Here’s a cool new place that popped up over on Tucker, just in time for the holidays. Rick and Virginia’s friend Linda did a write up of their shop  so I’ll let her take it from here….

Rick Waldron stands in front of his beautiful wood handiwork over at The Board Room on Tucker – Contributed photo

After 3 decades of working wood and collecting wood, longtime local hand-craftsman and Pacific Northwesterner Rick Waldron has developed a well honed eye for design and a master’s skill for woodworking. He is happy to share his skill with island born & raised Virginia Nash. Both  recognize the value of pattern and wood quality. Their individual work stands out as distinctive and exceptional.

They have combined two perspectives in a pop-up Christmas shop, the Board Room. Located below the top of Tucker Avenue (near the tennis courts) in Friday Harbor.

Hours are from 12-6 Tuesday thru Saturday and until 7 on Friday.

Traveling the Pacific Northwest from Montana, Oregon and Northern California to Washington in search of wood, Rick has returned with Maple, Myrtle, Juniper and Walnut in addition to many other varieties. Rick has built a following in the islands and Seattle creating wood floors, commercial bars, and intricate inlays. Continue Reading

Scooby is this week’s Pet of the Week

You may remember “Scooby” – we featured him as our pet of the week several months ago. He’s still waiting to find his forever home and we can’t understand why because he’s such an all-around great guy! He’s about 3 years old and still has quite a bit of kitten in him. He loves to play, loves to be brushed and talked to and loves a nice, warm place to nap. He’s very independent and doesn’t demand a lot of attention and gets along well with other cats. Can Scooby find his way into your heart and home for the holidays?

Want to Christmas shop in Bellingham or Seattle? No problem! Airport partners, Northwest SkyFerry and Westwind Aviation, have teamed up with the Port of Friday Harbor to provide great shopping deals for islanders.

Westwind Aviation is offering a Seattle shopping spree with airfare to Boeing Field, limo service to your favorite shopping destination and a return flight to Friday Harbor for $139 per person (3 minimum).

Northwest SkyFerry is offering roundtrip air transportation from Friday Harbor to Bellingham’s newly remodeled Bellis Fair Mall, including ground transportation to and from the mall for $99! They are also offering airfare, ground transportation and overnight hotel accommodations on their newest promotion with airfare still just $99.

These flights are also available for our Seattle and Bellingham neighbors to come and shop in Friday Harbor!

Avoid the traffic, parking and hours on the road with these two great specials brought to you by these airport partners and the Port of Friday Harbor.

The Port of Friday Harbor has officially opened the new Pilot Welcome Center building. Here’s more from their Facebook page…

Port Commissioner Mike Ahrenius cuts the ribbon at the new Pilot Welcome Center – Port of Friday Harbor photo – Click for larger view

The new Pilot Welcome Center is officially open! The Friday Harbor Airport now offers a very nice place for visiting pilots to prepare their flight plans and check out the various offerings of Friday Harbor businesses. The Port Commission opened the new heated facility with a ribbon- cutting ceremony. Pictured from L to R: Duncan Wilson (Town Administrator), Bob Jarman (County Council), Barbara Marrett (Port Commissioner), Mike Ahrenius (Port Commissioner), Greg Hertel (Port Commissioner) and Mark Sheppard (Next door neighbor, Bakery San Juan).

FRIENDS, DNR and the Tulalip Tribes Remove Toxic Creosote from Barlow Bay

FRIENDS of the San Juans partnered with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Tulalip Tribes to remove creosote pilings and a pier in Barlow Bay off of Lopez Island. This project improves water quality, eelgrass growing conditions, and upper beach habitat at a documented Pacific sand lance spawning site.

Creosote-treated wood was commonly used in marine structures throughout the Salish Sea for more than a century during a period of rapid development and industrial expansion. Like other chemical compounds that were innovations in their time, creosote was broadly used without knowledge of its long-term consequences. It is now known that creosote contains more than 50 carcinogens and is toxic to marine fish and other wildlife.

“Research has shown that herring eggs exposed to creosote have a high mortality rate,” said Tina Whitman, FRIENDS’ Science Director. “Chemicals found in creosote also affect juvenile salmon that migrate through contaminated estuaries by reducing their growth and altering immune function.” Continue Reading

Here’s Chef Hobbes with a unique and fun holiday gift idea…

Making curry powder to give as Christmas presents is a fun and different gift.

I make my curry powder on the mild side, I can always add cayenne pepper later if I want to heat things up a bit.

If you use whole seeds like I do, you must lightly toast them first, this will release the wonderful aromas and oils. Do this by placing the seeds in a heavy skillet over medium heat, shaking the seeds back and fourth making sure not to burn them.

Christmas is the time when I dump out all my spices and buy fresh ones, making curry powder you must use fresh ingredients. Gourmet Galley in Friday Harbor has the best spices at a good price.

Recipe makes about a cup:

1 T brown mustard seeds
1 t cardamom seeds
1 stick cinnamon
1/2 t whole cloves
2 t coriander
1 T cumin seeds
1 T fennel seeds
1 T fenugreek seeds
1 t fresh grated nutmeg
1 t black peppercorns
1 t powdered ginger
3 star anise
1 T yellow mustard seeds
2 T ground turmeric
1 t paprika
1 t flaky maldon salt
1/2 t cayenne pepper

After toasting the seeds, combine everything in a bowl and mix. Then grind all the ingredients in a vitamix, if you don’t have one use a blender or coffee grinder working in small batches.

Bon Appetit! Chef Hobbes

Dear Friends,

The last six months have flown by like eight tiny reindeer!
Sherri, Hannah and I sincerely thank you for your support and encouragement.

To wind down the year, we are celebrating the “Twelve Days of Christmas” by offering 12% off everything in our shop!
From Friday, December 13th, through Christmas Eve day, everything will be discounted by 12%!

Also, for your convenience, we have extended our hours for the Holidays:

Week of 12/09: Open Tues- Sat 11am-3pm
Week of 12/16: Open Tues- Sat 11am-6pm
Week of 12/23: Open Mon 11am-6pm
Open Tues, Christmas Eve 11am-3pm
Closed Christmas Day
Open Thurs-Sat 11am-6pm
Week of 12/30: Open Mon 11-6pm
Open Tues, New Year’s Eve 11am-3pm
We will be closed January and February, 2014
Reopening Spring, 2014

We wish you and your family a Happy Holiday Season and a Happy New Year!

Remember to check our website http://www.sjicheese.com/ and Facebook for updates!
Thanks again,
Richard, Sherri and Hannah

Just got this note from Mike Cohen inviting you to his birthday bash at the grange…

Mike Cohen entertains the lunch crowd on the deck – Louise Dustrude photo

Hey folks, by sheer luck and coincidence, I just learned that the Grange in Friday Harbor is not booked on Dec 14, my birthday and there’s nothing more that I’d like to do than go there and sing and play my favorite song treasures along with their stories that have been with me since I started traditional singing in 1935. Some are from Burl Ives, Pete Seeger, Oscar Brand, Woody Guthrie in those unknown early years, others from music groups I’ve lived or played with including here on San Juan Island; all the latter have promised to be there Saturday.

I’ll teach the choruses so anybody who wants to can join the fun harmony of a “Sing along with history and attitude,” or just listen. Show up by 7:30. There’s no admission and no party, just contributing part of my song and music collection for an evening. A donation to the Grange would be appropriate if the spirit so moves you. This is a highlight for me to get together with friends of old time music on the island and share some treasured epics before they go if they plan to (the ditties that is). And yes, I’ve already had several requests but I’m going to sing anyhow. Late evening it could get bawdy. Questions? Call me. 378-6313

Here’s the latest from Helen at Island Stage Left…

Click for larger image

“Other Desert Cities” plays Thursday – Saturday at 7:30 and Sunday at 4:00. This is the LAST WEEKEND and we don’t want you or your friends to miss it.

We open our Christmas show (see poster at right) Dec 19th and run every day through Christmas Eve at 7:30 except Sunday which is at 4:00.

On Christmas Eve we offer two performances, one at 4:00 and one at 6:00. Reservations are strongly recommended for both those shows. Email us or call to reserve your seats!

Come and kindle your Christmas spirit by the fire at the Roche Harbor Pavilion!

Peace and Goodwill to all!

The Chamber of Commerce announces the winners of the island lighting contest: Theme this year was Holiday Travel: by Plane, Sleigh or Ferry.

Here is a slideshow of photos from SJCT’s 2013 Fundraiser. Good times! Click here for the slideshow.

Debbi Fincher writes in with this to share with you…

Click for larger poster

Thanks for any help you can offer to share this sweet little opportunity to invite the community in to hear a little from the book some of our local youth made this last school year with local elders, “First Person Friday Harbor”.

We are ready to announce that VOL. II is in the planning phases and will be completed by June 2014! We saved a limited number of books to give away to the community at this free event. As you may recall, thanks to the San Juan Island Community Foundation, these books were made free, by a generous grant.

Thanks again for sharing this good news 🙂
Debbi

Cynthia wants to announce that for the 3rd year, she is offering FREE Zumba classes with a donation of cans of food for the Local Food Bank, starting Dec. 15  and going to Dec. 31!

Classes are taught Monday and Wednesdays from 8:20 to 9:20 AM at XYZ movement arts studio – 689 Airport Center Road – just down from San Juan Healthcare.

If you want to work off some extra calories and have fun doing it, bring some cans of food and join in for an hour of fun dancing and energizing music.

Alejandra and Cynthia will be there to teach your classes –

Cynthia Burke
360-317-7178
xyzmovementarts.com

Join Island Rec for a trip to the Washington State Convention Center for the Northwest Flower and Garden Show. See the Spectacular show gardens, created by the most respected garden designers and landscapers of the region and find inspiration for outdoor living, edible gardening, and sustainability.

This would be the perfect gift for that special someone in your life who loves to garden. Early fee registration deadline is January 23, $70. Fee includes all transportation and entrance fee into show. Must Have 35 participants by early registration deadline.

San Juan Singers directed by Angel Michaels
Saturday, December 14 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 15 2:00 p.m.
Singers present old and new holiday favorites and are joined by neighbors playing harp, fiddle, flute, penny whistle—plus special guest appearances from other Island carolers.
Tickets: $17 adults; $8 student reserved; $5 Student RUSH at door.
The 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 tickets may be purchased on-line at www.sjctheatre.org

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More than the Singing…

When San Juan Singers presents its holiday concert at San Juan Community Theatre on December 14 and 15, there will be many stories behind the voices.

“In my younger days, singing in a choir kept me off the streets and out of the gutters,” said longtime islander David Bentley. “Now that I think of it, I guess it still does. You can’t beat that healthy high you feel after every rehearsal.”

Then from Steffi Wehner: “After years of being a caregiver, suddenly it was over. I found myself in deep grief, with a lot of time on my hands. I haven’t read music in twenty years, my voice is rusty, English is not my mother tongue. I was intimidated at the first rehearsal to say the least. Then we sang, all sections harmonizing and it brought tears to my eyes. I chimed in heartily and felt at home.” Continue Reading

Cooking fish in parchment paper produces really wonderful moist fish every time.

You can use any kind of fish, but remember the thicker the fish the longer you have to cook it. I find that salmon takes about 40 minutes with the oven at 350 degrees.

Here’s how:
Lay out a piece of parchment paper on a flat surface. Then place a small amount of thinly sliced onions in the middle. Lay a fillet of salmon on top, skin and pin bones removed. Season with a good amount of sea salt and pepper, then place a handful of cherry tomatoes that have been quartered, some thinly sliced red bell pepper, a three finger pinch of fresh dill, stems removed, two pieces of thinly sliced lemon, add a large knob of butter and a little extra virgin olive oil.

Close the packet up, so the moisture stays inside, if you have problems with folding up the edges, try using large steel paper clips. Place the packet of fish on a baking sheet and pop it in the oven for about 40 minutes or until cooked.

I served our fish with a roasted cauliflower and white bean puree, but it works just as well with rice.

Bon Appetit! Chef Hobbes

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See more Hobbes recipes at  Imagine Organics Recipes and Cooking Videos