Kon-Tiki will be the last Tuesday night film at the Grange before the Friday Harbor Film Festival – It will be shown at 7:00 pm, October 21st at the Grange hall.

Kon-Tiki is the Academy Award-winning film of an astonishing adventure, a journey spanning 4300 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean by raft. Intrigued by Polynesian folklore, Norwegian biologist Thor Heyerdahl suspected that the South Sea Islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east, led by the mythical hero Kon-Tiki.

Lynn Danaher, well versed in Polynesian culture will be on hand to answer any questions and share her Kon-Tiki artifacts including a piece of the original lashing.

Friday Harbor Sailing Club’s eighth annual Fred Hoeppner International Regatta was held October 4 and 5 out on the west side of San Juan Island. This year, it was an exciting two day race that involved several sailboats, skippers and crews who competed in different races over the weekend under varying conditions. Congratulations to the top three final positions in PHRF Class: Greg Sutherland in “Wailana”, John Manning in “Bellwether” and Lloyd Bacon in “Corrida”.

Sail boat races are either casual or officially governed by the U.S. Sailing Association rules and by PHRF Northwest (Pacific Handicap Racing Fleet of the Northwest). PHRF promotes competitive sailboat racing by establishing and maintaining an equitable system of handicap ratings. The Friday Harbor Sailing Club competes according to the PHRF system.

If you are a competitive sailor, you already know what well-organized racing is all about. If you are new to racing, you will learn more about every detail of your boat and how to sail it well under all kinds of conditions. Racing improves your navigational skills while teaching you to sail in adverse current, heavy weather and light air. You can choose events that are relatively easy and as your skills improve, move on to more competitive racing. You will meet lots of new friends whether you are racing or volunteering at the events.

Friday Harbor Sailing club is a non-profit organization and welcomes both power boaters and sail boaters. Activities include cruises, races, meetings and summer barbeques. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month, 5:45pm at the Friday Harbor Grange. All interested boaters are welcome to the social/potluck dinner/meeting. To learn more or attend, please contact Commodore Don Hendrix 378-4590 and visit www.FridayHarborSailing.com

Stillpoint School ShakesOut – Contributed photo

Here’s a note from Dori and Kate about their participation in the Great ShakeOut the other day…

Stillpoint School students were excited to join more than 20 million people worldwide by participating in the world’s largest earthquake drill on Thursday.

Stillpoint students participated in the earthquake drill at exactly 10:16 on October 16, and enjoyed a day-long learning experience exploring the science of earthquakes, plate tectonics, and earthquake waves.

A highlight of the day was each student becoming a structural engineer during a special Problem Solving earthquake activity. The Stillpoint community loves the yearly tradition of participating in the Great ShakeOut!

All the best,
Dori and Kate
Stillpoint School

M/V Tokitae, another 144 car Olympic Class ferry as it looked in March of 2013 – Photo by Stuart Isett/Vigor

(Editor’s note – This is an updated post with the link corrected below)

The Voice of Washington Survey would like to know your preference of 4 possible names for the new 144-car Olympic Class ferry currently being built for Washington State Ferries. The choices are:

• Chimacum
• Cowlitz
• Sammamish
• Suquamish

Click this link to sign up for surveys and read more about each of these proposed names and vote for your favorite.

Pacific White Sided Dolphin – Jim Maya photo

Jim Maya of Maya’s Westside Charters says they continue to see whales every day, though not always Orcas – lots of humpbacks recently. And, he says he’s seen more Pacific White-Sided Dolphins this year than any other year.  Thanks for sharing this beautiful photo Jim!

Island Mushroom – Contributed photo

Explore Island Mushrooms with Fred Rhoades

Saturday October 25,2014
9:00 am – 4:00 pm.
Meet at UW Labs

Register online at www.sjnature.org or call 378-3646

$55 per person
(Eight registered participants required to ensure class)

Thanks to our generous local farmers and fishermen, there will be a Local Harvest Dinner to support a local non-profit, on Thursday October 30th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Presbyterian Church on Spring Street.

Guests will be able to place to-go orders to take home or will be able to sit down for a community meal of a salmon entree (vegetarian option available), veggies, salad, bread, a beverage, and homemade pie!

In addition, there will be a Silent Auction from 5:00 – 6:30 pm.

$15 for adults; $5 for children under 12. We deeply appreciate your support and we look forward to seeing you there. All proceeds benefit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services of the San Juans (378-8680).

The San Juan Island Public Schools Foundation would like to Thank You! – Tim Dustrude photo

The Phone-a-Thon, held on October 7th and 8th, brought in $42,000 in pledges. As they say, “It takes a village”. Thank you to this amazing community!

Volunteer students, parents, and educators spent hours at our call center this year. A big thanks to them as well.

The generous support of islanders has enabled the organization to continue supporting education on San Juan Island in numerous ways. With these funds, the Public Schools Foundation will help keep our local elementary, middle and high schools in the upper echelon of the state. Some examples of recent Public Schools Foundation grants include support for math, ROV, STEM, social studies and art programs.

100% of donations go back to the classroom!! Donations can still be made and more information can be found at our secure website.

The Phone-a-Thon in action – Contributed photo

Here’s a note from Brian Churchwell at WSF about the upcoming reservations system…

I’m sure many of you saw the King 5 News piece yesterday or heard about it. There were a couple errors that we have requested they correct. It would be great if we could get this out on the local blogs so it doesn’t create rumors or misconceptions in your communities.

News article at King 5’s Website.

Below are the two corrections we sent to King 5:

In addition to Anacortes-San Juan Island and Anacortes-Orcas Island, we also will offer reservations from Anacortes to Shaw and Lopez islands, just not from Shaw or Lopez to Anacortes. Also, I wanted to clarify our no-show policy. No-show fees only apply when reserved travel is not completed on the same day and terminal as booked.

It is true that customers have until 5 p.m. the day prior to reserved travel to cancel or change their reservation. However, if a customer arrives late and misses the sailing they have a reservation on, then they may use their reservation on a different sailing within the same service day from the same terminal without being charged a no-show fee.

Thank you,

Brian Churchwell
Washington State Ferries
2901 3rd Avenue
Seattle, WA 98121
(206) 515-3645

The Tony Award winning and Electrifying “RED” by John Logan is back by popular demand!

SJ County Fairgrounds
Marie Boe Building
October 24th through November 16th

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 7:30
and Sundays at 4:00

(show opens on Friday October 24th)

Here’s a note from the Town of Friday Harbor about the new item on the ballot next month…

The November 4th General Election is a few weeks away and Town Voters will be asked to consider Proposition 1 regarding the two tenths of one percent sales and use tax within Friday Harbor.

Informational documents, including Frequently Asked Questions, TBD resolutions and agreements and other helpful information is available for review at the Town Website or by contacting the Town Clerk at (360) 378-2810.

You can also check out this info sheet (PDF)

There are some new letters on the Election Page. Click here to see them…

Here’s Debbie with a head’s up about the upcoming derby…

YES ~ it is time to think about getting your boat team registered for the upcoming 12th Annual Roche Harbor Salmon Derby! To be held February 5th – 7th, 2015 ~ which DOES NOT conflict with our Seattle Boat Show or the Super Bowl ~!

*Uncollected in our 2013 & 2014 Derby, we once again will be awarding an additional bundle of cash, $30,000, ~ to the qualifying winning fish of 30 lbs. or more!

$40,000 possible CASH for first place ~ SWEET!!!

**Please Note on the registration/entry form:

Derby activities & meals limited to registered Anglers & Volunteers ONLY.
Unregistered family & friends are not included.

Please ‘like’ and follow our Facebook page.

Thanks ~ look forward to hearing from you!

Click here for entry form (PDF)

Debbie Sandwith
Roche Harbor Market
360-378-5562

You are invited to a fun, informative, and most of all delicious event for the entire community to talk about the energy future of the San Juans.

• Provide your input on San Juan Islands energy planning.
• Celebrate the Community Solar for our Schools program and recognize our outstanding contributors!
• Drop by, exchange ideas, and enjoy a slice of pie or two!

While bringing a pie is by no means mandatory, all delicious pies are welcome!
For more information call 378-6621 or visit www.sjislandscd.org
Sponsored by Islands Energy, the San Juan Islands Conservation District, and OPALCO

Additional locations:

• Lopez Village, Grace Hall Tuesday, Oct. 21st, 5:00 – 6:30  pm
• Orcas Center, Madrona Room Friday Oct. 25th 5:00 – 7:00 pm

Albin Evans Sundstrom – September 28, 1918 – September 10, 2014

Island Patriarch Passes – and so does the end of an era

Al Sundstrom passed away peacefully at his San Juan Valley farm early on September 10, 2014, on the Harvest Moon – fitting for this life-long farmer. Born and raised in San Juan Valley, he was the third of seven children born to John and Josie (Madden) Sundstrom on September 28, 1918. He lived his entire 96 years on San Juan Island, and became our living link to the island’s rich agricultural past. He was an islander through and through, self-reliant, with true grit. He was known as a kind man with a fierce work ethic, and was admired by everyone who knew him.

One of the first two draftees from San Juan County during World War II, he was rejected for being color blind, so stayed home and worked on the family farm during that time. In 1941 he completed a correspondence course on Farm Engineering and Management sponsored by the Ford Motor Company.

He met Winifred Kuljis, who had moved to Friday Harbor from Bellingham to teach school, and they were married in September 1942 – for 48 years, until her death in 1990.

Al bought their first farm on the Roche Harbor Road from Frank Wright in 1947. He saved the down payment by netting rabbits with Merle Boyce, selling them for $1.00 a piece in Seattle during the war years when there was a lack of meat. Continue Reading

Kealoha – Ronen Zilberman photo

The first Poet Laureate of Hawaii and an internationally acclaimed poet and storyteller shares his talents at San Juan Community Theatre on Monday, October 20.

Kealoha, who has performed throughout the world – from the White House to the Iolani Palace to Brazil and Switzerland—will hold a free workshop for island teens at 3:15 pm in the Gubelman Theatre and then a performance for all ages in the Whittier Theatre at 7 pm.

His “slam poetry” performances combine poetry, storytelling, movement, music, theater and interactive speaking. He has written hundreds of poems, with many of them used in classrooms, forensic competitions, workshops, lectures, corporate events and weddings.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Kealoha graduated with honors from MIT with a degree in Nuclear Physics (and a minor in writing), served as a business consultant in San Francisco, and played around as a surf instructor prior to becoming a professional poet in 2002. Hawaii’s Governor Neil Ambercrombie says Kealoha is “an inspiration to the people of Hawai`i and is a leading force in promoting literacy and creative expression.”

Space is limited for Kealoha’s “Slam Poetry” workshop for kids ages 12-18; contact Susan Williams at 378-3211, ext 33 for more information.

Tickets for his evening performance are $15 for adults; $8 for student reserved, with $5 student RUSH at the door. 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 on-line at www.sjctheatre.org. The Business Partner for the evening is Kings Market.