Jack – Pet of the Week

Meet Jack!  He’s a handsome man, about 8 years old and a total love-muffin!  He’s been at the shelter for over a year and would really love to be home for the holidays!  He’s a bit shy at first, but loves nothing more than human company and lap time.
He gets along well with most other cats but is easily intimidated by aggressive cats or boisterous dogs.  If you have room in your heart and home for Jack, we promise he will return your kindness with unconditional kitty love!  Please stop by the shelter to meet Jack and his friends.
Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor – 111 Shelter Road, Friday Harbor. Or call 378-2158.

Tokitae construction is already underway – Samish to begin in December

You may have heard that some new ferry names have been decided, but do you know anything about the new ferries? Check out the WSF Website and see some pretty cool information including a Flickr page with construction photos.

Autumn in the islands, and on the waters….photo by Jim Maya

There are lots of things going on….look around & see where you’re gonna land:

Edith

• A quick note: A lot of folks saw the ambulance at Edith Dickinson‘s house Friday afternoon….I just dropped by & checked with her daughter Sally & she says Edith had a reaction to some medicine & went to the new hospital (she says Edith thought it was a pretty good hospital!), and was home resting last night….Sally asked if I would share that with you, and thanks everyone for their concern & is glad for your good wishes….

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• It’s this weekend: Farmers’ Market at the high school on Saturday from 10am-1pm – see ya there!

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• Heard about someone who was going around to the booths at the Holiday Marketplace last weekend & offering to booth-sit & make it so folks could hit the head….pretty cool. That’s what islands are for….

• Sam Leigh at Right of Way Driving School has great news:

Drop by!

APPROVED! Right of Way Driving School is now offering a testing site within The Computer Place at 327 Argyle Ave to begin conducting the Department of Licensing (DOL) Official Knowledge Test and Drive/Skills Test for new licenses in San Juan County beginning Tuesday Dec 4th 2012.

Trial walk in hours for the Knowledge Test will be from 11am to 3pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays and by appointment Drive/Skills Test.

For more information call Sam Leigh at 360-298-4399 or visit www.rightofwaydrivingschool.com
ROWDS cost does not include DOL application fees.-Instruction permit application fee $25.00 and Graduated license application fee $45.00

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• There’s a book release party on Orcas you might be interested in (at Darvill’s at 6pm on Wednesday next week), if you’re into architecture – here’s all about this amazing & beautifully produced book about Hank Schubart’s work around the islands: click here to see the amazing photos & work….you’ll get the idea!

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• Little unknown factoid: The San Juan Update web-published its first posting on November 24, 1997 & celebrated fifteen years of celebrating the island last weekend….thanks for keeping it going!

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When you ask for a smartphone for Christmas, be careful what you wish for….

Mike Martin has written up an introduction piece for the Lady Wolverines to get you ready for their season opener, tomorrow at South Whidbey:

Tabatha Keane and the Lady Wolverines during last year’s home game against Concrete

Coming off of a banner year for the Friday Harbor High School Lady Wolverines, things are looking up for them as they play the first game of the season Saturday at South Whidbey. In spite of graduating three all-leaguers, there’s a lot to like about this year’s squad. Continue Reading

Sure gonna miss you guys….

Dear friends & readers & Update fans, & family, too….

You all already know that I sure like new & interesting things, and it’s come time for me to take on a new challenge. Josie & I have set things up to re-locate to Victoria at the end of December. This sort of thing raises several questions:

Q. What? You can’t move. You’ve lived here forever!

A. True. Nearly nineteen years. As close to forever as anyone could get.

Q. Where are you gonna live?

A. In a 600 square foot apartment a block from an organic grocery store, seven coffee places, a pub, and a huge public park. Looking forward to living even more simply.

Gonna park the car, too.

Q. Are you going to become a Canadian?

A. Currently I have landed immigrant status, which is kind of like a green card. That’s a good start…I’m glad to be an American, and am glad Canada doesn’t mind having me around, too.

Tim, taking over editorial duties at the Update…. Photo by Shannon Dean

Q. Who is going to look after your business?

A. Like most islanders, I have several jobs. Let’s check it out:

I’m scheduled to teach classes at Skagit this winter, so I’ll be back for that.

Three years ago, my friend Mary Kate bought the webpage-making part of my longtime island business, By Design. Her business MKate Design is doing great! I still look after the hosting/domain name part of By Design – nothing changes there!

I do a lot of consulting & teaching…that will continue both here & in Victoria. So will my singing & album sales.

Finally, I’m glad to report that The San Juan Update will carry on. My good friend (and great photographer & musician) Tim Dustrude has taken over the duties of keeping things going – he’s a longtime reader & contributor who is familiar with all the tech & photo needs of this online newspaper, a good writer, and a true islander (he grew up here!) who loves this place. I couldn’t leave this in better hands.

Q. Will you be back to visit much?

A. Too much of my & Josie’s hearts are here….you’ll see us around. Victoria is only seven miles away, and I know you’ll be coming over to see us & visit & talk about everything, the way we do.

I’m looking forward to that.

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I’ve never been surrounded by so much love. I may be moving, but will carry this beautiful island with me in my heart….thank you for teaching me so much & giving me so much, and being such a wonderful place to raise the boys.

Let’s stay in touch.

Love ya,

Ian

ian (at) byd2.com

Great to see the madronas in the late autumn sunlight last weekend, with their last bit of peeling bark….(it was a fun day to shoot photos, too!)

How are you holding up with the wind, all day yesterday & last night? Looks like we have a fairly warm (low 50s) day to go with it…let’s look around the island & see what’s up:

• Just a couple of weekends left for the Island Stage Left show “A Walk in the Woods”…be sure & catch it!

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Off the west side yesterday, it’s the Pacific white-sided dolphins…photo by Jim Maya.

• Earlier this week, there were several hundred Pacific white-sided dolphins in the neighborhood – these infrequent visitors come by every so often, and it’s exciting when they do – Beth Holmes caught a little video of them in Eastsound, for SeaDocs:

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Just out!

• Friday Harbor Airport Manager Dave Ryan’s new book is out soon – congrats, Dave, on finishing it! Here’s a little bit about what’s in store:

Tired of corrupt politicians and big business running the show? So is El Monte Slim and he’s doing something about it! Featuring a whacky, absurd and endearing cast of characters, “Bring Me The Head of El Monte Slim!” by D.M. Ryan, follows an eccentric philosopher’s quest to save the world from a massive corporate takeover! But will he succeed or will he be silenced by The Council?

Join El Monte, Pancho, and Annie Price on their hilarious cross-country odyssey of good versus evil in modern America. Available in soft cover at Amazon.com and soon available on Kindle. Check out El Monte’s website at http://www.El-Monte-Slim.com/ or El Monte Slim’s Facebook page under Arts and Humanities.

Watch for specials and giveaways coming soon!

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Over the weekend, Marc puts up the new sign….

• Things are going well for Julie Packard and Island Wools in their new spot down the alley, across from the Bean, next to Pablito’s, down from Pelindaba & The Golden Triangle…drop by & visit the yarn shop soon! Here’s more from Julie:

Drop by!

Marc says you watched him putting up our new sign, on the building above the Pelindaba sign.  We’re hoping this will continue to help visitors and our neighbors find our new location.  We love our new space and we’re having a grand time.

I’m dyeing my yarns in the back kitchen and we’re holding classes and social hours upstairs.  We’ll be having a holiday open house on Thursday, December 6th with cookies and cider.

We encourage everyone to drop by, bring their projects for show and tell, and get ideas for holiday gift giving.

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• Sad news: You know Bruce Vogt, the pianist who played for Chamber San Juans earlier this month? He lives in Victoria, but is in intensive care at the hospital there after suffering some dizziness & blackouts…I’ll let you know more as I hear it….meanwhile, keep him in your thoughts & prayers…

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• Remembering Wayne: There will be a memorial service for for my old friend Wayne Pullman at Transformation Church (just down from M & W Auto) on the 3rd at noon…

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The interisland ferry is ready for the season! They had the former galley all decked out earlier this week….

Remember this one?

Hey everybody, it’s “New Recipe Friday!” Naw, I’m just kidding, but it is Friday, and we do have a new recipe for you. Chef Hobbes sent this over thinking you might be interested so here goes…

Chef Hobbes’ Dover Sole for Two looks delicious!

A nice change of pace…  Continue Reading

Here’s a big event we’re excited to tell you about:

“Just Imagine” Tickets are now on sale for the San Juan Community Theater 2012 Holiday Festival.

With a lineup that includes the Northwest’s most charismatic auctioneer, mouth-watering culinary creations, dancing to one of the island’s best, and live musical treats throughout, San Juan Community Theatre’s biggest fundraiser of the year will warm up winter more than ever.

The 2012 Holiday Festival: Just Imagine starts off the holidays with a multitude of entertainment on Saturday, December 1 at 5 p.m.

“While the Festival’s mission is a very important one—being the biggest fundraiser of the year for the Theatre—it is also all about the FUN in fundraising and a great way for the community to celebrate the holidays together,” said Board of Trustees president Pat Nieman.

John Curley will be here

The evening features the return of veteran showman and auctioneer John Curley, who has befriended island audiences since his Festival debut two years ago.   Curley, who currently hosts Seattle’s Morning News on KIRO-FM and has been an auctioneer for several years, helping to raise millions of dollars for Northwest nonprofits and schools.   Curley will host the live auction portion of the evening, which features a variety of fine art, exotic dinners and great escapes (including stays in Maui, Sun Valley and Italy).

The evening’s silent auction takes place in both the Gubelman and Whittier Theatres while guests enjoy fine wine and gourmet appetizers.  Roche Harbor Resort’s Bill Shaw and staff will also present live cooking supper stations after the auctions.  (A complete catalog of the auction items is available on-line at www.sjctheatre.org).

Live entertainment during the evening includes a new stage performance from island talents Jill and Andy Urbach and The Lisa Duke Dancers; as well as dancing with The Chameleons and music from Susan Williams and Keith Busha and vibes player Hawk Arps of Lopez.

Holiday Festival Tickets ($85 per person) are available by calling Chance Earle at 378-3211, ext. 32.

Here are some things happening this week you might want to be aware of. First off, the Ski Bus has been running for years, but is in danger of being cancelled this year due to lack of enrollment. If you want to do the Ski Bus, better get signed up before December 3rd. Here are the details:

Mt. Baker Ski Bus: 6 rides for $180 plus discounted rentals and lessons.
Available to youth in grades 6th-12th.
Deadline to sign up is Monday, December 3rd.
More information and sign-up paperwork is available at the Friday Harbor High School office at 378-5215.

Ski Bus – Use it or lose it…

San Juan Islands Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count

113th Annual Count
Saturday, December 15th is the date for this year’s Christmas Bird Count (CBC) in the San Juan Islands. Over 60,000 volunteers across the country will be counting birds from December 14, 2012 to January 5, 2013 to participate in the world’s longest running wildlife census begun in 1900. Here are some happy birders from last year’s count on Lopez. If you are interested in participating, check out this Press Release (pdf format).

Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count

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Elementary School Principal Resigns

Friday Harbor Elementary Principal Connie Martin has announced her resignation effective at the end of the 2012-13 school  year.  Brent Snow, Board Chairperson, noted that Ms. Martin was hired as an interim principal for a single year which was extended for an additional year.  “We have benefited from her years of hard work and dedication to students.  She will leave a school that has made substantial progress on the initiatives for improvement laid out by the Superintendent and Board.”

The District would like to thank Ms. Martin for her time with us and her willingness to do so with the long commute to her home and family in Anacortes.  We also appreciate the timeliness of her announcement as this will allow a through replacement process.

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Join us on December 4th for the DVD Release Party of “The Whale”

We’ll kick off this fun night with a showing of “The Whale” at the Grange – reception at 5 p.m., movie starts at 5:30 p.m.
Movie tickets are $15 each and include movie snacks & beverages.

After the film, we’re hosting a DVD Release Party at The Whale Museum – starting at 7:15 p.m.
Producers Suzanne Chisholm and Michael Parfit will join us for this big event and be available to sign your copies of the DVD at the party!
While the DVD will not be released in the US until Dec. 4, we will take orders for pre-sales. DVDs are $29.95 each.

Suzanne and Michael have generously offered this evening with ticket sales & proceeds of DVD sales as a fund raiser for Soundwatch and all of The Whale Museum’s programs!

To purchase your movie tickets and/or pre-order “The Whale” DVD, just stop by The Whale Museum (open 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. daily).

For more information, send an email to jenny [at] whalemuseum . org – or call (360) 378-4710 ext. 30.

Sam

Just got the information from Sam’s family, to pass on to you – Sam Carter passed away last week here in Friday Harbor:

A Memorial Gathering with Sam Carter’s ashes will be held on Sunday, December 2nd at Evan’s Funeral Home in Anacortes from 12:30-2 pm.

The “Celebration of Sam’s Life” will be held on Sunday, December 23rd at the Grange in Friday Harbor.

FHHS Boys Take One on the Chin in Season Opener

Mike Martin, the “Voice of the Wolverines” sends this report in:

The Friday Harbor Wolverines opened up their basketball season with a tough non-conference road loss to the Burlington-Edison Tigers, 60-37. Burlington’s pressure defense made it tough for Wolverine shooters all night long. Every pass was tipped, every shot was contested and every rebound was a battle.

“Their pressure caught us off guard a bit,” said senior guard, Donald Galt. “But we learned a lot from this game: we have to push ourselves even harder every day in practice.”

There were no excuses to be found from any of the players. “We look at it like this: This is our first game – they played at a faster pace and they were a bigger school but this was a learning experience and we know what that we can grow to take our game to the next level,” Galt said. Continue Reading

Island Rec Welcomes a New Team Member

Morgan Johnston joins Island Rec

Island Rec is excited to welcome their new Recreation Specialist, Morgan Johnston.  Morgan’s primary responsibilities are the planning and organization of Island Rec’s sports, outdoor, adult and fitness programs.

Morgan received her degree in Recreation from Western Washington University in 2010.  She has worked for Richland Parks and Recreation in Richland, WA and Sheridan Recreation District in Sheridan, Wyoming.  Morgan is new to the Island and excited to be working at Island Rec and getting to know the community.   She also enjoys hiking and is looking forward to joining in the Trails Committee, Know Your Island Walks.  Morgan’s favorite sports to play are softball and rugby.  She has heard there is some interest in an adult dodge ball program and would like to hear from others who may be interested.

She will be out and about at many programs running though the winter months, come out and play and say hi.   Go to www.islandrec.org for more information on Island Rec programs and events or stop by Island Rec M-F at 580 Guard Street or call 378-4953.

Cat and Kitten Adoption Special Now!

If you’ve stopped by the animal shelter in the last few weeks you’ve probably noticed something….lots and lots of cats.  Cats in the lobby, cats in the hallway and cats in the isolation areas…even cats in the restroom.  So, for a limited time only, the Friday Harbor Animal Shelter is offering a cat and kitten adoption special.  From now until December 20, pending approval, the adoption fee for cats and kittens is only $20. Continue Reading

Cow and Pig have been Stolen

Cow and Pig belong to Steve and Laurie on Roche Harbor Road, they have a Facebook page for them:

https://www.facebook.com/CowandPig

Here’s a posting from their page: Continue Reading

This story is provided by the “Voice of the Wolverines”, Mike Martin. Listen to him broadcast tonight’s game on the internet at: www.fhTinyRadio.com and in Downtown Friday Harbor at 1650 AM.

Friday Harbor High School Varsity Boys Season Preview

Contributed photo

When the boys’ season tips off tonight at 5:45 at Burlington-Edison High School there will be more than just basketballs in the air. Hopes are flying high for the team. Continue Reading