Larry Scott Trail 5K /10K/ Half Marathon Run Walk- Event Notice 

 Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 – 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven and Olympic Discovery Trailhead the 5th annual Run the Peninsula Larry Scott Trail Run will be taking place. The organization has received all approvals from the city and county. Detailed information, including all safety protocols, for on-site participants can be found at: https://runsignup.com/Race/WA/PortTownsend/LarryScottTrail

 Saturday, Oct. 14  the 5th race in the 2023 Run the Peninsula Series will take place on the Olympic Discovery Trail- Larry Scott Trail in Port Townsend. The half marathon starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K and 10K take place at 9:30 a.m. Approximately 450 participants will run/walk southwest on the Larry Scott Trail starting at the Port of Port Townsend Boat Haven trailhead. All three races are an out-and-back course. This event is put on by the Port Angeles Marathon Association, the same group that manages the North Olympic Discovery Marathon in June in Port Angeles. The event is made possible by title sponsors Peninsula Daily News & Sequim Gazette, presenting sponsors Jefferson Healthcare and Olympic Medical Center. Proceeds from the event go to several local organizations including the Peninsula Trails Coalition which built and maintains the trail.

 The Larry Scott Trail 5K / 10K / Half Marathon event has the right of way with Jefferson County giving participants the right of way on roads. Please be prepared to stop at the following intersection from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. 

•Thomas Street & Olympic Discovery Trail

•Mill Road & Olympic Discovery Trail

•Woodduck Way & Olympic Discovery Trail

•Nelson’s Landing & Olympic Discovery Trail

•South Edwards Road & Olympic Discovery Trail

•South Discovery Road & Olympic Discovery Trail

There is still space available and you can register at: www.runthepeninsula.com. If you are interested in volunteering please email us at rtp@runthepeninsula.com  

Clothes Dryer Safety

Olympia – Laundry is likely part of your everyday routine, but do you know how important taking care of your clothes dryer is to the safety of your home? The National Fire Protection Association reports that the leading cause of home clothes dryer fires is the failure to clean them. In Washington State, appliances such as clothes dryers were the 10th leading cause of ignition for fires in homes with over 7 million in dollar loss.

 Follow these simple steps to prevent clothes dryer fires in your home:

 •Clean the lint filter before each use.

•Maintain the dryer’s drum clear from accumulation of lint.

•Clean lint out of the vent pipe quarterly.

•Make sure the air exhaust vent pipe is not restricted and the outdoor vent flap will open when the dryer is operating.

•Make sure the correct plug and wall outlet are used.

•Keep dryers in good working order. Gas dryers should be inspected by a professional.

•Turn off the dryer when you leave the home or go to bed.

•Choose a dryer that is listed by a qualified testing laboratory.

•Rigid or flexible metal venting material should be used to sustain proper airflow.

•Follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions, and don’t overload your dryer.

•Fabrics that have been exposed to flammable cleaning agents should be air-dried after they have been washed.

For more information, contact the State Fire Marshal’s Office at (360) 596-3929.

Outlook mixed for ag industries in the Northwest

 SPOKANE, Washington (Oct 4, 2023) – AgWest Farm Credit has released its quarterly Market Snapshot reports covering the state of major agricultural commodities in its northern region of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Alaska. AgWest’s industry experts gather market information from various sources to deliver commodity-specific insights. All Market Snapshots are available at AgWestFC.com/industry-insights.

AgWest’s 12-month outlook for specific regional agricultural commodities is summarized below:

Apples

The outlook sees apple growers as slightly unprofitable to breakeven and packers as slightly profitable. Drivers include a large, good-quality 2023 crop in the Northwest, an average 2023 crop size for the U.S., softening prices, increased borrowing costs and the removal of import tariffs in India.

Cattle

The outlook for cattle suggests profitable returns for cow-calf producers and slightly profitable returns for cattle feeders. Cow-calf producers will enjoy record cattle prices and lower production costs. Even with lingering drought in areas and some grasshopper issues, western producers are optimistic about reaching record cow-calf margins in the next one to two years. Cattle feeders and packers will have to pay higher prices for cattle but will benefit from strong beef demand despite higher retail prices.

Cherries

The outlook sees Northwest cherry growers as unprofitable. Drivers include large, overlapping West Coast crops and low demand.

Dairy

The dairy outlook suggests slightly unprofitable returns. Dairies face headwinds from weakening milk prices and elevated feed costs. Dairy income over feed cost margins fell below $4 per cwt in June and July, triggering catastrophic coverage payments.

Fisheries

The outlook for fisheries suggests slightly profitable returns. Drivers include weakening pollock and salmon markets, strong fishing for halibut and sablefish, the potential for a small king crab season in 2023, increased borrowing costs and falling steel prices. 

Forest Products

The outlook sees forest products manufacturers and timberland owners as slightly profitable. Drivers include flat lumber demand, reduced lumber and pulp/paper capacity and implementation of the Private Forest Accord.  

Hay

The outlook for hay suggests slightly profitable returns for alfalfa and breakeven returns for Timothy. A large crop and waning exports have weakened hay prices. While prices have likely bottomed out, export and domestic demand has been slow. Ongoing port challenges have been resolved providing relief for hay exporters.

Nursery/Greenhouse

The outlook sees the nursery/greenhouse industry as profitable. Drivers include strong sales, economic concerns, increasing use of pay-by-scan contracts among big box stores, rising borrowing costs and the increasing likelihood of some business owners exiting the industry.  

Onions

The outlook for onions suggests slightly profitable returns. Despite a slow start to the growing season, onion quality has been good across the Northwest. Producers benefited from delayed harvest which helped to keep onion prices profitable for the start of the Northwest’s shipping season.

Pears

The outlook sees slightly profitable returns for pear growers. Drivers include a normal-size 2023 crop, steady demand and increased borrowing costs. 

Potatoes

The outlook for potatoes suggests profitable returns for contracted and uncontracted potatoes. Northwest potato production is expected to recover to historic levels after two years of decline. This will ease the strain on processors who have faced potato shortages but will likely reduce open-market potato prices to breakeven or lower.  

Sugar Beets

The outlook for sugar beets suggests profitable returns. Drivers include good harvest conditions and strong sugar prices due to tightening global inventories. Strong global prices provide tailwinds for favorable U.S. sugar prices and profitable producer payments.

Small Grains

The outlook for small grains and pulse crops suggests slightly profitable returns. Worsening drought across the Northwest hurt soft white winter wheat yields. Despite historically low global production, prices are softening as Russia floods the export market with cheap wheat. Producers will face headwinds from lower prices and below-average yields. 

Wine/Vineyard

The outlook sees the winery and vineyard industry as slightly profitable. Drivers include lower wine grape demand by Ste. Michelle in Washington, challenging conditions for uncontracted growers in Washington, favorable 2023 crops, strong wine demand among Oregon and small Washington wineries, rising borrowing costs and shifting alcohol consumption patterns. 

Farmers Market Survey

The Jefferson County Farmers Markets (JCFM) want to hear from you! Through a community survey, JCFM is asking important questions, the answers of which will shape the work of the small nonprofit that leads the Port Townsend and Chimacum farmers markets. Find the survey at jcfmarkets.org or http://bit.ly/JCFM-shopper-survey. Community members are invited to help share our local farmers markets for years to come by providing input through the community survey.

Financial aid for students

2024-25 financial aid applications to open in December, with positive changes for students and families

Olympia—Improvements to the financial aid application process have led to a delayed timeline for students and families. High school seniors and others planning to attend college or career training during the 2024-25 school year can begin applying for aid in December 2023. When the time comes, application forms will be shorter and simpler—and it’s likely more people will be eligible for financial aid. Learn more.

Contact

Katie Tallman, Communications Director

360-252-9997 or media@wsac.wa.gov

PT Rock Club

Hi Rock Club members, happy Autumn! It’s a great season to cut some rocks and make some jewelry.

We have some new members, who I would like to give a big welcome to! Thank you for joining the Rock Club. Here is an outline of what the club offers. If you are a new member please read this entire email.

Oct 8 - Rock and Tool Swap!

Members and their guests get early access and can come an hour early at 12pm. The public is welcome from 1-4pm. This event is a fundraiser to establish scholarships for classes.

Classes - You can sign up for classes on our website. We have some great introductory classes coming up!

The Silver Wire Hoops class is a great and easy way to get started in jewelry making. It’s one evening, October 18, and $40 registration plus $20 for materials will grant you great skills and 5 pairs of different types of silver earrings.