K. Thor Jensen will present his latest comic on Saturday, May 6, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at Griffin Bay Bookstore. If you want to have an extra bit of fun meeting Thor, purchase a copy of Cloud Stories and he’ll draw your portrait in the aspect of a cloud.

Cloud Stories is the first new collection of comics by K. Thor Jensen in ten years. A thematically-connected journey through the upper atmosphere, it veers wildly between slapstick comedy, creeping horror and otherworldly fantasy. Drawn in a staggering array of visual styles, this is a collection unlike anything you’ve ever read.

About the Author
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist who lives on San Juan Island with his family. He has been cartooning professionally since 1993, with work appearing in the Seattle Times, the Stranger, and dozens of anthologies. His original artwork resides by special request in the Library of Congress, and his last book Red Eye, Black Eye was chosen as one of the best graphic novels of the year by the Comics Journal.

Island Rec is pleased to present the winners of the Annual Children’s Festival Poster Contest.

• 1st Place: Lupita Soto
  
• 2nd Place: Emily Atwell
  
• 3rdPlace: Eleanor Rollins

• Runner Up: Jennifer Torres
  
• Runner Up: Jaida Clark
  
• Runner Up: Ellie Lehman

If you are listed above, please drop by the Island Rec office to claim your prize and have your picture taken. Many thanks to all the young artists who submitted entries! We had some wonderful artworks to choose from this year. Keep an eye out for the posters around town. Island Rec would like to thank Western Prince Cruises, Ositos, Vics, San Juan Florist & Yo Friday Harbor and A Place to Play for sponsoring prizes for the Poster Contest.

And don’t forget – The Children’s Festival is happening Saturday, May 6th from 10am to 2pm at the Fair Building. We hope to see you there! For more information, call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org

Fish for Teeth sponsors a mobile dental van for two-day dental clinics on San Juan Island, three times a year – Contributed photo

Islanders unable to afford dental care can receive it for free thanks to the local nonprofit Fish for Teeth on Friday, May 12 through Saturday, May 13. To raise funds for the mobile dental van, Fish for Teeth usually sells fish tacos on the first day of the clinic, but the fish taco sale was canceled for this event.

“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 two-day dental clinics on San Juan Island, three times a year. The Medical Teams International’s van can handle dental hygiene appointments to root canals.

Patients are seen by appointment only. Pick up applications at the San Juan Island Family Resource Center or the county health department, or download them at www.fishforteeth.com. Submit applications to the San Juan County Health Department on Rhone Street. Volunteers, not the county health department employees, determine scheduling a week before the clinic, based on severity and space. Usually, about 30 people are treated during the two-day clinic. Continue Reading

Deb Langhans will be facilitating another Cancer Support Circle series. Here she is with more…

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I’ve had the privilege of providing foot reflexology & life coaching to patients receiving treatment in PIMC’s Cancer Center’s Complementary Therapies Program. My positive interactions with these patients & their families, coupled with the strong emphasis on self-compassion in my business (Journeys To Healing), led me to begin facilitating a “Cancer Caregivers Support Circle” two years ago. These participants have inspired me with their willingness to be vulnerable & open to new ways of perceiving & optimizing their lives.

Their courageous work actually reflects the latest findings in brain & mind/body research: the modern science of psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) studies the influence of the mind & nervous system on immune function, especially in relation to their effect on the onset & progression of both disease & healing. PNI research shows that, in addition to factors like heredity, age & environmental toxins, stress & “negative” (& especially suppressed) emotions like anger, grief, hostility, depression, hopelessness & chronic self-deprecation, can weaken our immune system & thereby increase our risk of developing disease. Continue Reading

Graduates of the Friday Harbor School of Massage – Contributed photo

Richard Davenport, Director of Friday Harbor School of Massage shares this news…

We had our first graduating class of four students. One of them has already passed the Mblex national exam for massage therapists and is ready to send the application onto the state.

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

I’m Barnaby and once again, I have grown weary of your tedious talk, talk, talk.

You say you “love cats”. You tell me you have socks with cats on them and you have mentioned more than once how nice it would be to have a feline companion.

I also happen to know you own a coffee mug that says, “You had me at Meow” and a sleep shirt with a picture of Grumpy Cat on it. What gives? Where I currently reside, at the animal shelter, there are 39 cats waiting to be adopted! It will be 38 after you’ve adopted me.

Let’s do this. Don’t make me tell everyone about your Hello Kitty underwear…

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

Call for Artists: Design a License Plate for the San Juan Islands!

The Terrestrial Managers Group and the Madrona Institute are kicking off their San Juan Islands Specialty License Plate Design Initiative with a contest!

The initiative encourages the public to help create and select a specialty license plate that will generate funds for the conservation and stewardship of natural, agricultural, historic and cultural resources in the San Juan Islands. The two groups will work with Senator Kevin Ranker to complete the steps needed to introduce a license plate bill to the legislature in January 2018, including obtaining 3,500 signatures of interested consumers.

“This is a really good opportunity to bring some revenue in for critical projects,” Ranker said. He added that these projects protect both natural and recreational resources, and also act as economic drivers of the whole community.

Original artwork will be accepted for license plate designs until June 1, 2017. Accepted designs will be exhibited throughout the summer on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island, giving Islanders plenty of opportunity to vote for their favorite! The winning design will be announced at the end of September and the winning artist will be awarded the 0001 plate for free! Continue Reading

Port Open House – Meet the Finalists for Port Director Position

Port Commissioners Mike Ahrenius, Barbara Marrett and Greg Hertel invite members of the San Juan Island Community to an Open House to meet the candidate finalists for the Port Director position.

Tuesday, May 2nd from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the San Juan Island Yacht Club.

Light refreshments will be provided.

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Griffin Bay Bookstore Invites You Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 29th. Enjoy Cookies & Cider and a 10% Sale on All Gardening Books.

Come to Griffin Bay Bookstore and help honor the rich and vital role that an independent bookstore plays in the social and economic life of our community. Stop in for cider and cookies, browse around and chat with staff and customers about their favorite books and writers.

Gardeners frustrated by cold and wet soils, try a new gardening book instead of digging—10% off on all gardening books in the store.

Independent Bookstore Day is time to honor the value of an independent bookstore in our community. All across the country indies are celebrating the incalculable role their bookstores play in the cultural, intellectual, and economic lives in their communities. Independent bookstores are beloved for not just connecting readers to books, but also to one another. Continue Reading

Monday April 24th and Thursday April 27th

San Juan Island School District is seeking candidates to fill two school board positions by election this November. These are nonpartisan elected positions. Candidate filing week is May 15 – May 19.

Are you or is someone you know possibly interested in running? Danna Diaz, San Juan Island School District Superintendent, and current Board members will hold two evening meetings for interested candidates to share information about the work of the Board and to answer questions.

Please come to the School District office, 285 Blair Ave, on Monday, April 24th, from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm or Thursday April 27th, from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm.

You’ll hear about:

• What board members do
• Time commitments and responsibilities
• How to file
• What it takes to run a campaign
• Where to learn more about the work of the board
• Resources and training opportunities
• A brief overview of where this district has been and is headed 

There is no commitment. This is just an informational meeting to answer your questions and help prepare you to run if you’re interested.

Our school board plays a vital role in making our district an outstanding place for students to learn and employees to work. Thanks to their leadership and support, we have achieved unprecedented levels of success at the state, local and national levels. Now, we need two new leaders to help carry the torch and light the way to our future. We hope to see you there!

For more information call Superintendent Danna Diaz at 360-378-4133.

Land Bank – Contributed photo

Litter-Free by the Sea: The Great Islands Clean-Up on Saturday, April 22

Don’t forget – it is time for the 2017 Great Islands Clean-Up, the annual county-wide spring-cleaning event, during which volunteers collect litter from public beaches and roadways. This year, the clean-up will be held on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, rain or shine.

During last year’s event, approximately 450 islanders collected almost 5000 pounds of litter. And things looked pretty spiffy! But sadly, sometimes our refuse continues to end up as litter. Thoughtless tossing of bottles, cans, food wrappers, or cigarette butts; accidental “blowing away” of debris from unsecured loads on boats and trucks; or deliberate dumping of tires, etc., all contribute to the need to make litter pick-up an ongoing effort.

Many businesses on the islands have been supportive – particularly San Juan Sanitation, who always provides collection for the event. This year multiple organizations have joined the effort – including the town of Friday Harbor, Washington State Ferries, the Orcas Chamber of Commerce, San Juan Islands Leave No Trace, and Friends of the San Juans.

All islanders are encouraged to help pick up the accumulated trash so that residents and visitors alike are treated to a litter-free island where clean roadsides and beaches are the standard.

Want to help?

Free bags, grabbers, safety vests and gloves will be available on San Juan Island at the County Public Works office at 915 Spring Street during the week before the event, and on the other islands the day of the event. Pick-up of collected litter will be at various places on each island; check with your island’s organizer for that information. 

More info and photos below –  Continue Reading

Mt. Baker Sunrise – Kevin Holmes photo

Kevin Holmes captured this beautiful sunrise photo from the redeye ferry. A gorgeous beginning to your Friday. Thanks for sharing Kevin!

San Juan Island community members creating signs and art for the march – Contributed photo

In the San Juan Update mailbag this morning we find this letter from Katie Fleming of FRIENDS of the San Juans… 

On April 29, millions of people will march for climate action in 250 cities across the world. San Juan County is no exception. Join us at 12 noon at the Courthouse in Friday Harbor.

Climate change appears as this daunting global issue, but the good news is that individual, local, and regional actions are contributing to a system-wide solution. Here in the San Juan Islands we can do our part to ensure that our children and grandchildren have a future full of promise.

There is a cost to San Juan Islanders’ health, food security and lifestyle if we do not begin the transition to cleaner actions now. Here are some of the issues we face: Continue Reading

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San Juan Islands Conservation District invites you to their first Electric Car Show…

Join us Saturday, April 29th for the first ever San Juan Islands EV Car Show!

• Test-Drive current Electric Vehicle models.
• See the Electric Car built by local students!

County Courthouse Parking Lot, Friday Harbor
12:30-3:30 PM
Everyone is Welcome!

If you own an EV and want to show it off, please arrive to park your vehicle by 12:15.

Susan Williams teaches swimming – Contributed photo

Susan Williamson is back from her Miracle Swimming Instructor training in Seattle and ready to share Miracle Swimming’s reliable, safe and fun system to help adults conquer their fear of water.

Miracle Swimming is a new system of teaching — since 1983– that guarantees that adults who are afraid in water will learn to swim. We define learning to swim as personal water safety: learning to be comfortable, safe, confident, and free in deep water. Once you are free in deep water, you can learn strokes if you desire.

Susan will be offering one day, introductory sessions to small groups at San Juan Island Fitness on the following dates:

• Saturday, April 29  from 3:00 to 5:30 pm
• Sunday, April 30 from 3:00 to 5:30 pm
• Monday, May 1st from 6:30 to 9:00 pm

Then, come see why this method that allows you to learn at your own pace, doesn’t push you to do things that are uncomfortable and scary, and promotes both safety and fun, is the best way for you to learn how to over come your fear and start swimming! Continue Reading

Island Haven Animal Sanctuary Celebrates ASPCA Help A Horse Day – April 23rd, 1pm-5pm

Community support needed for chance to win up to $25,000 ASPCA grant to help save more horses

Island Haven Animal Sanctuary will be celebrating the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) national Help A Horse Day and competing for a chance to win up to $25,000 in grant prizes to assist with our efforts to protect horses.

To celebrate the day, Island Haven will be hosting an Open House/Barn on Sunday, April 23rd from 1pm – 5pm, to introduce the community to our sanctuary horses. 

Come help us “Spread the Love”, by participating in raking the arena sand generously donated by Forrest and Erin Enterprises, www.sanjuanislandexcavating.com, in the intensive care equine pasture for horses like Maxx and Tallulah, who require soft footing and cannot be out in the pasture with grass due to having Cushing’s Disease. 

There will be activities for children and educational materials about how to help horses.  Enjoy some nibbles and drinks while the horses enjoy theirs.  Bring your truck and we will load you up with aged horse manure for your garden.  Continue Reading