Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 - Mason County Journal - Page A-19
PUD 3 celebrates
75 years during
Public Power Week
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncounty com
In May 1939, Mason Coun-
ty PUD 3 began providing elec-
tricity to just eight customers.
Seventy-five years later, the
utility provides electrical ser-
vice to about 33,000 customers
in Mason County as well as
portions of Kitsap, Grays Har-
bor and Pierce counties.
PUD 3 is celebrating its leg-
acy of service this week during
The American Public Power As-
sociation's Public Power Week.
"It's very exciting to be able
to serve our ratepayers for 75
years," PUD 3 manager An-
nette Creekpaum said.
Beginning Monday, the
utility hosted 400 fifth-graders
from throughout Mason Coun-
ty. This is the second year the
PUD has invited students to
learn about energy.
"Last year was enthusias-
tically accepted by the kids,"
said Joel Myer, PUD public
information and government
relations manager.
While visiting the PUD,
groups of 20 students visited six
stations with demonstrations
about conservation, hydroelectric
Journal photo by Natalie Johnson
Bordeaux Elementary fifth-grader Rachel Watkins re.acts as s he touches a machine generating sta c electricity Monday
afternoon while Mason County PUD 3 employee Mike Dahman checks to see if her hair is standing up. About 400 fifth-
grade students visited the PUD 3 facility on Johns Prairie Road this week during Public Power Week.
power, safety, solar power and power, PUD 3 Customer Ser- "They're very engaged. It'salso had an art contest.
other topics. Students also had vice Manager Diane Hennessyso exciting to see it," H'ennessy "It's just the beginning of
the opportunity to learn about and Conservation Manager said. our exciting week," Creek-
meter readers and linemen. Justin Holzgrove dressed asThe PUD also had an Open paum said. 'Tge're enjoying
During a presentation on the characters Hydro Girl and House and Energy Expo all teaching our next generation
topics including hydroelectric Professor Energy. day Wednesday. The utility about what we do at the PUD."
get to know your firefighters at pancake breakfast
So I'm driving north on Is-
land Drive North just past
the Harstine Island Corn-
munity Club when I come around
the corner and see these tall
sunflowers smiling in the west
comer of the cleared field. As I
get closer, hundreds of
orange, round pump-
kins were laying on the
ground around the sun-
flowers. Then a sign ap-
pears that reads "Pump-
kin Patch," and I realize
this little farm is selling
pumpkins and other
garden stuff. Seeing this
business on the island
just somehow made me
feel happy.
Speaking of happy, this
weekend is the annual apple-
squeeze. It will run from 9 a.m.
to 2 p.m. Saturday. Apples are
brought in by the crateload,
squeezed into juice and sold to
the anxious buyers. This will also
be the last Saturday for our farm-
ers market until next summer.
The apple squeeze is always a
fun, family activity in which the
kids can help squeeze the juice
out of those delicious, round and
red-wrapped bundles of healthy
sugar-juice. Returning to the ap-
ple squeeze this year is the Old
Time Fiddlin' Bluegrass Band.
By MIKE
CALLAGHAN
They are a group of old-time
music aficionados led by John
Rodius. John is a well-known lo-
cal musician with a background
in folk music. The band recently
has been dipping back in the ar-
chives of blue grass, and it plans
to perform some of this
unearthed music at
the squeeze. Look for
the band on the main
hall stage at 11 a.m.
and again at 12:15
p.m.
Also in the main
hall you will find tra-
ditional art practitio-
ners demonstrating
vintage needle work,
leather and fabric
arts, weaving, knitting, spin-
ning, quilting and rug-hooking
-- all those crafts that, back
in the day, were the necessary
skills that kept families in
clothing and household needs.
Also back by request is a
hands-on workshop fashion-
ing cornhusk dolls and figures,
a great activity for families
and children to do together. A
separate table of self-guided
rag-scrap braiding will also be
available. Long-braided scraps
sewn together was one of the
earliest methods of making
rugs for pioneer homes. There
is limited space to add addi- were first presented in 1987 31. Arlen Morris, chair of the
tional crafters who might like during the presidency of Gerri Inquiring Minds committee, is
to participate. For information, Lewis along with the first Okto- asking anyone out there who
call Arlen Morris at 432-9712. berfest celebration. It was Da- is interested to go to the web-
This year, Mason 5 Fire- mon LaJune who suggested the site humanities.org/programs/
fighters' Association will be presentation of the awards dur- speakers, look over the roster,
having its first-ever pancake ing this annual meeting. The and call or email your choices to
breakfast on the island. It will tradition will continue into the her. They will choose the best
be Saturday at fire station 9 hall's 100th year and the fu- they can from the requests that
next to the community club. It ture. So mark your calendars to come in. Contact Morris at 432-
will run from 7 a.m. to 11 attend the meeting, and bring 9712 or arltim2@q.com.
a.m. Organizers will be serving your favorite dish to accompany The Centennial Celebration is
pancakes, French toast, sau- the brats and beer supplied by drawing to a close with the Time
sage, eggs, coffee and juice, the community club. As always, Capsule Dedication at 3 p.m.
They are asking for dona- all islanders are welcome to on Oct. 18. Everyone is invited
tions only with the proceeds come and enjoy the festivi-to attend. The doors will open
going to Mason 5 Firefighters' ties. Doors will open at 6 p.m., at 2 p.m., when articles will be
Association. Also in conjunction the potluck dinner will start at placed into the 50-year time cap-
with October being National 6:30 p.m. and the program will sule. The Harstine Island Choir
Fire Prevention month, other follow about 7 p.m. after a brief will perform as well. It has been
local fire stations will have open business meeting. They expect a year to remember.
houses that same day. They a large turnout, so please bring Don't forget our wonderful sc-
are also looking at the follow- a generous potluck dish to nior lunch. On Oct. 15, they will
ing Saturday to have their share with all. have spaghetti, garlic bread,
annual Give Burns the Boot Each winter, the Harstine green salad and Jell-O orange
money collections at the bridge Island Community Club spon-cake for dessert. Baked chicken,
triangle. Proceeds go to the sors a three-part series ofmashed potatoes with gravy,
Northwest Burn Foundation. speakers popularly referred to green beans, rolls and brownies
Coming up on Friday is the as Inquiring Minds. Normally, will be on the menu for Oct. 29.
community club's Oktoberfest the attendees of the November Serving starts at noon, but come
potluck dinner. This event is community club meeting voteearly and visit with friends. All
the community club's opportu- using a ballot for speakers, people ages 50 and older and
nity to recognize selected indi- which come to us from Human- their guests are welcome.
viduals who have made signifi- ities Washington's Speaker Bu-
cant contributions to the island, reau. Deadlines have changed • Mike Callaghan lives on
including citizen of the year and from last year, and they need to Harstine Island. He can be
honored citizens. These awards get their booking done by Oct. emailed at sobadogCOnsn.com.
