Fox Island Community & Recreation Association Newsletter
January 2016
In This Issue
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Happy New Year!  
2015 flew by and here we are in 2016! We hope you made it to our annual Christmas Tree Lighting and Community Concert last month. It was truly a night to remember! The power went out at the NCC but the show went on. What fun singing Christmas carols together by the light of...cell phones. As a reminder of how special this night is and how wonderful the Fox Islanders are, no one left while the power was out. And we got to run a real test of our emergency generator! It could be that years from now we will look back fondly on the night the lights went out on the Wicklines concert. 

Just ahead on January 23, we will hold our annual Party with a Purpose to raise funds to maintain the Nichols Community Center. This year's theme is  "School House Rock!". It will include a few new features including live music (Michael Crain Band) and a pre-party happy hour. All of the details are below. 

Learn more about what's going on with FICRA by attending the monthly Board and Trust meetings on January  14 at 7:00 and 8:00. The meetings are open to all Fox Island residents.

You're Invited! 
Our annual fundraising event for 2016 is called  School House Rock!  It will feature the usual silent and live auctions plus a few new features including a live band and a pre-party happy hour! The Happy Hour starts at 5:30 and includes special drinks sponsored by Heritage Distillery and a raffle. The main event starts at 7:00 with a silent auction followed by live music by the Michael Crain Band and a live auction. The main event is $20 and includes appetizers and a glass of wine in the 2016 souvenir glass. The happy hour is an additional $10 and includes a second drink coupon and a ticket for a special raffle.  

When?  January 23, 2016 

Party with a Purpose: The upkeep of the Nichols Community Center is tens of thousands of dollars every year and there are many projects needed to keep it an attractive and valuable community resource. Each year, the FICRA Building Trust Board selects a target improvement project, much like last year when we successfully raised the money to remodel the kitchen. This year our fundraising focus will be on upgrades to the playing fields to make the NCC more attractive and usable for islanders, especially our island youth!  

Handbag Happy Hour
Our special pre-party event this year will be a Handbag Happy Hour. Heritage Distillery has designed a special drink for happy hour. Attendees will receive a raffle ticket for the chance to win one of a selection of lovely handbags created by local Gig Harbor company Vicki Jean. Additional raffle tickets will be available for $5 each or 5 for $20. We haven't forgotten the men! We will have a raffle for a beautiful jade handled knife created by local Fox Island company Art in Stone. We're excited to start this new tradition and showcase these generous local artists and businesses! Tickets are limited.

Attendance is Limited!  
Ensure your attendance by buying your ticket as soon as possible! Buy online with PayPal or send your reservation via mail to PO Box 25. Include either your $20 fee for the main event only or $30 for both the main event and happy hour. Tickets will not be mailed. Your name will appear on a list at check-in. 

Contact us at  ficranews@gmail.com if you have questions.
Christmas Tree Lighting Thanks!

Many thanks to all of the community members who made the Christmas Tree Lighting so special including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Gig Harbor High School carolers. Volunteers who decorated and worked the event included  Gisela Paz,  Carolyn Braden,  Jim Braden,  Tom Purvis,  Jean Peterson,  Kjell Fintland,  Hal Goodell, Annie Rosselli, Jean Peterson, Gina Olson, Diane Burns,
Julie Johnson,  Kristi McCormick,  Lydia Volberding,  Lon Volberding,
and Aida Scher. 

The Tree Lighters for 2015 were Troop 27's Boy Scouts Brendan Rivera and Everett Ruuska.  Since becoming Boy Scouts in 2013, Brendan and Everett have been active and involved in every aspect of Troop 27. Life Scouts, working towards completing their Eagle Scout rank, they have  served as Senior Patrol Leaders for the past year. Brendan and Everett have helped with a number of service projects on Fox Island.  Brenden just completed his Eagle Scout Service Project building raised garden beds for the Fox Island Community Garden and Everett's Eagle Project was building a recycle center for the FISH Food Bank in Gig Harbor. W hether working at the Fox Island Gardens, doing landscaping at the Post Office or leading their fellow Scouts, Brendan and Everett have exemplified what it means to be a Scout.

Thanks to everyone who made this special event possible and for everyone who attended!
Crime Watch Tips of the Month
Happy New Year Fox Island Residents! As we start our 2016, a lot of us will, once again, be exercising. Some of us do it at the gym, but others decide to take advantage of what the island has to offer. Therefore, if you are walking or biking during the winter months, make sure you are wearing reflectors and bright colors. If you are out by yourself, carry your phone and some identification.

In addition, we would like to remind everyone of the  increase in mailbox vandals. With your tax data coming in January, it might be advantageous to follow some of the post office recommendations in mail security: 
     -Consider installing a locked box (Check with the Post Office on specifics) 
     -Consider a Post Office Box (they are available) 
     -Observe vehicles that might be following the mail carrier's vehicle (same for packages)

Residents that are snowbirds might consider turning off the tank when away for extended times. However, you will need to ignite the system on your return. If in doubt on how to reignite system, your propane company would need to provide the necessary instructions.

Also, with boats out of the water, they can become easy prey for thefts. In order to reduce any possibility of being targeted, remove oars, paddles, gas cans and other items that you store in the boat.

Finally, should you be planning to be away and concerned about your home the Citizen's Patrol offers a home check service (please give 72 hours notice).
Your Citizen's Patrol Members
Community Resilience Project
A Public Health Associate from Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department made a presentation at the December FICRA meeting. Please be award that a group of nursing students from Pacific Lutheran University will be visiting Fox Island homes on Thursdays starting this month. They will be wearing maroon vests. Their mission is to collect information on the needs of the community to assess in needs during recovery periods. Additional information will be posted on Facebook and sent out via email as it becomes available.   
Emergency Plan Update  
There has been good progress toward implementing  our PLAN for Fox Island. Construction on the Communications Center  located in the basement of the Nichols Community Center is near completion.  The HAM operators will be located there, supported by the  powerful generator acquired last year. That generator was tested during the  power outage on Fox Island during the Christmas tree lighting at the Nichols  Community Center and immediately fired up!  We are expecting a trailer of medical supplies provided through the Medical Reserve Corp  and a trailer of supplies (cots, blankets etc.) from the Red Cross sometime during 2016. Storage  of these supplies is being evaluated. 

Our Neighborhood Team under the  direction of Bob Bowser now has 60+ Block Captains (BCs). Training for  BCs and our leadership team will be conducted by the Pierce County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) on  January 19,2016  at  4 and 7PM  at the Nichols Community Center. At that  session explanations on how to organize neighborhoods will be provided  and what supplies are recommended. Future training sessions  in CPR/First Aid to be conducted by the Gig Harbor Fire District, arranged  by DEM. 

All of this preparation will lead to a test of our preparedness to be held  on  June 8-9, 2016,  entitled the State Wide Cascadia Subduction Earthquake Drill.  We have had excellent support from the County and the Red Cross and other agencies  in helping to establish our PLAN. Self reliance will be the cornerstone of our PLAN and a ll of our teams still need volunteers: Communications, Neighborhood, Medical, First Responders and Boaters. You can signup at FICRA.org. Since our PLAN is not currently funded, please consider making a donation. Checks should be payable to FICRA Building Trust (sponsor of the PLAN) and may be mailed to PO Box 25 Fox Island. Thank you.
Recurring FICRA Activities  for Residents of all Sizes

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


Coffee and Gutbombs

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

 

 

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.
 

Monthly Adult Game Night @ NCC
The monthly team trivia adult game night is held on the last Friday of the month at 7:00pm  at the Nichols C enter.  The next game night will be held on January 29.  
Other Island Activities

School House Rock!
Saturday, January 23
Nichols Community Center
Tickets now on sale!

Harbor Wildwatch Presentation
February 12 at 7:00pm
Chocolate & Wine Tasting ($15)
Fox Island Museum

120th Washington's Birthday
February 15 at noon
Chapel on Echo Bay
Sponsored by the Museum & Chapel

Chapel on Echo Bay Concert
February 19 at 7:00pm
Save the date! Details to follow.

Tuesday Morning Vinyasa Yoga
Chapel on Echo Bay at 9:15 am
It's free, but a donation is appreciated


Monday & Thursday Morning Yoga
Fox Island UCC at 9:30 am
It's free, but a donation is appreciated


Sand & Soil Garden Club Meetings
2nd Thursday of the month
Chapel on Echo Bay at 11:00am
Followed by potluck luncheon

FICRA Easter Egg Hunt
March 26 at 10:00am
Save the date!

Islander Feedback
We love to hear back from Fox Islanders who read the newsletter! Here are a few recent comments:

Oops! Dave wrote: "You misspelled one of your electrical contractors from S&E Electric mentioned in the recap of the Kitchen remodel job. I know Jim and his last name is Letellier. ." 
     Editors note - Thanks Dave and sorry Jim!

Bill wrote: "Great job on newsletter.   Looking forward to volunteering.... Just bought a house, We'll be up there from CA in Feb/March.  May offer free group (5 - 6 students) intro guitar classes... All ages, but preferably seniors, 50 plus.
    Editors note - Sounds great Bill. Looking forward to that. 

Daniel wrote: " Great job on the newsletters.  Very helpful.  "

Thanks for your responses!  Send your news, comments or suggestions to ficranews@gmail.com or just respond to this email.

FICRA MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION FORM

$25 per family per year. Current membership year: August 1, 2015 to July 31, 2016.

Please print and mail with your payment to PO Box 25, Fox Island, WA 98333

Please consider a Tax Deductible donation to Crime Watch or the Building Trust

Name(s): __________________________________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________________________________

Phone(s) ________________________________

Email: _____________________________________

Publish in the Directory: _____ ALL; or ____ Address; _____ Phone; ______ Email: _______ NONE

Note: Email is our primary way to notify you of FICRA events via the monthly email newsletter.

2015 FICRA Dues Paid $ _____             (Community Events) 
Crime Watch Donation $ _____            (Citizen Patrol & Hotline)
FICRA Building Trust Donation $ ____   (NCC, P layground & Nature Center maintenance)

Interested in volunteering? _____ 
If yes, area of interest? ________________________________________________
Thank you!
About FICRA
2012FICRAlogo
FICRA stands for Fox Island Community and Recreation Association.  FICRA was formed on February 24, 1970. The purpose of FICRA is to promote matters pertaining to the health and safety of Fox Island residents, to promote the welfare and development of Fox Island, and to provide recreation and social activities of a non profit nature as a public service to the residents of Fox Island.

 

The FICRA Building Trust operates and maintains the Nichols Community Center, the Fox Island Playground and the adjacent Fox Island Nature Center. FICRA and the FICRA Trust are volunteer organizations that are here to serve our Island community by providing many great social and recreational activities for islanders to enjoy. 


 

FICRA relies on its many volunteer members to make it all happen, from the Easter Egg Hunt, The Plant Sale in the Spring, Fox Island Fair in the Summer, concerts, Christmas Tree Lighting, our silent auction event in the Winter, and our student speaker competition. Come join us to see how you can help FICRA continue to provide many great activities for our community to enjoy. 

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