The Festival of Trees, one of the biggest entertainment events of the holiday season, is this week. If you attend on Preview Night, you’ll find it’s likely the best night of entertainment for the price: $5.
‘My wife and I have just returned home from a wonderful day of Christmas shopping in Friday Harbor. Frankly, we do a lot of shopping online, as well as on the mainland, so we were in for a very pleasant surprise.’
Friday Harbor’s sales tax revenue in September was $68,792 less than in September 2007, according to figures from the town treasurer’s office. September’s revenue of $113,538.18 — generated that month and received in November — was the second best September ever, albeit a distant second: the town received $182,330.09 in September 2007.
I am genuinely stung by Walker’s accusation that I would mislead the council in regard to the grant funding. I continue to be very worried that the process will take too long and the funding withdrawn. If 2008 had ended with no action on the proposal, no public hearing scheduled, etc., the funding almost certainly would have been lost.
Considering the district has to cut $700,000 from its budget, we are facing some tough choices. The first thing we should do is sell the playground equipment and pave the playground of the elementary school. This would make the school more ADA accessible, solve the crumb rubber problem, and defuse yet another discrimination lawsuit.
This crumb rubber issue has been and continues to be a long road to resolve. Acknowledgement needs to be made to the positive direction it has taken.
Proponents laid out some good reasons Nov. 20 for the town to annex the Buck property. The most compelling argument came from those who said that, without affordable housing, they may have to move off the island. Town residents also gave a compelling argument against annexation — not against affordable housing, but annexation — saying that the cost of adding a proposed 240-home community to the town’s water and sewer systems would boost utility rates to even more unaffordable levels.
Since 1993, the State of Washington has fallen from 11th in the nation for per-student funding to 44th in the nation today. Several recent studies have found that the current shortfall of basic education funding is about $2.4 billion annually.
This annexation, and its companion as proposed by the county, is long overdue. In evaluating this proposal, it is necessary to review closely both the staff report by Mr. Bertrand and an earlier report by county Planning Director Ron Henrickson dated Aug 24, 2007. The latter report projects San Juan Island population growth, as mandated by GMA, that can only be accommodated in the Town of Friday Harbor.
The real issue is, how much is the annexation of free land going to cost the residents of Friday Harbor? Annexation does not make sense. I hope the Town of Friday Harbor seriously considers its actions. Unfortunately, the word I hear on the street, talking to locals and local businesses, is that the deal is already done. I sincerely hope not.
After 18 years of providing medical care for the children of San Juan County, pediatrician Jeanne Olmsted has announced that she will no longer maintain a practice based on Orcas Island after Dec. 31.
The San Juan County Ferry Advisory Committee meets Dec. 8, 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the Large Conference Room of the County Legislative Building, 55 Second St., Friday Harbor. The date of the meeting was incorrect in the Nov. 26 Journal.
My children and grandchildren join me in thanking you for the wonderful coverage of Carl’s career in National Park Service. Many people who are new to the island were not aware of his legacy.
