Ned Luce

Yes, read on, for this is another edition of current news and ignorable drivel from the geography south of QFC (the one in Port Hadlock), revealing but a few of the exciting and enjoyable activities recently experienced by the geographical core of the county and the rumored location for a new swimming pool, unless you read some of the yard signs cropping up.

The local Northwest School of Wooden Boat Building was the featured program at the monthly Dine and Discover held at the Beach Club last week. Betsy Davis, executive director of NWSWB, presented the major offerings the school provides and discussed challenges the school faces. Between 40 and 60 students each year participate in the 12-month boat building program leading to an Associate of Occupational Degree. This is a compact yet comprehensive curriculum that takes time-tested traditional skills mixed with modern wood composite techniques, offering a great way to get into the workforce quickly. The hands-on training follows industry standards and techniques providing proficiency in effective boat building and woodworking skills through a combination of hand and power tool use. Betsy claimed 70 percent of their graduates are working soon after graduation.

Accompanying Betsy was veteran marine systems instructor Kevin Ritz, who directs a nine-month Marine Systems program, another one of the school’s offerings. The students in the Marine Systems program research, study and practice skills in many marine systems disciplines. The program strives to prepare students to work on small- to medium-sized vessels, both commercial and recreational. All the topics are covered using classroom teaching methods reinforced with extensive competency-based, hands-on learning. Betsy was sure to remind the crowd of the upcoming boat school bash and fund-raiser, “HullRaiser,” coming on May 11 to the school in Port Hadlock. As you might suspect, this incredible and unique school welcomes your interest and help however that may be.

The evening was made even more entertaining for me because I sat between curmudgeons Jack Riggen and Denny Schuch, whose skills are more suited to trail creation and maintenance here in Port Ludlow. 

The monthly entertainment provided through the Port Performing Arts was Black Market Trust, a five-man musical group performing a mix of genres as they produce fresh takes on songs you’ve probably heard before and many that maybe you haven’t. They call themselves an “American Traditional Pop/Vocal Jazz Group,” but they also combine the sounds of legendary American crooners and vocal groups with the energy of jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.  They were fun.

And then, in the back of the auditorium at the Bay Club, I spied Jack and Denny with another of their ilk, Larry Scott, thus becoming the Three Curmudgeons! Good guys all and they begged me to mention them in this column.

We are headed back to the Beach Club this Saturday for the home-owners potluck dinner and will help local friends celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a chili cook-off. Whatever happened to green beer and corned beef?

March Madness has begun. The college women’s conference championships were last weekend, highlighted by a minor brawl between players in the University of South Carolina and LSU in the title game. The men’s conference championships are this coming weekend, all of which are then followed by the national NCAA tournament games of the next three weeks.

Love a curmudgeon and have a great Saint Patrick’s Day!