LUMMI ISLAND COMMUNITY CLUB
NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 1975
LUMMI ISLAND COMMUNITY CLUB
POT LUCK DINNER
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
GRANGE HALL ‑ 6:45 PM
We trust that the turn out ‑ both in bodies and vittles will be as exemplary as the last one in May.
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This year’s annual salmon barbecue went off without a hitch due to the splendid cooperative efforts of many islanders. There actually were more willing volunteers than jobs available. The Grange handled most of the kitchen chores, and the Community Club took over the dining facilities including the tastefully done decorating. Guess the Bob Aistons were more or less responsible for the unique esthetic atmosphere noted. We sure didn’t hear anyone complain about miniscule servings or starving guests. Will Wright, bless his soul and fishing gear, donated some 40 lbs of salmon to the event for which everyone was more than thankful. We noted that our County Commissioner, Terry Unger, and his charming wife were there of their own volition – and ravenous hunger. We hope that they were suitably satiated and impressed and ‑ Oh Yeah: ‑ By the way Terry III. Guess our “Dippity” Les Shanahan won the blanket so we presume he is better equipped to cover any case.
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According to a few local irritant reminders we gather that this reporter deserves a smote with a wet pancake for missing listing one of the main contributors to the July pancake feed. Seems Lois and “Pete” Peterson, as is their custom, furnished most of the syrup for the affair. We understand Lois spent most of the previous night collecting delectable nectar from various and sundry butterflys.
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According to the latest report the ferry dock situation hasn’t improved much if at all. It could very likely remain in limbo if the County is compelled to live with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife rulings. Seems there is a cost factor that does not fit the budget available. There are several conflicting opinions being expressed by some islanders in reference to the entire project. The ideas vary from some favoring and preferring a better and newer ferry rather than a new and different dock facility; to others supporting only a long set of oars for the present boat ‑ even if ya hafta anchor it out in the pass and commute betwixt by dinghy ‑ by Goshl!
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The week after Labor Day we noted with a great amount of disgust the piles of garbage discarded along the shoulders of Haxton Way on the mainland ‑ for miles. We suppose that automatically the Indians would get the blame, but it was obvious that the majority of it was thrown out by vacationers and weekenders on their way home ‑ Could they be erstwhile islanders ? ?
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Charlotte Schneider took advantage of an unusual opportunity recently to visit central and South America; but principally Peru, and reports that she had a fabulous time and an extremely interesting experience. Guess we can expect a few new outstanding creations from her weaving machinery ‑ like something real exotic ‑ like llama wool? ‑ Hair? ‑ or is it fur?
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So ‑ Donna Granger is involved again ‑ at the Granger Hospital, Wayside Inn and Coffee House. Seems that family spends a good deal of time seeing how many unconventional crises they can get involved in. This time Jake, along with others of his irrepressible generation were trying to make like stunt men on motor bikes; but ran afoul of the expected unexpected and came up with a broken collar bone and badly torn ligaments. Please send your heartfelt sympathy and flowers, or such, to Donna.
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Bill Gregory and family had a few anxious days recently when Bill had to undergo a long series of medical tests to try and determine the cause of a deteriorated and ominous physical condition. However it proved to be a bleeding ulcer instead ‑ serious enough, but certainly a relief. Guess he better take stock of his “bummer Stock” activities.
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The Jack Millers hosted a fly‑in and campout at his airstrip here on the island on Saturday last. It was made up of members of the FAA “Experimental Aviation Association” which mainly consists of owners and builders of their own home built airplanes. Several of these people flew their masterpieces in and many others who are still building theirs drove in. Quite a few islanders also showed up to inspect the aircraft and sample the goodies provided like barbecued salmon and so forth. Rides were given to those who were anxious to try these planes out. Jack’s own home-built is still in the process, but it is going to be a real contrast to a “747” ‑ what with a Volkswagen motor, scarf, goggles and all.
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Regarding real estate activity on the Island ‑ we are more than curious as to what is causing the upsurge in people looking for property here recently. Practically all of them seem to have the necessary funds to pick up anything suitable for $12,000 to $15,000 or less. Most apparently want lots with beach access, and they seem to be in the younger age group‑ or are we just getting too old??? .We have had several requests for rentals on a long term basis and these seem to be nonexistent on the Island
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B E A C H S C H 0 0 L N E W S
Imagine your surprise if you were expecting five guests to dinner and ten or twelve owed up! That’s what happened in school in first grade. The teachers were expecting the five kindergarten boys to show up the first day and lo and behold ten first graders me. That many plus our two new kindergartners makes a handful… and when they squirm they’re more like a bucketful! The last group that large in first grade was about seven years ago when Mrs. Granger took over for the year….(and secretly … there’ve been days already when we wish we had her back at the old school!).
….. Lots of screening testing going on the first few weeks of school. Mr. Tindal, Speech therapist for the Ferndale Schools, has been out and given each child a speech and hearing test. Mrs. Kirshner from the Intermediate School Dist. has carefully screened the kindergarten and first graders for reading readiness and related information. And to top it all the poor little kids found out they’ve got to be able to write both their names, addresses, and phone numbers or they can’t check books out of bookmobile! Some of them are beginning to wonder it it’s all really worth it! One little guy summed it up like this, “That lady said she was playing little games with us but I know she was testing us for something and even though she tries to make it fun …. it was still boring ..but I tried my best anyhow!” Hmmmmmmm..
In Science we have been studying bees and related insects. It came up because almost every child in school has been stung recently… to quote one girl, “This is a good year for bees but a bad year for kids.” We’ve had reports, written and spoken, and done drawings, etc. The culmination will be a trip to Baumgart’s so Ardith can put on her bee rig and show us about smoking them out, moving them,, etc. Will report next time on how things went.
Mr. Davis will still be a part of our teaching “staff” even though he’s moved to Bellingham Already he has come and given the children a fascinating introduction to Leonardo da Vinci. This was followed up the next week by field trips to the Whatcom Museum ‑by two groups of children. Mr. Davis met the Groups there on two days and gave them a conducted tour through the IBM traveling display of some 15 of da Vinci’s inventions. The models were explained and then the children allowed to move to various ones and “work” them. Later at school it was very interesting to note how accurately many of the children understood what they’d seen. Many of the inventions (the three tiered cannon, the anemometer, the automatic file maker, the automatic release pile driver, etc.) were sketched and explained in the children’s journals. The best remark heard was a third grade boy commenting, “Gee, what wonderful dreams that man had!! da Vinci himself would have smiled warmly at our children’s interest and enthusiasm.
In the Thank You Department …. a late thank you to Barbie Melcher, John’s wife, for the complete set of Golden Record Children’s Library. Those kids are in seventh heaven when they learn how to use the earphones.
If anyone has an old mirror they don’t need … we could use one. :.*.*.*.*Thanks to all of you for remembering to slow down near school as you go for the ferry!
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Jerry MacDonald has retired from the post of Fire Commissioner for the local district in which position he has served for some 13 years. Harold (Si) Eldred has been appointed by the County Commissioners on an interim basis to fill the vacancy which will be up for election on the November ballot. The island owes Jerry a real vote of thanks for a job well done ‑ oft times under duress and irritating circumstances. This Fire Department is one of the best volunteer outfits in the state and the Islanders can well be proud of its accomplishments, and the many dedicated members who have so faithfully and consistently served the Community are to be commended.
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The following letter has been received from the Puget Sound Power & Light Company. It reads as follows:
Dear Customer:
This is to inform you that Puget Power is filing with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission proposed revisions to many of its non-residential electric rate schedules. The Revisions are expected to go into effect in approximately thirty days.
The principal effect of the proposed revisions is to consolidate certain rate schedules and to eliminate others. This will result in some increases or decreases in the charges to certain customers. To determine how these revisions may affect your account, please contact your local Puget Power business office and ask for information concerning the 11proposed rate schedule revisions”.
Puget Power
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Lummi Island Grange is hosting a Harvest Dinner (Potluck) on Saturday, October 4, at 6:30 P.M. Guest Speaker will be State Deputy Master Ted Lloyd. This is a get-acquainted event for newcomers, and all organizations on the island are invited to participate in outlining their activities. Newcomers are invited to come get acquainted. Old timers are invited to come help make them welcome. EVERYONE is invited to come enjoy an evening at the Grange.
Grange Calendar Wednesday, Oct. 1 8:00 P.M. Regular Meeting
Saturday, Oct. 4 6:30 P.M. Harvest Dinner
Wednesday, Oct.15 8:00 P.M. Regular Meeting,
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LUMMI ISLAND FIRE COMM13SIONERS NEWS INFORMTION
Recently the Fire Commissioners of Fire District No 11 (Lummi Island), after much thought and consideration have decided to bring before the voters the opportunity for the Island people to vote on a bond issue to add to the existing fire hall. This new addition would be used as a training center for the firemen; and would also serve as a very adequate community center that could be used for almost any community function. This facility would be operated by the Fire Department as a part of the fire department. The need for such a building is recognized by nearly almost everyone; and as building and other costs continue to rise, it would seem that if this community is sincere in wanting a community building now is the time to act on it.
This facility would be financed by a bond issue which would be repayable over a 10 year period. All property owners on Lummi Island whether residents or not would help to pay off these bonds. At the present assessed valuation for Lummi Island the cost of this proposed bond issue to each property tax payer would be approximately 70 cents for each $1,000 of assessed valuation. At the present time we are paying approximately 30 cents for each $1,000 of assessed valuation for the bonds that were sold almost 9 years ago to buy the new fire truck. These bonds will be paid off in January of 1977 which would be about the same time the new bonds for the new facility would begin to be paid on; so the actual increase would be about 40 cents for each $1,000 valuation over what we are presently paying. At 70 cents for each $1000 valuation the tax payer with say a $15,000 assessed valuation would Day $10.50 per year in taxes for the new facility. The plans for this new proposed facility will be shown and discussed at the Community Club meeting on the 24th of September at the Grange Hall, so let’s all come and bring your comments and questions and see the plans and talk it over. The Fire Commissioners will be there and hopefully can answer most of your questions pertaining to this new facility.
The Fire Commissioners wish to remind the Island residents that the next fire commissioners meeting will be held on October 6 Monday at 7:30 P.M. at Secretary Lou Schuller’s home. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings.