Here in our backyard

The Jamestown Medical Center, above, is run by our local Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe which has many successful ventures here, including a golf course, casino, restaurants, and construction businesses. A hotel is under construction. This summer the Tribe announced that they purchased land in Sequim’s downtown and plan to build a regional healing center for people addicted to opiods. Like many places in the U.S., drugs are a problem in this region. But siting a treatment center in Sequim has ignited a firestorm of controversy and opposition. It certainly doesn’t look like it will calm down anytime soon.

International dining

We’re a small town but that doesn’t mean we don’t have a small international dining district…next door to McDonald’s.

A rough count: We’ve got three Mexican, two Thai, at least four Chinese, and a couple of teriyaki restaurants. I’ve been spoiled by ethnic restaurants in California, but that’s another story.

More from downtown

Here’s another “after hours” shot, this time of one of our sort-of shopping malls. This little mall is near our Penney’s store. There’s a kitchen shop, spa, a shoe shop, candle store, and a cafe nestled in here.

And one of the newest tenants is Sweet Spot, which I’ve shown you before. Make your choice from six different frozen yogurts and a vast array of toppings. It’s a perfect place to come after an arduous photo shoot. Or just when it’s time for a pick-me-up.

The other side of the street

Yesterday I showed you the other side of West Washington Street, the north side. Much of this shot is taken up by an auto parts store that’s under the grey overhang. To its right, in the green building, used to be Doodlebugs, a terrific craft store that, sadly, closed last summer. The building is for sale.

Further east of Doodlebugs is a store with nice home decor and one of three lavender shops within steps of each other. Further on is a bible store and a coffee shop.

There’s more to Sequim than this part of our downtown. I’ll show some of it as I have a chance to snap more shots this summer.

Downtown

I haven’t shown downtown Sequim in a while so we’ll take a mini tour starting today. This is the first block of West Washington.

I’ve featured two spots of note in this shot. The taller stone front, in the middle, is That Takes the Cake for cupcakes and wedding cakes. Click here to take a look inside. And to its right is Sequim Kabob House, site of a great lunch I enjoyed last April.

As you face the buildings in the first shot, above, these buildings are to the left, or east. At the far left corner you can see one of our four stoplights.

If you note an absence of traffic on the street its simply because I took these shots in the early evening after many of our downtown businesses were closed for the day.

Here’s a view down the street, under the green overhang you see in the second shot above.

We’ll look at the other side of the street tomorrow.

Trees as metaphor

There are several trees with this fascinating peeling bark outside my dentist’s office. They’re a great diversion when the hygienist removes her toolbox from my mouth.

This tree seems to me to be a metaphor about life. There are so many layers of old ways peeling off and shedding. They flap around, unexpectedly flexible. And somewhere underneath it all is a younger, fresher creation inside, ready to take on the next challenges.

It seems better than just looking at oneself and seeing old and crinkly, don’t you think?