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May's "Public Art" feature on the Guemes Island Art website is the 4th Annual Luminary Parade that took place on April 23rd. Click here to see more photos of our fabulous Guemes community coming together and showing off their beautifully lit, handmade luminaries.
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Successful Earth Day Events on April 23
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All-Island Clean-Up
Groundfloor Guemes volunteers organized another successful All-Island Clean-Up in celebration of Earth Day 2022. In a mere two hours of the community coming together to clean Guemes beaches and roadways, an impressive pile of trash was collected. An estimated 30 volunteers fanned out around the island to help with the collection. Others worked independently in their neighborhoods. In addition to the normal roadside detritus, also collected were a crushed washtub from the cemetery, a rusty car seat found on west beach, and 25 old tires. A found crab trap and anchor buoy will be put out curbside to be rehomed during the May 14-15 DIY Garage Sales. Skagit County collected all the trash for disposal. Thanks to all who helped make this event a success and who help keep Guemes
Luminary Parade
With cool temperatures, but not a breath of wind, the parade of glowing orbs, birds, and other critters, set out to celebrate art and the environment. The participants in the 4th Annual Earth Day Luminary Parade marched (or danced) to the music from brass instruments. Read more
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April Was National Volunteer Month
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During the month of April, many Guemes Islanders found both small and large ways to volunteer their time and give back to their community. Writer Joyce Chen reminds us that "at the core of volunteerism is the idea of giving back" – recognizing that in order for our society to thrive, we all need to do our part.
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Studies have shown that volunteering actually benefits the volunteers themselves. As the idiom goes, "you get what you give."
Volunteer opportunities continue into the month of May and beyond. Donating your time is priceless and can make a real difference.
How can you help? What does your community need?
Special Event Support
1. Celebrate Guemes May 29 – Community Stage Opening Event! Help make this memorable community celebration happen. Be part of the excitement. Email to GICCAvolunteer@gmail.com or call Mary Holmes at 425-802-2528.
GICCA Projects
2. DIY Island Garage Sale on May 14 & 15. GICCA will be fundraising at the Hall on May 14. Help collect, sort, and sell.
3. Plant care – watering and weeding, mowing at Stage or Hall (May to September); Hall painting and maintenance projects – various indoor and outdoor opportunities (May to September)
4. Volunteer Team – Help with recruitment and scheduling of volunteers. Email to GICCAvolunteer@gmail.com or call Kathy Whitman 206-334-1573.
Emergency Preparedness
5. Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers need you to help prepare your neighborhood for a disaster. Take an online CERT course. Participate in Neighborhood Night Out on August 2. Email to GICCAvolunteer@gmail.com or call Barb Ohms at 303-521-9094 cell.
“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
– Mohammed Ali
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GICCA Board Approves Floor Upgrade
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REMINDER: There will be no GICCA Public Meetings during the scheduled summer break in June, July, and August.
The GICCA Board has voted in favor of proceeding with this year's capital improvement project, upgrading the floor in the Community Hall. Board Trustee, Dave Shill has researched the options and they were presented to those present at the April 21 public business meeting. The proposal can be viewed HERE.
There will be a vote of the GICCA membership at the May 19, 2022 GICCA meeting. If approved, work will begin this summer. The Board will strive for minimal impact on scheduled events and activities in the Hall.
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GIHS – 20 Years of History, May 9
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On Monday, May 9th the Guemes Island Historical Society will resume its normal schedule with a business meeting beginning at 5:45 pm, including an election of officers for the coming year. “20 Years of History.” will be the theme for our presentation. The presentation will include information on the formation of the society, some early members, its goals and achievements along with highlights of events the society has sponsored over the years. There will be an update on the collaboration with the Guemes Island Library's digitization project under the auspices of the Washington State Library's Rural Heritage Project. The program will close with a request for interested individuals to become active members of society.
If you have questions, please feel free to call (or text) Tom at 360-708-2582 or email: deachtom@gmail.com.
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2nd Annual Island-Wide Garage Sale — May 14-15
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Guemes Island residents, set your own times, make your own signs, and sell your items or put them out for free.
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Celebrate Guemes! — May 28, 29 & 30
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Celebrate Guemes with three days filled with art, music, community connections, and family activities. Read the details HERE.
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On Saturday the Guemes Art Studio Tours return from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. You drive the 11-stop studio route. Soup-To-Go will offer drive-through soup lunch for $5 at the Church.
On Sunday the Community Stage Opening and day of music, food and drink begins at 11:00 AM until 8:30 PM at Schoolhouse Park. Let's keep this day local. Parking is tight so ride your bike. Shuttle service will be available from the Community Hall.
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On Monday Edens Cemetery invites everyone to the annual Memorial Day observance at 10:00 AM. Pickleball at Schoolhouse Park with narrated play-by-play top player demo at 11:00 followed by friendly competition and new player instruction. Walking tours at Kelly's Point, Dogwoods, and Guemes Mountain with geology and native plant experts. See the link above for details.
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ART CHAIRS for the Community Stage Opening
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Guemes Island Community Center Association (GICCA) has a supply of metal folding chairs that were retired but not forgotten. They are intended for various outdoor special events. GICCA invites you to give new life to an old chair by using this unique canvas to create an ART CHAIR.
Email GuemesIslandArt@gmail.com or call Kathy 1-206-334-1573 to request a chair.
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- We will deliver one to you or arrange for you to pick it up at the Community Hall.
- You create a unique, family-friendly, ART CHAIR using spray paint, acrylic, or other paint suitable for outdoor use.
- Sign your ART CHAIR.
- We will pick up your ART CHAIR or you can bring it to the Stage Opening on Sunday, May 29.
- GICCA will collect and store these ART CHAIRS for future events.
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Regular pickleball practice with two nets and courts (with some instruction) is on Thursdays at 1:00 PM and Saturdays and Sundays at 10:00 AM, weather permitting. Pickleball organizers can be reached through the Guemes Island Pickleball Players Facebook page.
Come to Schoolhouse Park on May 30th for a narrated play-by-play top player demo at 11:00 followed by friendly competition and free instruction for new players as part of the Celebrate Guemes Memorial Day weekend activities. See you on the courts!
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This month we're highlighting the artists who are participating in the Studio Tour that's happening on May 28th.
Some have been featured artists on guemesislandart.org and some will be artisans you haven’t seen before.
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Hopefully, what you read will entice you to head out the door and hit the tour. You’ll not find a better chance to collectively see the abundance of talent that is housed on our tiny island oasis. Read more
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When we give, we take a proactive step towards creating the community we want to live in.
The Guemes Island Community Center Association is participating in GiveBig this year!
Our donation page is here: https://www.wagives.org/organization/GICCA
Early Giving is open! Please consider this wonderful (and easy) way to support GICCA.
Gracias!
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Emergency Preparedness — "Do 1 Thing"
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Make sure the people who count on you are prepared for a disaster
Disasters can happen at any time. If you are away from home do you know where to find safe shelter locations? Do you know what the emergency procedures are for your child’s school or for your workplace? Will people who count on you know what to do if you can’t reach them? Know how to make sure you and your loved ones are safe in a disaster, no matter where you are.
Learn more
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As the island slowly returns to "normal," community organizations proceed with caution with public meetings and indoor gatherings. The Community Hall still requires masks for large public gatherings. Private gatherings with known attendees may choose to set mask guidelines. The unvaccinated are asked to avoid indoor gatherings.
Please take advantage of the following scheduled happenings for the month of May. Details on these events can be viewed on the Island Happenings Calendar.
- Sun, May 8: Mother's Day
- Mon, May 9, 5:45 PM: Historical Society Meeting & Program at the Church
- Sat & Sun, May 14 & 15: DIY Island Wide Garage Sales. Find signs for locations and times.
- Sun, May 15, 10:30-3:30: Fiber Arts Group meets at the Hall. Everyone welcome.
- Thurs, May 19, 7:00 PM: GICCA Monthly Public Business Meeting at the Hall
- Sat, May 28, 10:00-4:00: Guemes Art Studio Tours. See map on GuemesIslandArt.org
- Sat, May 28, 11:30-1:30: Special Soup-to-Go drive-through at the Church, $5. Proceeds to benefit Ukraine charity
- Sun, May 29, 11:00-8:30 PM: Stage Opening Event at Schoolhouse Park. See article above for details.
- Mon, May 30, 10:00: Memorial Day Observance at Edens Cemetery
- Mon, May 30, starting at 11:00 AM: Pickleball at the Park and walking tours. See article above for details.
- Guemes Library—Thursday through Monday, 12:30-3:00. Closed Tuesday & Wednesday
- Guemes Walks*—A series of walks designed to bring islanders together in the great outdoors. Find the schedule on the Island Happenings Calendar.
- Ted Talks & Virtual Learning*—Topics include travel destinations, humor, music, and more.
- Guemes Community Church services Sundays, 9:30 AM. Check the Island Happenings Calendar for the speaker schedule.
* More information about activities marked with an asterisk can be found on the Social Connections page of the GICCA website.
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