The San Juan Island Farmers Market.

From San Juan County

The Orcas and San Juan Island Farmers Markets are set up to accept SNAP, or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known in Washington as Basic Food.

SNAP helps people with low incomes make ends meet by providing monthly benefits to buy food. To find out if you might be SNAP-eligible or apply, visit www.washingtonconnection.org or call 1-877-501-2233.

These benefits help to stretch food dollars for those who are most in need and ensure access to healthy fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables.

Market Match

Clients on SNAP can match up to $40 at the San Juan Island and Orcas Island Farmer’s Market.

Clients who have an EBT card (including P-EBT) can shop at the Farmers Market and for every $1 spent using EBT they receive matching dollars from the State Market Match program up to $40, doubling their dollars up to $80 to spend at the market.

It’s easy to use your food benefit.

Stop by the market manager’s booth to swipe your EBT card for the amount you want to spend and you will receive additional SNAP Market Match dollars to buy fresh fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, fresh herbs, and plant starts.

You will receive EBT tokens to spend on any EBT eligible food sold at the market including fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, fish, dairy, eggs, breads, and seeds and plant starts that can be grown for food. Spend the tokens and market match dollars at the various booths to buy food items.

We also have privately funded local matching programs thanks to the generosity of donors for those who are on SNAP or may income qualify.

Fresh Bucks Continue Reading

Contributed Photo/Justin Casey on Unsplash.

From American Legion Post 163

Memorial Day is for honoring and remembering the soldiers who have given their lives in the line of duty in the U.S. Armed Forces.

American Legion Post 163 in Friday Harbor will hold an honor guard ceremony at the two San Juan Island cemeteries at 11 a.m., May 31 on Memorial Day. 

At noon, the Legion Honor Guard ceremony will be followed by a bell ceremony to honor our American Legion Post members that we have lost in the past year.

For our local American Legion Post members that we lost in the past year, individual ceremonies will be held at a later date.

All current San Juan County COVID-19 precautions in effect as of the time of the ceremony will be observed.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/TheAmericanLegionPost163.

Contributed Photo/San Juan County Land Bank. The Westside Preserve in May 2021.

From the San Juan County Land Bank

This National Trails Day, the San Juan County Land Bank is celebrating at the Westside Preserve 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturday, June 5.

Gather your pod and join field steward Shauna Barrows as we kick off another summer of trail improvement.

Come relish the panoramic views and learn about the preserve’s prairie ecosystem while clearing invasive Himalayan blackberry bushes along the trails.

We’ll meet at the preserve’s middle pullout.

Free parking is available at Lime Kiln Point State Park that day, in addition to the preserve. There will be ample space to spread out as we cut back as many blackberry bushes as possible.

Please dress for the weather. Long pants are recommended. Bring pruners or loppers, gloves and water. A light snack will be provided.

RSVP to Tanja Williamson at 360-370-7655 or [email protected].

Contributed Photo/Taylor Shedd.

From San Juan County Marine Program

June is Orca Action Month, a time to celebrate and protect one of our region’s most iconic marine mammals, the Southern Resident orcas.

As we launch into summer, the San Juan County Marine Program would like to remind boaters what they can do to be a part of orca recovery.

The San Juan County Marine Program preserves freshwater resources, protects the marine environment and coordinates recycling and solid waste throughout the county.

Our resident killer whales have a unique social structure; they remain in matrilineal family groups, or pods, throughout their lives.

The theme of this year’s Orca Month is “We Are Family.” The theme highlights not only this close family bond, but the connection shared between all living things in our region.

Over the last year, we have rallied around the idea that we are all in this together.

Laws and guidelines are in place to protect the endangered orcas as they hunt for food in our waters. Boaters can “Be Whale Wise” to ensure they are boating safely and acting as stewards on the water.

“Be Whale Wise” is a partnership of governmental agencies, nonprofits and others in British Columbia and Washington state to research, implement and educate the public on laws and vessel practices to protect local marine resources.

Know the Washington state laws

Stay 300 yards from orcas on either side and 400 yards out of orca’s path, either in front and behind the whales.

Go slow (<7 knots) within ½ mile of orcas and disengage engines if whales appear within 300 yards.

Give them space
Continue Reading

M/V Tacoma – WSF photo

From Washington State Ferries

Customers taking a ferry as part of their Memorial Day travel plans should be prepared for a busy holiday weekend.

Along with the increased traffic, most routes will be operating on different schedules than years past due to service reductions related to the pandemic and crewing and vessel shortages.

Passengers are highly encouraged to check sailing schedules and give themselves plenty of extra time to get to their destination as there will likely be long waits if driving aboard.

Customers can use several tools in advance to help their trip go as smoothly as possible.

They can check terminal conditions before leaving home as well as follow WSF’s Twitter account for automatic updates on travel conditions.

People using state highways to get to the ferry terminal should also plan ahead for potential backups and delays with real-time traffic information on the WSDOT traffic app for their mobile device.

Travelers are also reminded that face coverings are required on all vessels and in terminals as part of TSA’s face mask requirement. Continue Reading

Photo Credit: Jeanne Hyde, Storyteller/Documentarian of The Whale Museum’s Orca Adoption Program

From The Whale Museum

Registration is now open for a summer virtual session of The Whale Museum’s Marine naturalist training. 

This program will be six sessions and run July 19-24.

The objective of this program is to provide a learning experience that assists adult graduates in becoming qualified regionally as professional or volunteer naturalists.

The main focus of the training is the ecology, current status and conservation of Southern Resident Killer Whales and other local marine species as well as discussions about the environments they live in.

The course includes presentations on cetaceans, pinnipeds, otters, intertidal invertebrates, seabirds, and a variety of other topics such as geology and marine conservation. Continue Reading

Sandy Strehlou shares this announcement with you…

Saturday, May 29, 11am, SJC courthouse lawn

If you could give just 90 minutes of your time to help bring peace and justice to the people of Palestine/Gaza, would you?

Join is for a peaceful community rally and march starting at the San Juan County, WA courthouse at 11am on Saturday, May 29^th.

Background

The Palestinians have been under occupation and exile for 70 years. The similarities to apartheid South Africa are unforgivable, but unlike that struggle, the United States is a partner in the cultural and human genocide—and I do not use that word casually–in and out of Gaza. Continue Reading

The new visitor center at American Camp will be opening this weekend. During construction, care was taken to preserve the bent Douglas fir out in front, which may have been a native American marker tree, where messages could be left for fellow members of a nomadic tribe – Louise Dustrude photo

By Louise Dustrude

The new American Camp Visitor Center parking area and trailhead access has been open to the public since mid-April, after more than a year of construction, and the building and new restrooms will be open by Memorial Day weekend. Although there is still work to do to complete the exhibits, the reception desk will be staffed and the bookstore operation will be open. 

Bertha, the bald eagle who has nested in the area for some 32 years, and her current mate have been around for a few days, but there are no signs of their nesting this year. NPS staff diligently monitored the eagle’s nest throughout the construction period and scheduled certain types of construction activities (noisy ones) outside of the nesting and fledge periods. Superintendent Elexis Fredy says she was delighted see that the construction project did not deter Bertha from staying in her nest! Continue Reading

From San Juan County

Contributed Image/CDC

Since the last update on Friday, May 21, the total cases in San Juan County have increased from 187 to 189.

There are 21 close contacts of positive cases currently in active quarantine. This number would be far higher if not for a number of close contacts being fully vaccinated.

The best remaining opportunities for COVID vaccination will be occurring over the month of June. Visit www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info for more information.

San Juan Island
There is one new case on San Juan Island since the last update. The transmission source for this case is still under investigation. There is one confirmed positive case under active monitoring on San Juan Island at this time.

Orcas Island
There are no new cases on Orcas Island since the last update. There are two confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Orcas Island at this time.

Lopez Island
There is one new case on Lopez Island since the last update. The transmission source for this case is still under investigation. There are no confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Lopez Island at this time.

Contributed Photo/San Juan County Sheriff’s Office. A powerboat circling in the water.

By Hayley Day, San Juan Update

A boater swam to shore near Brown Island Thursday leaving a powerboat running without an operator.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office received a report of someone in the water Thursday. When deputies arrived, the person had safely swam to shore but the boat was still motoring in circles without anyone aboard, according to deputies.

Deputies and the U.S. Coast Guard monitored the vessel for about three hours until the boat ran out of fuel and returned the Boston Whaler to the owner, deputies said. 

Contributed Photo/Island Rec.

From Island Rec

Join Alchemy Art Center staff and guest artists for fun and free community art days in John O. Linde Community Park.

Professional artists will lead an exciting roster of activities including indigo dyeing, sun prints, clay planters, funny faces, printing on t-shirts, and more.

Due to safety precautions, space will be limited. Register in advance to save your spot.

Each Sunday will have two timeslots offered to choose from noon to 1:30 p.m., and 2-3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is required.

• Sunday, June 6: Making Clay Planters
• Sunday, June 13: Printing on T-shirts
• Sunday, July 11: Monotype Printing
• Sunday, July 18: Indigo/Shibori Dyeing
• Sunday, Aug. 8: Silly Faces in Clay
• Sunday, Aug. 15: Sun Printing on Paper and Fabric
• Sunday, Aug. 29: Ceramic Charms and Jewelry
• Sunday, Sept. 5: and Printed Cards

For more information or registration, visit www.islandrec.org or call the office at 360-378-4953

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash.

Clinics are for ages 18 and up

From San Juan County

The San Juan County vaccine team will be operating single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccine clinics on Orcas, Lopez, and San Juan Islands through June. These clinics will be one of the best remaining opportunities for COVID vaccination in the islands.

After June, islanders wishing to be vaccinated will need to travel off-island, or confirm vaccine availability with their local healthcare provider or pharmacy.

The full schedule has been posted at www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info.

While walk-ups are certainly welcome, those who are able to register in advance are encouraged to do so. There is no cost. These clinics are for those 18 years old and up.

From Rep. Rick Larsen’s Office

Rep. Rick Larsen. Contributed Photo

Thursday, May 27, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) will visit Orcas Power & Light Cooperative to meet with Executive Director Foster Hildreth.

Larsen and Hildreth will discuss how the utility is working to improve broadband connectivity within its service area.

A senior member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Larsen is pushing for a bold, FDR-like investment in the nation’s infrastructure to create well-paying jobs, drive economic recovery and build a cleaner and greener transportation network.

Larsen will then tour three public works projects with the San Juan County Public Works staff, including the Orcas Landing Interpretive Outlook, Killebrew Lake Road Culvert and the West Sound coastal erosion project.

Next, Larsen will meet with Wildlife Cycles owner Dan Christopherson to discuss National Bike Month and how to expand and improve bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the Second District.

Larsen will then tour the Island Primary Care Orcas clinic with Island Hospital CEO Charles Hall.

The new clinic is a partnership between the Orcas Island Health Care District and Island Hospital after the University of Washington discontinued services on the island in March 2021.

Finally, Larsen will meet with Orcas Island Airport Manager Jeannie Sharpe and Port of Orcas Commissioner Robert Hamilton to discuss how federal pandemic relief is helping the airport maintain operations and keep critical infrastructure projects on track. Continue Reading

A Harbor Seal Pup. Wolf Hollow photo

From the San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network

As harbor seal pupping season starts up for us in the islands, San Juan County Marine Mammal Stranding Network wants to remind everyone how to be good marine mammal stewards.

If you see an alive or dead stranded marine mammal, please keep your distance, keep other people and dogs away, refrain from touching or harassing the animal, and, most importantly, report it to our 24-hour hotline: 1-800-562-8832.

Last year we received over 200 stranding calls regarding stranded harbor seals, porpoise and sea lions.

While unfortunate, marine mammal strandings are a great way to learn about species populations and ecosystem health.

In addition, our Stranding Network collects deceased marine mammals for necropsies to determine their cause of death. This information allows us to conduct research to protect our local species and ecosystem.

To learn more about what we’ve learned from marine mammal strandings in San Juan County, check out our list of peer-reviewed publications on The Whale Museum website.

Lastly, if you’re interested in becoming a Stranding Network volunteer and responding to strandings or attending necropsies, email the Stranding Network coordinator at [email protected].

Friday Harbor Town Administrator Duncan Wilson – Contributed photo

From the Town of Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor Town Administrator Duncan Wilson announced he will retire Jan. 4, 2022, after nine years in the position. 

He took over for King Fitch in 2012.

Wilson previously served as the city administrator of North Bend, Washington for six years. Prior to that, he had been an attorney in private practice in Renton for 22 years.

“Working in Friday Harbor has been the greatest job in my career,” said Wilson. “My wife, Traci, and I fell in love with this place as soon as we arrived; and we’re very happy that we’ll be able to stay in this community and enjoy our retirement here.”

Wilson graduated from Western Washington University in 1979 with a degree in business administration, after which he attended the University of Puget Sound, receiving a Juris Doctorate in 1982. He began his law career in October 1982.

From the Town of Friday Harbor

Contributed Photo/Town of Friday Harbor.

The Town of Friday Harbor presents “A Kepi in the Tide: Writing Historical Fiction” 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 27.

Author and genealogist John Ickes is a distant relative of early San Juan Island artist Marjorie Walker (1906-1992).

His historical research contributed to the understanding of Marjorie’s life and the online publication of her story on HistoryLink.org.

John has done extensive genealogical research on his family; research that uncovered the heroic and tragic story of his great uncle Hobart M. Walker (1842-1865), who fought and died for the Union Army during the Civil War.

John will discuss Hobart’s story and the process he used to research and write the historically based fictionalized story of Hobart’s life “A Kepi in the Tide.”

For more information, contact Sandy Strehlou at [email protected] or 360-622-2037.

This is an online GoToMeeting event. To participate, use this link: www.gotomeet.me/AmyTaylor5/historic-preservation-review-board

It will ask you to download the link at no cost. Complete the download at least two hours before the starting time. 

You can also dial 786-535-3211 on the phone with access code 233-692-541 to listen to the event.