Never before in the history of Orcas High School has a sports team made it to State and won. In 1998, the football team took second place. The golf team and the girls softball team have also earned coveted second places, but not until the Orcas girls soccer team won the state title Nov. 21 has any Viking team gone to State and come back victorious. The Vikings defeated Napavine 4-1 after two scoreless overtimes to win the 1B/2B title. What’s remarkable is that the girls soccer program is only three years old.
Mike Ahrenius, president of the Friday Harbor Port Commission, was elected president of the Washington Public Ports Association for 2010. The election was Nov. 18. The association was formed in 1961 and represents most of the 75 public ports in the state of Washington. WPPA serves as a venue for education of its member ports and promotion of statewide economic development. The association works with state legislators in Olympia to advocate for policies that enhance the state’s economic health.
Sweet Retreat — 264 Spring St., Friday Harbor — is now owned by Dave and Michele Morton, who purchased the business from Dave’s mom, Kathie. Dave Morton worked alongside his mom since the business was founded in May 1998 and is “thrilled” to keep the family tradition alive.
Lawrence Theodore “Larry” Brewster was born on Nov. 29, 1925 in Mount Vernon, Wash., to George Theodore and Vera Goldie (Guinn) Brewster.
He passed on Nov. 27, 2009 after a vigorous battle with cancer. He was two days shy of his 84th birthday.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Pacific Highway port of entry apprehended a British Columbia man on Nov. 27 who was wanted in Vancouver for alleged robbery. CBP officers took Sean Michael Holland, 23, into custody upon his arrival to the United States when a name check of his identity revealed that he was an armed and dangerous felon wanted on a Canada-wide warrant.
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was implemented June 1 at land and sea ports of entry, requiring travelers — including U.S. and Canadian citizens — to present an approved travel document to establish identity and citizenship when entering the United States. The approved documents include a passport, a U.S. passport card, a NEXUS, SENTRI or FAST trusted traveler program card, and a state- or province-issued enhanced driver’s license (EDL).
The sister-in-law and infant niece of a San Juan Island couple were killed Sunday when a floatplane in which they were passengers crashed after takeoff in Saturna Island’s Lyall Harbour, east of Pender Island. Witnesses at the scene say the Richmond-based deHavilland Beaver floatplane took off from Saturna after picking up two of the craft’s eight occupants, but soon took a nose dive into the harbor. The crash occurred around 4:30 p.m.
A benefit dinner for the family of Amanda Cartmill Cruz will be held Dec. 6, 1-4 p.m., at American Legion Post 163 in Friday Harbor. Mrs. Cruz died unexpectedly on Nov. 12 at her home. She was 33.
The recent public forum concerning the purchase of 150 Nichols St. for historic preservation, public access, and a permanent farmers market revealed strong support within the community, but also some very important questions from community members. Most of these questions, such as parking, have been discussed in the pages of the Journal and other newspapers. But I’m hearing concerns that the Nichols project represents a “subsidy” to a small special-interest group — local farmers — and I wanted to add some perspective to this concern.
The San Juan County Fair Board has issued a public letter proposing that a permanent farmers market be located at the fairgrounds. The San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild is proposing that a permanent farmers market be located at 150 Nichols St., the former site of Friday Harbor Electric; the fairgrounds was ranked third on a list of proposed farmers market sites.
The Friday Harbor Post Office can be proud of its efforts during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The local post office sold $7,123.05 worth of Breast Cancer Awareness Month postage stamps — more than any other post office in Washington state and northern Idaho.
In honor of Veterans Day, Spring Street International School invited two speakers to come and be part of a forum that honored veterans and engaged students in the meaning behind this national holiday. Some families were likely asking why we don’t just give everyone the day off as most schools do. While I would have loved a day off just about then, I think it is much more important that as educators we use holidays like Veterans Day to pause, reflect, honor, and remember why this is such an important day.
At Tuesday’s San Juan Island School Board meeting, a new chapter was begun with the addition of new members and reassigned offices. Before the meeting began, there was an informal celebration of Ann Spratt’s service as principal of Friday Harbor Middle School. Spratt is retiring from a 35-year career in public education — a career distinguished by her being named 2005 Middle School Principal of the Year by the Association of Washington School Principals and the Association of Washington Middle Level Principals. She was principal of Icicle River Middle School when she won that honor.
