by Lisa DiGiorgio | Jun 25, 2019 | News
Banners went up on Pool Lane on summer solstice to welcome Senator Liz Lovelett and her legislative assistant Jordan Kronen. The Senator had asked to visit the site of the Community Swim Center, after securing $1 million dollars from the 2019 state capital budget for the local project.
The FLIP Board and active members of the Advisory Board welcomed her with open arms and enthusiastic gratitude for her successful initiative. A freshman senator, Lovelett stood strong and persuaded the Senate to invest in the Lopez community’s health and safety, via the creation of an accessible swim center.
After an on-site tour showing where the two pools and bathhouse will be located, the entourage celebrated with a delicious and abundant potluck picnic.
Senator Lovelett will return for the Commuity Swim Center’s “official” ground breaking. She said, “I look forward to that. This community effort is amazing!”
In other news, please join us for the 4th of July parade! We would love to have families, seniors and pool lovers walking with our float, Swimming Saves Lives! Show up at our FLIP Float at 9:30am in the lineup on Fisherman Bay Road, just beyond the Islander. Just walk until you find us and bring your pool spirit – the more the merrier!
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Apr 29, 2019 | News
Senator Liz Lovelett – The Washington State Senate convenes for floor debate, March 7th, 2019.
Hold onto your swim caps…. we are excited to share that late Sunday night the 2019 Washington State Capital Budget, passed by the Senate and House of Representatives, included a $1,000,000 award for the Lopez Island Swim Center!!! Freshman Senator Liz Lovelett from Anacortes showed great vision and strength as the sponsor of this successful request which was also strongly supported by Senator David Frockt, Representative Jeff Morris and Representative Debra Lekanoff.
On top of the $500,000 previously received from the State, the $175,000 Youth and Recreation Facilities award, and the land investment of $190,000 by San Juan County, a combined total of $1.865 million has now been committed by local and state government to ensure that our Lopez Island children grow up being swim competent, that we have a year-round place to swim regardless of the weather, that a therapy pool is available to ensure we get back out to enjoy the life we want to live, and a gathering place for all of us on Lopez, young and old, to splash, swim and smile.
This success has been achieved through hard work, persistence and with support from our elected officials, but it also is as a result of the support FLIP has received from over 700 community donors over the years. This amazing level of community support has created an environment that has convinced our elected representatives of the merits of the Swim Center and of the commitment of the community to make it a reality.
We invite you to send a thank you letter to Senator Lovelett for her courageous ask. She supported the pool, let’s show her our support in return! Her address is Liz.Lovelett@leg.wa.gov. We would appreciate your sending additional letters of thanks and support to Senator Frockt (David.Frockt@leg.wa.gov) and Representatives Lekanoff (Debra.Lekanoff@leg.wa.gov) and Morris (Jeff.Morris@leg.wa.gov).
We have much work to do to raise the funds we need to complete the project, but this tremendous level of State support takes us closer to our goal.
Lopez Will Swim!
Your FLIP Board
editing by Carolyn McGown
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Apr 18, 2019 | News
You’re invited to Fidalgo Pool in Anacortes on Saturday, May 4th from 3PM to 5PM for a FREE Family Swim! Yes, the BIG slide and diving boards will be open! Yes, there will be the swinging ball and toys galore! Yes, we will have an adult area open. And, the balcony will be open so come and watch the fun, even if you don’t want to get in the pool.
For 5 years, FLIP has sponsored swim days for the elementary school students but this year we want ALL of Lopez Island to join the swim party. This community event is sponsored by FLIP with funds that were generously donated for this specific purpose, and not construction funds. The Saturday ferry schedule (1:35PM Lopez only to Anacortes) is timed perfectly. The pool is located at 1603 22nd Street and easy to get to. From the ferry, turn right onto K Ave., then right on 22nd St., drive one block, and the pool with be on your left. Please carpool if you choose to drive. There is a 6:00pm ferry back to Lopez.
We have hired buses to and from Anacortes terminal to the pool for Lopez School students and their families. The seats will be limited with bus reservations through the school. Sign up soon so you can walk on the ferry and be chauffeured to the pool! All children must have be supervised by an adult. (One adult can supervise up to 4 children.) All children will need to pass a swim test to determine if they need life jackets.
Lopez Island Family Resource Center and Lopez Island School District are our community partners in this event. If you are in need, a limited number of free adult pedestrian ferry tickets are available for this event. Call the Lopez Island Family Resource Center to see if you qualify, one per family. All children between 6 and 18 years will need to pay $6.85 for their walk-on ferry ticket to Lopez. Lopez teachers have volunteered to help out. Adults of all ages are encouraged to come and enjoy this fun time. We are needing more volunteers! Please call Linda at 360-468-4655 to sign up.
Come join the fun at this FREE Family Swim event for all of Lopez! Please spread the word and bring your family and friends! All you have to do is show up at Fidalgo Pool and say, “I’m from Lopez.” SPLASH!
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Apr 2, 2019 | News
Lopez Island Academy visits Governor Inslee and our legislators.
Experiencing civics in action, 38 Lopez students went to Olympia to further their understanding of state government and to meet their elected representatives. Sen. Lovelett, Rep. Lekanoff and an aide from Rep. Morris’ office closely listened to why the kids are so passionate about a swim center on Lopez. The young Lopezian ambassadors emphasized their need for greater personal safety and their eagerness to improve their swimming skills. Swimming-themed works of art by the Lopez School 4th grade class and Lopez Island Academy were proudly presented. To cap off their day of lobbying the kids returned to the hotel for an evening of fun…you guessed it…swimming in the hotel pool! We suspect there were a few dreams of a beautiful swimming pool on Lopez as tired heads hit the pillows that night. Won’t it be a proud and satisfying day for our community when we can make their dreams come true!
Breaking news!! Our Lopez students’ face time with our representatives must have made a huge difference! Senator Lovelett (40th District) put in a request for $1,000,000 for the Lopez Swim Center into the Senate budget. Way to go, kids! We are tremendously grateful for their enthusiasm as well as the support of Senator Lovelett and Representatives Lekanoff and Morris.
Your continued involvement makes an UNBELIEVABLE difference. Thank YOU from the FLIP BOARD!
edited by Carolyn McGown
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Feb 14, 2019 | News
February winter scene at the Lopez Swim Center Site
FLIP sends love and a BIG Thank YOU! Your donation towards FLIP’s Annual Appeal helped FLIP exceed our goal of $95,000. With great excitement and even greater gratitude, we want to share that the community raised $97,167 during this campaign!
We are SO thankful for the community’s continuing support. It is clear that the community wants the Lopez Swim Center, you are behind the project, and you most of all understand the high value the swim center will have for our island.
Imagine…
- every child graduating from high school knowing how to swim
- every family enjoying the opportunity to swim, growing stronger together in spirit, mind and body
- every senior and injured person having local access to low-impact exercise and aqua therapy
- our emergency response staff and volunteers well-trained in water safety and rescue Imagine a healthy community with an improved quality of life!
Stay tuned! Over the next month our Board is meeting to generate the work plan for 2019.
Happy Valentine’s Day to ALL our supporters! Thank you!
Your FLIP Board
I love swimming. The sparkle so blue. Weightless and free. It is so true.
by Lisa DiGiorgio | Dec 22, 2018 | News
Zada Grey wants to learn to swim!
“Baby Zada Grey wears a life jacket to keep her safe when she’s on her parents’ boat. Lots of local kids who can’t swim spend time on boats around the islands. As Larry Berg, Lopez School coach says, “We have water all around us. Our kids are out on the water and always going down to the beach parks. I would love to see every one of our children learn to swim before they graduate!”
Paul Henriksen, Port Commissioner “As a lifetime boater, past lifeguard and frequent chaperone for school trips, I have seen the need for local children to learn to swim. We need this pool!”
Join the wave of supporters to build a swim center! Donate TODAY! 100% of your donation goes towards construction.
Editing by Carolyn McGown
Banners went up on Pool Lane on summer solstice to welcome Senator Liz Lovelett and her legislative assistant Jordan Kronen. The Senator had asked to visit the site of the Community Swim Center, after securing $1 million dollars from the 2019 state capital budget for the local project.
