Call to Artists: Design the Community Solar logo!

OPALCO is planning our first Community Solar project to be installed on Decatur Island in 2018. This year is all about planning, talking to members and learning from the projects that our peers in the co-op world have already built. More than 1,200 members took a community solar survey in May and June and the results will be published in August. In a nutshell, our members are enthusiastic about community solar – as long as their rates don’t go up as a result. To learn more about our first community solar project, go to www.opalco.com. 

As we gather data to create a successful community solar project, we want your voice included in the process:

• If you want to get regular updates about our community solar, or think you may want to invest in the project, please send your email address to [email protected].
• Are you an artist? Would you like to submit a design for the community solar logo? We are accepting design ideas through August 11 (deadline extended). Artists of all ages are encouraged to submit a design. Make your mark!
• Do you have a school, civic or community group that would like to hear more about community solar? Ask us! We’d love to come talk with your group.
• Visit our booth at the County Fair in August to see the survey results and talk with OPALCO staff about the project.

Come to the Open House events scheduled in September to talk with OPALCO leadership and your co-op neighbors about the project.

Community Solar FAQ’s

Shiny new stainless steel brewing equipment – SJ Update photo

Dining room at the brewery – SJ Update photo – Click to enlarge

San Juan Brewing had their official ribbon cutting ceremony this morning with brewery owners Sean and Tim Aylward, Libbey Howard and Ashley Draffkorn, and their families, members of the Chamber of Commerce and Mayor Carrie Lacher in attendance.

The grand opening of the brewery is on Thursday, July 27th at 4 pm. The brewery is located just off of A Street, behind Backdoor Kitchen.

Photo by Sue Buettell

The monthly Know Your Island Walks, initiated in 2011 by Eileen Drath and continued under her direction for the first five years, introduce residents and visitors to the great variety of public hiking opportunities on the island. Last Saturday’s Walk on the Roche Harbor Trails was led by Mike Buettell, and welcomed local residents, several Lopez Islanders, and a couple from Washington, D.C., as well as David Dehlendorf’s dog, Pachamama, and Sue and Mike Buettell’s dog, Layla, and a family with a stroller, David, Anne, Colby, and Olivia Skelton. Fourteen volunteer stewards maintain the Roche Harbor Trails.

The Walks are offered on the 4th Saturday of every month except November and December from 1 to 4 pm by the San Juan Island Trails Committee. Bill Severson has been the organizer of the Walks for the past two years.

On Saturday July 22nd, an island family recieved the devastating news that Jonathan Tapia-Rojas, a hardworking father of two young boys lost the battle against depression.

Click here for more info and to support this family…

OPALCO delegation to the Youth Rally at the College of Idaho: (l-r) Suzanne Olson, Chaperone; Haley Moss, Orcas High; Zach Fincher, Friday Harbor High; Joanne Mietzner, Orcas High; Jonathan Doherty, Lopez High; Jayna Ott, Friday Harbor High; Tenley Nelsen, Youth Director (Friday Harbor High); Krista Bouchey, Chaperone – Contributed photo

Six San Juan County high-school students attended the Co-op Youth Rally at The College of Idaho as part of OPALCO’s Nourdine Jensen Cooperative Youth Scholarship Program. During the week-long leadership camp in July, four of the six students earned top scholarships ranging from $300-$600 from the Idaho Consumer-owned Utilities Association (ICUA), who hosts the camp.

The Youth Rally included a mix of classroom time, guest speakers and social networking. There were 75 students from seven western states in attendance at the co-op leadership camp. Each year students pick one student to return and act as Youth Director. Zach Fincher of Friday Harbor High School was elected by his peers to return in 2018.

OPALCO offers a $500 scholarship to students selected for the Nourdine Jensen Scholarship Program. New this year, the family of Nourdine Jensen on San Juan Island is matching each scholarship to give our island students $1,000 to continue their education. OPALCO is grateful to the family of Nourdine Jensen for their generosity and excited to offer the children of our Co-op the opportunity to learn how to be strong leaders, active participants in the community – and, someday, engaged members of our electric co-op.

Sophomores and Juniors interested in the program may apply in February 2018.

Regular updates will be posted on the OPALCO FaceBook page (Facebook/orcaspower), and outages and update notifications to Twitter subscribers @orcaspower.

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.

Tables stacked high with boxes of books, school supplies and games await the community at Griffin Bay Learning Center at the corner of Park Street and Blair Avenue in Friday Harbor.

Griffin Bay Learning Center’s giveaway continues every Wednesday from 12 to 2 p.m. starting July 19 and going until school begins in late August. Come one, come all, free books and school supplies!

Lopez artist Steve Hill taught a workshop on pastel painting at three San Juan locations over the weekend. He introduced pastel techniques on Friday at the SJ Islands Museum of Art, and then encouraged participants as they painted “en plein air” on Saturday and Sunday.

In the picture above, students painted in the shade of a white umbrella or the poplar trees near the officers’ quarters at American Camp on Saturday. Below, Jude Hennen chose the shade under the black locust trees near the American Camp visitor center, and Dianne Hall got up close to the colorful plants at the Pelindaba Lavender Farm on Sunday. Also participating were: Malinda Dryer, Edith Thompson, Maia Yip, Martha Spieker, Coral Lehtinen, Mary Navarro, Patricia Slabugh, Susan Stricker and Solange LeFranc (from France).

Story and photos by Louise Dustrude

Jude Hennen paints at American Camp – Louise Dustrude photo

Dianne Hall at the Lavender Farm – Louise Dustrude photo

On Tuesday July 25, 2017, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors will hold a regular school board meeting at 5:00 pm at 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 at https://www.boarddocs.com/wa/sjisd/Board.nsf/Public

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

Trevor here. You know, the great Nora Desmond once said, “All right, Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up.” I can identify! I’ve been here at the animal shelter for quite a while now, and so far, nobody has noticed me. I am ready for my close-up!

Take a good look, because you don’t see cats as good-looking as me every day. Note the glossy coat, the gleaming yellow eyes, the air of sophistication! Drink in the glory and majesty that is me, Trevor. To quote Dirty Harry, “Go Ahead. Make my Day.”

Come to the animal shelter and meet me. It’s Like Rick said in Casa Blanca, “Trevor, I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship”.

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

If you have Parkinson’s or if you care for someone who does, a new support group is forming and will hold their first meeting at the Mullis Center on Monday July 24 from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.

The group will meet in the library or the dining room depending on how many people show up.

Come to share your story, learn from others, or just to listen and know that you are not alone.

Dear Editor:

The San Juan Community Home Trust held its fifth annual, signature fundraiser, Fiesta San Juan on Sunday, July 16th… a wonderful opportunity to support this organization’s goal: to deliver permanently affordable housing to those who are the fabric of our island community.

Nothing of this venture can be done without the unflagging work of some key individuals deserving of thanks and recognition: Sarah Crosby, Chary Caren and Steve Bowman who were the core organizers and Jane Buck and Marcy Hahn who with their skills transformed the Brickworks into a bright, festive motif.

Salutes of sincere thanks to the many volunteers who set up tables and chairs, sold tickets, decorated, served food, tended the bar, worked the check-in/check-out lines, spotted for the auction, printed the colorful signs, and stayed after a long day to clean.

A special nod to On Island Thyme Catering, Liz Varvaro and Chef Andy Radzialowski, who prepared a sumptuous banquet! A further nod to Boo Boo James for being our energetic and enthusiastic auctioneer. And many thanks to all the community members who lent baskets, auction paddles, and their “secret” margarita mix.

The Chance Auction and Live Auction items were phenomenal but they couldn’t have been without the unstinting generosity of both San Juan Island and Orcas Island merchants.

To our major sponsors for whom we are most grateful: Lawson Construction, Melic Masonry, King’s Market, Glen and Deb Bruels, Roche Harbor Resort, Nickel Bros LLC, Gay Graham and Ron Hanson, Island Gardens, Islanders Bank, Coldwell Banker San Juan Island Inc, Bird Rock Hotel, Chicago Title, Aeronautical Services, Vacation Doorways, Martin Commercial Fueling and Life Care Center.

All of these good folks are to be sincerely thanked for their unflagging support of the Home Trust. Most of all, a huge thanks to you, our island community, who believe in our goal, and who are there for the Trust, and our fellow islanders.

Gay Graham, Fiesta San Juan 2017, Chair

Come to the Friday Harbor Airport Fly-In for a celebration of Wings and Wheels, Saturday, August 26, from 10 to 3 pm! Get up close and personal with vintage and experimental aircraft, motorcycles and more. Enjoy a fly by or two. Exhibits, open hangars, demos and food will keep the family entertained for the day. Brought to you in part by Kenmore Air and Kenmore Aero Services, you’ll be able to get inside a 9 passenger Cessna Caravan, meet Kenmore pilots and enter a drawing to win Seattle Scenic Seaplane Tour for two.

New event components include: vintage, custom and road race motorcycles plus select luxury cars on display. Skagit Powersports display will include land-speed record holding motorcycles and Alta Motors will participate with a variety of bikes including new electric motorcycles and exciting demonstrations. Contact: Stuart Hansen (360) 317-8674 [email protected]

Why not make a weekend of it? On Sunday, August 27, from 11 to 3 pm, The Sports Car Club of the San Juan’s Concours d’Elegance auto/motorcycle show will take place at San Juan Vineyards. Over 100 intriguing vehicles will be on display including BMW, Porsche and Tesla. Contact: Phil Johnson (360) 370-5509 [email protected]  www.sanjuanconcours.org

Orca Protectors in the FH July 4th Parade – photo by Ben Bama

130 people and fifteen organizations joined San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping to march under the banners, “Orca Protectors” and ”Protect What you Love” in the Friday Harbor July 4th parade. We carried a life-size dorsal fin for every living member of J, K, and L pods, plus 7 white “ghost” fins for the pod members who died in 2016. We also carried larger than life puppets of sea creatures and salmon; and the many children in our group carried a huge planet earth.

It was powerful to come together on behalf of the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales. We enjoyed enthusiastic support from the bystanders and were awarded the Judge’s Special Choice award.

Our thanks to:

• Center for Whale Research • Friends of Lime Kiln Society • Friends of the San Juans • Orca Behavior Institute • Orca Conservancy • Orca Network • Orca Relief Citizens’ Alliance • Orcasound.net • Pacific Whale Watch Association • Salish Sea Association of Marine Naturalists • Salish Sea Ecosystems Advocates • SeaSound.org • Soundwatch • The Whale Museum • Whale Scout

For more information:
www.islandersforsafeashipping.org/orca-protectors

Liza Michaelson
Lovel Pratt
Shaun Hubbard
San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping
Orca Protectors

As the largest event in the County gets closer—August 16th-19th— the San Juan County Fair is looking for volunteers!

Would like to be part of the Fair? Do you have a special interest? From “Department Superintendent” to “Gardener Extraordinaire”.

Check out the many volunteer opportunities today at www.sjcfair.org

See you at the Fair!

Island cellist Sasha von Dassow continues his annual FH Chamber Music Festival with a Friday night concert on July 21 at 7:30 p.m. featuring NW and internationally-acclaimed musicians and a Sunday master class July 23 taught by those musicians.

Friday’s music at San Juan Community Theatre has a varied look with an unusual combination of players. The artists include Festival veterans Eileen Swanson, viola; along with Sasha. Joining them will be new Festival artists Laurel Alyn-Forest, Soprano; Alex Dunn, Guitar; Brandon Vance, violin; and Friday Harbor’s own, pianist Grisha Krivchenia.

From the Paganini Terzetto for Violin, Guitar and Cello; to two new pieces by Grisha: Finding Refuge, a song cycle for soprano and piano, and Mi Rosita Azul for mixed piano ensemble; to the dark glory of Brahms’ Op. 91, Two Songs for Voice, Viola, and Piano. Also on the program will be a newly-discovered duo concertante for guitar and cello by Legnani and songs by Schubert and others.

Sunday’s master class in SJCT’s Gubelman Theatre is a chance for local groups and students to perform and receive feedback from the Festival artists. Admission is just $10 for the class that starts at 2:00 pm.

For tickets, visit www.sjctheatre.org or the SJCT Box Office (378-3210).

Next Tuesday, July 25th at 7:30 pm the Summer Film Series at SJCT continues with The Salesman, winner of the 2017 Oscar for Best Foreign Film

After a forced evacuation in a condemned building in Tehran, the couple of Emad and Rana relocate to a small flat. Unbeknownst to them, the previous tenant, was a rather promiscuous woman whose belongings were left behind. And then one day, when Emad decides to stay late for a rehearsal leaving Rana at home all alone, the unspeakable happens.

During the following two weeks, in the aftermath of that horrible night’s devastating event, the couple not only will it test its faith and endurance, but also the very bond that keeps it together: its love. On one hand, there is Rana, whose life turned violently into a living hell, a life of fear, angst and rapid alienation, and on the other, there is Emad with the unbearable burden of feeling unable to protect his wife, while at the same time, his theatrical play must go on at any cost. Continue Reading