Safety center slates open house

The Sayu’ʔ x Wey Family Safety Center has an open house scheduled for 1-3 p.m. Thursday, June 6, at 526 N. Fifth Ave.

The facility is a sacred space open to tribal service providers for utilization of training spaces, meeting spaces, support group spaces, and meeting with on or off reservation victims. It serves Tribal Citizens and Native victims in Clallam, Jefferson and Kitsap Counties.

The Sayu’ʔ X Wey is a multi-service center for domestic violence, sexual assault and crime victims (trauma victims) located at one office site that includes a drop-in center. The drop-in center can be used for/by victims to access internet, prepare or send documents and/or other “office” accessibilities.

Additionally, The center has a two-way mirrored observation room with professional recording equipment suitable for evidence preservation in court hearings, and a 25-person training/meeting room.

For more information, contact executive director Dee Rhodes-Koester at dkoester@womenspirit.net or program coordinator Michelle Williams at mwilliams@womenspirit.net.

PC panel to spotlight substance abuse disorders

Studium Generale will host the second in a series of panel discussions focused on support and care for individuals and families affected by SUD (substance use disorders) at 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, in The Little Theater on Peninsula College’s Port Angeles campus, 1502 E. Lauridsen Blvd.

The event will also be live-streamed through Zoom and is available in Spanish disponible en Español (visit pencol.edu/event).

This event will build on the panel discussion held in March, which provided information about what SUDs are and how to destigmatize the condition. Panelists at the May 30 event will discuss practical aspects of support and care. Attendees can expect an exploration of questions such as “What does treatment look like?”, “What kinds of treatments are available?”, “Where do people find the services they need?” and “What does recovery look like?”

Drawing on the expertise of professionals in the field, as well as individuals with lived experience, this session looks to provide invaluable insights into the realities of substance use disorder treatment, legal support mechanisms, and the journey of recovery.

The event is made possible through collaboration between Peninsula College, North Olympic Healthcare Network (NOHN), and various community partners. Panel members include Amy Miller, Behavioral Health Care Manager at NOHN; Miranda Beck, a navigator with lived experience and Peninsula College SUDP student; Heather Harsh, RN for Office Based Opioid Clinic at NOHN; Jaymie Doane, SUD Coordinator from Peninsula Behavioral Health (PBH); Stormy Howell, Treatment Manager at Lower Elwha Klallam Counseling Services; and Jessica Furnish, SUD Counselor at Jamestown Healing Clinic.

For more information, contact Studium Generale coordinator Kate Reavey at kreavey@pencol.edu or 360-417-6268.

Free dementia workshop slated

A free workshop will be offered this week for family caregivers caring for those with dementia. Dealing with Dementia addresses understanding dementia, managing problem behaviors, handling stress, and finding time for yourself.

The workshop is scheduled for 1-5 p.m. Thursday, May 30, at the Olympic Area Agency on Aging (O3A) office, 609 W. Washington St., Suite 16.

The workshop is limited to 20 people and pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot, call Bri Buchanan, Dementia Outreach Development Coordinator with the Olympic Area Agency on Aging at 360-417-8540.

Garden ‘walk-about’ slated for June 6

The first “walk-about” of the season at the Woodcock Demonstration Garden, 2711 Woodcock Road, is set for 10 a.m. on Thursday, June 6.

Following “walk-abouts” are held the first Thursday of the month through October.

The June 6 walk will feature all the gardens, as they finally wake up in spring.

The gardens are now in full production, with Master Gardeners working to bring about vegetables for the food bank, flowers and lots of creativity in design for the community to enjoy. The newest additions are the trellis fruit trees and wildflower gardens. The mushroom garden has expanded, and the Dye Garden has been moved to a larger space.

Visitors can use self-guided tour maps for easy reference.

The Woodcock Demonstration Garden is a beautiful 2.74-acre site that has been in operation for 36 year and is open to the public for educational learning.

PC hosting youth camps this summer

Send your child to college this summer with Peninsula College’s Community Education Programs.

PC hosts a diverse array of camps, from the world of Python programming to creative arts, to mastering Minecraft design and eSports skills and more.

With expert instructors and a stimulating learning environment, camp attendees will develop new skills, make friends and create lasting memories,program organizers say.

Sign up at pencol.edu/ce.

For more information, contact Peninsula College Community Education at communityed@pencol.edu or 360-417-5683.

Community event to help expecting, new families

The Community Connection Baby Shower, a free event celebrating expecting and new families, is scheduled for 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, June 1, at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles.

The event includes special events and wellness activities, free food, car seat checks, diapers, resources for fathers, a Kids Zone, free baby supplies and equipment, games, prizes and more

For more information about the event, email to kelsi.millet@firststepfamilysupport.org, call 360-477-8250 or stop by 323 E. Sixth St., Port Angeles.

The event is hosted by Clallam-Jefferson Perinatal Mental Health Task Force and sponsored by First Step Family Support Center, City of Port Angeles, North Olympic Healthcare Network, Olympic Medical Center and Molina Healthcare, in partnership with Perinatal Support Washington.

Stations help boaters fend off invasive species

Olympic National Park is launching a new aquatic invasive species program to protect Lake Crescent and Lake Ozette. The program will leverage free boat cleaning stations, public outreach, partnerships and environmental DNA sampling to reduce the spread of existing invasive species and prevent the introduction of new invasive species.

To prevent the spread of invasive species to other areas, recreational boaters are encouraged to use free cleaning stations at Lake Ozette and the Fairholme, Storm King, and Log Cabin Resort boat launch stations on Lake Crescent. The stations were deployed on May 22 at Lake Crescent and the following week at Lake Ozette.

Two aquatic invasive species were detected in Lake Crescent in 2019 and 2022: New Zealand mudsnails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) and Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea). Asian clams were identified in Lake Ozette in 2018. Both Asian clams and New Zealand mudsnails are known for reproducing rapidly and spreading quickly, with Asian clams sometimes exceeding 20,000 individuals per square meter.

These invasive species harm native ecosystems. They disrupt ecological processes, out-compete native species, and can impair recreation and visitation in parks. Prevention and public education are the keys to reducing the spread of invasive species. Once these species are established, they are exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to remove.

To learn more about how to prevent invasive species, visit go.nps.gov/protect-our-waters.

Health fair set at The Fifth Avenue

Community members are invited to the Summer Wellness Journey interactive health fair, scheduled for 1-3 p.m. on Thursday, June 6, at The Fifth Avenue, 500 West Hendrickson Road.

Get more information from organizations such as Olympic Peninsula YMCA, R Sunrise Dental, Sequim Wheelers, Olympic Area on Aging, The Sequim Free Clinic, Senior Foot Care, massage therapist Cristina Eppers and others.

See active demonstrations led by instructors from Shipley Senior Center, including 10-minute classes of Zumba Gold and Tai Chi.

“This event promises an enriching experience for individuals seeking to enhance their overall wellness,” event organizers note.

For more information, call The Fifth Avenue at 360-683-3345.