LUMMI ISLAND COMMMUNITY CLUB
NEWSLETTER
April 20, 1978
COMMUNITY CLUB MEETING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978
POTLUCK DINNER ‑‑ 6:30 PM GENERAL MEETING ‑‑ 7:30 PM
C.ALENDAR OF EVENTS‑‑.
SUNDAY, APRIL 23, 3:30 5:30 PM Farewell Reception Carl Calhoun’s – Island Church
TUESDAY, MAY 9, 7:30 PM P.T.A. Meeting ‑ Beach School, Bond Issue Presentation & Dr. Steve Ruby, Child Psychologist
THURSDAY, MAY 11, 10:00 AM Annual Spring Cleaning Day, Island Church & Cemetery
TUESDAY, MAY 1‑6, 7:00 AM ‑,8:00 PM Voting ‑ School Bond Issue
SATURDAY, MAY 20, 5:30 8:30 PM Grange Spaghetti Dinner
THURSDAY, MAY 25, 7:00 Ferry ‑Skating Party ‑ Ferndale Roller Rink
SATURDAY, MAY 27 LICC Auction/Potluck Dinner
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CABLEVISION A POSSIBILITY FOR ISLANDERS??
The LICC general meeting on Wednesday night will include preliminary discussion on the possibility of cablevision for Island residents with a report on investigation and requirements to date. Any member of the community who is interested in this service is urged to attend as their input may be vital in any decision making by the potential “supplier”.
The subject of Island Fire Department equipment and future needs will also be presented by Fire District Commissioner, Jerry Anderson.
This Issue of the Newsletter is a Special Edition going to all Islanders plus off-Islanders with subscriptions. There are many new community members who may not be familiar with our monthly publication, which is paid for by Community Club dues and Newsletter subscriptions. LICC membership is open to any member of the community 18 years of age or older, and the purpose of the Club is to preserve and improve Lummi Island so as to provide the environment and conditions desired by the members of the community. Funds are raised through community projects such as the Pancake Breakfast and Auction, and used to purchase Fire Dept. equipment, sanitary services, special community needs etc. Should anyone desire more information regarding the LICC or Newsletter, they may contact Paul‑ Davis at 758‑2414 or Gerri Neuman at 758‑2213, or any LICC Board member.
3RD ANNUAL LICC AUCTION SCHEDULED
Saturday May 27 will see Steve Luke once again take the podium as Auctioneer for the LICC 3rd annual auction. Again there will be a Mexican-theme potluck dinner preceding the opening bids on items and services donated by members of the Lummi Island community. Last year saw home-prepared cuisine from all continents of the world to beautifully created objects of art and craft, and even a carpeted dog house going to the high bidders. This is a community project where everyone can partake in donating or bidding, and it has always proved to be one of the Island’s more popular social gatherings. Anyone wishing to make his/her own special contribution may do so by contacting any LICC Board member or calling Gerri Neuman (758‑2213) or Cathy Luke (758‑2668). More Information will be available in the next Newsletter Issue. – – G. Neuman, Editor
ISLAND ROADSIDE CLEANUP SUCCESSFUL
Thanks to good weather, terrific volunteers, outstanding food and 3 trucks full of garbage, our Island roadsides are once again clean (at least they were at the end of March!) . At least 2 adults ventured out with each truck and a group of children and collected a year’s worth of beer cans, cigarette packs, pop cans, bottles, candy wrappers, etc. After spending more time in the bushes than on the roadside, this particular volunteer can’t figure out why those folks who are careful enough to eat yogurt and drink apple juice can’t be courteous enough to throw the containers in the trash instead of on the ground! And beer drinkers…please …if you’re going to toss ‘em out the window … don’t throw the bottles so far into the bushes. It’s so much. easier for all of us to use our own garbage cans.
Thanks! Thanks! Thanks! To all of the volunteers. I think my Tracey was the youngest (she only collected pop tops and cans – everything else was too yucky”) and I’m guessing Mac was the oldest ‘(with Harold Eldred running next) … and there were many to fill In, the age gap. ‘Twas a worthwhi1e community project and all Islanders should be proud.
And then came the, lunch. WOW! The Finney‑Lockwood team headed up a typically terrific feast. And for those of you who arrived with cakes & cookies, sandwiches, etc., thank you from all of us! All In all, a great success – hope we can keep it nice for the rest of the year. Our LICC garbage cans will be out before Memorial Day, so please, let’s use ‘em.
(P.S. Thanks to Dave Eastman from Litter Control for donating the garbage sacks, car litter bags, pitch-in patches and volunteer pins!) – – Cathy Luke
GRANGE NEWS ‑‑ Six members were Initiated Into the degree of’ Pamona Apr11 5 at Goshen e, Grange. Those receiving the degree were: Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Moye, Ted Cooper, Phyllis Lockwood, Joanne Hammerberg and Charleen Melton. – – Edith Granger
DOGS WILL BE DOGS
Wednesday, 3-22-78: It was a difficult basketball contest for the folks from Lummi Island tonight.
The stage had been perfectly set: a do or die championship between old-timers Massey Reality and the upstart Lummi Dogs. And the Dogs were psyched; there were rumors about extra ferry runs to accommodate the fans streaming off the Island. The Lummi bleachers were) Packed; warm hearts and cheering voices. As the two teams prepared for the opening tip‑off, the distant question again popped through all the tensions: Could this be the first Dog championship ever brought back to the Island?
The game was a classic. The Dogs were everything they could be; cold and hot, loose and tight. They ran the athletic gamut. At the start, the Dogs went down by 6 points, then zingo, they were up by 16. At half time, the Islanders led by 6. The second half, the Dogs slid into their offensive fizzle. The small lead dwindled, disappeared, and was lost as Massey took control. The Dogs fell further behind, and as valiant as they tried, they could not avoid a slow death at the end of the game … Fouls and foul shots. An occasional lay‑up. The Dogs went down. What happened? Was it inexperience?’ An over‑psyche? Sparky “the touch” Tuttle perhaps mused the appropriate, “It takes more than flashes.”
So the Basketball Team rode their last midnight ferry home. Warm feelings, soft feelings, a waxing moon. Two trophies, wet towels, gym bags crammed with memories Thank you Dogs, a full and fine, fine season.
And one last toast. Again to the Lummi Dog Fans … Who saw the team through the year and pumped them through the playoffs. To the Lummi Island Fans go the thanks for a delightful season. It wouldn’t have happened without you (Clink).
So now the winter sports are behind. Lummi Is quickly turning lush and lime, rich with the blessing of Spring. The days are longer, and getting warmer. Blossoms burst . Birds are singing. And all about the Island roam the Dogs. Sniffing the air; waiting and wondering. is it Baseball Season yet?
Go, you Dogs, Woof, woof, . aawoof! – – Woody
WARNING TO ALL DRIVERS..BIG LITTLE. OR IN‑BETWEENS!
The Beach School kids are n training for two runs – both endurance and long distance,. and we sometimes practice on the roads – so every morning from 10:30 until 11:00 AM If you are driving ‑ Please keep your eyes peeled for any of us who might be out practicing. This goes ditto on weekends ’cause lots of parents are beginning to get out and practice with their kids. Thanks for saving a life!! Patty Gregory
BABIES BUSTIN OUT ALL OVER
The population of the Island Is rapidly increasing, and we’d like to welcome some new Islanders and prepare for the arrival of more … just to mention a few: Anna “delivered” 10, Buttercup had 1, Mrs. Quack had 11, Peggy is p.g., Timzi expects twins, and O.J. raped Earl & Donna’s little one (she’ll deliver somewhere between here and Alaska in the trailer – you can imagine how “pleased” Earl & Donna are. Welcome one and all to Lummi Island. (Is the Newsletter going to the ducks?) Also, congrats to proud parents Dave Lapof and Karly Tucker for their new born Simon Isaac weighing in at 8 lb. 10 oz. on April 14th. – – C.. Luke
REPORT FROM LAND USE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN STEERING COMMITTEE
The Lummi Island Steering Committee is now working on a rough draft of the plan for Lummi Island. Ideally, a plan for Lummi would accurately determine its carrying capacity in such matters as potable water supply, land suitable for sewage disposal by septic tanks, wildlife habitat, access by ferry etc. Taking water as an example, such knowledge would make it easy to write a plan that would let the community “draw off the interest instead of the principal.” For the most part, though, precise answers cannot be found for such questions. Writing the plan will require numerous decisions and some of the most basic will have to be made with imprecise information. Recognizing these limitations, the committee is attempting to write a plan that would allow growth within limits which would preserve the island’s rural character and community. “Rural character” is understood to mean, both the amenities of the natural environment ‑‑ the open spaces, views, wooded areas and wild1ife ‑‑ and the lack of suburban scale governmental services, and utilities such as sewers.
A consulting groundwater geologist, Ron Schmidt, is advising the committee on the question of groundwater supply. He is studying the characteristics of the sandstone, the relationship of freshwater and saltwater in the sandstone and glacial deposits, and identifying watershed areas which recharge the aquifers.
The committee is now meeting in small groups on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 7:30 at the Grange Hall. All meetings are open. If all goes according to schedule, the committee will be ready to present the rough draft to Islanders in early June. After that, a revised plan will be presented to the Whatcom County Planning Commission. – – Jim Arthur‑
REQUEST TO ALL THE ISLAND LITTER BUGS AND THEIR FRIENDS!
Please, please, please… in the future when you have to throw your beer cans, wine bottles, yogurt cups, etc. into the bushes … would you not throw them in so far? I know all that brewer’s yeast and acidophilus must make you feel hale and hearty, and you just enjoy the heck out of a good long heave‑ho…but … when Spring comes and we get out there in those ditches and brambles to retrieve all those treasures, it wrecks the blinking daylights out of my latest huate coutour outfit and Farrah Fawcett hairdo when I have to go through chicken wire fences! Thanks, loves! – – Patty Gregory
SENIOR CITIZEN MINI BUS FOR ANYONE AGE 55 OR UP
We will lose the service of the Senior Citizens Mini Bus unless more Seniors show Interest! The Senior Center sands out a mini bus every Wednesday to meet the 9:00 AM ferry and returns for the 4:10 PM. A nice service for the Seniors age 55 or over on our Island. We have to at least have four people signed up to go or they won’t come out for us. Five of us have kept the.bus coming, but surely there are others who could enjoy the pleasure of letting a bus take them in for doctors appointments or a day of shopping. Call Jerry Anderson at the Post Office or Elaine Moye at 758‑2248 for more information.
FREEHOLDERS PREPARING FIRST DRAFT
The Whatcom County Board of Freeholders hopes to have the first draft of a Home Rule Charter prepared by early May. The early months of our work were devoted to discussing county ‘government with our elected officials, department heads and other county employees, mayors of the county’s cities and towns, as well as many others. Based both on what we have learned from those who work in the court house and those who have regular dealings with county government, as well as approximately six weeks of discussion among Board members, the Freeholders have decided to spilt the administrative and legislative functions between a part‑time 7 person council and an elected full‑time administrator. Presently, our county commissioners are both the “legislative” and the “executive”. The goal is to provide one person to run the administrative or business side of county government, and a more responsive policy-making legislative body. Two council members would be elected from each of the three county commissioner districts with the seventh being elected county‑w de.
Most other aspects of our present county government would be retained as they are at the present time. Assessor, auditor, treasurer, and sheriff would still be elected, although the coroner and clerk would become appointive positions. All elective officers, other than sheriff, would remain partisan.
One major change will be the addition of the powers of initiative and referendum. With these powers, the people of Whatcom County will be able to initiate legislation as well as have the opportunity to repeal ordinances passed by the council. Petitions bearing signatures of 15% of the number of those voting in the last gubernatorial election will be required to put either an initiative or a referendum on the ballot.
The Board wants to stress that all decisions made to date are tentative. We want to hear the comments and reactions of Whatcom County voters to our preliminary suggestions.
Please feel free to contact Will Roehl or Cathy Luke regarding your agreement or disagreement with these proposals. Finally, a reminder that all meetings are open to the public with time for public comment. Our next meeting is Tuesday, April 25, 7:30 PM at the court house annex on Forest Street.
– – Will Roehl
GRANGE LAWN CARE REQUESTED – URGENT
The Community Club has again assumed the responsibility of keeping the Grange lawn mowed and tidy this year. In our democratic fashion, we are seeking competitive bids for the job. The job consists of mowing all the Grange lawn, except that portion in the rear that is too rough for a lawn mower, and raking if necessary for a neat result. Mowing will be required about once per week during the fast growing period, and less often in dry periods, until the end of the growing season n the Fall. Bids should be on the basis of the fee for each mowing, not the total for the season. Anyone who is interested should deliver or phone their secret bid to Treasurer Paul Davis, 758‑2414. The deadline is 10:00 PM next Tuesday, April 25, so please hurry! The winner will be announced at the general LICC meeting Wednesday, April 26.
– – P. Davis
FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLS
Reported calls for the month of April were a beach fire at Isle Air on April 12 at 8:45 PM; an aid call for a heart problem on April 12; and aid call for an injured finger on April 15.
RECEPTION PLANNED FOR CARL CALHOUNS
All Lummi Islanders are invited to a reception at the Church on Sunday, April 23rd, between 3:30 and 5:30 PM to bid farewell to Charlotte and Carl Calhoun. The Calhouns are moving from Lummi to King City, Oregon.
CIVIC CLUB NEWS
A program presented by Mary Johnson was thoroughly enjoyed by Civic Club members on Thursday, April, 13, in the church social hall. Mrs. Johntson, a home decorator with McCalls magazine for 37 years, was known as Mary Davis Gillis and was also the author of several books on that subject. She displayed antique quilts and quilt blocks; also, two cloisonne vases and explained the intricate process in making them. A quilt tied by the group last month will be raffled sometime later in the summer. 25¢ a chance or 5 for $1.00.
It was voted to send $25 to the Fire Dept. Auxiliary to help purchase triangle bandages or material to make them. These bandages are used by the EMT’s in the aid car, and by the firemen in their first aid training.
Next meeting is May 11 and will be the Annual Spring Cleaning Day for the cemetery and church. Meet at 10 o’clock, bring a sack lunch (Clara Dunn has promised hot coffee), gardening tools and cleaning equipment. – – Lois Peterson
NEXT NEWSLETTER DEADLINE ‑ MONDAY, MAY 15 ‑ PLEASE LEAVE MATERIAL AT POST OFFICE OR EITHER STORE, OR WITH A LICC BOARD MEMBER. THANKS! EDITOR
BEACH SCHOOL NEWS
Tuesday, May 16 … from 7 AM ’til 8 PM. Voting in church basement ‑ School Bond Issue
Last P.T.A. meeting of the year is a double header! Tuesday, May 9, 7:30 PM., a 15 minute slide presentation with a speaker from Ferndale School District regarding the resubmission of the Bond Issue on May 16! Dr. Steve Rudy, child psychologist, will follow. Both of these speakers have played to Standing Room Only, so be sure and bring a friend or two!
Skating Party… last one of the year! Thursday, May 25, 7:00 ferry. Ferndale Roller Rink.. only 80¢ for entry & skates..Everyone welcome..lots of (ouch) fun!
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It’s a good thing it is spring and I live and teach on Lummi Island or I’d be awfully discouraged and disgusted! Seems lately that lots of the “experts” on young children and education that are publishing have all this research that proves that what happens to infants and youngsters has nothing to do with what kind of adults they turn out to be! Reminds me of my well aged compost! I’m glad I teach in a community where the school kids and their adult sponsors worked together hard enough to win FIRST PLACE IN WHATCOM COUNTY IN THE M.S. READ‑A‑THON FOR FUNDS EARNED!…where during the ISLAND CLEANUP, almost every child in school helped right along with the older members of their community and knew they were valued for their help… I wish the experts could live in a place where the taxpayers believe in their schools and children so strongly that they are the only ones in their whole district to get out and vote BOTH a Bond and Levy over the top of 60%, and even the SUPERINTENDENT wrote a note saying “Those people on Lummi Island sure have a soft spot in my heart, believe me!” … where visitors who are on Spring vacation come back to spend time in school … people like AMY KONECKE, HEIDI FITZGERALD, JEREMY HEWITT, DANA, CHRIS, JEFF AND CARRIE IRVING, AND TOFER GREELEY … where at Easter time RICH JOHNSON sends three lilies to school for the children to enjoy … and LEE GREELEY makes a special EGG TREE on Stuart Island and brings it over for us … where for the first time in 10 years we had to have our EGG ROLL inside due to rain: but all of the children, parents, and pre-schoolers had a wonderful time hiding and looking for eggs for days afterwards… If they could only see the kids’ faces during sharing when the LUMMI DOGS Basketball Team gave (for keeps!) their impressive WINNERS’ TROPHY … and then watch DAVE SKLAR coming at noon to “coach” due to the new enthusiasm for basketball….where time after time people do things for the children and school without even being asked and then go quietly on their way… like the RAY O’BRINES who keep picking up free and much needed paper for us … or SI ELDRED and his son WESLEY who hauled away our Christmas tree and boughs…or PAUL DAVIS who ran test after test on our kiln so we’d know exactly how it operates…or CARL AND CHARLOTTE CALHOUN who gifted us with collections of National Geographics and Smithsonian issues … to say nothing of the wonderful teaching in singing … or SHELLEY SHERMAN who gave us all her clay when she left…If they could witness how people often invite our children to their homes or jobs so they may observe and truly learn as JIM and RIA BARKER have done when we’ve gone to their studio/home to watch them building their kiln and then back again to watch both potters in action and see the results of their first firing … Yes… if those “experts’’could only see and hear every parent of every child on Lummi Island when they came to Parent-Teacher conferences…If they could be anywhere near this Island and any of its people when they are with “their” children or hear them when they speak of “their” children … they would know how utterly untrue all of their “research” would be in this place … for these children will remember… and well remember … for all of their days what kind of a childhood they had growing up on Lummi Island … and they will never be able to forget most of the people who made it so special for them. Patty Gregory
CHURCH NEWS
WE REALLY DO CARE ABOUT YOU! And so do four Bellingham men who are helping us keep the .church operating every Sunday. J. Rod MacKenzie of Whatcom Community College, and Lawrence Brewster, Erhart Schinske, and Marvin Olmstead, all of Western Washington University, are taking turns coming to the Island to lead Church services through June. Their schedule for the rest of April is: April 16..Erhart Schinske; April 23..Rod MacKenzie; April 30.. Marvin Olmstead. Services start at 10:30 AM.
Father Herbert McLellon of the Episcopal Church in Bellingham conducts a communion service, at our Island Church the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM. He has Invited anyone interested to attend.
If you are redoing your kitchen and have a small electric range in good working order you need to dispose of, we’re Interested. Just call Elaine Moye at 758‑2248. The one currently in use at the church is so temperamental, it’s time for a change. – – Beth Hudson
FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEER’S OFFICE
The Dept. of Ecology has dropped its appeal and will no longer delay permits to add necessary pilings to the new ferry dock. Islanders can now be assured of more protection on the dock, ramp and more importantly, to us. The piling will be removed from the old dock and will fill in voids in the existing breakwaters, extend the south breakwater, and combine for additional dolphins to protect the boat and the dock apron. County Engineer Henken says construction should begin when the ferry has gone to dry dock. – – C. Luke
LUMMI ISLAND COMMUNITY CLUB BULK RATE .
LUMMI ISLAND, WA. 98262 U.S. POSTAGE .
PAID .
LUMMI IS., WA. 98262
PERMIT NO. 2 .
RESIDENT
LUMMI ISLAND, WA. 98262
(ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED)