| This Week Tour the City Compost Facility – Mon, Nov 7th Next up in the Housing+Sanitation learning series is a field visit to the City of Port Townsend’s Compost Facility, which serves residents throughout Jefferson County. The first of its kind in the state of Washington, this award-winning facility combines an underground wastewater treatment plant and an above-ground hot composting site which composts wood chips from tree cuttings with pre-treated biosolids from the Kuhn St. wastewater treatment plant. The resulting organic compost is in high demand by local gardeners. To join the group tour, email Carol The Housing+Learning Series is organized by PHLUSH in partnership with the Housing Solutions Network. Time: 1:30 PM. Location: 603 County Landfill Rd, Port Townsend Jefferson County Master Gardener Foundation Speaker – Thurs, Nov 10th Join speaker Linda Beutler on a presentation titled Clematis Myth Busting, Everything You Knew is Out of Date. Linda has been the Rogerson International Clematis Garden Curator since 2007 and has written many garden books. Zoom address will be provided here at jefferson.wsu.edu. Time: 3:00 PM. Location: 121 Oak Bay Road, Port Hadlock Annex Classroom and Zoom PT Community Chorus Concerts – Fri, Nov 11th and Sun, Nov 13th The Community Chorus is back this fall with the “We Rise Again” program, celebrating their return to singing! They’re thrilled to be performing again and hope to see you at their concerts. It should be a great concert! Tickets are available at the door or via brown paper tickets here. Times: Friday at 7:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM. Location: Friday at the Frist Presbyterian Church at 111 Franklin Street, Port Townsend, Sunday at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer at 45 Redeemer Way, Chimacum. Lecture Series: Deep Sea Mining- Sun, Nov 13th *New* Dr. Christopher Kelley, retired ocean biologist, will introduce the three basic types of deep sea mining and what he and others are trying to do to minimize the impacts of this industry on the environment once it begins. “Deep sea mining can potentially provide us with the copper, cobalt, gold, rare earth elements, and other minerals we will need for hundreds of years,” said Keley. “It may also result in the greatest ecological catastrophe in human history, destroying species that we haven’t even discovered yet.” To keep this series accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay, there is no set charge for the event; however, donations are always welcomed and appreciated. Contact them here, or here for more info. Time: 3:00 PM. Location: Fort Worden Chapel |
| Upcoming Events Meaningful Movies – The Wisdom of Trauma – Mon, Nov 14th *New* Join Meaningful Movies and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Jefferson County for a community discussion about the film The Wisdom of Trauma. One in five Americans are diagnosed with mental illness in any given year. Suicide is the second most common cause of death in the US for youth aged 15-24, and kills over 800,000 people a year globally and 48,300 in the USA. Drug overdose kills 81,000 in the USA annually. The autoimmunity epidemic affects 24 million people in the USA. What is going on? In The Wisdom of Trauma, travel alongside physician Dr. Gabor Maté to explore why our western society is facing such epidemics. NOTE – this film will not be shown during the Zoom meeting. Instead, you’ll register and watch the film on your own and then join the Zoom meeting for the community discussion with representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Jefferson County. FIRST, register and you’ll receive an email containing a link to watch the film. Watch the film on your own device any time between 6:00 PM on Sunday, November 13 and 6:00 PM on Monday, November 14. THEN, JOIN THE DISCUSSION on Nov 14th on Zoom for a community discussion with representatives from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Jefferson County using this link. (No registration is required for the Zoom meeting). Trailer and more info, Facebook page. Time: 6:30 pm | Location: Online Composting Toilets and Supporting Codes and Policies – Tues, Nov 15th Laura Allen co-founder of Greywater Action will introduce the science and technology of composting toilet and urine treatment systems. Since local regulations hardly support these systems, the presentation will provide an overview of the codes and policies that govern themin Oregon and California. Laura advises governments and trains local officials and community advocates in the safe and effective adoption of waterless systems under Water Efficiency and Sanitation Standards for the Built Environment, known as WE Stand. Laura currently serves on the Technical Committee which will issue the latest revision of these IAMPO plumbing codes in 2023. She also contributed to Washington State greywater code for multiplex housing, which was signed into law by Gov. Inslee in early 2022. Her books include Greywater, Green Landscape and The Water-Wise Home, which covers waterless toilets. To receive the Zoom link for this session, email Carol McCreary. carol@phlush.org. The Housing+Sanitation Learning series is made possible with funding through the Give Jefferson Campaign. Time: 5:30 PM to 7 PM. Location: Online Local 20/20 Council Meeting – Wed, Nov 16th 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 us at info@l2020.org. For online meeting information, contact us at info@l2020.org. Time: 4-6:00 PM | Location: Online Birds of Ecuador Presentation – Wed, Nov 16th Join us for a live pictorial presentation of the wild birds of Ecuador. Our very own volunteer, Beverly McNeil, photographer and Audubon Trip Leader will be sharing her beautiful pictures from her trip to Ecuador. Beverly is quite knowledgeable and will share her experiences and expertise with all of us. The presentation will be held at the Hospital Building at Fort Flagler State Park. Register Here. Time: 6:00 PM | Location: Fort Flagler State Park End of Life, Deathcare, and Psychedelics Symposium – Thurs, Nov 17th *New* This symposium is focused on one strand of a larger conversation about how we as individuals and as a community can support ourselves and one another in dying well. We aim to open a deeper conversation around psychedelics and end of life/deathcare and connect those who are most interested in this work with one another, all steps towards supporting this work happening with care and integrity in our local community. The evening will include an interwoven array of music, presenters, facilitated discussion, and community connection, including Opening Songs by The Threshold Choir; Music by Andy-Fischer-Price; Introductions to the Port Townsend Psychedelic Society/End of Life and Psychedelics Subcommittee and The Dying Matters Guild; Psychedelics and End of Life Care: A Match Made in Heaven by Corine de Boer, M.D., Ph.D.; Embracing Fear by Rhonda Hull, Ph.D End-of-Life Planning Facilitator; How To Talk With Your Healthcare Provider by Jackie Levin, M.S., R.N. Holistic Nurse and Patient Advocate; A Shifting Legal Climate: Progress, Risks, and Practicalities by Erin Reading, M.A. Port Townsend Psychedelic Society Organizer and John Rapp, J.D. Entheogenic Lawyer, Activist, and Ethicist; and Deathcare and Psychedelic Peer Support Considerations by Sarafina Landis, Death Doula. Space limited, RSVP to save your spot Time: 5:00pm-8:00pm | Location: the Quimper Grange, 1219 Corona St, PT Cost: $5-$20 suggested donation at the door, no one turned away for lack of funds. Lecture Series: Of Puffins and Petrels – Sun, Nov 20th *New* Presented by Peter Hodum, Professor of Biology at University of Puget Sound. Hodum’s talk delves into the collaborative research focused on improving the understanding of the ecology and conservation status of species such as the Tufted Puffin, Rhinoceros Auklet, Cassin’s Auklet and Leach’s and Fork-tailed Storm-Petrels. To keep this series accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay, there is no set charge for the event; however, donations are always welcomed and appreciated. Contact them here, or here for more info. Time: 3:00 PM | Location: Fort Worden Chapel Birding in the Park – Fridays in November *Updated* Birding tours will be held on Fridays in November (switching to Saturdays in December.) Wear sturdy footwear and dress for changeable weather. bring binoculars and your own water. Locations: Nov 11 – at Fort Worden (through Admiralty Audubon) Nov 18- at Anderson Lake (through Admiralty Audubon) Nov 25 – at Fort Flagler (through Friends of Fort Flagler) Registration: Please send Bev an email including where and when you’d like to join and she will plan directly with you. Please note this program is dependent on good weather. Presenter: Beverly McNeil, Admiralty Audubon trip leader and photographer. Beverly’s photographs are displayed at the Port Townsend Gallery. Time: 9:00 AM | Location: Varies, see above. Waterwise Homes & Landscapes: Greywater Reuse & Rainwater Harvesting – Tues, Nov 29th The long term drought that threatens the western part of the United States has brought new water-saving technologies. Presenter Laura Allen is a founding member of Greywater Action and has spent the past 20 years exploring simple and ecological water solutions. She is the lead author of the San Francisco Graywater Design Guidelines for Outdoor Irrigation, and authored The Water-Wise Home: How to Conserve and Reuse Water in Your Home and Landscape (Storey Press, 2015) and Greywater, Green Landscape (2017). She has a BA in environmental science, a teaching credential, and a master’s degree in education. Laura frequently trains local jurisdictions in California and Oregon and contributed to Washington’s greywater code for multiplex housing that became law in the past year. To receive the Zoom link for this session, email Carol McCreary. carol@phlush.org . Time: 5:30 PM to 7 PM. Location: Online Lecture Series: 2022 Update on the Status of the Invasive European Green Crab – Sun, Dec 4th *New* Presented by Neil Harrington, Environmental biologist, Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe. In 2022 the proliferation of European green crab in Washington was declared an emergency by Governor Inslee. Harrington will go over the biological and ecological implications of this invasive species and detail the fight to prevent their establishment, with a focus on the North Olympic Peninsula. To keep this series accessible to all, regardless of the ability to pay, there is no set charge for the event; however, donations are always welcomed and appreciated. Contact them here, or here for more info. Time: 3:00 PM | Location: Fort Worden Chapel |
| Recurring Events Plastic Recycling Pop-Up Drop-Off – 1st and 3rd Saturdays Are you ready to start recycling your plastic bottle caps and can connectors? PT Potential is now open for collections! Swing by their next drop-off event with your clean plastic items and learn how they plan to recycle them! Join us in mitigating our pollution and working towards a more local, circular economy. Collecting caps, lids, and can carriers. Don’t have plastic collected? Swing by anyway, we’d love to chat plastics! Time: 2:00 – 4:00 PM | Location: Check the current schedule Styrofoam Recycling – 1st Tuesdays and 3rd Saturdays The Port Townsend StyroCyclers can only accept pieces that are white, rigid, clean, and dry, with all tape, labels, paper, and cardboard removed. They also accept clean and dry packing peanuts of all colors and types (separated from the styrofoam), as well as white styrofoam food trays that are clean and free of stains and writing. Your materials will be inspected at your vehicle, and disqualified materials will be returned to you. Thanks to the Fort Worden PDA, the styrofoam is packed and stored at the Fort Worden Battery Putnam, 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. You can check the schedule and/or message them at any time at PTStyroCyclers@gmail.com or through their Facebook page. Port Townsend Styrofoam Recycling pick-up – 1st Tuesdays & 3rd Saturdays For residents of East Jefferson County only Tues, Oct 4th and Sat, Oct 15th Time: 10:00-noon | Location: Fort Worden’s Battery Putnam, which is near Alexander’s Castle (229 Alexander’s Loop). Park your vehicle in the middle of the street in front of the battery. Port Ludlow Styrofoam Recycling pick up – email for schedule Time: 9:30-11:00 AM | Location: Port Ludlow Bridge Deck (on Harbor Drive: above Beach Club parking lot, 121 Marina Drive) Inner Work of Racial Justice Reading Group – 3rd Thursdays The Chimacum Center invites community members interested in social justice learning and personal growth to join them for a reading & mindfulness practice group on the Rhonda V. Magee book, “The Inner Work of Racial Justice: Healing Ourselves and Transforming Our Communities Through Mindfulness.” Suggested contribution of $50 for the series, with all funds going to support ongoing racial equity work in the community; sliding scale welcome and no one turned away for lack of funds. Sign up in advance by emailing and we will get you more information and ways to access the book. Jefferson County Library has e-book, audio and print copies available, as well as support services to facilitate access. Email them at: chimacumcenter.info@gmail.com to sign up! Time: 5:30 – 7:00 PM | Location: Finnriver, Chimacum PT Potential’s Kickstarter is Live! Thanks for joining us in recycling your plastic caps, lids, and can-carriers over the past few months! We are excited to announce that we are holding a kickstarter to raise enough funds to acquire an extruder, which will enable us to start making quality products from the plastic we’ve been collecting from our community. Our bi-monthly pop-up recycling opportunities are continuing as usual, so please come find out who we are and what we’re doing to promote a more local, circular economy When: 1st and 3rd Saturdays 2:00 – 4:00 PM | Location: Check the current schedule Farmers Market – Saturdays Port Townsend Farmers Market on Saturdays The Port Townsend Farmers Market operates 9-months out of the year from the first Saturday in April through December 17th. Located in the heart of uptown Port Townsend on the 600 block of Tyler Street between Lawrence and Clay streets, the market offers a wide variety of seasonal produce, pasture-raised meat, hard cider, honey, artisan cheese, bread and pastries, prepared food, as well as fine arts and crafts from Jefferson and neighboring counties. From locally grown food to pottery, the items sold travel no more than 50 miles to reach the market. Some of their vendors even bike their products to market. More information. Time: 10am-2pm | Location: 650 Tyler Street, Port Townsend Forest/Orchard Bathing Walks – Saturdays From Olympic Peninsula Mindfulness. Walk – Sit – Walk: As you cross the ‘threshold’ into the woods and meadows of Fort Worden, you can walk comfortably and safely far apart without masks, or as you choose. Walks follow paths linking the woods and meadows in the park. Several times we will pause, listen to a nature poem, sit or stand in silence and join in an occasional guided meditation led by Ellen Falconer, mindfulness teacher. Please wear clothing which will keep you warm and dry, as you may be walking, sitting or standing about in wet, chilly, invigorating seasonal weather. For more information call 360-316-6544 or visit their website. Walks are on Saturday, Nov 19; Dec 3, 17th at Fort Worden State Park. Please get more details on the website. Registration is encouraged! If they have to cancel they will update you! Protest Fossil Banks’ Climate Crimes – Fridays Join a local demonstration at Port Townsend’s JP Morgan Chase Bank on the first three Fridays of the month from 11:00 Am to 1:00 PM. They bring big art and fliers to educate bank customers about Chase and Wells Fargo’s continued funding of fossil fuel expansion. They aim to move local money away from fossil banks, in line with divestment campaign stopthemoneypipeline.com. On the 4th and 5th Fridays of the month, they make new art and regroup in Irondale. Volunteers needed to expand our message to local Wells Fargo branch. More info & RSVP: communityartworks@gmail.com. Protest Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, first 3 Fridays | Location: Chase Bank, 419 Kearney Street, Port Townsend Art Time: 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 4th and 5th Fridays | Location: Irondale (email RSVP for address) |
| Community Notices AARP Looking for Tax Aide Volunteers Hello there! AARP Tax-Aide is recruiting new volunteers, and now is the perfect time to join as we ramp up for the 2022 tax season. Do you like helping others? Do you have basic computer skills? Would you like to work with a great team, providing a much-needed service to our local community? AARP Tax-Aide provides the training, hardware, and software needed to get you up to speed to join our amazing team. We provide free tax preparation services in Port Townsend, Chimacum, and Quilcene from February through mid-April.To become a TAX-AIDE volunteer, complete the online application at www.aarp.org/taxaide. If you have questions or want additional information, please contact: David Segleau at 360-390-5250 or taxaide.david@gmail.comWhen: Now through December 1st. Where: www.aarp.org/taxaide Adams Street Community Gardens Looking for New Members As the pandemic eases in the months ahead, they find many members unable to continue with their group due to other commitments. After 10 years they have developed a truly successful community garden, with amazing soil, sound infrastructure, and impressive production. They encourage people to drive by on Adams St. between Blaine and Roosevelt to see what they have accomplished. It will be a huge challenge to continue this garden with a significantly smaller number of members. They are reaching out to would-be gardeners to consider joining us in 2023! No experience necessary and no requirement to live in the neighborhood…just energy to help, a few hours a week to participate, and enthusiasm for growing things. Please leave a message at 360 379-9708 to receive a call and become part of our team! Volunteer Web Designer Needed Community Build is looking for a volunteer who likes to design and update websites. We are an active all-volunteer organization with the mission: “Inspired by compassion for our unsheltered neighbors, we are engaging our community in building secure housing while strengthening community for us all.” We count on our website www.community-build.org to connect volunteers and donors with us, knowing that we all benefit from “doing together what we are each good at doing”. That’s what builds community. Be part of a wonderful community effort by pitching in an hour or two a week to keep the website current. Does this interest YOU? If so, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator Debbi Steele at deborahksteele@gmail.com. Results of Survey on Housing + Sanitation Learning Series A summary of the responses to the survey that is helping shape the HSN-PHLUSH Learning Series is available here. They are grateful to the 42 individuals who took the time to reply with their preferences and notes on knowledge gaps and misconceptions relating to housing and sanitation. Topics that attracted more than half of respondents include greywater, rainwater, and composting toilet systems, even though most are not currently permitted here. You want to know the rules regarding toilet systems for those living in RVs and various other types of small dwellings, issues for which they’ll turn to County officials. To launch the series in early October, they’ll address choices #3 and #4. In the first week of October, they’ll offer free on-demand viewing of FLUSH: The Documentary. A discussion of the film with two experts in it will take place online on Tues, Oct 11th at 5:30 pm. An online session on Sanitation Justice on Tues, Oct 18th at 5:30 pm will be presented by Abigail Brown, a member of the University of California faculty. See next week’s Local 20/20 Announcements for registration links. Seeking Environmental Educators for 2022-2023 AmeriCorps Term Washington Service Corps has extended the opportunity for organizations to fill AmeriCorps positions this fall. We are once again seeking Environmental Educators for the term beginning Dec. 16, 2022 and ending Aug. 31, 2023. Inspire students, visitors, and the whole community to explore, experience, connect with, and take action to protect and steward the unique ecosystems of the Salish Sea. Full application details and the position description are on our website at www.ptmsc.org/employment. Deadline is November 27, 2022. AmeriCorpsApplication@ptmsc.org |
| Community Resources Eat Local First’s Washington Food & Farm Finder Map Eating local — and supporting our community’s farmers, fishers, and other food producers — is easy with the Eat Local First Washington Food & Farm Finder, from the statewide group Eat Local First (ELF) Collaborative. Enter your location by zip code or town/city name and use the detailed search criteria to find food grown, caught, raised, or made near you, navigating the handy map to explore further. Filter your search to find specific products, delivery options, and more. 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. 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 over 15,500 subscribers, with many new members joining each day. Email Pete Hubbard with questions or comments. Calling Local Photographers 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. Latest King Tide Documented by Local King Tide Team *New* There was a higher than average predicted tide on October 27th (8.5′ predicted), that gave us another chance to visualize the higher sea levels that will become more often in the future due to global sea level rise, and a few of Local 20/20’s Climate Action Group volunteers were out there to capture it. Read the summary and see more photos here. Intersection of Housing, Parking, Climate, and Community In the latest local 20/20 column in the Port Townsend Leader, Scott Walker describes how housing, parking, climate and community are all interrelated and opportunities to address these issues simultaneously. The article discusses the toll car-first urban design has taken on our communities, and what the future holds for us here on the peninsula if steps are not taken to protect our community from the complete takeover of 5 lane streets, parking garages, accidents and rampant emissions. Car Free Day Results Find out what we learned from the recent Car Free Day, including what forms of car free transportation participants used, and their ideas on what would make commuting that way easier in a recent Local 20/20 column in the Port Townsend Leader by Cindy Jayne. Not surprisingly, better weather was a common answer! The author shares some experiences of learning to commute year round, and offers ideas on various ways to reduce driving. And she reminds us that any day can be a car-free or car-less day! Recycling Simplified – Updated Plastics Recycling In Jefferson County Catch up on the most up to date changes for which plastics Jefferson County is now accepting for recycling. Learn why the change and other phenomena pertaining to human ways of being. In Local 20/20’s latest Port Townsend Leader column, Tracy Grisman of Local 20/20’s Beyond Waste group summarizes the recent changes. New Draft Report titled “Lower Snake River Dams: Benefit Replacement Draft Report” Now Available Gov. Jay Inslee and U.S. Sen. Patty Murray have released a draft report to examine whether the benefits provided by the four Lower Snake River Dams (LSRD) can be provided by other means so that breaching of the dams could be part of a comprehensive salmon recovery strategy for the Pacific Northwest. The report notes that the dams have significantly altered the physical, chemical, hydrological, and biological processes in the Snake River, changing it from free flowing to a series of reservoirs. All Snake River salmon are listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The LSRD significantly limit the ability for salmon to spawn in the main river channel and create slack water conditions that favor other species, many of which prey on salmon. Breaching the LSRD would have the highest likelihood of removing salmon from ESA listing and maintaining treaty and trust obligations compared to other alternatives. The draft report and action information is available here. |
