Newscap: Thursday

• Let’s take a look around the island, Myron…..

• Good to see you at the Community Dinner at FHHS last night…big mob in support of the kids’ cooking, with special thanks to San Juan Pasta Company for the pasta & help putting it on…way to go!

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• Brian & Rebekah at the Mystical Mermaid had an Open House last weekend, and part of the deal was naming the mermaid (you’ve seen her – she’s made of wood & hangs out, out front of the store) and having a $50 drawing – I wondered who won:

The name that won was Juan-da, pronounced Wanda as in The Strait of Juan De Fuca.  The guy that named her is Al Thomasen.  And the winner of the raffle for the $50 gift certificate was Julie Hart.

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• Here’s how the Twelve Days of Christmas work:

Wolf Hollow and the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce  Co-sponsor the first annual “Twelve Days of Christmas”
December 1-31, on San Juan Island

Twelve island businesses will participate by hosting a lighted display representing one of the twelve days of Christmas. Each of these businesses will have maps available showing each of the display sites. Folks are encouraged to visit each of the locations and complete the questionnaire on the reverse side of the map to be entered into a drawing for a gift basket containing a gift from each of the participating businesses.

The completed questionnaires can be dropped at the Chamber of Commerce prior to December 31 for your chance to win a gift basket.

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• These are cool – I love seeing what the students are doing at the Marine Labs –  the Marine Environment Research Apprenticeship Talks are today! Here is the schedule (from 1-4pm).

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• Have you gone by The Barking Bird yet? They have some cool ideas for gifts for you & the pet owners in your life…located in the old Fat Cat Café, drop by soon! Judith’s done a great job with setting up the store!

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To see more of Aaron’s work, click here!

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• It’s Girls Night Out tonight! Here’s more from Ruth at Waterworks:

Thursday, December 8, 3-8pm
WaterWorks Gallery‘s annual Girls’ Night Out with Mary Brooke Barger
from Mirabella Skin Care…This Thursday, Mirabella Skin Care joins Waterworks Gallery for a Fun  and Festive Girl’s Night Event with chocolates & bubbly. Stop by and see WaterWorks Gallery’s spectacular art jewelry, priced at $30 and up.
Mirabella Skin Care will be offering samples and complimentary skin consultation.

Bring a friend! Enter to win prizes and receive special event only promotions.

Fill out your wish list, and they’ll forward it to your ‘Santa.’ Can’t make it? Go online here and here and check out the fabulous jewelry and give us a call.

The other participating business are Daisy Bloom and Sandpebble, both located on Spring Street. They will be joining WaterWorks Gallery and Mirabella Skin Care in Celebrating Girls Night Out by staying open late, offering treats and discounts for this special evening. Wahoo!

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• So, what IS happening at Sandpebble tonight? Here’s more from Carolyn Leighton:

Stop by Sandpebble for an after hours holiday shopping night with store specials, complimentary gift packaging, yummy treats and refreshments. Come fill out your holiday wish list and enter our drawing. *Thursday December 8th 5-8 pm* Grab a girlfriend and come on out!

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• Every year, Matt & Barbara host one of the great kid events at Gallery San Juan – I love seeing how it all works out with the Artists’ Reception in a week – here’s more from Barbara:

It’s the 13th annual Kids Art Show at Gallery San Juan & Framing, with the reception December 14th from 4pm -6:30pm.

Free art kits & instruction can be picked up at Gallery San Juan, 232 A Street (across from Market Chef), December 7th -10th and must be dropped off by December 13th.

All kids from ages 4-12 are invited to participate.  The show will be up for viewing December 14th, 15th and 16th.  Contact us at the gallery for more information 378-1376.

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• Have you been by Pelindaba to see what they have this time of year? Drop by or check online – here’s more:

We handcraft many unique gifts for under $15. Grab a few to have on hand for hostess gifts, secret Santa exchanges and for co-workers, etc.
See all our grab and go gift ideas.

Gifts for the Gourmet

‘Tis the season for much feasting! Lavender is truly one of the most exciting and unique flavors. For the foodies in your life, we have just the thing.
See all our culinary gift ideas.

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• More gift ideas! Drop by & visit Kirk at Isle Be Jammin’….here’s more:

Isle be Jammin’s Annual Christmas Sale is on!!! 10-25% on musical gear, accessories, books and instruments. Lesson specials as well. Happy Holidays and Thanks for your support over the years. SHOPPPING LOCAL ROCKS!!!!!!

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• Here’s another holiday idea, from Tea:

December Special..20 % off all giftcards at Harper Poesy hairsalon 🙂

Come see us now open most days in Surina Business Park !

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• Did you write your letter to Santa for a bike? It’s due the 10th – here’s the deal.

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• The newly formed San Juan Arts Council elected their folks last week – here’s the scoop from Teddy:

At the first San Juan County Arts Council Board of Directors meeting held at the Orcas Hotel on Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011 the following officers were elected.

President: Teddy Deane (San Juan Island)
Vice President: Lance Evans (Orcas Island)
Secretary: Dennis Ryan (Lopez Island)
Treasurer: Liz Illg (San Juan Island)

The Board of Directors will meet monthly and rotate island meeting sites. The SJCAC will continue to strive to achieve representation and represent artistic endeavors from all county islands.

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• Speaking of winners, here is who won the Chamber of Commerce’s decorating contest last week (Friday Harbor looks great at night! It’s all lit up!):

The winners of the Holiday Decorating Contest are:

Small Exterior: 1st Place  Acanthus Antiques • 2nd Printonyx
Small Interior: 1st Islands Group Sothebys • 2nd Vinny’s
Lrg Exterior: 1st Place Kings Market • 2nd Islanders Bank
Lrg Interior: 1st Rumor Mill * 2nd San Juan County Financial
Best Display in Show: Earthbox

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• New cook at Coho Restaurant! Here’s the story, from Anna Maria:

If you take a peek through the kitchen doors, you’ll find a new face behind the range. We are thrilled to introduce our new head chef, Bill Messick.

Joining us from the finest restaurants in Colorado, Bill was anxious to escape the congestion, the smog, and the hustle & bustle of city life. He was looking for a small community with a good feel to it, and lots of outdoor activities; needless to say, San Juan Island fit the bill perfectly. Bill loves the high quality of the produce and foods the island farmers have to offer, so much so that he scouted out the local farms before showing up for his interview. “There’s so much you can do with each and every ingredient. If you cook seasonally, and locally, you’ll never get bored.”

Trained in an intensive 13-month culinary school, Bill served his internship in Maui with internationally renown super star chef Roy Yamaguchi. He next pulled a stint with the land-based resort for Princess Cruise Lines in Denali National Park, Alaska, serving 1300 meals a day. The seasonal nature of that position led to posts in Colorado, where he honed his skills in French and Italian preparations. Bill’s favorite gig was at Mizuna, a small restaurant with an open kitchen; the staff developed the constantly changing menus together, always challenging each other and their abilities.

Moving on to Chef de Cuisine at Luca D’Italia in Denver, Bill made fresh mozzarella, ricotta, pastas, breadsticks, bresaola, and more, which he absolutely loved. But his desire to “just cook and snowboard” landed him at LaTour in Vail, where snowboarding eventually lost out to cooking as he became Executive Chef, a position he held for three years.

If he were to sum up his “food philosophy,” it would be simple foods, fresh ingredients, proper techniques; those techniques may take longer, but they’re worth it. “What makes the food memorable is the combination of flavors – textures that contrast, but flavors that complement each other.”

On his arrival at Coho, Chef Bill hit the ground running: with a full schedule of bookings, from wine dinners and holiday parties, to catered weddings, Bill was unflappable, executing them all with aplomb. Bill’s goal for Coho is to change the menu monthly in addition to numerous daily specials, always trying new things. In fact, he loves the challenge of creating something “on-the spot” and accommodating special requests on slow evenings. For diners who can plan at least 24 hours ahead, he’ll do a special tasting menu: let him know how many courses you want and he’ll run with it. It’s almost like having a private chef.

Accompanying Bill is his ever-present best buddy, Bijou, a six-year-old Border Collie. During the warmer weather, she stays all night on the back porch of the restaurant until he’s finished cooking, but now that the brisk temperatures have set in, she waits patiently for him at home. Bijou takes Bill on daily runs over the islands’ many trials and back roads, doing her part to keep him healthy and cooking creatively. Everyone on staff happily volunteers to watch Bijou while Bill is working!

Bill takes over for Chef Alphonsine Haslett-Phillips, who is expecting her new baby in February.

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Categories: Around Here