San Juan Community Theatre sends along news about a free workshop taking place before this Sunday’s concert.

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet will perform a live concert at San Juan Community Theatre on Sunday, June 26 at 7:30 p.m. The Quartet includes the sons of jazz legend, Dave Brubeck, most notable for his chart-topping song, Take Five. The Quartet is legendary in its own right with Grammy-nominated albums, a feature on the PBS series Jazz in America, and international tours. Individually, they are dynamic musicians. JazzTimes Magazine referred to Dan Brubeck’s drumming as nothing less than jaw-dropping and The L.A. Times hailed Chris Brubeck as “…one of the most capable electric bassists, delivering imaginative solos”.

The Brubeck Brothers Quartet is also offering a free workshop at 4 p.m. before the June 26 concert. Attendees can expect to learn some jazz history, enjoy a demonstration, and ask questions. This project received support from Washington State Arts Commission, the Western States Arts Federation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. To purchase tickets or to register for the workshop, visit the SJCT website or call the box office at 360-378-3210. Tickets are $36 for adults and $18 for reserved student seating. $5 student rush tickets are available an hour before the show. 

APS-FH shares some kind words about their volunteer of the month.

The Animal Protection Society—Friday Harbor is pleased to announce Chelsea Alexander as its volunteer of the month for June.

Have you ever visited the animal shelter and noticed how clean it is? We have many deserving volunteers who work very hard to keep the shelter clean and tidy, and Chelsea is one of them. Since August 2021, Chelsea has been visiting the shelter twice a week, folding the mountains of laundry and stacks of dishes without complaint. Chelsea is so enthusiastic about folding and stacking, that sometimes she will even re-fold and organize the many blankets and towels that are already put away to make them look nicer and easier to access. She is also known to clean the endless “doggie nose print art” off the windows as well as sweeping and mopping the floors, and keeping the bathrooms clean and fresh.

It is always a hard decision to choose just one volunteer to recognize for their hard work and dedication, but Chelsea deserves some major recognition. Not only is Chelsea consistent and a constant support to the shelter, but she also always comes to her volunteer shift with a smile and a cheerful attitude. She is such a pleasure to have on the team, and we are grateful to be able to honor her hard work and dedication to the shelter animals.

If you are interested in joining an excellent team of volunteers working together in a fun environment, visit our website and fill out a volunteer application.

Wagner Law Offices is looking for a full-time Legal Assistant with strong attention to detail and excellent communication and organization skills. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.

The San Juan Island Library shares news about their summer reading programming.

Readers of all ages will dive into the ocean depths this summer as San Juan Island Library presents their 2022 summer reading program, titled Oceans of Possibilities. Registration is now underway at the Library, or online at Beanstack, where you can track your reading time while earning badges and prizes.

The summer reading program is open to youth, preschool through young adult, with programs, grand prize drawings, storytimes, and professional performances by magicians, jugglers, and comedians, held outside at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday afternoons at Friday Harbor Elementary School. Our first performance features Cowboy Buck & Elizabeth on June 29. Visit the Library’s calendar of events to view a complete list of summer programs.

All San Juan Island Library programs are free to the public. The 2022 summer reading program is sponsored by the Friends of the San Juan Island Library with additional support and contributions from local schools, San Juan County Fairgrounds, Sweet Retreat, Griffin Bay Bookstore, Vic’s, Collaborative Summer Library Program, and the Washington State Library.

• The Library is closed today in observance of Juneteenth. They’ll re-open tomorrow.
• Here’s the schedule for the Fourth of July festivities — just two weeks from today.
• The Whale Museum needs volunteers Tuesday through Friday this week to help muralist Lindsay Carron repair and refresh the mural on the side of the building. Email [email protected] if you can help.
• Friday Harbor Labs is holding their summer speaker series now through mid-August. Here’s the lineup. Most of the events take place Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the Commons at the Labs.
• This year’s San Juan Concours takes place Sunday, Aug. 14 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at San Juan Vineyard. Registration is $10. Proceeds benefit the Family Resource Center, the Family Umbrella Group, the mobile dental van, and Polio Plus of Rotary International.
• Dead Lee and Don Piano perform next Friday, July 1 at Everelse. The Poutine Your Mouth food truck will be there as well.

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

OPALCO sends along an update about a series of incentives available to businesses in San Juan County.

Come to a virtual workshop on Tuesday, June 28 at 5 p.m. to learn about the Energize San Juans program for commercial and agricultural businesses. OPALCO was awarded a grant from the USDA to provide energy audits, technical expertise and a powerful package of incentives to help businesses in San Juan County become more energy efficient.

In partnership with Sustainable Connections and the Community Energy Challenge, the Energize San Juans program includes a discounted and comprehensive energy audit and a customized energy action plan that outlines recommendations for energy-saving improvements. The program can also provide a solar assessment to see how much of your energy usage could be offset by producing your own power.

Once you choose which improvements you want to complete, the team will help provide access rebates, grants, and exclusive incentives, including:

• USDA grants available that could cover 25% of solar & energy improvements for rural businesses
• Up to $5,000 in energy saving incentives from the Community Energy Challenge – including up to $1,000 in LED light bulbs
• 26% tax credit to offset solar panel cost
• Super discounted, low-cost energy audit for any size business
• Rebates and on-bill financing up to $100,000 from OPALCO

Register online to attend the June 28 virtual workshop.

• Pay extra attention on the roads this weekend. Lakedale’s Three Lakes Triathlon will have cyclists and runners on county roads today, while tomorrow there will be participants in the San Juan Island Marathon, Half Marathon, and 10K.
• Families and Neighbors Support Island Rec are hosting magic shows every half hour between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Fairgrounds today. They’ll have popcorn, cotton candy, sno-cones, and $1 raffle prizes.
• The summer ferry schedule starts tomorrow.
• Mayor Ray Jackson proclaimed June 19, 2022 as Juneteenth Day of Observance in Friday Harbor at the Town Council meeting this past Thursday.
• San Juan Community Theatre presents the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Hamlet on the big screen at 1 p.m. today. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 student rush.
• The Community Arts Theatre Society’s annual teddy bear picnic takes place next Saturday, June 25 from noon to 2 p.m. at the Community Theatre. There will be sandwiches, cookies, face painting, and a music show. It’s a free event and no pre-registration is required.

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

Photo credit: Brad Pillow

This shot was taken from a natural blind and the fox was unaware of Brad’s presence. Learn more about Brad’s perspective on the foxes of San Juan Island.

The San Juan County Conservation Land Bank is holding a volunteer event at Beaverton Preserve on Tuesday, June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers will work to pull scotch broom, a Class B noxious weed that poses a threat to fragile ecosystems, crowding out native plants.

Bring gloves and pruners if you have them and be sure to dress for the weather.

To take part in the event, contact Tanja Williamson at 360-378-4402 or [email protected].

Adrian Kilpatrick — Contributed photo

Alchemy Art Center and the San Juan Islands Museum of Art share an update about the next installment of their Artist Talk Series.

Alchemy Art Center, in partnership with the San Juan Islands Museum of Art, is hosting an artist talk series featuring visiting and local artists. Talks will take place in the upstairs workshop area of the SJIMA (located at 540 Spring St) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on select Sundays through September. 

The next talk in the series, on June 26, features visiting artist Maya Noga Djiji and local artist Adrian Kilpatrick. Maya Djiji is a visual artist from California who loves exploring different mediums. On top of her love for exploration, she also loves to use a lot of color. With her saturated palette she makes work with ceramics, textiles, glass, printmaking, and much more. Her work touches on the playful nature of magic, the delicate beauty of life, and the intricacies of death.

Maya is living and working at Alchemy Art Center in June and July as part of our Artists in Community Program.  This is Maya’s second residency at Alchemy Art Center.

Adrian Kilpatrick is a collage and mixed media artist based on San Juan Island. His art deals with modern day alienation, surrealism, nature, politics, fantasy and dream states. His primary focus is to create an open dialogue by transporting viewers of his works to realms that parallel our own reality, and cause us to question our current human condition. Materials gathered from old picture books, magazines, and brochures found from various thrift stores, flea markets, and yard sales form images that encapsulate different moods, cultures, and ideologies found within our past and present lives.

Our July talk will take place on Sunday, July 31. Check the Alchemy Art Center website for more information. This talk is part of Artists in Community, which is supported by the NEA, ArtsWA, the San Juan Island Community Foundation, the Tulalip Charitable Fund, and by generous donations from members of our community.

Here’s the adoptable animal of the week from the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor — Esme, a 20-pound bull terrier mix.

Don’t let her size fool you, she’s a strong lady who’s seen her fair share in two years. Esme is a young mom who loved taking her daughter out to dinner at their favorite local restaurant, but living on the streets in Mexico was hard.

It has taken Esme a little while to build trust with people but once you’re in her circle, you will find that she is quite a softy. In fact, it is rumored that Esme might be part otter because she loves to spend time laying on her back. Esme likes to go on walks or is happy to stay home and play with her favorite toys. She loves to cuddle on the couch and will even let you pick what to watch. If you are looking for a snuggle bug with a big personality, Esme is your girl.

Learn more about Esme here.

Photo credit: Karen Reagan, USFWS

San Juan Island National Historic Park shares news about a federal plan to help the vulnerable island marble butterfly.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced the availability of a draft recovery plan for the island marble butterfly and a 60-day public comment period.

The island marble butterfly, a beautiful, medium-sized, white butterfly with green ‘marbling’ on its wings, was historically known from southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of Canada. It went undetected for 90 years until being rediscovered in 1998 on San Juan Island, Washington.

Currently, the only remaining known population is in the American Camp Unit of San Juan Island National Historical Park. Despite subsequent ongoing conservation efforts, such as captive rearing and habitat protection, the butterfly is in danger of extinction. The small population size of the butterfly makes it especially vulnerable to threats, including habitat loss and predation.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses a range of conservation tools to recover threatened and endangered species. A recovery plan provides guidance on how best to help listed species achieve recovery and is not a regulatory document. The draft recovery plan and supporting documents are available online.

To ensure consideration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must receive written comments by Monday, Aug. 8. Interested persons can submit comments on the draft document in writing by U.S mail or email:

• U.S. mail: Tara Callaway, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 500 Desmond Dr. SE, Lacey, Washington 98503
• Email: [email protected]. Please include Draft Island Marble Butterfly Recovery Plan Comments in the subject line.

Contributed photo

When the nutritionist at Peace Health asked me what sort of physical exercise I would be willing to commit to, I declared boldly that I would do yoga three times a week. I had just dug up my old yoga program that with enough adaptations I could still manage to almost do.

What has helped me the most in keeping this commitment, however, are the chair yoga classes taught by Katrina Wen through the Mullis Center. It provides a fun way to activate energy while mobilizing the spine and major joints. It includes stretches of the back and legs, both important in slowing down the aging process.

The special care we gave to our knees in last week’s class made me feel like the class had been created just for me. I’m sure though that I am not the only senior on San Juan Island whose knees could use some extra love.

Besides weekly live Zoom classes we are now able to get a video recording of the class to use as many times as we want to throughout that week. This is great if you want to use the class more than once and at times that work best for you.

Fitness classes through the Mullis Center also include a balance and stretch class that provides a gentle way for people to train their ability to balance by toning and reconditioning various muscle groups (legs, glutes, lower back). Navigating our balance provides a realistic way to strengthen our core; therefore it also aids our digestive health when it is done regularly. Balance is highly valued as a means of fall prevention. Continue Reading