By Louise Dustrude A number of people have been asking one another what those bright yellow flowers are that have appeared recently at Island Rec’s LaFarge Open Space, aka the gravel pit. So we checked with Eliza Habegger, the land steward at the Land Bank, whose responsibilities also include ecological assessment, monitoring, and restoration on  Continue Reading

By Marita Holdaway Thanks to Jim and Bonnie Towne the San Juan Island Sculpture Park has three bears. These are not just any old bears but grizzly bears commissioned by the Towne’s for their lodge in Colorado. When the Towne’s moved to San Juan Island, the mom and two cubs came with them. And now, as  Continue Reading

The National Park Service has been busy making progress on construction of the new visitor center out there. Here’s the latest from their construction blog… Update: Site Observation Update Week of June 16th This week’s work has no discernable theme apart from a great deal of focus outdoors. With superb weather, we began work on  Continue Reading

For many islanders, it is a long-standing tradition to come to UW Friday Harbor Labs (FHL) on the 4th of July to sit on the breakwater or bluffs to watch the fireworks in the harbor – it’s one of the best viewing sites!  So we are saddened to announce that this year, access to the FHL  Continue Reading

In the mailbag this afternoon we have this letter from Brent Snow, General Manager of Roche Harbor Resort… Dear Friends, Neighbors and Community, The COVID-19 pandemic has put a terrible monkey wrench in all our plans. These are not easy times for any hospitality operation and Roche Harbor is founded and based on hospitality.  We are  Continue Reading

Island Rec and Peace Health want you to walk or run 50 Miles in July! Get outside and enjoy Summer! This is a great way to also train for the Friday Harbor 8.8K Run. You can track your distance using your smartphone or watch, using many available apps such as Strava, Map My Fitness, FitBit,  Continue Reading

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic we have made some changes to the annual Shaw Island Classic sailboat race. Please post this event update on your website and/or printed calendar. Thanks! Contact:  Jim Corenman, SJIYC Race Committee.  (360) 317-6442 or racecommittee@sjiyc.com Although the San Juan Island Yacht Club has postponed the 50th Shaw Island Classic  Continue Reading

We are excited to bring a virtual scavenger hunt experience for the whole family to the community this summer. Each week 5 “hunts” will be delivered to your inbox, varying in difficulty and activity type. The objective of these experiences will be to learn more about your island and to experiment with new projects and  Continue Reading

Troop Meetings are open for all young Men & Women ages 10.5 – 17 Thursdays 6:30-8 at Camp Bogardus Cub Pack Meetings are open for all young Boys & Girls ages 6 – 10.5 Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 at Camp Bogardus Sea Scout Meetings, will restart soon for all Men & Women ages 14-20 Please contact Scoutmaster  Continue Reading

Your Conservation Land Bank turns 30 this year and is celebrating with a multi-island exploration. Every preserve has a story – gather your family and get outside this summer to discover what your public lands have to say! The San Juan County Land Bank teamed up with the Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island libraries  Continue Reading

Fact Check of Whalen Petition Dear Editor and Community, We recently received in the mail Mr. Ron Whalen’s request to have us sign a petition to eliminate the Land Bank by December 2020. The request was loaded with falsehoods and outrageously attempted to dupe our community into thinking that a yes or no answer meant  Continue Reading

Island Rec is excited to offer a few virtual programs this Summer. Registration opens Monday June 8th at 7:00am online. We have offerings for a wide range of age groups available. Please visit our website for the complete list, and registration. www.islandrec.org For questions, please call 360-378-4953.

To Be Distributed for Children and Teens at FHES on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13 Due to community closures and social distancing measures, the San Juan Island Library’s summer program will be a bit different for 2020. San Juan Island Library Youth Services will be offering Summer Reading Program take-home kits for our  Continue Reading

On Tuesday May 26th the San Juan County Council approved plans for the production of an Alternative Fair.  The decision was made earlier in May to not host a physical Fair at the San Juan County Fairgrounds, the resting place of the SJC Fair since 1924.  This decision was made with heavy minds and hearts,  Continue Reading

The following is shared from the Old Military Road Trail Committee… Hello Fellow Islanders and Hikers, It seems that for many of us, ‘hunkering down’ on San Juan Island has involved enjoying our multitude of trails and even choosing some new trails to explore. If you’ve not yet experienced the American Camp Trail, springtime is  Continue Reading

Island Rec is continuing to carry classes with Jacquelyn Reiff and Katerina Wen through the end of July via Zoom. All classes will be accessed through a live Zoom video link that is sent to you each morning of class. Sign up for the whole month, or a drop-in option is also available. To register,  Continue Reading

COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders With roots dating back to the Civil War, Memorial Day is a time for our nation to remember and honor military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. In addition, Memorial Day weekend is the traditional kick-off to  Continue Reading

The 2020 boating season is officially upon us, and soon our anchorages will begin to fill with local and visiting private boats. Our amazing group of islands, where boaters find wonder and relaxation, are also where fish and wildlife find food and shelter. One of the Salish Sea’s most critical and sensitive marine habitats is  Continue Reading

To the Editor: In this time of Stay-at-Home regulations, coinciding with some lovely spring weather, we at the Friday Harbor Labs (FHL) have noticed increased use of University of Washington properties. We absolutely understand the desire to get out of the house and find new places to explore, and we want to be good neighbors,  Continue Reading

Your Conservation Land Bank will resume opening the gate at Mount Grant Preserve beginning this Sunday, May 10th.   We have switched to our spring/summer calendar and driving access to the summit will be available twice a week, Sundays and Wednesdays from 10am to 7pm. Please continue following social distancing guidelines whenever visiting your preserves: If  Continue Reading

The San Juan Island Park and Recreation District commissioners have made the difficult decision to cancel all in-person programs and events for summer 2020 based on Governor Jay Inslee’s ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ order and his four phases of reopening, in addition to Washington State Department of Health guidelines. The health and safety of our  Continue Reading

No standing in lines and no rushed shopping at the Mullis Senior Community Center this year. We are online only in compliance with all safety guidelines for COVID-19. Our Spring Plant Sale starts at 9am, Tuesday, May 5. Healthy veggie starts need new homes! Eight new varieties this year, including two delicious cherry tomatoes, cucumbers,  Continue Reading