Island Guardian

Locally Owned & Operated
- islandguardian.com -
(360) 378-8243 - 305 Blair Avenue, Friday Harbor, WA 98250
The Island Guardian is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists

A Child In Need Of Community Help

(Ryan and Bill Crosby, Sr. holding Ryan's two daughters, Taylir and Montana a little over a year ago)

Montana Crosby is the eighteen-month-old child of Ryan and Trina Crosby, and she and her family need financial help, and they need it right now, David and Mary Ann Anderson of San Juan Island explain that "Montana has a rare stage 4 liver cancer called "hepatoblastoma" and is in dire need of a liver transplant to save her life. The cost is $700,000, of which $500,000 must be paid in advance. The Crosby's do have medical insurance, but it does not include transplants".

Jim Carroll of the San Juan Lions said the Lions have come forward, and have set up an account that can be used to accept donations. Jim stated that "Although the amount seems huge, when I calculated the real cost per household, it would amount to 5000 households setting aside only 38 cents a day for one year which amounted to $140.00 per household. Pocket change can add up when everyone pulls together." Donations can be sent to

San Juan Lions Foundation
Post Office Box 54
Friday Harbor, WA 98250

Checks should have "For the Benefit of Montana Crosby" written on them.

Ryan and Trina are trying to sell everything they have, including their car, home and their property on San Juan Island to pay for the operation.

[more..]

Leadership SJI Holds Two November Open Houses

Leadership San Juan Islands (LSJI) will hold two open houses in November in order to recruit candidates for the Class of 2007 and to network with graduates of other leadership programs held around the country who now live and/or work in the San Juans. Alumni from LSJI Classes of 2005 and 2006 are also invited.

The first open house will take place on Sunday, November 5 at the Heartwood House on Orcas Island, 70 Langell Lane, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. The second will be held on November 29, 4:00-6:30 p.m. in the Friday Harbor Labs Commons and will include a soup supper.

San Juan County, like many communities across the country, is taking the initiative to develop its own network of home-grown leaders through LSJI. 2007 will mark its third year of seminars designed to educate and motivate the islands' emerging leaders of today and tomorrow. LSJI is searching for candidates between the ages of 19 and 99 who would like to develop their professional leadership skills while learning more about issues facing the San Juan Islands within our "systems" of governance, education, economics, environment, and community/health.

LSJI Class of 2007 is now a certificate series offered in conjunction with Skagit Valley College in Friday Harbor. A total of six, day-long seminars will be divided into morning and afternoon sessions, January through May. Graduates of all six full days will receive a certificate in Community Leadership and will be official graduates of LSJI Class of 2007. Other sponsors include United Way of San Juan County, San Juan County Economic Development Council and San Juan Island Community Foundation. For further information call Liz Illg at 317-4010 or check out www.leadershipsanjuanislands.org.

[more..]