Reni (left) and Ellen at Friday night's celebration....

I remember Ellen Johnson telling me in the fall of ’99 that she was gonna start her own insurance company…and she did!

Yesterday, she and new agent Reni McCutcheon celebrated the first decade for Harbor Insurance, and are heading into the next ten years with a smile.

Felix from the Guild reports:

On November 3, 2009 the San Juan County Sheriff’s Guild and San Juan County agreed to a one year contract extension.

The Sheriff’s Guild approached San Juan County in August with an offer to extend the current contract for one year with the provision of a 0% Cost of Living Adjustment and keeping the rest of the terms of the contract the same.

The Sheriff’s Guild made this offer because of the current economic problems and the pressures these issues has caused to the county budget.  The Sheriff’s Guild is concerned that any further cuts in the county budget may affect the safety of the public and the membership of the Guild.

Based on a 3% COLA (cost of living adjustment) this agreement should save San Juan County $60,000.00 in payroll over the next year.

Drop by Saturday!

Nancy Larsen tells me it’s a great celebration, and I think it’s a wonderful time to honor & remember the work of Susan, and to appreciate the great job Laura has done continuing & improving on her achievement. I miss Susan, but always feel she would be so proud of the way Laura has made Griffin Bay Bookstore a key part of Friday Harbor’s business hub. Here’s more from Nancy:

Griffin Bay Bookstore is celebrating 30 years of book selling in Friday Harbor with an Open House Saturday, November 14, 10:00am—6:00pm, to thank our island community for loyal support and on-going patronage. Everyone is invited to stop in for the storewide sale of 20% off all books, and complimentary treats from Bakery San Juan and Cynthia’s of Course, and the bookstore’s signature coffee, Caffe Umbria. Continue Reading

Drop by Saturday!

Nancy Larsen tells me it’s a great celebration, and I think it’s a wonderful time to honor & remember the work of Susan, and to appreciate the great job Laura has done continuing & improving on her achievement. I miss Susan, but always feel she would be so proud of the way Laura has made Griffin Bay Bookstore a key part of Friday Harbor’s business hub. Here’s more from Nancy:

Griffin Bay Bookstore is celebrating 30 years of book selling in Friday Harbor with an Open House Saturday, November 14, 10:00am—6:00pm, to thank our island community for loyal support and on-going patronage. Everyone is invited to stop in for the storewide sale of 20% off all books, and complimentary treats from Bakery San Juan and Cynthia’s of Course, and the bookstore’s signature coffee, Caffe Umbria. Continue Reading

Lots going on – here’s a start:

• From Rev at the County Fairgrounds: The San Juan County Fair will host the second fall Flea Market & Craft Fair, Saturday, November 14, 2009.  The final fall and holiday Market & Fair will be December 12.

The market is open to all sellers, artists, crafts people and buyers, from 9:00a.m. until 1:00p.m. in the Main Building at the fairgrounds. Come and enjoy coffee and pastries from Café Demeter while you browse the great crafts and flea market items.

There is still room for vendors, so clean out those closets, bail out the garage and get a space at the market.  Applications for a vendor booth space are available online at www.sanjuancountyfair.org , on the home page.  You 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.  There is a discount to vendors for reserving booth space on both dates.

• I think it’s the longest domain name on the island:
exceptionallypricedpropertiesinthesanjuans.com is a Coldwell Banker that points to some pretty exceptionally priced properties here…check ’em out!

• Open House at Harbor Insurance: Ellen says it’s been ten years – here’s more:

Harbor Insurance Agency, Inc. is celebrating 10 years in business with an Anniversary Pre-Holiday Open House on Friday November 13th between 4 and 6pm.  Please stop by and help us celebrate and kick off the Holiday Season.  With 30 years in the insurance industry and 20 years serving you in Friday Harbor, Ellen Johnson is proud of this milestone and also pleased to introduce our newest agent Reni McCutcheon who has been with us a year and has obtained her insurance agents license.

Thank you for your business and we’ll look forward to seeing you!

• It’s been 30 years…so Laura & the crew at Griffin Bay Bookstore have their 30th Anniversary Open House (islandspeak for Party!) this weekend…see ya there!

• The football Tigers are at it: The Senior Tiger championship game is set for 6:00p.m. on Saturday, November 14th, after the Orcas Island High School Division II play off game at Mt. Vernon High School Stadium. Go Tigers!

• In continued support of the Mishaka Quilting Project, Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church is holding a turkey dinner Saturday night from 5-7pm. Please come and enjoy great food, good company, an interesting program and help an African mother become self-sufficient. Dinner will be delicious turkey with all the trimmings and homemade pie!  Tickets are:  Adults $10, Kids $5, Family $25. Here’s more about it:

Lots going on – here’s a start:

• From Rev at the County Fairgrounds: The San Juan County Fair will host the second fall Flea Market & Craft Fair, Saturday, November 14, 2009.  The final fall and holiday Market & Fair will be December 12.

The market is open to all sellers, artists, crafts people and buyers, from 9:00a.m. until 1:00p.m. in the Main Building at the fairgrounds. Come and enjoy coffee and pastries from Café Demeter while you browse the great crafts and flea market items.

There is still room for vendors, so clean out those closets, bail out the garage and get a space at the market.  Applications for a vendor booth space are available online at www.sanjuancountyfair.org , on the home page.  You 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.  There is a discount to vendors for reserving booth space on both dates.

• I think it’s the longest domain name on the island:
exceptionallypricedpropertiesinthesanjuans.com is a Coldwell Banker that points to some pretty exceptionally priced properties here…check ’em out!

• Open House at Harbor Insurance: Ellen says it’s been ten years – here’s more:

Harbor Insurance Agency, Inc. is celebrating 10 years in business with an Anniversary Pre-Holiday Open House on Friday November 13th between 4 and 6pm.  Please stop by and help us celebrate and kick off the Holiday Season.  With 30 years in the insurance industry and 20 years serving you in Friday Harbor, Ellen Johnson is proud of this milestone and also pleased to introduce our newest agent Reni McCutcheon who has been with us a year and has obtained her insurance agents license.

Thank you for your business and we’ll look forward to seeing you!

• It’s been 30 years…so Laura & the crew at Griffin Bay Bookstore have their 30th Anniversary Open House (islandspeak for Party!) this weekend…see ya there!

• The football Tigers are at it: The Senior Tiger championship game is set for 6:00p.m. on Saturday, November 14th, after the Orcas Island High School Division II play off game at Mt. Vernon High School Stadium. Go Tigers!

• In continued support of the Mishaka Quilting Project, Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church is holding a turkey dinner Saturday night from 5-7pm. Please come and enjoy great food, good company, an interesting program and help an African mother become self-sufficient. Dinner will be delicious turkey with all the trimmings and homemade pie!  Tickets are:  Adults $10, Kids $5, Family $25. Here’s more about it:

Looking northeast at Mount Baker...

It’s great to see Mount Baker from the island, especially on clear days like we had the last couple of days, but even nicer from close up. Here’s more from Art at Argyle House:

Ian,
Thursday was a pretty day (especially east of here), so our friend Todd offered to take us around Mt. Baker in one of Westwind’s planes. Here’s a photo looking northeast as we rounded the mountain.  A wonderful way to spend a Thursday afternoon!
– Art

It helps so many people in our community – can you do your part? The United Way pledge drive is this month – here’s more from Joyce at the Family Resource Center:

The San Juan Island Family Resource Center has greatly benefited from the financial support of United Way of San Juan County.  Support has included funding for the Prenatal through Four Program, the Mentoring Program, Readiness To Learn Program, the Preschool to Kindergarten Transitions Program, and the Rental Assistance Program.  These programs are making a difference for the children and families in our community.

Providing opportunities for bonding is a protective factor that leads to a healthy community. Continue Reading

There’s an application for the Violet Richardson Award, which is given each year to young women between the ages of 14 and 17 who are helping to make our community and world a better place. Here’s more info, and the application. This is sponsored by the local Soroptimist Club – and it’s a good one.

Mary Oettinger

Mary Oettinger tells me she’s starting a new couple of ventures: San Juan Homes for Rent and San Juan Vacation Rentals…she’s holding an Open House at the Tower Office (upstairs on the corner of Spring Street & First Street) on Friday from 4-6pm. Refreshments served…drop on by!

Deb Nolan was elected to the School Board last week....

You probably heard that Todd Roberts & Sally Bryan finished their terms on the San Juan Island School District School Board a couple of weeks ago (and thanks, Sally & Todd, for the good things you’ve done for our school!)

Kelly & Brent Snow, with Rachel, at the Fourth of July festivities at Roche Harbor...

Elected last week to replace them: Roche Harbor General Manager Brent Snow, who has been involved at all ends of our schools, as he volunteers at nearly everything, and he & Kelly have kids at three schools: senior Hannah at FHHS, eighth grader Elizabeth at FHMS, and second grader Rachel at the elementary school. I loved his presentation at the LWV’s candidate forum last month on behalf of school sports & the Island Rec levy, which was impassioned, intelligent, and compelling – I like that in a school board member.

Speaking of working with passion – Deb Nolan’s been involved with the schools’ PTAs, Purple & Gold, and made an articulate presentation in Olympia for school funding earlier this year. She, too, has three kids – FHMS’ seventh grader Nash, FHHS’ tenth grader & skateboard whiz Kyle, and just graduated Corey, so she sees the big picture firsthand as well. Whether she’s putting out the schools’ e-blasts, selling brownies at band concerts or hot dogs at games, or attending meetings – she’s doing it because she loves the schools & what they do.

I think we got us a couple of good ones.

J-46 with adult killer whale J-28, who may be her/his mom... There have been four other calves born to the Southern Resident Killer Whales this year, and here's the fifth....photo by Monika Wieland.

Looks like there’s a new baby calf in J pod!

Here’s more from Monika (http://orcawatcher.blogspot.com/) and Jeanne (http://whale-of-a-porpoise.blogspot.com/), including some awesome pictures. Looks like they’re calling her/him J 46. Happy birthday!

Rachel & Anne keep those cars straight...yep, I shot this last summer. Could you tell?

There’s a heck of a lot less tourists these days, which means there’s less of a lot full of ’em – but somebody’s still gotta keep an eye on them.

Carl Verheyen

There’s a lot to see this weekend:

• He’s back – I loved him & his playing the last couple of years – don’t miss Carl this weekend – here’s more from Jan at the Community Theatre:

He was proclaimed one of the top ten guitarists in the world by Guitar Magazine and this weekend, islanders get a chance to experience that talent plus his great band for themselves at the San Juan Community Theatre!

The Carl Verheyen Band rocks the Whittier stage on Saturday at 7:30 pm and then sticks around on Sunday to lead a Rhythm Section Workshop* for local guitarists, drummers and bassists from 10 am to 1 pm.

For the past 25 years, Carl has built a multi-faceted career around the guitar, with 10 CDs released worldwide.  He has toured with his own and other bands, including as lead guitarist for the British group, Supertramp; and as one of Los Angeles’ elite “first call” session players.  He has played with a virtual who’s who of the music industry: everyone from Christina Aguilera, Dolly Parton and B.B. King to the Bee Gees, Cher and Little Richard.  His vast collection of movie soundtrack credits include The Crow and The Usual Suspects and he can be heard as a featured soloist in the Pixar film Ratatouille.

• Helen at Island Stage Left reports the run is going well for Rabbit Hole:

Our audiences are not as full as we’d like at the moment – except on Saturdays – and we’d hate you to miss this fabulous, moving and funny production. The people who have seen RABBIT HOLE are raving about it,  so don’t wait until the last moment and end up being turned away or not getting a good seat, which so often happens in the final week – come now!! It’s warm and cozy, too. (Material not suitable for young children.)

Once again the dates and times:
Roche Harbor Pavilion until Nov 29th
Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30
Sundays at 4:00 (No performance on Thanksgiving)

The staff at the Rocky Bay is ready to serve you! That's them on Halloween....

Little known things that’ll keep you in the know:

• Looks like the Rocky Bay Cafe is going for the longer hours – here’s more from John:

Dear Ian,
I thought I would let you know that the Rocky Bay Cafe’ will once again be serving dinner.  We will offer the entire lunch menu and four weekly specials.  Last week was our soft opening at was met with positive reviews.  This Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 is our Grand opening. The Rocky Bay Cafe’ is opened daily from 6:00am until 3:00pm.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday we are open from 6:00am until 9:00pm.  Now you can start and end your day at the Rocky Bay!

See you soon,
Mr. San Juan Island
John P. Sable

• Have you seen Steve’s chicken coops at Compost-It? It’s the way to get fresh eggs….check ’em out!

Steve makes 'em in all kinds of shapes...

• The blackberries were out a week ago when I was walking around Pear Point…yep, it’s been that warm a winter….

Most of 'em were blue/black, and you could eat 'em by the handful...

• Mary calls it good – here’s more from Whale Museum director Jenny Atkinson:

For more than 27 years, Mary Blevins has been a significant member of The Whale Museum staff.  She began as the bookkeeper in July of 1982 and quickly became a trusted teammate.  With her bright smile and kind, competent manner, Mary has held various roles from Interim Director (twice!) to her most recent role as the Associate Director of Business and Finance.

Since she began her tenure, executive directors have considered her as their right hand – and this director is no different.  As Mary retires from the Museum, we are all saddened and will miss her tremendously. It does come as a great relief that San Juan is a small island and Friday Harbor is a close-knit community. (Our great loss is the Community Theatre’s gain!) We look forward to seeing Mary somewhere in town every day and will always consider her a part of our Whale Museum family.

Please join us on Tuesday, November 17 (4 p.m. until 6 p.m.) at The Whale Museum as we celebrate Mary and wish her well on her “retirement.”  (Sharing of “Mary” memories, gifts and good wishes are appropriate!)

The staff at the Rocky Bay is ready to serve you! That's them on Halloween....

Little known things that’ll keep you in the know:

• Looks like the Rocky Bay Cafe is going for the longer hours – here’s more from John:

Dear Ian,
I thought I would let you know that the Rocky Bay Cafe’ will once again be serving dinner.  We will offer the entire lunch menu and four weekly specials.  Last week was our soft opening at was met with positive reviews.  This Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 is our Grand opening. The Rocky Bay Cafe’ is opened daily from 6:00am until 3:00pm.  Thursday, Friday and Saturday we are open from 6:00am until 9:00pm.  Now you can start and end your day at the Rocky Bay!

See you soon,
Mr. San Juan Island
John P. Sable

• Have you seen Steve’s chicken coops at Compost-It? It’s the way to get fresh eggs….check ’em out!

Steve makes 'em in all kinds of shapes...

• The blackberries were out a week ago when I was walking around Pear Point…yep, it’s been that warm a winter….

Most of 'em were blue/black, and you could eat 'em by the handful...

• Mary calls it good – here’s more from Whale Museum director Jenny Atkinson:

For more than 27 years, Mary Blevins has been a significant member of The Whale Museum staff.  She began as the bookkeeper in July of 1982 and quickly became a trusted teammate.  With her bright smile and kind, competent manner, Mary has held various roles from Interim Director (twice!) to her most recent role as the Associate Director of Business and Finance.

Since she began her tenure, executive directors have considered her as their right hand – and this director is no different.  As Mary retires from the Museum, we are all saddened and will miss her tremendously. It does come as a great relief that San Juan is a small island and Friday Harbor is a close-knit community. (Our great loss is the Community Theatre’s gain!) We look forward to seeing Mary somewhere in town every day and will always consider her a part of our Whale Museum family.

Please join us on Tuesday, November 17 (4 p.m. until 6 p.m.) at The Whale Museum as we celebrate Mary and wish her well on her “retirement.”  (Sharing of “Mary” memories, gifts and good wishes are appropriate!)