Merri Ann Simonson shares another San Juan Island lifestyle video with you. This one is about the Friday Harbor fourth of July parade…

The San Juan Island Library Presents 3 More Wednesday Afternoon Performances for Children and Families

• Wednesday, July 18 – Bill Robison gives a one-man show filled with unpredictable, zany comedy and entertainment. Audiences will love this fast-paced, high-energy performance.
• Wednesday, July 25 – Roberto the Magnificent returns to wow audiences with his amazing juggling and stunts. Watch Roberto juggle sharp knives, flaming torches, and saws. This show is action-packed and full of surprises.
• Wednesday, Aug. 1 – The Cap’n Arrr Pirate Show is full of audience participation and laughs. Be ready to walk the plank and speak pirate as Cap’n Arrr will take you on an exciting ride. Refreshments and cake to follow the performance in celebration of the final Summer Reading Program show.

All Wednesday Afternoon Performances are free for the public and held at the Friday Harbor Elementary School Outdoor Pavilion at 1:30 PM. Please bring blankets and chairs for seating. The San Juan Island Library’s Summer Reading Program is funded by the Friends of the San Juan Island Library.

For more information about the San Juan Island Library’s services, please stop by the library today at 1010 Guard Street in Friday Harbor or visit www.sjlib.org.

Tonight, from 8:00 to 10:00 PM, you are invited to a vigil at the courthouse to show support for immigrant families who are fleeing their war torn and gang ravaged homes seeking safety in the United States.

Please bring a candle and also wear blue. Signage expressing sympathy for the families and calling for compassion, democracy and justice for these families is also welcomed.

In the SJ Update mailbag we find this letter from Huddle Lopez Island…

Bravo for rallies in the rain! Bravo for signs held high! Bravo for floats in parades!

Bravo for letters to politicians!

Bravo to students for their initiative, leadership, sensitivity, and energy!

Bravo to everyone for what you have done to help bring immigrant families back together!

But sadly the tragedy persists. The injustice remains. The wails of despair are still loud. The struggle is not over. There is still much to do.

So keep up the campaign. Remain strong. In the end you can say proudly,
“I helped right a horrible wrong!”

Huddle Lopez Island
www.huddlelopez.us

Eagle and Crows – Kevin Holmes photo

Kevin Holmes shares this photo of an eagle apparently not bothered by all the crows trying to antagonize him. Great photo – Thanks Kevin!

Last call for Island Writers & Learn How to Prepare Your Fair Entries!

Still hear that beat?  That should have been the quickening heart rate of all you Island Writers preparing your entries to the drum beat of the 2018 “Rockin’ the Salish Sea” San Juan County Fair!

But wait, it’s not too late!  Although the Fair is a month away—August 15-18—the deadline for the Written Word entries is July 20^th—less than a week away!  Quick, polish up those writings—Prose, Poetry, Writing for Children—from the last two years, and postmark them to Island Writers, SJC Fair, POB 1094, Friday Harbor, WA  98250 or email them to [email protected] by July 20^th. 

Check out the premium book: Island Writers (Z—as in ZZ Top?) is on pages 36-37.  Questions? 378-4130.

If writing isn’t your thing, and you would like to enter something else in the Fair, the San Juan Island Library will host a free evening program “Going for the Blue(s): How to Prepare a Winning Entry at the San Juan County Fair” on Wednesday, July 25^th at 7pm.  Learn from Fair Board Members and Superintendents what all the fuss is about and how to submit a winning entry. Refreshments are courtesy of the Friends of the Library.

“Rockin’ the Salish Sea”— rock it, now!

Here’s an invitation from the Land Bank to help with their work party this weekend…

Join us THIS Saturday for a rousing round of weeding. We’ve made great headway in weed control on Mount Grant the last few years – thanks to many volunteers, the San Juan Island Youth Conservation Corps, Northwest Youth Corps, and other partners. We would love your help Saturday to continue the good work. We will primarily be working with tansy ragwort, Bull thistle, and Scot’s broom.

• When?
  Saturday, July 21
  9:00 am to Noon*
• Where?
  Mount Grant Preserve
  Meet at parking lot
• What?
  Noxious weed pull
• Bring/Wear:
  Gloves, sturdy footwear, and drinking water. Long pants and tall boots recommended to reduce grass seed riddled socks.

The Land Bank will provide some hand pruners, hand tools, buckets, and plastic bags as well as snacks.

*Note: We’ll be working along the main road/trail loop in a counter clockwise orientation if you want to join along the way!

Thank You to the San Juan Island Community Foundation Women’s Fund

On behalf of the entire San Juan Island Library Youth Services staff, I would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the San Juan Island Community Foundation Women’s Fund for their generous support of our Middle Grade Book Club. For the 2018-2019 school year, the Women’s Fund will provide funding to purchase books for our club members. These books will go directly into the hands of our island’s emerging teen population and help expose them to a variety of authors and literary genres.

The Middle Grade Book Club is one of the library’s most popular programs for this age group, with a steady participation rate of more than 20 members who enjoy socializing at the library and sharing their love of reading. Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson shares this report with you…

Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo

The second quarter results which complete the first half of the year for San Juan Island were similar to the first quarter. Per the NWMLS, the dollar volume on San Juan Island was $56,399,689 with a total of 108 transactions. The numbers reflects a 18% decrease in transaction number and a 22% decrease in dollar volume as compared to the same period in 2017. For San Juan County, the total dollar volume was $143,972,044 with a total of 245 transactions. The County’s gain was 5% in transaction number and 11.5% in dollar volume.

Continue reading… (PDF)

I saw some SJ Islands Stewardship guide books at the library, created by Public Works, that are intended to be a gentle orientation to island living for visitors.

If you run an island business that has guests coming from off island, you may be interested in sharing this guidebook with them in an effort to encourage them to “tread lightly” on our islands.

I asked Kendra Smith about it, (Ecologist and Environmental Resources Manager at San Juan County Public Works) and she had this to say:

“Thank you for contacting us regarding the stewardship guide.  We are actively distributing the guide to as many of the hotels and resorts as we can and the 1000 AirBnB and VRBO rentals permitted in the County.  We have the displays up at the libraries on the three main Islands as well as at Community Development and at the Public Works office.” 

“We can get any group copies if they would like to distribute them to housing or accommodations.  We view it as a mini coffee-table orientation book, meant to stay at accommodation sites vs being carried home by visitors like a brochure.  We printed enough to replace a copy at all the accommodations in the county for next year as well, so it will be around for at least two to three years.  We also assumed some residents might be interested if they have a lot of guests.”

“We don’t have it up on the [county] website, but will be working on that in the next week or so, along with getting a version we can post on the ferries.  We also have some social prompt elements under the banner “all natural San Juans”, that will be rolled out in August and carried forward next year, to help reinforce good behavior (like be water wise, recycle right etc.).”

If this is of interest to you, swing by the library to pick one up or get in touch with Public Works for more information.

Keeping Cool – Beth Spadafora photo

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

Now that hot summer weather has finally come to our neck of the woods we may rejoice but we also need to take care. High temperatures can be dangerous. The July issue of San Juan Island Senior Signal*, the Mullis Senior Center’s newsletter, features a list of Summer Safety Tips for Seniors.  

I won’t repeat these wise recommendations only to say, stay hydrated, remember your sun hat, sunscreen, and your sunglasses. Take hot weather safety seriously.

That said here are some tips for staying cool that put the emphasis on fun: Continue Reading

Jeromy Sullivan – Contributed photo

OLYMPIA – Governor Jay Inslee has appointed Jeromy Sullivan, chair of the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe, to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, a state board that awards grants for projects to help return salmon from the brink of extinction.

Sullivan has extensive experience in conservation and salmon recovery issues. He has served on the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Point No Point Treaty Council and Kitsap Forest and Bay Coalition.

Sullivan has served on the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribal Council since 2005 and as chair for nearly a decade. Before being elected to the council, he worked as information technology manager for the tribe and was a commercial geoduck harvester for 19 years. Sullivan was the recipient of the Billy Frank, Jr. Natural Resource Protection Leadership Award in 2015.

“Mr. Sullivan will be a great addition to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, which administers the funding board’s grants. “Tribes have a deep cultural connection to salmon. As a tribal leader, he will bring a valuable perspective to our work.”

The Washington State Legislature created the Salmon Recovery Funding Board in 1999. Composed of five citizens appointed by the governor, and five state agency directors, the board brings together the experiences and viewpoints of citizens and the major state agencies with a connection to salmon. The board provides grants to protect or restore salmon habitat and assist related activities. Since its start, the board has awarded more than $650 million for more than 2,400 projects statewide.

Third Saturday contra dance in Friday Harbor!
Please join us for our July contra dance, on Saturday July 21st, at the Grange Hall in Friday Harbor.  This time we are featuring Jay Finkelstein as our caller, and Quit Thinkin’ as the band.

Jay is one of our favorite callers, hailing from Seattle and providing a good time teaching and helping us through the dances. The band is headquartered in Ellensburg, with Pico Cantieni on fiddle and mandoline, Dave Barnet on guitar, and Scott Staples on bodhran and spoons.

The dance goes from 7:00 till 9:00 PM.
$10 donation at the door, $5 students.
All dances are taught, no partner or experience needed.  Sponsored by San Juan Island Grange 966.

Come enjoy this very good time!

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

Roosevelt here. But you can call me “Rosie”. All my friends here at the animal shelter do. I’m a true cat of distinction. Intelligent, elegant and refined.

Life on the inside isn’t that bad, but I’d be inclined to blow this popsicle stand if the right home comes along. I think you’ll find me excellent company as well as a witty conversationalist.

As long as everything’s exactly the way I want it, I’m willing to be totally and completely flexible. Stop by and meet me soon.

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
111 Shelter Road
(360) 378-2158

The parade ground at American Camp after the fire – SJ Update photo

San Juan Island National Historical Park has Wildland Fire

On Sunday, July 15th, 2018, a historic weapons artillery demonstration caused a wildland fire at American Camp within San Juan Island National Historical Park.

National Park Service personnel called 911, and San Juan Fire District #3 responded. The fire spread rapidly in dry grass fuels with hot, dry, somewhat windy conditions. The fire moved into a tree line, torched a few trees, and burnt through brushy areas.

The fire Incident Commander initially ordered a Washington Department of National Resources helicopter for support but canceled once they were able to knock the fire down. The approximately three acre fire was contained within an hour of the initial report.

Just outside the parade ground on the east side of the fence at American Camp after the fire – SJ Update photo

Elexis Fredy, park superintendent, has suspended all live firing demonstrations until a review is completed on the operations, and mitigation measures are in place to avoid future ignitions.

East side of the parade ground fence at American Camp after the fire – SJ Update photo

Larry Soll invites you to the next film at San Juan Community Theatre next Tuesday…

Fellow Film Buffs,

Coming up on Tuesday July 17th at 7:30 pm,
Blackfish
Documentary, Drama PG-13  84 minutes

Many of us have experienced the excitement and awe of watching 8,000-pound orcas, or “killer whales,” soar out of the water and fly through the air at sea parks, as if in perfect harmony with their trainers. Yet, in our contemporary lore this mighty black-and-white mammal is like a two-faced Janus-beloved as a majestic, friendly giant yet infamous for its capacity to kill viciously.

BLACKFISH is the story of notorious performing whale Tilikum, who-unlike any orca in the wild-has taken the lives of several people while in captivity. So what exactly went wrong? Shocking, never-before-seen footage and riveting interviews with trainers and experts manifest the orca’s extraordinary nature, the species’ cruel treatment in captivity over the last four decades, and the growing disillusionment of workers who were misled and endangered by the highly profitable sea-park industry.

This emotionally wrenching, tautly structured story challenges us to consider our relationship to nature and reveals how little we humans have learned from these highly intelligent and enormously sentient fellow mammals.

This is “bonus addition” to our summer film series and is being underwritten by a group of individuals committed to the preservation of free orca whales who are gathering here this week.  Thanks go to our “Superpod” friends for sponsoring this showing and inviting islanders to attend and “pay what you can” .