Looking forward to the next fifty years…

A Canadian mountie and American town crier greet San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce executive director Vernadel Peterson on Sunday to open the fiftieth year of the Anacortes-Friday Harbor-Sidney ferry run.

Yesterday the ferry schedule switched into its spring edition, which included the re-opening of the run to Sidney, British Columbia after taking the winter off.

I got the chance to go along & see the festivities, as folks from Sidney welcomed the mayor of Anacortes and Washington state senator Kevin Ranker with a band and food and speeches as the Washington State Ferries began the 50th year of offering the run to Canada.

The run was saved the last couple of years by “Save Our Ferry” campaigns on both sides, but face rough waters in the present belt-tightening at both the provincial & state levels. One of the ways you can help: Take a trip over to Sidney & Victoria this spring, and see what our neighbours are up to.

Friday Harbor was represented by Town Council Member Felix Menjivar and his daughter Samantha...

On the way home, former county council member Kevin Ranker checks in with Lovel Pratt, who replaced him on the council when he successfully ran for the state senate. Kevin promised the crowd in Sidney he would continue the fight to keep the international run in place.

It was cool - we were welcomed by cheering folks from Sidney, and given buttons....

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