Carol’s daughters Desirae and Bristol are asking for your help. Here they are with the story…

Carol Whalen needs our help battling a severe case of bacterial meningitis. Beyond the infection being extremely dangerous, her heart, kidneys, lungs, and blood have also taken a serious hit. Doctors have made it clear that she is in critical condition and life-saving measures are being taken.

Any donation is appreciated; her daughters are committed to donating any leftover funds to Friday Harbor EMS. Please follow her GoFundMe campaign for more details and regular updates as Carol continues to be treated.

We appreciate your help. Thank you.

Desirae and Bristol Whalen

J31 Tsuchi with her new baby J56 – Dante Aubert photo

Stop by and chat with one of the Volunteer Naturalists at the Westside Preserve middle pullover south of Lime Kiln, and at Lime Kiln Whale Watch Wall this weekend.

Happy to answer your questions and share information about the whales and the Salish Sea!!

• 11am-2pm Saturday 7-13-19
  Westside Preserve
• 2pm-5pm Sunday 7-14-19
  Lime Kiln
• depends on weather- rain will cancel

Many thanks to this collaboration with local and regional education and research groups to be providing educational opportunities and helping care for the Westside Preserve!

~ San Juan Island Naturalist Program ~

L-R: Nancy Stark, Home Trust Administrative Assistant; Debbie Lawson, New Home Trust Homeowner; and David Gow, Home Trust Executive Director – Contributed photo

The Home Trust has a new Homeowner! Debbie Lawson, a long-time San Juan Islander purchased a home in the Sun Rise neighborhood this month.

Saying that it has been quite a while since she had a proper kitchen, she now looks forward to her granddaughter being able to walk to “Nana’s” so that they may make cookies together.

Lawson, a professional eldercare giver has long sought a home of her own, finally putting the insecurity of renting in the island‘s seasonal market to rest.

A trail at English Camp near the original Old Military Road – Tim Dustrude photo

On June 13, a group of San Juan Islanders met with the Board of San Juan Island Park and Recreation District (Island Rec) seeking to be recognized as an official committee of Island Rec to explore the feasibility of creating a new trail connecting the two camps of San Juan Island National Historical Park – English Camp and American Camp. The Island Rec Board approved and The Old Military Road Trail Committee was born.

This Old Military Road Trail would honor the historic road used by Cowichan First Nation peoples, followed by the Hudson Bay Company in the 1850s, and later as a link between posts during the joint military occupation of the island by British and American forces.

While the goal of this project is to follow the historic route when possible, parts of the modern-day trail will likely deviate from the original road for a couple of reasons:

• First, over the course of its lifetime, the actual route of the Old Military Road changed a number of times due to various social, political and economic forces. As such there really is no one correct route.
• Second, any route across the island will encounter multiple jurisdictions of private and public lands, so there will need to be a range of options for a re-created route of the Old Military Road.

The Committee is working to design a collaborative public planning process and foster solid community participation to develop a range of options across these multiple jurisdictions.

A segment of the original Old Military Road crossed the current location of Zylstra Lake – Tim Dustrude photo

The Committee anticipates a number of benefits to the San Juan Island community from the development and implementation of this trail: Continue Reading

The Whale Sanctuary Project invites your comments at a town meeting regarding providing a sanctuary for orca whales in the San Juans.

The Whale Sanctuary Project is working to create a permanent sanctuary for rescue/rehab for the Southern Resident orcas and retirement for captive orcas from entertainment parks. We invite you to join us at one of our town meetings to learn more about this project and its potential for your community, and to share your feedback.

The town meeting on San Juan Island is Sunday afternoon, July 21st from 2-4 pm at Brickworks. Please come and bring your friends and hear what this project is all about. We want to hear what you think.

* * *

The Whale Sanctuary Project is a 501c(3) that is made up of a group of scientists that are trying to provide sanctuary sites for whales in captivity in theme parks across the world, in the hopes that these whales can be removed from captivity and either be rehabilitated and released back into the wild or if that is not possible, remain in the sanctuary for the remainder of their lives. 

This sanctuary can also be used as a rescue/rehab facility for local cetaceans.  You can learn more about this group on their website, www.whalesanctuaryproject.org.  They have already established a site for belugas in Nova Scotia and are now trying to establish a site in the San Juans for orcas.

“Deep Dive: the documentaries” will be held on July 13 at the San Juan Island Community Theater at 100 2nd Street North in Friday Harbor, WA from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. (A satellite event of “Deep Dive: the exhibit” at San Juan Islands Museum of Art in Friday Harbor, WA. The exhibit runs from June 14 to September 16).

“Deep Dive: the documentaries” is an event that strives to use multidimensional art to share the beauty and challenges of our Salish Sea, the fragile waters around the San Juan Islands ranging from South British Columbia, Canada all the way down to Olympia, WA. Science will be interspersed with visual, musical, dance and poetic art to create a unique learning experience.

Two brand-new documentaries will be shown! “Artifishal” is a documentary created by Patagonia about fish farms and hatcheries and their impact on native salmon species. “Dammed to Extinction” is describing the issues related to the loss of free-flowing rivers and subsequent depletion of salmon.

Short videos made by the Seattle Times describing current issues with the Southern Resident Killer Whales will be shown. Ballet dancers from the Pacific Northwest Ballet have created a beautiful video called APEX describing the plight of the Orcas through dance. Short trailers will highlight the work of up and coming international videographers who spent time on San Juan Island last summer. Continue Reading

New for this year at the Fair! Consider entering your hay or grain in the San Juan County Fair Grains & Forage Department and get a free quality analysis!  If you plan to enter a sample of your hay or grain in the county fair you can be reimbursed $40 to offset shipping and analysis costs for your forage.  

Simply sample your crop, mail it in for testing and submit the results with your physical entry. You’ll be reimbursed when Fair premium checks are disbursed.

Need help sampling? Visit Washington State University San Juan County Extension Ag Program’s website https://extension.wsu.edu/sanjuan/agriculture/ for more information on sampling equipment you can borrow and a list of labs.  

Contact Ag Tent Coordinator Angie Shephard for more information at 360-622-5143. 

Hillview-Terrace off Roche Harbor Road.  Follow signs.  Saturday, July 13, 9-2. Multiple households participating with something for everyone!  No early birds, please.  

Due to today’s weather, tonight’s Music on the Lawn featuring the Chameleons has been cancelled.

Ruth Moody is coming to the SJ Community Theatre – Contributed photo

Coming to San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, July 14 at 7:30 pm, it’s the Ruth Moody Band

Ruth Moody is a two-time Juno Award winning singer-songwriter from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founding member of the internationally renowned, Billboard-charting trio The Wailin’ Jennys, she has performed in sold-out venues around the world, made numerous critically-acclaimed albums, received five Juno Award nominations, and has appeared more than a dozen times on the American national radio show A Prairie Home Companion.

Although best known for her work with The Wailin’ Jennys, Ruth is an artist of exceptional depth and grace in her own right. Critics have lauded her ethereal vocals, impressive multi-instrumentalism, and her talent as a songwriter. Written with a maturity and wisdom that belies her age, her songs are timeless, universal, and carefully crafted, all sung with an intimacy and honesty that is unmistakably her own. Continue Reading

“They Don’t Live on Words” by Robin Jones

They Don’t Live on Words Alone-Voices of Our Salish Sea

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience legendary speakers on our ocean life in one room on one day.   Be the first to preview new films by marine experts on orcas, salmon and the Salish Sea sponsored by the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA).

On Saturday, July 13, from 9:30 am-5 pm at the San Juan Community Theatre, SJIMA presents DEEP DIVE: the documentaries which showcases current films about issues unique to our Salish Sea accented by arts that also speak for our endangered wildlife.

“Affection” by by Jim Maya

Featured works are Artifishal, The Road to Extinction is Paved with Good Intentions, a new film by Patagonia that explores the threats to wild salmon. The Searching For Chinook documentary by PNW Protectors, set out to film the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) when they found themselves at the center of developing events involving Tahlequah and her dead calf, public comments on breaching dams and the drama between scientists and politicians.

 Seattle Times journalist Lynda Mapes presents Toxins in the Salish Sea. Dammed To Extinction, written by Steven Hawley and directed by Michael Peterson describe the dwindling numbers of salmon and SRKW in the Pacific Northwest. They depict the life work of Ken Balcomb who says, “Studying whales is science. Removing dams is politics.” Continue Reading

This second annual culinary event is presented by Coho Restaurant to benefit SAFE San Juan.  

The Farm-to-Table Dinner will be at the Pelindaba Lavender Farm, Sunday, July 21 at 6:00 pm.

Ticket prices are $75 per dinner + $25 for wine pairing.  Tickets available by calling Coho Restaurant, 360-378-6330 or book online at www.cohorestaurant.com. 

Washington State Auditor Issues San Juan County Fire Protection District #3 Accountability Audit Report

FRIDAY HARBOR, WA – The Washington State Auditor recently released an Accountability Audit Report for San Juan County Fire Protection District #3 for the period of January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2018.

Bob Jarman, Chair of the Fire District Board of Commissioners said, “We aggressively pursued concerns raised in the previous state audit and made necessary corrections. I am proud of the work the District has done to ensure our taxpayers money is utilized appropriately and is thoroughly and transparently documented.”

The Auditor found previous deficiencies identified in an earlier audit (January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2015) had been fully addressed and corrected. In addition to the review and status of addressing previous accounting issues identified in the previous audit, the current audit report also focused on procurement process, as well as the tracking and monitoring of fuel use.

The Auditor’s report stated, “In those selected areas, District operations complied with applicable state laws, regulations, and its own policies, and provided adequate controls over the safeguarding of public resources.”

Fire Chief Norvin Collins said, “Our district takes our fiscal responsibilities seriously and we are committed to be responsible stewards of our taxpayer’s money. It’s not only the law, but it’s the right thing to do for our community. We are grateful to the work done by the Auditor to ensure we have appropriate accounting processes and practices. Audits are an important part of our commitment to our Island community.”

The Washington State Auditor’s Accountability Audit Report is available for review at:

https://portal.sao.wa.gov/ReportSearch/Home/ViewReportFile?arn=1024025&isFinding=false&sp=false

# # #

The San Juan Island Fire & Rescue was established on October 6, 1958. The fire district covers about 55 square miles, including all of San Juan Island, Brown and Pearl Islands. For more information, please visit http://www.sjifire.org/

Island Stage Left presents Shakespeare’s searing drama, The Merchant of Venice, on San Juan Island, July 11-August 11.

The show runs Thursdays-Sundays at 7:45 pm (a new time this year) on the outdoor stage at 1062 Wold Road.

Merchant is the story of the Jewish moneylender Shylock, who has been spat upon, cursed, beaten and cheated, for years —all because he is a Jew. But Shylock’s chief persecutor is suddenly in his power when a loan agreement that seemed like a joke at first goes on the rocks. The loan is interest-free, but a pound of flesh is due if the money isn’t paid back on time. It isn’t, and Shylock demands a savage enforcement of justice.

Director Helen Machin-Smth has transposed the setting of the play to Venice in 1938, under the Mussolini government.

“What I hope to do with this play is put everybody in Shylock’s position, imagining that their way of life, their religion and their traditions are constantly mocked, that their livelihood is being threatened and that they are sworn at and ridiculed on the street,” says Machin-Smith. “Just imagine what your reaction would be. I mean it’s as simple as that. We call it revenge — but it’s at the tail end of years and years and generations of abuse.” Continue Reading

Do you have a passion for Fine Arts, Food Preservation or Sheep?  The San Juan County Fair is still seeking open class department superintendents for the Fine Arts, Food Preservation (Co-Superintendent) & Sheep. 

Open class department superintendents oversee the organization of volunteers during fair, may assist in finding department judges, and help with department layout, intake on entry day, Tuesday, August 13^th & pickup on Sunday, August 18^th. 

A superintendent position does not have to be filled by just one person.  A service group, or two (or more) people can volunteer to fill the volunteer position as co-superintendents.  The San Juan County Fair is a little over a month away and making Fair happen is a county wide effort.   

If you are not able to volunteer as a superintendent during Fair week, we encourage you to sign up to volunteer for a shift or two during Fair week in a department such as Beer & Wine; Crafts & Industrial Arts, Baking, Food Preservation, Jr. Arts & Crafts, Fine Arts, Flowers, Fruits, Vegetables or any other department of your choice! 

Information for volunteering during the Fair can be found at: https://www.sjcfair.org/p/get-involved/226 or call 360-378-4310 or email [email protected]. 

San Juan Healthcare has for many years provided care to island residents as an independent private practice, particularly in the field of geriatrics and pediatrics. As founder Burk Gossom, M.D., approaches retirement this November we hope that a way will be found to replace him. We wish him well as he goes into the next phase of his life and express appreciation for the work he has done. We understand that Mark Fishaut, M.D., and Heather Christensen, P.A., still intend on providing services. 

San Juan Healthcare is a private business and determining business decisions must rest with them. We encourage an expeditious final decision on how this matter will proceed so that arrangements may be made by patients and the medical community to handle the outcome. Time is short. We advise patients to consult with their current providers and potential replacements to ensure continuity of care. 

We appreciate verbal assurances from PIMC leadership that they are aware of this situation and are willing and capable of serving the additional patient load if necessary and work towards any necessary changes for patients to access services with their current insurance. We appreciate their work on behalf of our community. 

Rural health services are struggling across the country. Our community is lucky to have such fine partners. 

And for the Spanish speaking members of our community:

San Juan Healthcare ha brindado atención durante muchos años a los residentes de la isla como una práctica privada independiente, particularmente en el campo de la geriatría y la pediatría. A medida que el fundador Burk Gossom, M.D., se acerca a la jubilación en noviembre, esperamos encontrar una manera de reemplazarlo. Le deseamos lo mejor en la próxima fase de su vida y le expresamos nuestro aprecio y agradecimiento por el trabajo que ha realizado. Entendemos que Mark Fishaut, M.D., y Heather Christensen, P.A. todavía tienen la intención de brindar servicios.

 San Juan Healthcare es una empresa privada y las decisiones comerciales determinantes deben recaer en ellos. Alentamos una decisión pronta sobre cómo procederá este asunto para que los pacientes y la comunidad médica puedan hacer los arreglos para manejar el resultado. El tiempo es poco. Aconsejamos a los pacientes que consulten con sus proveedores actuales y los posibles reemplazos para garantizar así la continuidad de la atención.

 Apreciamos las garantías verbales de los líderes del PIMC que son conscientes de esta situación y están dispuestos y son capaces de atender la carga adicional de pacientes, y si es necesario, trabajar para lograr los cambios necesarios para que los pacientes puedan acceder a los servicios con su seguro actual. Apreciamos su trabajo en nombre de nuestra comunidad.

Los servicios de salud rurales están adolecen en todo el país. Nuestra comunidad tiene la suerte de tener socios tan preclaros.