On Saturday at 10am at the EMS Building there will be a forum sponsored by the San Juan County Public Hospital District #1…the forum centers on interpreting the Death with Dignity Act (Initiative 1000) and providing answers to community members’ questions, with representation from local health care agancies. -00-

Kerry says Lime Kiln rocks!

Remember I told you Erin from Lime Kiln State Park was gonna introduce you to the folks who volunteer there? Here’s more about Kerry Hartjen, who answered a few questions:

Tell us about yourself!

Number of years visiting &/or living in the San Juan archipelago: 6 visiting, 2 living here

Occupation in your real, or unreal, life: Oh, there have been ever so many…

Furthest place in world from LKPSP that you have visited: Avignon, So. France

Major passions, besides the whales: Ukuleles, music, art, eagles, peace and quiet, home

What inspired you to volunteer at Lime Kiln Point State Park?
Beautiful Orcas. Beautiful Park. Opportunity to serve both wonderful causes.  Continue Reading

Churchill Coffeehouse now serves in the same place where Mi Piace was...

You’re gonna come into Friday Harbor & look around town & say, “Hey, where did everything go?!??!” Here’s your helpful guide:

• The Blue Dolphin’s spot has been re-opened as the new home of Discovery Sea Kayaks, who WAS above the ice cream shop next to the ferry landing. Ivan & Western Prince are still up there; meanwhile, to help pick up the breakfast slack with the Dolphin gone, Stacey & The Hungry Clam now serve breakfast.

• Mi Piace Coffeehouse at the top of the ferry lanes closed in January, and there’s a new coffeeplace in its place – Churchill Coffee.

• While Pelindaba’s Downtown Store is still there, the coffee & food serving part isn’t – the back part was walled off, and has re-opened as the Naked Bean coffeehouse (owned by Billy & Cassie) earlier this month.

• At Friday Harbor House, they’ve opened their new restaurant. Here’s what they tell me: “The Bluff is a comfortable, welcoming destination for locals and visitors alike, showcasing fresh fare from the local waters and farms.  Chef Jason Codding delights guests with a mouthwatering menu of small plates, savory sandwiches, colorful salads and seasonal specialties, many of the ingredients provided by island farmers, artisans and foragers.”

• Remember I told you Madden was moving Steps over to the building across from Downrigger’s? That didn’t come together, so he’s back in the original location, and he re-opened earlier this month.

• Dave Morton bought the Sweet Retreat from his mom, but they’re still in the same sweet spot.

• Marilee the Popcorn Lady has moved to Port Townsend, but she tells me she’ll be back for the Arts Fair on July 18-19 – she says: “I’ll have my usual kettle corn/lemonade booth and will be assisted by 3 of my best past employees so it should be as good as ever and fun too!”

• Longtime Bella Luna server Mari bought the place in April, reworked the menu & music schedule, and now calls it Pazzo Vivo (“crazy life”).

• Both Front Street Cafe & Boardwalk Bookstore closed in January/February, and that spot now houses Charles Thomas’ new place, The Bluewater Bar & Grill.

• The former Fat Cat, lately Latitude 49 (or 48…I can’t remember) is closed – nothing’s in there, this week.

• The Lime Kiln Cafe is expanding to nearly twice its size…should open in its expanded size soon!

And that’s just the food places! Jim Carroll wrote in this morning to add:

• Sally Browne, owner of Friday Harbor Souvenir moved her store from 135 Spring Street (next to SJ Chamber offices) down to Front Street in the Town Square Building,ground level next to The Front Street Ale House and across from Downriggers. Sally & her faithful companion Scooby, now have a water view.

• The Computer Place, located on Argyle, moved about 90 feet North to former Spirit Tree locatation and closer to Radio Shack but next to Isle Be Jammin. More open space, and view of The Big Store, plus will re-open The Menu Bar in the future. Total remodel.

Churchill Coffeehouse now serves in the same place where Mi Piace was...

You’re gonna come into Friday Harbor & look around town & say, “Hey, where did everything go?!??!” Here’s your helpful guide:

• The Blue Dolphin’s spot has been re-opened as the new home of Discovery Sea Kayaks, who WAS above the ice cream shop next to the ferry landing. Ivan & Western Prince are still up there; meanwhile, to help pick up the breakfast slack with the Dolphin gone, Stacey & The Hungry Clam now serve breakfast.

• Mi Piace Coffeehouse at the top of the ferry lanes closed in January, and there’s a new coffeeplace in its place – Churchill Coffee.

• While Pelindaba’s Downtown Store is still there, the coffee & food serving part isn’t – the back part was walled off, and has re-opened as the Naked Bean coffeehouse (owned by Billy & Cassie) earlier this month.

• At Friday Harbor House, they’ve opened their new restaurant. Here’s what they tell me: “The Bluff is a comfortable, welcoming destination for locals and visitors alike, showcasing fresh fare from the local waters and farms.  Chef Jason Codding delights guests with a mouthwatering menu of small plates, savory sandwiches, colorful salads and seasonal specialties, many of the ingredients provided by island farmers, artisans and foragers.”

• Remember I told you Madden was moving Steps over to the building across from Downrigger’s? That didn’t come together, so he’s back in the original location, and he re-opened earlier this month.

• Dave Morton bought the Sweet Retreat from his mom, but they’re still in the same sweet spot.

• Marilee the Popcorn Lady has moved to Port Townsend, but she tells me she’ll be back for the Arts Fair on July 18-19 – she says: “I’ll have my usual kettle corn/lemonade booth and will be assisted by 3 of my best past employees so it should be as good as ever and fun too!”

• Longtime Bella Luna server Mari bought the place in April, reworked the menu & music schedule, and now calls it Pazzo Vivo (“crazy life”).

• Both Front Street Cafe & Boardwalk Bookstore closed in January/February, and that spot now houses Charles Thomas’ new place, The Bluewater Bar & Grill.

• The former Fat Cat, lately Latitude 49 (or 48…I can’t remember) is closed – nothing’s in there, this week.

• The Lime Kiln Cafe is expanding to nearly twice its size…should open in its expanded size soon!

And that’s just the food places! Jim Carroll wrote in this morning to add:

• Sally Browne, owner of Friday Harbor Souvenir moved her store from 135 Spring Street (next to SJ Chamber offices) down to Front Street in the Town Square Building,ground level next to The Front Street Ale House and across from Downriggers. Sally & her faithful companion Scooby, now have a water view.

• The Computer Place, located on Argyle, moved about 90 feet North to former Spirit Tree locatation and closer to Radio Shack but next to Isle Be Jammin. More open space, and view of The Big Store, plus will re-open The Menu Bar in the future. Total remodel.

Hardly anybody in Greenland reads the Update.....

It’s neat to look at the Google Analytics map & see that readers all over the world read the San Juan Update…the darker green countries all have Update readers in them, in the last month.

Would you mind letting me know where YOU are? Just hit the “comment” link at the bottom of this posting & you can drop a note where you are. It’ll be good to hear from you!!!

Written by retired Chief Rick Galer, the book is available at the fire station....

Nancy Tiederman tells me there’s a new book about the history of firefighting here in Friday Harbor by Rick Galer – we’ve come a long way from getting buckets of water from the harbor to put things out. (Here’s proof – from 2002’s great fire – click here). Here’s more about what’s going on with the celebration & the book, from Nancy:

100 Years of Fighting Fires in Friday Harbor

In the early 1900’s, Friday Harbor Fire Department had a special line to phones in Herb’s Tavern and the American Legion.  When the phone rang, customers put down their beers and rushed out the door to man the water buckets.  The only water sources were the bay and the spring on the street between what is now the Drug Store and the theatre.    There was no truck.

100 years later, when the pager screeches and dispatch says “Stand by for Page,” fire fighters leave their offices, stores, trucks, even ferries, head to the fire station, put on bunker gear and start up the big engines on the fire trucks to head to the fire.  Dispatch gave them the report and the location.  Once on the scene, they lay out hose and give the incident commander time to determine the center of the fire and how best to fight it.  This all happens in minutes.

The fire trucks still carry the big axes used to cut holes in roofs and doors, but today’s fire fighters use chain saws.

The town’s fire fighters, men and women, meet every Monday night to learn techniques, skills and to drill, drill, drill.  As well as fighting fires, they teach fire safety in the elementary school, put on the Easter egg hunt, meet Santa at the port and bring him into town. They founded and support the town’s Thrift House.  They also clean up debris once a fire has cooled, and they have helped rebuild burnt homes for fellow citizens.  They are volunteers who like to help their neighbors.

In July, the Friday Harbor Fire Department will be celebrating 100 years of serving the community. They invite everyone to drop by the fire station on West Street where they will be firing up barbeques to serve the public dinners and lunches on July 3rd and 4th and cooking the traditional Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, July 5th.  You can read more interesting stories about the history of the department in the book Hose  Carts and Fire Hydrants, edited by retired Fire Chief Rick Galer and available for sale at the fire station.

The old engine, in the 2002 Fourth of July parade....

Hay!

That’s the scene from Mullis Street, right across from the airport next to Guard Electric, where the field was mowed & baled this past week.

It’s part of why the County receives a rural designation from the state…heck, we LOOK rural.

The porch at Argyle House in the glow of the dusk a couple of weeks ago...

Located halfway to the Fairgrounds on Argyle…

Art & Jennifer

When Art & Jennifer bought Argyle House (click here for more info) in the spring of last year, it was already a good deal – one of the island’s oldest (started in the ’80s) and best established bed & breakfasts (thanks to Bill & Chris Carli, who started it) & further improved by Tammra & Carlos before they sold it in 2008.

They have done nothing but make it better, as you can tell next time you walk by the place, or see the smiling visitors who come out of the place.

By the way, Art tells me the landscaping design was done by Todd Gardner of All Phase Landscaping. He’s been a landscaper for over 15 years, including on-island for 6 years now.  His family has been on-island for over 30 years on the west side.

Great people doing good things….

Vickie & John

The Town has a series called “Meet Your Firefighters”… Keri from the Town says that this month’s couple is Vickie & John Miller. Here’s more:

It is said opposites attract, and that is ever so evident for Victoria and John.

She was raised on a dairy farm in Whatcom County. On the other hand, John grew up in Brooklyn, New York, where the only “wild life” were squirrels. Many years later, in a galaxy, far, far away (called Bellingham), he met his future wife and settled into the life they were meant to share. They say: “We now live on a small ranch outside of town, called ‘Two Jakes’ (either after grandsons or the movie). Our place is shared with several horses, a cat and 101 swallows.”

John adds: “Life is good – enjoying fresh vegetables from Vickies’ garden or sharing our favorite spicy foods – Italian and Indian. We love the quiet (except when paged), and find it difficult to leave our place. ”

At home, John can be busy with camera stuff or building their house, and Vickie with their horses or on her tractor. Continue Reading

Tim gets good shots, from all kinds of angles....(and yes, he used Photoshop for this picture, just a little).

One of the best things to do is shoot photos, because you love photography. One of the other best things to do is to shoot pictures with friends, and that’s what Tim Dustrude (here’s his work) is setting up for next month. Here’s more:

I am excited to announce that I will be leading a Photowalk in Friday Harbor on July 18th. Don’t know what a Photowalk is? It’s a group of people walking around, shooting photos together for a couple hours and sharing thoughts and tips and ideas with each other and just basically having fun.

It is a world-wide event – there will be photowalks all over the globe. You can read more about it here: http://worldwidephotowalk.com/ and specifically, read about the one I will be leading here in Friday Harbor right here: http://worldwidephotowalk.com/friday-harbor-wa-usa/
I encourage anyone who is interested to join me. There is no cost whatsoever to participate, but you do need to register on my page.

Rebecca's hypnotherapy practice is now open...

I dropped by Rebecca’s LimbaSlim presentation at the library last week and it was cool – she’s knowledgeable, she’s got a good product, and she’s funny – it’s a good deal. Now she’s expanded that into a hypnotherapy practice in Friday Harbor – here’s more from her press release:

Rebecca Barnard has opened a certified hypnotherapy practice in Friday Harbor, specializing in gentle, meditative hypnosis and NLP life coaching for weight release
Barnard is the inventor of LimbaSlim, a hypnosis-based weight loss system that is marketed worldwide.  She is the author of  Lose Your Thighs and Your Legs will Fall Off, a humorous look at weight loss and body image in America.  (Available at the library, Xtreme Fitness and local bookstores.)

“LimbaSlim is fun, but I enjoy the personal approach of working one on one with my clients.  It’s very flexible – they can come in for one session and leave with the tools they need to continue on their own.  Or, of course, they can see me weekly as a life coach to help guide them through overcoming their personal challenges.”

Barnard offers free drop-in weight release group sessions at 5 p.m. every Monday in the library conference room.  Visit IslandReb.com for more information on hypnosis for weight release and improved body image.

Hypnosis is also an effective tool for smoking cessation, motivation, phobias and more.

For more information about hypnosis or to schedule an appointment, call or email Rebecca at (360) 472-1295.  [email protected]

The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair.
Douglas Adams

I had this running around in my head this morning, and wanted to share it with you:

The Peace of Wild Things

by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

When a subject becomes totally obsolete we make it a required course.
Peter Drucker

Stuff you might be interested in:

• Did you notice that islander Lindsey Spaulding was executive producer Mary McLaglen’s assistant in the credits for The Proposal, playing tonight & tomorrow & till next week at the Palace Theatre? She graduated from FHHS about ten years ago & then from Vanderbilt.

• John Sinclair took photos at the Duck Soup Solstice Party on Monday night – he’s posted them for you to see (click here.)

• Note from the Church:
On the Fourth during the parade – there will be reserved seating available in front of the Presbyterian Church and in front of the Kids Club for seniors, those with disabilities and for people needing wheel chair accessibility.  The restrooms will be open in both the church and in the Kids Club.  Please make your reservation through the church office and the deacon ministry will set up and save your spot to watch the parade in comfort.  Church office: 378-4544   email: [email protected]

• Charles Richardson sent me this note, with the photo scanned below – if you know who it is, leave a note in the comment section & we’ll tell ’em:

I found this old photograph in a frame inside a file cabinet I got from the thrift store. I was thinking you could post it in case anyone recognized the little girl and wanted the picture back…
Charles

Do you know who this is?