Hey, I’m just like you – spending a bunch of time at the County Fair & then trying to find time to report the news & gossip from being there…. here’s a little, with more tomorrow & the next day:

• Here’s the Fair’s website, for all the info you need.

• Tonight, the Local Harvest Band plays at 7 (after Rhiana Franklin, who you don’t want to miss) – this is a band put together by Tom Doenges of local musicians that will knock your socks off….they’ll play before the Henry James Blues Band wraps up the evening. Thanks, Tom, for making this happen!

• Wednesday was a happy day at the Fair – lots of people for the first day, with the added cool deal: the sun broke through mid-afternoon for the rest of the day. Lots of smiles, lots of hugs, lots of food. Loved the woman who said, “Curly fries today, elephant ears tomorrow, and we’ll just see about Friday!” It was cool to see so many local vendors in the food court, too.

• Unconfirmed report: Bakery San Juan cooked 128 pizzas on Wednesday. That’s a lot of happily-fed people.

• The Trashion Fashion Show was awesome, to the third power. It was so crowded that it was hard to see, but it was easy to feel good about – it always is, when islanders are cheering for other islanders.

Hey, did you get any good pictures? I gave away my picture-shooting place & mine aren’t so good – send any you have to ian (at) byd2.com and I’ll make a little portfolio of ’em. If you can identify the people in ’em, even better! (Thanks!)

In the count yesterday, with something like 300-400 votes left to count, Rob Nou increased his lead over the other four candidates, and it looks like Brent Johnson is going to be hard for Jeff Asher & Brad Fincher to catch in the second spot.

Should have the final tally when the last mailed-in ballots are counted – here’s the county website so you can see the numbers (be sure & scroll down).

See you at the San Juan County Fair!

To see the big picture this year, click here for all the events & entertainment that get underway today.

To see the big picture from last year, see if you can find yourself, your loved ones, or your ex-wife in these pictures of Faces of the Fair 2009, from last time.

Some things to add to the list:

• Mark Gardner‘s free photos! Here’s the scoop:

Free Portraits at the San Juan Country Fair  – Tuesday, Aug 17-Saturday, Aug 21 – 12noon to 5pm. Bring your fair entry (animal, vegetable, or whatever), your Zuccini 500 entry, or just yourself by my booth, which is located just outside the south entrance of the main fair building, starting Tuesday (the day you bring your entries) from 12 noon until 4pm, and then everyday of the fair from 12 noon until about 5pm.

You get a free 4×6 print, files for use on the web and a 25% discount on additional prints. For more information, just give me a call at 378-1371.

Thanks and I hope to see you at at the fair!

You gotta use all recycled materials for your outfit....

• The Trashion Fashion Show is Wednesday night! It’s awesome – don’t miss it! (here’s the scoop on that!) and…here’s a portfolio of the folks in it so you can see what it looked like, last year, along with the story. Pretty creative & resourceful folks we have around here!

• The Fair is a great place to eat lunch! And, since you’re there, drop by & see me when I sing at one pm!

• And everybody else, too! – here’s the schedule for the day.

• Drop by The Green Tent, with the Stewardship Network of the San Juans–  A variety of groups from the Stewardship Network of the San Juans will have displays, activities and special presentations  about the natural world of the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea.

Sheriff’s race: Needed to pick two of five – Looks like Rob is in the top spot with nearly 30% of the vote, with Brad, Jeff, and Brent in a three-way hunt for the second spot with between 21%-18% each. Felix had too few votes – he’s out, but should be congratulated on a good campaign.

More news Wednesday as more votes are counted….

Check the county website for the latest (and added on, after Tuesday night) results here.

Here’s the report from County information officer Stan Matthews at 9pm, Tuesday night:

Deputy Rob Nou has a commanding lead in the hotly-contested race for San Juan County Sheriff, County Auditor Milene Henley reported Tuesday night.  Nou is one of five candidates vying to replace retiring Sheriff Bill Cumming.  Nou leads with 29.3% of the vote, followed by Deputy Brent Johnson with 20.89%, Probation Officer Brad Fincher with 18.73%, Deputy Jeff Asher with 18.52%, and Deputy Felix Menjivar with 12.11%.  The top two vote-getters will go on to the general election ballot in November.

“Our voter turnout so far is only 48%,” cautions Henley.  “We could easily receive another 12%, or almost 1400 ballots, prior to certifying this election.  Nou will be on the November ballot, but the votes for the next three are close enough that things could change.  I’m not ready to call this race yet.”

Ballots picked up at ballot boxes on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan at 8:00 Tuesday night will be processed on Wednesday, along with ballots received in the mail on Wednesday.  Any ballot postmarked by Tuesday, August 17, and received by 15 days following the election, will be counted.

In other election news, incumbent Councilmember Bob Myhr will advance to the general election in November along with opponent Jamie Stevens, both of Lopez.  Myhr has received 38.17% of the vote so far, and Stephens 35.44%.  Candidate Jerry Gonce, with 26.18% of the vote, will not advance to the general election.

On Orcas, a school bond issue, re-worked and re-packaged since its failure in the February election earlier this year, failed once again to get voter approval.  54.5% of Orcas voters voted against, versus 45.5% for.

Incumbent Prosecutor Randy Gaylord, running opposed, ran into a surprising amount of opposition.  There were 307 write-in votes in that race, almost 9% of the votes cast.  If any one of the write-ins receives 1% of the votes cast in that race, that write-in candidate will advance to the general election.

In State elections, incumbent Jeff Morris has a strong lead locally in the race for State Representative Position #2, and Kristin Lytton has a significant lead for Position 1, formerly held by Dave Quall.  In Federal elections, incumbents Patty Murray and Rick Larsen both received more than 50% in their respective races for U.S. Senator and U.S. Representative.

Afternoon at Lime Kiln Lighthouse....

• Little bits of this & that….

Setting up business as San Juan Heating, right there next to the Big Store.

• Yep, the San Juan County Fair opens tomorrow! Here’s all the information you need to plan ahead, if you DO plan ahead.

Even better: just go, and explore. See you there!

• Last day to vote in the primary – be sure & get your ballot in to that box in front of the courthouse or get your ballot in the mail today. I’ll probably have results posted tonight, so let’s you & me check in.

• Katie Leed delivered baby Connor Mannix Carroll and says he’s totally adorable! 7 lbs. 19 inches of love, born August 2, at 11:20pm. Congrats to you & Travis!

• Real estate agent Diana Clark at Island Group/Sotheby’s International Realty wrote a nice article about downsizing – check it out!

• Ever wonder what people think about when they design a house? Here’s a video with Curt Gelotte of Gelotte/Hommas, describing how he did Casa Del Sol on Sunset Point:

• This year’s baking & food preservation section at the County Fair has a special feel to it, as Kris Brown explains:

Join us for the Baking & Food Preservation People’s Choice Awards! Each day of the fair, we’ll let everyone vote on the judge’s top five entries four different areas. You’ll vote with your money — change or bills.

All proceeds will be given to the Friday Harbor Food Bank in memory of Shannon Smith. Shannon passed away unexpectedly on May 11, 2010. She was a professional caregiver and a 1994 graduate of Friday Harbor High School. Her hobby was taking care of island children, and she was an active fundraiser for various causes.

When Shannon saw a person in need she baked and enlisted others to join her in a bake sale. Help continue her dedication to the people of Friday Harbor by voting each day in the Main Fair Building baking booth.

Yesterday the Save Our Bunnies folks were set up on Spring & Argyle, protesting the proposed eradication of rabbits at American Camp. Photo by Bryn Barnard.

Close by the shore....

Although I’ve gone over to the west side of the island for one reason or another for the past four weekends, I wasn’t able to get over there this past weekend, so I’m glad people take pictures and pass them along to you and me…

The one on top is from Vicki Doyle – she says her husband Ethan shot it while all three resident pods were together on Friday when they came by, close to shore.

The one below is from Jim Maya, last week. Thanks!

Whale with the mist....

Bob Stavers wants to see your pictures! Photographic entries for the 2010 San Juan County Fair can be submitted between 9:00am and 6:00pm on Tuesday, August 17th. Here are the requirements.) Here’s more:

Calling all photographers!  The Fair is almost here!

Last year we changed the format of the photography exhibit at the county fair and included a “competitive” section for all of you who wanted a bigger challenge in winning that coveted blue ribbon. Well, you rose to that challenge and the exhibit was a fantastic success!  We had over 140 entries in the competitive section.  Not only that, we increased both the quantity and quality of the photographs in the open section, bringing in over 400 entries there! With the new educational displays and the revised presentation the photography department won the state’s “Black & White” Ribbon, for best department at the fair.  Your hard work and efforts paid off.

Let’s do it again!

We will continue to have both a competitive section as well as the open sections with a separate section for 12 and under photographers.   I hope you will be challenged to come up with your best work.

In the competitive section there will be just one First, Second, and Third place ribbon in each class. After the judging, the winning photographs from both sections will be grouped together for display.  Photographers can submit photos to one or both of these sections as they chose.

We will continue our educational panels showing you how to take and make better photographs as well as our popular “Meet the Judges” sessions where you can talk to the professional photographers who judged our competitive section.

So, get those competitive juices flowing and tap into that creative energy! Take a chance and take your best shot and see how it compares to others in the Competitive Section.  Not so adventurous?  Take your best shot and enter in one of the categories in the Open Section. Either way, you get a chance to display your work and everyone wins when you do that.

The descriptions of the sections and classes within them are detailed in the fair brochure. Please read these along with the requirements for framing and preparing your entries.

I look forward to seeing your photographs in August.

Bob Stavers
Co-Supervisor, Photography Department

A dragonfly, seen by Cyndi Brast when she was taking a walk out near Roche Harbor...

Let’s get the week going here….

• I know you’re getting ready for the Fair – everybody is – but have you thought about where you’re gonna PARK? Scratch that off your list – here’s more from Kelly Snow:

Bob Otis (out at the lighthohuse with Josie) just finished his twentieth year of volunteering to monitor orca behavior at Lime Kiln State Park. Every summer Bob recruits interns from Ripon College where he teaches to come out & chart what the killer whales are up to.

Friday Harbor High School Band Families & Friends will be hosting parking at the Fair, Weds. 8/18 and Thurs. 8/19 for just $5.00, directly across from the Main Entrance on Argyle.

Proceeds will go towards our April 2011 trip to Hawaii!

We are very excited about this trip, where we will attend a music clinic at the University of Hawaii, perform at Ala Moana Shopping Center and with a local school in Kona, attend a music clinic at the University of Hawaii, visit Pearl Harbor and Kilauea volcano, and much more!

Please consider parking at our lot while you are at the Fair! For information about our organization or this trip, please contact Kelly Snow at kelly (at) sanjuanislands.com.

Getting things going at Village at the Harbour...Anne & Ish

• Over at Village at the Harbor Assisted Living, Seanene tells me she has just taken on a couple of great ones – Ish Jones (right) has begun working there as activities director, and Anne Benedict is handling the marketing chores.

They both tell me they’re loving working there & working together, and hope you’ll come by and see the place soon (it’s a great operation – you’ll be glad you did!)

• Proud grandma Ruthie sent over the news:

Wyatt!

Anne and Adam Paull are proud to announce the birth of their son, Wyatt Robert Paull on July 3, 2010.  Adam Paull is a 1999 graduate of Friday Harbor High School.

Wyatt is welcomed by grandparents Ruthie and Jim Paull of Friday Harbor and Linda and Bob Tremblay of Grand Blanc, Michigan, and great-grandma Geraldine Lawson of Friday Harbor.

• Speaking of the San Juan County Fair, you know you can get all the info you need – schedules, rides, auctions, entertainment – the whole shootin’ match – online at the Fair’s website. Check it out, print out the parts you need, and see ya there!

Seems like he's everywhere - because he is. Steve Keys played with his new band Saturday at the Rumor Mill, hosted Acoustic Night at the Peppermill on Friday night, usually helps out with Blues night, and will be playing with at least a couple of bands at the Fair this week. In kindergarten, you can always tell the nicest kids, because everybody wants to play with 'em - same is true with Steve - everybody wants to have him around. Great player, great guy. See him soon at a stage near you.

Annie sets up Cole...

Yesterday in the hot sand (that’s why you see people wearing socks!), Island Rec teamed with sponsor Crystal Seas Kayaking to put on the first annual Beach Volleyball Tourney…and it was fun!

Twelve teams of two people each began play in the progressively warmer day…it was best of three, with games to 15, so it took a little while to work through the brackets, with double elimination.

Brian and Becky=teamwork!

At the end of the day, the final four were left standing, and they ended up like this:

First place – Johannes Krieger & Shawn Kleine
Second place – Becky Clarke & Brian Goodremont
Third place – Cole Franklin & Annie Bryant
Fourth place – Jordan Nash & Jordyn Taylor (and their friend Seige)

Tips for success: Putting your team together next year? Look for adding a kayaking outfitter (Johannes and Brian), or maybe a college player (Annie, volleyball, or Becky, track or Cole, football), or be a high school athlete who performs at a high level (Jordan, basketball, or Jordyn, golf), or have someone like that as a friend (good move, Shawn).

And bring some socks.

Johannes (going for the kill) and Shawn worked together well, taking the top spot.

The field...

The middle school...looking good!

That’s an awesome job Bob Benz and his crew did, brightening up the middle school building last week…a new paint job is a great way to start the new school year!

Folks coming to see us here on the island...

On Saturday afternoon, I was downtown when the ferry was unloading…tons of visitors got off, and did what we want ’em to do – they spread all over town as they left the boat. Including spreading into the street…kinda holds things up when they’re trying to get the cars off the boat.

Little bit of traffic control & direction would go a long way….

Dr. Ashley Paull

Just heard about this from Ashley’s mom:

Ashley Paull graduated from A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences in Mesa, Ariz., on  August 7.  Paull received her  Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT)) degree and was one of 56 graduates from ASHS at its annual August commencement.

Dr. Paull, of Friday Harbor, WA, attended Linfield College before enrolling at ASHS and is a 2002 graduate of Friday Harbor High School. Dr. Paull is the daughter of James and Ruthie Paull from Friday Harbor, WA.

The Arizona School of Health Sciences offers doctoral and master of science degrees in a range of healthcare disciplines and is dedicated to educating compassionate, competent healthcare professionals. The School’s interdisciplinary emphasis is based on a philosophy of wholeness and treatment of the body, mind, and spirit.

If I ever get into the business of making postcards, I think I might use this photo of the Hotel De Haro on one of 'em, from last weekend. Roche Harbor always looks good in the sun, like we're gonna have this weekend...

Sunny mornings…great way to start the day after days & days of Fogust…

Natalie

• What’s it like to take a sea kayak trip for someone off-island?

Natalie reports how her trip with Crystal Seas Kayaking this week.

• What’s new at Cotton Cotton Cotton? Gail & Randy have more:

New merchandise at Cotton Cotton Cotton!  For the first time, we have introduced a line of men’s clothing!  We have button down island print shirts made with real coconut buttons, t-shirts and “iguana” fleece all for men!  They are from a company called MAD GRINGO!  The company is based in the Big Island of Omahau, Nebraska.  Where else would island wear be made???  It is a great product, all cotton of course and we are sure you will love it.  Their motto is “go slow” which we figure will be perfect for San Juan Island!

Mark

• Mark Gardner (Rainshadow Photographics) has a deal this weekend:

Free Portraits at the Beach – Sunday August 15, 5 to 9pm
Bring your kids, bring your grandkids, bring yourself and bring a picnic to South Beach, this Sunday, August 15, 5pm to 9pm. No session fees and you get a free 5×7 print, files for use on the web and a 25% discount on additional prints.  For more information, just give me a call (378-1371).

• At waterworks gallery, Ruth has some interesting folks in the show that opens this weekend – Michael Dickter (Mixed media Paintings) and James Minson (Lampworked Glass sculpture and jewelry):

Michael Dickter‘s renewed sense of artistic purpose inspires his recent paintings. In this new body of work, Michael’s compositions connect old and new layers of imagery on his canvases; creating new narratives and textural passages. Michael Dickter, originally from Brooklyn, NY has called Seattle home for many years. His works are a continual delight for his viewing audience as his show’s are very different from each other. Michael’s concerns are the marks made on a canvas and the relationship of these marks to each other. Waterworks gallery has represented Michael’s mixed media paintings for 8 years.

New to the gallery, James Minson presents work based on his relationship with the sea and its creatures. His oceanic collection is an eclectic grouping of wall sconces vignettes, rattle and jewelry. Originally from Australia James Minson is a third generation glassblower. He currently makes Seattle his home.  His work is represented in both public and private collections worldwide and he teaches internationally.

Michael Dickter, What Have I Given You, Acrylic on panel, 24 x 30

• Auditions are set for the Community Theatre – here’s more from Jan:

Fall Thriller Auditions Scheduled

Auditions are being held for San Juan Community Theatre’s fall play, Peter Colley’s
I’ll Be Back Before Midnight, on Monday and Tuesday, August 16 and 17 at 7:00 p.m. at the PARC Building (70 Saltspring Drive).

Guest director Jack Phillips, the former executive director of the Civic Theatre in Spokane, will be casting four adults in this black comedy/ thriller that centers on a young couple who moves into an old farmhouse as the wife is recovering from an emotional breakdown. Colley says his biggest surprise was how scary audiences found it – yet it has the potential to make audiences laugh loudly as they shrink back in their seats.

Casting requirements include:

Greg Sanderson- (30s to 40s) intellectual; runner; very organized and thoughtful;
a careful planner;
Jan Sanderson- (late 20s to mid 30s) pretty; rather nervous woman recovering from a “breakdown”; smart and resourceful;
George Willowby- (50s to 60s) big, simple farmer from the neighborhood; actor has to have comedic skills;
Laura Sanderson- (30s to 40s) Greg’s older sister; pretty; smart; very controlling.

Audition information and perusal scripts are available at the box office, with a $10 deposit. 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.

The performances of I’ll Be Back Before Midnight are scheduled for October 1, 2, 8-10 and 14-16.

Deanna, in town last week

• She goes everywhere, it seems – Deanna Keahey from the Adventurous Wench offers group trips for women in several hemispheres, and she’s been doing it for years to rave reviews. I got a chance to catch up with her last week when she was here for her second trip to the San Juan Islands, and she tells me it’s been a great year.

The islands’ trip is one of her favorites because of the variety things to do (they hike up Mount Constitution, kayak, whale watch, and more), and because the weather is more temperate than most places. You can check out the trips she has left for the year on her website – hope you sign up. You’ll be glad you did!

Looking over the water at Lime Kiln on a sunny day last weekend...

I love this song by the Moody Blues – I think my favorite line in it is: “No one tells the wind which way to blow….”

Here’s Dawning is the Day:

Rise, let us see you,
Dawning is the day,
Miss, misty meadow,
You will find your way,
Wake up in the morning to
yourself and leave this crazy
life behind you.
Listen, we’re trying to find you.

Flow to the sea,
You know where to go,
Still we are free,
No one tells the wind which way to blow.

Wake up in the morning to yourself,
Open your eyes and start to be you.
Listen, we think we can see you.
Baby there’s no price upon your head,
Sing it, shout it.
Now the angry words have all been said.
Do it, don’t doubt it.

So rise, let us see you,
Dawning is the day,
Miss, misty meadow,
You will find your way,
Wake up in the morning to
yourself, open your head and
look around you.
Listen, we think we have found you.

David, sharpening....

Here’s the word from Chris at Tif & Gif:

Hey Ian,

Just wanted to pass on the exciting news that you can now (finally!) purchase artisanally sharpened pencils from one of the finest craftsmen in the U.S. (maybe even the world!). Tif & Gif Creative just finished up a collaboration with David Rees (of Get Your War On™ and My New Filing Technique Is Unstoppable™ fame) that will now allow the general public access to the writing implements once only used by the most accomplished doodlers and accountants. From ArtisanalPencilSharpening.com …

“New York’s Hudson River Valley, craftsman David Rees still practices the age-old art of manual pencil sharpening. His artisanal service is perfect for artists, writers, and standardized test takers. Shipped with their shavings and a “certificate of sharpening,” these extra-sharp pencils make wonderful gifts.”

Whether your medium of choice be a mocktail napkin or a Moleskine, make your mark with an Artisanally Sharpened Pencil!

Cheers,
Chris Minney

Keith Porter, after shrimping...he sells seafood for North Sound Seafood at Roche Harbor, right there on the main dock just where it connects to land. Drop by & say hey!

Let’s see what’s up….

• Here’s a nice rainbow over the island, shot by Bill Wright at San Juan Safaris.

• David Bayley is playing piano tonight in town & he’s pretty pumped:

Hey, Ian! Just wanted to let you know I’ll be performing my rags, blues, boogie and more at the Rumor Mill, Thursday the 12th from 7-9. I’m quite stoked to be playing “downtown”!

• There’s an oral history online now about how Turtle Back Mountain got saved…here’s more from Judy Cumming at the Land Bank:

Thought you might like to listen to the oral history interview recently completed by the Friends of Farrington Foundation.  There are some voices you will recognize.

I need a wide angle lens - that's about half the crowd at last night's last Music on the Lawn offering. Tom & Tami Doenges and Kate Schuman kept the nearly 500 folks entertained for two hours straight. They play again Friday night at the Port from 5-7pm.

• Bob Wilson has class coming up:

Ian, I am going to instruct the Hunter Safety course on San Juan Island this month with Dan Boes.  Seating is limited to 20.  Those interested can register online.

For more information call me (Bob Wilson) at 360.317.5985 or email bob (at) sanjuansurveying.com

Date/Time:
08/18/2010 – 6:00pm to 9:30pm (Wed)
08/19/2010 – 6:00pm to 9:30pm (Thu)
08/20/2010 – 6:00pm to 9:30pm (Fri)
08/21/2010 – 8:00am to 1:00pm (Sat)

Location:
Friday Harbor Best Western, 680 Spring Street, Friday Harbor, WA

Rodney (with Carole) was dressed and ready to go when the Lady Washington and the Hawaiian Chieftain were here last weekend at Roche Harbor.

• You know, on the island right around the corner, there’s an incredible festival happening – thought you might be interested. Here’s more from Joyce Stone:

MUST-SEE MUSIC FESTIVAL IS JUST A FERRY RIDE AWAY

World-class musicians come to Orcas Island every summer for one reason – the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. If you haven’t been to one of the concerts, now’s the time to discover what you’re missing.  Tickets are still available, but the concerts do sell out, so purchase your tickets as soon as possible.

The Festival runs August 13th through August 28th.  There are ten concerts, and patrons can choose either 7:30 pm or 5:00 pm performances. Continue Reading