Getting ready for Halloween...yum!

Got a chance to have dinner at Duck Soup Inn last Friday, and yes, the halibut & scallops were good! We also checked out this for dessert: a little bitty pumpkin, baked, with spice cake & whipped creme & a caramel sauce (I think that’s what it was) over it. Gretchen & the folks at DSI do a super job – try & drop by before the end of the season the first weekend in November….

Getting ready for Halloween...yum!

Got a chance to have dinner at Duck Soup Inn last Friday, and yes, the halibut & scallops were good! We also checked out this for dessert: a little bitty pumpkin, baked, with spice cake & whipped creme & a caramel sauce (I think that’s what it was) over it. Gretchen & the folks at DSI do a super job – try & drop by before the end of the season the first weekend in November….

When I saw comedian Dick Gregory a few years ago, he asked someone in the audience if he could borrow their car keys for a moment. They gave him their keys, and he said, “Cool! Now I get to keep your car!” The person said, “Wait, that’s my car! You can’t steal it!” and Dick shot back, “Hey, I’m not stealing it, I discovered it!”

As a moment of filling in the blanks of our history, take a moment if you can on this Columbus Day to look over what the original founding father’s profile really contained (here’s a place to start, in this essay by noted historian Howard Zinn.)

The essay ends with this hope:

“In rethinking our history, we are not just looking at the past, but at the present, and trying to look at it from a point of view of those who have been left out of the benefits of so-called civilizations. It is a simple but profoundly important thing we are trying to accomplish, to look at the world from other points of view. We need to do that, as we come into the next century, if we want this coming century to be different, if we want it to be, not an American century, or a Western century, or a white century, or a male century, or any nation’s, any group’s century, but a century for the human race.”

Nourdine Jensen last month at his birthday party...attended by hundreds of islanders & family

It was great to see Mr. Jensen’s smiling face last month at his 95th birthday celebration on September 18th, and to see how many people loved & admired him…I just got this note from his granddaughter Alisa this morning:

Nourdine Jensen passed away at Island Hospital on Sunday, October 11th, 2009.  He died peacefully with his family by his side. He was 95.

Graveside services will be held at the Valley Cemetery on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 11:30am.  A Memorial Service will follow at 1pm at the Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church.

True school spirit!

Pretty easy to tell which team FHHS senior tennis player Westin Hedin plays for & roots for….

True school spirit!

Pretty easy to tell which team FHHS senior tennis player Westin Hedin plays for & roots for….

I’d have to say this swine flu business got my attention about three weeks ago when my sister-in-law told me that my five-year-old niece had contracted swine flu, but got treatment in time & everything worked out fine. That was in Alabama, but when I checked in with my son in college in Colorado, he said he knew a couple of people who missed classes with it, too.

What once was in the news is now a reality, around us….

So, to get you started thinking about this, here’s the latest bulletin from the San Juan County website, along with the news that the vaccines have started arriving on the island.

I checked in with the County’s website about the expected spread of the flu in the islands, and pulled together a few notes after talking to a few people:

As a brief synopsis, we have been having sporadic cases of influenza like illness (ILI) since April 2009 and all summer in the camps.  The Health Department expects to see a lot more cases as the fall progresses and especially over the next 5 to 8 weeks.

As all children and young adults do not have immunity to this bug (novel H1N1 Influenza), they are more likely to get sick and pass it on to others in their families, schools, social groups.  The close quarters of kids in school are a great incubator for illnesses.  Influenza is very contagious and although some people can have milder illnesses, some kids or people have serious outcomes.

This is particularly true Continue Reading

I’d have to say this swine flu business got my attention about three weeks ago when my sister-in-law told me that my five-year-old niece had contracted swine flu, but got treatment in time & everything worked out fine. That was in Alabama, but when I checked in with my son in college in Colorado, he said he knew a couple of people who missed classes with it, too.

What once was in the news is now a reality, around us….

So, to get you started thinking about this, here’s the latest bulletin from the San Juan County website, along with the news that the vaccines have started arriving on the island.

I checked in with the County’s website about the expected spread of the flu in the islands, and pulled together a few notes after talking to a few people:

As a brief synopsis, we have been having sporadic cases of influenza like illness (ILI) since April 2009 and all summer in the camps.  The Health Department expects to see a lot more cases as the fall progresses and especially over the next 5 to 8 weeks.

As all children and young adults do not have immunity to this bug (novel H1N1 Influenza), they are more likely to get sick and pass it on to others in their families, schools, social groups.  The close quarters of kids in school are a great incubator for illnesses.  Influenza is very contagious and although some people can have milder illnesses, some kids or people have serious outcomes.

This is particularly true Continue Reading

That fundraiser last week for Greg Sawyer raised over $17K, and also raised awareness about organ transplants & blood donations…as well as raising most people sense that we live in a pretty special place. Catherine, Hannah & Genevieve checked in this afternoon:

Our outstanding community has done it again.

Genevieve & Hannah & Catherine say thanks...

A huge thank you to so many who made the fundraiser for Greg Sawyer so successful! Well over $17,000 was raised to help defray medical expenses, and it was heartwarming to see so many in our community come together to support Mr. Sawyer.

We are grateful to those who helped us, and the list is long. From the start Purple and Gold said “tell us how to help”. They helped transport food, serve, set up, and clean up and also stepped in to be the fiscal agent for the event. Thank you Sherry and Chris Lawson, Kerri Starr, Becky Nash, Diane Jangard, Staci Baker, Rachel Dietzman, Sue and Don Neilsen for all of the help, you are an amazing and caring group of volunteers.

When our event quickly was becoming too large for the high school to accommodate everyone, Roche Harbor gave us a perfect venue Continue Reading

Here's the scoop....

Helen at Island Stage Left says this is a great opportunity to get your feet into acting – and Krista does a great job! Here’s more:

FREE TEEN WORKSHOP

That's Krista with Dan Mayes in 2006's "Educating Rita"....

Island Stage Left  has created an ongoing, free, theatre workshop for teens,  designed to help young people develop self-expression, self-esteem, self-confidence and a greater understanding of themselves, the world around them and their own behavior. Through theatre games, improvisation, acting exercises, movement and voice, students will expand their natural creativity and, thinking “outside the box”, encourage collaboration and communication skills, access emotions and learn to express them in a constructive way  – plus learn basic acting skills!

The workshop is open to any middle or high school age person on a drop-in basis. The workshop has the enthusiastic support of Fred Yockers at the High School and the staff at Spring Street International School.

Krista Strutz is the instructor/facilitator. Krista is a performing member of ISL, and member of the board of directors. She is a graduate of Depaul University’s The Theatre School (founded as The Goodman School of Drama in 1925), one of the oldest and most respected theatre training institutions in the country, and is a recipient of the Sarah Siddon’s Acting Scholarship.

She received  an L.A. Drama-Logue Award for her role of Myra in Hayfever at San Francisco’s Phoenix Theatre and Sacramento’s Elly award for The Diary of Anne Frank. For Island Stage Left Krista has appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest, Educating Rita, Talley’s Folly and Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.

Here's the scoop....

Helen at Island Stage Left says this is a great opportunity to get your feet into acting – and Krista does a great job! Here’s more:

FREE TEEN WORKSHOP

That's Krista with Dan Mayes in 2006's "Educating Rita"....

Island Stage Left  has created an ongoing, free, theatre workshop for teens,  designed to help young people develop self-expression, self-esteem, self-confidence and a greater understanding of themselves, the world around them and their own behavior. Through theatre games, improvisation, acting exercises, movement and voice, students will expand their natural creativity and, thinking “outside the box”, encourage collaboration and communication skills, access emotions and learn to express them in a constructive way  – plus learn basic acting skills!

The workshop is open to any middle or high school age person on a drop-in basis. The workshop has the enthusiastic support of Fred Yockers at the High School and the staff at Spring Street International School.

Krista Strutz is the instructor/facilitator. Krista is a performing member of ISL, and member of the board of directors. She is a graduate of Depaul University’s The Theatre School (founded as The Goodman School of Drama in 1925), one of the oldest and most respected theatre training institutions in the country, and is a recipient of the Sarah Siddon’s Acting Scholarship.

She received  an L.A. Drama-Logue Award for her role of Myra in Hayfever at San Francisco’s Phoenix Theatre and Sacramento’s Elly award for The Diary of Anne Frank. For Island Stage Left Krista has appeared in The Importance of Being Earnest, Educating Rita, Talley’s Folly and Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol.

Carri & friend

I love stories like this – here’s more from Carrie:

Hi Ian,
I wanted to share with you a personal experience I had on our island the other day. It truly shows why living here is great.

I was quickly heading out of the house one morning to be picked up at the end of our ¼ mile driveway. To make it easier for Juan (my husband) to pick me up, I decided to walk to the end of the driveway where the driveway meets San Juan Valley Rd. I knew it was going to be difficult because I had my laptop and work stuff, workout gear, lunch, purse, and my dachshund on a leash. I couldn’t have looked any more funny, let alone carry anything else.

I finally reached the end of the driveway, and waited a few minutes to be picked up. While I was waiting, a woman I didn’t know pulled over. She asked, “Are you okay?” I immediately realized she was asking me this because I looked like I had packed as much stuff as I could carry and left my house in hopes of escaping something or someone. I even had my dog with me.

I quickly told her I was waiting for my husband, and thanked her for taking the time to check on a young woman, loaded down with “all she could carry.” It’s situations like this, that make me grateful to live here. I thank this kind woman who took a minute out of her day, just to make sure I was okay. If that isn’t an act of kindness, I don’t know what is. I hope you enjoyed my story!

Thanks, Ian!
Carrie Unpingco

When it's done, the Trail will stretch from Town to Cattle Point...that rocks!

This is really cool…the first major steps that need to be made to make this trail happen…here’s more from our friends at the Land Bank:

Land Bank Accepts First Two Trail Easements Cattle Point Road

The San Juan County Land Bank has received two trail easement donations along Cattle Point Road.  Louisa Nishitani and Alice Hurd donated the easements in the hope that they will eventually be part of a walking trail extending from Friday Harbor to American Camp.  Together, they span more than 1,000 feet.

Lincoln, the other day when I saw him at the Thai restaurant

“These donations are the first trail easements accepted by the Land Bank,” stated Lincoln Bormann, Land Bank Director.  “We are extremely grateful to both property owners for their foresight and generosity.”  A trail has already been created on the two properties, but as yet they are not contiguous to adjacent properties with easements.  “It is a great start and we are confident that with the continuing work of the San Juan Island Trails Committee, more will follow,” Bormann said.

To date, 15,951 feet or 3.32 miles of trail has been completed along the Cattle Point Road corridor.  This includes the previously opened 8,580 feet on the Port of Friday Harbor airport property.  It also includes 3,225 feet on the Land Bank’s Frazer Homestead Preserve and a contiguous 3,328 feet in American Camp.  This latter section of the trail should be open by next spring.  San Juan County Public Works is also preparing a 1,380-foot section of trail along the Golf Course Road easement.

“We are so excited about the way this project is going right now,” said Cinda Pierce, Chair of the San Juan Island Trails Committee.  “We’re really hopeful that this will build a momentum to get some segments completed and eventually make it the whole way from Town to the National Park. Continue Reading

When it's done, the Trail will stretch from Town to Cattle Point...that rocks!

This is really cool…the first major steps that need to be made to make this trail happen…here’s more from our friends at the Land Bank:

Land Bank Accepts First Two Trail Easements Cattle Point Road

The San Juan County Land Bank has received two trail easement donations along Cattle Point Road.  Louisa Nishitani and Alice Hurd donated the easements in the hope that they will eventually be part of a walking trail extending from Friday Harbor to American Camp.  Together, they span more than 1,000 feet.

Lincoln, the other day when I saw him at the Thai restaurant

“These donations are the first trail easements accepted by the Land Bank,” stated Lincoln Bormann, Land Bank Director.  “We are extremely grateful to both property owners for their foresight and generosity.”  A trail has already been created on the two properties, but as yet they are not contiguous to adjacent properties with easements.  “It is a great start and we are confident that with the continuing work of the San Juan Island Trails Committee, more will follow,” Bormann said.

To date, 15,951 feet or 3.32 miles of trail has been completed along the Cattle Point Road corridor.  This includes the previously opened 8,580 feet on the Port of Friday Harbor airport property.  It also includes 3,225 feet on the Land Bank’s Frazer Homestead Preserve and a contiguous 3,328 feet in American Camp.  This latter section of the trail should be open by next spring.  San Juan County Public Works is also preparing a 1,380-foot section of trail along the Golf Course Road easement.

“We are so excited about the way this project is going right now,” said Cinda Pierce, Chair of the San Juan Island Trails Committee.  “We’re really hopeful that this will build a momentum to get some segments completed and eventually make it the whole way from Town to the National Park. Continue Reading

Edith puts her extra apples out on Argyle Street (last year)

This is the time of year for picking off & picking up the apples that are everywhere all over the island, and as the Grist says in this morning’s posting: “You’ve got to know where you are. You’ve got to consult the genius of the place.” (Wendell Berry)

So, for that, you need a cider press, pans ready for applesauce, and recipes for everything else. Here’s an essay/cooking advice from April McGreger for Grist.

Edith puts her extra apples out on Argyle Street (last year)

This is the time of year for picking off & picking up the apples that are everywhere all over the island, and as the Grist says in this morning’s posting: “You’ve got to know where you are. You’ve got to consult the genius of the place.” (Wendell Berry)

So, for that, you need a cider press, pans ready for applesauce, and recipes for everything else. Here’s an essay/cooking advice from April McGreger for Grist.