Contributed Image/Department of Natural Resources

From the Department of Natural Resources

From its craggy coastlines to its icy volcanic peaks, Washington is home to some of the world’s most stunning geology.

A new website by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources helps connect people to the state’s rich and diverse geologic history.

Filled with images and information about geologic marvels spread across Washington’s seven physiographic provinces, the Washington 100 provides users with a thorough guide for exploring fossil beds, ancient lava flows, coastal sea stacks or alpine glaciers.

Through its stories, fun facts, and thousands of photos, graphics, animations, videos and maps people will be able to learn about well-known places like Mount Rainier, Beacon Rock and Palouse Falls while recreating.

It is available at wa100.dnr.wa.gov.

“This guide comes at the perfect time. As the pandemic begins to recede and we are all able to again get out and explore, the Washington 100 helps people touch and feel the geology that has shaped our state,” said Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz. “Whether you’re 8 or 80, it’s important to connect to the natural forces that created the places we know and love. And this guide is a great way to put that story in your hands.”

Whether you’re looking for a weekend adventure or just a virtual field trip from your home, the Washington 100 website takes viewers on a virtual scavenger hunt that takes users through things such as: Continue Reading

From San Juan County

San Juan County is collecting hazardous waste at the waste stations on San Juan, Orcas and Lopez islands.

Collection times are:

• 1-3 p.m., June 11 for businesses on San Juan.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June 12 for households on San Juan.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m., June 19 on Orcas
• 11 a.m.-2 p.m., June 26 on Lopez. 

Businesses must call 360-370-0534 to pre-register. 

The following items are accepted:

• All latex (water-based) and oil paints, stains, solvents, resins, and thinners
• Cleaning products and degreasers
• Pesticides and yard chemicals
• Fuels and contaminated oils
• Lab, pool, and photo chemicals
• Oxidizers, corrosive and reactives
• Aerosols and lib propane cylinders
• Fluorescent and CFL lightbulbs
• Household batteries
• PCB light ballasts

These items are not accepted: Continue Reading

Contributed Photo/Becky Armstrong.

From organizers

Becky Armstrong fell on May 10 and broke her shoulder. She is in a lot of pain and has her right arm immobilized in a sling.

She is the independent business owner of Hello, Gorgeous where she gives manicures and pedicures. This job requires the use of both hands. She is unable to work until her shoulder heals, about two months.

She is a single parent with two teens. She needs financial help to pay her rent, utilities, car payment and other household expenses. Her rent, including water, is $1550 a month.

She is an active member of our community, spending most of her life in Friday Harbor since childhood. Becky would appreciate any help that you can provide, even small amounts. Donate at https://gofund.me/0512acf4.

Contributed Photo. Halley Byrne.

From Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is pleased to announce its 2021 educational award winners.

Contributed Photo. Megan Haagensen.

The Educational Opportunity Award is for a woman enrolled in an undergraduate degree or vocational skills program. This year Soroptimists were able to give out three $2,000 awards.

The award winners are Halley Byrne, Megan Haagensen and Victoria Polda.

Halley is working her way through the pre-nursing program at Skagit Valley Community College with the intention of enrolling in their RN program when her prerequisites are completed. She then plans to get a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through the University of Washington bridge program.

Contributed Photo. Victoria Polda.

Victoria is studying at the Colorado School of Mines for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering. She plans to pursue a career in hardware engineering or integrated circuits and electronics either in industry or research, and to one day work on quantum computers.

Megan is studying to become an elementary school teacher and will soon receive her Associate in Education degree from Skagit Valley Community College. She has been accepted to Western Washington University, with Distinction, and hopes to be accepted into the Woodring College of Education where she will continue her studies.

Soroptimists also gave out one $3,000 Fellowship Award. This award is for a woman who is returning to college for post-graduate study leading to an advanced degree to enhance her business or profession.

These awards were made possible due to the generosity of community members and local businesses who support Soroptimist fundraising projects.

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is the local club of a worldwide service organization whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls. In Friday Harbor, Soroptimists raise and donate more than $40,000 and thousands of volunteer hours each year to community projects.

To learn more about the local Soroptimist club, visit www.sifri.org.

By Merri Ann Simonson, Managing Broker, Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands Inc

Contributed Photo. Merri Ann Simonson.

If you are a buyer or seller, I bet you thought just getting under contract was stressful for all parties.

In reality, the home inspection and feasibility response and associated negotiations are often the more stressful event.

Allowing a buyer to have a home inspection and hopefully, a concurrent feasibility study is a very necessary part of the transaction.

Seller’s Disclosure

The seller must provide a disclosure about the property. This is merely a disclosure, not a representation, guarantee or warranty.

This disclosure should be given to your home inspector prior to their visit so they can focus on the seller’s comments about defects and repairs made. Your agent should automatically do this but as a buyer, you should ensure it happens.

Buyer’s Due Diligence

Washington is a buyer due-diligent state. If the boilerplate language is used, the buyer gets a free ride to investigate whether the property is suitable or not.

If they respond with notice to terminate within the deadline, their deposit is refundable unless the contract is written differently. Continue Reading

Contributed Photo/Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor. Rocky.

From Animal Protection Society Friday Harbor

Age: 7 Months
Sex: Male
Breed: Lab Mix
Application: www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/canine-application

Rocky feels like an old soul.

With his kind almond eyes, lovable Lab-like face and laid-back nature, it’s easy to forget his days as a stray pup when he was found on the mountain streets near Jocotepec, Mexico.

He is calm and patient, cautious and wise, quick to learn and quick to become a friend. He may be shy at first, but he warms right up and would love nothing more than some quality cuddles.

Rocky does great on leash and harness. He has also started training on some classic cues like: “ Sit, down, leave it, find it,” and more! Continue Reading

“A Winter Shade of Pale,” The Great Burial Reef by Yvonne Buijs-Mancuso, Encaustic on wood.

From San Juan Islands Museum of Art

The Artists’ Registry Show with 60+ artists and “VOYAGER” by Steven Jensen close on May 31 at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art in Friday Harbor. Catch them before they leave. 

Contributed Photo/SJIMA. “Black Oystercatchers” by Shawna Marie Franklin.

On Memorial Day, the museum will close early at 2:30, so plan to beat the rush. 

From all over the county, emerging, accomplished and professional artists fill two galleries with works ranging from printmaking, painting, sculpture, jewelry, glass, textiles, wood carving and more.

Jensen’s atrium exhibit transforms the space with light and the aesthetic traditions of his Norwegian forebearers. His art explores the universal image of the boat and will take your breath away.

You can preview these shows at www.sjima-online.org.

The art museum is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Monday. Admission is $10 for museum members and those 18 and under admitted free of charge. 

The museum has all COVID protections in place for your safety as well as our staff and volunteers. Continue Reading

From San Juan County

Contributed Image/CDC

Since the last update on Friday, May 14, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 180 to 187.

There are 28 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.

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

Orcas Island
There are seven new cases on Orcas Island since the last update.

Six of these new cases are close contacts of each other, either household or otherwise. The initial transmission source is still under investigation. None of these transmissions occurred in a school setting.

One of these cases appears to be unrelated to other local cases and was identified while the individual was on the mainland.

There are seven confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on or tied to Orcas at this time.

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

Overall

As of May 20, 77% of island residents 16 or over have at a minimum initiated their vaccine.

Of that same 16+ group, 60% have been fully vaccinated.

These are remarkable numbers that are the highest of any county in Washington. Continue Reading

M/V Tacoma – WSF photo

From Washington State Ferries

The next Washington State Ferries spring 2021 online community webinars will be held Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Join members of the ferries executive team for an opportunity to ask questions and submit comments at one of next week’s virtual public meetings.

To participate, register online in advance for either 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 25, or 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 26. Both webinars will cover the same material.

If you are unable to join, a video of each meeting will be posted online by Friday, May 28.

Contributed Photo/Island Rec. Boo Boo.

From Island Rec

Join Island Rec for a 1-hour complete body workout.

Meet Boo Boo in person at John O. Linde Community Park to get your sweat on while enjoying the outdoors. No equipment required.

This class is great for all fitness levels and abilities. Boo Boo will always have modifications ready.

Ages: 14+
When: 5:30-6:30 p.m., Monday and Wednesday, June 7-July 7 
Cost: Register by May 27 for $37, or $5 more after

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

From OPALCO

Are you ready for the shift away from fossil fuels?

OPALCO’s Island Way campaign is here to help co-op members prepare for the energy future that is coming fast.

The next virtual workshop is May 27.

Island Way events are interactive hour-long sessions designed to help members get the information and support they need to prepare for a sustainable energy future.

Check out OPALCO’s podcasts series on each workshop.

In this upcoming Zoom event, we’ll explain what’s happening in our energy world and share the tools and resources that are available to help members start saving money now while preparing for a more affordable energy future.

David Griffin of Island eCars will be on board to talk about the EV Happy Deal, and we’ll cover the Switch it Up on-bill financing program for efficiency upgrades like ductless heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, EV chargers and fiber to the home.

Learn about OPALCO’s plans to use more renewable energy sources like solar and battery storage. The hour-long session will provide plenty of time for community discussion. 

OPALCO is raffling off some great prizes to members who participate in these Island Way workshops: a Greenworks electric lawnmower and ten shares of the 2021 Community Solar Project.

OPALCO members will enter to win with each session they attend, beginning with the April 24 annual meeting. The more sessions attended, the more entries in the raffle! The two winning names will be drawn on Oct. 1.

To get the link for any of the Island Way workshops, email [email protected].

Upcoming Island Way workshops: Continue Reading

From San Juan County

The San Juan County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions.

Additional information about each committee is available on the county’s website at sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies.

Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an advisory committee application or contact the council office at 360-378-2898 or [email protected].

Continue Reading

“Freezer-Burned: Tales of Interior Alaska” is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Steve Ulvi.

A Matter of Weather and Physics

The arrival of spring in the north is a penultimate pleasure. For a nature lover, anyway. Like dropping a heavy burden after a long slog up a mountain ridge leading to a soul-stirring view and sense of accomplishment. It’s was a great comfort just knowing that we did not have to cope with brass-monkey cold and dark anymore. This sense of elation is certainly increased by latitude. I’m guessing that being rescued after months on a deserted island would result in a more explosive elation and greater existential relief, but the comparison is not absurd.

It is, of course, the same tilt of the earth’s axis, the curvature toward the north pole and the elliptical course around the sun that forge the long winter and short summer characteristics of the sub-arctic. Spring is a short, steeply inclined bridge to the vaunted midnight sun of summer. In the Brooks Range, that arcing buttress between the Arctic proper and the northern Interior, it is said that “summer is just a sweet lie.”

The erasure of winter by the radiant weeks of April is the most rapid and intense of the four sharply distinct seasonal transitions in that climatic region. The extreme deep cold that solidified everything (except warm living flesh, hibernating creatures and deep water) for many months is overcome by a bombardment of solar heat over several weeks at an inexorable, climbing rate. The Interior of Alaska is a region underlain by discontinuous permafrost but even the top two feet of the ancient cold from beneath begins to thaw. Continue Reading

Wolf Hollow photo

From Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

In the past week, Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center has received several calls about newborn fawns, so we know spring fawn season has arrived.

May is when most local Black-tailed Deer give birth to their fawns and people become concerned when they find a little fawn, all alone, with no mother in sight.

What should you do if you find a tiny, spotted fawn lying curled up in the long grass in your yard?

The best thing to do is quietly move away and leave it in peace so Mom can return later. Please don’t get too close, touch the fawn or try to move it.

For the first couple of weeks a fawn’s legs are too weak and wobbly to follow mom through the woods, so its job is to lie still and quiet, camouflaged by its spotted coat.

Mom may leave her youngster for 6-8 hours before returning to feed it and perhaps move it to a different spot nearby.

If, however, you happen to find a fawn lying in the road, it’s time to take immediate action.

This usually happens when a fawn is slowly following Mom across the hard surface and a car suddenly appears.

Mom leaps off into the bushes and the fawn instinctively drops to the ground and freezes. If the fawn is unhurt, slide your hand under its belly, gently carry it a few feet off the side of the road and leave it in a safe, sheltered spot. Mom is probably nearby, waiting for you to leave so she can return for her baby.

For their first few weeks, fawns are not very quick on their feet, so they are vulnerable, not only to natural predators but also to our dogs, so this is an especially good time to keep your dog under control and not let it run through the woods.

If you are concerned that a fawn may be injured or separated from mom, please give us a call at 360-378-5000. We’d be happy to help you work out what’s going on. 

From San Juan County

The San Juan County Health Officer is continuing to require face coverings be worn inside businesses.

This policy will be reviewed no later than June 26, when all of the 12-17 year-olds receiving their first shots over the coming week will be fully vaccinated.

The intent is to limit indoor unmasked exposures for our teenagers, many of who are working front and center at local supermarkets, restaurants and other local businesses.

Contributed Photo/Island Rec. 

From Island Rec

Island Rec was joined by over 50 pickleball players the weekend of May 15 at its first annual pickleball tournament.

A big thank you to Roche Harbor for hosting all our local pickleball enthusiasts.

Contributed Photo/Island Rec. Winners from the tournament.

Congratulations to Christine and Kevin Lee for winning first place in Saturday’s mixed doubles and to Gib and Leah Black for winning second place.

On Sunday, women’s doubles first place went to Christine Lee and Maggie Kulyk and second place went to Suzanne Olson and Rosedanie Cadet.

Open double’s winners were Jemuel Morris and Paul Pollard and second place winners were Nigel Oswald and Rob Petersman.

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