A glimpse of political happenings in the San Juan Islands.
The Pig War Picnic, the Fourth of July island tradition, is offering something old as well as something new for this year’s event. The picnic, on the San Juan Historical Museum grounds after the parade, is being presented by the Friday Harbor Kiwanis Club. The event was presented by the museum until last year, when the San Juan Island Fire Department presented the event. The Kiwanis Club now has a five-year agreement with the museum to present the event on the museum grounds.
The Class of 2008 will be saluted with all of the traditional pomp and circumstance in graduation ceremonies that begin this weekend.
The driver of the car that missed a curve at Cattle Point Road, launched into the air and crashed onto a field April 2 has been charged with reckless driving.
Who knows who’s naughty and nice in Friday Harbor? The Shadow knows. SanJuanJournal.com’s eye on the town is taking note of your attitude, your deeds, your jokes, your personality.
A baby orca was seen swimming with K-pod Tuesday, possibly bumping the endangered Southern resident killer whale population to 88. The bump in the population depends on the calf’s survival in its precarious first year, and on the appearance of K-7, possibly the oldest orca among the J, K and L pods. K-7 was not seen when the pod swam past Snug Harbor Tuesday.
Friends and family of Jim Fred Lehde will gather Friday at noon at the Jackson’s Beach boat launch. Participants can share memories and photographs and say goodbye. Lehde’s ashes will be scattered at sea. Lehde, who was editor of the Friday Harbor Journal in the 1970s, died June 2 in his Friday Harbor home. He was 77. He is survived by several children and grandchildren.
Today is a banner day for Kelley Balcomb-Bartok. The Friday Harbor Town Council member, who has resigned to take a communications job with the City of Renton, did a radio interview this morning regarding the birth of a new orca; he’s currently on the staff of the Center for Whale Research. At noon, he was presented with a proclamation by Mayor David Jones, recognizing his one year and five months on the council. Jones declared today “Kelley Balcomb-Bartok Day” in Friday Harbor.
Arts and entertainment events happening throughout the San Juans.
The owners of the RE/MAX San Juan Island franchise will buy Friday Harbor Realty and the combined offices will become Island Group Sotheby’s International Real Estate, effective July 1.
Paul LeBaron, co-owner of Island Group, which owns the RE/MAX franchise, said Friday all employees of the merged companies will be located in what is now the Friday Harbor House building.
The San Juan Public Schools Foundation and the San Juan Island Community Foundation have raised more than $350,000 to preserve academic and athletic programs for the 2008-09 school year. However, school district officials say an additional $125,000 in matching funds must be raised to fully restore athletic programs, instructional programs and basic services. Superintendent Michael Soltman has called a special meeting of the school board on June 11, 6 p.m. to discuss options for raising dollars necessary to fully fund the athletic program.
The Burts of Lopez Island recently posed for this five-generation picture. The Burts have been on Lopez Island since 1885…
