ESQUIMALT, B.C. — The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be in use today through Friday, the Royal Canadian Navy announced.
The range will be in use from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily during that time.
Bentinck Island is located near Race Rocks in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and is used as a terrestrial demolition range by the Canadian Armed Forces.
Local residents will likely be unaware of the activities except on days when environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and wind direction affect how far the sound will travel.
Studies conducted on the potential environmental effects of Bentinck Island demolitions have found that blast noise in the marine environment during land-based demolitions is almost undetectable by acoustic equipment above that of other underwater background sounds such as waves and marine life, the Royal Canadian Navy said in a news release.
Landing practice
COUPEVILLE — There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island at Ault Field midmorning to afternoon Wednesday.
Practice will also occur late morning to afternoon Friday.
Comments, including noise complaints, can be directed to the station’s comment line at 360-257-6665 or via email at comments.NASWI@navy.mil.
All other questions can be directed to the public affairs office at 360-257-2286.
Crabbing prep
PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) will offer a free crabbing season preparation program Sunday.
Registration is required.
To register visit www.brownpapertickets.com.
The program will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at West Marine, 2824 Washington St.
Attendees can learn tips, tricks and rules to help you catch more crab, keep more of the crab you catch, and keep your expensive crabbing gear from disappearing.
Speakers Troy McKelvey, Wade Crouch and state Department of Fish & Wildlife biologist Roy Clark will detail how to rig your crab pot properly with buoys, lines and weights, as well as baits, WDFW regulations, and area crabbing spots.
This program is part of a regional effort by the Northwest Straits Foundation and the Jefferson MRC to help crabbers save their gear and to prevent crab from being lost.
Each year an estimated 12,000 crab pots are lost in Puget Sound that continue to capture crab, resulting in nearly 180,000 Dungeness crab lost annually, according to a news release.
For more information, visit www.jeffersonmrc.org or www.derelictgear.org.
MSU honor roll
BOZEMAN, Mont. — Sequim native Gavin Crain was named to Montana State University’s spring 2018 honor roll.
To qualify, a student must be enrolled in at least 12 degree-eligible credits hours and achieve a minimum grade-point average of 3.5.
Sequim students win essay, poster contest
SEQUIM — The Sequim Association of Realtors held its annual awards ceremony for the “What My Home Means To Me” essay and poster contest.
The winners from Helen Haller and Greywolf elementary schools were honored May 23.
Winners for both categories were selected from each school and all received a $25 gift card in addition to their winnings.
First-place essay winners received a new bicycle and helmet; second-place winners received a new Razor scooter and helmet; third-place winners received a Scrabble Jr. board game.
Poster winners received an art case.
The nationwide contest for third-grade students has participants write an essay and draw a poster about what their home means to them.
