Governor Jay Inslee today announced the award of $86 million in state and federal grants that will build parks and boating facilities, maintain backcountry trails and off-road vehicle access, improve the safety of archery and firearm ranges, conserve farmland and protect wildlife habitat.

The grants, which are awarded through the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, will be given to cities, counties, state and federal agencies, tribes and non-profit organizations for work in 34 of the state’s 39 counties.

“Washington’s outdoors are one of the things that make this state great,” said Gov. Inslee. “Outdoor recreation in Washington contributes more than $11.7 billion annually to our economy, supports 115,000 jobs across the state, draws people from around the world to our mountain tops and shorelines, and is one of the reasons people and businesses move here and stay here. Investing in Washington’s outdoor economy just makes good sense.”

The grants are funded through eight different grant programs that receive money from state and federal sources, including the sale of state bonds, gas taxes, and user fees. The Legislature authorizes funding for all the grants. Continue Reading

Just got this note from Travis Ayers, president of San Juan Soccer :

Hi Tim;

“Commonly Courteous” opens this year’s Music on the Lawn event, on July 10th

It’s time once again for Music on the Lawn, Island Rec’s Annual Free Summer Concert Series and this will be the 13th year of this fun family-friendly event.
Tonight – Wednesday, July 10 from 6:30 -8:15pm, at the San Juan Island Historical Museum, 405 Price Street, it’s Commonly Courteous – a high-energy, rhythm rock, soul, funk trio led by competition-winning songwriter/lyricist and nylon-string guitar extraordinaire, John Rankin. This group effortlessly blends fast-paced and upbeat rhythms with a sultry, authentic, soul-driven sound that is guaranteed to charm your senses Go to www.islandrec.org or call Island Rec at 378-4953 for more information. Bring a picnic dinner. Pets and alcohol are not permitted. Sponsored by IPS, Islander’s Insurance and Families and Neighbors support Island Rec (FANS).

Summer programs are underway but don’t miss out, there is still time to register for Skyhawks Sports Camps. Skyhawks is designed for kids to explore movement, hand/eye coordination, and skill development at their own pace. This year Skyhawks and Island Rec are offering Cheerleading, Tennis, Mini-Hawks and Basketball! Camp dates are July 29-August 2, $119

For more information or to register visit our website at www.islandrec.org or visit our office at 580 Guard St, Monday – Friday 1-5pm.

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Foxhall Neighborhood multi-household sale, Saturday July 13 from 8 am until 12 noon. Lawn mower, boat fenders, sewing machine, books, toys, children’s and adults’ clothing, household goods, miscellaneous.

Be sure to drive all the way around the loop to check out all the sales. Lots of great finds in Foxhall!

Meet Ruby! She’s a six-year old Beagle with a wonderful personality and so much love to give! She gets along very well with other dogs and cats and would make a great companion and family member. We think she’d be happiest in a fairly quiet, adult home as she lived with older folks for the first part of her life. True to her breed, she is likely to want to follow her nose, so she’ll need to live in a home with a fenced yard. She’s a bit on the chubby side, so will also need frequent walks and plenty of exercise. Come meet Ruby soon! 111 Shelter Drive.

Two island musicians and two different styles of music shine during San Juan Community Theatre’s Night Music Summer Concert Series on Thursday, July 11.

Guitarist and singer/songwriter Jan Zurcher and Irish music specialist Dan Paulson will each perform during the concert inside the intimate Gubelman Theatre.

Zurcher—who has written musicals for SJCT’s Playwrights Festival—will share some of the more than 1,000 songs she’s written, many of them folk-based.

Paulson, co-founder of the popular Friday Harbor Irish Music Camp for the past 13 years, will perform songs from Ireland as well as songs of the sea on the guitar and Irish bouzouki. He will also perform on the traditional Irish wooden flute, playing several sets of Irish dance tunes with Daniel Finn on fiddle.

The series continues weekly through August 8 (each Thursday with the exception of Friday, July 19), with a variety of musical styles showcased. The live music starts at 8:00 p.m., with a social hour in the Steele Memorial Garden (complete with special chocolate desserts, wine and beer available for purchase) from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Each evening is limited to 70 guests; all tickets are $10 each per concert.

The Business Partner for the series is Islanders Bank. The SJCT Box Office is open Tuesdays-Fridays, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturdays 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and one hour before any performance. Call 360-378-3210, or surf to www.sjctheatre.org.

Friday Harbor Film Festival now has a downtown location located at 10 First Street ironically in the old King’s video store, thanks to one of our sponsors King’s Market. The Film Festival was even able to recycle the original King’s Video sign. The Film Festival office will try to be open most days 12 noon – 5 pm. Because the Film Festival is a 100% volunteer run office & event we need volunteers to help us in the office as well as during the festival. If you would like to volunteer to be involved & join the fun please call (360) 298-1939 or email Gail our new volunteer coordinator at [email protected].

One of the current duties in our office is selling Raffle Tickets to win a Pedego Electric Bike, courtesy of one of our sponsors Pedego Friday Harbor, located at Surina Business Park. The drawing will occur on Oct 13, the last night of the Film Festival. Other duties include just being a friendly presence when visitors stop by, answer questions, encourage returning in Oct. to attend the FHFF. We also plan to host movie night with free popcorn on Wed in our small screening room, starting July 24. The plan is to show documentaries that are appropriate to our theme of Stories of the Pacific Rim.

The FHFF also plans to host a booth at the SJC fair so we can share more information about the FF and offer discount coupons for the FF to residents of SJC.

To date the FHFF has gotten commitments from over 25 quality documentary films from all over the Pacific Rim. Many filmmakers plan to attend to introduce their films and share in Q & A after the films screens. Please check out our web site for updates as to what films are coming www.fhff.org.

Aaron D’Errico’s dreams are on the move!

Pretty cool when you have a dream (as reported here last week), and you have a Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer like Pat O’Day behind you. The TV station did a nice story about Aaron, his background, his challenges, and what he has ahead. This is awesome….check it out!

Here’s the video from the Q13 report – and it’s inspiring!

Way to go, Aaron! We’re proud of you!

Have you been to the new Sushi Bar? If not you really should check it out – It looks like a real first class operation. It’s called Tops’l and it’s upstairs above Cask & Schooner.

I popped in there last weekend when sushi chefs Kazu and Yuki were preparing for the grand opening and they were kind enough to let me snap some pics to share with you.

The whole place has been remodeled and looks a lot different now from when we last played Music Trivia there several years ago.

This is them taking a quick break from their work to smile for my camera:

Kazu and Yuki preparing for the Tops’l grand opening last weekend

And as I was shooting the Tops’l sign down below on the sidewalk, Shanna invited me into the Schooners North office and showed me around a bit, and gave me a small history lesson. I didn’t realize it, and this may be old news to you, but the Spike Africa schooner down at Spring Street Landing, the Cask and Schooner restaurant, and the Tops’l sushi bar, are all part of Schooners North.

The Spike Africa is being restored and owner Gary Gero says that it is very expensive, but he doesn’t want to have to rely on donations or grants or things like that. Instead he wants it to pay for itself. So the tours and cruises they offer on that beautiful old schooner are doing just that. As well as some of the profits from the restaurant and sushi bar.

What’s also pretty cool is that their office is built as an exact replica of the interior of the wheelhouse of the the Nereid, a beautiful old fish packer that used to ply these waters years ago. (You can see a painting of Nereid on the side of the Ace Hardware building in one of the murals mounted there). I really miss that old boat so it was really nice to “step inside her wheelhouse” for a few minutes. If you’re not going to be near Ace Hardware anytime soon, you can see a photo of her here. Just scroll down a bit and you’ll see her tied up at the old cannery.

Shanna Quigley gives a quick tour and history lesson of the Nereid wheelhouse and office for Schooners North

2013 has been a critical year for Cattle Point Road. In the past six months, the Final Environmental Statement (FEIS) was approved, design funds were identified and most recently, $5.5 million in federal construction funding has been awarded.

Last month, both the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the National Park Service (NPS) approved the FEIS by filing the Record of Decision (ROD) in the federal register. The ROD is the culmination of the process which began in 2004 to analyze the potential environmental consequences of four road realignment alternatives.

A 500-foot stretch of Cattle Point Road is threatened by an eroding feeder bluff which is less than 70 feet from the edge of the road. Failure of the road would eliminate access to the eastern portion of the San Juan Island National Historical Park at American Camp, the San Juan Islands National Monument (the lighthouse), Department of Natural Resources Conservation Area and 270 residents of Cape San Juan. Continue Reading

Just a quick note to let you know that the Port of Friday Harbor Commission will hold a Special Meeting on Wednesday, July 10th due to a Commissioner scheduling conflict for the following week. This meeting will take place at 4pm at Ernie’s Café. The agenda will be published on the Port’s web site by July 9th.

(Edit > An additional Saturday (Aug. 3rd) has been added to the program since this story was first posted)

Soroptimists International of Friday Harbor is teaming up with the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutriton Program this summer to provide fruits and vegetables for island families.

The WIC program is administered through the San Juan County Health and Community Services  and has funds to provide thirty families with checks for $20 to buy fresh fruits and vegetables this summer. The Soroptimists have pledged to provide funds to double those vouchers to $40 each and further to provide funds for $40 vouchers for another forty-five families, bringing the number of families served to seventy-five.

The vouchers will be available Saturday, July 13, Saturday, July 27 and Saturday, August 3 at the Farmers’ Market at the Brickworks in Friday Harbor from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at a WIC/Soroptimist booth. The vouchers can be spent at the Farmer’s Market any Saturday this summer and will help support local farms.

Soroptimists International, www.sifri.org, is a service club  with the mission to improve the lives and opportunities for women and girls in local communities and around the world. The Washington WIC program does not discriminate.

Lots of folks have their own angle on the Fourth….Josie & I came over for the holiday (it’s a holiday week, with Canada Day last Monday for a long weekend, as folks say in Canada) & it was great to get out all over the island & see people, swapping stories & hugs & lots of smiles…. here’s a little bit to share of a beautiful sunny day…great to see you!

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Arrrrgh! There be pirates, in the parade on the Fourth! And they snagged the Judges’ Choice award in the parade….

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Longtime islander Sam Buck (with Barbara) served as the parade’s Grand Marshall for 2013.

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The American Legion’s Uncle Sam made an impressive appearance again this year….

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The Community Band…awesome again this year!

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Tim Lance (on mike) and the Tease fired up the crowd at the Pig War Picnic…..

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The log rolling contest was an all-age affair, as sisters Soma & Fela square off at Roche Harbor’s festivities.

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Smiling in the Fourth of July sun, as Lindsay takes the family picture at Roche Harbor.

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Two Oil Painting Classes coming up soon!

Island Arts League is pleased to announce two art courses with two wonderful local artist-instructors: Taylor Bruce and Debbie Daniels. If you have been wanting to learn to paint or just improve your skills one of these classes is for you!

Debbie Daniels is offering Plein Air in Oil Painting on Mondays, July 8th through July 29nd. There are four sessions at Non-members: $36 per session or $125 for all sessions. IAL Members: $30 per session, $100 for all sessions. The four class sessions will be at various beautiful outdoor locations around San Juan Island. Click here to see flyer with detailed information. Registration must be received by July 6.

Taylor Bruce is teaching Portrait Painting to beginning and intermediate oil painters. The classes are Sundays, 1:30 – 4pm from July 14th through September 1st at a studio in Friday Harbor. Cost for the eight classes is $275 for non-members and $250 for IAL members (includes model’s fee). Click here to see flyer with detailed information. Registration check must be received by July 10.

Membership with Island Arts League is $35 and provides discounts on all classes. IAL is a non-profit organization with a mission of providing art education to San Juan Island. Mail checks to Island Arts League, P O Box 1365, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Don’t miss out, sign up today.

For more information email [email protected]. Currently, IAL is seeking volunteers to assist the organization. If you have a little time to give this worthy organization (do not need to be an artist) please contact Membership Chair Marie 360-378-7595 or President Roxanne 360-510-0533.

Happy painting!

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Island Arts League
P O Box 1365
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

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WSU Extension is proud to welcome the newest class of WSU Master Gardeners! 33 participants from Orcas, Lopez and San Juan Island completed the 8 week training, and received over 60 hours of instruction on home horticulture. WSU Master Gardeners are available on all islands to answer questions about composting, plant problem diagnosis, and general home horticulture inquiries. They can be contacted through WSU Extension at 378-4414.