Praying for sunshine, mission statements and volunteer efforts

John Moist

guest columnist

Our weather just can’t seem to make up its mind! However, I have it on good authority that we are supposed to have a much dryer May, June and July than those to which we have become accustomed.

Regardless of the weather, we die-hards in the Pacific Northwest keep on keeping on, planning for events for which we are praying for sunshine.

One such event is the Maritime Gig Festival/Blessing of the Fleet, which is scheduled for June 7-8. The Gig Harbor Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the Knights of Columbus to create a seamless, fun-filled event this year.

Weather be damned, the parade will go on. Weather be damned, the Blessing will go on. Weather be damned, the two days’ events will go on, and a good time will be had by all. For information, with real substance, go to www.maritimegig.com or www.antiqueandclassicyachtfestival.com, or call 253-255-5050.

We will be featuring two exciting new events this year. The first will be an amateur-only photography contest. There will be first- , second- and third-place winners in three categories: Best Gig Fest Photo; Best Blessing Photo; and Best Fun Photo.

Fantastic prizes have been donated by our sponsor, Kits Camera, plus the winners’ photos will be displayed in prominent places around town.

For contest rules and more information, call Kits Cameras at Olympic Village at 253-858-5367, or e-mail contest photos to www.gigharborphotocontest@gmail.com in .jpeg or .tif format at the highest possible resolution.

The second new event, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 8, is a Historic Waterfront Merchants Street Fair. Pioneer Way from Harborview Drive to Tarabochia Street will be closed. There will be live music and local merchant booths with some great deals. So plan to attend the Gig/Blessing; a must-see, two-day traditional event that focuses on our maritime heritage and lots of fun.

But not all happenings require warmth and sunshine. The newly formed Skansie Brothers Park Ad Hoc (volunteer) Committee has held two meetings to discuss the outcome of the park to include disposition and use of the house and net shed; whether or not a new “drive aboard” maritime pier would add to, or detract from, the park; right down to the question: Should we save the Monkey Tree?

The answer was a resounding yes: Save the Monkey Tree!

The gallery outnumbered the committee last Tuesday evening, which conveyed the passion our residents have for what takes place in our downtown park, and the real value the buildings contribute to our maritime heritage.

The committee was treated to a firsthand look inside the net shed and the Skansie brothers’ home. Wow, what history the net shed holds. It was as if, one day, Antone and Vince said, “That’s enough fishing,” and just walked out, leaving their treasures where they lay.

The house has been cleaned out, with the history museum cataloging and preserving all documents and saving useable furniture. The “City Guys” did a marvelous job coordinating the painting of the house’s interior. It still needs a lot of work, but it does have great potential for any number of uses yet to be determined.

The one big accomplishment last Tuesday evening was the establishment of a Skansie Park Ad Hoc Committee Mission Statement: (One of the missions) “of the Skansie Brothers Park is to provide opportunities to enhance historic waterfront commerce.”

A little different thinking regarding the purpose of a park, but it is essential that historic preservation and the economic success of the downtown are viewed to possess an unbreakable synergistic bond. Neither can survive without the other.

The 2003 committee worked long and hard and made sound recommendations of real value, which the City Council, at that time, agreed with whole heartedly.

Unfortunately, the recommendations went unfunded. I hope this new committee is looking for more commitment out of the city this year.

The city is forming yet another new committee: the Judson Street/Harborview Drive Stakeholder’s Committee. It will be this volunteer group’s job to make recommendations as to how best to improve Judson Street and Harborview Drive to maintain historic preservation.

The outcome will be short- and medium-range goals to include resurfacing, burying utilities and aesthetic improvements.

So as not to create a hodgepodge of miscellaneous fixtures, such items will be standardized for any future projects in the Historic Waterfront District.

Another item of note: It’s official — the Gig Harbor Historic Waterfront Association (Main Street Approach) is incorporated. They are now waiting for their non-profit approval from the IRS.

There is a lot happening behind the scenes in order to get them through the initial organizational phase. But there is a way to get involved immediately by becoming a volunteer counter. The event is called “I Count.”

On May 3, the association needs 45-plus volunteers to help count downtown parking spaces. “Yes, we have a parking problem downtown; no, we don’t.” Well let’s find out! The first step is to conduct an inventory of the parking that is currently available, and you can help. Call Miriam Battson at 253-858-7990, Steve Lynn at 253-853-9463 or Julie Tappero at 253-853-3633 to volunteer. To find our more about the Main Street Approach, call Lynn.

Over the past decade or so, the city has spent about a quarter million dollars on consultants. I hazard to guess that less than a handfull of the recommendations have been acted upon.

I can think of two. But being the optimist that I am, I believe the city has learned we have experts living right here in Gig Harbor who will work to find solutions to our problems and opportunities, not for money, but for a sense of community pride and relationship with their neighbors.

We have dozens of volunteers willing to step up and help. There is no more powerful voice to be reckoned with than the citizen volunteer. All we have to do is ask!

John Moist can be reached at 253-255-5050 or by e-mail at swimmerdad@comcast.net.