Carrie Unpingco

In our ongoing series of folks who help with this month’s Relay for Life, this week we hear from Carrie about “Why I Relay”:

Volunteering as the publicity/marketing chair this year gives me the opportunity to help the many people who are greatly affected by cancer. All of us have been affected by cancer in one way or another, and I believe if we all do something, no matter how small, we can make a huge difference.

As I participate in Relay, I will be thinking of my Grandpa Larry, who lost his battle to multiple myeloma, a rare form of bone cancer. Relay for Life allows our community to not only raise money for cancer research and services, but also be a part of something that matters!

If you’d like to help promote Relay for Life this year or have creative marketing ideas, email me at [email protected] or call me at
317-6572.

Carrie Burke Unpingco
Publicity/Marketing Chair

Andrea Wieland

This summer Erin Corra (Lime Kiln’s interpretive specialist) and I are running a series about the good folks who volunteer each summer – here’s more about Andrea, who answered some questions Erin put to her:

Name: Andrea Wieland
Number of years visiting &/or living in the San Juan archipelago: 17
Occupation in your real, or unreal, life: Business Manager for a consulting firm
Furthest place in world from LKPSP that you have visited: Ross Ice Shelf, Antarctica or Cape Agulhas, South Africa (probably Cape Agulhas)
Major passions, besides the whales: Cats, traveling, gardening, natural history, bird and animal watching

What inspired you to volunteer at Lime Kiln Point State Park?
My interest in marine wildlife and to get involved in the community.
What is it that you most enjoy about volunteering here?
Talking to people about the whales and island life and points of interest.
Any memorable park experience that sticks out since volunteering?
Nothing yet – I’m still a “newbie.”

If you were limited to only one sentence, how would you describe these islands to a visitor right off the ferry?
Verdant, teeming with animal and bird life, and with topography that changes from one end of the island to the other — all very magical — like no other part of our country.
What is something that you have learned since volunteering at the park?
How to operate a cash register!
If you were a kabillionaire and cost was no object, what one thing would you buy & donate to the park?  No lump sums of cash accepted…
➢    A cannon to fire warning shots at boats and kayakers that get too close to the whales! (just kidding)
➢    A full-time lobbyist who represents Lime Kiln’s interests at both the state and federal levels.

Rock the Dock!

The Rotary Club’s Mary Kalbert has the scoop about the music:

Join us for our “Street Party” at the Port of Friday Harbor. Sponsored by Islanders Bank – tickets are $10.00 each  — children 10 and under free! Tickets can be purchased at the gate. Wine and beer garden, hot dogs, chili dogs, ice cream and soft drinks. Stay and see the fireworks!

The show is on July 4th from 6:00 P.M. until the fireworks begin.

Proceeds will go toward the matching grant of $100 million dollars received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for the Rotary International ‘s Global Eradication of Polio.

Time to clean up!

Zack tells me you can get your car washed at the Mullis Center today till 6pm…what’s it go to? Where’s the money go? Who is it for? Here’s more.

Sunny days, happy dogs...

It was great to see Chris & Melonie from Tif & Gif (here’s their website) in the streets the other day, walkin’ the dogs. Have you seen their portfolio of work they’ve been doing lately? You’ll love it – check it out!

The sun sets over Vancouver Island....

I noticed you weren’t out on the west side to watch the fireworks for Canada Day on Wednesday, so I shot this picture for you so you could see last light before it was really dark. Beautiful night, and easy to see the fireworks over Victoria.

There’s a slight tilt to the picture ’cause I was falling off a rock while singing “Oh, Canada,” which I’ve learned from watching lots of hockey games.

Click here for a much bigger version of the picture….

If we use resources productively and take to heart the lessons learned from coping with the energy crisis, we face a future confronted only, as Pogo, once said, by insurmountable opportunities. The many crises facing us should be seen, then, not as threats, but as chances to remake the future so it serves all beings.
L. Hunter Lovins and Amory B. Lovins

The Class of 1979...in kindergarten: Back row L-R: Cheri Erickson, Dennis Louthan, Kelly Ferguson, Julie Capron, Jimmy Scribner, Karen Rishel, Kathleen Wilson, Hugh Roberts. Middle row L-R: Marilyn Corrie, (?), Kirsten Schmidt, Carolyn Palmer, Gary Smithrud, Geraldine Wold, Christina Johnson, Candy Browne. Front row L-R: Frankie ?, Marty Chevalier, Paul Miner, Tom Nash, Teacher Becky Workman.

The reunion starts today….

Things kick off at Friday’s Crabhouse tonight at 6:00, with potluck tomorrow night at 5:00pm at the American Legion Basement. Contact: (360) 336 5683 for more information.

For a much bigger picture, click here!

The Class of 1979...in kindergarten: Back row L-R: Cheri Erickson, Dennis Louthan, Kelly Ferguson, Julie Capron, Jimmy Scribner, Karen Rishel, Kathleen Wilson, Hugh Roberts. Middle row L-R: Marilyn Corrie, (?), Kirsten Schmidt, Carolyn Palmer, Gary Smithrud, Geraldine Wold, Christina Johnson, Candy Browne. Front row L-R: Frankie ?, Marty Chevalier, Paul Miner, Tom Nash, Teacher Becky Workman.

The reunion starts today….

Things kick off at Friday’s Crabhouse tonight at 6:00, with potluck tomorrow night at 5:00pm at the American Legion Basement. Contact: (360) 336 5683 for more information.

For a much bigger picture, click here!

Michael Hoeller and Me’tairie Kilpatrick-Boe flank Senior Master Michael Rennick as they receive their belts....

My friend Megan Boe has exciting news, from the Hoeller and Kilpatrick-Boe families:

Michael Hoeller, age 12, and Me’tairie Kilpatrick-Boe, age 14, were recently presented with their First Degree Black Belts by their instructor, Senior Master Michael Rennick.

The two students had tested for their belts in March, and thus were surprised, and thrilled, when they received their belts in class on June 1st.

Michael has been training at Rennick’s Tae Kwon Do for over 5 years and Me’tairie for more than four years.

Start now!

Darren from SanJuanIslandsTV.com tells me he & Lisa have pulled together a contest for you – a chance to show off your cool videos that you shoot while on vacation. Here’s more about the contest – start shooting!

FRIDAY HARBOR, WA – Visitors coming to the San Juan Islands this summer have a chance to win more than $6,000 in prizes! The San Juan Islands Vacation Video Contest is open to videos made from time spent in the San Juans from January 1, 2009 through October 31, 2009. Unless otherwise specified, prizes are transferable and redeemable from November 1, 2009 through May 15, 2010.

The Grand Prize is a 3-night stay on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands with lodging, dinner, activities, and $1,000 cash! Plus five additional nights of lodging, gift certificates, and passes that can be used on the same trip or multiple trips. Total approximate retail value (ARV) is $5,367.

First Prize is a four-day Continue Reading

White humpback down under...

When was the last time you saw a white humpback whale? Whaddya call ’em…Moby Hump? Here’s more (with video) from Australia. (Click here.) -00-

Jessica in the parade...

The Fourth of July on the island is one of my favorite days on the island (besides graduation & the Fair & soccer games & football games & basketball games & Valentine’s Day & Solstice – both of ’em – and Canada Day.)

Weaving magic all over the island, folks make the island a magical place of togetherness for a day, including Gretchen (after the parade, last year)

You can get an idea of the stuff that’s gonna be happening by going to:

The San Juan Community Events Calendar
Roche Harbor’s website
The Port’s music
The Chamber of Commerce
The Visitors’ Bureau

What have previous Fourth of Julys looked like? Check here to see what you looked like in the parade or at Roche or at the picnic over the decade…

Pig War Picnic 2002

Friday Harbor parade 2002

Friday Harbor parade 2004

Friday Harbor parade & picnic 2005

Friday Harbor parade 2006

Friday Harbor parade 2007

Friday Harbor parade & picnic 2008 & Roche Harbor Fourth of July Activities

+++++

Activities at Roche Harbor 2004

Activities at Roche Harbor 2005

Activities at Roche Harbor 2007

Activities at Roche include a donut eating contest, dinghy races, log rolling, and much more.

That's San Juan Island's Kevin Ranker in the Fourth of July parade back in 2004...

Our state senator Kevin Ranker says there is $167 million in recovery investments for shoreline and marine habitat restoration by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (here’s more on that), and a chunk is coming our way – here’s more in his statement:

Today US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the distribution of $167 million by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) to help restore coastlines and natural areas across the country, including $16.4 million for projects in Washington – many of which are in our communities here in the 40th district.

“I’m excited about these investments in the health of Puget Sound and the surrounding watersheds.  These efforts will restore critical habitat while creating and sustaining green-sector jobs in our jobs in our communities.”

“These investments underscore the importance of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda.  Having a scientifically vetted plan for Puget Sound recovery has made us a national model.  These funds will invest in projects that will be key steps in protecting and restoring the Puget Sound eco-system for years to come.”

“We owe great thanks to Sen. Murray, Sen. Cantwell, and Rep. Larsen for their efforts to make sure these important investments were made in our area.”

Local area projects include:
·         Removing derelict fishing gear from Puget Sound
·         Restoring the tidal connection for the Nooksack River at Smuggler’s Slough
·         Help salmon and restore the floodplain for Hansen’s Creek
·         Restoring freshwater marsh at Fisher Slough

For more information on the projects in our area, or any of the other projects across the country, you can see the full list at the NOAA’s website by clicking here.

Here’s the word from the Washington State Ferries folks, giving you a good reason to walk on this weekend instead of bringing your car on the ferry:

The parking at the Anacortes Terminal is free from 12:00pm Friday, July 3rd to 11:59pm Monday, July 6th. For all other dates, please pay in advance.

The Chamber's Debbie Pigman reports: "Town crew members, Jeff Peacock and Dave Smith (not shown) are caught in the act of putting up our Town of Friday Harbor Centennial Bannners. The flying of the banners coincides with the final quarter of celebration of the town's first 100 years!"

The Chamber’s Debbie Pigman reports: “Town crew members, Jeff Peacock and Dave Smith (not shown) are caught in the act of putting up our Town of Friday Harbor Centennial Bannners. The flying of the banners coincides with the final quarter of celebration of the town’s first 100 years!”