San Juan Island Update - serving San Juan Island, Friday Harbor, and Roche Harbor


J14 (born 1974) and brand new baby J43, nestled between mom and J30,
J14's 12 year-old son. Seen November 6, 2007, near Lagoon Pt., Whidbey Island, less than 24 hours post birth. J43 is J14's fifth known offspring. Photo by Gene & Merilyn Ohlson, with thanks to Orca Network.

November 9, 2007

Ale House Music Trivia This Friday Night
Oren down at the Ale House wanted me to tell you it's time for Music Trivia - here's the scoop:

Paul Hewson, Gordon Sumner & Farrokh Butsara were all lead singers/frontmen for well known bands. All three used stage names. Can you name the frontmen, and the bands they sang with? If you can name them, or just enjoy their music, maybe you should join the gang at the Ale House that play music trivia Friday nights about once a month. JB Herren & Glenda Edwards host the evening. They write the questions, put together a corresponding sound track, & host this popular Friday night event. The music, and the questions with it that evening, do tend to lean towards Oldies & Classic rock, but jazz, blues, country, pop, crooners, and even TV & movie themes find their way to the evening’s quiz.

Players form teams, so no one is put on the spot to answer a question by themselves. Each question is proceeded by a snippet of music, with the query sometimes being lyrics, or when, who, or even who performed an older version of this song. Entry is five dollars for the two and a half hour evening, with $100.00 awarded to the evening’s winners. A new twist this Friday, for those teams with fewer players, will be a new extra set of questions, with points awarded based on how small your team is. Doors open Top Side at 6PM, game play starts at 7PM, 21 and older please. Paul, Gordon, & Farrokh, better known as Bono, Sting & Freddy Mercury, of couse were the lead singers for U2, Police, & Queen. For more information, call 378-BEER.

Birthdays & more birthdays....
One of the cool things around here is the way the San Juan Islander puts folks' birthdays at the top of the page each day...I love that. My tiny addition - Elections Supe Dan Gillespie (who counts better than most of us) tells me today is stepdaughter Rowan Braybrook's 21st birthday. Many happy returns!

And the birth of a new, updated site.....
Pastor Joe Bettridge tells me the Presbyterian Church's website has undergone an update & a facelift - check it out! It has service times & events at the church & nice writeups about the staff there, and more.

The Four Seasons play at the Community Theatre....
No, not THAT Four Seasons, silly - tomorrow night it's Vivaldi's version, by our Chamber San Juans friends. Don't miss it. It'll rock. Here's more.

And remember: "Big girls don't cry-yi-yi...."

The Barnards' big week....
Wynn's back from DC where she was hangin' with the Supremes (see below), and tonight it's Dad Bryn's turn in the spotlight as he has a booksigning & talk at Griffin Bay Bookstore to show you his new book, Dinosaurs. If you haven't seen Bryn's art (and you probably have, but didn't know), you've been missing out - he's a great one, and this book has more of it. From 5-7pm, there on Spring Street.

Quote
Blessed is he who has found his work; let him ask no other blessedness.
Thomas Carlyle


November 8, 2007

Football drives to the top....
Well, it's this weekend! The Tigers play at Mount Vernon for the championship - check out their website for details and pictures. Here's the word from Coach Donnie Galt:

TIGERS WIN DIVISION !!! 9-0

We are off to the Championship Game!!!!!!

We are playing in Mount Vernon at the High School Stadium this Saturday Nov 10th 4PM under the lights.

It’s a BIG stadium and we don’t want the other team drowning us out.

These boys worked hard to get here-WE NEED YOU!!!! WE NEED YOUR FAMILIES!!!! WE NEED YOUR FRIENDS!!!!

Our cheerleaders need your help making SOME NOISE!!!!

So if you can, ROUND UP THE TROOPS and bring them to Mount Vernon this Weekend!!!!!

Look forward to seeing you all. GO TIGERS!!!!

-Coach Donny Galt

Bee Movie....
Did you see it? Carli Woodward and Faith Buck did (right).

A quick trip to Seattle...here's how....
I was visiting with my friend Craig at Kenmore Air yesterday & asked him if they had any specials coming up, and he said, "Well, yeah!" and sent me this cool deal - you haven't lived till you FLY to Seattle & look down at all the traffic you coulda been in:

Hop the Kenmore Air Holiday Shopping Express! The sleigh may be traditional, but the airplane is way faster, and warmer too! Let Kenmore Air Express whisk you to downtown Seattle for a day of world-class holiday shopping — all at a fare that will keep your inner elf jolly — only $120 roundtrip from Friday Harbor! The Holiday Express daytrip fare is available every Saturday from November 10 through December 22. And Holiday Express flights include a complimentary shuttle from Boeing Field to downtown Seattle and back! For more details or to book, visit KenmoreAir.com or call toll-free 866.435.9524.

Without a "Doubt," you'll be missing a great play....
And you'll be sorry you did. See you there. Here's more... (plays tonight & this weekend, at Roche Harbor.)

Local hero gets recognized....
For several years, Local Firewise Specialist, Ron Garner has taken the lead to ensure local communities don’t suffer the same losses as in southern California last week.

The recent fires in southern California are a painful reminder of the importance of wildfire preparedness. Residents who take simple “Firewise” steps around their homes to clear vegetation and create defensible space will reduce their vulnerability from the threat of wildfire.

Ron Garner has done just that. His hard work has earned him national recognition from the National Wildfire Coordinating Group’s (NWCG) Wildland/Urban Interface Fire Working Team with a Firewise Leadership Award. San Juan Island Fire Chief Steve Marler announced Garner as winner at a Firewise Communities dinner at the Mullis Street fire station.

“Garner has volunteered countless hours furthering the Firewise message throughout our area,” Assistant Chief Brad Creesy of the San Juan Island Fire Department said. Here's more...

Passing....
It was a surprise to hear that Phil White has passed away last week - he & Joan were so close, since their school days......please join the family for a celebration of Phil's life on Saturday, November 10th at 2:30 p.m. at the Dane Armstrong Hangar, Friday Harbor Airport. (Here's the writeup from the San Juan Islander.)

Quote
We cannot command Nature except by obeying her.
Francis Bacon


November 7, 2007

Town Council changes demography for the coming year....
Last night Friday Harbor voters chose a couple of Salal neighborhood candidates to replace outgoing Debbie Emery & Wally Gillette on the Town Council. Chris Wolf (left) appears to have turned back Steve Wehrly by a 67% edge, while unopposed Carrie Lacher (right) will also take her place on the Town Council. They join Liz Illg, Carrie Brooks, and Kelley Balcomb-Bartok (also unopposed this election, winning the seat he was appointed to when Howie Rosenfeld was elected to the County Council last year) along with Mayor David Jones at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the stormwater referendum had a 62% "no" vote. That campaign has generated a long-overdue discussion about how we deal with water runoff here in the county...good start, and discussion continues.

Market Chef takes a break
Laurie Paul writes in to let us know she & Tim are taking the fam away for a break:

Hi Ian, We just wanted to let folks know that The Market Chef will be closing for a little recharge and "Thanksiving time with the Grandparents East Coast Tour" beginning this Friday, November 9th, returning and reopening on Tuesday November 27th. When we reopen on November 27th, we will begin a new thing we have never tried before...Winter Hours! We will still be open Monday-Friday for all our regulars, but we will be closing at 4 o'clock instead of 6. So that is Mon-Fri. 10am-4pm. Those needing to pick up dinner after work can still call us during the day to arrange it at 378-4546.

Also, as a note to those who usually plan to get their holiday pies from us, our Ace Baker Christine Gabler WILL be taking orders for Thanksgiving pies! You can call her directly to arrange them at 378-8928

Thanks so much and have a great Thanksgiving!
Laurie and Tim (and Sam and Talulah)
The Market Chef

Kubatana has released their new CD, and has
planned a release concert at Pelindaba next week.

New CD hits the charts (and your cd player, I hope!).....
Bandmember Christian Andrade tells me it's been months in the planning, recording, and mixing, and now it's ready! Here's more:

Kubatana Marimba Band is proud and excited to announce the release of their first CD---"From the Heart." The CD is a compilation of the traditional music of the Shona People of Zimbabwe and other contemporary pieces. The Band is hosting a CD Release Party at Pelindaba Lavender Store in Friday Harbor on Friday, November 16th, from 5:30PM to 8PM. Everyone is invited to come and celebrate this special occasion. CD’s will be available for sale. Refreshments will be served.

If you cannot attend the celebration and would like to purchase the CD, please contact Christian Andrade (Olympic Lights) at (360) 378-3186 or e-mail him at olympiclights (at) rockisland.com.

Kubatana wants to express their sincere appreciation to the following people who made the CD possible: Dumisani Mariere, The Shona People Of Zimbabwe, Michael & Osha Breez, Judith Carter, Margie Smith, Deborah Johnsen and Cynthia Elliot.

Peggy Sue keeps it going....
Have you been checking Peggy Sue's blog with its ongoing discussion of things that happened here 150 years ago? She does a good job with both her research & putting the evnts from then into an easy-to-read, easy-understand context...clear writing that brings you back to se what she's gonna cover next. She also has arts & entertainment news (I think she's the only place on the island with the movie listings!) - so check her out!

Quote
Wars and elections are both too big and too small to matter in the long run. The daily work - that goes on, it adds up.
Barbara Kingsolver


November 6, 2007

Poets, unite!
Once again, the San Juan Island Library, in cooperation with Friends of the San Juan Library, will host Poetry Night - Friday at 7pm.

Poet Tom Odegaard will facilitate this next event. Three featured artists (Earnest Pugh, Susan Wingate, and Wendy Wood) and will present their work and then there will be an open mic session for audience members to get up and read their poetry!

Farmers' Market through the winter...
I asked Margaret Thorson what the schedule looks like, and she reports:

Our schedule for the rest of this year is a little different. We weren't able to get the Grange building for the second Saturday in either November or December, so instead we are trying a Wednesday late afternoon market on November 21 and December 19 from 3:00 to 6:00, as well as the first Saturday in each month. Any help in getting the word out about these Wednesday markets would be really appreciated as this is a new thing and we don't want people to get confused. Starting in January we will have a market on the first Saturday of every month through April.

You can bank on it....
Vic Woodward was in Arkansas & filed this report about his son:

I spent the better part of a week in Little Rock, AR with son Damon and his wife Lindsey a couple weeks ago. Damon's work ethic and diligence have been rewarded by Metropolitan National Bank.

He has been promoted to branch manager. Needless to say, we are all very proud of him. Here is a picture of Damon with teller, Sholanda.

Today is Election Day....
Did you remember to vote?

Quote
Love takes off masks that we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.
James A. Baldwin


November 5, 2007

The date is sooner than you think, but she has a doctor....
That's Bryan & Carolyn Leighton out front of their shop door at the Sand Pebble (right), watching the elementary school's costume parade last week...the due date is the 25th, and they are ready.

Election tomorrow...
Did you let it sneak up on you? The general election is tomorrow, so make sure you got your mail ballot in the mail or drop it by the courthouse by Tuesday!

Tiger footballers head for the championship....
This past weekend, our Junior Tigers slipped by South Whidbey 29-18, according to Charlyn Warner. That makes us division champs, as we head into Saturday's championship game against the Anacortes Seahawks, whom we beat way back in the fifth week of the season (that was there only loss of the season). Go, Tigers!

Cheerleaders wrap up fall season....
This year's varsity cheerleaders' season ended with the football team's loss last week at Coupeville, but I wanted to let you know they work hard to get ready for each game as well.

Here's a portfolio of the girls (Heaven, Kirsten, Candace, Whitney, Sarah, Jerusha, and Coach Katie) in action at the games. Way to go, girls!

That's Sarah (left), Whitney, Candace (with the sign), and Heaven at the last game of the season last month.

It's one year, already? Wow -
Kenneth at the Spirit Tree tells me he's been running the shop for a year now - congrats on a good first year! Drop by & see the shop - it changes every week with new & interesting stuff.

Theo & Wynn head for Washington, DC....
I had heard about this a couple of weeks ago, and it's pretty exciting - a couple of FHHS students sitting down for a chat with US Supreme Court justices this week. Wow.

That's Theo (left) helping at the Phone-a-thon last month, and Wynn at the Seattle Airport a year ago, heading for Peru.

Here's more, from Rebecca Barnard:

Wynn Barnard and Theo Pratt left Saturday for Washington, DC, where they will meet with several Supreme Court justices! They are part of a nationwide program sponsored by the Annenberg Foundation. Fifty teens from around the country will meet in "private" session with Justices Kennedy, Scalia, and Bryer, Ginsburg and maybe Chief Justice Roberts. They will participate in several videotaped question-and-answer sessions, where they will be given the opportunity to ask questions and respond to the justices' answers in an open dialogue with the Supreme Court.

The Annenberg Foundation exists to advance the public well-being through improved communication. As the principal means of achieving this goal, the Foundation encourages the development of more effective ways to share ideas and knowledge."

Teacher Jim McNairy will accompany Wynn and Theo to Washington, DC, where they will stay for two nights.

Musician to move his family to the island....
A couple of weeks ago, I ran into a fellow named Ken Bateman (right) who is an artist & musician, and is moving to the island in a few months (they were here, working on their property.

I just listened to his album Harbor Nights, and I like it - a gentle folk sound, with nice melodies & Ken's strong voice - it's the kind of album you'll want to hear over & over. Here's more on Ken's website.

Vegetarian potluck celebrates its twentieth year....
Jane & Sam Buck have been putting them on for a couple of decades - this year's Fall Harvest Vegetarian Potluck is this Sunday at 4:15/4:30 at the Grange (with dinner at 5:45pm)...here's more.

New grandson...
If you see grandpa Clark Gilbert with a big smile on his face, it's because Ammon & Angela delivered baby Finn last month on the 10th - here's pictures on Clark's blog.

Fundraiser this Friday at the Mullis Center...
Dick Coffey wanted me to tell you about a fundraiser for some folks in Africa who could use a hand - he tells me a local group is working to raise $40,000 for the construction of a clean-water system for the village of Kunya, in Kenya. ...here's more, from the San Juan Islander.

DSK is ranked one of the best....
I'd say it's an honor - Discovery Sea Kayaks has been named one of the “Best Outfitters on Earth” in a recent survey of more than 200 adventure travel outfitters by National Geographic Adventure magazine. The company was ranked #2 of 56 North American canoe and kayak outfitters for client satisfaction. Congrats to Richard, Jason & Jesse!

Quote
Home computers are being called upon to perform many new functions, including the consumption of homework formerly eaten by the dog.
Doug Larson

Click here for last week's news...


The information here is simply stuff we here at By Design think is important around Friday Harbor or on San Juan Island.

Some of it is news, some of it is old news, and all are just things we wanted to mention, with most of it about the things that make living here great.

There will be more next week, if anything happens.

Ian Byington


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