NEWS BRIEFS: Shutdown relief: Free school meals … and other items

PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles School District is urging families affected by the partial federal government shutdown to apply for free and reduced meals.

On the application, families can list their current financial status, said M. Patsene Dashiell, district spokeswoman.

“Meal eligibility will be approved based on their income status,” she said in a press release issued late Friday.

“It is requested that when the government shutdown ceases families call to terminate these benefits unless they otherwise qualify,” she said.

The partial federal shutdown brought about by an impasses between President Donald Trump and Congress over funding for a wall at the southern border is now the longest shutdown in the nation’s history.

The district’s free/reduced meal application is located on the District website at www.portangelesschools.org under Departments, Food Services.

For further assistance, contact Dashiell at pdashiell@portangelesschools.org or 360-565-3703.

Cafe offering help

CHIMACUM — The Farm’s Reach Cafe is offering a free 12-ounce drink to each federal employee who comes in, the co-owner said Saturday.

“We want to make sure that normal mornings are still normal,” said Arianna Patterson, co-owner with her husband B.G., of the cafe at 8972 Beaver Valley Road.

No proof of employment is necessary. It’s on the honor system, Patterson said.

Weekly flight operations scheduled

COUPEVILLE — There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft stationed at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Complex for the week of Jan. 20-24.

There will be landing practice at the Outlying Landing Field in Coupeville late afternoon to early evening Monday.

Practice also is slated for late afternoon to early evening Tuesday.

Practice also is slated for late afternoon to early evening Wednesday.

Practice also is slated for late afternoon to early evening Thursday.

Operations will continue in the early afternoon Friday.

There will be no landing practice operations at Ault Field.

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.

Chain gang busy

PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Sheriff’s Office Chain Gang visited all county pits and and other locations to familiarize a new chain gang deputy during

the week of Dec. 31 to Jan. 4.

Crew members chipped storm debris and cut trees out of the county right-of-way along Deer Park, Freshwater Bay, East Beach, Prawn, Fresh Water Park, Lawrence, Stripped Peak, Crescent Beach and Old Camp Hayden roads.

Crew members also cleaned the county wash rack.

The chain gang has so far this year cleaned 16 miles of roadway, picked up 1,090 pounds of roadside litter, picked up 690 pounds of dumpsite litter and removed or sprayed 4,170 Scotch broom plants.

Chamber orchestra

The Port Angeles Chamber Orchestra is set to perform two concerts.

The orchestra will perform at 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 18 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 301 Lopez Ave., Port Angeles.

The other performance will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 at Trinity

United Methodist Church, 100 S. Blake Ave.,

Sequim.

The concert will feature Port Angeles native Hunter Gordon playing bassoon on Elgar’s “Romance for Bassoon and Strings” and Reicha’s “Theme and Variations for Bassoon.”

According to a press release, Gordon currently plays with the

Charlotte Symphony in Charlotte, N.C.

The program also includes Tchaikovsky’s “Serenade for Strings” and Grieg’s “Erotik.”

Tickets are $15 per person, children 16 and younger are admitted free with a paying adult.

For more information, call 360-457-5579, email pasymphony@olypen.com or visit wwwportangelessymphony.org.

Coffee chats

PORT TOWNSEND — Port Townsend School District Superintendent John Polm will host two coffee chats this month.

The first will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24.

The second will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31.

Both will be held in the School Board room S-11, Gael Stuart Building, 1610 Blaine St.

According to a press release, coffee chats offer an informal venue to discuss a variety of topics regarding Port Townsend schools.

For more information, call Katy Gaffney at 360-379-4501.

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