From the Olga Strawberry Council

If you were on the island on July 19, 2013, you will remember hearing of, or even experiencing, the arson fire that severely damaged Olga’s historic strawberry barreling plant building and its contents. Nothing was untouched by fire, smoke or water damage. The tenants: Orcas Island Artworks, James Hardman Gallery and Café Olga, were forced to find other locations.

The Olga Strawberry Council, the non-profit owner of the building, opted to rebuild and restore. Thanks to insurance money, a generous community and the hard work of many volunteers, the artists and the new Catkin cafe, opened its doors for business in a beautifully restored building in April 2015, nearly two years after the fire.

The Olga Strawberry Council invites you to come to the Catkin café on Friday, June 10 at 6 p.m., for beverages and small bites and to hear the story of the rebuilding process. As a final event in the OSC’s spring Strawberry Series, project architect Ben Trogdon will speak. By donation: $15 per person suggested. Reservations: Beverly Johanson at 376-4986 or lbjohan@rockisland.com. The Artworks and James Hardman Galleries will be open to those attending the talk.