NEWS BRIEFS: 4-H benefit starts Wednesday in Port Townsend . . . and other items

PORT TOWNSEND — Donations for Jefferson County’s Paws-N-Claws 4-H Club’s travel group will be sought at the Food Co-op, 414 Kearney St., from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday and Tuesday, June 7.

Funds will go toward the club’s trip to the Blind Cat Rescue and Sanctuary in St. Pauls, N.C., where the travel group will volunteer for the duration of the trip.

The purpose of the group is so students have the opportunity to gain, develop and practice life skills through the process of planning, fundraising and interacting with groups and communities outside their own.

To qualify for the trip, members must work and volunteer locally in the “cat project” area in addition to raising funds for the trip over a number of years.

This will be the group’s fourth trip.

In addition, catnip mice will be available at the group’s rummage sale in the Cat Building at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 4907 Landes St., from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and at the Port Townsend Farmers Market, 650 Tyler St., on Saturday, June 18.

The club’s catnip mice are normally only available in November and December but will be available for purchase early for the fundraiser.

For more information about the Jefferson County 4-H Program and other 4-H clubs, contact 4-H Coordinator Tanya Barnett at 360-379-5610, ext. 208, or email tanya.barnett@wsu.edu.

First Federal donates $6K to two local organizations

PORT ANGELES — First Federal recently donated a combined $6,000 to two local organizations.

Peninsula Behavioral Health was given $5,000 in benefit of the organization’s annual fundraising dinner May 6.

Jessie Close, sister of actress Glenn Close, was this year’s keynote speaker.

Close has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and shared the story of her struggle with mental illness.

In addition, the Dream Playground Foundation was given $1,000 in support of its annual maintenance event, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, June 24-25.

Community volunteers will be needed to help.

The Port Angeles Dream Playground, Erickson Park, was originally built in five days in September 2002 by more than 2,000 volunteers with tools and equipment loaned by the community.

It has been one of the largest volunteer projects Clallam County has undertaken.

For more information, visit www.padreamplayground.org.

Clallam man takes 7th at Bus Roadeo

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Clallam Transit System Operator David Larrabee finished seventh in the American Public Transportation Association’s 2016 International Bus Roadeo held in Charlotte, N.C.

Larrabee competed in the 35-foot bus division against drivers from around the U.S. and Canada to test-drive skills, customer service and safety practices.

The event tests the skills of transit operators with stations simulating various driving situations.

Safety practices, passenger relations and transporting the disabled are other facets of the competition.

“We’re very proud of David in representing Clallam Transit so well amongst his peers. The operators who drove in this competition are the best in the country,” said General Manager Wendy Clark-Getzin.

“David has again demonstrated the highest degree of professional driving skills.”

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