Flag retirement
ceremony
Forks Elks Lodge #2524 will be having a flag retirement ceremony on Sunday, June 21 at 1 p.m. (providing that it’s not raining). If you have any old, faded, ripped, or distressed flags you wish to retire honorably, please either drop them off at the Lodge or leave a message at 360-640-1771 and arrangements will be made to pick them up.
Men’s Christian Breakfast Resumes
The Men’s Nondenominational Fellowship Breakfast at Forks Congregational Church, 280 S. Spartan Ave., is resuming this coming Saturday, June 20 at 8 a.m. This month’s topic is “Where is God in all that is Going on in our Country.” Pastor Warren Johnson with assistance from others will be providing the breakfast of biscuits and sausage gravy along with scrambled eggs, coffee/ juice. Breakfast is by donation. The Reading and Prayer for Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. sharp.
We have a great core group of men from different denominations that have caused our core group to grow and our discussions about the scriptures to flourish. Check us out for a great breakfast and a time in the word of the Lord. We will be practicing our social distancing during this breakfast to keep everyone safe.
Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to come and have a morning of fellowship, renewal, and prayer with men of the Christian faith. For more information call Pastor Warren Johnson at 360-640-8239.
“Simple Drip Irrigation” by Susan Kalmar
Thursday, June 25, 2020
Water scarcity is of growing concern. The main circumstances that contribute to this problem include inadequate supervision of resources, lack of management awareness, and man-made waste. On Thursday, June 25, 2020 join Susan Kalmar’s Zoom presentation from noon to 1 p.m. to learn about the importance of having a watering plan for your yard and garden. She will present information to de-mystify drip systems for the DIY homeowner, emphasizing that you do not need a large budget or any specialty training in plumbing. Using a hands-on mock-up of a system and providing helpful tips, Susan will describe the process from planning, to purchasing, and installing a simple drip irrigation system. She will inform the audience of the many reasons that a simple drip system is an excellent watering plan. They include saving time, reducing disease, and growing happier plants as well as saving water. Her talk is sure to encourage gardeners to think about the vital resource of water and to consider installing a simple drip irrigation system since advancement in drip irrigation technology has made DIY projects much less expensive, easier to understand and install.
Kalmar became a Clallam County Master Gardener in 2017. She holds an AA degree in Ornamental Horticulture and has experience as a greenhouse manager which, she says, provided her with the best education. As a military spouse, Susan has lived in many climate zones and knows how to have a beautiful garden on a budget. Her latest passion is drip irrigation container gardening.
Join Susan’s live online presentation here: https://extension.wsu.edu/clallam/event/green-thumb-garden-tip-series-simple-drip-irrigation/
Please login early to make sure the connection is working properly, volume on the speakers is adequate, microphone is muted so that attendees cannot hear background noise from your location and video is off.
The “Green Thumbs Garden Tips” education series is sponsored by the WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners and held on the second and fourth Thursday each month through October. In November, December, and January, one lecture is offered. Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar for the latest information on upcoming presentations. For questions, call 360-565-2679.
Voices for Veterans July Stand Down CANCELED
Voices for Veterans July Stand Down has been canceled due to Covid-19 restrictions. The event was to be held at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge.
Pig Roast Canceled
The West End Sportsmen’s Club Annual Pig Roast this July is canceled. See everyone next year.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Offers Free Online Tax Prep Assistance
From today through July 15, AARP Foundation is providing free access to online tax software and personal telephone taxpayer assistance through its Tax-Aide program. Taxpayers can download tax preparation software free and receive personalized assistance from a trained Tax-Aide volunteer in completing and filing their tax returns.
While tax preparation sites remain closed due to the COVID-19, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide has begun offering telephone support to taxpayers whose returns qualify. This service requires that taxpayers use online tax preparation software and complete their own returns, while receiving telephone support from Tax-Aide’s IRS-certified volunteers to complete and file their returns.
The virtual service is being offered as an alternative to AARP Foundation Tax-Aide’s traditional in-person services, which were suspended at the start of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and which remain on hold until further notice. Although Tax-Aide provides free tax preparation and filing services to all taxpayers, many of its clients are over 60 — a group considered by health experts to be at higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19.
Taxpayers can get started by going to this AARP Tax-Aide website. (signup.aarpfoundation.org/preparing-your-taxes-online/)
Taxpayers who used AARP Foundation Tax-Aide in 2019 received $1.4 billion in income tax refunds and more than $200 million in earned income tax credits (EITCs). They also avoided any tax preparation fees and pitches for high-interest tax credit or refund loans.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest volunteer-run free tax preparation service. The program is offered in conjunction with the IRS, and AARP membership is not required. Volunteers are trained and IRS-certified every year to ensure they understand the latest changes to the U.S. Tax Code.
As the coronavirus pandemic evolves, AARP Foundation and its community partners continue to assess whether the Tax-Aide program can open any of its in-person sites for the remainder of the tax season, which has been extended to July 15. The health and safety of program volunteers and taxpayers remains AARP Foundation’s top priority, and any decisions about re-opening will be made with that in mind.
About AARP Foundation
AARP Foundation works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable older adults build economic opportunity and social connections. As AARP’s charitable affiliate, we serve AARP members and nonmembers alike. Bolstered by vigorous legal advocacy, we spark bold, innovative solutions that foster resilience, strengthen communities and restore hope.
Library Mails Nearly 1500 Packets of Seeds to County Residents
While all North Olympic Library System (NOLS) locations were closed to the public due to the Stay Home Stay Healthy order, a team of Library staff working remotely began mailing free starter kits of seeds from the NOLS Grows Seed Library to residents throughout Clallam County. NOLS shared almost 1,500 packets of seeds with about 400 people during the month of May alone! Interested in requesting seeds and trying your hand at vegetable gardening? Clallam County residents can complete an online seed request at www.nols.org/seedlibrary or call 360.417.8500×2 to speak with a library employee who can help them complete the form.
Established in 2017, the NOLS Grows Seed Library is a seed exchange kiosk, stocked with small, pre-packaged quantities of free vegetable seeds, and providing other educational materials related to gardening, growing, and seed-saving. The Seed Library provides residents with a low-cost opportunity to try gardening and experiment with growing small quantities of different plant varieties in order to:
Encourage responsible stewardship
Expand knowledge about growing food
Empower individuals to acquire new skills
Encourage community
The small seed starter kits now available via mail consist of 3-4 packets of seeds. After completing the request form, users can expect their seeds to be mailed within one week.
All NOLS facilities remain closed to the public due to the COVID-19 emergency, but Governor Inslee’s Safe Start plan identifies libraries as able to re-open in Phase 3. NOLS is currently developing a comprehensive, phased plan for gradually re-instating library services. The Library is always open online, and will continue to serve the community in diverse ways during this public health emergency. Make a virtual visit to the library at www.nols.org, or follow NOLS on Facebook and Instagram, to enjoy events, online resources, and other NOLS services.
