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The Shipping News January 2008 It's been pretty windy this fall & winter, but it appears nearly everyone has tied their boats down well for the season. The big news around here is that we're looking for a new Port Director to replace Steve Simpson, who retired at the end of November - as of mid-January, we're still looking, but we'll keep you posted whom we hire! Here's hoping you have a great New Year ahead! October- December 2007 Notes from the harbor: • Friday Harbor Seafood moved to a new barge this fall - drop by & say hey to Eric & Brenda on his new spot! The old barge was pulled out at Shipyard Cove and has since disappeared. Official Port of Friday Harbor seal Popeye followed the new barge into the harbor. • In November, Port Commissioner Mike Ahrenius was elected to his second six-year term. Besides that, he was also nominated as Secretary of the Washington Public Ports Association, which is a pretty nice honor, too. September 2007 As the summer winds down, we start to batten down at the marina - the summer staff (Maya, Sammy & Katie) head back to college, people come with their boats for their last trip to the island, and we start thinking about getting ready for the winter.
• Steve retires - After 21 years at the helm of the Port of Friday Harbor, port director Steve Simpson (left, with his wife Nan) announced at the Port Commission meeting at the end of August that he'll be retiring at the end of the year. We'll talk more about it all later, as we learn who is taking his place & how things might change, but for now it's easy to note that Steve has run a good ship at the Port for over two decades with a fair & steady hand, and he's going to be much missed. • Connected - our fiber optic connection between the airport and the marina is now running using the Port’s very own fibers. OPALCO’s Island Network made the
Art Johnson said he saw the pup riding on Popeye’s back, but there are no photos of that yet. • One of Port Commissioner Barbara Marrett’s other jobs is teaching sailing on Orange Coast College’s training ship “American Eagle.” According to the American Eagle website, the boat arrived in Tahiti on the 14th after a 19-day passage that included a stop for a couple of days at Fanning Island in the mid-Pacific. They crossed the equator on August 7th. From the comments posted on the web site, it read like a wonderful life changing experience for those on the trip. Here are indications of life change from their blog: "I have survived not having a
See you around the docks! Ian Byington, Port reporter August 2007 The port bell rang the morning of August the 7th, and people along the docks waved one last time, and yes, tears were shed as the Nordland made one last pass through the harbor on its last trip as a barge. The boat has served the island for nearly 80 years, barging vehicles, goods, and people to and from the island and the non-ferry-served islands as well. (Click on the picture to see the picture in a larger version.) Its last trip is to the breaking yard.
• Other events: Not only will the Pilots Association hold their picnic on the Saturday 11th (between 1 and 4) but our Canoe and Kayak Club will hold an open house at Jackson Beach the same day between 3 and 7. It’s a potluck. • You know you can get online at the Port, right? Our service provider is BroadBand Express, so check their website about how to get connected (I assume you're presently connected, because you're reading this!) Owner Kevin Keating tells us usage is up 40% this year, probably becasue people are checking their e-mail more & watching TV less. See you around the docks! Ian Byington, Port reporter July 2007
• You can begin your summer plans with checking out the summer schedule for music at the Port - things kick off in July with the One More Time Band playing on the first, and just keep going from there. The schedule for the Waterfront Concert Series is on the poster to the right - if that's too small (I know it is), click on it for a bigger, more readable version. That's the July schedule - we'll post the August schedule soon! See you there - come sing along! Also, there's Open Mike each Sunday, beginning at 1pm, before the main attraction. • On the Fourth, the Port is usually hopping, so come on by. After the Parade on Spring Street (starts at 10:30am), there are activities all over the island. Then, in the early evenig, the Timebenders will be playing at the Port parking lot until the fireworks at nightfall (usually abit after ten or so). Here are some photos from last year's Rock The Dock Party. • The last week of June, the Friday Harbor Town Council approved a "shoreline substantial development permit," which means that we'll be able to improve the area right above our traffic circle to provide more room for the Customs office and for the Port's administrative offices.
The nearly 6600 square foot proposed building would also include rooftop viewing which would be open to the public.
Ian Byington, Port reporter June 2007 The month started with sunny skies, followed by a few rainy days, the way it is around here. Here are a few notes of things you might find interesting: • Have you noticed it hasn't been around? The Victoria Clipper changed its schedule - they had been starting their trips to the harbor in May, but this year they won't be comming our way till the end of June. They'll run June 30 - Sept. 9 this season. Here's more... • The Rotary Club International had a big get together the weekend of June 22nd - make your reservations early if you're planning on being around that weekend. • This is the month the tall ships begin to show up, too, which always offers a nice reminder of how things looked and felt a hundred years ago or more.
• The music schedule for the summer is set, with music at the Port (at Fairweather Park) on Fridays (6-8pm) and Sundays (2-4pm), beginning July 1st. Here's the lineup for July: Sunday July 1—One More Time Jazz Band Friday July 6—Solar Siblings (Singer/Songwriters) Friday July 13—Frankly Moanin (Jazz Quintet) Friday July 20—Spur(local Rock & Roll) Friday July 27—Be Careful (local Rock & Roll) • We wish you pleasant weather and happy cruises to distant lands. And while you’re away, please give us permission to use your slip. We’ll give you slip credit for each day we can use your slip that is equal to one day’s worth at your monthly rate. Credit is given on your bill at the end of the following month. • Two new businesses moved into the marina this spring. NakNek charters specializes in dive excursions and is located in M-5 on the main float. Orcas Boat Rental will rent you a 16 foot C-Dory from the fuel pier floats. • July 4th is only a few weeks away - we’re close enough to the border to have an excuse to not only celebrate Independence Day on July 4th but also Canada Day on July 1st. After all if Kaiser Wilhelm was of a different mind, or perhaps if “the pig” didn’t like Lyman Cutler’s potatoes this island would be on the other side of the border. We have an open invitation from the folks on Saturna Island to join Meanwhile, Wednesday July 4th there will be the parade at 10:30 a.m. The Timebenders will be featured in a street dance on Front Street sponsored by Rotary of San Juan Island. Fireworks will be at about 2200 (10 p.m.) in front of the marina. • Keeping kids afloat - check out the new life jacket display on the main pier. It’s for loaner life jackets for kids. The Power Squadron made the display and Lainey Volk put together a grant for the life jackets. May 2007
For example, in April, Eric from Friday Harbor Seafoods told us that the water temperature is about eight degrees below normal. It’s down to about 41 degrees. We’re not sure it’s from the melting ice cap or cold water coming down the Fraser. Now, towards the end of May, it's all the way up to 47 degrees. Try not to fall into the marina, OK? Did you know that all the boats in the slips aren't the only folks who use the marina - there are cruise ships that drop by, too. They usually dock out on the edge of the breakwater so that their passengers have a nice walk through the marina on their way to visit Friday Harbor. Our first cruise ship this year was Cruise West in late April. New: There's a new electric power drop on C float, as we continue to add to the available power in the marina. Next area that needs it - J float. We're studying that one, because it's a little tougher to get it there, but it's needed because so many people share the drop there. Do you have your slip reservations made for the summer, when you're coming to visit? Call today & get that nailed down, if you haven't already! Next month I'll tell you about the summer music series & a few other things we have planned for the summer - stay tuned! Ian Byington, Port reporter
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• Popeye, the Port’s seal was seen in the marina with her new pup. Popeye visited the fuel pier to show Laurie the newborn but she has not visited the FH Seafoods barge yet. Eric and Brenda there think that is because there are too many people around there. 
• A good use for Fairweather Park - that's Rev. Nancy Tiederman (left) conducting a wedding this summer. A beautiful place to start a new life.
• Meanwhile, the Waterfront Concert Series continues this month (here's the 
• Back on June 22, it was International Take Your Dog to Work Day, so Skipper followed Port Director Steve Simpson to work. Steve promptly tried to get some work out of the pup, who speed-types only one paw at a time.
