Month: October 2019

Drilling holes in back beam, Back beam in place, Finding the balance point

The seven 33 ft long logs that will be used for the purlins (front to back roof supports) are now at the site and in the process of being peeled and dressed. These logs replaced others that were unusable. Transporting these logs from Conway to Guemes was a community effort with many thanks to Bob Porter for his help.

Through Jep Burdock’s friendship with Dan Rankin, the mayor of Darrington, WA, we acquired two massive milled beams to be used for the back horizontal support beam. These also replaced a log at the site that was unusable. These milled beams were cut from a tree on Dan Rankin’s mother’s property in Darrington. She was a community activist and Dan was proud to see this wood go to a worthwhile community project.

Sandy and Kathy McKean donated additional logs for the eight perimeter vertical columns and for the two middle columns in the back. We replaced the latter with straighter logs that better accommodated the overhead beam. These logs are also being peeled and dressed.

Under Jep’s direction using his timber framing skills, Tom Fouts, Rick Norrie, and John Strathman assembled the Darrington beams according to the plan specifications. Forks were cut in the tops of the four back vertical columns. It took some “delicate” chainsaw work and Tom’s skilled maneuvering with the boom truck, but the back beam is now in place.

The next steps include fitting the front horizontal “showcase” log for placement on the two front vertical columns and construction of the wing walls that will enclose three sides of the stage performance area.

Many thanks to our dedicated core team who have given countless hours of their time and donated equipment, fuel, and ferry fees. Their wives also deserve a huge thank you as this project has taken Tom, Rick, and John away from many projects at home.

GIST (Guemes Immigrant Support Team) is a group of Guemes volunteers that formed around the idea of continuing island support for immigrants in our area. GIST has joined with the Guemes Church for a fundraising dinner, FIESTA DE LOS AMIGOS, with the goal of raising $2000. Proceeds will be divided between four existing organizations actively assisting immigrants in Skagit County. We hope to give each of these remarkable tax-deductible groups $500. All four can be easily found online.

• Red Group. The first $500 would go to this student outreach and support group under the umbrella of Skagit Valley College. Some, but not all, of the young people involved are DACA. Red Group also sponsors a Community Information Fair, The iDream Conference.

• IRIS (Immigrant Resources & Immediate Support) supports 2 to 5 immigrant families at a time with very basic needs that include school costs. IRIS is all volunteer with no overhead costs. Some of their families seek asylum, some are homeless, some are single parents, and all are in great need.

• SIRC (Skagit Immigrant Rights Council) provides basic legal information to immigrants. Donations to SIRC go to student scholarships and low-cost loans to immigrants seeking citizenship. These loans reduce the financial hardship of the application fees, which can be considerable. SIRC is all volunteer with no overhead costs.

• Tri-Parish Food Bank is located near St Charles Catholic Church in Mount Vernon and has a large and varied immigrant clientele. It is not a recipient of the successful local “Red Bag” program. Tri-Parish buys appropriately and in bulk, has a communal garden, and benefits from a very dedicated long-term staff. They serve all comers. Tri-Parish’s overhead costs are estimated at 20%.

On the evening of Nov. 9, there will be a brief informational program of personal stories provided by two remarkable young immigrant (Mixtec) women, Guillermina Bazante and Marta Martinez Olivera. There will be time for questions. These two women do not represent any of the four groups above but, as community activists, they seek to better the conditions for all local immigrants.

Sock drive for fieldworkers who badly need good, new wool socks (Merino/Smartwool/Wigwam at Amazon or REI), size 9-11.  Please bring what you can.

$5 tickets for a $100 Gift Certificate to COA Mexican Eatery.

Cash donations will be accepted at the door or with a check made out to the Guemes Island Community Church with “Immigrant Support” written on the memo line. Donations are tax-deductible. You do not have to attend to donate. Checks may also be mailed to The Guemes Island Community Church, 7611 Guemes Island Rd, Anacortes, WA 98221.

For more info contact, Infoimmigrantralph@gmail.com

Thank you to all who participated in Skagit Land Trust’s Guemes Community Day on Saturday, 10/12!

We are happy to talk to community members interested in supporting Trust activities on Guemes. Please let us know if you are interested in helping with stewardship of our conservation areas, or in serving on a Guemes Community Group to help organize events and facilitate Skagit Land Trust’s continuing work on Guemes Island. If you are interested in helping out, please email us at info@skagitlandtrust.org – we’d love to hear from you!