An open letter to state Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island: It is way past time to repeal the law that requires Washington ferries to be built in Washington. This is an outdated and restrictive rule which leads to building inefficiency and higher costs because of lack of competition.
Experts agree our local orca population is starving. I support Mark Anderson’s recent guest column (Feb. 11) where he writes that the proximal cause of death last year of seven local orcas was starvation, and whale watching is accelerating their starvation.
It’s time to spring forward one hour for Daylight Saving Time. Set your clock ahead one hour Sunday morning (or Saturday evening before you go to bed). Daylight Saving Time means you get one hour less of sleep Sunday morning. But if you’re looking for some consolation, it also means sunset is one hour later.
Tom was born in Ukiah, Calif., and was raised in North Bend, Ore. He excelled at many things but was a standout on the football field. Tom played football at Oregon State University and later for the Arena Football League. He made many good friends throughout his life. His bright smile and wit were hard to resist.
San Juan Island hospital district commissioners will vote March 18 on a contract that would give PeaceHealth the right to build and operate a hospital on San Juan Island for 50 years.
The state Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Sen. Kevin Ranker, D-San Juan Island, establishing a permanent funding source for the Neah Bay response tug. Senate Bill 5344 passed 44-4 and now goes to the House for consideration.
Six Friday Harbor firefighters are set to climb Seattle’s tallest building – the Columbia Center — March 8 in the annual Scott Firefighter Stairclimb. The annual climb benefiting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is recognized as the world’s largest individual firefighter competition. A record 1,500 firefighters from across the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and Germany are entered in this year’s event.
In Friday Harbor golf coach Bryan Germain’s eyes, sports and education are one and the same. The course is a classroom, and the lesson each day is self-discipline, patience, respect for others and, above all else, honesty. “What golf teaches you is honesty more than any other sport I’ve ever played,” Germain said. “In some sports, you can fake a foul, or the ball is out and the ref calls it in, or you act like you got charged. In golf, there’s none of that.”
Friday the 13th will be a lucky day for residents of Homes for Islanders’ latest neighborhood. That’s the day that Homes for Islanders and USDA Rural Development have a Key & Dedication Ceremony to formally mark the completion of Park Plaza, nine townhomes on Park and Guard streets, across from the San Juan Island Library. The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. Representatives of Rep. Rick Larsen’s office are expected to attend. The ceremony is open to the public.
The Lopez Island School District has narrowed its search for a K-12 principal to three candidates. Those candidates will be interviewed March 11-13. The person selected will succeed Principal Roland MacNichol, who is retiring at the end of this school year.
Researchers have confirmed the birth of another J pod orca, bumping the precarious Southern resident killer whale population to 86. “Thanks to a call from Jeanne Hyde, Dave Ellifrit, John Durban and I got out with J pod in Haro Strait just before sunset last night,” Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research reported on the Orca Network Web site March 3. “(We) confirmed that there are now TWO new babies in J pod: J44 with J17 and J45 with J14. Both babies appeared to be in good condition and energetic.”
I wish to express my sincere appreciation to all the citizens and visitors who attended and participated in celebrating Friday Harbor’s 100th birthday party and for making the celebration a once-in-our-lifetime affair! We truly enjoyed having you come and hope that you enjoyed the events we had planned.
Support Relay for Life and you are helping someone win a battle with cancer. You are helping educate people so they know how to live better to reduce their cancer risk. And you are helping to fund research that will someday make cancer go the way of polio.
