Roundabout etiquette, please

Let’s talk about the magical world of roundabouts, where the rules of the road seem to disappear faster than a magician’s rabbit. As someone who’s witnessed more confused drivers in circles than at a country dance, I feel compelled to shed some light on proper roundabout etiquette. Especially since our county is making a few more.

First things first: yielding is not a suggestion, it’s the law. Think of it as a dance floor — you wouldn’t barge in when someone’s doing the tango, would you? Wait your turn, find your groove, then shimmy on in. Now, about signaling: it’s not just for turning heads, it’s for turning lanes too! Letting others know which way you’re headed is the polite thing to do. No one likes a surprise exit, especially when it involves screeching brakes and colorful language.

A roundabout looks scary, but it’s no different than a regular intersection. Turning right? Go ahead and signal you’re turning right. Going left? Signal left (I think you get it now). Going straight on through? Go ahead and loop on through! The only slightly tricky part, turning all the way around and doing a 360°? Go ahead and signal left!

You’re technically turning all the way left. Last but not least, a little courtesy goes a long way. Remember, we’re all in this circus together. So, let’s not make it a three-ring disaster. A smile, a wave, maybe even a nod of appreciation — these small gestures can turn a chaotic roundabout into a merry-go-round of harmony.

Let’s keep the wheels turning smoothly and the honking to a minimum. Together, we can conquer the roundabout and emerge victorious on the other side.

Sincerely,

Your neighbor!

Justin Jackson
Port Hadlock

Sea lions subsistence resource

Historically, Steller sea lions were highly abundant throughout many parts of the coastal North Pacific Ocean. Indigenous peoples and settlers hunted them for their meat, hides, oil, and other products, and today sea lions are an important subsistence resource for Alaska Natives.

Brooks Townes,
Port Townsend

Turned away at food bank

You should know by now that a nonprofit status means that you are governed by federal law including civil rights law. Wednesday is the big day at the Quilcene Community Center. I went to the Center because I needed to do a time sensitive communication on some domestic terrorists operating in a city nearby. The door was open at 9:20 a.m., the power was on, and there was an Internet connect. Then this guy who said he was the food bank manager says the computer room is not open and I had to leave. The executive director had left it open for the community to use, and had given me permission to use it several times before — no problem. There was no reason for this guy to interfere with me other than he could. And it is people like this who destroy nonprofit projects like this. Abuses happen all the time here. I and my friends have been illegally excluded and abused many times by just such power tripping. You should find a better manager who understands why abusing the clientele is not the thing to do in a donation-based system where donations could crater, especially when a manager is abusive.

Lyle Courtsal

Port Hadlock

Chili was good!

A crowd estimated at 50 people enjoyed the 45th Annual Port Townsend Chili Cookoff at the Jefferson County fairgrounds on Sunday, June 9, under blue skies and a light breeze.

There were 13 entries in the competition and the judges selected three winners.

Best Cornbread winner was Auman Van Sandt who also won for Best Hot Chili.

Pete Raab was the winner for his Mild Chili and Michael Morrow took the Chili Verde category.

There was no entry in the Family Style Chili category so the judges re-tasted the 3 chili winners and selected Michael Morrow as the 2024 Best Over-All Champion.

These three will serve as the judges for the next cookoff to be held on the first Sunday in June 2025.

Ron McElroy

Port Townsend