Seeking to help stem the spread of the coronavirus, more community groups and businesses have amended, postponed or canceled services and events in recent days.
Here’s an update:
Clallam Conservation District
The Clallam Conservation District has postponed a number of upcoming workshops, including “Chicken Keeping 101 (scheduled for March 19) and parts 1 and 2 of its Pasture Management Series (March 26, April 9).
Those interested in the workshops are encouraged to sign up; event organizers will notify those signed up when dates have been rescheduled.
The district has temporarily suspended all soil test sampling. Those seeking soil testing can send samples directly to A&L Laboratories in Portland, Ore., district officials said.
Clallam Conservation District has also shut down its office to walk-ins. Staff are available by phone from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Tuesdays-Thursdays.
“The home page on our website (www.clallamcd.org) will continue to stay up-to-date with cancellation and rescheduling information,” district officials said last week.
For more information or to make an appointment, email to info@clallamcd.org or call 360-775-3747.
With the New Dungeness Lighthouse near the end of Dungeness Spit in the distance, Jennifer and Ron Parmenter of Sequim take advantage of a warm and sunny day with a picnic at Dungeness Landing County Park north of Sequim in June 2019. New Dungeness Light Station buildings are closed to the public throughout the duration of the COVID-19 coronavirus issue. File photo by Keith Thorpe/Olympic Peninsula News Group
New Dungeness Light Station
All New Dungeness Light Station buildings are now closed to the public until further notice, said Greg MacDonald, president of the New Dungeness Light Station Association, on March 20.
The Light Station Association’s board of directors decided to take this action after discussion with local health care county and Dungeness Wildlife Refuge officials.
Keepers will continue to staff the facilities and, at least for the time being, the spit remains open to hikers, MacDonald said.
“You are certainly welcome to make the hike out to the lighthouse and enjoy the fresh air, wildlife and scenery,”MacDonald said, “but just remember that there will be no tours and the museum, lighthouse tower and restroom are closed; plan accordingly.”
Strait Shot
Clallam Transit is suspending its daily service on the Strait Shot route to and from the state ferry terminal at Bainbridge Island effective Monday, March 23, the agency announced.
The last departure from the Gateway Transit Center is 3:15 p.m. Sunday, March 22, and the last departure from the Bainbridge Island ferry terminal is at 6:20 p.m. Sunday.
All other Clallam Transit routes are running as scheduled.
Black Ball Ferry
Black Ball Ferry Line on March 19 declared a suspension of service between Port Angeles and Victoria from March 30-April 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
See www.cohoferry.com for updates.
Science Café
Upcoming presentations of the Sequim Science Café have been canceled with an eye toward next school year.
“In an effort to keep our audience safe and respect the time of our guest speakers, we have decided to cancel the rest of our events (April and May) until school resumes in the fall … hopefully with a continuation of the topics we had already scheduled,” program organizers said this week.”
The events, held the second Tuesday of every month except July and August, highlight topics from local and regional guest speakers and is sponsored by the Sequim Education Foundation. See www.sequimeducationfoundation.org.
Coffee with the Mayor
The City of Sequim’s Coffee with the Mayor meeting set for Thursday, March 26, has been cancelled because of recent restrictions on meetings ordered by Gov. Jay Inslee as a result of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
The City of Sequim will review options for future meetings and notify the public when the meetings will resume.
Contact Mayor William Armacost at warmacost@sequimwa.gov with questions.
Dungeness River Audubon Center
Because of state guidelines to contain the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Dungeness River Audubon Center will be closed through Tuesday, March 31.
All events, meetings and gatherings hosted by, or held, at the center are postponed, and none have been rescheduled.
The closure may extend into April and May. Updates and news will be posted on the River Center webpage at www.dungenessrivercenter.org and on the River Center’s Facebook page.
Cancellations include all field trips and events for the Olympic BirdFest, slated for April 17-19. Registration for next year’s BirdFest will begin Jan. 1, 2021. Ceremonial groundbreaking for the new facility, planned for mid-April, has been postponed to a later date (to be announced).
However, Railroad Bridge Park, the Olympic Discovery Trail, Railroad Bridge and the River Center’s sanitized public restrooms will be open during daylight hours.
PIC Open House
Clallam County Environmental Health and project partners are postponing the Pollution Identification and Correction (PIC) Open House that was scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at the Sequim Prairie Grange.
“We will reschedule at a later date later this spring or early summer,” event organizers said.
To learn more about the PIC Project happening in Sequim’s Marine Recovery Area, visit www.clallam.net/HHS/EnvironmentalHealth/PICProject.html.
Charter Review Commission
The Clallam County Charter Review Commission has canceled scheduled meetings for March 26, April 9, April 16 and April 23, citing “an abundance of caution regarding regarding Coronavirus COVID-19.”
Future meetings will be re-evaluated regularly in conjunction with public health officials’ recommendations, county officials said on March 20.
Blue Whole Gallery
Blue Whole Gallery president Joyce Volmut announced this week that the gallery will continue to be closed through the month of April. Enjoy new artwork from member artists on Facebook at facebook.com/bluewholegallery.
Sequim Prairie Garden Club
The Sequim Prairie Garden Club is suspending monthly meetings until further notice.
Rental reservations of the Pioneer Memorial Park Clubhouse are temporarily suspended as well; deposits and fees for scheduled rentals will be refunded unless rescheduling is requested.
For more information, contact Sequim Prairie Garden Club at 360-808-3434.
Backyard Birding
The Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society announced this week the cancellations of Backyard Birding series events scheduled for April 4 and May 2.
“We hope to restart the seminars in June depending on the coronavirus safeguards in place by that time,” series organizers said.
“Meanwhile, we encourage you to get outside and enjoy the spring sights and sounds provided by our fine-feathered friends while maintaining recommended social-distancing practices and following all federal, state, and local guidelines as they are announced.”
WOW! workshop
The April 8 WOW! Wellness Forum, “Plant Based Eating: Good for you, good for the world,” has been canceled, organizers say, and the May forum may be canceled as well.
WOW! Working on Wellness is a health education program of Dungeness Valley Health & Wellness Clinic — Sequim’s free clinic.
The Basic Urgent Care Clinic is open to patients on Monday and Thursday evenings beginning at 5 p.m. Individuals interested in supporting the Clinic may call 360-582-0218.
Sequim Bike Rodeo
Event director Jeanie Robards and her crew of volunteers have decided to suspend preparations and cancel the third annual Sequim Bike Rodeo because of health concerns and governmental guidance related to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
The event had been scheduled for Saturday, May 16.
Hosted by the Olympic Peninsula Bicycle Alliance, this annual event is for Sequim area youth in grades kindergarten through fifth grade.
“We’re sorry for the youngsters and our many volunteers who won’t be able to participate in this fun filled event this year,” Robards said in a press release. “Don’t worry, though, we’ll be back next year!”
The mission of the Olympic Peninsula Bicycle Alliance is to meet the needs and serve the interests of cyclists on the Olympic Peninsula. It is a nonprofit organization working with government businesses and individuals to enhance bicycle safety and promote the Olympic Peninsula as a premier cycling destination. See www.olympicpeninsulacycling.com.
For more more information about this event, contact Robards at 405-570-5883 or NWbikerlady@gmail.com.
