On the island today…

Rainbow over Sentinel Island, next to Speiden Island, on Sunday morning on the way to Sidney on the ferry...photo by Josie Byington.

The picture above is even cooler when it’s bigger – click here to see the full screen version.

Let’s see what’s happening:

• Here’s the word from island census supervisor Tim Thomsen: “2010 Census – If you have not received your Census form yet and you have a PO Box, Do NOT worry!!! Your form will be hand-delivered to their residence by islanders hired as Census Enumerators later in April.  These forms will be geocoded for each address and, so, for good reason, it is important that PO Box holders wait for these forms to arrive and not try to pick one up ahead of time.”

Saturday night it was nice to see Gail & Randy (from Cotton Cotton Cotton) having dinner to celebrate Randy's birthday at Haley's.

• The season’s first show at Concepia: John Sinclair says: “It’s our first show for 2010 at Concepia: ‘Your Center for Photography’ features the work of two local artists: Sandra Boyer and Joe Miller. The show runs thru May 6 at 232 A Street #7, 360-298-2374″

That's Deanna & Seanene after their successful open house at Village at the Harbour assisted living last weekend.

• This Friday at the Community Theatre – it’s Keyboard Masterworks: A special benefit concert for SJCT. Island musicians Grisha Krivchenia and Robin Lohrey share the great works of beloved composers. Tickets: $12 adults; $7 student reserved; $5 RUSH.

• Here’s the word from Peggy & Kurt at Naknek Charters: Naknek Charters and Diving has just been awarded the designation of REEF Field Station and we want you to celebrate with us. Join us for a fun filled weekend in the beautiful San Juan Islands and learn how to identify over 40 basic Pacific NW fish.  Kurt Long of Naknek Charters and Diving will be our instructor.

He will be teaching how to identify some of the more common San Juan Islands fish and invertebrates.  The weekend event will be held in beautiful Friday Harbor, on San Juan Island, and will also include two days of two tank boat dives with Naknek Charters and Diving. This three day event will be held May 14-16, 2010.  This event will help divers identify and correctly track sea life.

Bob Leytze and Mike Adams put on a good show at Pazzo Vivo Saturday, with great guitar work & tight harmonies. Watch for them next time they play (they're called The DuoTones!)

However, fish counts are not required to take part in this weekend, you can just come to have fun and learn. The price for the weekend is $290.00 based on double occupancy.  The REEF ID Class is also available for non-divers for a cost of $20.00. Call today to book your spot for this exciting weekend, please contact Kurt or Peggy Long at Naknek Charters, 360-378-9297.

• You knew Pelindaba had stores in Seattle & Bellevue, right? Here’s the word from Amelia Powell at Pelindaba Lavender with the latest about their plans for those shops, and the island:

In April and May of 2010, as their respective leases end, the closing of its Seattle City Centre and Bellevue Square product galleries will mark the successful conclusion of Pelindaba Lavender’s key demonstration project instituted three years ago to validate the viability of its long term off-island retail marketing strategy.

“The success of our off-island retail product galleries – one in a major city downtown retail core and the other in a high-end major urban mall – has fully confirmed our conviction that our elegantly designed lavender-based products would appeal to publics well beyond just those who happened upon them during their visit to our San Juan Island farm,” said Stephen Robins, Pelindaba’s founder owner.

“Together with our ongoing original on-farm gift store and the subsequent product gallery in the small retail center of Friday Harbor, we now have hands-on experience with four different bricks-and-mortar retail models that we can share with our growing list of wholesale partners and licensees,” Robins added.
Right on the heels of this milestone will be the launching of the substantial new Visitor Center when the farm opens for the season on May 1, 2010. Shortly thereafter, Pelindaba expects to see the completion of its new Production, Inventory and Administration Center that is currently rising from the ashes of the May 2009 fire at the farm. Details on these two developments will be announced shortly.

“Beyond just serving our on-island stores, the greatly expanded facilities are being built to meet the increasing demands of our burgeoning online website sales, as well as the expansion of our various wholesale business partnerships” said Robins. “We have come a long way from our modest agritourism roots, and with the continued expansion of our product line – now more than 250 products – we are entering a whole new chapter of our adventure venture.”

• Darren & Lisa put together a nice video for San Juan Islands TV about the 50th anniversary of the Anacortes/SAn Juan/Sidney ferry run – check it out:

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