SEQUIM — Groundbreaking for Sequim’s new civic center is set for 9 a.m. today.
To observe the ceremony at the site of the new civic center at 152 W. Cedar St., each participant must wear boots, long pants, a safety vest and a hard hat, city officials said.
Lydig Construction of Seattle is constructing the $11 million complex that will house City Hall, the city police station and a community plaza.
Construction crews began building the forms for the foundation Wednesday.
Work on the building site began in April with the demolition of the old City Hall and three other buildings, utility work and site grading.
Construction is expected to be completed by the middle of 2015.
For more information about the groundbreaking, contact City Clerk Karen Kuznek-Reese at 360-681-3428 or kkuznek@sequimwa.gov.
Changes in climate
PORT ANGELES — Environmental economist Derek Nixon will speak at the Feiro Marine Life Center, 315 N. Lincoln St., from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. today (Thursday).
There is a $5 suggested donation for admittance. Feiro members get in free.
Nixon’s presentation, “Climate Change: Science, Economics and Some Solutions,” will explore the state of the science regarding past climate trends and future projections of temperature and rainfall, with an application to climate change impacts to U.S. agriculture and farmers.
He also will consider economic policies that can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions at the minimum possible financial cost to society.
Nixon’s passion for finding environmental solutions started in Port Angeles, where he grew up.
For more information, visit www.feiromarinelifecenter.org.
Maritime students
PORT TOWNSEND — Students from Blue Heron and Chimacum middle schools will present their accomplishments from a recent Maritime Discovery Program study.
Blue Heron students will present at the Northwest Maritime Center, 431 Water St., from 1 p.m. to 2:25 p.m. Friday.
Chimacum students will present their findings at the middle school, 91 West Valley Road, from 8:40 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 10.
Each school’s program ends with a celebration and community presentation in which the public is invited to see the skills students have acquired in action, view their artwork, watch their boat launch and more.
During the program, each student takes three trips aboard a longboat and has an opportunity to engage in maritime-themed curriculum in math, art, science, language arts and social studies.
Blue Heron’s program includes an all-student build of a Skunk Island skiff that will be launched during the community presentation.
Chimacum’s program includes a partnership with Centrum artists who add movement and visual art into the maritime theme.
All students are introduced to the skills of building boats in the Wooden Boat Foundation’s boat shop and through maritime trades tours.
For more information, contact Nancy Israel, school program manager at the Northwest Maritime Center, at 360-385-3628, ext. 109, or nancy@nwmaritime.org.
Planning vacancy
SEQUIM — The City Council is still seeking applicants to fill a vacancy on the Planning Commission.
This voluntary commission meets twice per month when necessary and provides the council with its recommendation on matters and subjects referred to in Chapter 35A.63 RCW, as amended, Planning and Zoning in Code Cities.
The term for this position expires in January.
The position is open to anyone residing in the Clallam County boundaries of the Sequim School District.
Applications are due no later than Friday and are available at the city office, 226 N. Sequim Ave., or online at www.sequimwa.gov.
Coast Guard trains
PORT ANGELES — Sailors from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Adelie recently provided training to Port Angeles High School Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets using its damage control training boat.
About 104 training corps cadets participated in the two-day event on the high school campus, which consisted of in-class training on various damage control topics such as pipe patching, shoring and sound-powered phone communications.
Master Chief Mike Jennings, commanding officer of the Adelie, and his crew have regularly provided in-class training on topics such as knot tying, navigation and shipboard operations.