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

Dear Crazy Cat Lady,

I know you are out there but have just been busy. Too busy to stop by the animal shelter to meet me, obviously.

Now that summer is over and you have some spare time, I think you’ll want to make arrangements to get over here pretty soon. Cats this good-looking get snapped up pretty quickly in these types of establishments and I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your opportunity to adopt the world’s most handsome and intelligent cat. No, that simply wouldn’t do.

I’m a big lover-boy, so make some room for me on the sofa….

I await your visit.

Signed,
Moose

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

Mark your calendars, Flea Markets are back at the San Juan County Fairgrounds!

Two Saturdays, October 15th and December 10th 9am-Noon.

From jewelry to yard tools, this is the place to find it! Got some items you’d like to sell? Booth space is just $15 with applications available on the Fair website: www.sjcfair.org.

Have a question? Contact the Fairgrounds staff at (360) 378-4310.
See you at the Flea!

SJC Economic Development Council Business Plan Competitition

Entrepreneurs, launch your business idea into profitability!

Got a business idea? Bring it to the 2nd annual EDC Launch San Juan Islands business plan competition, brought to you by the San Juan County Economic Development Council.

Featuring mentoring, workshops, business plan advisors, cash prizes, media exposure and more!

Launch San Juan Islands will start in October 2016 and run through early December 2016. The cost to participate is $85 (or $65 if registration is received prior to September 26, 2016). Deadline to enter: October 3, 2016. This fee covers direct costs for course materials and events.

Visit our website to sign up: http://www.sanjuansedc.org/launch

Sponsored by the EDC, Valmark and other businesses in San Juan County.

Click to enlarge – Kevin Holmes photo

Keven Holmes caught this photo of an interesting cloud north of Roche Harbor last week. And I’m pretty sure it’s the same cloud I saw from the rear view mirror when I was on I-5 (from my vantage point it was much smaller). Thanks for sharing Kevin!

Please join us at an open house event on your island in October. We want your feedback on changes to the election process that have been proposed by a member review committee. Read the full story.

There are several opportunities to weigh in before the Board makes their decisions about the election changes later this fall:

September 29 – Eastsound OPALCO Office @ 8:30 am
Special meeting of the Board of Directors to discuss the Committee’s recommendations along with implementation and timeline issues.

October 6 – Woodmen Hall on Lopez @ 5:00 pm
Open House

October 7 – Friday Harbor Grange @ 3:00 pm
Open House

October 10 – Shaw Community Center @ 2:00 pm
Open House

October 11 – Orcas Senior Center @ 5:00 pm
Open House

We are very grateful to the Member Review Committee on Elections for their comprehensive review and thoughtful recommendations. The next step, however, is also important: we want to hear from you. Please attend an Open House or, if you can’t make it, review the Committee’s recommendations and let us know what you think. You can send your feedback to us via email.

John Christianson, of Christianson’s Nursery in Mount Vernon, often shares his in depth knowledge of all things garden nursery related. This time he will share his knowledge of alternatives to overused plants/dwarf shrubs and trees.

His presentations are always filled with common sense and good humor. This is an opportunity one will not want to miss.

• Date: Monday October 17, 2016
• Location: Skyline Garden Club, Anacortes
• Ferries: Depart Friday Harbor at 8:05 AM
  Depart Anacortes at 6:00 PM
• Cost: $38 – Includes: Transportation, Ferry Ticket and Skyline GC non-member fee
  Not included: Lunch and Driver Gratuity

Reservations required prior to October 13, 2016

To register contact: Fiona Norris at 360-378-1003 firich [@] rockisland.com or:
Marguerite Bennett 360-378-8524 posygal [@] gmail.com

More information including excursion itinerary: www.sjigardenclub.weebly.com

Click to enlarge

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans will be sponsoring candidate forums on each of the following islands for state and local contests in the 2016 general election. We expect some or all of the following candidates and races to be present.

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans has been presenting nonpartisan public forums throughout our islands for over 20 years, allowing candidates to state their positions, and helping voters to make informed decisions.

The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political organization, encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.For further information, go to www.lwvwa.org.

Margaret Johnson, 4-year Women’s Fund Member

Why are you a member of the Women’s Fund?
“I like the idea of collectively funding local charities that interest me. It’s easy to belong, there are no meetings, and no expectations outside of a $100 membership fee. Every member, regardless of whether she gives $100 or $1000 gets a vote; one woman, one vote. There’s a luncheon once a year and prior recipients of the projects we choose to fund, give a short presentation showing us what they’ve done with the grant money we’ve provided. The group’s composed of women of various ages and experiences; it’s fun.”

How are recipients selected?
“A non-profit group may apply for a grant through the San Juan Island Community Foundation. Applications are vetted by the Foundation Grants Committee and then funneled to us. Our Women’s Fund Grants Committee meets to discuss each application and decides whether to and at what level to fund a project. Finally, the approved projects are presented via email for individual member voting.”

What are some of the projects previously supported by the Women’s Fund?
To name a few:

• UWFH Labs – Science equipment for K-12
• Family Resource Center – Emergency Rental and Emergency Prescription Programs, the FH Household Essentials Program, and the Ferry Ticket Program
• Hospice of SJ – Volunteer training
• Senior Services of SJ – In-home assistance and transportation
• FH Elementary School – Primary Intervention Program
• SJ Community Home Trust

In total, we’ve supported more than 40 projects. Most are funded at the $500 – $3500 level.

If you’d like more information, please call the Foundation Office at 378-1001 or visit us online at www.sjiwomentsfund.org.

Flu season is here and it is time to get your flu shot! San Juan County Health and Community Services will be offering influenza immunization clinics at their Friday Harbor office located at 145 Rhone Street on:

Health and Community Services Website

Members of the San Juan Island Garden Club at the FallAbundance Plant Sale – Contributed photo

Vonnie Harold shares this letter about the fun time the garden club had at the plant sale at the aboretum in Seattle…

Plant sale at the UW Botanic Gardens

Although an Arboretum Society was started in Seattle in 1930, it really began in 1935, when the Park Board of the City of Seattle and the Regents of the University of Washington drew up an agreement formally giving the University of Washington a lease in Washington Park to establish an arboretum and botanical garden. An organization called the Arboretum Foundation was formed in order to assist in the financial support for the Arboretum. The annual FallAbundance plant sale is hosted by the volunteers in the Pat Calvert Greenhouse and Plant Donations Nursery.   Proceeds of the sale help support the Arboretum. “Fall is the best time for planting your favorite trees, shrubs and perennials in the Pacific Northwest.” Following this advice from the Arboretum Foundation the San Juan Island Garden Club hosted an excursion to their FallAbundance Plant Sale on September 10, 2016.

The group departed Friday Harbor on the 8:05 ferry. Before the ferry departure the driver of the day, Ken Atwell, had picked up our rental van from M & W Rentals. We were pleased to see there was ample room in the van for not only our cooler but lots and lots of newly purchased plants. Being fortified with water and coffee, registrations forms signed and the itinerary reviewed, once the ferry arrived in Anacortes we headed directly for the FallAbundance Plant Sale.

The excursions always seem to have some adventure involved. Though Marguerite Bennett was very familiar with the location of the Arboretum no one was exactly sure where the sale would be. And parking for a 15 passenger van can be an adventure on such occasions. Once there we were greeted with enthusiasm – plant buyers from Friday Harbor! Continue Reading

One Woman’s “Literary Frolic” at SJCT September 23-24

Camille Cettina presents her one-woman show, Mr. Darcy Dreamboat, at San Juan Community Theatre on Friday and Saturday, September 23-24 at 7:30 p.m.

The actor, director and educator from Portland calls her show “a visceral celebration of the joy of reading… this literary frolic is a mash-up of books and characters.” From Nancy Drew to JD Salinger to T.S Elliot to Jane Austen, Cettina guides the audience on a journey through literary worlds they have known and loved. The Oregonian calls her “the kind of instantly charming performer that any theatergoer might be happy to watch.”

Cettina follows her performances with a two-day workshop and master class on Saturday and Sunday, September 24-25 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at SJCT: The Body Knows—Physical Approaches to Creating Theater. The class explores character and space, narrative and imagined worlds through play and improvisation; based on the teaching of Jacques Lecoq. Student will also work to create their own short solo performance fusing autobiographical and imagined worlds. The workshop is limited to 12 students; registration ($60 per student) is available at the SJCT box office only (open Tuesdays through Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.).

Cettina’s visit to Friday Harbor is part of SJCT’s Off the Rock series, which is dedicated to showcasing contemporary performance, both onstage and in the educational setting.

The Business Partner for the events is Managed Reliability. Tickets for Friday and Saturday are $15 for adults, $8 for students reserved and $5 student RUSH at the door.

Brad Williamson – Contributed photo

Brad Williamson, President and CEO of Islanders Bank was elected Chairman of the Board of the Community Bankers of Washington (CBW) during the group’s annual meeting held September 16th in Vancouver WA.

Mr. Williamson is President and CEO of Islanders Bank and also serves as a Trustee and Treasurer of the San Juan Community Theater and is also a member and Chair of the Membership Committee of the San Juan Island Rotary Club. Brad is a native of the Northwest and has worked in community banking for almost 30 years, living and working in Tacoma and the Seattle area since 1987 before joining Islanders Bank in 2011.

Islanders Bank is the only bank headquartered in San Juan County and has three branches located in Friday Harbor, Eastsound and the Lopez Village. Islanders Bank was founded in 1981 and is proud to be a Community Bank that serves the needs of San Juan County residents, municipal organizations and non-profit groups. Islanders helps provide services and funding to a wide variety of community charitable activities including low-income housing, education, health care and many other necessary community projects.

Other CBW Officers and Directors for 2016-2017 include: Continue Reading

A “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used in San Juan County for the November 8, 2016 General Election is scheduled for October 6 at 11 a.m. The test works by tallying the results of a prepared set of ballots to see if the results match the votes cast. The test will take place in the Elections Office located at 55 Second Street, Suite A, in Friday Harbor.

A representative of the Secretary of State’s Elections Division will be present for the test. The test is performed before every local, state or federal election to ensure that tabulation hardware and software equipment are compliant with Washington State rules and will accurately count the votes.

All interested members of the public are invited to observe. Call the Elections Office at (360) 378-3357 for more information.

Committee members (L-R): Doug Marshall, Stephen Shubert, Rob Thesman, Terry O’Sullivan, Wally Gudgell and Gabriel Jacobs. Not pictured: Ed Sutton – Contributed photo

Members Can Review Recommendations at October Open House Events

At the September 16 meeting of the OPALCO Board of Directors in Friday Harbor, a volunteer Member Review Committee on Elections presented seven categories of recommendations for changes to OPALCO’s election process. Co-op members will have an opportunity to review and comment on the proposed changes at a series of open house events scheduled October 7-11. The Board expects to make decisions at the October 20th board meeting with member feedback gathered at the open house events.

Board President Vince Dauciunas extended “gratitude and admiration to the Committee for their significant work” and stated that their recommendations would be given serious consideration. Dauciunas proposed a special meeting of the Board to discuss the timeline and practicalities for implementation, in order to enact changes for the 2017 election cycle. The special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 29th at 8:30am in the Eastsound OPALCO office and is open to Co-op Members.

The seven-member Committee representing all four voting districts met for six weeks to conduct this comprehensive review under the mission statement they wrote: To support a transparent election process that enables members to feel fairly and well represented. The Committee members are: Terry O’Sullivan, Co-Chair (Orcas), Wally Gudgell, Co-Chair (Orcas), Ed Sutton (Orcas), Doug Marshall (Orcas), Gabriel Jacobs (Shaw), Rob Thesman (Lopez) and Stephen Shubert (San Juan).

Following six weeks of meetings, healthy debate, comprehensive research and some input from members in each of their districts, the Committee reached consensus on the following categories of recommendations: Continue Reading

Mark your calendar for 4 pm on Saturday, September 24, and invite your friends!

Dorothy Baker, Richard Lind, Bill Moore, and Jenepher Reeves are performing a program of piano and organ music that is not to be missed. There is something for everyone from classical pieces (Beethoven, Debussy, Brahms, & Ravel) to “Malagueña” with some interesting arrangements of favorite hymns. You will also experience the technical prowess of these four musicians as two pianos are played by eight hands simultaneously.

Admission to this performance at Saint David’s Episcopal Church is free. However, donations will be gratefully accepted for our instrument maintenance fund. St. David’s is located at the corner of Park and Marguerite in Friday Harbor.

Ellen Wilcox with San Juan County Health & Community Services invites you to this event…

Dr. Jana Mohr Lone

It is with great enthusiasm that I invite you all to a very special event on Tuesday September 27, to learn more about and celebrate a program which has been implemented in Friday Harbor Elementary school during the past year. The program is called “Raising A Philosophical Child,” and embraces the concept of encouraging the inquisitive child (in all of us) to ask questions for which there is no “right” answer.

Children are natural philosophers, and often ask questions we don’t always have answers to. During this special event, you will learn more about how to encourage young children to ask and explore some of life’s more difficult questions, such as, What does it mean to be good? Why do people die? Are thoughts real? Who am I?

This interactive presentation will delve into the importance of philosophical thinking and how we, as adults, can encourage young people’s philosophical development. Drawing from a variety of different children’s books, the presentation will also explore ways that children’s literature can be the perfect vehicle for stimulating discussion and critical thinking about the philosophical questions on young people’s minds.

The Event:
Introduction by Diane Ball, Principal FHES
Presentation by Dr. Jana Mohr Lone, Director, UW Center for Philosophy for Children
Tuesday, September 27, 6 to 7 PM
Friday Harbor High School Cafeteria

Curious?
https://depts.washington.edu/nwcenter/
https://vimeo.com/136588083

With kindest regards,
Ellen