From Friday Harbor Soroptimists

Friday Harbor Soroptimists have donated $5,000 to the Fresh Bucks Program managed on behalf of Nourish to Flourish by the Joyce Sobel Family Resource Center.

The program provides matches for family spending on fruits and vegetables to increase the amount of fresh produce in their diets. The Farmers Market and San Juan Island Food Coop participate in the program which is open to any household that already qualifies for other assistance programs.

Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food security of vulnerable households, the Soroptimists reviewed the needs of local programs.

Fresh Bucks has been supported by Island Air and The San Juan Island Community Foundation, but currently needs additional funds to continue the program beyond the next few months. The funds also benefit local farmers, making it a win-win in line with Soroptimists’ on-going farmers market program for WIC/Senior Nutrition program clients.

Contributed photo/WSF

From Washington State Ferries

Please continue to limit ferry travel to essential trips.

Despite increasing COVID-19 vaccinations and lower case numbers, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends we delay travel if possible.

That’s why we continue to ask the public to limit rides on our ferries to essential purposes only. If you must ride, be aware that we are still operating modified schedules on most routes because of the pandemic. We plan to increase service on our Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth, Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/ Coupeville routes starting May 9.

Additionally, all our crewmembers are now eligible for the vaccine and I’m encouraging them to receive one for the safety of our workforce and our customers.

Even though more and more people are getting vaccinated, federal law continues to require face coverings everywhere on our vessels and throughout our terminals.

Contributed Photo. Previous Great Islands Clean Up.

From the Stewardship Network of the San Juans

“Here we all are, with nothing but our wit and our will to save the world.” – Samuel L. Jackson.

We might not have a vibranium shield, a fancy metal suit designed by Tony Stark, or a hammer only we can lift, but we can still be the islands’ mightiest heroes when we come together for Earth Month. Check out the events below and put your superhero skills to the test!

Great Islands Cleanup

Spring into action for Earth Day with the Great Islands Cleanup on April 24!

This is an opportunity for our community to get outside and help make our islands plastic and litter-free by the sea. Any roadside or beach trash collected during the event will be accepted for free at the islands’ transfer stations and paid for by the county.

In keeping with San Juan County’s guidelines, masks will be required, participants should practice social distancing, and there will be no congregating. For more information and to register, please visit https://plasticfreesalishsea.org/events.

Wild Side

San Juan Island Library’s Wild Side program continues with a presentation on Birds’ Nests by Shona Aitken, the education coordinator at Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Join at 7 p.m. April 14 to look at the range of shapes and sizes of nests and where local birds build them.

To sign up for this talk please contact Genevieve Iverson, adult programs associate at [email protected].

Bluebird Blitz

On April 16 and 30, join the San Juan Preservation Trust as a citizen scientist to count as many Western Bluebirds as you can. For more information and to sign up, visit https://sjpt.org/events/bluebird-blitz.

Marine Naturalist Workshop

Continue Reading

From San Juan County

The San Juan County Superior Court and District Court are once again resuming jury trials, after postponing trials in November of 2020 due to a surge in COVID-19 cases.

Thanks to transmission rates falling regionally and statewide, and technological and physical updates to the courtrooms to improve safety measures, both courts are ready for jury trials to resume and are sending out jury summonses.

On March 18, 2020, the Washington State Supreme Court suspended all civil and criminal jury trials as a result of COVID-19.

Trial courts were permitted to resume jury trials in July of 2020, and since then, each jurisdiction has had to determine when it is safe to hold trials based on local conditions.

Because jury trials are a cornerstone of our democracy and a constitutional right, courts across the state have been working to hold trials throughout the pandemic, with pauses and postponements when local health guidance suggests it is unsafe to proceed.

In San Juan County, trials were postponed in November as the region, and San Juan County experienced holiday surges in transmission rates.

Local COVID-19 public health guidance supported postponing jury trials through February 2021. However, that guidance now indicates that it is safe to resume jury trials—with substantial health and safety protocols in place. Continue Reading

From the Purple and Gold Booster Club

The Purple and Gold Booster Club fully endorses the Island Rec levy renewal.

We support Friday Harbor High School by running concessions at the games and collecting tickets for events.

We fill in some of the gaps that are not covered by the Island Rec levy such as providing stipends for students who make playoff competitions and paying for coaches’ training. We also provide supplemental funding for uniforms and miscellaneous items for teams. While we do our best, high school sports are costly.

Island Rec is essential for high school sports to continue on San Juan Island. From supporting coaches and funding off-island travel, to buying equipment and paying for game officials, the levy funding is necessary to continue high school sports.

The levy also funds many great programs that our island takes advantage of, such as the local parks, summer programs and various classes provided by Island Rec for Islanders of all ages. Continue Reading

From Island Rec

Hiking Club

Third-fifth graders can join this club and explore some trails from 1-3 p.m., Wednesdays.

Parents must drop-off and pick up at each trailhead. Sign up for one or all.

Dates and Locations:

• March 24: Mount Finlayson
• March 31: Lime Kiln State Park
• April 7: English Camp and Young Hill
• April 14: Mount Grant
• April 21: Lafarge Gravel Pit

Price: $10 per hike with a second child discount

Teen Open Gym

Teens will have the gym to themselves. This gym will be open to all in grades six-12. A parent must sign a waiver for a child to participate.

Dates: Noon-2 p.m., Sundays, March 21-April 25
Location: Turnbull Gym, Friday Harbor High School
Price: Free

For registration or to sign a waiver, visit www.islandrec.org.

From PeaceHealth

On March 17, the Washington State Department of Health expanded vaccination to people in the Phase 1B Tier 2 eligibility category.

This category includes high-risk critical workers who work in certain congregate settings: agriculture; fishing vessel crews; food processing; grocery stores; corrections; prisons, jails or detention centers; public transit; remaining first responders, and people 16 years or older who are pregnant or have a disability that puts them at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness.

In Friday Harbor, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center will receive 50 Pfizer primary, or first, doses this week and a lesser amount of booster, or second doses.

As of Wednesday, March 17, people in the 1B2 eligibility category are able to make appointments to receive the vaccine.

By Gib and Jen Black, San Juan Island

Please join us in supporting Island Rec by voting in favor of renewing its levy.

Our family, like many here on San Juan Island, receive a value from Island Rec that far exceeds what we contribute in taxes. We benefit from daily walks at the Gravel Pit with our dog Mochi, enjoy the open gyms and pickleball games, and are regulars at Music on the Lawn.

Our kids have taken and taught the sailing classes, played a lot of youth basketball, and most of us got to participate in the 8.8K loop run. I am especially appreciative of the adult soccer league; it – as soccer will – brings what could be disparate communities together onto a level field of play.

We all have made new friends and strengthened familial bonds on the unbelievably beautiful grass field at Linde.  Island Rec is central to these activities and thus interwoven into our lives. Please join us in supporting this fine organization by casting a yes vote on April 27.

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

San Juan County Health and Community Services will be opening registration for first dose vaccine appointments on at 9 a.m., Monday, March 22.

These clinics will be on Orcas and San Juan Island.

Those who are eligible and wish to register for an appointment should go to www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info at 9 a.m., Monday, March 22.

 There will be links clearly marked for each clinic. At this time, Phase 1a and Phase 1b Tier 1 and 2 are eligible for vaccination.

The links will be shown in the “STEP 2” section, highlighted in orange. Details on timing of clinics and approximate number of doses available will be posted on the vaccine info page once confirmed.

More eligibility information is available here. Please also take a look at this recent “Hot Topic” document.

The registration system has been upgraded. You will now choose a slot at the beginning of registration and then be given 15 minutes to complete your registration. If there are no appointments left, it will be clearly shown at the beginning of the process.

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

Since the last update on Friday, March 12, total cases in San Juan County have remained steady at 129.
There are zero close contacts of a positive case currently in active quarantine.

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 and no positive cases on Lopez Island at this time.

San Juan Island

There are no new cases on San Juan Island and no positive cases under active monitoring on San Juan Island at this time.

Overall

While cases continue to remain relatively low, some things to keep in mind that for the state of Washington, total new cases per day are just below the rate we experienced during the peak of the wave of cases this past summer. Continue Reading

From the San Juan County Economic Development Council

The Working Washington 4 Portal opens March 29.

Working Washington Round 4 offers grant relief funds to small for-profit businesses, especially those that were required to close due to public health and safety measures.

To learn eligibility requirements, visit https://commercegrants.com. To register, visit  https://wsbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/99271442

Unemployment benefits have been extended through Sept. 4.

The U.S. Congress passed a new stimulus bill that will:

• Extend Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Employment Unemployment Compensation until Sept. 4.
• Continue the additional $300 per week for all eligible claimants until Sept. 4. By federal law, all claimants will get this benefit, except those receiving Training Benefits. The $300 is in addition to claimants’ usual weekly benefit amount.

Unemployment claimants: Keep submitting weekly claims: If you have an existing claim of any type, you should continue to submit your weekly claims as usual and watch for communications from ESD.

The call volume at the ESD Unemployment Claims Center is very high. Check out the latest updates and FAQs on the COVID-19 page.

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

As most are aware until now vaccine eligibility has primarily been limited to medical providers, K-12 and child care providers, and those over the age of 65.

As of March 17, eligibility has been expanded to the following groups (Phase 1b, Tier 2):

• Those who are pregnant and over the age of 16 (here is more information on this subject from CDC)
• Those with a high-risk disability, including Down syndrome, an intellectual or developmental disability, deaf, or blind.
• In addition, the following groups of essential workers are now eligible (full details are here.)
• Workers in grocery stores/food banks who have a high-volume interaction with co-workers.
• Staff in court and corrections facilities.
• First responders who have not previously been vaccinated.
• Public Transit providers who operate vans, taxis, aircraft, etc. with four or more passengers for more than 3 or more hours per day. Office staff is not included.
• Congregate agricultural workers or food-processing employees (including those working in the seafood industry) who work in environments that involve high-volume interaction with co-workers for extended periods in situations without the ability to socially distance.

It is important to note that the following groups are not eligible in Tier 2: Continue Reading

From Friends of the San Juan Island Library

Shop and support the San Juan Island Library.

The Friends of the San Juan Island Library store, Treasure Cove, is holding a fixed price sale online through April 5.

Visit the online shop at charityauction.bid/springfling.

The Friends of the Library is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization, comprised of incredible volunteers who support, advocate, and raise funds to help make our island library the best it can be!

Good friends need friends. Come and join our online sale, share your friendship with us and others.

From Friday Harbor Elementary School

Will your child be 5 on or before Aug. 31, 2021?

Stop by Friday Harbor Elementary School kindergarten registration, 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, March 24.

Assistance will be available. You are welcomed to sit in the cafeteria to fill out your packet or pick up and complete at home. Please bring your child’s birth certificate with you. 

For more information, call 360-370-7302.

From San Juan County Economic Development Council

Join the conversation on “What’s Next: The Islands Economy” at the 11th Annual EDC Economics Luncheon, held online 11-12:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, featuring economist Yoram Bauman and San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley.

This year, participants are invited to “B.Y.O.L.” (bring your own lunch) to share a meal with other community members virtually.

This year’s topic is “What’s Next: The Islands Economy,” a look at the past year in context with previous years, and an exploration of our economy to come.

Economist Yoram Bauman, Ph.D., the world’s only stand-up economist and co-author of the best-selling Cartoon Introduction to Economics book series, will explore the comedy within the tragedy of the past year’s economy. San Juan County Auditor Milene Henley will narrow the focus of the exploration to local key economic indicators.

Tickets are $12. For more information and to order tickets please visit www.sanjuansedc.org/luncheon.

Boathouse Arts Mixed Media and Fragrance Art by Winnie Brumsickle

From Artist’s Studio Tour

The Artists’ Studio Tour on San Juan Island will return June 5-6.

We are excited to be including both returning and new island artists with this year’s tour.

We want to celebrate with our island residents, and thank them for their support during the last year with this opportunity to safely visit open studios and outdoor displays.

Come and see much new work, enjoy your neighbors and see the visual arts that surround us in our community. Social distancing will be observed.

For more information, visit www.sanjuanislandartists.com.