The 113-year-old Brann cabin at San Juan County Park. John Dustrude photo

The trails and open spaces on the island are popular with both residents and visitors, but they don’t just appear out of nowhere. Where does the money come from to keep them open? What can members of the public do to help? This is the third in a series of reports by Louise Dustrude trying to answer those questions.

The budget for county parks “is really pretty stable now,” according to Dona Wuthnow, County Parks and Fair Director, but it was slashed by $75,000 in 2009 following the economic downturn and consequent drop in county sales tax receipts.

At that time the county determined to close three small county parks on San Juan Island — Eagle Cove, Reuben Tarte, and Turn Point.

But how do you close a park?

A gate will keep cars out, but not people, and a closed park will soon become a garbage dump.

Members of the public, many from the San Juan Island Trails Committee, told the county they would help maintain the parks if the county would keep them open. Continue Reading

The League of Women Voters shares this invitation with you for their next meeting on Monday…

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The next League of Women Voters of the San Juans membership meeting is Monday, March 13th at the Grange from noon to 2:00. See the flyer  for details. And also note the four documents (linked below) to read before the meeting. We think that reading them ahead of time will enhance your appreciation of the critical affordable housing situation here in our county that Monday’s panel will be discussing.

But if you don’t have time for reading them all, please come to the meeting anyway to participate in what is sure to be a lively and informative meeting. We’re looking forward to seeing many of you there. Bring interested friends and neighbors.

Document 1 – Document 2 – Document 3 – Document 4

And while we’re on the subject of the costs of housing, here’s something sort of related – In the SJ Update mailbag we find this note from Andra Rus, Communications Specialist with an outfit called Property Shark…

This is Andra Rus from PropertyShark’s PR team and I just wanted to bring to your attention a piece of research finalized today by our team. We looked at the most expensive homes currently on the market in Washington state and properties in the San Juan Islands have of course made this list. 

The homes from San Juan Islands include a property in Friday Harbor with a price tag of close to $20 million. You can check out the full list here  https://www.propertyshark.com/Real-Estate-Reports/2017/03/07/expensive-homes-sale-washington-state/

I’m hoping your readers will find this interesting, please feel free to share it with them! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me. 

Thank you, 
Andra

* * *

And for further reading, there are also these articles to check out, written by Merri Ann Simonson…

General Costs To Buy, Sell Or Build You can read that here: General-Costs.pdf

…and  Tiny Home, Park Model RV, Trailer, Recreational Vehicle. What is it? which you can read here: TinyHome2.pdf

>> Correction – The date of this event has been corrected to Tuesday <<

Council Member Bill Watson Holding Town Hall Meeting

Council Member Bill Watson (District 1) invites islanders to attend a Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, March 28 beginning at 5:15 PM. The meeting will be held at the San Juan Island Fire District #3 station at 1011 Mullis Street in Friday Harbor.

Speakers include County Manager Mike Thomas, Auditor Milene Henley and Director of Community Development Erika Shook. Thomas and Henley will provide residents with a County 2016 Year-End Results overview and share Plans for 2017. Shook will present a Comprehensive Plan update.

An opportunity for questions and answers will follow.

For further information, email billw [@] sanjuanco.com or call 370-7473.

Margie’s marimba studio – Contributed photo

Next week will be the start of a new beginner’s class to learn to play marimba.  The class will be held on Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 and begin on March 15th.  No experience is needed to join the class. 

Playing marimba is a group experience that is fun and easy to learn.  You do not need to own your own marimba as Margie’s studio has all the instruments needed to learn this fun music. Anyone interested can call Margie at 378-5437 or email at [email protected] to get more details.

Maiden voyagers – Tim Dustrude photo

Randy and Gail Schnee, owners of Cotton Cotton Cotton had a pretty good day yesterday. They launched their brand new kayaks for their maiden voyage. By the time they got all set and made it to Jackson’s Beach, the wind had picked up and the sun had gone away, so they launched in the more protected waters by the boat launch and had a good time just getting used to the new boats. They are the Coho model from Pygmy Boats in Port Townsend.

And it wasn’t just any day – It was Gail’s birthday. What a great way to celebrate! Happy Birthday Gail and congratulations on the beautiful boats you two!

More pictures below…  Continue Reading

Ashley Strutz from the Family Resource Center received a check in the amount of $5,000 from the Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor for their work in the community at a recent Kiwanis lunch meeting held at Friday Harbor House.

The Family Resource Center is the clearing house for San Juan Island and provides many services for children on the island. This was the largest single donation made by the local service club and they were pleased to be able to donate a sizable amount to such a worthy organization.

The SJI Family Nature Club celebrates the spring solstice weekend with a spin: Disc Golf! Similar to regular golf, the game is played with a flying disc instead of a golf ball and clubs. Whether a seasoned golfer, or a first a first time player, disc golf is a great outdoor activity to do with the entire family! Big thanks to Island Rec for providing discs for this event!

Saturday, March 18, 2017 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at the Roche Harbor Disc Golf Course

Directions: From Roche Harbor Road turn onto Rouleau Road. Follow Rouleau Road about .75 mile and turn into the parking lot on the left.

Please carpool if possible as parking is limited and be sure to dress for the weather.

Bellingham Builders – Contributed photo

Providing a much appreciated boost, a crew of 13 carpenters from Bellingham Bay Builders volunteered their time and skills on February 24th and 25th to assist with progress of the current San Juan Community Home Trust’s affordable housing project, Sun Rise II. The crew built decks and porches on three of the renovated houses that were barged in from Canada and are nearing completion. The houses are expected to be ready for occupancy within the next month.

Each member of the group donated 12 hours of labor, with a total value of $7,800. The Home Trust provided lunches and housing for the volunteers, who considered their trip to San Juan Island as their “retreat”, while helping with an affordable housing project.

San Juan Airlines generously donated air transportation for most of the group between Bellingham and Friday Harbor.

Bellingham Bay Builders is a worker’s cooperative located in Bellingham, WA and founded in 2004 that believes “in seeking opportunities to use their talents for the enrichment of their community through charitable work.”   Their website also says “We believe in democratic decision-making and a fair distribution of profits.”

When asked how they learned about the Home Trust, they said they had volunteered for another Community Land Trust organization in Leavenworth, and did a Google search for a similar type of organization. The San Juan Community Home Trust is most grateful for their generosity.

Anthropology – Dr. Deborah Neff photo

Cultural Anthropology Class offered at the San Juan Center

Join Dr. Deborah Neff for a broad and rich introduction to the field of Cultural Anthropology. Learn what is known about humans as social and culture-bearing groups and individuals, from our early history — going back 50,000 years — through the present.

The course will include the study of indigenous peoples, ancient peoples, agricultural peoples, and state societies like our own. Major themes include: culture and social diversity, gender, religion, kinship, politics, and the importance of history and cross-cultural comparison in understanding what it means to be human.

Dr. Neff earned an M.A. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Arizona, and a Ph.D. in Sociocultural Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin (Madison).

Class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays; April 4 – June 15, 11:30am – 1:45pm. Cost $90.00

San Juan Island Library announces the launch of a program called Memory Café for people with memory issues and their care partners. The first Memory Café Open House will take place at the San Juan Island Library meeting room on Tuesday, March 21 at 2:00 pm. The Memory Café Open House will feature samples of some of the types of programing participants can expect at future events, and will provide information for care givers and family members about memory care. 

Memory Café programs will feature lectures, travel programs and musical events at the Library on the third Tuesday of each Month. The Memory Café will rotate through additional locations in the community on other Tuesdays. The Village at the Harbour will host arts activities open to the public on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The Mullis Community Senior Center will provide varied programs, focusing on music for the first Tuesday in April, and the Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands will invite the public to join them in building their garden railroad on the second Tuesday of each month. 

The Memory Café program was developed with input from a broad group of community members including: Continue Reading

We have three nights of music coming up this weekend at San Juan Community Theatre…

First, let’s start in the middle with Heart by Heart, on Saturday, March 11 at 7:30 pm, and a mega dose of classic rock featuring TWO original band members from the BILLBOARD chart-topping band, HEART. Led by Heart’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s co-founding member and bassist Steve Fossen as well as original Heart drummer Mike Derosier, Heart by Heart keeps alive the sounds of Heart’s unique energy in such hits as Barracuda, Magic Man and Crazy on You.

Also featuring powerhouse vocalist Somar Macek, multi-talented guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist Lizzy Daymont and legendary Seattle guitarist Randy Hansen, the group considers it their responsibility to bring the songs to the stage in their original format. According to Fossen, “We don’t see it as our task to modify or update these classic tunes that Heart fans love and have listened to all these years.”

Now, back to Friday, March 10 at 7:00 pm, with a captivating edition of National Theatre Live: AMADEUS.

Lucian Msamati (Luther, Game of Thrones, NT Live: The Comedy of Errors) plays Salieri in Peter Shaffer’s iconic play, broadcast live from the National Theatre, and with live orchestral accompaniment by Southbank Sinfonia.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a rowdy young prodigy, arrives in Vienna, the music capital of the world – and he’s determined to make a splash. Awestruck by his genius, court composer Antonio Salieri has the power to promote his talent or destroy his name. Seized by obsessive jealousy he begins a war with Mozart, with music, and ultimately, with God.

After winning multiple Olivier and Tony Awards when it had its premiere at the National Theatre in 1979, Amadeus was adapted into an Academy Award-winning film. For tickets, click HERE.

And finally, we have Dvořák’s fairy-tale opera about the tragic water nymph Rusalka presented in The Met: Live in HD series on Sunday, March 12 at 2:00 pm in the Whittier.

Kristine Opolais stars in the new production of the opera that first won her international acclaim. Sir Mark Elder conducts Mary Zimmerman’s new staging.

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At last, a night for our well-deserving mothers and sons to dance the night away at the first local Mother Son Dance! Join us at Isle Seat Theatre (Dance Workshop 2) Saturday, March 18th from 7:00 – 9:00 PM for music, dancing, light refreshments, and lots of FUN!

All ages welcome! Tickets are $15 per couple in advance or $20 at the door. Mothers bringing more than one son add an additional $5.

For more information or to purchase tickets contact us at [email protected] or call 378-4572. We also have a Facebook page with our other upcoming events.

L-R: Mrs. Mapstead, Lucy Marinkovich, Emma Mughal, Steve Bowman – Jack Cory photo

“Alpinist” was the correct spelling for Emma Mughal, an eighth grader from Friday Harbor Middle School, the first-place winner at the 12th Annual Rotary Spelling Bee on March 2. Emma received a trophy and a check for $100. Her 8th grade class, taught by Mr. McMain, was awarded $200, and her school received $300.

In second place was Lucy Marinkovich, a 6th grader from Paideia School. Lucy received a trophy and a check for $75. Her class, taught by Mrs. Mapstead, received $150, and her school was awarded $200.

The other 21 participants received a medal in appreciation of their participation.

The calmer of nerves was Steve Bowman; the pronouncer was Carol Linde; judges were Mary Sliger and Carla Wright. Medals were given by Cyndy Gislason.

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Wednesday, March 15th 2017 from 5:30 to 7:30 in the FHHS Commons

On the menu:

• Meatloaf with Local Beef – chef andy’s famous recipe with local beef from little s farms on san juan island
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes – creamy yukon gold potatoes with buttermilk and roasted garlic
• Gravy – made with stock from local marrow bones
• Green Bean Casserole –  the classic homestyle dish
• Caesar Salad – fresh romaine lettuce with housemade dressing, croutons and shaved parmesan
• Garlic-Herb Roll – fresh baked white bread rolled in melted butter, garlic and herbs
• Apple-Pear Spice Cake – with a light cream cheese frosting made by the baking class

Suggested Donations support the Food for Thought Program and the Chef.0 Internship Program.

$15 for adults and $7 for kids under 12

See you on March 15th!

Town of Friday Harbor seeks artists’ proposals for Ed Warbass memorial bench sculpture

The Town of Friday Harbor is accepting proposals for an Ed Warbass memorial bench sculpture sponsored by the Friday Harbor Arts Commission (FHAC). The artwork is to be located on a park bench near the First Street entrance to Sunshine Alley. Proposals will be accepted until July 14, 2017.

The artwork is to honor a local historical figure and town founding father. It should be life-sized and recognizable, but need not be a strictly literal interpretation.

According to the published FHAC guidelines, the art selection process will include forming a sub-committee of Commissioners and community representatives who will review the submissions and present selected proposals to the public for comment at an open forum. “The FHAC continues to demonstrate our commitment to include the community in the public art selection process,” said Commissioner Diane Martindale. She explained that the commission wants all interested citizens to voice their opinions and share in the excitement of bringing more art into the town.

All proposals will be considered with preference going to those from local artists. The FHAC will review and select one or more proposals to recommend to the Town Council. The Council will determine the final selection. Interested parties should review the Request for Proposal (RFP) for the Ed Warbass Memorial Bench Sculpture Project at the Town web site: www.fridayharbor.org under “What’s New”.

The FHAC was formed in 2015 to advise the Town Council on the cultivation, selection, acquisition, and placement of public art. Eight island residents, including one student, are appointed by the Mayor to represent the interests of the Town, the community, and local artists.