Our Lummi Island Community

Tome 1968/08

LUMMI ISLAND NEWSLETTER

AUGUST 1968

NEXT MEETING ‑ POT LUCK DINNER

Grange Hall

6:45 P.M. ‑ Wednesday, September 25, 1968

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The sale of land, exclusive of subdivision plats, on Lummi Island has recently taken an upsurge of rather pretentious proportions. It seems that some 700 feet of waterfront and around 35 acres has changed hands within the past 6 months. This consists of business, improved and unimproved land with a total valuation of nearly $265,000.00. No doubt the tax assessor is most happy. Among those properties sold are the following: Hawley’s Resort, the Don Essex home, George Hoffman’s acreage, the Albert Gerritz property, and the Geanger estate settlement on Government Lot 3. Also understand another deal is pending close to $100,000.00. Considerable property on subdivisions have also been moved this last season. Apparently the going figure for waterfront is well over $200.00 per lineal foot and acreage is somewhere between $1,200.00 and $2,000.00 per acre for unimproved and considerably more if it has buildings, etc. on it. With the countless rumors running rampant about the expected boom in the Ferndale area, property on the Island is bound to increase in value.

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It seems that considerable irritation has been generated by a few “near misses” in local traffic due to drivers suddenly coming upon assorted horses, kids, bicycles, or motorcycles scattered over the roads of the Island with little regard for safety. Some residents have requested help from the county authorities to try and regulate this indifference to traffic rules before someone is seriously injured or killed. According to the County Prosecutor and Engineer the laws are as follows: steel shod horses are prohibited on all state or county asphalt and oiled roads. Unshod horses with riders must travel in single file along the edge of the road. Pedestrians must walk on the left side of the road facing traffic and when in groups try to be as un-obstructable as possible. Bikes and motorcycles must obey all traffic rules for vehicular traffic and at no time should they be operated in such a manner as to block the oncoming lanes of traffic. All of which reminds this writer of an ordinance passed by my home town back in Ohio years ago which decreed that anyone riding a horse after dark on any street or road must have an operating tail light on the horse..As I remember there was a bit of a discussion relative to the association between the council members and that part of the horse’s anatomy in question.

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Lester Luke, the President-elect of the Community Club, has tendered his resignation because of the press of his business and the inability to devote the necessary time that is needed to the affairs of the organization.

Inasmuch as elections are held in January all you good people can be thinking, during this interim, about a full slate of possible officers for next year ‑ plus a naive, unsuspecting journalistic type who would just love to write these newsletters.

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The PTA salmon barbecue was a well attended affair‑ what with the main course being whopped up by those master craftsment of fuliginous operations on defunct finny creatures of the deep ‑ Jerry (P.O.) Anderson and Bruce Lintz. ‘Twas quite tasty, fellers.

Edith Morse, the able chairman of the affair and acting president of the PTA, wishes to thank each and everyone who so willingly and graciously helped them to make the barbecue its usual success.

One of the most important and endearing charms of island life is the whole­hearted support that the people of the community give to any worthwhile project. Every Islander feels a sense of involvement in all community activities and will devote unstintingly of his time and talents towards its success with but one requirement ‑ he wants to be fully informed of the purpose and the ultimate measure of the project’s success ‑ or failure.

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Speaking of smoked fish we have a senior Scandahoovian on the Island who has established an enviable reputation (among other things) for “smog” treating tasty “tidbits” of various fishy species which are considered edible. Besides this worthwhile occupation, Ole John Christensen used to practice blacksmithing and stone masonry ‑ all of which contributes to his excellent piscatorial preparation passion ‑could be snoose and schnapps might have something to do with it too.

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The rather obvious fracturing of amiable relations this summer with certain undesirable members of the local fishing fleet has pointed up a determination by most Islanders to have some sort of a responsibility agreement established between the owners, landlords and the community. Most people feel that there has to be a change and those responsible for these characters being on the Island should also be made fully responsible for their actions. The charges levied against these miscreants have been serious enough to warrant a full time law officer on the Island ‑ or an absolute ban of the offenders.

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After a summer of basking in the sun the local firemen have again taken their pick (or shovel) in hand and started to restart the building of the garage for the emergency vehicles. They hope to have it adequately housed before winter sets in.

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Among those prescribing to the military life ‑ we have the following spending their respective leaves on the Island ‑ Charles Baker who finishes his hitch in 3 months at Ft. Lewis; Jim Miller who starts his specialist training at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, September 7; and Buddy Granger on respite from the rigors of Naval officer training at Annapolis. Guess Bert Ecker and his wife Shawn are in the midst of the Terhan earthquake area but to date there has been no news of them. Bob Dickinson got an honorable discharge from the Army after 5 weeks and is back at Westinghouse in Maryland. Dick Ecker and his new wife are moving to Kirkland where Trudy is employed as a teacher in the Lake Washington schools. Dick will finish his 5th and final year of oceanography at the University. He then is slated to spend 2 years in the military forces under the ROTC program.

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The seascape (or landscape) has been considerably changed this last week (via bulldozer) around the old Art Granger homestead. The old barn was leveled which no doubt caused considerable nostalgic reaction among the “old timers”. Guess we will sort of miss it, too.

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Since the Vern Hawleys sold out and bought themselves a beautifully appointed trailer they have been trying to catch up on some 20 to 30 years of visiting ‑ consequently few people here abouts have seen them recently.

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John Curry Sr and Jr. are both fishing the same gear in Alaska, and Clyde Curry is doing the same thing with his own. John Jr.’s new wife, Barbara, is starting her teaching career in Marysville this coming term. Margaret Curry is working for a year in Friday Harbor; she is returning to the University next year.

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The Community Club Directors have requested, via letter to the State Land Commissioner, an explanation of recent activities on the island by the Bureau of Natural Resources. The specific activities were relative to the Bureau’s establishment of a ”boat in only park” at an inaccessible and remote area on the base of Lummi Mountain and their sale of a strip of Tide Lands. These actions are apparently not too consistent with the professed policy of the Bureau as outlined to the Club by their representative two years ago.

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Terry and Sue Peterson are moving to town to try and get themselves accustomed to the academic life again ‑ and each other.

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Norma Baker has acquired herself a new husband by the name of William Ramsden who is a social worker for the Red Cross in Ft. Lewis. They are residing in Seattle where Norma is retaining her job at the bank.

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Heard Me] Notter had an argument with a telephone pole and put a slight 18″ deep scratch in the front of his limousine. Tsh! Tsh! He is now advocating underground wiring. Seems it all can be blamed on a wafted kiss of a itsy bitsy bee which no doubt died of fright on the spot.

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Understand Mrs. Will Wright has designed a multipurpose furniture set which could lend itself to a project of exploitation by interested Island craftsmen. Might be worth investigating by some of you “handy” types who want to do something constructive.

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David Dickinson has secured a military deferment to teach in the high school at the State Rehabilitation Center in Shelton. His subjects are History and Psychology.

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This writer wishes to thank Genie Granger for writing the Newsletter in June and wishes she would take over the job permanently. A word to her in this respect would be deeply appreciated by all of me.

She made a statement in her letter that referred to me as a “wit” and I herein wish to state that she couldn’t have been more than half right!

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The dry summer has again pointed up the necessity of a project to improve the water situation on the Island. Several scattered wells and springs gave up completely while others became too brackish to use. Possible the formation of a district would be in order.

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Understand one of our Islanders, Francis Winetrout, won the World Horseshoe Pitching Championship for the Intermediate and Senior Division recently at Keene, New Hampshire where apparently 80% ringers are a common occurrence.

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The attached “flyer” on salmon was prepared for the last issue but reprint permission was not forthcoming from the publishers until a few days ago! Sorry about that.

Ye Ed

For and with the blessings of

Gus Johnson, President

Konecke Dahlia garden

1683 S. Nugent Rd. – 758-2364

Lummi Island Wash. 98262

GRAMIAC CONSTRUCTION COMPANY

21O6 South Nugent Road

Lummi Island, Wash 98262

Phone 758-2541

MARITIME ACRES NURSERY

3592 LEGOL BAY ROJAD

LUMMI ISLAND, WASHINGION 98262

GRAMAC MARINA, INC.

Lummi Island, Wash 98262

Phone – Lummi Island

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