Town of Friday Harbor utility customers have once again shown their holiday spirit by contributing to the Harbor Life Ring program to benefit the Friday Harbor Food Bank. The Town distributed a letter in the October utility billing statement informing customers that any donations they made in November would be contributed to the Food Bank. In addition, the Town agreed to match the first $1,000 donated. Including the Town match, the Food Bank received $2,952.

“The response from the citizens has been great” said Mayor Farhad Ghatan. “We are always impressed by the generosity in Friday Harbor”.

Bill Cumming, director of the Food Bank was also excited to hear the news. “I want to thank this community once again for stepping up and serving those in need” he said. “These donations are assuring a happy holiday season for a great number of people.”

The Harbor Life Ring program was introduced in 2013 to provide financial support to families in need of relief from utility bills when unable to make ends meet. Once a year the proceeds are dedicated to supporting the Friday Harbor Food Bank during the holiday season.

The Town thanks all those who contribute to the Food Bank, both through this program and other private donations.

This just in from WSF…

Governor Jay Inslee unveiled his “Clean Transportation” (PDF) proposal last week and it includes investments in electric-hybrid state ferries. This announcement gives us a peek into state investments in the 2019-2021 biennium and many of them focus on fighting climate change and reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.

The governor has budgeted $64.3 million to begin building two new electric-hybrid ferries and $53.2 million to start work on converting two of our current vessels to electric-hybrid.

Under the governor’s plan, electric-hybrid ferries would help reduce the state’s transportation carbon emissions by nearly 2 million metric tons a year.

Hazel is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

Looking for Love?

Me: Youngish Tabby Girl. Love Fancy Feast, bird-watching, designer handbags, banana cream pie and books on tape. Adore Hallmark Christmas Movies and a good cuddle on the sofa with someone who shares my opinion that dogs are inferior to cats.

You: Discerning individual with exquisite taste in friends, a generous heart and comfortable furniture.

We should meet. My name is Hazel and I’m waiting for you at the animal shelter.

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
994 Cattle Point Road
(360) 378-2158

The Pacific Whale Watch Association issued the following statement…

Whale watching and responsible no/low-impact ecotourism is critical to education and conservation efforts that we all are engaged in to protect all whales in the Salish Sea.

As the Legislature, the Governor’s Task Force, and the public continue working towards ensuring the safety of the Southern Residents, the conversation around these issues needs to remain focused solely on science-based actions that will best support the future of these whales, including go-slow zones aimed at quieting the waters.

These are critical actions that the Pacific Whale Watch Association is deeply committed to in the upcoming legislative session and every day moving forward.

Responsible ecotourism is a healthy and critical piece of conservation and education.

On Wednesday Dec 19 2018, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors will hold a regular School Board Meeting at 5:00 pm in the high school library.  This is an open public meeting.  

All public comment, with the exception of public hearings on policy, budget or other specific items, will be heard during the “Public Comment” section of the Call to Order.  Anyone wishing to address the board on any topic will be scheduled to speak during the public comment period by the Administrative Assistant present at the board meeting.  Check in to be scheduled to speak will occur during the 15 minutes before the start of the meeting.     

Please see the agenda at https://www.boarddocs.com/wa/sjisd/Board.nsf/Public

This is a quick look at the board agenda for your convenience.  Please be aware that the agenda could change prior to the board meeting.

Holiday Desserts and Port/ Sherry Wine Tasting
Friday Harbor Chocolates & Cakes by Felicitations

Friday Harbor Chocolates & Cakes by Felicitations are pleased to announce that due to popular demand, we will hold another Holiday Desserts and Port/ Sherry Wine Tasting event on Thursday, December 20.

The event will take place at Friday Harbor Chocolates between 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. We will be featuring magical desserts created by Felicity specifically for the upcoming Christmas and New Year’s holidays, each paired with an array of imported Port wines, Spanish Sherry and French Champagne selected by Friday Harbor Chocolates.

There will be a modest $8.00 tasting fee collected at the door. All desserts will be offered for sale and a 10% discount applied for all port/sherry & champagne purchased that evening.

Friday Harbor Chocolates is located next to Sandpebble at 255 Spring Street, Friday Harbor. (360) 370-0050.

Belle Mullis, Christmas at Home – photo McRae/Mullis family

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

Family traditions are something we value especially at the holidays. I’ve been thinking about how family traditions evolve and change over time. Three of my four sisters will be visiting me next week for a Pre-Christmas gift exchange party.

Talking over the menu, one thing we will carry on as a family tradition is Chex Party Mix.  I bought a small ready-made bag of it at the store today. It was disappointingly unlike what my Mom used to make. It seemed to need butter, pretzels, and Worcestershire Sauce. Some traditions are sacred.

One Christmas when my Mom, Flossie Mullis, was young and her sister Ina and brother Don were both attending the University of Washington, Ina and Don came home to Friday Harbor for Christmas with a big surprise for their Mom and Dad, a radio. The family gathered around and tuned into a holiday concert broadcast all the way from New York City! For us, growing up in the age of television, musical programs often played a part in our family holidays. Continue Reading

To address the crisis created by the closure of the Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands, the Community Long-Term Options Task Force was created.

Immediate Need: We are asking for donations and looking for passionate people who have shared their concerns about the lack of long-term care options in our county and are ready to partner with us to make this new vision of healthcare a reality.

Background: The task force has developed options that we have identified as being important and beneficial to the community. These options include micro-nursing homes based off the Green House Project model, affordable housing for low-income seniors, tele-health and social work programs, along with home health and home care alternatives.

In order for the next phase of our development to occur, the decision has been reached that we require a feasibility study to outline the following: Continue Reading

Three First-Time Activities at SJIMA

Sailing Past Cattle Point Rocks by Sam Connery

On December 20, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) invites everyone to enjoy the public art sculpture of Gareth Curtiss, art from students at Spring Street International School (SSIS) and paintings of beloved local artists Mary Ann Rock and Sam Connery. The reception is open from 4:30-7:30.

Visitors to the free reception will have the added treat of the musical talent of David Bayley.

Coupled with this celebration, the Town of Friday Harbor and SJIMA have partnered to bring sculptor Gareth Curtiss to SJIMA’s Atrium. Curtiss will be creating a portion of the Town’s commissioned artwork of Edward Warbass and his dog, Bob.  The Atrium will be open to the public from 11am – 5pm from December 17th – 21st. for these demonstrations.  Come and meet Gareth Curtiss and learn about the lost wax bronze casting process. Continue Reading

Calling all couch potatoes! Did you know that Friday Harbor’s new animal shelter has an “Enrichment Room”? This is a magical room where volunteers, staff and prospective adopters can spend time in a cozy, home-like setting with an adoptable dog or cat. 

Shelter volunteer, Elizabeth Farr, is seen here with dogs, Tucker and Anna, enjoying some quiet reading time. The room also has a television for those looking to cuddle up with a furry friend for a movie or their favorite Netflix show.

If you have some time to spend, or books you’d like to finally read, come on in! The dogs and cats in our care would love to spend some quality time with you!

EDC invites San Juan County knowledge workers to informal meetup

The EDC is working to create a knowledge worker network for islanders who work with code, data, graphics or words. Knowledge worker jobs include computer programming, editing, web design, engineering/scientific consulting, and others that primarily involve creating, manipulating, or analyzing information. Projects often involve combinations of these types of jobs (e.g., coding and design, or data analysis and writing).

A knowledge worker network could promote economic development by helping locals to find off-island clients, bringing more revenue and higher incomes to the islands. In addition, it would help local businesses find local talent more easily.

The EDC invites knowledge workers and those who work with them to attend an informal meetup on January 16th from 2:00 until 3:00 PM. at the Orcas Island Library and a second meeting on February 6th at the San Juan Island library at 2:30 to 3:30 PM. These are follow-ups to the EDC’s well-attended meetup on San Juan Island on October 24th.

In addition, the EDC has started an online group for San Juan County knowledge workers and other interested people. More information is available on the EDC website at www.sanjuansedc.org/kwn. If you would like to join, contact us at [email protected].

The EDC thanks our funders for their support of this workshop and other EDC initiatives. These events are not affiliated with the Orcas Island Library or the San Juan Island Library.

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.

The courtyard in the back of Village at the Harbour – Tim Dustrude photo

Village at the Harbour, in conjunction with the American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Unit 163 is pleased to announce our first annual Holiday Extravaganza/ Festival of Lights. This free event is to be held from 6:00pm to 9:00pm at The Village at the Harbour on Thursday, December 20th, 2018 and is open to all of the Community.

As many of you know, our local treasure Mike Scott will have the Village at the Harbour decked out with some of the most amazing Holiday lights you will see on the Island. We will have Santa passing out candy canes and posing for pictures while you feast from a decadent dessert buffet, sip hot chocolate or cider, and enjoy traditional musical entertainment while taking in our spectacular Holiday light display.

This event will benefit the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center for their important service to our community. Guests may choose to contribute cash donations to be used toward the purchase of food and gas cards.

It is time to register for the Island Rec’s Girl’s Basketball League, open to all girls in grades 2 through 8.

The focus of this league is development and improvement of individual and team skills. Previous basketball experience is not required.

All games are played on Island, Sundays in Turnbull Gym. Participants practice twice per week beginning the week of January 7^th.

Register online at www.islandrec.org or stop by the Island Rec Office. An early registration fee of $45 expires on December 20^th. Th final deadline to register is January 3rd, $50.

Call 378-4953 for more information about the league or if you are interested in volunteering as a coach, referee or scorekeeper.

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor will open the doors of their old building at 111 Shelter Road, Sunday, December 16 from 10:00 am until Noon for anyone wishing to take away miscellaneous items such as pet carriers, feeding bowls, office furniture, shelving units, small refrigerators and many other items.  

Everything must go! Everything is free, but donations will be happily accepted.

Capital Credit Checks Coming – Your Co-op Dividend!

In December, capital credit checks will be sent out to members who were active in 1993, plus some from 1994 as OPALCO continues to smooth its 25-year cycle for capital credit distributions.

Capital credit allocations represent members’ equity in the Co-op. Each year, our non-profit cooperative allocates any margins available at year end to each members’ account to be paid back in the form of capital credits after 25 years. Every summer, members get a statement in their bill that indicates the amount of capital credits accrued under the account and then, the capital credit distributions – actual checks in the mail – are typically made each December, with Board approval based on Co-op finances.

This year’s capital credit distribution total is about $1,003K, which includes the remainder of 1993 (some were paid in 2017) and a portion of 1994. This is what the “smoothing” practice is all about. In the next 25 years, the margins we will be basing capital credit distributions on vary widely: from $121K to $3.1M. Anticipating these larger margins, the Board discussed smoothing out capital credit distributions based roughly on a ten-year rolling average. Continue Reading

The Center for Whale Research is excited to announce the release of a wonderful 5-minute animation that tells the incredible story of the importance of grandmothers in the Southern Resident orca community. Click the image above to view it.

Thank you TED-ED, Darren Croft and Michael Weiss.