Rosedanie Cadet with volunteers – Contributed photo

With a District Grant of $14,000 from Rotary International, Rotary Club of San Juan Islands recently completed the solar-power installation at a learning center in Limbe, Haiti.  Rotary member, Rosedanie Cadet of Orcas Island and Limbe Haiti, was born in Limbe and wanted to return to her hometown “to give back”. Shortly before the devastating earthquake in 2009, she founded Helping Hands Noramise, a non-profit organization with the mission of empowering the Haitian people with self-sufficiency through computer courses, sewing, and gardening skills. Rugby skills, too.

The power system, designed by Eric Youngren of Rainshadow Solar on Orcas Island, will give the Center dependable electric power to continue developing a training center computer lab, access to the Internet, opening a wide range of previously unobtainable educational opportunities. Micro-business sewing operation for producing and selling such items as feminine hygiene products and diapers.

The dependable electric system will be a significant step to the further establishment of the Learning Center as a valuable educational asset for this rural community. We applaud the patience and perseverance of Rosedanie Cadet and her continuing efforts to educate and connect her Haitian community to better and self-sufficient lives.

For further information about Helping Hands Noramise, visit www.helpinghandnoramise.org  And the continuing humanitarian work of Rotary Club San Juan Islands www.rotarysanjuanislands.com

That’s Commercial Avenue in Anacortes, well, what you can see of it anyway – Click to Enlarge – Photo courtesy of OysterRun.org

WSF Sent out this alert about Sunday travel and Oyster Run in Anacortes. If you’ve never seen Oyster Run… well just look at the photo. It’s like a million motorcycles from all over, converging on Anacortes on Sunday. If you need to get from here to wherever, or from wherever back to here, and your route takes you through Anacortes on Sunday, you might want to allow extra time for traffic.

Here’s the note from WSF:

“The Annual Oyster Run motorcycle rally occurs this Sunday, Sept 27, in Anacortes. Motorists can expect large volumes of motorcycles and loading delays throughout the weekend. In Anacortes, Friday Harbor, and Orcas Island, motorcyclists are strongly encouraged to make reservations to ensure space on any desired sailing.  Without reservations, motorcycles will be on standby and loaded on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Reservations can be made by phone by calling 1-888-808-7977, from 7:00am until 8:15pm, or online via our website at:www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/reservations. 

From Lopez Island, 10 motorcycles will be loaded on both the 7:30am and 9:30am sailings, if in line at least 60 minutes in advance of sailing time. Others will be loaded on a first-come, first-served basis.”

Opalco shares this announcement about National Co-op Month…

Activities, Workshops, Goodies and Prizes for Co-op Members

The Orcas Food Co-op, San Juan Island Food Co-op and OPALCO have joined forces to bring the National Co-op Month celebration San Juan County. During the month of October, we are cooperatively offering family activities, co-op talks, film showings, goodies and a “gold star co-op member” checklist with prizes and a raffle drawing. Get the full calendar of events at the OPALCO website.

We are celebrating all the perks of our local, independent and democratically-governed businesses such as voluntary and open membership, concern for community, sharing education and information and cooperation among cooperatives. Our co-ops improve our quality of life in San Juan County and we want to appreciate and share the bounty with our members!

Co-op Month Kick-Off – Monday, October 5th

• Cookies and cider at OPALCO’s Eastsound and Friday Harbor offices
• Hot apple cider at the Orcas Food Co-op Deli
• Coffee, tea and home-baked goodies at the San Juan Island Food Co-op
• Pick up a Co-op Month coloring book and “Gold Star Co-op Member” checklist at OPALCO, Orcas Food Co-op or San Juan Island Food Co-op.

Activities: Continue Reading

Click image to enlarge graphic or click here to download the full 13 page report (PDF)

Salish Sea Vessel Traffic Projections: A 43 Percent Increase

If all the new and expanding terminal and refinery projects in the Salish Sea are permitted and developed, including projects that became operational in 2014, there would be a 43 percent increase in large, commercial marine vessel traffic.

FRIENDS of the San Juans and San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping have released the Salish Sea Vessel Traffic Projections featuring 18 new or expanded proposed or recently completed projects, which cumulatively would add an additional 5,300 annual vessel transits to and from ports in British Columbia and Washington State.

The Salish Sea includes the international Strait of Juan de Fuca, Haro Strait, Boundary Pass and southern Georgia Strait; Washington State’s Puget Sound and San Juan Islands; and British Columbia’s Gulf Islands and Strait of Georgia. The Salish Sea also includes critical habitat for species listed as endangered in both Canada and the US including the Southern Resident Killer Whale, Chinook salmon, rockfish and marbled murrelet.

FRIENDS of the San Juans partnered with San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping to research and create the Salish Sea Vessel Traffic Projections flyer given the lack of current consolidated vessel traffic projections for British Columbia and Washington State.

“These projects all have one thing in common – they all transit through the San Juan Islands.” said Stephanie Buffum, Executive Director of FRIENDS of the San Juans. Continue Reading

Update from SJISD Superintendent Danna Diaz

Dr. Danna Diaz

We had a great start of school and it has been truly an honor to walk down the halls of the schools, have lunch in the cafeteria, meet with teachers, students and parents and learn about how I may better serve as your superintendent.

Thankfully, at the San Juan Island School District, we are proud of our mission:

“To provide a world class education through focus on superior instructional performance, meaningful student engagement, and challenging academic content for every student every day.”

We have systems in place complete with outstanding curriculum, staff and leaders to make sure we give each child what they need to be successful. We partner with parents, community members, family and friends to create the optimum outcome for each student. We would like our students to graduate with choices and opportunities for their future.

Have you seen the capital improvements in our schools? New floors in our gym, new paved walkways at the elementary school, new chairs and tables in some of our classrooms? Yes, we are looking better on the outside and finding new places where we can save on energy. Did you know that the STEM building has solar panels? Yes, students will be able to analyze the data! We are excited about the teaching and learning in our new STEM facility.

For the upcoming 2015 school year, let’s continue to work together to increase the chances of our students’ success. We have partnered with the San Juan Island Community Foundation to provide HICAP (Highly Capable Students program) professional development for our elementary school teachers. I have met with other community supporters to continue the conversation on how we may collaborate and provide funding opportunities for staff to go to training. Continue Reading

“That’s not Constitutional!” is a phrase we hear frequently during this current election year. Get the facts so you can decide for yourself what is Constitutional and what is not. Reserve your spot in the upcoming “Making of America” seminar, an in-depth presentation about the solid political and economic principles from the preamble through the amendments to the Constitution.

This all day seminar presented by the National Center for Constitution Studies is sponsored by Friday Harbor Grange #225. The class date is Saturday, October 17, 2015 and the fee of $20 for adults includes text book and lunch.

Call 378-7040 to reserve your place in the class. (Special discounts for students and senior citizens.)

To The Editor,

The current mindset of the Public Hospital District Board needs to be changed. They lack respect for the taxpayer public they represent. As elected officials they are supposed to welcome, even encourage questions. They don’t. I witnessed outright rudeness many times to members of the public and myself. I and others have been frustrated getting requests for information fulfilled. The last two times they had the opportunity to make an appointment they chose the candidate who expressed no concerns over equally, if not higher, qualified candidates who did. This insular mentality resulted in their inability to be straightforward with the public on two EMS levies which failed. As a former volunteer firefighter, fire chief and fire commissioner this is seriously alarming.

I’m afraid three of the current six candidates will not make much difference with this mind set, especially responding to the expressed needs of our community. It is a 5 member board. To make a change we need to elect the right three candidates, which will constitute a voting majority, to this board. Fortunately, we have three candidates who will make the needed difference: Bill Williams, Barbara Sharp and Monica Harrington. We need to elect all three!

Howard “Howie” Rosenfeld

Jean Niland and Kerry Andrews in their new store – Contributed photo

Just heard some exciting news from Kerry Andrews. Here it is in her words…

First day of fall… I’m a big believer in fresh starts, in setting goals, in big beautiful changes/challenges. Perhaps it’s why I’ve always loved New Year’s Eve.

Recently my dear friend Jeanne and I have done just that… We’re the new owners of DAISY BLOOM (soon to be DEER HAZEL) I’ve never felt so proud or excited (or scared) about something in a really long time.

We’re throwing a grand opening for the store Sunday October 4th 3-8pm. Come say a hello or give a high five!! —

Here’s the latest edition of This is Our Town. This time we meet the owners of San Juan Canvas…

Derek Steere and Lauren Cohen bought SJ Canvas in April 2009 after having moved to the island about a year before. They had come from Carmel, CA, another small town on the coast, where they were both teachers at the High School there. They also opened a business doing some home remodeling and planned to do the same thing here.

They moved here and opened Treehouse Remodeling, however that was around the time of the 2008 economy crash and business was very slow.

That’s when they heard that Patrick and Andra Pillsbury, owners of SJ Canvas since 2006, were selling so they jumped on it and for a while they ran both businesses, doing canvas all year, and remodeling and cabinetry jobs in the winters. After a few seasons, the winters started to get really busy at the canvas shop so they had to make a choice and they dissolved Treehouse Remodeling.

Just a few of the bags created from leftover fabrics – Tim Dustrude photo

San Juan Canvas was originally started in 1972 by Peter and Susan Risser who owned it until 2006. They do marine canvas primarily, as well as sail repair and recutting, cushions, awnings, and various different bags as an offshoot with all of the leftover fabrics.

Their favorite part of living here: Small town life and a change of the seasons – both weather seasons and busy/relaxed seasons.

You can see more This Is Our Town entries at www.ThisIsOurTown.com.

SVC’s San Juan Center – Contributed photo

Join your fellow community members in a life-long education!!

The San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College has a terrific fall lined out for community education. Call or come on up and register. We are located near the Friday Harbor Airport terminal at 221 Weber Way, overlooking beautiful Griffin Bay. (360) 378-3220

Ancient Cultures II
The popular series continues picking up where we left off last term. With the ever-present theme “migration”. We’ll take a virtual journey along the Silk Road; the Amber Road; The 1421 theory when Chinese came to America; The Polynesians; The Lapita; The Vikings. Lectures are multi-media, full of science and anthropology and lots of stories to discuss.
From September 25 – Nov 13 at the San Juan Center.
9:45-11:45 AM, Fridays Continue Reading

It’s the last week for Movies in the Park. For September 26th, we will be showing Mamma Mia. Come dance and sing along to Abba’s Greatest Hits. Featuring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan, and Amanda Seyfried.

The movie should begin at about 7:15pm but come early for fun trivia, prizes, and to claim your spot! FANs sponsors this great family event and also pops free popcorn! Don’t miss out! Go to www.islandrec.org or call Island Rec at 378-4953 for more information. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. No alcohol please.

Just got this note from Dennis at San Juan Supplements…

San Juan Supplements is holding a Closeout Sale of 20 to 50% off wholesale prices.

San Juan Supplements will be closing at the end of September. We’re located at 335 Argyle Ave next to the Computer Place. Come on in and enjoy the great discounts on our products while they last.

Contributed photo

Welcome wonderful, cool fall! If you’d like to get your hands in the dirt with native plant restoration and propagation this season, we have some great volunteer opportunities coming up.

Fall is the best time to plant many of our native wildflowers. Join Land Steward, Eliza Habegger THIS SUNDAY to help sow locally collected seeds which support habitat restoration projects.

Sunday, September 27th: 1:00 to 4:00 pm
Land Bank Office, at the corner of Argyle Avenue and Caines Street, Friday Harbor.

For more information email tanjaw [@] rockisland [.] com or call Tanja Williamson at (360) 370-7655.

Here’s a note that just came in from Liz Illg…

Just wanted to let you know I’m back being the co-Director of Leadership San Juan Islands for the class graduating in 2016. We’re looking for a few islanders to participate in the five month program to become more knowledgeable and skilled at getting things done in the county. An Open House is planned for Friday Harbor on Tuesday, October 13 from 5-7pm at Steve Hushebeck’s house (corner of Geneste and Harrison). Anyone interested in learning more about the program is invited to attend or to call me at 378-6104.

Leadership San Juan Islands (LSJI) is a county-wide program which fosters leadership skills such as facilitation and collaborative problem solving, as well as provides an introduction to local systems related to governance, economics, social services, history and culture, education and the environment.

The five-month course begins in January and finishes in May, 2016. Applications are available as a download from the website. Deadline for submissions is November 20, 2015. For more information see: http://www.lsji.org.

Join San Juan Island National Historical Park and San Juan County Land Bank to view the rare Supermoon Lunar Eclipse from the summit of Mount Grant Preserve. The gate will be open for driving to the top.

NOTE: Parking is limited-please carpool!

Sunday, September 27th: 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Mount Grant Preserve, San Juan Island

For more information email tanjaw [@] rockisland [.] com or call Tanja Williamson at (360) 370-7655.

Photo credit: Oliver Stein

Mike Martin checks in with this update for you on High School Football. Thanks Mike!

Storyline:  The Wolverines have a new Head Coach and a new offensive system. New Head Football Garrett Holmes, a former University of Oregon football player (1985-86) has brought the Ducks’ offensive scheme with him.  It’s been a rough start to the season but the players are focused on getting better each week.

• Who:  Friday Harbor High School Wolverines (0-2) at the LaConner Braves (2-0)
• Where:  LaConner High School Football Field
• When:  Friday, September 25th 6:30 PM
• What:  Latest league showdown against two heated rivals
• Radio:  The game will be broadcast live on 1650 AM in downtown Friday Harbor and streamed live on FHTinyRadio.com with Mike Martin doing the play-by-play.  The Ace Hardware PreGame Show begins at 6:15 with Kickoff at 6:30.