New President Grafstrom leads meeting of

Soroptimist club

Audrey Grafstrom, newly installed president of Soroptimist International of the Olympic Rainforest, met with members of the club for a retreat at Diane Edwards’ summer place on the Sol Duc River on Friday, Aug. 16, to plan strategies for fundraisers in the coming year.

These fundraising events are vital to the financial support of the many programs, awards and scholarships sponsored by the Soroptimist club, according to a release submitted to the Forum by Romona Oakes.

The club’s major event of the year is the annual Festival of Trees held the first weekend in December.

Money raised goes to finance such projects as the Middle School mentorship, the backpack program, the Clearinghouse, and scholarships and awards.

The Forks Library, Relay for Life and the Forks Abuse Center have all been recipients of help from SIORF along with a number of international projects.

All money raised by any fundraising event goes directly and entirely toward these local and international programs specifically designed to better the lives of women and children.

The club’s second largest fundraiser is the Duck Derby with all proceeds going directly into the SOS (Soroptimist Oncology Support) fund designed to help people with cancer pay their transportation costs.

Library story time

begins next Friday

The Forks Library will present weekly story times for preschoolers ages 3-5 beginning next Friday, Sept. 6.

Story times will be on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. through Dec. 13, at the Forks Community Center, 91 Maple Ave., where all library events for youth will be held during the Forks Library remodeling project.

Story-time programs feature rhymes, songs, dancing and the best books for young children.

Story times always are fun and dynamic, and they create critical early literacy opportunities for young children and their parents or caregivers. They help to promote a love of reading while offering opportunities for children to learn key language skills.

Library story times also provide support to parents and caregivers. Tips on effective ways to read, talk, sing and play with children are offered.

For information on story times and other programs for youth go to www.nols.org and click on “Youth”, or contact West End Youth Services Librarian, Pam Force at 374-6402 ext. 7797 or Forks@nols.org. While the Forks Library is being renovated, limited library services are available in the ICN building at 71 N. Spartan Ave. During the renovation all youth events will be held at the Forks Community Center.

Historical Society yard sale this weekend

The annual Clallam County Historical Society garage sale opens today, Thursday, at Lincoln School in Port Angeles, 933 W. Ninth St., and runs through the next two weekends.

Members of the society have the opportunity to attend Thursday’s preview sale from 4-6 p.m. Those who want to become members can sign up at that time.

The sale opens to all from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Aug. 30-31, and next weekend, Sept. 6-7.

Sept. 6 is half-price day, with the special “buck-a-bag day” Sept. 7.

For more information, call the society’s office at 360-452-2662 or send an e-mail to artifact@olypen.com.

Membership applications can be picked up at the Society’s administration office at the Lincoln School site or on the Society’s website at www.clallamhistoricalsociety.com.

Genealogy Society

meets Saturday

The Clallam County Genealogical Society will host an open house from noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, at its research center, 402 E. Lauridsen Blvd., Port Angeles.

A session for those starting genealogy research, “Beginners Who Know Nothing,” will be offered from 12:30-2 p.m.

For the more advanced researcher, a “Brick Wall Forum” will be held at 2:30 p.m.

Classes are free to members of the society. A $5 donation is requested from non-members to cover the cost of materials.

Participants are encouraged to call and sign up for the class and the forum in advance by calling 360-457-5000.

The center is open from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

DOT work to cause delays along Lake Crescent

Washington State Department of Transportation began road repairs and maintenance on U.S. Highway 101 at Lake Crescent on Aug. 21, with work expected to continue through the end of September.

Motorists traveling on Highway 101 may encounter delays of up to 20 minutes, said a DOT release.

Scheduled work includes chip seal and asphalt patching along a 12-mile section of the highway on the south side of Lake Crescent, as well as a full width asphalt overlay on one 400-foot section.

Highway 101 will remain open throughout the work period.

To accommodate construction equipment and provide for public safety, the road will be reduced to one-lane of traffic through work zones. Flaggers will guide motorists through the active construction areas. Work will only occur weekdays between 7 a.m.-6 p.m. No holiday or weekend work is scheduled.

Motorists are advised to slow down, drive with caution and watch for workers, equipment and traffic control devices.

Current road information is available by calling Olympic National Park’s recorded information line at 360-565-3131 or online at nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/current-road-conditions.htm.

Tunnel repairs

on Hurricane Ridge Road

Work to rehabilitate three tunnels along Olympic National Park’s Hurricane Ridge Road will began Monday, Aug. 26.

Motorists should expect one-lane of traffic and delays of up to 20 to 30 minutes on weekdays through Oct. 22.

MJ Hughs, based in Vancouver, Wash., is the contractor for the $379,000 project.

Scheduled work includes repairs and maintenance to the tunnels’ interior concrete liners and exterior portals, removal of vegetation and loose rock above the portals, application of concrete sealant and a new coat of reflective interior paint to provide improved visibility and safer conditions for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Hurricane Ridge Road will remain open throughout the work period, but traffic will be restricted to one lane through work zones to accommodate construction equipment and provide for public safety.

Preparatory work will began Aug. 26 and delays of up to 20 minutes should be expected through Aug. 30.

Rehabilitation work is scheduled to begin Sept. 3 and continue through Oct. 22. Delays of up to 30 minutes should be expected during construction.

Work will only occur weekdays between 6 a.m.-6 p.m.; no holiday or weekend work is scheduled.