Re-posted with this correction: The $200 prize mentioned is for the Best Vintage Car or Truck.

Announcing the theme of the 2013 4th of July Parade

Unpack your poodle skirts and dust off those saddle shoes! Pam and Lin Pearson of Petro San Juan, longtime volunteer organizers of the San Juan Island 4th of July parade, announce that the parade theme this year is The Fabulous Fifties!

“We’re offering a $200 grand prize for the best vintage car or truck,” says Pam, who said she is looking forward to lots of men in white T-shirts (with or without a pack of Lucky Strikes tucked into the rolled-up sleeve), vintage cars and rock n’ roll music. We’re hoping to get lots of 1950s cars in the parade this year. The entry fee is only $20…Spread the word!

Please visit Petro San Juan at 605 Mullis Street (phone 378-5122) or the Chamber of Commerce office at 135 Spring Street (phone 378-5240) for your application to join in this fun parade.

(2013 Parade Marshall to be announced later. Stay tuned!)

Coho Restaurant, 120 Nichols Street, is hosting the next “Yappy Hour“, Thursday, April 4th and we know you won’t want to miss it! The fun starts at 4:30 and goes until 6:00 and as always, a generous portion of your bill will be donated to the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor.

Owner Dave plans to mix up some fun cocktails and Chef Bill will be cooking up some delicious “yappetizers” named after some beloved 4 legged friends.

Mix….Mingle….enjoy an evening with friends and help our fur-friends at the shelter at the same time!

Melanie Wilson sent this photo and description to share with you:

I just had to share this photo of my almost 2 year old daughter Kyra. She insisted on giving the Easter Bunny a hug. She ran right up to him to hug him and didn’t want to let go! When I finally got her away she didn’t want to share him with anyone and hugged him a second time. The Easter bunny was a good sport and just let her do it! Photo by Jane Buck.

Kyra gives big Easter Hugs – Jane Buck photo

Concert & Workshop with American Folk Duo

Jay Ungar & Molly Mason will be at the Community Theater this Saturday

From appearances on A Prairie Home Companion to creating the theme of the landmark PBS documentary, The Civil War, Jay Ungar & Molly Mason may just be one of the most celebrated duos on the American acoustic music scene.

The folk duo takes the stage at San Juan Community Theatre on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. and holds a pre-concert free music workshop with the island’s own Mike Vouri and Mike Cohen at 2:00 p.m. at the Theatre. Continue Reading

Easter Sunday at Jackson’s Beach

Sheila Harley, formerly of the American Red Cross, but now the Public Information Officer of San Juan Fire and Rescue sends us this account of their 27th Annual Easter Egg Hunt at Jackson’s Beach:

A dozen firefighters helped dozens of children dye 100 dozen eggs one half dozen colors on Friday in preparation for the annual San Juan Fire Rescue Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013.

On Easter Sunday, a beautiful, warm, sunny day, another dozen firefighters helped the six foot six Easter Bunny hide the red, green, yellow, blue, orange and pink eggs among the logs at Jackson’s Beach.

Eggs could have been hidden in any of dozens of places

At 1:00 PM the fire ladder truck horn blew and thirty dozen children from ages 1 through 12 (a dozen), clutching their baskets, began their hunt for over a thousand hidden eggs. (If you are counting, some got cracked during preparation).

Hunting for dozens of eggs

Before too long, those eager hunters were lined up at the prize station to collect some of the many prizes donated by Friday Harbor Drug, Ositos, The Thrift House, the San Juan Firefighters Association, private prize donors, and Walmart.

Now the hard part – choosing from all the cool prizes available

Friday Harbor Seafoods owner Eric Wagner inspects a live dungeness crab, one of many fresh seafood choices he and his wife Brenda offer at their floating store at Friday Harbor Marina

The floating seafood place down there at the Port docks is open! Head down the main pier, down the gangplank and hang a hard left. You can’t miss ’em. They typically have fresh halibut, salmon, steelhead, crab, shellfish, as well as seasonings, recipe ideas, canned goods and more. You won’t be disappointed. 378-5779

San Juan Island Fitness is happy to team up with the American Red Cross to offer a new blended learning lifeguarding course that combines on-line training with classroom and in-pool skills sessions.

• Lifelong lifesaving skils
• Hands-on training
• Certification in as little as 24 hours of training
• American Red Cross certification – a name employers know and trust

Contact Amy Wynn at 378-4449 or swim [@] sanjuanislandfitness.com for details on prerequisites, class dates and course fees.

Volunteer Docent/Greeter Orientation

San Juan Historical Museum Resource Center

Saturday, April 6 from 1:00 – 2:00 pm

San Juan Historical Museum Greeters/Docents are needed for the spring & summer seasons.
Currently they are needed for Saturdays in April from 1 – 4 pm.
Beginning in May  and going through September, docents are needed Wednesdays through Saturdays
10 am – 4pm and Sundays 1 – 4 pm.
Shifts are normally 3 hours: 10 am – 1 pm and 1pm – 4 pm, but we can be flexible with your time.
Please consider contributing your time to a great cause. You’ll meet visitors from all over and learn a lot about our fascinating history!

Please contact the museum for further information at (360) 378-3949 or museum_admin [@] sjmuseum.org

Alice Hurd shares this gorgeous sunrise over a placid Friday Harbor in the early mist of Saturday morning. Thanks Alice!

“Sunrise” – Alice Hurd photo

Please join Lanie Volk EMS CPR Instructor, Dr. Greg Ayers, and Bob Jarman for tips to help save a life.

Course will be held at the Friday Harbor American Legion basement, between 2 pm and 4 pm, on Sunday, April 7th.

The San Juan Island School District today announced the hiring of Diane Ball to become the Principal at Friday Harbor Elementary School.

Diane was chosen from a pool of 25 qualified applicants. A search committee comprised of staff members, administrators, and a community member interviewed nine semi-finalists. Diane spent the whole day in district on March 28, and competed for the position with two other finalists.

Based on the interviews, information from references, and input from process participants, Diane was offered the position and has enthusiastically accepted.

Diane will begin her new assignment July 1.

Kevin Holmes captured this great shot of an eagle over the weekend. Thanks for sharing Kevin!

“Downdraft” – Kevin Holmes photo

Koko is this week’s Pet of the Week

Meet Koko, who recently lost her home due to allergies in her previous family.  Koko is about 8 years old, and as you can tell from her photo, is a bit “plump”.  She’d love to find a home where she could get some much-needed exercise and TLC in the form of a sensible diet plan.  She loves everyone – and so far everyone who has met her thinks she’s pretty great, too.  She gets along very well with other dogs and cats and has never met a person she didn’t like.  We think she would prefer living in a home where she wouldn’t be left alone for long periods of time, as she is such a social girl.  Stop by the Animal Shelter to meet this very special girl – 111 Animal Shelter Road or give us a call (360) 378-2158.

Island Rec is currently seeking volunteers to help out with the 23rd Annual Children’s Festival. They’ve got a great line-up of entertainments and activity providers to reflect this year’s festival theme: ¡Attention! Creation Zone! Still needed are lots of volunteers to help this event run smoothly.

Many hands make light work and there are many ways to help out, whether for the whole day or even just an hour or two. Able bodies are needed for set up and decorations before the festival; parking attendants, face-painters, clean-up crew, and other helpers for during and after the event. It’s a great way to support programs for kids & families in the community and it promises to be a lot of fun too!

Youth volunteers can also earn Dollars for Scholars credit!
The Children’s Festival happens Saturday, May 4th from 10am-2pm at the Fair Building. Those interested in volunteering are urged to contact Sally Thomsen, Recreation Director, at 378-4953 or play [@] islandrec.org.

The San Juan Island Community Foundation announces the availability of a variety of scholarship opportunities to assist high school graduates and adults wishing to continue their education at accredited colleges and universities, community and two-year colleges, and in accredited career and vocational training programs.

Applications, instructions and deadlines can be found on the Foundation’s web site: www.sjicf.org. Continue Reading

Marisa puts the finishing touches on a Chocolate Mint Chip ice cream cone

Yup. It’s that time of year – it’s beginning to get warmer; the days are getting longer; visitors are beginning to show up on the weekends. And best of all… The Ice Cream store is open for the season! Wahoo!

Marisa and Rosie Forgie arre the smiling faces you’ll see at the Ice Cream Store

You know the place – down there by the ferry landing on Front Street. Right now, starting off the season, they have 22 flavors. If that’s not good enough for you, come back in a month and they’ll have 72 flavors! That should satisfy even the most discerning ice cream connoisseur. So drop by, get your ice cream fix, and say hi to Marisa and Rosie.