Rob Simpson shares these thoughts as the Conscientious Projector Film Series comes to a close…

Hello Discerning Islanders,

Today (Monday April 18) brings to a close Conscientious Projector ​as a monthly series.

Over the last five years we’ve seen so many pieces of the puzzle, that it is a real challenge to put the pieces together. And even if we did, we’d only have a small part of the big picture.

So, what have we learned?

The world is rapidly heading for (what one might call) a day of expanded discernment.

Things we have learned from the Edward Snowden documents are just the beginning. Remember way back… 4-years ago when the notion of the NSA recording our EVERY communication was “a loony, conspiracy theory”?

How quaintly naive we were. Continue Reading

Ghosts walk the roads of modern San Juan Island in “Departure”, the latest outing by local author Anne L. Watson.

The novella — part ghost story, part historical novel, part fable — features Henry, a worker of the Roche Harbor Lime & Cement Company, and Charlotte, the young daughter of a Friday Harbor merchant, as they search for clues to how they died and why they haven’t been taken off. Along the way, they try to understand the curious changes in Island life and customs in the time since they lived.

Departure weaves island lore, human insight, and spiritual wisdom into a magical tale of redemption and fulfillment. Ask for it at your favorite bookstore, or buy it on Kindle.

For more information on Anne and her books, visit www.annelwatson.com.

Francie Hanson, teaches a child how to make a tiki necklace at the 2015 Children’s Fest – Contributed photo

Island Rec is still recruiting for local organizations that would like to participate in the 26th Annual Children’s Festival by hosting an activity.

In keeping with this year’s festival theme – Nature’s Wonderland – activity providers will be joined by the likes of The Rotary, Families and Neighbors Support Island Rec, SJI Library, Children’s House Montessori and many others.

To be included in the festival, organizations interested in joining the fun are urged to submit their activity proposals to Island Rec no later than April 27th.

Don’t have an activity to provide, but still want to help? We are also looking for trusty volunteers to help with set up, fun during the event, and clean up!

Inquiries should be directed to Morgan Johnston, Morgan [@] islandrec.org.

The Children’s Festival will take place Saturday, May 7th, from 10:00 am until 2:00 pm at the Fairgrounds main building.

For more information, please call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org

Coming up next weekend, Fragile Waters calls attention to water, our most critical resource, presenting iconic work of three renowned photographers and lifelong environmentalists: Ansel Adams, Ernest H. Brooks II, and Dorothy Kerper Monnelly. The 117 black-and-white photographs present a powerful collective statement. These artists communicate the beauty and vitality of water. The exhibition was curated by Jeanne Falk Adams, former CEO of the Ansel Adams Gallery, and daughter-in-law of Ansel.

• Date: Saturday, April 23, 2016 – September 5, 2016
• Museum hours: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. (Thursday – Monday)
• Where: 540 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, WA
• Audience: all ages
• Cost: $10 for ages 19 and up. Free for 18 and younger. Mondays are free 3-6 pm. Members are free.

For more information please visit our Website or follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

See more events happening through the Museum on Saturday: Continue Reading

Al-Anon Speaker Meeting  w/AA participation

Is there an alcohol problem in your life? On Saturday there will be a free meeting and potluck at the Presbyterian Church you may want to consider. A couple of speakers will be there, Magdalena E. from Renton to speak about Alcoholics Anonymous and Ernesto, also from Renton to talk about Al-Anon.

Doors open at 4:30 with a potluck starting at 5:00. Speakers begin at 5:30. Here are all the specifics:

• Saturday April 23rd
• Presbyterian Church
• 425 Spring St.   Friday Harbor, Wa
• 4:30 Fellowship
• 5 pm Potluck Dinner ~ coffee, Tea & Water provided
  • Please bring: main dish; salad or dessert
• 5:30-6:30 Speakers
• Al-Anon Speaker: Magdalena E. from Burien, WA
• AA Speaker: Ernesto from Renton, WA
• Childcare Provided: 4:30-6:30
• Al-Anon Literature will be available
• Al-Anon Literatura disponible en español

“7th Tradition will be observed for the benefit of covering expenses of this event and Alateen Program Expenses”

Contact Torrey P. 378-5182 ~ Debbie S. 317-1665

Dave Eden and Beth Purdum – Tim Dustrude photo

So begins the invitation to the wedding of Beth Purdum and Dave Eden. The two met through the Kiwanis Club, where Dave has given himself responsibility for “member retention.”

So when he invited her to have a drink with him at the American Legion and a friend asked her, “Is this a date?” her response was, “I’m not sure.”

He says now, “I had flirted with her but she never took me seriously.” 

Beth has been the pastor of the Lutheran Church in the San Juans, encompassing congregations on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez, since 2014, and before that for 27 years in Colorado and New Mexico.

Dave has been practicing marriage and family therapy in Friday Harbor for almost 32 years.

Fr. Doug Simonsen will perform the ceremony at St. David’s Episcopal Church on Saturday, April 30, at 1 pm.

Music is a big part of both their lives. Dave has been playing trumpet with the One More Time Band for 30 years, and also plays Taps on request for many occasions. Beth plays several instruments — “none of them well,” she claims.

Jenepher Reeves will provide the wedding music, there will be solos by Sue Collado on the oboe and Dorothy Baker on the piano, and the One More Time Band will play for the reception at the Mullis Center following the ceremony. And guests will be welcomed to the church by Helen MacKay Sanders of Lopez on the bagpipes.

Their wedding trip will take place in August, to England and Scotland, with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as a highlight.

Beth, who has not been married before, will gain a son and daughter and four granddaughters; and Dave is gaining a beautiful golden retriever, Tau.

They will live in Dave’s Friday Harbor home.

New San Juan County Website Goes Live

San Juan County’s new website went live on April 11th. The new website makes it easier to navigate and find information, conduct business on-line, and be kept abreast of news and alerts affecting county residents and businesses.

Check it out! Visit sanjuanco.com

Photo by Ted Strutz

Friday Harbor High School’s Lady Wolverines Fast Pitch Players and Coaches.

EMS Chief Jerry Martin – Brook Ashcraft photo

Two town hall meetings this week drew a total of perhaps 60 residents to learn about the Emergency Medical Services budget and plans for a possible levy vote in August.

The new EMS Chief, Jerry Martin, told those at both meetings that the proposed budget now balances if a property tax levy rate of 50 cents per thousand can be approved by the voters.

It is the public hospital district board that will determine what levy to ask for, and when.

Their next meeting is Wednesday, April 27, at 5:30 in the county’s legislative building across from the courthouse – open, as always, to the public.

At the town hall meetings Chief Martin provided background information, presented a rough but balanced budget, and asked for support of a levy at the 50-cent level. Continue Reading

2016 EMTs – Contributed photo

San Juan Island EMS is proud to introduce the county’s newest EMT students. They graduated on April 2nd after attending the program for five months, putting in a total of 190 classroom hours. Students are from Shaw, Lopez and San Juan Island.

They are, in the photo: Back row left to right: Kati English, Erin Graham, Isla Cropper. Middle row: Gary Lange, Mark Herrenkohl, Jesse James, Megan Constable, Jeff Asher. Front: Lead Instructor Weyshawn Koons, Cheyenne Mauldin, Scenario Support Clayton Banry, Instructor Kaitlyn Johnson, Chad Ferrians.

Island Air planes and EMS personnel – Mark Mennie photo

A reception will be held at the Roy Franklin Terminal at Friday Harbor Airport on Sunday, April 17th at 2:00 p.m. to honor the Featured Pilots for 2016: Bill Sargeson and Jackie Hamilton. Islanders are invited to celebrate the occasion of this annual update of the San Juan Aviation Museum. This project, started in 2008, is jointly sponsored by the San Juan Pilots Association and the Port of Friday Harbor.

The Museum records the history of aviation in the San Juan Islands since the early years after World War II when Roy Franklin first established scheduled air service linking San Juan Island with our neighboring islands and the mainland. As a living Museum, displays are added each year to honor featured pilots who have made major contributions to this community and to aviation.

On this occasion, we will recognize and pay tribute to the father-daughter team—Bill Sargeson and Jackie Hamilton. After 13 years of flying with the Air Force Reserve and 34 years flying with Pan Am and United Air Lines, Bill moved to our island in 1987.

The hangar that he bought then has become the base for Island Air, which his daughter, Jackie, founded in 1993 as a charter and flight instruction service. It soon became our fixed-wing medical evacuation service. Continue Reading

Ultimate Frisbee at the Elementary School – Contributed photo

Brendan Cowan shares this note…

– Updated with new day and time and contact address –

Ultimate frisbee is starting up again. Wednesdays at 5:30pm at the Carter Avenue Fields. A fun and low-key way to get some exercise and move around now that the weather is nice.

Email  jenny_shrum [@] hotmail.com if you have questions.

The San Juan Island Garden Club will host an overnight excursion to the Olympic Peninsula next month. The tour will include a visit to Heronswood, a botanical garden of unparalleled beauty.

We will also look in on Far Reaches Farm. This farm is plant obsessed having display gardens with a plant or two you have never seen.

• Dates: May 14 – 15, 2016
• Location: Olympic Peninsula
• Ferries: May 14 5:45 AM to Anacortes – May 15 6:00 PM to Friday Harbor
• Cost: $160.00 – Transportation only

Make your reservations: Holiday Inn Sequim, WA On line or 360-681-8756

Not included: Meals and Driver Gratuity

Reservations required prior to May 4, 2016. To register contact:

Kathie Forsyth 360-378-5017 kathie.forsyth [@] edwardjones.com

Vonnie Harold 360-378-6250 yeharold [@] rockisland.com

www.sjigardenclub.weebly.com

Written by Merri Ann Simonson of Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands Inc.

Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo

Vacation Rental Versus Long Term Rental

Now would be a good time to purchase property held for investment and due to market conditions, a rental home in the San Juans would be the most appropriate. We are not like the metropolitan areas nearby with multiple offers on every property and robust appreciation; we remain in a buyer’s market in most categories of property.

Once you have made the decision of the type of property to purchase, then how you intend to use that property is the next process; vacation rental or long term rental. To assist you with this process, I have compared the different aspects of each below.

Vacation Rental General Description.

Buying a home with an existing permit, customer list, website and income history is the most preferable avenue. The permit for a vacation rental runs with the land. It is annually renewed automatically but can be voided by the County should the home not be used as a vacation rental within the last 12 months.

Continue reading…(PDF)

SSIS presents: Animal Farm – Contributed photo

Spring Street International School students take us into the world of a George Orwell classic THIS Friday and Saturday, April 15-16 at 7:30 pm, and Sunday, April 17 at 2:00 pm inside the Gubelman Theatre.

Directed by Krista Strutz and adapted by the Shake & Stir Theatre Company, Animal Farm dramatically illustrates how greed and absolute power corrupts absolutely and, with devastating consequences, can change the course of history.

Revolution has taken place at Manor Farm. The pigs have assumed control and under the principles of ‘Animalism’ a better life free from human service is promised to all. Guided by a simple set of rules and an unrelenting respect for authority, it is not long until the rules that promised freedom become the chains that bind the animals once again.

Spring Street International School in Friday Harbor is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational day and boarding school for students in grades 5-12.

Buy tickets now online! or Box Office hours are 11 am to 4 pmTuesday through Friday and 11 am to 2 pm on Saturday.

Energy Assist Providing Monthly Bill Credits To 108 Opalco Members

Funds Still Available For Low-Income Households

OPALCO announced that 108 co-op members have applied for and received a monthly credit on their power bill since the new Energy Assist program began in February. The monthly bill credit ranges from $10/month (one person household) to $25/month (six or more person household). Members who meet the qualifications for other assistance programs such as Federal Free Lunch, LIHEAP or OPALCO’s Project PAL are likely to qualify for Energy Assist. Members on the Energy Assist program are also qualified for a similar bill credit with Rock Island Communications for Internet services.

“We recognize the affordability gap in San Juan County,” said Jim Lett, OPALCO Board President. “We’re committed to doing our part and hope to inspire other utilities and services in the County to dig deep and find solutions to help seniors and low-income housings meet the rising cost of living in the islands. The sustainability of our communities depends on it.”

The application for the Energy Assist program is available online, and paper copies can be picked up at your local OPALCO offices and at island Family Resource and Senior Centers.

For the latest information about OPALCO, go to: www.opalco.com; sign up for our email newsletter (http://www.opalco.com/about/email-signup/); and follow us on Facebook (Orcas Power & Light Cooperative) and Twitter (@orcaspower). OPALCO is our member-owned cooperative, powering more than 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County since 1937.