In case you didn’t get to the photo exhibit at the Fair every day, here is a quick rundown of the People’s Choice winners for each day:

Day One was Jillian Urbach’s photo of the ferris wheel on the Seattle Waterfront:

Day Two was Monica Von Apple-Percich’s photo of the rainbow over the ferry entering Friday Harbor

Day Three was Chris Teren’s star trails over northern lights

Day Four was Danny Herbert’s shot of Grandma’s Cove and South Beach

Stillpoint School is pleased to announce that we have received Washington State approval to enroll students from kindergarten through sixth grade for the 2013-2014 school year. Stillpoint School is the only State approved private elementary school on San Juan Island, and has been so for the past six years.

To receive State approval, a school must meet strict standards concerning curriculum, teacher certification, health and safety conditions, and other requirements to demonstrate our ability to provide a quality education for our students. Applications for State approval are reviewed by the Washington State Board of Education, which has issued Stillpoint School a Certificate of Private School Approval for “having met all the conditions specified” in State law for private schools.

Students who are not home schooled are required by State law to be enrolled in a public school or a State approved private school.

For more information about a Stillpoint education, or to arrange a school tour, please call the school at 360-378-2331 (during the summer months, when the school is not in session, messages are checked regularly), email stillpointschool  [@] rockisland [.] com, or visit our website at www.stillpointschool.org. Stillpoint School is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit school. Donations to the school or to the Sally W. Bryan Scholarship Fund are fully tax deductible.

Just got this notice from Lori at Humpback Hauling –

The Barbeque Dinner tonight at the fair, which is normally a fund raiser for Purple and Gold is now a FUND RAISER FOR THE EMPLOYEES OF DOWNRIGGERS.

The Fair website says tonight’s BBQ is Steak Dinner served with Baked Potato, Caesar Salad, Roll and Lemonade
$20.00

Starts at 4:30.

Note this is at the main BBQ place by the Boy Scout building.

So sad to see this decades old island landmark looking like this – Tim Dustrude photo

Diane Ludeman photo – Click for larger image

Diane Ludeman photo – Click for larger image

Fire Update (see story below for previous coverage)

The cause of the fire has not been determined yet. Good news is, no one was hurt.

The Anacortes Fire Department arrived at about 8 a.m. Saturday with an engine and 4 firefighters and a command rig with a duty officer. They will be on call at the Mullis Street Fire Station in case of another call for an emergency while our firefighters, along with Lopez and Orcas firefighters, work at the scene.

San Juan EMS has been providing rehab support for our firefighters during the course of the fire.

For more information, call Carolyn Hudson at the Fire Dept: 378-5334 ext. 5

San Juan Island Fire & Rescue was dispatched to a fully involved structure fire at 10 Front Street, a building with several businesses including Downriggers Restaurant at 2:40 a.m. Saturday.

About 25 firefighters continued to fight the fire at 6 a.m. to keep it contained to that building.

Other businesses in that building include Friday Harbor Marine, Friday Harbor Yachts, San Juan Safaris and San Juan Excursions.

The Port will seek other places for those businesses to establish their operations. For instance, the Odyssey, San Juan Excursions whale watch boat, has been moved to a different slip.

Port Director Marilyn O’Connor said the Port of Friday Harbor is evacuating Spring Street Pier, one of four piers, so that booms can be placed to minimize any potential runoff from attacking the fire.

While firefighters continue to fight the blaze, boaters staying in the Port will need to take the stairs above the Port offices to access the Town of Friday Harbor.

The first ferry of the morning made two added stops to pick up firefighters from Orcas and Lopez islands to help fight the fire. The first sailing will be about 30 minutes late as a result. Ferry off-loading will occur on East Street.

If you lost your Season ticket to the Fair, a pink Vendor Pass with your name written on it and Saturday still un-used… it was found in the empty field next to FH Marketplace. I’m taking it to the ticket booth and leaving it with them.

Once again, just a few more faces from the Fair on Friday. (click on any of them to see larger)…

Mariah and Marie picking up a light snack at the food court

Shannon demonstrates how I look when I eat

Kevin Roth finally gets a break as the day draws to a close

Dan Miller is always quick with a smile and a friendly hello.

Island Rec is pleased to announce the premiere season of Movies in the Park – a FREE outdoor movie series made possible by FANS. Come enjoy the open air cinema each Saturday evening in September at Sunken Park. Bring blankets or chairs and a picnic dinner if you wish. Popcorn & refreshments will be available at the FANS snack booth. Here’s a look at the line-up:

Sat, Sept 7th: “The Princess Bride” (PG) – Action, adventure, and romance combine in this classic fairytale love story. With an all-star cast of giants, pirates, swordsmen, a wicked prince and one beautiful princess, this is an “inconceivably” good family film.

Sat, Sept, 14th: “The Incredibles” (PG) – Suburban life heats up quickly for a family of undercover superheroes in this Pixar animated film. Springing into action to save the day from an evil villain, the Incredibles are sure to amuse the kid in all of us.

Sat, Sept 21st: “Waking Ned Devine” (PG) – The fate of a small Irish town takes an interesting twist when a villager wins the lottery. Hilarity ensues as townsfolk conspire to claim the winnings. All are sure to enjoy this witty, charming comedy.

Sat, Sept 28th: “Grease” (PG-13) – Good girl Sandy and bad-boy Danny fell in love over the summer. Watch their romance unfold in the hallways of Rydell High in this classic movie musical. Sing-alongs are welcome!

Movies begin at dusk. Plan to arrive early for fun games and contests! Movie-themed costumes are encouraged! No pets or alcohol please.

For more information, call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org

Just got this message from Jan Murphy over at the Animal Shelter:

Have you ween Turtle?  She belongs at the animal shelter and we are missing her!

Please call 378-2158!

 Skagit Valley College’s San Juan Center will re-open after summer break on Monday, August 19th for admissions, registration, and advising processing and support. New and continuing students can register for Fall Quarter classes and workshops at the San Juan Center now.

Students can earn Academic Transfer degrees, career training, computer workshops and community education courses all here on San Juan Island. Fall Quarter offerings include English Composition, Health and Wellness, Math, and Science. In addition, students can study anytime, anywhere with online courses from a variety of disciplines through the eLearning program.

Prospective students can call for an appointment with San Juan Center Advisor/Counselor Sandy Harold. Sandy is available to assist any potential student with guidance through the admissions and registration processes, as well chart and plan an educational journey. Interested students can apply and register in person or by phone the San Juan Center in Friday Harbor at (360) 378-3220.

Helen from Island Stage Left, wants you to know:

Just today (Friday), Saturday and Sunday left for “The Taming of the Shrew“.

8:00 pm at 1062 Wold Road!

Come again or for the first time. Bring friends and family and warm clothes!

(The weather looks as if it will clear up for picnics, too)

This is pretty cool, check it out…

Hello, my name is Carter, and I represent the newly formed SJI Makers. Since the middle of June, we have been trying to see what interest there is on this island for a sort of Tool Library or Community Workshop like so many other places have. We’ve been trying to get the word out as we started gathering other resources.

Idea:  Our goal/dream is to give anyone on the island access to tools, equipment, instruction, and workspace in the form of a general purpose Community based workshop. Eventually, we want to include everything from woodworking and mechanics, to sewing and pottery.

Read more on their Mission Statement. And be sure to stop by and say Hi at the Fair near the Trash to Treasures booth.

After two months of sunshine, dawn broke grey and wet on Saturday, August 10 for the 43rd Shaw Island Classic sailboat race. Hosted by the San Juan Island Yacht Club, this race is unique in that Shaw Island is the only mark and can be rounded in either direction. It’s only a 13-mile course, but traditionally light winds and tricky currents turn it into a nautical chess game more often than not.

It was an “either way” race this year, but you wouldn’t know that from the start. Fifty-two boats ghosted over the starting line in light winds, with slower divisions starting at 1200 followed by the faster divisions at 1215. After clearing the harbor most of the fleet picked up the southeast eight knot wind on a port tack and headed counterclockwise for Upright Channel. Only three boats chose to sail clockwise on a run up San Juan Channel. Continue Reading

Don’t forget, the Art Market is going on today too.

Here’s a great shot of a girl covered in suds at the Fair – Kevin Holmes photo

And if you haven’t stopped by Jenn Rigg’s Loea Design shirt booth yet, you gotta check this out:

And look at Chris Teren’s nighttime photo of the Zipper! See more of his stuff at TerenPhotography.com. Some great photography over there. Thanks for sharing Chris!

The Zipper at night. Click to see it bigger – Chris Teren photo

It was great to run into islander Alice Hurd on the ferry to BC – with her was Joe Ngo, who plays Hortensio in this summer’s Island Stage Left production of “The Taming of the Shrew,” which has its final weekend this weekend at Wold Road. Don’t miss it!

It was cool to get a chance to drop by the island for the past few days – during the visit, I ran into folks who had stories to share. Here’s a quick rundown:

Janet & Merritt, in Friday Harbor a few weeks ago…. (Photo by Ian Byington)

Last month, Merritt & Janet Olsen came back to the island to visit, so it wasn’t too surprising to run into them at the Community Theatre – they’ve been in South Dakota since June a year ago, but you could tell they were happy to see everyone on the island…good to see them, too!

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I love what former islander Paige Schmidt (FHHS ’06; UW ’10) posted the other day:

Some 440 photos grace the Fairgrounds’ Building’s photo display – be sure & drop by & see it! (Photo by Ian Byington)

just looking at kay nielsen’s illustrations for ‘east of the sun and west of the moon.’ wow. i wouldn’t want to live in a world without artists!

I couldn’t agree more…I got the chance to help out on Tuesday with the photo exhibit in the middle of the Fairgrounds Building, and it was great to spend the day saying “Wow!”

There are pictures by folks from all the islands, of all ages (the kids are taking some great ones these days), of all sizes…you’re going to love seeing how much talent there is, all in one place. When everything was done, over 440 framed photos were hung.

So – I agree with Paige. These artists with cameras have shared magic…check it out!

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Darryl Swenson flew by Mount Rushmore three weeks ago on his way home – he flew his plane from Washington state all the way to eastern Canada (Prince Edward Island) and came back home over the USA, some six or seven thousand miles total, he tells me.

Jonah!

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Three days ago, we got a new islander, as Katie Fleming & Jesse Visciglia welcomed Jonah Patrick. He was born on Tuesday, August 13th at 3:30 pm (7 lbs. 5 oz.).

Everybody’s healthy and happy to be at home relaxing!

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This is the 40th year! Kris Brown has a way for you to help remember island football: 

SUPPORT FRIDAY HARBOR HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL!: Be a part of the 40 Year Celebration Commemorative Program! We still have black and white banner ad space available or can talk to you about other advertising options. See this link for details of banner sizes and their cost: To pay on-line go to www.purplegoldfh.org or you can also bring your form, ad copy/picture, to Printonyx with your payment.