This is one of the benches at the new Civic Center plaza. I like the shadows that it cast.
Category: Downtown Sequim
The new plaza
Sequim’s new Civic Center was dedicated a week ago with a brand new totem pole taking center stage in the adjacent plaza. You can see it to the right in the photo above. According to the local Peninsula Daily News, the Jamestown S’Klallam tribe was originally asked if they might contribute some wall art to the Center.
The tribe, Sequim’s first residents, decided instead to commission a totem pole from their master carver, Dale Faulstich. The 30 foot pole depicts “The legend of Sequim’s sunshine.” Click here to learn more about the legend as well as the dedication ceremony.
Sand Art, 2 of 2
Kali Bradford and Barry Swires were working last Sunday on a new sand sculpture outside the Innovation Law Group on Sequim Avenue. This piece celebrates Sequim and our upcoming lavender festival in July. This piece replaces one I showed you last September.
I love the old truck that Barry is working on. It will have pots of flowers in its cargo area when finished.
I first introduced you to Kali last summer as she completed a sand sculpture for our 2014 lavender festival. Since then she has added paint to her work. She’s found that people looking at painted portions of sculptures now will comment and point out detail more readily.
Sand art, 1 of 2
Local sand sculptor Kali Bradford completed two pieces for our 120th Irrigation Festival recently. The one above is near Adagio Bean and Leaf on East Washington.
This irrigation-themed sculpture is near Lucky Star Consignment on West Washington. Kali colors parts of her sculptures now and adds living flowers. She has found that it enables people to more readily see and recognize her work.
I especially liked the “heart water” detail.
Tomorrow I’ll show you another of Kali’s work as it’s being sculpted.
Rare offerings
One of the newer stores in town is Hart’s Fine Books. Don’t expect to find the latest mass market paperback here. The shop features vintage and rare books and specializes in “ephemera,” mainly from the early film industry. The collection of the late William S. Hart, Jr., the son of two silent film stars, forms the core of the books for sale. If you’re a collector, take a look at the website to browse the interesting offerings.
Upstairs at the new Civic Center
The new Sequim City Hall has two stories. The second story, shown here, is shared by the Public Works Department and Community Development. This is a view of the front counter/reception area taken from the Public Works side of the building looking toward the Community Development Department. In the Community Development area are offices for the City Attorney, City Clerk, City Manager, Human Resources Manager, assistants, and volunteers.
The Public Works side houses offices of the Public Works and Community Development Directors, City Engineer, Public Works Operations Manager, Planner, and other officials, a copy room, archives, and a library. There are conference rooms on each side of the building. At the back end of this floor is a staff fitness/wellness room and a lunch/break room.
The new Civic Center has been built with expectation of attaining LEED certification, given to buildings meeting various criteria for green building practices that promote healthy occupants and sound energy practices.
Local royalty
This weekend is our 120th annual Irrigation Festival which celebrates the irrigation that made agriculture viable on the Sequim prairie. And, like any other respectable community festival, we have royalty and a parade. The parade is today. The royal court, selected a few months back, frequents many community events during their reign. And, as befits a queen and her princesses, ours make their public appearances in gowns and tiaras.
They readily pose for photographs, in this case about 10 feet down the sidewalk from the previous portrait…giving me an opportunity to shoot them both coming and going.