Fall is in the air, the pumpkin is on the vine and it’s once again time for The Friends of Woodmen Hall Fall Festival.
Join the fun on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 11 to 3 p.m. for a day of games, prizes, food and enjoyment for the whole family. There will be clowns with pockets filled with treats, a cakewalk, an old fashioned bake sale, raffle prizes, games for every member of the family and a delicious lunch menu.
Many local vendors will be on hand offering a wide range of items to help you start your holiday shopping. Don’t miss the return of the “Great Chicken Drop!” The proceeds of this event will benefit Woodmen Hall.
The mission of Friends has been to help provide funds for the Woodmen Hall renovation with the goal that the building again become a place to be enjoyed by the entire community. Thanks to your generosity, the Friends have raised over $50,000 in the last two and a half years.. To date, the water system has been upgraded, the kitchen approaches completion, there are now three bathrooms, and the offices for the seniors are ready. Notice the beautiful new entry when you are there. Many of these projects have been accomplished by a small, dedicated band of volunteers.
The interior of the Hall is being prepared for painting as the seniors hope to begin serving lunches in January 2009. Once the building is again open to the seniors it will also be available for community use. As funds allow there will be a facelift of the stage, new storage built and work done to the grounds. The improvement of this historic building has been guided by the Woodmen Hall survey islanders filled out last year.
They are now again asking for your assistance. To help preserve memories surrounding the hall, the Friends is asking you to send them a short account of some memory you have. It could be of skating on the wood floors, dances, weddings, potlucks, movies, musical performances, etc. They are considering compiling these memories into a booklet as a fundraiser for the Hall. Photos, which would be returned, would also be helpful. You can send an email to conniekyser@jps.net or mail it to P.O. Box 399, Lopez, WA 98261.
Yet another way you can help is to become involved with Friends. Three of our very dedicated members are needing to scale back on their involvement, and as a result they are needing people who share the goal of preserving this building for our community. We are very close to seeing Woodmen Hall brought back to life and you could help accomplish this. If you would like more information, please contact Connie Kyser at 468-3275, Virginia Palmer at 468-2738, or Patty Ward at 468-3246.
