Becky Greenway in the nursery office – SJ Update photo

Long time islander Becky Greenway has just recently opened a new nursery business, “Greenway Gardens” on San Juan Valley Road.  She offers assorted flowers, veggies, herbs and also yard art with more things coming along soon.

This has long been a dream of hers and for the last 5 years she’s been putting a lot of effort into making it a reality. June 5th will mark one month since she was finally able to open up for customers.

The nursery is located at 1782 San Juan Valley Road. (It’s directly across from Douglas Road). Hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10-2, and Saturdays and Sundays 10-3ish (she says if you show up at 2:59 she’ll keep the gates open for you).

This weekend she is having a Memorial Day Weekend sale – 20% off veggies & herbs through Sunday.

Groups Challenge Army Corps of Engineers’ Refusal to Protect Puget Sound Shorelines

Corps’ Seattle District violates Clean Water Act, endangers Sound recovery

SEATTLE – A lawsuit filed today against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) charges that the agency has refused to assert its Clean Water Act jurisdiction over most shoreline armoring in Puget Sound, and that endangered species and Sound shorelines are suffering the negative impacts of the Corps’ continued inaction.

Washington Environmental Council, Sound Action and Friends of the San Juans filed the suit after the Corps rejected a science-based government recommendation to correct its unlawful definition of the Seattle District Corps’ jurisdiction over shoreline armoring projects.

The coalition, represented by Earthjustice, is calling for federal oversight of shoreline armoring by raising what the Corps’ Seattle District considers the “high tide line” in order to better protect at-risk species and the shorelines themselves. The lawsuit also calls for a response to the groups’ 2015 petition asking for jurisdictional decisions on four shoreline armoring projects. The groups contend a strong federal policy to protect shorelines is critical to Puget Sound recovery.

“Shoreline armoring impairs the health of Puget Sound by damaging nearshore habitat important for forage fish that feed salmon,” said Mindy Roberts, Puget Sound director for Washington Environmental Council. “Currently, federal agencies don’t consider impacts from these structures, because their definition of what constitutes ‘the shoreline’ is too lax.” Read More »

Summer Family Arts Days At The San Juan Islands Museum Of Art

Plan your summer with the family and mark your calendars now.

Children and families create fun-tastic works with local artists at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. Family Arts Days are a summertime island tradition, where local artists teach island crafts in a fresh outdoor setting.

Materials will be provided for captivating, hands-on projects, resulting in colorful creations to take home. Many of the projects relate to the summer exhibition, Conversations With Gee’s Bend at SJIMA.

All ages and families are invited to the orchard next to SJIMA at 540 Spring Street. Enter through the parking lot next to the museum. Hours are 12-4 and no reservations are required-dropping in is just fine.

The program is free, but donations to pay for materials are appreciated.

The program is taught by Lana Hickman and Alice Hibbert, trained instructors.

Art & Dates: Read More »

Superintendent/School Board Communique from the May 16^th Special Board Meeting

The San Juan Island School District School Board meeting on May 16^th may have been the shortest one this year! Special Education Director Theresa Jimenez provided an updated on this year’s Special Ed programming, successes and challenges. In addition, she presented examples of art and poetry crafted by the students. The presentation may be found on Board Docs under meetings.

To access: Go to the School District Home Page, click the About tab, next to Home. Scroll down to Our School Board, click. Again, scroll down to School Board Agendas and click. Then click on the highlighted Board Docs link, center screen. Once you are there, click on enter public site. Move over to the meetings tab on the top right. Click on the meeting you want to see – in this case May 16. Go down to Special Topics and click on the page icon next to Special Ed update and there are your presentation pieces to view!

It’s not nearly as complicated as this sounds!

The other two topics under discussion for the evening were the hiring freeze and the resignation of Ralph Hahn, former Board Chair.

The hiring freeze was always only temporary due to uncertainty about final funding numbers from the state. The freeze was rescinded.

Director Hahn’s resignation was accepted by the Board.

In other news, SJISD is now accepting applications to fill our vacant director spot. Applications are due by noon on June 6^th. Applications will be reviewed on June 7^th, and finalists will be interviewed Friday June 8^th beginning at 5:00 pm.

Thanks for reading!

It’s prime viewing time this week to see the International Space Station from your backyard. Check out this article on the Seattle Times website.

By Louise Dustrude

Decision time is approaching for the San Juan Island Library: whether to try to upgrade in place or move to a new location. Just one site is currently under consideration for the “new location” — the Public Works property next door to the current library.

Some 85 residents attended one of three open houses to learn of the possibilities and voted (with little round blue, yellow, and red stickers) quite overwhelmingly for the new location. No one at all voted for the third alternative of “do nothing.”

Factors which have obviously influenced both the board and the public include the need for more space and the difficulty or impossibility of expanding the current building; the current and potential problems with the foundation, the walls and insulation, and drainage issues in the basement; and the tight parking.

Mark Madsen talks to the public – Carrie Lacher photo

Mark Madsen, a member of the library’s board of trustees, explained their reasoning, and answered a dozen or so questions from the public on Monday afternoon. He said the library has no debt, and that the building would be financed by (1) some public grant funding, (2) a private fund-raising campaign, which has already raised over $100,000, and (3) “probably a bond issue.” Read More »

Wolverine Right Fielder Bristol Halvorson is interviewed on the tiny Radio 1650 am post game show – Contributed photo

Oly Archibald shares another teaser about this weekend’s Lady Wolverines fast pitch game coming up in Yakima…

No Debate Its State In Yakima For The Young Wolverines Fast Pitch team

You know you have a good thing going when you have just cashed your ticket to the WIAA State Fast Pitch tournament in Yakima for the 4th time in 4 years – yet there is no outlandish celebration with shooting Sparkling Apple Cider all over each other. Not that the Young Friday Harbor Wolverine Fast pitch team was not happy and proud of their accomplishment. Its now the expectation of the program.

The Wolverines beat Orcas Island 15-5 to win their 4th straight NW 2-B District Tournament. It was the 4th time this year the Wolverines had beat the Vikings and now have won 14 straight games in the rivalry since Brian Lambright took over the program 5 years ago. Lambright now has a 76-42 career record at Friday harbor a record that would make Heather Tarr proud. Read More »

In order to ensure an informed electorate, and in accordance with state law, every district that places a measure on a ballot is responsible for appointing committees to write voters’ guide arguments both for and against the proposition. If a district is unable to appoint committees, that responsibility falls to the County Auditor.

The Lopez Island School District has placed on the August primary ballot a levy to support educational expenses and operations support of the District. The District has appointed a committee to write an argument supporting the proposal. It was unable to find opponents willing to write an argument opposing the measure.

For that reason, County Auditor Milene Henley is seeking people interested in writing arguments against the measure.

If you are interested in writing an opposing argument, please contact the Auditor at mileneh@sanjuanco.com, or (360) 370-7558. Up to three people may be named as argument writers, though they may seek the assistance of as many people as needed. Statements are limited to 250 words.