Sequim couple wins heron driftwood sculpture

Published 12:01 am Tuesday, December 4, 2012

SEQUIM — Jacqui and Sanford Levy of Sequim won “Enchanted Heron,” a driftwood sculpture donated by Tuttie Peetz, during the Dungeness River Audubon Center’s sixth annual Nature Mart earlier this month.

Peetz, an award-winning sculptor who lives in Sequim and a member of the Dungeness River Audubon Center board, donated the sculpture, valued at $700.

“Railroad Bridge Park turned 20 this year, and I hoped that the raffle would raise $2,000 to commemorate the anniversary of the park and support our education programs,” Peetz said.

Nearly that much — $1,960 — was raised during the raffle at Nature Mart, held Nov. 15-16 at the center inside Railroad Bridge Park at 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, said Julie Jackson, also a center board member and co-chairwoman of the event.

The Levys moved to Sequim from Tucson, Ariz., in September, Jackson said.

“We’d been too busy settling in and learning our way around to get to the river center before,” Jacqui told Jackson.

After reading about the event in the Peninsula Daily News, they decided to attend and bought the winning raffle ticket.

Although the Levys were not present at the drawing, they came back to collect their prize as soon as they received the call.

“We are ecstatic,” Jacqui told Jackson. “Winning this beautiful sculpture is a wonderful welcome to Sequim.”

This was the first year Nature Mart was held over two days instead of just one, Jackson said.

It drew 550 people over two days and was so successful that board members are planning a two-day event for 2013, Jackson said.

Admission was free to the fair, which offered tables loaded with arts, crafts and baked goods.

To learn more about Nature Mart and other activities at the river center, visit www.DungenessRiverCenter.org or phone 360-681-4076.