M tank inside the jail for four hours and provided hospital transport for an inmate.
The chain gang has so far this year cleaned 160.5 miles of roadway, picked up 14,250 pounds of dumpsite litter, picked up 16,770 pounds of roadside litter, recycled 1,765 pounds of aluminum and removed or sprayed 510 scotch broom plants and brushed 7.75 miles of county rights of way.
Youth of the Year
SEQUIM — Cody Mireau has been named the Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
The award is bestowed upon an exemplary young person in recognition of leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle, according to a news release.
Cody will go on to vie for the Washington Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
“Cody will represent our organization well,” said Dave Miller, unit director of the Carroll C. Kendall Unit in Sequim.
The Youth of the Year recognition program is presented by Disney.
If Cody wins at the state competition, he will compete for the title of Regional Youth of the Year in Los Angeles and an additional $10,000 college scholarship, renewable for four years up to $40,000.
For more information, visit www.youthoftheyear.org.
Retirees honored
PORT ANGELES — Representatives from the Clallam County School Retirees’ Association were honored by the Port Angeles School District Board of Directors at a March 9 meeting.
Gary Gleason and Lora Brabant pledged the association’s continued support of teachers through its grants program.
Superintendent Marc Jackson and board President Joshua Jones thanked Gleason and Brabant for their service as teachers and active retirees.
Port Angeles School District Resolution No. 1617-04 was passed unanimously in recognition of all school retirees.
In a letter from Mike Boring, executive director of the Washington State School Retirees’ Association, to Superintendent Marc Jackson, Boring wrote, “The Washington State School Retirees’ Association continues to engage in lobbying efforts with the Legislature to protect and improve retirement pensions and benefits for all present and future school retirees, both certificated and classified.”
Gov. Jay Inslee also urged all people to join him in this special observance of School Retirees Appreciation Week in a proclamation to citizens of the state.
