The Sequim School District has named a new permanent School Superintendent. She’s Regan Nickels who currently serves as the superintendent of a school district in Hapden, Maine. She has a background as a teacher in Bremerton schools.  The Sequim School Board unanimously agreed to hire her during a special board meeting last night. The Sequim Gazette says she joined last night’s virtual meeting from Maine.  She says she was born in Maine and started her teaching career in eighth-grade mathematics and science before moving to Bremerton with her husband John where served in the US Navy as a submariner.  While in the Pacific Northwest she earned a master’s degree in educational technology from City University in Bellevue and her administrator certificate from Western Washington University in Bellingham.

The superintendent position became vacant after Jayne Pryne resigned late last year as interim superintendent, replacing Robert Clark.  He resigned after a complaint in October 2020 put him on administrative leave.  Regan Nickels will start her new job at the helm of the Sequim School District July 18.

MEMORIAL DAY is an American holiday honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military.

Originally known as DECORATION DAY, it originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971.

The purpose of MEMORIAL DAY is to “memorialize” the veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.  The day is dedicated to remembering those who lost their lives and could not come home, reflecting on their service and how their efforts have secured the constitutional freedoms that we rely on today.

MEMORIAL DAY commemorates the men and women who died while in the service of their country, particularly those who died in battle or as a result of wounds sustained in battle.

The fact is:  anyone experiencing the horrors of combat, whether a battle casualty or not, has also been deeply wounded in ways unseen, often resulting in a shortened lifespan.

Today we remember the fallen, and honor their service and sacrifice.

 

Morning Ciscoe and Sassy,

Oh wise one can you tell me what this box store purchase is called?
The tag said to keep wet and in sun. 

Is it a houseplant only or can it go in the garden?

I bought it on impulse as it was so unusual in leaf and colour.
Cheers,  BT

And what is your favorite colour?

Blue...no, Red,...(aaarrrrrggghhhhh)!

 

When completed, Field Hall will house a 500-seat multi-purpose auditorium and a 300-seat state-of-the-art conference facility on the Port Angeles waterfront.  

 

First Fed’s donation is the largest corporate commitment to the project, bringing total funding to $46 million to date.   

Hello Ciscoe, I have a beautiful old Japanese laceless maple in my backyard that has been the centerpiece of my garden for many years.  This year some of the branches have leafed out right on schedule while others are still just tight winter buds with no development.  To add to the mystery, one branch has a profusion of what look like flowers in little bunches.  First time this has even happened.  Our weather last summer and winter has was extreme and it looks like the tree is reacting to the stress.  Have you seen other reports of this happening?  What to do? Tom

The Sequim Irrigation Festival is the oldest, continuously running festival in Washington State. This year marks the 127th year of this long standing community tradition.  Here’s another one of the events taking place:
First Friday Art Walk

May’s regular First Friday Art Walk coincides nicely with all the other planned irrigation festival activities. This fun and free self-guided tour of local art venues in Sequim occurs on the First Friday of every month throughout the year from 5 to 8PM.

The monthly art walk continues to attract art enthusiasts of all kinds: business supporters, artists and art patrons.  Each month focuses on a different color theme…with May’s color being Aqua.  You will find works of art and folks dressed for an evening out on the town in theme colors, from strong teal to soft celeste.

The Sequim Irrigation Festival is a nonprofit organization that relies solely on the generous donations and support of our community.

 
More information is available online at: www.irrigationfestival.com.

I thought this might interest you. When we moved into this house three years ago, the wisteria was a wild, giant bush, growing up and over the old back fence. I pruned it severely then built a pergola and stood up the wisteria between the posts. For two years I just kept it pruned and began tying up the long stems, using planters tape. In November, I started the nest design with all of the stems circling back and around the center (see photo). I expect it will look amazing when the blooms emerge. Joel

Good news for residents on the west end of the county. State Highway 112 has finally been reopened to two-way traffic between Sappho and Neah Bay after being closed for more than three months by a massive landslide November 15th. 

While state transportation crews reopened the roadway at 6pm Monday near Clallam Bay additional monitoring will still be required. Even after completion of paving last week, the highway settled an additional six inches in the eastbound lane.  That section has been rebuilt with gravel. The graveled portion of the roadway will remain in place while geologists monitor the hillside.  Eagle Crest Way, a service road being used as a detour around the slide has been returned to its private property owners and is closed to travel to the public.  Another second of the highway is still in need of repair further east near Jim Creek.  Construction at that site is expected to begin later this month and will reopen to travelers in late spring.

Emergency slide repairs are beginning today on State Route 112 near Jim Creek on the west end of Clallam County 15 miles east from where the highway was finally reopened near Clallam Bay a week ago.  The highway dropped four feet at Jim Creek following last November’s storms and heavy rain. Work will include removing guardrail, clearing fallen vegetation, excavating the roadway 20 feet below grade level, installing drainage and rebuilding the roadway The State Transportation department says repairs are expected to take eight weeks to complete. Travelers will continue to detour around the slide location using US Highway 101 and State Highway 113.