NEWS BRIEFS: Naval Air Station Whidbey Island landing practice to start Monday … and other items

COUPEVILLE — There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island at the outlying field late afternoon to night Monday through Wednesday.

Training will continue afternoon to late afternoon Thursday.

Comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to the station’s comment line at 360-257-6665 or via email at comments.NASWI@navy.mil.

All other questions can be directed to the public affairs office at 360-257-2286.

Connections event

PORT ANGELES — The Kiwanis Club of Port Angeles will host a “Kiwanis Community Connections” meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The public is invited to the informal discussion about local forms of volunteerism, projects and events at Westside Pizza, 612 N. Lincoln St.

The club hopes to engage with the public on future plans for the club and hear feedback from individuals, groups and organizations on what they are willing to participate in regarding service projects, volunteerism and social meetings, according to a news release.

During the meeting, those interested can also place donations for the club’s ongoing glove and mitten drive.

Donation of gently used or new gloves and mittens will benefit children in various Port Angeles elementary schools, according to a news release.

For those unable to donate items, financial donations can be placed online by visiting www.generosity.com.

For more information, call Darcey Beck at 360-461-4846 or visit www.facebook.com/kiwanisportangeles.

Studium Generale

PORT ANGELES — Four veterans will present their experiences during the next Studium Generale presentation at 12:30 p.m. Thursday.

The public is invited to hear how the veterans’ lives away from home, internationally and within the U.S., shaped their perspective on America and what it means to be an American.

The presentation will be in Peninsula College’s Little Theater, 1503 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

Discussions will focus on influential experiences the veterans had in new cultures and with people different from themselves, and how the impact of living abroad affected them when they returned home.

For more information, email Hayley Anderson at handerson@pencol.edu.

Foodathon

PORT ANGELES — KONP radio and Port Angeles Lions Club’s 35th annual Foodathon will occur Thursday, Nov. 16.

At 6 a.m., KONP will turn its studio and phones over to the Lions until 6 p.m.

During that time, listeners will be asked to call in cash pledges for the Port Angeles Food Bank at 360-457-1450.

Last year’s fundraiser aggregated more than $36,000 in donations for the food bank.

For more information, call Howard “Scooter” Chapman at 360-457-6397.

Caregiver conference

PORT ANGELES — A deadline of Wednesday has been set for the 11th annual Building Your Caregiver Toolbox Conference.

Those who register by that time will have access to breakfast refreshments and sack lunches at the event. To register, call 360-452-3221.

The conference is slated for Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Port Angeles Senior & Community Center, 328 E. Seventh St.

This event is themed “Back to Caregiving: Know Your Community Resources!” and is a free conference geared toward family and professional caregivers.

Morning presenter Candace Hammer Chaney, RN and comfort therapy program director for Assured Home Health in Washington and Idaho, will discuss experiences of being a caregiver in today’s world.

Local support services will also be highlighted in an afternoon Q-and-A panel discussion composed of Mark Harvey of Olympic Area Agency on Aging, Information & Assistance, as well as a Peninsula Daily News columnist; and Michelle Cook of Home & Community Services at the Department of Social and Health Services.

Also, J.P. Persall, Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County; and Scott Brandon and Michael Salyer with Volunteers in Medicine.

Jane Meyer, regional long-term-care ombudsman for Jefferson and Clallam counties, will moderate.

Approximately two dozen vendors will be available during the event.

For more information, call 360-452-3221.

Call for artists

PORT ANGELES — The North Olympic Land Trust, in partnership with the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, is seeking an artist to create an exterior entrance sign for its office at 602 E. Front St.

Those interested can complete an application online by visiting www.pafac.org. Applications are due by midnight Friday, Dec. 8.

An artist will be selected to receive $500 for commissions and supplies to create the sign, and another $500 when the sign is completed.

To qualify, an artist must reside in Clallam or Jefferson County, or have a solid connection to the North Olympic Peninsula.

For more information, visit www.pafac.org.

Homelessness forum

BLYN — Olympic Community Action Programs will host a forum on affordable housing and ending homelessness on the North Olympic Peninsula on Wednesday, Nov. 15.

Registration for the forum begins at 9:30 a.m. at 7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, after which the forum will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a lunch break at noon.

The event is free and open to the public.

The forum will gather housing specialists and advocates as well as local elected officials to brainstorm solutions to current housing and homelessness needs in the region.

Speakers will include county commissioners from Clallam and Jefferson counties to discuss local land use and regulations.

Kate Baber of the Washington Low-Income Housing Alliance will discuss local options still available in House Bill 2263 and House Bill 1570.

Tedd Kelleher from the Department Of Commerce will discuss the state’s rental market and its effect on homeless systems.

The discussion will conclude with solutions that could help ease the building burden of high infrastructure costs.

A light continental breakfast and lunch will be provided by the casino’s catering service and Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe.

RSVPs are requested to Laura Jorgensen at OlyCAP via email at lmjor gensen@olycap.org.

Patient service stars

PORT ANGELES — Three Olympic Medical Center patient employees received Patient Service Stars for their service efforts.

Jessica Rutz, Jennifer Dyrseth and Terrie Eckenburg were recognized at a board meeting Oct. 4 by Chief Financial Officer Darryl Wolfe.

Rutz, a patient access services supervisor, was recognized for working with organization supervisors over the past year to implement improvements to the complex referral and authorization workflow.

Dyrseth, a patient financial services supervisor, was recognized for her work in guiding her staff through the process of becoming Healthcare Exchange Certified Application Counselors.

She also participated in a work group to create a new OMC Patient Advisory Counsel and successfully led the implementation of a new credit card payment system throughout the organization.

Terrie Eckenberg, patient financial services assistant, received an excellence award for “going above and beyond to help patients and her peers navigate the Washington Health Plan Finder,” according to Wolfe.

KONP talk guests

PORT ANGELES — Here is this week’s schedule for the 1:05 p.m. to 2 p.m. local talk show segment on KONP radio, at 1450 AM, 101.7 FM and www.konp.com on the internet outside the Port Angeles area.

Station General Manager Todd Ortloff hosts the Monday through Thursday segments.

This week’s scheduled lineup:

Monday: Christy Smith, CEO of United Way of Clallam County, and Hayley Pearce, resource development manager, discuss their Live United fundraising campaign.

Second segment: Jennifer Dyrseth, supervisor of Olympic Medical Center’s patient financial services, and Terrie Eckenberg, assistant, discuss “Need Health Insurance? Get Coverage During Open Enrollment.”

Tuesday: Kevin Hoult, certified business adviser from the Washington Small Business Development Center, discusses “When Customers Attack: What to Do When People Leave Negative Reviews Online” and free ways to promote one’s business.

Second segment: Attorney James McCanna discusses Initiative 1433, the minimum wage initiative.

Wednesday: Gary Velie and a member of the command staff from the Coast Guard air station discuss an upcoming Veterans Day event.

Second segment: Edna Petersen, owner of Necessities and Temptations, discusses the upcoming “Holiday Extravaganza” community Christmas kickoff downtown.

Thursday: Clallam County commissioners.

Education funds

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Education Foundation recently completed its annual grant allocation cycle, awarding about $55,000 to individual Port Townsend School District teachers and programs.

The foundation uses a formal grant review process to allocate money to Port Townsend public schools for classroom enrichment and curriculum-based projects, according to a news release.

This year, the foundation vetted 36 grants, equaling around $87,000 in requested funding.

The organization was able to fund 29 of those requests, according to the release.

Some of the grants funded for the upcoming school year include Maritime Discovery Programs, Support for Struggling Readers, molecular model kits and place-based learning opportunities, such as an engineering day field trip for middle school students.

For more information, email info@pteducationfoundation@gmail.com or visit www.pteducationfoundation.org.

PAYC offers maritime scholarships

PORT TOWNSEND — The Port Townsend Yacht Club has announced Monday, Jan. 22, as the application deadline for its 2018 maritime scholarships.

Applicants must either reside in Jefferson County or attend a qualified program inside the county.

Applicants will be notified by Thursday, Feb. 15.

Qualifying programs include but are not limited to marine biology, fisheries, boatbuilding and repair, dive training, ship operations and deck handing.

Applications can be accessed by visiting the club’s website, www.ptyc.net, or the Washboard scholarship match website at www.washboard.org.

For more information, contact Elizabeth Eisenhardt at echaney@marketcatalystgroup.com or 415-359-5091.

More in News

Clallam reduces with 7% exercise

Departments pare down $4.2M deficit

Clallam County passes balanced budget

Commissioners expect some jobs to be open part of year

Clallam Fire District 2 to collect items for food banks

Firefighters, EMTs and paramedics from Clallam 2 Fire-Rescue will… Continue reading

Overnight lane closures continue this week

Overnight lane closures on U.S. Highway 101 east of… Continue reading

Jill Spier will close her Port Townsend shop, Phoenix Rising, in February after 38 years. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/for Peninsula Daily News)
Phoenix Rising to close after 38 years

Proprietor plans to move to Sri Lanka, open an orphanage

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray.
Student aid now simplified process

Fewer questions on federal application

Two supportive homes to be relocated

Saved from demolition, structures could house up to 28 people

Candy cane bearers Barbra Johannsen, left, and Nancy Elder visit Northwind Art’s Jeanette Best Gallery in Port Townsend. They had helped escort Santa Claus to the tree lighting on Saturday and then decided to partake in the First Saturday Art Walk. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/for Peninsula Daily News)
Art walk

Candy cane bearers Barbra Johannsen, left, and Nancy Elder visit Northwind Art’s… Continue reading

Civic Field to get videoboard this spring

Project funded through grants

Sula Adams, 4, hands Santa a candy cane during Santa’s visit to Port Townsend. Santa made an early visit on Saturday to hear children’s Christmas wishes and to light the community tree at Haller Fountain. Sitting next to Santa is Sula’s grandma Christi and her mom Corrine is on the right. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Christmas wishes

Sula Adams, 4, hands Santa a candy cane during Santa’s visit to… Continue reading

‘Perfect storm’ affecting housing

Energy codes, wages driving up costs