Clallam County renews contract with WSU Extension

Service helping farmers during COVID-19 crisis

PORT ANGELES — Clallam County commissioners have renewed a contract with Washington State University Extension to provide educational programs for county residents.

Commissioners approved Tuesday a long-standing memorandum of agreement with the land-grant university at a one-year cost of $172,098.

WSU Extension offers such programs as Food and Farms, Community Health, Master Gardeners, 4-H/Youth Development and Waste Reduction.

“They are great programs,” Commissioner Randy Johnson said.

Clallam County Extension Director Clea Rome said her department had been working with partners on community food systems during the COVID-19 crisis.

WSU Extension is partnering with the North Olympic Development Council and the Clallam and Jefferson County land trusts to establish a dedicated fund to help farmers during the coronavirus pandemic, Rome said.

“They can use the money right now for whatever they need, whether it be seeds, whether it be upgrades in equipment,” Rome told commissioners last week.

“They pay back that money through donations to the food banks and food pantries over five years, so they have plenty of seasons to kind of make up that little flush of income.”

Commissioner Mark Ozias, former Sequim Food Bank director, acknowledged the work of Benjamin Astrachan, Community Food Project coordinator.

“Benji was out in Forks last week delivering donations of seeds and soil and building materials for little free pantries and cookbooks for members of the Forks community,” Rome said.

Five free food pantries have been stocked with nonperishable foods in Port Angeles. Other free pantries were being planned for Sequim and Forks, Rome said.

“Clea, thank you very much for supporting the West End,” said District 3 Commissioner Bill Peach, who represents the western third of the county.

“I really do appreciate the way you engage everybody.”

The memorandum of agreement with WSU Extension helps fund the salaries of the Clallam County Extension director, Master Gardener coordinator, 4-H coordinator and community health specialist.

Clallam County helps fund WSU Extension programs through its general fund, road fund and grants.

________

Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Etta Street construction to take up to eight weeks in downtown Sequim

A piping and pavement project along the Etta Street alleyway… Continue reading

Michaela Christiansen, 14, left, and Pen DeBord, 14, both of Port Angeles, use a cider press to crush fresh apples into juice and pulp during Saturday’s Applestock celebration in Sequim. The event, a benefit for several area charities, featured food, music, crafts and games in the orchard at Williams Manor B&B/Vacation Rental. Applestock 2023 beneficiaries were the Salvation Army Food Bank, Angel Tree Christmas, Coats for Kids and area food banks. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Pressing apples

Michaela Christiansen, 14, left, and Pen DeBord, 14, both of Port Angeles,… Continue reading

Emily Matthiessen / Olympic Peninsula News Group
The Sequim Logging Show, seen in May 2023, will operate next year as its own nonprofit organization to seek insurance coverage separate from the Sequim Irrigation Festival. Organizers of both the festival and show say it was a pragmatic decision and is similar to what the festival did in late 2017 after leaving the umbrella of the Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce.
Logging Show to be separate from festival

New nonprofit formed, but event will continue

Sequim downtown lot to be prepped for redesign with three potential concepts

City purchased Centennial Place property in 2013 for 100th anniversary

Head-on collision injures five people

A head-on collision on U.S. Highway 101 Saturday sent… Continue reading

One hurt when driver falls asleep, hits tree

A driver fell asleep behind the wheel of a… Continue reading

Homecoming Royalty are, from left, Chimacum High School King Gary Zambor and Queen Julia Breitweg, and Port Townsend High School King Ken Llotse-Rowell and Queen Tadu Dollarhide as they were introduced to the spectators at Memorial Field in Port Townsend on Friday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Homecoming court

Homecoming Royalty are, from left, Chimacum High School King Gary Zambor and… Continue reading

Port Angeles School District student scores inching up

Board hears results of state assessments, approves teacher contract

Most Read