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San Juan Island Grange hosts interactive online marketing workshop for locals April 15th

San Juan Island Grange #966, and internet marketing expert, Tim Hoke are hosting an interactive business workshop for locals on April 15th, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at the Grange Hall, 152 N. First Street.

The workshop is being offered as a service to assist the local business community in creating more effective marketing strategies in today’s changing competitive environment.

The workshop, titled “Why Nobody Likes Waldo,” was created by Grange member, Tim Hoke, a career Microsoft Certified Professional, White-hat SEO expert, Professional Business Strategist and Educator, and 15 year CTO and owner of inVision Brand Pursuit.

Tim created and has refined this workshop from his years of experience as an Instructor for the Department of Defense, Vocational Web Design teacher for Martin County School District in Florida, Guest Instructor at Indian River State College, and years as a one-on-one brand strategist for his company, inVision Brand Pursuit. Continue Reading

Ryan Browne on guitar and Jake Beliveau on sax – Contributed image

I just heard that the Jimmy Moe show, Moonlight Sinatra, scheduled for tonight at the Rumor Mill has been cancelled due to illness. However, Good News is Ryan Browne and Jake Beliveau will be on hand instead with some smooth jazz.

That’s tonight – Friday at the Rumor Mill.

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Each week this month there will be a guest article featuring information on this disturbing topic; brought to you by Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services of the San Juan Islands (DVSAS).

Is sexual assault even an issue on our islands? What do the faces of Sexual Assault look like in our Community? Please open your eyes and your heart as you look at…

• The tear stained face of a 20-something woman who spent two hours getting ready for a date, only to not remember anything past the after dinner drink until she woke up the next morning, bloody and sore.
• Or here’s the angry face of a 10-year-old boy who was sexually assaulted in the bathroom on our local ferry.
• Or how about the fear filled face of a 4-year-old girl whose grandfather shattered her heart and her trust when he took advantage of her innocence.
• Here’s the hopeless face of a 32 year old woman who is forced to take part in sexual activities with her partner that she continually says no to.
• Then there is the 14-year-old girl whose face shows confusion and pain because her teacher broke the law and her heart when he used his position to manipulate her into giving herself away.
• Here is the pain filled face of a 26 year old whose same sex partner is using control to keep the sexual assault in their relationship a secret.
• One last example is the discouraged face of a 43-year-old man who finally realized the pain he was struggling with all these years was from wounds he suffered as a child at the hands of his religious leader.

Statistics tell us that 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men will experience sexual violence victimization sometime in their lifetime. And doesn’t it break your heart to know that 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 7 boys will be sexually violated before their 18th birthday. And locally over 95% of children who are sexually assaulted know and trust their abuser.

These numbers and faces are your neighbors, co-workers, family and friends. And there IS something you can do about it!

Educate yourself on the signs and dynamics of abuse. Then find out about the resources available in your community so you can be ready to help. And lastly support the non-profit agencies that are here to change these faces of pain into faces of healing and thriving. Just ask us we’d love to come and educate you and your co-workers, family, friends, civic clubs or worship groups.

www.dvsassanjuans.org

If you are a victim of Sexual Assault, it is NOT your fault. We are here to help with 24-hour confidential professional services. Please check out our website and give us a call.

The Whale Museum invites you to the special screening of the documentary “DamNation”…

Please join us for a special screening of DamNation on April 11, 2015 at 6:15 pm at the San Juan Island Grange. The film is sponsored by the Southern Resident Killer Whale Chinook Salmon Initiative and is a public awareness event.

Retired Army Corp Engineer Jim Waddell will give a presentation and be available for questions after the screening. Featured in the award winning documentary, Waddell is working to expose the enormous and growing economic costs of the Lower Snake River Dams.

Admission is free but donations are welcome to support efforts to remove the four Lower Snake River Dams on behalf of the Southern Resident orcas.

SJ Update file photo

San Juan County’s Solid Waste Division has moved the annual household hazardous waste collection towards warmer weather this year.

The 2015 HHW Roundup at each of the three island solid waste sites will be:

• San Juan Island – Saturday, May 9, from 10 am to 2 pm
• Orcas Island – Saturday, June 27, from 10 am to 2 pm
• Lopez Island – Sunday, June 28, from 11 am to 2 pm

Residents of other islands are invited to participate.

Many common household products can harm humans, plants, animals, and the whole environmental cycle. Household hazardous wastes, include ordinary commercial products like cleaning fluids, camp stove fuel, or pesticides.

If thrown in the trash, even in small amounts, they present a risk to the people handing the waste and can contaminate a landfill or recycled material.  If they escape down a drain or end up on the ground, they can contaminate wells or run off into the nearshore waters and cause lasting damage.

The Annual Hazardous Waste Roundup offers County residents a chance to safely dispose of a wide variety of potentially harmful waste materials including: Continue Reading

As part of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, DVSAS and Sergeant Scott Brennan will present a Self Defense/Self-Protection workshop.

This event is FREE to all women ages 16 and up (13 and up with parent).

Bring your lunch; snacks and water will be provided. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to be physical.

Strong Language and Adult Content used in demonstration. Space is Limited so PLEASE CALL to save your place.

378-8680

Location: Mullis St. Fire Hall
Sunday, April 26
Time: 10:00-5:00

Here’s an update from Susan Matthews at the Community Foundation…

We’re off to a great start – come join us!

Over 75 community leaders and interested individuals gathered at the Community Theatre on March 30 to kick off the Community Foundation’s effort to define and address current needs on our island through the formation of a Community Needs Task Force.

Participants signed up to serve on workgroups that focus on the critical areas of social services, environment, education (secondary through college), education (childhood development), food supply, housing, community service, and emergency preparedness.

If you missed that first gathering, it is not too late to sign up for a workgroup and have your voice heard.  Each group will be meeting three times in the next couple of months, approximately two hours each time.   Work group leaders are dedicated to conducting efficient, productive sessions that lead to meaningful and useable outcomes.

Please come be a part of setting the direction for your Community Foundation in the coming years.  The fabric of our community becomes stronger when we weave solutions together.  We need you!

Here’s what you can do right now: Continue Reading

When the San Juan County Health Department received reports of two local cases of chickenpox, public health officials reached out to provide vaccines and information to schools and local health care providers. As a result nearly all the unimmunized children that were exposed to the chickenpox cases have been successfully vaccinated, and received additional protection against the virus and a potential outbreak was stopped.

These vaccinations will protect children from the relatively rare pneumonia and brain infections that can occur as a complication of chickenpox infection. Widespread vaccinations also help protect those who cannot be immunized by producing “Community Immunity.”

“Community Immunity is achieved when enough people in a community are immunized to shield those who are not able to be vaccinated from exposure,” said San Juan County Personal Health Services Manager, Ellen Wilcox. “We’re fortunate that the families who were exposed to the recent chickenpox cases understood the risks to their own children and chose to vaccinate their children. In doing so, they’re protecting people far beyond their own families.”

Wilcox pointed out that some members of the community are at high risk of infection and cannot be vaccinated. For chickenpox, pregnant women, some people with cancer or receiving cancer treatment, people with weakened immune systems and children too young to be vaccinated often cannot be immunized and risk severe illness if they are exposed to the virus. To reach Community Immunity, 80-95% of individuals in the community need to be immunized to minimize the chance than an unprotected (unimmunized) person will come into contact with a contagious individual.

For more information about chicken pox and other vaccinations, please contact your health care provider or San Juan County Health & Community Services at 370-4474, or visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/.

2015’s Friday Harbor 4th of July Parade Theme Announced – SJ Update file photo

San Juan Island’s Chamber of Commerce sets the stage to celebrate the 100 Year Anniversary of the Palace Theater by choosing “Hooray for Hollywood” as the theme for the 2015 Fourth of July Parade.

The Palace Theater opened in 1915 as the Fri-Bor, then was renamed The Royal for many years. The current title of “Palace” began in 2001. The theater has continuously been the source for Island residents to get their Hollywood fix. 2015 marks its first century as the provider of quality first-run movies, and a friendly gathering place for all.

More details are forthcoming, so put your thinking caps on now for a unique and fun float for your organization as we pay homage to the Palace Theater and to Hollywood in the Annual Fourth of July Parade in Friday Harbor!

For additional information about participating in the 2015 Friday Harbor 4th of July Parade, please email
parade [@] sanjuanisland [.] org or call Diana Mancel, Parade Coordinator, at (360) 317-8809 any time between 9 and 5, Monday through Saturday.

Aaron D’Errico and his new scooter – Tim Dustrude photo

I had a very heartwarming conversation with Aaron D’Errico yesterday, and I came away from it thinking “this is what community is all about“.

Aaron lives with Cerebral Palsy and you may remember in 2011, he was hit by a truck as he was crossing Spring Street on his scooter. A head injury from that accident left him unable to work and without a means of getting around. He got ahold of a used scooter from Marketplace and with the help of his step-dad, they were able to “MacGyver it” to get it running, but it didn’t last long.

After that he picked up a used one from his friend Ben Duncan whose family wasn’t using it anymore, but it was not intended to be used outdoors in rain, and this ain’t Arizona. So that one became undependable really quickly.

Fast forward to this year and another good friend of his, Winter Rose Seibert learned of his predicament and that he had applied multiple times to various programs and organizations with no luck. So she started a GoFundMe account and next thing you know – 2 weeks later Aaron has a new ride.

Aaron says “It’s more than just a scooter. It’s a positive reminder of the good in the world. This town really knows how to show their love – and I want everyone to know how much I appreciate them.”

A LOT of people came together to make this happen. Here’s a list of them, in Aaron’s own words from his recent Facebook post thanking everyone: Continue Reading

Vintage fire engine to be named “The Bill LaPorte” – Photo by Michael Bertrand Photography

Town honors former Mayor and Councilmember Bill LaPorte.

The Mayor and Town Council of Friday Harbor honor past Mayor, Councilmember and Friday Harbor Firefighters Association president Bill LaPorte by naming the Town Fire Association’s 1923 Cadillac fire engine “The Bill LaPorte”.

LaPorte was Mayor of Friday Harbor from 1994 to 1997, and served as a Councilmember from 2000 to 2003. His on-going support of the Fire Service included his long held position as president of the Friday Harbor Firefighters Association and ownership of the local fire safety company Sea-Cure Services since 1988.

His tireless community service ranged from the Power Squadron to the long-running Jazz Festival, as well as both an appointed and an elected term as San Juan County Commissioner. Most recently he was instrumental in the expansion of the Friday Harbor Firefighters Association Thrift House.

“The Town and the community hold Mayor LaPorte dear in our hearts,” said Mayor Carrie Lacher. “We are proud to honor him and his many years of service and friendship by designating his favorite fire engine as his namesake. He will be deeply missed.”

The Town will hold an unveiling of “The Bill LaPorte” later this year.

The San Juan Singers 2015 – Contributed photo

San Juan Island’s community chorus celebrates America in all her glorious music during their spring concert at San Juan Community Theatre on Saturday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 12 at 5:00 p.m.

Director Angel Michaels says the concert will be full of all-American songs about our homes, our lives, our neighbors, our work and our play. “With one notable exception, which you will simply have to come hear it to know about it,” she added.

From the grand music of Aaron Copland’s Tender Land to the simple strains of America the Beautiful, the rugged beauty and the boisterous energy that underlies American culture is captured in the music. Drawing on music written by Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Scott Joplin, and Paul Simon and others, the program is full of lively tunes and beautiful melodies. Continue Reading

Soldiers of the Third Artillery, 1859 at American Camp – Contributed photo

The Pig War crisis of 1859 will get an airing out with San Juan Island National Historical Park’s historian, Mike Vouri, on KPLU Public Radio’s “Sound Effect” program, scheduled doe 10 a.m., Saturday April 11.

Mike Vouri – Contributed photo

Vouri was interviewed Tuesday at American Camp by the program’s host, Gabriel Spitzer. KPLU is an FM channel at 88.5 on the dial. The program also can be streamed live by going to http://kplu.org/listen-live. Recordings of the broadcast can be heard in the Sound Effect archive at this link, or by subscribing to the program’s Podcast at this link.

“It is always a challenge to boil down the Pig War crisis and joint military occupation to about 15 minutes of programming, especially when you’ve been telling that story for more than 20 years,” said Vouri, who is also the park chief of Interpretation. “The key is always returning to primary lesson of the story — that peace broke out instead of war here – because that’s what this park is all about.” Continue Reading

The 2nd night in this month-long series is tonight at the Grange…

Click to enlarge poster

Islands Climate Resilience is presenting Years of Living Dangerously, the nine-episode, Emmy-Award winning Showtime film series on global climate change from the perspective of people living through its hardships, challenges and dangers. Islands Climate Resilience is a newly formed group that envisions an islands community that is more resilient to global and local impacts of climate change. Islands Climate Resilience is showing the film to raise awareness about critical climate related issues facing our planet and to ignite islanders into coordinated local climate actions.

Every Thursday in April, two episodes of the nine-part film series will be shown, followed by a short community conversation led by Islands Climate Resilience members and co-sponsor guests. The long list of enthusiastic co-sponsors includes FRIENDS, the San Juan Islands Conservation District, Islands Energy, Madrona Institute, Bureau of Land Management, San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping, San Juan Island Grange #966, San Juan Island Food Co-op, and the Friday Harbor Film Festival.

Years of Living Dangerously picks up again tonight, April 9th at 7 p.m., at the San Juan Island Grange and runs every Thursday through April 30. Feel free to bring snacks to share while you watch! For more information, send an email to
kari [@] sjislandscd [.] org or call 378-6621.

Find out more about the series at this link.

Good things are happening down at The Studio, the new exercise/fitness place on the corner of Nichols and ‘A’ Streets. Jennifer Furber participated in their recent “Booty Camp” event and has this glowing review to share…

Booty Camp at The Studio – Contributed photo

The Studio of San Juan Island celebrates fourteen successful months of business with scores of regular clientele, a reputation for diverse and engaging classes with a commitment to the coordination of body, mind and spirit. Partners Jennifer Horn and Jacquelyn Reiff with instructor Sharalyn Lehman provide challenging and strengthening programs using core-centric principles of vigor and control to foster leaner, stronger, more flexible and well-balanced bodies, regardless of either frame or age.

2015 began with The Studio’s triad of Jennifer Horn, Jacquelyn Reiff and Sharalyn Lehman supporting a diverse group of island women in Whole 30 Booty Camp. With a balance of exercise and nutrition, campers achieved deeper muscle activation, body balance and mindfulness through a variety of class offerings resulting in an evenly conditioned body.

The Whole 30 philosophy is less diet or cleanse and more a short-term nutritional reset which restores a healthy metabolism, heals digestive tracts, and balances immune systems. The program ceases unhealthy cravings and habits, particularly for sugar, dairy, grains, legumes, and carbohydrates. Part nutritional coach, part lifestyles advocate, Horn curated wellness support for the Booty Campers rich in ritual and routine while she celebrated the group’s willingness to make conscious, life-giving choices. Continue Reading

Just a reminder – the deadline to sign up for this workshop is Saturday…

Jan Murphy Assemblage Art Workshop April 18 at IMA
Deadline to register Saturday, April 11!

Bring your Artistic Muse and Your Imagination

Join mixed media artist Jan Murphy for a fun-filled afternoon of exploration into the wild and wacky world of assemblage art. Explore techniques and methods for creating one-of-a-kind artwork using your treasured “junk”, found objects and thrift store items.

About Jan
Jan Murphy is a mixed media assemblage artist who likes to say she is “an expert in gluing things to other things.” She is primarily self taught, but has studied under many other mixed media artists over the last 15 years as well as at the Fallbrook School of Art in California. Her passion is in finding art in incongruent and every day objects. Read more on her web page: wildatheartstudios.com

About the Workshop
Grab your creative muse and all those great odds and ends you’ve been saving and join Jan for a fun filled workshop exploring the endless possibilities of assemblage art. We’ll start with a substrate (either a board, wooden box, plaque or a base of some kind, and then move on to surface preparation, composition and structure. Jan will demonstrate many fun techniques to add interest, color and intrigue to your piece. You’ll take home a fabulous piece of artwork and the skills to make many more!

Students should bring to class: Continue Reading