It’s not this Saturday, but next Saturday – Mark your calendars…

Master Gardener Foundation Annual Native Plant Sale

By Master Gardener Jane Wentworth

Remember March 12th from 9 AM- Noon, is the day of the Native Plant Sale on San Juan Island at the Fairgrounds in Friday Harbor, the Orcas Island Grange, and at Sunset Builders on Lopez. All pre-orders must be picked up and paid for that day (cash or check only). In addition to some of the pre-order plants that are remaining, we will have other potted plants available for sale on San Juan Island that day, including

• Red flowering currant
• Shrubby cinquefoil
• Twinflower
• Fringe cup
• June grass
• Garry oak
• Shooting star
• and Western columbine.

Everyone is invited that day to visit our Native Plant and Gardening Expo (9-noon FH Fairgrounds), sponsored by the San Juan Conservation District.

Michelle Loftus shares this Republican County Convention notice with you…

Fredi Simpson, WS National Committee Woman for the RNC – Contributed photo

San Juan County Republicans announce Ms. Fredi Simpson as the main speaker for the upcoming Saturday March 12th SJCRP County Convention.

Ms. Simpson represents Washington State as the National Committee Woman at the RNC. Her work for Washington State in the national arena involves leading national RNC Committees and acting as a liaison to the WSRP. Her work is also noted with several Republican Women’s groups.

The SJCRP caucuses were well attended as delegates were elected for this March 12th County Convention. The Convention begins at noon at the Friday Harbor Middle School Commons. Delegates will move forward to the State and National Conventions. Party Platform will be confirmed.

See www.sjcrp.org for more information. What an exciting year!

For more than 25 years now, actor/director Jane Fellows of Portland, Oregon has been performing this remarkable one-woman show on the life of poet Emily Dickinson.

“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.”

The Belle of Amherst allows the audience an intimate glimpse into the mind, soul, humor, and heart of a person who was ahead of her time.

Emily shares herself through her poems, insights and memories. One of America’s greatest poets was a recluse for much of her life. Through her poems, letters and accounts of visits with friends, this delightful and moving play was conceived and written by William Luce. As visitors in her parlor, the audience becomes part of Emily’s present time in 1883, in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Gubelman Theatre
Thursday & Friday, March 24-25 7:30 pm
Adults $15
Student Reserved $8
Reserve tickets online here

Stanley Patrick going up for 2 points – Ted Strutz photo

Mike Martin, the “Voice of the FHHS Wolverines” shares this story with you…

For the first time in a decade Friday Harbor High School will have a team representing the community at the WIAA State Championships of Basketball. It’s been a culmination of hard work and attempting to perfect their craft. Joining them is another team representing the island community: Friday Harbor Tiny Radio.

Tiny Radio will be broadcasting all of this weekend’s action at the State Basketball Tournament. The first game will be at 9:00 PM tonight, (Thursday) with the Ace Hardware Pregame Show at 8:45. Tune your radio to 1650 on the AM dial, only in Downtown Friday Harbor, or listen live on the internet at www.fhTinyRadio.com.  Continue Reading

Jim Corenman, Chair of the San Juan Islands Ferry Advisory Committee forwards this Feb. 25, 2016 email from WSF’s John Vezina, Government Relations Liaison…

M/V Samish enters the harbor with “Sentinel” escorting on its first scheduled sailing last summer – Tim Dustrude photo

Last week our crew found a small hole in the hull of the Samish, necessitating taking it out of service. I sent a heads up email to those of you whose routes were affected by this issue. We were able to get it into dry dock for further inspection Tuesday, and now I want to update the whole caucus on what we found.

WSF engineers examined the vessel and discovered localized corrosion on the hull in the vicinity of both engine rooms. This corrosion is what led to the hole discovered last week.

WSF is working with representatives from the shipbuilder, Vigor Industrial, and Dakota Creek Industries, where the Samish is in dry dock, to track down the exact cause of the corrosion. We are also bringing in an independent corrosion expert and we have initiated a warranty claim with Vigor.

Repairs are currently underway while we definitively determine the cause of the corrosion. The dry dock is available until March 10 and we expect the Samish to return to service shortly thereafter.

The public’s safety was never compromised and, out of an abundance of caution, we will also be examining the other Olympic Class vessel, Tokitae, this week. The Coast Guard has been part of this process from the beginning and they are working with us to further guarantee this issue is fully corrected.

John B. Vezina
Government Relations Liaison
Washington State Ferries

Contributed photo

Few operas have surpassed Manon Lescaut in the depiction of the urgency of young love. The Met stage ignites when soprano Kristine Opolais and tenor Roberto Alagna join forces in this obsessive love story. Opolais sings the title role of the country girl who transforms herself into a Parisian temptress, while Kaufmann is the dashing student who desperately woos her.

Director Richard Eyre places the action in occupied France in a film noir setting. “Desperate passion” is the phrase Puccini himself used to describe the opera that confirmed his position as the preeminent Italian opera composer of his day.

Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi leads the stirring score.

Whittier Theatre
Sunday, March 6 2:00 pm
Adult $20
Student Reserved $10
Member $18 (at box office only)

More info on this event at San Juan Community Theatre

Homebuyer Education Class; Free to the Public

San Juan Island Community Home Trust

San Juan Community Home Trust is hosting a Washington State Housing Finance Commission-sponsored homebuyer education class on Saturday, March 12th from 10am to 3pm.

It is free and open to the public, with information about the WSHFC’s mortgage programs, down-payment assistance and tax credits.

The completion certificate is valid for 2 years and is honored by all affordable housing loan programs in Washington.

Please bring a snack and reserve your seat prior to attendance! The class will take place at the Community Room at Heritage Bank at 535 Market Street in Friday Harbor.

Please contact Tim Eberth to register for the class, or to request more information. He can be reached at (206) 557-7404 or by emailing Tim at tim [@] salmonbaylending.com.

The Salish Sea Early Music Festival pays tribute to Hanover, Germany’s vibrant early music scene in this program of baroque trio sonatas, solos and duos with harpsichordist Bernward Lohr, director of Hanover’s Musica Alta Ripa, one of Germany’s most prominent period instrument ensembles, baroque violinist Anne Röhrig, leader of the Hannoversche Hofkapelle (the “Hanover Court Orchestra”), one of Europe’s premier baroque orchestras, and baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan.

Bernward Lohr and Anne Röhrig are both professors at music conservatories in both Hanover and Nuremburg, Germany. Their more than 30 recordings have garnered awards including the Diapason Dòr, the Cannes Classical Award, the German Recording Critics’ Prize, and several times the Echo Klassik. Both were awarded the 2002 Music Award of Lower Saxony.

Brickworks on March 4th at 7:00 p.m.
Free to all those 18 and younger, suggested donation of $15-$25 for adults
For more info, go to Salish Sea Early Music Festival

Fall in love with poetry as you never have before; it will never be boring or dusty again!

“Poetry”: A body is a container for something constantly in motion. An emotion is something constantly in motion. A poem is both an emotion and a body. With “body” as a very loose metaphor, this survey course will explore a wide variety of form, content, and context in the genre of poetry.

At the San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College join instructor Jennifer Brennock and class in discovering contemporary poets who are new voices creating the current global literary discourse and rediscover influences like Plath, Whitman, and Ginsberg.

Students will free write and read widely, explore various aspects of craft including sensory experience, texture, repetition, imagery, metaphor, verse, prose poems, rhythm, diction, tone, and performance. Through peer discussion, learn how to articulate a response to a poem. Try writing poems and read them to an audience in a supportive environment, and celebrate each other’s attempts and successes.

All levels of experience and comfort with poetry are welcome.

Course will meet Tues. & Thurs. 8:45AM – 11:00AM April 5 thru June 16. Cost is $90.

Class will be held at the San Juan Center in Friday Harbor, overlooking beautiful Griffin Bay.

Call 378-3220 for more information.

Playoff bracket – Click to enlarge

The Friday Harbor High School boys’ basketball team is heading to the 2016 State Championship playoffs. Loads of fans, parents, and students are heading to Spokane to witness the game.

The Friday Harbor Wolverines will be playing on March 3rd at 9:00 p.m. against the Mossyrock Vikings. Win or lose (but hopefully win) the boys will be playing again on March 4th.

Congratulations to the basketball boys on a spectacular season and making it to state playoffs, which hasn’t been done in 10 years.

If you cannot join the action in person, you can listen to the game on Friday Harbor Tiny Radio at 1650 AM

GO WOLVERINES!

Tucker Avenue – Tim Dustrude photo

Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians who use Tucker Avenue will enjoy a safer and better quality roadway by mid-summer. The Town of Friday Harbor is scheduled to begin major improvements on Phase One of this project, starting around May 1st, which will include an upgrade of utility lines, road resurfacing, and the addition of bike lanes and sidewalks from Guard Street to Harbor Street. This project will improve utility service in the area, significantly upgrade the roadway surface, and enhance pedestrian and bicycle safety on this heavily trafficked road.

In 2017 the Town will complete Phase Two of the project which will improve Tucker Avenue from Harbor Street to University Road.

The Town has mailed notices to property owners in the area with a request that landlords forward the information to their renters and property managers. The Town wants to ensure all those directly affected by the project have received notice of the construction. Contractors are being asked to expedite the project with as little traffic disruption as possible; however road closures and detours will be unavoidable. The public is asked to exercise patience and to make every effort to be respectful of neighborhood residents when using detours in the area.

Information and updates on the project will be posted under “What’s New” on the Town website at www.fridayharbor.org.

This just in – Bill & Rita Ament are teaching a Triple Step Swing Swing Dance Class…

One half of the Bill & Rita Ament dance teaching team – Contributed photo

A fabulous class that will bring you joy and celebration! Swing dance is the style of dancing that you can take anywhere you go and dance to any type of music with your friends or partners! Previous students absolutely love this class! No experience necessary. Great for relationships!

Wednesdays, 6:45 – 8:00pm
Starts Wednesday, March 9
(March 9, 16, 23, 30) Dance Workshop 2
$110/Couple $60/Single
Pre-Registration is Necessary by Saturday, March 5
Call Bill & Rita Ament 378-9628

Here’s this month’s history column from the San Juan Historical Society and Museum…

Fanny Lake Driggs – SJ Historical Society photo

The Women’s Study Club: How San Juan Island women preserved history and steered the future of our community.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, coming up on March 8, we salute the long history of the Women’s Study Club, active on the island for 95 years. Pictured here is Fanny Lake Driggs, its first president in 1914.

Prior to disbanding in 2008, the club’s dedication to community service and lifelong learning inspired countless future civic leaders. Its legacies include Memorial Park, scholarships at Skagit Valley College, and saving the church building we know today as the Grange.

Join San Juan Historical Society & Museum board member Robin Jacobson at the San Juan Island Library on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:00 p.m. for a slide presentation and sharing of stories about this visionary group which dared to think big. Past members and their families are especially invited.

Class of 2016 Takes on FHHS Staff March 11

Click to enlarge

The fundraiser at the Turnbull Gym for 2016 Grad Night activities features an array of action to make for a fun-filled family evening: from a hamburger barbecue before the game; to watching favorite teachers try to make that basket; to bailing out visitors from the gym “jail”; to a half-time “battle of the bands” between Senior Band Students and “The District” (featuring FHHS teachers); to raffles for a generous amount of island services, including stays at the Friday Harbor House and Lakedale Resort.

“This game really brings out our school and community spirit,” said Tami Hayes, one of the coordinators of the event. “It also is a very fun way to raise money to ensure our kids have a safe and sane grad night.”

The barbecue ($10 per meal) starts at 5:00 p.m. outside the gym, followed by tip-off at 6:30 p.m. Game admission is by donation.

The Grad Night for the FHHS Class of 2016 is on June 11—several island adult chaperones will be on hand as students are treated to an “up all night” celebration. For more information on how to volunteer or donate to the event, contact Jan Bollwinkel-Smith at janb726 [@] centurytel.net.

Friday Harbor Elementary School Kindergarten registration will be held on Tuesday March 15th & Wednesday March 16th

Please call the Friday Harbor Elementary School office at 378-5209 to schedule an appointment.

Inviting all parents of children who will be five years old on or before August 31st 2016 to meet with school staff and begin the kindergarten registration process.

Please bring your child’s immunization record and birth certificate. To start school, your child must be current with the following immunizations:

• 5 doses of DTaP/Td, DT, Tdap vaccine (4 doses only IF the 4th is given on or after the 4th birthday)
• 4 doses of Polio vaccine (3 doses only IF the 3rd dose is given on or after the 4th birthday)
• 2 doses of Measles/Mumps/Rubella vaccine on or after the 1st birthday
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine with dose 3 given on or after 24 weeks of age (if dose 3 is given before 24 weeks, child will need a 4th dose)
• 2 doses of Varicella vaccine OR date of disease verified by Healthcare provider, the minimum age for dose 1 is 1 year old

Click to enlarge

Liz Varvaro and the Food for Thought program invite you to the next Community Dinner…

Join us for our next Community Dinner! This new semester’s Chef.0 students are excited to present a Southern-Inspired menu. Put it on your calendar and we will see you in a few weeks!

March 16th from 5:30 to 7:30
Friday Harbor High School Commons
$12 for adults and $6 for children under 12 (Suggested donation is per plate)

Menu

• Buttermilk Fried Chicken sustainably grown Draper Valley Farms boneless skinless chicken breast (vegetarian option available)
• Mashed Potatoes Chef Andy’s famous creamy mashed potatoes
• Housemade Chicken Gravy rich gravy with roasted chicken stock
• Green Bean Casserole green beans in a creamy mushroom sauce topped with crispy fried onions
• Caesar Salad crispy romaine with croutons and shredded Parmesan
• Drop Biscuits warm hearty biscuits with honey butter
• Spiced Apple Cake moist apple cake with streusel topping