Christmas Eve Candle Light Service Set
The Congregational Church in Forks will be holding a candlelight service at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve.
This years service is featuring “Through the Eyes of Mary, Joseph and A Shepherd” narrated by Cathy Johnson “Mary,” Roger Lien “Joseph,” Juanita Weissenfels “Shepherd.”
There is going to be special music by Monica Henry with many featured hymns by Juanita Weissenfels on piano.
Please join us for this beautiful service in a beautiful setting and let us celebrate the New Born King together.
Notice of Holiday Hours
Forks City Hall will close at noon on Friday, Dec. 22, 2017, and be closed all day on Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, and Monday, Jan. 1, 2018.
Feeding 5000 Free
Christmas Dinner
Feeding 5000 will offer a free Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25, from 1-3:30 p.m. at the Community Center on Maple Ave. Everyone is welcome!
5K Holiday Fun Run
There will be a 5K Holiday Fun Run on Saturday, Dec. 23, at the Forks High School Track. Registration starts at 8:30 a.m. and the run starts at 9:30 a.m. Participation is by donation and all donations raised will go to the FHS Cross Country Team. This Holiday Fun Run is the senior project of Enid Ensastegui.
Soup Labels
After the first of the year, Campbell’s soup labels will no longer be accepted at school. If you have saved labels please get them in as soon as possible to the receptacle at Forks Outfitters.
Clallam County Road Department Integrated Weed Management Plan – 2017 Annual Report
On Monday, Dec. 4, the Clallam County Noxious Weed Control Board presented the Board of Commissioners with a briefing of the inaugural year of the Road Department’s Integrated Weed Management Plan (IWM) and a draft version of the 2017 Annual Report. The full report with detailed information regarding the weed control work accomplished in 2017 is now available online at: www.clallam.net/weed and Roads Department Web page.
The 2018 IWM Work Plan is under development and will be available online as well in 2018.
The goal of this program is to shift roadside vegetation to natural, site-appropriate plant communities. To accomplish the stated goal and be a responsible steward of county-owned land, the county takes steps to ensure noxious and invasive weeds are effectively and efficiently controlled. Invasive and noxious weeds negatively impact agricultural and forestry production, property value, as well as water flow and availability.
Roadsides are high priorities for control of weed species because they cross and link many adjacent properties and land uses, and can act as conduits for the spread of weeds. The Road Department’s IWM was created to help the County efficiently comply with its noxious weed control obligations and reduce existing weed populations and prevent the establishment of new ones across the county.
Olympic National Park to Offer Free Admission on Four Days in 2018
The 2018 entrance fee-free days are:
Jan. 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
April 21: First Day of National Park Week
Sept. 22: National Public Lands Day
Nov. 11: Veterans Day
The Hurricane Ridge Road is scheduled to be open for the holiday on Monday, Jan. 15, in addition to its normally scheduled days of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Weather permitting, the road is scheduled to open at 9 a.m. and close to uphill traffic at 4 p.m. Hurricane Ridge is subject to high winds and heavy snow during the winter and the road’s opening is always dependent on current road and weather conditions. For up to date information about road opening times and conditions, please call the park’s recorded Road & Weather Hotline at 360-565-3131 or follow @HRWinterAccess on Twitter.
The entrance fee for Olympic National Park is $25 per vehicle. The entrance fee waiver does not cover camping or special tours such as guided snowshoe walks. Normally, 118 of the 417 national parks charge an entrance fee. The other 299 national parks do not have entrance fees.
Supporting Persons on the Autism Spectrum
Clallam County Developmental Disabilities Administration Continuing Education Training will take place on Friday, Jan. 26 at the Kit’la Center, 100 La Push Rd., with two classes on the topic Supporting Persons on the Autism Spectrum.
Supporting individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder can require unique and individualized supports. This course will provide an introduction to the diagnostic criteria based on the DSM-5 edition and explore how we can provide the best support possible for individuals living with Autism. It will look at specific strategies for supporting the individuals as well as the care providers.
Dr. Edward Fischer has worked 15 years with individuals with developmental disabilities and Autism. He works for the Developmental Disabilities Administration in Region 3 with the Regional Clinical Team. He is also associate faculty at two universities where he teaches clinical and forensic psychology and serves as dissertation chair and committee member.
Clallam County Developmental Disabilities Administration Continuing Education Training will take place on Friday, Jan. 26 at the Kit’la Center, 100 La Push Rd., with two classes.
Class 1: Continuing Education Course – 6 CEUs
Time: 9 a.m-4 p.m. with an hour for lunch
Who: Professionals who are interested in learning more about what autism is, how to recognize early signs, and what we can do to support children and their families when concerns arise.
Class 2: Family and Friends Course – 2 hours
Time: 6-8 p.m.
Who: Family and friends who are interested in learning basic information about autism, what to do if you suspect a child has autism, and solutions for challenging behaviors.
Options for registration: email miranda.lindsey@quileutenation.org put “Training Registration” in the subject line, include name, phone, and class you wish to attend, call 360-374-5865 and leave a message with your name contact information and the class you wish to attend or Fax that same information to 360-374-5066.
WDFW plans first razor clam digs of 2018, starting New Year’s Day
State shellfish managers have proposed the first round of razor clam digs in 2018, starting with the addition of New Year’s Day on two beaches followed by a weeklong dig extending from late January into early February.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will confirm that schedule prior to each dig, provided that upcoming marine toxin tests show the clams are safe to eat.
Under WDFW’s plan, Twin Harbors and Mocrocks beaches will open for digging at noon Jan. 1, extending a dig previously scheduled for New Year’s Eve dig at four ocean beaches. Starting Jan. 28, WDFW then plans to open various beaches for razor-clam digging through Feb. 3.
No digging will be allowed at any beach before noon.
Dan Ayres, WDFW coastal shellfish manager, said the Jan. 1 opening is designed to give families a chance to ring in the new year digging clams on the beach.
“We know that digging razor clams is a New Year’s tradition for many families and we want to help them keep tradition alive,” Ayres said.
That and other digs are proposed on the following beaches, dates and evening low tides:
Dec. 31, Sunday, 5:12 p.m.; -1.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis, Mocrocks (previously announced and pending final toxin results)
Jan. 1, Monday, 6:02 p.m.; -1.7 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 28, Sunday, 4:06 p.m.; -0.4 feet; Mocrocks
Jan. 29, Monday, 4:59 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Copalis
Jan. 30, Tuesday, 5:47 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Jan. 31, Wednesday, 6:33 p.m.; -1.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Feb. 1, Thursday, 7:17 p.m.; -1.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
Feb. 2, Friday, 8:00 p.m.; -1.0 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis
Feb. 3, Saturday, 8:42 p.m.; -0.4; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks
All diggers age 15 or older must have an applicable 2017-18 fishing license to harvest razor clams on any beach. Licenses, ranging from a three-day razor clam license to an annual combination fishing license, are available on WDFW’s website at https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov and from license vendors around the state.
Under state law, diggers at open beaches can take 15 razor clams per day. Each digger’s clams must be kept in a separate container.
Septic 101 Class
Interested in learning about your septic system? Attend the Septic 101 class!
Clallam County Environmental Health is offering a free informational septic system class in January.
Septic 101 is an introductory class designed for homeowners wishing to learn more about their septic systems. The course describes different types of septic systems, general system care and maintenance, and do’s and don’ts for a healthy system.
The class will be held on Thursday, Jan. 18, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., at the Dungeness River Audubon Center at Railroad Bridge Park, located at 2151 W. Hendrickson Road in Sequim.
Pre-registration for classes is required and available online through www.clallam.net/septic or by contacting Environmental Health at 360-417-2258. Register today. Spaces are limited.
Environmental Health Services, 111 E 3rd Street, Port Angeles, WA 98362, Phone: 360-417-2258, Fax: 360-452-9795.
