Community figures reflect on 2014, look toward the future

Published 1:35 pm Tuesday, December 23, 2014

It’s been a tough year for orcas and a triumphant year for art. Like with any ending a new beginning unfolds. While we have the chance to begin anew or keep rolling with momentum anytime the new year is a symbolic testament to the always changing, ebb and flow of life.

It’s a time to reflect on the past and contemplate the future. To count your victories and learn from your struggles.

From everyone here at the Journal we hope your new year is filled with more smiles than tears, more laughter than arguments, more triumphs than defeats. May your cup always be half full and a very happy new year to you all.

Mayor Carrie Lacher & Town Administrator Duncan Wilson

Town of Friday Harbor Mayor Carrie Lacher and Administrator Duncan Wilson are looking forward to some big plans for 2015. One being a $9.4 M project to replace the water transmission line that transports the town’s drinking water from the dam at Trout Lake to the water treatment facility on Wold Road. The current asbestos concrete pipe will be replaced with top of the line, flexible plastic piping that is much safer in an earthquake. The current piping is 50 years old.

Historical placards will be installed around town and show the history of certain spots like Brown Island, Memorial Park and the cannery in a storyboard display.

Binoculars will be installed at Overlook Park next to Friday Harbor House by the new year and plans are in the works to develop the playground at Sunken Park.

One of the major highlights of 2014 was the completion of Blair Avenue, which took longer than expected. The ribbon was cut on Dec. 18, officially reopening the street.

Lacher is particularly excited about the successful tree lighting event that took place in December. This year there were also many other events going on that evening including the opening of the new Island’s Museum of Art building, a fundraiser at Brick Works for Solar for Our Schools project, and hot cocoa and cookies at the Whale Museum.

“There was something in every quadrant,I get goosebumps thinking about it,” she said. “That’s really raised the bar. I hope we can achieve that sense of community every year and overcome our differences.”

The Whale Museum

Jenny Atkinson, Executive Director of the Whale Museum is hoping for a happy and healthy whale and salmon year.

“Everything we do, we’re going to keep on doing,” she said.

She looks forward to continuing to promote stewardship of the sea through educational workshops, events and exhibits.

Island Rec

Island Rec saw forward movement this year with Friday Harbor Fields, which is being developed by Friday Harbor Athletics in collaboration with the Town of Friday Harbor, San Juan Island School District and Island Rec. Island Rec also received a generous donation toward the development of the fields from a community donor.

Island Rec was hit hard this year by the tax assessor’s error which granted the organization more funding than merited—forcing the organization to pay the extra money back.

“We were surprised by the error,” Sally Thomsen, Island Rec Director said. “We’re looking to maintain most of our programs in 2015, in doing so we’re depleting our reserves.”

2015 is a critical year for Island Rec in that its six-year operating levy is up, and will come to a vote in the April election.

Thomsen hopes to reopen the idea of starting new programs, like after school programs for working families, “when the levy passes.”

San Juan Community Theatre

San Juan Community Theatre celebrated 25 years of cultural arts in 2014. To mark the historic event, the theatre put on a production of “Annie,” which was the first musical ever performed at SJCT when it opened in 1989. The production had over 100 participants, from singers to set painters, and was one of the highest attended shows in theatre history.

“Annie was a prime example of what community theatre is all about,” said Jan Bollwinkel Smith, promotion director. “We look forward to seeing more island friends on stage, bringing high quality international programs like the Bolshoi Ballet, and educational programs.”