The Conservation District Election is next week – you have to go by the office & pick up your ballot & get it in by next Tuesday….here are the candidate statements & the info about how to vote:

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April

Candidate Statement from April Lalande
As a lifelong Washington resident, I spent many memorable early years on San Juan Island with my family. My husband Mike and I decided to move to San Juan Island permanently last year, and have been fortunate to meet some wonderful people. I hope to be able to continue my work of helping farm owners through the San Juan Islands Conservation District, which faces many unique challenges serving San Juan County landowners.

Experiences related to running for this position:  Educator/Facilitator:  We provided tours and education on our demonstration farm in North Bend for over 300 landowners and educators over the last several years in conjunction with King Conservation District, Horses for Clean Water, Washington State University, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and King County DNR, on a range of diverse topics including:  low impact horse logging, growing productive pastures for specific species, forest stewardship, protecting ground and surface water, optimal composting, wildlife diversity and enhancement, elk management, and managing  livestock costs by implementing specific best management practices.  I am a writer for Horses for Clean Water and The Green Horse, and have contributed to various northwest horse publications as well as to Thurston, Mason, Snohomish and King Conservation District literature.

Current Work:  Horses for Clean Water – I provide research, writing, continuing education, and support at community events in the Northwest.  We help farm owners network and find the tools they need to make their farms and animals the healthiest and most productive they can be – a win-win for all.  I am also a Washington State Certified Water Operator and run and own a small Class A water system.

Award Winner:  Our farm was awarded the 2008 Landowner Farm of the Year for King County, and was runner up for Wildlife Farm of the Year in 2006.

I am honored to be running for a seat on the San Juan Islands Conservation District Board of Supervisors, and am asking for your vote.

Thanks for your consideration,
April LaLande

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Ron

Candidate Statement from Ron Zee
As a past District Manager of the San Juan Islands Conservation District, I am a strong proponent of land and water conservation and stewardship. My family owns and operates Sweet Earth Farm on San Juan Island and we have sold produce at the San Juan Farmers Market for over five years. I have served on the County Agricultural Resources Committee for the past six years, three of those years as Chair. I am a member of the Stewardship Network of the San Juans, a coalition of public and private organizations, which promotes a stewardship ethic in the islands. If elected to the SJICD Board, one of my top priorities will be working to ensure cooperation between San Juan County and the Conservation District regarding the Voluntary Stewardship Program that the County Council recently opted into to address the CAO and agricultural activities.

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Vote in the San Juan Islands Conservation District Election

The election of the San Juan Islands Conservation District will be held on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.  All San Juan County registered voters are eligible to vote in this election.  One supervisor will be elected by registered voters and one supervisor will be appointed by the Washington State Conservation Commission for a 3-year term on the governing board of the San Juan Islands Conservation District.

The Board of Supervisors is responsible for governance and oversight of the Conservation District, for formulation of policy regulating District operations, for approval of District budgets, and monitoring use of District resources.  The Board of Supervisors meets monthly, and individual supervisors typically also serve on District committees and provide technical support as appropriate. Supervisor positions are not compensated.

SUPERVISOR VACANCY – Appointed

We have one appointed position vacant as well.  This position expires in May 19, 2012 and is a three-year appointment.

The Washington State Conservation Commission must receive applications for appointment no later than March 30, 2012 by 5pm.

For more information, please contact Carol Maas at the San Juan Islands Conservation District 360-378-6621 or e-mail [email protected], www.sanjuanislandscd.org) or visit the Washington State Conservation Commission website at http://www.scc.wa.gov.

This election will be conducted by mail-in or drop-off in person at the polling station, 540 Guard Street, #150, Friday Harbor from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

Those wishing to vote in this election, by mail, must request a ballot, and must do so not later than February 21, 2012. Ballot requests may be submitted, to the attention of the Elections Officer.  Please provide your name, address, phone & email address.  These are needed to verify voter registration.

mail:   SJICD, 350 Court Street, #10, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
telephone:   360-378-6621
fax:   360-378-2445
email:   [email protected]

Looks like a good one coming up this week – here’s more from the Community Theatre’s Jan Bollwinkel-Smith:

We’ve Got PROOF!

What happens when there’s a distinct possibility that a child might inherit a parent’s talent—and their madness?

The cast, from left: Natalie, Mike, Douglas, and Julie

David Auburn’s play, Proof,  which won both a Pulitzer Prize and a Tony for “Best Play” in 2001, brings that question to the Whittier stage THIS Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 pm and Sunday at 2 pm.

This combination mystery, romance and drama—with a little humor thrown in—centers on Catherine (played by Natalie King), a troubled young woman who has spent years caring for her brilliant but unstable father (Michael Herber), a famous mathematician. Now, following his death, she must deal with her own volatile emotions; the arrival of her sister, Claire (Julie Greene); and the attentions of Hal (Douglas Schirmer), a former student of her father’s who hopes to find valuable work in the 103 notebooks that her father left behind.

Over the long weekend that follows, Catherine—after sacrificing her youth to take care of her dad— now must fight to re-enter the world; and is drawn into the most difficult problem of all: how much of her father’s madness—or genius—will she inherit?

“Critics have called Proof  ‘a love letter to mathematics,’” says director Merritt Olsen.
“I think it’s much more. Mathematics is a metaphor. It could be about music, poetry, gardening or many other creative pursuits.”

Olsen adds: “The play is life affirming and smart (in a good way). I’m extremely proud of our actors and the look that our designers have been able to create.”

Plan ahead: Proof contains adult language.

The play continues Thursday through Saturday, March 1-3 at 7:30 pm.

And…after the show…
After the Whittier stage performance on Friday, February 24, the cast and crew will remain on stage for a “talk back” with the audience to answer any questions about the production.

Following the show on Friday, March 2, Dr. Garrett M. Odell—an applied mathematician and theoretical biologist from UW Friday Harbor Labs— will speak about “Mathematicians Language in Everyday Speech.”

Just got the word from Nancy Larsen at Griffin Bay Bookstore – this is a great honor for a great book:

Thor Hanson to Celebrate PNBA Award at Griffin Bay Bookstore

Thor Hanson

Please join Griffin Bay Bookstore for the presentation of a 2012 Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association (PNBA) Award to San Juan Island author Thor Hanson on Saturday, February 25^th at 3:00 pm.  Hanson’s book Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle was chosen by a panel of independent booksellers from over 290 titles published by Northwest authors in 2011.  It has been a regional bestseller and also received this year’s AAAS/Subaru Prize for Excellence in Science Books.

Thor has chosen his hometown bookstore, Griffin Bay Bookstore, to make the presentation on Saturday afternoon, followed by a reception and book signing.  Thor worked on Feathers while enjoying the atmosphere in the bookstore’s café.

Since 1965, PNBA members, including Griffin Bay Bookstore, have annually recognized excellence in writing from the Pacific Northwest.  Past winners have included such luminary figures in Northwest literature as Ivan Doig, Ursula LeGuin, David James Duncan, David Guterson, Jon Krakauer, Chuck Palahniuk, and Sherman Alexie.

The PNBA is affiliated with the national American Booksellers Association, a non-profit group dedicated to promoting independent bookstores.  The PNBA region includes Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. More information about current and past winners of PNBA Awards can be found on PNBA’s website (www.pnba.org).

I found Thor's book in a bookstore in Point Reyes Station, California last summer, and I found an actual ornithologist to hold it for you & me so I could take a picture of it....

Let’s see what’s going on around here:

• They’re not playing hookey…there’s no school today because of President’s Day (and a long weekend that started last Thursday for the kids). Expect banks & the post office to be closed too, and say hey to the kids around town.

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One of Maddie Leiren's creations...check out the link below for more of her Threads of Austere line....

It’s always good to see & her about what Friday Harbor grads are up to.

One of the dresses designed by Leah Altman as part of her Pin Pin Apparel line....

Two fashion designers are releasing their spring lines….you can click here to check out Maddie Leiren’s Threads of Austere work. She’ll be moving back to British Columbia after she finishes school in June – the 2009 FHHS grad has been located in Los Angeles since graduation from the island.

Meanwhile, Leah Altman (FHHS ’07) has posted images of her spring offerings for Pin Pin Apparel – you can see them here. She’s got two creative bases –  operating out of both Thailand & Friday Harbor htese days.

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• It was sad to hear of killer whale L112’s death last week, and even sadder to hear that one of the contributing factors may have be sonar from the Canadian Navy (that stuff is NOT good for animals that echo-locate to get around). The best writeup I’ve seen so far (way better than the “papers” is Monika Wieland’s report on her blog. A little warning – the pictures get a bit graphic…

A necropsy is underway….

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• Bill & Rita have their Zumba classes going strong – here’s more:

Join Our ZUMBA Party!
Three Fun Dance Parties To Serve You

ZUMBA BASICS program is a Latin-inspired, dance-fitness class that incorporates Latin and international music and dance movements, creating a dynamic, exciting, exhilarating, and effective fitness system.  Continue Reading

The Elwha

• Passing: You remember when the Washington State Ferry Elwha got “on the rocks” back in 1983?

The incident spawned a drink by the same name, a song (click here to hear it), and a bit of notoriety for Peggy, the “lady in the wheelhouse” visiting the distracted pilot on that fateful day. I got this note below from her daughter, Judy, when Peggy passed away on the 22nd last month (here’s a full obituary) and here’s a “full story” of the wreck by Dennis Nyback:

Hi, I am Peggy Warrack’s daughter. Peggy was the infamous “woman in the wheelhouse,” otherwise known as the “Siren of the San Juans.” Peggy passed away peacefully in mid-January at home in Anacortes with my sister and me at her side.

We had a Celebration of Peggy’s Life tomorrow with family and friends. Many have asked about the recipe for the cocktail, The Elwha on the Rocks. Do you have this information? I have called several places in Friday Harbor, but nobody remembers the drink.

Thanks for your link to the song. It’s awesome!!

Sincerely, Judy

Good things come in twos...

They’re finally home after a long stint in the hospital & special care – here’s more:

Chris and Elizabeth Schubert are proud to announce the births of their identical twin girls, Caelyn Marie and Sara Lorraine Schubert.

The girls were born January 16th, 2012, six weeks premature at Swedish Hospital in Seattle, Washington. Caelyn weighed 3 pounds 15 ounces and was 16.5 inches long; Sara weighed 4 pounds 4 ounces and was 16 inches long. After a helicopter flight off the island, an emergency c-section, 3 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit at Swedish, and two additional weeks in the infant special care unit at St. Joseph’s Childbirth Center in Bellingham, they are finally home for good in Friday Harbor, where they were welcomed by big sister Felicity, grandparents Snooky and Lyle Tarte and Jan and Jim Schubert, among numerous other family and friends.

Jill Urbach (above with the One More Time Band) and Jim Moe are on tap to sing Tuesday....photo by Mark Gardner

Peggy & Oren have The Rumor Mill all decked out – here’s the scoop for Tuesday:

It’s an evening of Mardi Gras revelry, fine food & drink, special drawings & contests, with vocalists Jill Urbach & Jim Moe from 6:30-10pm. Feast on Crawfish Pot Pie, Jambalaya, Carpetbagger Steak with Tasso Hollandaise, Oysters Beinville, Muffuletta salad, & of course… King Cake. Feel like you are in New Orleans with a Frozen Hurricane, Sazerac, Vieux Carré, French 75 or an Arnaud’s Special!

 Reservations recommended –  rumormillfridayharbor (at) hotmail.com or 378-5555

Las year's Night of Chocolate Friendzy drew a pretty good crowd....

Here’s the scoop from Barbara Sharp:

Night of Chocolate Friendzy

It’s time for chocolate, and lots of it! The Friends of the Library is sponsoring its fifth annual fundraiser, Night of Chocolate Friendzy, Saturday February 18, 7:00pm at the San Juan Island Library.

Bring your favorite chocolate dessert to share, and vote for your favorite.   Cash prizes awarded to the entries that receive the most votes.   Everyone is welcome to attend, sample the goodies and enter the contest.  You can just come and eat chocolate and vote, but you must be a Friends of the Library member to be eligible for prizes on your entry. Stop by the library and pick up an invitation with information on health department rules for entries.  Remember, a balanced meal is chocolate in both hands!

Suggested donation is $5.00 per person, one vote per donation.  Children are free when accompanied by a parent. Friends of the Library yearly memberships start at $10 and will be sold at the door.  All proceeds will help fund our library’s programs and materials.

Shown here, front to back , left to back: Vicky Thalacker holding Proclamation, Teresa De Graaf, Jim Cox, (second row) Dick Babbit, Mike Taylor, John Geyman, Lanny Carver; (top) Art Miller. Photo by Theresa Simendinger

These folks are part of the glue that keeps us together as islanders…here’s more from Theresa (thanks, Theresa!):

San Juan Eagles Honored for Ten Years of Volunteer Medical Flights
by Theresa Simendinger

Ten years ago the Eagles started flying on their own time and dime to help cancer patients living on  San Juan Island. Founder Vicky Thalacker still coordinates the flights which fly patients and their caregivers to various Medical Centers. Currently approximately 20 active pilots in the Eagles volunteer, flying close to 200 missions a year to provide travel assistance. Hundreds of patients lives have been made easier since that beginning. A treatment trip to the mainland could be as short as two hours as opposed to an all day event.

The Eagles received a Proclamation from Friday Harbor’s Mayor Thursday at the Town Hall. Mayor Carrie Lacher stated, “I am pleased to honor the San Juan Eagles for their significant contribution to the citizens of Friday Harbor.”

During the Town Council meeting  Mayor Lacher also proclaimed Saturday, February 18th as “San Juan Eagles Day” in the town of Friday Harbor, saying, “The San Juan Eagles exemplify what our community is all about, neighbor helping neighbor.”

Soroptimist brought the Eagles’ 10th Anniversary to the attention of Mayor Carrie Lacher, who is also a Soroptimist. They felt the Eagles needed to know how much they were appreciated with some kind of special honor.  The Soroptimists have been helping families on the Island since 2004 with their offer of free ferry tickets and commercial flights on bad weather days to cancer patients. A significant portion of money raised by Soroptimist is set aside for this project. In 2011 the costs were $15,679 raised by Soroptimists Fund Raisers.

“What a wonderful project to be involved with!” Vicky Thalacker, pilot and founder of the San Juan Eagles shown here with “Baby,” her Cessna 172. Photo by Theresa Simendinger.

Long time island resident (41 years) and pilot Vicky Thalacker started the San Juan Eagles volunteer program. As a young girl Thalacker watched the jets take off from nearby Sandpoint Naval Station and dreamed of the day she would fly.

At 30, that dream came true with her husband’s encouragement. As Thalacker remembers, “I studied harder than I ever had. I wanted to be a pilot so much.”  In 1977 she earned her Pilot’s License.  After years of flying John Thalacker to his survey work, Vicky found a new calling. She envisioned a volunteer pilot group to fly cancer victims off island. Thalacker could relate, as she had helped transport a friend who battled cancer for 28 years. She considers this work a blessing as she is able to help others while doing something she loves.

Thalacker called a group of private pilots in the San Juan Pilots Association and formed a group of 16 volunteer pilots, two of whom were women, for their first meeting in 2002.

Eagle pilots volunteer their time and pay for the fuel and maintenance for their planes. Patients and their families are often overwhelmed by the costs of treatment and this assistance is a ray of hope in these emotional and difficult times. As many letters of gratitude from patients said, “This service is really wonderful and it helps so much to know my community cares.”

Any island flight is filled with beauty and a serenity that can only be ethereally healing for a patient in that kind of stress. The people of Friday Harbor offer a heartfelt thank you to the San Juan Eagles.

Donations accepted;
San Juan Eagles welcome contributions through Vicky Thalacker: vickyt (at) rockisland.com
Soroptimist  Liz Illg coordinates the Soroptimist Ferry Ticket Program:  lizllg (at) rockisland.com  

Time to cut 'em back!

A quick note from Judy at the Land Bank:

Rose gardeners from all over San Juan County are invited to a free rose pruning demonstration on traditional rose pruning day – President’s Day.

WSU Master Gardener Volunteers Judy Cumming and Linda Thompson will host the demonstration from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm on Monday, February 20, 2012 at the Historic Driggs Park (corner of Caines & Argyle) in the town of Friday Harbor.

“We urge other gardeners to come and share their knowledge of rose care as we all learn together,” says Judy.  Rose care information and resources for rose enthusiasts will be available to participants.

This free demonstration is scheduled to allow rose lovers from Orcas, Lopez and Shaw islands to attend.  Call Judy Cumming at the land Bank, 378-4402 for further information, or for rides to and from the ferry dock.

This weekend Deb Langhans is facilitating the second Introductory “Inner Journey Collage” Workshop…it’s  this Sunday, February 19th from 1:00–5:00 p.m.  at XYZ Movement Arts (fee for this 4-hour workshop: $50–all materials provided, including IJC notebook, all collage materials, “dialoging” coaching & light refreshment). Here’s more about the workshop:

Our personalities are actually comprised of many selves. When we acknowledge, accept, & learn from these other identities, we enjoy fuller, healthier, & happier lives…

INNER JOURNEY COLLAGE is a fun, satisfying, & therapeutic process for women that combines collage creation with self-discovery & helps us access our often untapped & extraordinary inner wisdom.

During this introductory workshop, we create a 6” x 9” mat board “Identity” card from existing images & learn how to practice interactive “dialoging.”  As this process unfolds, our unconscious mind, intuition, & imagination ignite to provide empowering insights into the benefits, limitations, & lessons that particular part of ourselves offers.

Inner Journey Collage (IJC):
–encourages deep self-exploration, understanding, & acceptance.
–enables clarity & perspective perhaps never before realized.
–provides a sometimes neglected outlet for creative expression, & the opportunity
to complete a beautiful & unique “soulprint” for continued inspiration & guidance.
–allows for sharing the creative & self-discovery process with other women
in a relaxed, safe, & nurturing environment.
No artistic talent or experience is required.

What a few island women had to say about the first IJC Workshop last month:

“What an extraordinary discovery–to find a way to do some inner work that is therapeutic,
creative and safe!”

“The notebook and exercises were great!”

“Deb is a great facilitator…”

“Deb provided very insightful feedback…”

“I appreciated the safe environment and assurance of privacy.”

$50 (for 4 hours)
Workshop includes: IJC notebook & additional handouts, all collage materials, “dialoging” coaching & light refreshment.

(The next Introductory workshop is scheduled for Sunday, June 24th. For details about IJC, please visit the XYZ Movement Arts website: www.XYZmovementarts.com or call Deb @ 378-8907.)

Ken Salazar

It’s cool to have Mr. Salazar & Sen. Cantwell here this weekend – here’s more in the press release from Sally Reeve:

The Long Road to Permanence: Protection for BLM lands in the San Juan Archipelago

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Senator Maria Cantwell will hold a public meeting to discuss progress made so far in our efforts to secure permanent protection for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in the San Juan Archipelago. Senator Cantwell will discuss legislation introduced this past September to establish the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area. The public is welcome to attend.
When: Saturday, February 18, 2012
Time: 10:30am
Location: Anacortes Senior Center – Great Room
1701 22nd Street, Anacortes
RSVP: RSVP to [email protected] by 12:00pm (PST), Friday, February 17, 2012.
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Maria Cantwell

Some background on the effort:
In the late 1980s a group of Lopez Island residents formed the Friends of Chadwick Hill to prevent the logging of a local landmark which ultimately led to the protection of Chadwick Hill and Watmough Bay.

The effort also built a long and supportive relationship with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which manages about 1,000 acres spread across the San Juan Islands. BLM currently manages 450 acres of its lands in the San Juans as Areas of Critical Environmental Concern. These lands are not currently threatened but are not under permanent protection. A few other sites are co-managed with Washington State Parks, but the remaining acreage currently has no specific planning or protection.

Lopez residents Asha Lela, Cynthia Dilling, Bob Myhr and other original members of the Friends of Chadwick joined with new supporters to form Islanders for the National Conservation Area.  They spent the last three years striving to make the protection of the BLM lands in the San Juans permanent by having these lands officially designated and managed as Conservation Lands at BLM through congressional legislation.

Nick Teague of BLM helps train Beach Watchers at Watmough Bay, Lopez Island - photo by Shann Weston

Asha and her fellow committee members participated in public events like the County Fair and Farmers Markets gathering endorsements for protection. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Senator Maria Cantwell and Congressman Rick Larsen have held local listening sessions to discuss the community’s goals. Efforts reached a major milestone in September when Representative Larsen and Senator Cantwell introduced bills in Congress to officially designate the BLM lands in the islands as the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area.

That legislation requires the BLM to manage its lands for conservation and recreation and directs the BLM to work closely with the community to build a management plan for those lands. The legislation doesn’t call for any additional acquisition of land and explicitly limits its impact to land owned by the BLM, with no impact on surrounding private lands.

Those bills are now awaiting action in Congress. Many local individuals and groups have sent letters to Washington, D.C. supporting Representative Larsen’s call for a hearing on the bill in the House Natural Resources Committee. Senator Cantwell is working to schedule a hearing in the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Interior Secretary Salazar, who spoke with supporters last spring, included the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area in his list of 18 “crown jewel” conservation priorities for Congress to pass.

While the committee is pleased with our delegation’s support of the bills, getting the legislation passed into law will be challenging in the current congressional climate.

The lighthouse on BLM-managed Patos Island - photo by Tom Reeve

Asha Lela and other supporters are going to the other Washington in March. They plan to meet with congressional staff and officials at the BLM to help move things forward on the Conservation Lands designation. The contingent will push to ensure that political stalemates on other issues don’t get in the way of the San Juan Islands’ needs. The group is very clear on the goal they are pursuing  – “permanent community-driven protection for the BLM lands in the San Juans.”

And the other Washington is coming to us this Saturday for a public meeting. We encourage islanders to attend the meeting and voice support for permanently protecting the BLM lands in the San Juans.

For more information on the San Juan Islands National Conservation Area effort, including maps of the BLM lands and the text of the legislation, visit:

www.SanJuanIslandsNCA.org  or email info (at) SanJuanIslandsNCA.org.

For just some of the activities happening on BLM lands in the San Juans visit:

Iceberg Point Bird Survey

Indian Island Marine Observatory,

Tides of March event March 15; Lopez Island Conservation Corp

Watmough work party February 23; Keepers of the Patos Light

Turn Point Lighthouse Preservation Society 

Washington Water Trails

Blind Island work party May 5.

Love this one....raindrops caused pretty little pools in these plants and it makes for a nice photo. They look like diamonds...photo sumitted by Dot Vandaveer.

Let’s see what’s up….

• Good to hear the school district’s levy passed this evening…there is a lot of structural work that needs to be improved on the aging infrastructure of where we teach our kids. This is a great start.

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• Trying to sell your house? Windermere’s blog suggests that lower numbers of jobless claims mean higher home prices are ahead…here’s more.

Meanwhile, Merri Ann at Coldwell Banker just posted her in-depth review of real estate sales for the past quarter…check it out.

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• Rob Simpson got a lot of positive feedback about Thrive, the movie he showed for his Conscientious Projector series, so he’s showing it again:

ARTICLE:
On Friday afternoon at the library, the Conscientious Projector series will be offered in a free encore screening of THRIVE (What On Earth Will It Take?)  starting at 2:30pm).

Since its release only 3 months ago, THRIVE has been viewed in countries around the world and its importance is growing.

The filmmakers spent over 40 years gathering information and tracking where our world is headed….everything from new inventions, scientific discoveries, and changes in politics and society.

Whenever they found things that didn’t make sense, they did what any good reported does….simply follow the money.

The film is quite revealing…occasionally startling, and most definitely provocative. But, one cannot discount what is being presented due to the high-profile credibility of so many being interviewed within the film.

Come see the film that is part of new conversations all over the globe and find out “what on earth it will take for us to THRIVE.”

The first results for the School District’s Levy will be released after 8pm on the County’s website after 8pm sometime tonight…let’s keep an eye on ’em. Here’s the spot.

Nearly 5400 ballots have been counted, with some 500 left to count.

Around 8:30pm, the County site reported a 67%-33% edge voting yes, with a little less than half of the counted ballots reported (2600+).

Let’s keep an eye on the updates….

There is s great thing you can do for the pet you love (and others!) Here’s more from Leslie & Tawny at the Animal Shelter:

Hey Ian….the Friday Harbor Animal Shelter is kicking off its second annual Community Pet Food Drive on Valentine’s Day…..looking for donations of pet food to help local families be able to keep their pets in these trying economic times…last year the community donated over 700 lbs. of wet and dry cat and dog food….we are shooting for ½ a ton this year!

Drop boxes are located at Market Place, Islanders Bank, Whidbey Island Bank, Islands Veterinary, Harbor Veterinary, Friday Harbor Pet Supply and the Friday Harbor Animal Shelter.

The drive will last from Feb 14th to Feb 28th.  The total weight donated will be announced at the ‘Spay’Ghetti Dinner on Feb 28th and the food will be distributed to families in need by the San Juan Community Food Bank.

Cash is gladly accepted, as the shelter can purchase bulk amounts of pet food at wholesale rates.  Please help us keep pets in their homes where they belong!