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RIVER OTTERSBy Diana Forman

Houseboaters around Lake Union and Portage Bay have longenjoyed the frolics of our river otters. This winter, John Pursell ofPortage Bay, reported sighting, three otters, perhaps a mother andher two pups. “I’ve lived 50 years on the lake but seldom seeotters. It was such a thrill to see this little family.” MarilynRobertson says she and Jim Weyand frequently hear the whistlingsound that indicates the presence of river otters, but “we’re usuallytoo late to see them.” Early this winter on a quiet morning, “I wasstanding on our deck when I heard bubbles accompanied by aheavy breathing sound. It was coming from between our deckand the dock. I stared at where the bubbles had risen and sureenough, up popped a sleek brown head. A pair of bright eyesstared at me for a moment. I guess the otter was a startled as I, forit quickly turned and disappeared back into the lake.”

As entertaining and as beautiful as these wild neighbors are,their habits are sometimes annoying. Because river otters eat 20%of their body weight each day, they produce large amounts of fishysmelling scat. Houseboaters irritated by the frequent appearanceof “poop” and other river otter leavings on low lying floats canget a measure of relief by using Ropel All Natural, Outdoor Dog,Cat and Bird Repellent Granules, says Dr. Joe Gaydos. He is anexpert on river otters who works for SeaDoc, a university-basedmarine science program specializing in the Pacific NW’s inland

waters and whose field office is on Orcas Island. Dr. Gaydos appliedRopel to three of six low-lying docks in his test, leaving three un-treated. Over time he noted a distinct decrease in the amount ofpoop left by the visiting otters on the treated docks, but he also wantsto be sure that no one expects Ropel to be a ”cure all” for theproblem. He notes that mothballs distributed around a floatsurface have worked for some individuals, though mothballs aremost effective in an enclosed area and should not be used wherehousehold pets and young children could come in contact withthem.

Ropel consists of natural ingredients such as cayenne, pepper-mint oil, and thyme in a granular form and can be purchased viathe website of manufacturer Nixalite. A two-pound jug costs $9.98,and cases of six such jugs, perfect for use by an entire dock, are$59.88. The description on the Nixalite website is encouraging inthat the product has been developed specifically to “stop nuisanceanimals from defecating, urinating and digging in gardens, lawn,flower pots and landscaping.” Based on Joe Gaydos’ success on

Continued on Page 2

www.otternet.com

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NEWSLETTER 2

low-lying docks, Nixalite may wish to add “and floats.” Ropel will at least dissuade river otters from making your float

their playground; however, removal of the animals altogether canbe both illegal and dangerous. For ex-ample, using poisonous substances“off label,” that is, for any pur-pose not specified by the manu-facturer, is illegal. And the Se-attle Municipal Code, Title 9,Chapter 9.25, forbids citizens to“injure, kill, or physically mis-treat any animal.” Trapping is al-lowed only by state-licensed nui-sance trappers who will removeand relocate troublesome otters, par-ticularly in summer, or trap and kill themunder water at other times of the year when the animals are lesslikely to remain in a new location. The pelts may be “harvested”by state-licensed trappers only when the animals are trapped live inseason according to John Consolini, owner of Northwest Nui-sance Wildlfe Control, a licensed trapper operating in our areasince 1985. He stresses legal trapping is a “last resort” in dealingwith river otters. As the Washington Department of Fish andWildlife web site says, “Removing river otters by any means is ashort-term solution since other otters are likely to move in if at-tractive habitat is still available.”

Sid McFarland of Log Foundation offers specific suggestionsfor coping with those river otters that frolic beneath your home.“Deterring otters from living under yourhouseboat is a challenge. Cement floatsare easier to critter-proof than houses onlog floats. Both have their advantagesand disadvantages. Cement floats usu-ally have no voids underneath whereentry can be accomplished by gainingaccess up through the float. Log floatsoften have missing logs that leave a voidand also there can be space between logsand layers of logs, where the critters cancome and go.

“Netting, or better yet, ½” to 1”mesh metal screening can be secured inany voids that lead to entry under thehouse. Cement floats can usually besealed between the bearing beams andthe underside of the house, but it is hardto attach the screen to the cement. Bestway is to drill fasteners into the cement.Please be aware otters can pull up or apartany unfastened portions of the net orscreen. Log floats lend the ability to at-tach all sides of the screen or net to a

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wood surface. But, the log float has many more gaps and unevensurfaces to apply the screen or net barrier, as well as unseen gapsunder water. A diver should be hired to apply and fasten thescreening or netting under water as well as account for and coverthe unseen gaps for a log float.”

Planning to adapt an existing float and prefer to avoid riverotter visits? Make sure the float is high off the water.

As some houseboaters have done, break out a hose and getused to scouring decks and float surface often.

Then take time to enjoy watching thegraceful and endlessly fascinating otterswho think your float is just swell.

Extensive, helpful informationabout living with river otters may befound at http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/liv-ing/river_otters.htm on the WashingtonState Department of Fish and Wildlifewebsite. It’s part of the “Living withWildlife” series and provides especiallyuseful advice in its sections entitled “Pre-venting Conflicts and “River Otters in

or Under Buildings.”Ropel All Natural, Outdoor Dog, Cat, and Bird Repellent

Granules can be ordered at http://www.nixalite.com/ropeloutdoor.aspx

Sid McFarland and Marilyn Robertson contributed to thisarticle.

Diana Forman lives on Shelby Dock and is a member of theEnvironmental Committee.

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Photo by Marilyn Robertson

Beth Means

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Office Manager: JJJJJann Mann Mann Mann Mann McFcFcFcFcFarlandarlandarlandarlandarlandPhone: 325-1132 / 323-3489325-1132 / 323-3489325-1132 / 323-3489325-1132 / 323-3489325-1132 / 323-3489

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President: BBBBBill Kill Kill Kill Kill Keasler (2037 FVeasler (2037 FVeasler (2037 FVeasler (2037 FVeasler (2037 FV)))))Vice President: MMMMMarararararty Gty Gty Gty Gty Grrrrreereereereereer

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(2235 FV(2235 FV(2235 FV(2235 FV(2235 FV)))))

Members-At-Large:MMMMMelissa Ahlers (2600 FVelissa Ahlers (2600 FVelissa Ahlers (2600 FVelissa Ahlers (2600 FVelissa Ahlers (2600 FV)))))Bob BoBob BoBob BoBob BoBob Bowman (933 NNL)wman (933 NNL)wman (933 NNL)wman (933 NNL)wman (933 NNL)

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LaurLaurLaurLaurLaurel Del Del Del Del Doody (2241 FVoody (2241 FVoody (2241 FVoody (2241 FVoody (2241 FV)))))MMMMMarilyn Rarilyn Rarilyn Rarilyn Rarilyn Roberoberoberoberobertsontsontsontsontson(2920 F(2920 F(2920 F(2920 F(2920 Fuhrman)uhrman)uhrman)uhrman)uhrman)

JJJJJan Carlson (2019 FVan Carlson (2019 FVan Carlson (2019 FVan Carlson (2019 FVan Carlson (2019 FV)))))Amalia Amalia Amalia Amalia Amalia WWWWWalton (2207 FValton (2207 FValton (2207 FValton (2207 FValton (2207 FV)))))

Newsletter: MMMMMarilyn,arilyn,arilyn,arilyn,arilyn,JJJJJann, Bann, Bann, Bann, Bann, Billillillillill

www.SeattleFloatingHomes.org

Spring 2006

ContentsFloating Homes Association NewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletterNewsletter

Please note: Advertisers represented in this Newsletter are not endorsed by theFloating Homes Association.

NEWSLETTER 3

1 2006 FHA Annual MeetingWednesday, April 26, 700:PM. Naval Reserve Building

11111 RivRivRivRivRiver Oer Oer Oer Oer Otters tters tters tters tters by Diana Foreman

44444 Association SAssociation SAssociation SAssociation SAssociation Standing Committee Rtanding Committee Rtanding Committee Rtanding Committee Rtanding Committee ReporeporeporeporeportststststsKC Assessor Meeting, New Communications Chair, Lake UnionSweep, Dockwatch Update, Fremont Bridge Construction

1010101010 FHA Calendar OFHA Calendar OFHA Calendar OFHA Calendar OFHA Calendar Of Ef Ef Ef Ef Evvvvventsentsentsentsents

1010101010 MUSICIANS AROUND THE LAKE: Bob Bob Bob Bob Bob WWWWWestestestestestBlues Musician and Music Preservationist, by Jann McFarland

1212121212 Lilly PLilly PLilly PLilly PLilly Pad ad ad ad ad by Bob Lilly

1414141414 Eastlake Community Council Eastlake Community Council Eastlake Community Council Eastlake Community Council Eastlake Community Council by Chris Leman

1616161616 IIIIIn Mn Mn Mn Mn Memoriam: Bemoriam: Bemoriam: Bemoriam: Bemoriam: BettyAnn MettyAnn MettyAnn MettyAnn MettyAnn Morse orse orse orse orse by Jann McFarland

1717171717 The FHA HThe FHA HThe FHA HThe FHA HThe FHA Houseboatique ouseboatique ouseboatique ouseboatique ouseboatique by Marilyn Robertson

1818181818 OOOOOral Hral Hral Hral Hral Historistoristoristoristory Py Py Py Py Prrrrroject Uoject Uoject Uoject Uoject Update pdate pdate pdate pdate by Holly Taylor

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Five Floating Homes completed w/ full height underwater basements

Best as I can tell, we made it through the legislative session unscathed…nothingeven came close to affecting us. But now that the session is over, we are movingforward on the property tax issue. A meeting has been scheduled by our lobbyist, MikeRyherd, with the manager of the Commercial/Business Division in the King CountyAssessor’s Office in early April. We plan to discuss the methods of valuation andassessments of the different arrangements (condos, co-ops, rentals) for spaces used formoorage of floating homes. We will have some information to present to everyone atthe Annual Meeting which may be helpful in the appeals process.

Please let me know if you have any specific questions or situations that might helpin our discussions ([email protected]).

Also please feel free to e-mail me with any issues that need our attention.Thanks! See you at the Annual Meeting.

Legislative & LegalSSSSSheri Gheri Gheri Gheri Gheri Grrrrreaveaveaveaveaves, Chaires, Chaires, Chaires, Chaires, Chair

Association SAssociation SAssociation SAssociation SAssociation Standing Committee Rtanding Committee Rtanding Committee Rtanding Committee Rtanding Committee Reporeporeporeporeportststststs

FundraisingMMMMMelissa Ahlers, Chairelissa Ahlers, Chairelissa Ahlers, Chairelissa Ahlers, Chairelissa Ahlers, Chair

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real estate team

The 2006 Houseboat Tour planning is in full swing andthanks to our phenomenal committee, this tour is on its way tobeing one of our best! Thanks to Laurel and Pat Doody, theadvertising firm WongDoody has graciously agreed to work onour marketing materials and we are fortunate to have some greatmedia opportunities already lined up. We are currently round-ing up past tour favorite accompaniments — from OtisPimpleton’s BBQ to the Electric Boat Company’s great littleboats… it’s going to be a hoot! The tour will take place onSunday, September 10th, 2006 from 12 pm to 5 pm. Interestedin volunteering? Please contact Melissa Ahlers [email protected] or 206.356.2262.

Membership &Communications

MMMMMarilyn Rarilyn Rarilyn Rarilyn Rarilyn Roberoberoberoberobertson, Chairtson, Chairtson, Chairtson, Chairtson, Chair

The FHA Board Communication Committee has severalchanges to report.

Last fall, Emily Hine resigned as Committee chair to workon FHA logo and the FHA web site. She will continue withher responsibilities for managing the Annual meeting.

Marilyn Robertson has assumed the chair for this com-mittee. Her prime responsibility is coordination of the FHAnewsletter with Jann McFarland (advertising, feature writer andeditor). Marilyn and Jann work closely with Bill Keasler, FHApresident and editor in chief of the newsletter. Bill’s responsi-bility is layout and printing of the newsletter. Jann remainsresponsible for membership.


Security & Safety

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Co-Chairs Co-Chairs Co-Chairs Co-Chairs Co-Chairs

Patrick W. Martin is an individual who has repeatedlyburglarized the houseboat community since late winter in2003. His general methods involved casing our docks dur-ing the day and returning in the very early hours of themorning to break into our homes through unlocked doors,cutting through locked screen doors or through open win-dows. He was frequently so quiet that he did not disturbsleeping houseboaters as he plundered the house lookingfor cash primarily. If detected Patrick clearly knew our docksand where to hide well because he simply “vanished.”Thankfully he is currently residing at the Washington StatePenitentiary in Walla Walla. The earliest release date he iseligible for is June 27, 2006 but could be delayed as longas February 5, 2007. Due to Patrick Martin’s history withour community it is in our best interest to follow hisprogress. It may be possible to do a community review

with Patrick Martin in person once he is released. I willbe investigating that option as June approaches and in-form everyone on the details.

This March marks the third anniversary of thelaunch of the Dock Watch email newsletter. For those ofyou who have not heard of the Dock Watch it is an emailbased method of communicating safety and security re-lated information. I encourage you to sign up and try itout. Just go to www.seattlefloatinghomes.org and lookunder “Lake and Bay.” Click on “Dockwatch” and onthe left hand side of the page you will find “Sign Up forDockwatch.” Fill out the form and I will get you signedup. The complete archives of the Dockwatch are alsoavailable at this web site

Many thanks to Teagen Densmore for frequently attend-ing the EPCPC (East Precinct Crime Prevention Coalition)meetings to represent the Floating Homes Association. —Tiff McNamara


Let Frontier Bank assist you with the

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Found your Floating Home?

Fremont Office601 N. 34th St., Suite B

Seattle, WA 98103

By Art Brochet

Phase One of the Fremont Bridge Approach Replace-ment Project has stayed on schedule, in spite of some nearrecord stretches of rain. Work on the new footings, col-umns and piers underneath the existing approaches willbe complete by the end of May - bringing to a close thework that can be accomplished prior to demolishing andreplacing the roadway itself.

Major improvements to key roadways and intersec-tions in and around Fremont and along Bridge Way un-derneath Aurora Avenue will also be drawing to a closesoon. These enhancements to safety and mobility formotorists, pedestrians and bicyclists should be finished justin time for Phase Two of the project.

From June 2006 to March 2007 the existing roadwaysurfaces at either end of the Fremont Bridge will be re-moved and replaced, two lanes at a time. During this pe-riod traffic across the bridge will be maintained, via a singleshared pedestrian/bicycle pathway and two vehicular lanes,one in each direction. The driving lanes will be slightlynarrower, requiring that all trucks and buses will be re-routed across either the Aurora or Ballard bridges during

phase two. There will also be a few full closures of thebridge to all traffic (for safety reasons) during this phase ofconstruction, occurring either on weekends or on succes-sive weekday nights.

Bridge approach traffic is scheduled to return to itscurrent configuration in April of 2007, although work onelectrical and mechanical systems will continue for severalmonths afterwards during Phase Three.

An open houseopen houseopen houseopen houseopen house will be held Wednesday April 26th

from 5-7 PM at Adobe’s conference center (701 North34th Street) to present more information about the project,and a kick-off event will held in Fremont on Mother’s Day,May 14th.

For background on the project, including drawings,photographs and an email list sign-up form, visit http://w w w . s e a t t l e . g o v / t r a n s p o r t a t i o n /fremontbridgeapproaches.htm. You can even sign up toreceive mp3 audio files updating you on the latest con-struction news.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding theproject please call SDOT Project Manager Lorelei Mesicat 206-684-5178. Also, businesses may contact SDOT’sBusiness-Liaison Consultant, Art Brochet, at 206-547-1008.

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EnvironmentalJJJJJan Carlson, Chairan Carlson, Chairan Carlson, Chairan Carlson, Chairan Carlson, Chair

The Environmental Committee continues to focus on en-couraging houseboaters to maintain the clean waters of LakeUnion and Portage Bay through involvement with both thePuget Soundkeeper Alliance and the annual Lake Union Sweep.

In November 2005, Floating Home Association membersparticipated in a Puget Soundkeeper Training session. SandySimmons, Pat and Dean Sampson, Sheryl Landon, Diana andBob Forman, Jan Carlson and Sally and Charlie Weems joinedPSA leaders, Sue Joerger and Chris Wilke for a day in the class-room and on the Lake Union Ship Canal. The goals of thePuget Soundkeeper Alliance, ‘To protect and preserve PugetSound by stopping the discharge of pollutants into the watersof the Sound’ were explained by Chris, who said the protectionextends to all rivers, lakes and streams that flow into PugetSound.

In the classroom session, participants learned about threatsto Puget Sound water quality, the common sources of pollutionand how to report pollution. On the Ship Canal the group wasshown what Puget Soundkeepers look for when patrolling theShip Canal and Lake Union. On that Saturday, Chris and Suewere pleased to report the industries along the Ship Canal wereoperating in an environmentally safe way. Workers sandingboat hulls were using tarps to prevent dust from falling into thewater. The group saw an example of a potential pollution eventat one marina. A moored boat was sinking and the water wasnearly up to outboard engine gas tank. Chris and Sue reportedit to the marina.

The environmental committee suggests houseboaters par-

Association SAssociation SAssociation SAssociation SAssociation Standingtandingtandingtandingtanding Committee R Committee R Committee R Committee R Committee Reporeporeporeporeportststststs

ticipate in a PugetSoundkeepers program tolearn ‘exactly what to look forand where to look’ for signs ofpollution. As part of this pro-gram, the environmental com-mittee is in the process of cre-ating an ‘Eco Watch’ withinthe Floating Homes Commu-nity. For example, well-in-formed volunteers could pro-vide a first line of defenseagainst an oil spill. If you areinterested in learning moreabout becoming a steward ofLake Union and Portage Baycall Puget Soundkeeper Alli-ance at 206.297.7002 or emailpugetsoundkeeper.org andcheck calendar for upcomingvolunteer trainings.

The annual cleanup of trash on the lake and Por-tage Bay, The Lake UnionSweep is on Saturday, May 13from 9 a.m. to noon. The fol-lowing weekend, SaturdayMay 20th is the clean up of theShip Canal.

NEWSLETTER 10

By Jann McFarlandBob West has lived on the Wandesforde dock on Fairview

for over 36 years. His houseboat has always overflowed withmusic, musicians, and music lovers. Neighbors living on thedock have always been welcome to join the jam sessions.Sometimes people bring food and drink and the jam goes on allnight. Bob plays the piano, drums, trumpet, trombone, andsteel resonator guitar.

Bob’s musical interest is traditional jazz and blues. “My dadcollected records and I listened to boogie-woogie music before Iwas born. I really started listening to the music in depth when Iwas about 11 years old and started collecting records when I was12. I liked the country blues and the early New Orleans bands,and the rough Creole bands.”

After graduating from high school in 1960, Bob waslearning to play the trumpet, and would go down to PioneerSquare to one of the clubs and listen to a Dixieland band. “I wasunderage, but knew the doorman, and I’d go upstairs in an atticstorage room above the band and play along with them… whereno one could hear me, I hope. I knew not to play the last note!”

Soon after, “I heard about a band playing at the West SideInn…The Great Excelsior Jazz Band, with Ray Skjelbred, MikeDuffy, and others. They were playing like Kid Ory, and KidThomas. The kids in the audience were dancing the Twist to thisold jazz.” Later the band members came up to the next booth,and Bob heard them mention Bob Graf who was a recordcollector his father knew, so Bob introduced himself. “It all felltogether right there. Ray invited me down to the sessions at hishouseboat, the one I’m living in now, which I bought from himin 1972. Bob Graf became a friend and mentor…..Later Iplayed trombone with the Great Excelsior Jazz Band…Then Istarted getting into the guitar and piano, playing the blues.”

In 1967 Ray & Mike hosted a show on KRAB FM radio,

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an important voice in Seattle music at that time. They askedBob to bring in some of his records. Later the station asked Bobto host a show which was called ‘King Biscuit Time’. He playedmusic, promoted Seattle Folklore Society concerts, and inter-viewed the musicians. “The first radio interview was withBooker (‘Bukka’) White, in 1967. He told how he happened tobe recorded, what the music was like on the Mississippi planta-tions, and how the blues originated. I learned then that… otherswere alive and playing music in Memphis, where Booker livedthen…..I went there the following year, in ’68, to visit andrecord Booker and his friend Furry Lewis. This was the start ofmy recording blues artists... I was working at Boeing in aircraftquality control, I’m just a working stiff. I needed a month off togo…I had a good boss and he let me stack 2 vacationstogether…so I could go South and record…”

After Bob got back to Seattle, He, Bob Graf and MikeDuffy listened to the Memphis tapes and decided to issuerecords from them. Graf was the businessman and got therecords made. “I knew nothing about thatkind of stuff, didn’t care to learn about it.”Other recording sessions followed in St.Louis, New Orleans and elsewhere. In the1990s Bob started Arcola Records. He knewhe had some good material. Clare Conrad,another KRAB radio show host and fellowmusician did the graphic design and helpedset up the business. “We just started puttingone CD out about every year. There wasreally no grand plan….The money that goesinto this is from my salary. And I’m glad,because if I got funding from someoneelse…I’d have to do it their way…”

The Seattle Folklore Society brought alot of great blues musicians to Seattle. Themusicians would come down to Bob’shouseboat to relax before and after theshows and wouldn’t be bothered by anyone.“We really didn’t have jam sessions, themusicians would come and play, we’d alltake turns. I do remember playing in a jamsituation with Johnny Shines….he took mybanjo-mandolin and played the mosthaunting, beautiful Delta bottleneck blues,

and sang some wonderful pieces.” Many others stayed at thehouseboat including folk singer, Pete Seeger, who came to Seattlein the late 1970s to play a benefit for Floating Homes. Bob’shouseboat is a place filled with music, instruments & collectionsof records that would make any musician feel at home.

Bob hopes that the Bush education act ‘Leave No ChildBehind’ will some day include room for more freedom ofindividuality. “So people can see that a more creative lifestylecan produce valuable musicians and artists. If my material canencourage kids to develop on their own, I think that would begreat. This ‘Leave No Child Behind’…I don’t think we shouldleave them behind as musicians, either.”

There are more Arcola projects planned for the future.Arcola CDs are only available on the web site. For CD informa-tion and links, please check out www.Arcolarecords.com

Thanks to Clare Conrad for access to her transcribed notesfrom a recorded interview with Bob.

NEWSLETTER 11

Photo by Jann McFarland

By Bob Lilly

This year’s fundraising plant sales will be excellent placesto find just the right plant for your deck containers. We havehad a reasonably mild winter and the growers will have agood selection of annuals, perennials, herbs, trees and shrubs.Look for grasses at the later sales as grasses take longer towake up, needing both increased heat and warm tempera-tures.

Try to resist planting annuals until the first of May.Cold, wet soil will set them back a bit so start looking forlarger plants between 1st of May and Mothers Day. A lot ofus have windy decks and a late April windstorm can shred allthat fresh soft growth on geraniums, marigolds, fuchsias andimpatiens.

Don’t hesitate to grow a few annuals from seed to fill outyour established pots. Nasturtiums can be planted anytimeafter May 15th,

sweet peas are best after February 22nd, and we can evengrow poppies, larkspurs and lobelia with a late spring sowing.

For the ‘edible garden’, which includes a few tomatoesand such, wait for the gallon can size plants for a jump start.Head over to the Good Shepherd Center on May 6th and 7th

9-3pm for almost every other vegetable you can imagine aswell as tomatoes. It is quite easy to grow a few squash or eventhe miniature melons, but you will need a big pot and richsoil. Do not let peas, squash, cucumbers or melons dry outas this will trigger the onset of mildew.

When shopping for plants for containers, look for plantswith a good, balanced form, healthy leaves with no yellowedlower ones, and watch out for pot bound plants with rootsout the bottom. These plants might just be a bit too old andmay have suffered too many chances to dry out. Plantsshould not be wobbly in the pot, indicating the plant is notwell rooted. If the plant is in flower it should have somebuds as well as open flowers. Look for geraniums in four tosix inch pots that are well branched and a good, healthy, richgreen with few or no yellow leaves at the base. You can nowbuy bulbs in flower for a quick show but these will usuallynot flower the following year and are best used as a tempo-rary display like primroses and cyclamen.

This issue of the Newsletter should be out in time toallow you to catch the best of the plants sales where you canmeet the grower and talk to them about what will do best ina pot on a houseboat deck. A wide selection of plants willhelp you find just the right plant for your location. Remem-ber to mention if you have a wind problem.

Coldwell Banker Bain Associates (206) 940-1180 [email protected]

If you are buying or selling waterfront, houseboats or any type of real estate you should meet Rick Miner & the duckin.com team.

NEWSLETTER 13Northwest Perennial Alliance Spring Plant Sale, SundayApril 23rd, 11-3pm. This sale has a strong focus on perennialsand plants from the Perennial Borders at the BellevueBotanical Garden. Location of sale: Sandpoint Warren G.Magnuson Park, Building 27. There are about 20 vendorsand lots of good advice. (Note: The Public Library Book Saleis the same weekend in Building 30.)

FlorAbundance This is the Arboretum Foundation’sFund Raiser. It is also in the Sandpoint Warren G.Magnuson Park building 27, but on Saturday, April 29th 10-5pm and Sunday, April 30th 10-3pm.You will find more than50 vendors, lots of shrubs and grasses as well as perennials,herbs and vegetables. There are good annuals at the sale fromgeraniums to all those basket stuffers. Look for dahlias forbold summer color and remember to look for a vendor withlilies already rooted out in 4 inch pots — aquick way to get fragrance in summer.

Bellevue Botanical Garden Society PlantSale. On site at the garden on Saturday, May6th 10-4pm. This is a good chance to see thegarden and the Perennial Borders in springglory. This sale has a wide variety of Fuchsias(from the Seattle Fuchsia Society).

Seattle Tilth Edible Plant Sale. The homeof every tomato variety you ever heard of andlots more vegetables. There will be organicgrowers at the Good Shepherd Center/Merid-ian Park in the Wallingford neighborhood.This is a very fun and festive show. Don’t missthe demonstration gardens. May 6th 9-3pmand May 7th 9-3pm.

King County Master Gardener Plant Saleat the Center for Urban Horticulture on May6th 9-4pm and May 7th 10-3pm. Lots ofvendors and little red wagons! This is often thebest sale for shrubs.

All of these sales primarily sellplants in 4 inch and gallon pots. If youare looking for a shrub or small tree in alarger pot your local nursery is the betterchoice because larger, heavier plants areless available at most plant sales due tolimited space, so less selection and lessaccess for loading and unloading largeplants. Remember, you will need topick up soil at nurseries. I still recom-mend Black Gold potting soil forhouseboats because it has a good textureand is light weight.

Look for mention of the fall salesand the fall bulb and plant sale at theArboretum in a future article.

Bob Lilly, a plantsman is associatedwith the Arboretum and the BellevueBotanical Garden. He lives on TenasChuck.

Watercolor by Jan Carlson

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By Chris LemanApril 18 meeting about summer festival. Planning

is underway for another Eastlake Shake summer festi-val. On Tuesday, April 18, the Eastlake CommunityCouncil and the Eastlake Community will hold a kick-off meeting (7 p.m. at TOPS-Seward School, 2500Franklin Ave. E.) to brainstorm how to make the festi-val most successful, and present opportunities for vol-unteer involvement and business sponsorships. If youcan’t make it April 18, please send your suggestions oroffer of help at ECC, 117 E. Louisa #1, Seattle 98102or [email protected].

May 9 meeting features Larry Phillips. On Tues-day, May 9, 7-9 p.m. at the TOPS-Seward School li-brary the Eastlake neighborhood welcomes our new

King County Councilmember Larry Phillips. Also:updates on a possible streetcar line on Eastlake Avenue,how to implement the Seattle Transit Plan’s priority forsome Eastlake stops by all express buses that use EastlakeAvenue, and what the City is doing about the EastlakeNeighborhood Plan’s call to restore peak-hour parkingto Eastlake Avenue. Volunteers are needed.

Land use projects. In recent months the Eastlakeneighborhood has had more sales of large land parcels,and more current or impending project proposals, thanprobably at any time in our history. ECC’s land usecommittee needs your help in making sure these projectsare good for the neighborhood. To get involved, con-tact ECC board member Matthew Stubbs,[email protected] or (917) 449-7739.

The 1520 Eastlake project just beginning City re-view is three 85-foot mixed use buildings with 199 hous-ing units—the most ever proposed in Eastlake. Its dra-matic location would replace low-rise buildings that arejust south of the Eastlake Veterinary Center. Concernsinclude the fenced-off open space, the circle-the-wag-ons format of “townhouse” entrances, and the blankwall facing Franklin Ave. There is an important designreview meeting on this project at 8 p.m. on Wed., April5 at Seattle Central Community College room 3211.ECC is trying to convince the City to hold these meet-ings in the neighborhood, and has requested a generalpublic meeting on the project here at Seward School.Project number is 3003961; to be added to the mailinglist, contact City planner Lisa Rutzick at 386-9049 or

NEWSLETTER 14

Eastlake Community Council News

[email protected] Cove (88 E. Hamlin St.) owns land on both

sides of Fairview, and to protect the views on its 21proposed upland townhouses, would keep the low pro-file of its current shoreside office building and tear downa warehouse. Other welcome features of the projectinclude twelve new houseboat slots, and a “green street”design giving Fairview more the feeling of a countryroad. Public concerns have focused on blockage of parkand homeowners’ views by the moorage of large (up to100 foot) boats on leased, submerged DNR land; andthe lack of public view access at the south end of theproject. In addition to the usual debate within theneighborhood, Filipinos Against Injustice and for Re-dress (FAIR, c/o [email protected]), feels that thecompany’s Alaska cannery operations were discrimina-tory and opposes the permit until Wards Cove reachesout to the Filipino community. Project number for theshoreside construction is 3003444, and details can beviewed on the City web site at http://web1.seattle.gov/dpd/luib/Notice.aspx?id=943.

Lake Union southeast shoreline project. For theneighborhood planning efforts of the 1990s, JimDonnette did a conceptual design for a Fairview Ave.E. walking path south from Newton to Fairview Ave.N. Seattle Public Utilities built the first part, in frontof NOAA, in 1997 as part of a sewer expansion project.After years of liaison with property owners and publicagencies, ECC built the second phase, between NOAAand Lake Union Dry Dock (1500 and 1600 blocks ofFairview) under a $20,000 contract with the City. Theresult: pathway with a view where one once had towalk in the street and saw only a wall of blackber-ries and brush; and the parking is safer, better-drained, and more usable.

A shoreline condition of the City permit is toinstall native plants in place of the invasive black-berries, ivy, clematis, scotch broom, and Japaneseknotweed on the shore. Houseboaters have beenprominent among the more than 70 volunteers whohave helped fight the weeds and removed hundredsof bottles and cans and other assorted trash. Thanksalso to the following businesses for hot drinks andsnacks: Cuppa Joe On the Go, Starbucks, GrandCentral Bakery, Louisa’s, Le Fournil, Eastlake Mar-ket, and Chaco Canyon. The work parties con-tinue from 10 to 3 on the Saturdays April 1, 15,and 29; and Sundays April 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30;phone or check the web site for work parties in Mayand June.

Other work parties. On Saturday, April 22 therewill be Earth Day work parties at Louisa Street-end(10 to 4); Fairview Park (2900 Fairview, 9:30 to 2,328-2161), and Good Turn Park (3149 Fairview,10 to noon,). There will also be a Louisa Street-end work party (769-8278) on Saturday, April 8,10 a.m. to 4. Additional Good Turn Park workparties are Wed., May 17 and June 14, both 6-8

p.m. (Thanks to houseboater Tricia Rendina, 261-4271,who is the acting coordinator for Good Turn Park.)Parks that need a coordinator include Rogers Playfieldand Colonnade Park, the Lake Union southeast shore-line project, and North Gateway Park (under I-5 whereHarvard and Eastlake intersect).

Dock memberships. ECC deeply appreciates thatthe Log Foundation and Tenas Chuck have purchasedindividual ECC memberships for all of their dock resi-dents. We would welcome any other docks who wouldlike to join this program.

For questions or suggestions about any of the above,contact ECC Secretary Chris Leman, 117 E. LouisaStreet #1, Seattle 98102, [email protected], or phone 322-5463.

NEWSLETTER 15

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Bam was a houseboaterfor over 40 years. Like manywho have lived on LakeUnion and Portage Bay in theearlier years, she moved sev-eral times before ending upat a moorage on Lake Unionoff Fairview and EastHamlin and across the chan-nel from Roanoke Reef. Shewas born on the other sideof the country, in Montpe-lier, Vermont on April 6,

1935 and grew up in WoodsHole on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. She graduated with a degree inPhysics from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Growing up near thewater and working summers at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Insti-tute, she wanted to go to sea. In 1956, this passion brought her toSeattle to the Oceanography department at the University of Washing-ton where she spent 25 years as a research oceanographer.

Bam was one of the first two women to go to sea on the U of W’s R/V Brown Bear where she participated in the International GeophysicalYear Cruise in 1957. She also went on two trips to the Chukchi Sea inthe Arctic, east of the Russian coast and north of Alaska’s Seward Penin-sula near the Bering Straits. There were many shorter trips in PugetSound and the Columbia River. Over the years she was involved withresearch projects in Taiwan, Hawaii and the Arctic for various agencies.She was the first woman to do research on the polar ice.

Bam had a huge circle of friends, many of whom were former stu-dents as well as her many houseboat community neighbors. She helpedwith Floating Homes Association fund raisers, cheerfully volunteeringfor whatever task was asked of her. After a severe stroke some years ago,she was left with one side paralyzed and mostly confined to a wheelchair. Her network of friends rallied so she could remain on her house-boat. The houseboat doorways were widened and her bathroom remod-eled. Neighbor, April Boyd did her grocery shopping, another took herto her Physical Therapy sessions, while others came and cleaned for her.Bam was proud of the fact she could do her own cooking. And veryimportant to her were the people who took her walking. It was her goal

to walk unassisted again. Neighbors such as Mike Dederer would takeher to Floating Homes meetings and events where others would gatheraround to converse with her. She remained upbeat and hopeful in spiteof the challenges she was given.

Neighbors Jack & Joan Leversee, who live across the channel onRoanoke Reef, shared a couple of stories: “One of our favorite recollec-tions of Bam was of her in the water, more floating about than swim-ming, sort of vertical, under a large Chinese hat, bobbing around call-ing on neighbors.” For a time a family of raccoons lived on the logsunder her houseboat. “They would swim over to Roanoke Reef, climbup a swim ladder and walk over to the restaurant next door to help incleaning up the garbage dumpster. Then reverse the route back to Bam’s,carefully climbing down the ladder to make the swim back...”

For many years Bam held a holiday season party on her houseboatand guests would bring their favorite food and drink, visit, and watchthe lighted Christmas ships parade in Lake Union. This past Decem-ber there was no party. On December 22, 2005 Bam passed away. OnMarch 4, 2006 her sister, Trish held a gathering, like the old times, toremember Bam. A huge group of friends and neighbors came, manyfrom far away, to celebrate her life. Stories were told, memories shared,photos shown, and much food & wine was consumed. The weatherwas sunny and the house-boat overflowed withpeople visiting on thedecks and on the dock.Excited children ran afterthe water fowl after bait-ing them with as muchbread & crackers theycould liberate from thedining table. Bam wouldhave loved it.

Thanks to Bam’s sis-ter, Trish Morse for help-ing with this piece andproviding wonderful pho-tos. — J— J— J— J— Jann Mann Mann Mann Mann McFcFcFcFcFarlandarlandarlandarlandarland

BBBBBettyAnn MettyAnn MettyAnn MettyAnn MettyAnn MorseorseorseorseorseAAAAApril 6, 1935 to Dpril 6, 1935 to Dpril 6, 1935 to Dpril 6, 1935 to Dpril 6, 1935 to December 22, 2005ecember 22, 2005ecember 22, 2005ecember 22, 2005ecember 22, 2005

70th B70th B70th B70th B70th Biririririrthday Pthday Pthday Pthday Pthday Pararararartytytytyty

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WWWWWant to advant to advant to advant to advant to advererererertise in the FHA Ntise in the FHA Ntise in the FHA Ntise in the FHA Ntise in the FHA Neeeeewsletterwsletterwsletterwsletterwsletterand rand rand rand rand reach yeach yeach yeach yeach your target audience ??our target audience ??our target audience ??our target audience ??our target audience ??

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YYYYYou must be an FHA member to advou must be an FHA member to advou must be an FHA member to advou must be an FHA member to advou must be an FHA member to advererererertise in the tise in the tise in the tise in the tise in the NNNNNews-ews-ews-ews-ews-letterletterletterletterletter. P. P. P. P. Please contact the FHA office at 206-325-1132lease contact the FHA office at 206-325-1132lease contact the FHA office at 206-325-1132lease contact the FHA office at 206-325-1132lease contact the FHA office at 206-325-1132

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Phone: 206-789-7611Fax: [email protected]

The HouseboatiqueBy Marilyn Robertson

Have you shopped at the FHA Houseboatique? Mary and Giff Jones,Board members from Mallard Cove, the current managers of theHouseboatique, have done a bang up job of promoting unusual, fun itemswith a houseboat theme. The idea for a ‘cottage industry’ in the houseboatcommunity began in 1982 when houseboater, Bob McPeak designed a Tshirtwith a line of brightly painted houseboats across the front and underneath“Houseboats. Bringing a little color to Seattle.” In 1985 the first houseboatcookbook by Beth Means & Jann McFarland was added and note cards de-signed by Rick Becker. Over the years came sweatshirts, mugs, and otheritems.

In late 2000, Mary and Giff took over and renamed the FHA shop,‘Houseboatique’. Since taking it on, they have kept Marty Alexander Greerand Ann Bassetti’s cookbook, FLOATING KITCHENS: Cooking withSeattle’s Houseboaters as a centerpiece of sales, while adding products thatmight appeal to their target market, houseboaters.

This year one of the new items was wine labels. Giff explained thegenesis of this ‘hot’ product. “Mary, neighbor Melissa Ahlers, and I werethinking up new products. Why shouldn’t we get a winery to create aspecial red and white for us and call it HOUSEBOAT RED and HOUSE-BOAT WHITE? We followed up on this idea, but found a potential formany headaches, including legal issues and the problem of storing cases ofwine in the tiny sales space. Then, out of the blue it came to me. It wasn’tthe wine, but the label that interested me! So we created the label from the40th Anniversary Tshirt artwork.” All a houseboater has to do is buy a bottleof wine and stick on the appropriate label.

The couple’s latest ideas include phasing out clothing items in varioussizes and finding new products that have universal appeal to houseboaters.

Every December, the FHA office is converted into a tiny holiday shopwith decorations and multi-colored lights. At last years holiday sale, displaysof various styles and sizes of T shirts and sweat shirts crowded the tables andshelves. Tote bags hung above coffee mugs that nudged cookbooks and notecards. Every item jostled for shelf space. There was, as always, a good varietyfor shoppers to choose from. New items include lap blankets and tote bagswith a wine bottle pocket – both decorated with a colorful houseboat andslogan, A NEIGHBORHOOD, AN ATTITUDE, A WAY OF LIFE.

Shopping opportunities aren’t limited to the December Holiday Sale.Houseboatique will be open for business at the Annual Meeting, Wednes-day, 26 April. There also will be a Houseboatique at the Houseboat Tour,Sunday 10 September. And you can always call Jann McFarland at 206-323-3489 or leave a message at the office, 206-325-1132, to set up an appoint-ment to come in and shop anytime. For a look at some of the items, you cango on line to www.seattlefloatinghomes.org , then click on ‘catalog’.

It is not easy to change a ‘cottage industry’ into a lively shop sellinggoods with pizzazz. It takes a lot of energy, enthusiasm and ‘know how’.Thank you Mary and Giff Jones for the work you do to keep theHouseboatique afloat!

If you need a little extra space, we have room for you at:

For your:� Seasonal clothing you just don’t need right now.� Extra furniture you don’t have room for� BBQ grill…you name it! What have you got that’s in the way?

Shurgard of Lake Union offers:� State of the art security� Heated or non heated storage� 24 hour customer service� Always a cart available- guaranteed� The longest gate hours available- 5am to 11pm� Tallest ceilings around so you can stack, get into a smaller unit & Save$$$� Not to mention our lifetime satisfaction guarantee…to be sure you will be well taken care of

Mention the FHA and get your first full month free when renting for three monthsValid on new rentals only. Based on availability. No cash value.

Stop by or call us at: 700 Fairview Ave N., Seattle WA 98109. (206) 343-9181

LETLETLETLETLETTERS TERS TERS TERS TERS TTTTTO O O O O THE EDITTHE EDITTHE EDITTHE EDITTHE EDITORORORORORDear Editor:A word about VOLUNTEERISM: The chair of a vital

neighborhood committee recently received a note from a con-stituent complaining about the job some volunteers had beendoing on a local project. The complainer ranted on but as youmight imagine, was not there to help with the work. I guess Isee it as being a little like voting. If you don’t cast a ballot youdon’t get to complain about the results! Thanks for providingthis new venue for airing our thoughts.

Giff Jones

CorrCorrCorrCorrCorrections to Fections to Fections to Fections to Fections to Fall 2005 Nall 2005 Nall 2005 Nall 2005 Nall 2005 NeeeeewsletterwsletterwsletterwsletterwsletterPhotos on page 12 and 13 accompanying Lily Pad

were taken by Marilyn Robertson, not Bob Lilly.In the Ballard Locks article, email address for Lynne

Melder, listed on page 17 should [email protected]

NNNNNeeeeew Rw Rw Rw Rw Roof for FHA Ooof for FHA Ooof for FHA Ooof for FHA Ooof for FHA OfficefficefficefficefficeIn early October Floating Homes Association President,

Bill Keasler donned another hat in his repertoire of talents andhelped Sid McFarland put a new roof on the Floating Homesoffice. Thanks also to long time Tenas Chucker, Dale Pattersonfor getting the willow tree over head pruned enough for theroofers to work. Dale also did the post roofing clean up andreplaced some rotted deck boards. The new blue roof is a metalone and so will last a long time. Thanks volunteers, from all ofus!

Now, we could use some help this summer to paint theoutside of the office. If you are interested in rolling up yoursleeves and wielding a paint brush, please give Jann McFarlanda call at 323-3489. — Jann McFarland

Lake ULake ULake ULake ULake Union & Pnion & Pnion & Pnion & Pnion & Pororororortage Btage Btage Btage Btage BayayayayayHHHHHistoristoristoristoristory Py Py Py Py Prrrrroject Uoject Uoject Uoject Uoject Updatepdatepdatepdatepdate

By Holly TaylorThanks to the many Floating Homes Association mem-

bers who read the introductory article for the Lake Union andPortage Bay History Project in the Fall FHA newsletter, andresponded with suggestions of community members tointerview and offers of access to home history archives! Workis getting started on the project (a bit more slowly thananticipated…) to document Lake Union’s industrial, socialand environmental history through oral history interviewsand research. The non-profit Jack Straw Productions will beproviding technical support for the project through interviewrecording and web hosting, and we hope to get started withinterviews in the near future. If you know someone whoshould be interviewed, or if you are interested in gettinginvolved with the project, contact project director HollyTaylor at [email protected] or 206.463.3168 withsuggestions, questions, or contributions.

NEWSLETTER 18

WaterlogBy Marilyn Robertson

SSSSSpring 2006pring 2006pring 2006pring 2006pring 2006

Even though we live in a picturesque spot,houseboaters like to get away. Doctor Jim and I spentlast autumn on a road trip across the States. It was ourfourth cross-country trip. You’d think we would knowbetter. But it was decided, despite the cost of gas, tovisit States we hadn’t yet seen. Late September is a greattime to drive through the mid-western states, so Jim,who does all the driving, chooses a stress free approach:country roads to put us in touch with ordinary peopleand places.You’ve prob-ably heard ofWabash,Indiana, butwhat aboutBroken Bow,Nebraska?Both greatovernightstops wherewe metinteresting‘country folk’.

We spenta stormymonth inMaine, wherethe remnantsof HurricaneRita took atoll on ourpeacefulwalks on thebeach. It wasthe first ofNovemberwhen we setout for home. To avoid snow storms, we chose a moresoutherly route through Virginia, North Carolina andTennessee. In Tennessee we jumped onto the NatchezTrace Parkway for a two-day journey through the past.If you have the opportunity to take a leisurely driveacross country, I’d recommend back country roads.

I’ve just returned from a three-week trip to Mexico.At the start, Jim and I made a slight detour to visitfriends in Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island. Not ahouseboat community but pretty close. Houses on stilts

sitting on canal edges. Like the floating homes commu-nity, there is a mix of part time and year round residents.The community is made up of the middle aged andretirees, but there is a good mix of younger, workingcouples. We saw the school bus dropping off a fewchildren, too. There are large, modern homes as well asplaces built as vacation homes in 1956. Life in JamaicaBeach centers on the water: sailing, swimming, enjoyingsunsets and of course, bird watching. Most gardening isdone in pots, just as in houseboats. Neighbours look outfor one another and watch over vacant homes. Soundsjust like Seattle, until hurricane season!

After such awet winter it’sfun to focus ontravel. Mexicoseems to be thedestination ofchoice for manyhouseboaters.JJJJJeri Callahaneri Callahaneri Callahaneri Callahaneri Callahan(Tenas Chuck)spent most of thewinter in PuertoVallarta and sheemailed from asmall, local traveloffice. Shevolunteers eachSunday to allowthe regular staffmember to take aday off. Inreturn Jeri getsto use thecomputer! SheseeshouseboatersRay Ray Ray Ray Ray WWWWWoodringoodringoodringoodringoodringand CharlotteCharlotteCharlotteCharlotteCharlotte

MMMMMacmillanacmillanacmillanacmillanacmillan (Log Foundation) who are in PV for 6months. Jeri has also been busy with a PV writersconference, where she has sold some of her books. It’s asmall world: at a party, Jeri met a fellow who talkedabout friends who once lived on a Portage Bay house-boat. After his return to the States, he sent her an emailof their houseboat memories. J. J. J. J. Jann Mann Mann Mann Mann McFcFcFcFcFarlandarlandarlandarlandarlandreports Log Foundation (2025 FV) was well representedin Mazatlan this winter. Jann & Sid stayed 9 weeksmingling with friends from the past 20+ years. Most of

Photo by J. Weyand

HHHHHomes on stilts — Jomes on stilts — Jomes on stilts — Jomes on stilts — Jomes on stilts — Jamaica Bamaica Bamaica Bamaica Bamaica Beach, Geach, Geach, Geach, Geach, Galvalvalvalvalvestonestonestonestoneston

...W...W...W...W...Waaaaaterterterterterlog ...log ...log ...log ...log ...

NEWSLETTER 20 expenses-paid trip to Peru and Machu Picchu.Her mother, a travel agent in Florida, wasgiven this trip in recognition for outstandingsales. Marty’s Mom, at 84, is still workingevery day. She arrived in Cuzco a bit leeryabout the 11,000 foot altitude, but after onerestful afternoon and evening at that altitude,she was good to go. The next morning they setout on the spectacular trip to the ancientruins. “We travelled by private train, owned

by Orient Express – very elegant, with the local cock-tails, Pisco Sours, and gourmet luncheon served enroute.” The trip took 3 hours, passing through theSacred Valley, to the bottom of the mountain. Here abus took them up a winding road to the site. “We brokeinto groups of 6, each with a guide, and walked forseveral amazing hours through the ‘Lost City of theIncas.’ It’s breathtaking; that’s all I can say. If you everhave a chance to go, do!”

WWWWWestlake Cooperativestlake Cooperativestlake Cooperativestlake Cooperativestlake Cooperativeeeee (2420 WL) Ann BAnn BAnn BAnn BAnn Bassettiassettiassettiassettiassettiextends a welcome to KKKKKevin Mevin Mevin Mevin Mevin McCarcCarcCarcCarcCarthythythythythy as a new

owner. “It’s a little anticlimactic, as Kevin and hissweetie, MMMMMadeline Badeline Badeline Badeline Badeline Binleyinleyinleyinleyinley, have been living here forover a year. Nonetheless, it’s better for all of us that theyare owners. Glad it’s official!” Thanks to the wonders ofthe Web and email, enabling long-lost and far-flungfriends to find each other, EEEEEugene Nugene Nugene Nugene Nugene Nuttuttuttuttutt (husband ofAnn Bassetti) went to Houston for an exhilarating

RRRRRon Non Non Non Non Nanstad and Danstad and Danstad and Danstad and Danstad and Debbie ebbie ebbie ebbie ebbie WWWWWoodburoodburoodburoodburoodburyyyyy. . . . . Thanksgiving in MThanksgiving in MThanksgiving in MThanksgiving in MThanksgiving in Mazatlan.azatlan.azatlan.azatlan.azatlan.Photo by Sid McFarland

these friends are from the Seattle area with others fromOregon, Idaho, California, Alaska, and British Colum-bia. Also, there are four members from the OregonHouseboat Community and it is always fun to comparenotes on life styles. “DDDDDebbie ebbie ebbie ebbie ebbie WWWWWoodburoodburoodburoodburoodbury & Ry & Ry & Ry & Ry & RenenenenenNNNNNanstadanstadanstadanstadanstad, our next door neighbors on the LogFoundation were in Mazatlan for two weeks and thefour of us ate dinner together several evenings as well ashaving Thanksgiving dinner together. Ren went golfingwith another friend of ours, so Sid took us 3 ladies tolunch and spent the day with us. Debbie nicknamedhim ‘Cabana Boy’ and we all got a lot of mileage out ofthat!” Just as Jann and Sidreturned, S, S, S, S, Sandi and Mandi and Mandi and Mandi and Mandi and MikeikeikeikeikeLinusLinusLinusLinusLinus from Log Foundationflew down for a 10 day stay -this was in the middle of theworst rain so they were de-lighted to escape to the sun. Also, SSSSStan & Lana Schmidttan & Lana Schmidttan & Lana Schmidttan & Lana Schmidttan & Lana Schmidtfrom Portage Bay were inMazatlan at the same time. Getting a break from Seattle’swinter, PPPPPenny Leenny Leenny Leenny Leenny Lewiswiswiswiswis (ShelbyGroup) took off for centralMexico and more time for herfavorite travel occupation,watercolor painting. Most ofher painting trips have been toEurope, so the colorful jour-nals she brings back will have aSpanish flavor this time. J. J. J. J. JimimimimimWWWWWeyandeyandeyandeyandeyand and MMMMMarilynarilynarilynarilynarilynRRRRRoberoberoberoberobertsontsontsontsontson (Fuhrman Ave)spent three weeks in Mexicovisiting lesser known colonialcities, San Luis Potosi, AguasCalientes and the beautifulZacatecas, as well as spendinga week in Guadalajara and theonce tiny pottery village of Tlaquepaque.

Reports from Docks around Lake Union and PortageBay:

NNNNNesika Chuckesika Chuckesika Chuckesika Chuckesika Chuck (2466 WL) MMMMMarararararty Gty Gty Gty Gty Grrrrreer eer eer eer eer wasinvited – by her Mom – to be the “friend” on an all-

DDDDDrrrrr. J. J. J. J. Jim and amigo in im and amigo in im and amigo in im and amigo in im and amigo in Tlaquepaque.Tlaquepaque.Tlaquepaque.Tlaquepaque.Tlaquepaque.Photo by Marilyn Robertson

reunion with childhood friends. The last time he hadseen them was in 1951, in the San Tome oil camp ineastern Venezuela. That year, the nine teens were sent tovarious boarding schools in the US. The group caughtup on 50+ year-old camp gossip, and revelled being withcompanions who know what “chiguire” and “morichal”mean.

Log FLog FLog FLog FLog Foundationoundationoundationoundationoundation: From MMMMMararararark & Jk & Jk & Jk & Jk & Jamieamieamieamieamie in LogFoundation comes this animal tale: Jamie went to theirsmall, outside fridge to get the loaf of bread sheneeded, and it was gone. She called her husband,Mark and accused him of throwing it away. He sworehe hadn’t. A couple of days later in the wee hours of themorning when they got up for work, there was a largeraccoon on the back porch with the refrigerator dooropen and a beer in its paws. Before getting caught, itsaccumulated loot included a carton of yogurt, a newbowl of unopened Cool Whip and several beers. A newlock has been installed on the fridge.

Home & Garden TV (HGTV) is currently wrappingup a one-hour program on houseboats across the coun-

try. A three-person crew from KPI Productions in NYCcame to Seattle in early February to capture some localcolor for their stories. Two homes in the Log Founda-tion were filmed: H: H: H: H: Heinz Seinz Seinz Seinz Seinz Strtrtrtrtrobloblobloblobl’’’’’sssss houseboat, designedby architect GGGGGene Mene Mene Mene Mene Morrisorrisorrisorrisorris (2351 FV), and the home ofBob BBob BBob BBob BBob Burururururk & Bk & Bk & Bk & Bk & Blair Rlair Rlair Rlair Rlair Robbinsobbinsobbinsobbinsobbins. The crew also filmedGene’s houseboat. When the sun broke through on the

morning of Super Bowl Sunday, the crew toured the lakeby boat with Rick MRick MRick MRick MRick Minerinerinerineriner. Winter gloom was in fullforce! It was so dark during the day, lights needed to beon. The program style is ‘walk & talk’, and Blair men-tioned it took her a few takes to get it down. The focusof the program is design and the uniqueness of eachhome. At Blair & Bob’s the crew focused on thekitchen. Bob made a salad and lattes, and Blair madehomemade pasta and grilled baby artichokes. It was funto feel like they were on a cooking show! Blair says,“Since I am one whose thumb is any shade but green, itamuses me to have Home & Garden pay a visit! Beingfilmed in winter, there was not attention to “garden” —the show is all about “home”. I was surprised, when Isaw that the crew was admiring a large terra cotta potfilled with weeds strangling a palm! I told them thoseare weeds and would not be good to show on HGTV.Later, Bob saw them filming the weeds and told themthe same thing! So, who knows what will end up on theshow!”

TTTTTiff Miff Miff Miff Miff Mc Nc Nc Nc Nc Namaraamaraamaraamaraamara sendsnews from The Lake UThe Lake UThe Lake UThe Lake UThe Lake Unionnionnionnionnion(2031 FV). Best Wishes toEEEEEthan Lothan Lothan Lothan Lothan Lowrwrwrwrwryyyyy and NNNNNicoleicoleicoleicoleicoleHHHHHalabiskyalabiskyalabiskyalabiskyalabisky who were en-gaged in January and plan awedding in Italy this June.....LarrLarrLarrLarrLarry Loguey Loguey Loguey Loguey Logue climbed ImjeTse (Island Peak) in Nepalwhich stands at 20,283 feetlast October. The climb was alittle tougher than he antici-pated but Larry is modest.....SSSSShawn Rhawn Rhawn Rhawn Rhawn Rosemanosemanosemanosemanoseman and IIIIIsaacsaacsaacsaacsaacRRRRRuizuizuizuizuiz were once again someof the key organizers for theDia del Muertos festival atthe Seattle Center last Octo-ber. Coco HCoco HCoco HCoco HCoco Hessessessessess is in Baja,Mexico working for NOLS(National Outdoor Leader-ship School) as a sailinginstructor, and is starting theprocess of fulfilling herdream to go cruising. Thedock welcomes renters RayRayRayRayRayFFFFFororororortunatunatunatunatuna and EEEEEmily mily mily mily mily WWWWWelchelchelchelchelch

as well as Scott KissellScott KissellScott KissellScott KissellScott Kissell and SSSSSony Bony Bony Bony Bony Burbaurbaurbaurbaurba. TTTTTiff andiff andiff andiff andiff andBBBBBrad Mrad Mrad Mrad Mrad Mc Nc Nc Nc Nc Namaraamaraamaraamaraamara are headed to Beijing, China inMarch. Their remodel of houseboat B is in the framingstage. UW rower KarKarKarKarKaren Men Men Men Men Magnusonagnusonagnusonagnusonagnuson has been toilingaway through winter training. Come see her row in theOpening Day Regatta on Saturday, May 6th at 10:00am. Go Huskies!!!!

NEWSLETTER 21

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TTTTTenas Chuckenas Chuckenas Chuckenas Chuckenas Chuck (2339) This February some LakeUnion Trekkers (BBBBBarb and Jarb and Jarb and Jarb and Jarb and Jim Dim Dim Dim Dim Donnette, Monnette, Monnette, Monnette, Monnette, Mararararary andy andy andy andy andGGGGGiff Jiff Jiff Jiff Jiff Jones, ones, ones, ones, ones, VVVVVal and Bal and Bal and Bal and Bal and Barrarrarrarrarry By By By By Burgess and Durgess and Durgess and Durgess and Durgess and DeaneaneaneaneanSSSSSampsonampsonampsonampsonampson) explored part of the Methow Valley on cross-country skis. “Our lodging consisted of Matt’s Cabin atBrown’s Farm, a quaint cabin with all the amenitiesincluding a woodstove and plenty of jigsaw puzzles tochallenge us.” Farm chickens provided fresh eggs fortheir morning. “The Methow Valley trail is a networkof non-motorized trails that wind through valleys andhills, along rivers and creeks, old homesteads and thou-sands of aspen trees.

“After we practiced up on our new found skills,we headed to the Rendezvous hills. A long climb of 6miles up Cow Creek brought us to Gardner Hut.” Asnowmobile hauling system allowed the group to be gearfree to enjoy the climb. They spent 3 days in a primitivehut. “ Accommodations were 5 mattresses on the floorof a 1 ½ story 16’ x 20’ hut. There was no runningwater. We melted snow to wash our dishes, andchopped firewood to keep warm. The days were spentenjoying the silent, clear air and spectacular views whileskiing, snowshoeing and sledding. The evenings werefilled with simple pleasures; listening to the crackle ofthe fire burning in the stove, playing Mexican Train andwatching as the clouds dispersed and stars appeared.”

Val has started a new business. The LAKE UNION

TREKKERS are now TENDERFOOT ADVENTURES doing thesame walking and hiking on Tuesday and Friday as wellas biking, kayaking, skiing, and snowshoeing. It is aFitness Investment for Retirement club, with yourhealth and fitness the goal.

If you are interested in joining us on these greatadventures and fitness plan, please contact Val [email protected].

Special MMMMMallarallarallarallarallard Cod Cod Cod Cod Covvvvveeeee houseboat burgees weredesigned and distributed to all owners by EEEEEdddddBBBBBuchwalduchwalduchwalduchwalduchwald, self-declared and unchallenged MallardCove “Yacht Club” Grand Commodore. The colorfulburgees now fly from Mallard Cove boats and house-boats alike, and proudly adorn our local fleet of Melges24 racing dinghies, owned by 10% of our dock. OK,it’s only two boats, but they include a concentration ofMallard Cove Melges racers, including MMMMMike Mike Mike Mike Mike Massa,assa,assa,assa,assa,TTTTTim and Mim and Mim and Mim and Mim and Melissa Ahlers , Selissa Ahlers , Selissa Ahlers , Selissa Ahlers , Selissa Ahlers , Stevtevtevtevteve Se Se Se Se Strtrtrtrtrockbine, andockbine, andockbine, andockbine, andockbine, andJJJJJim Caputoim Caputoim Caputoim Caputoim Caputo. Caputo’s boat took first place overall inthe Lake Union Goosebump Series this winter! G! G! G! G! GiffiffiffiffiffJJJJJonesonesonesonesones has been involved with the PNB since the early90’s. He has taken ‘stage prop’ roles like a guard, ser-vant, sentry, in most of the classical ballets. “I got Maryinto it a few ago, and she’s done ‘Swan Lake’ with me

and we always play Grandmother and Grandfathertogether for the party scene in ‘Nutcracker’. This springI’ll play a court guard in ‘Sleeping Beauty’ which opensApril 13.” Last December GGGGGiff and Miff and Miff and Miff and Miff and Marararararyyyyy did theirusual ‘Nutcracker’ performances, then drove to mid-coast CA for Christmas. They didn’t return until the endof February, hoping the rain had finally stopped. Newowners PPPPPaul and Linda Eaul and Linda Eaul and Linda Eaul and Linda Eaul and Linda Ellingsonllingsonllingsonllingsonllingson of Tacoma, havepurchased HB #14 from Rick Warner. Welcomeaboard, Paul & Linda. Al HAl HAl HAl HAl Hendricksonendricksonendricksonendricksonendrickson, an originalMallard Cove owner, recently celebrated his 86th birth-

day. He used to walk several miles daily, and still walksat least a mile every day, rain, snow, or shine!

M M M M Myrna Coryrna Coryrna Coryrna Coryrna Cordododododovvvvvaaaaa reports H H H H Houseboat Houseboat Houseboat Houseboat Houseboat Harborarborarborarborarbor,,,,,IIIIInc.nc.nc.nc.nc. is happy to welcome a new resident: B: B: B: B: BeccaeccaeccaeccaeccaLederLederLederLederLederererererer. She is the granddaughter of EEEEEthel Scribnerthel Scribnerthel Scribnerthel Scribnerthel Scribnerand has moved into Ethel’s home. The two are ‘tradingplaces’ for a few months. Ethel is visiting family andfriends in the Baltimore area, while Becca is enjoying thehouseboat life in Seattle. ‘Congratulations’ to DDDDDonononononBBBBBrrrrrooooownleewnleewnleewnleewnlee—our #1 NASA Stardust Mission scientistand investigator from the UW. Way to go! Don is a softspoken, intergalactic, planeterial jet setter who really hasstars in his eyes and comet dust too. Don and his wife,,,,,PPPPPaula Szkodyaula Szkodyaula Szkodyaula Szkodyaula Szkody, are the most ‘astronomical’ houseboatersaround. FFFFFritz and Mritz and Mritz and Mritz and Mritz and Margarargarargarargarargaret et et et et WWWWWagneragneragneragneragner are proud of son,

NEWSLETTER 22

DDDDDisplay of isplay of isplay of isplay of isplay of WWWWWeeds for HGTV!eeds for HGTV!eeds for HGTV!eeds for HGTV!eeds for HGTV!Photo by Jann McFarland

Ryan who may now be addressed as Captain Ryan. Hereceived his license recently after long hours of study.Ryan is currently on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea.Brrrr! On a warmer note, SSSSStevtevtevtevteve and Se and Se and Se and Se and Sheri Gheri Gheri Gheri Gheri Grrrrreaveaveaveaveavesesesesesrecently attended the America Power Boat Association’sannual meeting in Fort Lauderdale. Steve is the Chair-man of the Pro Outboard category of this Association.He attended meetings for four days and Sheri tooknotes. (She did ‘escape’ to bask in the Florida sun for afew hours).

MMMMMegan Segan Segan Segan Segan Smithmithmithmithmith and JJJJJen Ken Ken Ken Ken Kernernernernern bought Fritz Hedgeslittle houseboat on DDDDDock Hock Hock Hock Hock Henderson Coop enderson Coop enderson Coop enderson Coop enderson Coop andrebuilt. Each writes about what brought them to thelake. Jen says, “ After a couple years working at the FredHutch I’m returning to work at Woodland Park Zoo. Irented a houseboat on Fairview many moons ago andfell in love with life on the water. As soon as I steppedfoot in this place I knew this was home. Of course, itwas a 576 square ft studio at the time but once we knewwe could build a second floor that was it! EEEEEricricricricricHHHHHogeboomogeboomogeboomogeboomogeboom (Shelby Group) and Envirotecture did anamazing job of making use of every available inch. OurDock Henderson co-op mates are a great bunch ofpeople. We are so grateful to be here and still pinchourselves every day. The hardest thing about houseboatliving so far is having to leave on beautiful mornings togo to work!!!” Megan Smith writes she has always beena water person. She was shooting photographs of LakeUnion houseboats and noticed there was an open houseon a houseboat for sale so she took a look at it and fell inlove. “ I asked Jen to check it out and she said ‘Let’s doit!’ We love all the critters and living on the water. I doMobile In-Home Technical Support and I work at theHutch supporting the computers that cull data from thescientific instruments in the labs. Going home afterwork is like being on vacation! We ended up buying onPortage Bay, and just love it.”

BBBBBetty Setty Setty Setty Setty Swift, Dwift, Dwift, Dwift, Dwift, Diana Fiana Fiana Fiana Fiana Forman and Richie Morman and Richie Morman and Richie Morman and Richie Morman and Richie Meyeyeyeyeyerererererreport on doings on and off SSSSShelbhelbhelbhelbhelby Gy Gy Gy Gy Grrrrroup Doup Doup Doup Doup Dock.ock.ock.ock.ock.Richie MRichie MRichie MRichie MRichie Meyeyeyeyeyererererer (1213 Shelby) former CEO of KCTSand long time Floating Home resident has published abook about the legendary Chinese film star Ruan Ling-yu. Richie became interested in early Chinese filmswhile a Fulbright scholar in China in 1995. The HongKong University Press through the University of Wash-ington Press has made available to readers in the US“Ruan Ling-yu: The Goddess of Shanghai”. Includedwith the book is a DVD of Ruan’s most famous film“The Goddess” which was restored by Meyer. The booktells the story of her life and the turbulent times of the1930s in Shanghai. Last fall Bob and DBob and DBob and DBob and DBob and Diana Fiana Fiana Fiana Fiana Formanormanormanormanormanof Shelby Dock spent three weeks in the Mid-Atlanticstates. After sightseeing in Washington, DC, Dianaparticipated in the largest peace march of her life -300,000 people massed in the Ellipse between the White

House and the Washington Monument. Then theyspent three days with Shelby Dock friends MMMMMolly andolly andolly andolly andolly andJJJJJohn Bohn Bohn Bohn Bohn Baileyaileyaileyaileyailey at John’s family home on Maryland’sEastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay. Later Diana and Bobtraveled to the foothills of Pennsylvania’s AlleghenyMountains and on to Lancaster to visit the EphrataCloisters, a 300 year old religious community whosechoral music has been preserved and is performedtoday by the Ephrata Cloister Chorus. The Brandywineregion of Pennsylvania provided a finale to the trip aswell as an opportunity to soak in the beauty of the area’sgreen fields, split rail fences, and stone houses that soinspired the work of Andrew Wyeth, his father, siblings,and son. When she’s back in Seattle, Diana is helpingto organize an event that will raise money to bring anIraqi child with war-related injuries to the Northwest forspecialized medical treatment. The Walk for Peace andHealing will take place on Saturday, May 20, at GreenLake as the culmination of fund-raising that both adultsand children will undertake in the weeks prior to thewalk around the lake. www.walkforpeaceandhealing.com will give you detailsand information on how to become involved. Winds ofFebruary did their best to set sail to a number of ShelbyGroup houseboats and the dock now gleams with severalnew sets of stainless steel moorage arms. PPPPPenny Leenny Leenny Leenny Leenny Lewiswiswiswiswis’’’’’home was so firmly secured, and the wind so strong, thatmain dock timbers were split. The dock has two genera-tions of owners now that Richie Meyer’s son, MMMMMahlonahlonahlonahlonahlonMMMMMeyeyeyeyeyererererer, has bought Wes Cherry’s houseboat. Mahlon,currently in graduate studies at the University of Wash-ington, often helps as translator for Richie and his wife,SSSSSusan Husan Husan Husan Husan Harmonarmonarmonarmonarmon, on their travels in China. D. D. D. D. DannyannyannyannyannyRRRRRobinsonobinsonobinsonobinsonobinson and KarKarKarKarKaren Den Den Den Den Donahueonahueonahueonahueonahue have married andmoved to a full-time home on Capitol Hill. Danny’shouseboat, one of the fine original sprung-roofedhomes, continues to be the base for good parties andmusic. Lucy, brand new granddaughter of MMMMMolly andolly andolly andolly andolly andJJJJJohn Bohn Bohn Bohn Bohn Baileyaileyaileyaileyailey, was born in early January and the thrilledgrandparents have been shuttling back and forth to herhome in Sun Valley. Between trips, however, theyturned west for a rambling tour of the birds of Japan andsome special time in cranesanctuaries.

Special thanks to alldock contacts who have donesuch a terrific job collectinginteresting stories about ourneighbors.

Send dock news toMarilyn [email protected]

MMMMMarilyn, in Garilyn, in Garilyn, in Garilyn, in Garilyn, in Guadaljara.uadaljara.uadaljara.uadaljara.uadaljara.

NEWSLETTER 23

Photo by J. Weyand

Floating Homes Association2329 Fairview EastSeattle, WA 98102

The AThe AThe AThe AThe Associationssociationssociationssociationssociation’’’’’s Legal Fs Legal Fs Legal Fs Legal Fs Legal Fund needs yund needs yund needs yund needs yund needs your supporour supporour supporour supporour support, alsot, alsot, alsot, alsot, also. D. D. D. D. Donations of $50 or moronations of $50 or moronations of $50 or moronations of $50 or moronations of $50 or more are are are are are taxe taxe taxe taxe tax deductible! M deductible! M deductible! M deductible! M deductible! Make yake yake yake yake your our our our our separseparseparseparseparateateateateate check payable to SC check payable to SC check payable to SC check payable to SC check payable to SCCF/FHA.CF/FHA.CF/FHA.CF/FHA.CF/FHA.

for the FHA Legal Ffor the FHA Legal Ffor the FHA Legal Ffor the FHA Legal Ffor the FHA Legal Fund.und.und.und.und.

HHHHHelp Pelp Pelp Pelp Pelp Prrrrreseresereseresereservvvvve and Pe and Pe and Pe and Pe and Prrrrrotect Sotect Sotect Sotect Sotect Seattleeattleeattleeattleeattle’’’’’s Colors Colors Colors Colors Colorful Hful Hful Hful Hful Houseboat Colonyouseboat Colonyouseboat Colonyouseboat Colonyouseboat Colony.....JJJJJoin the Foin the Foin the Foin the Foin the Floating Hloating Hloating Hloating Hloating Homes Association omes Association omes Association omes Association omes Association TTTTToday!oday!oday!oday!oday!

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NENENENENEWWWWW RENERENERENERENERENEWWWWW

ANNUANNUANNUANNUANNUAL HOUSEHOLD DUES:AL HOUSEHOLD DUES:AL HOUSEHOLD DUES:AL HOUSEHOLD DUES:AL HOUSEHOLD DUES:

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REGULREGULREGULREGULREGULAR - $50AR - $50AR - $50AR - $50AR - $50

65 AND O65 AND O65 AND O65 AND O65 AND OVER - $40VER - $40VER - $40VER - $40VER - $40

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Condo/CoopCondo/CoopCondo/CoopCondo/CoopCondo/CoopNNNNName:ame:ame:ame:ame:

The FThe FThe FThe FThe Floating Hloating Hloating Hloating Hloating Homes Aomes Aomes Aomes Aomes Associationssociationssociationssociationssociation

MEMBERSHIP FORMMEMBERSHIP FORMMEMBERSHIP FORMMEMBERSHIP FORMMEMBERSHIP FORM

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