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The Rev. Craig Vocelka of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church blesses 12-year-old Sweetpea, left, and Abner, 2, as their caregiver Danny Barnes of Port Hadlock looks on during Sunday’s Blessing of the Animals in Port Townsend. More than a dozen dogs came with their people to the labyrinth at St. Paul’s, where the spirit of St. Francis, a lover of animals, was invoked. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/For Peninsula Daily News)
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Animal blessings

The Rev. Craig Vocelka of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church blesses 12-year-old Sweetpea, left, and Abner, 2, as their caregiver Danny Barnes of Port Hadlock looks… Continue reading

The Rev. Craig Vocelka of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church blesses 12-year-old Sweetpea, left, and Abner, 2, as their caregiver Danny Barnes of Port Hadlock looks on during Sunday’s Blessing of the Animals in Port Townsend. More than a dozen dogs came with their people to the labyrinth at St. Paul’s, where the spirit of St. Francis, a lover of animals, was invoked. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/For Peninsula Daily News)
The young Brakenstein, a father/daughter team of Reed Lacy and Emily Lacy-Nichols from Corvallis, Ore., makes it to the finish line in the mud bog at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds during the Port Townsend Kinetic Skulpture and Race on Sunday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
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Pushing through the mud

The young Brakenstein, a father/daughter team of Reed Lacy and Emily Lacy-Nichols from Corvallis, Ore., makes it to the finish line in the mud bog… Continue reading

The young Brakenstein, a father/daughter team of Reed Lacy and Emily Lacy-Nichols from Corvallis, Ore., makes it to the finish line in the mud bog at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds during the Port Townsend Kinetic Skulpture and Race on Sunday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
U.S. Navy veteran Brent Brant of Port Hadlock gets a haircut from Susan Gile, owner of Benny’s Barbershop in Sequim, during Thursday’s Port Angeles Stand Down at the Clallam County Fairgrounds. The event was designed to provide direct services and connect veterans to a variety of assistance organizations, as well as offer clothing, medical services and a meal. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
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Veterans services

U.S. Navy veteran Brent Brant of Port Hadlock gets a haircut from Susan Gile, owner of Benny’s Barbershop in Sequim, during Thursday’s Port Angeles Stand… Continue reading

U.S. Navy veteran Brent Brant of Port Hadlock gets a haircut from Susan Gile, owner of Benny’s Barbershop in Sequim, during Thursday’s Port Angeles Stand Down at the Clallam County Fairgrounds. The event was designed to provide direct services and connect veterans to a variety of assistance organizations, as well as offer clothing, medical services and a meal. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Crews from Bothel-based Grand Event Rentals assemble tent sections on Wednesday that will house parts of this weekend’s 22nd annual Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival in downtown Port Angeles. The three-day event features a wide variety of seafood, music and other activities on the Port Angeles waterfront. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
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CrabFest sets up

Crews from Bothel-based Grand Event Rentals assemble tent sections on Wednesday that will house parts of this weekend’s 22nd annual Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival… Continue reading

Crews from Bothel-based Grand Event Rentals assemble tent sections on Wednesday that will house parts of this weekend’s 22nd annual Dungeness Crab and Seafood Festival in downtown Port Angeles. The three-day event features a wide variety of seafood, music and other activities on the Port Angeles waterfront. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
A fishing boat makes its way to the ramp at Port Angeles Boat Haven on Tuesday past a line of small sailboats belonging to the Community Boating Program for learn-to-sail classes. As the sailing season nears its end, the Port of Port Angeles plans to remove the floating docks at Boat Haven for the winter season on Oct. 16. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
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Floating docks

A fishing boat makes its way to the ramp at Port Angeles Boat Haven on Tuesday past a line of small sailboats belonging to the… Continue reading

A fishing boat makes its way to the ramp at Port Angeles Boat Haven on Tuesday past a line of small sailboats belonging to the Community Boating Program for learn-to-sail classes. As the sailing season nears its end, the Port of Port Angeles plans to remove the floating docks at Boat Haven for the winter season on Oct. 16. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Lily Alexander, left, has her mini Aussiedoodle, Wednesday, blessed by the Rev. Laura Murray of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Port Angeles. Murray led the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday at the Gateway Transit Center. The annual blessings are performed in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th century patron saint of animals and the environment. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
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Animal blessings

Lily Alexander, left, has her mini Aussiedoodle, Wednesday, blessed by the Rev. Laura Murray of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Port Angeles. Murray led the… Continue reading

Lily Alexander, left, has her mini Aussiedoodle, Wednesday, blessed by the Rev. Laura Murray of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Port Angeles. Murray led the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday at the Gateway Transit Center. The annual blessings are performed in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, the 12th century patron saint of animals and the environment. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Michaela Christiansen, 14, left, and Pen DeBord, 14, both of Port Angeles, use a cider press to crush fresh apples into juice and pulp during Saturday’s Applestock celebration in Sequim. The event, a benefit for several area charities, featured food, music, crafts and games in the orchard at Williams Manor B&B/Vacation Rental. Applestock 2023 beneficiaries were the Salvation Army Food Bank, Angel Tree Christmas, Coats for Kids and area food banks. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
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Pressing apples

Michaela Christiansen, 14, left, and Pen DeBord, 14, both of Port Angeles, use a cider press to crush fresh apples into juice and pulp during… Continue reading

Michaela Christiansen, 14, left, and Pen DeBord, 14, both of Port Angeles, use a cider press to crush fresh apples into juice and pulp during Saturday’s Applestock celebration in Sequim. The event, a benefit for several area charities, featured food, music, crafts and games in the orchard at Williams Manor B&B/Vacation Rental. Applestock 2023 beneficiaries were the Salvation Army Food Bank, Angel Tree Christmas, Coats for Kids and area food banks. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Leo Wright, 3, of Port Townsend examines an end-of-season sunflower at the Sequim Botanical Garden near the Albert Haller Playfields at the Water Reuse Demonstration Site on Wednesday. The garden features a variety of flowers and plants maintained the city and by local gardening groups. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
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Close-up look

Leo Wright, 3, of Port Townsend examines an end-of-season sunflower at the Sequim Botanical Garden near the Albert Haller Playfields at the Water Reuse Demonstration… Continue reading

Leo Wright, 3, of Port Townsend examines an end-of-season sunflower at the Sequim Botanical Garden near the Albert Haller Playfields at the Water Reuse Demonstration Site on Wednesday. The garden features a variety of flowers and plants maintained the city and by local gardening groups. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Tyler Benedict stars in “Tubby the Tuba,” a story that’s part of the Port Angeles Symphony’s Family Pops performances on Saturday. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/For Peninsula Daily News)

Symphony concert: ‘West Side Story,’ William Tell and beyond

Two performances Saturday include PAHS choir in finale

Tyler Benedict stars in “Tubby the Tuba,” a story that’s part of the Port Angeles Symphony’s Family Pops performances on Saturday. (Diane Urbani de la Paz/For Peninsula Daily News)
At the London Symphony Orchestra’s home venue in England, an international team of musicians recorded the Port Angeles Symphony’s Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra: from left, producer Fernando Aria of Spain; Port Angeles Symphony conductor Jonathan Pasternack; composer Sarah L. Bassingthwaighte; double bassist Steve Schermer and the producer’s partner, Ines Aria. (Port Angeles Symphony)

Concerto recorded in England

September has brought a set of experiences Steve Schermer, a Seattle musician raised in Port Angeles, never predicted. Schermer plays the double… Continue reading

At the London Symphony Orchestra’s home venue in England, an international team of musicians recorded the Port Angeles Symphony’s Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra: from left, producer Fernando Aria of Spain; Port Angeles Symphony conductor Jonathan Pasternack; composer Sarah L. Bassingthwaighte; double bassist Steve Schermer and the producer’s partner, Ines Aria. (Port Angeles Symphony)
Abel Grant of Marysville (1) and Sophia McCain of Spokane (38) are in tight race in the girls division of the BMX state championships on Sunday at the Lincoln Park BMX track in Port Angeles. Hundreds of racers visited the North Olympic Peninsula for the event this weekend. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
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BMX state championships

Abel Grant of Marysville (1) and Sophia McCain of Spokane (38) are in tight race in the girls division of the BMX state championships on… Continue reading

Abel Grant of Marysville (1) and Sophia McCain of Spokane (38) are in tight race in the girls division of the BMX state championships on Sunday at the Lincoln Park BMX track in Port Angeles. Hundreds of racers visited the North Olympic Peninsula for the event this weekend. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles' Tanner Flores (56) and Kason Albaugh (12) celebrate a big play in the Rainshadow Rumble in Sequim on Friday night. The Roughriders won the game 37-10, avenging last year's last-second win by the Wolves. For a game story, go to Page A6. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
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Rainshadow revenge for Port Angeles

Port Angeles’ Tanner Flores (56) and Kason Albaugh (12) celebrate a big play in the Rainshadow Rumble in Sequim on Friday night. The Roughriders won… Continue reading

Port Angeles' Tanner Flores (56) and Kason Albaugh (12) celebrate a big play in the Rainshadow Rumble in Sequim on Friday night. The Roughriders won the game 37-10, avenging last year's last-second win by the Wolves. For a game story, go to Page A6. (Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Port Angeles firefighters and a Clallam County technical rescue team place a litter onto a ladder track after pulling a person from a water tank at the site of the former Rayonier pulp mill on Thursday morning in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Man rescued from abandoned water tank

Unknown how or why he got there

Port Angeles firefighters and a Clallam County technical rescue team place a litter onto a ladder track after pulling a person from a water tank at the site of the former Rayonier pulp mill on Thursday morning in Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Tim Morland, front, and Rich Lear of Tualatin, Ore.-based Field Turf USA add fill to the playing surface at the new Monroe Athletic Field on Tuesday at the site of the former Monroe School near Roosevelt Elementary School in Port Angeles. The synthetic turf field, which is expected to be completed by mid-autumn, is being developed by the Port Angeles School District and will be available for community athletic events. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
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Monroe field prep

Tim Morland, front, and Rich Lear of Tualatin, Ore.-based Field Turf USA add fill to the playing surface at the new Monroe Athletic Field on… Continue reading

Tim Morland, front, and Rich Lear of Tualatin, Ore.-based Field Turf USA add fill to the playing surface at the new Monroe Athletic Field on Tuesday at the site of the former Monroe School near Roosevelt Elementary School in Port Angeles. The synthetic turf field, which is expected to be completed by mid-autumn, is being developed by the Port Angeles School District and will be available for community athletic events. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
A crew from Port Townsend Public Works watches as a backhoe removes water-logged timber from a sinkhole on Kearney Street outside the Food Co-op on Tuesday at the start of construction of a traffic circle at the intersection of state Highway 20/East Sims Way and Kearney Street in Port Townsend. Traffic heading eastbound toward Port Townsend will detour at Benedict Street and turn left on Washington Street to return to Highway 20/East Sims Way. Traffic going westbound away from Port Townsend will turn right at Kearney Street and left onto Jefferson Street to continue on Highway 20. The detour configuration will last about four weeks, according to the state Department of Transportation. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
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Roundabout construction

A crew from Port Townsend Public Works watches as a backhoe removes water-logged timber from a sinkhole on Kearney Street outside the Food Co-op on… Continue reading

A crew from Port Townsend Public Works watches as a backhoe removes water-logged timber from a sinkhole on Kearney Street outside the Food Co-op on Tuesday at the start of construction of a traffic circle at the intersection of state Highway 20/East Sims Way and Kearney Street in Port Townsend. Traffic heading eastbound toward Port Townsend will detour at Benedict Street and turn left on Washington Street to return to Highway 20/East Sims Way. Traffic going westbound away from Port Townsend will turn right at Kearney Street and left onto Jefferson Street to continue on Highway 20. The detour configuration will last about four weeks, according to the state Department of Transportation. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Peninsula College sophomores Ian Coughran, left, and Ciera Skelly were two of seven students participating in the inaugural Pathway Summer School at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory this summer that focused on education and career development in STEM fields. Both Coughran and Skelly plan to pursue degrees in environmental science. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)

Internship through college presents career pathways

Students part of inaugural class at Sequim laboratory

Peninsula College sophomores Ian Coughran, left, and Ciera Skelly were two of seven students participating in the inaugural Pathway Summer School at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory this summer that focused on education and career development in STEM fields. Both Coughran and Skelly plan to pursue degrees in environmental science. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Actor Erik Odom, a Forever Twilight in Forks Festival regular, and a Very Important Twilighter (VIT) ticketholder prepare for a professional photo at the actor’s signing event on Friday at Tillicum Park. VITs passed through the big tent, meeting Odom as well as Ashley Greene and Rachelle Lefevre. The Twilight series actors greeted ticketholders and signed books and other memorabilia. Volunteers also were in place to take extra photos with the VIT’s cameras/phones. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
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Forever Twilight Festival in Forks

Actor Erik Odom, a Forever Twilight in Forks Festival regular, and a Very Important Twilighter (VIT) ticketholder prepare for a professional photo at the actor’s… Continue reading

Actor Erik Odom, a Forever Twilight in Forks Festival regular, and a Very Important Twilighter (VIT) ticketholder prepare for a professional photo at the actor’s signing event on Friday at Tillicum Park. VITs passed through the big tent, meeting Odom as well as Ashley Greene and Rachelle Lefevre. The Twilight series actors greeted ticketholders and signed books and other memorabilia. Volunteers also were in place to take extra photos with the VIT’s cameras/phones. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sequim middle hitter Jolene Vaara spikes the ball against North Mason on Tuesday at Sequim Middle School. Vaara led the team with 16 kills and seven stuff blocks.

PREP ROUNDUP: Young Sequim volleyball team wins opener

Despite having a young team full of freshmen and sophomores and not having a home court to play on yet, the Sequim volleyball… Continue reading

Michael Dashiell/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sequim middle hitter Jolene Vaara spikes the ball against North Mason on Tuesday at Sequim Middle School. Vaara led the team with 16 kills and seven stuff blocks.
Author M.B. Thurman reads from her debut novel, “Summoned,” in front of the Miller Tree Inn, aka the Cullen House, during a pre-Forever Twilight in Forks event on Tuesday. M.B. (Mary Beth) and her husband Trent own the Inn. This week’s FTF Festival will also feature other authors at several other venues. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)

It’s Forever Twilight in Forks this weekend

Many activities free during annual festival

Author M.B. Thurman reads from her debut novel, “Summoned,” in front of the Miller Tree Inn, aka the Cullen House, during a pre-Forever Twilight in Forks event on Tuesday. M.B. (Mary Beth) and her husband Trent own the Inn. This week’s FTF Festival will also feature other authors at several other venues. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Port Townsend Police Officer Jon Stuart, Chief Thomas Olson, Assistant Fire Chief Brian Tracer and Fire Chief Bret Black observe a moment of silence Monday as Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole reads a remembrance of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)

Ceremony commemorates first responders on anniversary of 9/11

Public safety officials honored

Port Townsend Police Officer Jon Stuart, Chief Thomas Olson, Assistant Fire Chief Brian Tracer and Fire Chief Bret Black observe a moment of silence Monday as Jefferson County Sheriff Joe Nole reads a remembrance of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 11, 2001. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)