INSIDE
Check out this week’s special section “Women in Business” inside the paper.
Senior Spotlight
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Water for Kenya
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National Public Lands Day
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The
Islands’ eekly W
VOLUME 35, NUMBER 43 • october 23, 2012
Hamlet Cottages: finding heart and home in Lopez Village By Lorrie Harrison
Special to the Islands’ Weekly
Ten years ago a group of islanders gathered around a Lopez kitchen table and talked about their dreams: What if folks didn’t have to move to the mainland when their homes became too much to keep up or because of a change in social or health circumstances? What if
Lopezians could live out their lives right here on the island they love? “A few elders had recently moved away because Lopez had no such place,” says Charlie Janeway, current co-chair of Lopez Housing Options the nonprofit organization that built and now manages The Hamlet. The goal was clear: build beautiful homes in the heart
CAROLE WALLACE FUND
There is only one fund set up and it is at Islanders Bank in Carole Wallace’s name. You may help with medical and logistical expenses resulting from her severe spinal cord injury/accident on Oct.5th. To let her know how much you care, you can leave a message at: www. caringbridge.org/visit/carolewallace (no donations thru here) Thank you!
Lopez Center
T
Doug Benoliel
Thank You
hank you Master Gardener Doug Benoliel for volunteering and gifting Lopez Center with your knowledge, experience and time over the last 11 plus years. We will miss you.
FILM:8
Last in the 8 part series. Thank you for attending!
Deconstructing Supper Wednesday October 24th 7-8:30PM Lopez Library
What’s in our food and how is it grown?
on an Renowned chef John Bishop leads viewers billionthe into eye-opening and engaging journey n. uctio prod food l globa dollar battle to control
of the village for people who want to simplify, downsize, lighten the burden of home ownership and stay put in their own community. In 2008 the fourteen Hamlet Cottages and The Hamlet House, Lopez Island’s adult family home, were completed. In December 2011, the last of the team who dreamed The Hamlet retired from the board. “Rip Van Camp and Murray Trelease’s retirement marked an end of an important chapter in our history. We are so grateful for their tireless efforts bringing the Hamlet to reality,” says Charlie. Barbara Fleming moved to the Hamlet in September, 2008 from Orcas Island for a sense of community. “When you live alone, it’s different,” she says. “Your neighbors have significant
others, you get a few invitations but you’re still alone. Here there’s always someone to have a glass of wine with, to walk with. You don’t have to plan it. If you fix too much for dinner, you can invite a friend to come share it with you.” Fleming was also drawn to the idea of having a lowmaintanence home. Before moving to the Hamlet she found it getting harder and harder to take care of an entire house. “If you need some work on the house, you either have to find someone to do it for you or do it yourself,” she said. “I could no longer climb on the roof to clean my gutters and my chimney.” Barbara returned to Orcas to put her house on the market, but ended up
LOPEZ LOBOS Home Games This Week: 10/27 Football 1:15 pm (vice 2pm)
“A BIG heartfelt thanks to the Fire/ EMS crew of Lopez from Carole, Bob and myself [Dave]. You guys and gals are awesome and we are forever grateful for your service.” “A BIG thank you also to our Island communty for your thoughts, prayers and assitance in our time of need. We our most grateful.”
in Seattle being treated for ovarian cancer for eight months. While she was there her house sold. “When my treatment was finished I had some decisions to make,” she said. “The Hamlet is the place where I was happiest, so I
Lorrie Harrison / Contributed photo
Friends enjoy a bocce ball game at the Hamlet Cottages. decided to come back. The truth of the matter is, right now I feel better than I have in years.” See hamlet, page 4