Thursday
Mariners stun Texas
Sunny today and into the weekend B10
Robinson Cano slams two homers in win B1
PENINSULA DAILY NEWS April 7, 2016 | 75¢
Port Townsend-Jefferson County’s Daily Newspaper
Chamber YMCA plans looking up surveys members for vision Creativity, diversity sought for business BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is changing the way it works. Teresa Verraes, the chamber’s executive director, said the chamber is “reimagining” its programs, function and schedule. “Our mission is still to develop a vibrant economy by building diversified businesses that are inspired by innovation and collaboration,” Verraes said. “We want to engage people and meet them where they are.” The first step, announced at Monday’s chamber luncheon, will be to decrease the frequency, but aim to increase the quality, of the regular member meetings. The luncheon meetings have taken place on a weekly basis at the Port Townsend Elks Club, 555 Otto St. Beginning in May, the chamber will meet twice a month: on the first Monday at the Elks and the third Monday at Fort Worden Commons. The time remains the same — noon — but the purpose is to offer longer programs in different places, Verraes said. She said the new move is not a cutback. “We want to concentrate on richer programs and will be a lot more selective,” she said. “We want to get a diversity of programs and even get some people from out of the area.” The decision resulted from a survey of members about what they wanted to see in the chamber. “We learned that Monday programs are good for some but not so good for others,” she said. “Some people can come every week, but it’s harder for the mom-and-pop businesses and some of the CEOs.” What will stop, she said, is the circuit of the same programs presented at different service clubs. “There are many other venues where you can see those things,” she said. “We want to get more creative with our programs.” TURN
TO
CHAMBER/A4
CHARLIE BERMANT/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
Jefferson County YMCA Youth Director Jessica Wedmore, center, shows a new pet lizard to sisters Isabel McCracken, 10, left, and Gillian McCracken, 12. The lizard, who recently lost a portion of his tail, is named “King Lucky.”
Leaders enthusiastic for programs, fundraiser attendees are admitted after the completion of the dinner and auction. The annual event is the Jefferson PORT TOWNSEND — The Jefferson YMCA’s biggest fundraiser. Delma hopes County YMCA is heading into the sum- to raise about $100,000, which represents mer with optimism about its people, about 20 percent of its yearly budget. programs and facilities. The money raised will go toward sup“We are in the process of developing a port for Jefferson County programs, stronger and more responsible leaderincluding licensed child care at Mounship,” said Erica Delma, director of devel- tain View Commons, summer meals and opment and community engagement. activities, the Building Futures mentor“We have ongoing programs in Jefship program and Backpacks for Kids. ferson County, and we are forging new The Jefferson County Y is a branch partnerships.” of the Olympic Peninsula YMCA, based Delma’s enthusiasm partially origiin Port Angeles. nates from the capacity crowd expected All money raised for the Jefferson at Saturday’s “Hats off to the Y” fundCounty Y stays in Jefferson County, raiser, which will begin at 5:30 p.m. at said office coordinator Christy Spencer. Fort Worden Commons. Delma said staff improvements will The event is currently sold out, but help the Jefferson Y’s mission. there are a limited number of $25 Jessica Wedmore is the new youth development director. A private grant “dance and donate” tickets where BY CHARLIE BERMANT PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
will subsidize hiring a seasonal volunteer coordinator to manage more than 150 countywide volunteers. Soon, the Y will post the job of Jefferson County YMCA director, with hopes to hire this summer, Spencer said. Wedmore said the Spring Break Camp serves as a practice run for the summer program, which operates five days a week from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from June 13 to Aug. 26. The Spring Break Camp has drawn between 17 and 26 participants each day, Wedmore said. This week’s theme centers on science. “They read a lot, they play games and they get meals,” Wedmore said. “We offer a lot of things that are cut in the schools, like music, art and sports.” TURN
TO
YMCA/A4
House razed after it was allowed to burn Spraying water eroded PA bluffs BY ARWYN RICE PENINSULA DAILY NEWS
PORT ANGELES — A 116-year-old home was reduced to a pile of rubble Wednesday afternoon as firefighters and city engineers worked to keep the bluff behind it from collapsing. Firefighters had to let the twostory wooden home at 715 Caroline St., burn Tuesday after city engineers said that the amount of water needed to extinguish the blaze would weaken further an already eroding bluff that had poured soil and trees onto the Waterfront Trail below. As of about 3:30 p.m. Wednes-
Your Peninsula
get to the basement. “Firefighters suspected there was still an active fire in the baseday, no flames had been seen ment, and they couldn’t reach it since 6:30 a.m., said Capt. Jamie through the floor,” Boehme said. Mason of the Port Angeles Fire Of-limits trail Department. The cause of the blaze is The trail below was off-limits unknown, said Port Angeles Fire to the public. Chief Ken Dubuc. Boehme said Wednesday the edge of the crumbling bluff was Too unstable 5-feet to 10-feet behind the house. The house was too unstable to He estimated that there had allow firefighters to enter and been at least 20 feet between the attack the blaze from the inside, home and the edge of the bluff said Jonathan Boehme, a civil before the fire. engineer for the city of Port AngeThe bluff also eroded behind a KEITH THORPE/PENINSULA DAILY NEWS les. neighboring home at 713. E Caro- Judy Galgano holds a copy of the Bible, still in shrink On Wednesday, the remains of line St. wrap, that was salvaged from her home Wednesday after the home was taken down with a bucket excavator to allow water to TURN TO FIRE/A4 it was burned by fire Tuesday and subsequently razed.
Stay up-to-date and informed about the latest
LOCAL NEWS • SPORTS • POLITICS
Your Newspaper
INSIDE TODAY’S PENINSULA DAILY NEWS 100th year, 83rd issue — 2 sections, 20 pages
CALL NOW TO SUBSCRIBE
360-452-4507 • 800-826-7714
305 W. 1st Street, Port Angeles www.peninsuladailynews.com
591418260
Your Peninsula. Your Newspaper.
BUSINESS CLASSIFIED COMICS COMMENTARY DEAR ABBY DEATHS HOROSCOPE LETTERS NATION/WORLD
B5 B5 B4 A9 B4 A8 B4 A9 A3
*PENINSULA SPOTLIGHT
PENINSULA POLL A2 PUZZLES/GAMES A8, B6 B1 SPORTS B10 WEATHER