Around our scepter’d isle…

New lights! Here's more from County Fair Director Rev Shannon: "Hey Ian, A really good thing happened at the fairgrounds recently. We have new lights in the Main Building. Yep, gone are those big, old metal halide fixtures that buuzzzzzed. We now have new energy efficient fluorescent with some variable control. It is a wonder to behold. Ok, maybe not a wonder, but it sure makes a difference inside the Main Building. We will be upgrading the outside too. Thanks to the folks at Friday Harbor Electric for the good work on the project." That's Jen Allen with a light up there.

OK, we’re not REALLY scepter’d, but we have fun anyway – here’s more:

Cat with wanderlust....

• Have you seen my cat? Nala (right) wandered off late last week & I’m kinda wondering how she’s doing…she’s about 8-9 pounds with a white bit on the tip of her tail & no teeth in her lower jaw. I live near the back of Browne’s Home Center – if you see her could you give me a call at 378-3597?

• After being presented the evidence that sonar testing (and use) harms whales & killer whale’s auditory systems, the Navy is going ahead with its plans anyway…here’s more on that.

• First notice – get it on your calendar: The Children’s Festival is May 7th this year. See you there!

• Lavendera Day Spa will be hosting an art show opening this Friday (4/22) at for local artist Denis O’Keefe. Denis’ work consists largely of beautiful watercolors with worldly, exotic themes. It will take place at Lavendera Day Spa at 440 Spring Street from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. Hors d’oeuvres  and non alcoholic beverages will be served and free 15 minute massages will be available. Stop by to support this fantastic local artist!

Lime Kiln Lighthouse at sunset, last week. Click to see a bigger, cooler version...photo by John Miller (thanks, John!)

• One of the things that holds the shows together at Island Stage Left is the kindness of folks who put up the actors who come from off-island – and they could use a little help this year. Here’s more from Helen:

Ian,
We are looking for people willing to donate housing for an actor this summer from June 1st – Aug 20th. It could be a boat, a cabin, an apartment, a clean trailer or any kind of shelter that comprises the basic amenities of a toilet (and preferable a shower) and some cooking facilities. Or maybe someone just needs some animals fed while they are away for the summer.

This would be a tax-deductible donation to Island Stage Left. Three of our housing donors are unavailable this year for a variety of sad and unavoidable reasons.

We should tell you that many of our hosts have thoroughly enjoyed their visitors and still keep in touch with them. One of them is so fond of their actor that they put in a bid to have her stay with them every year! Just this year, another of our current housing donors said “I get so much more out of hosting them than they get out of staying here. They are all so interesting!” Other donors prefer to have our actors be as invisible as possible. I try to match people up so that they are copacetic.

We require extensive personal recommendations ourselves before casting an off-island actor, so we are very comfortable with the people we hire. Over the years we have been lucky to have several people who donate housing every year, but this year housing has been harder than ever to find due to a series of unforeseen difficulties including tragedy and a trailer destroyed by a winter storm!  Then, to top it off, one of the local actors decided to move and told me just a couple of weeks ago, so I have had to hire ANOTHER off-island actor and find ANOTHER piece of housing! So, I am spending many a sleepless night fretting over finding suitable accommodations for our professional actors. I have managed to find homes for 5 but still need two more places.

We would provide you with a tax receipt for the IRS and our undying gratitude!

Please let me know if this is a possibility. It would be for a minimum of 6 weeks and a maximum of 12 starting June 1st. Obviously I would prefer to find one place per actor, as that only requires finding 2 places instead of 4 – but we will entertain the idea of 6 weeks in one place and 6 in another if necessary. As you can imagine, finding summer places for 7 people is quite a task. We require a housing deposit from the actors – which we have never had to use – as a safety measure for our hosts.

We would be so grateful if you were able to help!

Thank you so much for your consideration,

All the best,
Helen (Machin-Smith)

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