Around the island…

Looking for a home....

A shot from yesterday's morning snow...photo by Alan Niles

If you can’t see the forest for the trees, or the snow for the flakes, then you’ll want to know:

• Toni LoBue has a couple of free dogs – here’s the deal:

Yellow labrador retrievers (Brodie & Lily). Free to a loving home, two purebred yellow labrador retrievers.  They are seven years old, brother and sister, who may  be separated to good homes.  Both are very sweet and friendly, love kids, great for a family or as a companion. Spayed/neutered. They need more attention and playtime than I can provide. Please contact me: Toni LoBue at 378-7767 or tlobue (at) centurytel.net.

• The story behind the weather – check Cliff Maas’ weather blog this morning.

• Judy Chovan is in Ghana…she tells me:

While 80% of Ghanans speak English there are still comprehension problems. I asked to go to the coffin-makers shop, instead I was driven to a coffee shop. Twice. Until I figured out how to pantomime it.

Arielle (center) is celebrating her first year in Rwanda...

• Meanwhile, Arielle Mancuso is in Rwanda with the Peace Corps…her mom Yvonne is heading there to work with her a bit – here is their report:

Seems to me Arielle makes friends everywhere she goes....

From Yvonne: Arielle sent this along … and I thought that her one year anniversary and the Peace Corps 50th year anniversary arriving at the same time was cause for celebration and recognition.  I will be heading to Rwanda next month to work along side of her, so this is a “heads up” for anyone wishing to send her good wishes and/or some island spirit in the form of cards or small tokens for the children are welcome to get in touch with me.  Thanks, Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso, [email protected]

From Arielle: Greetings from Rwanda! This year marks the fiftith anniversary of the Peace Corps. The first Peace Corps Volunteer arrived in Ghana in 1961. This month also marks my first anniversary in Rwanda. A year has passed since I disembarked the plane and commenced my service as a community health and organizational capacity building volunteer in Rwanda. In the past year, I have faced the greatest challenges, taken pride in the small successes, and altered my worldview to match the reality I witness. What an experience it has been! I miss my family and friends and am always thinking about home, so I just thought I’d write a quick update. For more reading, visit my blog.

Damon & Lindsey & baby Collins

• Vic Woodward‘s son Damon & his wife Lindsey have made Vic a grandpa -here’s more from Vic:

Collins was born on Feb. 15th, 8 lbs. 4 oz., 21 inches (shooting guard size, I think )… probably be a Razorback. They live in Little Rock, Arkansas. Collins is all over Facebook, and may even have her own page. She and mom are doing great, dad Damon is a very proud papa. Collins is our first grandchild…so…you can call me grandpa. Yahoo!

• The Spring Street International School kids are in Asia and in Costa Rica….here are their blogs – check out what they’re up to!

• Jane Cable sent over this little press release to clear up a misunderstanding:

Common Sense Alliance (CSA) recently produced a blue and white postcard (click here to see it) entitled “Have you heard about the CAO?” which was distributed via the U.S. Postal Service to San Juan County shoreline property owners.  We understand that some people may have misconstrued a statement in the postcard regarding “a proposal to move houses 150 to 200 feet or more away from shorelines and wetlands.”  The postcard addresses the pending CAO update, which will affect property owners in two ways.

First, for new construction within a shoreline setback or wetland buffer, an owner may be required to locate the structure an increased distance from the shoreline or designated buffer zone from what would be required under the current 50 to 100 foot setback

Second, existing homes and structures found to lie within proposed new buffers or setbacks will likely become “non-conforming,” a designation that brings with it potential limits on expansion, renovation, and replacement.

CSA in no way intended to imply that an existing home or structure would be required to be physically relocated because of current or proposed regulations.  If you have any further questions or comments about this matter, please address them to Common Sense Alliance at [email protected] or to the County.

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