First Place - Earthbox Motel & Spa
During the holiday season candles are used extensively both for decorative and ceremonial purposes. The Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office wants you to know that in Washington State there were 168 fires started by candles in 2007 that caused over $7.2 million in damages and two fire deaths. “This increased use of candles during the holiday season poses an even greater risk for fires and fire deaths,” says State Fire Marshal Mike Matlick.
8-9:15 p.m. Sue DuMond Gleanings: A Holiday Surprise
BOSTON -- In 1962, a young Massachusetts man who had barely passed the constitutional age barrier decided to run for the Senate. At the time, one of his brothers was president of the United States; the other brother was attorney general.
The County Public Works Department and Town of Friday Harbor are sponsoring a free Christmas Tree collection program this year. Trees will be chipped for mulch and not sent to a landfill. Help us reduce the volume of holiday trash by bringing your CLEAN, UNDECORATED natural trees (no flocked or artificial trees) to your island’s solid waste facility between December 26th and January 11th during regular open hours.
Friday Harbor, Washington: Five San Juan Island residents have completed their training and certification as Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT-B) and are serving with San Juan Island EMS. The new EMTs at San Juan Island EMS are David Howitt, Humberto Orozco, Rebecca Phillips, Jeremy Talbott and Noah Waldron. They, along with one new EMT from Orcas, have completed the four month course in patient assessment, medical emergencies, CPR, trauma, infant and geriatric care, and EMS operations.
Lopez School students are doing their part to help fight world hunger. Students in grades K-12 raised money to buy rice, spices, lentils, and chicken bouillion, which they packaged up and donated to Children of the Nations, a non-profit organization that assists destitute children and orphans by providing clothing, food, orphanages and other support in Malawi, the Dominican Republic, Sierra Leone, the U.S., and Uganda. The Lopez children sent a shipment of over 14,000 meals that they packaged especially for Malawi as their contribution.
On behalf of the patients in our community’s hospitals, Thank You! Thank…
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Lopez citizen scientists invite you to join them December 28 at Lopez Center for Salmon-ation, a celebration and re-cap of their first year of research on south end salmon nurseries. Activities include a slideshow, microscope demonstrations and food. Children are welcome.
As the holidays and cold weather approaches people spend more time indoors visiting with family, friends, and in crowded places, like airports. Their exposure to germs increases. Some germs are viruses that cause a mild illness and are challenging to the immune system like the sniffles or the common cold. Other germs like the influenza virus can lead to severe illness, and even hospitalization and death. There are 226,000 hospitalizations for influenza related illness each year in the US. Children have the same rates for hospitalization as seniors for influenza illness. Last year there were 86 pediatric influenza related deaths in the US, of which half were in the 5 to 18 year olds group. A hospitalization for islanders means a difficult off island trip, the trauma of a strange place, and parents needing to miss work (or a paycheck), or not being able to stay with other siblings left at home. Last year there were two pediatric deaths in Seattle, a previously healthy second grader and an infant. Influenza is a serious illness; people of any age can get it.
The John Trotto Sportsmanship winners for 2008 are Lynden Christian from the north district, and Lopez Island from the south district.
The Lopez Booster Club wants to bring Lopezians back to the school and back to the games.
The Audubon Christmas Bird Count with the San Juan Islands Audubon Society is only 10 days away. Participating in this event is a great way to kick off the holidays.
What better time than winter to gather with your friends and dance the night away?
Seasonal choral music brings a universal richness to the holiday season, serving as a link to the past, a celebration of the present and as a bridge and hope into the future.
Faced with declining enrollment and early predictions of significant statewide reductions in education funding, the Lopez School District has determined that the position of superintendent should be reduced to half-time, as a cost saving measure, beginning with the 2009-10 school year.
With its evergreens, douglas firs, lush vegetation, and eagle, hawk, and owl sightings, the Odlin South property on the north end of Lopez has been untouched for the last 18 years. But the fate of the land is up in the air, as its owner, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), may soon be selling it.
Everyone needs to know about the positive impact United Way’s (UW) efforts have on Lopez youth and their families. During the 2007-2008 school year, United Way, through a collaboration with the San Juan County 4-H program, helped to expand the Rishi Environmental Learning Center Garden at the Lopez Elementary School by providing seeds, gardening and classroom supplies, and a new irrigation system.
The Puget Sound Blood Center, sponsored by the Lopez Island Lions Club, is holding a blood drive on Lopez Island on Tuesday, Dec. 9. The drive will be from noon to 6 p.m. at the Community Church in the Village.
The Lopez Island Family Resource Center (LIFRC), which provides support services for students and their families in the islands, has seen a recent influx of requests for food, help with heating bills, and more.
When you enter Principal Roland MacNichol’s office, black and white photos of such greats as Eleanor Roosevelt, FDR, JFK, Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes and Ghandi hang on his walls. Inspirational words from the Dalai Lama are tacked up next to photos of the MacNichols’ family ranch in Idaho.
The annual Lopez Union Cemetery Wreath Sale is going on Nov. 28 to Dec. 6 at the cemetery workshop from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily (closed Sunday). Wreaths, swag, evergreens and decorations benefit the Lopez Island Union Cemetery and Center Church. Pre-orders available at 468-3032.
After 18 years of providing medical care for the children of San Juan County, Dr. Jeanne Olmsted, pediatrician, has announced that she will no longer maintain a practice on Orcas Island after December 31, 2008.
The Holiday Village Lighting Ceremony is a perfect way to usher in the season: listen to carolers, snack on baked goodies, and sip cider around bonfires.
At its regular meeting for November the Lopez Island School District Board of Directors approved a contract for a new high school boys basketball coach for the 2008-09 season. Veteran coach MR Buffum was hired to lead the Lopez Lobo hoopsters. The season began Nov. 17, with the first home game scheduled for December 5.
The San Juan Island Library is seeking volunteers to help in its Reading Buddies program. An orientation session for new and returning volunteers is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the meeting room of the San Juan Island Library to give prospective volunteers information about the program.
It’s that time again of year again – time for the Lopez Cooperative Preschool’s Holiday Bazaar.
The 14th Annual Orcas Montessori Wreath Sale is now underway and taking orders for the 2008 Holiday Season.
Wondering what holiday gift to buy for your dog? The County Auditor’s office began selling 2009 San Juan County tags on Nov. 17.
Throughout the 50 years that Rip and Julie Van Camp have been married, their core values have always encompassed three things: family, travel, and helping others.
Rip and Julie Van Camp are winners of this year’s Dolly and Andy Holland Lopez Spirit Award.
The story of a community is not easily told, but that is exactly what has been done in Lorrie Harrison’s new book, “Lopez Island Library: Sixty Years of Memories.”
