New Talk Series to Focus on Life in a Time of Shifting Climate
 
Anacortes, WA – Transition Fidalgo and Friends begins a series of free, monthly presentations on September 27. Times of Change features experts exploring the local and global impacts of a shifting climate to spark a community conversation on how to meet current and future challenges. The series engages local experts to help the broader community understand how and why things are changing, as well describe actual impacts and investigate what it takes to be resilient in a time of change. 
 
“Climate change is a big topic, and it can be intimidating,” says Eric Shen, president of Transition Fidalgo and Friends. “By partnering with the Skagit Climate Science Consortium and other local experts, we can bring people reliable information in an accessible way. We want to explore positive actions we can take as individuals and as a community.”
 
The series begins September 27, when Roger Fuller (WWU) and Jon Riedel (National Park Service) discuss “From Glaciers to the Estuary: Climate Change Impacts on Water in Northwestern Washington,” and continues October 25with Anacortes Fire Chief Richard Curtis speaking on the Cranberry Lake fire and what we can do to be ready for emergencies. Other presentations will include Correigh Greene of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, reporting on the impacts of climate change on the food web of Puget Sound, and Dave Peterson of the National Forest Service on climate change impacts in the forests of Cascadia. The full schedule is available at transitionfidalgo.org.
 
Each of the presentations are part of Transition Fidalgo & Friends’ monthly gathering, the Seventh Generation Supper. All are welcome to enjoy a simple supper (suggested donation $5, or $3 for children), at 5:45 p.m., or simply attend the presentation around 7:00 p.m. The event takes place at the Anacortes Senior Activity Center, 1701 22nd St.
 
Transition Fidalgo and Friends is a local chapter of Transition U.S.  It sponsors events to help Fidalgo Island and the surrounding area become a resilient, close-knit, and caring community, and focuses on creating opportunities to help move our community toward a positive, low-carbon future.

Cascadia Skillshare and Barter Faire
September 17-18
Lookout Arts Quarry just north of Alger on Old Hwy 99 MAP

To offer more camping options and appeal to a wider region, Whatcom Skillshare Faire has moved south to the Lookout Arts Quarry just a few miles north of Alger and has renamed the event Cascadia Skillshare and Barter Faire.  Chuckanut Transition (CT) is a co-sponsor this year, and together a bunch of us enthusiastic Transitioners are building a barter faire on the westside focused around sharing and gaining skills while growing a strong regional network of "neat people who do stuff!"  

This year there will be a special designated zone for bartering vendors.  In the early evenings, both Saturday and Sunday, after all the workshops have wound down for the day, CT will host a bartering social hour at 5 pm, while music is starting up and dinner is being made in the community kitchen.  At this time, folks are encouraged to bring a sampling of their wares to this centralized location where connections and plans can be made for further wheeling and dealing.  If you have an extensive amount of wares to barter you can purchase a 12x12 space for $15/day. Bartering for money is allowed. 

We have an excellent line-up of presenters and workshops.  The following information is below (sorry, not the most updated version).  We have yet to add the last minute signer-uppers.

• The Schedule
• Presenter Bios
• Workshop Descriptions

Live music and dance instruction both days: swing, square, contra, Irish and ballroom dancing!  Fantastic world music! Latin, Klezmer, jazz, folk, old time, blues...Hot Dam Scandal, What the Chelm, Les Browning Blues Band, Happy Valley Sluggers, Misty Flowers and more for a rompin', stompin' good time!

Questions? Email us at cascadiafaire@gmail.com or go to www.cascadiafaire.org.

Thank you to all our sponsors!
~ Sarai Stevens and the rest of the Cascadia Skillshare and Barter Faire Planning Committee

​Join Transition Fidalgo & Friends for a community supper on Tuesday, July 26, at 5:45 pm at the Anacortes Senior Center, 1701 22nd St.
 
Our presentation this evening is from Liz Lovelett, Anacortes City Councilwoman: Comprehensive Plan 2016: Where do we go from here?
 
A lot of work and vision has gone into creating Anacortes' Comp Plan, but many of you want to know, "Now what?!" The answer: There is still much more to do! Join City Councilmember Liz Lovelett as we talk about the goals and policies of the Comp Plan and how we turn them into new Development Regulations, sub-planning documents, and to strategically determine the direction of the City. Anyone interested in how Anacortes will develop over the next 20 years should plan on attending. Bring your questions, comments, and concerns - it's your City!
 
Liz Lovelett has served on the Anacortes City Council since 2014. She is on the Public Works, Public Safety, Parks and Rec, Affordable Housing and Community Services, and the Skagit County Marine Resources Committees. She also serves as an advisor the Anacortes Farmers Market Board, is the President of her daughter's PTA, and teaches art and yoga.

Open to all and welcome; no reservations necessary. Suggested supper donation $7/adult; $3/10 and under.  Please bring your own place settings. Seventh Generation Suppers include a sharing time and programs to help build local resilience and reduce carbon dependency. For more information, visit transitionfidalgo.org.

​Saturday, July 23, 2016
Sleep Better Tonight!
Time: 10:30-noon
Anacortes Public Library, 1220 10th St.
If you are struggling to fall asleep, or finding yourself wide-awake in the middle of the night, attend this class taught by Sharon Swan, certified Nutrition Counselor. You don't have to feel tired all the time. There are healthy, natural solutions to getting a good night's sleep. Hear a dozen tips, develop a few new habits, and with a tiny bit of discipline you can fall asleep quickly and avoid those middle-of-the-night wide eyes.

Radio interview on BlueGreen Alliance:
http://speakupspeakoutradio.org/…/suso-2016-04-27-BlueGreen…
This show features Steve Garey, retired refinery employee, and former president of United Steel Workers local 12-591. He currently serves on the Executive Board of the Washington State BlueGreen Alliance. Steve works to engage union members in becoming part of the solution in making policy decisions about how we transition to a post fossil-fuel economy. The interview explores the concept of “just transition” which considers the economic stress on workers and communities dependent on the fossil fuel industry. Steve identifies areas of common interest between labor and environmentalists, and describes projects the BlueGreen Alliance in Washington is currently addressing. Steve Garey is a featured speaker at a May 11 forum about "Just Transition" in Anacortes.