Killer whale research-er Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Research is the first recipient of the Salish Sea Science Prize, a $2,000 cash award given to recognize a scientist whose work has resulted in the improved conservation of marine wildlife and the Salish Sea marine ecosystem.
The speaker at the third Arthur Whiteley Lecture presented by San Juan Nature Institute in collaboration with UW Friday Harbor Labs is Dr William Calvin. His topic is ‘Our Climate Fix must be Big and Quick’. The lecture will take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday February 19, in The Commons, at the Labs. His talk will be based on his most recent book ‘Global Fever’ which was written in part at the Whiteley Center at the Labs.
On Thursday, San Juan County Treasurer’s Office employees stacked 11,600 tax bills into 30 mail trays and drove them to the post office in a yellow County truck. The total of all the bills is just over $41 million dollars. It didn’t take long to confirm their delivery.
Businesses from the Puget Sound region can explore how to reduce business costs while improving the environment through an innovative materials exchange program. “Synergy” is the concept that allows one company’s waste to become another company’s resource.
The Lopez Island Library is sponsor-ing a visit from the Burlington, Washington writer Jennifer Bradbury. Ms. Bradbury will talk about her new book, Shift, and work with aspiring writers at the Lopez Middle School on Wednesday, February 25 at 11:40 in Colleen Currie’s classroom. The community is invited to attend the presentation as well. If interested, call Ms. Currie at 468-2202, ext. 2208. If you tune your radio to 102.9 FM at 1:30 you will hear Ms. Bradbury interviewed on Lou Pray’s radio show “Lou’s News and Reviews”.
Calling all Lopez artists! Here’s your chance to create the design to be emblazoned on this year’s 4th of July run/walk tee shirt. Sponsored by the Lopez Lions Club, all proceeds from the race are distributed back to community causes. For several years Lopez School students have had the opportunity to create the tee shirt design seen on both on Lopez and as far away as Ethiopia. Race organizers believe that all Lopezians should now have a chance to enter the contest and show off their art. So grab a pencil or pen and create the winning design, win $50, and help in this major Lions Club fund raiser. For example, over just the past two years Lions Club donations have benefited 18 Lopez non profit organizations with more than $19,000. They include such diverse and worthwhile causes as the Lopez Island Family Resource Center, several Lopez School District projects, Substance Abuse Prevention, Vision Assistance, the Lopez Cemetery Association and the Community Shakespeare Company.
Does your organization participate in fundraising? Do your board members and volunteers have the skills they need to be successful in finding the funds needed to support the work of the organization? Invest a day in developing the framework for success by participating in “Fundraising for Small Non-Profits”, a one-day workshop led by Bob Schwartzberg on Monday, February 23rd 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Skagit Valley College – San Juan Center in Friday Harbor. The cost for this day-long, interactive learning experience is only $69.00. This workshop is a must for all small non-profit fundraisers! Registration is required, in advance, in order to maintain a quality learning environment. This workshop is limited to 24 participants. For more information or to register visit the college at 221 Weber Way or call 360.378.3220.
BOSTON — Maybe we owe an apology to the doctors who made the birth announcement with such pride and excitement. The delivery of eight babies in five minutes was, they exhaled, “amazing.” The mom was “incredibly courageous.” All in all it was a “very exciting day,” a feat for which the 46-member medical team at the California hospital expected kudos and high fives.
Lopez Island
Abundant numbers of young salmon are using our local beaches and shorelines for food and shelter, confirming that the San Juans play a critical role in the recovery of Puget Sound salmon. Those were the findings of leading fishery experts gathered at a Salmon Recovery Technical Workshop held January 26 and 27 at the University of Washington Friday Harbor Labs.
It is the time of year for Soroptimist club’s Saturday of Service project for the community. And, the Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor has come up with another great community event. This community recycling/swap meet will be Saturday morning, February 21, 2009 at the Mullis Center. Chairman Pat Hansen says “The premise of the event is that people will bring good, clean, functional items that they no longer need or want, and in exchange, they can take home other things that they do need or want.” So in these rough economic times, this event offers the opportunity to renew, refresh, recycle and exchange items and ideas in a pleasant social atmosphere.
The Islands Sinfonia and Ginni Keith will present the first of a series of benefit concerts for the Lopez Family Options Program, which comes under the umbrella of services offered by DVSAS (Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault of the San Juan Islands). The program will feature works by Haydn, Mozart, Bach, and Williams. Desserts, hot beverages and good conversation will all be had after the concert, which will be held at the Lopez Island Community Center at 3:00 p.m. on Feb. 21. There will be a requested $15 donation at the door that will go to help fund FOP (the Family Options Program).
On January 24, one day before Robert Burns’ actual birthday, January 25, 1759, the Scottish Country Dancers of San Juan Island hosted a Burns Supper to celebrate the life and times of this inspiring Scottish poet and lyricist. This year was especially important, as it marked the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns, or the Bard of Ayrshire, as he is also known.
