Rantz stories in PA

The Olympic Peninsula Rowing Association presents an evening with Judy Rantz Willman, daughter of gold medal Olympian rower Joe Rantz who is the subject of “Boys in the Boat” by author Daniel Brown. The event is at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.

SARC board to meet

The board of the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center will meet at

5 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., Sequim. Agenda items include updates on a state audit and current contracts. New business concerns transitions.

‘Disco party’ aids animals

Sequim Gym is sponsoring a “Dance Fitness Disco Party” to benefit the rescue efforts of Peninsula Friends Of Animals, set for 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St. Cost is a $10 donation, and the event includes Zumba exercises.

PC students talk whales

Peninsula College students who participated in the 19th Sitka Whalefest in Sitka, Alaska, last November, will join PC faculty Barbara Blackie, Leora Gansworth and Kate Reavey to reflect on the experience at PC’s next Studium Generale.

“Sitka Whalefest: Reflections and Preparations for the Future” is at 12:35 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at PC’s Little Theater, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

Students earned college credits while traveling to an international science symposium. The class was made possible through a National Science Foundation grant.

For more information, email Reavey at kreavey@pencol.edu.

Garden club fundraiser is Saturday

The Sequim Garden Club’s annual fundraiser for scholarship support is from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at the Gardiner Community Center, 980 Old Gardiner Road, Sequim. This year there will be a sock hop, silent auction and raffle. Donations are being accepted for the latter. For more information, contact Lisa Cronin at lcroningardenclub@gmail.com or 797-3900.

Swap meet at PA grange

The Peninsula Dream Machines and Fairview Grange are hosting a joint event on Saturday April 16. There is a swap meet for any items from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fairview Grange field, 161 Lake Farm Road, Port Angeles. For a space, the cost is $10; bring your own tables.

Fairview Grange will hold a pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. for $8 including pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and coffee. For more information, call 461-9008.

‘Healing Cancer’ movie on tap

The Alternative Health Cinema free movie on Wednesday, April 13, is “Healing Cancer: From the Inside Out.” This award winning film is two hours long and covers a comprehensive range of topics. Part 1 is “Curing Cancer” which deals with the failing of conventional medical treatment and Part 2 “Healing Cancer,” shows how cancer can be successfully healed with dietary treatments and natural supplementation. Reservations at 457-1515 are required due to limited space. The film is at The Natural Healing Clinic 162 S. Barr Road, Port Angeles.

Soup’s On at St. Luke’s

No such thing as a free lunch? Think again. Every Wednesday, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church at 525 N. Fifth Ave. in Sequim, serves up a free lunch. Enjoy a bowl of homemade soup (vegetarian available) along with a crispy green salad.

Library staff takes in-service

All North Olympic Library System locations will be closed on Friday, April 22, to allow staff to attend an in-service training day. Library branches in Port Angeles and Sequim will reopen at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 23.

Thrift shop open Saturday

The Sequim Dungeness Hospital Guild’s thrift shop, 204 W. Bell St. in Sequim, will be open on from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 16. Lots of spring fashions are in for everyone including designer handbags, shoes and fine jewelry. Also featured will be furniture, kitchen appliances and dishes and much more. There are only a few tickets left for the guild’s annual spring luncheon/fashion show and silent auction on May 5 at 7 Cedars Casino’s Club 7. Volunteers and consigners always are needed. Call 683-7044 for information.

Fun and games slated for Junior Ranger Day

Children of all ages are invited to bring their favorite adult to National Junior Ranger Day at Olympic from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 16. Olympic’s Junior Ranger Day will take place at the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, 3002 Mount Angeles Road in Port Angeles. At Junior Ranger Day, children accompanied by an adult can participate in a wide variety of free activities including ranger-guided walks, craft projects and outdoor games. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/olym/learn/kidsyouth/beajuniorranger.htm or call 565-3146.

Tools for caregivers class set

An extensive eight-week course, “Powerful Tools for the Caregiver,” will be presented on Wednesdays, May 4-June 8, at the Latter-day Saints Church, 815 W. Washington St., in Sequim.

Registration deadline is April 15.

The classes will teach caregivers how to stay healthy and take care of themselves while caring long-term for family members or friends. Presenters do not teach how to be a caregiver. The classes are free, but purchase of a workbook is required. For more information or to register, contact Trish Johnson at jarnpalojoh@hotmail.com.

Police chief to join mayor at April’s coffee conversation

The City of Sequim “Coffee with the Mayor” program continues in April. Sequim residents can meet informally with Mayor Dennis Smith, at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, April 21, at the Black Bear Diner, 1471 E. Washington St. Police Chief Bill Dickinson will join the mayor for the April meeting.

The mayor will be at a different published location each month to listen to anyone who wants to chat, ask questions, express a concern or make a comment about the City or the community. Contact Dennis Smith at dsmith@sequimwa.gov with questions.

Wildlife biologist to speak at Audubon river center

The Dungeness River Audubon Center, 2151 W. Hendrickson Road, Sequim, will host a presentation from 7-8 p.m. Wednesday, April 20. Kim Sager-Fradkin, wildlife biologist for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, will discuss research on river otter and American dipper responses to the Elwha dam removal, salmon recolonization and marine-derived nutrient influxes to the Elwha ecosystem. She also will describe her research to document wildlife recolonization of the former Elwha reservoirs with a specific focus on small mammals and ungulates like deer and elk.

Register for caregivers’ class

“Powerful Tools for Caregivers,” a class that helps those who care for a loved one also take care of themselves, will start April 19 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave.

The class will meet from 9-11:30 a.m. on six Tuesdays, ending May 24. The only cost is $30 for the textbook.

Topics include how the caregiver can reduce personal stress, deal with emotions, solve problems, communicate effectively with other family members, make difficult decisions and use community services. The class does not focus on hands-on care for the care receiver.

Pre-registration, by April 16, is required and may be done by contacting class leaders Judy Croonquist at 582-1370, or Barbara Parse at 683-2113.

State parks offers ‘free day’

In honor of Earth Day, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is offering a free day at all state parks on Friday, April 22. Visitors will not need to display a Discover Pass for day-use visits to state parks.

The “free days” are in keeping with legislation that created the Discover Pass. The pass costs $30 for an annual pass or $10 for a one-day permit and is required for vehicle access to state recreation lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Department of Natural Resources.

Enjoy BLOCK Fest play

BLOCK Fest, an interactive math and science learning program for youths aged 8 months to 8 years, is coming to several Olympic Peninsula schools and clubs.

The schedule includes: Saturday, April 23, at Jefferson Elementary; Saturday, May 7, at Dry Creek Elementary, both in Port Angeles, and Saturday, May 21, at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club.

All sessions are 10-11 a.m., 11:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. and/or 1-2 p.m. and are open to all families throughout Clallam County.

Register for a spot by calling 681-2250 or email nicole@firstteacher.org.

Learn all about getting teacher certifications

The Olympic Educational Service District No. 114, which serves the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas, hosts an event for individuals who want to learn more about obtaining a teaching certification. The event is 4-6 p.m. Thursday, April 28, in the Sequim High School cafeteria, 601 N. Sequim Ave. Call 360-782–5047 or email Sue Armstrong at sarmstrong@oesd114.org for more information.

Senior Nutrition menu set

Sequim Senior Nutrition Site menus are served at 4:30 p.m. at the Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Suggested donation is $5 (60 and over), $8 guest and a 24-hour advance reservation is needed.

RSVP to 683-8491.

Menus are subject to change.

Friday, April 15: Green salad, lemon dill fish, confetti rice, mixed vegetables, chocolate pudding

Tuesday, April 19: Pork roast, mashed potatoes, stuffing gravy, asparagus tips, fruit cup, pumpkin dump cake

Wednesday, April 20: Green salad, vegetable soup, turkey/Swiss sandwich, fruited gelatin.