EDC, NWWD, SJISD to present free Career Fair for high school students

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC), in partnership with the Northwest Workforce Development Council (NWWD) and San Juan Island School District (SJISD) will present a free Career Fair for high school students, featuring local trades businesses on Wednesday, April 25^th from 11:20 am until 12:20 pm at the Friday Harbor High School Hall Gym on Blair Street.  The fair is free and open to high school students on all islands. 

Businesses will have presentation tables to showcase their work, and representatives will be available to discuss industry questions and job prospects in San Juan County.  Featured will be businesses in trades such as electrical, plumbing, construction, hospitality and more. Industry leaders and business owners are encouraged to participate.

The Career Fair will be offered on April 25th from 11:20 am until 12:20 pm at the Friday Harbor High School Hall Gym on Blair Street in Friday Harbor.  Please contact the EDC at (360) 378-2906 or [email protected] for more information.

The EDC thanks our partners in the trades education initiative:  the Orcas Island Community Foundation, Orcas Kiwanis, San Juan County Builders Association, San Juan County, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Islanders Bank, Heritage Bank, Island Excavating and Orcas Excavators.

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.  

Griffin Bay Bookstore & The San Juan Island Library present Growing A Revolution – Bringing Our Soil Back To Life by David R. Montgomery, Saturday, April 7th at 7:00 pm at the library.

David R. Montgomery returns to San Juan Island just in time for gardeners and farmers who are busy preparing their soil for spring planting. Join us for another lively and informative book talk at the Library, one that will get you to think differently about soil and its health. Montgomery will be talking about his latest book, Growing a Revolution—a revolution to increase our personal and planetary health by focusing on the ground beneath our feet.

Montgomery, a MacArthur Fellow, makes an impassioned call in Growing a Revolution to make agriculture sustainable by ditching the plow, covering the soil, and diversifying crop rotations.

The problem of agriculture is as old as civilization. Throughout history, great societies that abused their land withered into poverty or disappeared entirely. Now we risk repeating this ancient story on a global scale due to ongoing soil degradation, a changing climate, and a rising population.

But there is reason for hope. David introduces us to farmers around the world at the heart of a brewing soil health revolution that could bring humanity’s ailing soil back to life remarkably fast. Growing a Revolution draws on visits to farms in the industrialized world and developing world to show that a new combination of farming practices can deliver innovative, cost-effective solutions to problems farmers face today. Continue Reading

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

Someone very wise once said, “Women and cats will do as they please. Men and Dogs should just get used to the idea.” My name is Smudge, and I wholeheartedly agree.

If you are looking for a friend to join you in doing as you please, we should meet. I’ll be at the animal shelter waiting for you.

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
111 Shelter Road
(360) 378-2158

Two Grandparents and a 13-Year-Old:
Self-Driving the Back Roads of Namibia

Join Val and Leslie Veirs as they recount their 2-week trip to Namibia with their 13-year-old grandson, Liam Reese.

Driving over a thousand kilometers, they encountered the oldest and highest sand dunes in the world, mobs of southern fur seals, ancient petroglyphs of giraffes, and wild animals of every sort.

Refreshments are courtesy of the Friends of the Library and the San Juan Island Trails Committee.

Monday, April 2nd at 7:00 pm at the San Juan Island Library, free.

[Show slideshow]

Lana Hickman, SJIMA Family Art Days instructor, shares this story with you…

San Juan Islands Museum of Art in Friday Harbor is a truly cultural community center. A continuous and vibrant program of world class art that will some day include new artists’ names. These may be the names of children who attend the museum’s Family Art Days Program. For now it’s only the beginning. The generous sponsors who support the young artists may be very proud. And yet, art needs to be viewed. SJIMA Kids need an exhibition space.

This spring the paintings created during the recent Family Art Days workshop have been graciously accommodated by A Place To Play creator and owner Cathy Kromer.

A Place to Play is a first-rate children’s services provider and can be rightfully called a children’s museum. It tends to the needs of children 2 and a half years old and up and represents a beautiful and thoughtfully designed environment. The murals on the walls create a unique ambience.

High under the ceiling SJIMA Kids’ Art is displayed. As the Family Art Days program of SJIMA is looking into the future it’s necessary to have more local business owners willing to provide space for children’s art exhibitions. Some businesses have window space, others might give a thought to an extensive wall display. The exhibits will be rotated as more truly powerful children’s art is created.

Those who allow the happy child’s world to enter their work place will have a source of good energy brightening every day throughout the seasons!

The Washington State Transportation Commission is seeking customer feedback on Washington State Ferries, and invites you to join the Ferry Riders Opinion Group (FROG) at http://ferryridersopiniongroup.com/.

Share your thoughts about WSF’s customer service, reservations, fares, food, and more. Sign up today so you don’t miss the next survey in early spring; you’ll get a notification as soon as the survey goes live.

We want to hear it all – the good, the bad, and everything in between.

Thank you for your participation!

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

Dear Editor:

Something extraordinary and exciting happened on our island last Wednesday, March 21^st.  The San Juan Community Home Trust barged in two more “classic” homes from the Victoria/Oak Bay areas of Vancouver Island.

The Nickel Bros. barge arrived at 5 AM at the Jackson Beach loading ramp.  The off-loading of these two homes was an amazing treat in and of itself.  The early morning arrival was to take full advantage of high tide.  There were a number of us who ventured down to see this move which, at least to me, was essentially flawless.  This company decidedly knows what it is doing. Continue Reading

Additional Info…

A good crowd at the courthouse for the March for Our Lives demonstration – Chris Teren Photography photo

By Louise Dustrude
A cheerful crowd of a few hundred teenagers and adults, many wearing bright orange, joined the nationwide March for Our Lives at noon on Saturday, beginning and ending on the courthouse lawn.

Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan welcomed the crowd and then turned the mic over to the young organizers of the event, a dozen of whom spoke feelingly of the need for safety in our schools.

“It’s no longer the time for thoughts and prayers. It’s time for action,” said one high school senior.

“To those who think we will not change the world: Just watch us,” said another.

A 12-year-old said, “I’m so glad you all showed up to support us.”

A chorus of others gave short sentences beginning with “What if … “

“What if our lives were more important than the rights of guns?”

“What if the government stopped taking money from the NRA?”

And finally — “Now, let’s march!”

Click here for the full overhead video from Chris Teren Photography

SVC Named among the Top 100 community colleges for Adult Learners

Skagit Valley College (SVC) is pleased to announce that it has received national recognition as one of the best community colleges in the nation. Washington Monthly magazine published its ranking of the Top 100 Best Two-Year Colleges for Adult Learners and SVC was named #61.

This year’s recognition is the third national honor for SVC by Washington Monthly magazine. The College was named among the top community colleges in 2007 and 2010.

“To be selected again as one of the best community colleges in the nation is a tribute to our faculty and staff, who are focused on excellence and continually seek ways to expand access and support student achievement,” said SVC President Dr. Tom Keegan. “We have a strong commitment to creating innovative learning strategies that help our students reach their educational goals and it is very rewarding to be recognized for our work.” Continue Reading

On Wednesday March 28, 2018, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors will hold a Special School Board Meeting at 3:00 pm in the School District Office.  This is an open public meeting.

On Wednesday March 28, 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 agendas below, or access BoardDocs from our website at www.sjisd.wednet.edu  (then locate the BoardDocs School Board agenda access).  Or go straight to the agenda itself athttps://www.boarddocs.com/wa/sjisd/Board.nsf/Public

Doug McCutchen from the Land Bank shares this request with you…

Hello,

“Friday Harbor March for Our Lives” will take place Saturday, March 24th, beginning at noon. Islanders will take to the streets to demand that their lives, and safety, become a priority and that we end gun violence and mass shootings in our schools today.  The demonstration here in Friday Harbor will join the estimated 821 other marches that will take place nation-wide the same day to make sure our voices are heard.

Spear-headed by freshmen Ayla Ridwan and Emma Mughal, the march will begin at the County Courthouse with introductory remarks by Mayor Farhad Ghatan followed by brief presentations from a number of students.

For those who are not registered to vote, the League of Women Voters will be present at a table on the Courthouse lawn facing Court Street to sign you up.  17-year olds who will be 18 by the time of the November election are eligible to register.

All islanders are welcome to participate! The students will lead the march with adults following closely behind.  Everyone is encouraged to wear orange, and to bring signs with a message they wish to share.

The organizers of this march, all San Juan Islanders, wish to thank Sherri and Richard Daly and Susan and Richard Grout for their support and sponsorship.

For further information and to RSVP for the march, go to the Facebook page, March for Our Lives Friday Harbor.

Dave Stanford is EMT of the Month – Contributed photo

Congratulations to Dave Stanford, our March EMT of the Month. Dave has been a very active EMT with San Juan Island EMS since 2014.

He has been enthusiastic, eager and responsive to every training opportunity offered. He can often be found on the schedule in the evenings and weekends filling in where other EMTs are unable.

Dave brings compassion and humor when needed not only to patients but to fellow EMTs as well. Retired after a career as a construction surveyor for the 302 operating engineers in Seattle, Dave spends most of his free time helping others and enjoying the sun. Dave is certainly a grandpa to be proud of.

Thank you Dave!

Business owners are invited to join the San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) for Mission: Advertising, a free workshop on advertising and marketing for small businesses, on Wednesday, March 28th from 9 a.m. until noon. 

Participants will learn the effective techniques and media they can use to build their businesses using print media, social marketing, blogging, direct marketing, advertising specialties and more. Also taught will be methods to leverage public and press relations to help grow business, and best practices in enterprise reputation management.

Featuring noted advertising experts, Colleen Armstrong, Sound Publishing; Sharon Kivisto, San Juan Islander; Cali Bagby, Sound Publishing; Jack Cory, Island Guardian; Kris Brown, Printonyx; Tim Dustrude, San Juan Update; Chris Reed, San Juan County SCORE counselor; and Victoria Compton, EDC, this workshop is sure to give participants the tools they need to boost their businesses.

• Date:  Wednesday, March 28^th, 9 a.m. until noon.  
• Cost:  Free, advance registration required. 

The class will be held at the Friday Harbor Grange, 152 1st Street, San Juan Island.  For more information and to register:  360-378-2906 or [email protected]. 

A view toward Friday Harbor from Mount Grant – Tim Dustrude photo

Hello Hikers, Walkers, Mount Grant Steering members of old, Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust (SJPT) Supporters and friends!

As you may be aware, the Land Bank will be holding a public meeting this coming Monday, March 26, at 5:30pm at Brickworks to present the Mount Grant management plan to the public before it goes to the county council for approval.

This is a culmination of many months of work and previous public input. It will be presented by Doug McCutchen who has worked tirelessly on and for the Preserve, along with many others. We would like to have as many positive voices in the room supporting him and all these efforts.

It would be wonderful to see the substantial community interest in this wonderful preserve we have all worked so hard to attain!  If you have the ability to attend, I look forward to seeing you there.

David Dehlendorf