| This Week Yard and Garden Lecture Series, #5: “Growing Community Food System Resilience for Uncertain Times” – Sat, Feb 5th *Online* The fifth lecture of the Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation’s 2022 Yard & Garden Virtual Lecture Series. David Seabrook, a Jefferson County fire district commissioner, volunteer for the Department of Emergency Management and the Food Systems Unit, Master Gardener, and climate change activist. David’s lecture on February 5 will be “Growing Community Food System Resilience for Uncertain Times.” 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 [You can also view these announcements here for prettier formatting.] |
| Upcoming Events 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 Climate Working Group – Thurs, Feb 10th *New* *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 *New* *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 Yard and Garden Lecture Series, #6: “Mulches and Crop Rotations” – Sat, Feb 12th *New* *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 COVID Vaccination Clinics – Sat, Feb 12th & 19th *New* Saturday, February 12 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 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 Local 20/20 Council Meeting – Wed, Feb 16th *New* *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 |
| 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 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 Yard and Garden Lecture Series – Saturdays *Online* Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation’s 2022 Yard & Garden Virtual Lecture Series is underway. The series will be conducted in a live webinar format, and will run on six consecutive Saturdays from January 8–February 12, 2022. Topics include: Planning Your 12-Month Garden, How to Successfully Prune Any Shrub, Bring Back the Pollinators: Sowing Biodiversity for Bees and Beneficial Insects, What on Earth? Taking Care of Garden Soils, Growing Community Food System Resilience for Uncertain Times, and Mulches and Crop Rotations. Each lecture will run from 10 a.m.– noon. Lectures will last approximately 90 minutes, and each event will allow time for the audience to ask questions. Single-event tickets are available for $12, and recorded videos are available 30 days after the event for ticket holders. Tickets 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. Styrofoam Recycling Available – 2nd and Fourth Saturdays *Updated* 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) |
| 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. Urgent Need for Volunteers at Tri-Area Community Foodbank Many of the Tri-Area Community Foodbank’s regular volunteers have flown south for the winter. They are down nine volunteers. Can you help out? Help needed Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays to make-up boxes for distribution. To volunteer, come to the Tri-Area foodbank and talk to Sue or John, and fill out their volunteer application. They can start you that day if you’re able. Thank you so much for considering volunteering! More information at their website. Time: Tuesdays 8-noon and/or Wednesdays 8am-1:30pm. | Location: 760 Chimacum Rd The Jefferson County Farmers Market Vendor Application is Open – Due Feb 1st (PT) and April 1st (Chimacum) Applications are due February 1, 2022 for the Port Townsend Farmers Market and 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 *New* 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 *Online* How can we reuse water from our homes to irrigate gardens, lower water bills, and increase septic system capacity? Greywater, Green Landscapes by Laura Allen has the answers. In two, hour-long sessions on Zoom they’ll explore greywater technologies and how codes for alternative systems have been successfully adopted elsewhere. Facilitators are Genevieve Schutzius, P.E. of PHLUSH and Sergio Scabuzzo of Greywater Action, who serves on Washington State’s HB 1184 rulemaking committee for water reuse. Brought to you by the new Sanitation HAT (housing action team) of the Housing Solutions Network. Get the book from your bookseller or library. Sign up by emailing carol@phlush.org, who has several loaner copies and will schedule meetings according to participants’ preferences. Sunfield Farm Job Opportunity *Updated* Applications due today – Jan.31 Sunfield Farm in Port Hadlock, WA seeking an Assistant Farmer. Please see link for more details: http://sunfieldfarm.org/employment-opportunities/. “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 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. Urgent Need for Volunteers at Tri-Area Community Foodbank *New* Many of the Tri-Area Community Foodbank’s regular volunteers have flown south for the winter. They are down nine volunteers. Can you help out? Help needed Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays to make-up boxes for distribution. To volunteer, come to the Tri-Area foodbank and talk to Sue or John, and fill out their volunteer application. They can start you that day if you’re able. Thank you so much for considering volunteering! More information at their website. Time: Tuesdays 8-noon and/or Wednesdays 8am-1:30pm. | Location: 760 Chimacum Rd The Jefferson County Farmers Market Vendor Application is Open – Due Feb 1st (PT) and April 1st (Chimacum) *New* Applications are due February 1, 2022 for the Port Townsend Farmers Market and 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! Greywater Reuse Book Discussion *Online* How can we reuse water from our homes to irrigate gardens, lower water bills, and increase septic system capacity? Greywater, Green Landscapes by Laura Allen has the answers. In two, hour-long sessions on Zoom they’ll explore greywater technologies and how codes for alternative systems have been successfully adopted elsewhere. Facilitators are Genevieve Schutzius, P.E. of PHLUSH and Sergio Scabuzzo of Greywater Action, who serves on Washington State’s HB 1184 rulemaking committee for water reuse. Brought to you by the new Sanitation HAT (housing action team) of the Housing Solutions Network. Get the book from your bookseller or library. Sign up by emailing carol@phlush.org, who has several loaner copies and will schedule meetings according to participants’ preferences. Sunfield Farm Job Opportunity Sunfield Farm in Port Hadlock, WA seeking an Assistant Farmer. Please see link for more details: http://sunfieldfarm.org/employment-opportunities/. “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. 12-month Calendar for 2022 for sale: Birds in and around Port Townsend, WA. An educational project of the Admiralty Audubon Society. Learn more about our local birds, enjoy beautiful photos with educational text. Preview the calendar here. To request a calendar, contact Audubon educator Gary Perless. A suggested donation $15-20 supports environmental projects with kids. Port Townsend StyroCyclers Styrofoam Recycling 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. The styrofoam is packed and stored at Fort Worden in Port Townsend, 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 by appointment only. Donors will be given an appointment for a community collection event or individual drop-off or pick-up. Message them at any time at PTStyroCyclers@gmail.com or through their Facebook page. Jefferson Land Trust Discovering the Forest Program Series *Online* Forest ecosystems are characterized by fascinating relationships between wildlife, plants, trees, water, and air. Add human use and economies into the mix, and the dynamics at play become even more complex. Join them as they set out to explore these interconnections and ask, how does a community forest thrive for the good of all? In Discovering the Forest, all will come together as a community to deepen shared understanding of forests and what a community forest can be. That understanding will be used to shape the vision of the amazing opportunity there is for community involvement at Valley View Forest and Chimacum Ridge Forest. Fall Sessions are in progress now (video recordings available). Winter and Spring sessions upcoming. Learn more and sign up. Friends of Fort Flagler Virtual Program Series As the winter approaches, Friends of Fort Flagler will be offering free virtual programs October through April. Their goal is to offer one program a month. If you have attended a program in the past, you will be automatically invited to the events. If you are not receiving their program invitations and would like to be added to the mailing list, please send an email to:fortflaglerfriends@gmail.com. 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. |
