Putting a cap on the news….

A possible new calf in L pod! Photo from May 29 by Erin Heydenreich for the Center for Whale Research.

Let’s see what’s up around here…

• Looks like we may have a new baby killer whale – I checked with Ken Balcomb of the Center for Whale Rearch this morning & he’s pretty cautious about this one, since the mom hasn’t yet been identified with certainty yet.  Here’s the report from the Center for Whale Research about the sighting on the 29th last month:

Center for Whale Research staff Dave Ellifrit, Erin Heydenreich, Mercedes Powell, and Kira Kranzler encountered L’s heading south in northern Swanson Channel at 5:35 p.m. (48 43.710 N; 123 17.380 W).

There were several groups fairly spread out and porpoising. We tried to keep up with them until we reached Henry Island, but they never slowed down. There appears to be a new calf traveling with L55 (see photo above). This is a different calf from the one observed on Dec. 6th seen traveling with L5 (L117). We are tentatively calling the newest calf L118 and will confirm the number of new calves once we have had a more conclusive L pod encounter.

The groups we encountered were the L4s, L26s, L43s, L47s, and L53. The encounter ended just off Henry Island at 6:56 p.m. (48 35.60 N; 123 12.23 W) with the whales still spread out and traveling fast south.
For map and more photos, click here.

The scene on the deck outside the Bean Cafe, Saturday morning....

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• Dropped by The Banry Cafe last night to check in, and Deanna says they’re open and she hopes you drop by soon! She says the first two days have been great, and she’s pretty sure there’s a good summer ahead!

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• Mark Flaiz from the Life Care Center (formerly the Convalescent Center) says there’s a presentation about the Death with Dignity Act this Friday – here’s more:

This presentation will be in the library meeting room on Friday, June 17, from 12-1pm.  The topic is the Death with Dignity Act that was passed in Washington state in 2008 and the speaker will be Tom Preston.  Tom Preston is a retired cardiologist who put together the coalition of groups that launched the I-1000 campaign, which won by 58-42%, giving Washington state the Death with Dignity law.  This is not only a controversial topic but also a complicated one and I encourage you to come with your questions. This will be a free presentation open to the community and everyone is welcome.

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It was great to drop by Kurt's BBQ Shack last weekend & get a cherry-smoked chicken sandwich (left)...the Shack is located in the old Dos Diablos/Amigos spot, next to the new Windermere office (which is the former Friday Harbor Realty/San Juan Inn/Sotheby's spot). You'll be glad you did!

• A good trend: The last ten stores in Friday Harbor I visited say they ARE taking Canadian currency for sales now…Americans come out ahead anyway if you accept Canadian currency at par, since a Canadian dollar is worth $1.02US this morning.

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• The Woodward family has arrived in the Dominican Republic – you can follow their mission there with the family blog, which Vic just posted in – check it out here!

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• The dance is this weekend! Here’s more from Liz Francis:

On Saturday, June 18 it’s the 3rd Saturday Contra Dance, at the San Juan Island Grange Hall, from 7-9p.m. We have Cindy Holmes calling & teaching contras and waltzes, along with Hands Four: Val White and Malcolm Suttles, Jim and Katy Nollman on fiddle, guitar, mandolin & piano. All welcome – singles, families – come as you are. All dances taught. No experience necessary. $10/person donation (half price during the instruction session from 7-7:15). Grange sponsored. For information, call 378-3836.

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• Have you been writing for this year’s Fair? Here’s the scoop – and hurry, because things are due by July 10th. Here’s more from Cady & the Wildfire Women’s Writing Group:

Attention, writers! I hope you will all submit an entry (or 2,3 or 4) for the San Juan County Fair 2011. (Here are the rules.) The Wildfire Women’s Writing Group will be facilitating the San Juan County Written Word this year. We are excited that there will be stage time offered for readings of some of the winners pieces. Only if you want to, of course. Please let us know if you are interested!  Also available is the judges’ critique and scoring of your work, but again only if you are interested.

Also new this year: the option of dropping your entries off at one of these three libraries: Orcas, Lopez and Friday Harbor.

Please encourage your friends to submit entries!

Feel free to contact us with questions at our email address, islandwriters (at) gmx.com.

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Bryn visits with folks in New York after his presentation.

• It was cool to see Bryn Barnard at the Community Dinner last week – he had just returned from New York where he had a presentation at Park 51. His new book The Genius of Islam is being well-received on both coasts! Here’s the rest of the story.

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• Fond farewell – three school district folks are moving on, after making a big difference in our kids’ lives. Good luck to Friday Harbor Middle and High School Band Teacher Janet Olsen and Friday Harbor Elementary School Teacher Jay Westphalen as they tackle the challenges of retirement (it’s hard to imagine these incredibly positive & incredibly creative people sitting still!), and all the best to FHES principal Gary Pflueger as he and Annie move to Bonners Ferry, Idaho & an elementary school job there.

This photo of J28 and calf were shot earlier this week at Deadman's Bay from shore by John Boyd (thanks, JB!)

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