Haunted Hospital

An interesting development; United General Hospital and Cascade Job Corps are sponsoring “Haunted Hospital” on the grounds of the former Northern State Hospital. Every Friday and Saturday in October, 6:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Cost is $5 per person. Not recommended for under 12 years of age. The sponsors of this event promise that it will not be disrespectful to any of the former patients of the hospital. It's just supposed to be a scary haunted "house" with a hospital theme. A professional magician is helping create some of the illusions. The sponsors hope to make this an annual fundraiser for the UGH Foundation in the same way the Festival of Trees is a fundraiser for Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. This will be more theatrical.

http://www.unitedgeneralhospitalfoundation.org/

Tearing up downtown Sedro-Woolley - again

We're about halfway through the eastbound closure of Highway 20, with traffic being diverted through downtown (from Hwy 20, Ferry to Metcalf, left on Metcalf and back to Hwy 20). Many of the parking spaces at the intersection of Metcalf and Ferry have been orange-barrelled-off and at 4:30 today when I came back into town there was a traffic control officer at the intersection, trying to facilitate traffic flow.

Today I received an e'mail from the S-W Chamber of Commerce, which includes a press release from the city, announcing the closure of Metcalf, in sections (after the Hwy 20 reroute is complete), to re-do the big sewer project that was completed during summer 2008.

Per the Public Works information release, Metcalf Street (the main business street downtown) will be closed to traffic from State Street to Woodworth Street starting September 28th for approximately three weeks. That's phase 1.

Phase 2 closes Metcalf from Ferry Street (Hammer Heritage Square) to the old bowling alley for approximately two weeks starting October 19th.

The big sewer project last year was not entirely successful and repairs are needed.

Last year when the sewer line was "staged" at ground level before being sunk, it looked like Nessie was moving to Sedro-Woolley. We could have painted the line and added a papier mache head and created a tourist attraction. Too bad I thought of it now...

Here's my new idea - if you're in Skagit County and want to help out the merchants in S-W, come on over during the big dig and have breakfast, lunch, or dinner at one of the many downtown restaurants! And do a little shopping while you're here. Hardware, fabric, videos, nail salon services, thrift shopping, and several other choices are all at your fingertips. The downtown area will truly need support during this time. Then make plans to attend some of the fun events that will help us close out the year in November and December. I'll post a list later.

Here is the page containing official news release from the city:
http://www.ci.sedro-woolley.wa.us/Home/main.htm

Look for "Metcalf Street Closure Notice" - it's in pdf format.

The parking on Metcalf is a small percentage of the parking available downtown. So be fearless and come on over!

I'll take pictures. I know you're eager to see photos of sewer line repairs!

Summer of Construction

This has been a big summer for construction in Sedro-Woolley, in spite of the heat and the economy. Everywhere I go, I see things happening, and I'm pasting a few photos below for you to enjoy, even tho it's hard to take interesting photos of road construction.

The biggest event is the "improvement" of Highway 20 just north of the old Skagit Steel property. There will be a traffic round (!) creating an intersection at the north end of that industrial park and just west of the Les Schwab Tire store. All summer, truckers have been cutting through downtown to avoid the flaggers. Starting yesterday, that section of Highway 20 is closed for the final push and there is an actual detour through town. The little section is scheduled to be closed from Sept. 9th to 23rd, and the contractors placed big digital signs at both ends of the construction zone to make the announcement well in advance. Unfortunately, some people interpreted this to mean that the entire North Cascades Highway would be closed from Sedro-Woolley eastward. And that tidbit has already made the papers. The WA State DOT is sending out disclaimers. It's just the section where the traffic round is being installed that is closed. See two photos below.

The McGargile Road is also torn up and being refitted with sidewalks, curbs, a bike trail, and resufacing. This has caused a major detour for people who live north of Highway 20 towards the old Northern State Hospital. McGargile is the road that goes east off of Highway 9, just past Cascade Middle School and past Evergreen Elementary. It connects with Fruitdale Road at the east end. It is all but impassable for the locals. Below is a photo, taken from where Carter Road intersects with McGargile. There is also road work on Fruitdale between McGargile and Highway 20. You can imagine the creative routes that local folks need to take to get to work and back every day. When all is done, kids will have a much safer way to walk and bike to school.

BTW, Federal stimulus money is paying for part of both of these road projects.

Skagit State Bank at Ferry and Murdock Streets is getting a big facelift and some office space changes inside. Big project - the rock surface had to be removed and staged for reuse, then all the construction completed. The bank has been open during everything - the folks who work there are good sports, but I will tell you that going inside is like going into the Bat Cave. It's kind of exciting. See photo below taken from their drive thru point.

Just north of the bank on Murdock, the same contractor is building a large commercial building of some kind. I don't know who will be in it. I should be nosier, I guess. Photo below.

Finally, we had some work done on our front porch to replace the decking and some walls on this 111 year-old structure. Every so often you need to replace old wood. See photos. And next door, at the home formerly owned by the Foss family, the entire front porch is being replaced. No photo..

There are other projects going on around town, racing toward finish to beat the turn of the weather. We're scheduled for sunny, warm days through about next Friday. Then some rain and maybe our lawns will green up!

Highway 20 in front of Les Schwab.

Highway 20 - detour at the new traffic round (no, I'm not driving on the wrong side).

On Carter Rd. looking north to McGargile.

Skagit State Bank remodel.

New construction on Murdock, north of Skagit State Bank.

Freshening up the front porch.

Fine work by Wild Ass Milling and Construction.

Sedro-Woolley hits 100 - update

Just for those of you who are keeping score, the Whidbey Island Bank time and temp sign hit 104 degrees late this afternoon. I did not run out and take another photo - but City of Sedro-Woolley employees kept coming by in their truck, and one would jump out to take a photo of the sign with his cell phone when the degrees changed. So the occasion has been documented, and I suspect that the bank employees took photos, too. It was a singular occasion and I hope it's over!

Sedro-Woolley hits 100 - degrees, that is

The data geek in me wanted to know if the time and temp sign at Whidbey Island Bank accommodates a three-digit temperature reading. It does. See photos below.

We had a great Class of 71 coffee hour at Common Ground last night, but it was HOT!! Ten of us ordered cold drinks (exception: JB had the ice cream) and tried not to talk about how hot it was. Common Ground has no AC - they opened the doors for a breeze. But it had to be 90+ in there. I really don't want to know...

It's probably foolish to post these photos because it will likely go over 100 degrees today in S-W...but there's something irresistible about the number 100.

Also below is a photo from last December, just for counterpoint.

2009 S-WHS Alumni All-Class Picnic - update

Today at the S-WHS Alumni Assn meeting they reviewed the picnic and made notes for process improvements next year. They also gave some statistics; I'll give you a few here.

First, the most important thing, is that the picnic income/expenses netted out in the black. Very good news.

There were 440+ attendees, 340 cars in the parking lot, and 394 meals purchased. 14 people paid dues on site and 2 people made monetary donations to the Assn on site.

The classes of '64, '51, '46, '48, and '67 had the most attendees per class (calculated by people, not per cent). In that order. Those class of '64 people are pretty organized.

That's just a sample of the data. The rest will come out in the S-WHS Alumni Assn's newsletter.

Everyone associated with the comittee had received many positive comments on the picnic and the food.

It's a big deal when 440 people gather in Sedro-Woolley for a single event. And the picnic is such a great way to reconnect with old friends. More people are discovering it every year!

2009 S-WHS Alumni All-Class Picnic

Here are some photos from the SWHS Alumni All-Class Picnic on July 11th! It was held at our beautiful Riverfront Park (where the old "dump" used to be) and was well-attended by enthusiastic alums from many classes! I had a sign made last year for our class to use at events like this and this year there were several classes with a sign. So maybe I have started a trend! Some classes have so many attendees that they have their own tent!

Alas, only four members of Class of 71 were there. JB Bryson, recovering from his responsibilities at Loggerodeo, Julie Jones Anderson (seen below in a photo with JB and with her dad, Dr. Bud Jones), Pat Dow (no photo), and I (no photo). Last year we had more. Maybe next year...Oops, forgot that Mike and Janet Joy were the caterers and I didn't get a photo of them, either. So that makes five Class of 71'ers.

Bob Dow, Class of 72, did a great job as master of ceremonies. Looks like he'll be inheriting that job for a while.

The missing element this year was Spud Walley, who passed away in February but was surely a mainstay at the annual picnic. There are so many faithful alums who attend the picnic, take leadership roles, and donate door prizes. It's a great tradition. Barb Thompson, Pat Hyatt, Lola Ellestad, Bud and Judy Jones, Gene and Irene Johnson, and Ed Hoyt are but a few who work hard to make the picnic fun, profitable, and earn money for the scholarship fund.

I can't get these photos below into any kind of order, and when I mess with them and move them around, Internet Explorer gives me a fatal error and shuts down. So I'm going to let them display as they will, below, and you can match the names above with the folks in the photos. One of the photos is of Mr. Bill Stendal. Standing by the welcome sign is Vern Sims, SWHS Alum, who is always a big sponsor of the picnic.

2010 picnic - Second Saturday in July - plan now to attend! Then we'll start counting down to our 40-year reunion!