PORT ANGELES — Port Angeles Education Foundation members and guests recently celebrated public education at its annual fundraising dinner at C’est Si Bon restaurant in Port Angeles.

Master of ceremonies Steve Methner announced Mark Hannah as the recipient of the foundation’s Distinguished Service Award.

“Mark Hannah is one of the original members of the Back to School event committee started in 2010 by morning Kiwanis Club member and parent line director Nancy Martin,” Methner said.

“Mark first helped as a representative from the noon Kiwanis Club, and now he’s still actively involved and responsible for recruiting business sponsors and donation drop-off locations for the annual event.

“[He] is an enthusiastic volunteer math tutor for second- and third-graders at Dry Creek Elementary, and he just began tutoring fourth-graders at Jefferson Elementary,” Methner said.

Additionally, Methner and School Board Vice President Sarah Methner recognized Port Angeles Schools Superintendent Jane Pryne, who is retiring in June after five years with the school district, for her work on behalf of Port Angeles students.

The sold-out event raised funds through its sponsorships, ticket sales and “Pass the Hat for Kids” fundraiser, which raised $3,700 for the program.

21 graduate from WSU master gardener training

PORT ANGELES — Twenty-one new interns will be volunteering their time to the community as horticulture advisers and resource people after having graduated from the Washington State University Clallam County Master Gardener training program last month.

Each intern will donate 100 hours of work by providing sustainable gardening advice to the community through seminars and plant answer clinics, creating and maintaining demonstration gardens and more.

Trainees received instruction in botany, entomology, soil science and pest management, and have learned to identify plants and how to diagnose plant problems and resolve them in effective and sustainable ways.

Clallam County Master Gardeners, a cooperative program between WSU and Clallam County, provides information on sustainable gardening practices.

For more information, phone Master Gardener program coordinator Laurel Moulton at 360-565-2679.

$75,000 raised

PORT ANGELES — The Olympic Peninsula Humane Society’s second annual Meowgaritas and Mutts dinner and auction raised $75,000 to benefit the Humane Society’s capital campaign, “Dig Deep.”

The fiesta-themed event was held at the Vern Burton Community Center last month.

Nearly 400 people attended the dinner and auction, doubling the number of guests from last year, according to a news release.

Jose’s Famous Salsa provided the Mexican dinner.

“I am so pleased with the support we received from our community,” said Mary Beth Wegener, executive director of the Humane Society at 2105 W. U.S. Highway 101.

“Meowgaritas and Mutts is a fun event and a wonderful way to raise funds for the animals in our care. We’re already planning for next year.”

The 2015 event will take place Saturday, April 25, at the Vern Burton center.

A capital campaign began last November and to date has raised $675,000 toward a goal of $1.12 million.

The Humane Society will break ground on a dog kennel facility late this summer or early fall with an anticipated completion date of late spring 2015.

For more information or to volunteer, phone the Humane Society at 360-457-8206 or visit www.ophumanesociety.org.