There have been numerous reports of campaign signs being stolen on the islands. Sheriff Bill Cumming has this message: Stealing signs is illegal and violators will be prosecuted. And if you take a sign off of someone’s property, you can expect a trespassing charge tacked on to your theft charge.
A Memorial Celebration for Darline will be held on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008 at the home of Shaun Evans and Beth Rosenzweig, 10425 E. Riverside in Bothell, between 3-6 p.m. Funeral arrangements are being made at Evans Funeral Home in Anacortes, Wash. Visit www.evanschapel.com.
Retired art teacher Pat Speer died quietly in her sleep Sunday night at her brother’s home in Plattsmouth, Neb., the San Juan Island School District announced today. Speer retired from teaching in June 2008 after a 35-year career in the San Juan Island School District, beginning in September 1973. She was 62 years old.
One is too remote. The other is not for sale. And while the factors may differ, the Solid Waste Advisory Committee last week trimmed down from five to three the number of sites it will consider as the home of a new transfer station on San Juan Island.
The superintendent of the local educational service district will present the possibilities and pitfalls of consolidating the islands’ school districts Nov. 3, noon, at a yet-to-be-named venue in Friday Harbor. The meeting will be open to the public and will constitute a special meeting of the San Juan Island School Board. Orcas School District officials are expected to participate. The Lopez School Board will discuss participation on Oct. 29.
There will be a surprise in every OPALCO member’s October bill: a credit for a good portion of the electricity used during the October billing period.
Turns out, there are only 10 fewer students attending San Juan Island public schools right now, compared to the same time in 2007. There are 858 full-time-equivalent students (a kindergartner counts as .5 FTE, and some home school and private school students take only a class at a public school). In October 2007, there were 868 FTEs. An earlier version of this story compared the current FTE to last year’s head count, which is higher because the head count includes part-time students and kindergartners. The district receives per-student funding from the state — currently $5,411.70 per student — based on its annual average FTE enrollment.
Seven day-use parks would be shut down. A public health nurse and a 4-H coordinator would be let go. Support for recreation programs — on Orcas Island, in particular — would be cut by $41,000. And that’s just for starters.
At Cal’s request, no services will be held. His ashes will be dispersed in the waters of the San Juan Islands. Memorials may be made to the Animal Welfare Institute, Friday Harbor, (360) 378-8755.
Roller skaters, prize fighters, an abominable snowman, and root-beer floats served up on a ’50s-style diner rolled down the streets of downtown Friday Harbor in the annual Homecoming parade Friday. Enthusiasm rang high among the crowds of students on a rainy afternoon as they proudly displayed their eagerness to dominate the Nooksack Valley Pioneers, the opposing team in the Homecoming football game.
A fire destroyed an old laundry/storeroom/garage behind the former Virgil Frits house, across from the courthouse, this morning. There were no reported injuries.
The economy is weighing heavily on future and hopeful members of Congress, Legislature, County Council. About 70 islanders attended the candidates forum Oct. 11 at Friday Harbor Middle School, hosted by the League of Women Voters of the San Juans.
Buddhists for Obama will host “OM for Obama — Chant for Change” Nov. 1, 2 p.m., at South Beach. The event is open to the public. Contact Peggy Sue McRae, 370-5210, or pmcrae@rockisland.com
