LUMMI ISLAND NEWSLETTER
APRIL 1968
NEXT MEETING ‑ Wednesday evening, April 24 ‑ 6:45 P.M. ‑ GRANGE HALL
POT LUCK DINNER
And a good customary wet Easter season to you all. This is the time of year when the weather and the people in it try to outdo each other in being as inconsistent as possible ‑ could be why it is such a romantic period. Have heard it said that the spring sowing of wild oats is often followed by prayers for a crop failure.
It is constantly amazing how a sleepy and peaceful little community like Lummi Island can have so many and varied “people happenings” during the course of a week or so ‑ so much of it is most interesting, while at the same time being most unprintable ‑ Darn! ‑ To the best of our knowledge, items about the people and events noted in these letters have been thoroughly dry‑cleaned and we trust presentable. Any intent to read into them interpretations of a different nature are done at your own risk ‑ s’help you.
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And now all you good people (and any others interested) shall we discuss the Ferry schedule coming up. Starting Sunday nite, April 28th the 9:00 P.M. run will again be included’.
The Ferry’s annual dry‑docking and checkup will take place in June. It will leave after the 8:00 A.M. run Monday, June 10th, and will be back for the 10:00 P.M. run Friday, June 14th. A passenger boat will operate between Lummi and Gooseberry Point during this time on the following schedule only:
Leave the Island
7:00 a.m. (single run) 5:00 pm.
8:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
9:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. 8:00 P.M.
11:00 a.m. 9:00 P.M
4:00 p.m 10:00 P.M
A complete round trip will be made each time.
At night and from approximately11:3 0 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It will be based at Gooseberry Point, but will be available for emergency calls. Phone the Fire Department or Les Shanahan.
A car watcher will be on duty from Monday nite to Thursday nite at, Gooseberry Point.
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Flo Konecke has, after 16 years, resigned as the Island correspondent to the Ferndale Record and Genie Granger apparently, is contemplating picking up the pen to carry on. (She can have this one too!) Flo wants to devote her time and efforts to further persue the arts and we think rightly so ‑ She has an artistic talent that should be enlarged upon and made available to many more people than are now aware of it. Speaking of Genie ‑ she is now Harold Long’s right hand helper in the local emporium. Business should pick up considerably ‑ not that Harold’s charm is fading any, but we think the combination is outstanding. Incidentally, Genie wants all you people with newsy items to contact her so she can get them in her column every week.
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During the past week or so various groups, clubs, organizations and individuals have been pooling their efforts and resources in order to acquire an ambulance-type vehicle that suddenly became available at a reduced price in a neighboring state. It was first brought to the attention of the Islanders by Dr. Bostrom, a Yakima physician who has a summer home here on the Island. It is the intent of the Fire Department to make use of it as an emergency adjunct to their equipment and it should prove to be a welcome addition to the health and welfare of the Island. Contributions to date have been more than gratifying, however considerable more is necessary and your contribution would be most welcome ‑ please make checks payable to “Lummi Island Fire Auxiliary” and noting in the corner “ambulance fund”. Incidentally, there is on the island the following equipment which is available to anyone ‑ hospital bed, wheelchair and two pairs of crutches. Contact your Fire Department for information.
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Vern Hawley’s restaurant has been leased by Lynn and Hazel Crosby from Alaska. They intend to open it in a week or two for weekend business. The Crosbys are from Alaska and it is not known whether he can sing or not ‑ as yet. However, they apparently have considerable experience in the restaurant business both in the states and Alaska. Their intent is to effect a retirement in this area and we hasten to inform them that we do not look favorably on a good retired restaurateur, but will welcome with open arms, at the ready, an active restaurant operator willing and able to cater to our epicurean tastes ‑‑like hamburgers or beef stew maybe? Anyhow! welcome to Lummiville.
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The Reeds have returned to the mainland where they can be closer to medical facilities which Judy is often in need of. We regret losing them as they were pleasantly active in the affairs of the Island and in particular the PTA of which Judy was president.
Art and Jan Granger and their protégés have moved into the house Reeds vacated. Don’t know if it will get much use, tho, what with Jan working every day and Art out rustlin cattle and things (his own ‑ I think) at all hours of the day or night or making like a gillnet fisherman of sorts at odd moments. Don’t think he ever heard of quiet, restful sleep, sschh! Such an energy!
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Understand the most recent edition of the Nielson girls, Heather, is contemplating a marital move soon and we assume that her intended has been so notified ‑ nonetheless, the dear ladies of the Island promoted a pre-marital loot-gathering spree (sometimes called a shower) for her the other day which was a collective success. Wonder why they never give the fellers one? After all they are the ones that need the incentive ‑ or something!!
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The Fire Auxiliary’s bake and plant sale apparently collected enough of the “foldin’ stuff” (over 100.00 bucks net) to make it well worth the effort. Must be a goodly profit peddling flowerz, fruitcakes and frankfurters.
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The firemen braved the sunshine of Saturday last and replaced the defective alarm wire from the fire house to the store. It had to be restrung on the existing utility poles so if your TV starts to suddenly wail like a banshee ‑ think nothing of it – they just made a wrong connection. Seems as how the old wire was causing false alarms in a high wind.
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The substitute mail carrier, Bob Adema, is gradually getting into the spirit of distributing the “Yew Hess Mail” in accordance with the erratic systems established many years ago. For some unexplained reason the volume of mail increased considerably as soon as he started. The people must be testing his capabilities or something. The post office is sporting a new 1,300 lb. safe (guess they need it to put the good pens in). The lobby desk and lock boxes will be here soon as will a large billboard. Postmaster Jerry A. says there will be room on the billboard to put local notices of a non-political or commercial nature. Wonder what kind of an announcement that would be??
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Heard rumors of a new Islander by the name of Ellis Massey taking over Bill Neuman’s home down at the south end of the Island. Guess he intends to live here permanently ‑ if so ‑ we welcome him and’ his and trust that sooner or later he will become like the rest of us (wonder tho! Is that good or bad???
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Heard Donna Granger is considerably concerned about the sensitive feelings of the men in the Fire Department regarding their attitude towards meticulous housekeeping. Such graciousness should be rewarded and possibly further research would show the way.
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Those Islanders brushed by the ill wind of misery include Mrs. Bringholf who is on the critical list at Shukson Rest Home in Bellingham. Her condition would be described as grave. She enjoys George reading thoughtful cards to her but flowers have little meaning since she cannot see them. Una Ecker still taking prolonged daily treatments but considerably improved and she seems to be quite cheerful what with entertaining some 35 fraternity fellers ‑ friends of Dick ‑ over a recent weekend and all. Other than the usual flu and cold victims, the rest of the Island population appears to be reasonably healthy and no more ornery than usual. Should mention, however, that Cap Beaman has had some pretty sick jokes recently.
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As to that membership in the military, Chas. Baker is, after 18 months in Vietnam, at Ft. Lewis for the balance of his hitch. Bert Ecker and Sharon are still in Iran and are not exactly in love with the country but are having terrific experiences. Dick Ecker, a R.O.T.C. student at Washington, is slated for active service next year – both marital and military. His intended, Trudy Olsen, has decided August would be a good date to begin the former ‑ Buddy Granger is now a prominent member of the Naval Academy’s Glee Club and MC’s all their public performances. Bob McFarland is still in Ft. Eustis, Virginia, and bored to tears (imagine! a grown man crying!) Sid McFarland is in Vinh Long, Vietnam and is due for a rest in June in Hawaii where his wife Vicki will join him. Mike and Marcia Ellingboe are still in Newport News, Va. where he has been placed on alert and confined to base due to riot control – Jim McDonald spent a recent 7 day period with them and he is slated for release in June.
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Civic Club’s new officers are: President, Pauline Landry; V. P., Clara Dunn; Secretary, Irene McFarland; and Treasurer, Agnes Gilfilen. Apparently there will be no rummage sale this year ‑ no junk ‑ I guess.
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On May 19th, at 2:00 p.m., an Island-wide reception will be held at the school for our retiring teacher, Mrs. Edith Granger. This is a must for all Islanders and her many other friends.
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The skiing Goodmans are justly proud of their son Mark’s accomplishments with the “erratic barrel staves”. Seems as how he is beginning to outdo his pappy and thereby is cluttering up the house with his many trophies and such. Reckon congratulations are in order.
Thanks for wading through this and hope there was something of interest in it for you.
Your Lummi Island Community Club.
Gus Johnson, President