Open house set for highway projects
Community members are invited to participate in an online open house to learn more about projects on U.S. Highway 101.
The Washington State Department of Transportation is inviting the public to share feedback about proposed highway improvements through Monday, Aug. 5. Take part at engage.wsdot.wa.gov/us-101-paving-pre-design-projects.
Two separate projects will re-pave two segments of the highway: Kitchen-Dick Road to Simdars Road in Sequim, and East Kolonels Way to Shore Road near Port Angeles.
The two paving projects were subject to a Complete Streets review. Complete Streets provides a way to make roads safer for people who walk, cycle, roll and use transit and for vehicles moving people and goods, state officials say.
The two paving projects are expected to begin construction in 2025.
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 doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety.htm.
Death Café talk slated for July 24
Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County will hold a Death Café, a group discussion with the purpose of demystifying death and dying, from 4-5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, in the VHOCC conference room, 829 E. Eighth St., Port Angeles.
The group is free and open to all and does not require prior registration. Tea, coffee and snacks will be served.
Conversations are held every second Monday in Sequim and every fourth Wednesday in Port Angeles.
For more information, call VHOCC at 360-452-1511 or visit volunteerhospice.org.
County seeks parks plan comments
The Clallam County Parks, Fair, & Facilities Staff and Parks Advisory Board are preparing an update for its 2016 edition of the Clallam County Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Master Plan — a document they say will guide the county’spark planning and management efforts through 2037.
A component of the effort is eliciting public feedback via a Public Opinion Survey early in the process.
The survey, accessible at clallamcountywa.gov/SurveyParks, will be active until March 31, 2025.
The county parks staff and advisory board will use the survey results to develop a presentation that “shares crucial findings, explains how the results will be used, and catalyzes productive dialogue at several community events yet to be scheduled,” officials said.
The entire Master Plan update process should be completed by late 2025 and adopted in the spring of 2026.
For more information or to comment, email to web_parks@clallamcountywa.gov or call 360-417-2291.
Soroptimists offer wine, lavender for fundraiser
Soroptimist International of Sequim will be raising funds through their selling of wine from Olympic Cellars and freshly-made lavender baked goods at Fleurish Lavender of Lost Mountain, 1541 Taylor Cut-Off Road, during the Lavender Weekend (July 19-21).
Soroptimist provides educational supports that will help women and girls achieve economic empowerment.
Screening set for ‘Where the Olive Trees Weep’
The 2004 film “Where the Olive Trees Weep,” which offers a glimpse into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation, will screen from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, in the Raymond Carver Room at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St.
The 104-minute film follows Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. Footage also witnesses Dr. Gabor Maté offering trauma-healing work to a group of women who were tortured in Israeli prisons. There will be time for group discussion after the film.
The screening is presented by Clallam Palestine Action Group (CPAG), a community coalition. Contact CPAG at ClallamPalestineAction@proton.me.
County completes charging station installation
In 2022, Clallam County received a about $68,000 in a Washington State Department of Commerce Electrification of Transportation Grant to install an electric vehicle charging station at the southwest corner of the Clallam County Courthouse parking lot.
The project was completed in in the spring.
The charging station can accommodate six vehicles, supports most vehicle makes and models, and is open 24/7 to the public. The fee for use is $0.38 per Kilowatt hour.
For more information, email to web_parks@clallamcountywa.gov.
Photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group A set of EV charging stations stand ready for public use on July 10 in the parking lot of the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles.
