Kevin Holmes was out at Roche Harbor on Saturday and caught this nice rainbow over the marina. Thanks for sharing Kevin!

Roche Harbor Rainbow – Kevin Holmes photo

Popular demand returns Debbie Daniels to the IAL studio for a four week series of classes featuring how to define a focal point of interest, composition and the part it plays in the success of a finished painting, and other related elements of design. The subject matter is applicable to all levels of experience and Debbie works with each individual at the appropriate level for each student.

Monday evenings, 6-9 pm, March 4th through 25th. $114 for Non-members and $89 for IAL Members with their $25 discount. This class is limited to 10 so, if interested, get your check in the mail to Island Arts League, PO Box 1365, Friday Harbor, WA 98250…ASAP. Registration is reserved by postmark date. Questions? Call Dave Price, Ed Director 378-3871 See PDF flyer for more details.

To become a member, please send a $35 check to Island Arts League, Attn: Membership, PO Box 1365 including an email address and phone. To take this class and join IAL the cost is $124 (membership plus member class fee). Questions? Email IslandArtsLeague [@] Gmail.com or call Marie DiCristina, Membership Chair 378-7595.

Change is inevitable, but some things are worth preserving because they tell a story, our story.

The Town of Friday Harbor is looking for an islander who appreciates Friday Harbor’s history and historic sites, and would be willing to serve on the Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB).

Five citizen board members, appointed by the mayor, help to guide the Town and the owners of historic properties toward the common goal of sensitive preservation of historic buildings for contemporary use.

The ideal candidate is someone who values Friday Harbor’s unique sense of place and history, has experience and skills in a field or fields related to preservation, architecture or a related field—and who enjoys public service.

One volunteer position is opening soon and will remain open until filled.

For information about board duties and responsibilities, or to submit a resume, visit www.fridayharbor.org or contact Sandy Strehlou, Historic Preservation Review Board Coordinator, Town of Friday Harbor, 378-2810, sstrehlou [@] fridayharbor.org, or PO Box 219, Friday Harbor.

Annual Native Plant Sale

You can still put your order in for the Master Gardener annual Native Plant Sale! But, you might want to hurry up. Some plants are selling out quickly. Orders are filled on a first come, first serve basis, so don’t procrastinate! Order now for the best selection! Flowering red currant, evergreen huckleberry, salal, shore pine, kinnickinnick mock orange, deer and sword fern are just a few of the plants for sale. The plants are one to two years old, either bare-root or plugs, are conservation stock, not retail nursery stock, and are typically sold in bundles of five plants. Pick up of preordered plants is April 6, 2013 on all islands.

Find the entire list of plants at http://sanjuan.wsu.edu/mastergardeners/.

You can print out an order form to complete and mail to the Master Gardener Program. If you cannot access the Internet, call the WSU Extension Office, 378-4414 and ask that an order form be sent to you. Deadline for ordering is Thursday, March 28, 2013. Plants are available for pick up on Saturday April 6, 2013 at: SJCounty Fairgrounds on San Juan Island, the Orcas Grange on Orcas Island, and Sunset Builders on Lopez Island.
Questions??? Call Kris Bayas, 378-4414 or Jody Burns 378-2780 or email Kris at kbayas [@] wsu.edu.

Spay-ghetti Dinner tonight at the Mullis Center!

Don’t forget… It’s Tonight!

It’s that time of year again! Time for the shelter’s annual “Spay”ghetti Dinner at the Mullis Center! Join us for delicious food, live entertainment and raffle prizes, Tuesday, February 26 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Tickets will be available at the door – $12 for adults and $5 for kids under 10. All proceeds go toward our spay/neuter fund.

If you’d like more information give us a call at 378-2158.

Rosie is this week’s Pet of the Week

Rosie is such a sweet girl – we can’t understand why she has been at the shelter for almost three years!  She is about 7 years old, has lovely manners and is very affectionate.  Although she has been described as “Queen-Sized”, she is still very active and loves to play, although she would certainly benefit from a diet!  She gets along well with other cats and would probably be just fine with well-mannered dogs. She’s watched so many other cats come and go….we know she would love to be the next cat to find her forever home!  Come meet her at 111 Shelter Drive or call 378-2195 for more information.

2nd Annual Table Tennis Tournament coming Mar. 17

Join Island Rec for their second annual table tennis tournament. The tournament will be held in Turnbull Gym, March 17th starting at 11am. The early registration fee is $15.00 until March 7th , $20.00 Thereafter. Prizes will be awarded to top table finishers. Must be 16 or older to play. For more information call 378-4953, visit our website at www.islandrec.org, or stop by the office at 580 Guard St.
Open Monday – Friday 1-5pm.

Children’s Festival Poster Contest

Attention, young artists! Island Rec needs your help to design the poster for this year’s Children’s Festival! Kids of all ages are invited to submit poster designs that incorporate this year’s festival theme:

¡Attention! Creation Zone!

Artworks must be submitted on an official entry form, which can be obtained at Island Rec’s office or at the Elementary School. Poster designs must be returned to Island Rec, 580 Guard Street, by 5pm Thursday, March 21st, 2013 to be considered by our contest judges. In addition to the honor and title of “Official Poster Designer,” the First Place winner will receive a wildlife cruise for four with Western Prince Cruises. Second and Third Place winners will receive gift certificates to The Toy Box and Ositos. Enter for a chance to win!

The 23rd Annual Children’s Festival will take place Saturday, May 4th, 10am-2pm, at the Fairgrounds.

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

Minnie would like to know if you can help out next Saturday, March 2. It is Troop Care Package Collection Day at Market Place. Volunteers sit at the table for a 2 hour shift to help collect money and comfort items for the troops serving overseas. The following shifts are available:

• 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
• 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• 12:00 PM –  2:00 PM
• 2:00 PM –   4:00 PM
• 4:00 PM –   6:00 PM

Give her a call if you’d like to help out:
Minnie Knych
Friday Harbor, WA 98250
360 378-4662 (Office) 360 378-7040 (Home)

And again with the photos from his Fir Island visit last week, here’s one more – this time, swans with a beautiful Mt. Baker backdrop. Almost looks like a painting! Thanks again John!

Swans in Flight and Mt. Baker – John Miller photo

As promised, here’s another beautiful photo from John Miller from last week’s trek over to Fir Island. Thanks John!

Hawk in Flight – Click on image to see it larger – John Miller photo

Joe Cooper of Wolverine Baseball wants to let you know what’s going on with the team and the ball field and how you can help. Here’s Joe with more…

Advertise your business locally and support Wolverine Baseball!

I just wanted to let your readers know what is happening with Friday Harbor Wolverine Baseball. The team is excited to start practice on Monday, February 25 at Hartman Field. The San Juan Baseball Boosters have been hard at work coordinating field improvements over the last year, including new grading of the infield, sod replacement and outfield fence repair. You may notice that there are still advertising spaces available along the outfield fence.

Outfield Fence – click for larger version

This is a great way to augment a limited team budget and to support volunteer efforts to improve and maintain Hartman Field while benefiting from year round local advertising at an affordable price. There is still time to have a sign in place before the first home game, on Saturday March 12! Please contact Joe Cooper at 317-5486 or email at jcpw [@] rockisland . com.

Thanks and Play Ball!
Joe Cooper

These walkers are getting to know their island a little bit better – Louise Dustrude photo

This month’s Know Your Island Walk is this coming Saturday, Feb. 23rd, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, at Jakle’s Lagoon with bird expert Barbara Jensen.

It will be a good one!  Meet at the Jakle’s Lagoon parking lot on Cattle Point Road (part of the American Camp National Historical Park). And please – No dogs this time… Dogs scare birds.

Information at www.sanjuanislandtrails.org.
See you there! Bring binoculars!

It’s good to know these guys are out there working hard night and day all year long watching our back. Sincere thanks to all of them! Cady Davies of SJI EMS sends over this notice of last week’s awards banquet recognizing their efforts:

EMS Award Winners proudly show off their awards

San Juan Island Emergency Medical Services and Medevac just completed another successful year serving the community with a record setting 1572 responses in 2012. In recognition of this community’s medical responders, the annual San Juan Island EMS Awards Banquet was held on February 16, 2013 at the San Juan Island Yacht Club. Over 80 people were in attendance: EMTs, paramedics, nurses, board commissioners, family, friends, and other public safety personnel.

Dan Bacon was awarded three commendations: the first ever, Annual Franklin-Heath Award presented by Roy Franklin’s grandson, Marc Franklin, in recognition of outstanding community service and selfless dedication to emergency medical transport in San Juan County, The Chief’s Award in recognition of Dan’s significant service to the agency, and EMT of the Year, an award decided by a vote of his peers.

Jeremy Talbott was also awarded The EMT of the Year.

Rookie of the Year went to Ron Krebs.

Dr. Michael Sullivan presented Lainey Volk with the San Juan County Medical Program Director (MPD) Award in recognition of her outstanding leadership, dedication and service to San Juan County through involvement with EMS.

Board Commissioner, Dr. Michael Edwards was presented the one time Honorary EMS Assistant Chief Award for his undying support, guidance, and leadership through the many years of active service to EMS.
A special thank you goes out to Gayle Rollins from the San Juan Yacht Club who through his generosity made this delicious event possible.
EMS has already seen a significant increase in call volume so far this year and is working hard to continually improve its service to the community.

Rob Simpson has another one lined up for next Monday night. Here’s Rob with more info:

Next Monday is Conscientious Projector night again at our library.
(February 25,  7:00 PM in the main room)
So, what’s this month’s film about…? Some of the more daring wings of science have been looking into unexplainable things that traditional science chooses to dismiss as anomalies not worthy of attention.

The film is whimsically titled, “Something Unknown… Is Doing We Don’t Know What”

Come join us as science seeks to quantify psychic phenomena.  I’m sure we will have an interesting conversation after seeing this award winning film.

Once again, John Miller supplies a beautiful nature photo – this time: Swans in Flight over on Fir Island.

Swans in Flight – Click image for larger version – John Miller photo