Candidate forums
Election day is less than a month away. 
The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County will host several candidate forums through Oct. 23. 
Stu Kerber and Matt Ready — candidates for the East Jefferson Hospital Commission — will answer questions on Oct. 16. Clayborn Burleson and Carol Hasse — candidates for the Port of Port Townsend Commission — will participate on Oct. 21. The forum on Oct. 22 will feature Jon Cooke and Naomi Stern, who are running for the Quilcene School Board. Finally, on Oct. 23, candidates for the Port Townsend School Board, Amanda Grace and Timothy Hawley, will take the stage.
Each forum, beginning at 6 p.m., will be hosted on Zoom and broadcast by KPTZ 91.9 FM. Links to the forums can be found on the league's website. 
 
Give Jefferson campaign
United Good Neighbors (UGN) launched its most ambitious campaign yet on Oct. 15. 
For more than 70 years, UGN has supported “neighbors in need” by rallying the community to raise funds to support essential nonprofits that provide food, housing, health care, education and advocacy. 
By Dec. 31, the group hopes to raise $450,000. 
“This year, all participating organizations have been impacted by recent funding cuts,” according to the campaign website. “The goal of Give Jefferson 2025 is to give the residents of Jefferson County the opportunity to 'fill the gap,' ensuring that everyone has access to services and support to meet their basic needs.” 
Donors can contribute to the general fund or scroll through all 27 organizations and choose where to direct their gifts at givejefferson.org. 
UGN ensures that every dollar donated will stay local. 

Minimum wage increase

Washington’s minimum wage will rise 2.8% next year, to $17.13 an hour. 
The state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) announced the increase on Sept. 30. 
The state’s current rate — $16.66 per hour — is already the highest in the nation; the federal minimum wage is set at $7.25. 
State law requires L&I to calculate the minimum wage for the coming year based on the percentage increase in the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers. 
Local governments may set minimum wages higher than the state minimum wage. Seattle, SeaTac, Tukwila, Renton, Bellingham, Everett, Burien and unincorporated King County all have higher minimum wages. 

AAUW nominations
The American Association of University Women’s Port Townsend branch is accepting nominations for its annual "Woman of Excellence Award." Since 1996, the award has honored East Jefferson County women who make significant contributions to the community through work or volunteer service.
Nominees are evaluated on four criteria: serving as a role model, acting as a change agent, mentoring others, and engaging in community activism. The recipient will be announced at AAUW’s Holiday Luncheon on Dec. 13, 2025.

Career fair
Peninsula College will host its Criminal Justice Program Information Night on Oct. 22 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Prate Union Building on its Port Angeles campus. The free event offers participants the opportunity to connect with professionals from local law enforcement agencies, hear real stories from the field and gain insights into law enforcement careers. 
“This event offers a real-world look at the criminal justice profession and the many pathways available to those interested in law enforcement,” said Brett Yacklin, Criminal Justice Program Coordinator at Peninsula College. 
Panelists include Patrol Deputy Jeffrey Erskine, Deputy Director Karl Hatton, Sheriff Brian King, Sergeant John Ryan and Undersheriff Lorraine Shore.