That's Sam Asher, with Emily Schultz (left) and Rhiannon Serna in last winter's "Grease."

You saw Grease last winter, so you know the FHHS drama department put on a monster hit of a show. People are still talking about…I thought one of the standout parts of the show was the job Sam Asher did with his portrayal of Coach Calhoun.

Shoot, people are still talking about THAT – including some folks in Seattle who have given him a good mention. Here’s the web site at 5th Avenue Theatre which mentions Sam (scroll to near the bottom, where it says, “Outstanding Performance by an Actor or Actress in a Non-Singing Role”); and here’s a bit about it from his mom Diana:

Great news, Ian! On June 8th, the 2009 5th Avenue High School Musical Theatre Awards will take place. My son Sam Asher just received word that he has been nominated for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Non-Singing Role for his portrayal of Coach Calhoun in FHHS’s presentation of GREASE.

I’ll let ya know how it turns out, when Sam & Diana tell me. Way to go, Sam!

Kristy & Cate at last year's Relay for Life at FHHS....

People help out with Relay for Life for different reasons. Over the next few weeks, let’s hear from some of the folks who are doing the Relay this year. This week – let’s hear from Kristy Ayers, who is the online chairperson and her team is called Burnin’ For a Cure:

Why I Relay: My first Relay was in 1998. I participated as a team member, representing my college dorm.

Even though my next Relay wasn’t for another eight years, I never forgot the incredible experience of the first time I participated in Relay. During those eight years, I worked as a caregiver in private homes, hospitals, and with hospice.

I Relay in the memory of those clients that remain close to my heart. I Relay in the memory of my Grandpa Mickey, a veteran of two wars, who lost his final battle to lung cancer.

Continue Reading

Liz Illg tells me this happens next week…cool! Here’s more:

Leadership San Juan Islands announces graduation for Class V at 4pm on Friday May 29th at Skagit Valley College in Friday Harbor. Graduates Angie Attwell, Kristy Ayers, Louise Carnachan, Owen Cheevers, Margie Doyle, Ethna Flanagan, Steve Gresham, Cheryl Harlan, Bettye Hendricksen, Barbara LaBrash, Learner Limbach, Katie Loring, Suzi Marean, Barbara Marrett, Kiara McLauglin, Marta-Maria Nielson, Claire Nollman, Lou Pray, Tracy Roberson and Brian Windrope will present their proposed service projects and receive certificates of completion.

Commencement speaker will be Rhea Miller who served for over 10 years as a San Juan County Commissioner and was influential in spearheading local legislation and policy for sustainable living, including allowing rain water catchment for a domestic water source, and alternative building techniques such as strawbale construction, composting toilets, and wastewater gardens.  She gained a national reputation for her leadership in the first successful jetski ban by a local jurisdiction.  Author of Cloudhand, Clenched Fist:  Chaos, Crisis, and the  Emergence of Community she has international peacekeeping experience in Israel & Palestine, Mexico, Japan, and the U.S. She is an adopted member of the Pakauwaka family of the Waitaha, first peoples of New Zealand, and has ceremonial experience with the Nahuatl peoples of Mexico. Rhea has a Masters of Divinity in Feminist Liberation Theology from the Episcopal Divinity School, Cambridge, MA.

Businesses and agencies across the County played a part in the success of the program. This year the class appreciated significant housing donations by Smuggler’s Villa and Heartwood House on Orcas Island, and Lopez Islander Bay Resort. Each participant was also sponsored in part or wholly by their employer or a local nonprofit.

This year the following sponsors provided support: San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, Orcas Island Prevention Partnership, San Juan County Community Network, San Juan Island School District, National Park Service, Lopez Island Library, Port of Friday Harbor, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, Friends of the San Juans, and the San Juan Preservation Trust. Institutional co-sponsors were Skagit Valley College San Juan Center by providing space for the program and staff time, and the San Juan County Economic Development Council which provided administrative support.

Leadership San Juan Islands is a county-wide program which fosters leadership skills such as facilitation, collaborative problem solving, and public speaking as well as the analysis of local systems related to governance, economics, social services, history and culture, education and the environment. Participants are selected in the fall and spend five months together, January through May, with a staff of four and many regional leaders. For more information see: http://www.leadershipsanjuanislands.org/.

Rev over at the County Fair has a big show on Saturday – here’s more:

Put on your dancing shoes and come on out to the Big Spring Barn Dance and Community Fundraiser at the San Juan County Fairgrounds’ Main Building, Saturday, May 23 from 7-11pm.

The Fabulous Rhythmatics will headline the night with their danceable mix of rock ‘n roll, blues, R & B classics and originals.   There is no sitting still when the “Mats” are in the groove.  The One More Time Band will also play kicking off the evening with their big band sound of upbeat swing and jitterbug. This group of island musicians will be celebrating their 31st anniversary together.

Enjoy tasty treats and desserts; a beer garden; coffee and tea bar and help support the Fair. All proceeds will go to help pay for the programs of several local organizations, including the Fair, 4H, Lion’s Club, and the SJ Sailing Foundation.

Advance tickets are available at the Fair office and are 2 for $15.  Tickets will be $10 at the door the day of the dance.  All student tickets are $5, kids 5 and under are free. Contact the Fair office for details at 378-4310 or email [email protected].

The farm’s open this weekend – here’s more from Kathleen:

Hi Ian,
Thought everyone might like to know that Westcott Bay Sea Farms will be opening on limited hours starting the weekend of May 22 thru May 25th, then Friday thru Sunday, until the 3rd week of June….we’ll go full time.

Tides are low, and oyster picking off the beach is at it’s best for the next two weekends. Tomorrow we have a special surprise for anyone who wants to stop by between 11 am and 1 pm. Westcott Bay Sea Farms will be open Saturday thru Monday from 10am to 5pm.

We have plenty of oysters, mussels, and clams for this season!

Good judgment comes from experience, and often experience comes from bad judgment.
Rita Mae Brown

Jazz at the Labs...don't miss it!

My friend Rachel at the Marine Labs & I did a Vulcan mind meld – I was gonna post something about the Jazz at the Labs evening, and that SAME HOUR she sent me this writeup about everything! So, just like the Buddhist monk who went to the hot dog stand & said, “Make me one with everything,” we have our messages, as one.

Here’s the scoop – get your tix now! They’re selling fast (I checked)!:

Friday Harbor Labs presents the ninth annual “Jazz at the Labs” on Saturday night June 6th with dinner from 6-7 p.m. and music from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. featuring Dennis Willows and the San Juan Jazz Quintet +1 featuring Jill Urbach on vocals, and Seattle’s  “Jazz Coalescence” led by Jay Thomas and Chris Amemiya.  Jay and Chris are joined by some of the top jazz musicians in the Pacific Northwest.

Jazz at the Labs supports the FHL K-12 Science Outreach Program which partners students with scientists and offers hands-on encounters with science in the Friday Harbor public schools, Paideia School and Spring Street International School. Continue Reading

The Class of 1969 - in first grade in '57. See who you know!

The FHHS Class of 1969 is pulling together their reunion this year for July 18th. For information, call Wendy Fairweather Picinich at 360-378-4819 ([email protected])  or Jeri Jensen Ahrenius at 360-378-2420
([email protected]).

Wendy passed on the photo above (click here to see a much bigger one!) and tells me that’s the first grade photo for the class, in 1957. I asked her who you might know in the picture – you pick ’em out:

Starting in the bottom row, there’s Wendy Fairweather Picinich, Rob Sandwith
and Patt Leake.  Middle row, Jan Murray Anderson, Jeri Jensen Ahrenius, top
row Mike Nash, Jerry Morrill, Kristy Wade, Nick Nash and Janet Franklin.

We ended up with 21 graduating in 1969.  I have a senior picture that I’ll
have Dave scan and send.  Of the 19 left, 10 of us are still on the island.

Mary Kalbert

I’m a huge fan of hers & I’ll bet you are, too – I enjoy reading Mary Kalbert’s columns in the Island Guardian & her clear-sighted view of the world, especially as it pertains to living on an island.

Well, now she’s gone and made a book – here’s more from her press release:

Local author Mary Kalbert will be selling autographed copies of her new book Reflections on Life in the San Juan Islands at Griffin Bay Bookstore on Saturday, May 23 from 2 – 4 PM.

Mary's book signing is this Saturday at Griffin Bay Bookstore.

Reflections on Life in the San Juan Islands is a compilation of essays extolling island living that are wistful, introspective and laugh-out-loud funny. Mary is a columnist for IslandGuardian.com.

A native daughter of Greene County, Mississippi, she lives on San Juan Island with her husband John and the occasional cat. -oo-

Mary Kalbert

I’m a huge fan of hers & I’ll bet you are, too – I enjoy reading Mary Kalbert’s columns in the Island Guardian & her clear-sighted view of the world, especially as it pertains to living on an island.

Well, now she’s gone and made a book – here’s more from her press release:

Local author Mary Kalbert will be selling autographed copies of her new book Reflections on Life in the San Juan Islands at Griffin Bay Bookstore on Saturday, May 23 from 2 – 4 PM.

Mary's book signing is this Saturday at Griffin Bay Bookstore.

Reflections on Life in the San Juan Islands is a compilation of essays extolling island living that are wistful, introspective and laugh-out-loud funny. Mary is a columnist for IslandGuardian.com.

A native daughter of Greene County, Mississippi, she lives on San Juan Island with her husband John and the occasional cat. -oo-

Another creation from Felicitations...

She makes such beautiful cakes & pastries & good stuff to eat – this is one of Felicity’s creations at Farmers’ Market last Saturday. Check out her website at http://byfelicitations.com/ !

Hey – have you ever wondered which places to stay on the island allow visitors to bring their dogs? Me, too…

In this blog called “Dog Friendly Travel,” they mention Tucker House & the Earth Box Motel, while “Dog Jaunt” tells ya about their experiences with Lakedale.

Check ’em out! -oo-

Canadians are gonna have to have a passport to enter the US starting June 1st…here’s more from the online paper in Victoria. -oo-

I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can play together all night.
Bill Watterson

Teri with the new sign & the new name...

The clothing shop next to the Little Store has become famous as Dominique’s Clothing ever since Dom started it. When Teri McPadden bought the shop a couple of years ago, she kept the name and has expanded what it offers, so now it’s time to change the name – to Be Chic Boutique.

You can drop by the shop’s name-changing party (music & food & shopping!) on Friday from 4-8pm to wish Teri well and to see the new sign! Click here for more!

Teri with the new sign & the new name...

The clothing shop next to the Little Store has become famous as Dominique’s Clothing ever since Dom started it. When Teri McPadden bought the shop a couple of years ago, she kept the name and has expanded what it offers, so now it’s time to change the name – to Be Chic Boutique.

You can drop by the shop’s name-changing party (music & food & shopping!) on Friday from 4-8pm to wish Teri well and to see the new sign! Click here for more!