Mark your calendar now for the FREE boating course coming up in March. The Friday Harbor Power Squadron will be offering instruction for this class for Free – the only cost is for  the course materials. Get your Boater Education Card (required to operate any boat with an engine of 15hp or more.)

What is it?
America’s Boating Course

What will you need?
Comprehensive Boating Information Manual & 2 companion CD’s with Coastal Navigator Electronic Charting

What’s the cost?
$45.00. Couples can share. 50% Student Discount
Instruction is FREE by the Friday Harbor Power Squadron

When is it?
Tuesdays, March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29 & April 5
7:00 to 9:00 PM at Skagit Valley College’s San Juan Center, Friday Harbor

This course is suitable for all types of boating, inland and coastal. It’s fun for the whole family and you will:

• Gain confidence
• Make friends
• Build skills
• Save money

This may entitle you to marine insurance discounts.

To register, call 378-3288 or email: ein [@] rockisland.com

www.fridayharborpowersquadron.com

www.nwboatertraining.com

The 8th Grade Team at last year’s Knowledge Bowl – Contributed photo

Mark your calendar – the 22nd annual Knowledge Bowl will be held on Monday, February 8, at the San Juan Community Theatre. Our fabulous Friday Harbor Jazz Band will begin performing at 6:30 and the FH Middle School PTA will be offering baked treats in the lobby before and during the event. There will be raffle items during intermission as well.

The competition begins at 7:00 PM. Teams will consist of the 8 graders, a team of freshmen/sophomores, and one of 11th and 12th graders, going head to head with 4 local service group teams: Kiwanis, Soroptimists, Lions, and Rotary. Groups will match wits to answer tricky questions on a range of topics. The event will be emceed this year again by Brent Snow, School Board member, with entertainment during intermission by the Jazz Band.

The Knowledge Bowl is presented each year by the San Juan Public Schools Foundation. Through its main fundraising events, the Phone-a-Thon and Business Partnership Program in the school directory, the Foundation this year has donated over $100,000 to supplement our local public education needs!

Tickets for this fun family event are 5.00 for adults and 3.00 for kids, and are available at the door the night of the event. Come and cheer on your favorite team!!

Board of Directors
SJIPSF

Click for more photos of last year’s event. Continue Reading

Work Party II on Cady Mountain Preserve

Punxsutawney Phil didn’t see his shadow, so it’s official – early spring! Good thing The Oak Team got an early start a couple weeks ago. The momentum continues THIS Sunday and Thom (and the rest of the Oakies) are looking forward to working with you to make space for the wildflowers! And don’t worry if you missed January’s work party ~ there’s plenty of restoration work for everyone!

• When?
  February 7
  10:00am to 2:00pm
  RSVP required (e-mail tanjaw [@] sjclandbank.org )
• Where?
  Cady Mountain Preserve
  The rendezvous point will be the triangle at the intersection of Cady Mountain Road and Capron Road. From West Valley Road, turn on to Cady Mountain Road. The triangle will be in front of you, about 50 yards in. Please be prompt!
• What?
  Small conifer removal work – felling, limbing, piling – and possibly some blackberry removal

Tanja Williamson – Outreach coordinator
(360)-378-4402

Schoolboard chair June Arnold shares this letter…

Over the past week I was asked a question regarding the pending Levy which seemed important enough to share with the community:  there seems to be a belief the school district never hires local contractors for any of their construction projects, and therefore island residents should not support the Capital Projects & Technology Levy.

In fact, this is not true.  Over the past 4 years the school district has directed approximately $919,000 worth of its facility and technology projects to San Juan Island contractors and service providers.  Since the district is a taxpayer funded entity, there are very specific rules that must be followed for bidding and awarding projects.  That being said, there are also rules that allow it to direct projects to local providers if they can deliver the services needed at a reasonable price.  All projects must be published and let for bid.  But, if a competitive bid can be obtained locally and it causes undue expense to source outside of a local market, the district can advertise locally versus regionally. Continue Reading

Snow on Lopez 100 years ago this month – SJ Historical Museum photo

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

We wish we had a photo of San Juan Island in The Big Snow of 1916, but featuring this one taken on Lopez Island may jog someone’s memory that they have a photo we can digitize and preserve in the San Juan Historical Museum archives.

During The Big Snow event, the islands were heavy with a wet snow from a storm that reached from Victoria to Seattle and beyond. On February 1, 1916, Seattle recorded its maximum snowfall ever in a 24 hour period when 21.5 inches of snow crippled transportation and commerce.

While other parts of western Washington recorded four feet of snow that day, even San Juan Island got 15 inches.

If you have photos to share of deep island snow from any year, please let us know at www.sjmuseum.org.

There’s a new business in San Juan County: Holman Land Surveying, Inc.

Andy Holman – Contributed photo

Andy Holman, a third-generation land surveyor, is pleased to announce the formation of his new business, Holman Land Surveying, Inc. Andy is a licensed Professional Land Surveyor in Washington and specializes in all aspects of land surveying, from initial research and field data collection to permitting and planning.

“Holman Land Surveying, Inc. serves all islands in San Juan County and is committed to providing professional and accurate services in a timely manner,” said Andy. “As our customer, you will work with a professional land surveyor throughout the duration of your project.”

If you have any questions or would like to request a quote, visit: www.holmansurveying.com.

To contact Andy directly, e-mail: andy [@] holmansurveying.com or call: 360-378-0338.

Lawson’s crew hard at work on the storm drain – Ted Strutz photo

On First Street, in front of Pelindaba and The Golden Triangle, the Town of Friday Harbor is installing a storm water vault under the sidewalk and a new LA style storm drain (curb opening rather than street grate).

These are in response to local business requests, as this is the low point for storm events that flow down Spring Street and come around the corner on to First. The curb opening will get more storm water off the street faster and the vault will provide additional capacity. You may remember the flash flood we had earlier this fall – the Town is hoping to avoid a repeat where businesses were flooded.

Click to enlarge

Hospice of San Juan honors the end of life by offering ‘care and comfort’ services to people with chronic, debilitating or terminal illness so that they may remain at home and live with comfort and dignity.

Our volunteers provide planned respite for family caregiver.

We are offering a Core Training on Saturday, February 20th and Saturday, February 27th for those people interested in providing care and comfort services to members of our community.

If interested please leave a message and contact info at our Call Center: 472-0322

RSVP lunch will be provided and space is limited.

Merri Ann Simonson checks in with these tips on selling your property…

Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo

Thinking about selling your property? You may want to consider researching, collecting and completing the items detailed below.

This is not a check list for planting flowers on your porch and painting your front door, you can go to the internet for that information. This list is to prepare sellers in San Juan County for marketing their property.   The issues below are for regulatory compliance, contract performance and will prove beneficial and worth the effort in the marketing and transaction management of your property sale.

If you hire a good agent, they will assist with the process of gathering and helping you arrange for the various services. That is what good agents do.

This list will not apply to all properties and it is not meant to be all encompassing.

Single Family Residence:

“As Is” Sale Click here for full article (PDF)

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC), in partnership with the San Juan Islands Visitors’ Bureau (SJIVB,) are offering two free workshops entitled Effective Design for Tourism, February 23rd and 24th on San Juan Island and Orcas Island.

The workshops will be presented by Jill Andrews of Certified Folder Display Service, Inc., brochure distribution and display service for Washington State Ferries.  Andrews has worked in tourism and hospitality sales for over 20 years, consulting tourism-driven businesses, with a focus on reaching in-market visitors.

The workshops focus on designing brochures for tourism marketing, revealing aspects of print marketing design which can be used by any business, and showcasing highly-effective brochures.  Workshop attendees are invited to bring their current brochures and print materials for an interactive review.

Details: Tuesday, February 23rd from 2:30-4p at the San Juan Island Public Library; Wednesday, February 24th, from 9:30-11:30a at the Orcas Island Public Library.  Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email: info [@] sanjuansedc.org.

The EDC thanks the Washington State Department of Commerce, San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Ports of Friday Harbor, Lopez and Orcas, Island Market, Heritage Bank and Islanders Bank for their support.  This event is not sponsored by the Orcas and San Juan Island Public Libraries.

Deb Langhans is back with more grief support. Here she is with more details…

Click for larger image

Last December, I wrote a piece on grief – “Not So Happy Holidays…?” and shared my recent certification in grief recovery work using The Grief Recovery Method® (a comprehensive approach to grief recovery created 35 years ago by the internationally-recognized Grief Recovery Institute.)

We’re fortunate on this tiny island to have excellent, existing grief support resources; The Grief Recovery Institute programs I’m now certified to offer represent another different option for those still living with broken hearts.  As you’ll read in the flyer attached, I’ll be offering an 8-week “support group” starting Monday, February 22 from 6:00-7:30 p.m.  Please note: This is not a drop-in style or unstructured support group.  The curriculum & action steps taught over the 8 weekly sessions build on each other & provide the skills & support participants need to complete unresolved grief over loss.

I’ve been touched & inspired by those who’ve contacted me since my December post.  Two were grieving the painful loss of beloved pets; one admitted to still feeling sad & “stuck” around the loss of both parents who died decades ago.  As I shared previously, my own mother’s death last July, along with my increasing involvement in end of life issues, motivated my experiencing The Grief Recovery Method® firsthand.  I still grieve this profound loss in my life, but as I’ve continued to practice the skills & activities learned in this powerful program, the quality of my life no longer feels compromised by my grief. Continue Reading

The following invitation was sent by the SJC Republican Party…

SAN JUAN COUNTY REPUBLICANS HOLD POOLED PRECINCT CAUCUSES

Promptly 10 AM February 20th on San Juan, Orcas, Lopez, and Shaw

Are you ready for true protection of the Middle Class while caring for those in need? A Healthcare System that works for you and not the bureaucracy? How about a Governor that keeps violent prisoners in prison?

The San Juan County Republican Party is inviting conservative-minded islanders to join them in being a part of the process of choosing County Convention Delegates, the Republican Presidential nominee, adopting a party platform, and enjoying a good time with other islanders! BRING AN ITEM FOR THE FOOD BANK. Continue Reading

Cathy Cavanagh, 1949-2016

“Cathaleen T. “Cathy” Cavanagh, 66, died of cancer in her San Juan Island, WA home on January 30th.  Cathy was born in Lamar, Colorado on September 27, 1949.  She was the eldest daughter of seven.  Cathy earned a Bachelor of Arts with an Accounting major from Mount St. Scholastica in 1971.  She was a pioneer for women in this field and the only woman in her Accounting classes.

Cathy started an accounting practice in 1976 in Concordia, Kansas, where she lived for the next 10 years while raising her first two children Lawrence “Richard” Uri III and Christine “Christi” Uri.  In 1986, Cathy made the courageous decision to move across the country to San Juan Island.  Cathy’s dream was to “live somewhere she would want to vacation,” and she chose Friday Harbor.  She walked off the ferry at the age of 37 with no house, no job, and no friends nearby.  She frequently described her decision to move to the island as the best decision of her life.

Cathy quickly found a job working as an accountant at Allan Hyco’s office. She later co-founded the real estate office of Cavanagh, Miller & Wood, which became Windermere.  She then left real estate and opened her own accounting/CPA practice, providing accounting services to individuals and small to medium businesses for the rest of her life.  After moving to the island, Cathy married her second husband Stevens J. Townsdin (deceased) and had her youngest child Jens Townsdin. Continue Reading

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

I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, “where did she get those magnificent ears?” Right?

Well, all I can tell you is that, yes, they’re real. I’m Betsy, and what you see here is all 100% ME – part Chihuahua, part Pug and all heart!

If you like big-eared girls who love to cuddle, go for walks and enjoy treats, then I’m the girl for you! I’m at the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor waiting for you!

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

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans will be hosting a panel discussion entitled “We’re Here when You Need Us” about our Island Resource Centers on Monday, February 8, 2016 at the San Juan Island Library conference room from Noon to 2:00pm. All members and islanders are welcome to join us.

The Executive Directors of all three Island Resource Centers, Erin O’Dell (Orcas), Barbara Gurley (Lopez), and Jennifer Armstrong (San Juan) will be joined by County Council member Rick Hughes to talk to the audience about what the Resource Centers do for our communities, what kinds of cases come their way and the funding problems they encounter.

Funding for emergency affordable housing aid has recently been zeroed out in our county. Since affordable housing of all kinds is an issue of concern to islanders, the reasons by the budget reductions and remedies suggested by these experts will help League members and others advocate for help to these vital agencies. Please join us.

For information, call Sarah Crosby at 378-3021.