A MASON TRANSIT BUS loads passengers for a local route in downtown Shelton. Transit buses will take you in style Mason County Transit provides service throughout the county and connections to adjacent counties. Establish your base of operations anywhere here and ride the bus free to all the great destinations in Mason County. There’s a nominal $1 charge for transit service to out-of-county destinations or for direct coordinated connections with Kitsap Transit and the Washington State Ferries in Bremerton; Intercity Transit, Greyhound Lines and Amtrak in Olympia and Lacey; Jefferson Transit in Brinnon; Grays Harbor Transit and Pierce Transit in Olympia; and Squaxin Island Transit at the Kamilche Hub. All service vehicles are accessible, and meet ADA requirements. Bus schedules are available in visitors’ centers and many businesses. Saturday schedules differ from weekly runs. Generally, there is no holiday transit service, but park-and-ride shuttles are available for all the county’s major festivals, including Grapeview Day, Allyn Days, Forest Festival, Celebrate Hoodsport, the county fair and OysterFest. Parking locations are listed on Mason Transit’s web site at www.masontransit.org. Bicycling? To avoid congested routes, you can rack your bike on a bus and beat the crowds, disembarking off the over-beaten track to head out for the national forest, national park, Tahuya peninsula, waterways or backroads. For scheduling and fare information or for Dial-a-Ride services, call 427-5033 or 1-800-374-3747

Even when you’re vacationing, there are some things you need – or need to know how to access should the need arise. Here’s information on services available in the county:

Health care

State-of-the-art technology and small-town concern combine for great health care in Mason County.

Mason General Hospital

Mason General Hospital (MGH) is known as one of the region’s top rural hospitals. The 68-bed facility is at 901 Mountain View Drive near the intersection of K and 13th streets in Shelton.

A complete, full-service medical facility with emergency services and an intensive care unit, MGH has an on-site oncology facility, and hosts support groups for patients coping with various conditions. Staff includes over 100 physicians (active, courtesy and consulting). The hospital district lists 495 employees, including its clinics and North Mason center. Key phone numbers:

• Main hospital line from Shelton, 426-1611; from Belfair, 275-8614.

• A 24-hour hotline for information on classes, special events and health topics, 427-3650.

• Physician referral and hospital information, weekdays, 427-9551 (Belfair, 275-8614).

Emergency aid

Emergency health needs are met 24 hours a day at Mason General Hospital’s emergency department. When needed, as with major trauma, helicopter service from Seattle lands within 20 minutes at the hospital’s heliport or accident sites.

Mason County Medic One provides ambulance service in much of South Mason County. Fifteen fire districts operate aid cars with emergency medical technicians and paramedics offering first-line care.

To receive aid or report emergencies from anywhere in the county, dial 911.

To reach the Washington Poison Control Center, call 1-800-222-1222.

North Mason Medical Clinic

Affiliated with Mason General Hospital, the North Mason clinic provides 24-hour on-call coverage and appointments for care, tests, X rays and more. It’s open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except holidays) at 140 NE State Route 300 in Belfair. Clinic number is 275-4084 or 426-8405.

County health services

The Mason County Department of Health Services’ nursing division at the corner of Fourth and Cedar streets offers clinics, classes and counseling. Environmental health services are at the corner of Fifth and Cedar. The number is 427-9670, Extension 400.

Fire control

Mason County’s 15 fire districts are combinations of volunteers and professional staff. In most of Mason County, a fire hall or fire station is close by.

The Shelton Fire Department has full-time staff and volunteer firefighters and medics.

To report a residential or car fire, call 911.

To report a forest fire or brush fire, call 1-800-562-6010.

Libraries

Whether you need to stay in touch with home and work via the Internet or want to get away from it all with a good book, libraries in Mason County can help.

Libraries here are part of the five-county Timberland Regional Library System. Computers are available to the public for word processing and Web access. You don’t need a library card to use personal computers or copy machines. However, computer use is by reservation, so call ahead.

Visitors can get temporary library cards by presenting motel or RV-park receipts. They’re also welcome to use in-library resources and attend public programs, including the children’s summer reading program.

• Shelton’s William G. Reed Library, the city’s own 15,000-square-foot facility with all the Timberland resources, is at Seventh and Alder streets in Shelton. Foreign-language resources, software and photocopiers are available. The library has a children’s corner with story times and a young adults’ area. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. October through mid-May. Call 426-1362.

• Timberland North Mason library is at 23081 State Route 3 in Belfair, just north of Belfair Elementary School and Theler Center. Floor-to-ceiling windows and vaulted ceilings grant spaciousness and light on a wooded hillside. Sixteen computers are available. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. It’s closed Sundays. Call 275-3232.

• Hoodsport’s library on Schoolhouse Hill Road has the town’s best view of the canal, plus a spacious deck to enjoy the view. The hill in front of the library showcases native plants. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursdays, closed Mondays, Fridays and Sundays. The phone number is 877-9339.

• Mary M. Knight School has one of Timberland’s cooperative library centers. Books, videos, Internet access and Timberland’s resources are available to the public in the library at the elementary school in Matlock. Library hours are from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year. The library is closed during the summer.

The entire system is at patrons’ fingertips on-line at www.trlib.org.