Old information first. Yep, sadly the Kansas City Chiefs lost their first game falling to a dismal (?) 9-0 at this writing. Even more sadly, the Wabash College Little Giants succumbed to this year’s version of the DePauw Tigers in the 130th meeting of the two small liberal arts colleges in the vast fly-over country of the Mid-Western US. Terry Umbreit took $10 from me again this year. There is always next year. How about them Seahawks?!

I went to the informational meeting about the Port Ludlow Village Council (PLVC) held at the Beach Club. (There was also one at the Bay Club.) Unlike the Ludlow Maintenance Commission and the South Bay Community Association, of the two homeowners associations in Port Ludlow, the PLVC is entirely dependent upon financial contributions.

PLVC President John Goldwood spent an hour outlining all the functions performed on behalf of the residents of Port Ludlow proper as well as all the 3,000 folks in the 98365 zip code. Yet, the PLVC actually has no authority to raise funds to accomplish these functions. Clearly the purpose of the meeting was to raise awareness of the work done by the PLVC justifying donations. No problem, BJ sent them a check!

The PLVC has been a unifying force for the area for the past 25 years, organizing volunteers for trail building and maintenance, holiday lighting, emergency management and more. Our water and sewer system is owned and managed by Olympic Water and Sewer Incorporated and their rates are approved by the state. PLVC represents Port Ludlow in those negotiations. Several years ago Port Ludlow Associates harvested a large area of trees in the South Bay area. PLVC represented Port Ludlow in that controversy.

There is a growing realization of the threats posed not only by climate change in our area but also the need to be prepared for when the earthquake comes. You noticed I used the word “when” and not “if.”

There must be a better way to raise funds for the PLVC besides sending their officers out with open hands looking for donations. I know, you are ready to do a bake sale, right? We need to have it before the earthquake!

I do think we have been accepting all the work the PLVC has done for the community for years without realizing the financial hole the group has been falling into for reasons not completely under their control. We need to understand the work they do to benefit the community and support their efforts by volunteering or making a financial contribution every year until a better way becomes available.

BJ and I went to the LMC Pot Luck dinner at the Beach Club. The theme was “homecoming” as in high school or college or somewhere. I was hopeful there would be queen candidates but none came forward. As the emcee, I asked each of the attendees where they went for their last homecoming event and was surprised by the variety, given folks were from all over the country. Jill Voeller confessed she went to high school in Germany and had never attended homecoming.

A recent weekend held celebrations of life for two well-known members of the Port Ludlow community. Randy Verrue was the head of Port Ludlow Associates and Barbara Berthiaume made incredible contributions to the local culture. We will miss both of them and their impact on the community.

Love a curmudgeon and have a great Thanksgiving!