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Save The Salmon, Yes, But What’s Up With The Sockeye Runs?
Reports are coming in from Alaska, Canada, Washington, Oregon, and here in little San Juan County, that we are in the middle of the largest runs of sockeye salmon that anyone has recorded.
Jack Giard is an expert on salmon, having fished his whole life, and served on countless boards, commissions, and advisory groups, both locally, nationally and inter-nationally, and he has noted that the it is not only the sockeye that are coming back in huge numbers, but so are pinks.
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Slow Day For TV News
( KIRO 7 News crew shooting a story in FH )
KIRO TV sent a film crew to Friday Harbor on Wednesday (09-01-10) to do a story about FH Fire Chief Vern Long not wearing full firefighting gear, and not ensuring firefighters under his supervision were following standard operational procedures when a ”Car Headed For Wrecking Yard Catches Fire”, brought the FHFD, led by Chief Long, to the scene in downtown FH last month.
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CC Asked To Support Change In Liquor Licenses
 ( Teddy McCullough address CC ) The County Council was asked on Tuesday to make a proposed change in State law on liquor licenses a County priority.
Teddy McCullough read a prepared statement to the council members about a move at the state level that is design to tighten up the distance required between a school and a commercial provider of alcohol.
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$625K To Fight Substance Abuse On Lopez
By Martha Sharon and Georgeana Coo
Have you heard about the Lopez Island Prevention Coalition (LIPC)? It is a diverse group of Lopezians who are working to help prevent substance abuse, and support healthy choices for Lopez youth, and all ages. The coalition has been meeting for two years to build a collaboration of individuals, agencies, and organizations for this mission.
LIPC just joined Orcas Island Prevention Partnership, San Juan Island Prevention Coalition, and over700 other communities that have been awarded a Drug Free Communities grant. LIPC will receive $125,000 each year for five years; a total of $625,000. The grant can be renewed for another five years at the end of this cycle.
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Council Orders Staff Rpt On “One, Or Zero, Transfer Stations”
At the Tuesday County Council meeting Chairman Richard Fralick said he was going to “go out on a limb and propose the council look at where we are today, at our level of service that we have, and ask Public Works to cost that program out, that represents fiscally stability, that would deal with operation and capital costs. What would that package look like?”
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80K Free Trips To Dump Dumped By CC
Taking one small step for managing the County budget, but one giant step for managing solid waste costs, the County Council on Tuesday passed a new Gate Fee of $5.00 to enter the dump, effectively ending the free ride for 80 thousand “customers” a year who come to the dump to recycle.
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Auditor’s Advice To CC Minces No Words
 Milene Henley apologized to the County Council on Tuesday for having “tried to stay out of this solid waste mess,” stating she decide to testify to the council at the continued work session on solid waste to “point out the cost in real dollars in your failure to act.”
Henley handed out a graph that showed “the balance in the solid waste fund.. since 2008” that showed that “no time during that period had the fund been in the black” and that the “trend line for the combined negative balance will clearly exceed one million dollars before the end of the year.”
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The County Council May Be Moving Toward A Decision On Solid Waste
(Nina Rook & Elizabeth Anderson ready to present solid waste survey results to the County Council)
On Monday the County reviewed the PowerPoint results (.pdf 1399\k file) of the recent solid waste survey, (See previous story) and may have come to grips with the reality that has been facing them for years, and this time instead of looking at it and then calling for more studies, more “facts,” and more discussions, one got the sense they were close to telling the public “you can pay more, or we cut services. Which should it be?
Councilmember Howard Rosenfeld noted there were 41 pages of comments in the survey, and said the survey indicated what the council is contemplating doing is the opposite of what the survey indicates the public wants. When asked to give an example, he said the public wanted more service.
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The SJI SOB’s Announce Bunny Kills Halted
( graphic by Save Our Bunnies )
Representatives of the San Juan Island based SOB (Save Our Bunnies) organization have -in the name of the San Juan County National Park rabbits- success in their battle to stop the killing of park rabbits.
They have announced no more rabbits will be killed by the local park rangers, and are holding a public meeting Tuesday (8-31-10 at 5 p.m. at Mullis Center in FH) to form a new board to serve as a Park Stewardship Oversight Board.
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Concours d’Elegance
(2009 photo -SCCSJ photo)
The Sports Car Club of the San Juan Islands, in conjunction with the Rotary Club of San Juan Island, will hold its annual Concours d’Elegance at the San Juan Vineyards on Sunday August 29, 2009, from 11 AM till 3:30 PM.
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Council Serious On Making Decision On Solid Waste?
( County Council meeting file photo)
The County Council will hold a Special Meeting Tuesday to review, discuss, and allow public comment on a Survey Report and a summary of the recent solid waste survey questions (now closed) that had been sent out to 9,000 randomly selected households.
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Paul Watson Lecture Friday In FH
 San Juan County resident Captain Paul Watson, founder of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (based in Friday Harbor) -and a co-founding director of Greenpeace- was be the guest speaker at the Whale Museum's 2010 Lecture Series when they hosted a special evening with Capt. Paul Watson Friday, August 27th.
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B.C. Movement On Dumping Sewage
(Minister Barry Penner with American sportsfisherman on Dean River -env.gov.bc.ca photo)
The B.C. government has at last bowed to legal and public pressure, and passed a “wastewater management strategy” to treat sewage before it is released into the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
Environment Minister Barry Penner announced the new “strategy” is “for the first time treat up to 40 billion litres of sewage per year before it is discharged into the Strait of Juan de Fuca,”
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Sunday Pizza Party For Farmer’s Market Supporters
( Erickson property in Friday Harbor)
(CORRECTED Day & Time) Supporters of the proposal to place the farmer’s market at the Erickson Building have been Invited by The Ag Guild to share their ideas and pizza on Sunday, (08-29-10 at 5:30pm) at 5658 West Side Road.
Supporters of the purchase of the Erickson property had hoped to have the Town of Friday Harbor purchase the property, and then lease it to the Ag Guild, but after an intense public meeting between the Town council and members of the public speaking for and against the purchase, the Town backed away.
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Textbook Rental Program At Skagit Valley College
 Beginning Fall Quarter, Skagit Valley College’s Cardinal Bookstore will offer a new textbook rental program designed to deliver savings and convenience to new and returning SVC students.
The innovative program will allow students to rent their textbooks for 30 to 70 percent of the cost of purchasing a new printed textbook.
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Council Rejects Easement On Erickson Building
(Part of 100+/- showing up for Land Bank discussion W/Council)
(UPDATED 08-25-10) In a split vote after Councilmember Pratt stepped away due to a conflict of interest, the County Council voted Tuesday to not accept an easement the Land Bank had recently re-written as part of the Ag Guild’s proposal to purchase the Erickson property in downtown Friday Harbor.
Councilman Rich Peterson opened his comments by noting “there are obviously a number of things the community is in disagreement about.. I would like to get to what things we may agree to..” and said the first area he needed clarification on was the notion of fiduciary responsibility. Prosecutor Randy Gaylord said it is the County Council that has the responsibility.
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Will Council Accept Land Bank Easement?
(UPDATED 8-24-10; 9:10am) The County Council will hold a discussion today (Tuesday 8-24-10:Agenda) on a resolution to accept a "Deed of Historic Preservation and Conservation Easement" for the Erickson Property in Friday Harbor, but Councilmember Lovel Pratt may be forced to step away from the discussion due to a conflict of interest.
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Doing The Bunny Hop With The Park Rangers
( L to R: Paul Arroyo, Bryn Barnard, NPS Rory Westberg, & Rep. Moran )
It took two days of hopping back and forth between American and English Camp, and dealing with countless stonewalling statements by park staff, but late Sunday afternoon it paid off.
Standing around English Camp wondering when and if the congressmen would show up, and then the chairman of the Appropriations Committee; the chair of the Appropriations subcommittee for Interior & Environment; the Deputy Regional Director of the NPS (National Parks Service), and a number of support staff came slowly walking out of the woods of English Camp, and so at long last it was possible to talk to them.
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Boater Rescued From Water
(Traci Walter Photos)
A boater was forced to leap into the cold waters of Griffin Bay Sunday night when a fire started in his boat.
Trac Walter on San Juan Island reported she saw “a vessel engulfed in flames from the Jackyl's Lagoon pull out on San Juan Island. We saw a person in the water swimming towards the shore. It appeared the man was wearing a scuba tank on his back.
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Gov Cuts $51M Out Of WorkFirst
 Gov. Chris Gregoire has ordered $51 million in spending reductions for the current fiscal year for WorkFirst services, the states welfare-to-work program, which is based on the belief that everyone with abilities is needed in today's workforce, and those who can work should.
WorkFirst is Washington state's Washington initiated the WorkFirst program in August 1997 to help low-income families become self-sufficient by providing training and support services necessary for parents to get a job, keep a job and move up a career ladder.
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Dropped A Bomb when they said “Bong?
The Ferry Yakima had a bomb scare late Friday as it approached Lopez Island when without explanation loud speaker system instructed all passengers to move to the end of the ferry. While this was going on, no vehicles or passengers were allowed to embark or disembark from the vessel.
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Seemed Like The Right Thing To Do At Time
(SJCSD Photo )
When a truck pulled off the road so emergency vehicles could pass as they were responding to an accident at about 5:00pm on San Juan Island, they had to stop and respond to the truck when it rolled over after it pulled over to let the emergency vehicles pass.
The first accident was a injury accident just past West Valley Rd on Roche harbor, where a vehicle struck a bicyclist, causing minor injury.
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PC Meets Friday On Property Tax Break For Potential Farming
The San Juan County Planning Commission (PC)will today -Friday 8-20-10- once again take up the controversial issue of changing the "rating system for Farm and Agricultural Conservation Land" (FACL) to bring it in line with current provisions of the law to allow it less difficult to obtain a property tax break.
The issue was hotly debated the last time the PC took up the issue, because the change would allow a tax break on qualifying lands because they could be farmed, as opposed to must be farmed to receive a property tax break.
PC Chair Susan Dehlendorf joined those voting against the proposal the last time around, stating that for those who are in the "open space" program and not farming as they are required and agreed to do, and now owe back taxes and penalties because of it: "It is time for them to start of their tractors."
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Looks Like: Nou & Johnson For Sheriff
(UPDATED/CORRECTED: 5;30 AM 8-19-10) After the latest count of ballots on Wednesday, little has changed with Rob Nou and Brent D. Johnson holding on to first and second place respectively.
Nou now has 32.9% (2,086) of the votes against Johnson at 19.67% (1,247). The contest will now hinge on who picks up the votes from Asher, Fincher and Menjivar; and who is most aggressive at getting out the vote.
Johnson is a full time detective with the Sheriff's office, and both he and Nou retired from a number of law enforcement positions prior to serving in the SJC Sheriff's office. Nou is a deputy on Lopez, and made a strong showing on Orcas, but little presence on San Juan Island, where Johnson was more active. Now that it appears the two will move forward, it is expected both men will be out-and-about more on at least the three major islands.
Even A"Dead" Ember Can Start It
(Grass Fire advancing slowly toward structures)
A San Juan Island home owner on Two Barn Farm Lane found out that even a can of dead embers and ashes can contain an unseen live ember that can blossom and spread with alarming speed.
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FH Airport Closed 9-7-10
Friday Harbor Airport will be closed for maintenance work on the runway and taxiways from Tuesday, September 7th at 8:00 pm and will remain closed until Friday morning, September 10th at 6:00 am, weather permitting. The project will involve pavement repair and seal-coating.
Holiday Mon & Hmm..Tue To?
OLYMPIA ~ The next widespread shutdown of state agencies as a result of budget shortfalls will take place Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, following the Labor Day weekend.
Ideas On Water Resources?
The Washington Department of Ecology (Ecology) is seeking the public's help in finding ways to improve its management of water resources in Washington state for the benefit of current and future water users. To contribute your ideas and join the discussion in the Water Smart Washington Online Forum, click on the Water Smart Washington logo . For home page click http://www.ecy.wa.gov/
Smoking 3rd Lowest In Nation
The most recent survey data showed that about: 9.0% of adults in SJ County smoke cigarettes; with 3.1% of adults reported exposure to second hand smoke in their home.
Port Of FH 60th B'Day
Saturday (8-28-10) Noon-4pm, Jackson Beach Park: Salmon Bar-B-Que/Beach Bash Potluck Celebrating our Community and the Port’s 60th Birthday 1950 ~ 2010
9/11 Constitution Workshop
On Saturday, 9/11/2010, an all day Constitution workshop will be held at the San Juan Island Grange. The Making of America seminar conducted by the National Center for Constitutional Studies is sponsored by the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary and supported by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
Mary Margaret Gavin Champlin
April 19, 1918 - August 23, 2010
Mary Margaret Gavin Champlin was born April 19, 1918 to Irish immigrants in Chicago, Illinois. She met and married David Champlin in November, 1940.
Full Obituary
SJI Skateboard/BMX
Island Rec’s Skateboard and BMX Competition will be taking place on Sunday, August 29th at 12:30 pm. The competition will be held at the Skateboard Park, which is located on the San Juan County Fairgrounds.
Boat Sinks: Too Many Fish?
KIRO 7 News is reporting a boat sinking off of the west side of San Juan island that resulted in two commercial fishermen "clinging to cooler" until they were rescued 40 minutes later by another tribal fisherman. Read full story HERE
“Gear Up For Our Schools
Every year teachers are found buying school supplies for their students who can't afford them. To help eliminate the burden on teachers and help classroom learning, Islanders Bank Teams are sponsoring "Gear Up For Our Schools" 2010-2011 Campaign from August 17th - September 16th. Collections Bins can be found at the Islanders Bank Branches and at the following business locations:
Some Birds In Decline
 There are 172 bird species that use the Salish Sea marine ecosystem, but unfortunately many are in serious decline, and the SeaDoc Society has launched a project to study the factors causing marine birds to decline.
Friends for Life “Adopt-a-Thon”
Friends for Life Animal Rescue will be holding an Adopt-A-Thon on Friday August 20th from 11 to 5 - located in the field on Argyle Street across from Land Bank. Stop by and see them on your way to or from the Fair!
Wyatt Robert Paull
 Anne and Adam Paull are proud to announce the birth of their son, Wyatt Paull on July 3, 2010. Adam Paull is a 1999 graduate of Friday Harbor High School. Wyatt is welcomed by Grandparents Ruthie and Jim Paull of Friday Harbor and Linda and Bob Tremblay of Grand Blanc, Michigan and Great Grandma, Geraldine Lawson of Friday Harbor.
Hunter Safety Classes
Hunter safety classes are being offered in August by Dan Boes and Bob Wison. Class size is limited to 20, but 4 classes are offered:
Family Art Days
Saturday, August 14, 11 am - 4 pm at the IMA IMA Sculpture Park. Free, family-oriented art activity led by a local or visiting artist. Materials are provided.
Doug Grossarth
((Oct. 2, 1959 ~ Aug. 1, 2010))
Celebration of Doug Grossarth’s life (Oct. 2, 1959 ~ Aug. 1, 2010) ~ Saturday, August 14th, San Juan Golf Course at 4pm with a no host bar, salad, hot dogs & chips. Share stories & pictures of a dear friend who passed away on August 1st in his home in California.
Fish For Teeth
It's FISH TACO time! This time made with Southeastern Alaskan rockfish, caught from healthy stocks of rockfish! ALL PROFITS GO TO BENEFIT Fish for Teeth , which is in the process of funding dental assessments (funds already available) and treatment (when funds become available) for five kids from San Juan County. Go to Compost It (65 Nichols) between 11:00 and 2:00 on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. They are $7.00/each.
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