GIHS – History of the North Wind Gallery
Ferry Public Forum
Linda Porter – Free Spirit
In Case You Missed It – Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise
In Case You Missed It - Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise
Meeting on Seafarer’s Way at the Anacortes Marina was an expectant group (~50) of friends and neighbors waiting to board the cruise ship Mystic Sea for the promised “Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise” planned by the Guemes Island Historical Society. This was a new idea for the Society (which is headed by me, President Tom Deach) to ramp up the fun while adding to our treasury at $100 per head.
Other ‘fun’d raisers have been the selling of the historical calendars each year; the “Dog Days of Summer Dog Island Dog Show”; Fall Bazaar where we sell soup and baked goods in the fellowship hall of the Guemes Church plus rent space there and at the Community Center to local artisans.
We also welcome and accept donations toward the mission of the group which is to reveal Guemes history, work toward safe-guarding the ever-growing collection of historical artifacts and have fun!
I arranged for cheerful volunteer taxi drivers to transport folks from the Guemes ferry dock and back again. Carol Harma managed the passenger list as Kit Harma, Kevin Green, Al Bush, Edith Walden, myself and others helped load the boat with the delectables - delicious cheese trays, “slider” sandwiches, pasta salad and the decadent cookie bars to top it all off! – all planned by David Rockwood. A satisfying variety of liquid refreshment was supplied and expertly served by Michael Brown and Mickey McEachern.
The captains of the Mystic Sea and their crew were very welcoming, helpful and friendly. Monty and Eric pointed out such interesting sights as the named coves and beaches on Guemes as well as on the other islands we passed by.
The cruise began as we swung out into “Fidalgo Bay” heading for “Casperson Point” on the SE point of Guemes. Continuing toward the north, the Mystic Sea skirted the point and snugged in between Guemes and Huckleberry Islands. Rosie Cayou James had supplied us with very interesting maps including notable historical references. She gave commentary on the recent acquisition of Huckleberry Island by the Samish Indian Nation. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has transferred ownership of the approximately 10-acre island to the Samish since owning the island no longer fits within the vision of the state agency; plus the Samish have found evidence of ancestry there. Staying north, we soon passed “Long Beach” beneath “Holiday Hideaway” and then “Square Bay” before following the north shore of Guemes. Along that stretch we had good views of “Seaway Hollow” and “North Beach” from the “Flats” all the way past the “Guemes Island Resort”, toward the most northwesterly “Clark Point”.
Views toward the east included Samish, Jack, Vendovi and Lummi Islands with Bellingham Bay in the distance. Heading around “Clark Point”, we could see towering fir trees, spreading maples and ancient cedars in the once dense forest high above this end of the island.
As West Shore Road turns down the hill toward the beach, home sites appear. Rosie pointed out the land on “West Beach” occupied by her tribe many years ago. She sang a tribute to her family nd tribe as we motored on by the home of her aunt, Jackie Bohn, who came out on the deck to give us a wave.
Swinging away from “West Beach”, we then crossed “Bellingham Channel” and motored over to Cypress Island where we saw the recently collapsed fish pens, “Secret Harbor” and “Strawberry Bay”.
As the sun began to sink into the sea the crew gave us a nature tour of “Bird Rocks” in “Rosario Strait” with the many cormorants, gulls and the 2000-plus pounds of sea lions curiously checking out our passing ship. Circling “Bird Rocks” as the sun set was a very special treat. Lights on shore began to come on and we saw two state ferries, all lit up as they passed each other.
The Mystic Sea turned across the strait and toward “Guemes Channel”, heading back east along the Anacortes waterfront, past the Guemes ferry dock, past Piers 1 and 2, around Cap Sante and back to port. We all disembarked, clutching our maps, looking for taxi ride back to the ferry dock, hoping for a repeat performance of friends, food and fun in 2018!
Meet Your Neighbor – Michael Brown and Cheryl Mansley
Beyond the Gates – A Walking Tour of the Guemes Island Cemetery
Beyond the Gates - A Walking Tour of the Guemes Island Cemetery
We are so lucky that our Guemes Island Historical Society is deeply passionate about preserving and sharing the rich history of our island. If you've never attended a presentation, I'd highly suggest it. Though I may be a "young" person on this island at nearly 40, I am always enthralled by the stories and information GIHS has in their pockets. Their next presentation is no exception.
“Beyond the Gates: A Walking Tour of the Guemes Island Cemetery”
Presented by Adam Veal, Guemes Island Cemetery District Commissioner.
Monday, September 11, 6:30 p.m. Cemetery Gates
Adam will lead a walk through our historic Guemes cemetery focusing on several early settlers, such as the Edens family, whose influence is still felt to this day. In addition we'll learn about some of the later arrivals on the island. Adam will share his knowledge of those that have come before us, with his favorite stories and amusing anecdotes. Please join us in a stroll through time.
The regularly scheduled GIHS business meeting will immediately follow Adam's presentation.
The meeting is open to all, and we encourage your participation.
Please contact Tom Deach (360-708-2582)with any questions you may have.
Meet Your Neighbor – Justin Rothboeck
Meet Your Neighbor – Elke Macartney
GICCA Stage Project
GICCA Stage Project
Links:
- Stage timeline – August 2009 to January 2022
- Stage references/history from GICCA minutes November 2011 through January 2022
GICCA maintains a master list of names of stage volunteers, donors, and business partners. These names are documented from the Guemes Tide Archives and from prior GICCA Board minutes and Treasurer records, in some cases going back at least 10 years. Using these sources, GICCA has made every attempt to compile the most complete and accurate list of documented names possible. The list currently contains over 145 names and continues to grow - thank you! GICCA looks forward to publicly acknowledging all the hard-working and generous volunteers, donors, and business partners in conjunction with a well-deserved and long-awaited community celebration at project conclusion.
Guemes Island is home to many talented as well as budding musicians. Music is an important and integral part of our culture. The concept of an outdoor stage was the brainchild of a group of island musicians in 2010. Planning and design ensued over the next 2-3 years. Since then many, many hours of volunteer time have been invested in site preparation, materials gathering and prepping, and stage construction activities. More than $70,000 has been raised and spent from numerous fundraisers, generous community contributions, and an Anacortes Parks Foundation Grant.
The stage design has changed over the years. Volunteers, as well as paid professionals, have come and gone for various reasons. GICCA Board members have transitioned numerous times as terms expired and new Board members were elected. All of these transitions have presented new challenges and impacted project timelines and budgets.
Thanks to all who have so generously donated valuable time and money to the stage project! Stage performances, including music, talent shows, fashion shows, theater, etc., will enrich the artistic culture on the island and enhance our strong sense of community. The stage will be a wonderful asset for us all to take pride in and enjoy!
To learn how you can make future contributions, please go to the Donate/Volunteer page. Make sure to indicate that your donation is for the stage.
The GICCA Stage Project at Schoolhouse Park is being built on Community Center property. As such, GICCA is responsible for project oversight including project structure and operating guidelines, budget management, volunteer and construction coordination, and the safety of all involved. All stage construction and purchasing decisions must be approved by the GICCA-appointed project manager. All volunteers involved in tasks that require them to be physically present on the stage site must sign and submit a Volunteer Waiver before engaging in such tasks.
Important reminder to everyone working on the stage: Fiscal responsibility by the elected Board to our generous donors demands the central coordination of tasks and purchases. We have an ongoing policy that all work is coordinated through the GICCA-appointed stage project manager.
TASKS are delegated as needed to volunteer coordinators with specific knowledge and skills. They, in turn, call on our talented volunteer workforce to complete these specific tasks. Safety and liability concerns may require outsourcing of certain tasks.
MATERIALS must also be coordinated through the project manager. This ongoing policy is necessary to keep costs for this monumental project in check. Unauthorized purchases will be considered a donation and CAN NOT be reimbursed. We thank you for respecting this long-standing policy.