Owen Goes on a Damcation

5 year old Own and his brother Montgomery on a recent damcation – Contributed photo

Owen loved a film seen at the FHFF- He is now a Dam Enthusiast…at 5 years old.
Beloved Friday Harbor Film Festival just got better. A story of success!

by Theresa Simendinger

John Hamilton, manager is too busy with two full restaurants during the FHFF to go to see the 2 films that Cask N Schooner and Tops’l sponsor. I told him later that one of the films they sponsored, Damnation was my favorite at the festival, about the civil disobedience that started the removal of the Elwha Dam. Curiosity got the better of John and he bought a copy of the film and watched it with his 5 year old son Owen Hamilton.

The big surprise was Owen loved the film and has demanded to watch it several times a week since. John’s son asked him a million questions. Owen loved the story of the dam being taken out and the fish returning. The Hamilton family just returned from, what wife, Althonsine, called their “Damcation”: 5 dam visits along the way. All because Owen has become a Dam enthusiast.

The FH Film Festival founders and their army of volunteers couldn’t be more pleased. This is what its all about, to educate, entertain and inspire the leaders of tomorrow. From all indications… its working. Our Young Filmmakers have gone on win prestigious awards, community works have arisen in the schools from ideas shared here and last but not least; if we as a community can inspire young people like— there is hope for tomorrow.

I thought we should check in on whats happening, now that the Elwha and Glines Dams have been removed. I called an island favorite: Lee Taylor who is now Deputy Superintendant at Olympic National Park. Taylor reported, “The NPS decided to take down the two dams as it was a great opportunity to restore the Elwha River, one of the great rivers of the Northwest.” Taylor said that high numbers of salmon have been spotted way upriver of the dam sites where salmon had not been seen for years. “Salmon are the lifeblood for humans and all living things” remarked Taylor.

This year Cask N Schooner is sponsoring Memory of Fish, about the salmon returning upriver past the old Elwha Dam site to spawn… guess who is excited to see it… Owen !

You can support the San Juan Update by doing business with our loyal advertisers, and by making a one-time contribution or a recurring donation.