Last week, wife Peg and I were pleased to have Ann and John Bailey visiting with us.
Down by $800,000 at the half, the San Juan Island School Board last week disclosed that by the end of the third quarter, they had nearly made a comeback, closing on their opponent — a nearly 10 percent budget shortfall — to less than $100,000.
With three months to go, the $100,000 in cuts, which would have eliminated the entire athletic budget, has been averted thanks to an overwhelming and committed team effort and a spectacular end-of-the-quarter play by Islanders Bank, who came up with the last $5,400 to restore the high school’s athletic program to last year’s funding levels.
It’s soccer camp for the high school, and an unusual one for local players. Wolverine Coach Mark Fishaut called in some coaches of a quality not normally seen on-island.
George Hageage and his wife Tamara run the women’s soccer program at Eastern Washington University. They came to the island last week to offer a soccer camp for Fishaut’s team. Some 29 girls and three boys signed up for the week-long camp.
Island Rec sailing classes got off to a windy start last week. Using boats generously provided by the Sailing Foundation, two classes of aspiring sailors came to Percich Pond to test the waters.
San Juan Island Schools Superintendent Michael Soltman reported that $17,600 has been raised toward a goal of $23,000 needed to fully restore the athletic program for next year.
Wolverine Richie Ochoa’s solid play this year did not go unnoticed as the state’s coaches and sportswriters named him a 1A/B All-State starter.
Ron Bates won his second San Juan Open, shooting a par 71 on Saturday’s first round and finishing Sunday with a 78.
Bates’ combined score for both rounds was 149.
Dunkin’ at Sunken, the annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Sunken Park, has been cancelled this year because of poor registration.
The second annual Dragons Lacrosse Alumni Game began Saturday at Friday Harbor High School with some of the nicest weather most Dragons players have ever seen.
A wrap of sporting events on San Juan Island.
With two sailing events in one week, the Friday Harbor Sailing Club outdid itself.
It only took Rich Rae 14 years — and probably close to 1 million swings at a golf ball — to produce his first hole-in-one.
It happened during Saturday Men’s Club competition at San Juan Golf and Country Club. He used a 9-iron to sink the hole-in-one on the 156-yard par 3 sixth hole.
John Towson and golfing members of the Leo Club stood behind a check for $500 for the Save Our Schools fund, at the conclusion of the second annual Leo Club Spring Scramble Golf Tournament June 8 at San Juan Golf and Country Club.
