Charlie Bodenstab and Peg Gerlock show off award – Contributed photo

San Juan Island School District Superintendent Rick Thompson was proud to accompany San Juan Islands Museum of Art’s Peg Gerlock and Charlie Bodenstab to an Honors Banquet to receive a Community Leadership Award for the IMA’s support of art in public schools. This event was sponsored by Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) and was held at Skagit County Golf and Country Club in the Skagit Valley.

Four years ago, the IMA and the school district established an elementary school Art Enrichment Program, bringing local artists into the classroom to lead hand-on art lessons. For the last several years, IMA has also provided funding for middle school art teacher to bridge the funding gap between elementary and high school art instruction. Continue Reading

Jan Bollwinkel-Smith at the SJ Community Theatre has this to share – it’s not tonight, it’s next Friday, so mark your calendars now…

Nine-year-old ElseDora Arendt has two exciting things to look forward to on Friday, May 9 – the opening night performance of our spring musical, Annie, in which she is playing the title character; and it is also her tenth birthday!

One of the youngest girls to audition for the role of little orphan Annie, ElseDora is no stranger to musical theater. She has loved to sing since she was in pre-school, and since then has acted, danced, and/or sung in Missoula Children’s Theatre productions, SJCT Family Theatre, short plays in the Playwrights Festivals, and the 2012 production of The Sound of Music. “It’s not hard for her,” said her mom, Amy Hull. “It’s natural.” ElseDora says that before going on stage, she might get a little “freaked” but the nervousness soon ends. “When I’m on stage, I feel like the character I’m playing.” Indeed, Amy believes that one of ElseDora’s other loves—reading—has really helped her to be drawn into stories and into the characters within them.

The fourth grader at Friday Harbor Elementary School says she enjoys “all the singing” in Annie and especially likes the scene where she sings Tomorrow because she’s with Bogey (who plays Sandy, the dog). “He’s nice and soft,” she says. Continue Reading

Here’s a note from Ron Krebs, who is announcing his candidacy for Sheriff…

Fellow Islanders:

My name is Ron Krebs and I am announcing my candidacy for San Juan County Sheriff. I believe our County deserves the very best in public safety and I am asking you to join me in working together to make our islands safer and friendlier for citizens and visitors alike.

By way of background, I am a Marine Corps veteran and served in Kuwait in Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Following military service, I spent ten years in management in the private sector. I moved to San Juan County in 2006, as for me, it was the perfect place to follow in my family’s tradition of public service and to start a career in law enforcement as a deputy. My connection with the islands dates back to my early childhood as both my grandparents and mother were longtime island residents. Continue Reading

Enjoying last month’s Community Dinner at the HS Commons – Click for larger view – SJ Update photo

The Community Dinner is coming up again… It’s on Wednesday, May 7 but it’s in celebration of Cinco de Mayo, so you guessed it – Mexican food! Good food and good company.

• Smoked pork carnitas- hardwood smoked pork shoulder
• Grilled chicken tacos- marinated and grilled chicken
• Chili-lime slaw- cabbage and cilantro in sweet chili and lime
• Rice and beans- traditional Spanish rice and beans
• Salad- with orange-cumin vinaigrette
• Tortillas- hand formed masa harina
• Tres leches cake- traditional three milk cake with strawberries

$12 suggested donation for adults
$6 for children under 12
5:30 to 7:30 pm at the High School

Here’s a note from the Friday Harbor Sailing Club…

The start of boating season is just around the corner. Opening festivities are next weekend​ at the Port of Friday Harbor​. What better time to join a wonderful group of ​local ​mariners than now? Are you new to the area? Just bought a boat? ​Consider joining a boating club. Some ​clubs ​are geared to education, some​ have formal clubhouses ​and some ​have more​ relaxed social ​agendas​​​. The non-profit boating organizations on San Juan Island have something for everyone ​.

If you are interested in power boating or sail boating, consider the Friday Harbor Sailing Club. The Sailing Club is open to all boaters -both fuel and wind-driven. FHSC is not just about sailing, half the club’s members are powerboat owners. The emphasis is to be safe and ​have an enjoyable time on the water. There are sailboat races, social time, power boating, great ​summer ​BBQ’s, cruises and ​delicious potluck dinner ​meetings. The Sailing Club does have fun and there are many activities planned for 2014. ​

To attend as a guest contact Commodore Don Hendrix at 378-4590, or Membership/Past Commodore Rebecca Hughes at 370-5855. The club meets on the second Tuesday evening of each month.

​FHSC is about friendships, boats, and fun filled-experiences. Visit www.FridayHarborSailing.com for more information and photos. Happy Boating!

It’s this Sunday, the San Juan Island Yacht Club Opening Day Parade. Every boat that participates in the parade will receive one night of free moorage either on Saturday May 3rd or Sunday May 4th! Register at www.sjiyc.com.

Friday Harbor from the air – Click to enlarge – Teren Photography photo

Can you see yourself in this photo? You’re probably in there somewhere…

Beautiful aerial photo of Friday Harbor by Chris Teren for your Thursday morning.

Barbara Marrett from the Visitor’s Bureau has some thoughts to share…

“The Travel Effect” in the Islands

Look around you. What would the Islands be without your favorite restaurant – the one you enjoy on special occasions? Without performing arts centers, museums and gorgeous galleries? Without the lookout at Moran State Park or iconic lighthouse at Lime Kiln Point State Park? Imagine the bluffs at American Camp and Spencer Spit lined with houses and the beaches off-limits, instead of open for all to enjoy. Many of the places islanders have come to cherish are present due to their appeal to visitors and are also strongly supported by “invisible” visitor dollars, money which is infused into the economy with little acknowledgement.

National Travel & Tourism Week, May 3 – 11, champions the power of travel to not only benefit the traveler but also enhance the locations visited. The theme for 2014 is “The Travel Effect” which results in the health benefits of relaxation, memory-making, education, and adventure for the traveler. Simultaneously it helps create jobs, relieve the local tax burden by contributing funds towards town and county projects, and enriches the culture and vibrancy of visitor destinations like the San Juan Islands. Continue Reading

Keep these dates open on your calendar for the Cancer Relay for Life – Friday Harbor

• When: Saturday, September 27, 2014 3:00 pm – September 28, 8:00 am
• Where: Friday Harbor, San Juan Island WA at the Fairgrounds
• Why: Fundraiser event for the American Cancer Society – money for research and for San Juan community assistance in the care of cancer patients.
• What fun? Live bands, good food, games, prizes, costumes, nuttiness and family friendly

A big Thank You to: Islanders Bank, Earth Box Hotel & Spa, San Juan Suites vacation rentals and Tucker House B & B who have committed to $500 (silver sponsorship) to the cause.
Applause to: Team San Juan Outfitters (whale watching & kayaking) for committing to fundraise for the event.
This link will take you to our Friday Harbor Relay for Life page where you can sign a team to FUNdraise or to make a donation.
If you are not on a team and would like to be: Contact:
RelayForLifeFridayHarbor [@] gmail [.] com and we can pair you up with a team.
Like us on our new Facebook page and join the fight against cancer!

It’s at the Labs this Friday – here’s Billie with the story…

Hi Everyone,

On Friday, May 2 at 4:00 PM, UW College of the Environment Dean Lisa Graumlich will be on the FHL campus to accept a check for $46,230 from OPALCO (Orcas Power and Light Cooperative). I hope that you will join us on the FHL Dining Hall deck for the festivities. The check is part of the ESCO Project.

ESCO is a “greening up” grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to Friday Harbor Laboratories. Many thanks to former FHL Director Ken Sebens and former FHL Associate Director Adam Summers for putting together the successful grant application for this grant. The purpose of this grant is to increase efficiency and save the state of Washington money spent on heating and water bills from FHL. We have upgraded to more energy efficient lights in buildings and on the dock. The FHL oil boiler was converted to a more efficient propane boiler, and a photovoltaic system has mounted on the top of Lab 4, after replacing the roof. I hope that you’ve seen it already, but if not, check it out!

This project took a large team to complete, but it puts FHL on the road for greater sustainability. Thanks to all of you that worked to make this happen.
Great news to announce following Earth Day.

Professor Billie J. Swalla
Interim Director
Friday Harbor Laboratories

Postmaster John Smith Jr. – Tim Dustrude photo

We have a new Postmaster. John Smith Jr., with 18 years in the Postal Service comes here from the Everett Sorting Facility where he worked with about 1,000 employees, and now he’s down to 16. He’s been here for the last 2 weeks, although not quite moved from Mill Creek yet – his family is coming to visit this weekend – and they’re doing the commute thing until they can all get settled.

Go down and say hello – we only had about 6 interruptions of people saying hi in the 3 minutes it took to get this photo…

Doug McCutchen of the Land Bank shares this story of beach cleaning…

Hi Tim-
Thought you might enjoy these photos from Cattle Point National Monument beach cleanup efforts and consider putting them up on the Update. The first shot is during the Great Island Cleanup a few weeks back, showing Steve Ulvi using a big crosscut saw to reduce a huge, water-logged piece of Styrofoam to manageable sizes. We rolled the foam on a tarp to collect the dust and chunks of foam that were falling off. We guesstimated it weighed around 400-500 pounds. Shaun Hubbard, Thom Pence, Steve, and I attempted to transport them down the beach to where they could be picked up by boat or the National Park’s all-terrain vehicle, but found it too difficult even with the reduced sizes.

The next photos show Susan Williamson’s 5th – 6th grade class from Spring Street International School who volunteered to come help shuttle the big pieces of foam. Even with a lot of extra hands and youthful energy it was still a lot of work to get them moved to the end of the beach.

I just heard from Ken Azarian at the National Park Service that they were able to get the foam and other debris removed sometime in the last couple of days. Great effort involving a whole bunch of islanders. Thank you to all involved!

Doug

Click here for more photos: Continue Reading

Grammy Nominee Returns to Friday Harbor May 2

There is little doubt Ruthie Foster knows how to fire up the stage with her heated blend of soul, blues, rock, folk and gospel. And on Friday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m., islanders again get a chance to see and feel that heat close up at San Juan Community Theatre.

Twice nominated for Grammy awards, winner of numerous blues awards, and proclaimed by Oprah Magazine a “blues powerhouse,” Foster graced the Whittier Theatre with her phenomenal talent in 2013

“We were impressed to have such a celebrity on the island,” said Tom Ashcraft of Heuristic Enterprises who sponsored Ruthie’s appearance in 2013 and is sponsoring her again this year. “She didn’t act like a celebrity. She just sat and played her guitar…it was really cool.”

Coming from humble church choir beginnings in rural Texas, Foster grew into a music career that has taken her on tours around the world, collaborating with a diverse list of artists including Warren Haynes, Big Head Todd, Bonnie Raitt and The Blind Boys of Alabama.

Her list of achievements include Best Female Vocalist in 2007, 2008 and 2013 from the Austin Music Awards, a 2012 and 2009 Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Blues Album, the 2010 Living Blues Music Award Critic’s Poll for Female Blues Artist of the Year, the 2013 Living Blue Music Award Critic’s Poll for Blues Artist of the Year (female).

The Business Partner for Ruthie Foster is Heuristic Enterprises. Concert tickets are $29 for adults, $15 for student reserved and $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. www.sjctheatre.org or 378-3210.

Here’s a note from Helen and Dan at Island Stage Left…

To all the people who supported us after Dan’s dramatic “event”, in so many ways – from medical help to offering to drive to providing food to mowing the grass, to writing checks, to just expressing your concern – a huge thank you from our hearts to yours. How very lucky we are to live in this caring community.

You will be glad to hear that, three stents later, Dan is doing well, although we have another couple of weeks of heart monitoring just for safety.

Dan’s first words on coming round were, “Can we just start the show again?” and he has not wavered since, so, with the cardiologist’s approval already granted, not only will Twelfth Night go ahead as planned this summer, but we will be reprising “RED” in October. This means that those of you who missed seeing it will have another chance. (Incidentally, it is not about communism, which apparently some people thought, but about the painter Mark Rothko!) We had fabulous feedback and look forward to sharing this thrilling play with you again in the fall.

We are overwhelmed with gratitude and surrounded by love and support. Thank you all so very much.
Helen and Dan

Jason Davis of Island Rec – Contributed photo

Island Rec has gained a new program space for many youth & teen recreation programs and would like to invite members of the community to come tour the new “Rec House” at a special open house on Wednesday, May 7th, from 5:00-7:00pm. The Rec House, located at 650 Park St (next to the football field) will be the future home-base of Camp Aquanaut, Teen Adventure Camps, the TREC afterschool program and many other fun activities.

Our new recreation station includes its own kitchen, a game room, art room, a fenced back yard, and lots more! Kids, families, and community members are invited to come check out the new digs, enjoy some light refreshments, and explore the possibilities this new programming space has to offer!

In addition, this open house celebrates a “changing of the guard” for Island Rec’s Youth, Teen, and Family Programs. After two fun and memorable years as the Youth & Family Rec Specialist, Jason Davis is leaving Island Rec to pursue graduate study at the EWU School of Social Work beginning this summer. The open house serves as an informal community farewell for Jason, as well as an opportunity to meet and welcome the new Rec Specialist, Lowell Jons.

Join the Adventure at Pelindaba Lavender

Full-time Manager of Order Fulfillment, Customer Service & Inventory Management

Excellent computer and people skills required for highly detail-oriented position. Year-round position with seasonal work load fluctuation.

Resumes please to Pelindaba Lavender
P.O. Box 2389, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
or: admin [@] pelindaba [.] com