OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK — All 8 miles of Obstruction Point Road will be fully open to public access today, Olympic National Park announced late Thursday.
Road crews were nearly finished clearing and grading the road between Waterhole and the road’s terminus at the Obstruction Point trailhead Thursday, a park spokeswoman said.
Recent warm weather has helped speed snow removal and grading of the road, she added.
The first 3 miles of road were reopened for the summer season June 13.
Obstruction Point Road is Olympic National Park’s highest-elevation road.
It leads from Hurricane Ridge, at 5,242 feet above sea level, about 8 miles east to Obstruction Point at 6,150 feet.
It is typically open mid-July through mid-October, depending on snow and weather conditions.
Mutt Strut slated
Editor’s note: The following brief has been corrected to reflect the proper spelling of Kay Thoreson’s name and to more accurately describe the training her “nosework” dogs have received.
CHIMACUM — The second annual Mutt Strut, a fundraiser for the East Jefferson Rotary Club, will be held at Chimacum Middle School, 91 West Valley Road, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3.
Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3-12 and $4 for dogs.
A family rate (combination of four people or dogs) is $15. Additional family members are $2.
All proceeds go to support the Rotary Club.
The event begins with a 1.5-mile Super Strut Dog Walk at 9 a.m. featuring Hairy Putter, a 9-year-old cairn terrier, as grand marshal.
Registration for the Super Strut is at 8 a.m.
At 11 a.m., Kay Thoreson will bring her professional “nosework” dogs to the event, along with several others.
These dogs are trained to alert on legal scents such as essence of birch, anise and cloves.
From there, Pam Rogge and her two poodles, Jeeves and Fleurette, will provide an agility performance.
Rogge will give information about the training involved and the process of competing in an agility trial.
She will demonstrate the different obstacles on the course as well as explain the criteria for successful completion.
A demonstration by Kathy Knoblock follows with her sentinel shepherds showing off sport tracking and protection work.
Throughout the day, three area veterinarians will give clinics on dog care: “Pet First Aid,” “Acupuncture in Dogs” and “Caring for Your Aging Pet.”
There will also be six dog contests, with first-, second- and third-place medals awarded for cutest dog, most obedient, fastest, best Frisbee catcher, best tail wagger, most unusual pet trick and “best in show.”
Vendors will be selling all things related to dogs. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
For more information, phone Karen Griffith at 360-437-2156 or visit www.eastjeffersonrotary.org.
Two-vehicle wreck slows traffic
PORT LUDLOW — A two-car crash blocked traffic on Paradise Road at Timberton Road for about an hour early Thursday afternoon.
Two vehicles collided at about 12:35 p.m., said Keppie Keplinger, spokeswoman for Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue.
All occupants in both vehicles — a Honda CRV with only a driver and a Hyundai with a driver and a passenger — were treated at the scene and released, she said.
Those involved were not identified.
Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office personnel were at the scene, Lt. Tim Manley said.
Alzheimer’s group meet scheduled
CHIMACUM — A free Alzheimer’s Association caregiver support group will meet at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, from 10:25 a.m. to 11:55 a.m. Monday.
Admission is free.
These support groups provide a place for caregivers to learn and gain support from others caring for a person with memory loss.
Support groups also serve as an opportunity for participants to receive information on care management, available services and current research and treatment options.
These support groups for unpaid care partners, family members and friends of individuals with memory loss are held the second Monday of each month.
For more information, phone Mary Jane Knecht at 360-643-3337 or visit www.alzwa.org.
Robots to take over Forks Library
FORKS — The Forks Library, 171 S. Forks Ave., will present Can-Do Robots! at 11 a.m. Monday.
Participants will hear stories about robots and then build their own Mr. Potato Head-style robots from recycled materials, using magnets to create moveable parts.
This program is recommended for children ages 5 to 12.
Can-Do Robots! is presented in conjunction with “Fizz, Boom, Read,” the North Olympic Library System’s annual summer reading program for young people of all ages.
For more information, visit www.nols.org, phone the library at 360-374-6402 or email youth@nols.org.
‘Buzzing Bee-Bots’
“Fizz Boom Read,” the North Olympic Library System’s annual summer reading program for young people, will present “Buzzing Bee-Bots” on Tuesday.
The program is offered in the Sequim Middle School cafeteria, 301 W. Hendrickson Road, at 10:30 a.m. and at the Port Angeles Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., at 2 p.m.
Educators from Olympia’s Hands On Children’s Museum will discuss the science behind bumblebee behavior and provide materials to design and build a robot bee that moves with a vibrating motor.
Bee-Bots will only be available for use during the program.
For more information, visit www.nols.org.
Buddhism session set in Sequim
SEQUIM — “Finding True Happiness: Introductory Buddhism” will be held at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today and Saturday.
There is a suggested donation of $10 per session.
Joanne Kumekawa teaches the fundamentals of Buddhism in a weekend seminar to help increase health and happiness by understanding why people suffer and what they can do about it, according to a news release.
Students learn about who they are, the system of cause and effect (karma) and how to antidote negative thinking.
Kumekawa is certified to teach by the International Shri Singha Foundation.
For more information, contact Kumekawa at 360-531-0358 or jkkumekawa@gmail.com, or visit www.dzogchenlineage.org.
5-Day Club slated
QUILCENE — Quilcene Bible Church, 295643 U.S. Highway 101, will host a 5-Day Club from 10 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Monday through Friday, July 18.
There is no cost to attend this Vacation Bible School.
Children ages 5 to 12 are welcome, regardless of religious background.
There will be Bible lessons, songs, games, prizes, snacks and more.
For more information, phone Sue Borges at 360-765-3762 or visit www.5dayclub.com.
‘Pathway to Love’
PORT ANGELES — Unity in the Olympics, 2917 E. Myrtle St., will hold a 10:30 a.m. service Sunday at which the Rev. Eva McGinnis will present “Gratitude: A Pathway to Love.”
According to a news release from the church, “when we are grateful, we can’t be hateful or mire in self-defeating behaviors. Appreciation as a way of life is a magnet for happiness.”
Free child care is available during the service.
A time for silent meditation will be held from 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
All are welcome.
Open houses set
OLYMPIA — Two more open houses on the public’s use of Olympic National Forest roads are coming up.
Forest personnel are asking the public to share the places they go and the roads they use to get there for a road analysis that “could influence future proposals for access,” Forest Supervisor Reta Laford has said.
Two upcoming open houses scheduled on the North Olympic Peninsula are:
■ Port Townsend Community Center, 620 Tyler St., 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
■ Olympic National Forest Quinault Ranger Station, 353 S. Shore Road, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30.
Agency officials say there are no current proposals to cut mileage from the forest’s 2,000-mile road network and that decommissioning any forest road would require an in-depth, site-specific analysis with an environmental review and public comment period.
Open houses already have been held in Port Angeles, Forks and Quilcene.
In addition to attending open houses, the public can provide comments at http://tinyurl.com/PDN-forestroads.
Questionnaires are also available at any Olympic National Forest office.
Comments will be taken until Aug. 31.
About 1,400 miles of Olympic National Forest’s road network are open to motorized vehicles. Most of the roads were built to support timber management from the 1950s to the 1990s.
As timber harvest has declined over the past two decades, so, too, has funding for road maintenance, agency officials have said.
Scholarships awarded
PORT ANGELES — Interfor Corp. has awarded the $2,000 Dal Shemko Memorial Scholarship to Dylan Chatters and Deanna Trujillo, whose parents work at Interfor’s Port Angeles mill.
The students were chosen for their academic records, skills, accomplishments, volunteer work and goals.
“These scholarships demonstrate our commitment to our employees and to the communities where we operate,” Interfor President and CEO Duncan Davies said.
“We are proud to recognize the many achievements of Deanna and Dylan and wish them the best in their studies and future careers.”
Chatters, who attends Sequim High School, plans to go to Westminster College in Salt Lake City to earn a four-year degree in nursing.
He has been an active volunteer in his community and school and is a member of the school’s jazz band.
Trujillo, who attends Port Angeles High School, plans to become a teacher. She will pursue an associate degree at Peninsula College and then complete her education at a university.
Her community activities include painting a mural in downtown Port Angeles and volunteering at local festivals.
The Dal Shemko Memorial Scholarship honors longtime Interfor employee Dal Shemko, who was killed in a 2002 logging accident.
