Teach bike safety

to children

Volunteers are sought to lead bike education classes for middle school students in Port Townsend and Chimacum. Classes, set to begin April 10, are to cover basic bike education, including safe riding on the street.

The classes are a joint effort between the schools and The ReCyclery. To learn more, contact Kees Kolff at

kkolff@olympus.net or visit

ptrecyclery.org.

Main Street seeks applications for HUD, LENT loans

Applications for the Port Townsend Main Street’s spring HUD loans and LENT low-interest microloans are due by 5 p.m. on March 31 and April 3, respectively.

The HUD loans can help property owners accomplish historic preservation goals and make safety improvements to their buildings. They are available to commercial buildings in Port Townsend’s downtown and Uptown commercial historic districts.

The LENT microloans are a tool to offset some of the financial impacts that businesses experience as a result of emergency situations, although business development proposals are considered.

For more information and guidelines, call 385-7911 or go online to ptmainstreet.org.

‘Victorian Dreams’ ventures back in time

From traditions such as tea and shortbread to the high-flying speculation of Jules Verne, the 21st annual Port Townsend Victorian Heritage Festival celebrates all that was best in the hearts and minds of that time in history this weekend.

With its theme of “Victorian Dreams,” the festival, taking place March 31-April 2, includes presentations, exhibitions, high teas, a pub crawl, a merchant’s square, a fashion show and the grand Victorian ball.

For a full schedule and more information, including cost of tickets, visit vicfest.org.

Geologist gives talk

on meteorites April 1

An illustrated presentation by University of Washington geology professor Tony Irving sheds light on meteorites at 4 p.m., Saturday, April 1 at Quimper Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Port Townsend, 2333 San Juan Ave.

Irving is set to describe how research on meteorites is conducted and how results have greatly expanded our knowledge of the history of the moon, Mars and other orbiting debris within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Local meteorite collector Eric Twelker is also to display some samples of meteorites from his extensive collection.

This presentation is sponsored by Jefferson Land Trust’s Geology Group. Admission is free, $5 donations are welcome.

Free citizen science training offered

The Coastal Observation and Seabird Survey Team (COASST)  offers a free training session in Port Townsend for citizens interested in joining the new COASST Marine Debris Program.

The training, hosted by the Port Townsend Marine Science Center, is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday, April 8 at the center, 532 Battery Way in Fort Worden.

The COASST Marine Debris Program is focused on the intersection of science, conservation and communities. Instead of identifying debris, the program characterizes it and measures its abundance in particular zones of the beach, according to a press release. Through an interactive, hands-on workshop, trainees  learn how to collect data that speaks directly to the source and transport pathways of debris, as well as to the potential harm to people, wildlife and local coastal ecosystems.   

Volunteers do not need prior experience with scientific data collection, just a commitment to survey a specific beach at least once a month.

Reserve a training spot by calling COASST at 206-221-6893 or emailing coasst@uw.edu.

COASST is a citizen science project of the University of Washington in partnership with state, tribal and federal agencies, environmental organizations and community groups.

(Compiled by Leader staff writer Katie Kowalski.)