The Sequim Gazette

10/30/2025

Here are some of the 911 calls made in the Sequim area last week.

The weekly blotter includes incidents that occurred in the City of Sequim and in unincorporated Clallam County in the Sequim-Dungeness Valley area.

10/30/2025

“Home as Habitat,” part of Olympic Peninsula Audubon Society’s Backyard Birding series, will be presented by Steve Koehler on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Dungeness River Nature Center, 1943 W. Hendrickson Road.

Suggested donation is $5.

Learn how to make your yard a welcoming habitat that will draw a variety of birds all winter long. In many cases, it may not necessary to add native plants, but instead simply to encourage what is already there.

Photo of a black-capped Chickadee by Mick Thompson

10/30/2025

Blue Whole Gallery invites the public to attend a reception celebrating the opening of its new exhibit “Ten by Ten” on Saturday, Nov. 1, from 4-7 p.m.

The exhibit is a new concept for the gallery, and was the idea of gallery member Julie Hembree. It features the works of 70 local and regional artists. Each hanging piece of art is 10” by 10” and available for sale. The exhibit will hang in the gallery throughout the month of November.

More: https://www.sequimgazette.com/life/works-by-70-regional-artists-come-to-blue-whole-gallery/

Image is of “Aspen” by Dee Canlton

10/29/2025

Halloween happenings occur all weekend long in Sequim.
More pictures from last weekend:
https://www.sequimgazette.com/life/sequims-spooky-events-set-for-halloween-weekend/

Oct. 31-Nov. 2
• OTA finishes its murder mystery run
Olympic Theatre Arts’ production of Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced” wraps up this weekend with shows at 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 31-Nov. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, at OTA, 414 N. Sequim Ave. Tickets available at olympictheatrearts.org or by calling 360-683-7326 from 1-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday.

Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31
• Avamere residents, staff host trunk-or-treat
Avamere Olympic Rehabilitation of Sequim, 1000 S. Fifth Ave., hosts a Trunk-or-Treat event from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Halloween in the facility’s parking lot with patients and staff giving out candy and offering games.

• Elks host drive-thru
The Sequim Elks Lodge, 143 Port Williams Road, continues its drive-thru trick-or-treat from 3-5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31 with Elks members handing out candy.

• Merchants keep trick-or-treat tradition
More than 70 Sequim merchants offer trick-or-treating from 3-5 p.m. Oct. 31 along Washington Street.

• Trunk-or-treat at Gateway Church
Gateway Church of Sequim, 609 W. Washington St., offers a trunk-or-treat from 3-6 p.m. on Halloween. All ages welcome. They also offer a fun fall backdrop for a photo-op.

• Foursquare hosts Harvest Fest
Sequim Valley Foursquare, 9090 Old Olympic Hwy., holds its Harvest Festival from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Oct. 31. with activity booths inside with games to win candy along with face painting, free food, inflatables, Nerf tag, and more. Organizers are also collecting jars of peanut butter and jelly for its food pantry and those in need. Organizers ask for child-friendly costumes only.

• Fifth Avenue’s Spooktacular evening
The Fifth Avenue, 500 West Hendrickson Road, invites families to its trick-or-treat event from 5-6 p.m. on Halloween with a haunted bat cave where children can collect treats from residents.
Families can also enter a raffle to win a prize. Costumes are encouraged.

• Faith Lutheran holds harvest fest
Faith Lutheran Church, 354 W. Cedar St., hosts its harvest festival from 5-6:30 p.m. on Halloween. The family-friendly event offers candy, activities, games and more with trick-or-treaters welcome. Child-friendly costumes only.

• ‘Bash’ continues at King’s Way
King’s Way Sequim, 1023 Kitchen-Dick Road, hosts its annual “Bash” from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, with outdoor family fun game booths, rock climbing wall, hot dogs, and candy. Kid-friendly costumes only.

• Rat Racers and KSQM host joint events
Olympic Peninsula Rat Racers host its Trunk-or-Treat from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Halloween at the Sequim Village Shopping Center, 651 W. Washington St. Free candy will be given out by each vehicle’s owner. Drivers are welcome to bring any type of vehicle to participate, organizers said.
Peninsula Party Booth will also be on site taking photos. KSQM offers spiced cider, hot dogs and popcorn. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, 91.5 FM plays the classic “War of the Worlds” recording.

• Sherwood offers candy to kids
Sherwood Assisted Living, 550 W. Hendrickson Road, invites trick-or-treaters from 6-7 p.m. Oct. 31 to haunt their halls for candy from residents.

Sweet Spot holds costume contest
• Sweet Spot Sequim, 609 W. Washington St., offers a free froyo for any child in a costume under 12 on Halloween. A potential prize will be offered to those who enter the business’ costume contest by posting a photo on their social media page. The store is open from noon-7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31.

'Rocky Horror’ theme at Oasis
• Oasis Bar and Grill, 301 E. Washington. St., hosts Reckless Dove’s Reckless Halloween from 8-11 p.m. with live music featuring a Rocky Horror theme. Ages 21 and older with costumes encouraged.

Saturday, Nov. 1
• Casino brings a Day After Halloween Party
7 Cedars Casino, 270756 U.S. Highway 101, hosts its annual costume contest on Saturday, Nov. 1, inside Club Seven. Mr. Pink! offers live music.
The costume contest begins at 7:30 pm. and contestants must stop by the Blyn Bay conference room, in the hotel, between 7:30-9:30 p.m. for preliminary judging. The contest begins at 10 p.m.
Individual prizes range from $700 for first place to $300 for third place, and $1,000 for the group costume contest of three or more people. Ages 21 and older. No cover charge.

10/29/2025

Philanthropic Educational Organization (P.E.O.) Chapter JC has scheduled its 16th annual Holiday Bazaar for Saturday, Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sequim Community Church, 950 N. Fifth Ave.

All proceeds from the bazaar will go to P.E.O. International’s scholarships, grants, and loans for women of all levels of education throughout the United States and Canada.

Story: https://www.sequimgazette.com/life/p-e-o-chapter-jc-to-hold-16th-annual-holiday-bazaar/

10/29/2025

Sequim’s girls swim team recognized its seniors, from left, Holland Sol, Naomi Beglyakov, Annie Ellefson, Kate Brouillard, and Violet Phillips at their final home meet on Oct. 22.
Photo courtesy Cherise Feser

The Wolves finished their regular season with a 93-68 win at home against Bremerton on Oct. 22.

Coach Cherise Feser said some of the standout performances included Emma Rhodes, who cut two seconds from her 100-yard freestyle for a new personal record (1:16.14) and Phillips, who achieved a two-second improvement in the 100 breaststroke for a PR (1:35.09) and first place finish.

First-year swimmer Brooklyn Sorensen also impressed, dropping five seconds for a new personal best in the 100 backstroke (1:50.20).

The 200 medley team of Beglyakov, Ava Shinkle, Ellefson and Sol won (2:19.56) the event, while Ellefson won the 200 freestyle (2:19.71). Shinkle won the 50 free (27.41) and 100 butterfly (1:07.97).

Sol finished first in the 500 free (7:18.81) with Beglyakov second (7:31.06).

The 200 freestyle team of Ellefson, Sol, Beglyakov and Shinkle finished first too (2:01.68), and so did the 400 freestyle team of Ashlyn Sol, Madelyn Bower, Rhodes, and Phillips in 5:35.54.

To cap the week, the Wolves competed in the Olympic League Divisional Championship meet on Oct. 25 serving as an opportunity for swimmers to qualify for districts.

Feser said athletes who had already secured their district times were ineligible to place, so others could earn medals and recognition.

Sequim had several standout performances, Feser said, including the 200 medley relay team of Madelyn Bower, Tilly Woods, Rhodes, and Ashlyn Sol earning a fifth-place ribbon, and the 200 freestyle relay team of Ellefson, Holland Sol, Phillips, and Shinkle placing fourth overall.

Three swimmers achieved personal records including Phillips in the 100 breaststroke, Rhodes in the 100 freestyle, and Holland Sol in the 50 freestyle.

More sports: https://www.sequimgazette.com/sports/sports-roundup-postseason-play-around-the-corner-for-wolves/

10/29/2025

From the "Great Futures Start Here" column:
We invite you to join us on Saturday, Nov. 8, at our annual auction and dinner, hosted at the Carroll C. Kendall Club in Sequim. This evening is our most important fundraiser of the year — an opportunity to come together in celebration of what we’ve achieved and commit to what lies ahead. This year’s theme is one that perfectly captures the heart of our mission: “We Grow Our Own.”

"This theme isn’t just a tagline. It’s a reflection of our long-term commitment to the children and families we serve. From preschool through high school graduation — and beyond — we walk alongside our Club members every step of the way."

Link: https://www.bgc-op.org/auction-and-dinner

Column: https://www.sequimgazette.com/opinion/great-futures-start-here-boys-girls-club-annual-auction-dinner-set-for-saturday-nov-8/

10/28/2025

The Sequim boys cross country team and two girls will run at the Westside Classic Class 2A District meet on Nov. 1 at Chamber Bay near Tacoma after strong performances at the Olympic League Championship.

Last week's sports roundup: https://www.sequimgazette.com/sports/sports-roundup-postseason-play-around-the-corner-for-wolves/

Freshman Emily Bair posted a personal record for an impressive top-five finish at The Cedars at Dungeness Golf Course on Oct. 23. She sprinted along the course’s first hole to overtake Olympic’s Abigail Thatcher by 0.37 of a second for fifth place.
She led the Wolves in the girls race with Birdie Pyeatt placing 25th (23:18.16), who will also run for the Wolves at districts.

For the boys, Sequim’s top seven runners will go to districts along with two alternates.

Juniors Adrian Osborne (17:15.64) and Reid Randall (17:15.86) came in 12th and 13th, and Gavin Tupper in 15th (17:25.85). Those were all personal records for them.

Josh Wakefield also PR’d (29th in 17:57.69) and so did Jonathan Tipton (37th in 18:24.39) and Jackson Hines (41st in 18:32.50). Westley French (18:17.4) also placed 36th and will run at districts. Alternates will be Brandon Bair (19:17.88, a PR) and Billy Struve (19:37.19, a PR).

Photo by Emily Matthiessen

10/28/2025

Tickets are now on sale for the 35th edition of the Festival of Trees’ Teddy Bear Teas, Gala and expanded Opening Ceremonies.
Tickets are also available for the Senior Breakfast and Family Days. Tickets can be purchased by going online at omhf.org, by calling 360-417-7144 or by going to the Foundation office at 1015 Georgiana St. in Port Angeles.

Four days of festivities over Thanksgiving weekend support OMC Foundation

10/28/2025

While it may be too soon to start planting a spring garden, now is the perfect time to take a major step in preparing for the new season. That step is soil testing.

By Dale Dalaman

10/28/2025

Soon it will be November, and that means a new slate of book discussion groups organized by the North Olympic Library System (NOLS).

Registration is not required, and all are welcome.

Paperback copies of the titles will be available to pick up any time after the current month’s discussions at the Port Angeles Main Library, 2210 S. Peabody St., or the Sequim Library Temporary Location, 609 W. Washington St., on a first-come, first-served basis.

Copies in other formats such as large print, audiobook, and eBook may also be available to borrow through the NOLS catalog. ­

Here is the schedule and the titles that will be discussed.

Second Saturday Book Discussion Group: “Homegoing” by Yaa Gyasi. This will be an in-person gathering at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8 at the Sequim Library Temporary Location. Paperback copies will be available at that location.

Second Wednesday Book Discussion Group: “The Measure” by Nikki Erlick. Scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, this discussion will take place on Zoom. Paperback copies will be available at both libraries.

Fourth Wednesday Book Discussion Group: “Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma” by Claire Dederer. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this group will meet in person on the third Wednesday of the month, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. in the Raymond Carver Room at the Port Angeles Main Library.

Paperback copies will be available there.

Learn more at NOLS.org/book-groups or call or visit the library for assistance.

Soon it will be November, and that means a new slate of book discussion groups organized by the North Olympic Library System (NOLS).

10/25/2025

For winning the Fire Prevention Week coloring contest, six-year-old Lucas Wright was honored in front of fellow club members of the Carroll C. Kendall Boys & Girls Club unit in Sequim on Oct. 15.

Battalion Chief Chris Turner and Sparky the Fire Dog, on behalf of Clallam County Fire District 3, presented Lucas with a firefighter action figure and a certificate naming him honorary assistant fire chief of prevention during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11.

Lucas’ parents and older brother and sister, both club members too, were present for the ceremony.

The week prior, Crisstepher MacRae received a ride home on a fire truck, and a similar certificate for winning the home fire escape route diagram contest for children ages 7-12.

The contests to promote Fire Prevention Week were sponsored by the Sequim Gazette with Hi-Way 101 Diner and CCFD3 as partners.

Photos by Sequim Gazette/ FD3