First Federal has selected the Dream Playground Foundation as the recipient of a $15,000 gift from the bank's Community Dividend Program.

The money will complete the funding needed to construct a picnic shelter adjacent to the playground. The 20-foot by 40-foot shelter will be built with volunteer labor, just as the playground itself was.

First Federal recently announced its Community Dividend Program and a $1 million commitment to fund housing, economic and community development projects in Clallam and Jefferson counties.



Darren Nealis, LCSW, has accepted the position of clinical director of Peninsula Community Mental Health Center, effective Oct. 1. Since 2000, Nealis has been director of services for the Center for Mental Health in Helena, Mont. In that position, he has held clinical and administrative responsibilities for mental health center operations within a four-county area, managing a $4 million budget.

Nealis was awarded a master's degree in social work from the University of Illinois' Jane Addams College of Social Work in 1995 after earning a bachelor's degree in psychology at the University's Honors College.



Sequim Wave Broadband store celebrated its grand opening Sept. 5 at 153 S. Sunnyside Ave., across the street from the post office. Wave Broadband is a Kirkland-based cable, Internet and phone services company. For more information, visit WaveBroadband.com.



North Olympic Exchange Clallam County, a community currency system group, will host an orientation for people interested in learning about building a sustainable community by creating services, skills, and goods for trade using community currency. The next orientation will be held at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at the Sequim Library. The orientation is open to everyone. For more information, contact Catharine Covert at 582-3126, or covert@olympus.net.



Jason Aldrich, licensed home and structural pest inspector, recently opened Aldrich's Home Inspections and is accepting clients. Aldrich offers both prepurchase and home maintenance inspections. He has education and work experience in the construction industry and is certified in home inspection. Visit www.AldrichsHome Inspection.com or call 360-775-6850.



First Federal has added an investment services division to assist customers seeking to diversify their savings from traditional bank savings products. First Federal Investment Services, in conjunction with Essex National Securities, Inc., makes available a wide range of investment options including mutual funds, annuities, stocks, bonds, IRAs, life and long-term-care insurance and professional asset management. For businesses and business owners, FFIS also offers a variety of retirement plan options, as well as life insurance products for business continuation planning. Tom Guobis works out of the Sequim Village Branch, 1201 W. Washington St.



Cascadia Training for Professional Development will sponsor an adoption workshop featuring speaker and author Deborah Gray from noon-4:15 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Port Angeles Senior Community Center. The workshop is open to parents, teachers, therapists, caseworkers and anyone touched by adoption. The cost is $65. For information or to register, go to www.cascadia-training.org or call 800-298-6516.



A free Horse Health Fair, hosted by Purina Mills and Hartnagel Building Supply, will be offered from 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, at Hartnagel Building Supply in Port Angeles. The fair will specifically target those caring for senior and special-needs horses. Call 452-8933 for more information.



Financial Peace University offers a 13-week program beginning at 11 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 21, at Olympic Bible Fellowship, 640 N. Sequim Ave. Call Rich Hay at 683-6731 or richhay@olypen.com.