Skagit Valley College announces registration for Winter Quarter classes is going on now at Skagit Valley College:

• Registration for Returning Students going on now.
• Registration for New Advised Students starts Thursday, November 20.
• Open Enrollment starts Thursday, December 4.
• Winter Quarter begins Tuesday, January 6.

For students who want to train for a new career or upgrade their job skills, SVC’s Professional / Technical programs are aligned with local and state economic development strategies in high demand areas. For more information on programs available, click here (PDF)

Here are a few things coming up that the library is putting on that you might be interested in…

Facebook Basics Workshop
Tuesday, November 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 am
San Juan Island Library meeting room, free. Learn the basics of Facebook with Mark Madsen. We’ll cover setting up an account and privacy settings, making posts and comments on others’ timelines, and uploading photos. Laptop or device required. Register at Library information desk: 378-2798.

Get Started Using Computers
Wednesday, November 19 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm
Skagit Valley College, free. The San Juan Island Library partners with Skagit Valley College to offer four workshops on using PC computers. Four consecutive Wednesdays in November at the College, taught by Library staff. This third session focuses on using Microsoft Windows 7. Next sessions includes Email.
Register at Library information desk: 378-2798.

Literary Salon with Laurie Orton
Thursday, November 20, at 7:00 pm
San Juan Island Library, free. Better than a book club, it’s a chance to talk with friends old and new about books and authors, themes and ideas. Join us for refreshments and refreshing talk!

Rick Hughes, San Juan County Councilman, and 40 local youth from San Juan County at Camp Orkila talk about local government and prevention issues – Photo by Debbi Fincher

Debbi Fincher of the SJI Prevention Coalition shares this essay written by Aida Must, a 7th grader from Friday Harbor.

Hi Tim, I wanted to let you know how our first San Juan Youth Leadership Conference went. Here is one account from a local 7th grader. Thanks again for your continued support of our local youth. These young people are already amazing leaders… I just love the last few sentences of this youth’s article. Take care, Debbi

And here are Aida’ thoughts…

Aida Must, 7th grader Friday Harbor – Debbi Fincher photo

Camp Orkila was an amazing experience, and I will always remember it. Before the leadership conference, my friends would talk about it all the time, and I would always listen intently at the stories of mud pits and giant swings, wondering what it was like. When I got invited to come, I was so excited, I spent the rest of the day pondering about how the trip would be.

On the way there, somewhere along the ride we picked up Orcas in a big, bulky, Camp Orkila bus. It was an old bus, with clear signs of paint chipping. There were silver rungs above our heads, making me tempted to swing on them, though we probably weren’t supposed to. I enjoyed swinging on them anyways. Orcas and Friday Harbor didn’t mind any attention to each other. It was long, quiet and awkward. Continue Reading

Thank You Friday Harbor! We are full of gratitude to the community of Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands.

The Friday Harbor Film Festival could not have enjoyed such great success without the generous support of our sponsors, the Town of Friday Harbor, enthusiastic dedication of our volunteers and all the community members of Friday Harbor and the San Juan Islands who participated in the 2nd annual Friday Harbor Film Festival.

Our Audience Choice was Return of the River, about the Elwha dam removal and subsequent restoration efforts to the environment and salmon runs. The purpose of the FHFF is to inform film-goers about important issues to consider and the challenges we all face. Our goal is to support documentary filmmakers whose passion drives them, by providing them an audience for their important storytelling films. Our hope is that the result of seeing some of these films; some alter their perception and decide to “be the change”, raise awareness, build coalitions and consensus around these important issues and move positive change forward in the global community.

Filmmakers traveled from all over the world to share their films and be available for Q & A. Thanks to all for extending such a warm welcome to our filmmakers, plus our off island visitors, comment cards were full of compliments about how friendly everyone was, they loved our little town and felt very welcome. Continue Reading

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

Emma arrived at the shelter in September and makes a great impression on everyone who meets her! She’s about 3 years old and beautiful, as you can see.

She has lovely manners and is very affectionate and outgoing. She would love to find herself sitting in someone’s warm lap in her very own home soon!

Stop by the animal shelter to meet her!

The previous Kimchi class – Contributed photo

Learn the simple technique of preparing the fall harvest into beneficial and scrumptious Kimchi. and how to include it in your diet.

Cultured Vegetables – Contributed photo

Each participant makes their own batch. It will be ready by Thanksgiving!

November 16, 1 – 3 pm, in the Co-op Annex at 775 Mullis Street.

$20 donation appreciated

Call 370-7099 for tools and ingredient information.

You can buy your veggies at the Co-op before class, and a wide-mouth jar if you don’t have a crock.

To sign up, contact Bequin: rawesomedelights [@] gmail [.] com

M/V Tacoma, a Jumbo Mark II class Washington State Ferry – WSF file photo

Remember last July when the ferry M/V Tacoma stalled off of Bainbridge Island and had to be towed? Looks like it needs a part to be custom made in order to fix it, and it will likely not return to service until next summer. Here’s more from the Seattle Times.

Amber Garcia has a new thing going and would like to invite you women out there to join her next Tuesday. Here she is with the story…

Join us for a fun Girls Night Out! We are featuring some amazing products that you will not want to miss! Whether you want to start holiday shopping early or just visit with the girls, come join us!

We will be featuring:

• Amazing body wraps, along with health and skincare products from It Works brought to you by Amber from A Fab Me
• Beautiful Jamberry nail wraps offering the hottest trend in fashion by Kristen Linde, Jamberry Nails Independent Consultant
• Fabulous 3D fiber mascara and makeup by Younique featured by Kaitlin from Luscious Lashes and 3D Lash Attack
• Gorgeous, fun jewelry from Holly with Stella & Dot.
• Simple solutions to improve your life from Beatriz with Tupperware
• Organization with style from Brooke and Thirty One
• Delicious food from La Authentica Mexicana

Bring a friend or two! We also have some giveaways for you to enter! Hope to see you there!

Tuesday, November 18th at the Grange. 4:00 – 8:00 pm. Click here to view the event poster.

WSF representatives will be at the San Juan Island Yacht Club at 273 Front Street, Friday Harbor on Saturday, November 15 to talk about the vehicle reservations system coming to the San Juan Islands.

Join them at one of the following presentations, followed by Q&A: 11:30 am, 1:00 pm, 2:30 pm or 4:00 pm. Please note that each presentation will have identical information, so pick one and plan ahead for limited seating. You also may sign up for a reservation account at the meeting. For more information visit www.takeaferry.com.

Are you in the mood for a fun and authentic old fashioned Thanksgiving Dinner? Join us at the 16th Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner.

Come to dine with us or join the fun of preparing and serving the meal. We still need volunteers to bring a pie, roast a turkey (we provide the turkey seasoned and oven ready) or help mash potatoes and make Waldorf salad.

For a great video of fun of Thanksgiving past see the video made by Ian Byington a couple of years ago, check out this link: Community Thanksgiving video.

Call Minnie if you want to volunteer at 378-4662.

The Town Council is forming Arts Commission to advise on public art in the Town of Friday Harbor.

The Town Council expressed their commitment to promoting and fostering visual, performing, and literary arts in the community with last week’s creation of a Friday Harbor Arts Commission.

Mayor Carrie Lacher will appoint a seven-member volunteer commission of San Juan Island residents to advise the Town Council on the cultivation, selection, acquisition and placement of public art.

“I am thrilled to be implementing this long overdue advisory committee that will help to ensure the arts have an active and prominent role in our town,” said the Mayor, adding, “Local artwork helps to bring meaning to public spaces, and art of all kinds can invigorate a community while reflecting our quality of life.”

The commission will include at least one council member, two representatives of the visual arts and one representative of the performing arts. Initial appointments will be for one to three years, commencing on January 1, 2015. In addition, a non-voting member age 16 to 19 will be appointed for a one year term to be served October to September each year. Town Administrator Duncan Wilson noted, “This is an excellent opportunity for a college-bound student to demonstrate their commitment to community service.” Continue Reading

FHHS Girls Soccer team – Emily Carrington photo

Here’s a note from Travis Ayers, president of San Juan Soccer…

Hello Soccer Fans;

Please come out to support the FHHS Boys AND Girls teams in their State tournament games this Saturday.  This is the first time ever for our girls’ team to make it to State.  The boys’ team went last in 2005.

Location:  Mt. Vernon High School, 314 North 9th Street.  Boys play at noon, girls at 2:00 pm.  I hope to see you there!

Travis Ayers, President
San Juan Soccer

FHHS Boys Soccer team – Jennifer Ayers photo

Ruth Moody comes to the SJ Community Theatre this Friday – Contributed photo

Friday Harbor last saw her singing and playing at San Juan Community Theatre with the Juno Award-winning trio, The Wailin’ Jennies, back in 2010.

Now Ruth Moody returns with The Ruth Moody Band to SJCT’s Whittier stage on Friday, November 14 at 7:30 p.m. She’s also hosting a free one-hour harmony singing and musician workshop in the Whittier at 5:00 p.m.

A founding member of the Jennies (she still plays with them too), Ruth is also the former lead singer of the Canadian roots band Scruj MacDuhk, has performed in sold-out venues around the world, made numerous critically-acclaimed albums, received five Juno award nominations (Canada’s equivalent to the Grammys) and has appeared more than a dozen times on the American national radio show A Prairie Home Companion. Continue Reading

Minnie Knych presents on Veteran’s Day at the Lion’s Club – Contributed photo

Lions Club honored Veterans Day with a presentation by Minnie Knych about “America’s Most Beloved Veterans” as voted on by other veterans.

In May of 2014 the American Legion asked veterans to choose their most beloved and most respected veterans. Over 70,000 votes were cast to select the top 100 veterans. The choices span our nation’s lifetime.

San Juan Island Grange #966 continues its 2014 Fall Lecture Series with a program on Earthquake Preparedness for Islanders. Join local building officials and preparedness educators as they engage in a Q&A session designed to help islanders evaluate if their homes are vulnerable and how to fix any problems they find. Presented by the San Juan County Community Planning and Development Department and the Town and County Department of Emergency Management.

• Wednesday, November 19, 2014
• San Juan Island Grange Hall
• Potluck at 6:00 pm
• Program begins at 7:00 pm

EDC offers FREE workshop on business planning and financing

The San Juan County Economic Development Council will present a FREE half-day workshop for small businesses and entrepreneurs on Orcas Island, on Friday, November 21, from 8:45am until 12:30 p.m. Advance registration is required.

The business and financing workshop course material will be presented by James McCafferty, of the Economic Development Association of Skagit County, a management consultant for over a decade.

As part of the workshop, McCafferty will cover business financing, discuss a variety of financing options and will provide a reality check for those considering a new or expanded business venture. He will be available for one-on-one consultation after the workshop. Continue Reading