What’s happening…

Orca at the end of a breach...photo by Christine Swedell

Let’s take a look around….

• Good to hear he’s back on his feet – Kyle Reitan was back on the island this past weekend – he’s been living in Seattle, where he ran into a car on his bike Wednesday. He went over the car, according to his brother, and had a pretty good concussion & is pretty bruised up, but he headed back to the city yesterday.

Wouldn't be the same without 'em...

• I checked in with the elephant ears guys and they said it was true: They were driving up from Shelton to come to the Fair when they broke an axle…a buddy of theirs brought his flatbed, loaded it up with all the elepant ears & curly fries-making stuff, and thus the Fair was saved.

Said they couldn’t imagine missing the Fair, anyway….

• They told me I could tell you: Lew & Debbie Dickinson are teaming up with Marc & Mica from Friday Harbor Espresso to open a new restaurant in the spot where the Peppermill is, presently. Debbie tells me they are going to call it the Homestead and hope to open the first part of October.

• This is a great week to swim with the kids – here’s more from Amy:

San Juan Island Fitness is doing it again! To celebrate the last week of summer, we’re offering a $5 lifeguard swim special August 23 – 27. Kids and adults swimming with their child/grandchild are just $5 per person. Swim times are Monday/Wednesday/Friday 3-4:30 and Tuesday/Thursday 5:30-7. Bring a towel and we’ll see you there!

• Eric at the Bean has part of his staff off playing & coaching high school soccer this fall, so he’s looking for a few good baristas. He says he has permanent part or full time positions available – stop by and see Eric.

Saw Jenn doing a "little" shopping at the drug store last week. Kinda like Alice in Wonderland...

• It’s always good to hear from Kathleen Wilson – she needs a little help, and has a story to tell:

Hi, Ian! I am looking for people to help me with German and Latin pronunciation for singing.  If anyone can help me, I can be reached at auntkaky (at) gmail.com.  Any time and/or effort would be greatly appreciated.

I’ll have to tell you about my “summer vacation” to the Victoria Conservatory of Music to study opera.  Two weeks of really great experiences.  The instructors were world class and so very helpful and supportive.  We gave a concert at the end of the academy and Sonja was able to come up for it.  I did a duet, trio, sixtet and solo!  A wonderful, wonderful place to take class if anyone ever asks you about it.

Flying over Lopez, with Mount Baker in the background...

• Swing Dance Lesson & Dance – this Thursday at the Mullis Center, with live music by the One More Time Band. Lesson at 6:15pm, dance from 7-9pm. Lesson & dance $10; dance only $5.

• Looks like the airport’s runway & taxiway will be closed in a couple of weeks – here’s more from Dave Ryan at the Airport:

Dear airport tenants, users and friends,

Attached is a Notice of Construction for the crack sealing, fog seal and painting project beginning September 7, 2010.

As you will notice in addition to the runway and taxiway closure Tuesday night the 7th through Friday morning the 10th, we will be closing the south portion of Taxiway “A” for full-depth asphalt repairs on Tuesday the 7th at 10:00 am which may require back-taxiing by aircraft during the day Tuesday.

We request that airport users, hangar owners and lessees not drive on the new fog seal and paint Wednesday and Thursday (it should be dry by Friday am.) We would also like to fog seal in front of all hangars as soon as the runway work is completed, so we request that unless owners and lessees have a real need to be on the airport during this closure they refrain from doing so. Please pass this information along to your friends and airport neighbors.

Finally, if at all possible we would like the owners of aircraft in the tie-down spaces to move their aircraft to one location on Wednesday the 8th, so that we can fog seal all other locations and then move them back Thursday. Please contact me to coordinate. (360-378-4724 or [email protected]).

With any luck we’ll have the lion’s share of this work completed by Saturday evening the 11th. In 30 days the contractor will return to paint the permanent markings on the runway and taxiways. Thank you so much for your cooperation and patience during construction.  As always, if you have any questions please contact me.

Airport Construction Notice
Runway 16/34 will be closed for fog seal, crack repair and painting beginning Tuesday, September 7th at 8:00 pm (local) and will remain closed until Friday morning, September 10th at 06:00 am (local). Lighted “X”s will be installed on both ends of the runway.

In the event weather precludes construction during this time, runway closure dates will move to Monday night, September 13th at 8:00 pm (local) and remain closed until Thursday morning at 06:00 local.

The south portion of Taxiway “A” will be closed Tuesday, September 7th at 10:00 am for full-depth repairs. Aircraft landing to the south may be required to back-taxi.

Please call 360-378-4724 with any questions regarding construction. Thank you for your patience during this much needed maintenance.

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.