As residents of San Juan Island, we are e-mailing you to comment on the proposed closing of Reuben Tarte Park, Eagle Cove Day Park, and Turn Point Park, all on San Juan Island, as reflected in the 2009 preliminary County Parks budget.
San Juan County Treasurer Jan Sears reports that as of the close of business on Nov. 7, the county had collected 95 percent of the property taxes on the rolls for 2008. “We’re doing pretty well,” she said in a press release from the county communications office. In 2007, the percentage of taxes collected by the end of the year was 97.2 percent.
Michael Mayes and Homes for Islanders announced that Madison Glenn is selling acreage on Malcolm Street to Homes for Islanders for development of up to 44 affordable homes. Mayes is reducing the sales price from $1.8 million to $1.2 million.
David Ernest Daum was born July 31, 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pa., and passed away on Nov. 1, 2008 at the age of 69. Dave was a long-time resident of San Juan Island, enjoying his retirement in the sun here and in San Jose, Cabo San Lucas.
Rusty Pollock, administrator of Islands Convalescent Center, died in Island Hospital Nov. 7, about a week after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. He was 58. A memorial service is scheduled Nov. 15, 11:30 a.m., in Friday Harbor Presbyterian Church. The service is open to the public. A reception will follow at the church.
Kathryn Robb, known to many islanders as “Robbie,” was born in Great Britain on April 29, 1933, and died in the morning of Oct. 24, 2008. She passed away in her home on San Juan Island surrounded by a few friends and loyal old dog, Sam, by her side.
Rusty Pollock, administrator of Islands Convalescent Center, died Friday, 4:55 p.m. in Island Hospital after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer. He was 58. Service was Saturday at Evans Funeral Chapel in Anacortes. A memorial service is being planned on the island. Details will be published later.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights panel discussion series continues Sunday, Nov. 9, 5:30 to 7 p.m., in the San Juan Island Library. Topic: “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.”
She was a hard-working service dog who guided Darlene through airports, big cities and small towns, and national parks too numerous to mention. She went everywhere, scrunched up in automobile footwells, marching in Fourth of July and Memorial Day parades, padding through snow and across slick pavement. In all their years together, she never steered Darlene the wrong way.
The Friday Harbor Wolverines’ soccer season came to an end with playoff losses to Meridian and Lynden Christian, Oct. 30 at Whatcom Community College. Facing Meridian, the Wolverines fell behind early (0-2 at the half) and were unable to recover.
A draft action plan to improve the health of Puget Sound identifies about 15 actions to be taken in the San Juan Islands, including acquiring priority habitat for salmon, maintaining local oil-spill response programs, reducing sources of water pollution, managing urban stormwater runoff, implementing low-impact development standards for new construction, and limiting alterations on sensitive shorelines.
Senator-elect Kevin Ranker’s first post-election challenge? “I hope to be able to take a nap,” he quipped Wednesday. Well, perhaps he can catch a cat nap. “I’ve got meetings as early as next week that I’ve already been called in to,” Ranker said.
The auction of the Friday Harbor Ace Hardware property has been postponed until Dec. 5, 10 a.m., on the courthouse steps. The auction had been scheduled for Oct. 3 but was postponed because the property owner, J. Philip Miller of Camano Island, has filed for bankruptcy protection.
