Jerry Banks

Last night I ran into the new director at ICC – his name is Jerry Banks, and he’s just started. He grew up in Chattanooga, and has been working with places like Islands Convalscent Center for years. Friendly guy – drop by & say hey! -oo-

The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.
Albert Einstein

Laurie & Tim

I went by the Market Chef & was reminded – today’s the Community Dinner at the high school. Ditch whatever plans you HAD & get yourself over for some good food, and more, starting at 5:30pm. I love what Laurie & Tim do at the Market Chef, and love it that they are such big supporters of the school food program. Here’s more from Laurie:

Hello all!
I am writing to let you all know that we will be having our last Community Dinner of the year on Tuesday June 9th!  We are going out with a bang….with a big BBQ/Picnic theme.  The commons will overflow onto the school patio, so there should be plenty of room for all and a chance (hopefully!)  to hang out and socialize with all your friends and neighbors.  It is a busy time of the year for us all, so anyone who wants to lend a hand would be VERY MUCH appreciated!

Please spread the word to anyone you think may be interested as well.  You, or they, can contact me by this e-mail…[email protected], or by phone….378-4051.

Thanks so much for all you all have been willing to contribute to making these dinners such a success!
All my best,
Laurie

Laura & the dogs....

Kim Bertrand tells me this is gonna be cool – I missed Laura last time she was here, so it’s cool she’s back. Here’s more:

Ever wonder what it feels like to be caught in a -50 degree ground blizzard while making your way through 3 foot snow drifts in the middle of nowhere?  Do you know just how long your skin can be exposed to these conditions before it freezes solid?

Ever think about how phenomenal sled dogs are, not just to pull a sled across Alaska but to actually ENJOY themselves doing so?

Laura Daugereau is coming back to the San Juan Island Library to share some amazing stories from her 2009 race season, culminating with the famous Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

Following up her historical run in 2008 (as the first woman from Washington to run the race), this year served to challenge her in ways you just can’t train for.  Come hear about her experiences in a world few of us will ever be tough enough to survive, or even want to try!

Join us on Friday, June 12, from 7-9 pm, at the library….  and yes, Bella is coming along too!

Ollie is babysitting Henry already....

It is always so cool to see Libbey & Nigel with Ollie…and now he has some company. Proud Grandma Mary Sliger is beaming every time I see her for past couple of months, and here’s why:

Oliver Wade Oswald proudly welcomes his brother, Henry John Oswald to the family. Parents are Libbey and Nigel Oswald of Friday Harbor. Henry weighed
7 lb 12 oz and was 20 inches long at birth on April 21, 2009.  Grandparents are Mary Sliger and Verne Howard of Friday Harbor and Marion and Michael Hanman and John and Dee Oswald of England.

Treasure in the attic...bring it to CATS

My friend Janice & the folks at CATS are at PARC, waiting for you to deliver the goods this month – here’s more:

Attic Treasures returns to the San Juan Community Theatre on July 11

The Community Arts Theatre Society, more popularly known as CATS, will be conducting its annual Attic Treasures sale, on July 11th, beginning at 9:00 a.m.  This is THE place for plentiful bargains and unusual items as well as wonderful testimony to San Juan Island’s affection for recycling our household, outdoor and recreational items, and much more.
Please ransack your garage, closets, storage units, and other places where you squirrel away all those things that you are ready to release to a new owner who will appreciate them.  This is a great time to open up some space around your house and help your community theatre at the same time.

CATS representatives will gladly accept your saleable items in good, workable condition every Saturday in June from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at PARC, the theatre’s resource center.  PARC is on Beaverton Valley Road just outside of town in the Beaverton Business Park.

If you have something especially large, like a couch or dining room table, we will be collecting big items at the Theatre on July 7th, maybe additional days to be announced.  Please call Shari (378-8505) or Janice (378-8758) if you have questions.

Here are some of the things we would be very happy to receive:  Costume jewelry, books, small appliances in running order, kitchen ware, dishes, decorative items, vintage and contemporary collectibles, sports equipment, tools, games, and so forth.  No computers, television sets, or clothes.

Help us!  Bring your items to sell to PARC on any June Saturday.

Join us!  Come to Attic Treasures at the Community Theatre on July 11th!

The following statement is a bit of a hybrid press release with really cool news. The first part tells of a generous grant for the schools; the second part details why it’s needed and where it would be directed. The “challenge” part is key – that’s where you & I come in:

Kings Market Softens the Impact of Historic Cuts in School Budget –
Issues Challenge Gift of $50,000

Kings Market Corporate Officers Libbey Oswald and Sandi Guard announced today that Kings Market will issue a “challenge gift” of $50,000 in order to partially restore programs cut due to the $1,000,000 reduction made in the San Juan Island School District’s budget for the coming 2009-10 school year.  Oswald and Guard joined Kings Market President, Verne Howard, in appreciating the measures the District has taken to live within projected revenues next year and also declared that, “the community simply must not accept such significant program reductions due to the inadequate funding of public education by our State.” Continue Reading

The 2009 San Juan Island Marathon got underway Sunday morning....

It was a great day for a run – not too hot (at least when the race started), with no rain or clouds in the last part… beautiful day to have a race. If you want to see who won & what people’s times were, I’ve got ’em posted here:

Marathon  – final results (2009)
Half Marathon – final results ((2009)

The San Juan Island Marathon started in 2003, and is an annual event that brings hundreds of dedicated runners (you gotta be dedicated to run this course!) to the island with their supporters, from around the world.

There were nearly 300 finishers in the race....

People come from around the world, and around the island, to run here....

Erin Corra

When was the last time you dropped by the state park at Lime Kiln?

Next time you’re there, stick your head in & give Erin Corra (the park interpretative specialist) a shout…she’s done a good job of getting the place ready for the season, including the store right at the trailhead before you head for the water.

If you time it right, you can catch one of her tours around the park – here are the times & dates that she sent me to share with you:

Interpretive Center:  Hours →  10am to 5pm daily
May 22nd – Sept 13th

Aug>  Tues. 4th @ 10am
Fri. 7th @ 11am
Tues. 18th @ 9am
Fri. 21st @ 11am

Notes:
Dress for weather and bring drinking water!

Erin Corra
Parks Interpretive Specialist
(360)378-2044 (x4)

Nan & the second-graders at Lime Kiln State Park last week....

You know, it helps that we live by the ocean. It helps that we got great kids who love orcas. It helps that the elementary school knows this is important, and makes sure the kids have time to get outside & dig where we live.

And you know, it helps that former FHES teacher Nan Simpson still comes to hang around the kids. She was awesome when my kids had her in third grade, and she’s awesome now.

Here’s more from Deslie English, about what Nan & the kids did last week:

Second graders went on a field trip to Lime Kiln Park last week for outdoor education at its finest, organized by Naturalist Nan Simpson.

Greeted by Chris Guidotti, Ranger, Friday Harbor Elementary School second graders were excited to be visiting Whale Watch Park.  Bob Otis, whale researcher at the lighthouse, shared what scientists are learning about the whales.  His students from Ripon College helped second graders learn about whale behaviors through games and identifying family groups as well as about threats to our whale populations.  At the wall overlooking Haro Strait, Nan discussed animals the students might see.  Using small models of each, she helped students identify their characteristics and behaviors.  Cynthia Tripp helped students observe and record what they noticed.

Cindy Hansen, of The Whale Museum, played acoustic recordings of various pods and led students through some games using the whale songs to increase understanding of how they communicate and what we can do to help whales thrive.  Clare Klem, Beachwatcher and park volunteer, helped students interact with the large display inside the interpretive center, identifying intertidal creatures, as well as other marine sea life.

This six-station field trip was organized by Nan Simpson, naturalist and teacher, and funded through a Target Field Trip Grant.  The orcas didn’t show up for this special event, but the students will be ready for them next time!  A huge thanks to all who made this a whale of a day!

Serving good stuff from Felicity...that's Billy, ready to take your order.

Down at the Naked Bean, Billy & Cassie tell me they had a great weekend…they opened their coffeehouse in the spot right behind the Pelindaba Downtown Store, and introduced their pastries this weeknd, which they get from Felicity at Felicitations, and they were awesome. If you haven’t had a chance to drop in on them yet, swing by & give them a try….

Sandy (left) and Shahn liked the Studio Tour last weekend...

This weekend’s Studio Tour really covered the island…there were 17 studios with artwork that ranged from photography to watercolors to sculpture & everything in between.

I dropped in on Sandy Buckley’s show over at Michelle Shober’s studio, and it was great to see all her good work in one place, as well as Bobbi Hamillton’s & Michelle’s work. Here’s what the Tour looked like…I think we have more creativity per square inch on this island than just about anywhere.

And they're off!

Five minutes after the Marathon runners took off, the Kids Race was lined up…

Good form...

Jane Hutchison gave the directions – the kids & any adults who wanted to come started at the starting line in front of the Fairgrounds, headed down Argyle, took a right to the elementary school, ran up there a ways, and came back for a slightly more than a mile run, crossing the finish line.

I don’t post the winners, ’cause I figure anybody who does this is a winner. Thirty-kid tie. Way to go!

And they're off!

Five minutes after the Marathon runners took off, the Kids Race was lined up…

Good form...

Jane Hutchison gave the directions – the kids & any adults who wanted to come started at the starting line in front of the Fairgrounds, headed down Argyle, took a right to the elementary school, ran up there a ways, and came back for a slightly more than a mile run, crossing the finish line.

I don’t post the winners, ’cause I figure anybody who does this is a winner. Thirty-kid tie. Way to go!

Ingrid Carlson and the rest of the Class of 2009 join wellwishers after Saturday's ceremony.

Graduation season got underway last this past weekend as Spring Street International School conferred diplomas on 15 seniors at the Community Theatre.

There was laughter and a few tears as teachers & Head of School Louis O’Prussack led the ceremony through remarks, advice, memories, a slide show, and finally, graduation from school. And, in the best way, it seemed to never end…after it was over, the grads & their families & friends were still chatting & hugging & celebrating on stage. The folks in the SSIS community made it into a gathering with the warm family spirit that the school works to foster in its kids, staff, and parents. There was a lot of love there.

Here are this year’s graduates: Evan Anderson, Sonja Anderson, Ashleigh Barnes, Megan Brown, Felipe Carbonell, Ingrid Carlson, Amelia Carver, Hyoeng-eun Choi (Chloe), Peter Duggins, Laura Kriete-Bain, Donggun Park, Easton Piaget, Grant Schwinge, Kai Wilson, and Rachel A Yang.

Here’s a little slideshow from the day – I wish it had everyone in it, but my battery died…see what you think!

The Ranch Store at States Inn

Gotta love it – you’re riding through the middle of the island & you’re going by States Inn & Ranch… you’re hungry, right?

Richard is ready to serve you...

So drop by the Ranch Store & check out Richard & Angel’s meat pies & pastries & brownies (that’s what we got), or get something to drink on a warm day. Islanders have been stopping in for the last couple of years for breakfast & to get their day started right…check it out.

Richard (right) has also been showing up with Lynne Pope at Saturday’s Farmer Market with pasta, pastries & more, just in case that’s the side of the island you’re on.