Yeah, it really is snowing….and more closures & notices & thank yous…

• Got this note from Juan Tabon’s daughter Alex (via Juan):
My 8 year old girl Alex would like to let everybody to know that she has a blue birdfeeder outside… so let all your friends’ birds in the neighborhood know that we have food for them. Thank you.

• Cold & want to get inside? Here’s a note from Rebecca Parks at the Best Western/Friday Harbor Suites:
Hi Ian!  Just thought folks might like to know that Friday Harbor Suites is offering a Snow Special – rates are the lowest ever and all rooms include a hot breakfast…Power out?  Stuck in town?  Come on over!

• Meanwhile, Wendy Meyers at Friday Harbor House has a deal too, if you need a place to stay:

We would like to extend an offer to our local neighbors to stay at the Friday Harbor House with the special snow rate of $79.00 per night, for the next couple of nights.

Let’s stay warm and safe!

• Just talked to Wes at Kings Market & he says they’re open till 9pm tonight.

• From Michele at Islanders Bank:
Due to the winter weather and for the safety of our staff, we are closing at 3:00pm today (1/18/12).  Night Drop & ATM services are available.

• From Brendan at the County’s Department of Emergency Management:
Band of snow showers lingering over the islands this morning. Could see a couple of more inches until it tapers off mid-morning. Reports of 2-4″ inches of new snow (and more in some places!) on ground this morning. School districts are closed, roads require extreme caution at moment, go slow and carefully. Colder and windier this afternoon will feel downright arctic.

• From Debbie at Roche Harbor Market (the freight truck couldn’t go to Roche Harbor this morning):
HUGE BIG Thank you to John McBride & John Simpson/Marketplace for securing RH Market Grocery Freight! So appreciated ~ ♥ our community ♥

Snow on the deck this morning....photo by John Boyd

• Just heard from Liz, about the Community Dinner tonight at the high school:
Good Snowy Morning!
Unfortunately, Mother Nature has other plans for us this evening. Stay warm, stay cozy and stay home! We will keep you posted on the next Community Dinner.
Thanks!

• Here’s the word from Dave Ryan, the airport manager:
Effective at 09:45 this morning, I elected to close Friday Harbor Airport for safety reasons. Continued snowfall, poor visibility and accumulations of snow on all surfaces have made air operations unsafe. We will be here monitoring the situation and as conditions improve, will begin trying to clear emergency medical services routes first, followed by other surfaces. If you have any questions please call (360) 378-4724.

Here's the marina in the snow, earlier this morning...photo by Kevin Holmes

• Check the ferry parking lot in Friday Harbor, with Island Cam:
http://www.islandcam.com/friday_harbor.html

• From Debbie Sandwith at Roche Harbor Market:
Roche Harbor Market is OPEN ~ we have sleds; gloves; hats and all the groceries you may need on this Snowy, Windy Winter Day!!!!

• From Sam at the Right of Way Driving School:
As Per The Driving School Lady at Right of Way Driving School, Please Remember To Turn Your Lights On While Driving Around. Be Seen!!!!

• From Sally at Island Rec:
Island Rec’s programs scheduled for today have been cancelled.  The list includes Active Senior Fitness, STAR, Study Time and Afternoon Recreation, TREC, Teen Drop in Recreation and Badminton and Ping Pong. Island Rec’s office is open during its regular office hours of 1-5pm. Island Rec program closures are listed on islandrec.org and on its recorded phone message at 378-4953.

• Cynthia Burke at XYZ Movement Arts says:
For all my XYZ students – all classes are cancelled Wednesday and most likely Thursday – we are busy building snow people – Enjoy the break, stay warm and safe!

• From Margie at the Library:
The Library will open as usual at 10 am. today & our parking lot has been plowed (at least for now!) But be careful out on the roads and sidewalks! If you are stuck at home, why not check out our online resources from Auto Repair Center to Consumer Reports to Worldbook Encyclopedia — it’s all there for you! You can also renew or request items by clicking on Your Account. Discover life’s possibilities @ www.sjlib.org!

• And here’s a little video of Tucker Avenue (from the road going to the Labs, near town) I took at 8:45 this morning – it’s come down even harder since, and the road isn’t getting worn down because hardly anyone is out on it:

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