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BELFAIR HERALD
Serving Belfair m Allyn -- Grapeview -- Tahuya -- Mason Lake -- South Shore -- Victor
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Section of The Shelton-Mason County Journal
#
the Theler Center:
00000000ieombelngo00 s?. ught
Commumty Center are search-
for three new board members
ell as a variety of volunteers
elp with new and ongoing proj-
R.
}fficials say that since a funding
is three years ago, the nonprofit
reorganized and kept the cen-
open on a shoe-string budget
money generated through do-
ions, room rentals, fund-raising
tits and volunteers.
Our frugality has been 'tough
f for us all," said Linnie Griffin,
!of Theler's four board mere-
s, "Especially our manager and
small, hardworking staff, most
hom are unpaid volunteers."
)FFICIALS SAY that core
cies have been developed that
ensuring the future for North
son's only community center
i public wetland trails. In ad-
ion, they point out that many
sung heroes" have shown their
ingness to "walk hand-in-hand"
nature by volunteering. Some
em include the following indi-
Uals:
D Arp Masley, a Master Garden-
who helps maintain the nature
rdens.
Bill Moyer, who mows and
-whacks the trails, maintains
tipment and repairs anything
t needs fixing.
Security host Dave George,
o keeps a watchful eye on Theler
ildings and grounds and serves
• Florence Crosswhite and many
other daily walkers who pick up lit-
Zer and help keep trail signs clean.
• Carefully screened workers
from the Mission Creek Corrections
Center for Women who maintain
the trails and gardens and clean up
around the community center and
parking lots.
"IN EVERYTHING we do, our
focus will always be toward the lo-
cal community," said Griffin. "But
moving forward depends on broad-
based community involvement.
That's why we're calling on our
neighbors to share their time and
talents."
Three two-year board positions
will be open this month and vol-
unteers with experience in fund-
raising and grant writing are espe-
cially needed. Local residents may
submit a letter of interest to P.O.
Box 1445, Belfair, 98528, or e-mail
them to theler@hetc.com.
Officials say that the letters
should include a listing of interests,
qualifications, history of volunteer-
ism and state how one's personal
experience might benefit the com-
munity center.
All four board members - Grif-
fin, Dave Kinnee, Mary Swoboda
and Tom Farmer - say they would
be happy to talk with those that
are interested in becoming board
members. Those that would like
more information or would like to
reach the current board members
iwelcome greeter to walkers us- should call 275-4898.
00ospital board
for meeting
The inaugural meeting of the
!Wly formed Mason County Pub- will chair the commission.
:Hospital District 2 Board of
nmissioners will be held at 7
. on Tuesday, December 18, at
Fire District 2 station on the
Belfair Highway.
It will be the board's first offi-
tl meeting, but it will not come
lmwthe pomp and pageantry of
1 investiture ceremony. The
issioners have all opted to
orn in already, individually,
are ready to get down to busi-
e meeting agenda indicates
t following a call to order, there
1 be time for introductions. The
t real order of business for the
board will then be deciding who
Following that, the board is set
to have a discussion about goals
for the hospital district and dis-
cuss possible mission statements.
In addition, the board will have
a discussion regarding possible
committees and discuss a meeting
schedule. Before adjourning, the
board is set to hold an open forum
to hear from area residents.
The public is welcome to attend
the meeting. Those that would like
more information about the new
hospital district or the upcom-
ing meeting should contact board
member Bev Wendell by calling
275-9365.
Girl Scouts help children at Turning Pointe
The Girl Scouts of Melody Pruett-Hop-
fensperger's Troop 271 stuffed 52 Christ-
aas stockings for the children affected
by. domestic violence at the Turning
Pomte Women's and Children's Shelter.
Each stocking contained a storybook, a
coloring book, 24 crayons, assorted can-
A RIVER runs through it: The Tahuya River's high, fast water got the better of
this bridge on the Belfair-Tahuya Road. Several other bridges in North Mason
were also destroyed during this past week's storm.
A storm's aftermath:
Se"00,ral seek emergency
relief at the Theler Cenl:(;r
By LIZ CASE
By the time last week's storm
blew through North Mason, its
high winds and drenching record
rainfall left homes flooded, power
out, phones dead, trees downed,
roads and bridges washed away
and whole communities stranded.
Streams and rivers that normally
flowed quietly through rural yards
became violent, rushing torrents
that swept away whole houses,
ground away embankments and
scoured away whatever was lying
in the water's path.
By the time the winds died down
and the skies cleared, PUD 3's Joel
Myer estimates that between 2,600
and 3,000 North Mason customers
were without power. Virtually all
have now had power restored, ac-
cording to Myer, with the excep-
tion of some individual homes that
needed further repair first.
"We knew how much work was
waiting for our people," said Myer,
"but we were really pleased at the
amount of community support we
got. People were coming out of
their houses with coffee and food
dy and candy canes, a stuffed animal, a
toy, a bottle of bubble juice and a cracker
packet. The scouts pictured here are Te-
resa Lake (at left) and Jessica Hopfens-
perger. The stockings were delivered to
the shelter on December 10,
and were bringing food, unasked,
to the substation for returning
workers." '
Mason County's emergency
management office was still com-
piling figures early this week as to
how many homes or other proper-
ties were damaged or destroyed in
the storm. "The best information I
currently have is lots and lots and
lots," said Martin Best, a member
of the emergency management of-
rice.
BELFAIR'S Mary E. Theler
Community Center was officially
serving as an emergency shelter
at 8 a.m. on Monday, December
3. Four people sheltered at Theler
on Monday night and seven people
stayed overnight on Tuesday.
Belfair's Faith In Action West
Sound organization sent volun-
teers Suzi Abbott and Shawn
Jones to staff the Theler kitchen,
providing hot meals for drop-ins
as well as overnight guests, and
delivering meals to emergency
responders. Jones also stayed the
night on Monday as a shelter at-
tendant.
"I am so honored to be able to
do this for this community," said
Jones as he worked in the kitch-
en, preparing the sloppy joes for
the Tuesday meal. Abbott added,
"There are so many people who
have had such a hard time of it,
and it's really an honor to be able
to help."
Local restaurants and other
donors provided the shelter with
cooked food as well.
ON THURSDAY, Theler of-
ficially closed as a shelter and
opened as a center for flood relief
and supplies, coordinated through
the Salvation Army.
Metal shelving loaned by the
Belfair Lions through dentist Don
LaPere was set up in one of the
conference rooms to hold food and
other necessities. Tables were also
set up for donated clothing.
It was a quiet day and commu-
nity responders were concerned,
knowing firsthand that many peo-
ple in the area needed assistance
but wondered how to get the word
out that it was available.
But the word began to get
out that day on television when
KOMO 4 asked its viewers to do-
nate enough goods to fill a moving
van with relief supplies. Viewers
responded with enough donations
to reportedly fill seven moving
vans with goods.
One of those vans arrived at
Theler at 1 p.m. on Friday, De-
cember 7, and the station filmed
a segment at the center, showing
volunteers sorting through dozens
of boxes of clothing and food and
cleaning supplies and other goods.
The segment began airing late
that afternoon.
THAT DID the trick. People
began arriving, both for assistance
and with more and more dona-
tions.
This reporter and son, Mark
Case, volunteered at Theler for six
hours on Sunday, receiving dona-
tions, stocking shelves and assist-
ing visitors. Kiwanis member Jim
Burton and his wife Arlene tackled
the mountains of clothing, sorting
and folding and stacking items
neatly on the tables,
On that day, things went
smoothly with only a few quiet
times and visits from flood victims
were steady.
Two couples arrived for sup-
plies, saying that flooding had de-
stroyed their homes and they had
lost everything. Another man said
that water had flowed beneath his
house but it was still standing,
although his car had been sub-
merged to a depth of three feet and
his well house was destroyed.
One man arrived with dona-
tions of several dozen brand-new
toys, a giR from a woman in Kirk-
land. Another brought a brand-
new man's down coat, donated by
a recent widow in another town,
which was given back out almost
right away.
SEVERAL people arrived to
ask what items were still in need
and went right back out to go and
purchase them. True to their word,
donations came back of gas cards,
waterproof work gloves, men's size
socks, and men's warm hats and
gloves.
Cases of canned tuna, graham
crackers, peanut butter and bot-
(Please turn to page 4.)
BELFAIR HERALD
Serving Belfair m Allyn -- Grapeview -- Tahuya -- Mason Lake -- South Shore -- Victor
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Section of The Shelton-Mason County Journal
#
the Theler Center:
00000000ieombelngo00 s?. ught
Commumty Center are search-
for three new board members
ell as a variety of volunteers
elp with new and ongoing proj-
R.
}fficials say that since a funding
is three years ago, the nonprofit
reorganized and kept the cen-
open on a shoe-string budget
money generated through do-
ions, room rentals, fund-raising
tits and volunteers.
Our frugality has been 'tough
f for us all," said Linnie Griffin,
!of Theler's four board mere-
s, "Especially our manager and
small, hardworking staff, most
hom are unpaid volunteers."
)FFICIALS SAY that core
cies have been developed that
ensuring the future for North
son's only community center
i public wetland trails. In ad-
ion, they point out that many
sung heroes" have shown their
ingness to "walk hand-in-hand"
nature by volunteering. Some
em include the following indi-
Uals:
D Arp Masley, a Master Garden-
who helps maintain the nature
rdens.
Bill Moyer, who mows and
-whacks the trails, maintains
tipment and repairs anything
t needs fixing.
Security host Dave George,
o keeps a watchful eye on Theler
ildings and grounds and serves
• Florence Crosswhite and many
other daily walkers who pick up lit-
Zer and help keep trail signs clean.
• Carefully screened workers
from the Mission Creek Corrections
Center for Women who maintain
the trails and gardens and clean up
around the community center and
parking lots.
"IN EVERYTHING we do, our
focus will always be toward the lo-
cal community," said Griffin. "But
moving forward depends on broad-
based community involvement.
That's why we're calling on our
neighbors to share their time and
talents."
Three two-year board positions
will be open this month and vol-
unteers with experience in fund-
raising and grant writing are espe-
cially needed. Local residents may
submit a letter of interest to P.O.
Box 1445, Belfair, 98528, or e-mail
them to theler@hetc.com.
Officials say that the letters
should include a listing of interests,
qualifications, history of volunteer-
ism and state how one's personal
experience might benefit the com-
munity center.
All four board members - Grif-
fin, Dave Kinnee, Mary Swoboda
and Tom Farmer - say they would
be happy to talk with those that
are interested in becoming board
members. Those that would like
more information or would like to
reach the current board members
iwelcome greeter to walkers us- should call 275-4898.
00ospital board
for meeting
The inaugural meeting of the
!Wly formed Mason County Pub- will chair the commission.
:Hospital District 2 Board of
nmissioners will be held at 7
. on Tuesday, December 18, at
Fire District 2 station on the
Belfair Highway.
It will be the board's first offi-
tl meeting, but it will not come
lmwthe pomp and pageantry of
1 investiture ceremony. The
issioners have all opted to
orn in already, individually,
are ready to get down to busi-
e meeting agenda indicates
t following a call to order, there
1 be time for introductions. The
t real order of business for the
board will then be deciding who
Following that, the board is set
to have a discussion about goals
for the hospital district and dis-
cuss possible mission statements.
In addition, the board will have
a discussion regarding possible
committees and discuss a meeting
schedule. Before adjourning, the
board is set to hold an open forum
to hear from area residents.
The public is welcome to attend
the meeting. Those that would like
more information about the new
hospital district or the upcom-
ing meeting should contact board
member Bev Wendell by calling
275-9365.
Girl Scouts help children at Turning Pointe
The Girl Scouts of Melody Pruett-Hop-
fensperger's Troop 271 stuffed 52 Christ-
aas stockings for the children affected
by. domestic violence at the Turning
Pomte Women's and Children's Shelter.
Each stocking contained a storybook, a
coloring book, 24 crayons, assorted can-
A RIVER runs through it: The Tahuya River's high, fast water got the better of
this bridge on the Belfair-Tahuya Road. Several other bridges in North Mason
were also destroyed during this past week's storm.
A storm's aftermath:
Se"00,ral seek emergency
relief at the Theler Cenl:(;r
By LIZ CASE
By the time last week's storm
blew through North Mason, its
high winds and drenching record
rainfall left homes flooded, power
out, phones dead, trees downed,
roads and bridges washed away
and whole communities stranded.
Streams and rivers that normally
flowed quietly through rural yards
became violent, rushing torrents
that swept away whole houses,
ground away embankments and
scoured away whatever was lying
in the water's path.
By the time the winds died down
and the skies cleared, PUD 3's Joel
Myer estimates that between 2,600
and 3,000 North Mason customers
were without power. Virtually all
have now had power restored, ac-
cording to Myer, with the excep-
tion of some individual homes that
needed further repair first.
"We knew how much work was
waiting for our people," said Myer,
"but we were really pleased at the
amount of community support we
got. People were coming out of
their houses with coffee and food
dy and candy canes, a stuffed animal, a
toy, a bottle of bubble juice and a cracker
packet. The scouts pictured here are Te-
resa Lake (at left) and Jessica Hopfens-
perger. The stockings were delivered to
the shelter on December 10,
and were bringing food, unasked,
to the substation for returning
workers." '
Mason County's emergency
management office was still com-
piling figures early this week as to
how many homes or other proper-
ties were damaged or destroyed in
the storm. "The best information I
currently have is lots and lots and
lots," said Martin Best, a member
of the emergency management of-
rice.
BELFAIR'S Mary E. Theler
Community Center was officially
serving as an emergency shelter
at 8 a.m. on Monday, December
3. Four people sheltered at Theler
on Monday night and seven people
stayed overnight on Tuesday.
Belfair's Faith In Action West
Sound organization sent volun-
teers Suzi Abbott and Shawn
Jones to staff the Theler kitchen,
providing hot meals for drop-ins
as well as overnight guests, and
delivering meals to emergency
responders. Jones also stayed the
night on Monday as a shelter at-
tendant.
"I am so honored to be able to
do this for this community," said
Jones as he worked in the kitch-
en, preparing the sloppy joes for
the Tuesday meal. Abbott added,
"There are so many people who
have had such a hard time of it,
and it's really an honor to be able
to help."
Local restaurants and other
donors provided the shelter with
cooked food as well.
ON THURSDAY, Theler of-
ficially closed as a shelter and
opened as a center for flood relief
and supplies, coordinated through
the Salvation Army.
Metal shelving loaned by the
Belfair Lions through dentist Don
LaPere was set up in one of the
conference rooms to hold food and
other necessities. Tables were also
set up for donated clothing.
It was a quiet day and commu-
nity responders were concerned,
knowing firsthand that many peo-
ple in the area needed assistance
but wondered how to get the word
out that it was available.
But the word began to get
out that day on television when
KOMO 4 asked its viewers to do-
nate enough goods to fill a moving
van with relief supplies. Viewers
responded with enough donations
to reportedly fill seven moving
vans with goods.
One of those vans arrived at
Theler at 1 p.m. on Friday, De-
cember 7, and the station filmed
a segment at the center, showing
volunteers sorting through dozens
of boxes of clothing and food and
cleaning supplies and other goods.
The segment began airing late
that afternoon.
THAT DID the trick. People
began arriving, both for assistance
and with more and more dona-
tions.
This reporter and son, Mark
Case, volunteered at Theler for six
hours on Sunday, receiving dona-
tions, stocking shelves and assist-
ing visitors. Kiwanis member Jim
Burton and his wife Arlene tackled
the mountains of clothing, sorting
and folding and stacking items
neatly on the tables,
On that day, things went
smoothly with only a few quiet
times and visits from flood victims
were steady.
Two couples arrived for sup-
plies, saying that flooding had de-
stroyed their homes and they had
lost everything. Another man said
that water had flowed beneath his
house but it was still standing,
although his car had been sub-
merged to a depth of three feet and
his well house was destroyed.
One man arrived with dona-
tions of several dozen brand-new
toys, a giR from a woman in Kirk-
land. Another brought a brand-
new man's down coat, donated by
a recent widow in another town,
which was given back out almost
right away.
SEVERAL people arrived to
ask what items were still in need
and went right back out to go and
purchase them. True to their word,
donations came back of gas cards,
waterproof work gloves, men's size
socks, and men's warm hats and
gloves.
Cases of canned tuna, graham
crackers, peanut butter and bot-
(Please turn to page 4.)