I Never Saw Another Butterfly by Celeste Raspanti and directed by Penelope Haskew opens Thursday* November 21 continuing through Saturday November 23 at 7:00 pm and on Sunday, November 24 at 2:00 pm in the Whittier Theatre. 

Over 15,000 Jewish children passed through Terezin, and only about a hundred were still alive when Terezin was liberated at the end of the war. One of the survivors, Raja, having lived through it all, teaching the children when there was nothing to teach with, helping to give them hope when there was little enough reason for hope, creating a little world of laughter, of flowers and butterflies behind the barbed wire, tells the true story of the children. It’s her play and it’s theirs. There were no butterflies at Terezin, of course, but for the children, butterflies became a symbol of defiance, making it possible for them to live on and play happily while waiting to be transported.

*Thursday is “Pay what you can” day. Friday through Saturday Adults $18 Student Reserved $10. Student RUSH $5 (available at the door only).

I Never Saw Another Butterfly – Contributed photo

Farhad Ghatan

Postponed – The Solar for Business presentation previously scheduled for today at Town Council has been postponed until next month. We will let you know the date as soon as we hear!

Friday Harbor’s Mayor Farhad Ghatan would like the local businesses to know that on (This date postponed) there will be a Solar for Business presentation, “Energize San Juan“, at the Town Council meeting at noon.

He says it is a great opportunity for the island’s business community!

Cynthia’s Bistro is offering free take-away meals to anyone who needs a meal or wishes to have a home cooked meal. No questions asked, just free food. Stop by Cynthia’s this Thursday – November 21 from 4:30 to 6:00 to pick up your meal.

You may pick up 2 meals per person. When we run out of food, we will close the doors until next time. We will be stationed on the front porch and handing out the meals at Cynthia’s Bistro – 65 Nichols Street in Friday Harbor. Basic Home Cooking made with everything but the Kitchen Sink.

Come by and say hello. If you care to join us and donate time or money to the cause, feel free to contact Cynthia at Cynthia’s Bistro or email me at [email protected].

Alchemy Arts Center invites you to a special one-night event on Friday, November 22, 5:00 – 8:00 pm in the Alchemy Arts Center Dome. (Parking is limited therefore carpooling is encouraged)…

Artwork by Vivian Tapsoba

Vivien Tapsoba is a self-trained painter from Ougadougou, Burkina Faso, currently residing in the United States. He has been a guest of residencies and workshops in Senegal, Burkina Faso, Italy, and France.  His work reflects the influence of American artist Jean Michel Basquiat, reclaiming the same line of contemporary artists and genres.  Through the harmony of colors, and the erasure and reconstruction of figures, characters, animals, and symbols on his canvases, Vivien weaves magical and powerful visual stories.

Vivien has exhibited his work widely in Burkina Faso, France, Italy, and the United States.  This will be his first exhibition on San Juan Island. 

• Alchemy Art Center is located at 1255 Wold Rd.  If you are coming from San Juan Valley Rd, we are past Kiehl and before the Lavender Farm, on the left.  You will see a sign that says Alchemy.
• Parking is limited, and is mostly available in the lot right after you turn in on the driveway.  There are diagonal parking spaces marked with rope, in front of the chicken coop and garden.  There are also a few parking spaces up the driveway at the top of the hill (just a little further up the driveway), closer to the buildings, if you require closer access.  Please let us know if you need to park at the top of the hill, and we will reserve a space for you.
• The Dome is located at the top of the driveway, about 100 ft. to the right of the driveway as you walk or drive up, accessible via gravel footpath.

Need more data and information to make knowledgeable decisions about your business or as a community legislator or leader? Join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for their fourth annual Datapalooza! event, 1.5 hours of in-depth data and analysis of our economy and demographics, plus lunch and conversation, on Wednesday, December 4, from 10:30 a.m. till noon on Orcas Island.

This year’s program, sponsored in part by Island Market, will include presentations by noted speakers James McCafferty, director of WWU’s Center for Economic & Business Research and Dr. Anneliese Vance-Sherman, regional labor economist for the State of Washington.

The presentations will explore our region’s economy and demographics – past, present and future – including industry, employment and sales data, and current trends. This in-depth analysis will enable leaders and businesspeople to make informed decisions about issues that affect our community and economy.

Details: Orcas Island, Wednesday, December 4, from 10:30 a.m. till noon at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church parish hall in Eastsound. Tickets are $25 and advance payment is required. Please visit www.sanjuansedc.org/datapalooza to reserve your space. For questions, please call (360) 378-2906 or email: [email protected]

The EDC thanks Island Market in part for their support of this event and other EDC initiatives. 

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) strives to strengthen and diversify the economy of San Juan County.  We believe a strong economy builds a strong community.   

It’s that time of the year!  The Friends of the San Juan Island Library will be having their annual Holiday Sale at the library on Dec. 7 from 10-4 p.m.

This year we have a variety of selections of holiday gifts and decorations.  Along with our big offering of books, there will be fresh picked swags, puzzles, ornaments, fresh baked goods and island gnomes.

In addition there will also be our special silent auction baskets in a variety of themes and sizes.

Please stop by and help the Friends by supporting the library and all the programs and opportunities available.

This is also the time to renew your Friends 2020 membership. All memberships received by December 7 will be available for the $100 gift certificate drawing.   Membership forms are available at the Treasure Cove in the library entrance.

Kittens are this week’s Pet(s) of the Week – Contributed photo

Fellow islanders, APS-FH has kitten madness and needs your help!

We began our exploration with hundreds of careers and industries on our list. Narrowing down to the right career choice for each of us has proved a difficult task. Let us open with what we’ve crossed off on our “Make a Career Choice” checklist. With the help of APS-FH staff, volunteers, and SJI vets, we’ve assessed ourselves and have decided we would be no good at dog walking, scuba diving, or yoga instruction (too mellow). We have generated our list of occupations to explore down to a short list of interests that include care giver, exterminator, and acrobat.   

This is where we could use your help. We need to get out of the shelter and into your home to find out which career is the best match for each of us. If you’d like to come help, there’s twenty-six of us waiting at APS-FH for qualified career counselors. Let’s Do This! – Kitten Madness, APS-FH Pet(s) of the Week

Mullis Center Craft Fair – Peggy Sue McRae photo

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae…

Get your holiday season shopping off to a festive start at the Mullis Center’s Holiday Craft Fair. The Fair happens the weekend before Thanksgiving, this year on Friday, November 22, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm and on Saturday, November 23, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.

The Mullis Center will be sparkling with holiday cheer. Local artisans will feature a broad variety of arts and crafts including jewelry, home décor, cards, calendars, ornaments, wreaths, soaps and body care items, candles, orgami and more.

Mullis Center Craft Fair – Peggy Sue McRae photo

Bonnie Sliger will be cooking up some delicious hot food for a snack or a meal while you visit or you can get it to take home. Offerings from the kitchen including her “Best in Show” ribbon winning cinnamon buns, hamburgers, hot dogs, soups and cupcakes.

Sales from the kitchen will benefit the Meals on Wheels program.

Bonnie Sliger – Peggy Sue McRae photo

Bonnie Sliger at the Mullis Center will be cooking up some tasty meals and snacks to be on sale during the Mullis Center’s Holiday Craft Fair. The Craft Fair starts on Friday, November 22, 5:00 – 8:00 pm and continues Saturday 23, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Yes, that’s the weekend before Thanksgiving and its coming right up! 

Here is what is on the menu: Char broiled hamburgers, Costco sized hot dogs, vegetarian cheese tortellini soup with biscuit, Black Forest Cupcakes, gluten free chocolate cherry cupcakes and/or gluten free Monster Cookies and Bonnie’s award winning cinnamon buns. Enjoy at the Fair or get it to go! Also, enjoy a complimentary cup of coffee or tea.

“The proceeds will be benefiting our Meals on Wheels program.” said Sliger.

Tide of Transition by Cathryn Mallory – John Miller photo

Looking up through this art installation, we are presented the illusion of being submerged midst the kelp, under water. Changing light throughout the days alters the mood of this very tactile art at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA). We are challenged by the installation, Tide of Transition, designed by Cathryn Mallory of Missoula, MT. She intends for the Atrium to be a space for reflection on the beauty and function of marine plant forms of the Pacific Northwest. She presents a kelp bed to highlight its value as a nursery for plant and sea life and as a sustainable energy and carbon-neutral food source. 

Cathryn Mallory – Contributed photo

Bob Durden, former Curator, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, described her exhibition Trace Identity thus, “Like many artists working today, Cathryn Mallory rejects the abandonment of beauty and instills beauty into her work through the use and command of her materials and the forms that she chooses to create. For her, to make something beautiful reflects a positive outlook on life.”

Mallory uses a variety of skills and materials to build this seductive, touch-able environment. From her textile background, she hand-felts wool and weaves, wraps, binds and twists fibers and copper mesh to her will. Wool protects sheep, humans and homes mirroring a function of kelp beds which provide protection, habitat and nutrition for aquatic life. When interacting with wool and water, she fashions felt from a process like moving kelp in the sea. She uses copper, a healing material which provides energy reflecting traits of a kelp bed. Continue Reading

Inspired by Desire II, our 34th annual holiday showcase, features unique works for gift giving – jewelry, ornaments, paintings, sculpture and a few oddities curated just for you. Join us for Prosecco Night, both Thursday and Friday 11/21 & 22, 4-7 pm.

Glass Ornament by Janis Miltenberger – Contributed photo

The Board of Trustees is seeking candidates to fill a vacancy on the five-member library board. The non-paid term of office is from January 1, 2020 to December 31, 2024, and the trustee is eligible for reappointment to another full five-year term. Recommendation will be submitted by the current Board of Trustees, and the appointment made by the San Juan County Council. 

To see a full job description, go to http://www.sjlib.org/employment/ or contact Laurie Orton, Library Director, at 360-378-2798. 

Official letters of interest and qualifications should be sent to the Board of Trustees, San Juan Island Library, 1010 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA 98250. All letters must be received by Monday, December 2, 2019 in order to be considered for the position.

Max Phone-a-Thon – Contributed photo

The San Juan Public School Foundation would like to thank our community members who have made a donation during our fall fund drive! We had a successful phone-a-thon and we are very excited to continue to see the gold envelopes coming back to us.

This month, your gifts helped the foundation fund math materials and planners for middle schoolers, musical instruments and grade level libraries for elementary school students, and speech and language books for all schools. Your continued support is making a difference in Friday Harbor classrooms every day!

Sincerely, San Juan Public School Foundation Board of Directors

NEXT WEEK!   Cross-Industry Symposium
Connect with San Juan County businesses on Wednesday, November 20th, from 1 to 3 PM, in the San Juan Island Library meeting room. For more info, see: https://www.sanjuansedc.org/kwn/. All are welcome and the event is free of charge.

NEXT WEEK!   Business Entities Workshop
SCORE, the SJICF and the EDC invite business owners and nonprofit leaders to a workshop on reducing your risk as a business owner. Thursday, November 21st from 10-11:30 a.m. at Heritage Bank, Friday Harbor. For more information, see: https://www.sanjuansedc.org/business-entities-workshop/.

Datapalooza!
Legislators, business owners, community leaders:  Join us Wednesday, December 4th from 10:30 AM to noon at Emmanual Church’s Parish Hall (Eastsound, Orcas Island) for an in-depth data and demographics event including lunch and great conversation!  Click here to learn more:  www.sanjuansedc.org/datapalooza.  Tickets are $25 and include lunch.

EDC Trades Training
The Board and Staff of the EDC are proud to report that our trades training initiative has been a great success this past year – thanks to YOU!  Many students took our courses on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island. We have an upcoming course on tree work on Orcas Island (application deadline: Nov. 21).  Consider donating to this life-changing initiative:  www.sanjuansedc.org/trades.