October 19, 2007
Gonna sing for you....album release concert!
You know, Laurie Anderson once said, "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Which gives me pause when I tell you about a musical happening coming...but here's the dance, and what we're gonna build.
I just finished my third album since 1999, and I want to play it for you.
I've gotten to play at the County Fair, Lavender Festival, Arts Fair, graduations (at Head Start, most recently), and community events, as well as performing for weddings all over the islands. And now, it's time for an album release concert for my new album, "Things Seen & Unseen."
This new album features songs that define a vision of the way the world is, and the way the world can be. The most-played song, "Flowers in the Sand," has been played on radio stations in another version since 2003, while "You Are Love" features former islander Kimberly Cincilla in a Rumi-influenced song of love intertwined with the divine. The sacrifices of Ben Linder in Central America are chronicled in "Hey, Ben, Hey," with the counterpoint of covers of Jackson Browne's "Before the Deluge" and John Denver's "Rhymes & Reasons."
I will be offering an album release concert at the Benefit Players Theater (on the corner of Guard and Tucker Streets, in Friday Harbor) on Friday, October 26 and Saturday, October 27, at 7:30pm.
In keeping with the BPT's mission, admission will be by donation, benefiting locals who have a need. This show will benefit Connie and Tom Odegard, to help them with medical expenses related to the accident they were involved in last spring. My past and present CDs will be available at the show. You can hear samples from the CD at my website, on CD Baby, or on iTunes. You can also buy it at Griffin Bay Books, Boardwalk Books, Harbor Bookstore, and Island Studios, as well as Darvill's Books on Orcas.
Playing with me for both shows is up-and-coming local band Athemology. Composed of high schoolers Avery Adams, Christian Carter, Miles Cobos, and Shay Byington, the group scored an impressive debut at the Ale House back in May and at the County Fair, and packed the house at a sell-out benefit earlier this month. Influenced by a wide-range of music from the past few decades, the band also offers thoughtful poetic songs they've written as well.
I'd love for you to come to the show - I'm looking forward to showing you what's on the new album.
Christmas is just around the corner....
So it's time to start thinking about decorating your business for the holiday season...here's more about the Chamber of Commerce's contest.
Where does the water come from? Where does the water go?
Over at the Marine Labs, there's a pretty cool talk on Thursday, next week - here's what they tell me:
Thursday, October 25, 7:30 p.m., the San Juan Nature Institute partners with San Juan County's Marine Resources Committee to host Dr. Richard Horner. Specializing in how human activities affect water resources, Dr. Horner will address the effects of runoff on water supplies and nearshore ecosystems, and give solutions that reduce negative impacts. Dr. Horner is an environmental engineer with the University of Washington's Landscape Architecture Department. There is no charge, refreshments will be served, and the lecture will be held at the Commons room courtesy of Friday Harbor Labs.
October 18, 2007
Info junkie.....
Readers of the Update can rather easily get the idea that this reporter a) is a bit of an information junkie who likes details, and lots of 'em, about stuff going on around us [in other quarters, such people are known as "sociologists," but those guys never get jobs], and that b) I love the island we share together here.
In that spirit, here's a website my friend John Simon sent me which has more than you'd expect to find out in one place about us - check it out (put 98250 in, for the zipcode here)!
On the road....
They had a nice going away shindig for Amy Trainer (right) at the Friends of the San Juans offices last week, and I caught up with her for a sec at the post office before she leaves for Alaska this week....that's Henry the dog with her.
Famous, we are.....
Robin over at the Visitors' Bureau mentioned to me that we're in there again - major magazine coverage for San Juan Island includes National Geographic Traveler for two months in a row (September with Juniper Lane Guesthouse and October with Wildwood Manor). Here's more....
Meanwhile, Heather Wong wrote to tell me we're in Forbes magazine as a place to visit:
Hi Ian!
Love visiting your website! Didn’t know if you’d already seen this: The San Juans made Forbes' website this week! It's in a section called: "Top Places to Visit Before You Die." The islands were one of 15 locations pictured in a slideshow on the site.
Of course we already knew it was the best place in the world!
Heather Wong
The store is open....
I dropped by the new convenience/gift shop at the top of the ferry lanes, next to Mi Piace last weekend, and Sandy Montana & Ron Bates are open & doing business.
They're calling it the Mosquito Fleet Mercantile, and Ron has historical pix of the Fleet on the walls - drop by & say hey.
Sense of place, sense of staying put....
In his blog, Derek Eisel muses about the advantages of staying put. His thoughts are partly grounded in his experiences coming to the island to his cabin here, from the city; he also addresses the spirit of what it takes to be a homesteader. Here's his essay....
I like the little bit where he quotes a fellow named Gould, who paraphrases Wendell Berry, a famous America Catholic essayist and homesteader:
"The recipe Berry offers for the preservation of meaning in the industrial age is to foster a deep practical and spiritual relationship to a particular place. By living and working in place, Berry argues, we become aware of the interdependencies that industrial culture seeks to have us forget, deny or destroy. Being in place is practiced by eating locally, caring for the land, taking responsibility and developing affection for one's home, animals and natural surround. "
Let's do it anyway....
You probably already know about this - Washington state is trying to pass legislation to reduce auto emissions by a substantial rate, and has been held up in their efforts by the Environmental Protection Agency, a federal agency that used to protect the environment when islander Bill Ruckelshaus started it during the Nixon administration.
The challenge to what the state is trying to do is challenged by the auto industry. Duh. Here's more, from the Olympian.
October 17, 2007
Evening of close calls....
The Wolverine volleyball game last night at Orcas had a furious finish as FHHS won the fourth game, only to lose the match in the fifth by a couple of points - way to go, girls! Champions come back - it's neat to see this squad play with the heart of a champion!
Meanwhile, the soccer girls played league leaders LaConner down to the wire as well - the Wolverines scored the first two to start the game, but were behind 4-3 with 35 minutes to go before Whitney Porter made it 4-4 with a pinpoint unassisted free kick to the far post with about 17 to go.
The Braves answered a few minutes later, but our girls were still attacking as time ran out on the 5-4 loss (reminds me of Lombardi's saying: "We didn't lose, we just ran out of time.") I'm pretty sure if we had another five minutes we'd have scored....
That's forward Shelby Ness (behind the LaConner defender in blue) just a touch away from scoring in the second half in the photo.
That puts us in second place in league, going into tonight's Concrete game, here. The season ends next week, so these last games help us find out where we land in the playoffs.
Phone-a-thon rocks....
They were having a good time calling the community last night down at Windermere, where teachers, board members, high school kids (like Tommy Fowler & Theo Pratt, left) checked in with folks for the San Juan Island Public Schools Foundation's annual event.
The last three years, the event has helped raise about $20K or so for needed equipment & program support at the schools - I love what they're doing.
If you'd like YOUR chance to donate, swing by their website to see a) the cool stuff they're doing and b) where to send your check.
Moving over....
Yesterday I heard from Kelly Snow that she, John Lackey, and licensed assistant Shelly Vanskyhawk have re-located over at Coldwell Banker this week.
Candy.....
You know that the Greenway subdivion gets slammed by trick or treaters each year - one neighbor told me last year he counted & had over 625 kids come by. You can help our friends out, by donating candy for the evening - here's more from Lisa Anderson.
Ian: Could you please say something about the Red Trash Cans located at FH Drug and FH Marketplace. Kiwanis is once again sponsoring the Halloween Candy Drive to help out our town neighbors who have TONS of Trick or Treaters every year. People can donate Halloween Candy to the red cans, or they can mail a donation check to Kiwanis, PO Box 814, Friday Harbor, WA 98250 and we will puchase more candy.
Thanks. If you need to contact someone, try me or Gina Sandwith.
Lisa Anderson
Quote
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
October 16, 2007
Soccer girls tune up for LaConner....
Last night the Wolverines poured it on the visiting North Sound Christian girls, as senior Kate Fyrqvist and junior Whitney Porter started things off with hard drives to the net in the first few munites to set the tone for a 6-1 romp. FHHS played its best team game I've seen this season, which was a nice warmup for today's game with the Braves here.
Also, I got a chance to visit for a bit with Hannah Snow, and it looks like her all-league season in the net (that would be my vote) is ended with that knee injury last week; in Monday's game, Lola Elford did a nice job stepping into Hannah's shoes (and gloves!)
Sports over the weekend.....
One of the great things to do on a sunny Saturday like we had this past weekend is to go & watch all the soccer games at the elementary school - it's your chance to see the stars of tomorrow being stars today. With some 180 kids playing each weekend from the island, it's easy to see someone you know to cheer for.
Meanwhile, the football young 'uns have had to travel each weekend this month, but as their blog reports, that seems to suit the Junior Tigers just fine, as they posted their seventh win in seven tries this weekend. Here's more.
One weekend left...
The play runs one more week at the Community Theatre - here's more from Jan:
The opening of Over the River and Through the Woods was a blast! And there's more to come!
Don't miss seeing this great hit directed by the Island's own Andrew V. McLaglen. It plays again this coming weekend, Thursday through Saturday, October 18 to 20.
It will have you laughing, crying, shouting "Tengo Famiglia!" singing "That's Amore!" and calling your faraway family members (I called mom this morning).
Tickets for this weekend's evening performances are $17 adults; $8 student reserved. The matinee is $15 for adults; $7 student reserved. $5 student RUSH tickets are available at the door. The Box Office is open today from 11 am to 4 pm, tomorrow from 11 am to 2 pm, and one hour before each performance. You can also call us at 378-3210.
Film makers present film on the island....
Tim Bennett & Sally Erickson came last Saturday (that's them with the Library's Adrienne Bourne at left) to present What a Way to Go, their film about the way the world is & the direction it's headed.
They stayed after the film to discuss it & the things it covers with viewers - most everyone I spoke to was moved, scared, thoughtful, and told me they were better informed. If you want to a film that will change the way you look at things, this is a good place to start. The Library has a copy if you'd like to check it out.
Here's a posting of what the Library has going this week.
Island Air commended for safety
Tom Harris sends this press release about our friends at Island Air:
Island Air, Friday Harbor’s on-demand air charter and air ambulance company, received its fourth Aviation Safety Excellence Award from Phoenix Aviation Managers Inc. on October 9. This award recognizes Island Air for its flawless safety record and continuing commitment to aviation safety throughout the company's operations.
"While we do numerous aviation safety audits, only a select few are recognized for their excellence. Island Air is the first and only flight operation in the United States to receive this award four times,” said Tom Harris, Vice President of Inspection Services for Phoenix who presented the award. The safety audit and subsequent award presentation occurred in Friday Harbor on October 9, 2007. This is the fourth time that Island Air has received this award since 2002.
“We salute Island Air for their safety program and on the receipt of this significant award. We are pleased to be joined with Island Air in providing safety conscious, fixed wing air ambulance services for our community,” said Jim Cole, Chief of San Juan Island EMS.
"On behalf of all the people associated with Island Air, and now Island Air Ambulance, I am honored to accept this award," said Jackie Hamilton (right, with Tom), President of Island Air. "Aviation safety is something that we think about every waking moment.”
Island Air, founded in 1992, provides flight services throughout the San Juan Islands, the Pacific Northwest, and British Columbia. Through its health care partnership with San Juan Island Emergency Medical Services, it also provides fixed wing air ambulance services for residents and visitors to San Juan County.
Sports news & updates
Although our football team (4-3) dropped its third game in a row Saturday here on our own turf, they more than held their own against a tough, tough Sequim team (they're 2A, by the way, and undefeated in their league), coming back to make it 15-14 with 10 left in the fourth quarter....with only seconds left, we moved into position for the game-winning field goal, only to have it blocked. We played well, and it was nice to get some points on the board against their good team.
Sequim may have brought the largest cheering contingent we've seen outside of a game with Orcas - some of their parents told me they had over 200 folks on two "rooter boats." I knew you wanted to know, so I asked if their team was the Squids, but they told me they're the Wolves.
Today the girls play their makeup soccer match with North Sound Christian, and the tennis guys (including Albert Strasser's doubles partner, Michael Sandifer, above, in Friday's win over Coupeville) have their last home match, weather permitting.
Wedding bells ringing in California....
The moms report on a couple of FHHS's nicer grads & great kids:
Hi Ian,
William Shuman and Zabeth Troxel (Lizzy to you, Ian) had a great time at their wedding September 15th in southern California.
Everyone who knew them at Friday Harbor High School will remember how they loved to laugh. After all these years - dating through high school and college and beyond, they are still the dynamic duo. No question, this pair is going to last!
From the proud mothers, Nancy Troxel and Kris Enoch
Phones ringing tonight & tomorrow.....
These two days is your chance to help make our good schools even better...here's the word from SJPSF's Pamela Willimas:
The San Juan Public Schools Foundation will host the 4th annual Phonathon Oct. 15th & 16th which is this coming Monday & Tuesday.
Phonathons are used by public school districts across the nation to raise needed funds for programs, textbooks & equipment, in order to maintain excellence in education.
Windermere Real Estate has graciously opened its doors once again to provide phone stations. The Market Chef will provide a delicious dinner for all participants to enjoy during the brief training session prior to calling.
In this easy & relatively painless campaign, you've given over $60,000 in the last 3 years to make our schools better.
We look forward to talking with you again this year! Thank you for your continued support.
Quote
The Eskimo has fifty-two names for snow because it is important to them; there ought to be as many for love. - Margaret Atwood
