Our Lummi Island Community

Tome 1968/09 1968/10

LUMMI ISLAND NEWSLETTER

September ‑ October 1968

NEXT MEETING WEDNESDAY,, OCTOBER 23 ‑ 6:22‑1/2 P.M.

GRANGE HALL

POT LUCK DINNER ‑ EVERYONE WELCOME

The September general dinner meeting of the Club was well attended and the evening business session was pointed towards picking up the tempo of club activities in the coming months. Among the many things discussed for action were the following: better police activity in apprehending vandals, speeders and thieves; directional signals on Interstate 5 and elsewhere; regulatory warnings and notices on the Island; the Civic Center building program; and the fund raising activities for said Center. Apparently various functions are being contemplated in this respect.

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It would appear that the Island residents and visitors who do not have vehicular Ferry passes are now, as of November 1st, going to have to ante up 25¢ per car per trip to get to the Island or else walk across. Apparently it is the intent to raise the cost of passes next year. No change has been made in the passenger rate. No doubt in accordance with Island tradition screams will be heard from here to Alaska or further.

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The Island has lost two of its nicest people ‑ Elma and Andy Luke who have sold their home and taken to the open road ‑ for awhile anyway ‑ for the purpose of traveling hither and yon ‑ we sorta wonder just where the “yon” would be, tho?? Andy ‑ an elder statesman of considerable merit and Elma, his gracious consort., will be sorely missed from the Island scene but we all wish them well in their new ventures.

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The PTA and Grange sponsored a reception for the new Island school teacher a week ago but apparently the turnout was a bit disappointing ‑ possibly due to a lack of adequate communication as there seemed to be quite a few people who were not aware of it.

Strange as it seems ‑ this lack of a medium for Island information on things good is strangely lacking where needed ‑ but, man oh man! does it ever work overtime when a rumor or a juicy morsel of scandal starts its rounds. Oftimes the supposed information is Island-wide before the questionable act even gets well started. How do it happen ‑ tsh, tsh!!

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Understand the old Ferry, Chief Kwina, was recently repossessed and resold to an Alaskan firm that intends to make it into a small floating crab cannery. Heard some local natives muttering t’ other day that they wished it was still in service here as things were a lot better before the Island was invaded by mainlander types who want to use the Island as a bedroom or a weekend “wing dingery”. Hmmm!! they might have a point but guess they are just going to have to get used to a coexistence of sorts which oftimes is facetiously referred to as progress.

The PTA and Grange sponsored a reception for the new Island school teacher a week ago but apparently the turnout was a bit disappointing ‑ possibly due to a lack of adequate communication as there seemed to be quite a few people who were not aware of it.

Strange as it seems ‑ this lack of a medium for Island information on things good is strangely lacking where needed ‑ but, man oh man! does it ever work overtime when a rumor or a juicy morsel of scandal starts its rounds. Oftimes the supposed information is Island-wide before the questionable act even gets well started. How do it happen ‑ tsh, tsh!!

Since Edith Granger, our retired school teacher, isn’t one to blow her own horn we had a bit of a struggle learning the nature of a national honor recently bestowed upon her. It seem that the 1968 edition of a national publication entitled “Outstanding Personalities in the West and Midwest” picked her as one of those who have been of special service to the community and the nation. Now there is a publication that deserves our support for it obviously accentuates the truth ‑ our heartiest congratulations, Edith, and it couldn’t happen to a nicer person ‑ OK, Mac!! So what have you done recently ?

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The khaki clad warriors from the Island have dwindled in numbers, recently, due to various fellers completing their enlistment terms but the following are still boosting the moral of the Pentagon ‑ Marcia’s husband, Mike Ellinboe, is still in VietNam but is slated for a rest in Hawaii in November where Marcia will visit him. Incidentally Mike was selected as the Battalion’s Soldier of the Month recently. Ricky Granger is still in Germany where he is in charge of a group doing metal fabrication. Jim Miller is in the midst of his specialist training at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, and reports that his week end leaves have given him an opportunity to tour the cities of New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The McFarland boys are still back in the States which is a quite a relief to their parents.

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Understand the Willy Roughtors have moved off the Island and so has Marion Tuttle’s boy, Joe, and his wife, Terry. Joe is apparently going back to Florence, Oregon to reenter the logging profession.

The Don Essex family, now living in remote Alaska, keep in touch with their relatives here via tape recordings which are of considerable interest to many of their friends also. We imagine that the tapes will have to be thawed out before playing in a month or two!

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Guess the single blessedness state lost two of its luke‑warm members recently when Molly O’Rourke and Ray Konecke each acquired themselves respective mates. Molly’s nuptial rites were conducted in Bellingham and Ray’s In Puyallup ‑ guess both are sitting on “cloud nine” about now and in event that they can still hear us we wish to convey our very best wishes and hope that the mutual admiration acquired will last indefinitely.

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JoAnn Nordensson reports that she and Donna Drafs attended the Konecke wedding and also visited Bernice White who is recuperating in Seattle from an auto accident. Guess JoAnn has been visiting Donna in Aberdeen also. Mac and Edith Granger are, or were, in Alaska visiting their daughter. Also understand many more Islanders, too numerous to mention, are heading for respective winter tasking grounds or elsewhere.

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Was going to mention the hunters and the hunting season which is upon us but due to a certain sense of propriety and exceptional restraint my remarks are better left unsaid ‑ at this time anyway.

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Hear ye! and hear ye – all you frustrated artisians – the opportunity to market your wares has again been granted by the grace of somebody or other through a no‑host bazaar (or is it a Flea market) at the Grange Hall, Saturday, December 7th. You personally bring (or show) your stuff – you personally price It and your personally sell it ‑ to each other ‑ I think!!

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The local fishing fleet has about had it for this year since the season is late and the salmon have decided to be as uncooperative as possible ‑ guess that means the members can go back to work now?? It should improve the post office coffee, too.

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Those answering to sick call this past month or two include the following ‑ Esther Robertson, Grace Miller, Agnes Gilfilen, Gus Johnson, Si Eldred, Lois Peterson, Dave Nesbit, Ardith Baumgarde, Donna Granger, Cap Beaman, Hazel Lintz, and Dale Wright. Their respective ailments, or injuries, were more irritating than serious ‑ all except the one who lost her voice ‑ that is. Mrs. Bringolf is still ill in a Bellingham hospital.

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The local church dedicated their memorial organ on Sunday last with the ceremonies conducted from a new pulpit built and presented to the church by Lloyd Davis of the Island. The occasion was most satisfying to the many in attendance. Elmer Erickson, the assistant to Dr. Vincent Crane in the Congregational Church of Bellingham, is the regular pastor and he is ably assisted by two representatives from the Speech Department of WWSC ‑ Lynn Engdahl and Dr. Lawrence Brewster. The local church is a prime example of an all‑Island effort that is most commendable.

That’s all for now. Thank you ‑ all.

Your Community Club Group

THE PACIFIC SALMON

(Excerpt from Sunset magazine, July 1967 issue)

Though Pacific salmon were first named for the Atlantic salmon (genus Salmo), they belong to the genus oncorhynchus ‑ Greek for “hook nose.” There are six Pacific salmon species: a surprise for many Westerners who know only five salmon. The sixth, oncorhynchu masou, is a native of Japan.

Our five salmon have for their scientific names their common names in Russian.‑ tachaytscha, kibutch, nerka, keta, and gorbuscha. The Russians knew these fish before we did, both in their own Siberian rivers and during Russia’s occupation of Alaska and California.

Here is a guide to the five, including an unraveling of their sometimes confusing common names:

ONCORHYNCHUS TSCHAWYTSCHA (king, tyee, chinook, spring, quinnat; young seagoing fish are sometimes called blackmouths).

Biggest salmon in the world; the West’s most popular game salmon. Average seagoing weight: 20 pounds; 40 to 50‑pound fish not uncommon. Record: 125 pounds.

One of the two major sources of fresh salmon In your market‑. A small quantity Is canned.

King salmon spawn from the Sacramento‑San Joaquin rivers in California, around.the North Pacific ‑to the Kamchatka River in Siberia.

0. KISUTCH (silver, coho, silverside). Equal in popularity as a game fish to king salmon; equally delicious. Average seagoing weight: 6 to 15 pounds. Common source of fresh commercial salmon, occasionally available in cans.

Silver salmon spawn from Santa Cruz County, California, to Asia. In the ocean, a few travel as far south as the Coronado Islands of Mexico.

0. NERKA (red, blueback, sockeye, Alaska, silver trout; called kokanee when landlocked in fresh water lakes). Migrates up rivers and spawns in and near lakes. In the ocean, eats plankton and small invertebrates; therefore seldom caught by anglers. Average weight: 5 to 7 pounds. One of the finest sources of canned salmon. Range: Oregon to Japan.

0. KETA ‘ (chum, dog, calico). Almost never caught by anglers, but represents a major fisheries resource; canned chum salmon is eaten throughout the world. Average weight: 8 to 18 pounds. Range: northern California to Japan.

0. GORBUSCHA ( humpback, pink, haddo). Smallest of the Pacific salmon, but accounts for the largest commercial catch. Average weight: 3 to 5 pounds.

In Puget Sound, humpbacks run In large numbers during odd years (1965, 1967), and are sought by anglers. Elsewhere, not considered an important game fish. Most common source of canned salmon. Range: northern California to Japan.

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