PORT ANGELES — The anniversary celebrations marking 15 years downtown for Rick Mathis and his restaurant, Rick’s Place, have changed their focus since Hurricane Katrina.
“Anyone coming into the restaurant can make a donation to the Red Cross during the week and they’ll receive a free appetizer,” Mathis said.
“The donated proceeds will go to support the American Red Cross relief operation in the South.”
Rick’s Place, 101 W Front St., has undergone a major refit over the summer.
A week of events at the restaurant had been organized to celebrate Mathis being downtown for 15 years. Catering to jazz enthusiasts, the week culminates with a Mardi Gras party on Friday, Sept. 23, and a 1930s-style fancy dress the following night.
Lyndee Lapin, owner of La Place sur la Mer on Place Road, Port Angeles, has donated a romantic night and Sunday brunch at her bed and breakfast as a prize for the best costume.
“The anniversary plans had been planned long before the hurricane. New Orleans is jazz, I love jazz. The area needs help and I want to offer it,” says Mathis.
Katrina donations
During the month of September, Lincoln Street Station Shipping Center will be accepting donations, such as diapers, kids entertainment, books, hair supplies for black hair and toiletries, extra large clothes for men and women, new undergarments for children and adults, and anything to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Lincoln Street Station Shipping Center will donate the cost of shipping and send the items to a relief center.
Drop your items off at Lincoln Street Station Shipping Center at the corner of Fourth and Lincoln streets, Port Angeles.
People can also drop off items on Thursday, Sept. 15, at Sunny Farms Country Store in Sequim on Highway 101.
Sunny Farms is donating a truck and transporting items to Lincoln Street Station in Port Angeles to be shipped.
For more information, call Ken or Trish Price at Lincoln Street Station at 360-457-4343.
Animal fundraiser
Fifty percent of donations at Tails to Trails, a Sept. 24 walk to benefit homeless pets, will be given to rescue organizations for the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Tails for Trails will be held at Carrie Blake Park in Sequim with walk registration from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
People who would like to donate but cannot attend the event can send a check to W.A.G. at P.O. Box 3966, Sequim, WA 98382.
Donations are tax deductible.
For more information, call 360-460-6258 or 360-683-2226.
Candlelight concert
The Candelight Concert on Sept. 15 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 609 Taylor St., Port Townsend, will be a benefit for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
One-hundred percent of the money taken in will go to the effort to help victims.
The concert will feature Trinity Strings and The Good News Quartet singing and playing gospel tunes.
Following an intermission, Fred Johnson, longtime music teacher at Port Townsend High School, will present Ronnie Rolaids and the Heartburns, who will perform 1950s rock and songs made popular by the Everly Brothers and Elvis Presley.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Admission is by donation. Children are admitted free of charge. Refreshments will be served at intermission.
For more information, call 360-379-1953.
Kits being assembled
Quilcene First Presbyterian Church, 294433 Highway 101, is joining with the Presbytery of North Puget Sound to assembly health-care kits which will be shipped to hurricane-stricken areas for shelter occupants.
Donations of any or all of the items in the kits are welcomed at the church through Sept. 18, when the first batch of kits will be assembled.
Items needed include a bath towel, hand towel, washcloth, comb, two bath-size bars of soap, one standard or large size tube of toothpaste and one non-aerosol deodorant.
Kits are assembled in gallon zip-lock bags.
Financial contributions for the project or for hurricane relief may be mailed to the church at P.O. Box 387, Quilcene, WA 98376; indicate “kit” or “relief” so funds can be properly channeled either to this project or to Presbyterian Disaster Relief.
For more information, call the church at 360-765-3930.