Let’s take a look around our little town….

• You know that when a performer is doing a mike check before singing, they check to see how loud it is by saying “1-2-1-2-1-2….”

That’s kinda like the date, today: 12/12/12.

On Saturday!

• This weekend, it’s a good time to get your skates – here’s more from Kathy Kromer:

Family and Neighbors Support Island Rec (FANS) will be giving away dozens of pairs of roller skates to anyone who wants to rollers skate.   Skates size range from kids through adults and all are in good working condition! The give away takes place on Saturday December 15 from 10am-noon on a first come first serve basis at Island Rec’s office at 580 Guard Street.  Doors open early at 9:30am for FAN Club members.

FANS was established in the spring of 2012 and is an organization with a mission to enhance park and recreation facilities and programs for San Juan Island residents by promoting goodwill and broadening the funding base of San Juan Island Park and Recreation District.

With new skates in hand you will want to head to Island Rec’s Open Skate night held each Saturday night 7-8:30pm in the Fair Building!

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Thursday night!

• On Thursday night, Charles Goodman will be speaking at Lavendera Massage Center – this is a very special event  – here’s the scoop (with a quick side thought: you know, a certificate for a massage sure is an awesome present….had you thought about that?) :

Charles Goodman
December 13  •  Free Lecture at Lavendera • 6:30 – 8 p.m.

In order for us to be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually healthy, we must each first understand ourselves as unique. There are, however, underlying principles to guide us in this path of self discovery and self healing. These principles were discovered in India more than 5,000 years ago. This ancient wisdom, as true today as then, will be true even 5,000 years from now. This “science of life” is called Ayurveda.

Charles trained for five years under Dr. Vasant Lad at The Ayurvedic Institute. He graduated first in class and was subsequently appointed to teach courses in pulse diagnosis. He was named Dr. Lad’s clinical associate, and served for two years as Chief Administrator of The Institute. In 1988 he founded and was editor-in-chief of Ayurveda Today, the first journal of Ayurvedic medicine published in the U.S.

Charles entered private practice in 1991 working peripatetically in Seattle, Portland, Lucknow (India) and……Friday Harbor. In 1998 he moved with his wife, Jivan, to her native Brazil where they worked for 15 years together to help bring Ayurveda to that country. Returning to Friday Harbor in 2011, Charles now counsels individuals in how to use the knowledge of Ayurveda for improving all aspects of life, principally through the use of diet, herbs, meditation and other techniques for personal development and self discovery.

In this seminar Charles will explain the basics of Ayurveda and then demonstrate the process of assessing individual constitution, determining present imbalances, and planning a program for self healing through the use of diet and herbs tailored to individual needs.

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You’re invited to Be Chic’s annual Christmas party from 5-8pm on Thursday! Drop by!

• Also on Thursday night, a number of stores downtown are staying open till 7pm for your shopping convenience…that includes Be Chic Boutique‘s annual Christmas party, with food & drink & deals on clothes from 5-8pm on Thursday night – drop by!

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• We had the highest voting percentage in the state last month – again! County Auditor Milene Henley has more:

The San Juan County Canvassing Board has certified the results of the November general election in San Juan County.  Voter turnout in the county was 89.39% – less than the 91.49% turnout in the 2008 Presidential election, but once again the highest in the State.

County Auditor Milene Henley said that the three significant charter propositions, three Council member elections, a local citizen initiative, and the state referendum on same-sex marriage all helped to turn out the vote.  She also suggested that the marijuana initiative may have further encouraged a high voter turnout.

Janna & Liz

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• In the wake of the election last week, Liz Illg & Janna Gingras‘ 2003 marriage in British Columbia is now legal in the state of Washington – congratulations to them! The couple have been together for 27 years….

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• Meanwhile, the new election process for County Council is underway….here’s how it works (from the County news page):

A special filing period for candidates for three new Council positions will be held December 12 through 14.   The three positions are:  Council Residency District 1 (San Juan Island and surrounding smaller islands); Council Residency District 2 (Orcas Island, Waldron Island, Blakely Island, and surrounding smaller islands); and Council Residency District 3 (Lopez Island, Shaw Island, Decatur Island, and surrounding smaller islands).

Positions for which more than two candidates file will be narrowed to two candidates in a county-wide “primary” election held February 12.  The winners of that election, plus the candidates for any positions for which two or fewer candidates file, will be elected in a county-wide “general” election held April 23

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Start…smart!

• Get the kids ready for sports – and sign up now! Here’s more from Morgan at Island Rec: 

Want to learn the basics in teaching your little ones skills that will help in organized sports? Start Smart is designed as a parent/toddler class for ages 3-5.  Together you and your child will learn throwing, catching, batting, and kicking, in their most basic form.

Early registration deadline is January 2nd, $30.00.  This class will be Saturdays at 9:30am beginning January 12 for 6 weeks.

To view a full schedule of our programs or to register online please visit our website at www.IslandRec.org, or our office at 580 Guard St.  Monday – Friday 1-5pm.

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• Rosa Blair tells me the Spring Street Performance Troupe is on tonight at Pablito’s at 6:30:

The bright and broad-minded musicians of Spring Street School present a concert of original music and covers of: Alicia Keys • Ed Sheeran • Jack’s Mannequin • Rage Against the Machine • George Gershwin! and many more! Come hear them, eat snacks, and enjoy life! All ages… doors open at 6:30, Music at 7.

Shel

I taught junior high for years in one phase of my life, and one of the things the kids & I did was memorize poems…both they & I liked it that some of the poems were so short that we COULD remember them, and so we found ourselves repeating them when we needed them.

It is a core belief that I have: Everyone needs a poem in their head for the things that come along in life.

So, here’s a poem for this morning – one of my favorites, by Shel Silverstein:

Listen to Mustn’ts, child, listen to the Don’ts.
Listen to the Shouldn’ts, the Impossibles, the Won’ts.
Listen to the Never Haves, then listen close to me.
Anything can happen, child, anything can be.

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And if you want a singalong, here we go, with Donovan:

This just in:

SJCT Needs a Man! San Juan Community Theatre is seeking a man (25-60) for a major role in the play Souvenir.   The role requires expert piano skills and involves a substantial portion of the lines in this hilarious and poignant portrait of Florence Foster Jenkins.  (Jenkins was the inept coloratura heiress whose legendary lack of vocal talent resulted in a sold-out Carnegie Hall performance in 1944–her story is told through the eyes of her piano accompanist, Cosme McMoon).

To schedule an audition during the month of December 2012, please call Joy Van Camp @378-5753 or email arb [at] interisland dot net.

This past weekend, the tide was quite high at Roche Harbor, with the water splashing over the sidewalk (Kevin Holmes sent over this picture he took, and said this was as the water was going down….)

Let’s take a look around our island…..

• You may notice that there was no pet of the week this week….that’s because I asked Jan at the Animal Shelter if they had any armadillos or raccoons, and they’re looking for some. mostly to diversify.

I’ll get back to you how this unfolds. That would be pet of the MONTH.

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• Mike Vouri tells us that Ron Garner was picked as Volunteer of the year – here’s why:

Ron Garner

Ron Garner named Volunteer of the Year

Long-time San Juan Island NHP employee/volunteer Ron Garner was named the park’s 2012 Volunteer of the Year during the annual Holiday Social December 8. Garner has spent almost every weekend the past three summers serving as a volunteer blacksmith in the park’s living history program–a program Garner first resuscitated as a seasonal ranger in 1984.

The native Ohioan moved to San Juan Island permanently in 1996, following 30 years teaching school, and served once again as a seasonal ranger during the summer and volunteered for the park over the winter. Garner re-introduced blacksmithing as well as pioneer wood working during this period.

Among his most significant activities was supervision of the construction of a three-quarter replica U.S. Army traveling blacksmith forge, as well as a 12-pounder mountain howitzer gun for Battery D, the island’s living history group that supports park re-enactment activities.

After hanging up his ranger boots in 2009, Garner has not only continued blacksmithing, but has recruited and trained other staff and volunteers, including several island and off-island youths. He has also volunteered the traveling forge for all of the park’s programs and developed systems for hauling it to and from the Commissary and transporting it for off-island events.

“Ron is about as good and gets for volunteering on San Juan Island, where volunteering is a way of life,” said Mike Vouri, chief of interpretation. “He’s a real treasure, not only for us, but for all his other volunteer passions, most especially the island’s Fire Wise program.”

Eric Ellison, Ron Garner, Detlef Weick and Jon Marler fire the Mountain Howitzer at Fort Townsend this past summer….

Will

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• Spring Street International School’s Will Haviland (right) was named as a Commended National Merit Scholarship test taker…congrats, Will!

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• Did you see it? Sunday’s Hallmark Hall of Fame movie Christmas with Holly was based on Lisa Kleypas’ Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor….here’s more.

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• You can help! Here’s more from June Arnold about Dollars for Scholars:

Dear Island Neighbors,

Our annual Dollars for Scholars San Juan Island letter campaign, which is a primary source of funding for this important program, is going out this week, but we can’t hope to reach everyone through direct mail.  This letter to the editor is one more way we can raise the community awareness for the important work being done by our young volunteers in our community.

As you may already know, the mission of Dollars for Scholars San Juan Island is to support higher education and promote volunteerism among our community’s youth.  Students who have completed a minimum of 80 hours of volunteer community service during their high school career are eligible for a scholarship from our organization.

This past year Dollars for Scholars San Juan Island was selected as one of the top chapters across the nation.  We are honored to know our mission has been recognized and hope you will see this as further proof that your support is well directed.

Here are a few things you might not know about Dollars for Scholars, San Juan Island:

• There are 75 students currently participating in volunteer activities for the San Juan Island community

• Students can receive matching funds for their Dollars for Scholars scholarship through participating institutions

• We are part of a national organization known as Scholarship America which supports Dollars for Scholars chapters across the county

• Our chapter can help you, your family or your organization establish a scholarship for San Juan Island students by:
  – Providing 501(c)3 status
  – Holding, administering & distributing scholarship funds
  – Vetting viable candidates for your scholarship, including assisting or overseeing the selection process

If helping to grow volunteerism in our community appeals to you, please join us with your financial support of a donation to our scholarship fund by visiting us on the web at www.dollarsforscholarssji.org or mailing your support to Dollars for Scholars, SJI, P.O. Box 3366, Friday Harbor, WA, 98250.  We are a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization and your donation is fully tax deductible.

June Arnold, President

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Last weekend at Roche Harbor, it was the Annual Christmas Block Party, so Ally Sandwith (left) and Nakayla Nibler checked in with Santa (Steve McMurtrie) on Saturday afternoon….photo by Debbie Sandwith.

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Look at all the bags! Lauren with great Christmas presents at San Juan Canvas….

• It was cool to drop by & see the handmade bags that Lauren Cohen has made at San Juan Canvas (I got mine!)…they’re all made from recycled sails, and she can make them to order, or you can pick one out that is already made. Drop by today to see her & Derek Steere at San Juan Canvas!

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• Michele Morton at Islanders Bank says the food drive is on – here’s more (by the way, the Food Bannk folks tell me you can always drop off money at the Food Bank, too – they’re open Wednesday & Saturday from noon to 2pm):

The holiday season is upon us and have heard that there is an increased number of our community members in need of food.

So in support, we have a collection bin in our Friday Harbor Branch lobby for food to be delivered to the Friday Harbor Food Bank.

Item requested:

Peanut Butter, Brown Rice, Yams, Cooking Oil, Egg Noodles, Hearty Soups

Canned items: Peaches, Pineapple, Tuna, Ravioli’s

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Blazing logs at Roche Harbor’s Block Party last weekend….photo by Debbie Sandwith (thanks, Debbie!)

Photo by Norris Palmer

YOU are invited by the Friday Harbor Sailing Club to participate with your boat in the 21st Annual Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, Dec. 15th in conjunction with the 52nd Annual Santa Ship. ALL sailors and power boaters in San Juan County are welcome to participate.  This wonderful tradition provides a beautiful nautical event during the holidays.

The Lighted Boat Parade starts at 4:45 pm. It is a short course of two laps beginning and finishing at Shipyard Cove. A few complimentary boat slips at the Port of Friday Harbor are available for out of area parade participants – contact Harbormaster Tammy Hayes at 378-2688. This wonderful tradition provides a beautiful nautical event during the holidays.

This year, we are looking for at least 21 decorated boats to celebrate 21 years of providing Friday Harbor with this holiday tradition.  Encourage your boater friends to participate!  Please deck out your vessel with lights, prepare for cool weather, think safety and have a grand time.  As you glide through the water, you can hear the ooo’s and ahhh’s from spectators lining the shore.  Join in this holiday fun…some folks even dress up!

For boat parade registration and route questions, please contact Gloria Bentzen at 378-4288. A few complimentary boat slips at the Port of Friday Harbor are available for out of area parade participants – contact Harbormaster Tammy Hayes at 378-2688.
For Santa Ship questions, contact John Bostrom at 298-1256.

Let’s make this the best boat parade ever!

Here’s a note from Liz Varvaro up at the school…

Food for thought

Greetings Community Dinner Guests! I still can’t believe this is our 5th year gathering for monthly meals. Wednesday, December 12th at 5:30 we meet again for a Southern Style dinner! Chef Andy’s crew and the Baking Class are preparing:

Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy,
Green Bean Casserole,
Spicy Cabbage and Bacon,
Biscuits with Honey Butter and
Red Velvet Cake for dessert!

Best $10 you will spend! Your patronage helps support and showcase our Food for Thought Program! Maybe this time you bring a friend or co-worker and help share the experience?
Thank you again and I look forward to seeing you 12/12/12!

Tom Doenges sends this invitation to everyone:

Tom Doenges, Kate Schuman and Special Guest Bernie Nelson at the Rumor Mill Wednesday

I am now preparing for a songwriter show Wednesday, December 12 at the Rumor Mill. A long time buddy of mine, Bernie from Nashville is coming out to do the show with me and Kate Schuman. We are doing the show Nashville Bluebird style. For those whom have never been to the Bluebird, the songwriters are setup in a circle (dance floor at Rumor Mill that night) and tables surround them. Close in and more intimate. Check out Bernie’s web site at: www.bernienelsonmusic.com.

Hope to see you there!

Here’s the event poster from Kate:

I just heard from Rebecca Parks over at the Chamber that winners have been chosen for this year’s Holiday Lights decorating contest. And here they are:

Best Overall: EarthBox
Best Window Display: Lavendera
Best Exterior: Stillpoint School
Best Interior: The American Legion
Best First-time Entry: Supplies Plus (formerly The Office Center)

And Rebecca had this to say as well:

The tree lit up spectacularly as we listened to Friday Harbor Elementary’s Eagle Spirit Choir, led by Traci Wilson, then joined by 200 island voices as the town caroled beneath the shining tree – with 4,000 new LED lights this year! The Chamber of Commerce thanks the Town of Friday Harbor team, OPALCO, CenturyLink, The Island Chordsmen, Island Rec and Kiwanis (for their free hot dogs and cider!) and the merry islanders who turned out en masse for this annual event.

Best Window Display – Lavendera Massage

Best Interior – The American Legion

Best Exterior – Stillpoint School

Best First-Time-Entry – Office Plus

Best Overall – Earthbox Hotel

Friday Dec. 7 at 1:00 AM the ocean freighter “Cape Apricot” from Panama ran through and destroyed a coal conveyor system at Westshore Terminals in Vancouver, BC. It destroyed part of the largest of the port’s two berth and spilled an undetermined amount of coal into Georgia Strait. Continue Reading

County PIO Stan Matthews reports that the Critical Areas Ordinance passed this past week after a long deliberative process – here’s more:

Council Approves Final CAO Updates

At a special meeting December 3, the San Juan County Council completed the often contentious process of updating of the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance (CAO).

The update is required by Washington’s Growth Management Act (GMA), which defines Critical Areas as: (1) Critical Aquifer Recharge Areas; (2) Fish and Wildlife Conservation Areas; (3) Geologically Hazardous Areas; (4) Wetlands; and (5) Frequently Flooded Areas. (An updated Critical Aquifer Recharge Area Ordinance was adopted in 2008.)

During its seven hour special session, by unofficial count Council Members proposed 32 amendments to the draft ordinances, approving 30 of the changes. The amendments affected items ranging from minor changes in wording to revision of tree protection requirements around wetlands, and changes to ensure that existing structures, uses and activities are considered conforming with the new requirements. Continue Reading

The film below is a bit over five minutes, but shows a mature cinematic storytelling touch, I think….Isabel, Sam & Matthew pull together a good team in this short film adaptation of Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher , which they turned in as an English project at Friday Harbor High School. Song: Wonderwall by Oasis.

Check it out!

Holiday Lights at Memorial Park

The tree lighting ceremony drew a pretty good crowd Friday night. Got down there just in time to hear the final song sung by the Elementary School Choir and snap this photo as the ferry came in. Good times!

Lenore Bayuk sends along this letter:

Letter to Editor
December 7, 2012

As Commissioners for San Juan County Public Hospital District #1, we want to express our greatest appreciation to all the former staff of the Inter Island Medical Center.  You all have worked hard to provide healthcare to our community over many years and many of you have worked on the planning and process of making Peace Island Medical Center happen.  You all suffered financial stress with less pay and more work in these last years.  We honor that as well, and your willingness to go forward.

You also dealt very well with the many changes this past year and the transition to Peace Island Medical Center.  Thank you all so much for your service and your commitment to make this transition possible.  We wish you all the best as you take on this next journey in healthcare for San Juan County.

You are:

Tina Barnes,  Rachel Bishop, MD, Haria Burke, Cynthia Cazacopol,RN, Cindy Conrad RN, Rebekah Deitz RN, Marlena Gutierrez, Emily Hallock RN, Cathy Hansen, Katherine Holt, Pamela Hutchins, Auralee Jameson RN, Loren Johnson, MD, Denise LeDuc, Rosalie Le Vee, RN, Susan Mahoney, MD, Joann Mayo, RN, Ryan McCullough, Angela Menjivar,R.T.R,, Tony Hasselman, R.T.R., Kathleen Oliver, M.L.T., Cher Renke, Joanne Runyan, RN, Julie Stock, Doug Tuttle, MD, Carrie Unpingco, Kimberlee Van Der Kolk, ARNP, Beth Williams-Gieger, and Michael Wingren, MD.

We also want to thank the Inter Island Healthcare Foundation and the Medical Center Guild for their continuous support throughout the life of the Inter Island Medical Center.  You have been the many people working behind the scenes to help sustain our medical center here on SJI.  Thank you all!

SJCPHD Commissioners:

Lenore Bayuk
J. Michael Edwards
Keri Talbott
George Foster
Rosanna O’Donnell

Clayton Banry to Receive “Sixth Wolverine Award”

Clayton Banry – First ever “Sixth Wolverine” – Deanna Banry photo

Between the Friday Harbor High School’s girls and boys basketball games against Bear Creek High School on Saturday, Clayton Banry will receive the first ever “Sixth Wolverine Award”. Continue Reading

Over at Dream Lake….John Miller calls this “Christmas Reflections.”

It’s always good to stay in touch with what John Miller creates with his photos…here’s a new one he just offered to share. Thanks, John!