Posted August 25, 2021 at 10:20 am by Tim Dustrude
SJIMA needs to cancel the Appraisal Day and Silent Auction scheduled for this Saturday, August 28 until the COVID virus has receded. This event has been anticipated by the SJIMA team for two years and we are severely disappointed to have to postpone it again.
Appraisal Day, when rescheduled will be fun for all and bring a needed breath of fresh energy to our community.
Stay safe,
Your SJIMA team of staff and volunteers
Posted August 24, 2021 at 4:01 pm by Tim Dustrude
SRKW’s J Pod – Katie Jones photo
FRIDAY HARBOR, WA. – Labor Day weekend is approaching, the last hurrah for many summer boaters before buckling down for the fall. As scores of vessels take to local waterways over the holiday, it’s an important time to stay vigilant and keep safe on the water. San Juan County’s Department of Environmental Stewardship calls on boaters to act as stewards of our fragile marine ecosystem by adhering to regulations and following Be Whale Wise boating practices for the safety of all in the Salish Sea.
The recent news about our Southern Resident killer whales has been sobering. This summer, we’ve marked a record length of absence for J Pod during peak season – over 100 days. In July, adult male K-21 Cappuccino, the last surviving male of his matriline, was sighted in very poor condition and is now presumed to be dead, bringing the resident population to just 74 whales. Remembrances of J-35 Tahlequah’s journey with her deceased baby in 2018 were another stark reminder of the shockingly rapid changes this endangered population has experienced. Continue Reading
Posted August 24, 2021 at 3:54 pm by Tim Dustrude
San Juan Singers, directed by Angel Michaels, is a community chorus open to all San Juan Island residents aged 14-100+. A general meeting for all members, returning and prospective, is scheduled for September 1, 2021, 7:00-8:00pm at the Brickworks building.
At this meeting you will schedule an audition or voice check, learn about the rehearsal protocols required by state and federal health organizations, and find out what wonderful music we’ll be singing this fall & winter.
All attendees must be masked. Music will be issued and weekly rehearsals will begin September 8 at 7:00pm in the Brickworks building. Performances are scheduled December 11 and 12, with a “tech week” scheduled the week prior. If you are unable to attend this meeting or for more information email [email protected].
Posted August 24, 2021 at 3:51 pm by Tim Dustrude
In the SJ Update mailbag today we have a Heads Up from Barnaby Zall about the RHNA Annual Picnic…
After careful consideration, on Saturday, August 21, the Board of Directors of the Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to cancel its 2021 Labor Day Isthmus Potluck Picnic, originally scheduled for Sept. 4.
RHNA is a charity which has served the northern part of San Juan Island for almost 50 years. The Labor Day Isthmus Picnic is traditionally our largest event of the year, with more than 100 people participating in a beach picnic on the Afterglow-Davison Head Isthmus.
Our highest priority is safety in our neighborhoods. This was a difficult decision for us to make, and we kept in close contact with San Juan County health officials. The surge in San Juan Island Covid-19 cases continues to worsen, led by the new, more dangerous Delta variant. Another 12 cases were reported in the County on Friday, August 20, making 27 new cases in the last week alone. Other organizations, like San Juan Island Fire & Rescue, Rotary, Transition San Juan and Soroptimists, have also cancelled their outdoor events in the face of the Delta surge.
We will continue to work on our other projects, including the new, expanded Emergency Preparedness project. But we have cancelled our 2021 Labor Day Isthmus Potluck Picnic.
Barnaby Zall
President, RHNA 2021-22
For more information, contact Barnaby Zall at [email protected]
Posted August 23, 2021 at 9:21 am by Tim Dustrude
Sign-ups are looking good, but there are still spaces available. Walk-ups also welcome.
For anyone waiting for full FDA approval of the vaccine before receiving their shot, that approval has now been granted for the Pfizer vaccine being administered this week.
Thanks to everyone who is signed up- we really appreciate the renewed interest.
More details at: https://www.sanjuanco.com/…/23977/210817-Aug-Vax-Clinics
Posted August 23, 2021 at 5:48 am by Tim Dustrude
Dateline: Friday Harbor, WA
Due to safety concerns, Friday Harbor Film Festival will present a scheduled livestream festival in mid-October, showing a program of feature documentaries and short films over 11 days, October 14 – 24 at FHFF.ORG. The festival will be divided into two sections:
Admission to films and events is by purchase of a virtual all-access pass, single ticket, or 5-ticket pass. Details are available at FHFF.ORG. Check out the FHFF offerings free at the opening night broadcast honoring filmmakers. Continue Reading
Posted August 23, 2021 at 5:45 am by Tim Dustrude
The Jeweled Shore, oil on canvas, 12 x 36
Friday Harbor Artist Shannon Borg – with guest artists Julia Wayne and Wendy Smith – presents an art installation of paintings, fiber art, jewelry and more, with an outdoor reception on Friday, August 27, 4:00 – 7:00pm
“Our island beaches are powerful, mysterious, and beautiful places, where we go to reflect, celebrate, and heal,” says Shannon.
Changing her life at 50 to study oil painting, Borg has been fascinated with one beach in particular – South Beach at American Camp, San Juan Island National Historical Park – for years.
Now she is presenting a solo exhibition with paintings, drawings, photography, and paper sculpture on display, as well as an 18-foot-long oil painting on canvas of South Beach. “The Hours” includes 6 sections, each representing four hours in a day at South Beach, capturing some of the color, abstract shapes and dynamic movement of the beach.
Borg has invited two other artists with special connection to the islands to join her. Seattle fiber artist Julia Wayne, who has been visiting the islands since she was a child, makes small, colorful fiber art pieces reminiscent of seaweed or sea creatures. Friday Harbor Jeweler Wendy Smith created a necklace and earrings from luminescent freshwater pearls specifically for the show. Continue Reading
Posted August 23, 2021 at 5:36 am by Tim Dustrude
Did you know that out of 39 counties in the state of Washington, only 7 have a Home Rule Charter including San Juan County? The County Charter is like our constitution and specifies how our county conducts its business.
Every 10 years our county reviews our charter and suggests amendments. These amendments are put to a public vote. San Juan County will vote on these amendments at the election in November.
San Juan Island Grange #966 is sponsoring a public conversation for citizens to learn about the amendments proposed. It will be a panel discussion with time for Q&A after each amendment discussion. Grange members are asked to stay at the end to discuss which amendments the Grange should endorse.
Online Zoom – Monday, August 30th
Click here to join:
https://utampa.zoom.us/j/97996914262?pwd=cnVrbSsvZ3pZQXRGSnZYRlJ6L1pMQT09
Or click through our Facebook page: San Juan County Grange
Posted August 23, 2021 at 5:29 am by Tim Dustrude
On Wednesday, August 25, 2021, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors will hold a regular (open) School Board Meeting at 5:00 pm as a Zoom meeting with an option for in-person attendance.
All in-person attendees must register before 4:00 pm on Tuesday August 24 to provide contact tracing information. Social distancing and the use of face masks will be expected. Non-compliance will require a continuation of the meeting on Thursday August 26th on Zoom only.
For in-person attendance at the meeting, please register before 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 24, through this link:
https://forms.gle/b5zHoYapgmZKYqX2A
To access the regular meeting via Zoom, please click on the following zoom link:
Continue Reading
Posted August 22, 2021 at 8:46 pm by Tim Dustrude
Weekly Case Update – Friday, Aug 20, 2021
Note: Current positive case numbers are available online at the County Case Data Dashboard.
Since the last update on Friday August 8th, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 237 to 264.
Of these twenty-seven new cases, initial investigations indicate that at least seven appear to have occurred in fully vaccinated individuals- a number that is not at all surprising given the overall high rate of vaccination in San Juan County.
There are approximately twenty-seven unvaccinated close contacts of positive cases who are currently in two-week quarantine. Note that vaccinated close contacts do NOT need to quarantine and this number would be far higher if not for the relatively high vaccination rate in San Juan County.
The transmission sources for these new cases vary widely. More than half of these new cases were previously identified as close contacts of previous positive cases.
Note that an unvaccinated individual included in last week’s report has been hospitalized on the mainland. This is the first DOH reported COVID hospitalization for a San Juan County resident since April.
KEY POINTS:
-San Juan County will be offering free walk-up COVID vaccine clinics on San Juan (8/24), Orcas (8/25), and Lopez (8/26). For full details go to: https://www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info
-Immunocompromised individuals interested in discussing need for a third dose of vaccine should review their situation with their primary healthcare provider – who will then arrange for the delivery of vaccine if appropriate.
-As per recent Federal guidance, San Juan County is working with local healthcare providers and pharmacies to discuss plans to supply booster shots for later in fall. Once finalized, those plans will be well publicized and widely shared with island communities.
Posted August 20, 2021 at 5:53 am by Tim Dustrude
Sarah Tops, a driftwood sculpture by Joe Treat – Photo by Judith Wright
Please join us at the San Juan Islands Sculpture Park to see “Sarah Tops”, a juvenile triceratops, made of drift wood by Joe Treat, as well as new sculptures by Roger Small, Keith Keyser and James Burgess.
The poppies are blooming, the weather is fine and the Sculpture Park is a safe outdoor adventure for all (children and dogs included). We have a new Westcott Bay trail, Whimsy Woods, Soundhenge, a flock of delightful sheep, a giant Grizzly and 150 other sculptures.
We are open dawn to dusk, and look forward to celebrating this end of summer with Art in Nature.
Posted August 20, 2021 at 5:50 am by Tim Dustrude
Looking for an enthusiastic, human-centric sidekick? Rafa is the type of dog that is going to look to his person before he makes any decisions. A real listener. Basically, if you’re in need of a personal, in-home therapist to vent your worries and woes to, then Rafa will be there for you.
He will sit by your side (or on your lap) and provide you with reassurance and all the confidence boosting compliments that you may need. Your classified information will be held tightly, and trust will not be broken. He only has one request himself… and that is that you be his confidence booster too!
It’s a promise for a lifetime of mutual self-esteem building and certainty. Together, you both will be the most self-assured pair in the park!
If you think Rafa would be a good match for your psychoanalytical mind, then reach out to his people at the shelter – they can make the arrangements for your first counseling session.
Application: https://www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/canine-application/
Posted August 20, 2021 at 5:45 am by Tim Dustrude
Ever wonder how much a piece of art you have is worth?
Now is your opportunity to find out! Specialists in the Jewelry and Fine Art-Departments from Bonhams auction house will be on location at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art to answer the probing question, “How much is this family heirloom or estate sale impulse-buy actually worth?”
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) is pleased to present our inaugural appraisal event, from 11-3 on Saturday, August 28. This will be so much fun! Take the jewelry you inherited or a fine art piece and learn its worth and a bit of its history.
Bonhams’ specialists will provide an informal verbal appraisal that will include an estimated value based on what the object might sell for at auction. The value is based on the specialist’s expertise and knowledge of what similar items are fetching in the current auction market. If an object meets the minimum consignment requirements, you will have the option to consign your item to Bonhams for sale at auction. Specialists are visiting from the Seattle, San Francisco, and Los Angeles offices of the esteemed Bonhams auction house and frequent guests on the popular PBS series Antique Road Show®.
Specialists will be available to provide appraisals in the following categories: Continue Reading
Posted August 19, 2021 at 5:38 am by Tim Dustrude
Signs of wildlife were on high display during this month’s easement monitoring. Low tide provided a good look at some gooseneck barnacles that remained healthy despite the recent heat.
The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting on August 20, from 8:30am-11:15am via Zoom. The public is invited to attend. Click HERE to download the agenda (includes ZOOM link) and meeting materials.
To learn more about your Conservation Land Bank, visit sjclandbank.org. If you’re interested in volunteering and/or joining our mailing list, contact [email protected]. We look forward to engaging with you!
About the San Juan County Land Bank
The San Juan County Land Bank is a local land conservation program, created by voters in 1990, and funded by a 1% real estate excise tax paid by purchasers of property in San Juan County. Through conservation easements or outright purchases, the Land Bank protects special places in the Islands including coastlines, farmland, forests and wetlands.
Posted August 19, 2021 at 5:36 am by Tim Dustrude
We really thought we were through with Covid-19 on San Juan Island, however it has spiked here worse than ever. Resiliency is all about staying healthy, and we want to help the community fight this so we are going to reschedule this event to when things improve.
So, we hope this attempt has sparked ideas and enthusiasm. Don’t despair, turn your thoughts to possible projects we can start working on.
In the next few days, we will send out some of the ideas we were going to share on Sunday.
Stay Safe!
Transition San Juan Steering Committee
Posted August 18, 2021 at 5:52 am by Tim Dustrude
San Juan County Virtual Fair “Lettuce Entertain Ewe” August 18th-21st is uploaded and ready for you to view! What does this year provide? Exhibits, Demos, Vendors and lots of entertainment!
A quick reminder that the Fair is what participants and volunteers make it with their time, effort and creativity. Without the participation and support of Islanders, none of it would be possible. Many hands make light work and amazing art, food, music and more!
What IS the Fair about? It is a showcase of the multifaceted talents of those who live in our County, and the unique aspects of living here that only Islanders truly understand. We can’t deny that the celebratory and gathering portion is equally important; especially looking towards the future of the Fair.
This summer proved that the Fair can be more than just a week in August. The fairgrounds are a valuable community asset and this year provided an opportunity to develop some truly creative partnerships. The San Juan Community Theater hosted their Summer Series at the fairgrounds and in turn provided equipment and space for performers to record for the Virtual Fair. Island Rec was able to host, once again, day camp for preschoolers. The Library utilized the front lawn for their story and craft time and, the San Juan Singers found outdoor rehearsal space.
Over on Orcas, The Orcas center provided previously recorded performances in exchange for their use of the Eastsound Village Green Summer Concert Series (while this was not at the fairgrounds, it was a new partnership for the Fair). And to make sure everyone didn’t miss out on new baskets, plants, t-shirts, artwork and more, the Fair staff was able to host Fair Markets and partnered with Going Left on a Fair Summer Music Series.
This year, The Virtual Fair will host those that provided Exhibits through the on-line entry program, Virtual Vendors and their activities, Merchandise, 4H online Showcase and Auctions, a few Live Talks, San Juan County Fair Minecraft, People Choice Awards and lots of Entertainment. A special Thankyou to those that provided their continued support through sponsorship this year and to those who participated.
The sincere hope is that you will help us celebrate those who participated in a year still filled with uncertainty. The last 2 years have not been easy, and next year will be focused on rebuilding and recreating. Each Islander has a different version and aspect of Fair that they hold tight to with fond memories. Take the history of this community event and fuse it with the present to create a Fair that will continue to be unique to the County and the Island’s communities.
How to follow the Fair: www.sjcfair.org and facebook/twitter/Instagram @sjcfair #sjcfair2021
Thank you,
Fair Staff