In a talk with a leader of CAPR (Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights) it was suggested that I stick to facts, and not philosophy. That is advice that I will take in this letter. I am arguing in favor of leaving as much protection as possible between households and the shoreline. Certainly more than is suggested by CAPR. The reference to “canaries” refers to the canary that dies in an unsafe mine, providing a warning signal. Animals dying in the Spring Street Aquarium may be offering a similar warning.
Our hearts go out to the people of Haiti. As they have when disaster has struck other parts of the nation and world, islanders are responding to assist relief efforts. Here are ways that you can help.
Pinpoint when Warren F. Jones’ devotion to public service was born. Perhaps 1960, when he became a charter member of the San Juan Lions Club. Perhaps 1967, when he became a Friday Harbor Town Council member. But it might have been earlier than that.
Ann Pullman had lived in Friday Harbor, Wash., for 20 years with her husband, Wayne, and son Michael and daughter Michelle (Shelley). Ann was born to Geraldine and John Mahoney, and was later joined by her brother, John M. Mahoney. She earned a B.S. in English from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill., where she also taught English. Ann then earned her pre-med degree from Seattle University. She was working as a respiratory therapist in Orange County, Calif., when she met her husband, J. Wayne Pullman. Ann and Wayne married July 4, 1974, in Los Angeles, Calif. She owned and operated a dessert catering business in Beverly Hills, Calif., for eight years, and a gourmet food shop and deli in Ojai, Calif., before moving to Friday Harbor in 1989.
Calling Class of 2027 high school graduates! If your child was born between Sept. 1, 2008 and Aug. 31, 2009, bring your baby for a group photo on Feb. 27, 2010 at 10 a.m. in Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church.
Sean and Melissa Aylward (both 2002 Friday Harbor High School graduatess) are happy to announce the birth of their son Parker Timothy Aylward, born Jan. 9, 2010 at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. Parker weighed 8 pounds 2 ounces and measured 20 inches long.
In a special board meeting Jan. 15, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors voted to invite Lynden Schools Superintendent Rick Thompson to apply for the position of superintendent.
San Juan Island Fitness, in cooperation with the Friday Harbor Elementary School PTA, offers another “Kids Night Out.” The first “Kids Night Out” of 2010 will be held on Jan. 23, 5-7:30 p.m. for elementary school grades 2-6. The fun includes swimming under the watchful eye of approved lifeguards, and court games under adult supervision. Cheese pizza and beverage will also be served.
Splash Kitty, 25 years, died Jan. 13, 2010 at 1 p.m. She was ready to go. I asked Annie to check and she said that she is ready. Susan Besel agreed, so Splash went to play with all of the dogs she knew: Barney, Tucker, Bogie and, last but not least, Humphrey.
Recently Mike Kaill, president of Friends of the San Juans, submitted a letter suggesting that the presence of surfactants in stormwater and other runoff is a justification for what he considers to be appropriate setbacks from the shoreline for development on shoreline properties.
A San Juan Island winter is not cold in the area of culture. Between Christmas festivals and theater productions, the public is not deprived of variation. Local choreographer Linda Downs is convinced the best is yet to come. Indeed, the line-up that Downs, director of Dance Workshop II, has produced for this year’s Winter Song and Dance Festival (Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 24, 2 p.m.) offers exceptionally high standards of performing art.
Although Washington State’s Constitution defines education as the “paramount duty” of the state, school districts increasingly rely on local funding sources. About 16 percent of total statewide school funding comes from local taxes, primarily property taxes through maintenance and operations levies. A levy loss, which can make up to approximately 20 percent of a district’s revenue, can be devastating to a school district. A levy is a request by a school district of voters to raise or continue property taxes for a limited number of years for operations costs or capital improvements that help to fund essential education programs and activities such as school libraries, textbooks, computers, tutoring programs, teachers and aides, all-day kindergarten, food service, special education, transportation and extracurriculars.
As PeaceHealth’s project lead for the new San Juan Island hospital, I’ve heard from dozens of islanders about San Juan Island EMS. By all accounts, your EMS is held in high regard for its expertise, quality of care and responsiveness. I have also read about many real-life stories of heroic, compassionate and at times life-saving care provided by the EMTs and first responders. And I’m aware of national measures of performance for which the San Juan Island EMS is rated among the very best in the country.
