What does the inauguration of Barack Obama mean to you? How will you observe this historic event? Share with us for a story we are doing. Write rmwalker@sanjuanjournal.com or amonin@sanjuanjournal.com. Here’s a list of ways that islanders will be observing the inauguration of our nation’s 44th president …
According to the numbers, the Friday Harbor business community would seem, overall, to be in good shape. But you’ll have a hard time convincing some Friday Harbor businesses of that.
The plight of our resident killer whales has become simple to understand, as is the most likely means of saving them. After years of argument driven as much by money as by science, we have suddenly, unfortunately, reached a moment when the causes and remedial actions are relatively clear.
Current law contains clear language that prevents the elimination of any ferry route without Legislative approval. It also states that service on a ferry route cannot be substantially reduced without public hearings. This ensures there will be considerable discussion on this subject at both the state and local levels before any decision is made.
A community potluck will be held in celebration of the inauguration of President Barack Obama. The event, sponsored by organizers of Democracy Corner and other local progressives will be held Jan. 20, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Friday Harbor High School Commons.
The ferries division of the state Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing on its draft long-range plan options aboard the San Juan Inter-Island ferry from 11:35 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 15.
St. Francis Church will celebrate Mass this month at Our Lady of Good Voyage in Roche Harbor. Mass is celebrated on Saturdays at 5:30 p.m., and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. It will be celebrated at Our Lady of Good Voyage Jan. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25.
Join members of the League of Women Voters of the San Juans on Jan. 12 for a panel discussion about local education budgets and the
issues they pose for our community. The forum is from noon to 2 p.m. at the San Juan Island Library.
I attended the Critical Area Committee work session on Lopez Island last Tuesday and was impressed with the efforts being extended to turn boiler-plate, cover-all-bases language into something manageable for island circumstances. I was less impressed that the county had assigned the talent assembled to work backward through pages upon pages of jargon to create something understandable and useful.
A rescue group based in Skagit County called S.P.O.T. (Saving Pets One At A Time) was there for these wonderful little dogs right from the start! S.P.O.T. dogs are placed in foster homes for a minimum of two weeks, giving the foster family time to evaluate both the personality and health of the dog. They are then available for placement in a new home.
We should appreciate that we have a hidden gem in the form of the Beaverton Valley watershed. In a process known as “daylighting,” several communities in our region have successfully restored their local streams. Salmon Creek (aka Beaverton Creek) is a critical island resource. Though long since covered and forgotten, it still flows under our streets.
Friday Harbor is a community that has always been supportive of its youth, and Fred Yockers has been a great role model as well as a fantastic teacher. Thanks to Fred and to all the volunteers. We know what an effort it takes to put on a production like this in a small community.
Shortly after noon on New Year’s Eve, John O. Linde was sworn in to his first elected term as San Juan County Superior Court judge. A crowd of about 30 friends, attorneys, and county officials and employees attended the courtroom ceremony in Friday Harbor. District Court Judge Stewart Andrew administered the oath.
