Around the island…

A mushroom on the west side of the island last weekend...photo by Josie

Let’s see what’s going on:

• Do you have a song in your head & heart this morning? Cool! If you want to try one that I’ve had running around in my head, try this oft-recorded Leonard Cohen song, sung by four Norwegian dudes…you’ll see why it got nearly 30 million views. And listens.

Shannon Plummer helps kids understand the meaning of each fold when the flag is folded...

• Krispi Staude tells me she was there for the Veterans Day observance last Friday at the elementary school:

Five veterans from the American Legion came and gave a presentation to the Elementary School in Friday Harbor on Friday.

We started out with the entire school in the parking lot to say the pledge of allegiance as the flag was raised after David Eden played Reveille on the trumpet.  The students then joined the vets in the gym for an assembly which included a power point movie about helping out veterans and a lesson in tri-folding the flag and what each fold stands for.

They had four students help with the folding and it was really moving.

• I asked Lenore what Emily’s up to a couple of weeks ago – she wrote me back then, but I am just now posting her reply (thanks, Lenore!):

Emily Bayuk-Johnson is heading to Boston next week with Lake Union Crew (LUC) to row in the Head of the Charles. The Head Of The Charles Regatta, the world’s largest two-day rowing event, was first held on October 16, 1965. The race was established by the Cambridge Boat Club.  Emily rowed for LUC 2 years ago and they placed 3rd.  The race is Oct. 23-24 on the Charles River in Boston, Mass.

Proud grandma Jeanine Earnhart shows off baby Theron late last week....

Emily is still busy coaching and teaching rowing on Lake Union in Seattle.  She will be leaving for Lesotho, Africa in November for another LUC Foundation building project.  Emily will be there thru February.  You can get info on this volunteer opportunity at this website.

• Have you seen Merri Ann‘s real estate summary for the past quarter? Here it is…gives you a pretty good snapshot of what’s happening around the island this past few months, and past few years.

• Book nuts, unite! There are two readings tonight – at Griffin Bay Bookstore, Dr. Fu-Shiang Chia will be reading from his book…here’s the scoop on this 7pm event.

Mike & Julia's "San Juan Island" hit the shelves (including Roche Harbor Market, where this picture was taken last weekend) on November first.

Meanwhile, Julia & Mike Vouri are over at the Historical Museum with their new book (right) about the island – here’s more.

• The Griffin Bay Learning Center Open House is from 4-7pm this afternoon (Tuesday)…here’s the details.

• There’s an opening on the Historical Review Board – Sandy has more:

HISTORIC FRIDAY HARBOR MATTERS:
Historic Preservation Review Board Opening

Friday Harbor’s historic buildings contribute significantly to the San Juan Island’s unique sense of place. Friday Harbor’s territorial-era downtown buildings have miraculously escaped at least four serious town fires over the years, while the early downtown districts of most other Washington coastal towns and cites have burned and been rebuilt.

Preserving Friday Harbor’s historic buildings and sites takes the commitment and dedication of property owners, island preservationists and the Town’s Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB). Appointed by the Mayor, the members of the HPRB are instrumental in advocating for preservation of the town’s historic district and other heritage sites.

In December, current board member Michael Jean Smith will step down to spend more time with her family, so the Town’s historic preservation program coordinator, Sandy Strehlou, is looking for someone to fill Michael Jean’s position.

Strehlou says the Town has a experienced and committed board, with members currently consisting of three architects, a local electrician and Town Planning Commission member who has worked in every historic building in town, and a property owner who has rehabilitated several historic homes.

Good candidates for the open position are people with direct experience (paid or unpaid) in preservation, historical research, planning, design review, local history, and other related fields. Residency in Friday Harbor is preferred, but not required.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Strehlou no later than December 10, 2010. For more information contact Sandy Strehlou, 360.378.2810 or [email protected].

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