Tomorrow the equinox comes along, which is always a nice reminder that brighter days are ahead, because…longer, brighter days ARE ahead. No way out on that – and it’s been especially nice the last couple of months to have longer, sunnier days.

As equinox is the day that night & day are about equal in length, it’s a good time to see if the other things around us are in balance, too. Work and play. Time with our jobs & time with our families. Taking the time to teach our children, and the time to listen to them so we can keep learning, too. Time to find new ways to walk more lightly & in touch with the earth. Time to give witness to what OUR teachers tell us, and quiet time to listen more deeply, more attentively.

The balancing act of the season is here. Good luck with your balancing, too.

Happy equinox to you!

Morning on the ferry....

What’s happening:

• Last night the Wolverine softball girls topped Coupeville 13-2 behind Kerri Goff’s pitching & some nifty fielding by the FHHS infield. The girls head for a jamboree this weekend…

Kia Johns widens her lead in the 800 relay yesterday....

Meanwhile, there is still action this weekend at home – the Black Tigers (eighth graders) play visiting Granite Falls on Saturday at 11:30am at FHHS, followed by the Orange Tigers (also 8th) taking on Orcas. That game will be followed by a re-match of the first game. The weekend is a warmup for the Black Tigers as they hed for the Tulip Tourneament at the end of the month. Drop by & see the future Wolverines in action, they’re big, they’re fast & they’re good…coaches Cody Anderson & Fred Woods have done a super job.

The lacrosse team plays at 7:30pm on Saturday at FHHS, after also playing tonight.

It was nice to get out in the sun and see Friday Harbor’s track team with their home meet yesterday – and a chance to see them, since they only have two this year.

Meanwhile, the boys soccer team remained undefeated after their second game this week was postponed – they finally play their first game of the season next Tuesday at Anacortes. Wahoo!

Jane is retiring in June this year....

• Sure was nice to get a chance to visit with Jane Weil-Smith earlier this week…Jane has been a regular in the classroom since around 1992 for Friday Harbor High, and her insistence on good, clear writing & clear thinking has been the hallmark of her language arts classes for all that time. She had told the school earlier this winter that she would retire after this school year – man, will she be missed.

• You know the new ferry schedule kicks in on the 28th, right? The spring schedule includes the return of the ferry from Anacotes to Friday Harbor to Sidney…this year marks the 50th year that Washington State Ferries have operated a sailing to the Sidney terminal.

They’ll be celebrating on the 28th with an event with light refreshments, as well as the Anacortes and Sidney Town Criers and an RCMP Mountie in red surge dress. Due to the limited time frame they will not plan to do any speeches, since folks from Anacortes & Friday Harbor will need to get back on the boat to go home. Should be fun!

• What’s happeing at the Toy Box – Nancy checks in: “David and I are heading to California for the Toy Show next weekend searching for new and exciting toys and games. Charlotte (our worthy  high school senior employee) will be holding down the fort for us on Friday March 26 from 11am to 5:30pm and over the weekend regular business hours.

Terresa was on the ferry last weekend, driving the bus for the baseball boys...and got a chance to visit with her friend Debbie.

“The Toy Box will be closed on Monday March 29 and Tuesday March 30. Normal business hours will resume Wednesday March 31. Coming soon! New toys!”

• Over at Island Studios, Claudia is making some changes AND is open more hours: “Beginning 3/31 Island Studios will be open 7 days a week, 10am to 5pm.  Also, coming soon –  Island Studios will have a koi pond in the back garden – target date is Easter weekend – we shall see.  Right now it is a great big hole in the ground.”

• Relay for Life update from Corey:

Maybe you can help me get the word out that the Relay for Life Luminaria Chairperson Amanda Schief is looking for people who would like to submit photos for a slide show we are having during the Luminaria Ceremony this year. She has set up an email account for people who would like to submit pictures for a slide show during luminaria ceremony this year. The email address is as follows: relayfridayharbor (at) yahoo.com

Most of the yellow post-its say "Back in five minutes"....

She will have a scanner and laptop with her at one or two of the team captain meetings if people are interested and can’t email the photos to her. I’m not positive which meetings she will be bringing her scanner in but…  Our first Team Captain meeting is March 23rd in the Library’s Conference room at 6:30pm if anyone wants information about Relay for Life or is interested in putting together a team or just wants to get involved they should come see us!!!!

• Did you hear Brian Windrope is the new executive director of the Washington Trails Association? Here’s more.

• And…it’s Lakedale! Here’s more from Vernadel at the Chamber of Commerce:

Congratulations to Lakedale Resort for landing the cover of the March/April issue of 425 Magazine.  Great article, photos and quotes about the resort.  Also a mention about a lot of us here on San Juan Island!!!  Thank you to every one of you that works long hours to welcome the guests to our community.  Together we make a wonderful attraction that invites visitors to come again and again!

Soroptimist/Auctioneer Farhad Ghatan with President Nancy DeVaux... photo by Marie DiCristina

Last weekend’s St. Patrick’s Day Dinner went great! Here’s the scoop from Marie Dicristina:

St. Patrick’s Fundraiser Success!

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor thanks the 160 people that attended the 11th annual St. Patrick’s Extravaganza on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the SJ Yacht Club.  The gracious audience enjoyed wonderful live music from Opa, the wit and charm of the Auctioneer/Soroptimist Farhad Ghatan, the great food from Becki Day, owner of Vinny’s Restorante’ and the efforts of all the Soroptimist volunteers. The decorations were very festive and everyone seemed to have a good time. Thanks to those who purchased raffle tickets, the event attendees and the generous bid winners as over $15,000 gross was raised.

Opa played!

Jana & Becki cutting up in the kitchen...

The guests....

The decorators!!!

After a few expenses, these funds will turn around and go back into our community as services, projects, scholarships and awards. Great job, Friday Harbor! We will plan on an even better event next year!

Soroptimist thank the following donors: Continue Reading

Our island is beautiful from above...looking out over False Bay. Photo by Ken Olson.

This is a photo that Ken Olson shot when he went for plane ride with Peter Wangoe last summer….

Click here to see a huge, wonderful screen-filling version. Which rocks. Bigtime.

That's Jeff (left), who is in town visiting his brother Phil (he works at CenturyLink) and his wife Heidi (she's at the Library) as they all take the dog for a walk....

Notes, notes & little notes:

Saw Thom Pence last weekend...the longtime islander has been in Vermont lately, but will be on-island till the end of the month....

• Former FHHS MVP Richie Ochoa earned his first collegiate start at Washington State on Tuesday, as you can see in this little story. Go, Richie!

• Have you gotten used to Islanders Bank‘s new hours? Here’s a look.

• Dr. James Asher (yep, that’s Jeff‘s dad) just happens to be one of the most well-known authors for foreign language learning in the world. I’m not kidding – after I met Dr. Asher in 1995, every foreign language teacher I met or knew told me, “Oh, yeah, I use his stuff all the time.” Blew me away.

He just released his new book, “Learning Another Language Through Actions,” and you can get your copy here.

• Here’s an article on OregonLive about how cool it is to go carless on San Juan Island.

Stephanie, in production

• Last week, islander Stephanie Walker is quoted on the front page of the Wall Street Journal (above the fold) in a story titled: “Americans Pare Down Debt” by Mark Whitehouse.

And…she’s got a baby coming! She explains the clothes problems one thus encounters in her well-written blog.

• Stan from the County says the Homeless Count from late January turned up 79 folks, a number the County Health & Community Services expects to rise in these crummy economic times.

• Our supe Walt Wegener is a finalist for the superintendent’s job in Aberdeen. If they grab him, they’ll get a good one – good luck, Walt! Here’s the scoop.

• Heard a rumor that it’s NOT gonna be a Chuck E Cheese in the old Ale House. Yet.

• Remember I told you about Emily’s Guides & Maps last week? She sold three right away! Did you get yours? Order now! (at least look at ’em here.)

Get yours now!

• You know you can buy Anna Maria‘s cookbook online, right? Click here to get your copy of La Cucina Anna Maria, which is Italian for “you’re gonna love it.” (My rough translation….)

• You can hear cuts from Steve Keys‘ new album Todos Santos Magico (I’ve been listening to it for a couple of weeks now, and I love it) on his MySpace page, then go down to Island Studios & get your copy.

• Have you seen Maggie Lesoing’s Simply San Juan site?

• The Artists Studio Tour isn’t till the first part of June, but I love how this little video explains how cool the Tour is…

Zack & Scott called ’cause they’re making a film, and wondered if you’d like to be involved – here’s more:

Creepy Film Shoot Set for San Juan Islands this fall

Scott (left) and Zack

Award-winning indie filmmakers Scott DiLalla and Zack Coffman (One World Studios Ltd.) have to decided to shoot their new film in the area and are seeking an isolated coastal cottage for loan or rent to be the main location for a tale of the supernatural.

Having produced and directed several award-winning documentaries, DiLalla and Coffman stress that they are extremely understanding of their surroundings and that interested property owners need not worry about a huge crew with loads of equipment or crazy stuntmen running amok.  “Our company was founded on the concept that less is more and we’re keeping the cast and crew to a bare minimum (five actors and five crew).  We’re making a psychological thriller focusing on events that occur over the course of a weekend holiday at one isolated location so we don’t want all the craziness that accompanies a huge Hollywood-style shoot,” says DiLalla.

Coffman adds, “I have extended family in Seattle and Vancouver and have enjoyed visiting many times over the years.  Fond memories of the Puget Sound’s lush, secluded and spiritual nature really played a role as we started conceptualizing the film.”

The prep and shoot will last approximately three weeks and is slated to begin in mid to late October.  Interested parties are encouraged to contact Zack Coffman by email at: oneworldstudios (at) yahoo.com or phone at: (310) 231-9991.  Credits and background info on Scott and Zack are widely available on the internet as well as www.oneworldstudiosltd.com and the Internet Movie Database (IMDB.com).

Let’s see what’s going on…..

• In the Conservation District election – the first round of votes is in with Henning ahead of Ed 245-213 or so. Next Monday they’ll count the rest of the ballots that get mailed in (Tuesday was the deadline to get ’em mailed) & see who gets to serve on the Board of Supervisors.

• It was Rich & Janice Peterson‘s anniversary last night – wahoo!

• Blood drive is today…donate!!!!!

• Right after the earthquake in Chile, Barb Jensen sent me this note about a friend of ours who has kept up his blog about what’s going on, there with the earth changes. Here’s more:

Many of you have taken a raptor class from our friend Bud Anderson of Falcon Research Group. He and Kathy Gunther were in Chile during the earthquake working on the Southern Cross Peregrine Project. He has finally been able to send us a report of his experience. You can read it at http://frgroup.frg.org/

Please take the time to read his blog. They missed being swept away by the tsunami by minutes! Anyway, they did lose most of their equipment but they are alive and well as are the others with the team. Our thoughts are with all of them.

Barb Jensen

Sally, warming up....

• Looks like Sally Browne has another great show coming up:

Performing Arts Society presents its final concert with the Harbor Bay String Quartet in Concert.

Sally Browne is bringing up friends from the Bay Area, CA to join her in an exciting performance of the Dvorak “American” Quartet Op. 96, # 6 and Hayden Quartet Op. 76, # 1  plus a few surprises. Ayako English returns along with Audrey DiSilva and Decky Thornton. We are so excited to bring you this concert, we hope you come and enjoy it with us.

Presented at San Juan Historical Museum (Price Street across from Best Western), April 6, 2010 at 7pm and at St. David’s Episcopal Church (Marguerite & Park), April 8, 2010 at 7pm.

Admission is by donations to help with the expenses of bringing these fabulous musicians to our beautiful island. Suggested donations are $15 for adults, $5 for seniors  and students, under 7 are free.

• Speaking of music, Kate Schuman dropped me a note about Friday night:

This Friday, March 19th, Tom, Tami, and I will be performing at The Place from 7:30 to 9:30 (at least).  We absolutely love playing here!  It is a wonderfully intimate venue, serving great food and wine and offering a full bar.  We’ve worked up some new tunes (and new jokes) and are looking forward to a fun evening.  Reservations are strongly recommended, 378-8707.
Hope to see you there!

Kate Schuman

Last weekend, Coach Cody Anderson & the eighth grade "B" Tigers (above) took first in the season ending SWISH tournement in Mount Vernon; in their tournament, the "A" Tigers copped second place. Way to go, Tigers!

• Did you hear about the Poetry class at Skagit this spring that Robin’s teaching? Here’s more, from Jen at Skagit Valley College/San Juan Center:

Skagit Valley College is launching a new course Spring Quarter: Poetry! Professor Robin Meyer-Tate has designed this unique opportunity for the curious who love language, music, beauty, truth, and touching mystery.

Meyer-Tate says her focus during the course will be to “nurture freedom and self-expression, while setting aside fear, literary criticism, & formulaics”.

This 5-credit academic course will be held at the SVC/San Juan Center Monday & Wednesdays, 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. beginning March 30th.

Telephone (360) 378-3220 for information or to enroll. The course is enrolling now and space is limited. Join us!

• Beth Hetrick’s opening at Lavendera for her art is this Sunday from 6:45-8:15pm – drop by & check out her work!

Brownies share the big moment with Stacie & Casey a few years back...

It was fun to hear from Jill Urbach about the girls & their cookies:

It’s Girl Scout cookie time!  Over the next week or so you will see the island Girl Scouts selling their cookies around town.  If you haven’t seen them, but know one, feel free to call her up and ask for cookies.

In looking over some old pictures I found this one from several years ago of Casey and Stacy Baisch buying cookies while they get their marriage license.  We all know how well that marriage turned out!  Just goes to show you the good things Girl Scout cookies can bring into your life!

Beth & Melina from the Library have more:

In recognition of National Poetry Month celebrations in April, the San Juan Island Library is sponsoring a Poetry Workshop for elementary aged kids grades 3 through 6 on Thursday, April 15 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Students will learn how to use their unique voices to craft poems in a variety of styles. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required.

At the end of the workshop, caregivers and friends are invited to a reception to hear the students recite a favorite original poem.

The workshop might help 6th graders compete in another event, the 8th Annual San Juan Island Teen Author and Illustrator Contest. The contest is open to kids in grades 6 to 12. There are three categories. In the short story category, original pieces must be 200 to 600 words and follow the prompt: “I was walking down the street. I turned and couldn’t believe what I saw.”

The other two categories are poetry and illustration. Poems submitted must be original, and must fit with a maximum of two pages. Illustrations may be black and white or color, and must be submitted in the digital jpeg (.jpg) format and should be reproducible to 8 x 9 inches.

More contest details are available at the San Juan Island Library or at the library web site, www.sjlib.org. First, second and third place winners of all categories will have a chance to present their work when the winners are announced on Thursday, May 20.

In Olympia last week (from left): Bob Miller, Susan Swan-Esposito, James Guard, Robby Miller, Olin Carlson, Senator Kevin Ranker, Conner Brown, Ashley Lambright, Kori Mapstead (teacher), Joshua Wolf, Jill Urbach, Jillian Urbach, Chris Michael (teacher), April Esposito

News from Paideia School…first, a report from Lori Miller (photos) & Po Powell about their trip:

Paideia School 5th and 6th grades went to the Capitol in Olympia last Friday and visited the senate and house of representatives.  They were voting on ferry expenditures while we were in the viewing area!  Kevin Ranker  and his assistant Anne Larsen from Friday Harbor gave us a warm welcome and special tour of the Capitol.

Senator Ranker explained the workings of the legislature to the students....

Parents, kids, and teachers on the Capitol steps...

Meanwhile, other changes are afoot at Paideia Classical School in Friday Harbor. Here’s more from Winnie Brumsickle:

The board of directors is pleased to announce that Mrs Judy Adams has recently accepted an invitation to join the teaching staff as K-2nd grade teacher.

Mrs Adams brings her impeccable credentials and recommendations with her to San Juan island.  She has been a long-time visitor and like many, has chosen to relocate from Southern California and bring her skills to Friday Harbor, together with her husband, Raymond, and the youngest of their three children, Joey, aged 19. They lived here for the past year before her acceptance of the position. A graduate of Cal State University Los Angeles, where she earned a B.A. in Child Development, Judy has over 25 years of teaching experience in elementary and special education.

She offers a well demonstrated skill in determining the learning style of each child while ensuring that the classroom environment is conducive to optimal learning for all.  Making learning fun while maintaining necessary structure and accountability is one of her primary strengths. As is consistent with the Classical model, she especially enjoys combining language arts activities with creative learning experiences. She has enjoyed the honor of strong professional recommendations as well, having been consistently and highly rated by the California Standards for the Teaching Profession, far above the required competency in all areas of teaching ability– engagement, classroom environment, curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development.  In 2005 she was awarded Teacher of the Year for the San Marino Unified School District.

Mrs. Adams replaces Susan Alps beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.  Mrs. Alps will be dearly missed as teacher and friend at school, but will continue her support as a member of the Board. A reception will be scheduled before the close of the school year.

Please join us in welcoming Judy to the island and the Paideia family.

Paideia Classical School embraces the classical model of elementary education, a nationally-acclaimed and growing model, and has been helping educate island children grades K-8 since 2001.

Sincerely,

The Paideia Board

Working with a downed plane....

This is a neat consolidation of forces…here’s more from Mike Close:

New Assistance Option for Local Boaters

Friday Harbor Marine and Towline Marine Assist are pleased to announce a unique partnership to serve the boating community in the San Juan Islands.  The two companies will work jointly to meet on the water towing and mechanical needs throughout the local cruising area.

A flat rate pricing structure will ensure that boaters get the best value for their dollar.   Additionally Towline Marine Assist is willing to work with your insurance provider to minimize any out of pocket expense.

The two companies have three captains online: Captains Deb Fritz and Mike Close running the secondary boat, and veteran San Juan assistance tower, Captain Richard Rodriguez serving as the primary operator of their fast response vessel.  Mike Close said, “Capt. Rodriguez, having assisted almost 1,000 vessels in the last seven seasons brings a unique skill set to our operation. He is also the author of the popular BitterEnd Blog.  Be sure to check in to see what’s happening on the boating scene in around the islands or follow him in on a run, via the blog.”

With three marine mechanics and a diver on staff, Friday Harbor Marine now has the ability to come to your boat for simple fixes, or to bring you to our repair dock located at our facility adjacent to the fuel pier in downtown Friday Harbor.  From this convenient location, you can enjoy the amenities of town, do laundry or grocery shop while your vessel is being serviced.  We are one short block from the ferry terminal.

Visit us in person at Spring Street Landing, or on the web at www.fridayharbormaine.com.  360-378-6202

Britt and I share the bill on Saturday at the Bean

Over the past few months I’ve gotten to know a talented singer & songwriter named Britt Arnesen from Alaska who’s been staying here on the island with her son Canyon.  She goes by 907Britt when she performs…I like her music, and I’m thinking you will, too.

So we’re going to do an evening at The Bean Coffeehouse on Saturday from 7-9pm, swapping sets and songs so she can show you what she does, including work from her new album Continental Divide, which she’ll have there for you to purchase. She’ll also be playing at The Doctor’s Office on Friday night from 6-8pm, where she’s been playing for their open mike as a regular.

Here’s a sample of what she sounds like, in this cover of the song “Touch” by Brian Hazard (I like Canyon’s dancing in it…):

In case you haven’t heard my songs, here’s the page to check out of my work in the last ten years of so, and here’s a song I filmed with Devon Schwinge that is my fave, along with loving the super job he did of capturing the island as well as the spirit of the song:

Forms are mailed out this week...

Looks like the once-a-decade Census is underway, as the forms were mailed out this week. You’ll probably be seeing ’em in your mailbox – be sure & fill them out & return them, so we can get a good count.

Here’s more from the Associated Press about the national picture.

And here’s a local look by Tim Thomsen, the local Partnership Assistant for the US Census Bureau:

It is 2010 and it is time to stand up and be counted!

Like many of you, I was unaware of the importance of the census.  It wasn’t until last October when I started my job with the US Census Bureau that I fully grasped its’ significance.  With the census coming soon, San Juan County and its residents will only benefit by knowing the facts about the census and by completing our census forms.

Each year federal funds are allocated to states, Continue Reading

John Sable won last year - after Friday he will be Mr. San Juan, emeritus.

You waited too long & missed Grease last year…they were sold out!
You missed the first week of the Playwrights Festival because you put it off…
You fooled around and missed the ferry in Anacortes last weekend because you HAD to stop at McDonald’s….

When will the madness end????

This time, I’m TELLING YA – there are only 45 tickets left for Mr. San Juan this Friday at 6:30pm at Roche Harbor. This year’s candidates are Bob Benz, Patrick Minney, Scott Zehner, Geody Howden, Donny Galt, and Dan Deshon.

You’re gonna love it.

Here’s the scoop. See ya there!

Wendell & Renee

It’s always fun to see the island you love in photos…Wendell Beitzel was here over the weekend of the sixth, and he took some awesome photos of the birds & the harbor & the westside & of his girlfriend Renee. And more.

Take a moment to look through these…you’ll be glad you did! (Check ’em out here!)