Posted January 11, 2011 at 1:12 am by Ian Byington
Pm & one happy cat...
She’s been a healer for a long time, and now has added to what she offers – here’s more:
Pam Fry, RN of Restoring Harmony Healing Therapies, has expanded her treatments to include your pets.
High Touch Jin Shin is the therapy she uses and it is a Japanese system of healing using light touch over points on the body. It is excellent for stress & pain relief, and improving many health issues. She has found it to be very effective with animals, especially before & after surgery, for chronic illness and helps many behavioral issues.
She will come to your home and can also teach you how to give simple treatments to your pet. She can be reached at 378-5864.
Posted January 10, 2011 at 12:14 pm by Ian Byington
Judge Don Eaton administers the oath of office to newly-elected Sheriff Rob Nou Monday morning....photo by Sophie Rice for the Update.
This morning Superior Court Judge Don Eaton administered the oath of office to several elected officials this morning, including new sheriff Rob Nou. Also being sworn in were Assessor Charles Zalmanek, District Court Judge Stewart Andrew, Auditor Milene Henley, Clerk Joan White, Prosecutor Randy Gaylord, and Treasurer Jan Sears. Earlier in the day, the new County Council members took the oath of office as well.
Posted January 10, 2011 at 5:04 am by Ian Byington
Swans on Sportsman Lake Saturday morning...photo by Cyndi Brast
Look around the island – what do you sea (that’s a joke):
• Rob Nou gets sworn in today at 11:30am, if you’d like to drop by the Courthouse and wish him well as the new sheriff….
• Debbie at Roche Harbor says she has signed up the last three spots for the Salmon Classic next month, but you can still get on the waiting list – folks have canceled before…
Paul, on the set (left)...
• Paul at Pablito’s (right) has a new video in which he shows how to make venison tacos – it came out pretty well – check it out here.
• If you’ve been watching the long term weather forecast you’ve probably noticed it’s a little more relaxed to start this week than it was (last week it said next weekend’s storm was gonna get us.) Here’s more about why, and what to expect, from my favorite meteorologist, Cliff Maas.
• The San Juan County Land Bank Commission has selected Tom Cowan from Orcas as its chairperson for the next year. Also elected were Doug Strandberg as Vice Chair and Jim Skoog will continue as Financial Officer. Both live on San Juan. The four other members comprising the board are: Lisa Wolford and Lance Evans, Orcas Island; Nancy Greene, Lopez Island, and; Amanda Azous, San Juan Island.
• Catch a movie tomorrow afternoon at 3pm! Laura Jo wanted to remind you & me:
Roy McAllister, is a BIG movie fan. Once a month he presents “Movies with Roy” at the library. He introduces the movie, we watch it and then follow up with a short discussion. Admission is free and so are the cookies!
• Dollars for Scholars is one of the cool things that happens around here – San Juan Island high school kids who put in a certain number of community service hours qualify for help with their first year of school after high school…and that help is always needed.
You can help – this year the “Dining for Dollars” part of the program is running for four straight weeks – the places listed here are all contributing the evening to the DFS program, to help our kids…hope you can go out to eat one of these night! Here’s the schedule:
January 13th
The Bean…all hot drinks all day
Vinny’s…dinner
The Place…..dinner
Haley’s….dinner
Rocky Bay….breakfast and lunch
January 27
Marilyn’s Garden Path…..lunch
Downrigger’s…..dinner
MiCasita…..dinner
February 10th
Vic’s…..lunch & dinner
Coho Restraunt…..dinner
• This year we hit seven billion people on a planet whose resource base is already seriously strained, and in places, seriously overshot…what does it look like? Here’s a start, with pictures from the National Geographic.
Why is this island news? Because we’re all connected, and population increase will affect us…just watch. We’ll be talking about this a lot this year, and for decades to come.
• The New York Times says we’re #2 as a place to visit (out of their top 41….) – here’s what they say in the Pittsburgh paper’s reprint of the same article. See what you think about their take on our island home…
• Peter Ward is coming…here’s an interview with Wired that’ll give you an idea of what’s he’s talking about…and you can see him on Thursday here on the island. Here’s more from the Nature Institute’s Fiona Norris:
Peter Ward
San Juan Nature Institute is proud to announce that the 2011 Arthur Whiteley Lecture Series, held in collaboration with UW Friday Harbor Labs, will begin on January 13 with a lecture by Professor Peter D. Ward, member of the faculty in both the Biology Department and the Department of Earth and Space Sciences at University of Washington.
His title: ‘Sea level, carbon dioxide or hydrogen sulfide: choose your future poison’ examines threats from global climate change. The lecture will take place in The Commons on the campus of Friday Harbor Labs at 7 p.m. and is free to the public, though donations are appreciated.
Peter Ward is an expert on mass extinctions and the role of extraterrestrial impacts on Earth and uses his insight into past events to predict future changes. In his recent book, The Flooded Earth, he described what our world will look like in 2050, 2100, and beyond and explains what politicians and policy makers should be doing to alleviate the consequences of the inevitable changes.
He is currently involved in detailed field work in France concentrating on mass extinctions in bivalves and ammonites and, in contrast, researching speciation in living marine animals like Nautilus.
The series continues on January 27 when Emily Carrington will talk about mussels and their tenacious hold on their host. Charley O’Kelly will discuss Biofuels on February 10 and on February 24, Gordon Orians explores the subtle decisions birds make when choosing where to live, what to eat and with whom to mate.
All these lectures will be held at 7 p.m. in The Commons on the UW Friday Harbor Labs Campus.
Posted January 10, 2011 at 4:55 am by Ian Byington
Jody Burns & the Master Gardeners say its time to get planning:
Evergreen Huckleberry
Annual Native Plant Sale – Order Now for Best Selection!
The Master Gardener/Conservation District annual Native Plant Sale is scheduled for February 26, 2011, but don’t procrastinate! You should order now! Certain popular species sell out quickly!
Late winter is a great time to plant native species (or any new plant) because the plants have time to get settled in before the dry months of July and August. You can prevent soil erosion, improve water quality and contribute to wildlife habitat by planting native species. Conifers such as Alaska Yellow Cedar and Incense Cedar and trees and shrubs such as Blue Elderberry, Cascara, Evergreen Huckleberry, Indian Plum, Nootka Rose, Red Osier Dogwood will be available, in addition to many others.
To see the entire list and print out an order form go to www.sanjuan.wsu.edu. Or request a form from WSU Extension at 378-4414.
The plants are one to two years old, either bare-root or plugs, are conservation stock and are typically sold in bundles of five plants. They range from 8” to 36” in height and prices range from $3.25 to $11.00 per plug or bundle.
There is a minimum purchase of $25.00 for all pre-orders. All pre-orders must have a $25.00 deposit. The balance is due at the time of pick-up on Saturday, February 26 at the San Juan County Fair Grounds.
Deadline for submitting orders is February 1. Some plants will be available for sale on Saturday, February 26at the Fair Grounds, but variety and quantities will be limited so order now for best selection!
Posted January 10, 2011 at 4:34 am by Ian Byington
Farhad offers a classical evening this Saturday....
Fiona at the San Juan Nature Institute announces a chance for you to hear good music AND help the Salmon in the Classroom program & the church’s piano fund – here’s more:
Its a “A Classical Evening” with Farhad Ghatan at Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church on Saturday, January 15, 7pm on their new Young Chang Concert Grand. Admission by donation.
Farhad’s repertoire includes well-loved solo works by the young Chopin, an even younger Schubert, Beethoven, Albeniz, Granados, Scott Joplin, and of course, the granddaddy of them all, J.S. Bach.
Proceeds from this concert will be split evenly between the Church’s piano maintenance fund and the San Juan Nature Institute’s Salmon In the Classroom program. With recent cuts to state funding of this valuable program, San Juan Nature Institute needs to find funds to replace aquarium equipment. San Juan Nature Institute offers unique science education classes that promote stewardship and environmental awareness for locals and visitors alike.
Posted January 10, 2011 at 4:08 am by Ian Byington
The king, as a kid
This early music festival starts this weekend at St. David’s with music that was composed & played by the court’s musicians when they put child king Louis XIV to bed – a practice he continued after he grew up. Here’s more:
The first annual Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents four programs of early chamber music on period instruments on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Islands in January, February, March and April of 2011. The opening program is entitled Putting Louis XIV to Bed: The King’s Musicians and will feature John Lenti on baroque guitar and theorbo (a long-necked lute), baroque bassoonist Anna Marsh, baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan and baroque violinist Courtney Kuroda, with baroque oboist Sand Dalton joining the group on Lopez only.
This concert will take place on Saturday, January 15 at 7:00 PM at Grace Church on Lopez Island; on Sunday, January 16 at 1:30 PM at Emmanuel Church in Eastsound on Orcas Island; and also on Sunday, January 16 at 7:00 PM at St. David’s Church in Friday Harbor on San Juan Island. The suggested donation, a free will offering towards expenses, will be $15 for each of the concerts. Youth 18 and under are free. For further information call 468-3477 on Lopez Island, 376-2352 on Orcas Island, and 378-5360 in Friday Harbor, or visit www.concertspirituel.org.
The program of 18 Trios to Put the King to Bed and other several late 17th-century manuscripts from the Library of Congress and the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris, many of them unpublished, will reveal the moving and irresistible melodies which surrounded Louis XIV, even at bedtime. Composers to be represented include the king’s guitar instructor Robert de Visee and Marin Marais, both among the musicians who serenaded Louis XIV at bedtime, and Jean-Baptiste Lully. The baroque bassoon and theorbo (a long-necked lute) were widely used, and the transverse flute was newly fashionable in the 1680’s.
Islander Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso of Friday Harbor has been accepted into the 2011 CVG Show, a state-wide juried art show held at the Collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton, WA. Her artwork, a painting titled “Birches – in Repose” is one of 129 artworks chosen from over 700 works submitted by artists throughout Washington State by exhibition juror Dennis Peacock. Mr. Peacock is a sculptor and Professor emeritus from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville who is now based in Shelton, WA. Accepted artists will be competing for $6,000+ in cash prizes plus potential purchase awards and will be on display at CVG during the month of February.
The Collective Visions Gallery is located at 331 Pacific Avenue in downtown Bremerton and will be open 10 to 5 Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 on Sundays during the month of February. The public is invited to vote on a $300 People’s Choice award February 1 through 5, including on the First Friday evening gallery walk, February 4.
For a complete schedule of events visit www.collectivevisions.com.
Posted January 8, 2011 at 10:19 pm by Ian Byington
Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. John Ruskin
Gary led the Halloween costume parade through town a couple of months ago...
When a school district has a strong administrator who is widely appreciated & popular with his staff & students, it comes as a surprise to hear he’s moving on.
Our elementary school principal is resigning, and the response I’ve heard has been universal that he’s a great one & folks don’t want him to go. I’m pretty sure more information will come out that makes this situation more clear (I hope so), and in the meantime hope that folks don’t jump to conclusions about Gary, the school board, or the superintendent.
So, till we’re more informed, here’s the press release from Rick Thompson, the school district superintendent:
Mr. Gary Pfleuger has announced his resignation as the principal of Friday Harbor Elementary School effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Mr. Pflueger has served in the role of principal since the fall of 2008.
Mr. Pfleuger has worked closely with the students and staff at the elementary school to support a safe and civil learning environment. He has also worked closely with parents to promote the many and exciting learning activities which take place at the elementary school. Gary also worked with the school and district staff to facilitate assessment practices, a Response to Intervention model, and First Steps in Mathematics training.
“I have appreciated my time as a principal in Friday Harbor. I have been impressed with the level of professionalism among the teachers and the level of community and parent support.” Mr. Pfleuger noted he may return to Idaho, his home since college in 1972.
The district will open a search for his replacement immediately. The search committee and selection process will include parents and community members, and is expected to conclude later this spring. The successful candidate is expected to begin work on or around July 1, 2011.
Posted January 8, 2011 at 12:52 pm by Ian Byington
Hey, you remember that Rewind (that’s Kate Schuman and Tom & Tami Doenges) are playing tonight at the Rumor Mill…but the food’s good too – here’s more from Kate:
I want to confirm that yes! Rewind is playing Saturday night, Jan. 8th, 7:30, at the Rumor Mill. In addition to the regular menu, the specials for the night are Hawai’ian themed:
Pork Katsu Local pork loin, Panko breaded, pan fried in Canola oil, served with dipping sauce, fresh pickled carrot, rice, macadamia pea salad and macaroni salad. $15
Kalbi Ribs Thin sliced beef short ribs in house marinade, flash charbroiled, served with rice, macadamia pea salad and macaroni salad. $17
Loco Moco Traditional Hawai’ian breakfast, charbroiled Oregon Country beef patty over rice, brown gravy, all topped with two fried eggs. $14
Just in: The Eastern Washington Eagles (including FHHS grad Tyler Hart) have come back from a 19-0 hole to win the national championship 20-19 over the Delaware Blue Hens.
That's Marie (front left), Vivien, and Pauline, ready to sell you tickets for Bunko!
Barbara Sharp & the Soroptimists say this is a great time to get your tickets:
This weekend is a convenient time to buy tickets to the Soroptimist Para-Dice Bunko Party. Tickets will be sold 10-4 this Saturday, Jan. 8 at both grocery stores and Sunday, Jan. 9 at Kings. For $20, ladies can enjoy appetizers, Bunko games, entertainment, prizes, tropical decorations and lots of laughter. Beer, wine, soda and coffee are available for purchase. It is a delightful dice game that is very easy to play and lots of fun.
Soroptimist invites ladies to come and enjoy ‘girls night out’ on Friday, January 14 at 6pm. Get all the details from the Soroptimists at the markets or buy your tickets at The Toy Box or Spa D Bune.
Posted January 7, 2011 at 12:35 pm by Ian Byington
What’s up, pup:
• Steve & Shann tell me the Grange members voted to restore their Charter last Wednesday night – wahoo! So, they’re back in business – election of officers is next week.
• Go to the website for Roche Harbor & scroll down a bit for info on how to sign up – Debbie Sandwith tells me there are three spots left in the Roche Harbor Salmon Classic Derby next month.
Look for the blue tube....that's where the batteries go...
• You and I both need a place to ditch used batteries, and now it couldn’t be easier. Here’s more from Brian Rader (he is the County Pollution Prevention Specialist):
Free & Easy Battery Recycling Offered At Ace Hardware in Friday Harbor
You don’t have to throw your household batteries into the trash anymore! Ace Hardware in Friday Harbor has begun offering a free household battery recycling service. You can drop off your household batteries (like 9-volt, AA, C, etc.) into the blue tube located near the checkout area.
Household batteries contain small amounts of a corrosive chemical (usually potassium or sodium hydroxide), as well as toxic metals like mercury, cadmium, nickel, and/or cobalt. According to Environment, Health and Safety Online (www.ehso.com), about three billion batteries are sold annually in the United States. These chemicals are better kept out of the landfill.
Ace Hardware is partnering with their parent store in Anacortes to offer this free service helping provide us with a recycling option for this difficult waste stream.
• The FHHS boys & girls basketball teams are in action tonight & tomorrow at Mount Vernon Christian & at Meridian…plenty of time to do homework on the ferry….the boys are 3-0 in league & off to a great start that way, while the girls are doing very well, even though they got edged in the last couple of games. Should be a good weekend -go, Wolverines!
Posted January 7, 2011 at 12:15 pm by Ian Byington
Carla (left) and Katie - Katie is taking over as president of the islands' bar association....
This just in from the Bar Association:
Attorney Carla J. Higginson has passed the presidency of the San Juan County Bar Association to Friday Harbor attorney Kathryn C. Loring of the Law Offices of Skinner & Saar, PS. Carla, who has been in active practice in Friday Harbor for the past 31 years, held the position of president for three consecutive years, from 2008 through 2010, and also served as the Bar Association president for two terms in the 1980s. In the past 31 years, no other attorney has served longer in this position.
During Carla’s tenure as president, she oversaw the swearing-in ceremony in February 2008 for San Juan County’s first Superior Court Judge, John O. Linde, the subsequent dedication of the San Juan County Superior Courtroom to the memory of Judge Linde by the County Council at the recommendation of the San Juan County Bar Association after Judge Linde’s untimely death in December 2009, and conducted a judicial evaluation poll to aid the Governor in her eventual selection of Donald E. Eaton as San Juan County Superior Court Judge to fill the vacancy in that position. Each year she also coordinated the Friday Harbor High School mock trials and served as the mock trials judge.
“It was my privilege to serve as president of the San Juan County Bar Association during such an historical period for this county,” Carla commented. “We have a very well-qualified and professional group of attorneys in our county and I was honored to be at the head of such a fine group of people. However, I could never have imagined the joy and the terrible sorrow that the past three years would bring.”
Katie Loring joined the Friday Harbor office of the Law Offices of Skinner & Saar as an associate attorney in 2008. She graduated from Boston College Law School in 2004 and clerked for the Honorable Mary Fairhurst of the Washington Supreme Court from 2004-2005. Katie practiced law in Seattle at Perkins Coie LLP prior moving to Friday Harbor in 2008.
Katie has been active in the San Juan County Bar Association since moving here. Additionally, Katie is active in Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor and in Leadership San Juan Island, and has served on the boards of each organization.
Katie is looking forward to her term as president of the San Juan County Bar Association, during which time she will oversee the Bar Association’s pro bono program and family law seminar, and will coordinate the Bar Association’s participation in the Friday Harbor High School mock trial program. As Bar Association president, she also will serve as a liaison to the San Juan County Law and Justice Council.
As the state struggles with the problems involved with the overall state ferry system, one of the proposals on the table is to whack the present Anacortes/Sidney run from the present nine months to only five.
We’re not crazy about that here in Friday Harbor – we like the Canadian visitors! The folks in British Columbia aren’t particularly keen on that idea, either.
Millions of tourist dollars are at stake, on both ends of the run.
Here’s a news report from earlier today from A News on Vancouver Island:
Tomorrow night, FHHS grad Tyler Hart (’07) and the Eastern Washington Eagles play for the national football championship against the Delaware Blue Hens. Both teams ended ranked #1 & #2 in the country at the end of the season, and both are 12-2 coming into the game.
The 2011 NCAA Division I Football Championship (FCS) Game will be played on Jan. 7 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff is 4 p.m. (our time) and the game will be televised on ESPN2. Wahoo!
