HOT OFF THE PRESSES: 2011 WEDDING COLOR TRENDS

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Pat O'Day Attempting to bring Subway to Friday Harbor Washington- Do you want fast food here?

According to the Journal of the San Juans Friday Harbor may be about to have it's first fast food franchise EVER.  By definition, a fast food restaurant is "sometimes known as a quick service restaurant or QSR, a specific type of restaurant characterized both by its fast food cuisine and by minimal table service. Food served in fast food restaurants typically caters to a "meat-sweet diet" and is offered from a limited menu; is cooked in bulk in advance and kept hot; is finished and packaged to order; and is usually available ready to take away, though seating may be provided. Fast food restaurants are usually part of a restaurant chain or franchise operation, which provisions standardized ingredients and/or partially prepared foods and supplies to each restaurant through controlled supply channels."


Subway. That's right, home to Jared Fogle- "the Subway Guy," "the five dollar foot long," high fructose syrups in their "whole grain breads" and 33,564 chains around the world.  Just what we were looking for in an organically driven, home inspired location,  belovedly "off the map and "far from America." Next I'm guessing we'll be seeing catering trucks at the ferry terminal pitching hot dogs and sauerkraut.


Pat and Stephanie O'Day certainly dont see the humor in this. According to the article, the real estate agent, pitchman for Schick Shadel Hospital, and rock radio pioneer — is considering branching into food. According to the O"Days, the signage could be "tasteful and non-neon" and would blend in with architectural elements common to the Downtown Historic District. The restaurant would have some indoor seating, but would mostly serve to-go customers and wouldn't impact "sit-down" restaurants in town. Sure. Tell that to Market Chef and others who strive to make a living on the islands without the fanfare of a national chain in their back pocket. 

So let's look at Subway, the international conglomerate potentially coming to the islands.

• 33,564 franchises in 92 countries.
• It is the second largest restaurant chain globally
• It is based out of Connecticut with 5 regional centers in the US alone and another 5 worldwide
• in 2008 it was ranked #3 as the fastest growing franchise in the world
• Started by a guy named Fred deLuca when he needed some cash to pay for medical school tuition back in 1965. In 2007, Forbes Magazine named this man the 242nd richest man in the world with a net worth of over 1.5 billion dollars. 
• If you're interested in having one out at Roche Harbor so no one goes hungry, looks like the stats suggest it is an initial investment of $15k followed by an 8% ongoing royalty and 4.5% advertising fee. Maybe we should all open one.

To read more, visit THIS LINK.

Of Whale Tales, Salmon Happenings and Pacific White Sided Dolphins

Salmon, Killer Whale Tales and Pacific white Sided Dolphins- what could possibly be the link? Easy- all three have taken a spotlight in recent events in the Pacific Northwest.  It's October, the tourists have started making their way home but the community of our treasured homeland now begins to band together to support one another throughout the winter months. This month, there's plenty to do around the area ---check out the people and places that are hot when the weather cools!

KILLER WHALE TALES 10th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AND BENEFIT AUCTION
WHEN   :  OCTOBER 16 (5:30 PM or 6:30 PM depending on your choice of tickets)
WHERE :  THE SEATTLE AQUARIUM

With your help, Killer Whale Tales has engaged and inspired tens of thousands of children to make a real difference in their world. Come celebrate protecting Puget Sound’s Orcas, their habitat and 10 years of dedication to giving future generations hope, inspiration and knowledge to make a real difference in the world.  This year’s celebration and benefit auction brings us to the Seattle Aquarium, in the new Puget Sound Great Hall featuring the stunning new Window on Washing Waters exhibit. They’ve planned an evening of entertainment and inspiration and hope you will join them- meet scientists, fellow whale lovers, educators and families form around the region. Rumor has it that the auction has some amazing goodies- from full size family tents to gift bags from Trader Joes!  

I've added to the auction items! Yes, a a free offering of custom graphic design work and a beautiful print of orcas...hope to see you there!

Click here for tickets   http://bit.ly/CelebrateKWT

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Some of you may know that I spend some time volunteering custom graphic design work and marketing assistance for some amazing scientists in the region- anything I can do to give back to the selfless people working to keep our region safe and sound. I've been working with SeaDoc Society for about two years now- and am honored to be part of their work to protect the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems through science and education. Last year, through a trip with SeaDoc I was also honored to meet both Erin Ashe and Rob Williams (not to mention Alexandra Morton- be still my beating heart). As a team, Erin and Rob make up OceansInitiative.org. (Erin and Rob will be updating their website over the next few months with new graphics and logos we designed together- so you may want to bookmark that site and visit to see the changes.) In the meantime, you can add OCEANS INITIATIVE as a friend on Facebook.

So, the coolest thing has now happened. Two of my favorite regional champions have teamed together to TRACK PACIFIC WHITE SIDED DOLPHINS (otherwise known as LAGS).  

Dolphin fin and ID tag. Photo by Erin Ashe

Thanks to private donations, SeaDoc is funding Erin Ashe, a PhD student at St. Andrews University, to study Salish Sea Pacific white-sided dolphins by using the same photographic-identification techniques used to study killer whales. You can read more about this BY CLICKING THIS LINK...we're looking for your photos to help build a research database of LAGS in the Salish Sea!

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Two down, one to go. So now we have Killer Whale Tales and Pacific White Sided Dolphins covered, last but not least some news on Salmon. I came across an excellent article today which I posted on Facebook but thought you may want to enjoy as well. (By the way, you can always add me on FACEBOOK- love to get news from around the world on a daily basis!)

THE ARTICLE- IT IS EXCELLENT!

PULLING SALMON BACK FROM THE BRINK: This week KPLU environmental reporter Liam Moriarty talks with Mike Schiewe, a long-time salmon fisherman. He’s also one of the biologists behind the Endangered Species listings.

So there you have it! I'll keep the details of life on a little island coming!  Cheers, Sandy

Puyallup and Carbon rivers will close early

Puyallup and Carbon rivers will close early

POSTED BY CRAIG HILL ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2010 AT 9:25 PM  SHARE THIS

The Puyallup and the Carbon rivers will be the next to close to salmon fishing as the Puget Sound coho run fails to meet expectations.

The Puyallup, from mouth (11th Street Bridge) upstream to the mouth of the Carbon River, will be closed from Monday through Oct. 31.

The Carbon, from the mouth upstream to the mouth of Voights Creek, will be closed Monday through Nov. 30.

The state Department of Fish and Wildlife, in a news release, said the coho run is low and the Voights Creek Hatchery has not collected enough fish to meet its egg-take goals.

The Puyallup Tribe of Indians has already closed indefinitely its commerical coho fishery.

So far four other Puget Sound fisheries have been or will be closed because the coho run has been so small.