Wednesday’s tidbits….

Take time for yourself & find the peace within....that's the beach near the Marine Labs, with the morning sun on the peeling madrona....

Let’s see what’s up:

Dogs, needed....

• The Animal Shelter is getting ready for next week’s Wags to Riches fundraiser, and there’s a little thing you can do to help – here’s more from Leslie:

The Friday Harbor Animal Shelter is looking for rescued Dachshunds and Chihuahuas (and everything in-between) to run in the ‘ChiWeenie 500’ at ‘WAGS to RICHES’ on Saturday, July 30th, 2011.

All dogs need to be up to date with their vaccines and very social with other dogs.  We will be running two catagories….’Low-Riders’ and ‘Hot-Wired’.  There will be trophies and prizes for the fastest canines.  Please call Michelle or Halley at the shelter (378-2158) for more information.

• There’s another one this weekend – here’s more from Eileen:

Know Your Island Walk, Sat. July 23, 1:00pm.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about a truly remarkable and exemplary project that demonstrates private and public cooperation, generosity, and commitment from Roche Harbor Resort and the San Juan Trails Committee.

Meet Mike Beuttell, Volunteer Trail Builder and Roche Harbor resident to walk the Roche Harbor Trail System. Meet at intersection of West Valley/Roche Harbor Rds.  Length is 3 mi.and approx. 1.5 hours.  Terrain is grassy, slightly uneven wooded trails.  Rating is moderate. Dogs on leashes are welcome.  For information (this hike only), please call 378-4306.

The Food Bank (it's across the street from the Marketplace) is open today from noon to 2pm...if things are tight in your budget, it's there for you & me. Check it out...it'll help.

• You know the Chameleons are playing Thursday night at 7:30pm at the Rumor Mill? Now ya do…

Town parking czar Matt Pranger put extra chalk on MY tire...no way I'm getting away with anything.

• Dana Smith from Alberta came to the islands for two weeks, and learned some important stuff…here’s the column from a thoughtful & introspective Canadian.

• Hungry on Saturday? The Market Chef is open during the summer…see you there!

• Heard from Elizabeth Schubert the other day: “I think double-stuffed Oreos should just be called Oreos, while the ‘regular’ Oreos should be called diet Oreos.”

I meant to share this with you a month ago - that's Janet Olsen with the retirement gift her middle school band kids gave her...

• Got a note that the hospital’s groundbreaking is this weekend – here’s more from Amy Cloud:

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center Groundbreaking
Set for July 23, 2011
An innovative new rural healthcare facility for the San Juan Islands

Healthcare in the San Juans will take a major step forward at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 23 when the groundbreaking ceremony for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is held at 1049 San Juan Valley Road in Friday Harbor. The San Juan community will be joined by federal, state and local leaders in breaking ground for this new primary care and specialty clinic, and Critical Access Hospital.

The community will celebrate the start of construction by touring the building site where markers will show the location of major features and medical services. Visitors will be able to view both floor plans and external and internal building images. There will be refreshments provided.

The grounds will be open from noon until 5 p.m. Access to the grounds and on-site parking will be available via Franklin Drive, the entry road to the Friday Harbor Airport.

“PeaceHealth is honored to become a part of the San Juan Island community and is looking forward to providing the highest quality on-island hospital care and expanded clinic and diagnostic services beginning in late 2012,” said Jim Barnhart, Chief Administrative Officer, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. “The Design Committee has focused on developing the new facility with an island look and feel. We hope to see a large turnout on the 23rd joining in the celebration and taking a look at the design and services planned for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.”

The facility will include an expanded primary care and specialty clinic, an enhanced diagnostic services center, a cancer care suite providing on-island chemotherapy and cancer care services, a 24-hour emergency room and a 10-bed Critical Access Hospital. This will replace San Juan Island’s existing clinic (the Inter Island Medical Center) which is 38 years old. The new facility is scheduled to open in late 2012.

“This is a very exciting event for us as a community,” said Lenore Bayuk, Chair of the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 Board of Commissioners. “I’ve been a Hospital Commissioner for more than seven years. Being a part of this process and the heartfelt work that all have put into making Peace Island Medical Center become a reality has been an honor.”

The building incorporates the latest environmentally sensitive and sustainable design and construction concepts and will feature natural ventilation, a ground-source heat pump system, carbon neutrality and extensive day lighting. Architecture for PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is by Mahlum. Construction is by Howard S. Wright Constructors.

“I am particularly pleased that we will offer a wide array of services to our islands’ cancer patients including advanced imaging, labs, diagnostics, oncology consults and on-island chemotherapy. No one suffers more the hardships of living on an island than our cancer patients and their families,” said Charles Anderson, Chair of the San Juan Island Community Foundation.

Local project fundraising, as well as support for the groundbreaking, is provided by the San Juan Island Community Foundation. In 2006 the Foundation recognized the need to address the local crisis in healthcare delivery and to assure better financial stability for island healthcare while expanding services. Through numerous community activities, the Foundation has been instrumental in bringing the project to fruition.

The groundbreaking ceremony is being synchronized with events at the annual Friday Harbor Airport Fly-In and Open House. Starting with a pancake breakfast and ending with a big-band hangar party, the Fly-In and Open House is an all day nostalgic trip to a place where airplanes are for fun. There’ll be plenty of interesting visiting airplanes to see, biplane and helicopter rides, in-hangar displays, fly-overs and more. The Friday Harbor Airport is adjacent to the site of PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center.

Further material about PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is available at www.peacehealth.org/peace-island .

San Juan County Public Hospital District #1 is a tax-supported agency that provides clinic-based medical services and 24/7 urgent care services at the Inter Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor. It also operates San Juan Island EMS which provides emergency medical services, critical care transport, and injury and accident prevention programs. The District is comprised of San Juan Island, Town of Friday Harbor, Brown Island, Stuart Island, Johns Island, Speiden Island, Pearl Island and Henry Island in San Juan County, Washington.

San Juan Island Community Foundation was established in 1994 by a group of visionary island residents who sought a way to encourage and support the work of local nonprofit organizations. The Foundation explores the needs and concerns of these organizations, looking for both traditional and innovative ideas. By pooling donations from generous islanders, the Foundation makes grants to help cover those needs. The Foundation also identifies and provides leadership in meeting a variety of community challenges. Foundation donors are assured that their charitable giving makes a difference in the quality of life on our island.

PeaceHealth is a Washington-based not-for-profit healthcare system serving multiple rural and urban communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. Founded by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, PeaceHealth has provided exceptional medicine and compassionate care to Northwest communities for more than a century, including serving the needs of small and remote communities through the operation of three successful Critical Access Hospitals. Research published in the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety ranked PeaceHealth as one of the top five quality of care healthcare systems in the country, and the leading system in the West. PeaceHealth is frequently named as one of the region’s best employers. For more information, visit www.peacehealth.org .

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