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

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all that have been instrumental in getting our quaint Town all lit up! The San Juan County Courthouse, the Town snowflakes, Village at the Harbour, Earth Box, the San Juan Brewing Co. and all the businesses are so cheery, festive and inviting!

(click any photo to enlarge)

San Island Juan Brewing Co. – Tim Dustrude photo

We also want to thank Mike Scott for his addition of lights on the rooftops and the display he did in the front and the back of Village at the Harbour.

Mike said “I helped with some lighting for a fundraiser at the Village this summer, and saw the courtyard there. The landscaping is very nice, so I asked Evan, the manager, if they did anything with Christmas lights, he said they haven’t done much in the past, but he wanted to change that. So, I worked with him and Ace Hardware FH to deck the courtyard out over the top.” 

More pictures below – Continue Reading

Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth

On January 10, the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is sponsoring an excursion to the Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect, 110 paintings from the American master’s 75-year career, now at the Seattle Art Museum.

The San Juan Island community is invited to join the all-day expedition, part of SJIMA’s many ongoing art education programs.

The price includes all transportation & gratuities, museum admission, guided tour, and walk-on ferry ticket-plus the chance to meet new friends and art lovers, and see a world–class exhibition!  The costs are $70 for SJIMA members and $85 for non-members. All are welcome and encouraged. Reserve your seat(s) before December 31 at the SJIMA reception desk or online at “LEARN” at www.sjima.org Seating is limited, so reservations are on a first-come; first-served basis.

Also included, SJIMA board member and professor emerita, RaVae Luckhart, will offer a short orientation to the art exhibition as preparation for the tour. Continue Reading

San Juan Community Theatre’s new Director of Development has deep roots in both fundraising and the arts.

Amy Price – Contributed photo

Amy Price moved from Texas to Friday Harbor this summer in time for her daughter to begin high school. Price has been involved with fundraising work for more than two decades, helping to raise some $100 million dollars for a variety of nonprofits. She received the U.S. Forest Service’s “Wings Across the Americas” award for her public/private partnership work securing corporate funding for conservation projects.

Price’s experience also includes helping to launch a fledgling equity theater company in San Antonio, Texas, and she says she has never been far from stages, playwrights, actors, designers, and audiences.  “In fact, I had tickets in hand for a San Juan Community Theatre show before my boxes were unpacked here in Friday Harbor!” said Price. “I’m very much looking forward to getting to know the people, programs, and special projects of San Juan Community Theatre so that I may support the quality work already being done and make it possible for things on the ‘Wish List’ to become a reality.”

Price is filling the development side of former Finance and Development Director Julie Hanks’ position. (Hanks will be staying on as Finance Director, telecommuting from her new off-island home). For fundraising and donor questions, Price may be contacted at [email protected].

Here is some information from F.O.L.K.S. on their December 2017 Donor Matching Program…

As we gear up towards the Lime Kiln Lighthouse Centennial in 2019, F.O.L.K.S. board members have graciously offered to match $200.00 on everyone’s donations, up to $2,000.00 through Christmas!

Please consider FOLKS for your end of year charitable contribution through this maximum impact opportunity. Ask one of our volunteers, mail or submit your donation online. Thank you!

To learn more, get involved or donate online, please visit www.folkssji.org.

Friends of Lime Kiln Society’s mission is to provide a unique experience for visitors through support & development of educational programs and activities related to Lime Kiln Point State Park’s extraordinary location, diverse ecosystems, and historic structures.  We seek to inspire awe into action!  Thank you for your support!

Sami Carrilo participates in girls’ basketball league – Contributed photo

It is time to register for Island Rec’s Girl’s Basketball League, open to all girls in grades 3 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, Sunday afternoons in Turnbull Gym. Participants practice twice per week beginning the week of January 16th.

Register online at www.islandrec.org or stop by the Island Rec Office.    If registered by January 4th, $40; $45 Thereafter. Final deadline to register is January 10th. Call 378-4953 or e-mail [email protected] for more information about the league or if you are interested in volunteering as a coach, referee or scorekeeper.

San Juan County Board of Health – Always Working for a Healthier and Safer San Juan County

Many county residents may not be aware of a local Board that continually strives to improve the health of the community. The San Juan County Board of Health has responsibility over all matters pertaining to the preservation of the life and health of the people of San Juan County.

The Board provides policy direction to the San Juan County Health & Community Services Department to ensure the Department is able to fulfill its mission.  The Board of Health is a seven-member board consisting of the three County Council members, one Town of Friday Harbor representative and three at-large members with knowledge of public health practices.

The Board of Health has taken an active role in moving forward various health initiatives. Below are examples of a few efforts the Board has undertaken the past several years.  Continue Reading

Friday Harbor Chocolates is now officially licensed as a Wine Shop and legally allowed to offer tastings of their fine Ports and wines, many of which are sold exclusively in the islands by our shop.  We offer an eclectic array of imported and domestic ports, produced by award winning winemakers from estates that are highly regarded as some of best Port makers in the world.

For those of you who would like to learn more about Ports, we would be pleased to have you tour our inventory and enjoy some of them to better discern the difference between them. Ports make the perfect gift this time of the year so the timing of obtaining our license to help you with your selection couldn’t be better!

Open every Thursday Night until Christmas from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. All wines/ports and Christmas boxed gifts 20% off during those hours.

Friday Harbor Chocolates. 255 Spring Street, Friday Harbor. www.fridayharborchocolates.com . (360) 370-0050.

Here are a couple of tidbits from the SJI Chamber of Commerce…

Thursday Night Shopping – many of the stores on Spring Street are open later than usual tonight – starting at Riptide Cafe all the way up the street to Be Chic, Friday Harbor Chocolates and Cotton Cotton Cotton!

Shop local, find Joey, take a selfie, keep it all here!

Filmmaker’s Coffee – Great Location!  We need a barista with equipment to open “Filmmakers Coffee” in the front 350+ SF of the Friday Harbor Film Festival office… located on First Street, lots of year around traffic, great parking too! Affordable rent includes high speed internet and all utilities. Please call 360-472-1050

Richard Hieronymus in his home on SJ Island – Tim Dustrude photo

Last weekend, the San Juan Singers performed “Christmas at Our House” written by local composer Richard Hieronymus with lyricist Peggy Browning. A member of the chorus, Bert Dayton, arranged the song for the chorus.

When asked about his song, Hieronymus said, “It’s funny how time flies. Peggy and I wrote that song back in 1967. Two weeks ago, we released our new song, “Darling, Merry Christmas” online at iTunes, Amazon, Spotify and CD baby. The Trish Hatley Quartet recorded it on Sound Preservation Records.”

“Neither song is a ‘Ho-Ho-Ho’ sort of Christmas song,” Hieronymus continued, “but they evoke nostalgic emotions from Christmas seasons in the past, especially if you had to be separated from those you love. We hope that people who listen to them will be glad to be together this holiday season and enjoy the memories that come up for them.”

If you heard “Christmas at Our House” at the concert last weekend, check out the new song, “Darling, Merry Christmas” on your favorite music service and rediscover the heartwarming emotions stored forever in your heart.

Paul Hilton as Peter Pan and Madeleine Worrall as Wendy – Photo by Steve Tanner

Peter Pan from Great Britain in HD at San Juan Community Theatre

The beloved classic story of the boy who never grew up hits the big screen at San Juan Community Theatre for a special holiday matinee on Saturday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m.

Captured live by the National Theatre in a co-production with Bristol Old Vic Theatre, this recorded performance of JM Barrie’s Peter Pan received five and four star reviews around Great Britain. The country’s weekly magazine, Radio Times, called it “Spellbindingly imaginative. A dazzling production.”  

Featuring Anna Francolini as Captain Hook and Paul Hilton as Peter, director Sally Cookson’s inventive production is a delight for children and adults alike. Plus! SJCT will feature free holiday treats for the entire family during the screening.

Tickets for Peter Pan are $20 for adults, $18 for SJCT members and $10 for student reserved.   Due to a financial agreement with the Met, no SJCT coupons are accepted for these productions. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office: 378-3210.

Position Available on the San Juan Island Library District Board

The Board of Trustees is seeking candidates to fill a partial-term vacancy on the five-member library board.  The non-paid term of office is from date of appointment to December 31, 2019, and is eligible for reappointment to a five-year term.  Recommendation will be submitted by the current Board of Trustees, and the appointment made by the San Juan County Council.

To see a full job description, go to www.sjlib.org/employment or contact Laurie Orton, Library Director, at 360-378-2798.

Official letters of interest and qualifications should be sent to the Board of Trustees, San Juan Island Library, 1010 Guard St., Friday Harbor, WA  98250.  All letters must be received by January 3, 2018 in order to be considered for the position. 

Angela Anderson to “Come Home” from Hawaii to the Salish Sea

Angela Anderson – Contributed photo

December 12, 2017 – The board of trustees of the San Juan Preservation Trust, a nonprofit land conservation organization based in Friday Harbor, announced today that it has hired Angela Anderson as its new executive director, effective February 12, 2018. Ms. Anderson will lead the land trust’s activities in conserving the beauty, character, and diversity of significant lands in the San Juan Island archipelago.

“We couldn’t be happier in welcoming Angela Anderson to the Preservation Trust as its new executive director,” said Thor Hanson, president of the Preservation Trust’s board of trustees. “Tim Seifert set a very high bar during his 15 years as executive director. After an extensive, nationwide search, we’re convinced that Angela is just the right person to succeed Tim in leading the Preservation Trust into a new era of community-minded conservation.”

Ms. Anderson comes to the Preservation Trust with more than 20 years of work and study in the conservation field, most recently as the Kauai Island Director of the Hawaiian Islands Land Trust (HILT). An attorney, she also maintained her own private law practice, specializing in real estate transactions, estate planning, mediation, and environmental law. Continue Reading

As the San Juan Community Home Trust begins to draw the curtain on 2017, we take heart in reflecting on the progress and accomplishments the Trust has seen this year:

• We welcomed our new Executive Director, David Gow, on May 1st and our new Administrative Assistant, Nancy Stark, in August.
• The Trust fully repaid the initial construction loan of $1M for Sun Rise II.  No small task but with the generous support of our island community we happily retired this loan!
• Three more classic homes from the Victoria/Oak Bay areas of Vancouver Island were sold in Sun Rise II.  Plans are now in the works to complete this development with the barging in of four more homes of the same style.
• Three generous contributors stepped forward to sponsor three homes with a donation of $75,000 each.
• And, we celebrated our fifth annual San Juan Fiesta in July!

The trust welcomes you to call for a tour of any of our neighborhoods: Salal, off Carter Avenue; and Sun Rise I and Sun Rise II off Grover Street East. To arrange a tour, please call or stop by the office: (360) 378-5541, 435 Argyle Avenue in Friday Harbor.

We are always mindful of the generosity of those who have supported and continue to support the Trust, and its mission of providing permanently affordable housing for San Juan Island. Our heartfelt thanks to you all!

We often hear on San Juan Island that “it takes a village.” On December 16, at 3 pm, Saint David’s Episcopal Church will present a concert of carols for Advent and Christmas called “A Village Christmas.”

Why that name for a concert? Well, there will be a 19-voice choir made up of community members singing a cappella (without accompaniment). Rich Barker will play his soprano saxophone, Scott Spadafora will play guitar, and Richard Lind and Bill Moore will play piano when Richard isn’t conducting the choir. However there is another reason, too…

Admission to the concert is free, but monetary donations may be made to the Severe Winter Weather Shelter on San Juan Island, and non-perishable items will be accepted for the Friday Harbor Food Bank. That’s because it really does take a village to help those in need.

Please spread the word about this concert and about it taking a village. Make plans now to attend “A Village Christmas,” and bring your friends and neighbors. Saint David’s Church is on the corner of Park and Marguerite. For more information or questions, call 360-378-5360.

Canada Band Energizes SJCT December 15

An upbeat Canadian band brightens the holidays with a high-energy concert at San Juan Community Theatre on Friday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m.

Blending Latin, West African, reggae, and folk and surf rock rhythms, the John Welsh Band features crowd participation, energizing rhythms, and sing-along choruses.  

A world traveler by nature, John Welsh lived and studied in Mexico and Guatemala where he was heavily influenced by the music, language, and culture. After five years of playing and recording with various bands, he and brother Chris (bass) started working with Nigerian-born Courage Eigbike, who brought his reggae and West African-influenced sound. Together, performing in both English and Spanish, they began creating songs that would get crowds dancing and singing along, helping to bring their world music sound to a mainstream audience. 

The band’s most recent album, ¡Vamonos Mi Chica! was released in May 2017 and reached #2 on iTunes Canada for World Music within the first few days. More band information is available at www.johnwelshband.com.

The Business Partner for the evening is Islanders Bank. Tickets are $22 for adults, $10 for student reserved, and $5 student RUSH at the door only. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office: 378-3210.

Ferry workers honored for their service to the community

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards banquet on Monday evening at Brickworks. In addition to the usual awards given out to various island businesses there was also a proclamation given by Mayor Carrie Lacher to the ferry workers for their service to the community. After an especially difficult year with multiple disruptions in ferry service, the Town of Friday Harbor officially recognizes them and proclaims tomorrow, Wednesday December 13th as Friday Harbor Ferry Workers Appreciation Day. Click here to see the official proclamation (PDF)

So when you line up for the ferry or drive past, give them a wave and a thank you, for their hard work in a frequently thankless job.

Mayor Lacher was also awarded the Chamber’s Sam R. Buck Community Spirit award: “in celebration of an individual whose leadership and life-long commitment to the San Juan Island community has made a significant impact on the development of local commerce and enterprise. She personifies the character and pioneer spirit of San Juan Island.”

See photos and a list of all award winners below. Continue Reading