Deb

Here are timely thoughts about the season, from Deb Langhans:

BREATHLESS IN FRIDAY HARBOR

I never imagined I could one day guess the time of year by the quality of my clients’ breathing.  But it’s true: I can tell summer is around the bend because my reflexology and wholistic health coaching clients are already sounding breathless.  With the tourist and extended vacation season speedily approaching, respiration is becoming more shallow and rapid as schedules swell and shift into high gear…

As we humans mimic Mother Nature’s zenith period, when her food, flowers, fragrance and life abound, it’s important to remember that productivity is wonderful– in balance.

Nonstop activity, even at family reunions, arts camp or the Magic Kingdom, is still experienced as relentless exertion; it matters not whether our task is labeled work or play.  Regularly stepping off the treadmill, including the one we create during summer vacation, represents a crucial component in sustaining well-being.

Many a guilt-ridden, overconscientious client has scheduled services in my studio in September, mystified by their post summer levels of exhaustion and depletion. “But our family had such a busy, fun-filled vacation!” A friendly reminder as graduation looms:  Self-care shouldn’t take a vacation during the summer season. Consistent rituals that foster reflection, recovery and rejuvenation should remain a part of our warm weather agenda.  Even a modest (10-15 min.) daily investment in legitimate down time can enhance and sustain our health in body, mind, heart and spirit.

Here’s to a fun, productive & balanced summer respite for us all…

For questions, comments or scheduling, please contact Deb Langhans at Wholistic Health Options: 378-8907.

Working last night to make the Cannery Landing building look good - this guy who works for Bob Benz says the color is called "Carolina Inn Brass." Looking good for the summer!

Let’s see what’s up…

• Stephanie Walker has been looking for a comfortable way to sleep, especially when her husband Bob is away. She’s found something she calls her “Bob replacement” – click here to find out more, and how you can get one, too.

• Have you seen Andrew Bauer’s photos at Rocky Bay Café? Drop in & check it out!  Great stuff!

I did a survey about whether San Juan Island should secede from the Union, and got a landslide response. Some of the folks thought to "secede" was better than to fail; some didn't know we were in the US anyway; most didn't want to do anything that would make the ferry people mad; and seems like most pretty much like things the way they are.

• Learn more about the Town in which you live! Here’s more from Sandy:

Saturday the 22nd from 9am-10:30am: Free Guided Walking Tour of Friday Harbor’s Historic District. Only two tours left for this year! Join historic preservation coordinator, Sandy Strehlou, for an insider’s look at Friday Harbor’s colorful past. Tours begin at Memorial Park, located at Front and Spring streets. The tours happen rain or shine and are free to the public. More Info: www.historicfridayharbor.org.

• Report from Utah – remember those folks from our Animal Shelter who went this week to Utah to help out & learn what they were doing? Here’s more from Jaime  Ellsworth:

Report from Best Friends Animal Society, Kanab, Utah – 5-18-2010
We were up at 6am and ready to report for our volunteer assignments at Best Friends Animal Society.  Angel Canyon is a short 5 mile drive from Kanab, Utah along a highway bordered by stunning red rock cliffs.  Our group (Leslie Byron and her staff, Michelle Beachem, Rina Tappan and Emerald Fire as well as long time volunteer Lynda Howell, veterinarian Tess Leonard and Board President Jaime Ellsworth were eager to meet and work with some of the 1,500 animal residents of the sanctuary.

Our jobs included socializing puppies, walking and bonding with elderly and shy dogs, exercising exuberant dogs, socializing with some of the equine residents and some poop scooping too!

We had lots of opportunity to talk with the staff about shelter management, adoption protocol, volunteer coordinating and facility layout for the comfort and safety of the animals.  We are eager to incorporate some of these new ideas at our shelter as soon as possible.  Best Friends is the nation’s largest no kill animal shelter and according to our advisor hosts an average of 80 volunteers each day to help with the dogs, cats, horses, goats, rabbits, pigs, parrots and other animals that call the 15,0000 acre spread home.  Other highlights of our first day included visiting Angel’s Rest, a lovely memorial garden, a delicious volunteer’s lunch on a huge open air patio overlooking the canyon and photographing our favorite new animal buddies.

Many thanks from all of us to all of you who made this educational retreat possible and to the volunteers who took care of the Friday Harbor shelter animals allowing us to come, learn and have fun at Best Friends!

• Did you know that J.B. Herren offers gun safety classes here on the island? Check out what he offers here.

• Kiwanis of Friday Harbor is holding its Annual Garage Sale on Saturday, May 22, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at San Juan Interiors, 22 Web Street, Friday Harbor. Benefits local scholarships. Many items for sale, and something for everyone. Pre-sale donations also accepted, call Lisa at 378-3223.

• Something new from Island Rec – here’s more from Rebecca: If you enjoy spending time in the woods and want to pursuit a new hobby in your life, Disc Golf is the perfect activity for you! Disc golf, also known as Frisbee Golf, is a world-wide leisure sport that appeals to people of all ages and all athletic abilities. Participants will have the opportunity to explore the Roche Harbor Disc Golf Course and learn all there is to know about this fantastic sport. The program is on Saturday, June 5th from 10am-1pm. The fee for this program is $10.00. Participants must be 15 years or older. Grab a friend and sign up now! For more information call 378-4953

This weekend!

Leadership San Juan Islands Class of 2010: Left to Right: Back row: Steve Hushebeck, Thomas Sandstrom, Jim Hooper, Mikial Denker, Caitlan Parker, Susan Key; Middle Row: Krista Bouchey, Patsy Haber, Rebecca Hillman, Melina Lagios, Sam Jacobsen; Front Row: Sara Farish, Vernadel Peterson, Joy Goldberg, Tanja Williamson, Jesica DeHart, Karrie Cooper, Kathleen Foley

Cynthia Stark-Wickman asked me to announce the sixth class -here they are! Way to go, you guys!

Leadership San Juan Islands Class VI Graduates Celebrate on InterIsland Ferry

Leadership San Juan Islands 2010 announces the graduation of Class VI on May 21.  The cohort that has worked together since January, celebrated the completion of the community-based course on the Washington State ferry.

“ We wanted to bring closure to our time together by celebrating our graduation while we traveled on the ferry:  a passage maker that truly connects each of us and the islands,” states Amy Windrope, LSJI 2010 Program Coordinator.

Graduates Krista Bouchey, Karrie Cooper, Jesica DeHart, Mikial Denker, Sara Farish, Kathleen Foley, Joy Goldberg, Patsy Haber, Rebecca Hillman, Jim Hooper, Steve Hushebeck, Sam Jacobsen, Melina Lagios,  Susan Key, Caitlan Parker, Vernadel Peterson, Thomas Sandstrom, and Tanja Williamson presented their proposed service projects and received certificates of completion.   Service projects are a component of Leadership San Juan Islands’ program where each participant agrees to “give back” 100 hours of service to the community.  Previous projects have included service on Town Council, Island Rec Board, and community forums relative to leadership, transportation, and sustainability.

Businesses and agencies across the County played a part in the success of the program. This year the class appreciated significant housing donations by Smuggler’s Villa and Heartwood House on Orcas Island, Harrison House Bed and Breakfast, and Lopez Islander Bay Resort. Facilitation and support were provided by Carnachan Associates, Non-Profits Unlimited, Process Experts, and Strategy Design, Inc.  Every challenge day and retreat was co-organized by alumni from the past five years of LSJI.

“This year’s program has been a culminating effort of six years of constant feedback from emerging leaders as to what they need to be effective communicators, facilitators, and positive community influences,” says Liz Illg, Curriculum Development Coordinator for LSJI.

Many participants were sponsored in part or wholly by their employer or a local nonprofit program. This year the following sponsors provided support: Law Offices of Skinner and Saar, Lopez Island Family Resource Center, Lopez Island Prevention Coalition, Roche Harbor Resort, San Juan Historical Museum, San Juan Island Community Foundation, San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, San Juan Islands National Historical Parks, Lopez Island Family Resource Center, San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau, San Juan Preservation Trust, and the Whale Museum. Institutional co-sponsors were Skagit Valley College San Juan Center and the San Juan County Economic Development Council.

Leadership San Juan Islands encourages employers to consider sponsoring an employee or community member in 2011.  Applications will be available in September 2010 on the website.

Leadership San Juan Islands is a county-wide program which fosters leadership skills such as facilitation, collaborative problem solving, and public speaking as well as the analysis of local systems related to governance, economics, social services, history and culture, education and the environment. Participants are selected in the fall and spend five months together, January through May, with a staff of four and many regional leaders.

For more information see: http://www.leadershipsanjuanislands.org/.

Last week, when I went to see My Fair Lady, it stuck out to me – that little bit about the King declaring May 20 as “Eliza Doolittle Day.” I remember thinking – that’s next week – I wonder if they changed that just to make it this month.

Nope…that’s the way it was written, and today at 5:30pm at the Town Council Meeting the mayor (not the king) will declare “the 20th of May” as ED Day. (Thanks, Keith Keyser, for calling me last night to tell me!)

Last four shows are tonight through Sunday at the Community Theatre.

Here’s the scene where the “20th of May” line comes up, in the movie with Marni Nixon singing for Audrey Hepburn. (The movie is awesome, but our play here on the island is better, if you ask me.)

This is a big deal, and the folks who have gone to it before tell me it’s fun – check it out! Here’s more from Jenny at The Whale Museum:

Do you have plans yet for Saturday night? If not, we hope you will join us for our 4th Annual Celebration of the Orca Greeting Ceremony (fundraiser dinner and auction). It takes place at 6 p.m. at the Mullis Center in Friday Harbor.

The evening will begin with happy hour & silent auction at 6:00 p.m.; the no-host bar is tended by Clark Gilbert. An audio-visual program will be shared by Val Veirs of an actual Orca Greeting Ceremony. Val will play acoustic recordings while showing photos and video of this amazing event.  Watch orcas “line up” to greet one another while listening to an underwater recording of their “conversations.”

Market Chef is preparing dinner. Bakery San Juan is baking the bread. San Juan Roasters is brewing the coffee.  Wine is provided by Northwest Totem Cellars. After dinner, Doug Bison will get the live portion of the evening started with the live auction followed by a dessert auction. That’s right, dessert after dinner is available in this unique auction. Bid on “Awesome Pecan Pie,” “Black & White” cake, a 3-layer “Chocolate Bourbon Cake,” and other delectable treats.

The wild twist is back for this year’s auction – 65 tickets will be sold for $25 each for the big raffle. The winner of the raffle “wins” the right to select any item up for auction (silent, live or dessert). Closing out the evening will be the live auction with more exciting items to bid on, including round trip tickets on Alaska Air.  Music is provided by Josh Spiegel.  Special thanks to three businesses for sponsoring the event: Islanders Insurance, Islanders Bank, and Petro San Juan.

Tickets (includes dinner; wine sold separately) are a great deal at $25.00 per person for members of The Whale Museum or $35.00 per person for non-members and can be purchased at The Whale Museum (*basic annual membership investment is $25).  To reserve your tickets, stop by the Museum or call (360) 378-4710 ext. 30.  (If a group would like to attend, tables in increments of six or seven ticket holders can be reserved.)  There are a limited number of tickets available which are selling quickly.  Proceeds raised through this event will directly support the education and research programs of The Whale Museum (www.whalemuseum.org).

Hope to see you there!

JazzMINE

What is there to do on a Thursday night in Friday Harbor? Georgia from the Mullis Center says this is going to be fun:

Arlington High School’s “JAZZMINE”

Arlington High School’s vocal jazz ensemble will be lighting up the stage at the Mullis Senior Center with a musical variety show/concert this Thursday evening at 7 PM (May 20th). The program will consist of many musical styles including jazz, Broadway, doo-wop, popular, and will include some traditional choral music as well.  Some music will reflect various countries, cities and famous geographical icons.

Jazzmine is a High School vocal jazz/show choir with a reputation for providing excellent musical entertainment in the greater Pacific Northwest area, nationally, and occasionally internationally.

This group travels to competitions and festivals each year where they frequently earn top honors. This includes performances at Carnegie Hall, the Fullerton Jazz festival, N. Texas Jazz Festival and recently returned from a performance at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival.  Also recently, they were invited to perform on a program celebrating the music from the television show “Glee.”  Thursday’s program will include a number of songs heard on that popular TV show.

This is a free concert with no admission charge.

You are what you read....

There’s a nice review of one of our local bookstores on this blog written by Dawn, which makes Griffin Bay Bookstore look like the happening place that it is – check out her remarks.

We’re lucky to have the coolest bookstores around – Laura & her crew do a super job at Griffin Bay, and Keith has a great selection & great customer service at Harbor Bookstore above the ferry landing, and Dilys & Carol have the best used book place on the planet at Serendipity Books.

This island rocks, literally & literarily.

A clear pool & place to clear your mind - behind Island Studios....

So you go into Island Studios and head through all the cool art & paintings & music to the back, where Claudia has a little bit of a secret garden. There’s sculpture & flowers and a pool, as you can see, as well as places to sit.

Check it out next time you’re down that way. And remember – it’s a secret.

All this can be yours....

During the run of My Fair Lady, you can sign up for the raffle that is raising money for the Community Theatre.

I’m not sure how much the raffle tickets are (be sure & get more than one!), but you get a copy of the Julie Andrews CD of My Fair Lady, those chocolates, that hat, and more when you win.

Proud grandpa Matt Dollahite at Gallery San Juan shows Sam the picture he painted...of Sam!

Let’s see what the kids are up to….

• It’s one of the big contests of the year – and it’s NOW! Here’s more from Melina at the Library:

Design a Bookmark Contest

School-aged children on San Juan Island still have a chance to compete in the San Juan Island Library annual bookmark contest.  The deadline for the art contest in Sunday, May 30, when the library closes at 5:00 p.m. Students (grades K through 5) must submit their bookmark art on the theme “make a splash!” and use the entry forms available at the San Juan Island Library, Friday Harbor Elementary School and participating private island schools.

Winners will be announced June 17 and acknowledged at the opening of the library’s Summer Reading Program on Wednesday, June 23 at 1:30 p.m.  All entries will be displayed at the library through the month of June. Winning entries will receive a prize, and will be used as official bookmarks in the library throughout the year.

For more info, contact: Melina Lagios, Youth Services Librarian, mlagios (at) sjlib.org, 360-378-2798

Those are troop leaders Kim & Jill in the back row; the girls, from left to right are: Vida Wight, Jaclyn Domenich, Jayna Ott, Grace Pauls, Lucy Urbach, Allison Benz, Joely Loucks, Katy Kulseth, Jordyn McCutcheon

• Jill & Kim and the Brownies have news:

I wanted to share with you some news from Brownie Troop 52259 (above) from whom many islanders buy GS cookies and Thanksgiving pies every year.  After three years as Brownies, they are now officially Junior Girl Scouts, having “flown up” in a Bridging Ceremony held at Spirit Cove. The picture of them above is after receiving their new green uniform vests.

• Been going to these for the past fifteen years, and they’re always fun – Cathy Kromer & her crew have a lot of fun planned. Here’s the scoop:

Kids of All Ages!  It’s CARNIVAL Time!

Fun…friends…family…and making memories all come together at Friday Harbor Elementary School on Saturday, May 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The third annual Spring Carnival-open to islanders and visitors alike-brings out the kids in all of us.

The FHES P.T.A. hosts a variety of activities, with each classroom setting up a game booth—from a cupcake walk and face painting to favorites like putt-putt golf and balloon darts.  Three huge “bouncy” inflatables will be set up and yummy treats will be for sale, such as snow cones, hamburgers and cotton candy.

Admission is free. Tickets will be for sale for food and games.  Proceeds benefit the P.T.A.

“This is a great way to spend a few hours with family and community, sharing in the wonderful spirit of this island,” said Carnival Coordinator Cathy Kromer.  “Plus, it raises some much needed money for our school.”

The carnival also features a petting zoo, the ever popular dunk tank and more….For more information, contact Cathy Kromer at 370-5315.

Alex working with the middle school band...

• Composer Alex Shapiro is in rehearsals with the Friday Harbor Middle School Band for the May 25 premiere of Paper Cut, commissioned for the American Composers Forum BandQuest series…this is way cool. Here’s more on Alex’s website.

And…have you heard her album Notes From the Kelp? I listen to it all the time, and I’ll bet you’d like it. You can hear it at the listening station at Island Studios or listen to & buy it on Alex’s site.

Julie Hagn (right) plays the delightful sprite just right all night in My Fair Lady, with Desi Whalen turning in a memorable turn as Eliza. This is the last weekend of the show's three week run.

Bro & sis: It was good to see Conner Johns on the ferry last night, back from his first year at Montana State; along with FHHS junior Kia, who heads to tri-districts in track this weekend in Shoreline.

What’s happening….

• It’s an island tradition for ages – Club Mud is taking applications to register kids for this year’s workshops for kids from 3 to 18, in different sessions…Leisha Holmes always does a super job wit the kids, who love it. Here’s more, including how to sign up!

I was good to see Carol with 13-month-old Floyd at the store the other day....

• Wanna box? Here’s a note from Michael, who just moved here & would like to reuse rather than throw away (sounds to me like he’s gonna fit in here, just fine):

Hi Ian!
My wife and I moved here a few months ago and I ran into you at the Community Theater with Michael Bitterman from Wildwood, and also chatted with you at Haley’s during the Olympic Hockey games.

I wondered if I could get your help in identifying someone who might be able to make use of a bunch of clean cardboard moving boxes.  We just relocated all of our stuff here from Denver and I have 70-80 clean and broken down cardboard boxes all ready for someone to reuse.

Some days are like that...

I have Large, Medium, and Small boxes.  I would rather give them to someone who can use them than just take them to the recycle bin.

Any help or ideas you might have would be greatly appreciated.

P.S.  I can deliver them to anyone who wants them, or they can pick them up here.

Michael Rolfe
378-2094

• I love how My Fair Lady turned out…if you’ve been, you know what I mean. If you haven’t, there are four more shows (Thursday-Saturday) so you can find out.

Here’s more from Jan at the Theatre:

This is the final weekend for "My Fair Lady"...photo by James Krall, San Juan Photo Arts.

The play completes its 10-performance run this Thursday through Sunday, May 20-23, with the final performance, on Sunday afternoon, a chance for audience members to join the fun in a sing along.  Director Susan Williams says Sunday’s play will be performed as usual from beginning to end, lyrics will be given out and musical directors will be standing by to lead the audience during “Loverly,” “Little Bit of Luck,” “On the Street Where You Live,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” and “Get Me To The Church on Time.”

Susan says “This is going to be a lot of FUN!”

Sunday’s performance begins at 2:00 p.m.; Thursday through Saturday’s curtain times are 7:30 p.m.

Rev. Ian Victor, from Victoria

• You know this is the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Presbyterian Church – Pastor Joe Bettridge tells me this weekend will be special:

Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church Sesquicentennial Sunday: 10:00 am on Sunday, May 23rd

Reverend Dr. Ian Victor, Pastor of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church Victoria, British Columbia, will be our guest Preacher. In 1860 Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church held its first worship service on Portland Fair Hill. It was led by a pastor who came to San Juan Island from the Victoria congregation that Dr. Victor now serves.

Dandelion, by David Eisenhour - out front of waterworks gallery

• Did you see the new sculpture outside of Ruth’s waterworks gallery (above)? Here’s more:

New Gallery Installation by David Eisenhour

Next time you stop by the gallery, check out the newest sculpture installation in front of the gallery on the Argyle side of the street.

Entitled, Dandelion, the artwork extends approx 10 feet into the air.Very light and airy, a very different form than the bronze, Winter Mandala that has graced the sidewalk previously. This sculpture, Dandelion explores in large heroic format a biological object, that in its small original form is almost invisible, a single dandelion floating thru space. Making visible the invisible.

David also known to his friends as Ike, delivered a few new bronze pieces. The Language of Horns, is amazing and been installed in a prominent location in the interior of the gallery. New bronze seeds have been delivered, the Love Grass Seed and the amazing Lavender Seed. David created unique patinas for these bronzes are brilliant. All his sculptures may be viewed at gallery website.

John Swapp

• Minnie Knych is inviting folks to come visit John Swapp, candidate for the state legislature this year, at China Pearl at 11:30am this Friday (the 21st).

You can find out more about him at his website: www.johnswapp2010.com

• You know it was thirty years ago today that Mount St. Helens erupted?

• Past Commander Marc Forlenza from the Friday Harbor Power Squadron asked if I would share this with you…

The Friday Harbor Power Squadron, along with the Town and County Fire Depts., and West Marine present this event as a public service every year:

It's this weekend!

Justin in action....

Tawm at Skyline Tree Care says it’s pretty cool – Skyline Tree Care arborist Justin Blevins (who is an ISA Certified Arborist) recently became a PNW-ISA Certified Tree Risk Assessor.

Wahoo! Way to go!

Looks like the Brickworks is a step closer to reality – here’s more from the Ag Guild:

The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild Receives $375,000 in State Funding (this is from May 7th)

Governor Gregoire has signed the capital budget bill which includes $375,000 for the purchase of the historic building at 150 Nichols Street where the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild will develop “Friday Harbor Brickworks,” a permanent year-round home for the San Juan Farmers’ Market, as well as a community and event center, and downtown greenspace.

Ag Guild Co-Chair Elaine Kendall expressed her gratitude Continue Reading

Ana Maria

This coming weekend on Sunday, author Ana Maria Spagna is coming to read from her new book at Griffin Bay Bookstore…her tale is compelling, her writing is clear & easy in a way that will make its way into your heart, and I know you’ll be glad you saw her.

After growing up in the middle of the Movement in Alabama, I know I’m excited to see her – here’s more from Nancy at the bookstore:

Ana Maria Spagna will be at Griffin Bay Bookstore in Friday Harbor on Sunday, May 23, 2010 from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. to read and sign copies of her award-winning book, Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus: A Daughter’s Civil Rights Journey.

Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus chronicles the story of an American family against the backdrop of one of the civil rights movement’s lesser-known stories. In January 1957, Joseph Spagna and five other young men waited to board a city bus called the Sunnyland in Tallahassee, Florida. Their plan was simple but dangerous: ride the bus together—three blacks and three whites—get arrested, and take their case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Fifty years later Ana Maria Spagna sets off on a journey to understand what happened and why.

Her journey complicated by the fact that her father never spoke of the Sunnyland experience and died unexpectedly when she was eleven, Spagna travels from her remote mountain home in the Pacific Northwest to contemporary Tallahassee, searching for the truth of the incident and her father’s involvement. She seeks out the other bus riders, now in their seventies, and tries to make sense of their conflicting stories. Her odyssey becomes further troubled by the sudden diagnosis of her mother’s terminal cancer.

Winner of the River Teeth Literary nonfiction prize, Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus deftly weaves cultural and personal history, memoir and reportage, in this fascinating look at a family and a nation’s, past.

Ana Maria Spagna is the author of Now Go Home: Wilderness, Belonging, and the Crosscut Saw, which was named a Best Book of 2004 by the Seattle Times. Her work has appeared widely in publications such as Orion, Utne Reader, and the North American Review.  She lives and writes in the remote mountain town of Stehekin, Washington.

“Test Ride on the Sunnyland Bus stands as a magnificent testament and tribute to the lives of many people— Ana Maria Spagna’s parents, the many patriots of the Civil Rights Movement, and the citizens of communities far and wide, large and small. Her surprising story renewed my awe in the interconnectedness of all of our lives and affirmed that the current championing of hope in our country is a hope deserving of all its fervor.”—Kathleen Finneran, author of The Tender Land: A Family Love Story

For more information: please contact Ana Maria Spagna [email protected] or Nancy Larsen at Griffin Bay Bookstore at [email protected] 360-378-5511

…is blowing in the wind….

Tonight (Wednesday). According to Northwest meteorologist Cliff Mass, a windstorm this year is very unusual, but not unprecedented. Here’s more from him.

Meanwhile, here’s Brendon Cowan’s report (he’s the Director of San Juan County Department of Emergency Management):

An unusual late spring storm will bring strong winds to the islands late in the day on Wednesday and into the evening. With southerly gusts upwards of 50 mph forecast for some parts of the San Juans, boat owners and others with things liable to blow away should take precautions and keep an eye on this storm.

Though hardly unusual in November, this sort of event is rare in late May. For the latest forecast, visit the National Weather Service page at: www.weather.gov/seattle

Protesters collected Saturday down near the marina to raise a hollar and awareness that it's time for Lolita to be freed.

In case you didn’t get it – there’s an orca named Lolita who was captured in 1970 from Penn Cove (off Whidbey Island) and has been held in the Miami Seaquarium ever since.

The time is now....

It’s time for her to come home to the resident pod here in the San Juans, where she belongs.

Here’s the writeup of the more than forty cities (including us!) who held actions around the world this weekend. And here’s the NBC/Miami accounting of the worldwide call for her release.

And here’s the science behind the campaign, from Howie & Susan at Orca Network. It’ll give you ideas about what you can do.