Family Theatre Presents, Wind in the Willows – a brand new musical based on the classic story by Kenneth Grahame. Follow the adventures and escapades of Ratty, Mole, Badger and the infamous Mr. Toad in this delightful adaptation!

By Mark & Helen Johnson, Script by Sue Langwade
Directed by Penelope Haskew

Performance Dates:
Thursday* – Saturday, November 15-17 7:00 pm
Sunday November 18 2:00 pm

Tickets:
*Thursday is “PAY WHAT YOU CAN” Friday through Sunday: Adults $18
Student Reserved $10
$5 Student RUSH (available at door only)

Cast:

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Achieves the top five percent for excellence in patient experience

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center in Friday Harbor, Wash., has been named a 2018 Guardian of Excellence Award^® winner by Press Ganey.

This award is a nationally recognized symbol of achievement in health care. Presented annually, the award honors health care facilities who consistently achieved performance in the top five percent in patient experience of Press Ganey client health care facilities nationwide.

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center received this distinction for Patient Experience in the Emergency Department.  Patient feedback surveys consistently placed this department in the top 95^th percentile or above for each reporting period during the award year. The survey captures patient responses related to communication, wait times, respect and courtesy, patient privacy and pain control.

According to Merry-Ann Keane, chief administrative officer, the award represents an important recognition from the industry’s leader in measuring, understanding and improving the patient experience. “We feel honored to be recognized with this achievement,” Keane said, “Caregivers in our emergency department work collaboratively to respond to patient needs and consistently deliver safe exceptional patient care. The patient survey feedback is a tool that helps us improve our quality and service.”

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Many think that Molbak’s Nursery is only for gardeners. But at Christmas time, visitors walk into a winter-time paradise. Snowmen, poinsettias and elaborately decorated Christmas trees set the atmosphere for carolers, holiday cheer, and of course, shopping.

This year  we are being adventurous. In addition to our annual visit to Molbak’s, we are also going to explore the small and charming town of Langley on Whidbey Island.

Langley has maintained its small town calm and local character. Within it you will find art galleries, eclectic shops, handmade housewares and glassblowers.

• Date: December 8, 2018
• Time: Eastbound Ferry8:05 AM
• Westbound Ferry 8:25 PM
• Locations: Molbak’sNursery in Woodinville and the Town of Langley
• Cost: $55.00* -Transportation including ferry tickets

*Does NOT include food or driver gratuity

Reservations are required prior to November 30, 2018

To register contact:

• Kathie Forsyth (360) 378-8685
• Vonnie Harold (360) 298-0859

Meetings, classes and excursions are open to everyone –

The Joy of Gardening is Sharing

San Juan Island GardenClub Founded 1944

Starting Thursday, November 15th, Island Stage Left presents Slowgirl – a story by Greg Pierce told with humor and sensitivity, of a friendship between a reclusive uncle and his teenage niece as they navigate the delicate regions of guilt, fear and truth.   Becky, a seventeen year old girl, has fled to her hermitic uncle’s retreat in the Costa Rican jungle to escape the aftermath of a terrible accident. The week they spend together forces them both to confront who they are and what they are running from. It centers around the many ways tragedy can unmoor a life and the power of family to both wound and heal. Suitable for children 12 and up. Occasional colorful language. A story for everyone who has ever made a mistake. Thursdays through Sundays, November 15 through December 16   Except Nov. 22 & 23 (Thanksgiving) Thursdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 4:00 pm At the Marie Boe Building at SJC Fairgrounds Admission FREE – Donations appreciated

Please join Spring Street International School to celebrate teacher’s debut novel! 

Join this literary celebration as author Jennifer Boyden talks about and reads from her debut novel, The Chief of Rally Tree. The novel received the Siskiyou Prize for New Environmental Literature.

Jennifer states, “I love living in a community where people show up for their authors and celebrate literature and the arts. I believe what we gather to is a powerful statement of what we believe in, and I can’t wait to celebrate this story with our community!”

The novel follows Roal Bowman’s attempt to locate his wife after she joins Winter Patent, who believes he can save forests by accessing the consciousness of trees. No one knows if Winter, who spent a decade living with wolves, is sane or not. They do agree he’s dangerous—and Roal is out of his league. When Roal stumbles across his wife’s secret life, he realizes he no longer knows the woman he is searching for.

Read More…

Hello darlings. I’m Nora and just in case you’re wondering, I am in excellent shape. The last time I checked, round IS a shape. I’m a middle-aged gal in search of a living situation where I can just be “Me” and watch my Jazzercise videos and cooking shows in the comfort of my own home. 

I’d also like to teach piano lessons and host my book club once in a while, if that’s not too much trouble.  What do you say?  Shall we meet soon and iron out the details?  Call me at the animal shelter.  We’ll talk. 

P.S. I hope you like “The Barefoot Contessa” as much as I do.

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
994 Cattle Point Road
(360) 378-2158

Come and enjoy some dancing, and have a good time with your friends and neighbors and our excellent caller and band! As always, all dances will be taught, no partner or experience needed

• WHEN: Saturday November 17th
• WHERE: Grange Hall in Friday HarborTIME: 7 till 9
• MORE DETAILS:  Caller this month-Gwen Rousseau; Band-Not for Sissies with Vivian Williams and Sono Hashisaki on fiddles and Jan Finkelstein on guitar

$10 donation at the door, $5 students
Sponsored by San Juan Island Grange #966

Youth Roller Hockey comes back November 13.  Roller Hockey is a co-ed drop-in program at the fair building – new players are always welcome! You will learn new skills and improve existing skills in this organized drop-in play. 

The season is from November 13 – January 29^th Tuesdays from 6-7 pm, Ages 5-13.  Volunteer coaches are on-hand to provideinstruction on individual and team skills. Some pads and equipment available for loan. Purchase a season pass for $52.00,or drop-in each week for $6. 

For more information or Registration call 360-378-4953, visit www.islandrec.org, or stop by our office at 580 Guard Street, 11am-5pm, Monday through Friday.   

San Juan Update reader Mary Jane Anderson shares this resource with you to see who all from San Juan County served in World War One, the war that ended 100 years ago this year.

Check out the listing here: http://thirdstbooks.com/ww1sanjuan.html

Thank you Mary, and thanks to all those who served.

Wolf Hollow is excited to introduce our new Executive Director, Chanda Stone. Chanda joined Wolf Hollow in September, assuming the helm from our previous Director, Amy Saxe-Eyler. 

A native of southern California, Chanda has many years of experience as an arborist, wetland restoration coordinator and volunteer specialist. She earned a graduate degree from Portland State University and created TEAM Tualatin, a summer program for teens to restore natural wildlife habitats. Volunteering in the community is her passion. Chanda is a past board president for Nursing Mother’s Council of Oregon, a Girl Scout Leader, and she currently serves on the board of the Friday Harbor Film Festival.

Chanda moved with her husband and two children to San Juan Island in 2017 after living and working for five years in Saudi Arabia. Having traveled the world, she and her family feel lucky to now call San Juan Island their forever home.  

Chanda had this to say about joining Wolf Hollow:

“It is my honor and privilege to be selected as the new Executive Director of Wolf Hollow. It is my mission to carry on the great work of my predecessor and the wonderfully dedicated staff and board at Wolf Hollow. I look forward to meeting all of our supporters and working to advance our efforts to protect local wildlife and their habitats.” 

If you’d like to send Chanda a note to help us welcome her, she can be reached at [email protected]. 

We thank Amy for her years of service to Wolf Hollow and wish her the best of luck in her new nonprofit position at the San Juan Island Community Foundation!

In the SJ Update mailbag this morning we have this letter to share with you from Brian Goodremont at www.sanjuansafaris.com…

Proposed Southern Resident Orca Watching Suspension Fails to Address Science-­ Based Issues: Save the Salmon, Save the Whales

Headlines are dominated by the proposal to suspend vessel-­based viewing of Southern Resident killer whales in Washington State waters. There is much information circulating locally about what this proposal means for orcas, local educational businesses, and the Salish Sea marine ecosystem.

In March 2018, Governor Jay Inslee signed an executive order to establish immediate actions to benefit Southern Resident killer whales, and at the same time formed the Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Task Force to develop short and long-­‐term proposals for recovery of this endangered population.

Bringing several stakeholder groups and experts into a round-­‐table discussion to create recommendations for how to legislatively proceed, at its inception the task force was heralded as a potential triumph in conservation policy.

What is this Proposed Whale Watch Suspension?

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Join Island Haven Animal Sanctuary for our 3rd Annual Thanks”Living” celebration, featuring our feathered friends. 

Enjoy guided tours of the sanctuary, plant-based snacks and drinks, pick up menu suggestions and recipes for a compassionate Thanksgiving meal, and get your 2019 Island Haven calendar, hot off the presses! 

Also, thanks to Ally and Bailee, our high school community project volunteers, purchase a pie or two, to eat now or save for your Thanksgiving dinner.

If you would like to bring treats for the animals – the turkeys, other poultry, goats and pigs love romaine lettuce, spinach and grapes; and the horses, llamas and alpacas love carrots and apples.

Donations are encouraged, all proceeds go towards the feeding and care of sanctuary animals.  

We are located at 862 Valley Farms Road, there will be signs guiding you to the event.  If you have any questions or would like directions, email Julie at [email protected] or call/text 360-472-1040.

Environmental Assessment for the American Camp Visitor Center Replacement Project Available for Public Review and Comment

The National Park Service is proposing to improve the facilities at the American Camp visitor center site within San Juan Island National Historical Park. The proposed project entails the replacement of the 39 year-old “temporary” visitor center with a new facility that would highlight the rich cultural history of the area as well as the spectacular natural setting of American Camp. In addition, the visitor center entrance road would be relocated just north of its existing intersection with Cattle Point Road. Park operational facilities, including administrative campsites and a maintenance storage area, would also be expanded.

The new visitor center would include space for visitor orientation, gift store sales, seating for an updated audiovisual program, and fully accessible exhibits and public restrooms. It would also include office and storage space for interpretive staff. Site improvements would include an outdoor interpretive plaza, demonstration space, gathering space, accessible pathways, more efficient parking, and replacement of the septic system and picnic sites.

The purpose of this proposed project is to replace the antiquated trailer with new and permanent facilities that would greatly enhance public health and safety, as well as the visitor experience and understanding of the cultural and natural setting of American Camp and its regional context, to provide additional park operational facilities, and to improve the safety of the entrance road and the visitor arrival experience. Continue Reading

A couple weeks ago, volunteers and staff punched the trail through from the base to the utility road just below the summit – woot woot! However, there’s still plenty of trail left to tidy up, and build, and while we will no longer have scheduled Wednesday/Saturday work parties, we do want to keep the momentum up as time and weather allows. With that in mind, Doug and Charlie are headed back up the road again TUESDAY (11/13). They’d love your help if you’re available!

Timing remains the same, working from 10am to 2pm.

We’ll meet and park in the vicinity of the lower road junction, where you would take a left to get to the current “non-motorized” route to the top.

Please bring your own gloves, sturdy boots, and eye protection. We will have some tools available, but if feel free to bring your own (handsaws, pruners, grub hoes, pick adze, McLeods, etc.) if you prefer!

We will have some snacks on hand, but please also bring lunch/water.

We’ll have a few handtools available, but if you’ve got your own (ie: McLeod, grub hoes, adze hoes, Pulaski) please bring them.

RSVP to Tanja ([email protected]) or Doug ([email protected]) for more information.

San Juan County Superior Court and Juvenile Court Services Invites You To Celebrate National Adoption Month

San Juan County Superior Court and Juvenile Court Services will host an adoption celebration on Friday, November 30, 2018, in celebration of National Adoption Month. The public and media are welcome to join the celebration.

The event begins at 3:00 p.m. in the San Juan County Superior Court, and will include speakers, refreshments, a family photo booth, and the opportunity to share personal stories and inspiration.

National Adoption Day was founded in 2000 by a coalition of national child welfare organizations hoping to raise awareness of the thousands of foster children available for adoption and awaiting permanent, “forever” families. In Washington, more than 2,000 children are waiting for permanent families. Nationally, more than 100,000 children in foster care are waiting to be adopted.

Please help us raise awareness of this important issue, and celebrate the gifts of family that transcend biological ties.

“I would like to extend a special invitation to the parents and children of adoptive families. Please join us and share your stories.” Katie Loring, Superior Court Judge

• What: San Juan County Superior Court’s National Adoption Month celebration.
• Where: San Juan County Courthouse; Superior Court
  Second Floor, 350 Court Street, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
• When: Friday, November 30, 2018 at 3:00 p.m.

CONTACT: Court Administrator Jane Severin: (360) 370-7480

In the SJ Update Mailbag this morning we have this letter to you from Steve Brandli…

My congratulations go to Carolyn Jewett for her election as our next District Court judge. She worked hard and ran a tenacious campaign, and the results prove that it was effective. I wish Ms. Jewett well on the bench.

I also want to thank my many supporters in this election for their devotion of time, energy, ideas, and encouragement. Their letters and endorsements were, for me, very moving. These special people carried me through these last few months. For that, I am very grateful.

My biggest thank you goes to my wife, BJ. After 25 years with her, I continue to be blown away by her love and support. As my campaign manager, she poured her heart and soul into this campaign. I have no words to adequately express the depths of my gratitude for her.