12/12/2008: "Sunday: "Who Dunit?" On Lopez"

On Dec 14, there will be a fundraiser at the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts (www.lopezcenter.com) starting at 5 pm. The benefit is to raise funds and awareness for the land adjacent to Odlin Park on Lopez Island known locally as Odlin south.

The land was recently inspected by Rep Morris and Quall, both of whom pledged to work toward helping to protect the land from future development.

This event is sponsored by the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts and the Lopez Artist Guild. Tax deductible donations for Odlin South Preservation Project are being accepted by the San Juan County Land Bank.

Donations will be accepted at the event, and can also be sent to 350 Court St #6, Friday harbor, WA 98250. Contact Heather Arps at harps4@centurytel.com or raitiwae@aol.com with any questions.

The organizers of the event explain “this property is on the north end of Lopez Island, nestled between Odlin Park and private land. As human encroachment creates pressure on Lopez, large tracts of undeveloped land such as Odlin South become even more precious to our ‘blessed’ way of life.”

The money raised will be used to help purchase the land from the Department of Natural Resource (DNR) with private and public monies for public, non-motorized recreational use and habitat preservation. The land is particularly important to the natural health of the island due to the significant watershed functions of the class 2 wetlands that run through it, as well as the rare (in the San Juans) aspen groves.

The flat, silty wetlands slowly cleanses drainage that runs northwesterly toward Odlin Park and its eventual reunion with the marine environment. It also provides habitat in an ever diminishing environment for ecologically significant plant and animal species that are an important part of our Lopez Island experience.

Local artists, Ginny Furmanski, Debbie Collins, Christa Malay, Linda Koenig, Joe Niederman, Rita Elliott, Danah Feldman, Ron Norman, Sylvia Chesley Smith, Jan Sundquist, Leaflin Winecott, Tamara Shane, Linda Lee Hudson and Aurore Maren from the Lopez Artist Guild have rallied to this cause and created beautiful original 8" X 8" works of art, which will be sold at a set price.

All pieces will be signed only on the back, so enjoy the surprises! We welcome you to this exciting, fun filled community fundraiser to benefit the Odlin South Preservation Project!
Enjoy live music, fancy finger food and beverages while helping preserve the last large parcel of land on the north end of Lopez Island.

This event is sponsored by the Lopez Center for Community and the Arts and the Lopez Artist Guild. Tax deductible donations for Odlin South Preservation Project are being accepted by the San Juan County Land Bank at the event and can be sent to 350 Court St #6, Friday harbor, WA 98250.
Please contact Heather Arps at harps4@centurytel.com or raitiwae@aol.com with any questions.