| This Week Indivisible Port Townsend meeting – Tues, Feb 8th *New* *Online* Need a cure for midterm election angst? The cure? Don’t agonize — organize! Indivisible Port Townsend organized WITH (Washington Indivisible Teams Helping) AZ & PA to help hold — and even flip — congressional seats and key state offices in two critical swing states. WITH teams are already gearing up to phone and text throughout the midterms with a partner organization in each state. Volunteer coordinators from the AZ & PA groups will kick off the meeting, then their local project coordinators will show you how to join this vital effort to save democracy in November! Time: 5 pm | Location: Zoom River Otters virtual program – Wed, Feb 9th *Online* Join Sara Penhallegon from the Center Valley Animal Rescue to learn about the life of river otters. They are such cute and curious creatures that live throughout the Puget Sound. In this presentation you’ll learn about their life cycles, homes and why they may end up at Center Valley Animal Rescue. Sara Penhallegon is the founder and Executive Director of the Center Valley Animal Rescue located in Quilcene. Having worked under other licensed rehabbers and their facilities since 2000, Sara has built a reputation of knowledgeable care and housing of injured wild animals through their eventual release. She became a licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator in Feb 2012. In that same month Center Valley Animal Rescue (CVAR) became a permitted Wildlife Rehabilitation facility. Register here. Time: 6pm | Location: Online [You can also view these announcements here for prettier formatting.] Climate Working Group – Thurs, Feb 10th *Online* We are restructuring the Local 20/20 climate meetings for the new year. This meeting will include both climate mitigation (reducing greenhouse gases) and climate adaptation (preparing for climate impacts) aspects. The first hour will be a discussion of current and proposed projects – gather feedback on existing projects, share successes, and brainstorm on possible future projects. The second hour will be a general discussion of current climate topics – what’s been in the news, learning opportunities, etc. Feel free to join for either half. Meeting schedule for the year will be discussed and defined. For the online meeting information, contact cag@l2020.org. Time: 3 – 5pm | Location: Zoom “Heaths and Heathers – ‘Bee Nectar from Fall through Spring’ – Thurs, Feb 10th *Online* Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation will present ” Heaths and Heathers – ‘Bee Nectar from Fall through Spring’ by Karla Lortz. This Zoom presentation will answer questions about the differences between Callum vulgaris and Erica genus’ and explain how easy it is to add these great nectar producing evergreens to your garden. Karla is the founder and owner of Heath and Heathers Nursery in Shelton, with an inground and container garden of over 2000 new, rare and usual plants. For more information go to jefferson.wsu.edu Time: 3pm | Location: Zoom COVID Vaccination Clinics – Sat, Feb 12th Vaccines: Pfizer for ages 5 and older, Moderna for ages 18 and older (first, second, or booster dose) Appointment recommended, walk-ins welcome. Sign up online or call 360-344-9791. Time: 1:30-3:30 pm | Location: Brinnon Community Center Yard and Garden Lecture Series, #6: “Mulches and Crop Rotations” – Sat, Feb 12th *Online* The sixth, and final, lecture of the Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation’s 2022 Yard & Garden Virtual Lecture Series. James Cassidy, Oregon State University Soil Science instructor for more than 15 years, and faculty advisor for the wildly popular OSU Organic Growers Club. James’ lecture on February 12 will be “Mulches and Crop Rotations.” The lecture will last approximately 90 minutes, and will allow time for the audience to ask questions. Tickets are available for $12, and may be purchased from yardandgarden.brownpapertickets.com/. Ticket sales help support Jefferson County Master Gardener Program programs. Learn more about the speakers, lectures, and the series at jcmgf.org. Time: 10 am- noon | Location: Online, live webinar Scholarship Opportunities by Local Trades Presentation – Sat, Feb 12th *New* *Online* Join BIAW & JCHBA as they talk about scholarship opportunities for the trades, for men and women! They will be discussing 4 scholarships, with presentations by Eagle Pipe Heating & Air, Kiwanas, Elks Lodge, and more. Time: 11 am – 12 noon | Location: Zoom |
| Upcoming Events Local 20/20 Council Meeting – Wed, Feb 16th *Online* The monthly Local 20/20 Steering Council meeting is open to all and welcomes those interested in active involvement in Local 20/20 leadership. Newcomers are always welcome. If you’d like a virtual orientation, please email Marlow at marlow@l2020.org. For online meeting information, contact us at info@l2020.org. Time: 4 – 6pm | Location: Online COVID Vaccination Clinics – Sat, Feb 19th Saturday, February 19 Vaccines: Pfizer for ages 5 and older, Moderna for ages 18 and older (first, second, or booster dose) Appointment recommended, walk-ins welcome. Sign up online or call 360-344-9791. Time: 9-11 am | Location: Chimacum Junior/Senior High School, Multipurpose Room An inside look at a Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (RFEG) a Virtual Program – Feb 23rd *New* *Online* Friends of Fort Flagler is proud to present a virtual program: The North Olympic Salmon Coalition: An Inside Look at a Regional Fisheries Enhancement Group (RFEG). The presentation chronicles salmon restoration and education efforts of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition (NOSC) from our inception in 1990 to today. It highlights methods we use to restore habitat and educate communities across the northern Olympic Peninsula. Learn about our projects and how you can help in salmon restoration. Nate Roberts is a Stewardship Coordinator with The North Olympic Salmon Coalition. To learn more about The North Olympic Salmon Coalition, visit https://nosc.org/ Time: 6pm | Location: Zoom – Register here (free event) |
| Recurring Events COVID-19 Update – Mondays *Online* Join the weekly 9:00 am meeting of the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), including the 9:45 am COVID-19 update with Public Health Officer, Dr. Allison Berry. You can also listen live to Dr. Berry on KPTZ. Additional COVID-19 information is on the County website here. Forest Bathing Walks at Fort Worden – Tuesdays From Olympic Peninsula Mindfulness (new logo!). Walk – Sit – Walk: As you enter the ‘cathedral’ of the park’s spaces you can walk comfortably and safely far apart without masks, or as you choose. Their walk follows paths linking the woods and meadows in the park. Several times they will pause, listen to a nature poem, and sit in silence at the Memory Vault; or possibly with a bit of guided meditation led by Ellen Falconer, mindfulness teacher. Please wear clothing which will keep you warm and dry, as we may be sitting or standing about in wet, chilly, invigorating weather. For more information call 360-316-6544 or visit their website. Walks are on Tuesdays. Time: 9:30 – 11 AM | Location: Fort Worden State Park, meet in front of the Nora Porter Commons Building, 210 Battery Way Climate on Tap – First Wednesdays – starting in March (Feb rescheduled due to COVID) Climate on Tap is back – in person in FinnRiver’s cozy Pavilion! March 2nd topic: “Ideas and solutions to lower our transportation footprint!” Each Climate on Tap is held on the first Wednesday of the month from 7-8:30 pm. Co-sponsored by Local 20/20 Climate Action, Jefferson County Public Health, and FinnRiver Cidery. This is not a lecture series, but a discussion format. For further information email Laura Tucker or call 360-379-4491. Climate Change and Clean Energy: a Six-Part Series – Thursdays *Online* Jefferson County Library will be hosting a 6-part clean energy and climate change discussion series weekly beginning January 13. Sessions will be presented by experienced energy scientists as we explore this complex challenge and some solutions, including the efficacy of renewables, CO2-free electricity, nuclear power, and how to bring clean energy to everyone. January 13 – February 17 Time: 6:30pm | Location: Zoom Birding in the Park – 2nd and 4th Fridays beginning March 25th Beverly McNeil, Admiralty Audubon trip leader and photographer, is conducting bird walks at Fort Flagler. Birding and nature tours are on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month. Wear sturdy footwear and dress for changeable weather. Bring binoculars and your own water. Registration: Please send Bev an email, including where and when you’d like to join at Bevybirds53@gmail.com. It is important to include this information as Beverly does walks in multiple locations and dates. Please note this program is dependent on good weather. Beverly’s photographs are displayed at the Port Townsend Gallery. Time: 9 am | Location: Fort Flagler | Dates: 2nd and 4th Fridays starting 3/25 Styrofoam Recycling Available – 2nd and Fourth Saturdays The volunteer Port Townsend StyroCyclers group is recycling expanded polystyrene, commonly known as styrofoam, from East Jefferson County residents and businesses. Because of the huge volume processed by their Kent-based recycler, the StyroCyclers can only accept pieces that are white, rigid, clean, and dry, with all tape, labels, paper, cardboard, and packing peanuts removed. Thanks to the Fort Worden PDA, the styrofoam is packed and stored at the Fort Worden Putnam bunker, then delivered to Kent once per month thanks to OlyCap and Northwest Harvest food bank trucks. At the Kent facility, a densifier machine uses heat and pressure to convert the styrofoam into a toothpaste-like consistency that cools into heavy, glassy blocks, which are then sold to manufacturers of products such as picture frames, construction details, and surfboard blanks. The densified product is in high demand because it is less expensive than virgin plastic. The StyroCyclers accept styrofoam at the Fort Worden Putnam bunker from 10:00 am to noon on the 2nd Monday and 4th Saturday of the month. Check the schedule and/or message them at any time at PTStyroCyclers@gmail.com or through their Facebook page. Time: 10-noon | Location: Fort Worden Putnam bunker, (near 229 Alexander’s Loop/park in the middle of the street and not on the grass or dirt) Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction course –Sunday evenings Mar 13th through May 8th. Registration open now. *New* *Online* Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) is a mindfulness training program that helps us access and strengthen our own inner resources to 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 the gold standard in mindfulness training. This 9 week Zoom/online course begins March 13th. Registration, pricing, and more information or call: 360-316-6544 for more information. |
| Community Notices Editor announcement: Historically, we have not accepted “sales-related” submissions to this newsletter. We are reevaluating this position, and will now accept submissions related to vending and sales that are related to our mission on a trial basis for addition to this Community Notices section. Please refer to the bottom of this newsletter for how to submit an announcement. Global Earth Repair Foundation is hiring a 2022 Part-Time Office Assistant Manager *New* Global Earth Repair Foundation serves a grass-roots, restoration mass movement to re-green our planet and re-carbonize our soils. Start Date: February 2022 End Date: Ideally 1 year (flexible), with possibility to continue Location: 10644 Rhody Drive, Port Hadlock, WA 98339 Schedule: 10-15 hrs per week Compensation: $18 per hour to start. Useful skills: Library management, research, outreach, marketing, spreadsheets, databases, website management, video, grant writing. Learn more, or contact Michael Pilarski at FriendsoftheTrees@yahoo.com The Jefferson County Farmers Market Vendor Application is Open – April 1st (Chimacum) Applications are due April 1, 2022 for the Chimacum Farmers Market. Applications are welcomed from Jefferson County farmers, artists, and artisan food makers. Please review their Vendor Guidelines for all vendor information including seasonal products and vendors from neighboring counties offering unique products that are not otherwise represented at the Jefferson County Farmers Markets. The BIPOC Start-Up Business Fund application is open for new Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC)-owned businesses joining the Jefferson County Farmers Markets. Learn more about the BIPOC Start-Up Business Fund and apply on our website. Find information on Jefferson County Farmer’s Market website. Thanks for your interest! Jefferson Land Trust Hiring a Stewardship Assistant – Applications due Feb 8 Jefferson Land Trust is currently seeking an organized, collaborative, detail-oriented professional as their Stewardship Assistant. The Stewardship Assistant provides support to their Stewardship Team, with a focus on the administrative and field-based stewardship of the conservation easements the Land Trust holds. This is a full-time, non-exempt position and is benefit eligible. Priority consideration will be given to candidates who apply by midnight, February 8, 2022. Full job description and application process Greywater Reuse Book Discussion – Wed, Feb 9th *Online* *Updated* The initial meeting on greywater reuse has been scheduled for Wednesday, February 9th. They will be discussing Laura Allen’s landmark work Greywater, Green Landscapes. They’ll look at what greywater is and what is isn’t, various systems to capture and reuse it, and codes for DIY systems that have been successfully adopted elsewhere. If you’re looking for a copy of the book email carol@phlush.org. Questions that are not answered in the book, will be referred to the author. Laura Allen is cofounder of Greywater Action, a collaborative of educators who teach residents and tradespeople about simple, affordable systems that dramatically reduce household water use and foster sustainable cultures of water. She leads classes and workshops, including the first training program for professional greywater installers, and participates in writing state government greywater and composting toilet codes. This is a program of the Sanitation HAT (housing action team) of the Housing Solutions Network in collaboration with PHLUSH. Time: 5-6pm | Location: Zoom. Request link from carol@phlush.org “We Are Puget Sound: Discovering and Recovering the Salish Sea,” photo exhibit – through Feb 2022 The Port Townsend Marine Science Center is pleased to announce an engaging photo exhibit, “We Are Puget Sound: Discovering and Recovering the Salish Sea,” which continues through February 2022. The striking photographs and stories will be on display at 1001 Water Street in downtown Port Townsend on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 12-3 p.m. More information can be found on the the PTMSC’s website at https://ptmsc.org/visit-us. Free to the public. Community Resources New informational Electric Vehicle web tools for Jefferson County Jefferson County’s 2018 Greenhouse Gas Inventory indicates that transportation accounts for 66% of our greenhouse gas emissions. This might be your best excuse yet for buying the most responsive (fast), fun vehicle you’ve ever had! Our community has a new set of web tools that can help you in your EV research: https://jeffersoncan.org/electric-vehicles/ Local 20/20’s COVID-19 Resources Online Local 20/20’s COVID-19 resource page is a central location for community-wide information relating to COVID-19, updated frequently. Includes Reliable Information Sources, Vaccine info, Food Sources, Community Covid-19 Resource pages, Giving and Getting Assistance, Community Events Online, Community Face Mask Program, and information web posts related to COVID-19. Look in the red box at the top of the page for all the newest information. Master Gardeners Q&A Have a question about a plant/insect/composting/landscape issue? Master Gardener volunteers are here to help. You can fill out our online intake form and a Master Gardener will get back to you via email. Just Soup on Tuesdays Every Tuesday at 11:30 – 1:30, Just Soup provides free, hot soup lunches at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St, on the Tyler St. bus line (by the Bell Tower). Enter the rear church parking lot on Franklin, and whether you are on foot, bike, or car, you will be in line for curbside pickup, with masks, gloves, and safe distancing protocols in place. Pick up a lunch for yourself or your neighbor in need. No questions asked. Many partners and supporters have come together to feed Port Townsend one bowl at a time. This information also appears on Local 20/20’s COVID-19 Resources Meals Page. Time: Tuesdays, 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM | Location: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 1020 Jefferson St. Emergency Text Alerts from Jefferson County Sign up to receive Jefferson County Department of Emergency Management’s emergency alerts by text on your mobile phone and/or by email. NIXLE messages provide crucial information in an emergency & are sent directly to your text-enabled device and/or email. The sign up web page also has information about other alert and warning systems, including the tsunami warning system and the WSDOT alert system. NPREP: Prepared Neighborhoods Prepare for emergencies with your neighbors by joining or starting an NPREP neighborhood. There are currently over 100 NPREP neighborhoods organizing here in Jefferson County. Learn if you live in an NPREP trained neighborhood. Learn about NPREP. A Tool for Neighborhood Organization Nextdoor is a private social network for YOUR neighborhood. Use this link to join one of 59 Nextdoor Neighborhoods in Jefferson County. Currently there are 14,158 subscribers, with many new members joining each day. Email Pete Hubbard with questions or comments. Calling Local Photographers – Thank you to those who sent in Winter photos! Local 20/20 Weekly Announcements invites local photographers to submit images that capture the character of our community and its natural setting. For the opening photo of each weekly email (which is also posted to our website), we seek local color, horizontal (“landscape”) orientation, and jpeg format. Please no children, pets or recognizable faces. Kindly send to events@l2020.org. Please include your name in the jpeg filename. We are an all-volunteer non-profit, so compensation for your talent and generosity is a photo credit and our profound thanks. Resilience Readings Do you have readings, podcasts or videos to share that are aligned with our Local 20/20 mission? Please submit them here. Quimper Community Harvest 2021 Gleaning Season and Applesauce Project Successes The Quimper Community Harvest group, part of the Local 20/20 Local Food Action Group, made impressive progress in 2021 with over six tons of fruit delivered to twenty organizations! And, the group successfully fundraised for, and implemented, the “applesauce project”, where a cooler was designed and built to quickly cool the fresh sauce. The result was 700 pounds of applesauce being made, to be offered to local schools and other organizations from now until next season. Learn more about these successes, and how you can get involved, in the recent Local 20/20 PT Leader Column about the efforts. Anticipated Meteorological “Bomb” Documented by King Tide Team The Local 20/20 King Tide team documented the tides and water levels on 10/25/21, during a rapidly developing low pressure system, referred to a meteorological “bomb”. The event was selected based on the predicted storm surge and strong winds during a time of moderately high tide. Since the winds had largely subsided and the remaining waves were in the 1′ range, the wave runup appeared to be only about 0.1′. With that in mind, this event was a good chance to compare the storm surge forecast to the difference between predicted and observed water levels at the tide gauge. In this case, the surge forecast was very good! See the post linked above for photos of the event and the full analysis. Local 20/20 Leader Column on Electric Vehicles and New Web Tools The October Local 20/20 Leader Column highlighted some of the many reasons to consider buying an electric car. It discussed how far they can go on a charge, compares costs, and notes rebates available. Also described are the wide range of electric vehicles available now – not just passenger cars, but SUVs, motorcycles, and pickup trucks! And it mentions the new web tools where you can learn more about Electric Vehicles at https://jeffersoncan.org/electric-vehicles/. New IPCC Report on Climate Here is an excerpt from climate.gov about the new climate report released a few weeks ago. “….the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released the Physical Science Basis report from Working Group 1, a major part of their sixth Assessment Report. This report includes the most up-to-date understanding of the climate system and climate change, providing the best scientific evidence in order to understand the past, present, and future changes to our planet from global warming. The conclusions are clear: climate change is already affecting nearly every part of the planet, and human activities are unequivocally the cause. The report, co-authored by 234 scientists from around the world, finds that we are now around 2.0°F (1.1°C) warmer than in 1850-1900, warming at a rate without precedent in at least 2000 years, possibly longer. This report confirms that the climate-driven changes occurring around the world are widespread, rapid, and intensifying. Our influence on the climate is making extreme weather and climate events—like heat waves, heavy rain, and droughts—more frequent and severe, putting more people, property, and natural resources in harm’s way. Unless there is a rapid and large-scale reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, limiting warming to a 2.7°F (1.5°C) threshold will be beyond reach. Scientists warn that the more humans drive Earth’s average temperature above this threshold, the more frequent and severe extreme weather and climate events will become.” Read the full article here. Local 20/20 NPREP Featured in Resilience.org Learn how the Local 20/20 Neighborhood Prep effort got started in this article from resilience.org, based on interviews with Deborah Stinson and Judy Alexander. Interestingly, it all started with Hurricane Katrina! And the preparedness continues today: learn more at Local 20/20’s emergency preparedness page. |
