Tom and Mary Garrels of Harbor Song Gallery with Heidi (on Mary’s lap) – Tim Dustrude photo

Here’s this month’s Chamber Chat, written by Lauren Cohen, Co-owner San Juan Canvas, LLC and Chamber of Commerce Board President

Wow, the year sure did go by quickly. It has been a busy year of changes at your Chamber of Commerce. A new Executive Director, remodeling the visitor center, showcasing local artists, shifting focus to serving business members, improving promotion. A LOT of cleaning, seeking collaboration with government and non-profit, and re-designing events kept us moving forward through 2015. Special thanks to Becki Day and her staff for their extra hard work in this transition year.

Annual Meeting
Our annual meeting which we combined with our holiday celebration and awards presentation took place on December 9 at the Grange. It was a festive event well attended by our membership. Congratulations to this year’s award winners voted on by our Chamber members.

“The Award of Excellence” is in recognition of the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce businesses that excel in quality service and/or products, demonstrate the Island Friend Spirit, practice the highest business ethics and exemplify enlightened customer service and staff relations.

• Services – Kris Brown of Printonyx
• Retail – Laura Norris of Griffin Bay Books
• Non-Profit – Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
• Arts/Galleries/Artists – Island Museum of Art
• Lodging – David Pass & Anna Maria DeFreitas or Tucker House & Harrison House
• Dining –John Hamilton of Cask & Schooner tied with Becki Day & Julie Strang of Vinny’s Ristorante
• Activities/Boating/Whale Watching/Charter – Hobbes Buchanan – San Juan Island Whale & Wildlife Tours

Congratulations to all!

New Member
We would like to welcome Harbor Song Gallery who are our newest Chamber of Commerce members. Owned by Tom and Mary Garrells. They are located at 180 First Street. Tom and Mary are both artists so stop in to check out their creations plus the other art on display. They have beautiful fine furnishings and also offer custom framing. We are happy to have them as a part of our small business community. Continue Reading

Our roving photographer, The Queen Bee, took time from singing along to catch Elsa in a nice moment with some of her fans.

The Palace Theater’s Aaron King has brought in some high-powered help to make sure your popcorn gets to you in time for the start of Star Wars.

I have it on good authority that Kristin’s helper is Storm Trooper Rhiannon.

Dear San Juan Island Neighbor & Friend,

May your holiday season be filled with joy and thanks for the gift of living in such a special place!

As you may already know, the mission of San Juan Island Service Scholarship is to support higher education and promote volunteerism among our community’s youth.  Students who have completed a minimum of 80 hours of volunteer community service during their high school career are eligible for a scholarship from our organization.

The scholarship is not based upon grades, but solely upon a student’s volunteer efforts to make their own community a better place to live. This allows every student the opportunity to qualify for a scholarship to use toward higher education through service to the San Juan Island community.

In 2015 our organization:

• Granted over $23,000 in local scholarships
• Helped foster over 1,200 hours of student volunteerism on San Juan Island
• Supported 30+ local non-profit & service organizations

By making a donation to the San Juan Island Service Scholarship Fund, you directly support and encourage these young people to become the next generation of volunteers and leaders.

To keep this great program going we do need your financial help whether it is a $10, $100, or $1,000 donation.

If you received our letter please consider contributing, if we missed you in our mailer – don’t worry, just visit us on the web at  www.sjiservicescholarship.org  to donate online!

San Juan Island Service Scholarship is a registered 501(c)(3 ) non-profit organization and your donation is fully tax deductible.

Sincerely and with appreciation on behalf of our future leaders,

June Arnold
President
San Juan Island Service Scholarship

Hey all you local store owners, found this email (below) in the San Juan Update mailbag today, and I’m not quite sure how to answer. I figure this is your chance to let people know what your store hours will be on New Year’s Day:

Hi There,
Being from a small town myself, I’m wondering if Friday Harbor shops will likely be closed New Years Day?
Thanks for any insight you might have.
Misty

If you own a store in Friday Harbor, leave a comment below and let us all know whether you’ll be open or not. Thanks!

Students Arlo Harold, Thea Seitz, and Grace Pauls after speaking to the county health board on Wednesday in support of an ordinance relating to the sale of e-cigarettes in the county – Contributed photo

This week the county board of health passed an ordinance relating to the sale, use, and availability of e-cigarettes, becoming one of the first counties in the state to tackle this subject. The ordinance was drafted by county health officer Dr. Frank James. The regulations — such as requiring photo I.D. and banning sales to anyone under 18 – parallel those concerned with the sale of other tobacco products.

The action followed a public hearing at which three students in the 8th and 9th grades and representing HOTS (Helping Out Teen Society) spoke in support. Arlo Harold, Grace Pauls, and Thea Seitz reported on a community assessment they did of local stores to see how they were displaying these products. Boyd Pratt, representing the executive board of the San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, and Cynthia Stark-Wickman, the prevention coordinator for the Coalition, also spoke in favor. No one spoke against.

The health board passed the ordinance unanimously. Members are Drs. Dale Heisinger of Orcas and John Geyman of San Juan, county council members Rick Hughes, Bob Jarman, and Jamie Stephens, and town council member Noel Monin.

For gifts for your friends and their pets, check out the Animal Shelter Holiday Shoppe located behind the General Deli.

Proceeds go toward building the new Animal Shelter on Cattle Point Road.

San Juan Community Theatre celebrates the season with presentations of two holiday classics and a family-friendly opera on the big screen in December.

On Sunday, December 20 at 2:00 p.m., the sing-along version of Disney’s Frozen will have kids of all ages humming “Let it go, let it go…” throughout the holidays. The animated hit features fearless optimist Anna setting off on an epic journey to find her sister Else, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.

The winter theme continues on Monday, December 21 at 7:00 p.m., with The Nutcracker, presented by Bolshoi Ballet Only in Cinemas. The ballet encore (recorded live in December 2014) has a unique and beautiful sense of romance and philosophy, danced by the heroic Denis Rodkin as the courageous Prince and the magical Anna Nikulina as Marie.

“Nathan Gunn as Papageno in a scene from Act II of Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte.” Photo: Ken Howard/Metropolitan Opera”

On Sunday, December 27 at 2:00 p.m., The Met: Live in HD celebrates its tenth anniversary season, with the encore screening of Mozart’s The Magic Flute—the groundbreaking presentation that launched the series to theaters around the world. Adults and children alike were enchanted (and will be again) by the whimsical humor and breathtaking puppetry of Julie Taymor’s hit production, presented in a shortened English-language version.

Free holiday treats and drinks will be available at each event.

Tickets for Frozen are $3 for students and $5 for adults. Admission to The Nutcracker and The Magic Flute is $10 for students and $20 for adults for each event. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or via the SJCT Box Office (378-3210).

Francis Smith is December’s EMT of Month – Contributed photo

Francis has led a most interesting life. He was born in the west central lowlands of Scotland, was a B-52 pilot during the Vietnam War and afterward attended USC, Berkeley, and Cal State in LA where he completed multiple Masters degrees in Zoology. His professional career was in the Medication Industry.

Francis has steadfastly served this community; 17 years as Captain with the local Fire Department and 10 years as an EMT with San Juan Island EMS.

It is the camaraderie of emergency services that Francis most enjoys.

EMS is enriched by the experience and wisdom that Francis brings.
Congratulation to Francis and his lovely wife Rebecca on 38 years of marriage!

San Juan Island Library offers a host of special holiday events for children, families, and teens…

After School Arts Ornament Making on Thursday, December 17: 3:15-4:15 PM in the Meeting Room  *Make holiday ornaments. Light refreshments served.  Appropriate for elementary school children. 

Santa Storytime with Special Guests, Friday, December 18, 10:30 AM in the Main Salon  *Hear holiday songs and stories and meet Santa for photo taking. Craft and refreshments to follow program.  Designed for families with small children and babies.

Holiday Puppet Show with Chocolate Moose Theater Saturday, December 19, 2 PM in the Meeting Room  *Blatt the Moose and Allie the Alligator learn about the holiday giving spirit in this 30 minute locally produced skit. Lots of laughs and light refreshments served.  Appropriate for elementary school age children and adults.

Natural Fiber Dream Catchers with Alice Hibberd, Saturday, December 19,  4-6 PM in the Meeting Room  *Celebrate the Winter Solstice. Catch your dreams with your own hand crafted dream catchers made from natural fibers. All materials supplied.  Appropriate for older children, teens and adults.

School’s Out Special for Teens: Glass Ornaments, Monday, December 21, 11 AM in the Meeting Room  *Last minute gift making of ornaments. All materials supplied. Miss Kathy will instruct.  Teens and tweens welcome. 

School’s Out Special for Kids: Wrapping Paper, Monday, December 21, 1:30 PM in the Meeting Room  *Make your own wrapping paper just in time for the holidays. Miss Kathy will instruct.  Appropriate for elementary school children.

For more information or questions, please contact the Library today, 378-2798 or visit the website at www.sjlib.org. 

J28 with new calf J54 – Photo by Dave Ellifrit

The Center for Whale Research shares this press release…

For More Information: see our website whaleresearch.com

Another new Baby in J Pod!! Designated J54 – sex unknown. Mother is J28, a twenty-two year old female Southern Resident Killer Whale in the Pacific Northwest. The mother had a previous baby designated J46, a female, born in 2009 and still surviving. This brings the known births of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) to EIGHT since last December, and the total population of SRKW’s as of now to 84 known individuals.

1977 is the only previous year in the past forty years in which as many baby killer whales were born into this community of whales, and there were nine in that year. From calculations accounting for all reproductive age females, we estimate that typically up to nine babies could be produced each year, but there is usually a high rate of neonatal and perinatal mortality, and we have seen only three babies annually on average. In the years immediately following poor salmon years, we see fewer babies and higher mortality of all age cohorts.

The new baby, J54, was first seen on December 1st, 2015 by several whale watchers near San Juan Island, and photographed with J28 by Ivan Reiff, a Pacific Whale Watch Association member.  However, the December 1st photographs were not conclusive in that they did not reveal distinct features of eyepatch and “saddle” pigment shape that could unequivocally rule out that it was not another baby being “baby sat” by J28. Continue Reading

Island Lights Festival “NOEL” – Click to enlarge – Aaron Shepard photo

Aaron Shepard checks in with another beautiful photo – this one was shot at the Island Lights tree lighting festival last week.

For more of Aaron’s photos of the Island Lights Festival, visit his photo blog, “An Islander’s Eye.”

Thanks for sharing Aaron!

Contributed photo

It’s not too late to have your photo taken with Skipper and Top Cat at the Animal Shelter’s Holiday Shoppe!

Stop by the shop, located on Spring Street next to the Chamber of Commerce, Saturday between noon and 2:00 and join in the fun!

There are lots of great gift ideas at the shop too, so bring your holiday shopping list!

OLYMPIA – The State today begins accepting applications for the No Child Left Inside program, which is aimed at giving at-risk children outdoor experiences.

The No Child Left Inside grant program is funded by the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). The grants are intended to fund programs that provide outdoor environmental, agricultural or other natural resource-based education and recreation programs serving youth in Washington State.

“Research shows that getting kids outdoors improves their lives,”

Applicants can be public agencies, (cities, counties, special purpose districts), Native American tribes, nonprofit organizations, formal school programs, informal after school programs and community-based programs in Washington.

“Research shows that getting kids outdoors improves their lives,” said Don Hoch, director of Washington State Parks. “We’re excited about this grant program because we know that spending time outside reduces childhood stress and obesity and helps prevent the disengagement that many young people experience today. Outdoor education programs involving interaction with nature have been shown to improve children’s self-esteem, health, performance in school, personal responsibility and community involvement.”

Grant recipients may ask for as much as $125,000 for each program. The State expects to award about $900,000. Typical programs would be those that offer backpacking or camping, canoeing and kayaking, environmental outdoor education, fishing or hunting, hiking, orienteering or rock climbing. Continue Reading

Winners of Launch San Juan Islands business plan competition lauded at awards luncheon

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is excited to announce the winners of their first annual business plan competition, Launch San Juan Islands. The winners and all finalists were lauded at an awards luncheon at Coho Restaurant in Friday Harbor, on December 1st, 2015.

1. For first prize, Sasha von Dassow (San Juan Island) was awarded $2,000 for his plan for San Juan Island Transport, a food transportation concern serving local farmers and markets.
2. For second prize, Leslie and Jacob Betcher (San Juan Island) were awarded $1,000 for their plan for Upright Marine, manufacturer of environmentally neutral buoy anchoring systems.
3. For third prize, two winners shared $500. Tim Fry of 468 Insider (Lopez Island) will launch a mobile app to serve the travel and tourism industry. Sandhya Sreerama of Port of Spice (San Juan Island) will create an Indian food catering company. The prize money will go toward specific deliverables in the participants’ business plans.

Finalists Molly O’Neil, Andrea Champlin, Kalen Huntemer and Cher Renke were also recognized for their efforts.

11 entrepreneurs from Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands participated in the competition, and a wide variety of industries were represented.

Donations from the following businesses and individuals made this event possible: San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, Mark Madsen, Jack Yelverton, Gretchen Staehlin, John Gresseth Architect, Steve Hushebeck, the Islands Weekly, the Islands Sounder, the Journal of the San Juan Islands, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Windermere Real Estate, Valmark, Edward Jones of San Juan Island, Farmers Insurance of San Juan Island, Coho Restaurant, Victoria Compton and Island Market.

All participants received instruction in business planning and marketing, plus follow-up mentoring. The goal of the two-month competition was to help every participating entrepreneur to advance their business, and the competition will be held annually. More information is available on the EDC website at www.sanjuansedc.org.