Marrowstone Island Citizen of the Year

Daughter Signe Rose Lalish said “I know their volunteer contributions saved lives. I remember hearing the beeper go off late at night and one of them getting dressed and leaving.  Then the next morning, I remember them telling us a little about the call, if there was anything allowed to tell.”  There were so many such mornings.  Now Greg and Paula are grandparents, but still serving their community with kindness, grace, and creativity.

Greg continues to mentor younger builders sharing his skills teaching hands-on activities such as Cob building construction.  Paula spent years, transporting her large musical harp around the area to support Hospice, providing private and community concerts to comfort the dying and their families.  “Paula came into our home to play for my mother and I watched Mom’s face soften with inner peace in a way so obvious that it brought me and Paula to tears” relayed Rita Kepner, Marrowstone resident.

Marrowstone Island Citizens of the Year are selected by prior citizens of the year who review nominations submitted by a current island residents.  The criteria are that the selectee(s) must have made important/significant volunteer contributions to life on Marrowstone Island and/or Jefferson County. The purpose of the award is to recognize that citizens who call Marrowstone Island ‘home’ are unique in experience and diverse in background and interests. Among them, certain individuals reach beyond the ordinary, and in so doing have made a lasting or significant difference to the greater community through their volunteerism, activism, and leadership. Paula and Greg Lalish are exemplars of “beyond the ordinary”.

Articles: PT Leader | PDN

11/23/2018 - Greg passed away earlier this morning from lymphoma. MI ND post

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2015 - Mike Zimmerman

Our ‘Citizen’ of the year for 2015 and his family have been residents of the Island for nearly 20 years. He has worked both professionally and personally to improve our island community.  He has been both Vice President and President of the Marrowstone Island Community Association (MICA).  While president, he helped develop the ‘Hello Pages’, a booklet created to inform residents and newcomers of the businesses and services that are offered on this island.    

Our ‘Citizen’ has had a clear vision of the historical importance of Fort Flagler State Park, and spent countless hours developing strategies and completing projects for care of the Park. His passion and dedication helped lead the way to the creation of the ‘Friends of Fort Flagler’ which was established as the first ‘Friends of Parks’ in the state.  That group has since become a dedicated and invaluable group in restoring, maintaining, protecting and enhancing the park.

As a result of their work on the historical hospital building, in 2012, the Park was presented with the Mary P. Johnson Award from the Jefferson County Historical Society.  Under his guidance, the work done there as well as in the entire Park, has increased usage and enjoyment of the area by both visitors and Island residents.

Some of the Park projects which have been begun or are completed include:

1.  improvement of Officers’ housing, making it available for rent; including use by islanders as a ‘guest overflow’ accommodation   

2.  improvement of the trails and signage throughout the Park

3.  hospital update and creation of the museum and gift shop

4.  improvement of the barracks, so that they are now being rented by various groups needing a pleasurable place to hold their conferences

5.  improvement of the water treatment facility, for the benefit of local residents and visitors  

6.  improvements to gun emplacements and batteries for increased access by the public and their greater understanding and appreciation of the Fort’s historic value

In addition to physical improvements in the Park, several special events have been initiated for the enjoyment of islanders, campers, and other county residents:

1.  the Halloween carnival for children (and adults) from all over the greater Port Townsend area  

2.  Summer concerts at the park, where people can bring picnics to enjoy music and pleasant summer evenings with family and friends

3.  the Paragliding program, providing training and access for this sport

4. the annual Shellfish Seminar, helping to educate the public on the local varieties of shellfish

Largely because of his leadership as Head Ranger, Fort Flagler has become one of the top-performing and most desirable destination parks in the Washington State Parks system.  For proof of this, just try to make a summer reservation at the park – you will find that reservations must be made a LONG way in advance!

All of this work has resulted in a lasting benefit to Fort Flagler, the State Park system, island residents, the county, and in fact, the entire state.  So, as you all know by now, I am pleased to announce that Mike Zimmerman is the Island’s 2015 Citizen of the Year.

Articles: PT Leader | PDN

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2014 - Ray and Carolyn Lowrie

Ray and Carolyn Lowrie are the Marrowstone Island Citizens of the year for 2014. They are long-term residents of Marrowstone Island and have done volunteer work ‘behind the scenes’ on numerous community projects, and are especially associated with the Chimacum schools.  

They moved to the Island in 1957, and knew many of the early ‘homesteaders’ and residents.  Carolyn became the ‘Island barber’, trading her work for other needed items

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She also became known as the ‘face of Chimacum’, when she was the Chimacum Elementary School Secretary.  She went far beyond her job description, soothing panicked teachers, drying children’s tears, and just ‘being there’ for so many people needing assistance of any sort. 

She has been a volunteer worker at the Church of the Redeemer for 30 years; working in all of the various jobs that needed doing.    In addition, to raising four children, Carolyn supported her husband in his military life and then his many volunteer projects in the area. 

Ray was a Biology teacher at Chimacum high school, from 1960 to 1992, and had a strong sense of environmental care.  He taught his students to respect the water and conserve fishing resources.   He worked to get a grant to build a ‘hatchery’ on Chimacum Creek, where the students actually raised salmon.  As a result of this training, some of his students were able to work at the Quilcene Hatchery to earn money during school vacations.   He also set up a project where some of his students learned how to build a boat, and learn navigation.  By going that ‘extra step’, he was a mentor to many kids, teaching them about ‘real world’ projects and instilling in them a life-long love and respect for nature and the environment.  

He was a Port Commissioner from 1986 to 1992, and was a Board member of the North Olympic Salmon Coalition from 1993 to 2003.  He was also a volunteer fire fighter for the Marrowstone Fire department from 1976 to 1988.  

Last October, (2014) Ray was given the Eleanor Stopps Environmental Leadership award.   At the presentation, it was said that his contribution to environmental stewardship was extraordinary.  He knew if kids understood nature, they would protect it.  Upon receiving the award, he said he encourages everyone to remember the benefits of teaching young people about the natural world and transforming them into stewards.   His students have become his ‘living legacy’. 

Therefore, the Marrowstone Island Citizen of the Year committee members are pleased to announce that Carolyn and Ray Lowrie have earned the 2014 Marrowstone Citizen of the Year. 

http://www.ptleader.com/news/ray-carolyn-lowrie-are-marrowstone-citizens-of-the-year/article_b922abe8-a103-11e4-8765-d7fb3f668e56.html

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150121/news/301219985/marrowstone-island-honors-its-citizens-of-the-year

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2013 - (Carl Johnson)

Carl Johnson is this year’s Marrowstone Island Citizen of the Year 2013. He has been a Marrowstone resident for all of his 92  years except for his period of enlistment in the U.S. Navy.  As a youth he worked for his family at the Nordland Trading Company Store as well as digging clams and delivering seafood to Port Townsend and to Seattle. From Seattle he’d pick up building materials for local residents so they could build their homes. He went to Fort Flagler to work, picking up workers who came across the Portage Canal via “THE NORDLAND” ferry, to work on building the barracks and other buildings, then later on Indian Island hauling concrete to build the batteries. This led to the Carl H. Johnson Trucking and Sons. This pick up in Seattle and delivery to Marrowstone, continued for many years with many families benefiting. Often when items (like a water heater) couldn't be delivered to persons for lack of a business number or when someone needed large items brought to the island, he personally picked up in Seattle and delivered these materials to the island.

Back in the 40’s, clams were marketed both locally and to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf by his business, Marrowstone Island Clams and Oysters.  He and another resident, Dr. Mumby,  split an order of oyster seed brought from Raymond, WA., which was spread in Mystery Bay and Kilisut Harbor, benefiting all who enjoy the local oysters to this day. Many families who were out of work would come over to get work digging clams, picking oysters, washing and shipping seafood or truck driving.

After the war, rather than storing the building products on Marrowstone Island, he bought the property at Nesses Corner in Chimacum and established Carl’s Building Supply. Since then his 3 sons, Leonard, Lawrence and Jake followed in their dad’s footsteps.

There were always jobs for young people as well and these got their superior work ethic from this individual. At a lumber yard in Seattle, many of the young people worked in the late 70’s and early 80’s, including Carl’s daughter Lisa. She was  told by the owners that the best workers they’d ever had were kids raised on Marrowstone—and it was because they all grew up working for Carl Johnson.

He has been generous whenever any local non-profit organization has asked for help. Donations of seafood products for cookouts or barbecues are well known. There have been tours of his businesses given for the Historical Society.  One year when Marrowstone had 17” of snow, a family got up thinking they were snowed in and were delighted to find their driveway totally plowed by Carl. Many nice things are done without being asked, just to be a good neighbor.

Only someone who has lived locally with equal longevity can truly appreciate the effects of this individual’s life over the last nine decades. This year’s Marrowstone Island Citizen of the Year is a colorful icon, family patriarch and businessman extraordinaire, CARL JOHNSON.

Carl passed away 12/4/2017. Click here to view an article about him.

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2012 - Bob and Sandy Barrett

Bob and Sandy Barrett were selected as Citizens of the Year 2012 for Marrowstone Island at the January 22, 2013 MICA meeting.