Port Angeles Washington - The Authentic Northwest.

Olympic National Park’s Deer Park Road will open for the summer season tomorrow, July 23.

Park road crews have cleared the road of snowdrifts and large rocks, and graded and contoured the road. The upper road which leads to the trailhead has also been graded, but motorists are urged to use caution as this section of road may still be slippery due to moisture saturation.

From Saturday, July 23 to Tuesday July 26, wildlife biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey and Olympic National Park will be conducting a mountain goat census. Campers at Deer Park should be aware that they may be awakened at dawn, as a contracted helicopter will be operating from a landing area at Deer Park. Visitors may also experience brief traffic delays when the helicopter is landing or taking off. Weather permitting, flights will be conducted from 5:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Wilder Baseball and City of Port Angeles Parks and Recreation are hosting the Pacific Northwest 16-18 Year Old Babe Ruth Regional Tournament, beginning Wednesday, July 20, at Civic Field.

Ten teams will be participating, with the winner advancing to the Babe Ruth World Series to be held August 6 through 13, in Ephrata.

The tournament consists of two divisions of five teams each for pool play. The American Division includes the Wyoming State champions, Casper Cardinals; the Alberta Provincial champions, Calgary Blue; the Montana State champions, Missoula Pioneers; the North Oregon State champions, Portland Baseball Club; and the host team, the Wilder Baseball Club.  The National Division includes the South Oregon State champions, the Siskiyou Jaxx; the South Washington State champions, the Aberdeen Merchants; the Idaho State champions, the Bayview Whitecaps; the North Washington State finalists, Toyota Bash from King County; and Kitsap Baseball from the Kitsap Peninsula.

Pool play begins Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m. with five games scheduled for Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, the top two teams in each pool play off for the World Series berth.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, followed by Wilder’s first game against the Missoula Pioneers at 7:30 p.m. Wilder’s other pool play games are Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. versus Portland Baseball Club, Friday at 4:30 p.m. against Calgary Blue, then Saturday at 7:00 p.m. versus the Casper Cardinals.

Sunday’s playoff games have the American Division number one team playing the National Division number two team at 11:00 a.m., and the National Division number one team playing the American Division number two team at 1:30 p.m. The two winners meet at 4:00 p.m. for the championship.

All games are at Civic Field. There is a daily general admission fee of $5.00, $3.00 for seniors, and $1.00 for students 18 and under. Kids 10 and under get in free.

For more information, please contact Dan Estes, Special Events Coordinator at 360-417-4557.

Port Angeles – The crew of the 133-foot historic schooner Adventuress welcomes the public and school/youth groups to drop by for a visit on Tuesday, June 14 from noon – 3:00PM.  The National Historic Landmark vessel will be docked at The Port Angeles City Pier, 350 N. Lincoln Street, next to the Feiro Marine Science Center.  Individuals, families and school/youth groups are welcome, and there is no cost to tour the ship.

Thanks to all who voted Adventuress “most popular historic site” in Puget Sound in last year’s National Trust for Historic Preservation/American Express Partners in Preservation competition, the 1913 schooner is sporting a shiny new stern and transom.  Additionally, over the past two years, Adventuress’ bow was completely restored with the help of the National Park Service’s Save America’s Treasures grant program and private matching donors.

Nonprofit Sound Experience uses the schooner Adventuress to educate, inspire and empower all to care for Puget Sound.  In the past two decades, more than 60,000 youth and adults have sailed aboard, taking the helm, raising the sails, and experiencing the majesty of the region’s waterways.  In the summer months, Adventuress sails in the San Juan Islands with programs for teens, girls, families, grownups and grandparents.  To learn more, visit www.soundexp.org or call 360-379-0438.

THE JUAN DE Fuca Festival of the Arts opens today at noon at the Vern Burton Community Center, 308 W. Fourth St. at Peabody Street, in Port Angeles.

Some 100 music and dance performances and workshops will take place there and at nearby venues including the Elks Naval Lodge, 131 E. First St.; Studio Bob, upstairs at 118 1⁄2 E. Front St.; and at the Chamber Stage behind the Vern Burton center.

After-hours concerts will start at 10 p.m. today through Sunday at Wine on the Waterfront, upstairs in The Landing mall at 115 E. Railroad Ave.; Bar N9ne, 229 W. First St.; the R Bar, 132 E. Front St.; and Bella Italia, 118 E. First St.

Children 12 and younger are admitted free to the festival.

For teens and adults, a single-day pass is $15 today or Monday and $18 for Saturday or Sunday.

A full-festival pass is $55; any type of pass includes admission to festival performances and after-hours concerts.

For those without a pass, a $5 cover charge pays for admission to the late-night gigs.

For a complete festival schedule, visit www.JFFA.org.