About the Author
Peggy Sue McRae

Local artist Peggy Sue McRae has lived on San Juan Island most of her life. She is a painter who has worked in a variety of mediums including, oil and watercolor painting, stone carving, printmaking and collage. In 1999 she earned her master’s degree in Fine Arts from Washington State University. She was awarded a residency with the Morris Graves Foundation in 2004 and was accepted into Women Painters of Washington in 2007. Her work has been exhibited throughout the Pacific Northwest and in China. She is the author of the art blog Blackfish Art.

Recent Posts by Peggy Sue

First Rehearsal Next Week For San Juan Singers’s Winter Concert

September 7, 2017 at 5:30 am

Christmas already? Yes, if you are planning to put on a Holiday concert it is indeed time to start rehearsing and San Juan Singers is ready to welcome new recruits! First rehearsal will be held in the Community Room at Skagit Valley College on Wednesday, September 13, 6:30 – 9:00 pm. It is recommended that  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Music

Air Quality Alert Extended Until Noon Thursday

September 6, 2017 at 4:52 pm

It’s still pretty smokey… …AIR QUALITY ALERT IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON PDT THURSDAY… The Air Quality ALERT issued by the Washington State Department of Ecology remains in effect until 12 PM PDT Thursday. Smoke from wildfires across the region will continue to linger over Western Washington through at least Thursday morning. Expect the air quality to remain unhealthy  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Health & Wellness, Weather

Tufted Puffins, Smith Island

September 6, 2017 at 5:35 am

Thanks to photographer and naturalist Katie Jones, Spyhopper Travels Photography, for this photograph of Tufted Puffins out at Smith Island.

Categories: Around Here, Nature, Wildlife

Whale Museum Lecture: Whales and Shipping

September 6, 2017 at 5:30 am

The Whale Museum’s lecture series continues this Thursday, September 7 at 6:30 pm with a lecture by Krista Trounce of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and Dr. Jason Wood from Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) Consulting North America (based here in Friday Harbor). They will be presenting on the ship slow down trial that is currently  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Science, Wildlife

Holy Smokes! Air Quality Alert Issued Through 5 pm Wednesday

September 5, 2017 at 2:08 pm

The mountains are definitely not out today. My photo of False Bay without the Olympics may look like a sepia toned antique but that is the real color and the photo was taken this morning. Due to regional wildfires we are once again experiencing smokey air. Here is the Air Quality Alert from the National  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Health & Wellness, Weather

School District Reaches Tentative Agreement With Teachers Association

September 5, 2017 at 5:30 am

From The San Juan Island School District… The San Juan Island School District and the San Juan Education Association reached a tentative agreement at 6:14 pm Monday, September 4, 2017. The teachers’ association ratified the proposed agreement this evening and the school board is expected to approve this tentative agreement at a special board meeting  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Education, Schools

Summer Film Series Presents: Land of Mine

September 4, 2017 at 6:30 am

On Tuesday September 5, SJCT Summer Film Series presents, Land of Mine. This German/Danish film was a nominee for Best Foreign Film at the 2017 Academy Awards. The film is based on a true account of German prisoners of war sent to clear land mines in Denmark after World War II. Admission is either by  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Arts

Emergence, SJIMA’s First Nations Exhibit Ends Monday

September 3, 2017 at 3:04 pm

Don’t miss your last opportunity to see this exhibit!… Contemporary glass artist, Raven Skyriver will wrap up the end of the First Nation exhibition at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art on Monday, September 4. His gallery talk at 4:00 pm on Labor Day will be the grand finale of this exceptional show. In celebration of the  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Arts

Community Foundation Raises $31,000 at the County Fair!

September 2, 2017 at 5:30 am

The Community Foundation was once again gratified by the amazing generosity of islanders last week at the 2017 San Juan County Fair when over $31,000 was donated to nine different projects featured in the matching program. This amount was raised in just the four days of the Fair! The Foundation, in turn, will match those  Continue Reading

Categories: Around Here, Community

EDC Hosts Business Plan Competition, “Launch San Juan Islands”

September 2, 2017 at 5:15 am

Entrepreneurs can bring their business ideas to the next level in the third annual EDC Launch San Juan Islands business plan competition, created by the San Juan County Economic Development Council and sponsored by local businesses. Participants will receive instruction in business planning and marketing, plus follow-up mentoring—and some will win cash prizes to help  Continue Reading

Categories: Business, Community