From the League of Women Voters of the San Juans

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans is holding its membership meeting, which is open to the public, at noon, Monday, April 19 over Zoom.

We have an exciting and informative speaker: our own Susan Martin, who is a league board member. She will discuss her newly released and substantially revised second edition of her book, “A Nation of Immigrants.” 

This second edition analyzes the evolution of U.S. immigration policy from its origins in the colonial period through the Trump administration. The final chapter sets out recommendations for reforming a largely broken system. 

Register for the event here. You don’t want to miss this thought-provoking introduction to Dr. Martin’s new book. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Susan Martin is the Donald G. Herzberg Professor Emerita in the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown
University. She was the founder and director of Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of International Migration.

She received her Ph.D. in the History of American Civilization from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Martin has authored or edited more than a dozen books and numerous articles and book chapters.

She serves on the boards of the Center for Migration Studies and Jesuit Refugee Service USA as well as the advisory councils of the U.S. Government Accountability Office and the UN Migration Agency.

Contributed Photo/San Juan County Land Bank. A patch of uncommon native cactus discovered near the Turtleback shoreline during a monitoring outing.

From San Juan County Land Bank

The San Juan County Land Bank Commission will hold its monthly meeting from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Friday, April 16 via Zoom.

This meeting will include the Conservation Agriculture Resource Team’s final report on the Coffelt Farm Preserve on Orcas Island.

The public is invited to attend. Download the agenda, which includes the Zoom link and meeting materials, here.

To learn more about the San Juan County Conservation Land Bank, visit sjclandbank.org. If you’re interested in volunteering or joining our mailing list, contact [email protected].

We look forward to engaging with you!

Six Cases Out of 6.8 Million Doses Nationwide Resulted in Brain Blood Clots

From the Washington State Department of Health

The Washington State Department of Health will pause the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine statewide starting immediately, following the guidance of the FDA/CDC.

Use of that vaccine will be put on hold until we receive further recommendations from our federal partners about how best to move forward. Safety is the highest priority when it comes to all COVID-19 vaccines.

This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution based on the appearance of a rare but serious side effect including serious brain blood clots combined with low platelet counts in six patients, all women under 50. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will review these cases in the days ahead and will recommend guidance going forward. 

About 149,000 doses of J & J vaccine have been administered in Washington so far, out of more than four million doses total.

At this time, we have no knowledge of the six patients who experienced these blood clots being Washington residents.

For those who got the vaccine more than a month ago, the risk of this complication is very low at this time. Continue Reading

Items Can Include Mattresses, Scrap Metal, Furniture

From the Town of Friday Harbor

The Town of Friday Harbor is pleased to offer its residential refuse customers a one-time-only curbside pickup of items that are too large or too heavy for their refuse cans the week of April 26-30.

Pickup will take place on their regular collection day.

“The town saw an opportunity to encourage neighborhood cleanups and assist our customers with their spring cleaning efforts,” said Town of Friday Harbor Administrator Duncan Wilson.

This is the fifth year the town has been able to offer this spring cleanup service free of charge to its non-commercial customers.

Specific rules apply regarding the volume and type of items that will be accepted, including that items must fit in a standard pickup truck bed and weigh no more than 60 pounds.

This pickup is for non-hazardous, non-liquid items such as large toys and scrap metal, mattresses, carpet, and unusable furniture. Continue Reading

By Susan and Peter Risser, San Juan Island

Since Peter and I had the good fortune to serve in various roles, including the assistant chief for over 20 years with the now-defunct Friday Harbor Fire Department, we became fairly well acquainted with some of the challenges involved in providing good fire protection to our community. 

The town relinquished fire protection, which is now provided via contract to San Juan Island Fire and Rescue (Fire District 3), and has been very pleased with the services provided.

A drawback with this contractual arrangement is that it divides the community into two groups; those who have a direct vote on fire district matters, and those in town who are represented by the elected town council and mayor. 

We think it makes sense for the whole island community to all have more direct “ownership” of our fire and emergency services. 

The way to that end is simply to vote YES for annexation so the town can become a part of Fire District 3 in the upcoming election.  After all, we all live together on this same island; let’s keep it simple and all play on one team.

Join us in voting YES to bring the town into the fire district without a contract and maintain the high level of service and care we receive and have come to expect.

From the Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor

Age: approximately 1 year old
Sex: Male
Breed: Domestic Shorthair, Brown Tabby
Application: www.apsfh.com/adoption-program/feline-application/

Meet Sorcerer! A magical little feline who casts love spells on everyone he meets…as well as his ultra-soft coat!

Sorcerer is a charming, friendly, young cat looking for his forever family. He is outgoing and social, but not “overly” social.

He is the perfect combination of chill and lively. Sorcerer loves being up high, so his new home should plan on securing a peak position for him to post up and take comfy naps. He’s currently waiting patiently (on the top shelf) of cat room 3.

About: Continue Reading

By Hayley Day, San Juan Update

Two people were rescued after a plane went down near Blakely Island Sunday.

At about 4:30 p.m., April 11, the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office reported deputies — as well as fire, EMS and coast guard crews — were responding to a call of a downed aircraft south of Blakely Island. 

About an hour later, the sheriff’s office reported, “two occupants of the plane were able to exit the plane and make it to shore.”

Airlift crews were at the site, according to the sheriff’s office, and deputies, as well as Orcas Fire and EMS, reviewed the area for possible fuel spills.

San Juan County Dips 55% In Inventory, Grow 39% In Pending Sales

Contributed Photo. Merri Ann Simonson.

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

The first-quarter results for San Juan County and San Juan Island maintained the momentum that was present during last year.

As compared to the first quarter in 2020,  the data for both the county and San Juan Island reflects an increase in volume and transaction numbers for the period ending March 31, 2021.

San Juan County’s dollar volume is up 52% with the number of transactions up 37%. San Juan Island’s dollar volume is up 46% with the number of transactions up 28%.

Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands Inc. is up 30% for the first quarter as well. The first quarter is always volatile and not necessarily a direct reflection of how the year will finish out.

However, we continue to note the demand from buyers desiring to relocate to rural areas, work from their homes and avoid the high-density metropolitan locations. The showing activity is normal for this time of year, but the inventory is critically low.

The client leads from the platforms such as Zillow, Trulia, and REALTOR.com are originating at a similar pace to last year, at this time.

As of April 5, the total inventory for the county is 212 for all types of properties, excluding business opportunities. Of that total, 84 are pending and in escrow.

Active listings of 128 equal a supply of less than two per month for the county. The total inventory on San Juan Island was 94 for all types, with 40 of those pending and in escrow.

The pending transaction numbers are up as compared to last year, same time and inventory totals are down.

The county is down 55% in inventory and up 39% in the number of pending transactions. San Juan is down 53% in inventory and up 66% in the number of pending transactions. Continue Reading

Contributed Photo. The Island Air crew at a previous Great Islands Cleanup.

By Mark Ingman, San Juan County Solid Waste Program Coordinator

Have you ever noticed a mossy, weedy tire while walking along roads or beaches?

There is a chemical compound in tires that washes off in the rain and is linked to killing salmon — bringing in a cast-off tire along with your litter to the dump is a simple way that we can make an immediate impact.

Help save salmon and care for our land and water with the Great Islands Cleanup of 2021 on April 24. Let’s push through the challenges of the pandemic and spring into action together.

This year the Great Islands Cleanup will be a one-day drive-through event at your island dump. 

This single-day event fosters a deep sense of community and allows us to maintain our COVID-19 safety precautions with our “pods,” households, and small groups.

Shaw Island’s event will be held from 3-5 p.m. at the park baseball field lot.

Follow the steps below to join: Continue Reading

Gary Enersen and Christine Minney

From the Mullis Community Senior Center

Throughout the month of March, resident celebrities from Lopez, San Juan and Orcas Islands were invited to ride or follow along with volunteer Meals on Wheels Drivers as they delivered meals to seniors on their respective islands.

The goal of the celebrity ride-alongs was to foster greater community awareness about the San Juan County Senior Nutrition Program, including the impact it has on the hundreds of older adults served by the program.

Celebrity drivers included:

• San Juan Island: Greg Ford, owner of Mi Casita Restaurant; Christine Minney, San Juan County Council Member; Norvin Collins, San Juan Island Fire Chief
• Lopez Island: Jamie Stephens, San Juan County Council Member; Christa Campbell, former Lopez Chamber of Commerce Director; Adam Bigby, Lopez Island Fire Chief
• Orcas Island: Lance Evans, executive director of Orcas Island Chamber of Commerce; Cindy Wolf, San Juan County Council Member

The Meals on Wheels experience was a positive one for everyone involved.

“Having the opportunity to ride along as a volunteer delivering for Meals on Wheels was enlightening,” said Minney. “The amount of care, cost and commitment is evident. The appreciation of the recipients made me extra grateful for the experience.”

The celebrity ride-along was coordinated by San Juan County senior services specialists at the Lopez Island Mullis and Orcas Senior Centers.

These San Juan County Health and Community Services employees are responsible for coordinating the Meals and Wheels clients and deliveries, which have tripled in number during the pandemic. Continue Reading

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

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

San Juan Island

There are 13 new cases since the last report on San Juan Island.

Nine of these cases are related to a recent school athletics-based outbreak, six are students and three are household contacts.

Two of these cases are related to individuals from a single household and out-of-state travel.

Two of these cases are household contacts of previously reported positive cases.

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

Overall

The past two weeks have been a real challenge for the San Juan County Health and Community Services Contact Tracing Team.

For nearly every person in quarantine, there were at least several more who needed to be interviewed and cleared.

With more than 100 people in quarantine, the scale of the workload is enormous. Continue Reading

From Twisted Orca

Twisted Orca released “I am 99” April 6, the latest in a series of books designed to encourage a love of marine conservation in children.

“I am 99” brings children from all over the world to Friday Harbor, Washington as they join Sailor-Lyn’s mission to save the endangered orcas she loves so much.

Will there be 99 Southern Residents again? Will something better happen?

Southern Resident Orcas have gained national media attention in the last few years.

• The Seattle Times recently announced a new baby born to struggling orca families.
• USA Today and The New York Times chronicled the plight of Tahlequah, the killer whale that carried her baby for 17 days in September 2020.
• People Magazine ran a feature on the Southern Resident Population dropping to 73 in August 2019.

Twisted Orca’s goal is to make whale conservation mainstream. By providing children with positive messages and loveable characters, we strive to encourage a love of marine life at a young age and create nostalgia to inspire future generations to come.

“I am 99” and other marine life education books are available at local and online bookstores and at Twistedorca.com. Continue Reading

From Washington State Ferries

If you ride our ferries, consider participating in the current Washington State Ferry Riders Opinion Group survey to share your thoughts on our service.

The survey is hosted by the Washington State Transportation Commission and helps us hear feedback and suggestions directly from you.

Sign up to join the survey panel to ensure you’re included in this and all future surveys, or you can participate in the current survey through April 19. The transportation commission looks forward to hearing from you!

Photo/Peggy Sue McRae. Road Construction on Tucker Avenue. 

Plans Include Pocket Park Near Grange, Sidewalks on Lampard

By Duncan Wilson, Town of Friday Harbor Administrator

Year after year, the services and responsibilities undertaken by the Town of Friday Harbor grow as population and business activity increase.

Beyond daily town operations that include administration, finance and community development, our most expensive and complex duties involve the construction, reconstruction and improvements related to our capital infrastructure. These costs are vast, and our needs never-ending.

The town has finite revenues from which to work, and therefore must prioritize, save and battle for dwindling grants from state and federal sources. The current cost estimate for capital projects needed in the next eight years exceeds $40 million.

Discussions relating to mandated and necessary capital infrastructure projects will occur more often and the town will require the understanding and cooperation of our residents and business owners.

The need for additional revenue is growing and, unfortunately, is inverse to the availability of grant funding from outside sources. It is important to note that these projects are to benefit the entire community and are designed to make our lives here better.

We have made great progress over the last eight years in tackling the challenges of maintaining and building our streets, water and sewer systems. Much if not most of this work would not have been possible without dedicated and constant efforts to earn major grant funding.

While many projects can easily be seen, not so obvious are the critical improvements to the underground utility systems that guarantee us fresh water and protect us from disastrous sewer and stormwater events.

Right now, crews are improving the road surface on Mullis from Market to Spring Street, as well as adding a roundabout at Mullis and Spring, and refurbishing downtown Spring Street, including adding a new sewer main and stormwater improvements.

In the future, a pocket park by the Grange Hall and sidewalks on Lampard will be added, crews will resurface First Street, an extension of Nash Street, replace the sewer outfall line in the harbor off Macdonald Street, complete the $14.5 million of upgrades to the sewer plant, and purchase San Juan County’s Public Works property on Guard Street.

Additional revenues and grant funding will be necessary to continue our efforts to provide high-quality, functional infrastructure to maintain the quality of life in Friday Harbor.

Recovery from the pandemic crisis that impacted business activities and sales tax revenue, and the approval of the Fire District 3 annexation are just two of the ways the town hopes to increase funding to meet the demands of these ongoing critical needs.

The following are examples of the work completed throughout town during the past eight years: Continue Reading

From San Juan County Economic Development Council

Kids from all over San Juan County have a chance to do a free, fun masonry project put on by the San Juan County Economic Development Council and Washington State University Extension’s San Juan County 4-H Program.

Dave Koch, retired stonemason, is donating his time and labor to create kits to do slate tile work.

Kids will learn about the masonry trades and how to do the project in online sessions with Koch at 4 p.m., Tuesdays, May 4, 11, 18 and 25 via Zoom. Kids will do the project at home.

This program will be free and is open to all San Juan County middle school-aged children. Kids have to join 4-H, which will be paid for by the EDC, to participate. There is no obligation to remain in 4-H after completing the project. However, 4-H membership will open other great learning opportunities.

To register a child, parents may contact Wendy Waxman Kern, the 4-H coordinator for San Juan County WSU Extension, at [email protected]. This activity is geared toward middle school-aged youth and has space for up to 10 kids. Continue Reading

By Nancy Young, San Juan Island

For many years we have supported, through our taxes, this important levy, as it does so much to enhance the youth on the island.

My husband has been a volunteer for over 20 years in the roller hockey program.

Now, more than ever, our young people need to have the experiences that Island Rec has to offer.

Please vote YES on April 27!