Larry Soll invites you to the next Summer Film at SJCT…

Fellow Film Buffs,

Here is the description for our next movie:

Man On The Train
Crime, Drama, Comedy, Thriller Rated R 90 minutes
French (with subtitles)
Tuesday July 24 7:30 pm

A good friend who happens to be the emeritus chair of film studies at the University of Colorado believes this is the best film made since 2000.  I think you may agree.

Two men from two different walks of life develop an unexpected friendship in The Man on the Train.

Weary from his trip and in anticipation of the heist he’s about to perform, Milan (French rock star Johnny Hallyday) steps off the train after arriving in the small town where he’s to meet his co-conspirators and heads straight to the town pharmacy.

After accidentally buying the wrong product, Milan makes the acquaintance of retired teacher Manesquier, who offers to help the traveler and then promptly begins talking ad nauseum.  Milan, after paying partial attention to the old man’s ramblings, excuses himself to find accommodations — only to run into Manesquier once more after learning that the hotel has closed for the night.

As the two men talk, they develop a respect for one another, as well as a secret longing to live the type of lifestyle the other man lives based on the desire to escape their own. See how they do it.

Technical Training with Coach Van

Island Rec and FHFC will be offering a co-ed three-week technical training in August to prepare players ages 11-18 for the fall FHFC soccer season. This technical soccer clinic is designed for the serious young soccer player looking to continually improve their game. This will be an intense, no nonsense soccer clinic that is competitive and technically focused.

Players should come prepared and be ready to work hard and learn a lot. This program will be instructed by Coach Van, a professionally licensed soccer coach who has numerous years of experience and currently is the coaching director for Friday Harbor Football Club. A minimum of 8 registrants needed by early registration deadline.

Ages 11-15: Aug. 2-16 (4:00pm-5:30pm), on Thursday of every week (3 sessions total). Cost: Early Fee (before July 19)- $33; $38 thereafter.

Ages 16-18: Aug. 2-16 (5:30pm-7:00pm), on Thursday of every week (3 sessions total). Cost: Early Fee (before July 19)- $33; $38 thereafter.

For more information or registration visit our website online at islandrec.org, stop by the Island Rec office M-F, 11am-5pm, or call us at 360-378-4953.

Here’s an excerpt from this week’s Weekly Ferry Update…

Please spread the word that crab pots need to be weighted properly and/or dropped well away from ferry lanes. The Salish – which is on the Coupeville route – has ended up with multiple lines tangled up in it this week (including on Tuesday when pots shouldn’t be in the water in Admiralty Inlet).

Please remind your crabbing friends and check out tips from Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife so we can all help keep our ferries in tiptop shape through this busy season. Thanks to our crews and divers for getting those lines quickly untangled this week.

In the SJ Update mailbag we have this letter about the upcoming election…

Vote for Debra Lekanoff, Washington 40th Legislative District

By Sandy Strehlou and David Meiland, San Juan Island

Debra Lekanoff is running for the 40th Legislative District seat currently held by State Representative Kristine Lytton, who is stepping down. Lytton has been a solid voice for our district and the issues that matter since 2010. Kristine is supporting Debra as her successor, and so are we.

There are four strong, progressive candidates in this race, but Debra gives us a fantastic opportunity to elect a woman and a person of color to represent us, and frankly, we think this is critical.

Progressives need to accept that the status quo is not working. Vast numbers of registered voters do not show up to the polls, because they do not believe the candidates they are offered will represent them. If we want to reverse the corporate stranglehold on our politics, we need to offer disenchanted voters a reason to turn out on election day. They need to see themselves represented in Olympia and in Washington D.C. Electing candidates like Debra to prominent positions make this a real possibility.

We aren’t suggesting that anyone vote for a candidate simply because of gender or race. We don’t vote that way. But in this election we have a strong candidate, one with a solid track record of community service and a willingness to fight for us in a difficult political climate.

Debra Lekanoff is strong on environmental issues, education, employment and the economy. She is endorsed by NARAL Pro-Choice WA, EMILY’s List, the Orcas Women’s Coalition, SEIU Local 925 and the United Food and Commercial Workers, along with many other prominent individuals and organizations. Check out her website for more.

We need elected leaders who reflect the diversity of our communities. Please join us in voting for Debra Lekanoff on August 7th.

Within the fence at the parade ground at American Camp – Tim Dustrude photo

Click to enlarge map

Thanks to 23 Fire District #3 volunteers, Sunday’s 6.7-acre grass fire on the parade ground at American Camp was brought under control less than 75 minutes after it was called in.

Park superintendent Elexis Fredy, who is in Minnesota this week working on a review committee related to workforce development, said by email, “I am extremely impressed and thankful for our amazing volunteer fire department and Brad Creesy.”

And acting superintendent Brandon Cadwell called the response “incredible – fast and effective.” He said, “We couldn’t be more grateful.”

Creesy, the fire chief, said volunteer Kyle Dodd was the incident commander, “and he was doing such a good job that I just stayed out of his way.” Dodd initially ordered a Washington Department of Natural Resources helicopter for support but canceled it once they were able to knock the fire down.

The incident occurred during a historic weapons artillery demonstration, supervised by Cadwell. He said a safety determination is made for each day’s demonstration. “I check the temperature, humidity, wind levels, and state of fuels and make a determination whether it is safe to hold the demonstration – each day an independent review.” Continue Reading

(L-R) Arlo Harold, Aida Must, Zach Fincher, Natalie Meenan and Henry Miller – Contributed photo

Scholarship Awards and Leadership Skills

Every July, youth from rural electric utilities throughout the Northwest gather at the College of Idaho to learn leadership skills, compete for college scholarships, expand their horizons and build camaraderie with peers from eight western states.

2018 OPALCO scholars Henry Miller, Arlo Harold, Natalie Meenan and Aida Must attended the Youth Rally with returning director Zach Fincher. At the conference, the Idaho Consumer-owned Utility Association (ICUA) awarded additional scholarships to Arlo Harold ($400), Zach Fincher ($500) and Natalie Meenan was recognized as an outstanding delegate. Each of these students also receives a $1000 scholarship from OPALCO and the Nourdine Jensen family.

Check out OPALCO’s Flickr album for more pictures from the 2018 Rally.

Islanders can produce an abundance of food for their families while restoring degraded lands and fighting climate change. Tall order, you say? Permaculture designer Keith Keyser will show how it has been done elsewhere and how it can be done here. Join Keyser on Wednesday July 25th at the San Juan Island Grange Hall for an informative talk on “Permaculture, or regenerative ecological agriculture and its promise for restoring a damaged planet”. The program starts at 7PM and is preceded by a 6PM traditional Grange meet-and-greet potluck.

Permaculture is an integrated approach to landscape design, aquaculture, water management, forestry, animal husbandry, nutrient cycling, architecture and more. It creates “consciously designed landscapes which mimic the patterns and relationships found in nature, while yielding an abundance of food, fiber and energy for provision of local needs.”, according to Permaculture co-founder David Holmgren.

Keyser will present principles that govern Permaculture design, introduce the founding mothers and fathers of Permaculture, and look at some successful Pacific Northwest examples that show what can be done here in our islands.

This latest presentation in San Juan Island Grange’s Lecture Series is offered to advance its mission “to promote a resilient community of growers, makers and keepers” on San Juan Island. Founded in 1931, San Juan Island Grange is non-partisan, and so is this presentation. All are welcome, free of charge.

Housing advocates across San Juan County are moving forward with a proposed HomeShare Program. After receiving feedback from 113 community members through an online survey, the proposed HomeShare program has generated enough interest to formulate a pilot program.

The survey identified two groups of potential participants: Potential Home Providers, who own or stably rent a home, and Potential Home Seekers, who do not own or stably rent a home. Below are some of the results from the county-wide survey.

Of the potential Home Providers, (Continue reading…)

Beware of mysterious phone calls from “Direct Fairways”. This notice came in from the San Juan Golf Course and the SJI Chamber. Here’s Chris Gregor with more…

Hi everyone. We have received some reports of a scam. Here is a letter from the San Juan Golf and Country Club explaining:

• To:        San Juan Island Merchants
• From:  San Juan Golf & Tennis Club
• RE:      Scam Alert

Dear fellow Merchants,

My name is Chris Gregor and my wife is the new Head Golf Professional at the San Juan Golf & Tennis Club – I just wanted to let you all know that you may be receiving a call (if you haven’t already) from a third party company called Direct Fairways – At least that’s the name they used for us – Anyway, they are calling claiming to be hired by the Golf Course to sell advertising into a yardage guide – This company is a sham and they have sold their services to us under false pretenses and misinformation.

In short, please DO NOT give any money to anyone selling ads on behalf of the golf course – We will have legitimate opportunities in the future but we will NEVER employ outside parties to communicate on our behalf – I’ll simply stop by your business and bother you myself.

Anyway, should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at: 360-370-7991 – I operate a home business called Golf Washington so if you happen to get my voice mail, please leave a message.

Thank you!

Chris Gregor
San Juan Golf & Tennis Club

Best Place Lemonade stand will be open this Saturday, July 21st  from 11:30-2:30 or while supplies last!

Over the past four years Vera and Olsen have settled on a fresh lemonade recipe sure to satisfy the thirstiest of customers. Best Place Lemonade stand is located a mile out of town where Turn Point Road and Best Place meet (just past the shipyard).  This year the first 10 customers will receive a child’s drawing with each purchase.

Saturday’s forecast is shaping up for a great day to walk, drive or ride the Turn Point loop; Vera and Olsen hope to see you!

Dr. Susan Ellis – Contributed photo

The Friday Harbor branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is pleased to announce a special guest presentation by Susan Ellis, Ph.D. She will be speaking on the biblical insights she gained from living in the Middle East and working on excavations in Jordan. She will address how living in the Middle East helps understand the culture and lifestyle of the area today and during the times of the Old and New Testaments.

Dr. Ellis has degrees from Brigham Young University and the University of Utah.  She has worked on excavations in Syria, Tall Jawa, Khirbet Iskander, and Abila of the Decapolis. Her doctoral research was in how people make, sell, use, reuse and discard pottery.

The presentation is open to anyone that might be interested.  We would like to especially invite our friends and neighbors. Light refreshments will be served.  The presentation will be at 1013 Lampard Rd, Friday Harbor, at 7:00 pm on July 21st.

In the SJ Update mailbag we have this letter to the community from Julia Vouri…

That San Juan County was recently declared the “healthiest county” in Washington State should come as no surprise to those who have benefited from the excellent health and social services here. And these services are continually improving thanks to a group of local organizations and individuals who meet regularly to tackle health concerns across San Juan County. 

This group, the San Juan County Community Health Initiatives Consortium (CHIC), was formed in 2015 to address countywide health needs identified by Community Health Needs Assessments (CHNAs). Conducted by PeaceHealth in 2014 and 2016, this process involved gathering input from many community organizations and individuals across the County. Three areas of need were identified, and CHIC was tasked with pursuing goals through individual workgroups co-convened by PeaceHealth and San Juan County Health & Community Services. Continue Reading

July 20, 2018, Joint Planning Commission and County Council Meeting

Click below to see 60 images of this production – Tim Dustrude photo

Opening on San Juan Island tomorrow night is the 20th anniversary production of Island Stage Left: Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”. Island Stage Left also did The Tempest in 1998 as their very first show.

With a stellar cast and a beautiful outdoor stage, this is a first class production. Watching “Shakespeare Under the Stars” is a unique experience as you go from early evening to twilight to dark. Notice how the colors of the sky change as you progress through the photos below.

The show opens July 19 and runs through August 12, Thursdays-Sundays at 8pm, on the outdoor stage at 1062 Wold Road. No tickets or reservations necessary. Come early, dress warmly and bring a coat or blanket – it can get quite chilly. Further info: www.islandstageleft.org (360) 378-5649 and last week’s SJ Update announcement.

Check out some photos below: Continue Reading

Check out this email that came into the SJ Update mailbag…

Click to enlarge

Dear San Juan Update,

We are making a music video about noise pollution on the Salish Sea and are seeking community vocalists on the Salish Sea to take part ($500 and expenses for selected singers). If you might be interested, please see the flyer at right. You can also find more information about the contest here: https://www.ecosong.band/loud

“We” are Ecosong.net and I am Claire Doty, Director of Public Outreach for the project.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to either myself or Mark Pedelty ([email protected]).

Thanks,

Claire
Director of Public Outreach, Ecosong.net
University of Minnesota

This weekend Pelindaba Lavender Farm will be hosting the San Juan Island Lavender Festival. All are invited to come see, smell, hear, touch and taste The Complete Lavender Experience® – July 21 & 22, 2018. Festival activities are scheduled 10am – 5pm both days. The event is free for all and open to the community. Pets are welcome and ample parking is available.

The San Juan Island Lavender Festival, now in its 17th year, continues to be a popular summer destination with several thousand visitors and islanders attending each year to celebrate all things lavender. The beautiful weather of late means the fields will be at their “peak of purpleness” this weekend.

The weekend will kick-off with a Farm to Table Dinner in benefit of SAFE San Juans in the blooming fields. Coho Restaurant’s Chef Tim will feature the flavors of the summer season, drawing ingredients from local San Juan Island farms with a touch of culinary lavender from the surrounding fields. Continue Reading