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List of this weekend's events

Roche Harbor Village restaurants and shops open for the season

Roche Harbor Village's Web site

3rd Annual Return of the Orca Festival Winners

Student Artfest

Orca Art

High School

• 1st Place Art – Sean Curtis

• 2nd Place Art – Jason Garcia

• 3rd Place Art – Siri Thorson

• Honorable Mention – Monica Benedict

Middle School

• 1st Place Art – Mackenzie Raub

• 2nd Place Art – Katlin Shanks

• 3rd Place Art – Jessica Chaffee

• Honorable Mention – Carrie Gerard

Elementary School

• 1st Place Art – A chess set by: Ashley G, Wynn Barnard, Alex J., Ursula Stegman, Kelsey Kennedy & Kate Furquist (I have not had time to confirm names & spelling…sorry!)

• 2nd Place Art – Mollie Taylor

• 3rd Place Art – Victor Capron

• Honorable Mention – Tyler Dawson

• Honorable Mention – Lauren Zander

Orcas in the Written Word

High School

• 1st Place Written – Melissa Karon

• 2nd Place Written – Jayson Schmidt

• 3rd Place Written – Brynn Woldtvedt

Middle School

• 1st Place Written – Jenni Mason (the only entry)

Elementary School

• 1st Place Written – Maddie Greene

• 2nd Place Written – Katie Gauthier

• 3rd Place Written – Hannah Snow

• Honorable Mention – Rachael Stephens

Donut Eating Contest

Child – Erik Wells

Adult – Mike Zacchino, Portland, Oregon

Whale Calling Contest

Child – Haley Adams, Issaquah, WA

Adult – Jonathan Caplan

Kayak Race

1st Place Singles – Clay Warner, 19 minutes

2nd Place Singles – Chic Wilson, 27 minutes

3rd Place Singles – tie between Suzie Phillips and Alan Black

1st Place Doubles – Clara and Dave Brand, 27 ˝ minutes

Two Nation Clam Chowder Cook-Off

Judges Award – Oak Bay Beach Hotel and Resort, Victoria, BC

People’s Choice – Roche Harbor Village

Most Festive Team – Battery D, San Juan Island

3rd Annual Return of the Orca Festival Features Whale Education Presentations and All Day Fun

The Whale Museum’s "Invent-A-Whale" and "What Is A Mammal" presentations, Peter Fromm -- author of "Whale Tales," and a Tlingit tribute to Orcas called "Keet Shu-Ka" will add more fun and education to the 3rd Annual Return of the Orca Festival on Saturday, May 19, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Roche Harbor Village.

Live music, clam chowder competition tastings, artists booths, student artfest, children’s games and activities, nautical flea market, donut eating contest, kayak race, whale calling contest, kayak and whale watch tours, and beer garden will also highlight the festival. Many prizes will be given away for the various competitions, including round-trip tickets for two to Seattle aboard Kenmore Air for the adult winner of the donut eating contest!

Many thanks to the following sponsors, who are helping to make this year’s festival possible:

posted 03/15/01
Roche Harbor Village will host the 3rd Annual Return of the Orca Festival from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, 2001. The festival celebrates the annual return of the whales to the west side of San Juan Island and kicks off opening weekend at Roche Harbor Village.

Roche Harbor Village and San Juan Safaris, operator of Roche Harbor’s Marine Adventure Center’s whale watch and kayak tours, will donate a portion of proceeds from the event to The Whale Museum in Friday Harbor, which will have an exhibit booth at the festival.

Live music, food, art, and contests are part of the planned activities. Whale watch and kayak tours will also be available. A student artfest, children’s activities, clam chowder competition, artists booths, nautical flea market, whale calling contest, kayak race, and donut eating contest are also included.

Adults and kids will compete to eat Roche Harbor’s Lime Kiln Café’s famous donuts in the Donut Eating Contest.

Live music by "1066" -- Irish pub musicians from Victoria and from 9:30 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. "Hunk a’ Funk" in Roche Harbor’s Madrona Grill.

The Return of the Orca Festival was first created and organized in 1999 by San Juan Safaris, operator of Roche Harbor’s Marine Adventure Center. The tradition has continued so that island residents and visitors can celebrate the return of the orcas as an important event in the island's seasonal cycle, as well as the positive aspects of maintaining a healthy ocean ecosystem.

Vendors, artists, chefs wanted

Corporate sponsors: The Planning Committee is looking for a few good sponsors. San Juan Safaris and Red Hook are already on board as the first corporate sponsors.

Student artists and writers:San Juan Island students, grades 1-12, are invited to enter the "Celebrate the Orca" Artfest competition and win prizes in two categories: Orca whale drawing/painting and Orca essay/poetry relating to "What the Orca whale means to me."

Chefs:Restaurants and individuals are invited to "clam up or claim fame" in the clam chowder competition. Contestants will have time to prepare their chowder on site and then compete in three categories: People’s Choice Award; Judges’ Decision and Most Festive Team.

Artists: Artists with a flair for nature and the Northwest will be invited to show off and/or sell their creations, and demonstrate their art techniques.

Flea Marketers: Seafarers are invited to sell their nautically-themed paraphernalia at the Nautical Flea Market. All types of boating items are welcome, including boats (sail, power, row, canoe, kayaks, etc.), which will be sold from a separate lot.

Kayakers: Contestants will race around Pearl Island for great prizes. Doubles and singles are welcome.

For more information or to become involved as a sponsor, vendor, contestant, etc., contact Deborah Hopkins, Marketing Manager, Roche Harbor Village
360.378.2155 ext. 706 or
1-800-451-8910 ext. 706

Sharon Kivisto and Matt Pranger
can be reached:
phone: 360.378.3748      fax: 360.378.9748
by e-mail: news@sanjuanislander.com

by mail: San Juan Islander
PO Box 1118
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA

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