Gareth Curtiss – Contributed photo

Northwest artist Gareth Curtiss is bringing his bronze sculpting project to Friday Harbor December 17th through 21st so that the public may share in the creation of the Ed Warbass sculpture he is making for the town.

The public is invited to watch and interact with the artist in a temporary work space being created for him in the glass atrium at the front of San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA).

Curtiss will demonstrate the clay sculpting process that precedes mold-making and bronze casting. He intends to work on the bust for the life-size statue which will depict town founder Captain Edward D. Warbass sitting on a park bench with his dog, Bob, by his side.

The sculpture will be installed on First Street at the entrance to Sunshine Alley by fall 2019. A clay maquette of the sculpture is available for public viewing at Town Hall. Read More »

Bills are Going up in January – 2019 budget includes a 5.2% revenue increase

Pending board approval at the December 20th board meeting, OPALCO members will see a rate increase when they open their bills in January. The bills will be on average, $9.50 higher.

OPALCO is raising rates as a necessary part of providing power to our 20-island archipelago. This increase is driven by the loan expense (capitalization) for the submarine cable replacement (George), inflation and power cost increases. The budget also includes two new Apprentice Lineworker positions to prepare for retirements on the horizon.

The 2019 budget includes a 5.2% revenue increase, which will be applied equally between the service access (facilities) charge and the energy (kWh) usage portion of member bills for a total of around $9.50 more per month (based on the average residential monthly household usage). Learn more about what costs are included in the service access charge and how trade-offs are balanced at www.opalco.com/rates.

If paying your power bill is a financial strain, OPALCO offers a monthly credit through the Energy Assist program.

P.S. CAPITAL CREDIT checks go out in December. If you were an OPALCO member in 1993 or 1994, watch your mailbox for your co-op dividend! Learn more.

Cotton Cotton Cotton & Island Studios are having a Holiday Open House  on Friday, December 21st from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Come over to Spring Street for some last minute shopping! We are staying open until 7:00 PM and will have refreshments and snacks!

Island Studios will be offering “Draw your Discount” and get 5% – 15% off your total purchase. 

CCC will be offering 25% off everything but jewelry and an additional 20% off clearance items.  Plus, the first 3 purchases of $25.00 or more get a free Brighton Christmas Tree Charm!

Don’t miss this opportunity to get some great gifts at a discount! We are right down the street from each other so it is easy to visit both places! Also Friday Harbor Chocolates will be open until 6:00 PM.

Happy Holidays!

Island Rec –Adult Tennis: Intermediate Skills and Drills

Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

Island Rec is offering another session of Intermediate Tennis Skills and Drills for Adults this January and February with Caroline Hansen. Classes will be held on Sundays; January 13th through February 3rd.

Adult lessons for ages 16 and up are from 2:00 to 3:30 pm indoors at the Fair Building. Register by January 3rd for the early bird special rate of $74.00. It will be $83.00 thereafter.

For more information or registration, please visit www.islandrec.org, call 360-378-4953 or drop by the office at 580 Guard Street Monday through Friday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Fairgrounds Master Plan is currently being developed and the first draft is complete!  It is now available for review online at: www.sanjuanco.com/1552/Fair-Master-Plan-Update (under “Latest News”). 

A printed reference copy is also available at the Parks & Fair Administrative Office for in-house review.  The intent of the draft is to give the countywide community an initial impression of the plan so that public input is considered in the development of the final document.  The public comment period will be open until January 31, 2019. 

Comments may be submitted to:

• Email: sjcf@makersarch.com
• Mail:
  San Juan County Parks & Fairgrounds
  350 Court Street #8
  Friday Harbor, WA 98250
• In Person:
  San Juan County Fairgrounds
  849A Argyle Avenue
  Friday Harbor, WA 98250

Following the public comment period, the consultant team will be making necessary edits/corrections and working to incorporate community and County Council input.  A final draft will be presented to the to the County Council for approval in 2019. 

Town of Friday Harbor utility customers have once again shown their holiday spirit by contributing to the Harbor Life Ring program to benefit the Friday Harbor Food Bank. The Town distributed a letter in the October utility billing statement informing customers that any donations they made in November would be contributed to the Food Bank. In addition, the Town agreed to match the first $1,000 donated. Including the Town match, the Food Bank received $2,952.

“The response from the citizens has been great” said Mayor Farhad Ghatan. “We are always impressed by the generosity in Friday Harbor”.

Bill Cumming, director of the Food Bank was also excited to hear the news. “I want to thank this community once again for stepping up and serving those in need” he said. “These donations are assuring a happy holiday season for a great number of people.”

The Harbor Life Ring program was introduced in 2013 to provide financial support to families in need of relief from utility bills when unable to make ends meet. Once a year the proceeds are dedicated to supporting the Friday Harbor Food Bank during the holiday season.

The Town thanks all those who contribute to the Food Bank, both through this program and other private donations.

This just in from WSF…

Governor Jay Inslee unveiled his “Clean Transportation” (PDF) proposal last week and it includes investments in electric-hybrid state ferries. This announcement gives us a peek into state investments in the 2019-2021 biennium and many of them focus on fighting climate change and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

The governor has budgeted $64.3 million to begin building two new electric-hybrid ferries and $53.2 million to start work on converting two of our current vessels to electric-hybrid.

Under the governor’s plan, electric-hybrid ferries would help reduce the state’s transportation carbon emissions by nearly 2 million metric tons a year.

Hazel is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

Looking for Love?

Me: Youngish Tabby Girl. Love Fancy Feast, bird-watching, designer handbags, banana cream pie and books on tape. Adore Hallmark Christmas Movies and a good cuddle on the sofa with someone who shares my opinion that dogs are inferior to cats.

You: Discerning individual with exquisite taste in friends, a generous heart and comfortable furniture.

We should meet. My name is Hazel and I’m waiting for you at the animal shelter.

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