PLVC News

Think Globally, Act Locally

by Geoff Lang, Port Ludlow Village Council President

April often brings us the first real taste of spring in the Pacific Northwest with tulips popping, frogs chirping, birds in full plumage, and seasonal allergies waking up. April also brings us Earth Day (April 22 for those keeping score at home). The global theme for Earth Day this year is ‘Our Power, Our Planet”, which Earthday.org says highlights the power of people and communities in creating environmental progress, independent of single administrations. When I was a budding marine scientist in grad school at the University of Washington in the 1980s, the environmental mantra was ‘Think Globally, Act Locally.’ The common theme over the years has been that the work we do as individuals, at the grass roots level in our communities, has the greatest impact. Neighbors helping neighbors, connections made. We could all use a little more of that in today’s world. A little more ‘we’ and a lot less ‘I.’

Speaking of connections, PLVC’s bi-annual Community Opportunity Fair has been renamed to “Port Ludlow Connects - Connect with Purpose” and will be held Friday, August 28, at the Bay Club (120 Spinnaker Place, Port Ludlow). Our PL Connects Committee has been working hard to line up local opportunities to connect with local groups, clubs, classes and organizations. Save the date and keep your eye peeled for more information. We look forward to seeing you there!

In late February, the PLVC hosted a town hall meeting featuring a presentation by the Jefferson County Department of Community Development discussing the proposed cell tower project located just outside the MPR boundary. We would like to thank Greg Brotherton, District 3 Commissioner; Jeremy Williammee, DCD director; and Greg Ballard, Development Code Administrator, for taking the time to explain the avenues by which concerned citizens can participate in the process. A recording of the meeting is available on the ‘live’ tab of our YouTube channel youtube.com/@PortLudlowVillageCouncil if you missed it! Thank you to all who came out to participate, it was great to see a full house!

Circle Saturday, May 23, on your calendars for our first event of the summer: the Second Annual Community Yard Sale! Registration details are available on our website, PortLudlowVillageCouncil.org, and found on flyers posted around the Village, and in articles in the Voice.  Register as a seller now, before the spaces are gone! In addition to the yard sale, we’ll have music by the Stringalongs, lunch for purchase from the Fireside, local non-profits and representatives from East Jefferson Fire Rescue (unless they are needed for an emergency elsewhere), and our Bake Sale booth. Pop over to the Second Annual Community Yard Sale for a bargain, to savor a cookie or two, to appreciate the live tunes from our local musicians, and swing by our booth to say Hi!

We’re also looking for ideas for a mid-summer event and we need your help! Send your ideas to info@PortLudlowVillageCouncil.org!

We are fortunate to live in a truly spectacular locale surrounded by natural beauty. We have an abundance of activities to keep our minds and bodies engaged and more social gatherings than any one person could possibly attend. The fuel for this engine is Volunteer Energy. Some folks sit on boards or committees, some work backstage at a play, some go out once a month to improve a trail, some solicit donors for an arts group, some work a few hours helping with an event. All are equally important in maintaining the vast array of opportunities for entertainment, socializing, exercising (mentally and physically), and connecting with our community. So, as we head out into this month of Earth Day, consider acting locally to foster community in the place we all call home. Our volunteer coordinator can be reached at Volunteer@PortLudlowVillageCouncil.org. Reach out any time, to participate at any level. It is worth remembering that we are referred to as the Village in the Woods by the Bay. It does indeed take a Village.