Today is a legal holiday observing the birth date of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient.
He was assassinated in 1968.
Olympic National Park presents “A New Time, A New Voice,” a 30-minute video program about King at the ONP Visitor Center in Port Angeles at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. today.
Additional viewings are available on request.
The visitor center is at 3002 Mount Angeles Road and open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
“This is an excellent film and a great way to remember and learn more about Dr. King’s life and contributions,” said ONP Superintendent Karen Gustin.
Today is also celebrated as the national Martin Luther King Day of Service.
It challenges Americans to transform the King holiday into a day of citizen volunteer service.
Service events
The Port Hadlock Washington Conservation Corps will partner with the Friends of Fort Flagler and the state Parks and Recreation Commission for service projects at Fort Flagler State Park on Marrowstone Island today.
Work will include removing graffiti from bunkers, painting the historic hospital and barracks, trail work and a beach cleanup.
The family-friendly event is open to all who want to make their break from work or school a day of service to their community.
Participants should meet at the park’s recreation hall at 9:30 a.m. for registration and a snack.
The North Olympic Volunteer Center, Clallam AmeriCorps and other groups have variety of community service projects today:
• Patchwork to a Tight-Knit Community Quilt.
Volunteers are assembling paper quilts composed of 4-by-4-inch squares designed by Port Angeles school students.
The squares are inspired by the students’ wishes of what they would like to see improved in their community and how these wishes can be accomplished.
The event is at Hamilton Elementary, 1822 W. Seventh St. in Port Angeles, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Refreshments are provided.
• Serenity House-Evergreen Village.
Volunteers are painting a three-bedroom apartment being prepped for a single mother and five children currently living in an emergency shelter until this apartment is finished.
Painting starts at 9 a.m. and runs until 4 p.m. Participants should arrive at 8:45 a.m.
Snacks and lunch are provided. The address for the project is 2201 W. 18th St., Unit A-2, Port Angeles.
• Olympic Gleaners at Nash’s Organic Produce.
Volunteers are gleaning the fields at Nash’s Organic Produce, collecting excess produce and delivering the items to local food banks, soup kitchens and other charitable organizations.
Volunteers meet at 11 a.m. in the parking lot of the packing shed at 4681 Sequim Dungeness Way, Sequim.
The packing shed is the second driveway after Nash’s Farm Store and is across from the Dungeness Schoolhouse.
Bring cardboard boxes for picking, warm work clothes, gloves and boots.
Volunteers pick for an hour, wash the produce and deliver.
• AmeriCorps helps Habitat for Humanity.
AmeriCorps members are helping Habitat workers with a house under construction at 1433 21st St. in Port Townsend.
Members of the public are invited to join in.
Work begins at 9 a.m. and runs to 4 p.m.
Volunteers should arrive at 8:45 a.m. Follow the parking directions of volunteer leaders.
Volunteers should wear warm work clothing.
• Cultural Awareness Day in Forks
The West End AmeriCorps team, Quileute Tribal School and Forks High School host a “Day of Diversity” from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Forks Elks Lodge, 941 Merchant Road.
Quileute, Quinault and Hoh River students will perform songs and dances of their drum circle.
Mexican and Guatemalan student groups at Forks High School will dance.
Local artists will display exhibits depicting the artistic traditions of Forks.
What’s open, closed
• Most schools, banks, credit unions, public libraries and government offices are closed today.
• Many businesses are open. Most state-owned liquor stores are open.
• Post offices are closed, with no home delivery except for express mail.
• MV Coho ferry and state ferries are on regular weekday schedules.
• Clallam Transit and Jefferson Transit are on regular weekday schedules, but with no Jefferson service to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard.
• Some basic services, such as garbage pickup, are on regular schedules but transfer and recycling stations are closed.
