The Sequim Gazette

07/20/2024

In an effort to better help frequent 9-1-1 callers, Clallam County Fire District 3 is moving forward with hiring its first community paramedic.
Fire chief Justin Grider said the district will open the position to current staff and possibly hire someone within the next month.
The position could include connecting patients with local organizations for transportation, medication, mental health, and other services.https://bit.ly/4f8dzZ3

07/19/2024

Christmas is still months away, but Olympic Peninsula children and families have already begun to fill special shoeboxes with gifts for children in need around the world.

Two Sequim residents recently did just that in Quito, Ecuador, a mountain city at 9,500 feet surrounded by a ring of volcanoes. In early June, Paul Muncey and Susan Hedding helped to distribute some of these gift-filled shoeboxes to children in Quito.

“It filled my heart to see how much excitement and joy these small gifts brought to the children who have so much less than us,” Muncey said.

While gifts are collected in the U.S. and other countries during the Christmas season, it takes several months to distribute all of them around the world. Last year, 2,172 shoeboxes were collected in Sequim and 4,858 from across the Olympic Peninsula, contributing to a worldwide total of 11.3 million gifts.

Distributions of those shoebox gifts are now underway in 170 countries.

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, designed to deliver gift-filled shoeboxes to children around the world in Jesus’ name.

For more information about Operation Christmas Child on the Olympic Peninsula, call 206-817-5636.

Samaritan’s Purse, based in Boone, North Carolina, responds to the physical and spiritual needs of those in crisis.

For more information about the organization, visit https://sampur.se/3xU7Wgt or call 800-528-1980.

07/19/2024

Sequim locals and visitors have a chance to help Ukrainian troops half a world away at a local fundraiser this week.

Sequim resident Kate Orz, her neighbors and supporters host a neighborhood/community garage sale set for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21, at 284 Greywolf Road. Funds raised will be used to purchase warm winter clothes and more for her friends in a reconnaissance brigade in the Ukraine army, she said.

Sequim locals and visitors have a chance to help Ukrainian troops half a world away at a local fundraiser this week.

07/19/2024

The fields are quiet but there’s lots of action behinds the scenes at Sequim Little League organizers prepare for the 2025 season.

League president Nick Simpson is back for another two-year term, and he and other returning officials are seeking board members in a number of positions.

“We welcome anyone who is willing to lend their time and skills to help us continue to grow and thrive,” Simpson said in an email.

Positions available for the 2025 season include: voting members; non-voting members; vice president-baseball; vice president-softball; player agent-baseball; uniforms/sponsors/fundraisers; coaching coordinator /equipment; umpire in chief; concessions manager; scheduling; and, field maintenance.

Those interested can visit https://bit.ly/3W2MEVO for a description of the roles and responsibilities of league board members.

The league is also hosting a board meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, in the field’s clubhouse located at 124 W. Silberhorn Road; the meeting is open to the public, and there will be a question-and-answer portion about how to become a part of the organization’s team. League representatives organizers ask those interested to RSVP by email to [email protected], to prepare adequate space and seating.

07/19/2024

Some of Sequim’s most iconic sports figures, including a pair of Olympic Games gold medal winners, are getting the spotlight later this summer as part of the first class of the newly-created Sequim Hall of Fame.
https://bit.ly/4d90Pzo
Nine individuals and one team, the 2011 SHS fastpitch squad, will be inducted and a 10th individual, the late Bill Ward, will be recognized at a ceremony set for Saturday, Sept. 14, at The Cedars at Dungeness golf course.

The inaugural class includes: Matt Dryke (class of 1977), a gold medalist in s***t shooting at the 1984 Olympic Games; Cliff Echternkamp (class of 1963, basketball, baseball and football standout); Summer Jackson (class of 2005), state 3A swimmer of the year who holds numerous school records; coach/athletic director Rick Kaps; his son Ryan Kaps (class of 1989), all-state basketball star; Chuck Lehman (class of 1953), a three-sport prep star who also was key to starting Sequim little League; Bruce Randall (class of 1950), a three sport start in football, basketball and baseball; Joe Rantz, a gold medalist in men’s crew at the 1936 Olympic Games; Erica Wheeler (class of 1985), a track and field standout junior national record holder in the javelin; and, the 2011 fastpitch softball team that went 28-0 on its way to winning the class 2A state championship.

The Hall of Fame committee will also recognize Ward, a Sequim High class of 1948 graduate who went on to play professional football.

07/19/2024

Master Gardeners share tips for fuchsia care in the latest "Get It Growing" column. https://bit.ly/4bVoUZr

07/19/2024

ICYMI: The Sequim QFC store is one of three local grocery stores that are expected to see a change in ownership, pending the approval of a merger between Albertsons and Kroger. https://bit.ly/4fcWCwr

07/19/2024

Sequim city councilors honored two retiring employees — Pete Tjemsland and Sarah VanAusdle — in June with proclamations recognizing their years of service for the community. https://bit.ly/4cSaISE

07/18/2024

Doug Adamson, a spokesperson for Washington State Department of Transportation, said “it’s important to note that construction will not have a major impact for people attending (for the weekend).”
Story https://bit.ly/3LPIpIF
Web https://bit.ly/3W7UPQJ

With thousands of travelers expected to hit the highway for Sequim Lavender Weekend, congestion on U.S. Highway 101 could be a continued reality for festivities, and this year there are a few road projects in the area that will slow traffic through construction zones.

07/18/2024

Garage Sales July 19-21
Sequim
• Garage Sale: 10 Morgison Loop, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Sunday, July 19-21
• Garage Sale, 648 Oak Tree Circle, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Garage Sale, 133 Sunset Place (Sunland), 9 a.m.-3 p.m, Friday-Sunday
• Garage Sale, 6192 Old Olympic Hwy., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Closeout Sale, 962 E. Alder St., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Saturday
• Estate Sale, 714 E. Fir Street, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday-Sunday
• Yard Sale, Parkwood, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday
• Neighborhood Garage Sale, 284 Greywolf Road, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday

East Port Angeles
• Garage Sale, 202 Tonda Vista Road, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Central Port Angeles
• Yard Sale, 1103 E. Sixth St., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday
West Port Angeles
• Garage Sale, 1664 Eden Valley Road, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday
• Yard Sale, 1404 Shirley Court, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Saturday

07/18/2024

Here are some of the incidents law enforcement responded to in the last week. https://tinyurl.com/fd99yxu9

07/18/2024

The “Remember Me” large-scale mural, will be officially unveiled at the American Legion, Jack Grennan Post 62 building, 107 E. Prairie St., at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 20.
https://tinyurl.com/yp48je85

07/18/2024

Sequim High sophomore-to-be Clare Turella took top honors in the high jump at the Junior Olympics Regional in Gresham, Oregon, to earn a place at the Junior Olympic Championships, set for Aug. 22-28 in College Station, Texas.

Turella, 16, competing for the Kitsap Fliers Track and Field club, cleared 5-1 in the Junior Olympics Region 13 championships (age 15-16 division), held July 4-7 at Mount Hood Community College, placing first among 21 other jumpers in her age group.

In the Junior Olympics meets leading up to regionals, Turella topped 5-1 to take first at the Washington Track & Field Academy and Alpha Speed Academy Summer Meet in Puyallup on June 8. She then took first place with a 5-3 mark — 6 inches better than the runner-up, a mark that would have topped the field in the 17-18 age group as well, and tying a personal best set during her 2024 high school season — at the USATF Pacific Northwest Meet at Tahoma High School in Tacoma on June 23.

Turella, who won the class 2A state high jump title in May to become the first SHS freshman to win a state individual championship, is being coached by club coaches Martha Mendenhall and Ten Gordon.

07/18/2024

Here's a rundown of farm hours, events and activities offered during Sequim Lavender Weekend July 19-21. https://tinyurl.com/969pf9yw

07/18/2024

Local law enforcement were able to arrest and take a man into custody Wednesday afternoon following a high speed chase on U.S. Highway 101 from Port Angeles to Sequim.
For reasons that were immediately unclear, the individual’s car spun out and stopped near the U.S. Highway 101/Sequim Avenue exit, Jason Viada, Port Angeles Police Department deputy chief, said, where officers and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office deputies were able to detain him.
https://tinyurl.com/47bsyjdn

07/18/2024

Dungeness River Nature Center hosts a workshop on building “eco-bricks” — building blocks of unrecyclable plastic — from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, July 19, in the Cedar Hat Classroom at the center, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.
Story: https://tinyurl.com/4dj2uxsw
More: https://dungenessrivercenter.org/news/category/2024-summer-eco-brick-project/

07/17/2024

ICYMI: Sequim Bay closes to shellfish harvesting

Sequim Bay is closed to recreational harvesting of all shellfish, the Clallam County Department of Health and Human Services’ Environmental Health Division announced on July 12.

The update now closes all Olympic Peninsula waters — the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Cape Flattery to the Jefferson County line, Pacific Ocean beaches, Sequim Bay and Discovery Bay — to all shellfish harvesting.

Closed to all species means clams (including geoduck), oysters, mussels and other invertebrates such as the moon snail. All areas are closed for the sport harvest of scallops. These closures do not apply to shrimp.

For more information about this closure, call the Marine Biotoxin Hotline at 800-562-5632 or visit the Department of Health’s Marine Biotoxin website at https://bit.ly/3zLgSFv.

07/17/2024

Reporter Elijah Sussman hikes along the Dungeness River with David Brownell, executive director of the North Olympic History Center in Port Angeles, for the Transmission from the Trail column. https://bit.ly/3LqxXXG

07/17/2024

The Lodge at Sherwood Village hosts its annual Nifty 50’s Bash on Thursday, July 18.
Check out vintage and classic cars courtesy of the Sequim Valley Car Club, as well as a special performance by renowned Elvis Presley tribute artist Bret Wiggins, from 2-4 p.m. at 660 W. Evergreen Farm Way.
The car show begins at 2 p.m. Attendees can get a photo with Wiggins as Elvis from 2-2:55 before his 3 p.m. Elvis performance.
The Lodge at Sherwood Village will also be serving complimentary root beer floats at an open house during the event.
RSVPs are not required, event organizers say, but are appreciated; call 360-681-3100.

07/17/2024

Olympic Peninsula Humane Society, law enforcement, and rescue leaders discuss OPHS' plans to close its Bark House campus at 1743 Old Olympic Highway in Port Angeles by the end of August. Clallam County officials host a work session July 22 in the courthouse to determine next steps for impounded and surrendered dogs. https://bit.ly/3S9ooQC

07/16/2024

Carrie Blake Community Park will soon host Sequim Lavender Festival in the Park with vendors, music, food and more. It's one of many venues as part of Sequim Lavender Weekend July 19-21.
Read more at https://bit.ly/4cKpRoN.
Pictured is the park today, and in July 2023.

07/16/2024

Local scholarships available to continue education

Continuing Education Scholarships are available from Soroptimist International of Sequim.

Female Sequim residents or women who have attended Sequim High School and have completed 24 semester or 30 quarter hours of post-secondary education and are enrolled for the coming 2024 fall semester are eligible. Scholarships range from $750 to $2,000.

Applications are available now at https://bit.ly/3KFNvXj ; follow the links for scholarships. Filing date is Aug. 15, 2024.

The mission of Soroptimist is to provide access to the education and training that will help women achieve economic empowerment.

HOME SIS supports the education that will help women and girls achieve economic empowerment. We award scholarships in four areas: High School, Continuing Education for women who have completed a year of post-secondary education, Professional/Technical (Vocational) through Peninsula College Foundatio...

07/16/2024

Here's a profile on Sequim composer, teacher, and piano tuner Paul Creech. https://bit.ly/3WkRSgS

07/16/2024

Sunbonnet Sue Quilt Club quilters expand their annual Quilt Show to a two-day event at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave, Sequim, from ​9 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, July 19-20. Entry is a suggested donation of $5.
As tradition, the event includes quilts on display from local quilters, a raffle, demonstrations, vendors, fan votes, a boutique, and more. https://bit.ly/4f5ADaY

07/15/2024

Leaf miners are one of the most common insect problems in Pacific Northwest gardens. They affect a large number of vegetable crops such as spinach and bush beans as well as ornamental plants and weeds. https://bit.ly/3W3BNe7

07/15/2024

“No matter when you visit us, even on the weekend, we want to have an expert on-site who can answer your questions. As a retail nursery, open to all, it’s our goal to create informed consumers.”

Sustainability is blooming at Sequim’s New Dungeness Nursery

07/13/2024

The Port Angeles Community Players’ (PACP) summer production of “The Curate Shakespeare As You Like It,” is set for three weeks of shows.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Tuesdays, along with 2 p.m. Sunday matinees, from July 12-28, all at the Playhouse main stage, 1235 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.
Tickets are available online at https://bit.ly/3Lmj3lf or at the box office 30 minutes before each performance. https://bit.ly/3LsPM8l

07/13/2024

Library group sets annual meeting

The Friends of Sequim Library’s annual membership meeting is at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, in the Community Room at the KSQM 91.5 broadcasting office, 609 W. Washington St., Suite 17.

The meeting is open to all interested parties, members and non-members. The meeting room has limited space for attendees; confirm attendance by emailing to [email protected].

The business meeting is expected to last about an hour. Following the scheduled agenda, which includes discussion of a vice president position vacancy, Sequim Library manager Emily Sly will present an update on the renovation/remodel of the Sequim Library, followed by a tour of the nearby temporary library.

07/12/2024

Fairview Lake Studios’ handmade, functional stoneware pottery, created by Brian and Wendy Fuller, is featured in this week's column for the Sequim Farmers & Artisans Market. https://bit.ly/3Wl4Zi8