L-R: Kiwanis Club president Doug Popham, Mike Hansen and Jan Hansen – Contributed photo

Jan Hansen recently received a Certificate of Appreciation and a $100 gift certificate as the FH Kiwanis nominee for the Everyday Hero award.

In presenting the award, Kiwanis President Doug Popham stated “The Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor has a history of honoring people who go above and beyond what is expected of them without thought of recognition or reward. Today we’d like to honor a retired school teacher who has been volunteering four days a week at Friday Harbor Elementary School for the past four years and who we feel is a perfect candidate for our Everyday Hero award. Thank you, Jan, for what you do.”

Your Friday Harbor Kiwanis Club meets at Friday Harbor House, noon, on the 1st and 3rd Thursday each month.

Judy McRae Warrior Pose – Peggy Sue McRae photo

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

If you can breathe you can do yoga. So they say and I believe it. One of the most useful things I’ve learned in yoga class is the long, deep, yoga breath. To do it, you fill your lungs slowly with air from bottom to top, pause, then slowly exhale until you are pulling your stomach in to push out that last bit of air, pause and begin again. I’ve used this in my doctor’s office to bring my blood pressure down. It works. I’ve used it in many stressful situations to calm my nerves and settle my mind. It works, its easy, and you always have it with you.

Yoga is excellent for flexibility and balance, qualities that are always important and become even more important as we get older. Says Andrew Weil, M.D. in his book, Healthy Aging, “Falls are a major cause of disability… You can protect yourself in two ways: by attending to potential hazards in your environment and by attending to your body’s capacity to compensate quickly for sudden twists, bump, and skids.” He goes on to recommend yoga, “I think it will increase the numbers of healthier and happier people here.” Read More »

Image by Jai79 from Pixabay

Does the name Lyman Cutlar ring a bell? It was 160 years ago today that Lyman Cutlar shot a pig, thus igniting an international dispute that nearly drew the United States and Great Britain into war.

The previous year, gold was struck up on the Fraser River north of here and that drew thousands of prospectors to the area. Lyman Cutlar was one them who eventually ended up homesteading on San Juan Island where the British Hudson Bay Company had already set up its Belle Vue Sheep Farm operation.

On June 15, 1859, Mr. Cutlar found one of the Company’s pigs rooting in his potato patch. As this was not the first time, Cutlar had had enough – he shot the pig but then offered $10.00 in compensation. The owner of the pig refused and instead demanded $100.00 from Cutlar and the rest is Pig War history.

Mike Vouri, former Chief Historian for San Juan Island National Historical Park and author of several books on the Pig War shares more on these events in the NPS video below.

This month’s dance features two of our favorites, Eric Anderson and Joe Micheals, trading calling and musical duties, and who are bringing their friends Sande Gillette on fiddle and Betsey Cooper on flute to join them. A very versatile group promising a great dance here on the island.

As always with contra dance, all dances are taught, no need to bring a partner, and no need for previous contra dance experience, everyone is welcome, we always have a good time together!

• WHAT: Third Saturday Contra Dance
• WHERE: Grange Hall in Friday Harbor
• WHEN: Saturday June 15, 7 till 9 PM
• PRICE: $10 donation at the door, $5 students

This dance is sponsored by San Juan Island Grange #966. Check out our Facebook page-San Juan Islands Contra Dance.

The WSF Summer 2019 Sailing Schedule is now online to help you plan any upcoming trips. Print versions will be available on vessels and at terminals soon.

The summer schedule runs from Sunday, June 23, through Saturday, Sept. 28. The cover features a poem written by Friday Harbor High School student Siri Lindstrum, the #WSFHaiku contest winner.

Out of nearly 200 entries, Siri’s poem received the most “likes” of the three finalists on the @wsferries page back in March.

In light of Diane Ball’s retirement as principal from Friday Harbor Elementary, the Family Umbrella Group wanted to extend a thank you for her contributions to the Family Umbrella Group and this community.

Diane was integral in extending our scholarship program to all qualified preschools on this island. Currently we offer scholarships to Children’s House Montessori, Lighthouse Preschool, Alphabet Soup, St. David’s Preschool and Building Blocks.  

Please visit our new website to apply for a preschool scholarship http://familyumbrellagroup.org/

Just heard this about our island’s own Kevin Holmes. Check it out here on Q13 News…

Way to go Kevin!

Orcas pass by Lime Kiln Lighthouse in this photo by Jenny Atkins

Orca Sing is an annual event where people gather for an evening of music at Lime Kiln Point State Park to honor the Southern Resident orcas and celebrate Orca Action Month. This year’s event is the 20^th annual and will take place on Saturday, June 22, with the music beginning at 7 p.m.

This year, Fred West and Seattle’s City Cantabile Choir will perform. Washington State Parks and Orca Awareness Month will also be celebrated.  In addition, Odin and Orca Annie from the Vashon Hydrophone Project will offer a First Nations tribute to their orca relatives in the Salish Sea.

Participants are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy the beauty of Lime Kiln. Tours of the historic lighthouse will be offered before and after the concert by Friends of Lime Kiln Society (F.O.L.K.S.). The event is free and open to the public. Read More »