SEQUIM — The Sequim School Board announced Wednesday that Heather Davis-Schmidt — one of three finalists for the superintendent’s post — has accepted a position with the Whitefish (Mont.) School District and is no longer in the running.
The remaining candidates are Sheldon Berman of Eugene, Ore., and Joe Potts of Kent.
Due to Davis-Schmidt’s withdrawal, activities planned for today’s building and community presentations are canceled.
Additionally, the board will go into executive session to choose the new superintendent today rather than Friday as previously scheduled.
The executive session, closed to the public, will be held from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The board will return to regular session at 8:30 p.m. to potentially announce its choice for the new superintendent.
Biotoxin meeting
QUILCENE — A public meeting to explain why Brinnon area beaches have been closed to recreational shellfish harvesting is set at the Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101, at 6:30 p.m. today.
The Hood Canal shoreline from Dabob Bay to the Jefferson-Mason County line was closed last week to recreational shellfish harvesting because of high levels of the marine biotoxin that causes potentially deadly paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP).
Clara Hard, public health adviser with the state Department of Health, will discuss health risks, why Quilcene and Dabob Bays and part of Hood Canal have been closed, and what caused the biotoxin closures last fall and now.
“We found there’s a lot of confusion and misinformation floating around,” said Michael Dawson, lead environmental health specialist for the Jefferson County Water Quality Program.
“That area has not had very many biotoxin closures before.
Residents are accustomed to closures because of the vibrio bacteria that grows in warmer months, Dawson said.
“PSP is quite a different problem because it is not destroyed by cooking, whereas vibrio is,” he said.
“We just want to make sure everybody stays safe.”
For more information, phone Dawson at 360-385-9444.
Judge to speak
SEQUIM — District Court Judge Rick Porter will speak about holding offenders accountable during a meeting of the Republican Women of Clallam County on Saturday.
The group will meet from 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the conference room of First Federal, 1201 W. Washington St.
After a brief business meeting, Porter will speak at 9:45 a.m. about the benefits of accountability to offenders, victims, the community and county taxpayers, the group said.
For more information, contact Martha Ireland, secretary of the Republican Women of Clallam County, at irelands@olypen.com or 360-683-8399.
League gala, auction
PORT LUDLOW — The Port Ludlow Artists’ League will hold its second art gala and auction at the Bay Club, 120 Spinnaker Lane, from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
The league has been providing scholarships for students graduating from Chimacum High School for more than a dozen years, and this event supports that mission.
The art auction includes an array of original art pieces from league members, as well as a number of donations from local businesses.
The silent auction portion of the afternoon will feature original art pieces, including paintings, pottery, jewelry, collages and more.
The gala ends with a live auction, called by Debra Rogers.
There will be live music by pianist Mia Torres.
Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Beach Club, the Bay Club, Dana Pointe Interiors, the League Gallery, from league members or at the door.
For more information, phone Judy Danberg at 360-437-0342 or Claudia Wicks at 206-351-2414.
Public rep sought
The Clallam County Disability Board is seeking applications to fill the public at-large position, which expires July 31.
The public at-large representative must reside within Clallam County.
The term is for two years.
Meetings are held the third Tuesday of every quarter (January, April, July and October) at 9 a.m. at the Clallam County Courthouse.
State law (RCW 41.26 and WAC 415-105) establishes disability boards.
Disability board duties include review of medical claims and requests for disability leave and retirement by LEOFF 1 members (law enforcement officers and firefighters who entered service before Oct. 1, 1977).
Interested parties can pick up an application at the Clallam County Human Resources Department, located in the basement of the courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St.
Applications should be submitted to the Human Resources Office by 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 31.
For more information, phone 360-417-2402.
Local takes first
POUSLBO — Sequim resident Daryl Morris recently took first place in the International Speech contest for Toastmasters in District 32’s Division B, which includes communities in Clallam, Jefferson, and Kitsap counties.
His winning speech, “Observing a Culture,” was about his time in Mexico learning the language of the Purepeche Indians.
Morris, a four-year member of Toastmasters, competes again at the District 32 conference at Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma this Saturday.
The event is open to the public.
Port Angeles Toastmasters meets in the Clallam Transit Office Building, 830 W. Lauridsen Blvd., every Monday at 7 p.m.
For more information, phone 360-457-4861 or visit www.toastmasters.org.
