When islanders look back on 2009, they will remember Friday Harbor’s 100th birthday and all the resulting events: The community celebration on Feb. 9, a history book published by Arcadia Publishing Co., the largest Fourth of July parade in memory, the shattering of the last local glass ceiling with the election of a woman to the mayoralty for the first time.
In the case of Carl Verheyen, the label “guitar virtuoso” fits like a glove. But there’s no one-man show in store when Verheyen, proclaimed one of the Top 10 guitarists in the world by Guitar magazine, takes center stage Nov. 14 at the San Juan Community Theatre. This time, the L.A.-based guitarist, who’s making his fifth appearance at SJCT, is bringing his band along and the show promises to be a musical tour de force.
Adoptive parents are the first to mention the paperwork. And then the time spent waiting. And then the time spent worrying, while waiting. But parents like Sandy Strehlou caution against forgetting that behind this logistical rollercoaster is, after all, a child. It is this humanized perspective that November’s Adoption Month hopes to provide. On the 15th, from 6-8 p.m., the San Juan Island Library will host a Q&A time with several adoptive parents, social workers and adoption representatives.
A commemorative page in Wednesday’s Journal of the San Juan Islands honors the mayors of Friday Harbor — from Gene Gould (1909-10) to Carrie Lacher (2010-). The keepsake page was developed to commemorate the election of the first woman mayor of Friday Harbor, which is celebrating its centennial this year.
Nov. 7, 2009 will mark the one-year anniversary of the passing of my father, Rusty Pollock. Each day that passes becomes harder to comprehend that he is no longer here with us. It is hard not seeing him each day and give him big hugs when he walks through the door. My father was not only an amazing dad and husband, but also an amazing person with a heart of gold. He loved life and loved living it to the fullest each day.
What a wonderful job Director Helen Machin-Smith has done with Island Stage Left presentations through the years. “Rabbit Hole,” the winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize and five Tony awards, now being performed to perfection by a cast of five actors — three of them professional — is solid proof of that accolade.
Three seals rehabilitated at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center were released into Griffin Bay Oct. 22. All three seals had been taken malnourished to Wolf Hollow earlier this year. One seal had been found on Jackson Beach, another on a pocket beach below Downriggers restaurant, and the other on Lummi Island.
The annual Friday Harbor Elementary School Halloween Parade was a big hit Friday. Bananaman, fairies, a jumping hot dog, princesses, Supergirl, transformers, and the usual cast of spooky characters paraded from the school down Argyle Avenue to Spring Street to the applause of throngs of parade watchers. The skies were clear and the temperatures were pleasant — ideal parade weather. The Journal’s Jane K. Fox and Scott Rasmussen produced this slideshow of the parade.
Island Stage Left’s “Rabbit Hole” opened at Roche Harbor Pavilion Thursday, and continues through Nov. 29. “Rabbit Hole” was written by David Lindsay-Abaire and first presented in 2005. Abaire received the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for the work.
The Play-Rite Boys ride again! What could be scarier? Hear new and creepy songs Friday — Halloween Eve — 6-9 p.m., at the Front St. Ale House.
Kyle Stickle, son of Rex and Susan Stickle of San Juan Island, and Tiffany Lau, daughter of Robert Ladner and Dorothy Lau of San Jose, Calif., were married on Oct. 23 at Wente Vineyards in Livermore, Calif.
Island babies enjoyed the annual Halloween party at the Family Resource Center, Tuesday. “They were very cute and everyone had a good time,” Family Resource Center director Joyce Sobel said. More Halloween activities are planned this week.
Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor’s Great Island Giveaway and Social, a community recycling/swap meet, is Nov. 7 at Mullis Community Senior Center. Item drop-off and social is at 10 a.m. Event begins at 11 a.m. In these tough economic times, this event — the second annual — offers the opportunity to renew, refresh, recycle and exchange items and ideas in a social setting. Gather up five of your good, clean, functional items that you no longer need or want, and in exchange take home other things that you do need or want.
