Topic: Environment
San Juan County Parks Drone Policy In Effect
Written on May 29, 2016 at 5:34 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan County has adopted an Unmanned Aircraft System (“drone”) policy for County parks and the fairgrounds. Beginning on February 2, 2016, the launching, landing, or operating of unmanned aircraft systems from or on all San Juan County Parks & Fairgrounds property is prohibited, unless authorized by special permit issued by the Parks & Fair Continue Reading
The First Wildland Fire of the Year
Written on May 28, 2016 at 2:08 pm, by Tim Dustrude
Sheila Harley, Public Information Officer for SJI Fire/Rescue shares this announcment… At approximately 1:43 PM the afternoon of May 27, 2016 the first wildland fire of the year on San Juan Island was reported burning near #2 School House Road. Responding units included a Type 3 brush truck, three command units, two water tenders, a Continue Reading
Work Party on Cady Mountain Preserve
Written on May 19, 2016 at 5:50 am, by Update Staff
Summer is just around the corner and our prickly foes are gearing up for a big convention on the mountain! Be sure to bring your leather gloves this Sunday to avoid their wrath when yanking them out of bed. When? Sunday, May 22 10:00am to 2:00pm Where? Base of Cady Mountain Preserve – turn on Continue Reading
Roche Harbor Resort and Volunteers Rock the RH Trail System
Written on May 16, 2016 at 5:52 am, by Tim Dustrude
A dedicated group of volunteers has been maintaining the Roche Harbor trails for 11 years, with strong support from Roche Harbor Resort. The old logging roads and more recently built single-track paths through the woods are faithfully tended by more than a dozen neighbors. In 2015, as an example, the group logged 407 hours of Continue Reading
County Adds Electric Vehicles to Fleet
Written on May 13, 2016 at 5:55 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan County Council approved funding for the purchase of 2 new electric vehicles and charging stations at its May 10th regular meeting. The purchase is part of a concerted County effort to replace older gas or diesel powered vehicles in its fleet with new electric technology. “We purchased 2 electric utility vehicles for our Continue Reading
BioBlitz is Coming to San Juan Island
Written on May 12, 2016 at 5:47 am, by Update Staff
Grab your magnifying glass and explore nature in San Juan Island National Historical Park, like never before! On May 20-21, national parks across the country, including San Juan Island, will participate in the National Parks BioBlitz. BioBlitz is a fun, fast-paced biological survey of a park’s creepers and crawlers, plants and pollinators, mammals and more! Continue Reading
Sunday Evening Rainbow
Written on May 11, 2016 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
Shelley ran outside just in time to get a photo of this lovely rainbow Sunday evening. Thanks for sharing Shelley!
Northern Lights
Written on May 10, 2016 at 5:59 am, by Tim Dustrude
Chris Teren shares this awesome photo from Saturday night up at Stuart Island. Here’s what he has to say about it… Chasing the Northern Lights on Stuart Island Mother Nature put on an AMAZING show last night, kicking off Mother’s Day with some of the best Northern Lights I’ve ever seen in Washington State!! I Continue Reading
Kendra’s Going Exploring on the Nautilus
Written on May 10, 2016 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
FHHS Junior Kendra Clifton-Pew has been selected to explore the ocean on the “Nautilus”, the exploration vessel used by Dr. Robert Ballard when he discovered the Titanic shipwreck. Educators and students participate in groundbreaking STEM initiative exploring deep-sea biology, geology, and archaeology in the Eastern Pacific Kendra has been selected as a 2016 Honors Research Continue Reading
Clearest Drinking Water
Written on May 9, 2016 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
>> Update – the time has been moved up to 11:00 for this award presentation << Town to receive Department of Health award for top water quality in the state The Town of Friday Harbor is receiving top honors for providing some of the clearest drinking water in the state for three consecutive years. The Continue Reading
Pollinators in the Park
Written on May 7, 2016 at 5:29 am, by Tim Dustrude
In honor of this month’s “History Lives Here” celebration the Land Bank and SJI National Historic Park are hosting an afternoon of fun and learning for kids, centered around the heritage fruit trees in historic Driggs Park (adjacent to the Land Bank office) and pollinators. There will be games and art projects, as well as Continue Reading
$19 million in Economic Benefits
Written on May 6, 2016 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
Tourism to San Juan Island National Historical Park creates Over $19 million in Economic Benefits Report shows visitor spending supports 198 jobs in local economy A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 258,668 visitors to San Juan Island National Historical Park (NHP) in 2015 spent $14,811,700 in communities near the park. That spending Continue Reading
Mother’s Day Work Party on Cady Mountain Preserve
Written on May 5, 2016 at 5:44 am, by Tim Dustrude
Sure, a tasty Mother’s Day brunch is nice, but just that word, nice… Get adventurous. Get outdoors. Get atop Cady Mountain Preserve with the Oak Team. The mountainside is bursting with wildflowers – no bouquets needed! When? Sunday, May 8 10:00am to 2:00pm Where? Base of Cady Mountain Preserve – turn on to Cady Mountain Continue Reading
Shoreline Landowner Workshop
Written on May 4, 2016 at 5:34 am, by Tim Dustrude
Shoreline erosion management focus of free workshop Shoreline landowners of San Juan County communities are invited to attend a free workshop on shoreline erosion management from 11:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at The Orcas Fire & Rescue Meeting Room, 45 Lavender Ln., Eastsound. The workshop is free but registration is requested by Continue Reading
Garden Club: Salish Seeds Project
Written on May 2, 2016 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
Please join us to hear Eliza describe the Salish Seeds Project which produces plants and seeds of native island wildflowers and grasses for local restoration projects. Learn how the seeds are collected, tended in the nursery, and eventually planted in restoration zones on preserves. It will be a fascinating and worthwhile program! At every San Continue Reading
FHFF Presents: Unbranded
Written on April 30, 2016 at 5:43 am, by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor Film Festival Winter Series: Audience Choice Presents: Unbranded Directed by Phil Baribeau, Unbranded is an in-between-college-and-real-life adventure that makes the case for better land and wild horse management. After adopting a group of wild mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management, a small group of recent college grads decide to live out their Continue Reading
Litter Free By the Sea
Written on April 29, 2016 at 11:53 am, by Tim Dustrude
Lori Stokes shares this recap of last week’s clean up event on the islands… Co-organizers of the sixth annual Great Islands Clean-Up on San Juan Island — Lori Stokes, Jana Marks, and David Dehlendorf — would like to thank our island’s approximately 300 volunteers who participated this year, helping to make San Juan Island “litter-free Continue Reading
Let’s Talk Tourism
Written on April 29, 2016 at 5:37 am, by Tim Dustrude
The following is a Guest Editorial by Barbara Marrett of the visitor’s bureau… The first week in May is National Travel & Tourism Week, created to champion the power of travel to enhance communities across the country by contributing to the local economy and overall quality of life. In the past, I’ve used this opportunity Continue Reading
6th Graders Presentation
Written on April 28, 2016 at 5:27 pm, by Tim Dustrude
FHES 6th graders, in collaboration with the Kwiaht organization, will be hosting a Pollinator Celebration, a Honey Tasting and a Research Garden Dedication, onFriday, April 29th from 9:00 to 11:00 am. The Research Garden Dedication from the 6th graders to the supporting organizations of Kwiaht and San Juan Public Schools Foundation begins at 9:30. Also, a special Continue Reading
Tillamook Rock Lighthouse
Written on April 28, 2016 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan Island photographer John Miller recently took a trip down the Oregon coast and is sharing a series of lighthouse photos with SJ Update readers. This is number 2 in that series. Tillamook Rock Lighthouse – located about a mile off shore from Tillimook Head. According to John it is on a rock that Continue Reading
Fawn Season is Here!
Written on April 27, 2016 at 5:47 am, by Tim Dustrude
This is the time of year when fawns are being born on the San Juans. For the first couple of weeks they are not strong enough to run, jump and follow Mom through the woods, so she leaves them alone, lying still and quiet, for several hours while she goes off to feed. Ideally they Continue Reading
San Juan Island Rotary Club Cleans Up
Written on April 26, 2016 at 5:45 am, by Ted Strutz
Some of the members of the San Juan Island Rotary Club who participated in the annual Island Beach Cleanup show off their haul.
San Juan County Parks Drone Policy In Effect
Written on May 29, 2016 at 5:34 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan County has adopted an Unmanned Aircraft System (“drone”) policy for County parks and the fairgrounds. Beginning on February 2, 2016, the launching, landing, or operating of unmanned aircraft systems from or on all San Juan County Parks & Fairgrounds property is prohibited, unless authorized by special permit issued by the Parks & Fair Continue Reading
The First Wildland Fire of the Year
Written on May 28, 2016 at 2:08 pm, by Tim Dustrude
Sheila Harley, Public Information Officer for SJI Fire/Rescue shares this announcment… At approximately 1:43 PM the afternoon of May 27, 2016 the first wildland fire of the year on San Juan Island was reported burning near #2 School House Road. Responding units included a Type 3 brush truck, three command units, two water tenders, a Continue Reading
Work Party on Cady Mountain Preserve
Written on May 19, 2016 at 5:50 am, by Update Staff
Summer is just around the corner and our prickly foes are gearing up for a big convention on the mountain! Be sure to bring your leather gloves this Sunday to avoid their wrath when yanking them out of bed. When? Sunday, May 22 10:00am to 2:00pm Where? Base of Cady Mountain Preserve – turn on Continue Reading
Roche Harbor Resort and Volunteers Rock the RH Trail System
Written on May 16, 2016 at 5:52 am, by Tim Dustrude
A dedicated group of volunteers has been maintaining the Roche Harbor trails for 11 years, with strong support from Roche Harbor Resort. The old logging roads and more recently built single-track paths through the woods are faithfully tended by more than a dozen neighbors. In 2015, as an example, the group logged 407 hours of Continue Reading
County Adds Electric Vehicles to Fleet
Written on May 13, 2016 at 5:55 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan County Council approved funding for the purchase of 2 new electric vehicles and charging stations at its May 10th regular meeting. The purchase is part of a concerted County effort to replace older gas or diesel powered vehicles in its fleet with new electric technology. “We purchased 2 electric utility vehicles for our Continue Reading
BioBlitz is Coming to San Juan Island
Written on May 12, 2016 at 5:47 am, by Update Staff
Grab your magnifying glass and explore nature in San Juan Island National Historical Park, like never before! On May 20-21, national parks across the country, including San Juan Island, will participate in the National Parks BioBlitz. BioBlitz is a fun, fast-paced biological survey of a park’s creepers and crawlers, plants and pollinators, mammals and more! Continue Reading
Sunday Evening Rainbow
Written on May 11, 2016 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
Shelley ran outside just in time to get a photo of this lovely rainbow Sunday evening. Thanks for sharing Shelley!
Northern Lights
Written on May 10, 2016 at 5:59 am, by Tim Dustrude
Chris Teren shares this awesome photo from Saturday night up at Stuart Island. Here’s what he has to say about it… Chasing the Northern Lights on Stuart Island Mother Nature put on an AMAZING show last night, kicking off Mother’s Day with some of the best Northern Lights I’ve ever seen in Washington State!! I Continue Reading
Kendra’s Going Exploring on the Nautilus
Written on May 10, 2016 at 5:49 am, by Tim Dustrude
FHHS Junior Kendra Clifton-Pew has been selected to explore the ocean on the “Nautilus”, the exploration vessel used by Dr. Robert Ballard when he discovered the Titanic shipwreck. Educators and students participate in groundbreaking STEM initiative exploring deep-sea biology, geology, and archaeology in the Eastern Pacific Kendra has been selected as a 2016 Honors Research Continue Reading
Clearest Drinking Water
Written on May 9, 2016 at 5:50 am, by Tim Dustrude
>> Update – the time has been moved up to 11:00 for this award presentation << Town to receive Department of Health award for top water quality in the state The Town of Friday Harbor is receiving top honors for providing some of the clearest drinking water in the state for three consecutive years. The Continue Reading
Pollinators in the Park
Written on May 7, 2016 at 5:29 am, by Tim Dustrude
In honor of this month’s “History Lives Here” celebration the Land Bank and SJI National Historic Park are hosting an afternoon of fun and learning for kids, centered around the heritage fruit trees in historic Driggs Park (adjacent to the Land Bank office) and pollinators. There will be games and art projects, as well as Continue Reading
$19 million in Economic Benefits
Written on May 6, 2016 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
Tourism to San Juan Island National Historical Park creates Over $19 million in Economic Benefits Report shows visitor spending supports 198 jobs in local economy A new National Park Service (NPS) report shows that 258,668 visitors to San Juan Island National Historical Park (NHP) in 2015 spent $14,811,700 in communities near the park. That spending Continue Reading
Mother’s Day Work Party on Cady Mountain Preserve
Written on May 5, 2016 at 5:44 am, by Tim Dustrude
Sure, a tasty Mother’s Day brunch is nice, but just that word, nice… Get adventurous. Get outdoors. Get atop Cady Mountain Preserve with the Oak Team. The mountainside is bursting with wildflowers – no bouquets needed! When? Sunday, May 8 10:00am to 2:00pm Where? Base of Cady Mountain Preserve – turn on to Cady Mountain Continue Reading
Shoreline Landowner Workshop
Written on May 4, 2016 at 5:34 am, by Tim Dustrude
Shoreline erosion management focus of free workshop Shoreline landowners of San Juan County communities are invited to attend a free workshop on shoreline erosion management from 11:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday, May 14, 2016 at The Orcas Fire & Rescue Meeting Room, 45 Lavender Ln., Eastsound. The workshop is free but registration is requested by Continue Reading
Garden Club: Salish Seeds Project
Written on May 2, 2016 at 5:45 am, by Tim Dustrude
Please join us to hear Eliza describe the Salish Seeds Project which produces plants and seeds of native island wildflowers and grasses for local restoration projects. Learn how the seeds are collected, tended in the nursery, and eventually planted in restoration zones on preserves. It will be a fascinating and worthwhile program! At every San Continue Reading
FHFF Presents: Unbranded
Written on April 30, 2016 at 5:43 am, by Tim Dustrude
Friday Harbor Film Festival Winter Series: Audience Choice Presents: Unbranded Directed by Phil Baribeau, Unbranded is an in-between-college-and-real-life adventure that makes the case for better land and wild horse management. After adopting a group of wild mustangs from the Bureau of Land Management, a small group of recent college grads decide to live out their Continue Reading
Litter Free By the Sea
Written on April 29, 2016 at 11:53 am, by Tim Dustrude
Lori Stokes shares this recap of last week’s clean up event on the islands… Co-organizers of the sixth annual Great Islands Clean-Up on San Juan Island — Lori Stokes, Jana Marks, and David Dehlendorf — would like to thank our island’s approximately 300 volunteers who participated this year, helping to make San Juan Island “litter-free Continue Reading
Let’s Talk Tourism
Written on April 29, 2016 at 5:37 am, by Tim Dustrude
The following is a Guest Editorial by Barbara Marrett of the visitor’s bureau… The first week in May is National Travel & Tourism Week, created to champion the power of travel to enhance communities across the country by contributing to the local economy and overall quality of life. In the past, I’ve used this opportunity Continue Reading
6th Graders Presentation
Written on April 28, 2016 at 5:27 pm, by Tim Dustrude
FHES 6th graders, in collaboration with the Kwiaht organization, will be hosting a Pollinator Celebration, a Honey Tasting and a Research Garden Dedication, onFriday, April 29th from 9:00 to 11:00 am. The Research Garden Dedication from the 6th graders to the supporting organizations of Kwiaht and San Juan Public Schools Foundation begins at 9:30. Also, a special Continue Reading
Tillamook Rock Lighthouse
Written on April 28, 2016 at 5:48 am, by Tim Dustrude
San Juan Island photographer John Miller recently took a trip down the Oregon coast and is sharing a series of lighthouse photos with SJ Update readers. This is number 2 in that series. Tillamook Rock Lighthouse – located about a mile off shore from Tillimook Head. According to John it is on a rock that Continue Reading
Fawn Season is Here!
Written on April 27, 2016 at 5:47 am, by Tim Dustrude
This is the time of year when fawns are being born on the San Juans. For the first couple of weeks they are not strong enough to run, jump and follow Mom through the woods, so she leaves them alone, lying still and quiet, for several hours while she goes off to feed. Ideally they Continue Reading
San Juan Island Rotary Club Cleans Up
Written on April 26, 2016 at 5:45 am, by Ted Strutz
Some of the members of the San Juan Island Rotary Club who participated in the annual Island Beach Cleanup show off their haul.