Fired Up! Ready to go!

Island Women’s March invites all islands to participate in a sidewalk march on January 20th, 2018 in Friday Harbor. We will meet at the Friday Harbor Courthouse on 1st Street, next to the American Legion. Staging time will be at Noon and the march will start at 12:30.

The Saturday ferry schedule leaves Lopez at 10:15, Shaw at 10:35, Orcas at 10:50 arriving in Friday Harbor at 11:30. Return Schedule leaves Friday Harbor at 2:50, arriving at Orcas at 3:35, Shaw at 3:50, and Lopez at 4:20.
All islanders are invited to take part in our protest against the current Administration.

This is a family and pet friendly sidewalk parade one mile long. It is an easy walk.

Bring your signs and your passion and join us in demonstrating that the current Administration’s policies are not America’s policies.

We will be marching to engage and empower ALL people to support human rights, women’s rights, voting rights, civil rights, social justice, racial equality, environmental rights, disability rights, LGBT rights, reproductive rights, indigenous people’s rights, immigration rights, health rights, veterans rights and liberty and justice for all.

The Town is pleased to announce the appointment of Cloud Oakes and Christopher Umierski to the Friday Harbor Arts Commission (FHAC). Oakes is a working studio artist who previously served on the boards of the San Juan Community Theatre and San Juan Island County Parks. She was involved with the original San Juan Museum of Art and was responsible for the creation of the local food co-op and the Community Theatre’s Children’s Theatre. “I hope to provide an important link between the artists of the island and the Town’s willingness to support local artisans,” Oakes explained in her introductory letter.

Umierski previously organized and hosted community events at his art studio in Tyler, Texas, before relocating to the island this past summer, and says he would like to bring this kind of energy to Friday Harbor. “I have a passion for community and public art,” he stated in his introductory letter. In addition to holding multiple studio assistant positions with professional artists, his background includes organic farming and the study of art and science. He is currently working on a series of ceramics, drawings, and paintings.

The newly appointed members of the eight-person commission will serve three-year terms commencing January 1, 2018. Members of the FHAC represent the interests of the Town, community, and local artists and advise the Town Council on the cultivation, selection, acquisition, and placement of public art.

Northwest Flower & Garden Festival

Herald the start of spring with gardening enthusiasts at this annual celebration. Your gardening desires will blossom when you gaze at the spectacular show gardens. The show offers the finest roster of free seminars. Whether you are in need of sensible or seasoned pro advice there will be a seminar for you. Stroll the Marketplace with over 300 exhibitors. Buy your ticket now at the Early Bird price (www.gardenshow.com) and enjoy a day with the SJI Garden Club at the FESTIVAL.

• Date: February 10, 2018
• Time: Eastbound Ferry 8:00 ferry
  Westbound Ferry 8:20 ferry
• Location: Washington State Convention Center Seattle
• Cost: $50.00 – Transportation includes ferry ticket
  Does NOT include food, F&G Show entry or driver gratuity

Reservations are required prior to February 5, 2018

To register contact:

Kathie Forsyth (360) 378-8685 or (360) 378-5071
Vonnie Harold (360) 298-0859

Meeting, Classes and Excursions are open to everyone. More information about the garden club is on our website.

San Juan County’s 2018 Point in Time Homeless Count will be conducted on Thursday, January 25. Count organizers and volunteers work with local family resource centers, food banks, emergency cold weather shelters, churches, healthcare providers, senior centers, libraries, the sheriff’s office, and many other community support service providers to conduct the count. The count, initiated by the State of Washington in 2005 (RCW43.185C.030), is conducted annually at the end of January.

This year the San Juan County Health & Community Services Department has partnered with the Resource Centers on each island to provide Point in Time Count volunteer training on the following dates:

• San Juan Island Family Resource Center
  January 16 at 3:00pm
• Orcas Community Resource Center
  January 18 at 11:30am
• Lopez Island Family Resource Center
  January 23 at 11:00am

The department is also working with the Cold Weather Emergency Shelters on Orcas and San Juan to ensure the shelters are open the night of the count regardless of weather conditions to encourage participation.

Last year’s San Juan County count identified 36 individuals living outdoors, in vehicles or abandoned building, and 60 individuals living in substandard structures without access to either drinking water, a restroom, bathing facilities or the ability to cook hot food. As well, 58 individuals were also identified who were living in temporary, unstable living arrangements, often with family or friends.

If you have questions or would like to help with the count, please contact Ryan Page, San Juan County Affordable Housing Coordinator, Health & Community Services, 370-0590, [email protected]

Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey – Contributed photo

A professional director, playwright, actor, and teacher from Seattle is the new Executive/Artistic Director at SJCT.

After a nationwide search, the SJCT Board of Trustees recently appointed Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey to take the helm at the 29-year-old performing arts organization. Previously, Nathan oversaw the largest educational touring program in the northwest at Seattle’s Taproot Theatre. Originally from Kansas City, MO, he had moved to Seattle in 2009 from New Jersey where he had received an MFA in Directing from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University.

“We are thrilled to have Nathan join our SJCT family,” said Board President Sandy Johnson. “In his own words Nathan has stated ‘I am fiercely committed to arts access for all’– a philosophy we wholeheartedly support.”

Nathan adds that he has been drawn to community theater ever since his first production at age 14. “It has become clear to me that SJCT is more than a building — it is a thriving group of people who are passionate about the positive impact arts can have in a community,” said Nathan. “I look forward to being part of that at San Juan Community Theatre, and to getting to know the wonderful people of San Juan Island.”

Nathan and his wife, Courtney (a professional dresser) will be moving to the island later this month; his first day at SJCT is January 22.

Calling all San Juan County writers. The deadline for proposals for participating in the Orcas Island Lit Fest is this Friday, January 12th!

Apply to be a part of our program or to give a reading at our Friday night Lit Walk (which highlights local and emerging talents.) For more information and to apply visit our website at www.oilf.org.

Here’s a festival Overview:

The Orcas Island Lit Fest (OILF) is a celebration of literature, poetry and non-fiction writing situated on one of the most beautiful places on Earth, Orcas Island, known as the gem of Washington State’s scenic San Juan Islands. In an intimate setting, festivalgoers have the opportunity to attend readings, panel discussions, and writers’ workshops hosted by Pulitzer Prize-winning writers, critically-acclaimed authors, and beloved regional and emerging writers.

“An intimate world-class literary festival on one of our country’s most beautiful islands.” —Jule Treneer, OILF President

Participants can also attend book signings, grab a bite to eat and peruse the exhibits at our lively and interactive Book Fair at Orcas Center that runs throughout the weekend. The festival will kick off Friday night with a Lit Walk and open mic night at locations around quaint Eastsound Village.

Saturday morning, the Kid Lit Fest will host Thor Hanson and readings by characters in costumes and the Book Fair opens at the Orcas Center for the Arts, featuring exhibits by literary journals, independent presses and featured publishers.

Writers’ workshops will also be happening at various locations around the island during the morning. Two tracks of moderated panel discussions begin Saturday afternoon, featuring invited artists, thought leaders, and publishing professionals.

On Saturday evening, the Lit Fest’s marquee event takes place on the Orcas Center’s main stage, with readings by our award-winning lineup of invited authors.

Afterwards, things get a bit more raucous at the Battle of the Genres gala after party. Sunday morning is day two of the workshop program, and more fantastic panels to attend at the Orcas Center, all of it capped off with a final closing event at the Book Fair.

Festival tickets are available on Eventbrite, Stranger Tickets and at www.oilf.org

Nora Alice Shaller 1919 – 2017

Nora Shaller of Friday Harbor passed away peacefully in her home on December 16, 2017, surrounded by family.

She was the wife for the late Robert Shaller, and leaves two children: Jean Fawcett and her husband, Robert (Red) Fawcett, of Duxbury, Massachusetts; and John Shaller and his wife, Waeow Shaller, of Friday Harbor. Nora was the loving grandmother to seven grandchildren and great-grandmother to seven great-grandchildren.

Born on May 16, 1919 in North Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada, Nora later moved with her family to Edmonton, Alberta where she graduated and pursued a career in the Department of Agriculture at the University of Alberta.

After they married, Nora and her husband Robert lived in many places as his work required frequent moves within the United States, Canada, Australia, the Caribbean, and Switzerland. In the mid-seventies, Nora and Robert settled in Friday Harbor where she was an active member of St. David’s Episcopal Church, St. David’s Altar Guild, the Episcopal Church Women organization, and Friday Harbor Senior Center.

She will be truly missed by her family and many friends, and fondly remembered for her kind, loving nature, strong faith and wonderful sense of humor.

A celebration of Nora’s life will be held at St. David’s Episcopal Church, in Friday Harbor, on Saturday January 13 at 1:00 PM.

Here’s another SJI Lifestyle video from Merri Ann Simonson at Coldwell Banker…

On Wednesday January 10, 2018, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors will hold a Special School Board Meeting at 5:00 pm in the District Office. 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 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 at https://www.boarddocs.com/wa/sjisd/Board.nsf/Public

This is a quick look at the board agenda for your convenience: Continue Reading

Andrew O’Neill photo

2018 looks like another busy and exciting year for your Land Bank! Almost two years to the day, and a full year before the loan was due, the highly anticipated acquisition of the Zylstra Lake property on San Juan Island came to a fruitful end. The public-private partnership of the San Juan County Land Bank and the San Juan Preservation Trust once again successfully pooled their creative and financial resources to conserve more than 280 acres of San Juan Valley open space, including the 60 acre Zylstra lake complex.

“This is one of the most exciting projects that we’ve ever undertaken with our partners at the Land Bank,” said Tim Seifert, executive director of the Preservation Trust. “There are few places left on San Juan Island that can provide so many benefits for so many people, so Zylstra Lake has always ranked among our highest priorities for protection.”
 
Funding for the project was provided via a $1m federal Coastal Wetlands Conservation grant; a pending state grant; the sale of the adjacent “October Farm” property; and San Juan County Land Bank and Preservation Trust funds. As with Mount Grant Preserve on San Juan Island and Turtleback Mountain Preserve on Orcas Island, Zylstra will be owned and managed by the Land Bank, and the Preservation Trust will hold a conservation easement on it.

Next Steps: 

“Making the final payment to the seller is the first step in creating a permanent management plan for Zylstra,” said Land Bank director, Lincoln Bormann. “Right now though, we are extremely grateful for our partners who helped to conserve the property. It will be an amazing addition to the community.” Continue Reading

Tomorrow, Wednesday January 10th,  the Port of Friday Harbor  Commissioners will meet to discuss among other things, the FAA requirement of removing trees and obstructions from the area south of the runway. This is required for the airport to maintain its IFR (Instrument Flight Rating) which is necessary for Airlift Northwest to be able to fly in and out of here in inclement weather.

Similar obstruction removal was recently conducted at both the Orcas and Lopez airports.

There will be a public comment period during the meeting. See the full agenda at this link.

The meeting will take place at 4:00 pm at Spring Street Landing, 10 Front Street, Suite #105 (that’s down below Downriggers Restaurant).

Yesterday San Juan Islanders took a stand In Olympia. Joined By Senator Kevin Ranker on the front steps of the State Capital building on the first day of the legislative session are Patrick Kirby, Jane Wentworth, Gretchen Alison, Liza Michaelson and Steve Porten. The group urged legislators to pass the Carbon Tax Bill, the Oil Transportation Bill, and the bill opposing Atlantic fish pen farming.

The Carbon Tax bill if enacted would commit Washington State to electric vehicle fleets, create a 100 percent carbon free electricity portfolio standard, and put a price on carbon emissions. It would phase out coal and further expansion of natural gas facilities, while creating thousands of clean energy jobs.

The Oil Transportation bill ensures the same safety measures that are in place in San Francisco Bay for oil transport, including enhanced safety measures protecting against the risk of oil spills and providing a sustainable source of funding for the program.

Hammering things at Island Rec’s 2015 Children’s Festival – Aaron Shepard photo

Plans are just beginning for the San Juan Island Children’s Festival scheduled for May 5, 2018 and people willing to work as a team, committed to creating this fun filled festival dedicated to celebrating children are needed. The Children’s Festival attracts over 1,200 people and in its 28th year is a hallmark event for San Juan Island and Island Rec.

With the exception of the festival day, committee members volunteer an estimate of 6-8 hours per month beginning in January. The committee works closely with Island Rec staff to secure entertainment, coordinate participation of over 30 community organizations, recruit volunteers and promote the event.

Traditionally, the committee has been comprised of mom’s of young children but others are encouraged to be part of this long standing successful event. If creating opportunities for children to discover, explore, create and be amused speaks to you, come speak to me.

Contact Morgan at Island Rec at 378-4953 or [email protected] to learn more about this opportunity.

Peter Garlock Appointed to Fill OPALCO Board Vacancy

Peter Garlock – Contributed photo

Peter Garlock of Lopez Island joins the OPALCO Board of Directors in February, 2018 to fill the vacancy created by Jim Lett upon his retirement. The OPALCO Board appointed Garlock to the position at the December board meeting. The volunteer member Election & Governance Committee (EGC) reviewed four applications for the vacancy. All candidates were interviewed by the EGC and also by the Board.

Garlock has nearly 40 years experience managing and leading large technology organizations. He currently serves as the Director of Information Technology for the Port of Seattle. He and his wife divide their time between Seattle and Lopez Island. Garlock earned his MBA and served in the US Air Force.

“As a part-time resident,” said Garlock, “I will bring an important perspective to the Board. I believe this large group of members is currently under-represented. In addition, I bring substantial experience in delivering business, technology and process solutions to complex requirements in a public sector and represented labor environment.”

Garlock will serve until the next District 3 (Lopez, Decatur, Center and Charles islands) election in 2019, at which time he intends to run for the position.

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.

Burlesque is back in Friday Harbor to entertain us with a new show! “Oui Oui” is an evening of tantalizing tease and talent that will surely brighten those mid-winter doldrums.

The 2017 local performance was an all out hit, definitely leaving the audience wanting more! “This is an amazing show filled with great dancing, fun, beauty, and laughter, My husband and I had the best date night ever!”. One audience member even called Mod Carousel “The most fun you can have on the island without getting arrested!”

Mod Carousel is a Seattle-based “boylesque” troupe composed of the immeasurably talented Paris Original, Trojan Original (who will be joining us this year after missing last year’s performance), the Luminous Pariah, and Moscato Extatique. 

Paris Original and Trojan Original are no strangers to the islands, having performed at SJCT in La Danse de la Mer’s Winter Carnivale for the past 6 years. Mod Carousel will be joined by Jovie DeVore, known for her on-stage vivacity, infectious smile, and campy brand of humor. All highly trained artists, Mod Carousel offers what is sure to be an (18 and over) unforgettable evening of dance, comedy, glamour, and world class playful striptease. Continue Reading

PADs for Parkinson’s of San Juan Island enjoyed a very successful 2017 and would like to acknowledge all who are making this ground-breaking program possible.  We extend our heartfelt thanks to our training volunteers and handlers for our 15 fabulous sniffer dogs; and to the many who provided financial support.  We extend our very deep gratitude to our sample donors who are battling Parkinson’s Disease. The work we do is for you.

Due to your support, we are able to announce that 2017 ended with the Level 2 (experienced) canine unit correctly identifying Parkinson’s Disease at the rate of 90%.

We were pleased to share news of our program with fellow islanders through our first exhibit at the San Juan County Fair, and wider exposure through the feature story on KING5 (http://www.king5.com/article/news/health/dogs-train-in-san-juans-to-sniff-out-parkinsons-disease/281-459969018) Seattle NBC affiliate, and video of the dogs on San Juan Update at (http://sanjuanupdate.com/2017/06/pads-for-parkinsons/) and award-winning coverage from the Journal of the San Juan Islands.

Both local and national funding sources recognized our work and we thank them for their generous support.  To Paddle for Parkinson’s, the San Juan Island Community Foundation, the Ann Moss Foundation, the Henry W. Bull Foundation, and the many individuals who have supplied needed funds, we extend our sincere gratitude for recognizing the work of PADs and enabling us to continue this important work.

With gratitude,

Lisa Holt, Program Director ([email protected]) and Richard Lind, Board  President ([email protected])

PADs for Parkinson’s, the program for the training of Parkinson’s Alert Dogs
PO Box 2703
Friday Harbor, Washington 98250
(360) 298-5494