The new police station

Civic Center police records

The Sequim Police Station has lately been located in a back corner of a shopping center, not far from Penney’s. The new Civic Center will bring it back under one roof with other City Hall operations. Most residents will see this area of the station, the records room, which is behind the open reception area on the first floor. Like the rest of the building last week, the room is stark and bare, waiting for workers who will call it home. But the room is striking. Like most of the building, natural light streams in and brightens the interior rooms and one strong impression of the rooms is how light they seem.

Civic Center police hallway

Even a hallway, running through a warren of small offices, interview, and conference rooms, seems bright. Natural light comes from the offices on the right side of this shot.

Civic Center police squad room

This is the squad room where the officers will work. To the left are holding cells. This room, and an adjacent one where shift sergeants work, were designed to provide clear line of sight into the holding cells. Any signs of trouble can be readily seen; any officers working in this area have ready, eyes-on backup.

Civic Center police gun cleaning

It doesn’t look like much, but this gun-cleaning area is a real boon. Not only is it set up to safely receive lead waste that comes from cleaning, it also has a pretty robust-looking ventilation system. A nearby storage area is protected by a refurbished safe door salvaged from the former building.

Inside the new civic center

Civic Center lobby

Though it won’t be open for business until May 18 the community was invited into the new Sequim Civic Center last week for a public open house. After months of watching the building progress it was great to have a walk through to see what’s in store. The photo, above, is of the first floor building lobby not long after the doors were thrown open. Within a couple of hours this area was packed with visitors.

Civic Center council chambers

The building feels bright and open…partly because furnishings are still being moved in and assembled. This is the new city council chambers. The dais is populated with computer screens and will have connections for all manner of devices. The rest of the room, so far, is empty.

Civic Center inside acctg

This is a view from inside the accounting and finance office toward its reception and bill paying area where visitors are standing. Beyond the gathering of people is the reception area for police services. Many areas in the new building have work cubicles assembled and in place. But it looks oh so brand new without chairs and the personality that people bring to a workplace.

The woman in green standing at the door to the right, above, is at an entrance to the new police services area of the building. Visitors were taken on tours of this area. Tomorrow I’ll show you some of what lies behind the scenes in our new police station.

The spice of Sequim

Sequim Spice

Sequim Spice and Tea relocated onto West Washington Street last year, into a spot that assures them better visibility and foot traffic. I wandered in for the first time last fall as I squired visitors around town. They sell bulk herbs and spices: the usual things you’d expect in a typical spice rack plus blends, seasonings, and flavored salts and sugars to add new zest to your cooking.

Sequim Spice 2

There are bulk teas in a back corner. Though I haven’t sampled any, some of them smell delightful.

Sequim Spice 3

Here’s what to look for if you come to town. This is the former location of Pacific Mist Books which closed when the owner retired to leave town and care for her mother.

Quiet Sunday downtown

Washington Street

People joke sometimes about small towns rolling up their sidewalks. Most days Sequim’s downtown thoroughfare, Washington Street, has plenty enough traffic. Last Sunday it was quiet enough to justify a shot of our main drag. It was a grey day so I goofed around in Photoshop to perk it up a bit.

Purple Haze

Purple Haze

Continuing with yesterday’s lavender theme, here’s the downtown retail outlet for Purple Haze Lavender Farm. It’s a one stop shop for all things lavender. The Purple Haze Lavender Farm is a beautiful spot a few miles east of downtown where 50 varieties of lavender are grown and is well worth a summertime visit.

Hug a duck

Duck

This is Peeper Squeak, a Swedish blue duck. He hangs out at Sequim’s Museum and Arts Center on Fridays while his person volunteers there. He’s large – almost as big as a Canada goose – and a friendly sort, curious, and full of personality. He submits to wearing costumes around various holidays (there’s a picture of him costumed in the background above). And he likes to hug. Have you ever hugged a duck? Peeper Squeak has an autograph book of people he’s hugged and so far he’s hugged people from 40 U.S. states and counting.

Duck hug

I’d never hugged a duck. Peeper Squeak is the first, and probably the last. Really, how often do you come across hugging ducks?