New law heats up
Industry changes to force out some old water heaters
2014: The Year in photos B-1
A-4
SEQUIM GAZETTE
Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2014
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Vol. 41, Number 53
Helping dogs help people
Claudine Sill holds Chelsea, a new puppyin-training for Guide Dogs for the Blind while Brian Hergert and his guide dog, Sherman, introduce themselves. Sequim Gazette photo by Alana Linderoth
Local groups work to house canines by ALANA LINDEROTH Sequim Gazette
The phrase “man’s best friend” has long been associated with dogs – alluding to the loyalty, companionship and closeness universally shared be-
tween mankind and dogs throughout history. A person can own a dog for a variety of reasons … hunting, protection, work-related or simply for friendship, but regardless the reasoning or the ever-evolving cultural trends, dogs continue to be a facet of the world and fulfill societal roles reaching far beyond mere coexistence. However, as pivotal as dogs have be-
come, there are many that have fallen between the cracks of society or haven’t found a home to call their own. To combat the number of unwanted dogs and to ensure as many dogs as possible are given the opportunity to become a “man’s best friend,” individuals within the community temporarily care for dogs in limbo.
See DOGS, A-5
Kim Leach, Serenity House of Clallam County’s new executive director, hands the organization’s previous executive director Kathy Wahto a basket of new baby items for her soon-to-be granddaughter during an open house honoring Wahto’s retirement. Sequim Gazette photo by Alana Linderoth
Sequim’s top news stories of
2014
New leadership at Clallam’s Serenity House Leach takes lead role from retiring Wahto by ALANA LINDEROTH Sequim Gazette
Sequim Gazette staff
In 2014, Sequim’s newsmakers included the failure of a $154 million school construction bond, a fire that changed Sequim’s downtown landscape, breaking ground of a multi-million-dollar Civic Center and a legal fight over two city initiatives, a fake kidnapping that made news outlets across the region, an election that saw few yet significant changes, and a number of government agencies and community members trying to figure out what to do with legalized pot. Here, by month, are some of the highlights
(and lowlights) of some of Sequim’s top news overhaul of the museum’s board of trustees and staff include executive director DJ Basstories from the past year: sett’s resignation on March 28. January The conflict, board of trustees secretary In late January, a group of members with Bob Stipe said at the time, stems from the the Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim- museum’s former trustees and staff not Dungeness Valley attempted to change lead- revealing financial information. The museum lost $138,998 in 2013 and ership at the center’s annual meeting on Jan. 24. In March, after a series of resignations, was expected to lose $65,458 in 2014. The election of a new board of trustees and a brief museum closed its Second Chance Consignclosure and reopening of the exhibit center, ment Shop on Feb. 25 due to declining revthe Museum & Arts Center in the Sequim- enues. In May, new management reopened Dungeness Valley moved ahead with and the store. without some key pieces. A near-complete See NEWS, A-6
After 13 years with the agency, Kathy Wahto, executive director of the Serenity House of Clallam County, has retired. “It was a busy day – it just flew Serenity House of by,” Wahto said, reminiscing on Clallam County her last day at Mission: “To eliminate Serenity House homelessness in our comon Dec. 19. munity.” “ It ’s b e e n Where: 2203 W. 18th St. , such a complete change of focus, Port Angeles but I tend to Phone: 452-7224 focus on what’s On the web: www. in front of me so serenityhouseclallam.org when I’m with family that’s what I’m thinking about,” Wahto said. Wahto already has rented a small place in Bellingham to be near family and her granddaughter whose arrival is eagerly anticipated. In preparation for her absence, Serenity House board members interviewed a number of candidates, Wahto said, but knew they had found the right person once Kim Leach, Serenity House deputy director, applied for the position.
See SERENITY, A-2
Sports B-5 • Schools B-7 • Arts & Entertainment B-1 • Opinion A-8 • Obituaries A-5 • Classifieds C-1 • Crossword Section C
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