The Economic Development Council (EDC) and Lopez Community Land Trust (LCLT) are offering a free course on conceptual skills to run a construction project effectively. Instructors Sandy Bishop (Executive Director, Lopez Community Land Trust) and Pete Kilpatrick (former owner of Ravenhill Construction) will share their deep understanding and local perspective. The course will be on Tuesdays, Oct. 19^th through Nov. 16^th, at 5:30 to 7:00 PM over Zoom.

This course, Running a Construction Project, will benefit anyone from first-time job seekers to seasoned contractors. Gaining skills in construction management will also open opportunities for those who cannot take on physically demanding roles in the industry.

Topics will include the construction team, vendors, and the supply chain; scheduling, budgeting, and communications; residential and community construction projects; and – to provide a solid foundation for those new to the industry – plan reading.

This class is for students seeking work skills, whether in the construction industry or another industry. Applicants must be San Juan County residents who are 18 years or older. The registration deadline is Oct. 11^th. To learn more or register visit the EDC website: https://sanjuansedc.org/runconstruction/ .

This course is made possible by the generosity of the funders of the EDC’s programs, in particular San Juan County, the Building Industry Association of Washington, the Harvest Foundation, the Washington State Dept. of Commerce, the Raynier Institute and Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, the Port of Friday Harbor, the Port of Lopez, the Lopez Lions, the Friday Harbor Kiwanis, the United Way of San Juan County, and other grantors and donors. The instructors have generously agreed to donate their time.

The recently formed Camas Club launches a website https://camas.club created for and by islanders to connect with other backyard habitat enthusiasts. It is a place where native habitat aficionados can ask questions, share resources, organize seed swaps, and more.

By exchanging information about aspects such as restoration techniques, lessons learned, trusted sources of native plant material, and strategies for controlling invasive species, residents can work together to become more informed stewards of the land, and to protect the incredible biodiversity of the islands, starting in their own backyard.

Camas Club looks forward to updating its history as the story grows and as more folks participate. Please take a look and spread the word (along with your native seeds). Use the helpful Visitor Guide on the website to ask a question and/or join the conversation. Working together, we can create and sustain diverse wild habitats in our yards, farms, and public spaces.

The following article is shared with you by R. Brent Lyles, Executive Director, Friends of the San Juans

It’s time to spring into action! On the morning of Tuesday, September 14th, the County Council will hold a hearing on the 2021 docket. This year’s docket includes proposals for new tree-protection standards, stormwater-management standards, and doing an important “build-out analysis” for our County. These all deserve our community’s attention and support. The purpose of the Council’s hearing is to get public input — the County Council is asking to hear from you! You can write a letter or show up (virtually) to speak at the meeting, or both.

Why this is important:
At Friends of the San Juans, we’ve spent a lot of time in recent months supporting the Planning Commission’s efforts to do the right thing with respect to environmental stewardship in our County. The Planning Commission has now sent its recommendations on the docket requests to the County Council, and it’s the County Council that makes the final decisions. Now is the time to speak out on these docket requests. Let’s make sure the County Council members hear from the public loud and clear when they are making their decisions.

There are eight docket requests in total, and here’s the rundown of where Friends of the San Juans stands on the four that we feel are especially important (see also Friends’ comment letter here, which provides additional details): Continue Reading

Touring folk-pop duo band from Portland, Oregon, the Shook Twins, return to San Juan Community Theatre on September 11th at 7:30pm. You don’t want to miss this!

“Identical twins Katelyn and Laurie Shook have always harnessed an adventurous spirit, never shy to incorporate beatboxing, banjo-head drumming, vocals using a repurposed telephone microphone, and other ambient sources within their arrangements.”

Want to learn more about the Shook Twins? Read their recent article in The Journal HERE. “The San Juan community is so warm and friendly and we feel so welcomed and cherished when we come and play there. It’s very special for us.”

Tickets are $32 for adults and $16 for students. For more information about the concert and to purchase tickets, please click HERE.

Please join the League of Women Voters of the San Juans at a membership meeting on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in San Juan County on September 13, 2021 at 12:00 pm. The meeting occurs one year after the San Juan County Council passed Resolution 31-2020, entitled Affirming Commitment to a Safe and Inclusive Community.

The county council acknowledged that the “diversity of the communities we serve is one of our greatest strengths” while recognizing the barriers – “linguistic, cultural, fear of being targeted due to immigration status — faced by many members of the Latinx, and other communities, in accessing public services.”

The county council affirmed 8 core values in guiding its actions: equity, diversity, collaboration, respect, integrity, empathy, learning and accountability. The members meeting will examine where the county is in meeting these goals, providing a range of perspectives on diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Speakers include Jamie Stephens, member of the County Council; Ronald Krebs, Sheriff; Victoria Compton, Director, Economic Development Council; and Jennifer Armstrong, Director, Family Resource Center.

Register in advance for this meeting at https://bit.ly/3jTEehM and receive a confirmation email with all details. All members are encouraged to attend and are welcome to invite a friend. 

The Islands’ Oil Spill Association (IOSA) is offering free oil spill response training for interested islanders in October. Sessions will be held on Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island.

This half-day hands-on training is intended to give both new and existing volunteers an introduction to basic response strategies and provide a general overview of the equipment and tools likely to be used. Training will occur outdoors at various shorefront locations.

• San Juan Island: Saturday October 9^th / 8:30am – 1:00pm
• Orcas Island: Saturday October 16^th / 8:30am – 1:00pm
• Lopez Island: Sunday October 17^th / 8:30am – 1:00pm

IOSA is a volunteer organization that has provided a vital first line of defense for the islands, responding to spills of all sizes since 1985.

IOSA volunteers should be physically fit, able to work for long periods outside in inclement weather, be able to work and move in and around boats, and should enjoy working as part of a team. Space is limited.

Register online here, or go to www.iosaonline.org/training

Printable posters announcing the training are available here: 8.5 x 11 and 11 x 17

Residents of San Juan Island have an incredible opportunity to create a unique package of choices for our parents, grandparents — and ourselves, as we age— by voting for the proposed levy lid lift for the Public Hospital District. The centerpiece of this package would be two-fold:

• greatly expanded care-at-home services, including chore services, assistance with activities of daily living and medication monitoring to support aging in place.
• the purchase of the Village at the Harbor, paying the caregivers there a living wage with benefits and adding beds dedicated to Medicaid recipients

Currently Medicaid beds are essentially non-existent in our county. If you or a loved one needs a Medicaid bed, you would have to move off-island. If staying in your own home to “age in place” is your goal, we need more community resources for that to be possible.  Either way, if your goal is to stay on island as you age, you will want to support this levy.

Retaining people who work as caregivers on the island is crucial for the future. Too many people who gravitate to care-giving find they can do better during the summers working in tourism-related jobs. What it would take to keep them in care-giving year-round would be healthcare benefits and a modest increase in wages.  

The Village at the Harbor is not losing money — it’s basically breaking even, which is not what a for-profit business wants to do. The Public Hospital District board approached the owners/investors of the Village about selling the facility to allow for a publicly owned entity that can better support staying on-island. 

We have formed a committee to get the facts to the voters to share our excitement about this opportunity. Watch for our Q&A on our Facebook page: Long Term Care Solutions Committee (Political Organization).  For questions call: 360.472.0754  or email: [email protected]

Volunteer members of the the Long Term Care Solutions Committee:

• Kathryn Clary
• Eileen Drath
• Louise Dustrude
• Susan Grout
• Shallon Jordan
• Deanna Osborn
• Trish Lehman
• Liz Pillow
• Lee Sturdivant

Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid
The Fraught and Fascinating Biology of Climate Change
by Thor Hanson

There is always reason to celebrate the release of a new book by San Juan Island biologist and author, Thor Hanson. If you’ve read Feathers, Seeds, and Buzz, and sat enthralled at one of Thor Hanson’s lively and informative presentations, you’ll be anxious to attend the launching of the author’s just-published, Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid, to be hosted by Griffin Bay Bookstore on Tuesday, September 28, 7:00 pm at Brickworks.

In Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid, Thor Hanson explores the remarkable ways that plants and animals are responding to climate change: moving, adapting, and even evolving. A story of hope, resilience, and risk, this book will surely be remembered as the defining natural history of an unnatural time. What could be more timely for San Juan Islanders after experiencing a summer of drought and heat waves?

Griffin Bay Bookstore is naturally delighted to celebrate and honor the book’s release. The only way we can host an in-person event safely, however, is to limit attendance. Ordering and prepaying for a copy of the book before the event on September 28 is your ticket for entry.  Please note: the purchase of one book covers entry for one person and a guest. All books will be signed by the author prior to the event. If you would like a personalized message from Thor, please make arrangements with him after the event. Continue Reading

Are you joining Medicare this year? If so, there’s a lot of new information for you to understand.  Medicare has its own vocabulary and rules.   There are deadlines you need to make and penalties (some lasting a lifetime) for not doing things at the right time.  You will need to choose among several types of coverage that will be available to you.  Medicare coves most common health issues, but not everything is covered.

SHIBA volunteers are here to make the transition easier for you.  Join us for an online presentation on Tuesday, September 14 at 1 p.m.   Come learn how Medicare works, what your coverage options are and when you must act to avoid penalties.  To register for the presentation email [email protected] or call 360-376-5892.  We will need your first and last name, your email address and your phone number to register you.

This is a free presentation made by trained volunteers from the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program overseen by the Washington Office of the Insurance Commissioner to provide free, unbiased and confidential counseling assistance in San Juan County.

There are federal and state programs available to help people with very low incomes and limited assets pay their Medicare premiums, copays and deductibles.

SHIBA has trained volunteer counselors available on the 3 major islands in San Juan County.  Call the local SHIBA office at 360-376-5892 to schedule your free personal, confidential, unbiased counseling session. In San Juan County SHIBA is sponsored by the Inter Island Healthcare Foundation.

Dateline: Friday Harbor, WA – Friday Harbor Film Festival is now scheduling feature documentaries and short films to be shown during the Livestream Festival October 14-17 and the On-Demand Festival October 18-24.  While FHFF has many excellent submissions, there is room for more.  The final date for submissions is September 20.

If you are an independent filmmaker – professional, amateur, or student – submit your feature or short documentary film for consideration in this year’s festival through FilmFreeway at www.fhff.org/director-series. Feature documentaries should run 40 minutes or more.  Short films should run under 40 minutes. 

The Livestream Festival will feature real-time live-streamed Q&A sessions with filmmakers following the screening of their films. Q&As will be recorded for viewing during the On-Demand Festival. Continue Reading

Photo by Joshua Siniscal

Community Remembrance Scheduled Commemorating September 11, 2001 Anniversary

FRIDAY HARBOR, WA – A community memorial will be held to the 20th anniversary of September 11, 2001 to remember the 2,997 people lost on that tragic day. The ceremony will remember the women, men and children who lost their lives, and the thousands injured during the terrorist attack in New York City, Washington, DC and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

The remembrance will be held in the Town of Friday Harbor on Saturday, September 11, 2021 at 09:00 a.m. at Memorial Park, located at the flag pole in the traffic circle on Front and Spring Streets. The ceremony will include brief comments from three guest speakers, an honor guard from the American Legion Post and representatives from San Juan Island public safety organizations.

Everyone is invited to attend. Please remember to be COVID-19 safe – while the ceremony will be held outdoors, masks and social distancing are encouraged.

Jon and Kris with their rescue dog, June – Contributed photo

The Animal Protection Society – Friday Harbor is pleased to announce Jon and Kris Zerby as the APS-FH Volunteers of the Month for September 2021. 

Jon Zerby is currently an APS-FH Board Member, but this husband-and-wife duo have been volunteering for APS-FH for many years; before Jon served on the board; even before APS-FH had a formal volunteer program!

Because of their longtime service, the Zerby’s have worn many hats (so to speak) over the years, helping in numerous ways for APS-FH. Their flexibility and reliability make this couple cherished members of the APS-FH Volunteer Program. Jon and Kris have volunteered at community gatherings and fundraising events, running odd errands, and generally jumping-in  to do whatever is needed. Continue Reading

San Juan Community Theatre to Require Proof of Vaccination and Masking for all Theatre Patrons 

SJCT is ecstatic to be returning to indoor performances for the Fall season. However, with new developments surrounding Covid-19 and the transmission of the Delta variant, SJCT will be requiring proof of vaccination and masking for all patrons at all performances and events.

There are options available for children under 12 and people with a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief that prevents vaccination to provide proof of a recent test in lieu of proof of vaccination. Patrons and employees will be required to wear masks and SJCT is not currently offering food or beverage service.

For details on what is acceptable as proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test, please visit www.sjctheatre.org/covid-policies. SJCT is thankful for the understanding of our community as we continue to abide by all public health guidelines, which are subject to change based on the most current information available.

Please visit our website www.sjctheatre.org for information about upcoming performances and updates regarding Covid-19 or call our Box Office at (360)-378-3210. 

The original mid-century modern Islands Convalescent Center building on upper Spring Street after construction and before later renovations changed the look forever. (Click to enlarge)

Change is inevitable. But some things are worth preserving because they tell a story. Our story.

The Town of Friday Harbor is looking for islanders who appreciate Friday Harbor’s history and historic sites, who value Friday Harbor’s unique sense of place, and who enjoy architecture and public service. The Historic Preservation Review Board (HPRB) currently has two vacancies.

For more information about board duties and responsibilities and to submit a resume, contact Sandy Strehlou, Historic Preservation Review Board Coordinator: (360) 622-2037, PO Box 219, Friday Harbor, or [email protected].

Homeowner’s Hazard Insurance

One thing to seriously consider in these times of escalating values for our homes on the island is the adequacy of your homeowner insurance. Our homes have increased in value over the last few years and the cost to replace has increased dramatically, therefore, your coverage may not be adequate. 

In the case of your Homeowner’s Hazard Insurance, it will cover replacement costs at the amount as defined in your policy.  It may also cover contents, liability and rental loss, each policy will vary. These amounts may have been set many years ago.

Your home is one of your largest investments and you should make sure it is protected. Most lenders require that your insurance coverage is 100% of the estimated replacement costs value to repair or replace your home with like materials. You want to ensure that the coverage is adequate to properly rebuild your home if it is damaged or destroyed. 

Continue reading at https://www.sanjuanislandslifestyle.com/post/homeowners-insurance

Indoor performances are back at San Juan Community Theatre, and the theatre lobby is once again open as a showcase for local artists’ exhibits.

From now until the end of September the photographs of Robert Hare Stavers Photography will be on display. This exhibit features a series of Black and White photographs entitled “The World in Shades of Gray”. 

Stavers describes the series, “I have always thought the phrase “Black and White Photography” was a misnomer as such images are really shades of grey. All of the images here, taken from around the world, are made from thousands of grey tones and allow us to see the beauty of nature’s geometry and allow our minds to supply the richness of color. I also hope they serve as a reminder that few things are really black and white and to seek the shades of grey within”.

The artwork will be available for purchase, and 75% of the profits will be generously donated to SJCT. Preview some of Staver’s work by visiting www.galleriehare.com. 

For information about upcoming performances and updates regarding Covid-19 please visit our website www.sjctheatre.org or call our Box Office at (360)-378-3210.