Residents who fled fire treated to early Thanksgiving dinner

PORT TOWNSEND — It’s been two months since the fire took the life of her friend and neighbor and damaged the building in which she lives.

But Alessa Banta is still thankful.

“It was very traumatic, but it could have been so much worse,” Banta said.

“I talked to one of the first group of firefighters, and he said when they drove up, they didn’t know if they were going to able to save the building.”

Banta is a resident of the Marine Plaza Apartments, where a fire that started in the apartment of Donna Walden took her life.

Some residents on the same floor are still unable to return to their homes.

But on Sunday, they gathered with neighbors to share Thanksgiving dinner as guests of a nearby church.

“We wanted to tell you we care about you,” the Rev. Wendell Ankeny said.

“We are your closest church neighbor.”

Getting to know you

Ankeny is pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, whose members decided to host the meal as a way to get to know their neighbors.

Under the direction of “head chef” Brian Norvell, the cooking crew roasted three turkeys and prepared pans of dressing, pots of mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes and pumpkin pie.

For Virgil Porter, the meal tasted especially good.

“We really appreciate having a good meal,” he said.

“I’ve been living in the Hadlock Hotel and eating at restaurants. It’s not been very balanced meals.”

It was church member Shirley Williams who came up with the idea for hosting the dinner for Marine Plaza residents.

Williams is head of disaster health services for the Olympic Peninsula Red Cross and came to know Marine Plaza residents after the fire.

She also knew that the church is always looking for ways to reach out to the community.

Fifteen of the apartment’s residents, including Lucretia Flores, took the church up on the invitation.

“It was a surprise,” Flores says. “What a treat.”

More in News

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass on display on the pier in Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
The golden hour

Sunlight reflects off the skull of Gunther, the California gray whale carcass… Continue reading

The state is looking to turn Miller Peninsula, a 2,800-acre undeveloped park east of Sequim, into a destination state park with a visitors center, cabins, picnic areas and more. Some locals oppose the move. (Warren Wilson)
Opponents want park to stay day use

State updates plan for Miller Peninsula

Sequim staff plan to send a proposal to the state this month to potentially fund sewer and water lift stations on West Sequim Bay Road using new developments’ property taxes through a Tax Increment Area by Sequim Bay in a 363-acre area. It would require the city to prove that developments in the area wouldn’t happen without the stations. The city council also would have to approve it. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim exploring funding mechanism to incentivize development

City would create district, repurpose tax dollars for lift stations

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann O’Neill, an employee of Angel Crest Gardens of Port Angeles at a temporary stand at First and Race streets in Port Angeles on Valentine’s Day. Rix said he wanted roses for his wife, Wendy Rix, for their 55th wedding anniversary. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Valentine’s roses

Fred Rix of Port Angeles, right, looks over floral arrangements with Ann… Continue reading

Port Angeles-owned Lancashire Heeler “Ki” poses with handler and co-owner Chelsy Pendleton of Utah with their ribbon. Ki placed as Best of Opposite Sex at the 149th annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.
PA dog places at famous show

Lancashire Heeler wins ribbon at Westminster

x
Nominations open for Community Service awards

Forms due March 25; event scheduled for May 1

Poplars to be removed in spring

Boat Yard expansion part of larger project

Jeffco Aquatic Coalition launches pool survey

Results intended to inform design process

Voters approving all Peninsula school measures

Sequim bond passing with required supermajority

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few miles south of Port Angeles. While the Peninsula has seen temperatures below freezing this week, a warming trend is expected by this weekend with highs reaching the upper 40s and overnight lows in the 30s. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Winter snowscape

A snow-covered Mount Angeles is seen from Black Diamond Road a few… Continue reading