Field Hall sets pajama playground fundraiser

Field Arts & Events Hall will host a free pajama-party screening of “The Mitchells vs. the Machines” in the Donna M. Morris Theater at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 31, with donations accepted to help rebuild the Port Angeles Dream Playground.

Youths and adults are encouraged to wear their favorite pajamas for this “pajama party”-themed screening to the venue at 201 W. Front St., Port Angeles. There is no fee for admission; donations will be collected throughout the event.

All food and beverage proceeds will also be donated to the reconstruction efforts.

The Sunset Bar & Lounge opens at 4:30 p.m. and will include child-friendly food and drinks. The PG-rated film screens at 6 p.m.

Space is limited for the event; visit fieldhallevents.org to reserve seats. No RSVP is required to visit the Sunset Bar & Lounge; RSVPs required for movie-goers only.

Much of the playground was destroyed overnight in December 2023. In the wake of the fire, hundreds of individuals and many local small businesses have stepped up to support the efforts to rebuild.

“I am just in awe of the total and immediate support our community has shown,” Dream Playground Foundation president Steve Methner said. “We clearly value kids and families as well as the facilities that enhance quality of life.”

Donations are being collected for the Dream Playground reconstruction at padreamplayground.org.

Learn about on-the-water earthquake safety

“Earthquakes and Tsunamis for Mariners (and Those on Land, Too)” is the topic for Sequim Bay Yacht Club’s Feb. 14 complimentary public presentation by Mac A. Macdonald and Dann May.

Starting at 6:15 p.m. in the Hendricks Room at the John Wayne Marina, 2577 W. Sequim Bay Road, the hour-long program will describe how a 9.0 earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction Zone could affect those on boats of any size as well as those on paddleboards, surfboards, on the dock, in a marina parking lot or on a public launch ramp.

A Sequim resident, Macdonald specializes in “what if” scenarios in his volunteer work with CERT (Citizen Emergency Response Teams) and is an active participant in Washington State Emergency Preparedness.

May is a Port Angeles resident and adjunct professor at Peninsula College, where he teaches geology and related courses. He is an officer of Port Angeles Yacht Club.

The pair say that a 9.0 earthquake will cause shaking and accompanying tsunami effects along the coastline from northern California to the north tip of Vancouver Island, and then impact people for hundreds of miles inland due to power outages and coastal residents seeking refuge.

‘Tea to Die For’ set in February

A Death Café “Tea to Die For,” sponsored by Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, is set for 4-5:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, in the KSQM 91.5 FM Community Room, 609 W. Washington St., No. 17.

A second event is set for 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, in the craft room upstairs at the Port Angeles Senior Center, 328 E. Seventh St.

Tea, coffee and snacks will be served. The groups are free and open to all and do not require prior registration.

Conversations are held every second Monday in Sequim and every fourth Wednesday in Port Angeles. They are meant to foster relaxed and informal discussions surrounding death and dying and open to anyone curious about end of life.

For more information, call Volunteer Hospice at 360-452-1511 or visit its website at volunteerhospice.org or facebook.com/Volunteerhospiceofclallamcounty.

Learn about Great Backyard Bird Count

Bob Boekelheide and Ken Wiersema will present “Bird Nesting and the Great Backyard Bird Count” from 10 a.m.-noon on Saturday, Feb. 3 in the Rainshadow Hall at the Dungeness River Nature Center, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.

This Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society Backyard Birding series event focuses on bird nesting habits as well as on the logistics of the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count. Attendees will learn where and how local bird species select and build nests and how nesting plays an integral part in pair-bonding.

In addition, the class will offer a primer on the use of the e-Bird application, a tool for birders to report their bird sightings to fellow birdwatchers. The presentation ends with a “how to” walk-through for birdwatchers of every age and skill level who wish to participate in the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count scheduled for Feb. 16-19.

Admission to the seminar is free. However, a donation of $5 per person is suggested to support ongoing education and bird conservation programs.

Note: Current COVID-19 health precautions as recommended by Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe and Clallam County Public Health will be followed for the protection of attendees and volunteer staff.

Exchange program encourages host families, students

ASSE-International Student Exchange Programs, a nonprofit organization, is inviting local families to discover the rewards of hosting a foreign exchange student.

ASSE students come from more than 50 countries worldwide, including France, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Ukraine, Japan, and Australia. They are between the ages of 15-18 years, and “they are enthusiastic and excited to experience American culture, family life, school, sports. etc.,” ASSE representatives say.

“They also love to share their own culture and language with their host families, who welcome the students into their home, not as a guest, but as a family member, giving everyone involved a rich cultural experience.”

Host families may be single parents, couples and single persons. Exchange students have money for personal expenses and full health, accident and liability insurance. ASSE students are selected based upon academics and personality, and host families choose their student from a variety of backgrounds, countries and personal interests.

ASSE also offers qualified American students the opportunity to learn another language and culture by spending a school year, semester or a summer with a host family in another country.

Those interested in hosting an exchange student or becoming an exchange student abroad, should call Elena at 1-800-733-2773, visit asse.com or email to asseusawest@asse.com to request more information or start the application process.

NFB presentation scheduled at Shipley

The National Federation of the Blind-Clallam County hosts a presentation from 1-2 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 12, at the Shipley Center, 921 E. Hammond St. The meeting is open to seniors and the general public. Sequim Library representatives will also offer a presentation about audiobooks.

For more information, call Kyle Parrish at 369-775-0958.

‘End of Life Ready’ presentation on tap

Volunteers from End of Life Washington offer a free presentation, “End of Life Ready,” from 2-4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 2, at the at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.

The program is designed to provide resources for planning ahead and reducing anxiety for one of life’s major transitions. Participants will learn about advance directives, including: new dementia directives; choosing a healthcare agent, and the Physician’s Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment.

The second section of the presentation covers Washington’s Death with Dignity Act and other end of life options, such as Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking. A question-and-answer period will follow each section.

No registration is necessary; call 206-854-4302 with questions.

Help plant trees at Snow Creek

The North Olympic Salmon Coalition and the Jefferson Land Trust seek volunteers to help plant native trees and shrubs to complete the restoration of the Snow Creek Uncas Preserve Feb. 9-10 and Feb. 16-17.

There are nearly 9,000 trees and shrubs to plant this winter to reforest the Snow Creek Uncas Restoration project area. A tour of the recently completed stream restoration project will be included after the planting.

These events are from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; participants are asked to arrive by 10 a.m. for orientation. Tools and gloves will be supplied, though you are welcome to bring one’s own. Bring warm, waterproof clothes, boots and a lunch. Events are family-friendly.

Parking is limited and there will be an attendance cap. RSVP for details on the location and parking at nosc.org/events.

For more information, call 360-504-5611 or email to outreach@nosc.org.

NOLS welcomes families to weekly storytimes

The North Olympic Library System (NOLS) offers a weekly Family Storytime at the Sequim Branch Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., from 9:30-10 a.m. on Tuesdays through March 5, before public hours.

This free drop-in program is open to all ages and geared toward children ages 5 and younger.

Participants can enjoy nature-related stories, learn songs and rhymes, and take part in fun activities that encourage movement. Talking, reading, playing and singing all have an important role in early childhood development.

For more information about Storytime, visit nols.org/storytime, call 360-417-8500 or email to discover@nols.org.

Storytime in Sequim is supported by Friends of Sequim Library.

PA Elks to host Mardi Gras fundraiser

A “Mardi Gras Night Party”is set for 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Naval Elks Lodge No. 353, 131 E. First St., Port Angeles.

The even us a fundraiser for veterans and the Port Angeles Dream Playground.

Admission is $10 per person online (navalelks.ticketleap.com/mardisgras) or at the door.

The event includes dancing, photo booth, music, games, DJ Dadda Bass and a no-host bar.

See facebook.com/p/Events-at-the-ELKS-100089706186334 for more information.

Lower Dungeness Bird Walk on Feb. 10

Take a morning walk along the new levee at the Lower Dungeness River Floodplain Restoration Site and look for birds with expert Bob Boekelheide of Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society, starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10.

This event is limited to 20 participants and registration is required; register at tinyurl.com/SEQbirdwalk.

Participants should wear sturdy shoes and expect to walk 1-2 miles on mostly flat, compact gravel. Binoculars and/or spotting scopes are recommended. Depending on bird activity, the outing may last more than two hours. The outing is weather dependent, and could be rescheduled in the case of inclement weather.