From the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center

In November 2020, the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center received a Childcare Partnership Grant from the Washington Department of Commerce to conduct a community-wide assessment of child care needs and create an action plan to improve capacity.

Options include infant and toddler care, longer child care hours during the week, increased summertime care, evening hours and more.

The resource center has two surveys to help create the plan: one for parents and one for businesses. 

Parents

Date nights? No sitter.

Work part-time? Who will take care of my kids?  

Pick up that extra shift? Where will my baby go?

Businesses

Have you ever had problems staffing your business because employees could not find child care?

Our hopes are for different organizations, local businesses, schools and proprietors to consider serving as a collaborative partner by agreeing to participate in the employer and business survey.

Take the business survey through mid-May here:  www.surveymonkey.com/r/DL5V7JJ

The child care assessment will run until June 2021 and our goal is to explore how our community can create safe child care options to meet the needs of families.

The San Juan Island Community Foundation is a key stakeholder and is very supportive of this work.

The grant guidelines strongly emphasize that successful projects should be highly collaborative, and your participation would be a wonderful benefit to the success of the project.

From Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor

Age: Approximately 2 years
Sex: Female
Breed: Cattle Dog mix
Application: www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/canine-application/

Morgana is the sweetest, good girl looking for her forever home!

She arrived from Mexico with several other dogs about one month ago, but we don’t understand why she hasn’t been chosen yet!

Morgana can be a little tentative and unsure about new things, but if you keep her safe she is guaranteed to give you a lifetime’s worth of snuggles along with the cutest little love nibbles. She definitely has some herding dog tendencies and would prefer to be in a home without children or cats.

Morgana is a perfect size and energy level to take on adventures, but she also knows how to lounge, and is well known around the shelter for her foot-warming skills.

If you’d like to make Morgana’s dreams come true and be her best friend, come and meet her! She is sure to win you over.

About Continue Reading

Contributed Photo/Washington State Parks. Moran State Park Interpretive Center design.

From Washington State Parks

Mount Constitution’s towering height and unique geography have made it a gathering place for diverse human and natural communities, for thousands of years.

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has sited this new interpretive center containing significant interpretive exhibits below the tower near the summit of Mount Constitution in Moran State Park.

Zervas Group Architects and Creo Industrial Arts with EDX, concurrently designed the building, interior, and exterior exhibits. Interpretive exhibits will be installed after building completion prior to the end of 2021.

The project is being constructed by an Orcas Island local contractor Happy Acres Inc. The Interpretation Center is scheduled to be completed in 2021. 

“Island Senior” is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae.

It’s been a little confusing lately. Just as some of us have had our vaccines and given them a few weeks to sink in, San Juan Island has experienced a surge in positive Covid cases.

According to San Juan County Health San Juan Island is currently monitoring 12 positive cases. Of these cases, nine relate to a recent school athletics-based outbreak. More than 100 islanders are now in quarantine.

Our local contact tracing team has been hard at work and hopefully between their efforts and the cooperation of the many islanders who answered a high volume of questions the disease has been contained.

It could be a few weeks though before we know if this was an isolated outbreak or if spring break travels and relaxed precautions will lead to more similar outbreaks.

Then there are the new variants of the disease. They spread more easily and, again according to SJCounty Health, “Likely the new variants are here or will be soon.” In other words, we don’t know but we’d best proceed on the side of caution.

All signs say to remain vigilant and cautious but again, what about those of us who have had the vaccine? According to the CDC, Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

Fully vaccinated people can: Continue Reading

From Skagit Valley College

Skagit Valley College invites all adult learners to attend Skagit Valley College Achieve Week April 19-23.

Achieve Week is designed for individuals who may be considering starting at Skagit Valley College for summer or fall quarters, and who are interested in high school completion or certificate or degree completion.

Whether you are just getting started on your educational goals or coming back to college to finish the degree or certificate you started, our team will help you every step of the way.

Register to attend at www.skagit.edu/achieve, email [email protected] or call 360-416-7936.

Did you know?

• You may be able to use previous credits and work or life experience toward the completion of your high school diploma or degree or certificate.
• Completing an SVC program can open the door to a high-wage, high-demand career.
• There are many ways to pay for college, not just financial aid. We can help you learn more about financial aid, scholarships, veterans education and emergency funding.
• If you need access to technology as an SVC student, we have laptops, hotspots, and webcams available for check out from our libraries.

What to expect during Achieve Week: Continue Reading

Port Townsend, Coupeville Route won’t Receive Second Boat Until June 6

By Patty Rubstello, Assistant Secretary, Washington State Department of Transportation Ferries Division

Because of crewing challenges, we made the difficult decision to delay the addition of a second boat on our Port Townsend and Coupeville route until no sooner than Sunday, June 6.

We’re still planning to increase service starting Sunday, May 9, on the Fauntleroy, Vashon and Southworth routes with a three-boat service similar to previous spring and fall schedules, as well as the Anacortes and San Juan Islands routes where timetables will be similar to previous summer schedules without a fifth vessel that mainly served Sidney, British Columbia.

Crewmember relief requests have recently increased significantly, in part because vessel employees are requesting time off to get their COVID-19 vaccines.

I understand the impact this change will have on many riders and communities. That’s why we carefully analyzed recent ridership trends on the three routes where we plan to increase service.

Total riders in the San Juan Islands are already above 2019 levels and we’re experiencing daily overloads on our “Triangle” route.

In addition, Port Townsend and Coupeville vehicle reservations are relatively light before Memorial Day.

As a reminder, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends delaying travel and we continue to ask the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only.

As far as crewing, if you’re interested in working in our fleet or know someone who may be, we’re currently accepting applications for on-call deckhands, oilers and terminal attendants.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we navigate the various effects of the pandemic.

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

Since the last update on Friday, April 9, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 154 to 166.

There are 40 close contacts of positive cases currently in active quarantine.

San Juan Island
There are eight new cases since the last report on San Juan Island.

One of these positive cases is an individual with a San Juan County address, but who has not been in the islands for some time.  

Four of these new cases are close household contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.

While many of the initial positive cases had ties to the Friday Harbor high school baseball team, most of the transmission appears to have happened during interactions that had no direct involvement with school, athletics or the sport of baseball.

One of these new cases is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case.

Two of these new cases are close social contacts of previously reported positive cases tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.  

There are 12 positive cases under active monitoring on San Juan Island at this time.

Shaw Island
There is one new case on Shaw Island. This new case is a close household contact of a previously reported positive case tied to the Friday Harbor High School baseball team outbreak.

There is one confirmed positive case under active monitoring on Shaw Island at this time.

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

Lopez Island
There are three new cases on Lopez Island since the last update. All three of the new cases are from a single household. The initial transmission source is related to off-island travel.

There are three confirmed positive cases under active monitoring on Lopez Island at this time.

Overall
In order to share information with the community that helps convey the current situation, sometimes it is necessary to lump cases together with a similar name or description. We’re doing that here with the “baseball team” outbreak to communicate the way in which disease can spread quickly through the community.  Continue Reading

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash.

National Guard to Vaccinate 3K Islanders

From San Juan County

The same U.S. National Guard team that vaccinated 2,000 islanders in February and March will return to the islands at the end of April to help vaccinate an additional 3,100 individuals. 

Registration for these clinics opens 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 20. Visit www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info at 9 a.m. Tuesday, April 20. There will be links clearly marked for each clinic.

Eligibility for these clinics will be open to ALL islanders age 18 or older.

The vaccine being provided will be the Moderna vaccine and requires second doses. Anyone who signs up must be available four weeks later for their second shot.

Clinic dates are:

• Monday, April 26 on San Juan Island, with the second dose on May 24.
• Tuesday, April 27 on Orcas Island, with the second does on May 25.
• Wednesday, April 28 on Lopez Island, with the second dose on May 26. 

Looking forward, these clinics will be the very best opportunity for all eligible (age 18 or older) islanders to receive their COVID vaccine. Please help spread the word.

 By Janet Wright, San Juan Island

I wrote an e-mail to our state legislators April 14 about the ferry situation. Another broken-down ferry. 

Hmmm, I have lived here over 40 years and it has never been this bad. I have two friends who were trying to get to the mainland for surgeries and they were stuck. 

I had a Friday medical appointment in Everett and left the day before so I could make my appointment. That adds the cost of a motel room and meals.

We are the only ferry route that doesn’t have another way to get to the mainland.

Maybe an e-mail bombardment to Inslee and the Legislature would help? I fill out that FROG Survey every time and it doesn’t seem to do any good. Meanwhile, the ferry fees go up, for what?

Contributed Image. Site plan at American Camp.

The Building is Expected Open Around Memorial Day

From San Juan Island National Historic Park

The American Camp Visitor Center site opens 9 a.m., Friday, April 16.

The parking lot will remain open and a new bottle filling station will be available.

Restrooms are currently available as port-a-pots as permanent facilities are being finished and will open soon.  Other restroom facilities will continue to be available at both the Fourth of July Beach parking lot and South Beach.

While the new visitor center building is complete, interior and exterior exhibits are still being created and prepared for installation later this year and continuing into early 2022.

You’ll notice some items are “missing” and we appreciate your patience as we continue to finish this incredible project for visitors.

We hope to be able to open the building closer to Memorial Day in accordance with public health measures for visitors in need of information, maps, etc.

Plans

Over the past 40 years, the American Camp Visitor Center has served millions of visitors who come to San Juan Island wanting to learn about the significant historic stories that occurred here and experience the many outdoor recreational opportunities.

The National Park Service will replace the more than 40-year-old visitor center at American Camp in the same location with a visitor information and orientation facility designed with an exterior plaza, gathering and demonstration space and picnic areas.

Other project components include expanded parking, replacement of the septic system, additional administrative campsites for park volunteers and seasonal staff, expansion of the maintenance storage area, and relocation of the visitor center entrance road.

When the double-wide building arrived in 1977, the building was supposed to be a three-year temporary facility until a more permanent structure could be built.

After many years in the making, with securing funds, going through rigorous public scoping, and an environmental assessment, San Juan Island National Historic Park will finally get a new visitor center that properly highlights the rich cultural history of the area, as well as the spectacular natural setting at the American Camp.

To follow the construction progress, check out the 2019-2021 American Camp Visitor Center Construction Blog or the center’s construction page. 

From WaterWorks Gallery

WaterWorks Gallery and the Seattle Metals Guild will host an exhibition titled “Magpie” to celebrate Earth Day 2021. 

Join for a socially distant opening from 4-7 p.m., Thursday, April 22, which is Earth Day. The exhibit runs through June 5.

Micki Lippe, also known as Magpie, opened her studio to 12 Pacific Northwest jewelers to rummage through her collection of shiny bobbles to bring new life and recycle them into truly unique wearable works of art.

A magpie is a creature that loves collecting bright and shiny objects. 

Transforming a bit of the tread from a car tire, it becomes a dark, black matte surface. A piece of broken glass takes on a mysterious beauty. All these objects collected by Micki, have been transformed by each artist into a newly constructed piece of wearable art.

Engaging you to rethink your concepts about what is precious, each piece in this Magpie series creates a visual narrative of its own.

Each of the following artists was asked to make up to three pieces: Continue Reading

Contributed photo.

From SAFE San Juans

SAFE San Juans is working with the San Juan County Land Bank’s Salish Seeds Project to sow seeds of hope during Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April.

Throughout April, staff from SAFE San Juans will be handing out Salish seeds throughout the county in specially designed packets with art and messages of hope for those who have suffered from sexual abuse. It is the perfect collaboration for two organizations whose goal is to help restore and provide hope.

The Salish Seeds Project is a partnership between the Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust dedicated to restoring native wildflowers and grasses in the San Juan Islands.

Plants and seeds of species native to island grasslands, oak savannahs and rocky meadows are produced at a nursery located at Red Mill Farm in San Juan Valley.

SAFE San Juans is a local nonprofit dedicated to the prevention and elimination of domestic violence and sexual assault through victim services, education, community awareness and social change.

With offices in Friday Harbor, Eastsound and Lopez Village, SAFE’s confidential and free services include 24/7 crisis support, safety planning, advocacy (legal, medical, financial, etc.), emergency safe shelter, support groups, and professional counseling/therapy for survivors.

Flower to Symbolize Survivors’ Strength 

SAFE and the Salish Seeds Project chose Clarkia amoena as the native wildflower through which to call attention to the reality of sexual assault and acknowledge the suffering of those who have been sexually abused. Continue Reading

From Washington State Ferries

The Samish, Cathlamet and Kaleetan vessels have been reassigned to full service on the Anacortes and San Juan Islands routes for Thursday, April 15. 

The Chelan has been out of service since April 14 due to steering issues and needed repairs.

This will restore full service, following earlier cancellations.

Now,  M/V Samish will replace the M/V Kaleetan as the No. 1 vessel. The Kaleetan will be moved to the No. 3 vessel, replacing the M/V Cathlamet. The Cathlamet will move to the No. 2 vessel position, replacing the M/V Chelan.

For real-time arrivals and departures, visit Real-Time Map . Reservations are available online at TakeAFerry or by calling Customer Service at 888-808-7977. Phones are open, daily, 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. 

Carol invites you back to browse at Serendipity Bookstore – Contributed photo

Serendipity books has reopened for in-store browsing. The used bookstore has over 40,000 titles and a computerized inventory to help you find that book you’re looking for.

They’re located just a block from the ferry lanes at 223 “A” Street.

Hours are Monday through Saturday 10am – 4pm.
(360) 378-2665
[email protected]

Contributed Photo/San Juan Island Sculpture Park. Bird watching at the San Juan Island Sculpture Park.

From the San Juan Island Sculpture Park

Join us from 9-11 a.m. every third Wednesday of the month through September to watch for our fine feathered friends at the San Juan Island Sculpture Park located next to Roche Harbor Resort.

The next event is 9 a.m., Wednesday, April 21.

Phil Green, a local bird enthusiast and member of the nature conservancy, has identified over 40 bird species this winter at the sculpture park. He will lead us to several places around the sculpture park where we can look for and identify the various birds now visiting.

We also have a new trail along Westcot Bay to get us closer to sea birds! So bring your binoculars, cameras and curiosity for an adventure in bird watching.

Don’t forget your masks!

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

Contributed Photo/Dylan Taylor on Unsplash. Inian Islands, Alaska.

The Pitfalls of Fuzzy Thinking

A decade ago, our fourth summer here, my Alaska pal Archie left a phone message that he would be visiting in Washington state.  Waiting through his practiced, jolly jibes about us living in “la-la land, surrounded by a dying Salish Sea, noshing on kale”, I heard that he might stop in.  

Why Washington? As far as I knew, in his handful of white-knuckled trips Outside in 50 years of living up north, his whole exposure to Washington State was pretty much flyover or bending his elbow in smokey lounges with fisherman and Bering Sea crabbers at SeaTac.

I wasn’t born yesterday, so I had an inkling there was much more to this story when I rang him up at his slough cabin.

Hey Archie, Steve here. 

Well, I’ll be damned, how goes it Champ!  

We’re good, Archie.  We are learning to build a house by ourselves wading through damnable nanny-state codes.   I know how to do it now and will never do it again!  You still gillnetting those beautiful Yukon kings?

Naa, the run and my old 50 horse outboard both petered out, but the smokehouse was full. 

Ah, good. Best salmon in the world!  What’s up with this trip you mentioned?  Maybe you could bring me some king strips?

Well, I’m flying out tomorrow on the ol’ redeye.  I have booked a week in the woods riding an ATV with Bigfoot Expeditions run by a guy named Johnny Styne around some town called Darrington.  

Archie, have you lost your mind?  We both know that Bigfoot is non-existent; a fanciful hobgoblin wrapped in malarky bundled in pure bunk!  I got a better idea.  Why don’t you charter me and my boat out here on San Juan Island to look for cases of Canadian booze dumped overboard by nervous westside rum-runners during prohibition?  Bound to be more productive than searching for a non-existent ape!

In the pause, I could hear Archie exhale after a deep drag. Continue Reading