---the president’s column
The sun is out, however, I encountered frost on my walkway this morning. There are some seed starts sitting on the dining room table and I am having difficulty conditioning them to the real world.
A gentle reminder of the COMMUNITY POTLUCK to be held 18 April at 6:00 pm. The Samish Island Fire Department will be there with information about their radio fundraising effort.
My door is always open (literally according to my neighbors) and I welcome your suggestions, comments and thoughts. My phone # is 360.708.6116, and e-mail is aaamot@wavecable.com . Our next board meeting is at 7 pm 15 April at the Community Center.
A huge thank you to Linda MacGregor. A WWU student requested access to rock formations and one e-mail resulted in Linda’s offer to coordinate directly with the student.
I still haven’t been able to entice anyone to serve as Secretary, although the benefits (a key to the Hall and uh …) are huge. Our community has a long tradition of involvement, and you might want to consider adding your voice. ---Astrid

The EDGEWATER GARDEN CLUB will meet at 9:45 AM for visiting and refreshments on Tuesday, April 28, at the Samish Island FIRE HALL on Halloran Road.
NOTE: This is a change of place from our directory listing. The business meeting will begin at 10:15 AM. At 11:00 AM, members will share garden ideas in a roundtable discussion. Weather permitting, members are invited to stay for a work party in our fire hall garden. Bring a sack lunch. All are welcome!

SAMISH ISLAND FIREWORKS SHOW/JULY 4TH
By popular demand, we are bringing back the Fireworks Show on Samish Bay. Paul Blau has been kind enough to offer his barge as a platform to shoot the display. starting around 10:00 p.m., (or dark.) Port Gardner Fireworks will produce the show, including fireworks, insurance, and pyrotechnicion for $3000 to $5,000, depending on the amount of donations we can collect.
Please contribute and help lower the danger by moving some of the fireworks from the beach to the middle of the bay. An account has been opened at Skagit State Bank (2 signatures required) and donations will be accepted at any branch (Checks made payable to "Samish Island Fireworks Show"). If you have questions and/or would like to help, please contact Ken Schacht at samishislandfireworks@gmail.com or call 360-599-1949

The 2009 SUMMER SAMISH ISLAND ARTS FESTIVAL will be held Saturday July 25th. Please mark your calendars. There will again be many fine arts exhibitors, music, and food at this year's festival. If you are interested in participating as an artist and have not done so before, please contact Janene at 766-6290. If you have participated before, you will receive an application form via email in May.

The SAMISH SENIOR SINGLES are planning a visit to the Kiwanis Club Salmon Barbecue on Friday, April 24th. Cars leaving from Samish Island will follow each other to the Hillcrest Lodge parking lot, and meeting there at 11:30 am. those seniors arriving in cars from other points. Questions? call Betty Chowka, 766-8032. (exit 226 east from I-5, right on 13th St., 4 blocks to Hillcrest Park, Mount.Vernon.)

A Community Emergency Response (CERT) Training is coming up in Mount Vernon and we are trying to get some Samish Island people trained. We hope to eventually schedule a training on-island, but this won't happen right away. The training in Mount Vernon is our next opportunity locally. The CERT Training is from April 20 to May 13, Monday and Wednesday nights, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. If anyone is interested, please contact Kevin Noyes, Deputy Fire Marshall/Emergency Management Coordinator, at kevinn@co.skagit.wa.us or call his office 360.428.3253 to register for this training ---Rutheia Wyckoff

SAMISH ISLAND MEMORIAL CHAPEL welcomes all to our Easter Services: 7:00 am Sunrise Service;
7:30 am: Continental breakfast after Sunrise Service;
10 am: Communion Service; 11:00 am: Sunday Service

COMMUNITY OF CHRIST EASTER SCHEDULE:
Everyone is welcome. 9:30 am: Easter Breakfast;
11:00 am: An Easter Sermon by Bishop Lowell Davis

The Samish Island YOGA CLASS has a temporary substitute for April, May and June. Lena Breen will be filling in for Liz. Lena is a. well trained yoga instructor and has owned her own yoga studio in Mt. Vernon. Please do continue to attend from 10-11:30 at the Church of Christ on Tues.'s and if you have not attended before, this would be an excellent time to join in!

The Samish Island Community Hall is available for rentals throughout the year; islander’s rate: $75; five hours or less: $50. Contact Eileen Andersen, 766-8202, or info@samishisland.net to schedule your family gathering wedding, party, meeting, or event.

SPECIAL NOTICE for the month of MAY (one time only). Please submit items for the Shore Lines to Nancy Liggett, 9674 Samish Island Rd, by 5 pm on May 7, (first Thursday), 766-8111, nancyl@nwlink.com

"Open House" for Samish Island Campground 50th Celebration May 2&3. You are invited. We've read about many of your families in Susan and Fred Millers "Samish Island: A History." We'd love to hear your family stories about Chief Harry, Judge Scott and his wife Mary , the oyster farming on the east tideflats or about Sig Freestad and the beginnings of the Samish Farms Water Association and of course about the campground. If you are "new" to the island come hear the history! Drop in for an hour or the day! Fun workshops, games, campfire on Saturday / Interfaith celebration on Sunday. Get info and even post a story on our
blog http://samish50thcelebration.wordpress.com .
or contact Mark Chapman markatsamish@gmail.com

I am forming a "Samish Is. Book club". We would meet once a month at a club member’s house to discuss our "book of the month.” (The member who volunteers to host the next month's meeting selects the next book, and provides coffee and tea. Goodies are potluck by other members.) Although it's best if you can find the time to read the book before the month's meeting, you are still encouraged and welcome to join the discussion so as to add perspective and opinion about the book’s subject. The Book club will be exclusively for Samish Is. residents, as we will be meeting in our homes. Carol Sullivan will host the first month’s meeting at a date to be determined when we have enough people signed up. 10-12 people makes a fairly manageable club. Please call Carol 766-5310, or contact by email carolsulli@hotmail.com. ----Tom Sullivan

The large photo of RYLEY PEARSON, Boys’ Swimming Athlete of the Year, dominated the front page of the Skagit Valley Herald’s March 26th Sports Section, the first in a series highlighting high school athletes in various sports. Ryley won state titles for the
B-Ed. Tigers in the 200 yd freestyle & 100 butterfly.

Soothing Waters, the Samish Island warm water therapy and beginning swim lesson pool, is off to the best seasonal start ever - thank you for your participation. Registration is now being accepted for Session II swim lessons which begin on May 12th/13th and run through June 30th/July 1st. Watsu sessions are scheduled upon request. Please contact Liz at 766.8403 or lizbart@wavecable.com, or view www.soothingwaters.net for more info.
The Skagit Valley College class, Warm Water Bodywork Basics, will be offered from May 12th - June 1, 2:30 to 4 pm. If you’ve ever considered taking this class, now is the last time it will be offered. If you are over 60 years, the fee is only $27.70, an amazing value. You may register through SVC by calling 416.7873.
ADS

FOR SALE:
---Brentwood Maple Armoire; excellent condition $250; Yakima roof luggage rack, $150. 766-6783
--- Large, motorized lift chair, reclines to almost flat position. 766-6501
--- 2 wool area rugs, sizes 9x12 and 6x9. 766-6284

SERVICES:
---A Clean Start Cleaning Co. Lic., Residential cleaning is now available every other week Tues. and Wed. pm. 3-hour min. Call Anita for free estimate, 360-421-7434
----Quality Stonework--many local projects w/ references; licensed, bonded & insured. Modern Stone Innovations--call Ben Lowman, 770-7674.
--- For your landscape design & maintenance needs call Debbie Emerson,20+ experience on S.I. , 766-5095.
www.gardensez.com

HOUSING RENTALS:
--- 3 bdrm., 2 bath house, Samish Island North Beach, May 23 - June 1, 2009, no pets/smoking, low tide week, $1,000.00/wk., 757-8755.
--- Waterfront cabin available for short stays. Recently remodeled 1bd/1ba facing Padilla Bay. Please call 360-766-4359 for more info.
---Large 1 bedroom rental available May 1st. Newly remodeled. Water, garbage, cable & landscaping included, $1125 mo., 766-5095

MISSING:We lost our dock last fall from North Beach, painted "red, white and blue". Also our kayak is missing, a faded red and white. Please contact Kristin, skmanley@wavecable.com.

Inspiration, Intuition, Insight: New Works by Thaïs Armstrong showing at the Depot Arts Center, 611 R Ave. Anacortes, May 1-May 30th. Opening Reception Friday, May 1st, 6-9pm. Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday 12:30-5:00pm; Saturday 1-4pm. (Thais has been active in the S.I. Arts Committee over the years.)

Community Club Board of Directors, Samish Island Community Club, P.O.Box 268, Bow, WA 98232

Astrid Aamot
President
766-4101

Howard Armstrong
Vice-President & Programs
766-6657

not yet filled
Secretary

Linda Strobel
Treasurer
766-4082

Steve Hoffman
At-Large
766-4488

Amy Colvin
At-Large
425-503-8886

Charles O'Hara
At-Large
766--0224