San Juan Island public school students will get to sleep in a little late today; schools will start 90 minutes later and buses will use snow routes for the fifth consecutive day. Freezing temperatures that arrived last weekend continue here today and will continue through this weekend.
You know the motto associated with U.S. postal carriers: “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.” But freezing temperatures and icy roads apparently can slow them.
Gov. Christine Gregoire has proposed cutting the level of service in Washington State Ferries, including eliminating the Sidney run, in an effort to close a projected $5.7 billion shortfall. The 2009-11 state budget, proposed Dec. 18, closes the shortfall through a combination of program reductions; suspension of state employee, teacher and care worker salary increases; changes in pensions; and using the state’s rainy day fund.
The staff of The Journal of the San Juan Islands wishes you and yours a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. We look forward to being your local information source and your partner for progress in 2009.
The San Juan Islands Christmas Bird Count has been rescheduled for Jan. 3 because of weather. “Thank you to those that e-mailed me to support this change and thank you to the brave souls (only a couple) that were willing to brave the conditions,” coordinator Barbara Jensen e-mailed.
General presents Roy Matsumoto with special medallion in recognition of his service to the United States
The Friday Harbor Town Council’s 5:30 p.m. meeting today has been canceled because of inclement weather. The council will meet at noon in the Town Hall Council Chambers; the evening’s agenda items have been moved to the noon meeting.
Dec. 4, the Town Council discussed the installation of a crosswalk and controlled stop at the intersection of Spring and Mullis streets. No action was taken. The discussion took place in an effort to respond to requests made to the town to address pedestrian crossing concerns associated with the Village at the Harbour assisted-living apartments, Inter Island Medical Center, Islands Convalescent Center and Friday Harbor MarketPlace.
A seat check on Monday and Tuesday morning found that most county employees were at their desk and offices were open for business and functioning normally despite the snow and ice, the county communications office reported Wednesday.
A special meeting of the San Juan Island Library Board of Trustees is scheduled today at 11:30 a.m. to discuss hiring policy. The meeting, in the San Juan Island Library, 1010 Guard St., is open to the public.
Five San Juan Island residents have completed their training and certification as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT-B) and are serving with San Juan Island EMS. The new EMTs at San Juan Island EMS are David Howitt, Humberto Orozco, Rebecca Phillips, Jeremy Talbott and Noah Waldron.
San Juan Island public schools will start 90 minutes late Thursday, the fourth consecutive day of late starts because of the weather. Again, buses will use snow routes.
Trish Lehman told me about David Bentley’s article, to “play tourist and shop Friday Harbor.” I jumped into the fray after she joyfully shared her positive experience and was reminded once again what a wealth of goodies and people we have here in Friday Harbor.
