Brickworks came alive last week with the 2013 Island Harvest Chili Cook-Off and Artstock Market! Thanks to the volunteers, chefs, participants, musicians, artists, and the weather for its huge success.

Event goers tasted chili made by six local chefs; toasted homemade marshmallows; pressed apples; sipped beer, wine, and cider; perused the art market; and sat back to the music of Teddy Dean and the Floreno Brothers (Tony Floreno and Cecil DeMeerleer).

Thanks especially to volunteers Jane Burton Bell, Ayana Berube, Liza Buckley, David Clausen, Anna Coffelt, Barb Conrad, Liam Corey, Julie Hanks, Roy Hanks, Karl Kuetzing, Erik Jagel, Sean Jagel, Elaine Kendall, Kyle Loring, Sharon Pigman, Stephen Robins, Joel Thorson, Amara Zee, Amanda Zee, Ron Zee, and all others who pitched in.

Thanks to Pelindaba Lavender, Cynthia’s Of Course, Sweet Earth Farm, Snowberry Farm, and San Juan Island Farmers Market vendors for loaning equipment.

Thanks to Totem Cellars, Westcott Bay Cider, and San Juan Vineyards for their generous contributions to the libation station.

The crown for Best Overall Chili went to defending champ SJISD Food for Thought, with Cask and Schooner Restaurant in second place. The tasty entry of SJISD Food for Thought also won for Most Local Chili, with Cask & Schooner Restaurant close behind with a chili that featured products from twelve local farms. Chili made with bratwurst won Most Exotic Chili for Ernie’s Café a second year in a row. Mike’s Café came in with the Hottest Chili and a delicious white bean alternative–both vegan. Coho Restaurant and Tucker House Inn topped off the competition with two delicious chilis, one with subtle and bewitching overtones of coffee. It was a feast for all!

Thanks to everyone from the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild organizing committee: Candace Jagel, Elaine Kendall, Katie Loring, Debbie Pigman, and Peggy Weir.

The San Juan Island Family Resource Center is collecting new or gently used coats in all sizes for free distribution to families in need throughout our community.

Got a coat to donate?
Donation Drop-off Days: Oct. 16 – 24, 2013
Please drop coats at the Family Resource Center,
476 Market Street, (across the street from Marketplace) 9:00am – 3:00pm Monday – Friday

Do you need a coat?
Coat Distribution Day: Saturday, October 26 at the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church 9:00am – 5:00pm

For information, please call 378-5246

Nicole Hardy Presents Her Memoir “Confessions of a Latter Day Virgin” at Tops’l Sushi Bar Sunday evening, October 20, 5:00 pm

Don’t miss this special occasion, a book talk co-sponsored by Tops’l Sushi Bar and Griffin Bay Bookstore to be held at Tops’l Sushi Bar in honor of Nicole Hardy and her just-released memoir, Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin. You find Tops’l Sushi Bar upstairs at Front Street & Spring Street.

“Sex isn’t everything,” Nicole Hardy’s mother tells her in the opening lines of her memoir, Confessions of a Latter-Day Virgin. Most adults would agree. But what if, even as an adult, your religion requires you remain celibate until marriage? What if the longer you remain celibate and single, the less likely you are to find a mate within that religion, where most marry young and remain married forever? And what if the life your religion requires of you—children, marriage, domesticity—is not the life you envision for yourself? Continue Reading

Ghosts Among Us!
Saturday, Oct. 26, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, meet Robin Jacobson, local historian/ghost story enthusiast, and Sandy Strehlou, Friday Harbor historic preservation coordinator, for a walking tour of the town’s alleged haunted sites. Visit The Whale Museum, the County Courthouse, Serendipity Books and the old San Juan Inn (Windermere offices ) for plenty of ghost tales! Meet at Memorial Park (at the intersection of Front and Spring Streets).

Length is 1 to 2 miles, terrain is town pavement, including moderately steep hills, rating is easy.

Rain or shine. No dogs please.

More information at www.sanjuanislandtrails.org.

San Juan Island Grange #966 continues its 2013 Fall Lecture Series with a program on Historic Elixirs: Shrubs, Switchels, & Bitters on Wednesday October 16, 2013 at the Grange Hall. The program begins at 7pm, preceded by a potluck at 6pm—all are welcome and encouraged to attend.

What the heck is a switchel? Put seaweed in my bath tub?! Find out when Kari Koski of Kari’s Island Elixirs explains her local concoctions! Kari is using locally grown & foraged finds to create herbal tonics and seaweed healers. Come sample some of these historic elixirs and find out more…

Historic Elixirs: Shrubs, Switchels, & Bitters
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
San Juan Island Grange Hall
Program begins at 7pm, preceded by a 6pm potluck!

Presented by:

Here’s a Thank You letter from FHHS Art Teacher Andrew Anderson…

I wanted to thank the San Juan Public School Foundation for their generous donation to the Friday Harbor High School Art program. The money was used to purchase much needed art supplies, and thirty picture frames to display students’ work. The frames have allowed our students’ work to be shown at several venues including the Community Theater, IMA, Public Library, and the San Juan County Fair.

I have received an overwhelming number of positive comments regarding the students’ art work. The frames have also enabled our young and talented artists to enter regional and state art competitions where they have received top honors. When we are not using the frames for art shows or competition, the students display their work at the high school and in the new student art gallery.

The ability to showcase our art students’ images to a broader audience has been a tremendous help in building one of the top art programs in the state. The SJPSF has been instrumental in its support of creating a high quality art education program in our community. I personally want to thank the members for recognizing and valuing the importance of the visual arts.

Sincerely,

Andrew Anderson

On October 17th Island Rec’s STAR Program will be participating in an event called Lights on Afterschool. While this is the first year STAR is participating, the first event took place nationwide in 2000. Lights On is a project by the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool care. In the US more than 26 percent of school aged children are on their own after school hours, while over a million of these children are in grades K-5. The purpose of Lights on Afterschool is to raise awareness for the importance of after school programs nation wide.

From 3:30-4:30 on the afternoon of October 17th, we invite kids and parents who have never been to STAR, (Study Time and Afternoon Recreation) to drop in and play a game with us in the FHES gym. Artwork will also be on display showing participants’ favorite things to do at STAR. Come see why STAR is a safe, healthy, fun, and affordable option for working families!

STAR runs every school day at FHES until 6pm, including early release days. Each afternoon includes a snack, organized and free play both inside and outside, arts and crafts activities, and quiet homework time. Early release days often include field trips or special guests! Scholarships are available. For more information call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org.

Hobbes is back with some chicken education for us this time…

Marcella Hazan 1924-2013… The great Chef Marcella Hazan died last week at the age of 89 – Marcella changed the way Americans cooked Italian food. She’s known for her cookbooks and for her famous recipes like roast chicken, and tomato sauce with onion and butter.

Chicken recipe:

Wash a whole chicken under cold water inside and out and allow to drain in the sink for 15 minutes. Pat dry with towels. Take two lemons and prick them all the way through with a skewer or tooth pick at least 20 times. Salt and pepper the inside of the bird and place a whole sprig of fresh rosemary into the large cavity a long with the lemons. Now truss the bird leaving a small opening so the steam can escape and the lemons don’t explode.

Salt and pepper the outside of the chicken and place breast side down in a roasting pan. Place in a hot 350* oven for half an hour, then turn the chicken breast side up and sprinkle on a few fresh rosemary leaves. Cook for another half an hour. Without opening the turn the heat up to 400* for another half hour. Note that there’s no oil or butter used in this dish, but I did add a little oil and butter later on when I added some veggies.

This will be the best roast chicken that you have ever had, with the most wonderful juices…

Bon Appetit! Chef Hobbes

See more at Hobbes’ Imagine Organics Recipes and Cooking Videos

The first ever Friday Harbor Film Festival – it starts tomorrow. You may wonder: “Why have a documentary film festival here on San Juan Island?”

Here are some answers:

• To give islanders and guests the opportunity to see a variety of interesting and important films
• To highlight films that have an island connection
• To present films about compelling environmental issues
• To give residents and visitors alike the enriching experience of hearing 15 special guest speakers
• To inspire our island kids to make quality films about their world
• To help our island’s economy
• To be able at some time in the future to award grants that will fund research efforts relating to the challenges facing our area of the world

For more information, check out this press release (PDF), and visit www.fhff.org.

Fall is awards season for the Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor. Local women are encouraged to apply for the Women’s Opportunity Award, the Violet Richardson Award, the Ruby Award and the Fellowship Award. Here’s some background information on each award, as well as the upcoming application deadlines. Please pass on this information to qualified candidates you know!

The Women’s Opportunity Award helps a woman overcome personal difficulties and improve her life through education and skills training. A woman who is the primary wage earner in her household and is pursuing an undergraduate or vocational degree may apply for this cash award. For more information, contact Sharon Pigman at
sharon [.] pigman [@] gmail [.] com or 378-2949. Completed applications are due by December 15, 2013.

The Violet Richardson Award honors a young woman between the ages of 14 and 17 years who is helping to make our community and world a better place through her volunteer activities. For more information, contact Val Keaton at
val [@] valariekeaton [.] com or 425-869-1534. Completed applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on December 1, 2013.

The Ruby Award honors a woman (who is not a SIFRI member) who has worked to improve the lives of women and girls through her professional and/or volunteer work assisting women and girls. The program enables local Soroptimist clubs and the Soroptimist organization to thank these women and encourage others to explore ways to assist women and girls. For more information, contact Dana Bune at
sdqsbune [@] rockisland [.] com or 378-0857. Completed applications are due by January 15th, 2014.

The Fellowship Award will be presented to a woman who is returning to school for postgraduate study in an accredited college or university leading to an advanced degree (Masters or Ph.D.) The local winner will receive a scholarship award. Her application will then be submitted to the Northwestern Region of Soroptimist International of the Americas for further consideration of an additional scholarship.

For more information please contact Joyce Sobel at
jsobel [@] rockisland [.] com or 378-4921 or Lenore Bayuk at
bayukll [@] rockisland [.] com or 378-3636. Completed applications are due by January 10, 2014.

To learn more about Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor or to download applications visit www.sifri.org.

Terilyn Brown was at last week’s Eugene Onegin show at the San Juan Community Theater and has this to say about it:

Have to gush …. Sunday we saw the second of the televised in HD Met Opera broadcasts, “Eugene Onegin.” WOW. If you’re not attending you are missing a fabulous treat. These are not your Mother’s opera productions… Singers are svelte and sexy; they have been taught to act for the camera; the costumes are film quality; the voices are easy and unstrained. And the subtitles are minimal and just attend to the story, rather than verbatim.

It’s like seeing a play with music. I worked with the American Opera Program at Juilliard many years ago and things have really changed from when singers were actually encouraged to weigh far too much. Absolutely gorgeous, and the Met orchestra is one of the best in the world. They are using small robotic cameras that put you onstage, up close and personal.

And in almost the first shot of the overture in “Carmen” we saw a familiar face playing the trumpet! The husband of Will’s longtime violin teacher. Do not miss this fabulous opportunity to see and hear!!

Mike Stamper is new Executive Director of The Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross

Mike Stamper has been named Executive Director of The Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross as of September 30, 2013.

The Islands Chapter serves Whidbey, Fidalgo and the San Juan Islands and a small section of La Conner. The Chapter’s main office is in Anacortes at 2900 T Avenue (or PO Box 249) with a satellite facility on the Seaplane Base in Oak Harbor.

Mr. Stamper has been the Fire Chief of Guemes Island since 2008 and has been a fire fighter/EMT in Skagit County since 1993. He replaces the previous chapter director who transferred out of state this summer. Stamper will continue in his role as the Guemes Fire Chief.

“I am very pleased to serve the community in this new capacity with the American Red Cross,” said Stamper. “I have devoted myself to improving emergency response of the citizens of the western part of Skagit County for nearly 20 years. I hope to continue this work for many years to come.” Continue Reading

The Rumor Mill sends this note…

Could you please help us get the word out that we have to cancel this week’s trivia due to a family emergency?
Thanks,
Oren & Peggy

This looks like some good times right here – Kate Schuman writes to let us know what’s happening at the Rumor Mill this week. Check it out…

Click for larger poster

Hi Tim!

Nashville songwriter Bernie Nelson, longtime friend and former bandmate of Tom (Henry) Doenges’, is coming to Friday Harbor this weekend. We’ve put together an evening of great food and music, with the added bonus of special guest Tami Doenges, who won this year’s Relay for Life Idol contest. The fun starts at 7:30 Saturday night at The Rumor Mill. To make a reservation for dinner call 378-5555. Thanks, Tim!

Kate Schuman

The Toybox, San Juan Island’s toy store since 1993, is pleased to announce the addition of two new staff members: Jade Cooper-Yockers and Sabrina Helton.

Owner Nancy Buechner moved to San Juan Island in the 90’s and saw that there was a great need for a store selling quality toys and supplies for all ages. The store was created in 1993 – and Buechner just celebrated her 20th anniversary in the toy business.

Buechner notes, “I’m extremely proud of our new staff members, and excited to continue supplying the island with fun and functional toys, games and supplies for our next twenty years!”

Featuring unique, fun merchandise for every age, the Toybox offers a wide variety of puzzles, games, plush toys, art supplies, educational toys, dolls, and more. For more information, please visit the store at 20 First Street in Friday Harbor, email [email protected], or call: 378-8889.

Jeanine Earnhart sends this note over for this holiday season…

Christmas Elves Needed – This Christmas, there will be a store open for the month of December only. The name of the store is Nana’s Holiday House and will provide a place for “kids only” to do their Christmas shopping. All of the items will be from $1.00 to $10.00. Kids of all ages can come in with their list and purchase special gifts for their families. There will be a wrapping station with helpers and an area where parents can sip cider and munch on baked goods while their kids shop.

You may remember a special gift you bought for your parents when you were a kid, or maybe you’ve been on the receiving end of a handpicked gift from your child. No matter which end you’re on, it feels good, for both parents and kids. Just observing a child watch a parent or sibling opening a special gift from them shows us the lesson they are learning about the joy of giving.

So, you ask… “Where are all these items coming from?” Hopefully YOU! We have asked people in the community to get their creative juices flowing and many are busy making items for the store already. Ornaments, knitted items, creative crafts are being made, as well as items found in the stores for a minimal price. There are lots of kids out there, with lots of people on their lists, and Christmas will be here before we know it. There are ten $5.00 gift certificates at Creative Passions craft store to get you started and they have some good ideas if you need help. Continue Reading