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Newspaper Archive of
Shelton Mason County Journal
Shelton, Washington
May 10, 2012     Shelton Mason County Journal
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May 10, 2012
 
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Journa pno[o Dy Natahe Johnson ' Mason County will soon embark on the second phase of a project to refurbish the county courthouse and preserve it as a historic site. County continues courthouse remodel By NATALIE JOHNSON Mason County announced Tuesday that it had awarded a bid for Phase 2 of a project to refurbish the Mason County Courthouse to the Holmberg Company from Kirkland. The bid has a base level of $282,000, with an additive alternate of $148,000 to add a chiller and mechanical and electrical improvements with a total cost of $430,000, said John Keates, Mason County director of parks, trails and facili- ties. "The main component of this project is replac- ing the boiler which is original to the building," he said. The courthouse was built in the late 1920s, he added. The project is funded through a Save Ameri- ca's Treasures grant and REET i funds, or money from the county's real estate excise tax. The county originally planned to have the boil- er replacement completed by now, but delayed it to avoid working on the boiler during the winter. "We were supposed to have it done by April or May. To do the boiler project in the dead of winter would have required that we bring m a portable heating system ... which would have been time consuming and expensive," Keates said. "I asked for a project extension for the summer." In addition to the work on the boiler and ad- ditional mechanical work in the building, the county plans to do projects to upgrade the district and domestic violence courtrooms in the base- ment with new walls, doors, floors and ceilings, and also a fire alarm system, seismic structural upgrades among other changes. Keates said that work should be funded by an appropriation in the Washington State Capital Budget. "We did get some state money to start work on the two courtrooms in the basement," he said. "We'll probably be bringing that to the commis- sion in the near future." The county completed Phase 1 of the refurbish- ing project last summer, spending $782,000 to preserve the building as a historical site in Wash- ington. Phase 1 of the project included removing haz- ardous materials, an elevator upgrade, new car- pet, blinds on windows and new audio/visual systems for the superior courtroom. Phase 1 also included new signs in public areas and upgrades to the building's IT system. Journal DI]O[O Dy Kevln SDraalln Vern Morgus, 86, of Shelton, demonstrates how to play the harmonica. Morgus is heading the 24th annual Pacific Northwest Harmonic Jamboree this weekend in Shelton. Harmonica sings a tale of time Weekend jamboree a senior center fundraiser By KEVIN SPRADLIN The harmonica was first intro- duced to the United States in 1862 during the Civil War. Music from it became a staple of marching troops from both the North and the South. Today, 86-year-old Vern Morgus carries on the enthusiastic hum of the only instrument in which the player blows and draws breath to make music. Morgus and other harmonic aficio- nados plan to celebrate the instru- ment and share their knowledge dur- ing the 24th annual Pacific North- west Harmonica Jamboree. The event begins Friday at the Mason County Senior Activities Cen- ter on Railroad Avenue in Shelton. For those who pre-registered, there will be a special open mic har- monica event from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. On Saturday, the first workshop begins at 9 a.m. There will be tuto- rials on harmonica repair and tun- ing as well as demonstrations on the wide range of music the harmonica can do -- from the blues to country to rock 'n' roll. Classes and workshops, along with the main harmonica show from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, are for ages 7 and older. Event organizers are asking those under the age of 7 to refrain from attending as musicians will be recording throughout the day. Morgus, of Shelton, said the event moved to Shelton from the Light- house Activity CentSr after 23 years in Tacoma due to budget cuts and changes in staff. More than two decades ago, Mor- gus said he was approached about organizing an event to pay tribute to the harmonica. Morgus figured the event would be a success especially if fellow har- monica enthusiasts shared his pas- sion to the same degree he does. "Harmonica lovers ... we're nuts," Morgus said. "There's a lot of'em out there, you know." The harmonica has become a way of life for Morgus. He's been play- ing since he was 8. Today, he's also a teacher and repairer of the mouth organ. "I'll teach beginners," Morgus said. "I also teach harmonica repair and tuning. That's my main living now." Harmonica players from around the area will help with the workshop and stage performances, including: Jack Voice, Vernon Selstad, Gant Eichrodt and Jeff Rygwelski, all of Olympia; Mary and Don Haskell, of Tacoma: and Bill Aquino, of Hay- ward, Calif. Morgus said he expects up to 200 An ER physician's Antarctic adventure wil oe showcased in a photograpny oresentation on Thursday, May 10 and on Monday, May 14 at6 p.m. in the Ellinor Room at Mason General Hospital. Dean Gushee, M.D., emergency services medical director at MGH, will oresen his wildlife photograpny ana e of his adventure as a doctor on an exoedition to Antarctica with a Nationa Geographic team. His inspiring account of'nature in the raw' describes life n an icy, remote uar of the world where Dr. Gushee was part of an exoedition team on assignment to photograph Emperor penguins. This special presentation is free and open to me public. Please RSVP by May 7 by calling (360) 427-3623. as seating is limited to 100. iii!iii!!i!!iiiil!i WA:98584, Shel:ton (360)426t]611, from Altyn (360) 275:85t4 • Se habla espafiol For :more: information: Contact: the Pacific:NorthWest Harmonica JambOree: at:426- 734 o infosanet people to participate in the jamboree. "A lot of people like it because they come to see their mothers in Seattle or something," Morgus said of the timing of the event, which coincides with Mother's Day. "We get 'em from half around the world." Proceeds from the event will help fund the purchase of a larger Mason County Senior Activities Center. The existing facility has 5,000 square feet. Terri Shaw. the senior associa- tion's executive director, said she's looking forward to having additional space in the near future. Her orga- nization aims to purchase the now- vacant PUD 3 building located at the intersection of Third and West Cota streets. Shaw said she is excited to host the event in Shelton. "I'm thrilled that we are able to do it here," Shaw said. "I think that our area is rich with the tradition of homespun music. We've got Fiddlef- est (and) Bluegrass from the Forest tFestival) and now we have the Har- monica Jamboree. "It's a great thing if anyone's been trying to learn how to play." Breast will be $1.49 Let's mark the i 'y! calendar Ethyl ..... HOOD CANAL 24151 Hwy. 101 N. • Hoodsport, WA 360-877-2066 Shelton-Mason County Journal-Thursday, May 10, 2012 - Page A-3