Our Lummi Island Community

Tome 1976/02

LUMMI ISLAND COMMUNITY CLUB

NEWSLETTER

F E B R U A R Y 1 9 7 6

F E B R U A R Y 2 5 W E D N E S D A Y 6:45 PM G R A N G E H A L L

LUMMI ISLAND COMMUNITY CLUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . POTLUCK DINNER MEETING

ANNUAL ELECTION OF OFFICERS

GENERAL DISCUSSION ON TAXES

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

January’s meeting was jampacked with concerned islanders trying to learn just what was in store for them taxwise, from the guest speakers who were the county assessor and his assistant and a representative from the state department of revenue. They were more than expert at not actually answering the rather pointed questions directed at them, but as the evening wore on they eventually somewhat reluctantly admitted that the taxes would generally increase in proportion to the re-evaluations. This revelation pleased no one and no doubt was instrumental in creating a great deal of despair for many. It is obvious that most everyone was unaware of how this situation came about, but were determined that it no longer be allowed to exist. Many are convinced that the political future of those members of the legislative bodies that were responsible is fast drawing to a close. It certainly behooves everyone to reexamine the qualifications and intelligence of our so called representatives far more intensely than we have in the past. In this respect we have been preparing an open letter to the legislators and others relative to changing the whole tax system, and we will attempt to read a first draft of same at the upcoming meeting. We also would appreciate constructive input from anyone on this.

Regarding the upcoming club elections there were few nominations for club positions at the recent board meeting and almost without exception those agreeing to be nominated did so reluctantly. So it comes down to the possibilities hopefully presented at the upcoming meeting ‑ or else. In line with this, it would appear that we are at the crossroads again. Most everyone seems to want the organization to be available when it suits their fancy to make use of it, but practically no one wants the responsibility of assuming an administrative office of the club. Every year we are forced to go through this belittling experience of practically begging someone to take a top office for the coming year, thus literally making the whole idea of elections as such a complete farce. Frankly, this writer has about had it, and I see no particular reason to continue trying to bolster a fading idea year after year against the general apathy of the community. I believe that there is a very good possibility that unless, we experience a resurgence of cooperation at the upcoming meeting, the Community Club could be a thing of the past along with this newsletter.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Some of the island organizations are contemplating various island functions to celebrate the Bicentennial. It would seem like a good idea to set aside the weekend of the Fourth as a general island festival and encompass everything we can generate in the way of activities, entertainment, etc. Like the flea market and bazaar, old time style show, stage show with local talent, pancake breakfast, bake sale, barn dance, old time recipe dinner, etc. So let’s get with it, youse guys, after all this may be the last time some of you will be able to celebrate a bicentennial ‑ of course it depends on how often they hold them!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Well here we go around again! It seems that now the State Dept of Ecology and the Fisheries Dept demand to get into the act on deciding what kind of a ferry dock should be built since they don’t seem to like any plans so far. Guess every little Caesar sitting on the throne of each bureaucracy feels he is the ultimate in supreme knowledge and all us peasants should bow to his self proclaimed wisdom. Apparently each of these creatures jealously guards his respective governmental niche with resolute authority sparingly salted with infinitesimal portions of an ingredient known as common sense. No decision has been made on the passenger boats (for ferry replacement) as yet.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

T 0 L L E D B Y T H E C H U R C H B E L L

Notes from our Pastor’s Desk:

Lent begins March 3rd. Lenten themes will begin Sunday, March 7th. Sermons will deal with five major points in the Christian Faith. This will take us up to Palm Sunday.

Church Services and Church School every Sunday at 10:30.

Coming events:

Workshop on Christian Education on Sunday, February 29, from 2:30 to 5:45 at Mt. Vernon Christian Church. This will have something for everybody ‑‑‑ committees on:

1. Church School Teachers and Superintendents.

2. Church Music.

3. Youth Leadership.

4. Women’s Work.

5. Christian Family.

So come and take your pick. Call Carl Calhoun for transportation. Phone number 758‑2147.

The Bible Class meets Tuesday evenings. The Book of Revelations is our “launching pad” for this study. Come and see.

A welcome signature on the Guest Register: Mr. and Mrs. Ray Tarte from Bellingham.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

1 7 7 6 – 1 9 7 6

B I C E N T E N N I A L C E L E B R A T 1 0 N 0 N L U M M I I S L A N D

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The Lummi Island Civic Club is sponsoring an essay contest for all island residents. The theme of the essay will be “LUMMI ISLAND MY HOME”. There will be 3 divisions in the contest: The first is for Beach School students, these essays to be 200 words or less. The second is for Lummi Island students at Ferndale schools; these essays to be 500 words or less. The third division is open to all adults, young or old, except the judges, and may be 1000 words or 1ess. Entries may be typed or legibly written on one side of the paper. All sheets to be numbered and mailed to Mrs. Gus Johnson by June 1, 1976. Name and address is to be placed on envelope only. All entries become the property of the Civic Club. There will be prizes in each division and details of prizes will be announced in March newsletter. Prizes will be awarded at the Lummi Island Bicentennial Party on July 4th.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Appropriately, our island Bicentennial celebration begins with the flying of 2 Bennington flags on the ferry. The flags were presented by Gus and Libba Johnson and Libba has given us some historical notes: The Bennington was the first official 13 star, 13 stripe flag and pre dates the Betsy Ross flag. It was first flown at the Battle of Bennington where on August 16, 1777 detachments of the New Hampshire militia led by General John Stark stopped General John Burgoyne’s second attempt to join the British forces in New York City. This original flag is now in the museum at Ft. Bennington. You will see that instead of the 13 star circle of the Betsy Ross flag, the Bennington flag has 11 stars in an inverted “U” with “76” in the center and a star at each upper corner of the blue field. Also, the stripes begin and end with the white stripe on the Bennington flag, and on the Betsy Ross it is the red stripe.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

LUMMI ISLAND CRAFT FAIR ‑ Sponsored by Craft Club

At: “The Islander” Park Date: Will be announced later

All island artists and craftsmen are invited to participate and urged to start working on articles for display and for sale, and plan to demonstrate your work during the fair. We hope to have weavers spinning and weaving, artists sketching and painting, potters working, etc.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We understand there was a wedding on Saturday last at the Scenic Estates Clubhouse in which Donna Drafs agreed to make like a dutiful spouse to Kirk Harriman. We congratulate them both and wish them many years of marital bliss‑(whatever that is). ‑Guess the affair was well attended and from all reports the reception wasn’t exactly a wake. Between the recent tax meeting and this wedding party we don’t really know which generated the best attendance, but have reason to assume that it was about even. Guess this could tell us something about our basic interests. Some feller (not me though) once said, “A wedding ring is a matrimonial tourniquet designed to stop circulation.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Valentines, red carnations and tulips brightened the church basement for Civic Club’s February meeting hosted by Alice Behrends, Vivian Behrends and Grace Miller. The Bicentennial Committee suggested plans for the island’s Bicentennial program, and representatives of other island organizations will be asked to form an all island committee. A flagpole and flag for the school yard and an essay contest are among Civic Club projects planned. After the business meeting Grace Miller reported some of the club’s activities in the 1940s and 1950s using old minutes books for reference, and Maurine Melcher brought old photographs to supplement Grace’s report. March 8th will be the 60th Anniversary of the club and hostesses Edith Murphy, Elizabeth Gerritz and Peggy Aiston are planning a birthday celebration in the church basement at the March 11th meeting with the program centering around the first year of the club.

We got us a couple of exceptional executive types emerging from the young adult group that grew up on the island, as follows: Rich Hudson was appointed sales and administrative manager of the Uniflite Corporation, a Bellingham manufacturer of fire retardant fiberglass cruisers and sports fishing yachts. Also, C. A. (Pete) Granger was named marine field agent in northern Puget Sound for Washington Sea Grant. Granger will work with the area businesses and agencies to identify and help resolve problems faced by the marine community in the five surrounding counties. Sea Grant is supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Guess they can both now qualify to be classed as high risks by their respective life insurance companies. What was that again about behind every successful man there stands a surprised wife?

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

This pertinent note taken from a Seattle daily: Every 7th person in the U. S. now receives a monthly check directly from an agency of the U.S. Dept. of Health Education and Welfare. Checks are dispensed through the Office of Human Development, the Social and Rehabilitation Service and the Social Security Administration …. And here is another goodie taken from a state directive of the Occupational Safety and Health Agricultural Standards relative to where to put seats on tractors: “The seat reference point is that point where the vertical line that is tangent to the most forward point at the longitudinal seat center line of the seat back, and the horizontal line that is tangent to the highest point of the seat cushion intersect in the longitudinal seat section.”….Another observation: When you’re dead, you’re dead, that’s life …. Recently heard that an American is a fellow that wants to borrow five bucks till payday so as he can call his congressman about balancing the budget.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

B.E.A.C.H S.C.H.O.O.L N.E.W.S.

Guess the biggest news lately ‑ but not the best ‑ was the outcome of the levy. Many people called and stopped by to make sure we understood their feelings of frustration had to do with the new assessments and not the island school. I can appreciate their feelings and feel good they took time to comment. It is sure difficult to make comment. Lummi Island has always had the reputation in our district of strong support, and yet we voted next to the bottom this time. I feel we all know what the problems are. Don’t know for sure how it will directly affect our school, but we remain hopeful and try to stay positive!

‑READING LESSON FOR OWNER OF GREY ‘BLAZER’ LICENSE #2313 A: Did you know that when teacher goes to school on Sunday she goes to get work done? Did you know she does not like to have playground duty for big boys? Did you know that when big men drive their trucks onto the tennis court and park them that it is a naughty thing to do? Did you know that when teacher says move the truck she does not mean to park it on the soft rain soaked school play ground? Did you guess you did not have to sulk and take your ball and go home and not play? Teacher only wanted the big man to park his truck in the correct place behind the bus garage. Can you guess that if the yard or tennis court get tire tracks in it that now everyone will think YOU are the one who did it?? Use your brain to think! Use your feet to walk! Then everyone still likes you ‑ even teacher!

….. In the THANKS department: Si and Judy Eldred built a fine ‘fireplace’ for Santa to come down at Christmastime. It is a permanent type so now we don’t have to buy crepe paper every year and redo it! …. Another late thanks to a “mystery man” on the mountain. Before Halloween a man came to our door and asked if we’d like some decorations he’d taken down from some stores, and of course we did when we saw the colorful leaves and chains, etc. I knew I should have written down his name but didn’t ‑ but would like him to know we’ve gotten so much pleasure out of his thoughtful gift ….. Mrs. Pabor gave us a fine chart from the Civic Club which traces the evolution of the flags of Great Britain and the United States …. Our PTA mothers, headed up by Jeanne Finney, have been preparing HOT lunches once a week during the past month ‑ a delicious treat! …. Beth Hudson gifted us with more issues of SEARCH magazine, one with a two headed snake! … Dan Pomeroy made a superb magnetic force exhibit, and you never saw such a line of people wanting to ‘work’ a scientific gadget…. Si Eldred hauled a lot of lumber and gave lots of good tips on what to use to save money for some bookcases that Paul Davis and the teachers made. Stop by and see them. We think you’d be really surprised to see the fine library we have at the school, and so much of it has been donated. For example: we just got a set of encyclopedias from Donna Harriman …. Paul Winkler had everyone over to the aquaculture area and we got a wonderful tour …. Everyone went to a Bicentennial Concert by the Seattle Symphony and our kids were the best listeners there!

…….. YOU ARE MOST CORDIALLY INVITED to two events in March: The first one is the Tuesday,

March,9th 7:30 PM meeting of P.T.A. Donna Harriman has arranged another fine program similar to the one she gave last year. This year’s guest will be the child psychologist Steve Rubey from Bellingham. He will speak on problems related to “raisin’ kids” and all moms, dads, grandmas and grandpas, aunts, uncles, everyone, is invited, and bring questions if you wish. On Friday, March 12th at 2:30 PM our school nurse and a nutritionist from the County Health Dept. will give a program. It will be aimed primarily at providing truly nutritious food on a budget. Many handouts will accompany the talk. We invite all the community to this program arranged by Shirley Shanahan. If you have specific problems you wish discussed please phone your questions in (758‑2366) and the nurse will research them before the meeting and give you her findings at that time.

LUMMI ISLAND PRESCHOOL NEWS

Thank yous are in order to two community groups on the island: The Lummi Island Preschool Cooperative wants to thank the Grange for letting us use the Grange Hall during the month of January. Because the church closes during January, we were worried about finding a place to meet. The Grange kindly helped us out. It was fun and interesting to be in “downtown” Lummi Island for awhile. We could walk to Beach School and could visit Jerry Anderson at the Post Office. Now we are resettling at our home base, the church basement. Thank you to the church for continuing to let us use its building. It’s great how people work together on this island.

We sure enjoy visitors. Flo Konecke came by the other day and made up some games with the children. From the smile on her face you could tell she had a good time. We meet Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 12:45. There are 15 children from ages 2 through 5. Several children from Gooseberry Point attend. Please come by to see us! Any questions? Call Cathy Luke, 758‑2688 (Officer) or Leslie Moore, 758‑2105 (Teacher).

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A LITTLE GOOD NEWS: If you’re somewhat longwinded and your letters run more than 1 ounce, though that first ounce is 13¢ under the new postal rates, each additional ounce is ll¢ through 13 ounces. For over 13 ounces and other classes of mail phone Jerry or Joanne at the post office.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

DON’T FORGET LUMMI ISLAND COMMUNITY CLUB DUES ARE DUE. Dues are $2.00 per calendar year for either a single person or married couple. Bring your payment to the Community Club Potluck Dinner meeting next Wednesday, February 25th or mail it to Treasurer Clifford Rohrbacher.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

We have just heard that Floyd Massey has died and we send our sympathies to his widow and family.

Main Menu
Our Lummi Island Community
Ferry / Travel / Weather