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

I’ve had my bath and I’m ready to be adopted. Can I go play in the mud again now? My name is Ricky. I’m here at the animal shelter now, waiting for you.

Make no mistake about it – if you are my new person, I WILL find you and I WILL lick you. And yes, I do have puppy breath – I’m only 3 months old! Don’t even try to pretend you don’t love me already. Resistance is futile. So…..I guess I’ll see you soon!

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

United Way of San Juan County, and the “Out of the Cold” Severe Weather Shelter program have enjoyed amazing community support in the shape of donations and volunteer commitments, and as the cold weather sets in tonight the Shelter will open once again.

The Shelter location for the predicted cold weather will be at the Presbyterian Church’s annex house, 395 Spring Street just next door to the church. Shelter openings work around several groups that also use the building. Tonight the opening will start at 7:15. Anyone is welcome to visit, enjoy some soup, and/or stay all night out of the cold.

There is enough volunteer coverage for two nights, with hope for a third night of coverage if the cold weather persists. Regular volunteers have been trained and all have a mandatory background checks on file, however, anyone interested in volunteering should feel free to sign up on a “Volunteer in Training” slot, available for each of three shifts per night. To view time slots, current volunteer coverage and to sign up, please click here: Sign Up for Shelter

United Way of San Juan County wishes to thank everyone involved for their ideas and input, for their time and donations to the program. See you tonight!

Poets are Focus of Next FREE Readers Theatre

San Juan Community Theatre’s On Book! Readers Theatre series showcases a play about two 20th century poets on Tuesday and Wednesday, February 20-21 at 7:30 p.m.

Based on the compiled letters between poets Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop, Sarah Ruhl’s Dear Elizabeth expresses the beauty in simple correspondence. Brought to life by reading Words in Air: The Complete Correspondence Between Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell, Ruhl maps the relationship of the two poets from first meeting to an abbreviated affair and the turmoil of their lives in between. As innovative as it is moving, Dear Elizabeth gives voice to a conversation that lived mostly in writing, illuminating some of the finest poems of the twentieth century and the minds that produced them.

SJCT’s On Book! series brings island directors and actors together to read new, classic, and prize-winning plays. Ruhl is a critically-acclaimed American playwright and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist. Her fantastical comedy, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, was staged in the Gubelman Theatre in 2017.

Directed by Shannon Kelley, Dear Elizabeth will be read by island actors Daniel and Therese Finn in the Whittier Theatre. Admission is free, with donations accepted at the door.

Friday Harbor Film Festival will be showing The Memory of Fish at the Grange on Tuesday, February 20. 

The Memory of Fish is a documentary portrait of the intertwined lives of Dick Goin and wild fish, and his fight to free a river. Elwha River salmon fed Dick and his family after they migrated to the Olympic Peninsula during the Dust Bowl. He never forgot his debt to the now disappearing fish. We follow Dick—a pulp mill worker and master fisherman—as he uses his memories and persistence to battle for the biggest dam removal project in US history so that the salmon can come home.

“Best of the Fest” film series shows film festival favorites on first and third Tuesdays at the Grange at 7 pm. Admission by donation.

6th Annual San Juan Islands Agricultural Summit
March 16-17, 2018 on Lopez Island.
You are invited to the annual gathering of local farmers, food producers, businesses, and food advocates for two days of events and education in support of our local food community.
Link here for: Registration

Pam Fry – Contributed photo

From the Animal Shelter…

Pam Fry is the animal shelter’s “Volunteer of the Month” for February. Pam is a frequent visitor to the shelter, where she does energy balancing treatments on animals in need of help. The treatments help to clear stress and trauma and promote socializing and calmness. The treatments are tremendously helpful for animals who have recently arrived at the shelter as well as those that have a difficult time adapting to life in an animal shelter.

From the Town of Friday Harbor…

Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians who use Tucker Avenue will enjoy a safer and better quality roadway by late-summer.

The Town of Friday Harbor has contracted with Strider Construction to reconstruct this portion of Tucker Avenue (Phase Two). The Contractor is scheduled to begin this project on Monday, February 26^th. This project will include new water and sewer lines, road resurfacing, and the addition of bike lanes and sidewalks from Harbor Street to University Way.

The Town will be delivering door hangers with information about the project. The Town wants to ensure that notice of the construction will be received by all those directly affected by the project.

The Contractor is being asked to expedite the project with as little traffic disruption as possible; however road closures and detours will be unavoidable. Travelers should expect delays and limited or no access during certain phases of the project which includes removal of portions of existing asphalt, trenching and grading. The public is asked to exercise patience and to make every effort to be respectful of neighborhood residents when using detours in the area. Every effort will be made limit street closures.

Information and updates on the project will be posted as often as possible. Notice of this project timeline and construction updates will be published regularly once the project commences. Questions can be directed to the on-site Project Manager, Frank Baublits, at [email protected].

Tucker Avenue Reconstruction Project – Phase 2 – Construction Update. What to expect for the week(s) of February 26th through March 12th.

The Town of Friday Harbor truly appreciates everyone’s patience while we work through this project. A project manager/inspector will be available to any address concerns. Do not hesitate to contact the Project Inspector, Frank Baublits, at [email protected] or (360) 461-2338. You may also contact Town Hall at (360) 378-2810 with questions or comments. Construction updates will be posted as often as possible.

Project task(s): The Contractor will be mobilizing equipment and locating utilities on both sides of Tucker Avenue from Harbor Street to University Way.

 Street Closure: There will be alternating one-way traffic on Tucker Avenue between February 26^th and March 12^th.

The northbound lane between Harbor Street and Larsen Street will remain closed beginning March 13^th through the duration of the project. The Southbound traffic on Tucker will be diverted around the work or stopped entirely when road crossings are performed. Flaggers will be on-site during. There will be times when the Contractor needs use of the southbound lane and vehicles may experience short delays.

Local access will remain open at all times, however neighbors of the project should anticipate short delays during certain portions of construction. The Contractor is making every effort to not be disruptive to the residences in the area. Continue Reading

L-R: Director of Photography/Editor Drew Hisey, Tyler Roberts, and actor Greg Marks – Contributed photo

Congratulations to Tyler Roberts. His film “Be Good Now” just won Best Picture at the Oregon Short Film Festival.

Tyler grew up here and graduated from FHHS in 2005 and Western Washington University in 2010. His parents are Mary and Roy, and he is the grandchild of Kip and Kitty.

“Be Good Now” is a story written by Tyler. He is the lead actor and he also co-directed the film with his friend Ty Minton-Small.

Tyler and his brother Trent both got their start in filmmaking back in Middle School with all their neighborhood friends on Park Street. Since then he has made many short sketch comedies and guerilla style videos, but never anything too serious. In fact, this is the first time he ever submitted a film to a film festival.

If the film had been rated, Tyler guesses it would have an “R” rating because of language and subject matter. (It’s the story of a middle school JV football coach who supplements his income to make ends meet by selling marijuana.) “But don’t let that scare you – the film has a good message” he says. “I wanted to say something to today’s youth about decisions and consequences”.

See the film trailer here on Vimeo. (Note: there is R-rated language on the trailer so be warned – And yes, that’s Tyler as the JV coach). Also, this will be showing in Bellingham this weekend at the Bellingham Film Showcase on February 25th.

Cari Matthews, MD. – Contributed photo

Cari Matthews, MD, has joined the staff at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center. Matthews is a seasoned Emergency physician with special interests in remote care, aeromedical evacuation and travel medicine. She and her fellow Peace Island emergency medicine providers offer around-the-clock care, seven days a week.

Matthews comes to PeaceHealth from Benefis Health System in Great Falls, Montana. She is a Navy veteran with 15 years of experience serving with the Navy and Marines, including three combat deployments. She spent three years completing point-of-injury casualty evacuation with Marine helicopters in Iraq. She currently serves as a flight surgeon for the Air National Guard.

She says, “I feel very honored to be the one people come to at the worst moments in life – when they are hurt, frightened or confused.  No matter what the problem is, I use everything I can to help.”

Matthews’ home life is also quite busy, as she has four young, active children under the age of 10, including three-year-old twins. In her limited free time, she enjoys skiing, scuba diving, traveling, hiking and dabbling with cooking. She and her family are delighted to call Friday Harbor home.

Tea and Oranges – Peggy Sue McRae photo

Island Senior is a regular column written by Peggy Sue McRae…

I was not planning to write about the flu this week but the flu chose me and according to my informal social media commiserations I am not alone. This is turning out to be one of the worst flu seasons in years.

I was surprised to get the flu because I just got a flu shot. A few days later I had symptoms. The timing made me suspicious and I wondered, did the flu shot give me the flu? In a word, no, the flu shot does not give you the flu. It can take a few weeks for a flu shot to kick in. I was most likely exposed to the flu before I got my shot. While the flu shot contains influenza strains, those strains have been inactivated, which means they are no longer infectious.*

At first I thought I had come down with a common cold due to a runny nose being my initial symptom. What convinced me it was the flu was the lack of appetite and achy muscles. The distinction can be important. People who have chronic medical conditions like diabetes or heart disease, compromised immune systems, the very young and the elderly, are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms from the flu and should seek medical attention if they have any trouble breathing or have a persistent fever.**

If you do get sick, stay home. Even if your symptoms are not severe you could be exposing those who are more vulnerable. I was lucky enough to have work I could do at home and friends willing to pick up groceries, check my mail for me, and bring me firewood. For some of us who love our independence a brief illness can bring home just how much we need our friends and community.

Previous to succumbing to the flu I’d had thoughts of joining the Mullis Center’s Friday Field Trip with Callie McKay. Definitely next month! I hear there is a trip to Burlington and LaConner in the works. I have a feeling any adventure with Callie is going to be fun.

*Link to article on PBS Newshour website: It’s really not too late to get your flu shot, and other flu myths debunked.

**Link to article on PBS Newshour website: Defending against this season’s deadly flu: 5 things to know.

Are you looking for some evening fun to do on Valentine’s Day weekend?

Join Isle Seat Theatre/Dance Workshop 2 for dancing and great listening under the lights as we celebrate with the One More Time Band featuring Debbie Nash Strasser.

Old swing/jazz standards with that big band sound will have you out on the dance floor or swaying in your seat! All ages are welcome, no need to bring a date! Light refreshments provided. A basic dance lesson will be offered from 7 -7:30 by Phil Macbride, then it’s live music from 7:30 -9:30 p.m.

For more information or to purchase advance tickets, please visit www.isleseattheatre.com or call 378-4572.

Kati English – Contributed photo

Congratulations to February EMT of the Month Kati English. Kati has been an EMT since 2016 and is also a tech at the ER AND is also taking the Fire Fighter 1 class over at San Juan Island Fire.

Even though Kati’s schedule is packed with work, fire school and family life, it was noted that she has increased her volunteer hours with San Juan EMS in the last two months.

This is a thank you and shout out to a hard-working woman with a big smile and big heart. Thank you, Kati, for all you do!

SJCT’s Happy Birthday, Wanda June – Contributed photo

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.’s. satirical comedy, Happy Birthday, Wanda June opens in San Juan Community Theatre’s Gubelman Theatre THIS weekend with three performances: Friday and Saturday, February 16-17 at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

Directed by Tony Vivenzio, the play is a twentieth century takeoff of Ulysses’ return from the Trojan War when hunter Harold Ryan returns home from Africa after eight years, confronting a world that has gone on without him.

A character study that is an attack on phony heroes and macho swagger, Happy Birthday, Wanda June satires and addresses human cruelty and as Tony points out “presents issues we, as a people–and a theoretically evolved species–should have resolved by now: racism, sexism, pseudo-macho destructiveness, gratuitous violence, and more.”   Tony adds: “In this play, we watch the destruction of Harold Ryan’s personality by other characters fighting to show it’s okay to be non-comformist.”  

Happy Birthday, Wanda June continues February 22-24 and March 1-3.  Tickets are available online at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office (open Tuesdays through Fridays from 1 pm to 4 pm and Saturdays from 11 am to 2 pm). 

NOTE: MATURE THEMES AND LANGUAGE

Thanks to local artist Teri Murray Cooter for this photo… 

From the Beach – Teri Murray Cooter photo

OPALCO 2017 Scholars and Chaperones – Contributed photo

OPALCO’s Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program is accepting applications from high school sophomores and juniors of OPALCO member households. Up to five scholars will receive a $1,000 scholarship from OPALCO and the family of Nourdine Jensen, as well as an all-expenses paid trip to the Youth Rally, a co-op leadership camp, at the College of Idaho. Applications are available online at www.opalco.com and are due by 4:30 pm on Friday, March 9.

The Youth Rally is a week of fun, personal growth and learning with about 100 students from eight western states. Activities include a day at the water park, volleyball, bowling, social dances, team-building games and educational sessions on leadership, grassroots governance and the power industry. Additional scholarships are awarded at the Rally by the Idaho Consumer Owned Utility Association (ICUA).

Past scholars have said:

“My sense of the world was changed …” –Brodie Miller, Spring Street School

“I made friendships that will last a lifetime…” –Cameron Schuh, Orcas High School

“I had an amazing time at the Rally. They did a perfect job of balancing education and fun.” –Marné Cook, Lopez High School

It’s easy to apply: fill out a one-page application and write a one-page letter explaining why you would be a good ambassador of OPALCO. Applications are online: www.opalco.com/members/youth-rally-scholarships/. Applications are due on Friday, March 9 at 4:30 pm to Suzanne Olson – [email protected]. Please call Suzanne at 360-376-3537 if you have questions. And, check out photos from past years at https://www.flickr.com/photos/opalco/ and also on Facebook @ICUAYouthRally. It’s fun!

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is our member-owned cooperative electric utility, serving more than 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 95% greenhouse-gas free and is generated predominantly by hydroelectric plants. OPALCO was founded in 1937. Follow OPALCO @OrcasPower on Facebook and Twitter.