I wanted to share this with you early in the week so that you can a) sign up for your table, b) plan to go, this Saturday, and c) finally do something about those fleas.

Here’s more from Rev at the Fairgrounds:

Don’t miss the Holiday Flea Market and Craft Fair, this coming Saturday, December 11, in the Main Building on the Fairgrounds.  This event is loaded with crafts and gift items along with bargain basement deals on great flea market stuff!

Doors open at 9:00am with the market running until 1:00pm.

Vendor space is available and applications for a booth space may be found on-line at www.sanjuancountyfair.org Interested persons may also contact the Fair office at 378-4310 or email info (at) sanjuancountyfair.org for information or an application to reserve a booth space.

Over 300 folks showed up for this year's Holiday Festival 2010, including Mitch & Debra....

And a good time was had by all – the Theatre’s annual fundraiser featured an auction (with John Curley as the auctioneer), great food by Roche Harbor, music by The Walrus in one room & Roseblade (Susan Williams, backed by Keith Busha) in another, and a coming together of friends for a fun evening to raise the funds that keep our jewel of a performance space going.

This little video we put together for you features the folks who were there – you’ll get a chance to see what your friends around the island look like dressed up, to see Merritt dance, to see John Curley in action, and some incredible fun. Mostly, though, a lot of smiles…

Whoops…the video has a bug…I’ll post it in a bit!

Here’s a vid from YouTube that uses time-lapse photography to show you 15 hours of March 20 of this year – see what you think:

On the rocks...

That’s a picture of a fox on a rock at the end of the island, taken by Deanna Keahey, who comes to the island every year with her women’s adventure tours (her operation is called The Adventurous Wench)….she does a super job with her vacation packages, or so people tell me, and as you can see, she’s a pretty good photographer, too!

Here’s more about the picture, from Deanna’s blog.

It was fun to see Kirk, Kate & Mike singing & leading Christmas carols at the Historical Museum's Christmas Party last Wednesday....

Look around….

• Darlene TroBaugh at the Roche Harbor Gift Shop has news:

Please let everyone know that I am retiring from Roche Harbor Gift Shop and in celebration I am having a sale, 50% off EVERYTHING in the shop.

• This weekend, Dec. 4th is an acoustic showcase at the Rumor Mill…Kate Schuman, Steve Dyer, Kirk Furhmeister, and Ian Boulton.

• On Sunday, Devorah and the Rumor Mill have a Hannakuh Party planned at 4pm. Devorah has a Facebook page with details… she says:

Traditional food, music and games!!! Family Fun!!! Candle lighting @ 4pm….I can’t wait to share this Festival of Lights with my island family!!

• Got a minute? Here’s a nice little vid with dirt jumps by Justin Blevins, video by Tawm Perkowski, and music by Be Careful – check it out:

• Auditions!

Monday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m at SJCT’s PARC Building, 70 Saltspring Drive. Director Susan Williams is looking for 17 cast members for this “out of the ordinary” French comedy, The Madwoman of Chaillot.  Perusal scripts available at the box office.

• I just got this note from our friends at the SeaDocs Society…you’ve seen him playing jazz in town, and he’s on the Preservation Trust Board, and now he’s a friend to the puffins. Here’s more, from the SeaDocs folks:

Thor

SeaDoc’s newest Scientist, Dr. Thor Hanson, was just hired to write a Washington State Status Review for Tufted puffins.

These amazing diving birds are candidates for listing by the State of Washington but an official status review must be written before the Fish and Wildlife Commission can decide their ultimate listing fate: Threatened, Endangered or no listing. If listed, the State will write and implement a recovery plan to ensure we don’t lose this amazing species.

Tufted Puffins have declined precipitously in the Salish Sea and no longer nest on many of the islands where they historically reared their young, including Puffin Island, Flattop, Skipjack and others. If you ever had the opportunity to hear Thor speak you know about his passion for birds. Thor also is author of The Impenetrable Forest and a self-described “eco-nerd”. He lives on San Juan Island with his wife and son.

We couldn’t have hired Thor for this important work without donations from SeaDoc supporters like you. Thank you! Please join us in welcoming Thor!

Jerry & Dennis with the winner, Josie!

• Jerry & Dennis at San Juan Supplements had a drawing form all those folks who dropped by their open house last month – and Josie won! Here’s more from the guys:

San Juan Supplements is pleased to announce the winner of the Grand Opening Day raffle. Josie Byington won the raffle drawing, which included 3 free months at Xtreme Fitness, free personal training time with Randy from Xtreme Fitness, and complimentary workout products. Congratulations, Josie!

The Children's Festival is six months away - time to get it planned! CAn you help?

• You know, I’ve helped with the Children’s Festival, and it’s a fun gig – here’s more from Sally:

Children’s Festival Organizers Needed

Plans are just beginning for the 21^st Annual Children’s Festival scheduled for May 7, 2011 and committee members are needed to help with planning, organizing and overseeing this festival.

No special skills are necessary, other than the willingness and time to work as a team committed to creating a fun filled festival!   With the exception of the festival day itself, time required is minimal, averaging 6-8 hours per month.

Call Sally Thomsen, Recreation Director at Island Rec at 378-4953 to learn more about this fantastic opportunity!

•  A little help, wanted:

Wanted:  Snow removal contractor for Friday Harbor business parking lot and sidewalks. Ideal candidate will be extremely reliable and timely, and have snow removal equipment available.  Lot and sidewalks need to be cleared of snow promptly following accumulations on weekdays.  Parking lot is approximately 4,500 square feet and is at 425 Caines Street. Please contact [email protected] to submit letter of interest which should include your contact information, fee proposal, qualifications, description of snow removal methods, and availability.

Join the kids at St. David's!

• There’s a couple of chances to check out St. David’s Day School in the next couple of weeks – here’s more from the school:

The first two Mondays in December (Dec. 6 and 13), the staff of Saint David’s Day School are inviting children (with or without their family members!) to come and spend part of their day at the school with our other children.

The Staff and Board of Saint David’s Day School wants to thank all those in the community who have welcomed our involvement over the last couple school years, and especially the families who have shared their children with us, and all the hard working volunteers who have helped make our efforts to provide an excellent curriculum-based enrichment program to our community’s children: from materials to work parties to build our new playground equipment.

If you think your child would benefit from or like to try out our program, or simply would like to see the facility (and new playground equipment!), meet the teachers, and get any questions answered yourself, please come on in out of the cold one of the next couple Mondays!  Call Margaret Barker at (360) 298-4161 to make an appointment if possible so we might expect you.  We hope this opportunity will give a chance for parents in the community to become more acquainted with our program, and see us in action!
We also welcome anyone who might want to observe our program, whether they have a child that would benefit this season or not.  Saint David’s Day School has open enrollment for ongoing classes that match up with and augment the morning public kindergarten curriculum, and new programs for Pre-K students are now being designed.  We have more to offer than meets the eye!

Saint David’s Day School is on the corner of Park and Marguerite Street, beneath Saint David’s Episcopal Church (780 Park Street).  School hours are from 11:15am until 3:00pm.
Carmen Tompkins & Margaret Barker,
Saint David’s Day School Staff
(360) 298-4161

One of the artists currently on display at waterworks gallery is Jim Meyer - drop by & check 'em out! (That's a large format reduction woodblock entitled The Way of the River, 20 x 30 - inspired by the Gallatin River in southwest Montana)

Let’s look around the island…

• I hear that Audrey Espinoza delivered Violet Eloise yesterday morning! Congrats, Audrey! Wahoo!

• Carol reports a change in the island’s CPA landscape this past week:

The public accounting firm of Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs, is very pleased to announce that Susan Fisher, CPA, of Friday Harbor is combining her firm with theirs beginning November 29.  The firm will retain the name of Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs.

Susan brings to the firm 14 years of professional service to her clients in the San Juan Islands.

The Friday Harbor firm of Lake Kennedy McCulloch, CPAs, began with Steven C. Kennedy, CPA, 25 years ago and has grown to now include a total of 6 CPAs and 3 offices serving the San Juan Islands and Vashon Island.

Leasa & Teri are your Go2Girls!

• Looks like a great team to me – I don’t know two harder working (and smart!) folks. Teri Gentry and Leasa Wangoe are still in their current jobs – Teri at Gentry Aesthetics and Leasa at Coldwell Banker – they just plan on being a bit busier in life now! Take a look at their website for Go2Girls, and see what you think…here’s a bit from the site about what they offer:

From conception to completion and anything in between the go2girls are committed to you, your needs, your vision and your budget.

We offer creative event planning services to enhance the vision of your special occasion.   Our ability to focus and listen to our clients, along with our attention to detail, creates events that are not only fun but spectacular!

After over a hundred years in Friday Harbor, the Brown House was moved yesterday to American Camp...photo by Dennis & Jerry at San Juan Supplements, late yesterday afternoon (thanks, guys!)

Our girl Hanna with JLH....

• You know Hanna Burke‘s at a dramatic arts college in Los Angeles…she rubs shoulders with some interesting folks – that’s a picture from last week (right), when she ran into Jennifer Love Hewitt

We have 2 guest musical events lined up for the Brickworks Open House this coming Saturday, 12/4/10.  Kate Schuman will perform from noon until 2:00 PM, followed by the Farmers’ Market Musicians, starting at 2:00 PM.

We are thrilled to have such talented island performers join in the celebration of progress made and a look to the future for our entire community.

See you at the Brickworks on Saturday!

Ready to play! (Click on the photo to see a larger version...) Back row, left to right: Anders, Carl, Greg, Tony, Skip, Jake, Matt, Keith, Bruce, Cliff, and Oliver. Front row, left to right: William, Mikail, Thane, Monika, Jeff, John and his son.

• The roller hockey folks took a moment to pose the other night – click on the picture to see a larger version (& so you can see who everybody is!) Thanks to Monika for sending the photo over…

Books for everybody! See you there!

It is possible that our little island has more book nuts per square inch than any place around…here are the places you’ll probably find us this weekend:

• It’s the Book Fair at the elementary school (and breakfast!) Here’s more from Kim Ott & the PTA:

Come one, come all to the Friday Harbor Elementary School PTA Book Fair!

It’s Saturday from 9am-noon in the FHES Library…

Featuring a large variety of books for children of all ages, as well as adult fiction, recipe books, books in Español and much, much more…..Come and check it out! Get your Holiday shopping done early! All Book Fair proceeds will benefit the FHES PTA.

Books can also be purchased all day Monday, Dec. 6th, and Tuesday, Dec. 7th until noon.

Bring the whole family for breakfast beginning at 9am. All breakfast proceeds to benefit the FHES PTA and will go towards funding the 5th grade Pacific Science Center field trip.

• There’s a fascinating book for this month’s book club – here’s more from Nancy Larsen:

Griffin Bay Book Club will meet on Friday night in the cafe, December 3, 7:00 pm to discuss “The Anthologist” by Nicholson Baker.

As David Orr said in a New York Times Book Review about The Anthologist: “Nicholson Baker has written a novel about poetry that’s actually about poetry.” This is the story of Paul Chowder, a middle-aged poet assigned to write an introduction to an anthology, “Only Rhyme.”As he grapples with his notions about poetry and bouts of procrastination, the reader follows along with his musings, his daily life, and the way he tells us why poetry is essential to our lives. He does it all with a sense of humor and keen observations. As Orr sums it up: “We read poems because they have a knack for mattering. And how pleasing it is to be so gently and poetically reminded of that.”

• The Friends of the San Juan Island Library will host its annual Holiday Book Sale on Saturday December 4th from 10m-2pmin the Meeting Room.  The Friends offer gently used books at reasonable prices that make great gifts for the holidays!  Also featured will be handcrafted bookmarks and jewelry made by volunteers for the Friends of the Library!  All proceeds from the holiday book sale benefit the Library!

• While you’re out & about & thinking books, drop by Harbor Books next to the ferry, Griffin Bay Bookstore across from Kings & Serendipity next to Market Chef…we have the coolest bookstores any island could want!

Paul & SSIS have a show for you – here’s more from Paul:

Stop by Pablito’s Taqueria this Friday, December 3rd to catch the Spring Street School Performance Troupe. It will be a fun evening of music performed by the students, each in their own style. With no cover charge, the whole family can come and enjoy everything from jazz groups to singer/songwriters starting at 7:30. The doors open at 6:30, so be sure to come early to get a table and grab some of Pablito’s excellent appetizers. You won’t want to miss this – see you there!

Tonight!

It's all Bette this weekend...

Tonight at 6:30 local actor and playwright Therese Finn kicks off a three-part Bette Davis Film Festival at the library with Dark Victory, Miss Davis’s own favorite of her many films co-starring Humphrey Bogart and Ronald Reagan. On Saturday Therese will show A Stolen Life, a film Bette not only produced but also stars in as twin sisters! Davis won her first Oscar “she’s young, she’s fatal” for her role in Sunday’s feature Dangerous.

I asked Therese why Bette Davis? Why now? She answered, “She’s one of the strongest, most committed actresses ever. I admire the honesty of her emotions, a trait I feel we need right now in our culture.”

Don’t miss this opportunity. The event is free. Popcorn and refreshments will be served courtesy of the Friends of the Library. All shows begin at 6:30 pm

Hey, next time you go to Market Place, grab a little extra & then run it by Tim’s place (it’s right there on Mullis – heck, you can walk it over). It’s a part of how we share….

Drop by!

Here’s the scoop on the tree lighting & all the activities:

ISLAND TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY

Join the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce for the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Friday, December 3rd, from 5:00 until 6:45pm.

Holiday Ornament Making: Island Rec will be in the same spot they were last year (in the alcove were Banana Belt and Blue Water Grill entrances are). The kids will love making a Holiday Ornament.

Santa Photos at the Clock Tower Pier: Santa and Elf Mark Gardner will be all set up to take photos with Santa inside the Clock Tower. The cost for a photo is just 2 cans of food for the Food Bank.

Soroptomists International will be serving their AMAZING coffee at the Windermere porch! Free cookies!

Kiwanis will have the K-Boose at the Pier parking lot, serving up their hot dog meals and other goodies.

We even have someone roasting chestnuts, a local choir singing carols, and don’t forget the Snowman, Gingerbread Man, Rudolph, and the Christmas Tree walking around with special treats for everyone!

6:30 Tree Lighting: We have an awesome sing-along for about 10 minutes, featuring many favorite holiday songs. Song sheets will be handed out so everyone can join in the caroling fun!

This is always a great community event — and why not plan to come down early for some holiday shopping and dinner at your favorite local eatery?

Finding their way home...

The September update for the bluebird project is posted on the San Juan Preservation Trust site…it’s going great!

Just heard that we (that would be the bluebirds & their friends) just received a $24K grant – here’s more from Barb Jensen & the Audubon Society:

We want to send a big and I mean BIG THANK YOU to all who voted to fund the San Juan Islands Western Bluebird Reintroduction Project from the Boise Zoo. We won!  This is a $24,000 grant that will really help the birds. Continue Reading

Mrs. Parks' mug shot....

Fifty five years ago, on the first of December in 1955, a 42-year-old woman named Rosa Parks who had wanted to be a teacher got off work. She got on the bus to go home & was ordered to sit in the back. She said no & told the driver her feet hurt.

That got her arrested, jailed, and fined, and also started the process of turning the nation’s spotlight on its apartheid laws.

There are still things we have to change to get social justice remain, and Mrs. Parks’s example is a reminder that it’s not the big things we do that will change everything, but the small changes, when they’re all added up. Not milestones, but inch-pebbles.

She became the teacher she wanted to be, and helped change the way we see & treat each other.

She was arrested for one small thing. What are you going to do, today?

“It is not the magnitude of our actions but the amount of love that is put into them that matters.” Mother Teresa

Let’s see what people have to say….

It was great to see Jenni Staudt and baby Kaylee coming to the island last Friday...Kaylee kinda smiled in her sleep for this picture.

• Kathleen Wilson checked in with more about why that concert this weekend is so important:

Thanks Ian for running our poster! You are the best!

Here is a little addtional information:
The proceeds from this benefit concert will all go directly to The San Juan Eagles who have been serving San Juan Island cancer patients with free custom flights to and from the mainland for cancer treatment since November of 2001. All those involved in this concert realize what a blessing this community service is and we wanted to give them the support they deserve. Helping someone through their cancer treatments by lessening their discomfort during treatment is a wonderful gift and we would now like to thank them for their service and dedication to the cancer patients of San Juan Island.

He does a super job - I dropped in on Coy last week - his barbershop is at the end of Jeri's Mall (you know, between the Hot Shop & the jewelry store). I had to get it cut because it was getting in my eyes (just kidding...)

• Next week is the meeting, but it would help to have a headcount – here’s more from Dot (let her or Joyce know you’re coming!):

Ian, just to remind your readers about the December 7 Garden Club meeting at the Mullis Center.  This is our Holiday potluck meeting at 12 noon. Featured speaker is Fiona Norris and she is speaking relative to bees in the Northwest and how we  can promote them and keep them multiplying in our midst. RSVP is necessary to Dot Vandaveer  by December 3 at 378-8306 or to Joyce Harrell 378-6146.  Each attendee is requested to bring an unwrapped  toy for the Kiwanis Toy Drive and a food item for the Food Bank.

• Meanwhile, Dave Ryan (he’s the airport manager with the Port of Friday Harbor) could use a hand, and it might help you, too:

Good to run into Jake Taylor over at the Bean Café...he's been working at the Rumor Mill lately, in the kitchen.

Hi Ian,
I was wondering if you could have a notice in the UPDATE letting folks know that the Port garage sale went well, but there are still many items available for free. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure! These items will be available for pick up during normal business hours at the firehouse behind the airport tower at 800 Franklin Drive (just south of the terminal). Thanks!

• It was cool to hear that our neighbors at the Lopez Island Community Land Trust won the Home Depot Award of Excellence in the Home Ownership category – here’s more (and thanks, Nancy DeVaux, for passing it on!)

That's Ashley knitting this cute little baby-size sweater for the cute little baby-size baby she's expecting in May...congrats!

• Nancy Larsen at Griffin Bay says the club meets this Friday:

Griffin Bay Book Club will meet on Friday night in the cafe, December 3, 7:00 pm to discuss “The Anthologist” by Nicholson Baker.

As David Orr said in a New York Times Book Review about The Anthologist: “Nicholson Baker has written a novel about poetry that’s actually about poetry.” This is the story of Paul Chowder, a middle-aged poet assigned to write an introduction to an anthology, “Only Rhyme.”As he grapples with his notions about poetry and bouts of procrastination, the reader follows along with his musings, his daily life, and the way he tells us why poetry is essential to our lives. He does it all with a sense of humor and keen observations. As Orr sums it up: “We read poems because they have a knack for mattering. And how pleasing it is to be so gently and poetically reminded of that.”

Robin & Jason at LAS airport....

Josie & I had a little family visit to Las Vegas & St. George, Utah last weekend, and she had just gotten through saying, “You know, it seems like we run into island people everywhere we go – wonder who we’ll run into, here.”

Luigi & Jill at the Unity Church in St. George a couple of days ago...relatives of FHMS' Ben Troutman, which just goes to remind ya: Strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. Great to meet them & discover an island connection!!

So, we immediately saw Jason & Robin at the airport, who were coming back to Washington after a week of hiking at Red Rocks (sounds awesome!) They said they had a great time…it was cool to see familiar faces.

Then, on Sunday, I dropped in to the Unity Church for services in St. George, Utah, which was warm & welcoming, and met pastor Luigi Persichetti, whose wife Jill said, “San Juan Island? Wow…do you know Ben Troutman? He teaches at the middle school.”

By the way, Coy at the barbershop (above) has grandparents in St.George, and Regan at the Strand’s dad lives in Hurricane, just up the road from St. George.

Small world…lovin’ it.

Felicity in action....

I heard that Felicity was offing some holiday cooking classes – so I asked her to send me the details (you can call her at (360) 317-5961, and you can call me to let me know how the gingerbreda house came out). Here’s what’s up:

Get ready for the holiday season by taking baking classes! I am offering 3 classes in December that are designed to provide gifts of baked items for you to share with your friends and family. Please call or email if you have any questions or would like to reserve your space in the class.

HOLIDAY BAKING CLASSES

EASY HOLIDAY HORS D’OEUVRES • December 8th

Wow your guests over the holidays with delicious and easy hors d’oeuvres. Menu includes gorgonzola wafers with roasted pear and candied walnuts, mushroom and smoked gouda bundles, Peanut chicken skewers with peanut sauce, stuffed parmesan baskets. Some participation involved but bring your appetite, as all snacks will be enjoyed at the end of the class. 6pm-9pm $65.00

GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP • December 11 & 12

This fun-filled, 2 day class will begin with constructing your own gingerbread house and end with a beautiful centerpiece for your holidays. All materials will be supplied but you will be asked to contribute one small bag of candy suitable for decorations. Hands-on work so bring an apron. Children over 9 accompanied by adult are welcome.

10am- 2pm both days. $95 for 8 hours over 2 days

CHRISTMAS COOKIES • December 13th

Bring your aprons and be prepared to mix, bake and decorate hundreds of cookies. All ingredients and recipes will be provided. Go home with your share of assorted cookies to package up for gifts. Gift boxes, bags and ribbon will be available to purchase for the finished product or bring your own. A great idea for holiday gifts!
6pm- 9pm $75.00