OPALCO Seeks Candidates For Board Election
New Member Elections & Governance Committee Named

The 2017 OPALCO Board election cycle is now open and nominations for board candidates in District 1 (San Juan, Brown, Henry, Pearl and Spieden islands) are being accepted. At the January meeting of the Board of Directors, the new member Elections & Governance Committee was appointed to put forward the best, most qualified and effective candidates for the Board of Directors – as well as review Co-op governance issues as needed. The 2017 Elections & Governance Committee members are: Doug Marshall and Bev Leyman (District 2: Orcas, Armitage, Blakely, Obstruction, Big Double, Little Double and Fawn islands); Chom Greacen and Rob Thesman (Districts 3+4: Lopez, Shaw, Bell, Decatur, Canoe, Center, Charles and Crane islands). There were no applicants from District 1 (San Juan, Pearl, Henry, Brown and Speiden islands). Members interested in this committee may apply at any time.

There are two board positions up for election in District 1. Nominations for these positions will be accepted until the deadline of February 18, 2017. To submit a nomination, please go to: opalco.directnominations.net and enter your information. The Elections & Governance Committee will review the nominations and recommend a slate of candidates for Board approval. Candidates may also be nominated by submitting a petition with no fewer than 20 signatures of members who reside in their district. 

Based on the work of the Member Review Committee in 2016, there are some updates to OPALCO’s election process and annual meeting: Continue Reading

Department of the Interior awards Town special designations for historic preservation

The Town of Friday Harbor has received special designation as a Certified Local Government (CLG) by the National Park Service and the United States Department of the Interior.

Certified Local Government (CLG) is a designation created as part of the National Historic Preservation Act to qualifying local governments whose preservation programs meet national standards for historic preservation.

In 2015 and 2016 the Town of Friday Harbor updated the historic preservation sections of the Municipal Code to meet the criteria for CLG designation. This included adopting new comprehensive and user-friendly design review language for building and remodeling projects in the historic district, as well as the creation of a local landmark register which just recently opened for nominations.

The benefits of CLG status include Special Property Tax Valuation, a program that allows owners of landmarked properties to deduct the cost of qualifying renovations from the assessed value of property for up to ten years. CLGs also have access to earmarked preservation grants, training and technical assistance from state and national preservation agencies.

The Town’s historic preservation coordinator Sandy Strehlou believes that the process of applying for CLG status has made the Town’s program stronger, and in turn, will provide more support and resources for property owners who want to preserve their historic buildings and sites.

A dynamic opportunity for networking and learning about farming & food systems
Orcas Island, February 10 – 12

Join fellow farmers, regional experts, and local food and farm advocates this February 10th through 12th for two-and-a-half days of education, inspiration, and camaraderie at beautiful YMCA Camp Orkila on Orcas Island. The theme for this year’s summit, “Gather & Sow,” highlights community and the sharing of information, and will offer something for farmers, gardeners and food lovers alike. Engage in workshops, sessions, roundtables, and panel discussions focusing on the issues and ideas essential to creating a sustainable food system.

Friday Workshops & Taste of the San Juan Islands:
On Friday, attend one of several hands-on workshops, including Farm Business Planning and Funding, Permaculture Design for the Farm and Homestead, Managing Soil from Compost to Forage, Food Safety, Seed Cleaning and Production, and others.

There are fun activities after the workshops Friday evening, beginning with a seed and scion swap from 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of delicious food from farms and chefs from Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island at a special “Taste of the San Juan Islands” from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. open to the public. Tickets to the Taste can be purchased with Summit packages as well as at the door.

Saturday Sessions:

Continue Reading

This is shared with you from The Town of Friday Harbor/San Juan County Department of Emergency Management…

A swarm of eight small earthquakes happened near San Juan Island on January 29th & 30th. All of the quakes were located in San Juan Channel, roughly between Jones Island and Mineral Point on San Juan Island.

The first of two larger quakes was a magnitude 2.7 that occurred at 6:27pm on Sunday night. The second was a magnitude 3.0 that happened at 3:03 am Monday morning. Both quakes were somewhere between 12-14 km deep.

As of 9:00 am Monday morning, 87 people had reported feeling the second quake, and 27 reported feeling the first one.

While there’s no known fault in the location of the quakes, the San Juans are in an active seismic zone, and there’s a lot seismologists are still learning about faults across Western Washington.

There’s no reason to think that these quakes are a cause for alarm, but they’re a great reminder to all islanders that being prepared for a major quake is just a common sense part of living in the Pacific NW and calling the islands home.

For more info about quakes in the islands, visit the DEM website, and for info on how to prepare for a quake or other disaster, go here.

As always, feel free to contact the Department of Emergency Management if you have questions or need help of any kind. (360) 370-7612 or [email protected]

Are you looking for some evening fun on Valentine’s Day? Join us for dancing and great listening under the lights as we celebrate with the One More Time Band featuring singer 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.

Local beloved dance enthusiasts Bill and Rita Ament are offering a swing dance lesson from 7:00 -7:30, then it’s all live music from 7:30 -9:30 pm.

• When: Tuesday, February 14, 7:00 – 9:30 pm
• Where: Dance Workshop 2, 15 Second St. N, Friday Harbor
• Cost: $10 at the door or in advance

For more information or to purchase advance tickets contact [email protected] or (360) 378-4572; we’ll get right back to you.

See you on the dance floor!

Book cart at PIMC – Lori Stokes photo

Lori Stokes shares this with you…

Perhaps you have noticed the book carts at Peace Island Medical Center, containing a variety of children’s books that are free for kids to take home and enjoy.

Recently, students at Paideia gave the carts a fun, new look under the wonderful and wildly creative leadership of Francie Hansen. According to Judy Adams, the school’s principal, the young painters really enjoyed this project, knowing they were creating something happy for kids visiting the clinic or the emergency department.

More photos below: Continue Reading

Here are a couple of announcements for changes to your calendar today:

The San Juan Island Garden Planning Party and Monthly Meeting planned for 10:00 today at the Mullis Center are postponed due to the snow and icy conditions. These activities will be rescheduled at a later time.  For any questions, please contact Marguerite Bennett (378-8524).

There will be no meeting on Tuesday of the San Juan Island Trails Committee at noon today because of the condition of the roads. The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 7.

Schools are open today but on late start (classes begin at 9:45 am) and buses are again on snow routes.

Spring Street Snow Panorama – Kevin Holmes photo

Here’s a nice panorama photo of Spring Street from Kevin Holmes. Thanks Kevin!

To see the full size image, right-click here and choose “Open link in new window” (and then you might have to click the image there again to see it full size). 

This just in from Nancy Young with the San Juan Public Schools Foundation…

Due to weather, the knowledge bowl is cancelled tonight.

Calling all tree huggers!

Look out Oscar, the Finnie is coming! Its award season here in the San Juans. Know someone who deserves to walk the stewardship red carpet? Nominate them for a Good Steward Award!

Since 2008, the Good Steward Awards, affectionately known as “Finees,” have been sponsored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans in honor of individuals, families, teachers, students and businesses that have demonstrated a long-term commitment to preserving the land and sea of the San Juan Islands archipelago in their daily lives. Award recipients will be presented with large pottery “Finees,” fish-shaped creations handcrafted on Orcas Island. Award presentations will be in April, as part of island Earth Day festivities.

To nominate a person or business, visit stewardshipsanjuans.org/nominate-a-good-steward/ Nominations are due by March 1st, 2017. Questions? Email the Finee Committee at [email protected]

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans will present a program with Victoria Compton, director of the county Economic Development Council, speaking about the establishment of the Trades Education Program in the county. This meeting will take place on Monday, February 13th at 12:00 noon in the library conference room at the San Juan Island Library. All are welcome.

In her message to the San Juan County Council last year, Compton said, “The EDC is working to create trades education workshops and apprenticeships for our young adults and trades employers. We want our youth to have access to trades training, throughout the San Juan Islands; to “train up” our kids and to make sure we have enough carpenters, plumbers, health care workers, automotive and marine techs – and enough trained entrepreneurs to continue the good work of our trades business owners when they retire. We want our young people to stay here, to start families, to thrive and succeed.” 

“We’ll be partnering with schools, with employers, with other agencies, to make sure our young people have the training they need to fill high-wage trades jobs in our community.”

“Such an investment in education for our young adults and support for our business owners will pay dividends for decades to come.”

There will be time for questions and answers. Plan to join us for this informative meeting.

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

My name is Clementine and I’m here to audition for the role of “Your New Best Friend and Part-Time Comedienne”. I’m really hoping you have opposable thumbs, because I do my best work in the sink.

I can play the Diva, the Prankster, the Vixen, the Scorned Woman, Cleopatra, Calamity Jane, Madame Butterfly, you name it. All I need is a chance to show you my stuff.

I’ll be in my dressing room here at the animal shelter if you need me. Ciao!

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

New Women’s Boxing for Fitness Classes at SJI Fitness

BooBoo James and Shannon Miniken are excited to announce NEW boxing for fitness classes!

FREE Intro to Boxing Class: Curious about boxing? Here’s a chance to try it out – FREE! March 8^th, 5:30 pm to 6:30pm. This introductory class is designed for all ages. Try on the gloves and learn basic boxing skills and techniques. As with all the fitness classes there is no body contact.

Boxing for 55+: a beginner’s boxing class with some lite weights. Instructor Shannon Miniken will guide the boxers Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:45am to 10:45am. Class begins March 16^th. Contact Shannon at 360-317-5225 for more information.

Saturday Boxing: Starting February 4^th, there will be one more opportunity a week to meet BooBoo James in the ring. 10am to 11am.

For prices or more information contact BooBoo James at 360.640.4506 or check out the new Facebook page.

Through some very generous donations from local supporters, The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor will be hosting an estate sale this Friday and Saturday, February 10 & 11 from 10:00 to 4:00, at 689 Airport Center in Friday Harbor (that’s the road where SJ Healthcare Associates, Ravenhill Construction and XYZ Movement Arts are). 

The sale will feature beautiful home furnishings, including furniture and decorative items plus several pieces of fine art.  Hope to see you there! All proceeds will benefit the New Home New Hope campaign.