The new year, underway….

Happy New Year! Here is this year's photo of the San Juan Island New Year's Day Polar Bear Swimmers, who jumped in the ocean at noon on New Year's Day at San Juan County Park. They include Chris Slack (left), Derek Steere, Sharyn Columna & San Juan County Park Ranger Eugene. A small but brave group! Photo by Lauren Cohen (thanks, Lauren!)

Let’s see what’s happening around here! Here’s a start:

• It was fun to run into Jo & Pat Sandwith on the ferry as they came back from two weeks in Switzerland & Germany over the holiday…great stories to tell, including that they ran into Jim McNairy at the airport in Germany…he & Dottie had been to Africa to see THEIR son…

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• School daze: Today’s a holiday for the kids at school – they’re back in action tomorrow. And it’s a good week to drop by Skagit Valley College, as classes get underway. Signup!

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Heather

• Here’s what Heather Spaulding is up to these days – she’s started her own little business – here’s the scoop:

Heather Spaulding opened a process serving business on the island – Tiger Eye Legal Services, serving San Juan, Skagit and Island Counties.  Her office is located on Argyle, Suite 435-C, next to the Home Trust. She charges $40.00 for San Juan Island, $50.00 for the other islands,  and $80.00 for Skagit and Island Counties.  She’s small, she’s stealth, she’ll have them served before they even know what hit them! You can email her at heatherj (at) tigereyeinvestigations.com.

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• There’s a wind advisory for this afternoon & evening – batten down the hatches! Here’s the report.

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Kyle

• Just heard from Kyle Davies that he’s finishing up his training in Seattle this year, and he could use a hand with housing there. Can you help, or do you know someone who can? Here’s his note & contact info (kdavies (at) sanjuanems.org or 298-0720):

Hey, Ian! A friend suggested I connect with you about a challenge I have. I’m wondering how best to pass along an appeal to islanders for 6 months of housing in Seattle. Last June I was accepted into the Seattle Medic One Paramedic Training Program with Seattle Fire, UW, and Harborview Medical Center. The program began in early October and is slated to wrap up in July of this new year.

Upon completion of the program I will come back to the island and work as the island’s newest paramedic with San Juan Island EMS (Emergency Medical Services). Cady and I are trying where we can to save funds as most of the room and board expenses are out of pocket for us.  The program is one of immersion and the schedule prevents commuting and favors living as close to Harborview as practical.

We’re wondering if any of your readers might have a lead on an apartment, condo, studio, or space where I can live (or rent if needed) near First Hill, Capitol Hill, or Beacon Hill.  I have been living on Mercer Island in the good graces of island friends whose house here is now selling.  Any thoughts?   I appreciate any ideas or help you can provide… thanks Ian!

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• I love people who write stuff that makes me think, makes me feel…I asked Jim “Shu” Carroll if I could share this with you, that he posted earlier today:

this morning i stood in a steaming shower and had a recurring revelation. i remembered an evening when my son ben, who had just returned from a long period of working with AIDS orphans in lesotho, had first turned my perspective on its head. he walked to the kitchen sink, filled a glass of water from the tap, and drank it. as he set the glass down on the counter he said “pretty much everywhere i’ve been in the last couple of years that would have been the definition of wealth.”

here i was, standing in a wasteful stream of water from which i could actually drink without becoming ill. i realized with a kind of horror that i am MUCH closer to being a member of the 1% than the 99%. i can turn that horror to gratitude, but the guilt doesn’t wash away so easily.

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• Remember how one of your new year’s resolutions was to get out more & do more in the community? Here’s a great idea from Jenny Wilson, who is in charge of the Community Service Projects at FHHS:

Evaluators needed for Community Service Projects

The Community Service Projects class at Friday Harbor High School is a chance for juniors to explore their passions and strengths by designing a project with a community partner that addresses a need in the community.  By designing and completing a meaningful project it is hoped that students will leave a lasting legacy for the school, community and themselves.

The semester is soon coming to an end and students have been working diligently all semester to complete their projects. On Wednesday January 18^th, 2012 (5:30 – 7:00pm), students will be giving presentations demonstrating all that they have accomplished and learned this term.  It will truly be an exciting evening to learn about the Beaverton Marsh Duck Nests project,  Dental Hygiene Education project,  After School Arts project,  Softball Dugout Rejuvenation Project, just to name a few.  We need community members to come and give valuable feedback to our students about their projects.

For those of you who have assisted us before, I think you will be impressed with how far we have come as a school in our efforts to make community connections and do real world work.  For those of you who have not attended these presentations, it’s an opportunity to see the accomplishments of students in our school.  We are proud of the passion students have for their service projects.

Logistics:

We need approximately 15 evaluators.

For What:  Community Service Presentations
Where:  Friday Harbor High School
When:  Wednesday, Jan 18
Time:  5:30 – 7:00
Why: Give feedback to students about their projects

Please respond by email at: [email protected]  if you can evaluate.

Thank you for all you do on behalf of the students and their learning!

Jenny

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I love this - Yvonne Bowman at the post office shared with me the note her grandson Xander (five years old!) wrote for Santa - she tells me Xander's doing great. His dad Rob Combs is doing well, and his mom Nikki Fink is fondly remembered by islanders after her passing more than a year ago....there's a lot of love in that family.

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