Arielle Mancuso, Friday Harbor High School Class of 2005, graduates this month from McGill University in Montreal with an honors degree in International Development and a minor in Biochemistry. She is a candidate for the Peace Corps and hopes to work in French-speaking Africa.
Washington state’s Superior Court judges elected Judge John O. Linde secretary of the Superior Court Judges’ Association at the annual spring conference this month. As treasurer, Linde will serve on the Board of Trustees, which represents 188 Superior Court judges through the state who are members of the state organization.
Arlene Rhonwen Forgie passed away May 8, 2009 in Friday Harbor, Wash., with her daughters and granddaughters by her side. Arlene was born to Leslie and Alice Cannon and raised in Victoria, B.C. Canada. In 1959, Arlene married Hugh Douglas Forgie. They were married until 1991. They raised three children together.
By all accounts, Sam Banry’s a natural. But now he has a license and state-issued certification to back it up. And he could have a corner on the market as well. On May 2, the 18-year-old Friday Harbor student became certified as an animal massage practitioner after passing a hands-on final exam — the culmination of a six-month online course with the Redmond-based Northwest School of Animal Massage — with flying colors.
Of the basic necessities, putting food on the table easily trumps the lot. And Dorothy Lawson has been on a mission for more than a quarter of a century to ensure the Friday Harbor Food Bank has the resources to fulfill that basic need for anyone on San Juan Island, regardless of their income.
Yellow Island, a preserve owned by the Nature Conservancy, is awash in color from the 50 species of wildflowers now in bloom. It is accessible only by kayak or skiff. Camping is not allowed.
President Obama’s budget includes $6 million to purchase Mitchell Hill and transfer it to the San Juan Island National Historical Park, according to Rep. Rick Larsen’s office. “Today’s announcement is great news for San Juan County, Northwest Washington and the over 250,000 people who visit the San Juan Island National Historical Park each year,” said Larsen, who has worked for more than six years to transfer ownership of Mitchell Hill to the National Park from the state Department of Natural Resources.
The state County Road Administration Board has awarded San Juan County the largest grant it has ever given the county. The board’s $2.5 million grant will fund the reconstruction of Mount Baker Road on Orcas Island, between mile posts 0 and 1.1, the county communications office reported.
San Juan County Fire Marshal Bob Low said Thursday he will run for mayor of Friday Harbor in November. Low, a former town fire chief, said he expected to make a formal announcement Friday. His candidacy means that for the first time since 1997, voters will have a choice of more than one candidate for mayor: Gary Boothman ran unopposed in 2001; David Jones ran unopposed in 2005.
Sharon led a modest life, had a positive, strong-willed spirit and was the rock of her family and friends. Her life on Lopez was full of days at the beach, gardening, keeping up with her kids’ musical endeavors, sporting events, making jewelry, knitting, baking and planning events. The smell of fresh baked bread, cookies and pies always seemed to fill her house.
State Sen. Kevin Ranker has faced a tough first several months in office. He just finished the state budget process, and says it was “one of the more difficult experiences” of his life.
Friday Harbor Town Council member Carrie Lacher announced today her candidacy for mayor of Friday Harbor. If elected, she would be the first female mayor since the town was incorporated in 1909. She is the first candidate to announce for the position this year; Mayor David Jones told The Journal April 22 that he will not seek a second term.
The county Health Department is prepared to close a school for a minimum of seven days if a student or staff member is confirmed to have the H1N1 virus, or swine flu. School district Superintendent Michael Soltman said today that the district has been working closely with the health department and the Department of Emergency Management to develop procedures for communicating information about response to student illness and potential school closures ordered by the health department.
