June 9, 2004 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Denny Fleenor - 206/972-8590 (office)
206/632-4399 (Home)
MEDIA ALERT:
Historic Olson House to be Dedicated Saturday
WHAT:
Dedication of the refurbished historic Olson Heritage House in Mount
Vernon to serve as housing for graduate research students and visiting
scientists.
WHEN:
2 p.m., Saturday, June 12
WHERE:
Washington State University's Northwest Washington Research and
Extension Center, 16650 State Route 536 (Memorial Highway), Mount
Vernon.
WHY:
Dedication of the Olson Heritage House is a significant step in
WSU's plans for a major renovation and expansion of its Mount Vernon
agricultural research facility. WSU has committed to spend $6 million
to significantly upgrade and expand the facility to support agriculture
throughout Northwest Washington. Construction is tentatively scheduled
to begin in June 2005.
WHO:
Participants in the dedication will include Allan Osberg, president,
Osberg Construction Co. and grandson of Anders and Maria Olson;
Bob Rose, executive director of Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland;
and Ralph Cavalieri and Pete Jacoby, associate deans of the WSU
College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences.
BACKGROUND:
In 1999 the Skagit Farm Bureau purchased the 1914 Olson family farmhouse
and surrounding eight acres as part of a community effort to ensure
the future of agricultural research at the WSU facility. Prominent
Seattle businessman Allan Osberg donated $100,000 to Skagitonians
to Preserve Farmland to renovate the house, which had been built
by his grandparents. In 2003 the property was transferred to WSU
and the home was remodeled for use as housing for graduate research
students and visiting scientists.
MEDIA:
Media representatives are invited to cover the dedication and reception.
In addition to the Olson House, the research facility, surrounding
farmlands and Master Gardener discovery garden offer excellent photo
backdrops.
CONTACTS:
Bob Rose, executive director, Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland,
360-336-3974. Debra Inglis, interim director, WSU Northwest Washington
Research and Extension Center, 360-848-6134. More information about
the research facility and its programs are available at http://www.mtvernon.wsu.edu.
- 30 -
WSU employment and programs are available to all without discrimination.
Heading using the h3tag
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.