Soundings (2/23/10)

Posted by Stowe Talbot 
 
 

Flag Salute and Invocation by Harold Scott

Visiting Rotarians: Bob Brunkow, Fred Sexton, Rick Staeb.

Guests: Cindy Franklin, Tim Okon and Dru Morrow-Okon.

Announcements:

Terry:  WWU Basketball game fellowship event $35/adult, kids under 8 are free. Date?

Dannon: Today last day to sign up for Cabaret / Nona Rosa dinner fellowship event April 23.

Lance: We have four RYLA applications.  Stay tuned!  Also next Rotario dinner at Tim McEvoy March 20th.

Student of the Month:  Terri White is the counselor from Squalicum.  Our February Student of the Month is Meredith (Rosie) Morrow-Okon, a phenomenal student who is very involved in volunteering, student government and sports. 

 

Induction of New Member
Tonja introduced Catherine Reis-ElBara.  She was born and raised in Tacoma, moved to Bellingham in 2000, and is now the administrator at Highland Senior Center.  John Templeton did the ceremonies.

Bucks in the Bay

  • Tonja excited to have new member Catherine here!
  • Frank Chmelik thanked Anna for a big dinner at Big Fat Fish;
  • Tim Krell shared his Olympic stories;
  • Lance Calloway had infection and was in hospital for a few days;
  • John Gargett couple missed meetings, bucks for remodeled BYC facility, and donation to BTC;
  • Chuck Walter had a wonderful Olympics experience, met Wayne Gretzky;
  • Lynn Templeton was stoned at last week's meeting;
  • Curt Smith told a joke, and it was his 75th birthday!
  • Steve Brummel said this is rivalry week for WWU basketball;
  • John Templeton had a great Olympic experience (curling), showed the club a "click it box";
  • Gerald Baron for 5 months of missed meetings, sold his company PIER Systems and has been busy reporting to his new boss, also he is now up to nine grandkids, son was involved in the Oscar nominated documentary "Food Inc.";
  • Bob Moles reported on Pure Water for the World and Haiti;
  • Matt Rose's mom just got back from Haiti, and he had lots of great Olympic experiences!
  • Mary Humphries thanked John Gargett for the BTC candidate sponsorship, and she showed some Canadian pride.
  • Dana Kirschman's son is a senior at Squalicum currently looking for football colleges;
  • Sue Sharpe told some great Olympics experience stories;

Sergeant at Arms by Zachary
Short and sweet!

Program
Anna introduced Frank Chmelik and Mike Stoner to talk about the Waterfront District development. The project was actually started in 2002, when the Port was first approached to take over the GP site.  Mike Stoner is the Port's Director of Environmental Affairs.  Current action items:
1) Environmental Impact Statement: 
2) Master Plan Package
3) Infrastructure
4) Environment Cleanup

Port / City Partnership.  Very complex maze of issues and tasks to address and solve.  Preferred street grid is now established, historic and cultural adaptive reuse assessment.  The streets have to work for not only cars, but pedestrians bikes and as beautiful places.  Total cleanup costs will be about $100 Million. 

2010-2015: Environmental cleanup, railroad relocation, and new road access.

Residential planned for up to 1800 units.  Building heights of 3 to 20 stories, but mostly lower height buildings.  33 acres of new parks.  The site may require up to $300M of "public investment" - cleanup / infrastructure / etc., but the assessed value when built out will approach $2B!  New marina is on track too.

Respectfully submitted,
Stowe Talbot