SEQUIM — Dr. Jode Garbe, who divides her time between Seattle and Rwanda, is on the North Olympic Peninsula for two presentations this week.
First, Garbe, director of the nonprofit RwandaNOW, will speak tonight about her work toward sustainable farming and a Rwandan mountain gorilla sanctuary during a Sequim High School Women in Networks, or WIN, program for students.
The presentation by Garbe, a Seattle-based lawyer and veterinarian, will be at the Oak Table, 292 W. Bell St., and there is no charge to hear her 7 p.m. talk.
But organizer Mitzi Sanders, Sequim High’s career center coordinator, urges attendees to make reservations by phoning 360-582-3631 or emailing her at mitzi@sequim.k12.wa.us.
Garbe will then give a second presentation at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Dungeness Schoolhouse, 2781 Towne Road. Hosted by the nonprofit Readers Theatre Plus, that event is free and open to the public.
It’s expected to be popular, so free tickets are being distributed by Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St., Sequim, and at Port Book and News, 104 E. First St., Port Angeles.
Attendees are asked to arrive at the Dungeness Schoolhouse by 6:45 p.m. to guarantee seats.
During these programs, Dungeness resident Jim Dries and KIRO-TV’s Penny LeGate will join Garbe to talk about and show photographs of their encounters with the mountain gorillas in the wild. Listeners also can find out about traveling to Rwanda to see the apes.
To find out more about the Readers Theatre Plus presentation, phone 360-797-3337.
Wildlife sanctuary
Both evenings, Garbe will discuss the development of the Rwanda Wildlife Sanctuary and Science Education Center, which are designed to rescue illegally captured wildlife and promote the continued protection of the endangered mountain gorillas.
The center also aims to support local agricultural improvement, including organic dairy processing and farming. These projects are designed to empower disadvantaged groups such as women and the disabled.
Garbe’s program was originally scheduled for mid-January, but it was “snowed out,” noted Paul Martin of Readers Theatre Plus.
Garbe could not make it here after a blizzard hit the North Olympic Peninsula, but she plans to make up for it with this week’s pair of presentations.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
