PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center Hosts ‘Fireside Chats’ –
Free Community Education Events – Louise Dustrude photo

PeaceHealth’s Fireside Chats cover health and wellness topics

PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center launches its fall series of Fireside Chats on Thursday, Oct. 13, with the topic “Total Wellness: How body and mind work together for better health outcomes.” The chat, led by Gary Waters, MSW, Ed.S., DBH, is from 4 to 5 p.m. in the medical center’s main lobby. There is no fee to participate.

Fireside Chats are free community education sessions offered by PeaceHealth Peace Island on the second Thursday of the month through the end of the year. Future dates and topics are the following:

• On Nov. 10, “Understanding self-harm and suicide: Causes, effects and treatments for this major health concern.”
• On Dec. 8, “The holidays are crazy: A discussion of feelings and emotions.”

All sessions are from 4 to 5 p.m. and are led by Waters, a behavioral health social worker at PeaceHealth Peace Island. He has experience in educational psychology, clinical social work, family therapy and chemical dependency treatment.

Vinny’s Ristorante has a Sous Chef named Gerren Allen who has a big deal coming up soon. He’s been all over the country in his career with many different food and cooking related achievements under his belt.

He was a semi-finalist on Hell’s Kitchen in 2009 (and would have been on the nationally televised competition if not for some unavoidable things requiring his attention)…

He was a finalist and made an appearance on Cutthroat Kitchen’s Season 8 last year…

And just this past August, he won the Taste of America Challenge in Seafood for the state of Washington.

Next step is he will be heading across the country to compete as Team Vinny’s in the 2016 World Food Championship in Orange Beach, Alabama. At stake is his chance to win $10,000 in one of their categories, and then possibly $100,000 at the Final Table!

Here’s wishing you the best of luck Gerren!

The San Juan Island Garden Club will meet at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, October 4, at the Mullis Community Center located at 589 Nash Street, Friday Harbor.   The guest speaker will be Krispi Staude, who will explain/demonstrate how she uses photo dyes and natural plant material for “dye printing” fabrics.

Come join us for coffee, tea, dessert and an intriguing program. For more information, please contact Chair Marguerite Bennett at 378-8524.

Jessica and Gail are Volunteers of the month – Contributed photo

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor is happy to announce that Jessica Palmer and Gail Mancarti are the Volunteers of The Month for September.

Jessica and Gail are frequent visitors to the animal shelter, where they donate many hours of their time helping with laundry, cleaning, pet care and best of all – organization! The two are experts at organization and have done a fantastic job sorting and organizing everything from blankets to pet crates to medical supplies.

They recently put together gift bags for new adopters, complete with toys, collars, brushes and everything a new pet parent needs when bringing home a new furry family member.

They are shown here in this photo with Frieda, their new furry family member, adopted from APS-FH a couple of months ago.  The APS staff and board of directors are very grateful for all that these ladies contribute to the animal shelter.

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

After 17 years of operating Vic’s Drive In Restaurant, owners Kevin Widmayer and Linda Jensen have sold the business. New owners Brian and Theresa Carlson will take over on October 1st.

But you can get a chance to meet the new owners and say goodbye to the old owners on Friday September 30 – they will all be there all day. Plus, because there’s a Wolverines football game on Friday, they will stay open late, as Kevin and Linda have done for many years.

More info will be posted soon, but for now – get on down to Vic’s on Friday to say “Hello!” and “Goodbye!”

Two Happy Boys! – Joaquin with his new best friend ‘Greedo’ – Contributed photo

Pet adopters are invited to share how their adopted pet changed their life, for a chance to win a $100,000 grant award for the animal welfare group they adopted from and a $1,000 Petco gift card for themselves!

The Petco Foundation, in partnership with Petco, will be granting Holiday Wishes in the form of more than $750,000 in grant awards to qualified animal welfare organizations. This contest is designed to help the animal welfare organizations save more lives during the holidays and year round.

The Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor has the opportunity to receive the grand prize of a $100,000 grant, or a series of finalist awards ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. Anyone who has adopted a pet can submit a story to the Petco Foundation’s Holiday Wishes campaign, giving the organization they adopted from a chance to win one of several grant awards. A full list of prizes can be found at www.petco.com/petco-foundation.

APS-FH is asking any person or family who has adopted a pet from the APS-FH to share their story to give them the opportunity to win a Holiday Wishes Grant. Petco will also award the person who submits the winning story a $1,000 Petco gift card, giving them the chance to spoil their adopted pet.

People who adopted a pet through The APS-FH are invited to share a story of how the love of their adopted pet brings more joy to their life each day, and how the love of their pet changes their life in a big or small way and makes it better (limit 500 words).

Submissions should include photos and/or video that help tell the story. The deadline to submit stories for a Holiday Wishes grant is October 15, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. CST. Adopters are encouraged to visit www.holidaywishes.fluidreview.com for more information and to get started as soon as possible. The winning organizations and their featured pets will be announced in December.

For more information and to submit your story visit www.holidaywishes.fluidreview.com and forward a copy of your “TAIL” to Leslie Byron by email at director [@] APSFH.com then join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter by using the campaign hashtag #HolidayWishes #APSFH #APSFHolidayWish

Presented by Master Gardener Foundation of San Juan County In Cooperation with the Washington State University Extension

Saturday, October 1, 2016, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm at FH Middle School

Click here for tickets and more info.

Keynote Speaker
Author and biologist Thor Hanson is a Guggenheim Fellow, a Switzer Environmental Fellow, and winner of the John Burroughs Medal. His books include The Impenetrable Forest, Feathers, and The Triumph of Seeds, as well as the illustrated childrens favorite, Bartholomew Quill. Honors for Thor’s writing include two Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Awards and The AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prize, and his many media appearances have included NPRs Fresh Air, PRIs Science Friday and The World, and The Current on CBC. Hanson lives with his wife and son on an island in the Pacific Northwest.

Preliminary Schedule

8:30 Registration, coffee, raffle perusal
9:00-10:15 Keynote speaker: Thor Hanson “The Triumph of Seeds”
BREAK 10:15-10:30
Session #1 10:30 11:45

Redefining Bread-Stephen Jones, ph.d. WSU Bread Lab
Imagining Japanese Garden Design-Everett Chu, Master Gardener
Creating a Beautiful Deer Resistant Garden-are there secrets to share?-Jody Burns, Master Gardener

Lunch 11:45-1:15-Bring your own or walk to nearby restaurants
Session #2 1:15-2:15

Utilizing Cold Frames and Unheated Greenhouses in the PNW-Carol Miles, ph.d. WSU
Tomato Magic-Tomatoes from Seed to Harvest-Debby Hatch, Lopez
Island Kitchen Magic
Backyard Fruit Pests in Western Washington-Bev Gerdeman, ph.d. WSU

BREAK 2:15-2:30
Session #3 2:30-3:45

Attracting Bees to Your Garden Throughout the Seasons of the PNW-Evan Sugden, ph.d. UW
Why this Bean? Exploring the Role of Heirloom Dry Beans in Western
Washington-Brook Brouwer, ph.d WSU
Keys to Weed Control-Chris Benedict, WSU

3:00 Raffle winners posted
3:45-4:00 Wrap up & adjourn

Flu season is right around the corner. Don’t let the bug get you. PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center is offering flu shots for $25. This flat fee is for either the quadrivalent flu vaccine, which protects against four flu viruses, or the high-dose vaccine for those over 65.

To make an appointment for a flu shot, call 360-378-2141. You may schedule an appointment for as early as Monday, Oct. 3. Appointments will continue to be available Monday through Friday until Jan. 1. Walk-ins are welcomed on Thursdays.

First mighty crew of thistle slayers; Luke Erickson, Erik Ryan, Matt Wickey:crew leader, Joshua May, Luke Fincher and Zach Fincher: high school crew leader in training who has been in SJICC all 5 years of its existence – Contributed photo

by Theresa Simendinger

On two very hot days of July, Friday the 22nd and Tuesday the 26th, the San Juan Island Conservation Corps (SJICC) climbed up Young Hill to take down the thistle. The first crew of four kids with the CC of Middle School looked like the proverbial David against Goliath but as you can see from the photos these young kids made quite a dent in the huge thistle patches which threaten to overtake Young Hill.

Next, Director Matt called in the calvery which arrived by the busload and worked hard to push back the Bull Thistle. Bull Thistle is the worst kind, with thorns covering the plant that eventually defy the best gloves and clothing. The older group piled up another tarp full. The NPS provided disposal.

Thistle Slayers: starting bottom left of tarp and going clockwise is Josh May, Emmett Carrier, Emily Vogel, Fincher Brothers, and Elanor Gislason – Contributed photo

For some of these mighty thistle slayers, SJI CC is their first paid job experience. After several half days of fighting thistle, they may decide school in the fall looks even better. Zack Fincher, the Team Leader came back the second day as did several of the young first team, to take on the thistle again. This is a very difficult task. It’s hot, sweaty, hard work and thistle is very tough to pull. Thorns left exposed arms bloody. But the kids worked hard and with good team spirit in spite of the heat and thorns. Continue Reading

Deobrat Mishra – Contributed photo

Fundraising Music Tour

The DAYA Foundation and Benares Academy of Indian Classical Music present the venerable Deobrat Mishra for an evening of sacred music and sangha. Deobrat Mishra is a world touring Indian Classical sitarist in the traditional style of Benares Gharana. He is also the director of the non-profit organization Academy of Indian Classical Music in Varanasi, India, where this hundreds of years old tradition is being passed down to the next generation.

The DAYA Foundation is a non-profit yoga studio delivering accessible yoga alternatives to diverse populations. Their unique style of yoga therapy is one they envision replicating in various communities across the Northwest U.S.

Together these organizations have teamed up in an effort to raise awareness and funds to further their organizations’ missions within their communities.

We invite you to be a part of this special fundraising musical event increasing the reach of yoga and music to those in need. Join us in Friday Harbor on Friday, September 30, 2016, at 7:30 pm at the Brickworks building. Advance tickets: $20, tickets at the door: $25. There is also an opportunity to become a patron “change-agent” (ticket cost plus additional donations, tax-deductible) providing direct scholarship opportunities for yoga students with disabilities and music lessons for Varanasi school children.

For information and tickets visit www.brightstarevents.net/deobrat-mishra Continue Reading

Join SAFE San Juans (formerly DVSAS) at our public events:

• Walk among the Silent Witnesses on the Courthouse Lawn. Each witness represents a man, woman, or child killed in Washington this year by a family member or partner.
• Visit our book display at the San Juan Island Library during the first week of October.
• Stand with our social action group, the Stand Up Men, at the Courthouse Lawn. Every Friday, 12pm.
• October 9^th, 2pm, Brickworks – Attend our 4^th annual Beautiful You Fashion Show. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at Be Chic, Girlfriends, 2nd Act, Kings Marine, Deer Hazel, Spa D’Bune, on our website, or at the door.
• October 21^st, 12pm, Courthouse Lawn – Participate in our Silent Witness vigil for domestic violence victims and their families.
• October 23^rd, 2pm – 4pm, Old Medical Building (550 Spring Street) – Join us for an afternoon of fun and information about the new allied social service project spearheaded by SAFE San Juans and including the Family Resource Center. Learn about SAFE San Juan’s exciting new vision for The Cove – Carlson Youth Center of the San Juan Islands. Tour the building and enjoy a complimentary hot dog feed provided by the Stand Up Men.

Visit www.SAFEsj.org or call for more information: 378 – 8680.

Together, we can end domestic violence.

The San Juan Island Grange is pleased to announce the 2016 Friday Harbor Fall Farm Parade on Saturday October 1. Now in its sixth year, the parade will once again depart the fairgrounds onto Argyle at 2:30, travel down Argyle, Spring Street, turn left on First Street, and terminate at the Grange Hall.

Anybody with an interest in promoting local farms and food may participate in the parade. Walkers with signs, kids on bikes, chickens in wagons, goats on leash, tractors, farm trucks, hay wagons, rolling greenhouses, scarecrows, horses of course, and any number of other expressions of support have appeared in past parades. People interested in participating are asked to arrive at the fairgrounds between 1:30 and 2:00 on Saturday October 1 to be marshaled into place in the parade.

The theme for this year’s parade is LOCAL, a reference to the bumper stickers that have been appearing on island vehicles lately.

There will be an after-parade celebration at the Grange Hall. Visitors may admire progress on our new deck, listen to live music, purchase slices of pie, and pet some baby pigs from Sweet Earth Farm. There have been unconfirmed rumors of a scarecrow outbreak as well.

As part of Saturday’s celebration, the San Juan Island Food Co-op will show “Food for Change“, an 82 minute documentary about the food co-op movement at the Grange Hall at 5:00PM.

Further information may be had from Roger Ellison, parade “coordinator”, at rogergranger [@] rockisland.com or 370-5795.

Find us on Facebook: 2016 FRIDAY HARBOR FALL FARM PARADE

We need 30 volunteers each for two shifts on Saturday, October 1st to assist Island Rec staff and the folks with Northwest Playground for a community playground build. We are going to literally create an amazing new play space for the children in our community in ONE day. Island Rec will be providing lunch for volunteers.

If you are interested in helping, please give Island Rec a call at 378-4953 with the time frame you can commit to volunteering and they will provide more information – shifts are available from:

8am – Noon
12:30 – 5pm
Or, all day!

If you have to leave a message, please include your name, phone number and an email address.

Thank You,
Maddie Ovenell
Director – Island Rec

A Broadway hit is the featured play in the next edition of San Juan Community Theatre’s On Book! Readers Theatre series.

Leonard Gershe’s Butterflies Are Free will be presented in the Gubelman Theatre on Wednesday and Thursday, September 28-29 at 7:30 p.m.

Opening on Broadway in 1969, the funny and touching play centers on Don Baker, a blind man who moves into an apartment in Manhattan on his own, to pursue his songwriting ambitions. When his mother meets his kooky neighbor, sexy actress Jill, Mrs. Baker’s controlling instincts go into overdrive with hilariously touching results.

Directed by Douglas Schirmer, featured readers are Noah Anderson, Ashley Rugge, Douglas Schirmer and Susan Schirmer.

Doors open at 7:00 p.m. with festival seating. Admission is FREE. For more information on the series and other Theatre events, visit www.sjctheatre.org

Tuesday, Sept. 27th, is National Voter Registration Day. The local League of Women Voters will man tables at two San Juan Island locations to encourage and assist Islanders who need to register to vote in time for the presidential election in November.

From 11am until 4pm on Tuesday, you can pick up the voter applications at Market Place in Friday Harbor or in front of Friday Harbor Drug Store.

Lee Sturdivant
378-2648

Community Treasures – Contributed photo

Here’s a letter from Stephanie Prima about Community Treasures in today’s mailbag…

To anyone who cares about the disposal of recyclables on this island, take note: we are in peril of losing our most valuable recycling gem – Community Treasures (CT).

I was at the meeting last Thursday that Frank Penwell put together to let the public know what’s going on with CT. It was an eye-opening, informative hour, that’s for sure. The audience included a CT board member, a supportive county council member, a county building inspector, and a good number of concerned citizens.

There were many issues raised that I think people are unaware of. For example:

• CT employees painstakingly sort and dismantle recyclable materials, extracting as much reusable material as possible. They have balers for fabrics, cardboard, books and paper. The amount of recycle material they haul off this island has increased exponentially since their inception in 2004; this year it’s a staggering 500+ tons!
• The county is required by state law to provide electronic recycling and CT is the ONLY facility in the county that does it – with no help from the county.
• In 2011 the County Planning Commission found there is an insufficient quantity of appropriately designated land to accommodate future essential public facility demand. They recommended to the County Council that the County identify and re-designate land that can be appropriately designated for Rural Industrial and Urban Industrial uses. (Currently only Jensen’s shipyard and the county transfer station have this designation.) In spite of this recommendation, nothing was done by the county.
• The CT facility is currently sequestered on a “non-conforming” site, which means “undesirable, and to be eliminated over time.’ This requires a land use permit to continue operating, but the interpretation of the conditional land use permit has been changed several times over the years as different people move into county positions. Each time it’s changed it has cost CT money to buy a new permit; this last one was a crushing fee of $45,000!
• According to Penwell, in 2012 The County wrote a special resolution for CT, and made promises to change CT’s land use designation and list the CT site as an Essential Public Facility (EPF). That has not happened. A designation of EPF will allow CT to operate without having to pay rising fines for non-conforming land use.
• The Board of CT has until the end of the year to make a decision on how to proceed because Penwell wants out – sell the land or sell the business. But right now the non-profit CT has no money to buy either, and they would still have the same conditional use problems.

Why should anyone care? Continue Reading