Funding received for Quilcene trail project

Eight kiosks planned along walk through village

QUILCENE — Count Me In for Quilcene is launching a community trail project through the south Jefferson County village.

Count Me In for Quilcene (CMIQ), a community service group, has received a major grant to fund the initial work on a proposed community trail, organizers said in a press release.

The funding from the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) will support design, construction and installation of eight kiosks along the route of what CMIQ hopes will be a 3.1-mile-long walking trail through the village.

“Each kiosk will have a theme,” CMIQ President Linda Herzog said, “such as salmon, logging, native plants or fishing and aquaculture, and include information on the Twana people native to the Quilcene area.”

“The AARP award gives this project terrific momentum,” Herzog continued.

“We’re especially pleased because their Community Challenge program received thousands of submissions this year from all over the country. Ours was one of only 8 percent of proposals funded, and it was one of the largest in terms of total monetary award.”

Board member Cass Brotherton said the AARP staff told the group that what sent the proposal to the top was the tremendous community support it received.

“Our proposal was accompanied by 18 thoughtful and enthusiastic letters of endorsement from a wide array of community organizations,” she said. “That can-do Quilcene spirit made all the difference.”

Board Member Tom Brotherton said one side of each kiosk will feature a piece of artwork, such as paintings of Salish Sea creatures donated by artist Jacob Kohn and a wooden eagle carved by former Quilcene resident Bob Canterbury.

The other side will have more information on that kiosk’s theme.

CMIQ has already held several community meetings to brainstorm about the design of the kiosks and associated benches, and about the information, photos, themes and stories that should be included on each kiosk. And more community meetings and work parties are in the works, organizers said.

“This is not a CMIQ project,” Herzog said. “It’s a community project — a way for residents to highlight what makes this place so special.

“We’re hoping that everyone who wants to participate will contribute ideas. So we’re doing lots and lots of listening and note-taking,” she continued.

“But we’ll need to recruit volunteer work crews and start picking up our hammers and shovels soon,” she said.

“AARP has set a deadline of late November for all of this year’s Community Challenge projects to be completed.”

More in News

Code Enforcement Officer Derek Miller, left, watches Detective Trevor Dropp operate a DJI Matrice 30T drone  outside the Port Angeles Police Department. (Port Angeles Police Department)
Drones serve as multi-purpose tools for law enforcement

Agencies use equipment for many tasks, including search and rescue

Sequim Heritage House was built from 1922-24 by Angus Hay, former owner of the Sequim Press, and the home has had five owners in its 100 years of existence. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim’s Heritage House celebrates centennial

Owner hosts open house with family, friends

Haller Foundation awards $350K in grants

More than 50 groups recently received funding from a… Continue reading

Operations scheduled at Bentinck range this week

The land-based demolition range at Bentinck Island will be… Continue reading

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Jefferson County lodging tax committee to meet

The Jefferson County Lodging Tax Advisory Committee will discuss… Continue reading

Restrictions lifted on left-turns near Hood Canal bridge

The state Department of Transportation lifted left-turn restrictions from… Continue reading

Community Thanksgiving meals slated this week

Several community Thanksgiving meals will take place this week. They include: FORKS… Continue reading

Two people were displaced after a house fire in the 4700 block of West Valley Road in Chimacum on Thursday. No injuries were reported. (East Jefferson Fire Rescue)
Two displaced after Chimacum house fire

One person evacuated safely along with two pets from a… Continue reading

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s Christmas tree, located at the Conrad Dyar Memorial Fountain at the intersection of Laurel and First streets. A holiday street party is scheduled to take place in downtown Port Angeles from noon to 7 p.m. Nov. 30 with the tree lighting scheduled for about 5 p.m. (Emma Maple/Peninsula Daily News)
Top of the town

A Port Angeles city worker places a tree topper on the city’s… Continue reading

Hospital board passes budget

OMC projecting a $2.9 million deficit

Lighthouse keeper Mel Carter next to the original 1879 Fresnel lens in the lamp room at the Point Wilson Lighthouse. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)