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Shelton-Mason County Journal
A
PASSION
for service
Shelton resident
stays busy as a
volunteer
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncouny.com
Betty Brinkman
started life in a
small farming com-
munity near Bell-
ingham, and grew
up to be an idealis-
tic high-school stu-
dent, she said.
"I was one of those
kids who wanted ev-
erything to be fair,"
she said. "I really
get involved when I
join something."
Although the best
efforts of adults and
teachers at her high
school got the mes-
sage across that life,
in fact, is not fair,
Brinkman didn't
give up.
Today, she's still
working to make
her community a
better place -- and
a little more fair
for everybody.
Since retiring in 2000,
Brinkman has filled her
time with a wide variety of
clubs and service organiza-
tions.
"The things that I'm in-
volved in I'm very passion-
ate about," she said.
Soon after retiring,
Brinkman joined the Shel-
ton Kiwanis Club. She en-
joys working on the group's
annual pancake breakfast
and serving baked potatoes
and breakfast at Oyster-
Fest.
"I love it," she said. "It's
a wonderful group of peo-
ple. I've never worked with
See Cooking on page B-5
Journal 10noto oy Natalie Johnson
Shelton resident Betty Brinkman has a passion for serving her community and
making it a better place. She participates in several clubs, including the Shelton
Kiwanis Club and the Shelton Arts Commission.
Garage sale
seeks chair
person
Still cleaning, still clearing the
driveway - what a storm that
was. Everyone I've talked to has gone
on about the sounds of tree limbs snap-
ping and sounding like gun shots. It
was dangerous out there. They call
those falling limbs widow-makers for
a reason. There are still some snags
hanging up in the trees, so if you are
working under one of those stressed
trees, check overhead.
I am reminding you of those break-
.. .:.,,..,.
By MIKE
CALLAG
ing trees because I'm
continually asking
you to buy similar
trees - those flame
red and sunset or-
ange maples and
planting them. I will
continue to promote
those planting. I
have to say that one
of my neighbors is
doing just that and
I'm excited about
the coming years as
I watch them mature and shine in all
their fall glory - thanks Ron.
We need a volunteer. The Indoor/
Outdoor Garage Sale, sponsored an-
nually for the past five years by the
Harstine Island Community Club, is
without a chair person for this spring's
event (March 31).
This event is sponsored by the
community club and is a resource for
islanders and others to have access to
garage sale 0ppbrtunities when it is
not feasible to do it at one's home. It
is a relatively simple set-up, requires
a bit in promotion. The new volunteer
chair person would not have to be a
currently active club member. Some-
one who has been a participant over
these past few years would be an ideal
candidate. Arlen Morris, stepping
down as chair and initial organizer,
is available to share startup assis-
tance. No chair, no sale. Please call
Jeff Roberge at 239-4720 to volunteer.
Senior lunch has their menu out for
February. On Feb. 8, they will be sei-v-
ing meatloaf, mashed potatoes with
gravy, green beans, pickles and cup
cakes. Then, on Feb. 22, they will have
baked ham, scalloped potatoes, cole-
slaw and cherry desserts. These cooks
work hard for us here on the island
and you need to give them big thanks
when you're getting your meal. So, be
there a little before noon. Remember,
they need a small $3 donation. Every-
one 50 and over is welcome.
See Harstine on page B-2
Squaxin Island tribal dinner raises awareness for addiction
Speakers call for more
community involvement
By NATALIE JOHNSON
natalie@masoncounty.com
At the entrances to the Squax-
in Island's Tribal Center, signs
proclaim the area drug- and alco-
hol-free.
The tribe reinforced that com-
mitment with its Fifth Annual
Squaxin Island Drug and Alcohol
Awareness Dinner on Sunday,
Jan. 29, which packed the Squax-
in Island Gym with people eager
to support the cause.
"Last year we thought this was
a big dinner - it's growing ev-
ery year," said tribal member Ray
Krise, who spoke during the dinner.
Krise also spoke about the need
to come together to defeat the
problem of drug and alcohol ad-
diction.
"We are gathering and cele-
brating our survival ... but we are
also remembering where we come
from," he said. "Our elders tell us
Journal photo by Natalie Jonnson
Gerald Apple, adviser for the Shelton High School SADD
club, spoke at the Fifth Annual Squaxin Island Drug and
Alcohol Awareness Dinner on Sunday, Jan. 29, about the
dangers of texting and driving.
we need each other today more
than we did yesterday."
The event, which drew more
than 300 people last year, said
creator Christine Semanko, is
aimed to increase awareness of
the negative effect that drugs and
alcohol can have on individuals
and families.
Semanko, now a chemical de-
pendency counselor for the Squax-
in Island Tribe, once had her own
struggles with addiction.
"Fourteen years ago, my hus-
band was killed by my brother
in a drunk driving accident. My
daughter was 20 days old when
he died," she said. "When my
husband died it catapulted me
further and faster into my addic-
tion."
After going through her recov-
ery process, Semanko created the
dinner to allow other members of
the Squaxin Tribe and the com-
munity to share their stories and
create awareness about the dead-
ly problem of drug and alcohol ad-
diction.
"I started doing this when
I started working through my
grief," she said. "It's about trying
to make a difference and prevent
other families from going through
what we did."
The event, sponsored by
Squaxin Island 1 Percent fund,
Family Services Prevention and
Wellness, Canoe Hosting 2012,
Mason County Drug Abuse Pre-
vention (MCDAP), Shoal Water
Tribe and the Semanko family,
provided free dinner, T-shirts and
information on drug and alcohol
abuse and prevention to all who
attended.
The event also hosted several
speakers.
Morgan Fawcett from One
Heart Creations and Eric Munson
with Heidi's Promise gave speech-
es, and MCDAP hosted a candle-
light vigil.
The Shelton Students Against
Destructive Decisions (SADD)
club also attended and brought a
film they produced about texting
and driving.
Squaxin Island Elder John
Krise addressed the attendees
before the SADD club gave their
presentation.
He spoke about the communi-
ty's need to get its youth more in-
volved in constructive activities,
and stressed parental involve-
ment as a way to keep kids occu-
pied and off drugs.
"We need to get our people here
on the reservation involved in ev-
erything," he said. "That's all I
think about - our younger gen-
eration. If we're not careful we're
going to lose them."
Thursday, February 2, 2012 - Shelton-Mason County Journal- Page B-1