Fox Island Community & Recreation Association Newsletter           August 2015    
Come to the FICRA Fair - Saturday, August 8
Don't miss  Fox Island's biggest event of the year! The FICRA Fair takes place on August 8 th at the Nichols Community Center (NCC). Start at the FICRA booth to buy your 2015 Fox Island T-shirt, join FICRA or renew your FICRA membership (only $25 per family per year), and pickup your FICRA Fox Island Directory available to FICRA members. Visit over 75 vendors and artists as well as the kids games and exhibits.  Check out the Raffle Room to bid on the amazing prizes donated by our community and local businesses and see the Fox Island Garden Club's Flower Show.     

Grab lunch In the Music and Food Court where the Fox Island Yacht Club will be grilling amazing burgers, the Chapel will be ready with hot dogs and Smoking Zee's will be serving some tasty BBQ! There will be kettle corn and fabulous cobbler provided by United Church of Christ.  Sit in the shade at the FICRA Beer Garden, the Chapel Wine Garden, at a picnic table, or on the grass and enjoy live music featuring local musicians: Natalie Murphy; Mathew and the Animals; Sarah Tweet and Family; Luke Stanton; and the Twang Junkies.
 

The opening ceremony will begin at noon with the presentation of the colors by the Fox Island Honor Guard and the singing of the national anthem by local artist Sarah Tweet followed by the World's "Shortest" Parade, led by our 2015 Grand Marshall and  featuring the largest kazoo band ever assembled on Fox Island.  The children and grandchildren of Fox Island are invited to participate in the kazoo band. Kazoos and noise makers will be provided. Be a part of the Largest Kazoo Band in the World's Smallest Parade!

FICRA Needs You!

FICRA is looking for a volunteer to chair the 2016 January fundraiser. This has traditionally been an auction party, but other fundraisers ideas are welcome. Jean Peterson, the past chairperson has a folder to pass on to make the job easier and is willing to help if needed.  Please call Jim Braden at 459-5588 for more information.


Fox Island Museum News
3rd Annual Classic Car Show
Takes place at the museum on August 8 during the FICRA Fair. Registration at 9:30. Open to the public 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.

Huge Book Sale
This used book sale helps support our non-profit, all volunteer Fox Island Museum. It also takes place at the museum on August 8, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm during the FICRA Fair. 
Chapel on Echo Bay News
Yoga at the Chapel
Vinyasa Yoga with Sara Davis-Christ will be offered at the Chapel on Echo Bay on Tuesday mornings at  9:00 am  beginning  August 4th . Bring your mat and water, and join us. Donations only.

Author Night
Meet Tim Sherry, author of One of Seven Billion at the Chapel on Wednesday, August 5 at 7:00 pm. He will be reading from and signing copies of his book. Presented by Mostly Books.

Save the Date
The annual Chapel Member Party will be held on September 11 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. There will be refreshments and music by the band Northwest Chill. Not a member? Join that night!
All Island Garage Sale
Saturday, September 12

The All-Island-Garage-Sale helps fund the FICRA Trust's Crime Watch program. Fox Island residents will have the opportunity to display their goods either at their own home, the Nichols Community Center, or at the Museum on 9th Ave. A map of all garage sale locations on the island where goods are sold will be available the morning of September 12 at the Alliance Church on Island Blvd. The maps will cost $2 and support our Citizen's Patrol team.

 

Click here for more info and to register to participate in the sale.
Update on the Fox Island Emergency Plan
Family self-sufficiency is the cornerstone of managing a major emergency. The development of an  emergency preparation plan for Fox Island will help in the formation of your own family planning. The  FICRA Building Trust is the sponsor of our Emergency Preparation Plan (The Plan). The Plan brings  together the multi-resources that exist on Fox Island. Other agencies on Fox Island such as the Fire 
Station, our Mutual Water Company, and Peninsula Light already have their own plans on responding to an emergency, therefore, our plan will supplement their efforts. The Plan also draws on off-island resources like the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (PCDEM), Peninsula Emergency Preparation Coalition (PEP-C), and the Red Cross which are a part of our planning network. 

Here are the Elements of our Emergency Preparation Plan: 

Neighborhood Teams:  Under the direction of Bob Bowser, this will be the core to organizing our residents into manageable groups headed by a BLOCK CAPTAIN.  The Plan will identify the skills of individuals on the island as well as those who will need special assistance in an emergency.  We need many BLOCK CAPTAINS and you will have an opportunity to sign up at the FICRA Fair, August 8.  BLOCK CAPTAINS will also be trained to advise on supplies to be stored in the home and where CPR and First Aid training will be available.

Command Center: Under the dire ction of Jim Braden (President of FICRA Building Trust) the Command Center will be located at the Nichols Community Center (NCC) on 9th Avenue. The Command Center will coordinate all activities under The Plan including a Communication Center located at the NCC manned by HAM operators. The NCC has an emergency generator that will keep the facility operational even in the event of a major power outage. The Plan calls for a Triage Center at the NCC , as well, which will serve as the hub for medical emergencies.

Medical Team: Dr. Jeff Whittal will lead the team of medical volunteers who will advise on medical  treatment including evacuation cases. Medical evacuation will also be assisted by our Citizens Patrol.  Dr. Whittal and team are part of the planning of medical supplies to be stored on Fox Island.

Emergency Shelter: The Red Cross has made a preliminary evaluation and found the Alliance Church  and the United Church of Christ to be good candidates for shelter sites in an emergency. We are currently focusing on the Pierce County Community Shelter Program assisting in the development of our shelter sites.

Evacuation: The Fox Island Yacht Club (FIYC) is helping us develop the evacuation process. Under the  direction of former FIYC Commodore, Dave Smith, and the Trust's Doug Nelson, a list of private boaters that would be willing to assist in evacuation, will be generated. The FIYC will also help determine the best locations for departure and the best landing points - especially for medical cases. Our Citizens Patrol will assist in the movement to departure locations. We have been advised by Pierce County Emergency Planning ( as well as police and fire) that helicopter use will be unlikely - especially in the event of a major emergency. They have recommended the use of boats in the case of our bridge being unavailable.

Communication Team: Under the direction of Hal Goodell, and the assistance of George Metzger,  the Communication Team is developing the best methods of communication with the many parties on the island - including the BLOCK CAPTAINS and Citizens Patrol. The HAM operators will be located at the Command Center (NCC) in a special room dedicated to that function. They will be able to make contact with the updated Pierce County communication network, as well.

School District: It is our understanding that the School District will be revising their form for release  of students in case of emergency to include a provision that residents on islands such as Fox Island should name a responsible person off the island to whom a student may be released.

Training : The execution of The Plan will greatly improve if training is conducted. Whereas, training  will be voluntary, our team member Abby Schofield has joined PEP-C (and is now a Board Member there) and works closely with PCDEM on availability of training programs. These training programs, which will include First Aid and CPR, will be advertised to all Fox Islanders. 

Citizen's Patrol : Our Fox Island Citizen's Patrol, now in its 13th year, in addition to performing its many  duties such as house check, island patrol, hiring off-duty deputies, monitoring school bus stops, raising the alert flag at the bridge, and operating the hot line at 549-7744, will also be involved in the transport of residents as stated above.

Volunteers : Each of our teams is in need of more volunteers - especially the Neighborhood Team and  Citizens Patrol. Please consider joining one of our teams in this important endeavor. The Plan is posted on our web-site, ficra.org, and sign up for volunteer help is there, too - or - you can sign up at the FICRA Fair on August 8th, 11 AM - 4 PM at the Emergency Planning booth.

Ray Kittelberger, Emergency Preparation Team Coordinator
Jim Braden, President, FICRA Building Trust
FICRA Events for all Ages

Men's Coffee is every Wednesday morning from 
9:00 to 11:00am at the NCC . Bring your friends and meet new ones. Get and share expert opinions on all sorts of topics and stay for the camaraderie.

Monthly Adult Game Night  
The monthly team trivia adult game night is held on the last Friday of the month at  7:00pm at the Nichols Center.  The next game night will be held on Friday, August 28. Come join in the fun.
 



 
Nature Center Work Parties
You're invited to help keep our Nature Center in shape. Work parties are held once a month on the 3rd Saturday at  9:00am .


The Little Foxes Playgroup meets on Monday mornings from  10:00-12:00  at the Nichols Community Center. 
Come out and play!

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