Town and county bans on polystyrene to-go containers take effect April 23, Earth Day. The bans demonstrate our commitment to protect human and environmental health on the islands, by banning the use of a toxic petroleum-based material for which safe, compostable options of equal or lesser cost are available.
I would like to say that I am shocked by this act of kindness, but I am not. I have grown up on this island witnessing the amazing acts the community does for one another. I am humbled by the constant generosity and love we have received on a daily basis. Despite moving away, this will always be home to me.
Next week’s kickoff event is being called “Spring Splash.” All we can say is, get ready to get drenched in fun. Besides the Port of Friday Harbor’s 60th anniversary celebration, highlights of the week include tall ship visits April 27-28, Leon Redbone in concert May 1 at the San Juan Community Theatre, and the Opening Day Boat Parade at the port May 2.
It’s early in the game, but the San Juan Island Celebrity Golf Classic has already hit two home runs. Or carded two eagles. The baseball metaphor may be more apropos. You’ll see why in paragraph 4. Islanders Bank is the new corporate sponsor, succeeding Wells Fargo Bank. And the names of winners of this year’s tournament will be engraved on the new Islanders Bank John Linde Trophy, which will be permanently displayed at the bank’s Friday Harbor branch. The trophy honors the late Superior Court judge, an avid golfer who played in the annual classic and served on the San Juan Golf and Country Club board. “He was a pivotal part of our community for so long. His significance is beyond question,” Classic Chairman Pat O’Day said. Now, the grand slam: Retired Mariners pitcher Randy Johnson, the Big Unit, may be the headline celebrity this year.
Replacement of the dock on the wharf outside the Roche Harbor Market and Lime Kiln Cafe cost about $500,000, Roche Harbor General Manager Brent Snow said. The dock was completed in March. It complements an expansion of the Lime Kiln Cafe and other improvements to the wharf buildings. The buildings date to 1923, when they were built to replace earlier buildings destroyed by fire.
Turn on your tap and water comes out. But how does it get there? And when water goes down the drain and when you flush the toilet, where does the water go? Friday Harbor Elementary School fifth-graders know.
Jaileen Panger and Peace of Mind Pet Sitting are sponsoring the first annual Pet Poetry Contest. All poems must relate to pets. The pets may be living or deceased, or even imaginary pets, but the poems must be about a pet or pets. The contest began midnight April 1 and continues for the entire month; deadline is midnight April 30.
The San Juan County Council has given tentative approval to changes in local shoreline rules in which three publicly-owned barge landings would be designated as essential public facilities, setting the stage for their expansion.
Jessica Oldwyn, Friday Harbor High School Class of 1998, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor that will require brain surgery. Although she has health insurance, the anticipated cost of the procedure is expected to exceed her benefits and therefore become her responsibility. She and her family have deep ties in the community, and many people within the community are expressing interest in giving their support to the Oldwyn family.
San Juan was leading 11-5 at the half and on its way to its fifth consecutive win Saturday at Friday Harbor High School, vs. Providence (5-3, Cascade Conference). With the win, the Dragons would improve to 5-1 and retain their hold on first place in the Skagit Conference. Their next game is April 21 at Silver Lake (0-6, Cascade Conference).
For the first time, a portion of lodging tax money reserved for construction or maintenance of tourism-related facilities will be used to promote visiting Friday Harbor during the summer, from May to August. The Friday Harbor Town Council Thursday allocated $40,000 for a blitz of summer promotions over the Internet, in print, on radio and on television. The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce was allocated $15,000 for a promotion with Comcast for on-air and online promotions in South Snohomish, North Seattle, Bellevue-Issaquah, Woodinville-Redmond. A commercial by SanJuanIslandsTV.com will be broadcast over Bravo, Comedy, E!, Headline, Animal Planet and Fox News channels. A banner video will be placed on Comcast.net.
Anacortes and Friday Harbor now have more in common than the state ferries. Sewage. Wastewater — specifically, activated sludge — from Anacortes is being trucked to the Friday Harbor wastewater treatment plant Friday to repopulate the wastewater system with micro-organisms that break down sewage.
Pete Nelsen of Shaw Island won the sixth annual Frank Wilson Memorial Blackmouth Fishing Derby April 15. The derby began Feb. 1 and ended at 5:30 p.m. April 15. Nelsen won with a 20.95-pound catch that won him Week 8 honors and propelled him to the top of the leaderboard.
