New committee raising funds for our schools
Thank you for your very thorough coverage of the challenges and possibilities facing our school district in the coming months and years. Our enrollment-driven funding is meeting reality as the student numbers decline not because of inadequacy in the school system, its staff or its administration, but simply because of a struggling economy and changing demographics.

Some concerned citizens have formed a Funding Committee to raise monies to support all schools in the Anacortes School District in three key areas which directly affect the education of our town’s children: 1) major school initiatives 2) disadvantaged funding and 3) scholarships. This Funding Committee is sponsored by the Anacortes Schools Foundation, a nonprofit organization comprised of parents, school officials, retirees and other members of our community. The Funding Committee’s purpose is to enhance the work already being done by the foundation.

This effort will require the combined talents, energy and focus of our community and the Funding Committee seeks additional members who wish to participate in a myriad of ways. Joining the committee does not require financial contributions, but a willingness to help as we plan fundraising efforts to bolster our schools during these hard economic times.

To learn more, community members are invited to contact the Anacortes Schools Foundation at 293-1200, to visit the ASF Web site at http://www.anacortesschoolsfoundation.org or contact me at  for more information.

Together, we can give our children the high quality education they deserve and which our future requires.
Maija-Liisa Sorensen
ASF Funding Committee Chair

Support for senior center appreciated
I would like to thank Kimberly Jacobson and the Anacortes American for helping to inform the community (in the June 17 issue) about our present challenges at the Anacortes Senior Activity Center.

Since the article came out, I have received many communications of support and encouragement. Though the center has been recently presented with new challenges, I am confident in its continued success in large part due to the partnerships that lend us strength even in times of challenge.

Partnering with our neighbors, the United Methodist Church and the Fidalgo Pool & Fitness Center made it possible to build our present facility and to create a shared parking arrangement that works. The Methodist Church offered an easement and the Fidalgo Pool agreed to lease the land on which we sit for $1 per year.

The city of Anacortes, in addition to the nearly $30,000 contributed to the Senior Services Budget (as mentioned in the 6/17 article), also owns and maintains the facility in which we live.

This is a substantial contribution which includes a facility manager and custodian, water/sewer/garbage, natural gas, electricity, insurance, facility upkeep and improvements, etc.

The Anacortes Senior Center Advisory Committee (a 501©3 organization) supports the center on a daily basis with funding of office supplies, kitchen supplies, copy machine, newsletter etc. as well as partnering with the city for building improvements and being advisors to the center coordinator. The Anacortes community, including service clubs, individuals and the business community, have been continually generous allowing us to make the most of our potential to serve the community.

Though the county’s fiscal situation has led to new challenges countywide, the Senior Activity Center continues to value their longstanding partnership. Skagit County took on funding of Senior Services in 1973 and has been a steady partner with each community (Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, Sedro-Woolley and Concrete) ever since in offering services to our county’s seniors, including Senior Centers, Meals on Wheels, meals served at each senior center and the Retired Senior Volunteer Program.

As they say, “it takes a village.” Without the partnerships which have developed over the years between the city of Anacortes, Skagit County, the United Methodist Church, the Fidalgo Pool & Fitness Center, the Anacortes Senior Advisory Committee and the Anacortes community, we would not enjoy the stability and the solid variety of services we have available to seniors in our community. We will do everything we can to maintain those services and meet the challenges of today as well as those the future may bring.

In service,
Sally Hill
Coordinator, Anacortes Senior Activity Center

Displaying patriotism important
I recently wrote the principal at Anacortes High School about the total lack of respect and failure to display any patriotic feelings at their graduation ceremony.

It seems to me this failure seeps into the teaching failure for the students. Where are we without respect? Where are we if we don’t honor our country?

Thousands of young men and women have given their lives for this country. Thousands more stand at the gates day and night so that we remain free. It’s not cheap; there is a cost. And shouldn’t all students be reminded of this? What better place than a graduation ceremony?

The local school board has a burden to bear for this failure as well.

We can stand on the corners of Commercial Avenue in your fair city and protest the war or support our troops with another group and yet we do not honor our country at a graduation ceremony. Shame.
J. P. Brown
Jefferson, La.

Firefighters, officer huge help when pipe burst
On behalf of Anacortes Starbucks, I would like to thank Officer Janet Wilson of our local police department and firefighters Oliver and Sherman of our local fire department.

A week ago Tuesday morning around 2 a.m. a pipe burst inside Starbucks causing a heavy amount of flooding. Officer Wilson arrived to the scene and proceeded to stop the water and begin cleaning up the mess. Oliver and Sherman assisted her.

By the time I had arrived the water was gone.  With over 1 inch of standing water they moved furniture, mats and merchandise to ensure they got it all. They even put down plastic to assist a delivery driver with his load.

Thank you so much for your help. Your kindness is a reminder of how lucky we are to live and work in such a great community.
Jen Swanson and the Anacortes team

Why wasn’t dead eagle removed sooner?
I read the recent article about the accident on Highway 20 where an eagle crashed into the windshield of a police officer’s car.

My friend and I were driving down Highway 20 shortly after this occurred. There were no signs of the accident except the huge dead eagle in the road. My concern is why it was not removed until the next morning (according to your article).

I feel this was very disrespectful to the symbol of our country as well as hazardous to drivers.
Donna Thomas
Anacortes

Relay For Life was an inspiring, emotional event
Our yearly Relay For Life event has served again, with $136,293 raised to help in the defeat of cancer.

Our outstanding and hardworking committee, 39 teams with 462 participants and a generous community did an incredible job of raising those funds and creating a wonderful night to remember.

As co-chairs, Claudia Buckner and I didn’t have to invent the Anacortes Relay wheel. Over the eight years, we have had Robin Swain, Meredith McIlmoyle, Brian Geer, Don Spurling and their committees do that for us. This year, with the overwhelming generosity of the Port of Anacortes, we just got to put our own decorations on it.

From the Anacortes High School field to the Field of Dreams to the beautiful Cap Sante Boat Haven, we have had some excellent venues. Weren’t you wowed by the way the Port and its harbormaster welcomed us this year? Grass, flowers, water, boats — and flush toilets. Uptown!

Thank them when you see them.

I was going to write this Sunday, but I was still so overwhelmed that the tears kept splashing on the keyboard. I fancy myself as somewhat of a word-smith, but all I could do was weep with gratitude (and exhaustion).

After skydiving for my 80th birthday, folks have been asking what I was going to do for my 82nd. After about eight months of planning, we “relayed,” and that’s it. (I might get to ride on the tank in the July 4 parade.) I am so very proud to live in a small town that gives of itself so generously.

By the way, did you wonder how all of the big tents, stage and barricades got there?

Claudia’s husband, Phil Sorenson, our logistics chair, was the unseen hero along with his hard-working crew. From 7 a.m. Friday until 2 p.m. Saturday they created, tended and dismantled and cleaned up our magical site, which also held our 40 team tents and vendors.

If you were there at 10 p.m., and I hope you were, you could hear the crying sound of the bagpipe playing “Amazing Grace” as it came closer to the stage, drawing you to the luminaria portion of our remembrance ceremony.

Beautiful music and a quiet time of walking in the dark and lingering over the personalized candle luminarias is a poignant time as we think of those we have loved and lost.

We had a beautiful opening with Trish Strong leading us all in the National Anthem and the Marine Color Guard leading 150 purple-shirted survivors around the track followed by all 39 teams.

We had boat watching, foil boat making/quarter sinking, a hilarious “boat-float” parade, live bands provided by KWLE The Whale and their music all night, another one of Laurie’s special BBQs and breakfast, 7 a.m. boot-scooting exercise, happy little kids eating way too much sweet stuff and climbing on the tank, a newsprint/ duct tape fashion show, Chief of Police dunking, Wrestlers Jail bailing, a very profitable silent auction and reflective time in the Remembrance Tent, much hugging and friendly greetings. If I have forgotten something or someone, I apologize as I was sleepwalking most of the night! All in all ... it was grand!

Later Claudia and I will thank each of you individually. From our generous sponsors to the person who turned off the sprinklers so we wouldn’t repeat the middle of the night thrill we had at the high school field, you have all helped us create a glorious 2009 Relay for Life. 

Thanks to Kim Neff, our American Cancer Survivor staff advisor, who kept us on task until we got on the track.
Janette Jones and Claudia Buckner
2009 Relay co-chairs

Support for Gentry House appreciated
Thank you to everyone who came to our fundraiser on June 4 to support Gentry House, the new adult day care facility in Anacortes. This is such a giving community and you proved it that day.

Your contributions are so appreciated not only by the board but also by the many people who will use Gentry House.
Ann Giboney
Skagit Adult Day Care Board