Posted February 3, 2019 at 5:20 am by Peggy Sue McRae
The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions. Additional information about each committee is available on the County’s website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies.
Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an Advisory Committee Application or Contact the Council Office at: (360) 378-2898 [email protected]
To view boards and committees… Continue Reading
Posted February 2, 2019 at 5:45 am by Peggy Sue McRae
Jr. Detectives – Contributed Photo
Join Island Rec staff and members of the sheriff’s department for some whodunnit fun! Kids will be able to take their own finger and foot prints to take home with them, and follow clues to solve a mystery. Each day we’ll practice different tools of the mystery-solver’s trade, culminating in a search and rescue scavenger hunt to put the new detectives to the test.
This program for kids age 6-9 runs from February 19ththrough the 21st, from 10-11am at the elementary school gym. Early registration at $27 ends 2/12, and is $32 thereafter.
Posted February 2, 2019 at 5:43 am by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor Chocolates Opening Again
We are bringing in many new luscious confections which we have never featured before and have a fantastic array of gorgeous Valentine gifts and champagne to show your love to others.
As a reminder, we specialize in imported and domestic Ports and Spanish Sherrys and offer daily tutorial discussion and complimentary tastings prior to bottle purchases.
Open daily 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 225 Spring Street, Friday Harbor. See our Facebook page and website at www.fridayharborchocolates.com for further details.
Posted February 2, 2019 at 5:30 am by Peggy Sue McRae
San Juan Island School District Board of Directors appoints Superintendent and Superintendent Intern for school year 2019-2020.
Wednesday January 30, the Board of Directors of San Juan Island School District appointed current Interim Superintendent, Kari McVeigh as Superintendent for the 2019-2020 school year and Fred Woods as a Superintendent Intern for next school year. Fred will continue as principal of Friday Harbor High School, along with his intern duties for the 2019-20 school year. During the year, Fred will meet with and be mentored by Kari and the Board of Directors on a regular basis. He will be given Superintendent-level tasks to perform and have his performance evaluated by both the Board and the Superintendent. If, as the Board believes will be true, Fred proves to be the right choice as successor superintendent, in February, 2020 he will offered a three-year contract as Superintendent of San Juan Island School District for the position starting on July 1, 2020.
Not only does this process allow San Juan Island School District to grow their own District level leadership, it will allow the Board of Directors to see the successor superintendent’s work — in action — prior to any formal contract. It will also allow the new superintendent to hit the ground running, wasting no time in getting to know the issues and community and thus making for a smooth and productive transition.
Both Fred and Kari are thrilled to have this opportunity to provide San Juan Island School District with strong stable leadership, for what the District hopes, will be many years to come.
Posted February 1, 2019 at 3:43 pm by Peggy Sue McRae
Jake Shimabukuro – photo Americus Studios/Coleman Saunders
Shimabukuro’s wholly unique approach to the ukulele started early. As a youngster growing up in Honolulu, Hawaii, Shimabukuro started playing the instrument at the age of four, learning the basics from his mother, Carol, and then developing his craft further by studying the likes of musical masters such as Eddie Kamae, Ohta-San and Peter Moon. As he matured, Shimabukuro also found inspiration from guitar players, drummers, pianists, and singers.
In 2005, Shimabukuro’s touring career really came to life with a video on YouTube. “I didn’t even know what YouTube was at the time, so I was totally surprised when people started telling me they’d seen a video of me playing ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps,’” he says. “Before I got a chance to check it out myself, the video had gone viral and a lot of music industry folks seemed to know about it. It was crazy!” Shimabukuro’s deeply beautiful and original take on George Harrison’s love ballad, one which captured colors and moods never associated with the ukulele before, opened the floodgates – now legions of new music lovers had to hear this instrumental marvel – and the 2006 release of Gently Weeps (produced by Mac McAnally), which mixed his own originals with equally adventurous versions of “Ave Maria” and “The Star-Spangled Banner” was an unqualified success.
Shimabukuro’s records have topped the Billboard World Music Charts on numerous occasions, and as a live performer he has become one of the hottest tickets around. He’s played with world-renowned orchestras and at prestigious venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House, and has dazzled audiences at music festivals including Bonnaroo, SXSW, the Playboy Jazz Festival and Fuji Rock Festival. He even performed for that rarest of audiences: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Not too shabby for a humble young man from Hawaii and his trusty ukulele.
SJCT: Tickets are SOLD OUT
Posted February 1, 2019 at 5:55 am by Tim Dustrude
Jennifer Barcelos – Contributed photo
Friends of the San Juans is pleased to announce the appointment of Jennifer Barcelos as incoming staff attorney and Director of Law and Policy.
Following a nationwide search for a transformative leader, Jennifer Barcelos has joined our team as Director of Law and Policy. In her new role, Jennifer will be responsible for protecting the islands and waters of the Salish Sea to ensure they remain healthy for future generations.
Jennifer is an attorney, a changemaker, and an entrepreneur. She became a devoted environmental advocate in 3rd grade (after winning her local science fair for an exhibit on the effects of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on seabirds). Jennifer graduated Phi Beta Kappa from U.C. Berkeley, she received a master’s degree in Environmental Science from Yale, and served as a Gates Public Service Law Scholar at the University of Washington School of Law. Upon graduation, Jennifer taught for two years at UW Law School, co-founded the climate justice nonprofit, Three Degrees Warmer, and built a successful women-led tech startup in the wellness industry. Continue Reading
Posted February 1, 2019 at 5:47 am by Tim Dustrude
Contributed photo
Here’s a note from Kathleen Foley to all the folks who participated in this year’s swan count. Just thought you might like to see it…
Hello swan counters,
Thank you for your participation in the 2019 wintering swan count, held last Friday. Thank you as well, to everyone for returning your count forms to me so quickly, even those of you who came up with nothing on your count (well, no swans anyway)
All told, we had 30+ volunteers who counted 145 trumpeter swans (127 adults + 18 juveniles) on the four ferry serviced islands – slightly down from last year (135 adults + 17 juveniles) – but not a significant decline, and in keeping with the general trend upward in the population.
Also, only 4 swans were found on Orcas (2 adults + 2 juveniles). It’s possible there is a location over there that we are simply missing, OR they were on the move during the count – impossible to know. Continue Reading
Posted February 1, 2019 at 5:45 am by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor High School boys and girls basketball teams look to sweep the Darrington Loggers for the 2018-2019 season. The boys will play first on Friday, February 1st at Darrington at 3:30pm and the lady Wolverines will play at 5:00pm.
Both games will be broadcast live on fhTinyRadio.com and streamed live on Facebook. Kaila Olin will have the play-by-play with Mike Martin providing color commentary beginning with the pregame at 3:15pm.
Mike Martin and Kaila Olin – Contributed photo
Posted January 31, 2019 at 8:44 am by Peggy Sue McRae
Wendy Stephens and Gail Leschine-Seitz – Peggy Sue McRae photo
Island Senior is a regular column on San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae…
Last Thursday’s Senior Lunch at the Mullis Center was especially festive if also bittersweet. It was Wendy Stevens, our County Senior Services Manager’s Farewell Retirement Lunch. Things got off to a rousing start as Garth Shebek led a chorus of Let Me Call You Sweetheart followed by For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow.
Wendy Stephens – Peggy Sue McRae photo
Sandy Urgrin thanked Wendy for her service on behalf of the Mullis Center board saying, “Everything rolled downhill to Sr. Services landing in Wendy’s lap.” Even when they caught someone stealing plants it came down to Wendy to sort things out. Debbie Haagensen, our Senior Services Specialist, presented Wendy with flowers and a gift. Eugene Cuomo had Wendy laughing with his gift of framed photos of fun times.
Wendy said she liked the Hawaiian word Aloha because its means more than good-bye and that we will see you again. She mentioned Shakespeare’s tender “Parting is such sweet sorrow” but in end she said it was Spock’s words “Live long and prosper” that she would like to leave us with adding “Thank you, I love you.”
Wendy first came to the island in 1994 when for two years she worked at what was then the Islands Convalescent Center. She worked for DSHS for two years then our Sr. Center opened in 2001. I sat down with Wendy after lunch and asked her what the job meant to her. She answered that “the feeling at the end of the day that you’ve made a difference” made her profession a rewarding one. Indeed she did make a difference and she will be missed.
As for the future she said she feels good about leaving knowing that on all of our islands Sr. Services are “in good hands.” For herself she plans to travel to Europe with her husband. He is from Wales and they have two grandchildren in Paris. They also have three grandchildren in Bellingham and plan to spend the summer on Lake Whatcom.
Posted January 30, 2019 at 5:52 am by Tim Dustrude
Grain Elevators In the Palouse by Mary Gey-McCulloch
Talent and imagination describe the art in the Sixth Annual Artists’ Registry Show at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA). The show in Friday Harbor proudly exhibits artists’ work from all our islands.
Still Waters by Alayne Goodhart
More than 70 artists present their best pieces for the exhibition featuring painting, sculpture, textiles, jewelry, photography, glass, pastels, ceramics, prints and multi-media and more. The show has enough to dazzle, no matter what subject or style one prefers.
The Registry was started as a resource for artists to connect as a community, and to have a place to exhibit their work in a professional, elegant gallery-style atmosphere.
The show opens Saturday, February 2 and runs until Monday, March 25. The hours are 11-5 Friday through Monday. Continue Reading
Posted January 30, 2019 at 5:47 am by Tim Dustrude
Savannah Fuentes – Contributed photo
Seattle-based Flamenco dancer, Savannah Fuentes brings her latest show, Luz, an Evening of Flamenco, to the San Juan Islands February 27th and 28th.
Savannah will be joined by two exceptional Spanish Flamenco artists; acclaimed Spanish-Romani guitarist Pedro Cortes and singer/percussionist/dancer Jose Moreno.
The all-ages performances will be the second and third stops on a 27-date tour of Washington, California, Oregon, and Nevada.
Friday Harbor – February 27, 7:30 pm at Brickworks, 150 Nichols Street
Tickets: general admission $22, VIP seating $34, student $12 child $8
available at www.brownpapertickets.com
Eastsound – February 28, 7:30 pm at West Sound Community Hall, 525 Deer Harbor Road
Tickets: general admission $20, VIP seating $34, student $12 child $8
available at www.brownpapertickets.com Continue Reading
Posted January 30, 2019 at 5:43 am by Tim Dustrude
Meeting today (Wednesday, January 30th) of the Friday Harbor Port Commission.
It happens at the Skagit Valley College Community Meeting Room, (by main parking area behind building) at 221 Weber Way, Friday Harbor at 4:00 PM.
To see the agenda, click here.
Posted January 30, 2019 at 5:35 am by Tim Dustrude
Notice is hereby given that members of the San Juan County Council, the Skagit County Board of Commissioners and the Whatcom County Council will conduct a Special Joint Meeting on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 beginning at 2:30 p.m.
The meeting will be held in the Skagit County Commissioners Hearing Room, 1800 Continental Pl. #100, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.
The purpose of the special joint meeting is to appoint a replacement to fill the vacant 40th Legislative District State Senate position, and to discuss a potential vacancy in the 40th Legislative District State House of Representatives.
For more information please contact the Clerk of the San County Council at (360) 370-7472, [email protected].
Posted January 29, 2019 at 10:06 am by Tim Dustrude
Fir Island Sunrise with Snow Geese – John Miller photo
John Miller shares this photo he shot with a drone on Fir Island yesterday morning.
Click to enlarge.
Thanks for sharing John!
Posted January 29, 2019 at 5:48 am by Tim Dustrude
The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management and Economic Development Council are teaming up to present a training on Disaster Preparedness for Small Businesses. This concise class will provide basic information about the risks to the islands, and will offer some simple tools and approaches to help businesses prepare.
Tuesday, March 26th:
In order to participate, please register online at:
http://www.sanjuandem.net/2019BusinessPrep
Posted January 29, 2019 at 5:47 am by Tim Dustrude
Boyd Pratt, Designing Hawaii: From Little Grass Shacks to Luxury Hotels
Take a virtual tour of the architecture of Hawaii with Boyd Pratt. Let’s explore how climate, native and imported materials, and the rich mix of cultures shaped building at the “Crossroads of the Pacific.”
Monday, February 4th at 7:00 pm at the San Juan Island Library, free.
Refreshments are courtesy of the Friends of the Library and the San Juan Island Trails Committee.