PORT ANGELES — A delegation from Mutsu City, Japan, composed of 15 students and seven adult chaperones will arrive today.
The group will stay through Sunday, according to Stacey Sanders, organizer and teacher at Stevens Middle School in Port Angeles.
The Mutsu City guests — junior high students with the Mutsu City Student Ambassadors program — will stay with Port Angeles host families during their visit.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Port Angeles-Mutsu City sister city and sister school relationship.
The group will meet host families at Stevens Middle School late this afternoon.
Japanese students will attend class and activities with student hosts and will present culture fairs at Stevens and Franklin Elementary School.
From 3:20 p.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Stevens teacher Rob Edwards and Amy Miller-Yamamichi, who travels with the Mutsu City delegation, will lead a student discussion at City Hall, 321 E. Fifth St., that is expected to result in a joint statement celebrating the qualities of Port Angeles and Mutsu City.
Couch fire
PORT TOWNSEND — No one was hurt when a couch that had been placed too close to an electric wall heater burned, fire officials said.
The fire began in the couch at about 10 a.m. Monday in a home on Adams Street.
The homeowners evacuated the smoke-filled residence minutes before fire crews arrived and extinguished the fire, said Keppie Keplinger for East Jefferson Fire-Rescue.
Firefighters had the blaze under control in four minutes, she said.
Deputy Chief Ted Krysinski said there were no injuries and only minor damage to the house.
Crews from Quilcene Fire Rescue and Discovery Bay Fire Department were dispatched to cover East Jefferson fire stations that responded to the call.
“Homeowners are urged to keep anything that can burn at least 3 feet away from heating equipment,” Keplinger said.
Relay for Life
PORT ANGELES — A Port Angeles Relay for Life interest meeting will take place in The Landing mall’s Banquet Room, 115 Railroad Ave., at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
Anyone interested in becoming more involved with Relay for Life is welcome to attend.
For more information, contact Hannah Halstrom at hannah.halstrom@cancer.org or 425-404-2194.
Year of the Dog
SEQUIM — A book discussion group will meet at the Sequim Library, 630 N. Sequim Ave., at 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9.
The Year of the Dog by Grace Lin will be the subject of the discussion.
When Pacy’s mom tells her that this is a good year for friends, family and “finding herself,” Pacy begins searching right away.
As the year goes on, she struggles to find her talent, deals with disappointment, makes a new best friend and discovers just why the Year of the Dog is a lucky one for her after all.
Copies are available at the library in various formats, including regular print and audio e-book.
They can be requested online by visiting the library catalog at www.nols.org.
Preregistration for this program is not required, and drop-ins are welcome.
For more information about this and other programs, phone the Sequim Library at 360-683-1161 or email sequim@nols.org.
Master Gardeners
CHIMACUM — Washington State University (WSU) Jefferson County is accepting applications for the WSU Extension Master Gardener Program, open to everyone with an interest in gardening and a willingness to use their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to make a positive impact on their local community.
Classes will take place at the Tri-Area Community Center, 10 West Valley Road, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 18 through May 5.
Trainees will be using an online course provided by WSU.
WSU will supplement this training with classroom time, field trips and various group activities.
The cost for the training course is $250, of which $70 goes to WSU for the online course.
For more information or to sign up, email Jefferson County WSU Master Gardeners at mastergardenerjefferson@gmail.com or phone 360 379-5610, ext. 210.
