Piet's neighbors...

Remember last month when Ary told us you could see a heart on the ground from the sky, when you look at San Juan Island? (Here’s the story & picture.)

Well, he’s not the only one – that prompted Piet Visser to suggest we check out his next door neighbor on the island’s peace of property (Piet & Brooke & the kids live in Andorra, now), while Greg at the County GIS offered this incredible view (below). You can click here to see the photo below (which is on Lopez Island), and then look for your house with the Polaris system…easy to use & fun to see what we look like from the eagles’ angle….

What Greg saw...wow!

It was all smiles Saturday night with Santa....

There were a lot of things to do at Christmas Island, the annual holiday get-together at the Grange last Saturday, but probably the most popular was to sit on Santa’s knee & tell him what you wanted for Christmas.

Luckily, Santa’s ace photographer Mark Gardner was there to capture the moment of folks dressed up for the occasion – here’s his portfolio of the evening, with photos you can order from his website. Way to go, Mark! (And thanks, Santa!)

It's Tuesday night! Spring Street International School presents a concert at The Grange. Dec. 21, from 6:00-midnight featuring Grisha Krivchenia, Boundless State, The Sonic Vandals, and a live DJ set by Alienation. All proceeds are to help raise funds for service projects in India and Thailand, which include slum development, water purification and village work.

Checking in around the island….

Annette (left) and Bette were out collecting stamps for the Chamber's Thursday night shopping event a couple of weeks ago - have you got yours?

• If you haven’t gotten downtown to check the sales around Friday Harbor, now’s your chance. Please it’s always good to check in with your friends. Take a walk in town…you’ll be glad you did!

• My friend Courtney has two threads (horses & babysitting) that are knitting together nicely – here’s the deal:

Blazing Tree Ranch and Island Sitters are starting up an After-School Kid’s Barn Club for kids ages 4th grade and up. Horse crazy kids can come and learn about horse safety, grooming and handling as well as what it takes to care for your own horse. A great alternative to winter afternoons spent inside watching t.v.! Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30 – 5:30. The school bus stops at our road! $35/month. Contact 378-1364 or blazingtreeranch (at) gmail.com for details.

• Click here for a picture of Audrey & Jenni in the 2007 San Juan Update, wearing pink Santa hats…both of them delivered their babies this past month or so…

• That reminded me of the Dancer IQ test…remember that?

Wendy at last weekend's Farmers' Market....

• Stumped for a Christmas gift that most folks would really like? Consider checking in online with High Seas Seafood, which is represented here on the island by Wendy (right). Call ’em up & she’ll get it to you!

• Meanwhile, Kerry at the Chamber of Commerce says this is the last week to get those stamp cards filled in – here’s more:

Shoppers — this is your last chance to get in on the Chamber of Commerce’s “Shop Local” event and take part in the Gift Basket drawing that will be held on January 4th, 2011!

To join in, just visit the following retailers between 4pm and 7pm this Thursday, Dec. 23rd. You’ll collect a stamp card from the first retailer you visit, and they’ll also give you a “footprint” stamp. After you’ve collected all 16 stamps, turn in your stamp card for a chance to win the Gift Basket valued at over $300.00!

It was very, very well-attended - Christmas Island on Saturday at the Grange drew hundreds of kids & mamas & papas, including helpful Santa elf Debbie Shayo. I like the hat...I want one like that.

Participating businesses are: Coho Restaurant; Funk & Junk; The Doctor’s Office; Rock Island Technology; Toy Box; Osito’s; Cotton Cotton Cotton; San Juan Florist; Mirabella Skin Care; Waterworks Gallery; Acanthus Antiques; San Juan Wireless; Dream Beads; Island Studios; Creative Passions; and Merle’s Masonry, Chimney Care & Stoves.

This is great fun, and it’s a great way to support these wonderful local businesses.

If you have questions, please call the Chamber between 10am and 4pm.

• Have you thought about who in the community can use a little help this Christmas season? If you’re just not sure, call the United Way…they know how to make every dollar count.

Sign put up by WSF, on the Sidney run...

• Just checked – the exchange rate between the USA & Canada is 1.00 USD=1.01729 CAD, as of this morning (I use this website to check this.)

That’s pretty close to equal – consider hopping on the ferry on Sunday to go to the Boxing Day (December 26th) sales in Victoria. And hurry – the ferry to Sidney quits running on January first.

Meanwhile, the Washington State Ferries folks don’t accept Canadian money in the galley from the people (get ready for this!) coming & going to Canada. WSF must be pretty well funded if they can turn cash away that glibly; seems kinda un-neighborly to me. I’d like to see that changed….

What better way to wake up, than to Chelsea Morning, by Joni? This clip is from 1969…

Bill, with friend.

I asked Colleen Wright what the deal was, so she told me (and you!):

So, without asking me, Bill brings home two baby bunnies at the end of September.

“They both have ‘g’ in the ear, signifying girls,” he says.

“I hear water in their lungs,” say I. “They have to go to the doctor first thing in the morning.”

They take medicine and are over their cold. “This one sure acts like a boy,” say I.

“No, NO. They told me they were both girls. AND the vet also says they are both girls,” says Bill.

Caught in the act!! In the kitchen, no less! Doing it.

He is now fixed (the bunny). But we are in a fix. We should have baby bunnies (New Zealand) to give away in about one month.

$795 per bunny. $790 discount to locals.

OK, FREE to good home. OK, we might pay you something to take them.

🙂  Write us at: fun (at) SanJuanSafaris.com

Colleen and Bill

I’ve been hearing good things around the streets & around the island, and you have, too…here’s a nice writeup by Diana Stepita, who loved the show:

An Old Fashioned Welsh Christmas in the San Juan Juans!

Having spent most of my Christmases past where snow drifts and subfreezing temperatures herald the holiday season, unearthing my Christmas spirit in the temperate marine environment of the San Juans can be challenging.

This year’s inspiration came last night at Roche Harbor Pavilion with Island Stage Left’s charming holiday production “Christmas Memories” – a compilation of the writings of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas adapted by Helen Machin-Smith. The piece features the amazingly talented Dan Mayes who – with only a change of inflection, accent and countenance – can make his audience believe he is anyone from a small Welsh boy to a tipsy postman or a roomful of cigar-smoking uncles.

Joy Van Camp joins her lovely voice with Dan’s in some memorable songs of the era. On the night our family attended, audience members joined in more than once!

If you’re searching for the spirit of Christmas you’ll find it in front of the fireplace at Roche Harbor Pavilion. The remaining performances are on Tuesday, December 21; Wednesday, December 22 and Thursday, December 23 at 7:30 p.m.; and at 4 and 6:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

The Christmas Eve performances are by reservation only and nearly sold out – call 360.378.5649 for reservations.

As with all Island Stage Left productions, admission is free but please contribute what you can to allow these talented professionals to continue to bring the Christmas spirit to the San Juans!
Diana Stepita

At San Juan Florist, Julie gets a flower arrangement ready for delivery last weekend...and always with a smile.

Happy Solstice Eve to you…let’s look around the island:

The year's only full lunar eclipse is tonight!

• You already know that Solstice is on the 21st this year, and I’m hoping you heard about the lunar eclipse tonight, which starts around 9:30pm or so our time. Should be pretty cool, clouds permitting – here’s the backstory on that.

• The word in the street is that Sotheby’s intends to move to a new spot…I’ll get back to you with more info as that continues to emerge.

• In the latest County Conservation District newsletter, Carol mentions that Bruce & Colleen have received an award for the super job they do with their 20-acre farm…here’s more:

Mitchell Bay Farm of San Juan Island Receives Statewide 2010 Vim Wright Stewardship Award from the Office of Farming and the Environment

Bruce & Colleen run a great operation - be sure & get out to see them!

Our very own Farm and Forest Planner, Bruce Gregory and his wife, Colleen Howe of Mitchell Bay Farm have received the Statewide Vim Wright Stewardship Award from the Office of Farming and the Environment. Mitchell Bay Farm was one of three recipients of the award, which is annually awarded by the Washington State Office of Farming and the Environment, a non-profit organization working to protect both the economic vitality of farming and to promote the environmental stewardship of the state’s working agricultural landscape.

A representative of the awards committee noted, “Your farm is unique in its setting and operation. You were chosen as a winner because of your attention to the science of soil fertility, plant propagation and the biodiversity found on your farm as well as the careful stewardship and restoration of that valuable ecosystem. I can honestly say that of all the places I have visited, I would love to call Mitchell Bay Farm home!”

They're all set up in Cannery Landing - the Animal Shelter has opened a gift shop on the second level (next to San Juan Transit) that features all kinds of animal swag and is also a good place to drop by & find out more about the Shelter. Tawny (left), Jamie, and shelter director Leslie opened the shop in time for Christmas shopping, with an open house a week and a half ago & a really big dog. Be sure & go by to visit.

Over the next few years, different economic models are going to emerge to supplant the current ponzi scheme that we see as inevitable in our present culture (hey, I lost 70% of the value of my retirement savings in the past three years, and some 40% of the value of my house – I’m definitely on the wrong end of the gamble!)

And yes, this matters for islands, where we see firsthand the limits to growth, the limits that resources impose, and the impact of increasing, unsustainable population growth.

One of these emerging models is the notion of collaborative consumption, which seeks to re-write the rules into more natural ways that we share. Rachel Botsman explains in this TED talk from Sydney:

FHHS head coach Eric Jangard fires up the Wolverines at the end of the first quarter of the Orcas game Friday night.

It’s been a good weekend for Friday Harbor High, and former Friday Harbor High players…

Senior forward Maggie Anderson drives to the basket against Nooksack Valley Saturday afternoon for the unbeaten Wolverines. Photo by Ray Sheffer III.

• Senior receiver Tyler Hart (FHHS ’07) helped lead the Eastern Washington Eagles into the national championship game with Friday’s nationally broadcast win in the semis over Villanova – the title game will be held in Texas on January 7th. Wahoo – and way to go, Tyler! I’m pretty sure EWU could hear the cheers from the island (especially Haley’s!) all the way over in Pullman!

• The basketball Wolverines are looking pretty good this year – the boys looked impressive in their dismantling of Orcas Friday night before falling to Nooksack Valley Saturday afternoon.

Meanwhile, the unbeaten girls continued their winning ways, setting aside challenges from Orcas and NV, led by leading scorer Maggie Anderson. The Lady Wolverines are off to a great start for the year, and seem to have it all – balanced scoring, ball handling, height, and good defense.

A Christmas house on Argyle Street...

I hope you’re having a nice sunny day…let’s see what’s up:

• The Washington State Ferry folks say the schedule will be the regular one for the San Juan Islands/Anacortes route:

On Saturday, Dec. 25 and Saturday, Jan. 1 this route will operate on a normal weekend schedule. On Friday, Dec. 24 and Friday, Dec. 31, this route will operate on a regular Friday schedule. Please check our website for the exact schedule at the top of our favorite website about the San Juans. (I made up the last part. But I do believe they read the Update, because they decided to paint the Hyak after I ran embarrassingly rusty pictures of her. Coincidence? You decide.)

• Ferry tales II: It was fun to get back on the Orcas ferry yesterday and have the announcement with a live voice say something about we were in Friday Harbor. The Anacortes ferry has a recording that says something about “We have now arrived at our destination.” When they play that as you stop at Lopez, Shaw, Orcas, & then Friday Harbor, ya gotta be careful where you get off the boat, or you’ll have to spend the night at the Motel 6 on Shaw.

• Ferry tales III: One of the great island moms I know reported that yesterday’s ferry trip included this announcement:

“IF YOU TWO LITTLE BOYS, DON’T STOP RUNNIN’ AROUND… SANTA *WILL NOT* BE COMING THIS YEAR!!!”

They stopped.

Friday morning Santa dropped in on storytime at the Library - wahoo! Photo by Maddie Smith.

• Jandira wanted me to tell you that the Akashic Records Group Opening of Records meets tonight from 6-8 in the conference room at the library and it is open to the public.

At Be Chic Boutique's Open House & Holiday Party last night, it was Teri's mom Carol's birthday, too!

• Hey – San Juan Interiors is opening a shop on Orcas in Eastsound…

• You know the Farmers Market is happening this weekend at the high school, from 10-1 on Saturday? Now you do.

• Gail & Randy have a deal at the store this weekend – here’s the scoop:

Cotton Cotton Cotton is having a special holiday sale this Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10am-4pm. Mystery Discounts of 10% – 40% off (excluding some consignment items)!

You know those cute KLOGS boots you have been looking at??  Come in this week and get them 20% off starting today!!

We have lots of cute Christmas themed shirts, and gifts for that special someone!  Don’t forget Brighton Jewelry and we now have Brighton charm bracelets and Christmas charms! Hope to see you soon!

Sierra, the big winner!

• It was fun! Here’s the results of the kids’ art show at Gallery San Juan last week, from Barbara & Matt:

Hi, I just wanted to give you the results of the 13th annual Kid’s Art Show, which was held December 7th. Attached is a picture of Sierra Fitts, our youngest winner of our Peoples’ Choice award. A great time was had by all and we thank everyone that participated.
Thank you to all and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

2010 winners in the following categories will have their artwork framed by the Gallery:

4 Year olds – Sierra Fitts
5-6 Year olds – Katie Holmes
8-9 Year olds – Weston Warfel
10 -12 Year olds – Vida Wright

Valmark steps up!

• Here’s the scoop from the Lainey & the EMS folks:

VALMARK Accepts Community Safety Partner Award

Lainey Volk, Prevention Officer for San Juan Island EMS, presented the Safety Committee of VALMARK (King’s Market, Market Place, King’s Video, King’s Marine Center) with a certificate for their partnership in Community Safety.

The corporation purchased 3 AEDs (automatic external defibrillator) and placed them in Public access locations. Continue Reading

The Singers! Click on this picture to see a big version, and see whom you know! 🙂

Jan at the Community Theatre tells me there are some tickets left – here’s this year’s show:

Warm Your Holidays with Music and San Juan Singers

A festive holiday concert is on tap at San Juan Community Theatre on Saturday, December 18 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, December 19 at 2:00 p.m.

San Juan Singers–the community chorus directed by Angel Michaels–presents a mixed choir arrangement of A Ceremony of Carols, Benjamin Britten’s setting of medieval Yule and Marian poems.

Also on the program will be a reprise of Daniel Pinkham’s entire Christmas Cantata (including Gloria) with brass quartet and organ, carols from around the world and Yule songs new and old.  The concert will further include musical surprises and chances for community members to sing along in the spirit of the holidays. Concert harpist Mary WillAllen will accompany.

In addition, Saturday night concert-goers may enjoy a gourmet dinner at COHO Restaurant before the concert. This Dinner/Theatre package includes a discounted ticket to San Juan Singers and a 3-course COHO meal, including a glass of wine; and each guest receives a special holiday goodie package as they leave.  Package tickets are available at the box office only.

The evening’s Business Partner is Lake Kennedy McCulloch CPAs. Concert tickets are $17 for adults, $8 for student reserved, with $5 student RUSH one hour before the show.  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

Just got a note that San Juan Healthcare’s Joann Mayo has achieved Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) status by successfully completing the Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators. Meanwhile, Burk Gossom at the same clinic has completed continuing medical education requirements to retain membership in the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the only medical specialty organization devoted solely to primary care.

Here are the details: Continue Reading

Remember Elliot Pemberton (FHHS '99 - led the Wolverines into the playoffs that year in football) - that's him in the Warrior Race in November in Austin, TX where he lives with Kari & his kids. Wahoo!

Let’s see what folks are up to:

• On Tuesday, Gail & Randy from Cotton Cotton Cotton visited Village at the Harbour & dressed folks up for a fashion show of clothes from their shop, as you can see below…that’s all the models from the show!

Left to right: Shirley Jones, Mo Fuhrmeister, Chuck Settles, Flossie McRae, Ish Jones, Barbara Kelley, (behind Barbara – Gordon Steele), Jim Morrison, Anne Benedict, Gail and Randy from Cotton, Cotton, Cotton.

• Val tells me this is gonna be fun:

Make room for new toys just before Christmas, do a little free browsing or just come to see what special treats you can grab for your little ones this holiday season.

WHERE: Lighthouse Preschool / Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church – 425 Spring Street
WHEN:
– DROP OFF: Friday, December 17th • 5-7pm
– FREE SHOP: Saturday, December 18th * 11am-1pm

**Toys need to be new or gently-used
**All pieces must be included
**Please no stuffed animals or teething toys

Donations will be greatly appreciated and will benefit the Scholarship Program at Lighthouse Preschool. Questions can be answered at: [email protected]

New officers for the Sailing Club: From left to right; Jan Champlin, Social Chair; Karen Palmer, Treasurer; Ken Krooswyk, Rear Commodore; Therese Pratt, Secretary; Rebecca Hughes, Staff Commodore; Ed Hale, Commodore; Mike Chadwick, Trustee; Susan Eberhard, Trustee; Gloria Bentzen, Trustee; John Manning, Vice Commodore. Not in the picture: Fleet Captains: Bill VanSkyhawk & Howard Lewis.

• Looks like the Sailing Club has new officers – here’s more from Rebecca:

This is in regards to the Friday Harbor Sailing Club‘s awards banquet and holiday party that was held on Dec. 9th at the gold club. The picture attached is the new incoming Board of Directors for 2011.

The Friday Harbor Sailing Club motto: “To organize, promote and encourage amateur sailing, racing and powerboat activities.” We have 80+ members, some with sailboats, some with powerboats and some without boats. We welcome new members to join us for our potluck meetings held on the second Tuesday of the month at the Grange and become acquainted with our activities. We plan ‘fun’ with cruises and racing, potlucks to picnics! To become a member or to find out more about us, please contact Rebecca Hughes, Staff Commodore 370-5855.

Kira (the elf) was Santa's helper (that's Jack) at the elementary school's Breakfast with Santa fundraiser on Saturday.

• Andy Urbach has a deal for students after the Friday Harbor High basketball game tomorrow:

Minor Reinforcement Sponsors “The Post Game” For Basketball too!

“The Post Game” was so successful after the home football games we decided to host events for the two Friday night, home, basketball games.  The first event is this Friday the 17th of December.

Now there is a place for students to go when the basketball game is over!

Minor Reinforcement, a local non-profit, and Vic’s Drive-In are working together to provide a safe place for students to meet up with friends, hang out, and eat after the two Friday night home basketball games.

The Post-Game will take place at Vic’s Drive-In and will be open to all 7th through 12th graders (and any family members) from the final buzzer to midnight, on Friday, December 17th, and Friday December 31st.

There will be discounted pricing on a special late night menu including burgers, shakes, and fries, etc.

The Post-Game is a drug and alcohol-free program. The events will have security to guarantee a safe environment in which all students can relax and just have a good time with their friends.

For more information on The Post-Game or how you can support Minor Reinforcement in its mission to create and support programs and activities that build the character and enhance the lives of San Juan Island teens, contact: [email protected]

Sonja Zarek (left) and Kathleen Wilson (right) presenting Vicky Thalacker (San Juan Eagles) with the proceeds from the concert.

• That concert a couple of weekends ago att he Presbyterian Church went really well – and there were a few folks to thank – here are notes from Kathleen & Vicky:

Hi Ian:
Thank you for all you did getting the concert out there to everyone!  You are wonderful!  So far the count on the concert is $1,685.00 and I was wondering if you could let everyone know how much we appreciate their support.

Thank you to the Presbyterian Church for their lovely building, Pastor Joe, Torrey for all her wonderful help and patience (THANK YOU), Ken Norris – sound, Pat Gislason and Sonja Zarek.  A very special Thank You to the friends, family and community of giving that made this night possbile.  Thank you, thank you and Merry Christmas to all!

Kathleen

+++++++++

We would like to thank Kathleen Wilson and Sonja  Zarek and special guest Pat Gislason for inspiring us at the recent Christmas concert on December 4th for the benefit of the San Juan Eagles. Kathleen, Sonja and Pat have the hearts of Gold, the voices of angels and are an inspiration to all.  We want to thank everyone who attended the concert and those who made very generous donations.

The San Juan Eagles, a group of private pilots who fly cancer patients to the mainland have benefited from this wonderful evening.   The San Juan Eagles cannot be compensated for their flights in anyway. They donate their time and plane costs to fly patients to the mainland for treatment.  They have flown cancer patients since November of 2001.

The donations received from this concert will provide commercial flights to Seattle for cancer patients.The Eagles will be able to buy approximately 15 flights to Seattle.

If you would like to donate to the San Juan Eagles, please contact Vicky Thalacker at 378-4578 for information.

Thank you!

Vicky Thalacker,
Coordinator of the Cancer Treatment Project – San Juan Eagles

Dan Mayes (as Dylan Thomas) brings the poets words to the stage, accompanied by Joy Van Camp's singing...don't miss it! Photo by Joan Benney.

You can still catch Island Stage Left‘s performances of Christmas Memories, and see Dan Mayes bring Dylan Thomas alive – as well as a longtime memory of Christmas warmth. Here’s the schedule…see you there!

Vendovi Island is the third largest island under single private ownership in the entire San Juan archipelago.

This just in from Kathleen at the Preservation Trust:

The San Juan Preservation Trust, a non-profit land trust based in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, announced today that it has successfully purchased Vendovi Island, the third largest island under single private ownership in the entire San Juan archipelago. This acquisition ensures that this 217-acre island will remain permanently protected from development.

The $6.4 million purchase price was raised from anonymous private benefactors, including $3.0 million in donations and a $3.4 million bridge loan. The Preservation Trust is now actively fundraising to pay off this loan. “We approached every potential conservation partner we could think of, but the price and terms were simply too much,” said Tim Seifert, the Preservation Trust’s executive director. “We had essentially concluded that Vendovi was going to be out of our reach when these extraordinary new friends stepped in to offer their help.” Continue Reading