Patricia Deitz and a cart full of books – Contributed photo

Looking for gently-used children’s books for “Books for Kids” program at Peace Island Medical Center

“I love kids and I really loved reading books when I was little,” says Patricia Deitz, a junior at FHHS. “By collecting books for Peace Island’s Books for Kids program, I am helping engage little kids to read, and who doesn’t love a free book!?”  Patricia chose this as her community service project this spring. Every child who walks into the facility is welcome to choose a book from a colorful cartful either in the waiting area in the clinic or in the emergency department and take it home for keeps! How cool is that?!

This program, which was organized three years ago by Lori Stokes and Pamela Gross, has distributed over 2000 used books to island children since its inception. SJI Children’s Librarian Melina Lagios provided helpful suggestions to ensure the program’s success. And Bobby Ryan, San Juan Community Theatre’s new Artistic Director, has generously donated space to store the books.

Rachel Bishop, a physician at Peace Island who sees many island children in her practice, is a big fan of the program. “I love the books for kids program, and so do the kids!” she says. “I love that there are books for all ages and so many choices.  It’s a comfort to have a book to read in the office, and then take home. Thanks to all of the volunteers who gather the books and keep the shelves full.”

Books are available in both English and Spanish. There are books for pre-readers, books for early readers and books for more mature readers. If you have a stash of books that are gathering dust because your child has outgrown them, it would be wonderful if we could add them to our collection of books waiting to be loved yet again. To make a donation of books, please contact Patricia Deitz at 360-375-7145 or by email at: p_dtz [@] hotmail.com.

Easter Baskets – Aaron Shepard photo

Aaron Shepard shares this announcement…

Are you ready for Easter? Not sure? Stop by the main lobby of PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center on Friday, March 18, when Easter baskets will be on sale from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

The Peace Island Volunteers have been busy assembling the baskets, which feature such themes as Kids, Baby, Pets, Gardening, Spa, Get Well, Hostess Gifts, and Cancer Care. Each basket is chock-full of donated goods that are sure to delight.

Proceeds from the sale go to buy Chemo Comfort Kits, which are provided free to the center’s chemotherapy patients. The kits contain products that ease the side effects of therapy, saving the patients the trouble of gathering them personally. Helpful literature is also included.

Who are the Peace Island Volunteers? You have likely seen them staffing PeaceHealth’s reception desk, but it turns out they do a lot more — including Easter baskets!

Eyes on the Beach and Boots in the Mud!

Washington’s salt marshes and pocket estuaries are diverse and productive habitats, currently facing potential invasion by European green crabs (Carcinus maenas). Often listed among the world’s most problematic invasive species, green crabs are now poised to enter Washington’s inland waters along the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Puget Sound and the San Juan Islands.

We are seeking motivated, adventurous volunteers to help us monitor these habitats and look for green crabs. Finding them at the earliest stage of invasion gives us the best chance for controlling their populations. Volunteers conduct monthly trapping and shoreline surveys April – September.

No experience necessary, and all equipment provided! Free event, but registration is required. Visit our website and events calendar to sign up: wsg.washington.edu/crabteam

Monday, March 14 at the Friday Harbor Labs, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Tuesday, March 29 at the Lopez Library, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm

Co-presented by SJC Land Bank, Crab Team and Sea Grant

Ed. note: this story has been updated to include event location and date/time…

“What’s Next in U.S. Healthcare: Human Face of Obamacare: Promises v. Reality and What Comes Next” will be the subject of the next League of Women Voters of the San Juans (LWV SJs) membership meeting.

Note the change in time and place – Monday,  March 14 , from 6:30 to 8:00 pm at the Friday Harbor Middle School. For this important program we are fortunate to have islander, author and physician, Dr. John Geyman give his perspective on the future of the Affordable Care Act and what he sees as the future of our nation’s healthcare system.

Dr. Geyman has spoken widely and generously to many local and statewide groups. His depth of knowledge and breadth of contacts and experience give him an informed perspective on the complications, benefits, and hurdles to be overcome in providing good and accessible healthcare for all Americans. He will be introducing his latest book to League members.

This promises to be a very interesting program open to League members and the public. All islanders are encouraged to attend and to join the League of Women Voters of the San Juans. Board meetings are generally on the first Monday of the Month and the Membership meetings are on the second Monday of the month. Annual Membership meetings are usually in May of each year.

Left to right: Conner Von Kuetzing, mentor; Karen Palmer, Friday Harbor Film Festival; Kendrick Dong, Sage Grant, Gemma Richard, Robby Miller, Coulson McCullough, Leo Miller, Derek Smith, STEM Director and Fred Yockers, Spring Street Instructor (not pictured: Tawan Edholm, Julian Rich, Wesley Rich and Alex Frampton) – Tim Dustrude photo

This past weekend, the Friday Harbor Film Festival together with Spring Street International School and Friday Harbor High School held the first ever 24 Hour Young Filmmaker’s Experience, where several teams of high school and middle school students created their own short films within a 24 hour time frame.

The event began at 11:00 AM on Saturday, when all the students gathered for the instruction and game plan at the new S.T.E.M. center at FHHS, were given some video gear, and then sent away at noon to do their planning, shooting and editing.

On Sunday at noon, all finished projects were due and everyone again came to the S.T.EM. center to view the results.  Continue Reading

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

Does this floor make my butt look big? I hope not, because I’m really hoping someone will see this picture of me and run right over to the animal shelter to meet me. My name is Marissa and I’m a middle-aged girl with lots and lots of love to give. I have beautiful manners and don’t talk a lot like some other girls I know…. We’d be so happy together! Come meet me soon!

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

If you want better photos of your kids or your travels or whatever, then the 3rd annual photography course by Mark Gardner – From Snapshots to Great Shots: How to Make Better Photographs – is for you. The course will cover the full process of digital photography in four sessions over two weekends at Skagit Valley College.  Each session includes lecture and lots of hands-on exercises using your own camera.  The sessions build on each other over the four days, but are designed to be taken independently to meet your specific needs.  The fee for the course is $95 per session, or $50 for those 18 and younger.  Attend 2 or 3 sessions get $10 off each session; attend all four and get $20 off each session.

The course is open to anyone wanting to make better photographs of just about anything including sports, travel, people, wildlife, nature, landscapes and more.  You can be a beginner with little knowledge and lots of interest, an owner of a new camera who wants to learn how to use it, or a more experienced photographer looking for a refresher.

There are only two requirements for this course.  First, you must have some kind of digital camera –  a phone, a compact camera, a mirrorless system or a digital SLR.  Second, you’re willing to put forth a little effort to learn, practice and improve.

Session 1 will cover: Continue Reading

This is the second in a series of articles about elections in Washington State by San Juan County Auditor F. Milene Henley. The County Auditor administers elections and voter registration in the County.

Milene Henley – Contributed photo

I’m asked a lot of questions about elections. One of the most frequent – often said with a tinge of nostalgia – is “Why does Washington vote by mail?”

Washington is an all vote-by-mail (VBM) state. In 2005, the Legislature authorized VBM for all elections in all counties, at the counties’ discretion. Over the next 6 years, almost all Washington counties chose to switch from poll site voting to VBM. In 2011, driven by the lower costs and higher turnout under VBM, the Legislature made VBM mandatory for all counties.

We weren’t the first, by the way: Oregon converted to all vote-by-mail following a citizens’ initiative in 1998. Colorado was the third and so far last state to adopt all VBM, by legislative action in 2013. California is talking about it.

Another question I hear a lot is “why do we have so many elections?” Currently, elections can be held up to four times a year – not counting the Presidential Primary, which occurs only every four years. “Special” elections may be held in February and/or April, at the request of any district wanting to run a ballot measure. (A ballot “measure” is any question a jurisdiction puts before the voters, most often levy issues.) It used to be worse: until 2011, special elections were allowed in February, March, April and May. Special purpose districts (schools, fire districts, hospital districts, etc.) often prefer to run their measures at special elections, rather than during the primary and general elections, because they believe the measures get more attention if they’re not competing with state and county issues and races on the ballot.

“Do districts have to pay for elections?” Continue Reading

Don’t forget – Reservations are due by Thursday for this upcoming event…

The San Juan Island Garden Club will host an excursion to Christianson’s Nursery for the spring walking tour with John Christianson through the lovely English style gardens of LaConner Flats. There is always an inspiring early spring display to enjoy.

Prior to the Spring Garden Walk there will be time for the group to enjoy the daffodil and tulip fields on our way to LaConner. LaConner is a special place for shopping, touring and/or lunch. Always a favorite!

• Date: March 19, 2016
• Locations: LaConner and Christianson’s Nursery www.christiansonsnursery.com
• Ferry(s): 8:00 AM to Anacortes
  5:20 PM to Friday Harbor
• Cost: $35.00 – Transportation on the mainland only (due at time of reservation)
  Not included: Lunch, passenger ferry ticket, driver gratuity

Reservations are required prior to March 10, 2016.

To register contact:
Vonnie Harold 378-6250 yeharold [@] rockisland.com
or: Kathie Forsyth 378-5071 kathie [.] forsyth [@] edwardjones.com

After the movie our man on the street, Ted Strutz, took a stroll up Spring Street to see what was going on under the bright lights.  He found Carlson’s crew was hard at work above and below the street. Click for more photos. Continue Reading

“Aspen” is one of Wolf Hollow’s Education Birds – Contributed photo

Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Open House and Baby Shower

Saturday, March 26th 11:00 am – 3:00 pm

Have you ever wondered what goes on at a Wildlife Rehab Center? Now is your chance to find out.

You are invited to our Open House, March 26th to meet staff and board members and our education birds, to take a guided tour of our facilities and find out more about what we do at Wolf Hollow.

You are also invited to bring a gift for the many injured and orphaned young animals that will be arriving soon when our busy “Baby Season” begins. Take a look at our Baby Shower Wishlist (pdf).

Parking is very limited at Wolf Hollow, so please park in Friday Harbor and catch the shuttle bus generously provided by San Juan Transit, which will leave from outside San Juan Island Grange (152 First Street) every hour from 11am-2pm.

About Wolf Hollow – Wolf Hollow’s mission is to promote the well-being of wildlife and their habitats through rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife, public education and non-invasive research. Since it was founded in 1982, Wolf Hollow has provided care for more than 12,000 injured and orphaned wild animals, with the aim of releasing them back into the wild.

Washington State University recently named area students of the President’s Honor Roll for the Fall 2015 semester.

To be eligible for the honor roll, undergraduate students must be enrolled in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at WSU and earn a grade point average of 3.75 or earn a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work.

Congratulations, local honorees!

From Eastsound:

• Dove L. Dingman
• Spencer Kevin Sare

From Friday Harbor:

• Faith Follette Buck
• Clinton John Gauthier
• Lenora Lee Johnson
• Madden Ruth Shanks

Joanna Evans, Spelling Bee Winner – Brook Ashcraft photo

Here is the winner of the 11th annual Rotary Club Spelling Bee!

Joanna Evans of Mr. McMain’s 8th grade class at the F.H. Middle School was our winning word whiz. Joanna won $100 for herself, $200 for her class, and $300 for the F.H. Middle School. She won in the 13th round against her worthy opponent Marcia King. Marcia, the Second-place winner from Mr. Duke’s 5th grade class, won $75 for herself, $150 for her class, and $200 for F.H.  Elementary School.

The spelling bee was organized and hosted by the San Juan Island Rotary Club, and featured San Juan students from grades 4th to 8th from Paideia Classical School and F.H. Middle and Elementary Schools.

Carol Linde and Carla Wright were the judges, Dr. Carolyn Haugen served as the pronouncer, and Steve Bowman was the emcee. Rotary president Jonathan Piff awarded the prizes.

The 2016 Spelling Bee – Ted Strutz photo

All of these genius spellers deserve congratulations:

• Zoe Wegemer – F.H. Middle School – 8th
• Justin Hu – F.H. Middle School – 8th
• Fionnoula Bourne – F.H. Middle School – 8th
• Presley Clark – F.H. Middle School – 7th
• Trinity Cullen – F.H. Middle School – 7th
• Kenneth Hallock – Paideia Classical School – 8th
• Ava Smith – Paideia Classical School – 6th
• Matthew Wolf – Paideia Classical School – 5th
• JoLee MacGillivray – Paideia Classical School – 4th
• Flynn Wilkinson – Paideia Classical School – 4th
• Joshua May – Elementary School – 6th
• Erik Ryan – Elementary School – 6th
• Maxwell Canavan – Elementary School – 6th
• Colby Border – Elementary School – 5th
• Sidney Herda – Elementary School – 5th
• McKenna Clark – Elementary School – 4th
• Shaw Sandstrom – Elementary School – 4th
• Katie Ryan – Elementary School – 4th
• Tucker Rennick – Elementary School – 4th

Check out more photos by Ted Strutz of all the participants:  Continue Reading

Debbie Dardanelli at Girlfriends Consignment Shop – Contributed photo

Girlfriend’s Consignment Shop has lots to celebrate this month – not only are they the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce featured member of the month but Debbie Dardanelli and her store Girlfriends is celebrating their 4th season.

Debbie has more than a thousand never-worn or lightly-used items with labels like Tribal, St. Johns, Citron and Tommy Bahama on her racks. She says, “All the clothes are in excellent condition, some new and never worn and some gently-used.”

The store has more than clothes, too. A selection of brand-name jewelry, handbags (Coach, Fossil, Cole Haan), hats, perfumes and shoes and boots (Dansko, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan) are arranged around the store and in showcases.

More than 1,400 islanders and off-island friends are consigners and receive 40 percent of the agreed-upon sales price. If something doesn’t sell in three months the agreed-upon price is reduced by half. If the item is still there after another month, the consigner can retrieve it or Dardanelli will donate it to charity.

Debbie says, “Time flies and the journey continues to be so much fun. We would like to thank all of our shoppers and consignors that have contributed to our success. Spring is here , so clean out your closets. We are now accepting quality Men & Women’s clothing and accessories.”

Give us a call for your appointment. 378-(girl) 4475 210 Nichols Street Hours: Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Brickworks invites you to… 

Click to enlarge

Celebrate the Spring Equinox with us! In the spirit of this time for renewal and growth, local healing arts practitioners are gathering to offer their expertise on a range of topics, to provide ‘take-aways’ for self-care that you can gently weave into your life…

Suggested donation to attend for the whole weekend: $50 – 120 / Or drop in to individual classes.

March 19th & 20th, 9 am – 9 pm

Includes delicious and nutritious farm fresh lunches

Check out the schedule for all the activities here

There’s at least one blue tarp on Cattle Point Road

As their own kind of homage to the play currently showing at SJCT, Dan and Eileen Drath have “sculpted” a pile of stuff and then covered it with a blue tarp, on Cattle Point Road, just about 2/10 of a mile south of Madden Lane. Here’s the explanation in Eileen’s words…

Yep! We have a blue tarp. It arose after we saw One Blue Tarp, our having spent lots of time in rural Maine and having seen numerous yard sales over the years with rusty bedsteads and appliances and tarps, just like the play.

Last year I attended the reading of the play and this year we saw it last week. We were sitting at our kitchen table talking about the play when we simultaneously got the idea of our own blue tarp up in our woodshed and what we might have to put under it.

Dan has long been known (or suspected) for practical jokes and enjoyed arranging them for many, many years, probably including college or before. This makes us chuckle a lot.