Commitment Ride 2015 – Contributed photo

Here’s John Stimpson with a note about this year’s Commitment Ride…

Dear fellow San Juan Cyclists,
Given the crisp cold air and frosty roads 31 brave souls ventured into town for our annual commitment ride. Good conversation, food and drink were consumed after a spin around pear point. Some riders even ventured out to Cape San Juan. This day was absolutely stunning with clear blue skies and the absence of wind and rain.

We miss all of you who could not make it. But keep your spirit high and we’ll see you out on the roads during the coming new year!!
BRAVO to our youngest rider Laura Fyrqvist!!! And our senior rider John Dustrude!!!

Happy New Year to all and keep spinning for fun and good health!

Cheers, John Stimpson

The Office of Minority and Women Business Enterprises (OMWBE), in partnership with the San Juan County Economic Development Council will offer their OMWBE Certification Workshop on Wednesday, January 14th, from 9 a.m. until noon at the San Juan Island Library, and videoconferenced at both the Lopez Library and the Orcas Island Library.

The OMWBE Certification Workshop is a course where attendees can learn about state and federal certifications for lucrative government contracting. Attendees will learn who is eligible for the program, and they will receive valuable assistance with the application process. In addition, benefits of certification will be highlighted, which include free advertising through the OMWBE website, a free subscription to the Daily Journal of Commerce, and loan assistance for those who are state certified through the Linked Deposit program.

Details: Wednesday, January 14th, from 9 a.m. until noon at the San Juan Island Library, and videoconferenced at the Lopez Library and the Orcas Island Library. Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email: info [@] sanjuansedc [.] org.

The EDC thanks San Juan County government, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, Islanders Bank, Whidbey Island Bank, and the Port of Lopez for supporting our Business Education Series. This event is not sponsored by San Juan Island Library.

Corner of Lampard Road and Ross Lane – Tim Dustrude photo

Just in case you haven’t seen enough holiday lights, here are a few more as we say goodbye the holiday season and welcome the new year. There are many more out there – these are just a few outstanding ones that I had time to get out and photograph this year.

Happy New Year and thank you for reading and supporting the San Juan Update! Without you, the Update just wouldn’t be the same…

Grover Street – Tim Dustrude photo

Caines Street – Tim Dustrude photo

The Earthbox Hotel – Tim Dustrude photo

Memorial Park at the lighting ceremony – Tim Dustrude photo

And finally, looking down Spring Street – Tim Dustrude photo

Click to enlarge menu

You may have seen The Studio’s ad for their January Fitness program, which includes the option to purchase whole complete meals which follow the program’s guidelines. Well I just heard from Debbie at Downriggers that they are offering the menu to the community as well. Here’s Debbie with more…

We are offering Paleo dinners based on the Whole 30 program for the month of January.  It is an opportunity to leave the cooking to us, and have a healthy meal provided for you – a great way to start the new year.

We developed the meal program to compliment the 30 Day Booty Camp that The Studio is doing. PDF copy of the menu attached.

Happy New Year!
Debbie

J-16 Slick is likely the mother of the new Orca Calf – Miles Ritter photo

Great news, and a great way to ring in the New Year! It’s confirmed… the Southern Residents have a new member. A calf probably belonging to J-16 “Slick”. The photo above was shot by Miles Ritter on August 6, 2013. Check out more of Miles’ work on his Flickr page.

Friday Harbor from the Air on December 28, 2014 – Chris Teren photo

Here’s an awesome photo of Friday Harbor that Chris Teren of Teren Photography shot from his airplane on Sunday. Thanks for sharing Chris!

No-quarter Binoculars – SJ Update photo

The Town just recently installed a new binocular scope thing like you see in… uh, well like in tourist places… But this one doesn’t cost you a quarter to use. Go check it out. It’s up there on the bluff overlooking the harbor by Vinny’s Ristorante and Friday Harbor House.

Johan Botha as Walther Meistersinger – Contributed photo

Epic Comedy in The Met: Live in HD January 4

One of opera’s most cherished comedies highlights The Met: Live in HD series at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, January 4 at 2:00 p.m.

The Met’s Music Director James Levine conducts Wagner’s epic human comedy, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, back at the Met for the first time in eight years.

Johan Reuter, Johan Botha, and Annette Dasch lead the superb international cast in this charming and magisterial celebration of the power of music and art. Set in the 16th century, it depicts a group of Renaissance “master singers” whose song contest unites a city.

A review in the Huffington Post noted:  “The world of grand opera is generally not known for its comedies, and few are quite as grand, funny or poignant as the Metropolitan Opera’s magnificent production of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg …”

The opera’s running time is six hours, with two intermissions. To accommodate the length, SJCT will offer additional unique menu items in concessions.

Tickets for Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg 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 online at www.sjctheatre.org or at the SJCT Box Office: 378-3210.

Dana Lyons – Contributed photo

Bellingham singer/songwriter Dana Lyons returns to Friday Harbor with some old favorites and some new songs, including “Salmon Come Home” from his latest CD The Great Salish Sea.

This song was written to raise awareness about two proposed mines in Alaska: the Chuitna River Mine & the Pebble Mine. For more information, visit www.cowswithguns.com. Light refreshments will be served, courtesy of the Friends of the Library.

San Juan Island Library main salon, free.
Saturday, January 3, at 7:00 pm.

The San Juan Islands Conservation District sends over this invitation to you…

Come learn about the Cuban energy revolution from Mario Alberto Arrastía Avila, physicist, educator, and specialist with the Cuban Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment.

Arrastía Avila founded and directed the Group of Energy Education and is the author of Foundations of a Sustainable Future. He works in the Outreach and Education Group of CUBAENERGÍA, where he coordinates with Educational Television to develop programs promoting a popular energy culture. He is currently coordinating and teaching a TV course on Energy and Climate Change. Arrastía Avila has degrees in physics, astronomy and solar photovoltaic energy and writes a column about energy issues for the national Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde.

Join us for one his talks and discussions:

• Orcas Island: Friday, January 2nd, 1:00-3:00 pm.
  Orcas Food Co-op Meeting Room upstairs
• San Juan Island: Friday, January 2nd, 7:00-9:00 pm.
  San Juan Grange in Friday Harbor
• Lopez Island: Saturday, January 3rd, 7:00-9:00 pm.
  Lopez Library

For more information please contact the San Juan Islands Conservation District at 360-378-6621 or email us at energy [@] sjislandscd [.] org.

Elvis is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

Dear Santa,

I’m writing to follow up on the letter I sent you several weeks ago requesting a forever home for Christmas.  Perhaps you’ve noticed that Christmas has come and gone and I’m still here at the Animal Shelter in Friday Harbor.  I don’t mean to sound ungrateful – I love the catnip mouse and treats you left in my stocking…. It’s just that I’ve been waiting here at the shelter for over three years for someone to make me a part of their family and frankly, I’m not getting any younger.  I’ll be turning six years old soon, which means I’ve spent half my life in an animal shelter!

What I would really love would be a nice, quiet home of my own with some kind folks who wouldn’t mind helping me stay on my diet, as I am trying very hard to “reduce”.  I won’t mind sharing my new home with other pets either – I get along well with cats and well-mannered dogs!

If you know of anyone who might have room in their home for me (I’m a big boy) will you please let them know that I am a nice, gentle guy who is just looking for someone to love?  I’m very sweet and well-mannered and promise to be a perfect gentleman in my new home.

Yours Truly,
Elvis the Cat

I just heard that the Trails Committee is changing their meeting times from first Wednesday of each month at 5:00, to the first Tuesday of the month at noon. The thought is that it might be easier for working folks and those with young children to come at that time.

This starts with the next meeting on Tuesday, January 6th at the usual place in the meeting room at Heritage Bank (formerly Whidbey Island Bank) at 535 Market Street.

“Powerful” National Theatre Production in HD at SJCT – Contributed photo

An intense and moving theatrical experience from London will be screened at San Juan Community Theatre on Friday, January 2 at 7:00 p.m.

JOHN, a co-production of Britain’s National Theatre and DV8 Physical Theatre uses movement and the spoken word to depict one man’s unique life.

Lloyd Newson, DV8’s Artistic Director, interviewed more than 50 men asking them frank questions, initially about love and sex. One of those men was John. What emerged was a story that is both extraordinary and touching. Years of crime, drug use and struggling to survive leads John on a search in which his life converges with others, in an unexpected place, unknown by most.

London’s Evening Standard calls the production: “Powerful and absorbing. Physically fueled.”

JOHN does contain adult themes, strong language and nudity; and is not suitable for those under 18 years old.

In addition to the National Theatre Live productions, SJCT also rebroadcasts operas from The Met: Live in HD as well as ballets from Bolshoi Ballet Only in Cinemas. A schedule of the HD-live events is available at www.sjctheatre.org. SJCT’s new partnership with all programs and the HD equipment to present them, was made possible through a generous bequest from the late Dodie Gann and underwriting by the McGee Foundation.

Tickets for the screening are $20 for adults, $18 for SJCT members and $10 for student reserved. The SJCT box office (378-3210) is open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are also available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council, in partnership with Islanders Bank and Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs, will present a free workshop on QuickBooks tips.

Accounting software is a critical tool in successfully running any small business, and QuickBooks is one of the most popular programs for entrepreneurs. While QuickBooks allows business owners to keep track of their company’s transactions fairly intuitively, users can manage finances much more successfully using key shortcuts, advanced features and by learning the accuracy, setup and efficiency tips taught in this class.

Chris Compton, CPA at Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs will lead the class. Mr. Compton has worked as a CPA for over 11 years, moving to Friday Harbor from Alaska with his wife, Anna.

Details: Wednesday, January 7 from 9-10:30 a.m. at the San Juan Island Library. The event is hosted by Islanders Bank. Advance registration is required; please call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email:
info [@] sanjuansedc [.] org.
The class will also be offered later in the year on Orcas Island.

The EDC thanks Islanders Bank, Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs, San Juan County government, Whidbey Island Bank, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor and the Port of Lopez for supporting our Business Education Series. This event is not sponsored by San Juan Island Library.

Here’s Rob Simpson with the lowdown on this month’s Conscientious Projector screening…

Hello Peace Islanders,

Last month’s topic, a briefing on new energy technologies, contained many important messages. Dr. Stephen Greer, in his 2014 Washington DC briefing made it quite clear that only with a change of consciousness will technologies emerge for the benefit of all humanity.

And he was talking about technologies that have already been developed, patented, and subsequently locked up by the international security state. (Don’t ask why. That’s a whole other topic.) Dr. Greer is referring to a COLLECTIVE consciousness shift….not just those of inventors and other forces at work. So, this month’s holiday screening is a film to expand our understanding of this consciousness shift at the personal level.

There is only one way for us to experience a better world… and YOU ARE the pathway. And the pathway to truth is a lot easier than that one that maintains falsehoods. But, it is often unfamiliar. The film is called Sacred Journey of the Heart. (The Science & Spirit of Our Connection) to each other.

This multiple award-winning film screens next Monday, December 29, at 7:00 pm in our library.

What a great way to begin the new year.

Hope to see you,
Rob Simpson

Jimmy Moe as Ol’ Blue Eyes – Contributed photo

Jim will be making his first solo appearance at the Rumor Mill on Saturday, December 27th 6:30 pm.

He will entertain with songs (and antics) from the Great American Song Book, featuring Frank Sinatra, Bobby Darin, Louie Armstrong, etc.

What a great way to close out the year!