The Senior Services Council of San Juan County shares an update about the progress of their operational transition process.

Earlier this spring, the Board of Directors of the Senior Services Council of San Juan County voted to transfer the operational functions of its three District Committees to three stand-alone nonprofit organizations. The Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan District Committees have been working toward a seamless transition since April. At its meeting on Aug. 18, the Board amended its bylaws to move District elections from October to January to help the SSCSJC remain consistent as it transitions.

All three District Committees are currently working with San Juan County and Whatcom Council on Aging to transfer business agreements for transportation and nutrition programs to the three new nonprofits. With separate nonprofits, patrons of senior centers should notice little if any changes other than improved services.

The transition is expected to be completed over the next several months. District Committees will continue to operate their senior centers just as they do now until the new nonprofit organizations are ready to assume their new roles. Donations earmarked for a specific center will continue to go to that island’s senior center. Centers do not anticipate any decrease in services, classes, activities or offerings. Instead, the transition period is an opportunity to prepare for improved responsiveness and engagement as each location prepares to move forward independently.

Additional information about the transition is posted on the Mullis Center website.

Contributed photo

Shannon Dean shares a heartwarming story of two long-time islanders.

Of course I Googled it — what is the symbol for 70 years of marriage? As it turns out, it is platinum. Not what I would have thought for symbolizing 70 years together. But apparently platinum symbolizes the strength, rarity, endurance, and purity of true love. Yes it does.

I happen to be fortunate enough to be a part of Louise and John Dustrude’s lives. I first fell in like with the younger of their two handsome sons and later it was true love. I distinctly remember a conversation I had with Tim when we first started dating, and it went something like this:

Me: “You don’t really believe in true love, do you? I mean that’s just in novels and movies. It’s not something real.”

Tim: “Sure I do.”

Me: “Oh yeah, give me one example of someone you know that has experienced true love.”

Tim: (without hesitation or thought) “My parents.”

It’s hard to imagine being together with someone you love for 70 years, and still liking them, not to mention loving them. And yet these two charming people are just that — in love with each other now as much as the day they married in 1952, if not more. I have had the best fortune of being part of their lives for 24 years and can bear witness to this relationship that is as unique as the individuals that they are. If only you could sell the admiration and respect they have for one another, you would never need another thing the rest of your life. Imagine two people who laugh together, walk together, travel together, hold hands (sometimes when no one is looking) and even hug and kiss each other.

You might see them riding around town on their three-wheeled tricycles that they refer to as doodlebugs. They exude a passion for life that emanates and touches everyone who knows them. They’ve certainly touched my life and I am forever grateful they have.

So kudos, Louise and John — also known as Plucky Broad and Himself.

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• The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for the nine missing passengers from the Sunday afternoon crash of a Northwest Seaplanes DHC-3 Turbine Otter that was bound for Renton after leaving Friday Harbor. The body of a tenth passenger was recovered on Sunday. The aircraft crashed in Mutiny Bay off the west side of Whidbey Island. At the time, weather conditions near Mutiny Bay were scattered clouds, with a visibility of 10 miles, according to the National Weather Service.
• According to the Washington State Department of Ecology, dive crews have finished cutting away free-floating netting from the sunken fishing vessel Aleutian Isle. They have also secured all remaining entanglement hazards and have started to attach the rigging that will be used to lift the vessel from a depth of more than 200 feet off the west side of San Juan Island.
• San Juan Island Community Theatre’s screening of The Book of Dust from The National Theatre in London takes place tonight at 7 p.m.
• The San Juan Islands Sculpture Park’s monthly bird walk happens tomorrow from 8-10 a.m. Local birder Tyler Davis will lead the walk, which focuses on identification by sight and sound, and the life histories of some of the island’s most popular resident species. Everyone is welcome, donations are welcome, and binoculars are recommended.
• Archipelago Collective’s Chamber Music Festival takes place this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with four performances over three days at Brickworks and the San Juan Islands Museum of Art.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

Julia Turney, San Juan County Master Gardener, sends along an update about the status of our local bigleaf maples.

Our bigleaf maple leaves have been looking very gray this summer and many trees have leaves that are turning brown and dropping from the trees.

The culprit is powdery mildew. There are several types of fungi that attack only maples. Powdery mildew fungi thrive with cool, humid nights that stimulate spore production and warm (70 to 80 F), dry days that allow for spore spread. Fungal spores are spread by the wind. The fruiting body of the fungus can overwinter or live in buds infected in the previous season. The combination of stress from our dry summer and damage from fungi is causing the leaves to turn brown and drop.

There are fungicides that treat powdery mildew but they do best when used before symptoms develop and few are good at eradicating fungi. Many have to be used every seven to 14 days. The San Juan County Extension WSU Master Gardener program does not recommend that homeowners spray trees over ten feet tall. Given the number and size of bigleaf maples in our county, treatment is not practical.

Bigleaf maple trees should recover next year, and as long as the trees are not subject to the same stress for a couple of years in a row, they will not die from the powdery mildew infestation. Additionally, there are so many affected trees and leaf litter that treatment isn’t practical. Leaves can be collected and composted for other uses, as the fungus is maple specific. Composting is a good option for managing falling leaves. The fungus feeds on live leaf tissue so it will not multiply on dead leaves and the spores will break down in the compost process.

For further reference, Washington State University Hortsense’s website has general information on powdery mildew. The San Juan County Extension WSU Master Gardener program office in Friday Harbor is available to provide answers to gardening and landscape questions. It can be reached at 360-370-7663 or [email protected].

• Friday Harbor High School football lost 34-14 to South Whidbey High School in a road game on Friday night.
• According to this KUOW article, the fishing vessel Aleutian Isle briefly ran aground at the entrance to Cap Sante Marina the day before it sank off the west side of San Juan Island three weeks ago, per eyewitness accounts and photographs.
• The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife seeks public feedback about rules pertaining to vessels operating near Southern Resident killer whales. WDFW is required to review the rules and issue a report every two years with recommendations for possible changes.
• Tomorrow is the last Sunday of the year for Market Place. It’ll be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — and then closed on Monday for the holiday.
• Julie’s Nursery at 150 Web St. is having a Labor Day weekend sale, with selected indoor and outdoor plants available at 50 percent off.
• The Library is offering free English classes for adults on Tuesdays and Thursdays from Sept. 22 through Dec. 15. All levels of speakers are welcome, and participants may bring their children with them. The Library will provide all materials, along with refreshments.
• The 2:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. shows today at the Palace Theatre will have on-screen captions for the hearing impaired. Elvis is at 2:30 p.m.; Top Gun: Maverick is at 3 p.m.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

Jodie Comer in Prima Facie — Photo credit: Helen Murray

SJCT shares news about the theatre and opera screenings taking place throughout the rest of the year.

Thanks to the support of the McGee Foundation, San Juan Community Theatre will be screening selections from The National Theatre in London and The Metropolitan Opera in New York on the big screen in Friday Harbor.

The screenings kick off with National Theatre’s The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman, adapted by Bryony Lavery, on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. On Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. you can see actress Jodie Comer — known for her starring role on the TV series Killing Eve — as she makes her West End debut in Prima Facie by Suzie Miller. The first screening from The Metropolitan Opera is on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 1 p.m. with Cherubini’s rarely performed masterpiece Medea.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. For complete show times or to purchase tickets, visit the San Juan Community Theatre website or call the box office at 360-378-3210.

As the volunteer fundraiser coordinator for the Friday Harbor Athletic Association, we would like to thank the San Juan Island Community Foundation for the generous grant they gifted the FHAA this year. Their grant covered participation fees for football players and cheerleaders that would otherwise be unable to play due to the cost of tuition fees, ferry fares and travel expenses. Once again, we are reminded at how fortunate we are to live in a community like San Juan Island that has opportunities such as the SJICF that so generously supports our island youth. Words are not adequate to express our gratitude towards SJICF. Your scholarship positively affected many island children and for that we are very thankful.

Jillian Reimer
San Juan Island

A two-month hunting season for black-tailed deer opened on the western side of Mount Grant Preserve yesterday, according to the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank. The season includes specific periods for early archery (Sept. 1-23), muzzleloaders (Sept. 24-Oct. 2), and modern firearms (Oct. 15-31).

“The remote nature of the western portion of Mount Grant Preserve makes it a good candidate for hunting access and provides an opportunity to continue the recreational and cultural tradition of hunting on San Juan Island,” says Tanja Williamson, outreach and volunteer coordinator for the Land Bank. “The parking area only allows for one vehicle and a hunting party is limited to three individuals. As extra precautions, hunter orange vests are provided at trailheads and notice is posted.”

Hunters must review and follow all Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hunting regulations. Written permission to hunt at Mount Grant Preserve is also required. To obtain permission, hunters can use WDFW’s online reservation system, which allows for one hunting party per day.

The Land Bank has also opened hunting access at the Lopez Hill Preserve for the same two-month season.

“Hunting at Lopez Hill was happening prior to Land Bank management; it was a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) property,” Tanja says. “With the history of hunting already occurring, and the size and condition of the property, [Land Bank] staff believed limited-season deer hunting could continue without compromising other management objectives, and included it in the management plan. Management plans are created through a thoughtful process that includes completed draft plans made available to the public and the Land Bank Commissioners for comment. Those comments are then reviewed and incorporated where appropriate, and a final plan is then submitted to Commission for approval.”

Permission to hunt at Lopez Hill Preserve can be obtained by emailing Tanja.

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor shares a look at the adoptable animals of the week — two small 12-year-old dogs who came to San Juan Island by way of Texas.

Meet the newest dynamic duo — Willow and Stuart. They are a sister and brother who recently came to us after their owner grew ill and had to go into hospice care. Through this new life change of theirs, and in all areas, Willow and Stuart live by the adage that “we’re better together.” Whether they’re posing pretty, playing in the yard, hanging out with their favorite humans, or helping shelter staff in the reception area, Willow and Stuart strongly believe that everything is more fun when done together.

Although these siblings are a perfect pair, you’ll never have to worry about feeling like a third wheel around them because they enthusiastically share their love with everyone they meet. Willow and Stuart have easily made friends with adults, kids, strangers, and other dogs. But please, no cats.

Although we’ll miss them when they go, we know that Willow and Stuart still have a lot of love to give and deserve their own family. They would love to find a home where there is a mix of activity and laziness. Willow and Stuart are in their senior years, so they — wise with age — know the value in afternoon naps and rest. But they also still want to be able to play when their youthful spirit takes hold, which it often does. As if you weren’t already sold on these sweet angels, they are also great on a leash, do well in the car, and are crate and potty trained.

Learn more about Willow and Stuart here.

Contributed photo

As summer comes to an end, we sense the seasonal changes, a cool breeze, and the turning of the leaves. If you are anything like me, you get an autumnal urge to sign up for classes. If, like me, you appreciate a gentle solution sure to improve the quality of your life, I highly recommend Katerina’s chair yoga class taught through the Mullis Center.

If you have been putting off getting into an exercise class because getting up and down off the floor has gotten hard, standing for periods of time is uncomfortable, or you simply do not like to exercise even though you know you should, this class is for you.

The class is gentle yet deceptively thorough. When you have finished a session with Katerina you will feel every part of your body has been gently stretched, strengthened, and invigorated. Plus, you may find you have a smile on your face that was not there before. Katerina’s classes are uplifting.

I have edema in my lower legs and really appreciate the leg tapping, knee massage, and ankle rotations in particular because they so specifically address my issue. I also love how even sitting we are able to address the entire body. Every time it lifts my spirits.

Says student Theresa Simendinger, “Katerina’s classes are one really good thing to come out of the last few years! She has kept spirits up and bodies feeling great! We are lucky to have her!”

You don’t have to be a senior to take this class. It would benefit anyone, especially if you have mobility issues, but Katerina does have a special affinity for seniors. “For the last 12 years, I’ve been designing movement and wellness programs for seniors, and I always look forward to spending time with them,” she explains. “I find this work very meaningful since seniors are one of the most underserved populations. Pedagogically speaking, the typical chair yoga exercises on the market lack compassionate understanding of their day-to-day challenges, and what senior people experience in their physical and mental body, so I feel strongly about continuing this work.”

Classes are held via live Zoom at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays with a recording of each week’s class available to use as often as you’d like during each week. I appreciate the recoded classes because I enjoy the flexibility of choosing what time of day works best for me.

Classes are a suggested $6 per class. The Mullis Center is committed to making these classes available. If the cost is prohibitive, a sliding scale is available. To sign up for the class, arrange to get the recorded class, or learn more about the sliding scale, contact Anna at the Mullis Center at 360-370-7520 or [email protected].

Friday Harbor’s LTAC is still accepting applications for its 2023 grant cycle.

The Town of Friday Harbor’s Lodging Tax Advisory Committee is accepting applications until 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 12 for grants to fund the promotion of events and activities taking place within the town in 2023. Preference will be given to those operations and activities that encourage tourists to visit during the shoulder and winter seasons. Summer activities are acceptable but should be scheduled to avoid what are recognized as high-traffic weekends.

New this year, applications may be submitted by email or as hardcopy. Interested parties should review the Request for Proposal and complete the LTAC grant application.

LTAC grants are awarded annually by the Town Council and are funded with the state’s hotel-motel tax collected on all in-town lodging stays of less than 30 days in length.