San Juan Island Rotary Club helps Philippine relief effort to provide safe drinking water

Typhoon Haiyan, one of the most powerful cyclones in history, struck Southeast Asia last month, wreaking havoc on the Philippines. This Category 5 storm caused more than 5,000 fatalities and left devastation in its wake. Survivors faced immediate threats from lack of food, shelter, and water.

Humanitarian efforts launched by nations throughout the world have begun to ease the effects of this tragedy. Rotary International and many of its local clubs are involved in the challenge of providing safe drinking water to the Philippine people.

The Friday Harbor club wired $2,000 to two California clubs who are coordinating plans to purchase table top water filters for immediate and long term use. The value of clean water cannot be overestimated in the midst of the Typhoon Haiyan tragedy. Thousands were left with contaminated water supplies and the threat of cholera. The problems are beginning to ease with the relief provided by the United States and other countries.

San Juan Island Rotarians join Rotary International in offering sympathy and support to all those who are suffering. Water and sanitation are international Rotary imperatives supported by the Friday Harbor club.

For additional information or questions, please contact Rotary International Committee Chair Mike Griffin at:
mrgriffinbay [@] windjammercable [.] net

Stacey Brown and Elizabeth Halsey were the lucky winners of Katherine Close’s raffle for her Community Project to benefit Head Start. Here’s Katherine with more…

Thank you so much for what you have done I really enjoyed letting you add my article in teh update it also got me a scholarship so i am very happy about that and could not ask for more.

I just wanted to thank all my sponsors and everybody that helped contribute – I could not have done it with out your great help and kind feelings.

The grand total came out to be 500 dollars and Head Start is doing great. They have bought some cool supplies for the kids.

Thanks so much to:

• The Fitness Center
• Toy Box
• San Juan Cheese
• Paradise Lanes
• Palace Theater
• Cask and Schooner
• and Pelindaba

for all the amazing prizes you guys all contributed. Thanks again for the great help in my community project this year!
Katherine

Opalco Board Takes Action: Balanced Budget = Rate Increase

At their November meeting, the OPALCO Board approved the 2014 budget for a total of $30,665,000, which includes a rate increase of 6%. The increase is necessary to meet the 2014 budget’s operating expenses including a 9% Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) rate increase, significant construction projects to replace aging underground cables and preparations to replace a redundant submarine cable in the San Juan to Lopez islands crossing that was laid in 1977. The Board’s recent directive to accelerate broadband expansion has a neutral effect on the budget and rates. The rate increase will be effective with the March billing.

As a nonprofit, member-owned cooperative, OPALCO delivers electricity at cost to twenty islands in the San Juans. The cost of service is determined through a variety of factors:

• an independent cost-of-service study conducted every 4-5 years to make sure each member rate class is paying their fair share. An update to our current study is scheduled in 2014
• OPALCO’s cost to purchase power from BPA – those rates are adjusted every two years. In the recent BPA rate case (effective October 1, 2013), rates went up by 9%; and
• OPALCO’s financial health and our ability to get financing in case of major capital expenses (like the submarine cable replacement) or emergencies.

This increase is independent of the Board’s November 21st motion to “accelerate expansion of OPALCO’s high-speed data infrastructure.” The budget includes construction projects already slated for 2014 to build out the Co-op’s communications infrastructure (also referred to as the backbone or middle mile). The board directive asks staff to accelerate that expansion and lift the moratorium on new fiber connections once system design, rates and policies are approved. Any new connections would be made at the cost of service with a neutral effect on our budget and rates.

Power rates will continue to rise for the foreseeable future as the Federal Columbia River Power System reaches capacity and market-rate power purchases (Tier 2 rates) increase to meet the demand. Stay tuned for more information on how OPALCO is working with nonprofit organizations to increase our energy & conservation efficiency – and encourage local renewable generation. Working together, we can reduce our Co-op energy load and mitigate the impact of regional rate increases.

The approved budget will be posted online with the November meeting minutes. Board packets are posted online at www.opalco.com one week prior to each board meeting. Co-op members are welcome to attend meetings.

For the latest information, go to OPALCO’s website: www.opalco.com; sign up for our email newsletter (http://www.opalco.com/about/email-signup/); and follow us on Facebook (Orcas Power & Light Cooperative) and Twitter (@orcaspower). OPALCO is our member-owned cooperative, powering more than 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County since 1937.

Ever wonder where your relatives are at “this very moment” when they’re flying here for the holidays?

Ever wonder about how many commercial flights are in the air worldwide at any given time?

Or, maybe you miss your tropical fish aquarium and need some other visual stress relieving diversion to stare at for a while.

Check out this website when you have a few minutes to click around: FlightRadar24

Here’s a beautiful photo of the evening sky this week, shot by Bob Stavers. Thanks for sharing Bob!

Here’s a couple of things from Island Stage Left’s Helen Machin-Smith…

Click for larger image

First – a reminder that we have just 2 weeks left for “Other Desert Cities” (Thurs – Sun) and that the Sat 7th performance is at 2:00, not 7:30.

Second – On another note: we have been told we are now a “tradition”, and after abdicating last year in favour of spending time with family in England, we are back for another “Omnium Gatherum” in front of a blazing fire at Roche Harbor, starting Dec 19th and lasting through Christmas Eve. (On the latter we offer two performances – and reservations are highly recommended so that no one is left out in the cold).

We are delighted to have Angel Michaels, John Boyne and Beatrice Grauman joining us with music of all kinds to round out the program. We look forward to having you, our friends and neighbours and your family and friends celebrate the season with us!

[Editor’s note – this post has been updated]

Wolf Hollow is seeking applicants for Executive Director.
This is a ¾ time position.
Non-profit and fund raising skills needed.

For a full Job Description visit our web site:-
www.wolfhollowwildlife.org/employment

To apply, please email a current resume and cover letter to:
wolfhollow [@] wolfhollowwildlife [.] org noting Executive Director in the subject line,
or mail to:

Selection Committee,
Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center,
284 Boyce Rd,
Friday Harbor WA 98250

At its December 3, 2013 meeting on Lopez Island, the San Juan County Council unanimously approved a “hold-the-line” 2014 County budget.

At $15.5 million, the County’s 2014 Current Expense Fund Budget, which covers the County’s core operations, is virtually identical to the previous year’s budget. The overall County budget, which includes the road fund and state and grant funded functions, totals $53.3 million, nearly $2.5 million dollars less than the 2013 budget.

“It’s a conservative budget that concentrates on our current obligations,” said County Manager Mike Thomas. “Given the economic realities we have to deal with, we had to tighten our belt one more notch.”

The 2014 budget reduces the County’s staff by the equivalent of six full-time employees (FTE) to approximately 220 FTE. Most of the reduction is due to the decrease in the size of the County Council, and the elimination of positions from the solid waste department because of the County’s transfer of its solid waste facilities to other entities. But the belt tightening hit several departments, including reductions in authorized staffing in Information Technology and Administration. Continue Reading

John Boyd over at the Presbyterian Church wants to get the word out on this…

Every year, the Presbyterian Deacons put together food boxes to help those who need them in time for Christmas. Each box has a turkey, fresh fruit and veggies, and other goodies. This is open to anyone on San Juan Island. Anyone interested in having a Christmas Fresh Food Box can contact the church at 378-4544. We are hoping to have names by December 9th at the latest, but we’ll continue to take names up to the last minute and do what we can to help.

Thanks!

John Boyd
Deacon, Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church

Here’s this month’s little bit of history, Part IV in our series from the San Juan Historical Museum…
December brings memories of winter driving and snowy island roads. Here’s a Friday Harbor taxi photo from the 1970’s, when rabbit hunting was still more popular than whale watching — and rabbit logos pre-dated orca key chains. Does anyone know the name of this driver for Cap’t Cook’s Rabbit Transit? The San Juan Historical Museum would like to add his name to this photo.

The museum welcomes donations of iconic 20th century photos, as well as photos and records from earlier eras. www.sjmuseum.org

Preparations are underway… They are getting things all decorated over at the Theatre for the big event this weekend…

There are still a few tickets left for San Juan Community Theatre’s Holiday Festival: A Night of Stars… THIS Saturday, December 7 at 5:00 pm.

Volunteers are busy this week getting the Theatre ready for the big event… a great chance to gather with island friends, enjoy gourmet food and lots of LIVE entertainment while supporting the Theatre at the same time.

Some of the highlights include:

• Fantastic live auction action with the island’s awesome auctioneer, Trish Lehman, who will be joined by our old friend Merritt Olsen
• Live entertainment with favorites Jill Urbach, Penelope Haskew, Amanda Smith and Scott Mapstead
• Dancing to the San Juan Jazz Quintet with Jill Urbach and Hawk Arps
• Incredible gourmet appetizers and dinner (live cooking stations again!) created by the staff of Roche Harbor Resort
• Silent and live auction items for every budget
• Plus… it’s the kick-off to the Theatre’s 25th anniversary season!

All this for just $100! Call Chance today to get your tickets… 378-3211, ext. 32.

Help FUNd the Theatre and have a wonderful, memorable evening at the same time! More info at www.sjctheatre.org

Get out your gumdrops and let your creativity go… We’re having a Gingerbread House Competition. Saturday, December 7th in the Main Building of the San Juan County Fairgrounds during the Craft and Flea Market from 9:00am – 1:00pm.

All entries are due by this Friday. If you aren’t able to enter the contest, consider stopping by to cast your vote. Please visit our website www.sjcfair.org for an application in addition to contest guidelines. We hope you join us for this fun friendly competition.

State regulators have scheduled a public hearing as part of an investigation into CenturyLink’s 10-day voice and data service outage in the San Juan Islands last month. The state Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) announced Nov. 15 that it would open the investigation to look into the cause of the outage, the company’s emergency preparedness and response, restoration efforts, and communication with the public.

WHAT
A public hearing on CenturyLink’s November service outage in the San Juan Islands. Community members may comment in person; or they may watch the meeting on the San Juan County website at www.sanjuanco.com and communicate remotely via email.

WHO
Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
San Juan County Department of Emergency Management
CenturyLink
General public

WHEN and WHERE
Monday, Dec. 9, 2013
6 p.m.
San Juan County Council
Legislative Hearing Room
55 Second Street
Friday Harbor, WA 98504

Click for larger poster

Barns, Buildings and Bridges is the theme for the new show at the San Juan Island Library. We know you all like to render buildings and bridges old and new.

Please bring your ready-to-hang art to the library on Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. to noon. All media are welcome and all levels of artistic accomplishment.

Questions? Call Diane at 370-5814

Also, a quick reminder – if you have art in the current show, please pick it up at this time.

Come to Brickworks, at 5:30 pm Thursday for free poetry by Matt Gano and music by local musicians Nickie Davis and Forrest Marowitz! Light food will be on sale to help raise funds for more programs like this one.

Author of the collection, Suits for the Swarm, Matt Gano has performed as a feature poet for “Page Meets Stage” at the Bowery Poetry Club, lectured at The Juilliard School in NYC, and is currently an Artist-in-Residence with Seattle Arts and Lectures, Writers in the Schools.

Matt has represented Seattle at the National Poetry Slam multiple years and is a Seattle Grand-Slam champion. Matt will be teaching poetry classes at Spring Street International School this week (Dec. 2-6) as part of Skagit River Poetry Foundation’s Poets in the Schools Program.

Sponsored by Spring Street International School.

More Information
E-mail hjune [@] springstreet [.] org or call 360 378-6393
505 Spring Street • Friday Harbor, WA 98250 • 360 378-6393
Thursday Dec. 6th 5:30 pm

Elan Cummings (L) and Jacque Anthony (R) are two new faces at Community Treasures

Consignment Treasures, with the trade name of CT Recycling, has changed its name to Community Treasures, and is retaining its trade name of CT Recycling. The name change was initiated because Community Treasures only accepts donated items now that it is a 501 C 3 public charity. It no longer takes in consigned items. Community Treasures more accurately describes the business of this public charity.

As a 501 C 3 Corporation we are dedicated to providing locally sourced goods to islanders, local non profits, scholarships to local students, and we support conservation education and activities via boots on the ground recycling actions. In 2012, CT Recycling recycled approximately 229 tons.

Community Treasures also welcomes two new employees: Jacque Anthony, who is the primary cashier, and Elan Cummings, who is in charge of the recycled clothing and the Clothes Closet.