The clock has sprung forward, the sun is finally up when I drive to work and it occasionally stops raining. I even need to wear my sunglasses sometimes. And here at the marina, the staff is bustling, getting ready for the annual influx of boaters and tourists.
It’s (almost) summer, folks.
Which, coincidentally, is the new title the Kingston Cove Yacht Club has given its opening day of boating season festivities coming up on Saturday, May 12: “The Kingston Cove (almost) Summer Fest.” Think of it as opening day of boating season, plus lots of other events for those of us landlubbers who prefer to look at the water rather than sail on it. Find out more about it at wasanctuaryshore.com/AlmostSummerFest.
And speaking of sailing …
On Saturday, March 3, the Northwest Interscholastic Sailing Association held its first-ever sailing regatta at the Port of Kingston. This was the first outing of the Kingston Krakens team. Up until this year, Kingston sailors had participated on the Poulsbo team. “Absolutely perfect conditions for the first high school regatta of the year,” reported NWISA. “A beautiful blue-sky day with winds oscillating NNW to WNW between 7-12 knots for most of the day. Big thanks to Sail Kingston Cove, and all their volunteers, for hosting their first high school regatta! It’s a venue we certainly want to come back to.”
Are you a musician? Caterer? Entertainer?
To help promote local businesses, the port is developing materials to send to yacht clubs and visiting boaters that lists all the great things the greater Kingston area can offer them. Besides entertainment and food, do you or your business offer a service or program that visiting guest boaters might find attractive? Say, providing high tea for 30, putting on a demonstration of some sort or — and this is a big one — making emergency repairs to some boater’s vessel on a weekend? If so, I’d like to hear from you. You can email me at terrya@por tofkingston.org or call the office at 360-297-3545. The deadline to get on the list is April 13.
Checking in is getting easier for boaters
The port is getting another Ventek automated parking fee machine. But this one’s for boaters mooring on our guest docks as well as for cars in our parking lot. It will be located outside the port office, on the side next to the guest docks, so boaters arriving after port office hours will be able to simply enter their slip numbers and pay with a credit card. No more hassling with envelopes and cash.
We got Joe!
Joe Krogh, that is. He’s the port’s newest full-time employee and one of the nicest, humblest and hardest-working guys you could hope to meet. You’re apt to find him, rain or shine, outside helping with the landscaping and on the docks. Among his many skills, Joe’s also a discerning photographer and chef and sometimes cooks for large groups.
More nice folks …
Saturday, March 3 was the Greater Kingston Chamber of Commerce’s Denims and Diamonds gala at Village green, honoring the “hidden diamonds” whose community efforts are the oil of human kindness that keeps the Kingston machine running. Our Harbormaster Raymond Carpenter was one of the honorees. He was there with his wife and a tableful of volunteers who assist him every year with the port’s Christmas lights. Our hats are off to Ray and the other honorees, Stacy Patrick, Vivi-Ann Parnell, Jeanne Cratty, Mark Schorn, David & Rae Winn, Stan & Jane Mack and Susan Rodgers.
Wanna have fun?
The port’s 100th anniversary is July 2019 and we are looking for volunteers to help us plan, promote and put on a blowout birthday party. All are welcome and we are particularly looking for folks who are newcomers and would like to get embedded in the community. I’ve been “volun-told” to facilitate the bash, so please come by the office, email or phone me if you would like more information.
Terryl Asla, Ph.D., is communications coordinator for the Port of Kingston.
