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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
January 28, 1999     Shelton Mason County Journal
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January 28, 1999
 
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Team effort needed • in North Mason proper COMMUNITY CALENDAR Things always seem to go a little smoother the second time around, or so I'm told. This being my second stint as editor of a North Mason publication, I hope that adage holds true. When I bid farewell a few years ago, I followed my beloved bride to Washington, DC, where she'd accepted a wonderful job. Well, as some "sure" things go, the job turned out to be a bomb. All things equal, it was still an exciting place to live, albeit tempo- rary. For example, besides the inundation of cultural overload, my fondest memory was that of being in the front row at President Clin- ton's first press conference shortly after his second election in Novem- ber 1996. Now, I won't get into his political misgivings of late, but suffice it to say, being at a press conference with 150 other journalists from around the world is powerful stuff. And asking the president a ques- tion about Medicare in front of the world also makes for a great con- versation piece. Though my stint as a journalist in the nation's capitol was short lived, it still afforded me a crystal clear vision of where I didn't want to be. Namely, in a place where traffic rules everything. So what did I do? I moved back to the Seattle area! Not really by my choice; it merely happened to be where the jobs brought us. Be- lieve me, there is not much difference in traffic from one Washington to another. And thus, my recent move back to civilization. I know a lot of people complain about traffic in Kitsap and Mason counties. But in reality, there is no comparison with Seattle or DC. Honest. My wife LesLee (whom I call the boss!), will vouch for this understatement. A few months ago she signed up for the Breast Can- cer Run, which was to begin at Husky Stadium. Now, from our home in Woodinville the trip couldn't have been more than 15 to 16 miles. And she left two hours before the start of the race. When the starting gun sounded, LesLee was still nearly two miles from the race - and stuck in traffic! The experience almost made her give up running. But I talked her into giving up cars instead (just kidding!). The point being, we have it pretty nice here in Mason County. And when that by-pass is finished north of Belfair, things will really slow down around here. On another subject, I'd like to offer my thoughts on the direction of the newspaper. As most readers of the paper know, there are a lot of different factions with their own causes and agendas. I would like to see everyone on the same page. My experience in process improve- ment and total quality management (gained while working Public Af- fairs at NUWC Keyport), have given me an insight into the benefits of team work, a concept I fully believe in. I'm suggesting that this community of North Mason have one vision, one goal and a specific direction for the future. If one organiza- tion plows ahead with their agenda at the expense of others, then no- body wins. But working together as a team and community will be in the best interest of all. Someone once said, "If we don't hang together, then we're sure to hang separately." I don't think we need to accept that quote in the lit- eral sense, but rather accept it as a promise of what we can do by pulling together. More on that topic later. And while on the subject of community, I strongly urge everyone to join in the 4th Annual Polar Plunge this Saturday in Allyn. It's a great fund-raising cause to help the Boys and Girls Club of North Ma- son. Rick Stedman Editor Thursday, January 28 8 a.m., Belfair Senior Nutrition Program held at the Theler Center until 3 p.m. Senior activities and lunch served at noon. For information or lunch reservations call 275-4898 or 275-6246. 9:15 a.m., TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Chapter 1032, Belfair Com- munity Baptist Church. Call Bev Weston, 275-8282, for information. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutri- tional program, North Mason Medical Clinic. Call 275-8340. 10 a.m., TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) WA 1321 meeting, base- ment at Saint Hugh Community Episcopal Church in Allyn. For infor- mation, call 895-1363. Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 1:30 p.m., Gypsy Roamers RV Club meets at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. Open to the public. For more information, call 275-0553. 5:30 p.m., Exercise for Fitness, Hawkins Middle School commons, $3 per session, donated to North Mason Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls Club of Mason County. Call 275-8602 for information. 6:30 p.m., Bible study at Belfair Community Baptist Church. 7 p.m., "Powerhouse," a youth group for young people in sixth through 12th grades is held at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. All young people welcome to attend. For information call 275-6031. 7 p.m., North Mason School Board, board room at the district office. 7 p.m., North Mason Amateur Ra- dio Emergency Service (NMARES) meets at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Victor Cutoff Road. For more information, call Bob Dewey at 275-2483. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, ()pen, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Hood Canal Masonic l,odge 288, stated meeting, Masonic Temple, Belfair. Friday, January 29 Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m. - midnight, Java juke box; teen get-together at Belfair Commu- nity Baptist Church. 7 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, women's meeting, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics ,nonymous, Men's Big Book study, Alyn Histori- cal Church, Allyn. New feature: 'Letters from Linda' 13y LINDA THOMSON Dear Sharon, You asked about our trip "Down Under," and I wanted to get back with you on that. Aus- tralia was beautiful, exotic, friendly, fhn, exhausting, stress- ful, and interesting. You may re- member that my husband Tommy and I went down to join the sup- port crew for Team USA in the International Six Days Enduro, or ISDE. That event drew nearly 400 motorcycle riders, of whom 46 were from the United States. We worked all six days of the event. When we landed in Sydney we learned that our luggage was still in Los Angeles. We had carried enough personal items to last us a day, and were grateful that we had obeyed that travel rule. From Sydney, we flew to Melbourne, then drove about 3 hours to Sale where we stayed. Driving is interesting in a na- tion where you have to drive on the left side of the road. You're sitting on the "wrong" side of the car, so your rear view mirrors aren't where you're used to look- ing. The more dangerous turn, where you cross traffic, is the right turn. Tommy would ask at intersections, "Where're they coming from?" Every time you want to turn a corner, you engage the windshield wipers trying to find the turn signal! AT SEVERAL crossroads i n the towns, they have round- abouts. They work quite well there. You turn left into it, and get out heading the direction you want to go, no lights, just a pause. You don't "yield right of way," you "give way," according to their signs. The day we arrived, Tuesday, November 3, was a holiday. It was Melbourne Cup Day. We went into town only to discover that the stores would all be clos- ing by 2 p.m. The Melbourne Cup is a horse race, for crying out loud! The next day was my birthday, and we wanted to go to the ocean. "How hard can it be? We're on an island!" Tommy said. Thanks to the men we stopped to watch and joi for a lesson in lawn bowling, we actually got directions. What a beautiful beach it was! There was not a person around. I did my traditional "run down and touch the water with my finger" routine. (I have to have that glob- al experience every time I go to an ocean beach. It makes me feel at one with people around the planet.) They don't exploit their beaches like we do, for there was not a shop in sight. I probably vio- lated some regulation by bringing home the shells I collected. WE RETURNED TO our ho- tel, and yes! Our luggage had ar- rived! What a birthday gift! Kangaroos aren't just hopping all over the place, anymore than deer or elk are grazing beside every road here. We went looking for them after dark, and sure enough, two kangaroos hopped across the road in front of us. We also saw two baby foxes that night (it was spring in November) 1luu P.O. Box 250, Belfair, Washington 98528 Telephone 275-6680 Belfair office open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday News and advertising copy deadline noon Mondays. For your convenience there is a mail slot by the door for copy. Office located in Beynon Center. RICK STEDMAN ............................................................ Editor BRENNA WOODWARD ..................... Advertising Manager LINDA THOMSON ..................................... Editorial Assistant Office Telephone (360) 275-6680 dragging some dead menu item off the pavement. There are what we would call exotic birds flying all over the place in Australia. They're pretty noisy guys, and actually woke me up every morning at 4:15 a.m.! The most unique animal we saw was an echidna. He looked a little like a porcupine, all spiny. His de- fense is to get on an elevator and hide in the basement, or at least that's what it looks like. He curls up in a ball, tucks his head down, and digs with all four feet directly under himself. Pretty cool! The koala bears hang out way up high in the trees, and sleep 20 hours a day. Not very exciting. Australia is home to something like eight of the ten most deadly snakes in the world, so that put US on edge, since most of our time was not spent in the city. THE "AUSTRALIAN 1 a n - guage" is fun. Did you say you were sorry? Their answer, "No worries, mate!" They were so kind and friendly toward us. Stop to talk to an Aussie, and count on a 15 to 30 minute delay! When a clerk took your money in a store she'd say "That'll be $5.40, thank you," and you wondered if any change would come back from your $10 bill. (It did.) What a great country! I wrote up an article about Ja- son Raines, the ISDE rider from Belfair for the Belfair Herald in December. My expanded story on the motorcycle event has just been placed on the Web, htt p://n m aoffroad, org/isd e story.htm, so I'm about to be in- ternationally famous! We need to get together soon and I'll show you our photos and "stuff." Your friend, Linda A section of The Shelton-Mason County Journal serving as the voice of Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, Tahuyo, Mason Lake, South Shore, North Shore and Victor, iiiilifilliiiiiiuiiiiimilliiiii Page 2 - Belfair Herald section of Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, January 28, 1999 7:30 p.m., Narcotics Anonymous, open, Belfair Community Baptist Church. 9:30 p,m., Alcoholics Anonymous, candlelite meeting. NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Saturday, January 30 Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Sunday, January 31 9 a.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous, open, Allyn Historical Church, Allyn. Monday, February 1 Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m., Living for Today cancer support group, United Methodist of- rice, Belfair, Log Plaza. Call 275-3714 for information. 7 p.m., TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Chapter 1197, Belfair Com- munity Baptist Church. Weigh-in from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. 7 p.m., Belfair Pack Rats 4x4 Club, Belfair Pack Rats building, Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m., Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District (LHCCWD) meeting, North Mason School District Office Board Room. For more information, call 275-4467 and ask for Mason County Department of Water Quali- ty. 7 p. m., Trails End District com- missioners open meeting, district of- rice, 1801 Trails End Drive. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Tuesday, February 2 8 a.m., Belfair Senior Nutrition Program held at the Theler Center until 3 p.m. Senior activities and lunch served at noon. For information or lunch reservations call 275-4898. 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., TOPS 1357 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church on Sand Hill Road in Belfair. 9 a.m., Mason County Board of Commissioners' meeting, Building 1, Shelton. Call 275-4467 for informa- tion. Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Noon, North Mason Kiwanis Club meeting at Belfair Community Bap- tist Church Fellowship Hall. Call 275-2529 for information. 1 p.m., Belfair Chapter of the Pu- get Sound Genealogical Society, Bel- fair Community Baptist Church. 5:30 p.m., Exercise for Fitness, Hawkins Middle School commons, $3 per session, donated to North Mason Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls Club of Mason County. Call 275-8602 for information. 6 p.m., Teen-2-Teen youth Bible study for teens in grades 9-12, youth center at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. 6:15-8 p.m., Girl Scouts-Totem Council Service Unit 316 Leader meeting, Mary E. Theler Center. Call Kristi Beitzel, Service Unit 316 Man- ager, 275-4033 or 275-6711 for infor- mation. 7 p.m., Beard's Cove Community Organization Block Watch meeting, Sand Hill Elementary School gymna- sium. Organization members wel- come. For information, call 275-3395. 7 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Fraternal Order of Ea- gles 4226, aerie (men) only, meets at FOE building, 23495 Highway 3, Bel- fair. Call 275-6885 for information. Wednesday, February 3 7:30 a.m., North Mason Chamber of Commerce meets at Belfair Care on Highway 3 for a no-host breakfast. Meeting is open to the public. For in- formation, call 275-5548. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutri- tional program, North Mason Medical Clinic. Call 275-8340. 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m, North Mason Bridge Club, party bridge, meets at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Call 275-3505 or 275-2342 for information. 10 a.m., Tahuya Bridge Club meets at the Canal Room of the Ta- huya Market. Call 275-2098 for infor- mation. Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 6 to 8 p.m., Pioneer Club for chil- dren 4 years old through 12th grade, Belfair Community Baptist Church. 6 to 8 p.m., "Man to Man," weekly men's fellowship group held at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. All men welcome to attend. For infor- mation call 275-6031. 6 to 8 p.m., "Woman to Woman" Bible study will be held at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. Child- care available; open to public. For in- formation, call 275-6031. 7 p.m., North Mason Lions Club, Belfair Community Hall. For infor- mation, call 275-2496. 7 p.m., Healing Hearts, a support group for victims of domestic violence; for meeting place or more information, call 427-1263. 7 p.m., Trauma Anonymous Sup- port Group, will be held at Westpark Christian Church, 5204 First Street in Bremerton. For information call 478-7927. 7:30 p.m., Nuel Curtis Post 5372 Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting, 431 NE Old Belfair Highway. For in- formation, call Dave Mundy, 275- 0979. Mason Lake Meanderings BY LILIS NOGLER At the very beginning of the new year I saw a huge boat slowly floating close to shore pulling a big black rake behind it. It circled in front of the docks. It traveled back and forth and round and round. It was, I found after in- quiring to several members of a community steering committee that has been formed, the boat from a resource management company identifying the invasive milfoil growing in the lake. A map of Mason Lake shows 15 locations where milfoil was dis- covered from this survey. The committee to investigate the rail- foil problem has been ongoing and active. They have written and submitted a grant to the state to cover the survey costs and clean- up of the "hot spots." There is a great deal of work and education left to be done. The committee is hoping to have a public meeting, tentatively planned for some time in March. The water has not risen too high considering the three months of heavy rain we have just been through. We noticed a road cleanup around the lake the other day, for which residents are thankful. There might just have to be another if the dirt and branches on the hillside above the county road loosen up and fall in the way of traffic. I FOUND THAT a good rainy day job is cleaning up the old recipe box. It is also time consum- ing, especially when recipes are printed on stationery so that por- tions of old letters need to be read and reread and fond memories re- stored. Here is a Chocolate Cheese Cake given to me in 1985 especially for Neal. I have never used it. Crust: 2 C. graham cracker crumbs /4 C. sugar /2 C. butter - melted. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter bottom and sides of a 9- inch spring form pan. Blend crust ingredients in a bowl and pat crumb mix into the bottom and sides of the pan. Set aside. Filling: s c. sugar 4 eggs, separated I lb. cream cheese, cut into bits 2 6-oz. pkgs. semi-sweet bits 2 C. hot strong coffee 2 Tbsp. dark rum I tsp. vanilla  tsp. salt. Beat the eggs and 3 cup sugar with an electric mixer until it is thick and lemon colored. Beat in the cream cheese and continue beating until smooth. Melt the chocolate bits in the top of a dou- ble boiler and blend in coffee, rum, vanilla, and salt. Beat this mix into the cream cheese. Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Gradually beat in the remaining /3 cup sugar until a stiff, glossy meringue forms. Fold gently into the chocolate mixture and pour this into the crumb crust. Bake for one hour. TURN OVEN OFF and leave the cake in the oven until it is completely cooled, nearly two hours. Remove, and when ready to serve, turn out of the spring form pan onto a plate and garnish with barely sweetened whipped cream and shaved chocolate curls. MAYBE I SHOULD look for my spring form pan. I know I have one. The pussy willow is out. The rain has subsided. We are on our way to spring. Forget baking and get out to the garden. A well-trained Golden Lab, a female probably between 8 and 10 years old, has been wandering around the west side of the lake. She showed up at our neighbor's home and Jerry Hatt has found her friendly, housebroken and calm. We would like to find her real owners. Call 427-5317 if you believe you may have lost this an- imal or if you know someone who has. B & G Club hires Hamilton The North Mason Chamber of Commerce met for breakfast on Wednesday, January 20, with President Don Cady presiding. It was announced that the Boys and Girls Club of Mason County has hired Marcia Hamil- ton, who will be establishing "The Jammin' Company" here. This is a youth job-training program, with kids employed making jam and doing other projects. Tim Wing, chairman of Citi- zens for Funding North Mason Schools, shared facts on the school district's levy, to be on the Tuesday, February 2 ballot. The chamber passed a motion to en- dorse the levy and encouraged cit- izens to vote for it. Cady said the following day, "We [chamber members] have consistently approved these [resolutions]. In my opinion, the chamber's mission is, if it's good for the area, the chamber is going to support it. We may not spon- sor it, but we'll support it." Mike Greene, Fire District 2's chief, stated he believed the vol- unteers would pass a similar res- olution that same evening. Indeed, when the Belfair Volun- teer Firefighters Association met, they also unanimously voted to support the North Mason school levy. "Strong schools mean a strong community," said Greene. The 64 members of the association repre- sent a whole cross section of both the department and the fire dis- trict, he said. He believes that the volunteers' vote illustrates the fire department slogan: "neigh- bors helping neighbors." Chamber members were re- minded that Friday, January 29, is the deadline to submit informa- tion for the quarterly newsletter to Pam Merrill at 275-0561. The business people heard an update on the Cancer Society of Mason County's plans for the "Relay for Life" fundraiser to be held in June. Sponsors are need- ed by Saturday, January 30. TRUCKING & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY, INC. • TOPSOIL • Bark * Crushed Rock * Washed Rock * Rockery Rock • Decorative Rock Sand • Pitrun • Land Clearing • Road Building • Stump Removal Free Estimates: 275-3465 75 Corner of ttighway 3 and Log Yard Road, Belfatr Monday-Friday 7:30 p.m., Belfair Chapter order Eastern Star, Belfair, Masonic pie. 7:30 p.m., Port of Allyn sioners' meeting, port building. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics open, Belfair Community Church. Thursday, February 4 7:30 a.m., no-host breakfast, a.m. meeting, Allyn Community sociation, Allyn Inn. 8 a.m., Belfair Senior Program held at the Theler until 3 p.m. Senior activities lunch served at noon. For or lunch reservations call 275-6246. 9:15 a.m., TOPS (Take Off Sensibly) Chapter 1032, munity Baptist Church. Call Weston, 275-8282, for information. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., (Women, Infants and C tional program, North Mason Clinic. Call 275-8340. 10 a.m., TOPS (Take Sensibly) WA 1321 meeting, ment at Saint Hugh Episcopal Church in Allyn. mation, call 895-1363. Noon, Alcoholics Anon open, NE 42 Old Belfair HighwaY. 5:30 p.m., Exercise for Hawkins Middle School per session, donated to North Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls of Mason County. Call information. 6 p.m., Mason County meets in the Grapeview brary. For information, call 6:30 p.m., Bible study at Community Baptist Church. 7 p.m., "Powerhouse," a group for young people in through 12th grades is held Belfair Com/nunity Baptist All young people welcome to For information call 275-6031. 7 p.m., Theler Board, ter. 7 p.m., Fire District 8 ers' meeting, Tahuya Fire Hall. In last week's Herald, the paragraph of Mr. Quigley's to the editor should have follows: The issue before the son County Planning tonight (Fish and Wildlife tat Areas) is not about the ronment nor is it about ened or endangered species. about the illegal taking property. Three spaces Hwy 3 in Belfair. 700 - 1282 sq. feet. Call 876-8580 Make sure the house • covere& IS ) Jim Bayly NE 23781 Itwy .3, Suite I01 I3ellair, WA 98528 (360) 275-7078  . --ngia   1996 Allstate Northbvook, I Uinoia Team effort needed • in North Mason proper COMMUNITY CALENDAR Things always seem to go a little smoother the second time around, or so I'm told. This being my second stint as editor of a North Mason publication, I hope that adage holds true. When I bid farewell a few years ago, I followed my beloved bride to Washington, DC, where she'd accepted a wonderful job. Well, as some "sure" things go, the job turned out to be a bomb. All things equal, it was still an exciting place to live, albeit tempo- rary. For example, besides the inundation of cultural overload, my fondest memory was that of being in the front row at President Clin- ton's first press conference shortly after his second election in Novem- ber 1996. Now, I won't get into his political misgivings of late, but suffice it to say, being at a press conference with 150 other journalists from around the world is powerful stuff. And asking the president a ques- tion about Medicare in front of the world also makes for a great con- versation piece. Though my stint as a journalist in the nation's capitol was short lived, it still afforded me a crystal clear vision of where I didn't want to be. Namely, in a place where traffic rules everything. So what did I do? I moved back to the Seattle area! Not really by my choice; it merely happened to be where the jobs brought us. Be- lieve me, there is not much difference in traffic from one Washington to another. And thus, my recent move back to civilization. I know a lot of people complain about traffic in Kitsap and Mason counties. But in reality, there is no comparison with Seattle or DC. Honest. My wife LesLee (whom I call the boss!), will vouch for this understatement. A few months ago she signed up for the Breast Can- cer Run, which was to begin at Husky Stadium. Now, from our home in Woodinville the trip couldn't have been more than 15 to 16 miles. And she left two hours before the start of the race. When the starting gun sounded, LesLee was still nearly two miles from the race - and stuck in traffic! The experience almost made her give up running. But I talked her into giving up cars instead (just kidding!). The point being, we have it pretty nice here in Mason County. And when that by-pass is finished north of Belfair, things will really slow down around here. On another subject, I'd like to offer my thoughts on the direction of the newspaper. As most readers of the paper know, there are a lot of different factions with their own causes and agendas. I would like to see everyone on the same page. My experience in process improve- ment and total quality management (gained while working Public Af- fairs at NUWC Keyport), have given me an insight into the benefits of team work, a concept I fully believe in. I'm suggesting that this community of North Mason have one vision, one goal and a specific direction for the future. If one organiza- tion plows ahead with their agenda at the expense of others, then no- body wins. But working together as a team and community will be in the best interest of all. Someone once said, "If we don't hang together, then we're sure to hang separately." I don't think we need to accept that quote in the lit- eral sense, but rather accept it as a promise of what we can do by pulling together. More on that topic later. And while on the subject of community, I strongly urge everyone to join in the 4th Annual Polar Plunge this Saturday in Allyn. It's a great fund-raising cause to help the Boys and Girls Club of North Ma- son. Rick Stedman Editor Thursday, January 28 8 a.m., Belfair Senior Nutrition Program held at the Theler Center until 3 p.m. Senior activities and lunch served at noon. For information or lunch reservations call 275-4898 or 275-6246. 9:15 a.m., TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Chapter 1032, Belfair Com- munity Baptist Church. Call Bev Weston, 275-8282, for information. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutri- tional program, North Mason Medical Clinic. Call 275-8340. 10 a.m., TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) WA 1321 meeting, base- ment at Saint Hugh Community Episcopal Church in Allyn. For infor- mation, call 895-1363. Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 1:30 p.m., Gypsy Roamers RV Club meets at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. Open to the public. For more information, call 275-0553. 5:30 p.m., Exercise for Fitness, Hawkins Middle School commons, $3 per session, donated to North Mason Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls Club of Mason County. Call 275-8602 for information. 6:30 p.m., Bible study at Belfair Community Baptist Church. 7 p.m., "Powerhouse," a youth group for young people in sixth through 12th grades is held at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. All young people welcome to attend. For information call 275-6031. 7 p.m., North Mason School Board, board room at the district office. 7 p.m., North Mason Amateur Ra- dio Emergency Service (NMARES) meets at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Victor Cutoff Road. For more information, call Bob Dewey at 275-2483. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, ()pen, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Hood Canal Masonic l,odge 288, stated meeting, Masonic Temple, Belfair. Friday, January 29 Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m. - midnight, Java juke box; teen get-together at Belfair Commu- nity Baptist Church. 7 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, women's meeting, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics ,nonymous, Men's Big Book study, Alyn Histori- cal Church, Allyn. New feature: 'Letters from Linda' 13y LINDA THOMSON Dear Sharon, You asked about our trip "Down Under," and I wanted to get back with you on that. Aus- tralia was beautiful, exotic, friendly, fhn, exhausting, stress- ful, and interesting. You may re- member that my husband Tommy and I went down to join the sup- port crew for Team USA in the International Six Days Enduro, or ISDE. That event drew nearly 400 motorcycle riders, of whom 46 were from the United States. We worked all six days of the event. When we landed in Sydney we learned that our luggage was still in Los Angeles. We had carried enough personal items to last us a day, and were grateful that we had obeyed that travel rule. From Sydney, we flew to Melbourne, then drove about 3 hours to Sale where we stayed. Driving is interesting in a na- tion where you have to drive on the left side of the road. You're sitting on the "wrong" side of the car, so your rear view mirrors aren't where you're used to look- ing. The more dangerous turn, where you cross traffic, is the right turn. Tommy would ask at intersections, "Where're they coming from?" Every time you want to turn a corner, you engage the windshield wipers trying to find the turn signal! AT SEVERAL crossroads i n the towns, they have round- abouts. They work quite well there. You turn left into it, and get out heading the direction you want to go, no lights, just a pause. You don't "yield right of way," you "give way," according to their signs. The day we arrived, Tuesday, November 3, was a holiday. It was Melbourne Cup Day. We went into town only to discover that the stores would all be clos- ing by 2 p.m. The Melbourne Cup is a horse race, for crying out loud! The next day was my birthday, and we wanted to go to the ocean. "How hard can it be? We're on an island!" Tommy said. Thanks to the men we stopped to watch and joi for a lesson in lawn bowling, we actually got directions. What a beautiful beach it was! There was not a person around. I did my traditional "run down and touch the water with my finger" routine. (I have to have that glob- al experience every time I go to an ocean beach. It makes me feel at one with people around the planet.) They don't exploit their beaches like we do, for there was not a shop in sight. I probably vio- lated some regulation by bringing home the shells I collected. WE RETURNED TO our ho- tel, and yes! Our luggage had ar- rived! What a birthday gift! Kangaroos aren't just hopping all over the place, anymore than deer or elk are grazing beside every road here. We went looking for them after dark, and sure enough, two kangaroos hopped across the road in front of us. We also saw two baby foxes that night (it was spring in November) 1luu P.O. Box 250, Belfair, Washington 98528 Telephone 275-6680 Belfair office open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday News and advertising copy deadline noon Mondays. For your convenience there is a mail slot by the door for copy. Office located in Beynon Center. RICK STEDMAN ............................................................ Editor BRENNA WOODWARD ..................... Advertising Manager LINDA THOMSON ..................................... Editorial Assistant Office Telephone (360) 275-6680 dragging some dead menu item off the pavement. There are what we would call exotic birds flying all over the place in Australia. They're pretty noisy guys, and actually woke me up every morning at 4:15 a.m.! The most unique animal we saw was an echidna. He looked a little like a porcupine, all spiny. His de- fense is to get on an elevator and hide in the basement, or at least that's what it looks like. He curls up in a ball, tucks his head down, and digs with all four feet directly under himself. Pretty cool! The koala bears hang out way up high in the trees, and sleep 20 hours a day. Not very exciting. Australia is home to something like eight of the ten most deadly snakes in the world, so that put US on edge, since most of our time was not spent in the city. THE "AUSTRALIAN 1 a n - guage" is fun. Did you say you were sorry? Their answer, "No worries, mate!" They were so kind and friendly toward us. Stop to talk to an Aussie, and count on a 15 to 30 minute delay! When a clerk took your money in a store she'd say "That'll be $5.40, thank you," and you wondered if any change would come back from your $10 bill. (It did.) What a great country! I wrote up an article about Ja- son Raines, the ISDE rider from Belfair for the Belfair Herald in December. My expanded story on the motorcycle event has just been placed on the Web, htt p://n m aoffroad, org/isd e story.htm, so I'm about to be in- ternationally famous! We need to get together soon and I'll show you our photos and "stuff." Your friend, Linda A section of The Shelton-Mason County Journal serving as the voice of Belfair, Allyn, Grapeview, Tahuyo, Mason Lake, South Shore, North Shore and Victor, iiiilifilliiiiiiuiiiiimilliiiii Page 2 - Belfair Herald section of Shelton-Mason County Journal - Thursday, January 28, 1999 7:30 p.m., Narcotics Anonymous, open, Belfair Community Baptist Church. 9:30 p,m., Alcoholics Anonymous, candlelite meeting. NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Saturday, January 30 Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Sunday, January 31 9 a.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m. Alcoholics Anonymous, open, Allyn Historical Church, Allyn. Monday, February 1 Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m., Living for Today cancer support group, United Methodist of- rice, Belfair, Log Plaza. Call 275-3714 for information. 7 p.m., TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Chapter 1197, Belfair Com- munity Baptist Church. Weigh-in from 5:45 to 6:45 p.m. 7 p.m., Belfair Pack Rats 4x4 Club, Belfair Pack Rats building, Old Belfair Highway. 7 p.m., Lower Hood Canal Clean Water District (LHCCWD) meeting, North Mason School District Office Board Room. For more information, call 275-4467 and ask for Mason County Department of Water Quali- ty. 7 p. m., Trails End District com- missioners open meeting, district of- rice, 1801 Trails End Drive. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Tuesday, February 2 8 a.m., Belfair Senior Nutrition Program held at the Theler Center until 3 p.m. Senior activities and lunch served at noon. For information or lunch reservations call 275-4898. 8:30 - 10:30 a.m., TOPS 1357 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) meets at the Prince of Peace Catholic Church on Sand Hill Road in Belfair. 9 a.m., Mason County Board of Commissioners' meeting, Building 1, Shelton. Call 275-4467 for informa- tion. Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. Noon, North Mason Kiwanis Club meeting at Belfair Community Bap- tist Church Fellowship Hall. Call 275-2529 for information. 1 p.m., Belfair Chapter of the Pu- get Sound Genealogical Society, Bel- fair Community Baptist Church. 5:30 p.m., Exercise for Fitness, Hawkins Middle School commons, $3 per session, donated to North Mason Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls Club of Mason County. Call 275-8602 for information. 6 p.m., Teen-2-Teen youth Bible study for teens in grades 9-12, youth center at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. 6:15-8 p.m., Girl Scouts-Totem Council Service Unit 316 Leader meeting, Mary E. Theler Center. Call Kristi Beitzel, Service Unit 316 Man- ager, 275-4033 or 275-6711 for infor- mation. 7 p.m., Beard's Cove Community Organization Block Watch meeting, Sand Hill Elementary School gymna- sium. Organization members wel- come. For information, call 275-3395. 7 p.m., Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 7:30 p.m., Fraternal Order of Ea- gles 4226, aerie (men) only, meets at FOE building, 23495 Highway 3, Bel- fair. Call 275-6885 for information. Wednesday, February 3 7:30 a.m., North Mason Chamber of Commerce meets at Belfair Care on Highway 3 for a no-host breakfast. Meeting is open to the public. For in- formation, call 275-5548. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., WIC (Women, Infants and Children) nutri- tional program, North Mason Medical Clinic. Call 275-8340. 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m, North Mason Bridge Club, party bridge, meets at Prince of Peace Catholic Church. Call 275-3505 or 275-2342 for information. 10 a.m., Tahuya Bridge Club meets at the Canal Room of the Ta- huya Market. Call 275-2098 for infor- mation. Noon, Alcoholics Anonymous, open, NE 42 Old Belfair Highway. 6 to 8 p.m., Pioneer Club for chil- dren 4 years old through 12th grade, Belfair Community Baptist Church. 6 to 8 p.m., "Man to Man," weekly men's fellowship group held at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. All men welcome to attend. For infor- mation call 275-6031. 6 to 8 p.m., "Woman to Woman" Bible study will be held at the Belfair Community Baptist Church. Child- care available; open to public. For in- formation, call 275-6031. 7 p.m., North Mason Lions Club, Belfair Community Hall. For infor- mation, call 275-2496. 7 p.m., Healing Hearts, a support group for victims of domestic violence; for meeting place or more information, call 427-1263. 7 p.m., Trauma Anonymous Sup- port Group, will be held at Westpark Christian Church, 5204 First Street in Bremerton. For information call 478-7927. 7:30 p.m., Nuel Curtis Post 5372 Veterans of Foreign Wars meeting, 431 NE Old Belfair Highway. For in- formation, call Dave Mundy, 275- 0979. Mason Lake Meanderings BY LILIS NOGLER At the very beginning of the new year I saw a huge boat slowly floating close to shore pulling a big black rake behind it. It circled in front of the docks. It traveled back and forth and round and round. It was, I found after in- quiring to several members of a community steering committee that has been formed, the boat from a resource management company identifying the invasive milfoil growing in the lake. A map of Mason Lake shows 15 locations where milfoil was dis- covered from this survey. The committee to investigate the rail- foil problem has been ongoing and active. They have written and submitted a grant to the state to cover the survey costs and clean- up of the "hot spots." There is a great deal of work and education left to be done. The committee is hoping to have a public meeting, tentatively planned for some time in March. The water has not risen too high considering the three months of heavy rain we have just been through. We noticed a road cleanup around the lake the other day, for which residents are thankful. There might just have to be another if the dirt and branches on the hillside above the county road loosen up and fall in the way of traffic. I FOUND THAT a good rainy day job is cleaning up the old recipe box. It is also time consum- ing, especially when recipes are printed on stationery so that por- tions of old letters need to be read and reread and fond memories re- stored. Here is a Chocolate Cheese Cake given to me in 1985 especially for Neal. I have never used it. Crust: 2 C. graham cracker crumbs /4 C. sugar /2 C. butter - melted. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter bottom and sides of a 9- inch spring form pan. Blend crust ingredients in a bowl and pat crumb mix into the bottom and sides of the pan. Set aside. Filling: s c. sugar 4 eggs, separated I lb. cream cheese, cut into bits 2 6-oz. pkgs. semi-sweet bits 2 C. hot strong coffee 2 Tbsp. dark rum I tsp. vanilla  tsp. salt. Beat the eggs and 3 cup sugar with an electric mixer until it is thick and lemon colored. Beat in the cream cheese and continue beating until smooth. Melt the chocolate bits in the top of a dou- ble boiler and blend in coffee, rum, vanilla, and salt. Beat this mix into the cream cheese. Beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Gradually beat in the remaining /3 cup sugar until a stiff, glossy meringue forms. Fold gently into the chocolate mixture and pour this into the crumb crust. Bake for one hour. TURN OVEN OFF and leave the cake in the oven until it is completely cooled, nearly two hours. Remove, and when ready to serve, turn out of the spring form pan onto a plate and garnish with barely sweetened whipped cream and shaved chocolate curls. MAYBE I SHOULD look for my spring form pan. I know I have one. The pussy willow is out. The rain has subsided. We are on our way to spring. Forget baking and get out to the garden. A well-trained Golden Lab, a female probably between 8 and 10 years old, has been wandering around the west side of the lake. She showed up at our neighbor's home and Jerry Hatt has found her friendly, housebroken and calm. We would like to find her real owners. Call 427-5317 if you believe you may have lost this an- imal or if you know someone who has. B & G Club hires Hamilton The North Mason Chamber of Commerce met for breakfast on Wednesday, January 20, with President Don Cady presiding. It was announced that the Boys and Girls Club of Mason County has hired Marcia Hamil- ton, who will be establishing "The Jammin' Company" here. This is a youth job-training program, with kids employed making jam and doing other projects. Tim Wing, chairman of Citi- zens for Funding North Mason Schools, shared facts on the school district's levy, to be on the Tuesday, February 2 ballot. The chamber passed a motion to en- dorse the levy and encouraged cit- izens to vote for it. Cady said the following day, "We [chamber members] have consistently approved these [resolutions]. In my opinion, the chamber's mission is, if it's good for the area, the chamber is going to support it. We may not spon- sor it, but we'll support it." Mike Greene, Fire District 2's chief, stated he believed the vol- unteers would pass a similar res- olution that same evening. Indeed, when the Belfair Volun- teer Firefighters Association met, they also unanimously voted to support the North Mason school levy. "Strong schools mean a strong community," said Greene. The 64 members of the association repre- sent a whole cross section of both the department and the fire dis- trict, he said. He believes that the volunteers' vote illustrates the fire department slogan: "neigh- bors helping neighbors." Chamber members were re- minded that Friday, January 29, is the deadline to submit informa- tion for the quarterly newsletter to Pam Merrill at 275-0561. The business people heard an update on the Cancer Society of Mason County's plans for the "Relay for Life" fundraiser to be held in June. Sponsors are need- ed by Saturday, January 30. TRUCKING & LANDSCAPE SUPPLY, INC. • TOPSOIL • Bark * Crushed Rock * Washed Rock * Rockery Rock • Decorative Rock Sand • Pitrun • Land Clearing • Road Building • Stump Removal Free Estimates: 275-3465 75 Corner of ttighway 3 and Log Yard Road, Belfatr Monday-Friday 7:30 p.m., Belfair Chapter order Eastern Star, Belfair, Masonic pie. 7:30 p.m., Port of Allyn sioners' meeting, port building. 7:30 p.m., Alcoholics open, Belfair Community Church. Thursday, February 4 7:30 a.m., no-host breakfast, a.m. meeting, Allyn Community sociation, Allyn Inn. 8 a.m., Belfair Senior Program held at the Theler until 3 p.m. Senior activities lunch served at noon. For or lunch reservations call 275-6246. 9:15 a.m., TOPS (Take Off Sensibly) Chapter 1032, munity Baptist Church. Call Weston, 275-8282, for information. 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., (Women, Infants and C tional program, North Mason Clinic. Call 275-8340. 10 a.m., TOPS (Take Sensibly) WA 1321 meeting, ment at Saint Hugh Episcopal Church in Allyn. mation, call 895-1363. Noon, Alcoholics Anon open, NE 42 Old Belfair HighwaY. 5:30 p.m., Exercise for Hawkins Middle School per session, donated to North Kiwanis and the Boys and Girls of Mason County. Call information. 6 p.m., Mason County meets in the Grapeview brary. For information, call 6:30 p.m., Bible study at Community Baptist Church. 7 p.m., "Powerhouse," a group for young people in through 12th grades is held Belfair Com/nunity Baptist All young people welcome to For information call 275-6031. 7 p.m., Theler Board, ter. 7 p.m., Fire District 8 ers' meeting, Tahuya Fire Hall. In last week's Herald, the paragraph of Mr. Quigley's to the editor should have follows: The issue before the son County Planning tonight (Fish and Wildlife tat Areas) is not about the ronment nor is it about ened or endangered species. about the illegal taking property. Three spaces Hwy 3 in Belfair. 700 - 1282 sq. feet. Call 876-8580 Make sure the house • covere& IS ) Jim Bayly NE 23781 Itwy .3, Suite I01 I3ellair, WA 98528 (360) 275-7078  . --ngia   1996 Allstate Northbvook, I Uinoia