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When OPALCO members open their bills in January, they will be, on average, $9.50 higher.

OPALCO is raising rates as a necessary part of providing power to our 20-island archipelago. This increase is driven by the loan expense (capitalization) for the submarine cable replacement (George), inflation and power cost increases. The budget also includes two new Apprentice Lineworker positions to prepare for retirements on the horizon.

The 2019 budget includes a 5.2% revenue increase, which will be applied equally between the service access (facilities) charge and the energy (kWh) usage portion of member bills for a total of around $9.50 more per month (based on the average residential monthly household usage). Learn more about what costs are included in the service access charge and how trade-offs are balanced at www.opalco.com/rates.

“The Board strives to keep power bills affordable,” says board president Vince Dauciunas. “We held rate workshops throughout 2018 to explore options for rate setting and completed a new Cost of Service analysis to make sure each member is paying their fair share. The revenue increase was necessary to balance the budget in a climate of rising costs.” Continue Reading

Happy holidays from Washington State Ferries! The Anacortes/San Juan Islands/Sidney route will follow the regular weekday schedule on Tuesday, December 25 and January 1, with the exception of interisland vessel #4, which will operate on the holiday schedule. The interisland Friday Harbor 2:20 pm and Lopez 3:50 PM will not sail; the Friday Harbor 2:15 pm to Lopez and Anacortes will sail.

Vehicle reservations are strongly advised and can be made  online or by calling 511 to speak with an Information Agent.

Schedule:
http://www.wsdot.com/Ferries/Schedule/scheduledetailbyroute.aspx?route=ana-sj-sid

Vehicle reservations:
https://secureapps.wsdot.wa.gov/Ferries/Reservations/Vehicle/default.aspx

Please note – Anacortes terminal concessions will be closed on Christmas Day.

Carolyn Jewett – Contributed photo

Everyone is welcome to attend the swearing-in ceremony and reception for the newly elected San Juan County District Court Judge, Carolyn Jewett, at 12:00 pm on January 11, 2019.

The ceremony will begin at noon in the District Court courtroom of the county courthouse, at 350 Court Street, Friday Harbor. Jewett will be sworn in by Superior Court Judge Kathryn Loring.

An open house reception will follow from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm at the San Juan Island Grange Hall, just across the street at 152 First Street N. Light refreshments will be served at the reception.

Because of the generosity in our community, the Family Resource Center will be able to help even more families and individuals this Christmas

We wish to thank the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 163 for making us their beneficiary at the Holiday Extravaganza and Festival of Light held at the Village. It was a beautiful evening and the beginning of a new tradition.

We would also like to thank San Juan Brewery, especially Katie Fleming and Melissa Alyward, for a wonderful family night benefiting the Center.

Every act of kindness matters, and your support will make a real, lasting impact in the lives of those who are still in need.

In this season of giving and appreciation, it is also fitting to thank the Lopez Island Family Resource Center for sharing resources and ideas with us.

We are all working together, helping each other help others.

With much gratitude,
Jennifer Armstrong,
Executive Director, SJI Family Resource Center

Don’t forget- Friday December 21st is our Craft n’ Brew Event from 6:00 to 8:00 pm where kids, families, singles and couples can craft together.

Live music with Travis Rambo during the festivities. We are super excited to be raising money for San Juan Island Family Resource Center. We have craft bags available (while they last) and all donations accepted.

SJI Brewing Company will be donating $1 for every beer sold. All donations go directly to our local community.

410 A Street, Friday Harbor.

In the SJ Update mailbag today we find this letter from Gay Graham…

The San Juan Community Home Trust has done it again, and with a special bit of flourish!

A few weeks ago, the 11^th and 12^th houses were barged into Jackson’s Beach and trucked to their permanent lots in the affordable housing project, Sun Rise II.  These two complete this innovative project of homes all “recycled” from the Victoria-area on Vancouver Island… all but one.

That last one?  It truly represents the quintessential idea of reuse and recycling.  The “Stewart House” as it is called came from Decatur Island, but this wasn’t its first move.

“Stewart” was originally a Seattle-area home. What? It was slated for demolition as it sat in the path of the I-5 corridor that was being constructed in the 1960’s.  Rather than see this wonderful house destroyed the owners had it barged to Decatur Island near this island’s airstrip, and saw it become the family’s vacation home.

The Stewart family enjoyed many happy years here but then made the decision to build a new home.  Not willing to see its demise, the family and the Home Trust fashioned an agreement where “Stewart” would become another wonderful, and final, addition in Sun Rise II.

To see “Stewart” and the other newly-arrived home, “Windsor”, take a short ride on Grover to its end.  Not only will you see these two, but the other ten homes that are a part of this neighborhood.

Congratulations are once again due the Home Trust for its innovative, recycling/reuse efforts at providing permanently affordable housing for our island.

The Home Trust’s next project?  Stay tuned!

New Year anticipation, end of the year restlessness, or enforced indoor time? Whatever the reason, there are changes afoot at the San Juan Island Library!

A new year, some new colors
Brightly awash in blue, yellow and ‘stem’ green, the Children’s area has had a much-needed facelift. These happy, engaging colors are exciting and fun, and a welcome contrast to the dreary grey of winter. They also reflect our new logo and, hand-in-hand, this bright new outlook positions the Library for an exciting 2019!

Local Authors Unite
To help highlight and raise the profile of our talented local authors, the Library has created a new temporary collection, the Local Author collection. This sits where the temporary Poetry collection was, on the left hand side of the central Graphic Novel shelves. Signage will be coming soon.

Highlighted by bright pink tape and a local author sticker, the shelves hold items from Nonfiction, Fiction, Young Adult, Children’s and Graphic Novel collections.

Take a moment to explore, and meet some of our community’s creative forces.

WiFi Hours
Just as the Library provides free access to books, magazines, movies and much more, it also provides access to free internet- even after hours! Available from our parking lot, un-encrypted WiFi is accessible from 5 am to 10 pm daily.

For more information, visit the San Juan Island Library at 1010 Guard Street or follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Our website is available 24/7 and offers streaming video, downloadable eBooks and audiobooks, and a wide range of online databases. Questions? Call us at 360-378-2798.

Ferry crossing Rosario Strait in rough weather – Tim Dustrude photo

This alert just came in from WSF…

Wind storm throws wrench in early holiday sailing schedule The ongoing wind storm has already had several impacts on sailing schedules across the region today. And more changes could be on the way.

Therefore, passengers will need to plan ahead and potentially alter their travel plans accordingly depending on where they’re going. Washington State Ferries has made several adjustments to routes for the sake of safety. Below is a list of the changes so far:

• Anacortes/San Juan Islands: Boats are running on their storm routes and are being partially loaded to better stabilize them. Customers should expect moderate to significant delays.
• Port Townsend/Coupeville: Sailings on the route have been cancelled through 1:15p.m., and additional sailings could soon be cancelled. Customers are encouraged to use alternate routes, if possible, which would be Edmonds/Kingston or Mukilteo/Clinton.
• Hood Canal Bridge: Washington State Department of Transportation crews have closed the State Route 104 Hood Canal Bridge due to high winds until further notice. Crews are standing by to reopen the bridge as soon as wind conditions improve. For more up-to-date information on the bridge status, visit the WSDOT Hood Canal Bridge web page.

Other routes have not been altered, but will likely see heavier traffic, which could delay service. Continue Reading

This December, FANS’ (Families and Neighbors Support Island Rec) generous donors helped the group contribute $10,000 to Island Rec, for a 2018 total of $15,000. These funds bolster Island Rec’s capacity to provide scholarships for programs like swimming lessons and teen adventure camps, and to bring the community activities like Music on the Lawn and Movies in the Park and amenities like Eddie and Friends dog park and island trails.

“Island Rec is very fortunate to be able to count on FANS and its generous donors. Every dollar that FANS raises for Island Rec allows us to not only maintain our current level of recreational programming but to also explore new ideas and expand opportunities. I am continually amazed and thankful for the dedicated FANS volunteers and the community’s enthusiastic support for Island Rec,” said Island Rec Director Maddie Ovenell.

FANS President Kyle Loring had this to say, “Thanks to the benevolence of so many of our neighbors, including the many business sponsors for our fall Carnival, this has been one of the most successful fundraising years since we started in 2012.”

FANS raises funds through its annual spring fundraising drive, snack shack at Music on the Lawn, and fall Children’s Carnival. The FANS Club campaign continues through the end of the year; donations may be made online at www.islandrecfans.org or via check to P.O. Box 875, Friday Harbor, WA 98250.

Island Stage Left’s Traditional holiday show has been cancelled this year due to illness.

Originally it was cancelled only for Thursday, Dec. 20, but now we’ve learned the entire show is cancelled.

New art installation features Marjorie Walker: Artist, Bohemian, Islander

Marjorie Walker’s passport application photo, 1923. Courtesy of the United States National Archives and Records.

The Town of Friday Harbor is pleased to announce a new outdoor public art history installation in the Sunshine Alley breezeway. The exhibit honors late artist and San Juan Island resident Marjorie Walker (1906-1992) and will be displayed through 2019.

Walker was born in 1906 in Brooklyn, New York, to an affluent family that afforded Marjorie and her sister, Jean, the best schools and a childhood rich in culture and experience. Marjorie studied art at the famous Art Students League of New York, whose students and faculty included the likes of Calder, O’Keefe, Rockwell, and Pollock.

In 1923, the sisters first saw the San Juan Islands while on a six-week, cross-country tour through Canada, Alaska, and the western United States. They vowed to return someday, and almost 30 years later they made good on that promise.

Continue Reading

Gareth Curtiss – Contributed photo

Northwest artist Gareth Curtiss is bringing his bronze sculpting project to Friday Harbor December 17th through 21st so that the public may share in the creation of the Ed Warbass sculpture he is making for the town.

The public is invited to watch and interact with the artist in a temporary work space being created for him in the glass atrium at the front of San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA).

Curtiss will demonstrate the clay sculpting process that precedes mold-making and bronze casting. He intends to work on the bust for the life-size statue which will depict town founder Captain Edward D. Warbass sitting on a park bench with his dog, Bob, by his side.

The sculpture will be installed on First Street at the entrance to Sunshine Alley by fall 2019. A clay maquette of the sculpture is available for public viewing at Town Hall. Continue Reading

Bills are Going up in January – 2019 budget includes a 5.2% revenue increase

Pending board approval at the December 20th board meeting, OPALCO members will see a rate increase when they open their bills in January. The bills will be on average, $9.50 higher.

OPALCO is raising rates as a necessary part of providing power to our 20-island archipelago. This increase is driven by the loan expense (capitalization) for the submarine cable replacement (George), inflation and power cost increases. The budget also includes two new Apprentice Lineworker positions to prepare for retirements on the horizon.

The 2019 budget includes a 5.2% revenue increase, which will be applied equally between the service access (facilities) charge and the energy (kWh) usage portion of member bills for a total of around $9.50 more per month (based on the average residential monthly household usage). Learn more about what costs are included in the service access charge and how trade-offs are balanced at www.opalco.com/rates.

If paying your power bill is a financial strain, OPALCO offers a monthly credit through the Energy Assist program.

P.S. CAPITAL CREDIT checks go out in December. If you were an OPALCO member in 1993 or 1994, watch your mailbox for your co-op dividend! Learn more.

Cotton Cotton Cotton & Island Studios are having a Holiday Open House  on Friday, December 21st from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Come over to Spring Street for some last minute shopping! We are staying open until 7:00 PM and will have refreshments and snacks!

Island Studios will be offering “Draw your Discount” and get 5% – 15% off your total purchase. 

CCC will be offering 25% off everything but jewelry and an additional 20% off clearance items.  Plus, the first 3 purchases of $25.00 or more get a free Brighton Christmas Tree Charm!

Don’t miss this opportunity to get some great gifts at a discount! We are right down the street from each other so it is easy to visit both places! Also Friday Harbor Chocolates will be open until 6:00 PM.

Happy Holidays!

Island Rec –Adult Tennis: Intermediate Skills and Drills

Photo by Ben Hershey on Unsplash

Island Rec is offering another session of Intermediate Tennis Skills and Drills for Adults this January and February with Caroline Hansen. Classes will be held on Sundays; January 13th through February 3rd.

Adult lessons for ages 16 and up are from 2:00 to 3:30 pm indoors at the Fair Building. Register by January 3rd for the early bird special rate of $74.00. It will be $83.00 thereafter.

For more information or registration, please visit www.islandrec.org, call 360-378-4953 or drop by the office at 580 Guard Street Monday through Friday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.

The Fairgrounds Master Plan is currently being developed and the first draft is complete!  It is now available for review online at: www.sanjuanco.com/1552/Fair-Master-Plan-Update (under “Latest News”). 

A printed reference copy is also available at the Parks & Fair Administrative Office for in-house review.  The intent of the draft is to give the countywide community an initial impression of the plan so that public input is considered in the development of the final document.  The public comment period will be open until January 31, 2019. 

Comments may be submitted to:

• Email: [email protected]
• Mail:
  San Juan County Parks & Fairgrounds
  350 Court Street #8
  Friday Harbor, WA 98250
• In Person:
  San Juan County Fairgrounds
  849A Argyle Avenue
  Friday Harbor, WA 98250

Following the public comment period, the consultant team will be making necessary edits/corrections and working to incorporate community and County Council input.  A final draft will be presented to the to the County Council for approval in 2019.