NEWS BRIEFS: Community conversations set to start … and other items

The Nature Conservancy’s Emerald Edge begins it’s third annual Washington Coast Works initiative this week with Community Conversations held in Forks and Port Angeles.

The conversations are held to help envision what sustainable well-being means to each community and to identify projects or activities that could help bring sustainability about.

The first conversation is set for Thursday in the main lobby of Peninsula College’s Fork’s Campus, 481 S. Forks Ave., Forks.

The second conversation is Saturday at Peninsula College’s Longhouse, 1502 S. Laurdisen Blvd., Port Angeles.

The conversations will continue throughout the year and participants will be invited to a year-end summit to share projects and ideas, in which a winner is selected to receive $10,000 to assist in further efforts to solidify sustainable processes.

The goal of the Coast Works initiative is to catalyze small and locally-owned triple bottom line businesses that generate profit by contributing to conservation of local natural resources and that will lead a network of community conversations focused on building sustainable community well-being in rural communities on the Washington coast.

For more information, visit www.wacoastworks.org.

Cowboy Ball to kick its heels in PT

PORT TOWNSEND — Salish Spirit Equine-Assisted Therapy will host its first Cowboy Ball on Saturday at the Jefferson County Fairgounds in the Erickson Building, located at 4907 Landes St.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Attendees can listen to music by Three Chords and the Truth, eat a barbeque dinner catered by Mo-Chilli BBQ and participate in a live auction of items donated by local businesses and community members.

The event will help raise funds for Salish Spirit to continue its therapeutic riding program this summer.

Tickets are $45.

Seating is limited, so those interested are encouraged to purchase tickets early.

To purchase a ticket, mail a check along with the number of tickets desired to Salish Spirit, 1240 W. Sims Way, No. 292, Port Townsend, WA 98368.

Salish Spirit is a 501(c)(3) organization that provides therapeutic riding for children and adults in Jefferson County.

The all-volunteer organization is supported by UGN, Port Townsend Rotary and individual contributions.

For more information, email info@salishspirit.org, phone 713-449-7418 or visit www.salishspirit.org.

Investment open houses set March 29

SEQUIM — First Federal will host two open houses Wednesday, March 29.

Financial advisors Halina D’Urso and David Coulter along with Jason Bausher, a financial services assistant, will be at Sequim Village Branch, 1201 W. Washington St., from 9 a.m. to noon and Sequim Avenue Branch, 333 N. Sequim Ave. from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The three employees will be available to help customers answer questions about mutual funds, fixed and variable annuities, retirement planning, types of life insurance and long-term care insurance, and to help set up investments for those interested.

New instructor

PORT TOWSNEND — Madrona MindBody Institute recently hired a new dance instructor to its teaching team as a Soul Motion teacher.

Michael Molin-Skelton is a modern dancer from Los Angeles and one of the first students of Vinn Arjuna Martí — creator of Soul Motion dancing.

Molin-Skelton has traveled the world teaching Soul Motion and is currently in Europe for the month of March, leading workshops in Italy, Austria, Belgium and Poland.

“To have someone of Michael’s caliber, with his international reputation, joining us — it’s a big deal,” said Madrona co-founder Aletia Alvarez.

Molin-Skelton moved to Port Townsend in 2016 with his wife, Anneli, and 5-year-old son, Jaylan.

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