Thank you to the McCutcheon Family for the wonderful, continually growing display of lights at the top of Tucker Street. During the summer and fall, I was blessed by your lush green field and picturesque fences enclosing those two fine horses. And now I am uplifted by your beautiful lights as I drive home on these dark winter nights.
So ends the Stage Left performance of “Christmas Memories” this season. You still have a few more nights to restore or heighten your Christmas spirit. Note that reservations are required for Christmas Eve. Don’t miss it!
Bernice Anita Mason, 95, of Friday Harbor, Wash., died Sunday, Dec. 19, 2010 at Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands. Grandma was a devoted wife and very loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was born on San Juan Island and lived here all her life. She loved the simple island life and being close to her family. Bernice was close to and loved her siblings: Mildred, Elaine, and brother, Walt.
Arctic Raven Gallery, which specializes in Northwest Coast Native art, is displaying a Sun Mask carved by noted Kwakwaka’wakw Nation carver Tom Hunt. The mask is more than 8 feet wide and just under 8 foot tall. Arctic Raven owner Lee Brooks could only guess on the weight, but said it took four people to pick it up and hang it.
For five days in November, San Juan County experienced a cold snap — with an average daily temperature of only 25 degrees — and OPALCO members are going to notice the difference on their power bills that go out at the end of the month. “When temperatures drop below 50 degrees, we see electrical usage go up as members use more energy to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature,” OPALCO System Engineer Joel Mietzner said in a press release.
Islanders raised more than $2,500 on Dec. 11 for Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher Billmyer, nephew of San Juan islanders, who was severely injured by an IED explosion in Afghanistan. The event was presented by the American Legion Auxiliary in the Legion Hall in Friday Harbor. Singer Jill Urbach and the One More Time Band provided entertainment, and donated their fee for the evening to Billmyer.
I was in line at a store the other day and overheard the woman next to me say to her friend, “She doesn’t cook, so she’s really hard to buy gifts for.” “Well!” I thought to myself, “I don’t cook and I’m not so hard to buy gifts for. I’m a gardener!”
The Washington State Grange could lift the San Juan Island Grange’s suspension in January and new officers could be elected and installed by March or April, State Grange Master June Hendrickson said Dec. 15. The local Grange was suspended in August 2007 after months of local wrangling over a proposal to change the Grange-owned property leased by Carquest and All-Season Automotive into a year-round farmers market and farm-products store. State Grange officials at the time were not convinced revenue from the venture could meet or exceed the $3,000 monthly rent paid by Carquest, as well as pay for remodeling.
Tom Kirschner is the new executive director of the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce. He succeeds Vernadel Peterson, who resigned effective Oct. 15 to become promotions manager of the Lifeline program at Providence Centralia Hospital. Kirschner’s priorities: Support member businesses on the island and help them improve their bottom line.
Island Group Sotheby’s International Realty will move from the former San Juan Inn to another site in town in January. Windermere Real Estate may move to the Sotheby’s site from its offices on Spring and First streets. The Sotheby’s building, 50 Spring St., is one of the oldest buildings in Friday Harbor. It was built circa 1880 and operated as an inn until 2005, when it was purchased and restored by Friday Harbor Realty owners Greg and Natalie King. Friday Harbor Realty moved there after the restoration; RE/MAX bought Friday Harbor Realty in 2008 and became a Sotheby’s International Realty franchise. The Kings still own 50 Spring St.
The San Juan Preservation Trust, a non-profit land trust based in the San Juan Islands, has purchased Vendovi Island, the third-largest island under single private ownership in the entire San Juan archipelago. This acquisition ensures that this 217-acre island will remain permanently protected from development.
Sierra Fitts, 4, is the youngest winner of the People’s Choice Award at Gallery San Juan’s annual Kids Art Show, Dec. 7. All winners’ artwork will be framed by Gallery San Juan.
On Dec. 7, the San Juan County Council approved a package of recycling fees designed to help stabilize the finances of the Solid Waste Division. Come Jan. 1, you’ll pay $5 for 1 cubic yard or up to six 32-gallon cans; $25 for 1-2 cubic yards or up to 12 cans; and $50 for more than 2 cubic yards or more than 12 cans. You’ll be able to drop off a shopping bag of recyclables for free when you drop off your garbage. The $5 fee will apply to most islanders. And it troubles us to hear people say that the fee will discourage people from recycling, and that the result will mean recyclables will end up in the trash. Over $5?
