The Week Ahead: What’s Blowin’ in the Wind?

Monday, March 14

County Charter Review process is the subject of the League of Women Voters of San Juan County meeting at the San Juan Island Library in Friday Harbor from 12 noon until 2 p.m.  This is a chance to learn about the process and to voice your opinion about what has worked, and what has not worked with our new form of county government. For more information, call Ann Jarrell at 378-4939.

Movie Night at Doe Bay Cafe starts at 7 p.m., free popcorn at show time, half-priced bottles of wine) Come and enjoy dinner and wine while watching a movie on the big screen. Call the Cafe for movie information and dinner reservations are recommended. 360-376-8059.

Tuesday, March 15

Housing Bank Commission Meeting (videoconference at three locations), 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the SJC Health & Community Services Conference Room 145 Rhone Street, Friday Harbor;  Orcas Island Library and Lopez Island Library.  This is a regular meeting of the HBC. It will be conducted by videoconference.

Granny’s Attic Sale donationitems collected at he Senior Center from  noon to 3 p.m. Sale is on April 16.

Wednesday, March 16

Marine Resources Committee Meeting 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.at Islanders Bank Annex Community Meeting Room, Friday Harbor.

Cayou Valley Lagoon Restoration Project in Deer Harbor, from 10 a.m. to 2 . p.m. also Saturday, March 19. Volunteers are needed to install native plants, remove invasive weeds, and clean up litter at the largest estuary on Orcas Island. Work is underway to remove fish passage barriers and restore the shoreline of the Cayou Valley Lagoon. This site is private property, so take advantage of the opportunity to see this beautiful estuary and help bring it back to health. To sign up or ask questions, contact Rachel Benbrook at  rbenbrook@pugetsound.org or (360)230-1353.

San Juan County’s designation as a HUBZone and the goods and services that state and federal agencies buy and how they buy them will be the subject of a two-hour seminar on Orcas Island. Also covered will be working with the Small Business Administration, and how businesses can get government designation for the HUBZone program, and  the new Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program, which provides greater access to federal contracting opportunities.

There will also be information on the services of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) in Mount Vernon. The  seminar from 10 a.m. to noon will be hosted by the Outlook Inn at 171 Main Street in Eastsound. Sponsored by the San Juan County Economic Development Council.  Call 360-378-2906 to reserve your space, or email:  info@sanjuansedc.org.

Thursday, March 17

San Juan County Parks & Recreation Commission Regular Meeting 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. at the SJC Legislative Building, Friday Harbor

Orcas Island Blood Drive at the Eastsound Fire Hall. From noon to 6 p.m. Walk-ins welcome For appointment call Paul Losleben at 376-6804. Sponsored by the Orcas Island LIONS Club.

St. Patrick’s Day Parade The parade will assemble in the Island Market parking lot at 11:30 a.m., with the parade to begin at noon. For more information, call Tony Lee at 376-2099.

Friday, April 18

Land Bank Public Meeting on Orcas Island Discuss Land Bank Priorities – 3 to 5 p.m.at  Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Join Land Bank commissioners and staff for an afternoon of discussion about Land Bank projects and priorities. For more information please call 378-4402.

The Solvents at  Doe Bay Cafe Live music in the Cafe!  At 7:30pm The Solvents, a “folk rock pop” group from the Olympic Peninsula will take the stage! They have been playing continuously in local and national venues since 2001 and have toured multiple times in Europe and in Mexico. Their influences range from Gram Parsons, to Husker Du, from Nirvana, to The Beatles from Big Star to The Replacements and everything in between. Jarrod Bramson, main songwriter for the group,has managed to write, record and produce seven albums in about as many years. Defining the Solvents sound are the violin lines of Emily Madden whose intuitive playing is an essential element that works beautifully with Bramson’s vocals and words. Seating is limited, make your dinner reservations at 376-8059 or see www.doebay.com

Saturday, March 19

Bobi Céspedes Afro-Cuban Songstress on Orcas Center Stage. Singer, songwriter, performer, “funklorist”, Bobi Céspedes bring alive the rhythms, traditions and stories of Afro-Cuban people, with some help from her band members on percussion, drums, bass and flute. 7:30 $25, $1 7 (Orcas Center members), $11 (students). www.orcascenter.org or 376-2281.

Sunday, March 20

SPLAB Literary Series at the Doe Bay Cafe. This week’s featured author is George Bowering, a poet/novelist from British Columbia. He was Canada’s first Parliamentary Poet Laureate, 2002-2004. His latest poetry book is the 375-page My Darling Nellie Grey, a series of 12 chapbooks . His latest novel is billed as a memoir. Pin Boy is about the lovelife of a teenager who has to figure out what to do with three female persons, one being a highschool teacher. Fall 2010 saw a new edition of his anti-Western Caprice. Reading begins at 7:30 p.m. Seating is limited so make your reservations early at 376-8059.