FICRA Sponsors a Boy Scout Troop Garden Club repaints Fox Island Sign Sand & Soil Garden Club Plants Daffodils

Scout Projects at the Nature Center Garden Tips & Upcoming Meetings FICRA Sponsors New Scout Troop

NEW Map of Nature Center Available FICRA has produced a new map of the trails around the Fox Island Nature Center.  Follow the trail to see the wetlands, old-growth nurse logs, native species garden, footbridges, wildflower meadows and more!  Download your copy of the map, and take a walk in the woods today!  Nature Center Trail Map!

Gardening Tip of the Month By Linda Dodds Fall is here and many people consider that the end of the gardening season has arrived. Oh but it isn't so! The more you accomplish in the yard in the fall, the easier your Spring gardening will be. Summer blooming perennials should be pruned once they are done blossoming and can be divided and moved. Dead and dying annuals should be disposed of, either in the compost pile if there is no sign of disease or added to the county's organic waste trash can. All dried up perennials can be cut back to the ground, leaves raked and general tidying up done this month. You will be thankful for the time you will have saved next spring by doing these chores now. Not only tulip, hyacinths and daffodils should be planted but also garlic and shallots. However I would wait until later int he month so any warm days don't set them to sprouting. Keep leaves raked up so as not to become a safe haven for overwintering slugs and bugs but also to add to the compost pile to make organic mulch next spring. And even though you may feel that you are sick and tired of pulling up weeds, don't quit! Especially the blooming varieties that would only set more weed seeds for next spring if let unchecked. And for all you doubting Thomas's...Real Gardeners really do a great fall cleanup. Check out the photos of some of the Fox Island Garden Club members busy weeding and cleaning up the gazebo garden at Nichols Community Center a few weeks ago. Work party members are: Bottom row, left to right, Juanita Bjork, Marti Thompson, Lois Miller and Gail Jones. Back row, Thelma Laird and Linda Dodds. Read more gardening tips on the Garden Club web page.

FICRA Sponsors New Fox Island Boy Scout Troop On November 29, 2007, FICRA became the proud sponsor of Fox Island's own Boy Scout Troop 27, headquartered at the Nichols Community Center on Fox Island.  The new troop is getting ready for a first year of 'high adventure' outings, including camping, hiking, climbing, canoeing, archery and more. Boys aged 11 to 17 who are interested in having fun in the outdoors are encouraged to join; contact John Ohlson at 253-549-2701 or visit Troop27BSA.com for more information. Meetings will be held at 6:30 PM on the second & fourth Tuesday of the month.  Bring a friend, and get ready for adventure! Attention, Fox Island Boys aged 11 - 17 Have you been to the [ SCOUT ZONE ]? Are you interested in Extreme, High Adventure Sports such as camping, backpacking, canoeing, climbing & mountain biking? Do you want to get more out of life than just playing video games and watching TV? Are you interested in learning outdoor survival skills, leadership skills and serving your community? If so, the [ SCOUT ZONE ] is the place to be!  FICRA is sponsoring a brand-new high-adventure youth organization on Fox Island, that does all this and more. If you are between the ages of 11 and 17, and want to have fun, come and check it out! There will be an informational meeting for boys and their parents to find out more about the [ SCOUT ZONE ] at 6:30 PM on the second & fourth Tuesdays of the month, at the Nichols Community Center. Contact John Ohlson at 253-380-4100 or email us for more information. Visit www.TheScoutZone.org or Troop27BSA.com for more information. See you there! Towhead Island Boat Ramp Project Revived? Due to the rapidly deteriorating condition of the Fox Island boat launch (formally known as "Towhead Island"), and the hazardous traffic conditions at the launch on busy summer weekends, FICRA President John Ohlson has been holding talks with various government officials to see if an improvement plan drawn up by the Pierce County Parks & Recreation District in the 1980's can be revived. Over 650 Fox Island residents have signed a petition to get the ramp fixed up. The land was originally the site for the toll booth for the Fox Island bridge, and the original ramp was constructed to facilitate the construction of the bridge. Some years later, the original ramp was destroyed by some heavy equipment belonging to the Navy. It was later replaced by the current concrete slabs which are chained together to form the boat ramp. The slabs are breaking apart, have become disconnected from one another, and pose a hazard to boaters. Most people avoid the actual ramp, and launch their boats on the adjacent gravel beach. Time and the tides have taken their toll, and the once spacious parking area is now only a fraction of it's former self.  Erosion has washed away nearly all of the parking area, and the pavement on the ramp is crumbling badly. The new plan would increase the on-site parking from approximately 8 stalls to nearly 21 stalls, and provide an off-street staging area for boaters to turn around and position their rigs to launch - out of the oncoming traffic.  Incoming traffic would be routed to the north end of the lot, and exiting traffic would use the south exit, providing a smoother flow of traffic on the site.  The angle of the ramp itself would be increased to prevent having to submerge your vehicle in the saltwater to get your boat off the trailer, and the concrete slabs would be replaced with a smooth, continuous concrete drive. FICRA President John Ohlson has been in communication with Senator Maria Cantwell’s office, Senator Derek Kilmer, Rep. Pat Lantz, Pierce County Councilman Terry Lee, and PenMet Parks Executive Director Marc Connelly over the past four months regarding this project. There is interest by all parties concerned, to get the project back on track.  To that end, FICRA has appointed a steering committee to oversee the efforts to restart this project, and potentially strike up a partnership between PenMet, FICRA and the BLM to provide stewardship and ongoing operational support for this facility. Scouts Build New Picnic Tables for Nature Center Eagle Scout candidate Zach Briggs of Gig Harbor Boy Scout Troop 282, recently completed his community service project by building three new picnic tables and clearing out a new picnic area for the Fox Island Nature Center. The tables were built from lumber left over from the footbridge project two years ago, and were just the perfect fit for Zach's project. Built from heavy duty pressure treated lumber, they will last for years to come.     Work on the project included clearing invasive weeds and brush, leveling the picnic area, and spreading wood chips to help prevent weeds from returning. Zach (back row, far right) joins his fellow scouts and dads in admiring the completed picnic tables.   FICRA would like to give a big Thank You to Zach and his fellow Scouts.     Cub Scouts Race "Cubmobiles" Fox Island's Cub Scout Pack 202 held a 'Cubmobile' race in September. FICRA Fair The annual FICRA Fair was a great success.  The annual FICRA Fair went off without a hitch once again.  With lots of fun and games and arts and crafts to buy and do, everyone had a great time. FICRA would like to give a big thanks to everyone who participated in this year's fair, helping to make it one of the best ever! FICRA T-Shirt Design Chosen What would the FICRA Fair be without the traditional FICRA Fair T-shirt?  New Island resident Pat Scanlon has graciously offered his design services to create this year's T-shirt design.  Reminiscent of days gone by, the lighthouse is once again adorned with it's missing 'light'.  Thank you, Pat for designing our shirt this year!

Girl Scout Troop 290 Plants Nature Garden Girls from Fox Island's Junior Girl Scout Troop 290 recently completed their Nature Garden as part of earning their Bronze Award. This award is the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can earn. The girls admire the completed garden.	Tess, Sarah Aliya, and Heather stand atop the pile of dirt to be spread over the garden area.
Parents and members of Troop 290 add the finishing touches to their Nature Garden, which include a small dry creek bed, rhododendrons, forsythias, violets, poppies, vinca, flowering almond, primroses, and other perennial flowers.
	Thanks go to Purdy Topsoil for their donation of 7 yards of dirt; The Fox Island Garden Club for their $100.00 donation (used to purchase plants), and FICRA for their donation of leftover plants from the Annual Fox Island Plant Sale.   Left; some tired moms at the end of the day.   Thank You Troop 290!

Nature Center Gets
Native Species Garden
February, 2007 - Eagle Scout candidate Ryan Eason of Boy Scout Troop 212 recently completed his Eagle Scout service project - a Native Species Garden, showcasing the various plants & trees that grow in the various climate zones of Washington State.

Above, Scouts Ryan Eason, Garrett McKinney and friend put the final touches on the garden

The garden features five distinct climate zones; Lowland Western Washington, Montane Forests, Sub-Alpine Forests, Alpine Forests, and the Ponderosa Forests of Eastern Washington.

Congratulations, Ryan on a job well done!

Nichols Center Gets
New Deck
February 25, 2007 - Eagle Scout candidate Page Ollice of Boy Scout Troop 212 recently completed his Eagle Scout service project - a new deck for the Nichols Center.  Expanding on the old design, the new deck includes a 2' wider footprint, safer railings, and improved traffic flow from the main door to the stairs.

Left: Page Ollice, his brother and Father Larry admire the completed work.

Cub Scouts Help Clear Trails

On Saturday, March 3rd,
Cub Scouts from Fox Island's Pack 202 spent the day cleaning up fallen trees, branches and other debris from the trails at the Fox Island Nature Center.

The December 14, 2006 windstorm toppled more than 20 trees at the Nature Center, including this big Hemlock tree, near the trailhead at 9th Avenue.

The Cub dads cut up fallen trees, and the boys helped roll the logs out of the trails.

Above: Conner Spencer, Nicholas Nerli, Max Batanian, Alex Ohlson and Zach Batanian explore the roots of the fallen Hemlock tree.

Right: Nicholas Nerli, Zach Batanian, Alex Ohlson and Nicholas Prindiville roll a log off the trail.

Thanks to all of our Cub Scout volunteers: Tim, Zach, Max & Lucas Batanian, Paul and Nicholas Nerli, Connor and Nina Spencer, Kurt and Nicholas Prindiville, Alex & John Ohlson, Dave Alberding, Bryan Perkins, and Nicole Perkins.

Nature Center Trails Get Improvements Eagle Scout candidates Garrett McKinney of Troop 212 and Ian Johnson of Troop 217 recently completed trail improvement projects at the Fox Island Nature Center.
Garrett's project consisted of building raised walkways over the wetland's marshes, protecting the area from the impacts of hikers traveling through the area. The walkways were prefabricated offsite, and installed on concrete pier blocks, to ensure resistance to rotting.
Ian's project completed the 'West Loop' of the Nature Center's trail system, allowing hikers to explore the westerly half of the 5-acre nature preserve.
	Volunteers from Troop 217 cleared new trails, placed log slab stepping stones, and installed plant identification markers along the route. Highlights of the new trail include 'Stinging Nettle' meadow, (left) ancient nurse logs, and examples of the various plant species that grow on Fox Island.

Nichols Center Gets New Flagpole
On Saturday, March 3rd, 2007, members of Cub Scout Pack 202, Den 7 raised the new flagpole at the Nichols Center.

The cubs built the new flagpole from a fir tree found on Fox Island, and they spent three months making it; stripping the bark, polishing the wood, and applying varnish & hardware.  The old flagpole was blown down in a windstorm in February, 2006.

Once the new pole was raised, the Cubs performed a flag ceremony, with a brand new American Flag, donated by FICRA.

Above: Pack 202's Cub Scouts hoist the new flagpole into place.

Right: Members of Den 7 performed the flag ceremony; Assistant Den Leader Brandon Stevenson, Den Leader Doug Nilsen, Blake Paffile, Walker Carlson, Blaize Stevenson, Dan Sheppard and Jonathan Nilsen.  Not pictured; Bobby Blaser.

Fox Island Nature Center - What's Next?

An update on our 'gardening' project at the Wetland Park.  Four scout projects are now under way at the Nature Center.

Eagle Scout candidate Ryan Eason of Boy Scout Troop 212, Has completed the Native Species Garden in the far left hand area of the diagram.

Eagle Scout candidate Garrett McKinney  of Boy Scout Troop 212, completed building boardwalks across the marshy areas of the nature trail.

Eagle Scout candidate Page Ollice has completed a new deck for the Nichols center.

Ian Johnson of Boy Scout Troop 217 has completed a new trail-building project, which expanded the Nature Center's trail system, and installed plant identification markers along the trails.

And Zach Briggs, of Boy Scout Troop 282, just completed construction of a new picnic area near the gardens for his Eagle project, and built several picnic tables for the park.

Girl Scout Troop 290 has planted a flower & shrub garden in the circular area at right.

Commemorative tiles and bricks have been engraved with donor's names.  The tiles at the Nichols Center are completed, and the bricks are being engraved, and will be installed in conjunction with the new garden projects.

Visit the Nature Center website at www.FoxIsland.net/Nature_center.htm

EnviroCorps needs you! Let's keep Fox Island beautiful.
If you would like to volunteer to pick up litter, clear trails, or do a little gardening, please consider signing up for a shift at www.envirocorps.org . There are many opportunities for residents of Fox Island to help out. You can volunteer at the Fox Island Boat Launch, the Fox Island Nature Center, the grounds of the Nichols Community Center or many other places on the Island.  For more information about what you can do to help Fox Island, visit:  http://www.envirocorps.org/ecorps/search.aspx

Envirocorps Team Leader for Fox Island
Help keep your parks clean and well maintained.  Help is needed to clear brush, remove invasive plants, build trails, and more.   Kris Grose is the new EnviroCorps team leader for Fox Island.
Call: Vernon Young  at 253-265-6162  E-Mail: info@envirocorps.org

Event Ideas Wanted!
FICRA is looking for new ideas for Fox Island community events.  While our usual annual events such as the Easter Egg hunt, FICRA Fair and Christmas Tree lighting are always popular, there is always more we can provide to the community.  If you have a great idea for an event or project we can provide for Island families, children or teens, please send it to John Ohlson

Insulation Contractor Wanted
The Fox Island Community and Recreation Association is accepting bids from contractors for installing insulation in the attic of the Nichols Community Center. Please contact Lise' at 253-549-2701 or email

Crime Advisory Alert

Fox Island News

FICRA 2006 T-Shirts On Sale

	The 2006 edition of the Fox Island T-shirt is available for sale at the Fox Island Museum.  The new logo, designed by George Weis, is featured on this year's Island wear fashion line. Get your Island wear at the Fox Island Museum
2006 Fox Island Wear Prices:
Adult T-Shirts	$12.00
Adult Polo	$20.00
Children's T-Shirts (red, blue, green)	$8.00
Island Wear is available at the Fox Island Museum or you can purchase items by calling 253-549-2774 or email georgiafi@centurytel.net

Wetlands Fundraiser Update -
If you haven't donated to the Wetland Fund already, it's not too late! 

Missed out on getting a Tile?  You can still "Buy a Brick"!
In order to complete the wetlands purchase, FICRA obtained a 10-year, $15,000.00 mortgage on the Community Center.  We would like to be able to pay it off by Christmas.  Help us retire this debt, and Buy a Brick in the process.  We are now offering commemorative bricks, to be placed in the path near the kiosk area of the park.

Bricks are available for $250.00 each.  If we can sell 40 Bricks, we can pay off our mortgage.  We are accepting time-payment plans.  If you wish to donate but can't afford a big expenditure right now, simply fill in the monthly amount you wish to pay on the donation form and send it in with your first payment.  Engraving is scheduled for mid September, so get yours now before it's too late.

Didn't Get a Tile?  If you didn't get a tile, Buy a Brick!  Contribute Today to the FICRA Wetland Fund, and let's retire the debt!

Click the photo to find out more about how to buy a brick, and help FICRA pay off the mortgage.

If you already bought a commemorative tile or brick, the tiles are completed, and the bricks are in the final stages of preparation for being engraved with donor's names.  Installation will occur soon!

Crime Watch Hotline The Crime Watch Committee now has a Crime Watch Hotline!   Call 253-549-7744 to see why the Crime Watch flags are up, or read the listing of recent incidents on the Crime Watch Home Page Post a crime incident using our new Crime Watch reporting form.

Citizen Patrol Volunteers Needed Volunteers are needed to conduct Citizen Patrols on Fox Island.  Citizen Patrol volunteers do not carry guns, don't confront anyone, and generally observe potential crime areas, recording license numbers of suspicious vehicles and forwarding to the sheriff's office.  Volunteers work 3 hours or more a week, day or night, and can be ages 18 & up.  Contact Stan Weston for more information at 253-549-7744 and leave your name & number.

Sand & Soil Garden Club Meeting Schedule Announced

The Sand & Soil Garden Club has posted their 2006 - 2007 meeting schedule on the Sand & Soil web page.  The club meets the second Thursday of the month at 10:00 a.m., September through June.  Meetings are generally held at the Fox Island Museum unless otherwise noted and refreshments are served.  

We welcome all people interested in gardening regardless of ability or lack of green thumb. 

For any questions please contact: Sheila Spinn at 253-549-0802

Fox Island Book Club
The Fox Island Book Club meets the first Monday of the month at  4:00 PM at the Fox Island Museum.  Come join your Island neighbors in some literary fun!  All interested people are welcome.

FICRA Hotline! We now have a recorded hotline for finding out about all the latest happenings on Fox Island.  Just call 253-549-2434, to hear what's happening!

Bridge Signs
FICRA maintains the Fox Island Bridge Sign board. Fox Island Residents who are paid FICRA members are allowed to use the sign at no charge to promote events, special occasions, etc.  However, no signage that is of a commercial, religious, political or controversial nature may be posted.  If you wish to use the bridge sign, please call 549-2701 or email.

Nichols Community Center rentals
Effective September 5, 2003, to qualify for the Fox Island resident discount rental rates, you must be a paid member of FICRA.

Visit the Chapel on Echo Bay's new website, check out the photo gallery, and reserve your event date.

Household Tips

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Items Of General Interest

Come Visit the Virtual Nichols Community Center!
We have recently upgraded the Community Center's home page, plus the center has ben recently repainted inside and out.  Take a peek at the new virtual photo tour and find out about renting the center for your private party, wedding reception, meetings, or other function.

 

Fill out the online booking form or call 253-549-2701 to request information or to book a date.  Dates are filling fast, so don't delay!

Update On The Narrows Bridge

Bird’s-eye View of Narrows Bridges One camera is positioned on the old bridge’s west tower. In an emergency, this web-cam could be used to enhance traffic monitoring in that it covers the bridge span itself. The camera views can be found at www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/sr16narrowsbridge/webcams/ The New Narrows Bridge - Good to Go! To learn more about the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, visit www.tacomanarrowsbridge.com  and click on Building the Bridge. The new Narrows Bridge on Opening Day, July 16, 2007 October, 2006 - all but 16 of the bridge deck sections were in place.  Photo by John Ohlson - Dragonwyck Web Design May, 2006 Cable spinning completed, ready for bridge decks Photo by John Ohlson - Dragonwyck Web Design

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