In June, the County Council approved a ban on safe-and-sane fireworks, to take effect 12 months later. Thanks to a referendum, voters may get a chance to challenge that ban. The county auditor’s office has certified Referendum 2008-2 as qualified for the November 2009 ballot.
The county Community Development & Planning Department reports year-to-date revenues of $1,179,124 — close to 97 percent of the total revenue forecast for 2008. “Given the housing market nationwide I am surprised by the amount of activity,” CDP director Ron Henrickson said in a press release. “The critical question is: What will happen over the six next months or so?”
If you’re in the Pratt residence during a family get-together, you might find it difficult to be the one on the opposing end of a political discussion: The family has a built-in political quorum.
Hannah Heights and High Haro neighborhood residents are invited to attend an introductory Firewise meeting discussing wildfire behavior and actions home owners can take to prevent catastrophic destruction in their neighborhoods.
The San Juan County Council has appointed Andy Holman and Johannes Krieger to the San Juan County Marine Resources Committee, a citizens’ committee that supports research, promotes stewardship of marine resources and advises the County Council on marine resource issues.
“San Juan County is the least affordable county in the state,” San Juan County’s affordable housing coordinator Angela Lausch told the County Council last week, and she cited housing as the leading reason.
San Juan County Treasurer Jan Sears reports that as of the close of business on Nov. 7, the county had collected 95 percent of the property taxes on the rolls for 2008. “We’re doing pretty well,” she said in a press release from the county communications office. In 2007, the percentage of taxes collected by the end of the year was 97.2 percent.
Michael Mayes and Homes for Islanders announced that Madison Glenn is selling acreage on Malcolm Street to Homes for Islanders for development of up to 44 affordable homes. Mayes is reducing the sales price from $1.8 million to $1.2 million.
Enrollment is on the rise at two of the island’s three private schools. Spring Street International School added 13 students this fall. Stillpoint School’s enrollment increased by five. Paideia Classical School saw a six-student drop in enrollment this school year.
David Ernest Daum was born July 31, 1939 in Pittsburgh, Pa., and passed away on Nov. 1, 2008 at the age of 69. Dave was a long-time resident of San Juan Island, enjoying his retirement in the sun here and in San Jose, Cabo San Lucas.
Kathryn Robb, known to many islanders as “Robbie,” was born in Great Britain on April 29, 1933, and died in the morning of Oct. 24, 2008. She passed away in her home on San Juan Island surrounded by a few friends and loyal old dog, Sam, by her side.
Rusty Pollock, administrator of Islands Convalescent Center, died Friday, 4:55 p.m. in Island Hospital after a brief bout with pancreatic cancer. He was 58. Service was Saturday at Evans Funeral Chapel in Anacortes. A memorial service is being planned on the island. Details will be published later.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights panel discussion series continues Sunday, Nov. 9, 5:30 to 7 p.m., in the San Juan Island Library. Topic: “Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.”