Here are a couple of news items from the county…

San Juan County Council Chair Receives Leadership Award

San Juan County Council Chairman Rick Hughes recieved the prestiguous Leadership Award from the Washington State Association of Counties at its recent annual meeting. Chairman Hughes was recognized for his “extraordinary effort in establishing new collaborative partnerships” with other counties in 2014.

San Juan County Council Chair Receives Leadership Award – Contributed photo

Chairman Hughes, with the help of his fellow Council members Stephens and Jarman, worked succesfully with other counties to identify for the state legislature issues with the state’s open space program and lack of readiness in oil spill response, obtained signatures of electeds representing all ferry served communities on a letter to Gov. Inslee regarding potential cuts to the state ferry system, and partnered with other counties to collectively and cost effectively purchase large equipment.

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County Parks & Fair Dept. bid call for Small Works Roster contractor

On San Juan County’s behalf, Wardell Architects is calling for bids to construct an approximately 1,846 SF office and 420 SF storage shed addition at the Main Building located on the SJC Fairgrounds.

The County will utilize the Small Works Roster procedure to receive bids and award the contract for this project. All companies wishing to submit a proposal must be registered on the MRSC Small Works Roster, http://www.mrscrosters.org/

Bids must be submitted no later than 1:00 pm on December 15, 2014, in accordance with project bidding and contract document requirements.

Interested contractors should contact Kathryn Hansen at
kathrynh [@] sanjuanco [.] com for additional project information.

A revival of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) is the next opera to be presented during The Met: Live in HD series at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, November 30 at 2:00 p.m.

The effervescent production of the charming comedy features some of the most instantly recognizable melodies in all of opera; in fact, with 607 performances since the first Metropolitan opera season in 1883, Il Barbiere di Siviglia is the most popular comic opera in the company’s repertory. This edition includes Lawrence Brownlee as the lovestruck Count Almaviva; Isabel Leonard as Rosina, the feisty ward who captures his heart; and Christopher Maltman in his first Met performances of Figaro, the title barber whose skills extend far beyond hair-cutting. Michele Mariotti conducts the performance,

In addition to The Met: Live in HD presentations, SJCT also rebroadcasts National Theatre Live productions from Great Britain, and in December will begin a partnership with Bolshoi Only In Cinemas with two presentations of The Nutcracker. A schedule of the HD-live events is available at www.sjctheatre.org. SJCT’s new partnership with both 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 Il Barbiere di Siviglia 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.

San Juan Community Theatre’s biggest fundraiser of the year is just over a week away (Saturday, December 6*) and folks there are getting ready for THE party of the season with a live auction line-up that will get those paddles high in the air!

There are several “Great Escapes,” like the return of that phenomenal Italian Villa that houses NINE people, as well as new trips to New Orleans, New York City, Whistler and Sonoma. Then you can “Experience the Unique” on the Santa Train or at the island’s own Spa D’Bune. Feeling hungry? The “For the Palate” category features one-of-kind dinners at island homes and even Lummi Island’s famous Willow Inn. Check out all of the live auction items (including the “Fine Art” and “Home Services” categories) in SJCT’s special web catalogue at www.sjctheatre.org…. then start calling friends to see which items you want to go in on together or just want to keep for yourself.

In addition to the live auction in the Whittier with auctioneer Jay Fiske of Northwest Benefit Auctions, the silent auction in the Gubelman will be overflowing with something for everybody at prices for all budgets.

Then there’s the food and entertainment for the evening, featuring Roche Harbor Resort’s Bill Shaw and staff with their ever-popular gourmet appetizers, supper stations and select wines. Highlighting the entertainment is Kate Schuman as Patsy Cline performing holiday tunes, with musical accompaniment from Keith Busha.

*Holiday Festival Tickets ($100 per person) are still available—call Chance Earle at 378-3211, ext. 32.

Start your holiday season off right by attending a time-honored island tradition. This event is the museum’s way of giving thanks to the community for its continuing support. The museum heritage structures will be decorated in holiday finery and the winter wonderland train set — a delight for children of all ages — returns again. Santa will be our special guest so have your smart phones ready for Selfies with Santa.

Join in traditional caroling led by the Island Chordsmen Plus and roast a marshmallow at the crackling fire pit. Warm up with world famous Ivar’s clam chowder, chili from Ernie’s Café, hot apple cider, and festive baked goodies galore.

It’s a free event and donations are welcomed. All proceeds benefit the developing Museum of History and Industry.

San Juan Historical Museum
Thursday, December 4 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm

Please contact the museum for further information at (360) 378-3949 or www.sjmuseum.org.

Nana’s Holiday House – Contributed photo

Nana’s House is opening their doors for the 2nd year with great anticipation! Last year was a great success and created many happy memories for the kids and their families. Nana’s house is a place for KIDS ONLY (Toddlers to Teens) to bring their Christmas list in and shop for their families.

All items are $1.00 to $10.00. Throughout the year, the elves (Jeanine, Laura and Debbie) buy items and combine them with lovely homemade & store bought items donated by elves in the community.

This year, Nana’s House is located at the newly remodeled Sundries Mall (formerly Jeri’s Mall). They will be open from the 1st of December until the 23rd. The hours are after school until 5:30 on the weekdays and 11:00 to 5:00 on Saturday and Sunday.

Donations are always welcome to keep the shelves stocked and they can be dropped off at the San Juan Holistic Health Center or at the store during operating hours. If you have any questions or would like to work in the store (we always need wrappers and helpers) call Jeanine at 378-5660. Please visit the Facebook page at Nana’s Holiday House in Friday Harbor and pass it on. Happy Holidays!

Robby Miller and Uma Hu’s Charity Trail Run for Russian orphans community project was a great success – Contributed photo

Robby and Uma want to acknowledge everyone for supporting their recent community project…

The Run for Russian Orphans turned out to be a huge success. With a stroke of luck for beautiful weather, 57 participants showed up to run and we managed to raise over 2000 dollars in donations.

As for the results of our race, our first place runners were: Robert Penwell (4 mile winner) and John Trefethen (8 mile winner).

The winner of the drawing for the iPad Mini was Vail McClure.

Special thanks to our volunteers: Lori Miller, Karen Butler, Michelle Herko, and Kai Herko.

We were so grateful for our volunteers who choose to come out and help us with our fundraiser, we couldnt have done it without them. We also would love to thank our sponsors, Roche Harbor Resort, Starr Excavation, Friday Harbor Dentistry, and Humpback Hauling.

And a special thank you to all our participants who showed up to support us.

At the October meeting of OPALCO’s Board of Directors, it was announced that Island Network will be re-created as a new entity and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Co-op to provide Internet services. Gerry Lawlor has been hired as Manager of the new entity along with Alan Smith, Field Superintendent and Tom Schramm, Operations Superintendent. In early 2015, the new entity will emerge with a new name and office location – as well as a robust menu of Internet and voice services.

Currently, new connections are being planned in some of our more notorious “communication black hole” areas where OPALCO is upgrading our grid control backbone to improve field communications for our line crews and other emergency first responders.

The first five projects are:

• Cattle Point/Cape San Juan
• Doe Bay/Eagle Lake
• South Lopez
• Deer Harbor/Spring Point
• Mt. Dallas/San Juan Island West

These locations also have strong neighborhood associations that are organized and ready to connect.

“Our community truly needs OPALCO’s broadband option: we have families with NO Internet service at all, including a family with school-aged children,” reported Jim Hooper, Cape San Juan Homeowner Association president and past San Juan County Economic Development Council board member. “Our overall quality of life, connections to the world – and even real estate values – require better access to Internet services today.” Continue Reading

Film stars Bill Nighy (Love Actually, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Carey Mulligan (Inside Llewyn Davis, The Great Gatsby) are featured in National Theatre Live’s next HD screening at San Juan Community Theatre on Friday, November 28 at 7:00 p.m.

A live broadcast of David Hare’s Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry (The Audience) from the West End Theatre in London earlier this month, will be replayed to audiences in the Whittier Theatre.

On a bitterly cold London evening, schoolteacher Kyra Hollis (Mulligan) receives an unexpected visit from her former lover, Tom Sergeant (Nighy), a successful and charismatic restaurateur whose wife has recently died. As the evening progresses, the two attempt to rekindle their once passionate relationship only to find themselves locked in a dangerous battle of opposing ideologies and mutual desires. Britain’s Daily Express newspaper calls the play: “Complex, thrilling and provocative.”

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.

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers – Contributed photo

San Juan Island Library main salon, free. Local singer/actress Thérèse Finn shares her love of classic movies in another film festival at the library. Dance away the “Turkey Blues” with Top Hat on Saturday and Swing Time on Sunday. Recover from tryptophan overload with possibly the most famous dancing duo of all time.

There’s always organic popcorn, movie candy, and movie facts from Thérèse. That’s a recipe for fun.You’ll not only see great movies, but Thérèse tells us all about the actors,directors, and making of the movies. That’s entertainment!. Light refreshments are served.

Saturday & Sunday, November 29 & 30, at 7:00 pm.

Photo by Didi

There is updated information in this post from when it was originally posted last week…

San Juan Island Grange #966 is hosting an informational forum on The Proposed Moratorium on Marijuana Production, at 7:00pm on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at the Grange Hall. The program will include presentations from differing perspectives and a moderated question and answer session. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

In November 2012 the voters of Washington State passed Initiative 502, The Legalization of Marijuana for Recreational Use. Several businesses have been licensed by the State to grow marijuana in San Juan County. Concerns regarding the impact of these operations on land use have led to a proposed moratorium on marijuana production, which is being considered for adoption by the San Juan County Council, in order for the Council to further consider regulations related to marijuana production. San Juan Island Grange #966 has been asked to take a position on this issue, and is therefore hosting this informational forum.

The forum will be introduced by Roger Ellison, Grange Master, and moderated by Steve Porten, Grange Executive Board member; presenters are Brent Snow, speaking in support of the proposed moratorium, and Sandy Strehlou, Committee for Diversified Agriculture, speaking in opposition to the proposed moratorium.

On Nov. 25th the Grange will take up and discuss the San Juan County Council’s proposed moratorium on marijuana producers. Although I was cordially invited to attend to speak in favor of the moratorium, I have declined to do so. It is my opinion that the County Council has a lot of work to do on this issue and that any remarks I might make would be premature at best. At this time I feel it is important that I continue to use my time to gather information, including how our neighboring counties have dealt with marijuana.

It is clear from the discussion that I have had since the introduction of the moratorium at Council, that there is great interest in this issue. Therefore, at the County Council meeting on Nov. 25th, I will propose to my fellow Council Members that the Council hold a series of public workshops in January to take input on the proposed moratorium, including possible regulations. Through an inclusive public process, I am confident that all voices will have an opportunity to be heard and that a viable solution can be crafted; one that balances individual rights and voter intent.

An English Camp Holiday Social – Contributed photo

Join San Juan Island National Historical Park staff and volunteers for the annual old-fashioned Holiday Social, tree-trimming and cookie potluck from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, December 6, at English Camp.

Visitors are invited to bring holiday cookies and ornaments to hang on the tree, which will be erected in the old British Royal Marine Light Infantry barracks building — just as it was likely done in the mid-1860s when the camp was in its heyday. A crafts table will be set up for the kids (young and old). Come make your own ornament.

The park’s 2014 Volunteer(s) of the Year award and volunteer recognition is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Admission is free. The park will provide beverages, two crackling fires to warm the bones and entertainment to include staff and volunteer re-enactors in period uniforms and dress, storytelling and contra dancing with “Pig War.”

A motorized cart will be available in the English Camp parking area for persons with accessibility needs. For information, call 378-2240, ext. 2233, 2228 or 2227.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Spring Street International students take on a Greek tragedy during San Juan Community Theatre’s free On Book! Readers Theatre series THIS Tuesday, November 25 at 7 pm.

Ten students*, directed by Theatre Arts Class teacher Krista Strutz, will bring Greg Banks staged adaptation of Antigone to the Whittier. Sophocles’ play, first staged in fifth century B.C., stands as a timely exploration of the conflict between those who affirm the individual’s human rights and those who must protect the state’s security.

After the War of the Seven Against Thebes, Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus, learns that her brothers have killed each other, having been forced onto opposing sides of the battle. When Creon, king of Thebes, grants burial to one but not the “treacherous” other, Antigone defies his order, believing it her duty to bury all her close kin. Enraged, Creon condemns her to death, and his soldiers wall her up in a tomb. While Creon eventually agrees to Antigone’s release, it is too late: in a tragic repetition of events in her family’s history, she takes her own life.

*The ensemble: Fiona Small, Josh Sheppard, Diego Anderson, Quinn Lacrampe, Sunny Wu, Jerry Deng, Brian Flemming, Cole Hamilton, Madrona Jameson, and Ula Grace.

Tom Doenges of Computer San Juans is offering a Bits to Bites Holiday Special. “Pay it forward” this Holiday Season. For every repair done between now and Dec 31, 2014, Computer San Juans is reducing their normal hourly labor charge of $60 to $30.

All that is asked is that customers carry the spirit forward and donate food or a toy of equal value ($30) to the Friday Harbor Food Bank or the Kiwanis Toy Drive.

For more information visit www.computersanjuans.com or call 360.378.5153 or 360.317.5772.

Nettie is this week’s Pet of the Week

My name is Nettie. I’m very shy, but I’ll bet I’m the softest kitten you’ve ever met. This picture was taken when I had a cold, so it doesn’t do me justice – I’m told I’m absolutely gorgeous by lots of people. I’m about five months old and all of my brothers and sisters have been adopted. I like hanging out with the quiet older cats here at the shelter, but what I’d really love is a nice, quiet home of my own. Preferably with a chimney, so Santa can deliver my Christmas gifts….. You really should stop by the shelter to meet me soon!

San Juan Island Artisans are sponsoring their 36th annual event featuring the ‘best of the best’ creations by San Juan County artists. Fifty-five artists will sell their unique, hand-made arts and crafts this year—just in time for holiday gift giving—offering a wide variety of items from soaps and lotions to jewelry, clothing, cards, paintings, island-made foods, scenic photography and much more.

There will be delicious snacks available by local caterer Cynthia’s of Course to keep shoppers satisfied. This is a fundraiser for the Island Artisans Scholarship Fund. Time: Friday, November 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, November 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For more information contact Rhonda Scott at (360) 298-0300 or email:
retrorose [@] rock island [.] com.