“Tool Talk – Taking Care of Your Garden Tools” by Keith Dekker, Thursday, Dec. 9

Learn about garden tools from Master Gardener and active PlantAmnesty volunteer, Keith Dekker, on Thursday, December 9th from noon to 1 p.m. during his Zoom presentation. Dekker will share his preferences for which quality tools to buy, which products to use when sterilizing and lubricating them and, how to extend their life and save money in the process. He will advise attendees on how to keep their tools sharp and clean, and how to store them during the winter months so that they are ready to work in the Spring. “Fall is a great time to inventory your tools, clean them up, and maybe replace some worn parts, including wood handles,” says Dekker.

Keith Dekker has been involved in horticulture for over 45 years. For the last 30 years, his career has focused on the comprehensive care of residential landscapes in the Pacific Northwest. He is a graduate of the 2017 Clallam County Master Gardeners class and was voted intern of the year. Dekker also served as board president of the Clallam County Master Gardener Foundation. He contributes to his community by teaching classes and giving talks to promote best practices for successful, sustainable gardening.

Join by computer: https://wsu.zoom.us/j/95378475958?pwd=UTNKazdaamhIcG1lWHB6akZpWk04dz09 or, by phone: Call: 253-215-8782; Meeting ID: 953 7847 5958; Passcode: 145778.

The “Green Thumbs Garden Tips” education series lectures, sponsored by the WSU Clallam County Master Gardeners, occur on the second and fourth Thursday each month through October. November, December, and January, offer one lecture. Scheduled presentations are subject to change. Visit the WSU Extension Clallam County website calendar for the latest information on upcoming presentations. For questions, call 360-565-2679.

PC Medical Assisting Program Granted Continued Accreditation by MAERB

After reviewing the Peninsula College Medical Assisting Program’s accreditation status, the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) voted in November to grant the program continuing accreditation.

“We’re so proud of our students, their hard work, and their accomplishments,” said Medical Assisting Program Director Rachel Pairsh. “The MAERB succinctly describes the importance of accreditation to programs, students, and employers by acknowledging accountability. Educational programs graduating prospective healthcare workers must be accountable in ensuring patient safety, and accreditation supports the process of accountability with curriculum that is innovative, relevant, and current. We look forward to even more opportunities to produce outstanding medical assistants who will provide high-quality patient care to our communities.”

According to Pairsh, the virtues of an accredited program are many:

• Accreditation assures professional competence: Graduates from a CAAHEP-accredited program have covered the comprehensive MAERB Core Curriculum and achieved the psychomotor and affective competencies to ensure patient safety.

• Accreditation offers standardization, uniformity, and consistency: All CAAHEP-accredited programs cover the same MAERB Core Curriculum, so employers can be guaranteed that the students know a given body of entry-level knowledge.

• Accreditation requires external verification, review, and validation: In fulfilling the standards, CAAHEP-accredited programs submit their outcomes to MAERB for an annual review and go through a comprehensive site visit review with CAAHEP every ten years.

• Accreditation protects resources: The accreditation Standards and Guidelines specify that the students and faculty have access to specific resources in order to ensure that the program can comply with the national standards.

• Accreditation enhances the institution’s reputation: Institutions participating in programmatic accreditation distinguish themselves from other institutions.

• Accreditation is public: CAAHEP-accredited programs are listed in a CAAHEP database for student and educator access, and CAAHEP-accredited programs post their status and outcomes.

• Accreditation travels well: Employers across the country recognize the value of accreditation.

• Accreditation advances the profession: The standardization, uniformity and consistency that accreditation ensures, as well as the review of the Standards and Guidelines and MAERB Core Curriculum, move the profession forward toward greater recognition in the allied health field.

Program graduates are required to pass a national credentialing exam through in order to obtain their Department of Health issued Medical Assistant – Certified credentials. PC’s Medical Assisting Program began in 1996, received initial accreditation in 2017, and graduates consistently place in the top national percentiles on their exams, Pairsh said. The 2020 Annual Report Form for accreditation shows a 100% national exam pass rate, and employer and graduate satisfaction rates of 100% respectively for PC students. For more information, contact Rachel Pairsh, Medical Assisting Programs Director, at rpairsh@pencol.edu or 360-417-6414.

The MAERB is a Committee on Accreditation of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

In the Kitchen with NOLS:

Virtual Cookie Exchange

Grab your favorite holiday treat recipe, invite your family and friends, and join a fun, interactive Virtual Cookie Exchange hosted by the North Olympic Library System (NOLS). In the Kitchen with NOLS: Virtual Cookie Exchange will be held on Saturday, Dec. 18, 10 a.m.- noon on Zoom. Registration is required.

From the comfort of your own kitchen, bake your treat while sharing recipes and traditions virtually with other participants. Baking tips and techniques will also be shared during the event— feel free to share yours! Recipes may be submitted to be shared with other participants after the program.

Register for the program at www.nols.org or by contacting your local NOLS branch. Upon registration, you will receive the Zoom meeting link and a snowflake cookie cutter will be reserved for you. The cookie-cutter also comes with an Eggnog Sugar Cookie recipe that will be demonstrated during the program. Cookie cutters for registered participants will be available for pick up beginning Friday, Dec. 10.

This program is generously supported by local Friends of the Library Groups. For additional information on programs and services happening at your library, visit www.nols.org, email Discover@nols.org, or follow North Olympic Library System on Facebook and Instagram.