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From top: Artist Doug Bison, a member of the town
From top: Artist Doug Bison, a member of the town's Centennial Advisory Committee, was master of ceremonies for his 25th Friday Harbor Fourth of July Parade. Representatives of the Lummi Indian Nation, the First People of San Juan Island, participated in the parade collectively as Grand Marshal. Lisa Moretti's lion-tamer routine helped the San Juan Lions Club win a Judges Choice ribbon. The Keith Highlanders Pipe Band of Seattle won the award for Best Off-Island Entry.

A lot of winners on the Fourth of July


Jul 07 2009

This year's Fourth of July celebration will long be remembered for its crowds, its commemorations of the town and fire department centennials, and the presence of Lummi Indian Nation representatives as grand marshals of Friday Harbor's parade.

But it will also be remembered for its winners. Like Capt. Norm the Canadian, who topped a field of four candidates to win the Roche Harbor mayor's race. And Nick Roberts, 16, of Friday Harbor, who won two footraces on the Fourth: The Firecracker 5K in Friday Harbor, with a time of 16:47; and the 2.9-mile Family Fun Run in Roche Harbor, with a time of 16:27. At Roche Harbor, he broke the record set in 2008 by Jack Godwin of 16:52.

Here's a list of the winners of various Fourth of July contests:

Friday Harbor Fourth of July Parade
— Best Float: "R" House.
— Best of Theme: Mullis Center Quilting Bee.
— Judges Choice: Ward Phillips' Calliope.
— Best Off-Island: Keith Highlanders Pipe Band of Seattle.
— Best Costume: Soroptimists.
— Best Spirit: San Juan de Funky Drummers.
— Judges Choice Ribbon: San Juan Island Library.
— Judges Choice Ribbon: San Juan Lions Club.
— Judges Choice Special Award Ribbon: EMTs, for responding to a emergency during the parade.

Roche Harbor Mayor
— Capt. Norm the Canadian

Firecracker 5K, Friday Harbor
— First place, male: Nick Roberts, Friday Harbor, 16:47.
— First place, female: Karen Steen, Olympia, 17:59.

Family Fun Run, 2.9 miles, Roche Harbor
* = Record
— First place, male, 6 and younger: Austin Mitchell, 30:20.*
— First place, male, 7-12: Vance Parkens, 19:41.*
— First place, female, 13-16: Marissa Opatz, 17:18.*
— First place, male, 13-16: Nick Roberts, 16:27.*
— First place, female, 17-39: Fellicia Hobber, 19:45.
— First place, male, 17-39: Dack Goodwin, 17:10.
— First place, female, 40-49: Katie Robertson, 19:57.
— First place, male, 40-49: Chris Johnson, 16:32.
— First place, male, 50-59: Jim Brodrick, 19:40.*
— First place, male, 60 and older: John Blosshard, 19:54.*
— First place, dog: Leo Barret, 20:26.*

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