The holiday highlights and lights seem to dominate life around here. Well, there may be couple of things, such as the Bert Loomis proposal to buy some land from the South Bay Community Association and the results of the Rotary Pot o’ Gold Raffle, that are “holiday independent.”

Last week’s Leader contained an extensive Allison Arthur review of the proposal to purchase the 5 acres next to the Bay Club. The reports I have heard indicate there is somewhere between zero and no support from the membership for accepting the proposal, no matter the price. As a result, I suspect it may die a quiet death. [A news story elsewhere in this edition indicates the South Bay Community Association board won't consider the proposal.]

Several friends have helped support the programs of the East Jefferson Rotary Club by purchasing raffle tickets from me almost every year. Every year, I express sincere and enthusiastic appreciation for their support, even though a couple of them whine about the fact that no one they know has actually won a prize. In response, I purchased a wine tasting at FairWinds Winery and invited them to attend as my guests. You would think that would end it, particularly since this year, one of the folks to whom I sold a ticket did win a prize. Yep, my wife, BJ, won second prize! That may have been bad form.

When you look around for a good light display, you might consider a short drive down Goliah Lane off Swansonville Road. Just a few of the houses are lit up, but the ones that are decorated are special.

Area sports teams seem to be representing the Pacific Northwest in winning fashion. The University of Washington Huskies football team is on the championship hunt, the Seahawks are getting into late season form, the Sounders won the Major League Soccer championship, and the Washington State University Cougars are going to play Minnesota in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27. For those who may be interested, my Kansas City Chiefs are leading the AFC West after a win over those black-hearted Raiders. Lastly, I paid off my $10 bet on the Wabash versus DePauw football game to Terry Umbreit. Can you believe how proud he is of winning one game in the last eight? Then, not so local, but of interest to many locals, was the Army/Navy game won by Army for only the second time this century.

Thousands, or maybe hundreds, showed up for the annual Chimacum Arts & Crafts Fair Festival last weekend at the high school. There were separate but similar craft fairs going on at the Tri-Area Community Center and the Chimacum Grange. I volunteered at the Santa Booth run by the Interact Club, with other Rotarians supporting the “Interactors.”

Here is another reminder of upcoming events. First of all, there is caroling at the Beach Club on Sunday at 2 p.m., then the breakfast with Santa on Dec. 24, also at the Beach Club, and finally the second annual release of Brian Belmont’s frustrations with the Polar Plunge at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30. Can you believe people actually leave here in the winter and miss all this fun?

I leave you with this thought for the holidays from George W. Bush: “Too often we judge others by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions.”

Love a curmudgeon and have a great week.

(Contact Ludlow resident Ned Luce at

NedLuce@sbcglobal.net.)