San Juan County Department of Community Development (DCD) is now accepting eligibility applications for detached ADU permits proposed outside of urban growth areas and activity centers. ADU eligibility applications must be received no later than 4:30 pm February 10, 2020.  

In 2020, six eligibility slots are allowed for the construction of new ADUs and one is available for the conversion of existing accessory structures, legally in existence for five years. DCD will hold a lottery if the number of eligibility applications exceeds the number of ADUs allowed in 2020. Continue Reading

Here’s this month’s history column from the San Juan Historical Society and Museum…

When this editorial cartoon appeared in the November 24, 1949 issue of the Friday Harbor Journal, no one could have foreseen what was to come. It heralded the beginning of one doozy of a severe winter from Old Man Winter or more scientifically, a historic series of arctic blasts of snow and wind.

By December, snowfall and freezing roads had caused the postponement of some island events. When school let out for the Christmas holiday, it was the beginning of several weeks of extended closure as each new storm clobbered the islands. A New Year’s Day blizzard spread to most of northwestern Washington, while on San Juan Island it was the start of week after week of temperatures stuck in the twenties, dipping down into the teens and below overnight.

This memorable winter was brought up during the “Old Islanders Tell It All” event at the San Juan Island Library recently. Mary Jane Anderson remembered that school was closed for nearly two months by snow storms and impassable roads. Ponds froze over, inviting fun sliding or skating, and a few adventuresome drivers took cars for a spin atop the ice. Continue Reading

Yoga Instructor Katerina Wen – Contributed photo

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae…

Whether the New Year brings with it a desire to counter the indulgences of the holidays or an ongoing intention to retain and improve your health and well being, the Mullis Center’s regular classes; Gentle Yoga, Chair Yoga, both taught by Katerina Wen or Balance Class with Cindy Lonsinger and Tyler Cornell may be just the right thing for you.

Gentle Yoga with Katerina Wen: 9:30 – 10:30 am on Tuesdays. This class is good for beginners as well as experienced yoga practitioners. It will help you maintain a supple body and a peaceful mind, improve joint mobility, balance, reflexes, and mental clarity.

This class will give students opportunities for questions and individual attention. “With regular participation, you will embody routines that regenerate the suppleness of your muscles and joints. And once you have begun to practice consistently, you will have enhanced stamina, improved blood circulation, and better brain function.” Continue Reading

Island Rec is excited to offer another installment of Swim Lessons at SJI Fitness.

The fun starts on Saturday, January 25^th with Parent and Child (Ages 6 mo- 3 yrs) at 9:15-9:45 am, Beginner Skills (Ages 4+) at 9:55- 10:25 am, and Pre-K Water Play (ages 4-5) at 10:35-11:05 am.

These Saturday classes will run through March 7^th. In addition, on Monday, January 27^th our newest program All Swim (Ages 6+) at 3-4:30 pm will run through March 23^rd.

Unless otherwise noted, early Fee for all classes: $50. Fee is $55 after early fee expires (varies by session). We hope this round of classes will be a splashing success!

For more information on class dates, times, or registration visit www.islandrec.org; call 360-378-4953 or drop by the office at 580 Guard St. Monday – Friday 11am-5pm.

Deal prevents climate pollution, protects Southern Resident orcas

Deal signed by Environmental Organizations, Skagit County, and Refinery will allow clean air projects to proceed and halts new petrochemical processing and export at Anacortes Oil Refinery

SKAGIT COUNTY, WA — In an agreement announced today, the owners of the Anacortes Oil Refinery agreed to withdraw plans to manufacture and export 15,000 barrels per day of mixed xylenes — petrochemicals used to make plastics — through the Salish Sea. In exchange, six environmental organizations agreed to drop an ongoing appeal of related permits. Skagit County, which issued the permits, has also signed the agreement.

The proposal to produce and export mixed xylenes would have caused a dramatic increase in energy use required for the refinery, resulting in a climate impact equivalent to adding 75,000 vehicles to the road. The project would have required the refinery to transport significant quantities of feedstocks, as well as shipping tankers of the refined product to Asia. The appellants argued that the County’s environmental impact statement did not adequately analyze the risk of the additional vessel trips, exacerbated risk of an oil and chemical spill, and increased threats to the critically endangered Southern Resident Killer Whale population. The agreement announced today eliminates these impacts. Continue Reading

In the SJ Update mailbag this morning we find this letter to you from Eileen Drath…

Dear Editor,

This year has ended and now we embark on a new decade.  Carrying the tide for me is the presence of our San Juan County Land Bank.

Please read below the Land Bank’s Mandate and join me in giving great thanks for the people who oversee the work with this organization.

The Mandate: “To preserve in perpetuity areas in the county that have environmental, agricultural, aesthetic, cultural, scientific, historic, scenic or low-intensity recreational value and to protect existing and future sources of potable water.”

I hope you can get outside, by foot or by vehicle; by land or sea, to spend time on one of our preserves.

Happy New Year,

Eileen Drath
Friday Harbor

Click to enlarge

Friday Harbor Film Festival’s annual Best of the Fest series begins January 7. Award-winning, impactful feature films and shorts from the 2019 Festival will be shown every first and third Tuesday from January through May at the Grange beginning at 7 pm. These screenings are free, although donations are encouraged.

The line-up includes:

• January 7 – The IF Project (Best Feature Documentary)
• January 21 – Double Feature Night – The Wild & Dammed to Extinction
• February 4 – Ghost Fleet
• February 18 – The Zen Speaker (Audience Choice Award “Things to Consider”)
• March 3 – The Need to Grow
• March 17 – The Biggest Little Farm
• April 7 – Maiden (Audience Choice Award “Explorers & Adventures”)
• April 21 – Double Feature Night – Risking Light & This Being Human (Best Documentary Short)
• May 5 – The Bowmakers
• May 19 – The River and the Wall

It’s happening in Port Townsend in 2020, from July 7th to 10th…

The Washington Trust is pleased to announce that the application for our annual Youth Heritage Project is now open. This year’s program will focus on the recently designated Maritime Washington National Heritage Area, exploring the rich maritime history of Port Townsend and experiencing the coastline by land and by sea from our base at historic Fort Worden.

Youth Heritage Project is all about place-based learning and fun, hands-on activities. This annual interactive field school hosts 40 high school students and eight teachers for four days and three nights, connecting them to historic, cultural, and natural resources in Washington. Thanks to our generous sponsors and partners, we are proud to offer this program FREE OF COST to accepted participants.

All high school-age students are encouraged to apply. Not a high schooler? Help us spread the word about this fun, engaging, and free summer program by sharing this email or the link below with your family members and friends.

Learn more about this year’s program and how to apply:

Applications for YHP 2020 are due by April 11.
Notifications will be made in early May.

Click here for more information.

Fish for Teeth sponsors a mobile dental van for dental clinics on San Juan Island, up to four times a year – Contributed photo

Islanders can receive affordable dental care, thanks to the local nonprofit Fish For Teeth, on Friday, Jan. 24 and Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, at the Mullis Community Center on San Juan Island.

“Many volunteers and local businesses work as a team to bring this service to those who cannot otherwise afford dental care,” said Fish For Teeth Founder Matt Marinkovich, a San Juan Island commercial fisherman.

Fish For Teeth sponsors a mobile dental van for dental clinics on San Juan Island, up to four times a year. The van can handle a variety of services, from teeth cleanings to root canals. Continue Reading

Moose is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

Look into my eyes…deeper, deeper… yes that’s it! Beautiful, aren’t they? 

I’ve heard it said that I’m quite the catch, the kind of young fella who you can show off to your friends and take home to meet the parents. 

So, what’s a keeper like me doing without a forever home? Well I’m not even a year old, but I’ve already had quite the adventure, I even got to travel across country with that sassy young country singer who you read about a couple of weeks ago, but that’s another story. 

Those days are behind me now and I’m ready to settle down, meet new friends, run on the beach, maybe do a bit more running after that…you know, enjoy life island style! 

If you are looking for a fancy bit of leash candy with an appetite for life let’s make a date. My name’s Moose and I can’t wait to meet you.

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
994 Cattle Point Road
(360) 378-2158

This new program series begins Monday, January 27 at 7:00 pm at the San Juan Island Library and it’s free.

The Library is pleased to announce a new series based on the Foreign Policy Association’s Great Decisions program. Great Decisions is America’s largest discussion program on world affairs and highlights eight critical foreign policy challenges facing Americans each year.

In libraries across the country, Great Decisions discussion group participants discuss and debate each issue and complete a national opinion ballot to communicate their views to Congress and the White House. Supported by the Foreign Policy Association for over 50 years, Great Decisions involves citizens in the foreign policy making process.

The Foreign Policy Association is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to broadening public involvement with the most important foreign policy issues facing the United States. Each year, thousands take part in the Great Decisions discussion groups around the country to increase their awareness and understanding of U.S. foreign policy concern. Continue Reading

Dwight Ware, President of Community Treasures Recycling (formerly Consignment Treasures), writes to invite you to a CT meeting this Sunday…

Community Treasures at a Crossroad

If you value CT services, please attend the meeting, Sunday, December 29^th, 2019 at 5:00 pm at Grange Hall in Friday Harbor.

See the 2019 Final CT Petition for rezone (PDF) for more info.

Photo by Bethany Anderson, APS-FH Shelter Manager

Thank You, Island Family For Making The Holidays Bright For Aps-Fh Pets In Waiting

It began with a phone call to APS-FH Volunteer Coordinator, Diana O’Brian, mere days before holiday shopping got underway.

Two talented island artists, Joelle and Pam Gillette, were on the line suggesting an APS-FH volunteer-hosted Angel Tree to brighten the season for dogs and cats having to spend their holidays at the shelter.

And just like Santa on his sleigh, Joelle and Pam jumped into action placing Angel Trees at local businesses adorned with gift-wish cards featuring their beautiful artwork and handwritten pet bio for each shelter animal. Continue Reading

Friends of the San Juans Ensures Added Protections for Southern Resident Killer Whales in Regard to Phillips 66 Refinery Expansion

On August 29, 2019, Friends of the San Juans appealed Whatcom County’s conditional approval of a 300,000-barrel external floating roof crude oil storage tank and an 80,000-barrel external floating roof fuel oil storage tank in a tank farm located within the Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery. 

On behalf of Friends members and the 73 living Southern Resident Killer Whales, they presented legal arguments before the Whatcom County Hearing Examiner on November 1, 2019, with support from multiple expert witnesses (including several whale scientists). Continue Reading

San Juan County residents responded enthusiastically to the Friday Harbor Arts Commission’s call for submissions for its first Poetry Garden Contest. The Town received 271 poems composed by 89 adult and student poets. Those entering the contest were required to reside within the county but otherwise were limited only by the number of lines that will fit on the gardens’ engraved plaques.

Local judges have reviewed the entries and forwarded their selections to Washington State Poet Laureate and past Seattle Civic Poet, Claudia Castro Luna, who will make the final selections. Winning poems will be announced in February 2020. This spring, the poems will be engraved and installed on posts at four sites around town where they will be displayed for two years. These poems will also be published in a booklet to be distributed throughout the islands beginning this summer.

The Friday Harbor Arts Commission (FHAC) partnered with a committee of local citizens on this project. The FHAC was formed in November 2014 by the Town of Friday Harbor to advise the Town Council on the selection, placement, and maintenance of public art.

The San Juan Island School District will be asking for voter support this coming February 11, 2020 in a special election for reauthorization of the Capital and Technology levy for the years 2021-2024. The Capital and Technology levy provides funding for capital improvements, major facility repairs, and technology equipment, implementation, and support.

“Basic education funding” provided by the State of Washington does not provide any funds for school district capital facility improvements or technology. The District’s general fund, funded through state basic education dollars and the local Educational Programs and Operations (EP&O) levy, pays for the daily operating expenses and minor repairs of our facilities.

“Capital and Technology funds” are necessary to handle major repairs, system replacements, and improvement of facilities as well as educational and support systems provided through technology. For the current levy, voters approved $0.46 per $1,000.00. Continue Reading