Jan over at the Community Theatre has the story about what this coming weekend looks like – here’s more:

Michele, airborne...

Carnivale Heats Up Winter

The Winter Carnivale premieres at SJCT on Friday-Sunday, January 21-23, showcasing two nights and one afternoon of high quality entertainment on the Whittier stage.

The Festival kicks off Friday night with circus, burlesque and vaudeville during the world premiere of an original musical destined for Seattle, The Birthday Boy, written by producer Mary Lou Mills.

Performers include some of the hottest burlesque and cabaret stars from Seattle, including Miss Betsy Dean Buttercream, aerialist Michele Frances and dancers Danny and Sylvain Boulet, along with San Juan Island’s own Patti Bair in a role designed just for her. Islanders Nick Zervas and Devorah are also featured.

Attendees are encouraged to come in their zaniest and most colorful costumes in the spirit of burlesque and cabaret.  Please note: you must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by a parent to attend Friday night’s performance.

The Festival changes tack completely on Saturday night, with an evening devoted to classical and contemporary music, song and dance. Headliners include Mark Anderson, world famous organist and harpist, Angela Morgan, the soprano who is known as the “Golden Voice” of the Seattle Recital Hall and Ashraf Hakim, who was the first chair cellist in the Cairo Symphony Orchestra (Egypt) for 16 years.

Sylvain

Featured in the dance portion of the program will be the classical side of dancers Danny and Sylvain Boulet; an Egyptian belly dance; and a new ballet choreographed by Linda Downes for local dancers and professional ballerina Leslie Lott.

The Festival will close on Sunday afternoon, with a fun-filled one-hour show for children and the young at heart, featuring both talented kids and adult professional dancers and singers.

The Business Partner for the Winter Carnivale is Coho Restaurant.  Tickets for Friday or Saturday night are $19 for adults and $10 for student reserved.

Or buy tickets for BOTH Friday and Saturday nights for $30 for adults.  Sunday’s tickets are $14 for adults and $7 for student reserved, with $5 RUSH at the door.

The Box Office is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or tickets may be purchased on-line at www.sjctheatre.org

Kitty Roberts wanted you to know it’s here next week:

The second printing of the booklet “The Fisherman & the Fisheries of the San Juans” will be available for pick-up, for those on the preordered list, at Roy’s Espresso and Deli [inside].  The date is Tuesday, January 18th, from 10:30 until 3:00…Limited copies will be available for the public to purchase at this time also. Booklets,if necessary, can be mailed for a additional $4.95.  For more information e-mail sjfisheries (at) hotmail.com. Thanks!

Let’s see what’s is going on:

• There will be a public meeting at the Mullis Center this Saturday (1/15) at noon of all concerned parents and community members who want to discuss how to react to the unpopular decision by the school board this week.

• Carol Maas from the Conservation District says there’s an election coming up – here’s more:

The San Juan Islands Conservation District Board of Supervisors will hold a regular meeting on Monday, January 24th at 8:30am in the SJICD Office, 540 Guard Street, Friday Harbor.  The Board of Supervisors will be setting a date for the San Juan Islands Conservation District Supervisor elections.  The meeting is open to the public.

• Just got this note from Jenny – you can help by mentoring a FHHS student for their community project..I’ve done this before & it’s one of the more rewarding things you can do. Here’s more:

The second semester High School Community Service class will begin February 7th. If your organization is interested in mentoring a student  this semester, please contact Jenny Wilson at [email protected]. During the  first week of class, times are available if you would like to give a presentation to the students.  We look forward to hearing from you!

• Felicity of Cakes by Felicitations is getting ready for Valentine’s day – are you? Here’s the deal:

I’m offering a class on February 13th – each person will bake a heart-shaped, chocolate decadence cake, learn how to make and pour chocolate ganache, make a sugar rose and write a custom message on your cake.  Boxed and tied with a ribbon, you have  a delicious treat for your Valentine!  Cost is $55 but less if you sign up early. Go to www.islandrec.org to read about the classes – follow the drop down menu under “Programs” to “Classes by Felicity” and sign up!

Director Bristol takes a moment after the show to check in with sister Desi (Mozart) to see which way they're going....

There are plots & subplots in the Friday Harbor High Drama Group’s production of Steven Dietz’s Still Life With Iris, and when it all comes together in the end, it makes for a satisfying evening at the Community Theatre.

There were a lot of proud parents in the crowd, including Sean's dad Bill....

The play is the story of a young girl (Iris, played by sophomore Sarah Clark) who is searching for both her lost memory and her home. She wends her way through poems (Annabel Lee, played by Liz Bateman), music (Mozart, played by Desirae Whalen), and all kinds of challenges presented by Mr. Matternot (Sam Asher, in one of his stronger performances), who works for the Greater Goods (Sean McLaughlin & Me’Tairie Kilpatrick-Boe), who hope to adopt her & take her to their island. She is able to return to Nocturno, her home, with the help of her new friends and with the help of learning important lessons which she finds within herself.

I happened to see Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind last week, and like that story, this play does a nice job of spotlighting how the loss of one’s past can hurt one’s sense of the future, or place in the present.

The director thanks her assistant director after Thursday's performance...this weekend's shows mark Fred's 20th and last year with the FHHS drama program.

This show marks the 20th year that Fred Yockers has been involved in putting on plays with FHHS students, and he tells me this is his last.

I’ve gotten to see 17 of those 20 shows, and in keeping with his penchant for making every show very different from the year before, this one’s pretty different, too, starting with his decision to assign the director’s chair to someone else.

In November, he handed the directorial reins over to FHHS grad, former lead in Don Quixote here, and Pacific Lutheran (’10) grad Bristol Whalen, who coaxed believable characters out of her young actors.

Matthew Mazzarella and Jerusha Turner celebrate a well-done show....

It’s a great experience for her, both to direct a show at this level and to be mentored by one of the island’s most creative minds. She keeps the Yockers tradition of challenging his students with a challenging play alive, with a good result.

A great man, who we’ve been lucky to have around. Great kids. Great show. There are still three performances left – don’t miss this one.

Carla has a new firm name and new law partner, Garrett...

This new partnership looks good – it broadens what Carla’s longtime office here offers, and gives islanders a resource who is experienced with international matters…here’s more from the press release:

Long-time San Juan County attorney Carla J. Higginson has formed a partnership with attorney Garrett J. Beyer.  After 31 years in solo practice, Higginson Law Offices is now Higginson Beyer, a professional services corporation, with offices in both Friday Harbor and downtown Seattle.

Beyer has been an attorney for the past 17 years handling international business, taxation , and domestic and international estate planning.  He received his MBA from Gonzaga University in 1989, his law degree from Gonzaga Law School in 1993, and his masters in taxation from the University of Washington School of Law in 1997.  Beyer is a near-native of Western Washington, having grown up in Federal Way just south of Seattle.  He has two children, ages 4 and 7.  He is primarily based in the firm’s Seattle office located on the 55th floor of the Columbia Tower Building in downtown, but is in the Friday Harbor office regularly.  Beyer has been active in the College Club of Seattle for many years, serving as that organization’s president and legal advisor.  He enjoys boating and is an avid fly-fisherman.

Higginson is a fifth-generation islander on both sides of her family.  Her maternal great-great-grandfather Christopher Rosler was an American soldier in the Pig War, and after the dispute was resolved, he married Anna Pike, a native woman from the Tshimshian tribe, and homesteaded at the south end of San Juan Island.  Higginson continues to own the family farm that her great-great-grandparents established.  Her paternal great-great-grandparents, the Nichols, homesteaded on Lopez Island.  Higginson received her law degree from the University of Washington School of Law in 1979 and began her own law practice in Friday Harbor in 1980. She has the oldest continuously owned law practice in the county and recently completed her fifth term as San Juan County Bar Association president.  Among other activities, she was a municipal court judge in Friday Harbor for eight years, served on the San Juan County Planning Commission for 5-1/2 years, founded the San Juan Pilots Association 25 years ago (which remains an active organization with over 130 members), served for 25 years as the volunteer attorney for the Animal Protection Society-Friday Harbor, and currently serves as the volunteer attorney for various non-profit organizations including Hospice of San Juan, San Juan Historical Society, and Pigs Peace Sanctuary in Stanwood.  Friday Harbor High School classes for the past seven years know Carla as the judge for their annual mock trials, held in the Superior Courtroom.  She also studied classical voice with Elizabeth Burton for 9 years and has sung in the Presbyterian Church choir and San Juan Singers.

Beyer will continue his practice in domestic and international business transactions, taxation and estate planning.  Higginson will continue to practice in the areas of civil litigation, family law, small business corporate matters, elder law, estate planning, guardianships and probate, real estate, land use, and criminal defense.

Most of you know that I used to go to contra dances for years when I lived in Oregon – gotta say, it’s great. If you like moving & meeting folks & generally just having a good time, you’ll love it.

So it was cool to hear: Liz Francis called to tell me & you that contra dances are starting up this weekend. They’ve invited Cindy Holmes (Anacortes) to do the calling and to teach contras, squares and waltzes. Music will be provided by the island’s Boys of the Bog: Gordy Elliott, Dan Paulson, and Dan Finn, on fiddle, dobro, guitar and percussion. She says all are welcome – couples, singles…just come as you are. All dances are taught & no experience is necessary. It’s at the Grange at 8 or so – join us for beginning instruction at 7:00 p.m. and get in for half price.

Since the winter storm didn't much happen this week, this robin came out to play...photo by Cyndi Brast.

A day after the Great Winter Storm That Wasn’t, let’s look around the island & see what’s up:

• Yep, the FHHS play’s four show run begins tonight. See you there! I’ll be going tonight – hope you have your tickets, too!

• Bobbe Needham tells me it’s time to sing! The Island Chordsmen Plus barbershop rehearsal is at Village at the Harbour at 7pm tonight & each Thursday (anyone can join!) and the Sound Vibrations women’s barbershop group meets at the Skagit Valley College/San Juan Center community room at 7 on Tuesdays, starting next week. For more info, contact Bobbe Needham at 378-0313.

• Picking off the good ones – the Wolverine boys basketball team nipped Shoreline Christian Tuesday night 59-56 with a late flurry…the win leaves our guys with a 5-0 record in the Northwest 1A/2B League (5-5 overall), while SC is now 5-2 in league & 10-2 overall.

• The School Board accepted Gary Pfleuger’s resignation Tuesday night, in spite of an incredible show of support for Gary at the meeting. I’m surprised by the whole thing – Gary is one of the strongest, most connected & most effective administrators I’ve been around…he’ll finish the year, but it’s sad to see him go.

• Do you use a cell phone a lot? Check out this article from Grist, if you have health concerns (you should).

• FHHS senior Willy Dunn is a good wrestler for the Wolverines, and he’s going to share that as part of his community project. Need something for the kids to do on Monday’s holiday? Here’s an idea:

I am going to have a Wrestling Clinic on Monday January 17, 2011 from 10am to 2am in the Hall Gym at the high school for children ages 8-14. The cost is $15.00 per child. Parents will need to sign a waiver for their child to participate; forms are available at the Elementary and Middle school offices or at the clinic. If you have any questions you may contact Willy Dunn at 317-6318.

• It’s a day to remember, and a day of service…here’s more from Liz:

Monday, January 17 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a national day of local service. Once again, all are invited to a community workathon in Friday Harbor as well as a gathering at the Mullis Center for remembrance and celebration of MLK Jr.

Volunteer work service is from noon to 2 pm and includes clipping and grooming at two local trails (the Centennial Trail near the SJ Community Theatre, and the northerly portion of the Airport Trail), maintenance at  Brickworks, grounds and kitchen clean-up at the Mullis Center, and window cleaning at the Family Resource Center.

At 2 p.m. there will be a MLK Jr. celebration and sing-along at the Mullis Center.

Meet up at noon at the Mullis Center for tools and work assignments of your choice and/or come at 2 p.m. for song and celebration. For info, contact Liz Illg at Nonprofits Unlimited, 378-6104.

Getting ready: "Still Life with Iris" opens tonight at the Community Theatre - that' the kids rehearsing earlier this week. Photo by Jan Bollwinkel-Smith.

Swan in near-flight...photo by John Miller (thanks, John!)

I love how John Miller‘s photography is just getting better & better…you can see his work on display at Doug Bison’s Gallery (where the Guruda & I used to be)…you’ll love it. He took these photos last week on the 8th around the island.

Evening at False Bay....photo by John Miller.

Sandy Cameron (left) with Nathaniel Leonard, dressed up for a Burns Supper...

Looks like our old friend Sandy is headed to do a Burns Supper in….Korea! Here’s a little story he sent in:

Well-known Islander Sandy Cameron is headed to Korea, January 18th, to perform in an American/ Scottish/ Korean, cultural exchange. The event, a Burns Supper, an evening dinner to celebrate the birthday ( Jan 25th 1759 ) of worldwide acclaimed Scottish poet Robert Burns.

Who you say? Think Auld Lang Syne, the New Year Universal Song of Commemoration, or My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose, two of his best known compositions.

As well as participants sharing a traditional Scottish dinner of Chicken and Leek Soup, Haggis, Potatoes and Turnip, a decadent Tipsy Laird Trifle, and lots of Scotch whiskey, the evening is primarily a celebration of the life and works of this remarkable man.

Burns, himself...

Sandy said, “In the week around his birthdate, there is hardly a country around the world which will not host a number of these events Hardly will an hour pass around the globe but one of these events will take place. Equally the number or events within a country is staggering, with an estimate of around 500 in the USA alone. In over 200 hundred countries and at least 25 languages it is unlikely that any one person, even the world’s best known heroes, is more widely celebrated.”

Having organised and participated in Burns Suppers in Scotland and Friday Harbour, Sandy was excited to receive an invitation to a prestigious event in South Korea. ” It came out of the blue,” said Sandy. “My son Craig, also well known in Friday Harbour, now lives in South Korea, and as Scots do abroad, made many connections by virtue of being Scottish and our renown for being friendly.” Continue Reading

The committee that is working on the Carter Street ballfields has a meeting tonight & hopes you can take the time to drop by – with the clock ticking on the high school baseball field (this coming season is the last on the present field), this is important stuff:

A public meeting for comments about the community sports fields off Carter Ave. (which could include a 3/4+ miles trail around the perimeter) will be held on Thursday, Jan. 13th at 7:00 pm at the Middle School Commons.

Here’s a vid from my new favorite group The Beautiful Girls, with their song Dealer Wins, which I hope makes you feel warmer this winter day (surfin’ will do that, you know):

Jan from the Community Theatre reports (and I know I already have my ticket – see ya Thursday!):

The World of Nocturno Awaits!

Friday Harbor High’s popular and acclaimed Drama Group presents a fantastical adventure that transforms the Whittier stage into the world of Nocturno THIS Thursday through Sunday, January 13-16.

Originally commissioned and produced by Seattle Children’s Theatre, Steven Dietz’ Still Life with Iris centers on young Iris, who lives with her mom in a magical “nocturnal world” where all of the things we use in the day are made at night. The world’s leaders are determined to have one item which is the “best” of everything and they want Iris as their best little girl. Iris is taken away from her home…and so are her memories. The adventure accelerates as Iris meets young pompous Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, feisty female pirate Annabel Lee and others, as she seeks to find her home again, and the parents she loves so much.

Long-time director Fred Yockers, who is co-directing the play with Bristol Whalen, calls it one of the most clever plays he’s seen or read. (Plus the sets and costumes make for another magical…how-do-they-do-it?…high school and community production!)

Jandira is a practitioner who works with the recordkeepers – I know you’ll find this fascinating. I’ve been to her presentations before & I think you’ll be glad you came to this one. Here’s more:

“Worlds Within:  An Introduction To The Akashic Records With Jandira Shelley”
Life Asks Questions.  Your Akashic Records Have Answer
January 13, 2011 • Time:  7-9pm • Griffin Bay Bookstore

Ever wonder:  Who am I?  What is my mission and purpose in this lifetime?  How can I create the future of my dreams?

Or maybe:  Why do I sabotage myself at every turn?  How can I be free of unhealthy patterns?  Why can’t I make my relationships work?

Deep within your Soul resides the wisdom needed to answer these and other questions so that you might live life to the fullest.  By tapping into the Sacred Energy of your Akashic Records, you access practical, loving guidance for your everyday life. Continue Reading

Shane & Ricarda tie the knot!

On Monday, Ricarda Burnett & her Australian fellow Shane Weston went down to the courthouse & got married (I was wondering whose rig that was, with the “Just married!” painted all over it). I checked in with her yesterday & they’re really happy – congratulations you two!

Hey, math nerd – try this:

Today is 1-11-11…. If you take the last two digits of your birth year and add it to how old you will be this year, it will add up to 111. Cool, eh?

Things you’ll want to know for today:

• The FHHS basketball games today have been shrunk to one…instead of the usual four, the jv games aren’t being played, and since Shoreline Christian doesn’t have a varsity girls team, that won’t be happening either. And…the boys varsity game will be at 5:15pm instead of 5:30pm. See you there!

• Today’s winter storm has been scheduled for later this afternoon & this evening. Click on the “Weather” tab in the menu above for the latest. Or look outside. And stack wood….

• Tonight’s school board meeting is at 6pm in the high school library, discussing Gary Pfleuger‘s resignation. There is time in the evening set aside for public comment – here’s the agenda.

• Looks like our friends need help…you know Mica & Mark Brokman from Friday Harbor Espresso…they’ve got some unanticipated medical expenses that have come up. You can help with a donation – any size is welcome! – at Whidbey Island Bank…just mention the Mica and Mark Brokman Donation Fund.

• Island Rec says this is good time to sign up:

It is time to register for swim lessons! We have swim opportunities for kids beginning at six months old and older. Spring is the only time Island Rec offers swim lessons. Through Island Rec’s subsidy you are getting these classes at almost half the price that is paid to the fitness club. You will want to take advantage of this low costing opportunity! Register now at www.islandrec.org