PORT ANGELES — A group that calls itself This is Our Town: Port Angeles will host a rally against drug and crime at noon Saturday at the Clallam County Courthouse.
The citizens’ organization will hand out information on crime prevention, neighborhood watches, drug treatment and counseling, and community cleanups at the rally at the courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.
From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, the group plans to meet with law enforcement officials in Room 223 of the courthouse.
Clallam County Prosecutor Mark Nichols, county Sheriff Bill Benedict, Port Angeles Police Chief Terry Gallagher, and Lorraine Shore of Neighborhood Watch have been invited.
Another group, Port Angeles Citizen Network, or PACan, will meet at 6 p.m. Dec. 14 in Room 223 of the courthouse.
A speaker from the Department of Social and Health Services will make a presentation.
Air pollution lifts
OLYMPIA — The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency announced Thursday that there is no longer a need for residents to curtail outdoor burning or use of wood stoves and fireplaces.
The agency Tuesday asked that residents of East Clallam County voluntarily curtail such burning because air pollution levels — specifically fine particulate matter or PM 2.5 — remained elevated in the portion of Clallam County east of the Elwha River.
As of Thursday, pollution levels had dropped significantly, said Dan Nelson, spokesman for ORCAA, in a press release.
“A substantial reduction in smoke output due at least in part to the great public response to the voluntary action avoided the need for a formal burn ban,” he said, adding “the incoming storm has now greatly reduced the measured levels of air pollution in the area.”
To stay up-to-date on burn bans throughout the state, visit waburnbans.net.
For air quality issues, visit ORCAA at www.orcaa.org.
Marrowstone citizen of the year nominations sought
NORDLAND — Nominations are now being sought for the 2015 Marrowstone Island Citizen of the Year.
Any Marrowstone resident may submit a nomination.
The nominee must be an island resident and have been personally involved in the performance of a service that has had a lasting and beneficial effect on the island community.
The area of involvement need not necessarily have been on Marrowstone Island, but must have been in Jefferson County.
Nomination forms are available at the Nordland Store, 7180 Flagler Road, and may be deposited in the box at the back of the store, or mailed to Citizen of the Year committee, c/o Bob and Sandy Barrett, P.O. Box 235, Nordland, WA 98358.
All nominations must be received by Dec. 31.
A committee of prior “citizens” will make the selection, and the award will be presented at the January Marrowstone Island Community Association meeting.
Food drive to start Dec. 7
PORT ANGELES — Roosevelt Elementary students, staff and families are gathering donations Dec. 7-11 for the school’s Annual Holiday Drive to help Roosevelt families in need.
“We’ll collect nonperishable food items, children’s books, toiletries, winter clothing and financial donations for hams or turkeys for the food baskets,” said teacher and organizer Kelly Sanders.
“We hope this holiday drive is so successful that we’ll be able to provide 60 plus Roosevelt families with a big box of food, children’s books, warm clothing and a turkey or ham,” she said.
“Leftover food and items will go to local charities, and extra books will be saved for our summer reading program.”
There will be plenty of incentives and fun competition to encourage donations.
Staff and students will be divided into three teams for this year’s drive: red, blue and green teams.
The winning team earns board game time in the gym.
Students will bring their items to color-coded tables in the gym before school each morning of the drive.
Parent and staff volunteers, as well as select sixth-graders, will collect, count and organize food and other items into boxes each morning.
Students will receive a raffle ticket for every five items they bring in, and a drawing which will take place each morning at 8 a.m. for prizes.
The top three donating classrooms will win a popcorn and movie party.
A special certificate will be given to any class that has 100 percent participation in the food drive.
“This is meant to encourage all students to participate and experience the joy of giving, whether it’s just returning their six books for summer or bringing a coat they’ve outgrown or a package of Ramen,” Sanders said.
Community members also may make donations, either noted items or cash, and deliver them to the school’s office at 106 Monroe Road.
Checks may be written to Roosevelt PTO.
For questions, email Sanders at ksanders@portangelesschools.org.
Port Angeles Science Club
PORT ANGELES — Nineteen Port Angeles High School Science Club members recently attended Dr. Julianne Delcanton’s lecture, “Building the Universe, Piece by Piece,” at the University of Washington.
Thanks to support from the Port Angeles Education Foundation, YMCA and Americorps, students were greeted by Dr. Bruce Balick and introduced to the packed auditorium while a Science Club group picture from a previous lecture was displayed on the screen.
The students were applauded for their interest in astronomy and long-distance travel from Port Angeles to learn about the universe.
In her one-hour lecture, Delcanton highlighted the observational evidence that helped astronomers understand the life cycle of stars, how the first stars and galaxies formed and how the universe evolved to what we see today.
Students honored
PORT ANGELES — Two eighth-grade Stevens Middle School students recently received “Student of the Month” awards from school staff members as part of a program honoring exemplary students during the 2015-16 school year.
Nacia Bohman and Alisandra Baccus are both on the Gold Honor Roll and both active student leaders.
“Bohman is the director of Stevens News Network,” said Principal Chuck Lisk.
“She was co-chair of the recent Fun Run which raised more money than in recent years.
“She is on the Stevens volleyball team and plays in the orchestra. Recently, she appeared on KONP Radio to talk about Stevens activities.”
Bohman is the daughter of Christine and Rich Bohman.
“Baccus is in charge of the technical side of Stevens News Network,” Lisk said.
“She’s the communications officer for the Associated Student Body, plays in jazz band and the orchestra. She runs cross country and is a member of the student leadership team.”
Baccus is the daughter of Jessica and Bill Baccus.
Santa pancakes
SEQUIM — A Santa Pancake Breakfast to benefit the Sequim High School Choir Boosters will take place Saturday, Dec. 12.
The breakfast is from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Applebee’s, 130 River Road.
Tickets are $10 from choir members or at the door.
There will be pictures with Santa, carolers and elves.
Peace Corps talk slated at church Dec. 7
SEQUIM — Mary Griffith, a member of Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church, will give a presentation about her 2012-15 Peace Corps experience in Fiji.
The talk is at Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church, 925 N. Sequim Ave., on Monday, Dec. 7.
The program begins with a light lunch at 12:30 p.m.
Griffith will provide an overview on the country of Fiji and a description of her service with the Ministry of Health National In-service Nursing Division, her work with nurses around the country and her life as a Peace Corps volunteer.
For more information, phone the church office at 360-681-0946 or email dvlcoffice@gmail.com.
Unity speaker
PORT ANGELES — The speaker at Unity in the Olympics’ 10:30 a.m. worship service Sunday will be Candia Sanders, whose lesson will be “Find Our True Value.”
Sanders is an international intuitive, energetic healer and author of the books “Soul Rays” and “The Adventures of Jack Starr and his Brother Skye, In Hawaii,” according to a news release.
The “How to find our Personal Value in a Consumer Crazy World: Outward Value vs. Inward Value” workshop will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
The church, located at 2917 E Myrtle St., will be collecting teddy bears to give to kids in need in the community.
A time for silent meditation will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Child care is available.
Fellowship time follows the worship service.
The public is welcome to all church activities.