A tiny house – Contributed photo

There is a resounding trend in house building and design occurring that declares that “smaller is better, more manageable, more environmentally friendly and less of a personal financial burden.”

For the young who may be accustomed to retreating into a space the size of a private bedroom or student apartment, and for the senior who is looking to shed a lifetime of collected baggage, “tiny houses” have an appeal that begs for consideration.

Skagit Valley College’s San Juan Center is offering a one-day seminar – a comprehensive discussion of the “what and how” of tiny houses. Whether the structure is built on wheels, skids or on a conventional foundation or as a core house, keen planning is required to be a success.

Some sample structural and floor plans will be available for illustration. This is a time for thoughtful planning of practical application combined with ingenuity and imagination.

Applicable building codes if any and other legal aspects will be discussed.
A structure completely self-contained and “off the grid” will be discussed.

9:00 am – 4:00 pmSaturday, April 9
Cost: $65.00

Call the San Juan Center at (360) 378-3220 for more information

Jane Fellows as The Belle of Amherst – Contributed photo

Play about Dickinson at SJCT March 24-25

San Juan Community Theatre’s next Off the Rock! performance gives us an intimate glimpse into the mind, soul, humor and heart of one of American’s greatest poets – a woman who was ahead of her time, and lived as a recluse for much of her life.

The one-woman show about Emily Dickinson, The Belle of Amherst, will be presented in the Gubelman Theatre on Thursday and Friday, March 24-25 at 7:30 p.m. as part of SJCT’s new contemporary performance series.

For more than 25 years now, actor/director Jane Fellows of Portland, Oregon has transformed herself into the poet. “Each time I have the opportunity to share this extraordinary woman and her journey with an audience, I am humbled by her genius and humanity, her insights and perceptions and her feisty non-conformist nature.”

This delightful and moving play was conceived and written by William Luce, drawing on Dickinson’s poems, letters and accounts of visits with friends. It takes audience members back to 1883, when they pay a visit to Dickinson’s parlor in Amherst, Massachusetts.

A free “sneak peek” of Fellows’ performance will be held at the San Juan Island Library on Wednesday, March 23 at 7:00 p.m., followed by a short discussion with the actor/director.

Tickets for The Belle of Amherst are $15 for adults, $8 for student reserved, with $5 student RUSH at door only. Tickets are available online at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office: 378-3210.

Here’s a message Richard Daly of SJI Cheese wanted to share with you…

San Juan Island Cheese strongly believes that it is incredibly important to exercise your right to vote. To emphasize this, our cheese counter and lunch bistro will be closed on the morning of Saturday, March 26th so our staff can participate in the San Juan County Democratic Caucus (10:00 am at FH High School).

We highly encourage our guests, our neighbors and other businesses to attend.

As a result, San Juan Island Cheese will open at 12:30 pm on Saturday, March 26th and close at 3:00 pm. We welcome all to join us after the caucus to debrief over a glass of wine and a cheeseboard. Our regular lunch menu and small plates menu will be available as well.

For more information on this very important event and future events, we encourage you to visit the San Juan County Democrats.

Thanks very much!
Richard

Election Equipment Test Scheduled for April 6 

A “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used in San Juan County for the May 24, 2016 Presidential Primary is scheduled for April 6th at 10:45 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 (360) 378-3357 for more information.

Photo courtesy Port of Friday Harbor

Marilyn O’Connor will retire on July 1st after more than eight years as Executive Director of the Port of Friday Harbor.

In the monthly newsletter that accompanies port and airport bills she illustrated her feelings about the move — “a mix of terror and glee” — with a picture of a little girl doing a cannonball off a big rock into the water.

Marilyn started working for the Port in 1985 and held the positions of Port Auditor and Deputy Director before she became Executive Director in 2007.

During her years with the Port, she has worked on projects including the acquisition and development of Spring Street Landing and passenger terminal, reconstruction of the airport taxiway, installation of airport lighting and signage, rebuilding the Jackson Beach boat launch and reconstruction of marina docks, piers and electrical systems.

Now the Spring Street Landing Building is nearing completion three years after a disastrous fire. The Port Commission has signed a lease with Debbie Rishel for a reopened Downriggers Restaurant on the upper level, and with three other businesses for the lower level. San Juan Excursions, San Juan Safaris/San Juan Outfitters, and San Juan Island Whale & Wildlife/Black Fish Tours will be able to occupy their spaces in June, and Downriggers will reopen once the building is completed and the interior work is finalized.

Marilyn and her partner, Gary Alspaugh, have a sailboat and a camper. So they’ll be able to head out in all directions, though she says she also has a lot of house projects and a garden to keep her here summers.

She and her previous husband came here in 1979 to pick up a sailboat “and just stayed.” She worked at a number of jobs including as office manager for Aeronautical Services before finding her niche at the Port.

To fill her position Port Commissioners Mike Ahrenius, Greg Hertel, and Barbara Marrett will first determine what’s needed in the next person, and how to handle the process, and then begin accepting applications in April.

Marilyn says she has “loved every minute” of the job, working with people and boats and airplanes. And she’ll be a little sorry to leave her corner office overlooking the marina. But after 31 years, it will be great to spend time with family and friends and get out to enjoy the island lifestyle.

Story by Louise Dustrude

Here’s an announcement from Bill Watson…

Bill Watson – Contributed photo

Hello San Juan County Citizens. For those of you who don’t know me, I’d like to introduce myself and let you know I am a candidate for San Juan County Council, District #1 (San Juan Island).

I’ve been visiting the San Juan Islands with my family since 1990. Every time I got on the ferry, I’d say to myself, “Wouldn’t it be great to live in the islands?” In September of 2006, I was headed to San Juan Island to visit a friend, had that same reaction and realized that I could. One month later … I was living in Friday Harbor.

I love to kayak and sail the waters of San Juan County or visit the west side and watch the water (and maybe the whales). I am a retired 30+ year veteran of the software industry; a critical thinker and experienced problem solver. I have 20+ years of experience leading and motivating people of diverse skills to accomplish organizational goals and objectives. I’ve also worked as an independent software developer for Seattle based companies; working from Friday Harbor via the internet.

Since moving to Friday Harbor in 2006, I spent three years as the staff of the San Juan Islands Economic Development Council, participated in the Leadership San Juan Islands 2007 program, and was elected to the 2012 Charter Review Commission. I am a former board member of the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, Leadership San Juan Islands, and Friends of the San Juans. Currently, I serve as a board member of Friends of Lime Kiln Society (FOLKS). Continue Reading

Know Your Island Walk for March 26th from 1 to 4 PM

This month’s Know Your Island Walk is a tour of the facilities and grounds of the University of Washington Marine Laboratories led by Michelle Herko. The walk will include exploring the forest trail system. Walk will be about 3 miles, easy walk however wear your hiking boots, this time of the year there could be some muddy spots.

Leave the dog home this trip as we will be inside for part of the tour.

We will meet at the Labs Administration parking lot. For more information: info [@] sanjuanislandtrails.org

The international is back – Tamara Weaver photo

Tamara Weaver shares this photo of the Chelan making its way to Friday Harbor from Sidney, BC, on the first international run of 2016 last Sunday.

She and a group of friends were with Hobbes Buchanan of Blackfish Whale and Wildlife Tours who greets the first international sailing every year with an escort into the harbor.

Photo by Russell J Young

John Langs, the Artistic Director of ACT, is currently rehearsing Island Stage Left’s two-person cast in Seattle, getting ready to open this Tony award-winning, provocative, smart and hilarious play, “Venus in Fur” by David Ives, at the SJC Fairgrounds on April 7th.

We’re very excited as this represents another move forward for Island Stage Left and will showcase our two new Associate Artistic Directors for this season, Ty and Cassandra Boice.

A young playwright, Thomas, has written an adaptation of the 1870 novel Venus in Fur by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch (origin of the term “masochism”).  At the end of a long day during which none of the actresses auditioning impresses him, in walks Vanda, very late and seemingly clueless, but she convinces him to give her a chance. As they perform scenes the lines between writer, actor, director, and character begin to blur.

An exploration of gender roles and sexuality, Venus in Fur is also a witty and unsettling look at the art of acting—onstage and off.

At SJC Fairgrounds April 7 through May 1
7:30 Thursdays – Saturdays
Sundays at 4:00, except final Sunday May 1st at 2:00

Admission free. Donations appreciated
www.islandstageleft.org

Click to enlarge

San Juan Island Community Library Art Show: Life with Animals and Pets

Everyone is welcome. Enjoy participating in bringing your art to the library for all to enjoy! The subject is the animals and pets we live with here on San Juan Island.

Bring your ready-to hang art on Saturday, April 2nd from 10:00 am til noon.

Questions? Call Diane at 370-5814

Rob Simpson of the Conscientious Projector Documentary Series tells us…

This Monday March 21, 7 PM is a rather unique Conscientious Projector.

We will be screening last year’s award-winning film “AWAKE” about the man who introduced yoga and meditation to an unsuspecting America in the 1920’s.

His name was Yogananda,…and he is the author of the only book Steve Job’s kept on his iPad, “The Autobiography of a Yogi.”

George Harrison of the Beatles claims reading this book in 1966 kept him sane.

Come see an unusual documentary about a most unusual individual whose influence is still reverberating across the land.

This will be the 2nd to the last of the monthly Conscientious Projector screenings. It’s been going on for five years now, and the times they are a-changing.

Hope you can make it.

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor held their 18th annual St. Patrick’s Day Extravaganza fund raiser March 12th.

It was a successful and fun party held at the SJI Yacht Club: superb food (catered by Coho Restaurant), toe-tapping music by the Organic Irish Band (Kirk Fuhrmeister, Mike Cohen and Valerie White), scrumptious Dessert Auction, and, of course, the main auction of amazing items with the inimitable auctioneer, Farhad Ghatan.

None of this success could have happened without the diligent and devoted work of the Extravaganza Fund Raising Committee, Soroptimist volunteers, and as always the incredible generosity and support of our local businesses, and of all the islanders who support our goal of providing what’s best for island women and children.

Heartfelt thanks to you all,
Gay Graham, Extravaganza Chair

San Juan Island School District Superintendent Danna Diaz Letter to the Community

Dr. Danna Diaz – Contributed photo

I want to begin my monthly update by thanking our school district’s classified employees. Classified employees include our bus drivers, custodians, kitchen crew, secretaries, office managers, and paraeducators. In short, anyone who is not a teacher! This past week was proclaimed by Governor Inslee as Classified Employee Appreciation Week, in recognition of their contributions to public education. These individuals deserve recognition every day and I would like to personally thank them for their commitment and dedication to the students, staff and families.

The purpose of public education is to prepare students for life beyond high school. It is the launching pad for their future. Our seniors are busy applying to colleges and universities, completing scholarships and FAFSA applications. Most importantly, they are receiving their acceptance letters from colleges and universities. Just stop by High School Counselor Gordy Waite’s office and you will see an acceptance letter wall of fame. Congratulations! I am looking forward to attending the graduation ceremony in June.

At the secondary level, we started to implement the High School and Beyond Plan. It is a collection of written documents designed to help students think about their future and choose coursework that prepares them for their goals after high school. Please make sure your child understands his/her plan and how we may better serve him/her.

Randy Dorn, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, recently published an article for families and students so that they understand the process on how to plan for college. Continue Reading

New Homework Help Volunteer in the Children’s Area at SJI Library

Meet our newest volunteer Denise Kniola. Denise is a retired elementary school teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience. She will be at the Library on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 4:00 pm to assist primary grade students with reading and math.

Denise will listen to children read aloud, help improve comprehension, and be a resource to help with homework.

“As a retired teacher, I have a passion for helping children gain an enthusiasm for learning and would love to inspire and guide your child,” said Denise about her assistance on Tuesday afternoons at the Library.

Homework Help at the Library is provided as a drop-in service to island children needing extra time and attention with homework and reading.

For more information about Homework Help or other Library services for children, please call us at the Library at 378-2798 or email Melina at mlagios [@] sjlib.org.

Opalco Board Candidates Announced
Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 30th

Our local member-owned electric cooperative, Orcas Power & Light Co-op, announces the slate of candidates for its Board of Directors. This is each member’s opportunity to choose the decision makers who set Co-op policies and rates. Every OPALCO member has the right to vote in each election, regardless of their home district, with one vote per membership.

For this 2016 election, there are four candidates running for two open positions in District 3 (Lopez, Decatur, Center and Charles islands): Jim Lett (incumbent), Brian Silverstein and Lauren Stephens who were nominated by a committee of co-op members and L. Dwight Lewis, who was nominated by petition. In District 4 (Shaw, Bell, Crane and Canoe islands) there are two candidates running for one open position: Dr. Jerry Whitfield (incumbent) who was nominated by committee and Gabriel Jacobs who was nominated by petition. There is also a member-initiated bylaw amendment on the ballot regarding how board positions are apportioned within each district.

Candidate bios are available in our Resource Library online at www.opalco.com. OPALCO will host candidate forums at the Shaw Community Building (4/19), Friday Harbor Grange (4/20), Lopez Woodmen Hall (4/21) and Eastsound Fire Hall (4/22). Forums begin at 5:00 pm and will be followed by an informal Q&A session with OPALCO staff. Continue Reading

Center for Whale Research Responds to SeaWorld Announcement
Last Generation Of Orcas In Its Care

Click to see video

“This is a big day in the world of captive cetaceans. We are pleased to learn today that SeaWorld has made a public commitment to end their captive killer whale breeding program. This is a real step forward for those of us who for decades have spoken out against the captivity and breeding of these majestic animals for the sake of entertainment, versus legitimate public education.” says Ken Balcomb, Senior Scientist at the Center for Whale Research. Balcomb is a respected authority on the world’s whales, and has been keeping track of the Southern Resident Killer Whale population in the Pacific Northwest for the past 40 years.

Balcomb says that it is especially encouraging to learn that SeaWorld’s focus will shift from entertainment to conservation and animal welfare, thanks to nudging by the Humane Society of the United States and public response to the movie “Blackfish”.

“We would be pleased to offer our educational assistance to SeaWorld by providing them with access to our detailed knowledge of these animals gathered during forty years of study in the wild. The whales’ role at the top of the marine ecosystem is much more important for people to know than their role as entertainers. I hope that this is the beginning of increased respect of Orcas in the planet’s ecosystem and a turning point for corporate America to deal with Climate Change and Ocean Acidification.” Continue Reading