Beginning July 5, the solid waste transfer station on San Juan Island will be open only to self-haulers who can throw their trash directly into a container, similar to the way it is done in the recycling area and at the county drop box facility on Lopez Island. Packer trucks, including those used by franchise hauler San Juan Sanitation and the Town of Friday Harbor, will have to dump at the Orcas Island transfer station or on the mainland.
The Best Western Friday Harbor Suites has named Ron Bates its new general manager, effective June 28. Bates is widely known in the community as former advertising manager and assistant publisher of The Journal of the San Juan Islands (2000-2010). His local connections, marketing abilities and customer service skills are well suited for the hospitality business. He and his partner, Sandy Montana, also own the Mosquito Fleet Mercantile in downtown Friday Harbor.
Virginia L. Nelson (Hay) passed away peacefully at her home in Friday Harbor on June 17, 2010. Virginia “Ginney” died quietly with her two daughters, Catherine and Diane, and their husbands at her side. Virginia was born in Great Falls, Mont., Dec. 4, 1928. She is a graduate of Queen Anne High School, Seattle, Wash., where she made many lifelong friends. Ginney planned her 60th Queen Anne High School Reunion.
Walt Wegener is packing today and heading to Baker City, Ore., where he will be the new superintendent of schools effective July 1. Rick Thompson, the outgoing superintendent of Lynden schools, will be sworn is as superintendent of San Juan schools in a special meeting July 1, noon, at the district office.
King’s Market and Friday Harbor MarketPlace are transitioning to compostable meat and seafood trays. King’s Manager John McBride has been looking for ways to phase out polystyrene containers and packaging at his store since becoming involved in the San Juan Island Anti-Litter Initiative. The initiative, working with lead advocate Doris Estabrooks, lobbied for bans on polystyrene food to-go containers in San Juan County and the Town of Friday Harbor. The bans took effect in April. A similar ban took effect in Seattle in July.
If you want to revitalize downtown, you ask the chamber of commerce and the business community what the best way to accomplish that would be. If you want to support a special-interest group with government monies, such as the Agricultural Guild, it should be done in an appropriate manner.
Government should offer a hand up rather than a hand out. Handouts lead to lifelong enabling that leads to dependency, rather than sustainability.
Herb’s Relay for Life Team presents Island Jam, a fund-raiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, on June 26, 4 p.m. The event will take place at the Tanglewood Amphitheater, aka Glen Hargrove’s place — 11 Tanglewood Lane, off Wold Road (look for balloons and signs).
The San Juan Islander, a newspaper that published in Friday Harbor from 1891 to 1914, is now available online. The newspaper is among nine newspapers — and more than 50,000 historic newspaper pages — recently contributed to Chronicling America, making Washington state’s contribution to the program a total of 16 titles and 92,000 pages.
The San Juan County Fire Marshal’s office reminds islanders and visitors that open burning closes June 30, 11:59 p.m. For more information, call Deputy Fire Marshal Paul Turner, 376-2331.
State Transportation Commissioner Bob Distler of Orcas Island has been advised by Washington State Ferries that he could be denied ferry access if he again “engages in disruptive behavior” with ferry workers. Steven V. Rodgers, director of marine operations for WSF, wrote a letter to Distler, dated June 18, as a followup to a discussion the two had regarding a complaint from a WSF employee in Anacortes. The letter states that Distler had apologized to the terminal supervisor and the traffic attendant, “assuring them this type of behavior would not happen again.”
San Juan Island singer-songwriter Rhiana Franklin has been selected by KMPS 94.1 FM to compete in the KMPS-Colgate Country Showdown, Friday at Point Defiance Park in Tacoma. Rhiana, 14, is one of 15 singers who will compete for a spot in the state final Sept. 5 at the Kittitas County Fair. State winners advance to the regional final. Regional winners advance to the national Colgate Country Showdown.
Friday Harbor’s five museums have formed the Friday Harbor Museum District, a collaboration to better promote the town’s museums and improve the museum experience for islanders and visitors. Museum District participants have developed a colorful brochure, to be distributed in hotels, inns and visitor centers on the island and the mainland, promoting the features of each museum, which are within walking distance of the ferry landing.
Phil Gates found freedom and connection with the infinite on Jan. 28,
2010 at the age of 90. Born in 1919 in Denver, Colo., to Herman and Nelle Gates. He is survived by his sister Phyllis Fenger of Carpinteria, Calif., and her daughter Ellen Fenger of Santa Barbara, Calif.; son Scott Gates of Friday Harbor, Wash.; daughter Lisa Gates, her husband Charlie Waldron, and their son Cole Waldron, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and daughter Julie Gates of Marin, Calif.
