By Sally Gracie
Before I came in from the porch to write this column, I realized that not one bird was in the yard. Not one dove. Not a single robin. More surprising, no ambient bird song came from the trees. Perhaps the smoke affects their breathing, too.
The town deer visited under cover of darkness to munch the white and pink phlox out back and the pink geranium flowers on the front steps. The country deer passed through, too, stopping for a while to feast on the lawn at the rental cottage next door. Three does were traveling with two bucks, one a three-point.
The difference between town and country deer? The hometowners have no fear of me; they know that Beebe is fenced so aren’t afraid of her either. The beast that ate the geraniums would have needed urging from me even had I opened the front door. The travelers were so skittish, I couldn’t get a decent photograph of them.
A total of $40,000 is the combined amount needed by two of our most-loved community resources. Methow Valley Community Center must raise an additional $20,000 to complete funding for the paving project, which will repave the Third Avenue section of the parking lot (the “sinkhole” dip part). Friends of the Pool has raised $80,000 of the $100,000 it needs to resurface, reseal, and re-tile to extend the life of the aging Wagner Memorial Pool.
Community Center manager Kirsten Ostlie tells me that September 2015 would be a great time to have the paving project done, as the seniors will be paving the areas in front of their entrance. We know that $20,000 has been raised in one night at some fundraisers. If each of us steps up today, the goal is within reach. Donations can be made during the farmers market, at the Visitor Information Center or community center office and by mail at P.O. Box 565, Twisp, WA 98856.
The funding raised so far came from these donors: $10,000 from Red McComb’s generous legacy to the center; $10,000 from the Methow Valley Senior Citizens Association; and $1,000 from Twisp Library Friends. Look for more community center news in this space in the next few weeks.
Large donors have contributed four-fifths of the funding for the pool project. They include: Gaye Pigott and the Moccasin Lake Foundation; Winthrop Kiwanis Club’s Fund-A-Dream project; the Wagner Fund, and Hank Konrad. Donations may be mailed to Friends of the Pool, P.O. Box 438, Twisp, WA 98856, or given to any board member.
Friends’ board member Patty Yates reminded me of the founder’s original purpose for donating the pool to the community: Children in the valley need to know how to swim; they need to learn the rules of water safety. The pool offers swim lessons each summer, so our children will be prepared to enjoy the other water recreation resources in the Methow Valley.
Our friend Elva Scott took a fall and broke her hip last week. She underwent surgery at Mid-Valley Hospital on Friday, and will be moving to a nursing home until she can return home to Jamie’s Place. Jeri Loper and Tina Moore, two of Elva’s daughters, are staying in Twisp and will happily take any get-well cards or letters mailed to Elva c/o P.O. Box 1265, Twisp, WA 98856.
I’ll be visiting Will, my new grandson, for the next couple of Mondays. Unless you want only baby photos in this space, I’d appreciate an email with your news in it.
