This Week
Local 20/20 Council Meeting – Wed, Apr 17th
The monthly Local 20/20 Steering Council meeting is open to all and welcomes those interested in involvement in Local 20/20 leadership. Newcomers are always welcome, we will be meeting via zoom. If you’d like more information and/or a virtual orientation, or for the meeting link, contact us.
Time: 3 – 5 pm | Location: Online
Port Townsend High School Students for Sustainability Open House – Thurs, Apr 18th *New*
Join the PT High School Students for Sustainability for an open house and presentation on their 13-year history, their current activities, upcoming projects, and what gives them hope for the future. Schedule: 5:30 – 6pm mingling with guests; 6 – 7 pm presentation and Q&A.
Time: 5:30 – 7 pm | Location: Finnriver Farm and Cidery, 124 Center Rd, Chimacum
Donate Blood in Port Townsend – Thurs, Apr 18th
It takes 1,000 donors per day to sustain blood supplies for patients in the community. Bloodworks Northwest holds blood drives in Jefferson County and elsewhere in Washington throughout the year. The next blood drive in Port Townsend will take place on April 18. Get more information and schedule a donation here.
“Moving in the Right Direction” Conference – Fri, Apr 19th
Transportation Lab (TLab), a Local 20/20 Action Group, invites you to the second annual Moving in the Right Direction conference. The Keynote Speaker will be Mike McGinn, Executive Director of America Walks and a former Seattle Mayor. Also featured are Anna Zivarts, Director of Disability Mobility Initiative at Disability Rights Washington, and Arielle Sullivan, Principal Consultant at Conscious Transformation Agents. Participants will interact with community members, elected officials, and staff to define the role of transportation in local comprehensive plans; explore transportation best practices; and develop vision statements to create a safe, equitable, climate-smart, housing-rich, health-promoting, and economically vital community. This all-day event is free, thanks to support from Jefferson County, the City of Port Townsend, the Port of Port Townsend, and Jefferson Transit, among others. Box lunches from the Marina Cafe are available for purchase for $12 at the time of registration, or participants may bring a bag lunch. Register here for a free ticket to the conference. Click here for additional info. Attendees are asked to park at the Haines Place Park & Ride (440 12th St, Port Townsend) and take the #11B free shuttle to and from the conference location downtown.
Time: 9 am – 4 pm | Location: American Legion, 209 Monroe St, Port Townsend
Earth Day Beach Cleanup – Sat, Apr 20th
This Earth Day, help keep our oceans healthy. In partnership with WA CoastSavers and the JeffCo Trash Task Force, join Port Townsend Marine Science Center to clean up local beaches and roadways. This year, they will be hosting cleanups at multiple locations! Join them at either of two check-in locations: Fort Worden State Park or Chimacum Corner Farmstand. There you will be given directions to beach locations and supplies like trash bags and gloves. More information and registration here.
For the Love of Animals Gala – Volunteers Needed! – Sat, Apr 20th
Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR) is committed to providing safe harbor and rehabilitation for unwanted, injured, or abandoned domestic and wild animals. Their upcoming “For the Love of Animals” Gala and Auction is their biggest fundraising event of the year. CVAR needs a lot of help to make this event a success! Whatever your talents, your support will help further their mission to rescue animals in need. Volunteer roles available include: transporting supplies to Trillium Woods Farm in Quilcene; parking support; checking-in and checking-out guests; dish busing and washing; silent and live auction monitoring; set-up and take-down; dessert baking; and more. All training and a vegetarian dinner will be provided on the night of the event as well as bid cards for shopping at the auction. Sign up or ask questions here or call (360) 765-0598.
Time: 5:30 pm | Location: Trillium Woods Farm, 7360 Center Rd, Quilcene
Earth Day Spring Cleanup in Port Townsend – Sat, Apr 20th
Earth Day is celebrated around the world each year. Locally, the Port Townsend Main Street program staff and dedicated volunteers go out and spruce up downtown in preparation for Spring. Projects can include extensive weeding at Adams Street Park, planting new shrubs, adding to the planters at Tyler Street Plaza, and cleaning street furniture. Merchants in the historic districts are invited to give special attention to their storefronts this week by tackling sidewalk litter and fixing up their planters or ordering flower baskets for their stores. Thanks to Port Townsend Garden Center for supporting Port Townsend Main Street Earth Day Spring Clean-Up. Interested in volunteering? Send email here.
Time: 9 am – 12 pm | Location Downtown Port Townsend
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Course – Begins Sat, Apr 20th
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a 9-week mindfulness training program that helps access and strengthen inner resources, to more actively engage in the moment, and find greater balance, ease, and peace of mind. MBSR is the original mindfulness course, has been exhaustively researched, and is considered to be the gold standard in mindfulness training. Learn mindful approaches to manage physical, emotional, and psychological pain, stress, and difficulty in an effective way. Overcome old and unhelpful habits of thinking and reactivity, and forge new pathways of responding with wisdom and compassion. Included is a full day of mindfulness on June 12th. Course fee: sliding scale from $300 – $500. Registration and more information here.
Time: 3 – 5:30 pm | Location: Uptown Port Townsend
Jefferson County Connectivity Fair – Sat, Apr 20th
The 2024 Jefferson County Connectivity Fair will include over 80 nonprofits and service groups offering unique ways to volunteer in our vibrant community. This is a free event hosted by local community groups, such as Skillmation, Local 20/20, and many more. This inspiring day will begin in the Chimacum School auditorium with a Chemakum Tribal welcome by Rosalee Walz, followed by a short introduction to the day. There will be a gymnasium filled with tabling by many local community groups and organizations sharing their latest updates and how you can pitch in. Breakout presentations on topics such as housing, food, and emergency preparedness from many of these organizations will begin at this time as well, so make sure to look at the schedule to decide what to take part in. The schedule will be updated closer to the event, so keep coming back to this website for the most recent schedule. There will be food trucks, free childcare, and much more. For more information, email the event planners here.
Time: 10 am – 4 pm | Location: Chimacum School, 91 W Valley Rd, Chimacum
Reusable Goods Exchange & Upcycling – Sat & Sun, Apr 20th & 21st *New*
Celebrate and care for planet Earth this month with a community Reusable Goods Exchange! Bring in items in good condition that you no longer have any use for, and exchange them for things you need! Bring a thing, or just take something, or both. It’s all a free exchange. Great for spring cleaning, for reducing the load on the waste stream, and for your budget. Acceptable items to bring will be in any of the following categories, and no more than 10 items per person: Household, Clothing & Shoes, Books, Yard & Garden, Outdoor & Recreation, Pet Supplies. No battery-operated tools if they don’t have a functioning battery and charger, and no outdated light fixtures, please.
Time: 12 – 5 pm | Location: Finnriver Farm and Cidery, 124 Center Rd, Chimacum
Celebrate Earth Day at Fort Flagler State Park with Meaningful Activities – Sat & Sun, Apr 20th & 21st
Friends of Fort Flagler and Fort Flagler State Park are excited to present a diverse array of activities for Earth Day, featuring their inaugural Earth Day fair. The fair will be held on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm. It promises an enriching experience with engaging presenters, informational booths, and fun activities tailored for kids. Then, on Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm, join in the effort to preserve the ecological balance by participating in the removal of invasive seagrasses from the beach near the lower campground. This hands-on activity will let volunteers make a direct impact on the health of the coastal environment. Register for seagrass pull here. Also, on Sunday from 12 to 4 pm, you are invited to participate in the beach cleanup initiative. Help maintain the pristine beauty of the shores by dedicating part of your Sunday afternoon to removing plastic and other debris. Your action will contribute to the overall well-being of our coastal ecosystem. Register for beach cleanup here.
Polystyrene & Low-Density Polyethylene (“Styrofoam”) Recycling – Sat, Apr 20th
Port Townsend StyroCyclers, a Local 20/20 Beyond Waste Project, collects white styrofoam (expanded polystyrene, or EPS), all colors of polyethylene (LDPE-4), white EPS food trays, and separated biodegradable (squishy) packing peanuts, but not crispy (EPS) peanuts, and no mixtures. Clean and dry materials only! Materials are inspected at the curb. Please remove all tape, labels, etc., before you arrive, and please leave plenty of room between vehicles. Please combine your materials with those of your neighbors and friends to help decrease the number of vehicles coming to these events. Email the organizers with questions, and check their Facebook page for weather cancellations. Volunteer with Port Townsend StyroCyclers! They have a big team so that volunteers can have flexible schedules. (See below for later recycling event date.)
Time: 10 am – noon | Location: Battery Putnam, near Alexander’s Castle, at 229 Alexander’s Loop, Fort Worden, Port Townsend. (Park your vehicle in the middle of the street in front of the battery.)
Photo: View from Marrowstone Island, by Mike Towner
For the full set of announcements, including Upcoming Events, Recurring Events, Community Notices, Community Resources, and Resilience Readings, see here.
