I have a big thing for Duvall Days. I adore Duvall days with its
small-town atmosphere. Because it is always held in May, it is the time when all
us “bears” come out of hibernation. Thanks to Louise Miller and the
Department of Transportation, Duvall Days 2000 ain’t gonna be what it
usually is.
Let us start with Louise. Being the Lower Valley representative to
the King County Council, you would have thought that she would have done
anything she could to not shut down 124th Street (Novelty flats) for nine
months or so. Especially since the new road still will not stay open in flood
season. And we are not getting an intersection that fixes the Novelty
Hill “death curves.” No, our tax
dollars, which we have been paying for years, are needed to expand Novelty
Hill Road in front of the “new” Master Planned Developments. As
everyone, except Louise Miller, could see, the mitigation projects and fees paid
by the MPDs were woefully inadequate. I am glad we have new pretty
planters in the middle of Novelty Hill Road so when we cough up the $30-50
million in taxes, we can tear them out for lanes. That the road needed
planters, instead of additional lanes, for all the people and businesses moving into
the MPDs is a “mitigation” that could
only come from King County. I am sure Louise is blaming Initiative 695.
How does all this pertain to Duvall Days?
Well, thanks to her representation, the Department of Transportation
will not let State Route 203 close while 124th Street is closed, as it has for
the last bazillion years for Duvall Days. No, the DOT and Louise are trying
to rain on our parade! Like we need any help, what with the average rainfall
in May hovering around two feet. We cannot use the highway, so no
parade this year (wahh!).
But we are a little tougher in the Valley than that, so the party will
go on, thanks to Ixtapa Restaurant in Duvall and the Duvall Family
Drugstore who have kindly offered their parking lot for the forty or so
booths that have signed on for the event. We may not have a parade, but there
will still be lots of cool demonstrations and events, like a fire fighters gurney
race. And no one, not even Louise, can stop “cow pie bingo.” The Fit
Happens aerobathon starts things off at 11 a.m. to be followed by live music all
day long. Saturday’s finale is, of course, fire works at Cherry Valley
Elementary at dusk. Don’t stop there! You have to come back on Sunday for
the 40th Annual Duvall Firefighters Association Pancake Breakfast.
Held at the fire station one block off of 203 on Stella in Duvall, this
annual fund raiser is a great deal, but you can always give more for the
cause! Prices are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for kids, for
all-you-can-eat pancakes, eggs, ham, applesauce,
coffee, milk and juice. But the real treat is the firefighters themselves. We
have all seen their faces on the life-size cutouts all over the Lower Valley.
Now try to match the face to the firefighter (be kind!). If you schmooze them
a little, they may even serenade you with “Take me out to the Firehouse.” It
costs extra if you want them to sing on key!.
You can relive your childhood fantasy and have a picture of yourself
on a fire truck ($1 donation if ya can, free if ya can’t). Remember men; it is
considered rude to shove the little kids out of line! And remember ladies, this
is not a “calendar shoot,” no asking if the firefighters can take their shirts
off and pose! Speaking of shirts, there may be a few T-shirts for sale, but
they are really cool so they sell out quickly. They will raffle a fire truck pedal
car and if they can work out the kinks, they will have a replica “Burning
Building” demonstration for the kids.
The breakfast is great fun and a wonderful way to spend a little
time with kith and kin, but never forget the Duvall Firefighters Association has
a much more serious side. The pancake breakfast is their only fund raiser.
The Association provides a huge variety of services in our community.
Our firefighters are the first ones called in times of crisis. The Association
provides an annual budget for the chaplain to help our neighbors when
events take a turn for the worst. Most of us have never been in a situation
where we have lost everything in a fire or other disaster and God willing
never will. But if you do find yourself or a loved one in crises, know that
Duvall Firefighters Association provides a lifeline. Funding also goes to
the Northwest Burn Foundation, King County Search and Rescue,
Students Against Drunk Driving, and the Boy Scouts.
Unlike some “representatives,” I support the Valley in any way I
can. Therefore I will drag myself out of hibernation and visit with my
neighbors. I have no intention of letting Louise Miller and the DOT rain on
my parade (la Niña does a good enough job of that). I am looking forward
to Duvall Days on Saturday and I plan on stuffing myself on Sunday for
a good cause. By next year, all will be back to normal including the
parade and the rain, and with any luck Louise Miller will have looked up
“representative” in the dictionary.
Kate Russell lives between Carnation and Duvall. You can reach
her at Katemo1@msn.com.
