PORT TOWNSEND — Port Ludlow and Mats Mats Bay beaches have been closed to recreational harvesting of all species of shellfish because of high levels of potentially deadly biotoxins.
Marine biotoxins that cause paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) were found at elevated levels in shellfish samples collected Tuesday, so the state Department of Health closed the beaches to harvesting, said Michael Dawson of the Jefferson County Water Quality Program.
The closure zone extends east around Tala Point but does not include the Tala Shore beach.
Previously announced closures to all species in Jefferson County — stretching from Dabob Bay, including Quilcene Bay, to the Mason County line — remain in effect because of PSP levels.
Also in Jefferson, Kilisut Harbor, including Mystery Bay, and Port Ludlow, including Mats Mats Bay, remain closed to butter and varnish clam harvesting.
In Clallam County, all beaches on the Strait of Juan de Fuca are open to shellfish harvesting of all species, with the exception of Discovery Bay and Sequim Bay, which are closed to the harvest of butter clams and varnish clams.
All Pacific coast beaches are closed for the season.
Shellfish harvested commercially are tested for toxin prior to distribution and should be safe to eat.
For more information, see www.doh.wa.gov or phone 800-562-5632.
Minn. man in jail
PORT ANGELES — A Minneapolis man has been charged in Clallam County Superior Court with being a fugitive from justice in another state.
Steven Alva Elliott, 29, allegedly violated the terms of his parole after serving more than six years in a Minnesota prison for criminal sexual conduct, court papers said.
He was charged Tuesday.
Elliott was on parole in Hennepin County, Minn., when he left Minnesota Department of Corrections supervision, authorities said.
Elliott said he would not fight extradition, court papers said.
He was being held without bail Wednesday in the Clallam County jail.
Association meet
PORT ANGELES — Ann Soule, water resource specialist, will provide an update on Sequim’s stormwater plan at the general membership dinner meeting of the North Peninsula Building Association tonight.
The meeting will be at the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.
It will start with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by a dinner for which reservations are required.
For reservations and more information, phone 360-452-8160.
Cemetery help
PORT ANGELES — Volunteers are needed to decorate Port Angeles-area cemeteries Saturday and Monday for Memorial Day.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1024 will decorate graves of deceased veterans with small flags at 8 a.m. Saturday.
Volunteers can arrive then at Ocean View Cemetery, 3127 W. 18th St., or Mount Angeles Memorial Park, 45 Monroe Road.
Post members will provide flags and instructions.
On Memorial Day, the post will display U.S. flags on poles along the driveways at each cemetery starting at 7 a.m.
Volunteers are needed to help put up the flagpoles and then return at 4 p.m. to take them down.
For more information, call Dale Koelling at 360-477-5686 or 360-477-5687.
Yoga gathering
PORT ANGELES — A special yoga gathering to benefit earthquake survivors in Nepal will be held at Poser Yoga, 128 E. Front St., this Friday.
The studio’s teachers will host an evening of 108 sun salutations — each a series of yoga poses — with admission by donation.
Proceeds will go to Buddhist Relief Services. More information about the organization can be found at www.relief.utbf.org.
All are welcome to come to Poser any time between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Friday to do a few salutations, a lot of them or all 108.
Participants are encouraged to rest any time they need to, according to Poser Yoga’s invitation.
The number 108 is a significant one in the yogic tradition, with 108 sun salutations done around the world on occasions such as the summer and winter solstice and New Year’s Day.
For more information, contact Poser Yoga via www.PoserStudios.com or 360-393-0977.
Alzheimer support
SEQUIM — The Alzheimer’s Association is recruiting local volunteers to facilitate family caregiver support groups in Sequim.
The groups provide a consistent and caring place for caregivers to learn, share and gain emotional support from others who are also on a unique journey of providing care to a person with memory loss, according to a news release.
The groups are led by chapter-trained volunteers who receive ongoing training, support and resources.
For more information, phone Linda Whiteside, director of community support, at 800-848-7097 or 206-529-3875, or email lwhitesi@alzwa.org.
PA students perform at state contest
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles High School music students recently had outstanding performances at the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association/Washington Music Educators Association State Solo & Ensemble contest at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.
Orchestra Director Ron Jones said the event, also known as the State Music Championships, is “a huge event involving thousands of students, with 182 Washington high schools represented in 2015.”
“Two [Port Angeles High School] students were awarded second-place medals in their solo categories,” Jones said.
Michael Helwick was awarded for double bass and Kyle Sholinder for mallets.
“Also earning a composite ‘One/Superior’ score, a superior rating from at least two judges,” he added, were:
■ Violin: Leah Marsh.
■ Women’s vocal duet: Mackenzie Cammack and Brittney Sofie.
■ Marimba trio: Ian Brumbaugh, Kyle Sholinder and Sam Stevenson.
■ Marimba duet: Matt Groves and Sam Stevenson.
■ Strings small ensemble: Kate Haworth, Leah Haworth, Michael Helwick, Leah Marsh and Jay Liang, piano accompanist.
■ Chamber orchestra: Lum Fu, Kate Haworth, Leah Haworth, Michael Helwick, Marc Henry, Hana Kildall, Connor Leslie, Jay Liang, Leah Marsh, Calista Mordecai-Smith, Cami Ortloff, Lauren Rankin, Melanie Schimschal, Simon Shindler, Emma Smith and Lauren Waldron.
Student graduating
WALLA WALLA — Madeline Levy of Port Townsend is graduating from Whitman College in Walla Walla.
Levy is a 2011 graduate of Port Townsend High School and will receive a Bachelor of Arts in religion during the commencement ceremony Sunday.
Levy will graduate with honors in her department, is a member of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society and is a graduating member of the Order of Waiilatpu, a Whitman College honor society recognizing outstanding scholarship, enterprise, citizenship and service to the college and community, according to a news release.
Didgeridoo event
CLALLAM BAY — Bob Effertz will lead a free didgeridoo workshop at Clallam Bay Library, 16990 state Highway 112, for children ages 6-12 at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Effertz will introduce the ancient instrument of the Australian aborigines.
Attendees will learn about aboriginal culture as well as the basics of didgeridoo.
Miniature plastic didgeridoos will be available for participants to use.
The workshop is part of an ongoing partnership between North Olympic Library System and Cape Flattery School District’s Creating Opportunities for After School Thinking (COAST) program.
For more information about the COAST program, contact Clallam Bay School at 360-963-2324.
To learn more about this and other library programs, contact the library at 360-963-2414 or ClallamBay@nols.org, or visit www.nols.org.
