Do you know a dirty dog that could use a nice, soapy bath? Wilson Loucks and Jillian Urbach, Friday Harbor High School students have just the deal for you!

As part of their community project the two will be holding a do-it-yourself dog wash to benefit The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor. The dog wash is $20 per dog and will take place on Saturday, November 7 from 10:00 to 4:00 at the animal shelter. Shampoos, conditioners and lots of towels will be available.

Call the animal shelter to make your appointment at 378-2158. Appointment times will be every 30 minutes, so only 12 slots are available – don’t wait! All proceeds go to the Animal Protection Society.

Click to enlarge poster

Calvary San Juan is having their Harvest Fest celebration on October 31st from 4:00 – 6:30 pm.

The location is at the corner of Guard and Tucker.  The celebration has wonderful activities for the 6th grade and under to enjoy.  Free.

Plus – you could win a cord of wood.

There are all kinds of games, treats, a magician and such fun in a safe environment.

Samantha Jean Osborn – Contributed photo

Samantha Jean crossed over the rainbow bridge peacefully at home surrounded with love. Sami lost her left front leg due to osteosarcoma on May 14th of this year and that did not slow her down a bit! She continued to put smiles on the faces of everyone she met.

As an in-home/hospice care provider,her Mom Deanna Osborn,took Samantha to all of her cases. She loved to work with the clients and their families and they adored her loving presence. She brought comfort to so many people during their very sad days.

In addition, she was right by Deanna’s side in Bellingham when her aunt, Jan Osborn passed away earlier this year. She gave Deanna a tremendous amount of comfort and peace.

Samantha was a welcome presence at the planning of the first few Relay for Life events and Sami participated at this years event as a Survivor.

Samantha left her Paw print on so many hearts in our community. She loved life and it showed in every step. She reminded us that you have to get up and try for as long as you can. Otherwise you might miss a chance to make someones day.

Samantha is running on all four legs again,
“Run, run, run Sami Sam Run!”

San Juan Fitness wants you to know about some adjustments to their after school Lifeguard Swim schedule…

Wednesdays and Fridays beginning in November lifeguard swim will be from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Parents, please plan accordingly.

Lifeguard swim hours on Monday (3:00 -4:30) Tues/Thurs (5:30-7:00) and Sat/Sun (12:00-1:30) stay the same.

This change is in response to needed pool space for swim team right after school. Thanks for understanding! See you in the pool!

Halloween 2014 at the Elementary School – Tim Dustrude photo

Dear Friday Harbor Community,

The weather forecast for Friday is rain. Depending on how hard it might be raining, we may hold the Halloween Parade indoors at the school. If we hold the parade indoors, we invite all family members and guests to gather in the gym to watch students parade through the gym starting at 1:00 pm. Stay tuned for updates.

Sincerely,
Diane Ball
Principal FHES

Presenter: Our Own Esteemed Member, Kay Kohler

Kay has a long-established history as a jam, jelly, lemon curd (and many other preserved delights) guru here on the island! Please join us as she presents her cooking and preservative craft. Learn the “ins” and “outs” of fruit preservation from one who knows!

• Tuesday, November 3, 2015
• 1:00 pm
• Mullis Community Center (589 Nash Street, Friday Harbor)

Please join us for coffee, tea and dessert.
RSVP to Marguerite Bennett at 378-8524 or just drop in and join the lively discussion.

All are welcome!

Visit our website for more information.

FHHS Athletic Director Rod Turnbull has this announcement…

By mutual agreement between Bellingham and Friday Harbor, our football game at Bellingham on Nov 5th has been cancelled.  Both schools felt that this game would not benefit either school.  As a result, we have secured a new opponent, Sedro Woolley’s JV team, to play at Friday Harbor on Saturday, November 7, with a 12:00 start.  We just need to confirm that officials are available.

Thanks,
Rod Turnbull

Couple of things coming up at SJCT…

First up, it’s Otello in HD November 1

Otello – Contributed photo

Inspired by Shakespeare’s play, Otello is often cited as Italian opera’s greatest tragedy—a miraculous union of music and drama, a masterpiece as profound philosophically as it is thrilling theatrically.

The Met: Live in HD’s newest production of the opera will be presented on screen at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, November 1 at 2:00 pm.

Director Bartlett Sher probes the Moor’s dramatic downfall with an outstanding cast: tenor Aleksandrs Antonenko plays the doomed Otello; new soprano star Sonya Yoncheva sings Desdemona, Otello’s innocent wife and victim; and baritone Željko Luèiæ plays the evil Iago, who masterminds Otello’s demise. Dynamic maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts.

In addition to The Met: Live in HD presentations, SJCT also rebroadcasts National Theatre Live productions from Great Britain, and ballets from Bolshoi Only In Cinemas. A schedule of the HD-live events is available at www.sjctheatre.org. SJCT’s HD partnerships were made possible through a generous bequest from the late Dodie Gann and underwriting by the McGee Foundation.

Tickets for Otello are $20 for adults, $18 for SJCT members and $10 for student reserved.   Due to a financial agreement with the Met, no SJCT coupons are accepted for these productions. Tickets are available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office: 378-3210.

Winter Play Auditions November 2-3

Just what can be done about that blue tarp in the neighbor’s yard?

Islanders have a chance to play a part in one man’s comedic version of that property rights debate when auditions are held for San Juan Community Theatre’s winter play on Monday and Tuesday, November 2 and 3 at 6:30 p.m.

Director Joy Van Camp is casting actors for Travis Baker’s One Blue Tarp at SJCT’s Gubelman Theatre.

Named the 2013 winner of “Best Maine Play” in the prestigious Clauder New England Playwright Competition, the play features more than eight characters, including one boy, four adult females and three adult males.

One Blue Tarp was featured earlier this year in SJCT’s On Book! Readers Theatre series and will now be presented as a fully-staged production in the Gubelman February 19-21, 25-28 and March 3-5, 2016.

Perusal scripts are available at the SJCT Box Office with a $10 deposit. Box office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Join us for a handmade tamales & enchiladas fiesta dinner benefitting DVSAS.

It’s at the Presbyterian Church, this Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm.

Adults $20 Kids $10. Beautiful harvest basket raffle! (see photo) Call 378-8680 for more info.

Skate Train – Contributed photo

November has come and it’s time to pull your skates from the closet.

Island Rec will have a booth at the FANS Carnival where you can bring your skates or scooter for a swap meet.

Sell, trade or GIVE your skates to the next kid in line.

November 14th, from 11:00 am til 2:00 pm, in the main Fair Building.

For questions please contact:
lowell [@] islandrec [.] org.

For more information call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org.

Mark your calendars now for this community dinner next week…

Click to enlarge

Wednesday, November 4th from 5:30 to 7:30 pm in the Friday Harbor High School Commons, it’s the Food For Thought program from the high school, which includes delicious local foods this month.

Suggested Donation of $12 for Adults and $6 for kids under 12

Supports the Food for Thought Program and Chef.0 Internship

On the Menu:

• Oven-Roasted Garlic Chicken sustainably grown Draper Valley Farms chicken thighs roasted and braised in a garlic pan sauce
• Local Root Vegetables roasted Island grown beets, carrots, sweet onions, potatoes and parsnips
• Local Squash Soup puree of local squash, carrots and sweet onions
• Autumn Salad local hearty greens, Quail Croft goat cheese, local Asian pears, toasted seeds and dried cherries with a light vinaigrette
• Rustic Bread Rolls light wheat rolls brushed with herbed olive oil
• Snickerdoodle-Pumpkin Pie Bar by Mr. Hendricks’ Baking Class

Ever wanted to be part of a Haunted House? Now is your chance! The Frightmare at the Fairgrounds happens THIS Friday, and we are looking for more Volunteers for this fun event!

• Décor set-up
• Themed room interactive
• Décor breakdown
• And more!

Contact the Fairgrounds with your availability today!
Email: info [at] sjcfair [dot] org

• Event: Friday, October 30th 5:00pm-10:00pm indoors at the Fairgrounds.
• Cost: $5 per person
• (Suggested age 11 and up)

This “spook-tacular” fundraiser event directly raises funds for the Hospice of San Juan. Your support is appreciated!

Margie Doyle shares this update with you on the Concerto Project…

ORCAS ISLAND, WASHINGTON — “This is a bold project,” says Marian O’Brien, Executive Director of The Concerto Project “and we are prepared to meet the challenges head-on.”

The Concerto Project Board members, Advisors and Executive Director of the nonprofit two-year program for young adults with autism on Orcas Island – Contributed photo

The Orcas Island nonprofit has spent two years laying the groundwork for this innovative two-year transition program for young adults with autism. They have included stakeholders one by one through a process of engagement and a common interest in meeting the great need for programming in the Pacific Northwest. Local educators, businesses, government officials, and other professionals, as well as long-time Islanders were consulted in the process of determining the capacity of the Island to create a home for the nonprofit program. Then, professionals in the greater Seattle area and nationwide were consulted to gain from their wisdom and experience in meeting the needs of families during the critical transition from high school to adulthood.

O’Brien has been stunned and humbled by the response The Concerto Project has received during this time. “I have never been involved in anything that has had such an overwhelmingly positive response,” she said. “It’s moving like greased lightning towards hope and positive outcomes.”

The Concerto Project has been given the opportunity to purchase the 80-acre legacy property of Mount Baker Farm, and has begun the capital campaign funding process. O’Brien and the Board of Trustees feel very strongly that they must approach potential major donors with the understanding that their funds will not be put at risk, should funding somehow fall short. But, how to do this? Continue Reading

The Black Luminous Sea, by Joe Miller

San Juan artist, Joe Miller will give a gallery walk around his striking colorfold watercolors at IMA on October  30,  at 11:30 a.m.

Join Miller on a personal walk through his IMA exhibit, “UNLIKE EARTH” a debut presentation of his stunning colorfold paintings. Listen as Joe describes his inspiration, techniques and reflections of 40+ years immersed in art.  Residents and visitors alike can enjoy Joe’s own humor-filled style, as he answers questions-all are invited.

Miller’s exhibit is open at IMA at 540 Spring Street in Friday Harbor, Friday through Monday 11:00 am to 5:00 pm and ends on November 9.

While there tour the Kathy Venter: Immersion Series life-sized ceramic sculpture and Michael Dailey: Early Dawn to Late Twilight.

EDC offers FREE workshop on business planning and financing

The San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a FREE half-day workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on Orcas Island, on Wednesday, November 18th from 9 a.m. until noon. Advance registration is required.

The business and financing workshop course material will be presented by James McCafferty, of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, a management consultant for over a decade.

As part of the workshop, McCafferty will cover business financing, discuss a variety of financing options and will provide a reality check for those considering a new or expanded business venture. He will be available for one-on-one consultation after the workshop.

Participants in the workshop will leave with the resources and support they need to create a business plan including a realistic financial plan. In addition, McCafferty will cover current federal and Washington State tax incentive programs for small businesses. Continue Reading

A press release for you from PeaceHealth and Providence about some of the stuff they’re up to lately…

Letter of intent opens way to jointly improving wellness, wholeness

VANCOUVER, Wash. – PeaceHealth and Providence Health & Services, two health systems with a long history of committed service to the Pacific Northwest, signed a letter of intent Oct. 26, 2015, to jointly develop innovative ways to provide health and wellness services in communities they serve.

The first of multiple initiatives in development is a health and wellness center, featuring rehab, fitness, primary care and other services on Padden Parkway in Vancouver. The center would increase local access to primary and specialty pediatric medical care, and would offer a unique set of complementary services designed to improve well-being and restore patients to wholeness.

“This is an important moment for communities we serve,” said Providence Oregon Chief Executive Dave Underriner. “This is not just another doctor’s office. It’s not just another fitness center. This is about creating new approaches that will help people get healthy and stay healthy. This is about improving wellness and restoring wholeness to people we care about.”

Future initiatives are under consideration in various locations. Continue Reading