Island Scene
Local
Folk singer & activist to perform at the library
Best gift for birders? Christmas Bird Count PAGE 16
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Editorial
Below is Part II of the Journal Top Ten stories of the year; what’d we miss? Let’s hear from you. PAGE 7
Journal
The 75¢ Wednesday, December 31, 2014 Vol. 107 Issue 53
Top 10 stories of 2014 Every year brings stories, events and happenings that leave a lasting impression. In that regard, 2014 follows suit. From the unveiling of a reservation system that promises to forever change ferry travel, to an alarming setback in the would-be recovery of San Juans killer whales, to a landmark post-season performance by two prep soccer teams, the Journal presents Part II of the “Top Ten Stories” of the year, beginning with No. 1. (See Dec. 24 edition for Top Ten entries 10 to 6)
Table for two? Reservations & ferry travel transformed The boats will come and go just like before. But the business of boarding a ferry may never be the same. After nearly five years of preparation, re-positioning, prodding and painstaking planning, in 2014 Washington State Ferries unveiled its much-debated and long-awaited reservation system for travel on sailings in the San Juans. Nearly 4,000 reservations were made for the slowest season of the
year, the winter sailing schedule, Jan. 5 to March 21, in the first three weeks after the reservation booking system first went live (Dec. 2). Intended to help the state ferry system maximize its existing resources—boats, terminals, parking and number of sailings—and to minimize investment in the same, reservaSEE TOP TEN, PAGE 4 Top, bottom right , Journal file photos; bottom left , Sounder
Top; WSF’s Dwight Hutchinson and Fauna Larkin show how autos will queue up for reservations in Friday Harbor, bottom right, Bound for Anacortes and retirement, the Evergreen State sets sail on a final voyage out of Friday Harbor in late July. Bottom left, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen fields hard-hitting questions about noise from Navy jets at a town hall meeting on Lopez Island in October.
Back alley to center stage
$2.9 M blueprint for Sunshine Alley takes shape Journal Staff Report
The Town of Friday Harbor not only has ideas in mind for Sunshine Alley, it has a blueprint with a long list of improvements as well. The potential upgrades include the addition of an outdoor dining deck behind Haley’s Sports Bar and Grill, a clock tower to the public restrooms, walls of greenery, freestanding kinetic art, and light standards throughout. An expansion of Brickworks, with performance stage, seating, an outdoor dining area are possible improvements included in the preliminary plan, as well as conversion of the alley’s private cottages into retail space. “While the plan is still in its infancy, we have narrowed options and provided guidance to creating a vibrant and useful centerpiece for the community,” said town Administrator Duncan Wilson. “An attractive and comfortable outdoor facility creates a sense of place. Because of the Ag Guild’s success in creating Brickworks, Sunshine Alley has real potential to fill this need.” The preliminary plan and list of possible improvements follow months of research and collaboration by the town, alley stakeholders, the public and the Beckwith Consulting Group. The process included
Contributed art
This rendering of the proposed Sunshine Alley concept shows new pop tents for market days, a clock tower, murals, retail cottages & outdoor seating at Haley’s.
interviews with property and business owners, surveys, focus groups and several open houses to gather ideas for improvement of the alley. Beckwith Consulting Group, a La Conner-based urban design company, was selected to help develop plans for the alley’s upgrade. The three major gateways to the alley, First Street, Nichols Street, and the walkway from Spring Street would be highlighted with pavement See STAGE, Page 3
Winner of six 1st place awards in Washington Newspaper Publishers Association 2014 BNC, 17 in all
Happy 2015 A Happy New year from all of us here at the Journal to all of you; best wishes in the year to come