The Little Mermaid Jr. – Contributed photo

San Juan Community Theatre’s summer musical camp takes us “under the sea” with Ariel and her aquatic friends on Thursday and Friday, August 20-21 at 7:00 pm in the Whittier Theatre.

The presentation of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr., adapted from Disney’s 2008 Broadway production featuring such hits as Part of Your World and She’s in Love, is the culmination of a three-week Theatre Arts for Kids camp at SJCT.

Some 33 youngsters, ages 7 to 14, have not only been rehearsing for the play, but have also been playing theatre games and learning about a variety of aspects of the theatre, including puppetry, costume and prop-making.

“This is our first time for this type of camp and it’s been incredible,” said director Penelope Haskew. “Despite all of the summer distractions, the kids have been able to really focus and be attentive—they clearly want the production to be a success.”

Tickets for The Little Mermaid Jr. are just $5 each, with festival seating. The SJCT box office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or buy online at www.sjctheatre.org

Mayor Carrie Lacher is seeking one student for appointment as the youth representative to the Friday Harbor Arts Commission (FHAC). The student will join seven other commissioners in representing the interests of the Town, community and local artists as they advise the Town Council on the cultivation, selection, acquisition and placement of public art.

“This is an excellent opportunity for a student to pursue their interest in the arts as well as gain experience in local government and strengthen their college credentials,” said Town Administrator Duncan Wilson.

The student will serve a one-year term from October 2015 to August 2016 as a non-voting member of the commission. The FHAC meets at 5:00 pm the second Tuesday of each month. Commissioners may be asked to attend additional meetings and work sessions as needed. Students age 16 to 19 with experience, background, involvement or interest in visual, performing or literary art should provide a letter of interest. Applicants may choose to include examples of their art or experience.

Application review will continue until the position is filled. For specifics on the responsibilities of the commission, applicants are encouraged to read the FHAC ordinance and policies posted under Agendas (“Arts Commission”) on the Town website at www.fridayharbor.org.

Questions and application letter should be directed to:

Town of Friday Harbor ATTN: Julie Greene
60 Second Street / PO Box 219 / Friday Harbor, WA 98250
(360) 378-2810 ext. 229 / julie [@] fridayharbor [.] org

Here’s the August 2015 edition of Chamber Chat, written for you by Lauren Cohen, Co-owner San Juan Canvas, LLC and Chamber of Commerce Board President…

It is hard to believe that we are already in the second half of August and autumn is right around the corner. The Chamber Board of Directors, Executive Director and Staff all hope that it has been a prosperous season for local business and that the beautiful weather keeps visitors coming the Island well into the fall.

Fall Meetings
Becki Day, our Executive Director, is excited to begin scheduling some post-season conferences with local business owners and managers. It is important for the Chamber to hear from our business community about what is going well and what is not in order to be a good advocate for our Island merchants. There is also a lot to be learned from talking with each other and look forward to meeting with a wide variety of businesses representing different facets of our community. Keep an eye out for additional information on these meetings or feel free to contact the Chamber.

New Members
The Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome the following new members: Continue Reading

Make Music with Maggie – Contributed photo

Join Maggie Gallivan for a fun-filled hour of music and sing-along songs.

This program is designed for babies, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.

Thursday, August 20th from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, in the Library Meeting Room
For more information, please call Melina at the San Juan Island Library, 378-2798.

Skagit Valley College to offer Sustainable Agriculture Education courses through the San Juan Center interactive classroom

Skagit Valley College (SVC) has developed a program to train students to work for small farms, organic farms, and other small-scale food producers. Beginning Fall Quarter, Skagit Valley College (SVC) will offer its Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAgE) courses at the San Juan Center interactive classroom in Friday Harbor. Classes begin Monday, September 21st.

SVC’s SAgE program is especially focused on small farms  — you’ll learn how to grow crops on a relatively small scale, but also how to make these small farms into viable and thriving businesses. In addition, you will also learn how to grow food in a sustainable manner and make meaningful connections with customers so that it can become a sustainable business.

SVC’s program offers a 90-credit two-year Associate in Arts degree in Agroecology and Small Farm Agriculture Systems, in addition to 29-credit certificate programs and 15-credit micro certificates. The AA degree program prepares you to start work after graduation, or forms the basis for further study in Agriculture science at a four-year university. During your studies, you will experience traditional classroom learning, but you’ll also get your feet and hands dirty working in fields and greenhouses, where you’ll put your knowledge into practice.

For more information and registration information, contact department chair Dr. Claus Svendsen, (360) 416-7816, or claus [.] svendsen [@] skagit [.] edu , or www.skagit.edu/schedules .

Part of the Liminal Currents exhibit at IMA – Tim Dustrude photo

Ah, last night’s sunset roared red into the last hours of the LIMINAL CURRENTS exhibition. One young lady danced and let the ribbons and wishes flow over her hair. It might sound odd, but somehow, it wasn’t- she was about 13 and she looked so happy.

This morning after the photo shoot, Karen Woldtvedt filmed the exhibit as the very last wishes went up. Then-they were all cut down and saved. The bowls and pens and pedestals were all moved out.

Matthew’s plan is to save the branches and after the fire season is over, build a raft with them. Then the wishes will go onto the raft and set aflame…and pushed out to sea. The date and time of this event is entirely up to nature and Matthew. I will let everyone know, so they can attend—probably in October.

NEXT. Tomorrow morning. Wednesday, we will meet at IMA at about 9:15 a.m. to take down the lower limbs. If you can load them into your car or truck, we will. They will go to the distant back lot until the “raft-building/burning.” If you are coming, dress for the weather and bring gloves. I would recommend being covered to prevent scratches. Please join us if you can.

On Thursday morning, Matthew and Dan will be taking the upper structure down working from the scissor lift. They will need people to take the boughs from them and out to the back lot, again. Trucks and wardrobe will be the same as above.

OTHER NEWS. Over 2000 papers were cut and available. All but about 200 were taken. I would estimate that we took down at least 1500 wishes!
Since the exhibit opened over 4300 people have visited, rested, admired, wondered, practiced yoga or danced in LIMINAL CURRENTS.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for making this a success for Matthew, IMA and the Town of Friday Harbor.

Diane

Last Ride – Contributed photo – Click to enlarge

Theresa Simendinger shares this photo and note with you…

Last ride at the San Juan County Fair, 2015, Jade Cooper Yockers is off to college now!

Good Luck Jade!

Have you ever wanted to go back in time? Maybe to see what the islands looked like more than one hundred years ago? Local Historian, Boyd Pratt, National Historic Park’s, Mike Vouri, and the Land Bank’s Doug McCutchen will be presenting a free three-part slideshow we are calling “Mapping The San Juan Islands” THIS Wednesday at the San Juan Island Grange.

The talk focuses on the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey’s operations in the region during the middle to late 1800s which produced exquisitely detailed maps of the islands including land cover, structures, and accompanying descriptive reports detailing their experiences, including with over 150 photos of the archipelago.

Vouri will present on the early surveys – why the Coast Survey was formed, their early work, and what they were doing in the Northwest. Pratt picks up with the 1888-1890 surveys, exploring how the surveys were conducted and the cultural fabric of the islands in this important formative period. McCutchen finishes the presentation with a series of “now and then” photographs demonstrating the change over time.

Atziry draws a Winner – Contributed photo

The Community Foundation was once again gratified by the amazing generosity of islanders last week at the 2015 San Juan County Fair when over $32,000 was donated to eight different projects featured in the matching program. This amount was raised in just the four days of the Fair!

The Foundation, in turn, will match those donations up to 50% of the project’s goal amount, thereby allowing almost $46,000 to be granted to the following projects:

• Animal Protection Society’s new shelter
• Family Resource Center’s senior household essentials program
• SJICF Women’s Fund membership drive
• Friday Harbor Elementary School’s young scholars enrichment program
• San Juan Preservation Trust for Mount Grant accessibility
• Spring Street International School scholarships for local middle school students
• PIMC Cancer Care support programs
• Friday Harbor Athletic Association for trails at the ball fields

At the conclusion of the 2015 San Juan County Fair, six-year-old Atziry Orozco (daughter of Humberto & Carmen) reached into the glass jar that held names of all 131 contributors at the Community Foundation’s booth – and drew out the name of Lucretia Devine. That gave Lucretia the opportunity to select the nonprofit beneficiary of a bonus $1,000 from the Foundation. She chose Family Resource Center to be the lucky recipient.

The Community Foundation extends its deepest gratitude to all who made this annual event so enjoyable – and so successful.

Click to enlarge poster

Saturday evening movies in August and September, beginning at dusk in the Sunken Park

Island Rec’s Free Movies in the Park series for 2015 starts August 22nd. The series begins with the 80’s classic movie Footloose, where newcomer Ren fights an uphill battle to bring illegal dancing and rock music to a small Midwestern town.

The rest of the series movies are:

• Robin Hood: Men in Tights
• How to Train your Dragon
• The Wizard of Oz
• Remember the Titan
• and the season finale Mamma Mia, with Meryl Streep and music by ABBA.

Movie themed costumes are encouraged and there will be fun contests and prizes! Come high five your neighbors and friends for this wonderful community event enjoyed by all.

Go to www.islandrec.org or call Island Rec at 378-4953 for more information. Free popcorn! Come early for fun contests and prizes. Bring blankets or lawn chairs. No alcohol please. Sponsored by FANS – Families and Neighbors support Island Rec.

Jan Osborn, 69, of Friday Harbor, Washington, died August 15, 2015 in the ICU at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, Washington. Her niece, Deanna Osborn of Friday Harbor, was at her side. Jan had been flown off San Juan Island after experiencing breathing difficulties and a major coronary event.

Jan was born on May 17, 1946, in Pasadena, California to Eldon and Betty Osborn. She graduated from Pasadena High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree from Occidental College in Los Angeles. She moved to San Juan Island to continue graduate work at the Friday Harbor Labs. She eventually received a Master’s Degree from the University of Washington and remained on the island.

Never actually working professionally in her academic field, Jan pursued other interests and carved out a niche for herself on San Juan Island. She purchased property and made Friday Harbor her home. She had a series of “careers” that included cabinet making, school playground supervision, newspaper printing press operator, women’s music festival carpenter, and legal advocacy for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services. In addition, she served the community as a Girl Scout Troop Leader, a member of the Board of the Mullis Community Senior Center, a member of the boards of the Washington State and National Chapters of the National Organization of Women (NOW), and was an outspoken activist for those in need and members of minority groups.

Jan was predeceased by her father. She is survived by her mother, her sister Kitty Smith (Ed), her brother Ted Osborn (Cindy), three nieces (Kelly, Beth, and Deanna), one nephew (Robert), three great nieces (Alyssa, Caitlyn and Elizabeth), one great nephew (Holden), and numerous cousins throughout the world.

A celebration of Jan’s life will be held at the Mullis Community Senior Center in Friday Harbor, Washington on Sunday, August 23, at 1:00. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Friday Harbor Food Bank (PO Box 1642, Friday Harbor, WA 98250), Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (PO Box 1516, Eastsound, WA 98245) or The Mullis Community Senior Center (PO Box 684, Friday Harbor, WA 98250).

Miles Crossen – Tim Dustrude photo

I just want to thank the small handful of volunteers who helped out at this year’s Photography Department at the San Juan County Fair. We couldn’t have done it without your help.

Thank you to the volunteers who helped setup on Tuesday: Sharon Youngs. Glenda Pugerude, George Dodge, Ellen Lerner. Donna Dyer, Tsolo Dann, Jessie Pachuta, Debbi Fincher, and Josephine Bangs.

Thanks also to the judges: Tsolo Dann. Ruth Benedict Fox. John Pachuta and Jessie Pachuta.

Finally I’d like to thank the two volunteers who helped staff the exhibit: Mark Gardner and Tsolo Dann.

Miles Crossen
San Juan County Fair Photography Department Superintendent

Hello Island Writers,

Thank you for coming to the writing booth at the Fair:  Island Writers, or The Written Word.

Thank you to those who submitted writing entries for exhibit at the Fair.  We couldn’t have done it without you!
Please don’t hesitate to send in your work.  You can do it anytime this year.  You don’t have to wait until submission time next July.

When you write something you want to exhibit —  when you want readers — please send your work to islandwriters [@] gmx [.] com.

Send 4 pieces of writing:  1,500 words or less of short fiction or creative nonfiction; 50 lines or less of poetry; or 1,000 words or less of writing for children.

A big thank you also to people who added a sentence to the community story written at the booth.

Next year at the Fair we are planning mini workshops in which each person would have 10 minutes to read from their work; then 5 minutes would be devoted to appreciation and constructive comments for the writer.

If you have ideas for future activities at the writing booth, please let me know.

Again, many thanks for participating, and please send in your writing.

Susan Reed
[email protected]
County Fair 360.378.4310
http://islandwriters.weebly.com

School District seeks public comment regarding online Odysseyware program

San Juan Island School District is interested in public comment regarding a proposed curriculum platform called Odysseyware. The program can be found online at www.odysseyware.com.  For individuals who cannot access the program online, a district computer will be available at the district office, 285 Blair Avenue, Friday Harbor, WA between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Odysseyware is an online curriculum platform, accessible for students in grades 3-12 in a variety of subject areas. The proposed audience would be students who need credit retrieval, academic remediation, content acceleration, ad individualized curriculum. The district would contract with the vendor for 1 to 3 years, negotiating the cost of individual site licenses. The program is aligned to Common Core Standards and includes diagnostic information and assessments. It is also accessible off campus.

Please contact the school district office on how to access the demo site for Odysseyware, or if you have any interest in an informational webinar either Friday August 21 or Monday, August 24, please call Maude Cumming, Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, at 378-4133.

The comment period runs August 18-25, 2015.

Please send any written comments to:
Danna Diaz, Superintendent
San Juan Island School District
PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
dannadiaz [@] sjisd [.] wednet [.] edu
(360) 370-7905

One of three homes that will be arriving by barge this week – Contributed photo

Three Home Trust Homes will be arriving by Barge on Aug 19th

The San Juan Community Home Trust will soon be moving three homes to Phase 2 of Sun Rise at 473 Grover Street East in Friday Harbor. The homes are being delivered by barge by the Nickel Brothers, a NW house moving company, and will be coming to San Juan Island from Victoria B.C., arriving at the boat ramp at Jackson Beach on Wednesday at 6:30 pm.

These homes are the first of 12 that will be brought in and refurbished and sold to low and moderate-income homebuyers as permanently affordable homes. The Home Trust Board decided to use recycled houses for this phase of the project, which will not only keep good quality homes from being demolished, but will create a cluster of homes that have character and good quality workmanship from an earlier era.

After arriving at Jackson beach, the houses will be transported by truck to the LaFarge Open Space (the former gravel pit). The San Juan Island Parks and Recreation District Board granted permission to the Home Trust to move the houses across the park, over the site of the future connector road that is on the County’s Six Year Transportation Improvement Program. This portion of the move will take place on Thursday, August 20th; therefore the east portion of the trail will be closed during that day.

By using this route across the former gravel pit, onto the Buck property, there will be fewer obstacles such as overhead utility cables and tree branches, and a shorter distance to travel to the homes’ permanent location.

Lee Taylor leads the Westcott Bay Trail walk – Contributed photo

This month, it’s the Westcott Bay Trail. Meet Lee Taylor, Superintendent of San Juan Island National Historical Park, to learn about this lovely recent addition to the park. Meet and park at English Camp main parking lot.

• Distance: 3 miles round-trip
• Difficulty Rating: Moderate on wooded path
• No dogs

Plan to rest at the Westcott Bay house for refreshments and celebrating trails.
Saturday, August 22 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Westcott Bay Trail