The Sequim Gazette

12/12/2025

Two weekends remain at Olympic Theatre Arts to get in the holiday spirit with space aliens.
The stage adaptation of the 1964 B-movie “Santa Claus conquers the Martians” plays through Dec. 21 with shows at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. For tickets, visit olympictheatrearts.org, or call the box office 1-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays at 360-683-7326.

Story: https://www.sequimgazette.com/life/space-invaders-take-over-otas-christmas-show/

12/12/2025

Mikey the Rad Scientist was a hit with children at the Sequim Library on Saturday, Dec. 6, as he led them in songs and playful movements designed to spark curiosity about animals and ecosystems.

For more information about North Olympic Library System programs for children and youth, visit NOLS.org/events, call 360-417-8500, or email [email protected].

Sequim Gazette photo by Monica Berkseth

12/12/2025

For decades, the Sequim Valley Lions Club has stepped up to support youth programs, provide health screenings, build wheelchair ramps for those who need them and provide other assistance for the betterment of the community without ever charging a dime for their services.

On Friday, Dec. 5, club members and supporters gathered at 7 Cedars to celebrate the club’s impact – and its 70th birthday.

“The importance of our event is to honor our heritage of 70 years and to thank the people who have supported us and to reward those that have helped us over the years,” said David Blakeslee, zone chairperson.

Today, the Sequim Valley Lions Club has almost 50 members. Its longest-serving member is Pat Phillips, who joined in 1976 – almost 50 years ago.

Story: https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/sequim-valley-lions-club-turns-70/

12/12/2025

When well over a thousand people make music together, said musician Jonathan Pasternack, it is one amazing feeling.

This Saturday night — Dec. 13 — he and the 75-member Port Angeles Symphony will join with an auditorium full of singers for the traditional audience carol sing-along — part of the finale for the orchestra’s Holiday Concert. The Symphony, now in its 93rd season, is poised to present an evening of music from around the globe.

The Holiday Concert will take place in the Symphony’s home venue, the 1,144-seat Port Angeles High School Performing Arts Center at 304 E. Park Ave., at 7:30 p.m., following Pasternack’s brief pre-concert talk at 6:30 p.m. He’s invited Skinner to join him in that conversation about the evening’s music — and about how it feels to be part of the orchestra, whose players come from all over the Olympic Peninsula and beyond.

The public is also invited to the orchestra’s final dress rehearsal at 10 a.m. Saturday. Tickets to both the evening concert and the morning rehearsal are available at portangelessymphony.org and at the door, and more information at the Symphony office, 360-457-5579.

Event includes sing-along

12/11/2025

An approximate $5.2 million contract with Mahlum, an architecture firm from Seattle, for design services for Sequim High School and the CTE (Ramponi Center for Technical Excellence) building was approved by Sequim School District’s board of directors last week.

The high school’s renovation is part of a voter-approved bond while the CTE building is grant and privately funded.

According to preliminary planning documents, the CTE Building will be substantially complete by February 2028, and the high school substantially complete by July 2029.

Mike Santos, the district’s facilities director, previously said that a different architectural and design team could be chosen for different bond projects because they will be completed separately.

Projects approved by state’s Public Review Committee

12/11/2025

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.

12/11/2025

A Diamond Point man was recently sentenced to eight months in jail for felony firearm possession.

Judge Brent Basden sentenced Stephen C. Massey, 61, on Dec. 2 in Clallam County Superior Court after a two-day jury trial in late October when jurors found Massey guilty of two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree.

Along with Massey’s eight-month sentence, Basden also ruled Massey must register as a felony firearm offender.

A Diamond Point man was recently sentenced to eight months in jail for felony firearm possession.

12/11/2025

Sequim’s Gracie Chartraw named PDN's Athlete of the Week.
https://www.peninsuladailynews.com/sports/athlete-of-the-week-gracie-chartaw-sequim-girls-basketball/

Chartraw had a spectacular first week to her season for the girls basketball team.
She is a big part of the reason the Wolves are 2-1 and came within one basket of being 3-0.

Chartaw began her season scoring 30 points in a win over East Jefferson on Dec. 2. She hit four 3-pointers and added seven assists and eight steals.

In her following game against Kingston on Thursday, she scored 26 and dished out seven assists, drilling another four 3-pointers as the Wolves won their Olympic League opener.

Even in a low-scoring defensive battle against Anacortes on Saturday, she led the Wolves with 11 points and six steals in a 40-38 loss — a game Sequim nearly won with a 15-2 fourth quarter.

So far this season, Chartaw is averaging an outstanding 22.3 points, 5.7 assists and five steals a game.

Athlete of the Week is sponsored by Swain’s General Store in Port Angeles.

12/11/2025

Online grief support

Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County is sponsoring a five-week grief support group for spousal loss every Monday from Dec. 15 through Jan. 26, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. online via Zoom.

This series focuses specifically on those who have lost a spouse or life partner and offers a place for participants to share with others their feelings and experiences; gain a clearer understanding of the mourning process; and learn coping skills and strategies for dealing with the emotional pain of loss. Confidentiality is essential to foster openness, trust and acceptance.

Attendance is free, but registration is required.

For more information or to register, call 360-452-1511 or email [email protected].

VHOCC has been providing free hospice services to patients and their families since 1978. Part of the organization’s mission is to offer grief support groups to not just families of hospice patients, but to anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a loved one, regardless of the circumstances of death.

To learn more about VHOCC, visit volunteerhospice.org or the organization’s page or phone 360-452-1511.

We offer physical, emotional, and spiritual care for terminally ill patients and their families, and loan medical equipment to the community. No fees. No time limits.

12/11/2025

Sequim Food Bank’s Executive Director Andra Smith announced last week that she plans to leave the organization in late February to take a job as executive director of the Washington Food Coalition to advocate statewide for Washington’s hunger-relief network.

She’s been with the Sequim organization since January 2016 and her last day will be Feb. 24, 2026.

The Sequim Food Bank Executive Director position has been listed on its website.

Smith accepts position helping more than 300 WA hunger-relief agencies

12/10/2025

Clallam County Fire District 3 reports that on Wednesday morning, a “good Samaritan” helped roll a car that was on fire away from gas pumps at the Sequim Safeway fuel station to prevent any injuries and/or damages to the structure.

Fire engines from Sequim station 34 responded and extinguished the Buick Century within five minutes from being dispatched. An unidentified person also used an extinguisher to help lessen the fire prior to firefighters' arrival.

Photo courtesy Chris Turner, CCFD3
https://www.sequimgazette.com/news/car-fire-extinguished-at-sequim-gas-station/

12/10/2025

From the "Dementia Caregiving 101" column, Linda Klinefelter writes, "This month is filled with holidays, and many of us are reflecting on how these celebrations will impact our loved ones who are diagnosed with dementia.
There are lots of things to consider as we think about how and what we must or must not do. If your loved one has recently been diagnosed with dementia or is in the early to mid-stage of the disease, it’s essential to thoughtfully consider how family gatherings may affect them."

By Linda Klinefelter