Contributed Photo/APS-FH

From Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor

It is with great relief, excitement and joy to announce that Queenie, the infamous runaway dog, is back home safe and sound.

It couldn’t have been done without community efforts; including reported sightings, awareness, volunteer work, and finally the assistance of professional trappers and one extra-large cage!

Thank you to everyone who has helped bring this sweet girl home.

If you would like to contribute in celebration of her return or to help with what has been an exhaustive effort on behalf of the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor, you can donate through www.apsfh.com/ or www.paypal.com/paypalme/apsfh

By Hayley Day, San Juan Update

The San Juan County Council approved a six-month moratorium on vacation rental permits from Jan. 13 through July 13.

The resolution states that “while this moratorium is in effect, no new applications for a vacation rental permit shall be accepted as complete by any county department, and no currently pending incomplete application shall be accepted as complete by any county department.”

Vacation rentals can “have significant impacts on the community,” according to the resolution.

The resolution states that the “San Juan County Council desires to receive input from the community, recommendations from the planning commission and a proposed work plan from the department of community development, and develop additional regulations for vacation rentals.”

A public hearing on the moratorium will be held by the county council at 9:15 a.m., Feb. 23.

View the entire resolution here.

By Matt Marinkovich, Fish For Teeth

Fish For Teeth fish tacos will be served at the San Juan Island Community Theatre, today, Friday, Jan.15, from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., or until we run out.

An $8 suggested donation lands you a full-on burrito-sized “taco,” filled with sustainably-harvested Washington coastal rockfish, fresh organic salsa, Tillamook cheese, zesty greens, and a squeeze of lime. Absolutely delicious.

If you value the efforts of Fish For Teeth and would like to lend financial support, please donate at fishforteeth.com, or mail a check to PO Box 2084 Friday Harbor 98250.

You can also volunteer your time in the taco-making or the dental clinic departments.

The easiest way to help is by simply enjoying a delicious fish taco today. Hope to see you there!

From San Juan County Parks and Fair

San Juan County Parks and Fair staff is again offering advance camping reservations for people who reside in San Juan County year-round.

Proof of residency is required. Choose from San Juan County Park, San Juan County Fairgrounds (RVs only), Odlin County Park, and Shaw County Park for any dates in 2021.

Due to the popularity of this program, duplicate date requests may be randomly selected. Two sites maximum per household, per camping stay.

To receive a 2021 resident reservation request form with instructions, join our mailing list by sending your name and email address to parks@sanjuanco.com.

Resident reservations are not available to reserve online.

Early resident reservations will be accepted from Jan. 27 until Feb. 10, for two weeks only. Email requests (preferred) are accepted at 6 a.m. on Jan. 27 via email or by calling 360-378-8420 after 1 p.m. Hard copy requests may be dropped off outside the office as well.

Contributed Photo/Land Bank. Land Bank Field Assistant, Kayla Seaforth, and Salish Seeds Project Nursery Assistant, Sarah Benson, begin planting seedlings on Turtleback Mountain Preserve during a January deluge.
With the help of the Washington Conservation Corps, 14,000 native seedlings grown in the Land Bank’s own Salish Seeds Project nursery will be planted at the preserve this winter.

From San Juan County Land Bank

The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on Friday, Jan. 15, from 8:30-11:30 a.m., via Zoom.

The public is invited to attend. Click here to download the agenda, Zoom link and meeting materials.

The San Juan County Land Bank is a local land conservation program, created by voters in 1990, and funded by a 1% real estate excise tax paid by purchasers of property in San Juan County. Through conservation easements or outright purchases, the Land Bank protects special places in the Islands including coastlines, farmland, forests and wetlands.

To learn more about your Conservation Land Bank, visit sjclandbank.org. If you’re interested in volunteering or joining our mailing list, contact tanja@sjclandbank.org. We look forward to engaging with you!

Contributed Photo/OPALCO

By Hayley Day, San Juan Update

As of 7:40 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 13, OPALCO reported that power was being restored to all 20 islands in phases.

“Be prepared for some potential small outages as the system comes back up,” read the islands’ energy co-op Facebook page. “Be sure to thank a lineman!” 

Early Wednesday morning, San Juan Island, Lopez, Orcas, Shaw, Decatur and Blakely Islands lost power due to weather and “a mainland issue and system-wide,” reported OPALCO.

By 5 a.m., OPALCO reported that a “mainland source” needed to be repaired before power could be restored. At noon, the OPALCO Facebook page stated crews were still waiting for Puget Sound Energy to repair OPALCO’s line, and that all lines on the islands had been repaired.

Earlier that morning, OPALCO staff reported that crews in Anacortes and on Lopez Island were working to remove fallen trees from the power lines. 

About six hours later, the energy co-op’s Facebook page stated there were reports of over half a million without power in the region.

A half-hour later, OPLACO reported that crews were repairing damage to insulators on Shaw. Crews also patrolled lines for further damage and helped remove a tree in the line on Decatur Island. 

As of 5:45 p.m., OPALCO reported that Puget Sound Energy had more than 150,000 members out of power. 

For up-to-date information, visit www.facebook.com/orcaspower.

From San Juan Community Theatre

The San Juan Community Theatre is offering an online class called “Directing: Basics and Beyond,” from 6:30-8:30 p.m., Wednesdays, Feb. 3-March 17. The class will be taught by Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey, executive artistic director for the theater.

Gain the confidence you need to take your first steps into directing or expand the skills you’ve gained from prior experience.

This class is for beginners and advanced directors alike. You’ll learn the basics of staging, etiquette and production while delving into more advanced topics like script analysis, conceptualization, working with designers and actors, the casting process, and more.

The class is free, and participants must attend a minimum of six sessions.

RSVP for the course by emailing nathan@sjctheatre.org to receive the Zoom link, reading list and course agenda.

From San Juan Island Library

San Juan Island Library presents “Judy Newland: Exploring Textiles Through Time and Place” at 7 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 27, via Zoom.

Through textiles, we can explore art, society, politics, religion and more, making connections between cultures and through time.

Join Judy on an adventure using natural dyes, material culture, landscape, and travel to explore textiles through time and place.

To register for a Zoom meeting invitation, email giverson@sjlib.org.