As seen on Instagram...

Rikki Rodger, left, holds a foam float, and Mark Stevenson and Sara Ybarra Lopez drop off 9.2 pounds of trash and debris they collected at Kai Tai Lagoon in Port Townsend during the Port Townsend Marine Science Center Earth Day Beach Cleanup event Saturday at Fort Worden State Park. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Beach cleanup

Rikki Rodger, left, holds a foam float, and Mark Stevenson and Sara Ybarra Lopez drop off 9.2 pounds of trash and debris they collected at… Continue reading

Rikki Rodger, left, holds a foam float, and Mark Stevenson and Sara Ybarra Lopez drop off 9.2 pounds of trash and debris they collected at Kai Tai Lagoon in Port Townsend during the Port Townsend Marine Science Center Earth Day Beach Cleanup event Saturday at Fort Worden State Park. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
This excited toddler is focused on his next prize and misses the ones right in front of him during the 95th annual Port Townsend Elks Club Easter Egg Hunt at Chetzemoka Park on Sunday. Volunteers hid more than 1,500 plastic eggs around the park with some redeemable for prizes. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)

On the hunt

This excited toddler is focused on his next prize and misses the ones right in front of him during the 95th annual Port Townsend Elks… Continue reading

This excited toddler is focused on his next prize and misses the ones right in front of him during the 95th annual Port Townsend Elks Club Easter Egg Hunt at Chetzemoka Park on Sunday. Volunteers hid more than 1,500 plastic eggs around the park with some redeemable for prizes. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Gail Ralston, 70, is closing in on the all-time sales record for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby. (Leah Leach/for Peninsula Daily News)

Top Duck Derby seller has all-time record in her sights

Gail Ralston has sold 35,500-plus entries since 1989

Gail Ralston, 70, is closing in on the all-time sales record for the Olympic Medical Center Foundation’s Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby. (Leah Leach/for Peninsula Daily News)
Jason Squire, manager of the Rose Theatre in Port Townsend, shows off the new $150,000 Barco SP4K laser projector installed last month. The projector, one of three that the movie house needs for each of its screens, replaces an aging one that failed in June 2024, necessitating a GoFundMe drive for the owners, George Marie and Michael D’Alessandro, to help pay for a new one. More than $105,000 was raised from 777 donors. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

New projector

Jason Squire, manager of the Rose Theatre in Port Townsend, shows off the new $150,000 Barco SP4K laser projector installed last month. The projector, one… Continue reading

Jason Squire, manager of the Rose Theatre in Port Townsend, shows off the new $150,000 Barco SP4K laser projector installed last month. The projector, one of three that the movie house needs for each of its screens, replaces an aging one that failed in June 2024, necessitating a GoFundMe drive for the owners, George Marie and Michael D’Alessandro, to help pay for a new one. More than $105,000 was raised from 777 donors. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Garden cleanup

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire… Continue reading

Bonnie Obremski, front left, substitute garden manager, and volunteers Susan Savelle, yellow visor, Sarah Maloy, left rear, Paulette De Llario, right rear, and Mary Claire Hunt, rear, helped clean up the Salish Coast Production Garden at the Salish Elementary School in Port Townsend on Saturday. The garden produced more than 5,000 pounds of produce used for the school lunches last year and farmers are aiming for 7,000 pounds in 2025. Hunt will be honored as a community health hero by the Jefferson County Public Health department for her efforts in bringing together farmers and gardeners who donate their crops to the Jefferson County food bank with a presentation on Thursday at the Board of Jefferson County Commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
In the comic book swap corner of the Squatchcon convention are Raiden Stuntz, left, as Starscream and Quinn Valentine as Cheryl Mason, both from Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)

Peninsula’s fourth Squatchcon draws comic enthusiasts

Panels, contests color the weekend

In the comic book swap corner of the Squatchcon convention are Raiden Stuntz, left, as Starscream and Quinn Valentine as Cheryl Mason, both from Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Four Quileute Tribal School students take a salmon offering into the ocean as part of the annual Welcoming the Whales ceremony at First Beach in La Push on Friday. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Photos

Welcoming the Whales

On Friday, Quileute Tribal School students performed the annual Welcoming the Whales ceremony at First Beach in La Push under sunny skies and before a… Continue reading

Four Quileute Tribal School students take a salmon offering into the ocean as part of the annual Welcoming the Whales ceremony at First Beach in La Push on Friday. (Christi Baron/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Caro Tchannie and her daughter Lola Hatch, 9, of Tulallip try a long string of beads at Squatchcon on Thursday at the Vern Burton Community Center gym in Port Angeles. Kevin VanDinter of Port Angeles was one of 60 vendors at the four day event, which continues through Sunday. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Squatchcon underway

Caro Tchannie and her daughter Lola Hatch, 9, of Tulallip try a long string of beads at Squatchcon on Thursday at the Vern Burton Community… Continue reading

Caro Tchannie and her daughter Lola Hatch, 9, of Tulallip try a long string of beads at Squatchcon on Thursday at the Vern Burton Community Center gym in Port Angeles. Kevin VanDinter of Port Angeles was one of 60 vendors at the four day event, which continues through Sunday. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan) When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)

Former deputy’s ashes to be sent into space

Widow of John Strachan to fulfill his dream

When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan) When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)
Heath Wade, 5, leads the goat parade to open the 37th annual Port Townsend Farmers Market on Saturday in the uptown neighborhood. Behind are goat wranglers Lindsey Kotzebue and Amber Langley of Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Market opens

Heath Wade, 5, leads the goat parade to open the 37th annual Port Townsend Farmers Market on Saturday in the uptown neighborhood. Behind are goat… Continue reading

Heath Wade, 5, leads the goat parade to open the 37th annual Port Townsend Farmers Market on Saturday in the uptown neighborhood. Behind are goat wranglers Lindsey Kotzebue and Amber Langley of Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
A portion of the crowd at the Hands Off rally, which started at the intersection of Laurel and First Street. An estimated 800 to 1,000 people attended in Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/For Peninsula Daily News)
photo

Hands Off! protests on Peninsula

A portion of the crowd at the Hands Off rally, which started at the intersection of Laurel and First Street. An estimated 800 to 1,000… Continue reading

A portion of the crowd at the Hands Off rally, which started at the intersection of Laurel and First Street. An estimated 800 to 1,000 people attended in Port Angeles. (Dave Logan/For Peninsula Daily News)
Boating coach Eric Lesch, at a whiteboard, explains sailing techniques to a youth sailboat class. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

Teenagers learning boating skills through program

Nonprofit funded by grants, agencies and donations

Boating coach Eric Lesch, at a whiteboard, explains sailing techniques to a youth sailboat class. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill and other small ocean creatures used by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for education purposes while on a road trip with his family on Tuesday at Fort Worden State Park. Parker’s father Tyler is at left. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Science education

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill and other small ocean creatures used by the Port Townsennd Marine Science Center… Continue reading

Parker Brocious, 6, from Cedar Hills, Utah, studies tubs containing plankton, krill and other small ocean creatures used by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center for education purposes while on a road trip with his family on Tuesday at Fort Worden State Park. Parker’s father Tyler is at left. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Adella Banning, 6, of Port Angeles pretends to take to the road on a all-terrain vehicle maintained by Clallam County Search and Rescue during Saturday’s Kiwanis Kids Fest at Vern Burton Community Center and a section of adjoining Fourth Street. The event featured numerous public safety displays as well as other youth activities hosted by area community service agencies. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Kids Fest

Adella Banning, 6, of Port Angeles pretends to take to the road on a all-terrain vehicle maintained by Clallam County Search and Rescue during Saturday’s… Continue reading

Adella Banning, 6, of Port Angeles pretends to take to the road on a all-terrain vehicle maintained by Clallam County Search and Rescue during Saturday’s Kiwanis Kids Fest at Vern Burton Community Center and a section of adjoining Fourth Street. The event featured numerous public safety displays as well as other youth activities hosted by area community service agencies. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Gary Norris, front, takes a photo of the Rayonier No. 4 as Leo Frymire looks on during a tour of the engine on Sunday at Lauridsen Boulevard and Chase Street in Port Angeles. They attended a fundraiser for Restore the 4!, a local group leading the effort to restore the geared locomotive built in 1924 by Willamette Iron and Steel in Portland, Ore. The North Olympic History Center, which helped organize the event, donated $1,000 toward the cause. More than 100 people attended a presentation by Steve Hauff, a local historian and expert on Willamette logging locomotives, at the Port Angeles Main Library beforehand. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Locomotive fundraiser

Gary Norris, front, takes a photo of the Rayonier No. 4 as Leo Frymire looks on during a tour of the engine on Sunday at… Continue reading

Gary Norris, front, takes a photo of the Rayonier No. 4 as Leo Frymire looks on during a tour of the engine on Sunday at Lauridsen Boulevard and Chase Street in Port Angeles. They attended a fundraiser for Restore the 4!, a local group leading the effort to restore the geared locomotive built in 1924 by Willamette Iron and Steel in Portland, Ore. The North Olympic History Center, which helped organize the event, donated $1,000 toward the cause. More than 100 people attended a presentation by Steve Hauff, a local historian and expert on Willamette logging locomotives, at the Port Angeles Main Library beforehand. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sisters Jasmine Kirchan, left, and Shawnta Henry and their mom Nicole Kirchan all work at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club. After work on Feb. 26, they all helped save the life of a man in front of Walmart.

Sequim woman uses CPR training to save man outside Walmart

She credits training to Boys Girls Club, fire district

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group Sisters Jasmine Kirchan, left, and Shawnta Henry and their mom Nicole Kirchan all work at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club. After work on Feb. 26, they all helped save the life of a man in front of Walmart.
Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group Mamba sits at the Sequim Civic Center with her family — Sequim Police Officer Paul Dailidenas, his wife Linda, left, and their daughter Alyssa on March 10 after Dailidenas and Mamba received a Distinguished Medal. Mamba retired from service after nearly eight years, and Sequim is training another officer and dog to take over the K-9 Officer Program with Dailidenas’ blessing.

Police dog Mamba retires after seven years in Sequim

Program to continue as fifth canine begins training

Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group Mamba sits at the Sequim Civic Center with her family — Sequim Police Officer Paul Dailidenas, his wife Linda, left, and their daughter Alyssa on March 10 after Dailidenas and Mamba received a Distinguished Medal. Mamba retired from service after nearly eight years, and Sequim is training another officer and dog to take over the K-9 Officer Program with Dailidenas’ blessing.
Port Angeles Parks & Recreation Department workers Brooke Keohokaloke, left, and Brian Flores steer a section of floating dock into place at the boat launch on Ediz Hook in Port Angeles on Wednesday. The floats had been removed and stored in a safe location to prevent wave damage from winter storms. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Dock in place

Port Angeles Parks & Recreation Department workers Brooke Keohokaloke, left, and Brian Flores steer a section of floating dock into place at the boat launch… Continue reading

Port Angeles Parks & Recreation Department workers Brooke Keohokaloke, left, and Brian Flores steer a section of floating dock into place at the boat launch on Ediz Hook in Port Angeles on Wednesday. The floats had been removed and stored in a safe location to prevent wave damage from winter storms. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Duke Sawtel of Olympia trims tree branches that interfere with power lines along Washington Street in Port Townsend. The Asplundh Tree Trimming company was hired by the Jefferson County PUD for the job. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Tree trimming

Duke Sawtel of Olympia trims tree branches that interfere with power lines along Washington Street in Port Townsend. The Asplundh Tree Trimming company was hired… Continue reading

Duke Sawtel of Olympia trims tree branches that interfere with power lines along Washington Street in Port Townsend. The Asplundh Tree Trimming company was hired by the Jefferson County PUD for the job. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Levi Oravetz, 9, and his father Adam Oravetz put pre-measured rice and lentils into a funnel to be packaged for families in Ecuador. More than 100 volunteers from Independent Bible Church of Port Angeles packed 65,000 meals on Saturday. Almost $23,000 was raised by the church to buy the supplies. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Photo

Meals for Ecuador

Levi Oravetz, 9, and his father Adam Oravetz put pre-measured rice and lentils into a funnel to be packaged for families in Ecuador. More than… Continue reading

Levi Oravetz, 9, and his father Adam Oravetz put pre-measured rice and lentils into a funnel to be packaged for families in Ecuador. More than 100 volunteers from Independent Bible Church of Port Angeles packed 65,000 meals on Saturday. Almost $23,000 was raised by the church to buy the supplies. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)