If you’ve got a soft spot for Detroit metal and muscles cars, here’s an event that you won’t want to miss. CarQuest will celebrate 20 years of business on San Juan Island June 26 — Saturday — with a blend of music, muscle cars and a whole lot more.
The Best Western Friday Harbor Suites has named Ron Bates its new general manager, effective June 28. Bates is widely known in the community as former advertising manager and assistant publisher of The Journal of the San Juan Islands (2000-2010). His local connections, marketing abilities and customer service skills are well suited for the hospitality business. He and his partner, Sandy Montana, also own the Mosquito Fleet Mercantile in downtown Friday Harbor.
King’s Market and Friday Harbor MarketPlace are transitioning to compostable meat and seafood trays. King’s Manager John McBride has been looking for ways to phase out polystyrene containers and packaging at his store since becoming involved in the San Juan Island Anti-Litter Initiative. The initiative, working with lead advocate Doris Estabrooks, lobbied for bans on polystyrene food to-go containers in San Juan County and the Town of Friday Harbor. The bans took effect in April. A similar ban took effect in Seattle in July.
The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting a business group discussion on upcoming revisions to the San Juan County Solid and Hazardous Waste Management plans. The discussion is Wednesday, 8:30-10:30 a.m., in the San Juan Island Library Community Room.
The Journal of the San Juan Islands is pleased to announce the hiring of Julie Corey as its new marketing and sales representative. Her first day was Monday. She succeeds Ron Bates, who recently resigned after 10 years to pursue a new direction.
J. Alphonsine Haslet-Phillips is the new executive chef of Coho Restaurant in Friday Harbor. Haslet-Phillips began in March and has slowly been transitioning the menu to her fresh, lighter style of cooking. “I wanted to work at a restaurant which had a philosophy that extended beyond the plate on the table, that cared about sourcing food for local, sustainably-grown seasonal ingredients,” she said in a press release.
By the end of May, Friday Harbor had received $276,250 as its share of sales tax revenue generated within the town limits, according to the latest report from the Town Treasurer’s office. The amount reflects revenues generated from November to March; revenues are received two months after they are reported. The total received to date is $32,786.94 less than that received in the same period of 2009. Here, we’re at “glass is half-empty” or “glass is half-full”: The drop in revenue from 2008 to 2009 was more severe — $72,973.54.
Local businesses will have greater access to the resources and guidance of the Economic Development Council thanks to a financial contribution from the county’s 2260 Fund. The County Council voted 4-2 Tuesday to contribute $8,400 from the fund, which is dedicated to financing public projects that foster economic development, to the EDC to increase its executive director’s hours.
Oren and Peggy Combs, formerly of the Front Street Alehouse, have purchased Pazzo Vivo (175 First St.) from Mari Lariviere. They are remodeling and will reopen it in mid-June as Rumor Mill. “It’s going to be more open and bright,” Oren Combs said of the restaurant’s interior. The interior design will be “industrial modern with a nostalgia twist,” and the First Street frontage will feature a 12.5-foot glass slide garage door that will swing open to give diners the ambience of sitting outside.
The building at Front and Spring streets formerly occupied by San Juan Brewing Co. and Front Street Alehouse is available for lease. The price: $8,000 a month, according to attorney Stephanie Johnson O’Day. O’Day predicts that an upscale restaurant will ultimately occupy the site. “It’s a prime location,” she said.
Islands Convalescent Center is now Life Care Center of the San Juan Islands. The care center is owned by Life Care Centers of America, based in Cleveland, Tenn., and most of the other centers have “Life Care Center” in their names. The local administrator is Nai Saefong.
Concepia: Your Center for Photography is moving from Churchill Corner to the former Springtree Restaurant, 310 Spring St. The Springtree Restaurant site was last occupied by the Islands Museum of Art, which moved to First Street. Concepia owner John Sinclair’s new location features a courtyard shaded by a camperdown elm (according to Wikipedia, the camperdown elm was first cultivated at Camperdown House in Sinclair’s native Scotland). The courtyard will have a community arts notice board, seating and refreshments for sale.
Stepping Stones is moving from 54 Marguerite Place to the former King Typesetting building at 720 Park St. Director Bridget Altena said she expects to be in the new location in June. Advantages: It’s newer and freshly remodeled. There will be a toddler room and a preschool room and, eventually, an infant center.
