NEWS BRIEFS: Heavy rains in forecast for Peninsula . . . and other items

SEATTLE — Forecasters say the heavy rains already causing problems in other parts of the region won’t subside for several days and that they hold the potential for flooding on the North Olympic Peninsula.

According to the National Weather Service in Seattle, a series of storms moving across the Pacific Ocean mean the Peninsula could see heavy rain and flooding this week.

A flood watch is in effect through Wednesday afternoon for virtually all of the Peninsula.

Rainfall totals through Wednesday were predicted to reach 3.3 inches in Forks and 1.87 inches in Port Angeles.

While heavy rains and flooding were the main concern, the potential also exists for high winds and coastal flooding. A high wind watch is in place today on the Pacific coast.

The National Weather Service also on Monday issued a flood watch for much of northwest Oregon and southwest Washington.

It’s in effect through Wednesday afternoon, but rain likely won’t stop until the week’s end.

PA meeting

PORT ANGELES — The City Council will hold a special meeting to coincide with the Utility Advisory Committee, a subcommittee of the council, today at 3 p.m.

The meeting will be held in the Jack Pittis Room in City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St., according to a news release.

Ludlow reception

PORT LUDLOW — The Port Ludlow Artist League will host a free public reception for its show, “Endings and Beginnings,” at Sound Community Bank, 9500 Oak Bay Road, starting Wednesday afternoon.

The party will go from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the bank and at the gallery next door.

The show, titled for both the close of one year and the beginning of the new one, features works by league artists — including new members participating in their first exhibition — in a variety of media and subject matter.

Wine and other refreshments will flow, the artists will be on hand and the league’s Christmas Shop will be open.

For information about the league, see www.portludlowart.org.

Green Crow manager selected for state class

PORT ANGELES — Reed Wendel, forest inventory manager with Green Crow Management Services in Port Angeles, has been selected to participate in Class 38 of the AgForestry Leadership Program.

This is the premier leadership development program for those who work in the natural resource industries and related services in Washington state, according to a news release.

As a member of AgForestry Leadership Class 38, Wendel will attend seminars and study local, state, national and international public policy issues and how they relate.

The 18-month program that began in the fall consists of 12 in-state seminars, a seminar in Washington, D.C., and a two-week seminar in a foreign country.

The leadership program provides participants the proficiency they need to increase awareness and demand for natural resource commodities and drive industry growth and economic vitality.

Class participants are selected for the program each spring after an application, interview and selection process.

The recruitment and selection committees strive to ensure each class has diverse representation in the natural resource industries and related services.

Classes consist of 24 participants from each area of the state.

The value of each fellowship seat is $21,000 with $15,000 funded by contributors to the foundation.

The Washington Agriculture and Forestry Education Foundation is primarily supported by private donors and is guided by its mission to advance the natural resource industries through enhanced understanding, education and empowerment of future leaders.

Cat food drive for two shelters

PORT ANGELES — The Airport Garden Center, 2200 W. Edgewood Drive, is holding a cat food drive this month to benefit two local nonprofit cat rescue groups: Peninsula Friends of Animals and Forks Friends of Animals.

For every bag of Diamond Naturals cat food that is purchased for donation, Airport Garden Center will match it. There are two sizes available: 6 pounds and 18 pounds.

The goal is to have an entire pallet of cat food to deliver to the shelter and foster homes by Christmas.

To donate, visit the garden center or phone 360-457-8462.

Sea shanties

PORT TOWNSEND — A Sea Shanty Song Circle will be held at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., from 6 p.m. to

8 p.m. Wednesday.

The shanty event is free, family-friendly and open to the public.

Visit www.singshanties.com for more information.

Bookmobile events

To celebrate Jefferson County Library’s new bookmobile, the public is invited to two events.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place during the library’s Holiday Open House on Thursday at 3 p.m. at the library, 620 Cedar Ave., Port Hadlock.

A second celebration will be held at the Quilcene Community Center, 294952 U.S. Highway 101, at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The Jefferson County Library mobile services team visits seven communities in East Jefferson County and is on the road five days a week, lending approximately 55,000 items a year.

Service extends from the Coyle Peninsula to Quilcene and Brinnon, to Cape George, Gardiner, Paradise Bay and Port Ludlow, and serves a cross-section of the county’s population, from preschoolers to seniors.

Residents of the West End of Jefferson County are served through contracts and reciprocal borrowing agreements with the North Olympic Library System to the north and the Timberland Regional Library System to the south.

For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/hxdo564.

Chain gang busy

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office chain gang removed 5,020 pounds of refuse during the week of Nov. 23-26 from illegal dump sites on Fish Hatchery, Little River, Sisson, Elwha River and Baker Farm roads, plus the Deer Park rest stop (litter), Baker Street Gully and Tumwater Bridge.

In addition, storm-debris chipping was performed on South Shore, Little River and Township Line roads.

Crews performed culvert maintenance on South Bagley Creek Road, and pavement bags were restacked at the county shop.

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