Happy Solstice!

This week’s Road Scholar group comes from all over the US, and goes to each of the larger islands…yesterday Sue got a good look at Mount Baker from the top of Mount Constitution on Orcas. The program is sponsored by Skagit Valley College & headquartered at the San Juan Center in Friday Harbor.

The longer days are here – hope you have a good warm week set for yourself & those around you (remember the real warmth comes from you when you give it to others) – let’s look around the island:

• Take a hike with Mike this Saturday from 1-4pm…here’s more from Eileen & the Trails Committee:

Meet Mike Vouri, Historian and Chief of Interpretation, San Juan Island National Historical Park, to walk at English Camp, learning about life in the camp, where the officers lived and about its historical and cultural history.

Meet and park at English Camp parking lot, off West Valley Road.  Length is 1.5 mi RT.  Terrain is wooded trail and grass.  Rating is moderate.  Dogs on leashes are welcome. More information here.

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That’s Joe (left) at the Art Market last week and Oliver at The Bean last Friday night – here’s the word from Debbie Pigman about today’s Friday Harbor Art Market: “Just want to let you folks know that our music for the Friday Harbor Art Market, 5-8pm at Brickworks, Thursday night is provided by jazz guitarist Oliver Strasser who will play from 5-6:30pm, and classical guitarist Joe Miller who will play from 6:30-8:00pm.”

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• • I hear from Boo Boo that there will be a celebration of life at the Fairgrounds for Gary Pugh‘s life at the Marie Boe Building from 12-4pm on Saturday the 23rd…bring stories and food and drink.

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This Saturday!

• Speaking of music, the Chamber Music San Juans concert for Saturday looks pretty awesome – here’s more from Jan Bollwinkel-Smith:

25^th Anniversary Season for Chamber Music San Juans

It was 1987 when renowned violinist Andor Toth brought together a group of accomplished classical musicians and produced a series of concerts on San Juan Island.  His “Fiddlestix” productions soon transformed into “Chamber Music San Juans,” which opens its 25^th season on Saturday, June 23 at San Juan Community Theatre.

Toth—whose illustrious career spanned well over 60 years, from his student days at Juilliard School at the age of 18 to his performances with many of the nation’s major symphony orchestras—shaped and mentored Chamber Music San Juans until his death in 2006.  University of Victoria’s Patricia Kostek has been the artistic director since then.  “Andor possessed an innate ability to inspire us to stretch beyond just a good performance to a much higher level of expression and communication,” said Kostek.

Longtime islanders Nancy and Charles Lindenberg have been attending CMSJ concerts for the past 23 years and say the island was blessed to have Toth’s phenomenal talent and connections to the classical music world.  “Andor brought a wealth of rich music to this community”, said Nancy.  Charles adds that Kostek’s contributions in the past seven years have kept Toth’s dream alive of bringing world-class musicians to the island for concerts in an intimate setting.

Kostek, who is an acclaimed clarinetist and active studio musician has brought together CMSJ regulars and one newcomer to honor the anniversary and celebrate summer.

They include bassoonist Martin Kuuskmann; violinists Ron Patterson and Eugene Bazhanov; violist Roxanna Patterson; cellist Rowena Hammill; and pianist Bruce Vogt, who marveled a Whittier stage audience last September with his Portrait of Lizst concert.

Saturday’s concert, “Music for a Summer’s Eve,” showcases music by pantheon composers Mozart, Prokofiev and Brahms and introduces Franz Krommer.

The Business Partner for this performance is Managed Reliability.  Tickets are $26 for adults and $13 for student reserved.  $5 Student RUSH will be available at the door.  A private donor has made provision for free tickets to anyone needing financial assistance to attend a Theatre event.

The SJCT Box Office is open Tuesdays-Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and one hour before any performance.  Call 360-378-3210, or surf to www.sjctheatre.org.

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The Bean Café was the spot for the opening of Phil Tate & Robin Meyer-Tate’s art show last Friday…there was wine & food & good company to celebrate their creativity…drop by to see their work in the next month or so – really brightens up the place!

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• One of the great programs that helps high school students here on San Juan Island is Dollars for Scholars, and they had a good year this past year – here’s a note of appreciation from president June Arnold:

With graduation ceremonies behind us, we close the books on another great year for the Dollars for Scholars program.  The program is designed to inspire young men and women to become active volunteers and give back to our community. This year we awarded seven, $1,000 scholarships to graduating San Juan Island seniors, and since our inception over $160,000 has been awarded.  I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of these seven individuals for sticking with it and completing the program requirements of community service: Amanda Brast, Stewart Bell, Marga Eshelman, Julie Hagn, Melissa Hickenbottom, Audrey Olshefskey and Amanda Turnbull.

In addition to congratulating the scholarship recipients, I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to share my appreciation and sincere thanks to all the people and organizations who make our program successful:

Our scholarships are funded by generous donations from individuals that recognize the value of instilling a volunteering spirit in our youth, the local restaurants which partner in our Dining for Scholars program, and finally by all of YOU when you show your support by dining out at one of our Dining for Scholars events.

This year, all of these local restaurants opened their doors and hearts to our program. The portion of their profits they shared from Dining for Scholars was essential to our fundraising efforts – so thank you to:  China Pearl/Kung Fu Pizza, Blue Water Bar & Grill, Lime Kiln Café, McMillin’s at Roche Harbor, Cask & Schooner, KO Subs, Downriggers, Banry Café, Bakery San Juan, MiCasita, Coho Restaurant, Rumor Mill, Market Chef, Vic’s Drive-In, Vinny’s Restaurant, Hungry Clam, Golden Triangle and Ernie’s.

I would also like to thank the San Juan Island Community Foundation for their support in funding our new website www.dollarsforscholarssji.org.  Please visit us to find out more about our program, how to engage students volunteers or to donate.  Dollars for Scholars, San Juan Island is a program of Scholarship America.

June Arnold
President, Dollars for Scholars – San Juan Island

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