The annual Friday Harbor Elementary School Halloween Parade was a big hit Friday. Bananaman, fairies, a jumping hot dog, princesses, Supergirl, transformers, and the usual cast of spooky characters paraded from the school down Argyle Avenue to Spring Street to the applause of throngs of parade watchers. The skies were clear and the temperatures were pleasant — ideal parade weather. The Journal’s Jane K. Fox and Scott Rasmussen produced this slideshow of the parade.
Mitchell Hill, a 312-acre chunk of land that includes trails and a pristine portion of road built beginning in 1853 by the Hudson’s Bay Co., is on its way to becoming part of San Juan Island National Historical Park. President Obama on Friday signed the bill that provides the funding for the purchase. “With President Obama’s signature, the National Park Service now has $6 million available to purchase Mitchell Hill,” said Rep. Rick Larsen, who sponsored the bill. “This funding is a huge win for San Juan Island residents and future generations of visitors to San Juan Island National Historical Park.”
As of Friday afternoon, the San Juan County Health and Community Services Department had received and distributed about 1,000 doses of H1N1 vaccine, the county communications office reported. Because the initial shipments of vaccine have been small, health officials have not been able to expand the group receiving the vaccine beyond its highest priority groups.
The last time Lynden Christian and Friday Harbor met on the football field, the game was settled by three points, a Reid Bode field goal. Ah, but that game was 23-20, settled in overtime. Friday night? Again settled by a Bode field goal. But this time, it was the only three points of the whole game.
A chemical dependency counselor running for Town Council has applied with the state for a license to sell beer and wine at Warehouse Coffee, which he bought in September. Warehouse Coffee, at 301 Tucker Ave., is located half a block north of Friday Harbor High School.
The San Juan County Sheriff’s boat Guardian has been recognized by the State of Washington as a licensed ambulance, following a three-year process of fund-raising, planning, modification and training. “For many years to come, this multipurpose, dual hull twin-engine catamaran will serve and augment the emergency medical transport and water rescue needs of all of San Juan County through its upgraded capability,” EMS Chief Jim Cole said in a press release.
The state Board on Geographic Names today approved “Salish Sea” as the collective name for the body of water that includes Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and Georgia Strait. The new designation does not change or eliminate the names of any of the several bodies of water within the Salish Sea on either side of the international border. It does mandate that cartographers use “Salish Sea” on all maps and in all atlases.
Flo Settles, much-loved and well-known Friday Harbor resident, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009 in Friday Harbor. Flo was born on July 17, 1926 in Tarrytown, N.Y., one of four children born to John and Susan Dunn. She had three brothers: Sydney Henry, Fred Lee and Paul Dunn. Flo met and married Chuck Settles on July 29, 1945 while he served on the USS Brooklyn, based in New York.
The rules for election of water district commissioners are a good example of why we should change the rules for cemetery districts. Water districts are municipal governments, but the rules for election to district commissions are different than for other junior taxing districts.
On Monday, Nov. 2, Rep. Rick Larsen, D-Everett, will host a telephone “town hall meeting” with constituents from across the 2nd Congressional District to discuss the Affordable Health Care for America Act that was introduced in the House on Thursday.
The U.S. House and Senate on Thursday passed appropriations legislation that includes $6 million secured by Rep. Rick Larsen for the National Park Service to purchase Mitchell Hill, more than 300 acres of forestland near San Juan Island National Historical Park.
Island Stage Left’s “Rabbit Hole” opened at Roche Harbor Pavilion Thursday, and continues through Nov. 29. “Rabbit Hole” was written by David Lindsay-Abaire and first presented in 2005. Abaire received the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work.
San Juan Island novelist and blogger Susan Wingate has signed a three-book contract with a publisher. San Juan Island novelist and blogger Susan Wingate has signed a three-book contract with a publisher. The publisher has not been disclosed. Wingate will write a three-book follow-up to her “Bobby’s Diner,” which was a finalist in the National Best Books 2009 Awards and the 2009 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. “Bobby’s Diner” was published by Cambridge Books.
