By Peninsula Daily News,
The Associated Press and
New York Times News Service
THIS WEEK’S BUSINESS meetings on the North Olympic Peninsula (all are open to the public):
Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce — Weekly luncheon meetings are held Mondays at noon in the second-floor meeting room of the Red Lion Hotel, 221 N. Lincoln St.
This Monday’s speaker (July 22) will be Port Angeles Fine Arts Center Executive Director Robin Anderson and Camaraderie Cellars owner Don Corson, who will discuss the winery’s collaboration with the arts center.
Luncheon tickets are $15 and can be purchased from the meeting room cashier.
For those not having lunch, there is a $3 participation fee that includes a beverage.
Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce — Weekly luncheon meetings are held Mondays at noon at the Port Townsend Elks Lodge, 555 Otto St.
This Monday’s speaker (July 22) is Port Townsend physician Douwe Rienstra, who will discuss how business owners can assist employees with their health needs even if the business doesn’t provide health insurance.
Lunch at $8 will be catered by Subway.
Sequim-Dungeness Valley Chamber of Commerce — Luncheon meetings are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at noon at SunLand Golf & Country Club, 109 Hilltop Drive, Sequim.
This Tuesday’s speaker (July 23) will be Mike Fancher, senior program manager for the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences.
The meeting sponsor will be Team McAleer at RE/MAX Fifth Avenue realty.
Luncheon reservations closed last Friday, but seats are available for those who are not having lunch. Coffee or tea is $3. Phone 360-683-6197 or email info@sequimchamber.com for information.
Forks Chamber of Commerce—The chamber’s Wednesday luncheon meetings are on hiatus for the summer and will resume with a chamber business meeting Sept. 4.
North Hood Canal Chamber of Commerce — Representing the “Emerald Towns” of the Hood Canal, Quilcene and Brinnon, the chamber usually meets monthly on the third Monday but is on summer hiatus through August. Gatherings will resume in September with a mixer at Cove RV in Brinnon.
Port Angeles Business Association — Breakfast meetings are Tuesdays at 7:30 a.m. at Joshua’s Restaurant, 113 DelGuzzi Drive, Port Angeles.
At this Tuesday’s meeting (July 23), PABA will hear a program on the North Olympic Salmon Coalition’s restoration efforts from speakers Jamie Michel, Miranda Berger and Harry Bell.
There is a $2.16 minimum charge by Joshua’s for those who do not order breakfast.
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OMC recognized as 5-star value care provider
PORT ANGELES — For the ninth time in 10 years, Olympic Medical Center has been recognized as a Community Value Five-Star Provider by Cleverley + Associates.
Cleverley is a Columbus, Ohio-based health care data and consulting services firm specializing in custom data analyses and reporting for health care providers, consultants and vendors.
Cleverley’s Community Value Index is an objective compilation of hospital performance in four areas — financial strength and reinvestment, cost of care, pricing and quality of care.
The CVI, which included information from 2,655 hospitals across the country, suggests that hospitals with low costs and low charges — using financial resources efficiently for reinvestment and providing high-quality patient care — are operating with a high degree of community value.
OMC said it performed well in all four CVI categories.
“High-quality care combined with a competitively low-cost structure has always been a priority for Olympic Medical Center. — offering value to our patients is a key component of the way we provide care,” said Eric Lewis, OMC’s chief executive officer.
“We acknowledge that the cost of health care can be overwhelming, and we’ve made a concerted effort at Olympic Medical to keep costs as low as possible, while also maintaining our viability as a public hospital,” said Lewis.
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EDC holds workshop on exporting local products
PORT ANGELES — A two-day business seminar on the “7 Virtues of Exporting” is being offered by the Clallam County Economic Development Council and the state Department of Commerce.
Designed for businesses in Clallam and Jefferson counties, the seminar will be held at the North Olympic Skills Center, 905 W. Ninth St., Port Angeles, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday and Tuesday (July 22-23)
Cost is $95 per person, and registration is available at www.doubleyourmoney.eventbrite.com.
For more information, phone the Clallam County Economic Development Council at 360-457-7793 or visit www.clallam.org.
Seminar-goers will also be able to apply for a $2,500 matching grant to help implement export strategies.
Instructor James F. Foley is the director of the International Trade Center for Entrepreneurial Operations and International Trade at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill.
He has more than 20 years of business experience in international marketing.
Attendees will be taught details of export procedures, how to formulate an export strategy, when a business should expand internationally, common mistakes made by exporters and market research methodologies.
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Boiler Room board meets Monday
PORT TOWNSEND —The annual meeting of the board of directors of the Boiler Room is set for Monday (July 22).
The meeting is open to the public and will be held at the Boiler Room, 711 Water St., at 6:30 p.m.
The Boiler Room is a youth-oriented community nonprofit.
For more information, visit www.ptbr.org.
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Professionals group to meet Wednesday
SEQUIM — The Peninsula Young Professionals Network will meet for a mixer at Wind Rose Cellars, 143 W. Washington St., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday ( July 24).
The group is open to professionals across the Olympic Peninsula with a target age range of 21-55, as well as those who are “young at heart.”
Activities are coordinated through Facebook.
There is one planned monthly gathering and smaller, member-promoted activities offered each week.
For more information, visit www.facebook.com/PeninsulaYoungProfessionals.
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Hospice talk slated Wednesday
PORT ANGELES — Assured Hospice of Clallam and Jefferson Counties will present “Living, Loving and Making Every Day Count . . . This is Hospice: Breaking the Myths” at 2 p.m. Wednesday (July 24).
The event will be hosted by Park View Villas and will be held at its Port Angeles facility, 1430 Park View Lane.
Community members are invited to learn about hospice and quality end-of-life care provided by Assured Hospice and Park View Villas.
Refreshments will be served.
To attend or for more information, phone 360-452-7222.
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Board meeting stated Friday
PORT TOWNSEND — Let Go Healing Works, a Port Townsend-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing art in health-care settings, will hold a board meeting on Friday evening (July 26).
The meeting is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, corner of Water and Monroe streets in downtown Port Townsend.
Let Go Healing Works curates exhibitions, coordinates public performances and provides access to bedside art.
Let Go Healing Works is a sponsored organization of Artspire, a program of the New York Foundation for the Arts.
To RSVP or for more information, email Wendy Ryals at Wendy@LetGoHealingWorks.org or phone 206-384-8471.
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Visit OMC sleep center on Friday
SEQUIM — The Olympic Medical Center Sleep Center, 777 N. Fifth Ave., Suite 106, will hold an open house from 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Friday (July 26).
The public is invited for tours of the facility and refreshments as staff celebrate its opening.
Attendees are asked to follow the signs to the “Night Study” entrance at the rear of the building.
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Pacific Alpine Guides adds new staffer
PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles-based Pacific Alpine Guides recently added Jack Ganster to its team of guides.
“We are stoked to have Jack join our team,” said owner Tyler Reid. “His local knowledge and experience are a great addition.”
Ganster was previously co-owner of Olympic Mountaineering and currently serves as director of Survivor’s Outdoor Experience, a provider of outdoor programs and presentations for cancer survivors.
PAG is a guide service that provides educational programming, skiing, mountaineering and back-packing adventures.
Programs include a three-day Level 1 avalanche training and five-day Mount Olympus climbing trips.
For more information, visit pacificalpineguides.com or phone 360-302-1599.
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Lavender-inspired wine
SEQUIM — Wind Rose Cellars offered its Lavender Fields Forever wine at its downtown Sequim tasting room, 143 W. Washington St., at the Sequim Lavender Farm Faire’s Lavender Arts and Crafts Faire in the Park and at several farms during the July 19-21 Lavender Weekend in Sequim.
While no lavender is found in the wine, a 2012 Sequim-grown vintage of 100 percent pinot grigio grapes, the bottle features the official Lavender Farm Faire poster artwork of Sequim artist Lee Oskar.
Oskar’s art also is on display at the Wind Rose Cellars tasting room.
For more information, phone Wind Rose Cellars at 360-681-0690.
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New receptionist for Peninsula WorkFit
PORT ANGELES — Donna Saunders has joined the staff of Peninsula WorkFit as a medical receptionist.
Saunders worked for six years as a medical receptionist at a physician’s clinic in Sequim prior to making the move to Peninsula WorkFit.
She is a wife and grandmother, a horsewoman, and fellow staff describe her as “an efficient and friendly addition to the clinic.”
Peninsula WorkFit it the advanced practice therapy clinic of Nancy Johns, MS, OTR/L that specializes in the treatment of persistent musculoskeletal pain.
Opened in January of 2010, the clinic will celebrate two years in its current location at the corner of Peabody and First streets in Port Angeles on Aug. 1.
For more information, phone 360-797-4667 or visit www.peninsulaworkfit.com.
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Financial adviser honored
PORT ANGELES — Laura Robb of the Port Angeles office of Edward Jones has received the financial service firm’s Ed Armstrong Award for “her exceptional achievement in building client relationships.”
Robb was one of 1,618 of Edward Jones’ 12,000 financial advisers nationwide to receive the award.
“Laura’s success hinges on her ability to know and understand the financial needs and goals of her clients, long-term individual investors,” said Jim Weddle, Edward Jones’ managing partner at the firm’s headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.
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Pepsi marks cans for PA sprint races
PORT ANGELES — Upcoming sprint boat races in Port Angeles is being highlighted on a release of 48,000 specially marked cans of Pepsi-Cola across much of western Puget Sound this week
Peninsula Bottling Co. reached an agreement with PepsiCo Inc. and independent distributors in Olympia and Bremerton to distribute cans that will provide a $5 discount for admission to sprint boat races planned Aug. 10 and Sept. 7 at the Extreme Sports Park in Port Angeles.
Cans will be available at select retail locations throughout Jefferson, Clallam, Kitsap, Mason and Thurston counties.
Peninsula Bottling Co. also is promoting the events locally with an AMP Accessories Giveaway.
People can register through the last full week of this month to win an AMP easy chair and cooler stocked with Pepsi products at the 7 Cedars Longhouse market in Blyn.
The drawing for the first giveaway will be July 31.
For more information, visit www.peninsula-bottling.com or www.extremesportspark.net.
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Premium lumber stocked
PORT ANGELES — Select Premium Grade No. 1 lumber is now being stocked at Angeles Millwork & Lumber Co. at 1601 S. C St. and Hartnagel Building Supply at 3111 E Highway 101.
The benefits of Grade No. 1 Premium lumber include fewer knots, straighter boards and less wane (bark edge).
For more information, contact Angeles Millwork at 360-457-8581 or Hartnagel at 360-452-8933.
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Septic survey set in Clallam County
PORT ANGELES — A survey of Clallam County homeowners who use on-site septic systems is being conducted by Clallam County Health and Human Services’ Environmental Health Section.
County staffers are gathering information on how well county residents understand septic system operation and maintenance, the effectiveness of HHS Environmental Health’s homeowner septic system-oriented education programs and gauging support for future program funding.
“We have been holding in-person classes and mailing the ‘Clean Water Herald’ septic newsletter to all septic system owners for a number of years. This is the homeowners’ opportunity to give us feedback on what works for them and what doesn’t,” said Andy Brastad, head of the environmental health section.
The section is mailing the survey to residences known to have a septic system.
It is also available online at www.clallam.net.
Survey responses may be submitted until Aug. 16.
For more information, phone Environmental Health Specialist Sue Waldrip at 360-417-2350 or email swaldrip@co.clallam.wa.us.
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Forest Field Day set Aug. 24
FORKS — A field day for North Olympic Peninsula forest landowners will be held Saturday, Aug. 24, by the forestry wing of the Washington State University Extension.
Instructed by the state’s recognized experts in forest management, wildlife habitat and other forest stewardship disciplines, this “out-in-the-woods” educational event will provide information for landowners with any acreage.
The field day has not been held on the West End of the Peninsula for more than 10 years.
It will be held at the University of Washington Olympic Natural Resources Center, 1455 S. Forks Ave., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
It is designed to prepare landowners to plan and execute management activities that meet their personal objectives, reduce risks and protect their financial investment.
Absentee landowners with property on the Peninsula are especially encouraged to attend.
Participants can choose from a wide variety of classes and activities taught by specialists in forest health, wildlife habitat, weed control, wildfire protection, timber and non-timber forest products, using global positioning systems, chain saw safety and maintenance and forestland security and safety.
Presenters will be available to answer questions specific to a property situation.
Youth activities will be available all day.
The fee for those who register by Friday, Aug. 16, is $20 per person or $30 for a family of two or more.
After that, the fee is $30 per person or $40 per family.
An optional barbecue lunch will be available for $10 per person.
Lunch reservations must be received by Aug. 16.
For more information, visit forestry.wsu.edu or phone the WSU Clallam County Extension Office at 360-417-2279.
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Vendors sought by Eagles Hall
PORT ANGELES — The Port Angeles Eagles Auxiliary is seeking vendors to participate in a flea market at the new Eagles Hall, 2843 E. Myrtle St.
The cost is $20 for a 3-foot-by-8-foot table or $25 for an outside 10-foot-by-10-foot space.
Inside tables are limited.
The deadline for registration is Aug. 21.
For application or more information, phone Sylvia Strohm at 360-477-2550 or email comservfw@hotmail.com.
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Online surplus sale slated
PORT ANGELES — The Clallam County Treasurer’s Office is hosting an online surplus sale beginning Tuesday, July 30, and ending at 4:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9.
Auction items include dump trucks, snowplows, tractors, cars, pickup trucks, a travel trailer, two quad recreational vehicles, a float, chain saws and more.
The public can view the items for sale on the Clallam County website at www.clallam.net under “Online Services,” then “Sale of Surplus Property.”
Potential bidders must preregister online with Public Surplus at www.public surplus.com.
Bidders must have an email address and a credit card.
A public viewing of the items will be held at the Clallam County Road Department, located at 1033 W. Lauridsen Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information, phone the Treasurer’s Office at 360-417-2344.
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Nominees sought for state award
OLYMPIA — People can nominate their favorite community-centric corporations for Washington’s highest civics award.
Secretary of State Kim Wyman said her office is accepting nominations for a 2013 Corporations for Communities Award.
The nomination deadline is Aug. 31.
Last fall, Jim’s Pharmacy of Port Angeles and TreeTop of Selah were selected from statewide nominees as Corporations for Communities 2012 Award recipients.
The Corporations for Communities program began in 2009 as a way to recognize exceptional Washington businesses that demonstrate a commitment to giving in order to improve local or regional social and environmental conditions.
The program is run by the Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Division.
Nomination forms can be found at http://tinyurl.com/klu96z8.
Wyman will choose one large and one small corporation from among the public’s nominations this summer.
For more information, contact program coordinator Patrick Reed at 360-725-0358 or patrick.reed@sos.wa.gov.
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Japan wheat buys
PENDLETON, Ore. —With the harvest under way, representatives of Northwest wheat growers say they’re optimistic, though cautious, about prospects for Japan to resume buying their grain.
Sales were suspended after an Eastern Oregon farmer found unapproved genetically modified wheat in a field.
South Korea and Taiwan also halted purchases, but they have resumed buying.
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Google cable TV?
SAN FRANCISCO — If Google has its way, you might someday get cable television the same way you get Gmail: through any ordinary Internet connection.
Foreshadowing a new challenge to entrenched cable and satellite providers, Google is one of several technology giants trying to license TV channels for an Internet cable service, according to people with direct knowledge of the company’s efforts.
No deals are imminent, but Google’s recent meetings with major media companies that own channels are a sign of the newfound race to sell cablelike services via the Internet, creating an alternative to the current television packages that 100 million households in the United States buy from companies like Comcast and Time Warner Cable.
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Bill: $791,000
EVERETT — A special election triggered by Jay Inslee’s resignation from Congress cost Washington taxpayers $791,000.
State election officials are reimbursing Snohomish, King and Kitsap counties for the cost of an election to fill the final months of Inslee’s term.
Inslee left office early to run for governor, a seat he won in November.
Suzan DelBene won the special election and the regular election in the 1st Congressional District.
Democrat Inslee resigned his congressional seat March 20, 2012, to campaign fulltime against Republican Rob McKenna.
Inslee left with seven months remaining in his congressional term.
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Killer whale visit
POULSBO — A group of at least five killer whales prowled Kitsap Peninsula waters last week, drawing crowds as they passed a ferry, leaped out of the water near Keyport and cruised around Poulsbo’s docks.
The orcas were first reported Thursday morning (July 18) by riders on a Bremerton-to-Seattle ferry.
Orca Network Director Howard Garrett said the whales are believed to represent three generations of one family.
National Marine Fisheries Service biologist Brad Hanson said the family is part of a larger group of 19 transient killer whales that were seen last Saturday near Seattle and then off Whidbey Island.
Garrett said transient orca visits to Puget Sound are common
The so-called transients typically cruise the open ocean hunting for marine mammals to eat.
They are distinct from the fish-eating resident killer whales that call Puget Sound home.
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Safety concerns about oil shipments by rail
NEW YORK — A fiery and fatal train derailment earlier this month in Quebec, near the Maine border, highlighted the danger of moving oil by rail, a practice that has grown exponentially as a result of the oil boom and will continue to expand, experts say.
This year, more trains carrying crude will chug across North America than ever before — nearly 1,400 carloads a day.
In 2009, there were just 31 carloads a day.
U.S. and Canadian drillers are producing oil faster than new pipelines can be built.
As a result, trains have become an unexpected yet vital way to move this bounty of energy from the continent’s midsection to refineries along the coasts.
Since the July 6 tragedy in Lac-Megantic, Canada, where a runaway train carrying 72 carloads of crude derailed and killed 50 people, there have been calls for tougher regulations, stronger rail cars and more pipelines.
But experts say the oil industry’s growing reliance on trains won’t be derailed anytime soon.
Unless new pipelines are built, there’s just no other way to get vast amounts of oil from North Dakota and Rocky Mountain states to refineries along the coasts, which are eager for cheaper, homegrown alternatives to imports brought in by boat.
Even safety experts worried about the dangers of shipping oil by rail acknowledge that the safety record of railroads is good — and improving.
The scope of the Lac-Megantic disaster, which is still under investigation, appears to have been the result of uniquely bad circumstances, these experts say, including insufficient brake-setting procedures.
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Tech stocks slump
NEW YORK — A bad day at the end of the week for technology stocks slowed a recent surge in the stock market.
Microsoft led the slump in tech, falling the most in more than four years after the company wrote off nearly $1 billion on its new tablet computer and reported declining revenue for its Windows operating system.
Google dropped after its revenue fell below analysts’ forecasts, partly because the Internet search leader’s ad prices took an unexpected turn lower.
With tech stocks falling Friday (July 19), the Standard & Poor’s 500 index eked out a gain of 2.72 points, or 0.2 percent, to an all-time high of 1,692.09.
The S&P 500 has rebounded after a decline last month and is up 5.3 percent in July.
Despite the market’s broad advance, a growing list of poor tech results is raising concerns about the strength of the economy and the stock market.
Intel and eBay also reported weak results during the week, and chipmaker Advanced Micro reported a second-quarter loss because of a worldwide slump in PC demand.
Technology “has definitely been a sector that people have been expecting big things from — and it has not delivered,” said Randy Frederick, Managing Director of Active Trading & Derivatives at the Schwab Center for Financial Research.
