Watch Miss Budweiser and Miss Exide, as well as other noted hydroplanes, race on San Juan Island Saturday. Well, not the actual boats, but scale models of the famous racers. The ERCU Diamond Cup race — ERCU stands for Electric Radio Controlled Unlimiteds — begins at 11 a.m. at 1609 Beaverton Valley Road, Friday Harbor, behind Beaverton Valley Business Park.
Once again, time stopped Monday in Friday Harbor. The noise of downtown life yielded to the sounds of marching feet, the barks of the sergeant’s commands, the flutter of the colors in the breeze. At Memorial Park, islanders and visitors gathered at the monument engraved with the names of San Juan County’s World War I dead. And once again, as generations before have done every year since 1921, the island remembered and gave thanks to America’s veterans — particularly those who gave what President Lincoln called “the last full measure of devotion.”
The opening of the Born Learning Trail at the Family Park in the San Juan County Fairgrounds will be joined with Island Rec’s celebration of its 25th anniversary, Saturday, 10-11 a.m.
One hundred fifty years ago, American and British troops occupied San Juan Island while their two superpower nations began the arduous task of resolving a dispute over ownership of the archipelago. The occupation brought to the island several nationally-known figures (Gen. Winfield Scott, Brig. Gen. William S. Harney), as well as figures that would later become nationally known (Capt. George Pickett, Lt. Henry Robert). The occupation would change the landscape, leaving buildings and landmarks that remain today. The occupation would itself be distinguished by the fact that no shot was fired in hostility — proof that disputes, even between superpowers, can be resolved peacefully.
On Memorial Day 1917, a Friday Harbor girl, Caroline Reed, attended the ceremony to dedicate a new flagpole and flag on Spring Street. Later she wrote of it in her memoir, “Underpinning.” Her niece, Sue Reed of Cape San Juan, is republishing the book. Reed shared her aunt’s story of that day in 1917 …
Put on your dancing shoes and go to the Big Spring Barn Dance and Community Fund-raiser in the San Juan County Fairgrounds’ Main Building, Saturday, 7-11 p.m.
With seven days left for applications, Noel Monin is the sole candidate for Christopher Wolf’s Town Council position.Wolf resigned effective last night to take a two-year teaching assignment at the American School of Doha, in the Persian Gulf country of Qatar. He will also go on leave of absence for two years at Friday Harbor Middle School, where he teaches humanities, current events, and speech and debate.
Are you in this photograph? Then you’ll want to attend the 40th reunion of the Friday Harbor High School Class of 1969, July 18. For more information, contact Wendy Fairweather Picinich, 378-4819, e-mail sjtrophy@rockisland.com; or Jeri Jensen Ahrenius, 378-2420, jeri@jensenshipyard.com.
As part of National Safe Boating Week, the Friday Harbor Power Squadron, along with the Friday Harbor Fire Department and West Marine, held its fourth annual Flare Shoot at Jackson’s Beach on May 17.
Pending correction of a few minor safety conditions, Inter Island Medical Center will keep its $100,000 federal Health Resources and Services Administration grant on track and soon bring up to 48 hours of extended inpatient care to San Juan Island.
Online columnist and new author Mary Kalbert will sign copies of her book, “Reflections on Life in the San Juan Islands,” May 23, 2-4 p.m., at Griffin Bay Bookstore, 155 Spring St., Friday Harbor. “Reflections on Life in the San Juan Islands” is described as a “compilation of essays extolling island living that are wistful, introspective and laugh-out-loud funny.”
Hey, Jimmy Kimmel, there’s a storm coming. You could do this the easy way, or the hard way, although either way is going to be a lot of fun. Hurricane Devorah is on her way. The stars seem to be lining up for San Juan Island’s hardest-working rocker, who’s long been on the cusp of national attention.
Have an idea of how to make the community a better place in which to live, play and work? There’s no better chance than now. Run for public office. As a candidate, you will contribute to public discussion about issues. If you win, you will — depending on the position with which you will be entrusted — make decisions that affect our level and quality of local education, fire protection, health care, port services, recreation, sewer and water service, and other public services.
