Contributed Photo/Fish For Teeth

From Fish For Teeth

We at Fish for Teeth are excited to announce our March dental clinic: March 3-6, at the Mullis Center on San Juan Island. Yes, four days!

Fish For Teeth has received additional funding to sponsor a mobile dental van for four-day clinics on San Juan Island, four times a year.

Due to health precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the clinic will host half of the number of patients usually scheduled. Patients must be in need of urgent care, and no regular dental cleanings will be scheduled at this clinic.

If all goes well, we will be able to see more patients each day later in the year AND provide oral hygiene. Patients are seen by appointment only. Pick up applications at the San Juan Island Family Resource Center, the Mullis Center, or the county health department, or download them at www.fishforteeth.com. Submit applications to the San Juan County Health Department on Rhone Street. Continue Reading

From the Stewardship Network of the San Juans

Why are recycle bins optimistic? Because they’re full of cans!

This award season, let’s honor the ‘cans’ of the San Juans!

The Oscars have nothing on the Finnies. Know someone who deserves to walk the stewardship red carpet? Nominate them for a Good Steward Award! The categories aren’t Best Actor or Picture, but rather Youth, Individual and Business.

Our daily lives changed dramatically last spring as we adopted new habits and routines. But islanders are known for creative resilience and care for the environment. Let’s recognize those individuals and businesses who have created or maintained a commitment to protecting the land and sea as we cope with the effects of COVID-19.

Since 2008, the Good Steward Awards, affectionately known as “Finnies,” have been sponsored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans in recognition of individuals, families, teachers, students and businesses who are not conservation professionals and who have shown long-term dedication to preserving the land and sea of the San Juan archipelago in their daily lives. Continue Reading

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

Since the last update on Friday, Feb. 8, the total cases in San Juan County have increased from 123 to 126. Two of these new cases are on Lopez Island and the third is on Orcas Island.    

Approximately 43 close contacts of positive cases are currently in active quarantine.

Orcas Island

There is one new case on Orcas Island since the last update. That case is a household contact of a previous positive case. Two positive cases are still under active monitoring on Orcas Island at this time.

Lopez Island

There are two new cases on Lopez Island. Based on the current investigation, both of these new positive cases have been tied to previous positive cases on Lopez Island. There are six positive cases being actively monitored on Lopez Island at this time.

San Juan Island Continue Reading

Restaurants, Gyms Open at 25% Capacity On Feb. 14

From Washington State Gov. Jay Inslee’s Office

Gov. Jay Inslee announced Feb. 11 five new regions have met the metric requirements to progress to Phase 2 of the Healthy Washington reopening plan, starting this weekend. The West and Puget Sound regions have maintained their metric requirements to stay in Phase 2. 

The new regions progressing to Phase 2 are: 

• North (Whatcom, Skagit, San Juan, Island)
• North Central (Okanogan, Chelan, Douglas, Grant)
• Northwest (Clallam, Jefferson, Kitsap, Mason)
• East (Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln, Spokane, Adams, Whitman, Garfield)
• Southwest (Wahkiakum, Cowlitz, Skamania, Clark, Klickitat) 

The only region not moving to Phase 2 is the South Central region – which includes Ellensburg, Yakima, the Tri-Cities and Walla Walla.

Additionally, the governor announced Thursday evening that the five regions progressing will be able to do so starting Sunday, Feb. 14. The holiday weekend provides a large portion of a restaurant’s yearly revenue, and by moving up the region’s reopening date will allow dining establishments to benefit. 

“I know this creates more options for restaurants to make Valentine’s Day special for couples who hoped they could have a night out,” Inslee said. “I am confident people, young and old, will celebrate safely. And if it’s a first date that doesn’t go well, remind them to stay six feet away from you.” 

From San Juan County

San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Frank James recently released expanded guidance to local school district leaders regarding the opening of schools, in particular, grades 7-12.

The only modifications to the existing guidance are:

-Dr. James supports school district leadership in their effort to develop plans that expand their reopening strategies beyond the 6^th grade limit discussed in the previous guidance. At this time, making concrete plans to reopen schools up to the 12^th grade level is a reasonable approach.

-Any expansion should be done incrementally, adding to the volume of students back in school in a moderated and thoughtful manner.

-All school districts should have detailed reopening plans in place. School staff need to be well trained on these plans, given all resources needed to implement them, and a system should be in place to objectively measure compliance-ideally via a safety officer whose job it is to regularly evaluate the consistency of safety measures by both students and staff. Continue Reading

From OPALCO

Three OPALCO employees have tested positive for COVID-19 on Lopez and others are under quarantine, following the San Juan County protocol.

At this time, the employees who tested positive appear to have mild to no symptoms and are resting at home.

As their quarantine periods are up over the next week or so, we expect a full return to work.

OPALCO is operating under strict COVID-19 precautions with masks required whenever an employee is not at their distanced workstation or, in field conditions, whenever within ten feet of another person. OPALCO’s response to the positive cases includes continued daily contact tracking, increased internal communication and an interim staffing plan to cover outages and emergencies on Lopez. Continue Reading

Friday Harbor Mayor Farhad Ghatan signed the following proclamation on Feb. 4.

WHEREAS, the mission of the SJI Chamber of Commerce is to promote the economic vitality of our community and support its membership through educational programs, networking opportunities, visitor information services and community events which reflect our unique island culture; and

WHEREAS, our island economy, especially our food service and hospitality sector, has been hit hard by recession, been forced to endure months of unknown and been made to pivot again and again because of this healthcare crisis; and

WHEREAS, the SJI Chamber of Commerce has also pivoted, changed, adapted and fought for all things to help support our business community during this unsteady economic time, and under the leadership of Becki Day, are going to great lengths to support its members and community-at-large with creative opportunities and lobbying for economic relief;

NOW THEREFORE, I, Farhad Ghatan, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor, do hereby proclaim the Town’s appreciation and recognize the outstanding contributions provided by San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, and especially Director Becki Day.

We thank you for being by our side, for all the virtual hugs, smiling faces on Zoom, and the commitment to our community as we look ahead to all the hope 2021 brings, and economic recovery and growth that must follow.

From San Juan County

When COVID vaccine registration opened at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10, many hundreds of islanders logged on and searched by their zip code for available clinics, just as they were advised to do in our instructional video.

Unfortunately, the zip code search feature was not working.

While most applicants were able to locate the island clinics by scrolling down or searching by island name, we extend our sincere apologies to those who were not.

Clearly, the registration process remains frustrating. We will be working closely with the registration technology team at the Washington State Department of Health to ensure future roll-outs are smoother.

Almost 2,000 islanders were able to secure appointments, and some slots remain on Orcas and just a few on Lopez as of Feb. 10. In order to sign up, or to monitor for future registration windows, visit
https://www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info.

From San Juan County Arts Council

Enter a spring-themed art contest to win cash prizes.

Accepted mediums include painting, illustration, sculpture, pottery, quilt, mix-media, jewelry and photo.

First prize for those 18 and older will receive $500, second place wins $250 and this place wins $100.

First prize for those 17 and younger will receive $250, second place wins $100 and third place wins $50.

Applications are due by March 19 and artwork turned in by April 9.

Artwork will be displayed in participating local businesses’ windows throughout downtown Friday Harbor from April 12-26.

More information and applications can be found at www.sanjuancountyarts.org/a-time-to-blossom.

From the Center For Whale Research

The team at the Center For Whale Research wants to hear your whale love stories.

Is there a whale that holds a special place in your heart? Or a whale encounter that still makes your heart go pitter-patter?

Or perhaps you developed a special friendship with someone because of shared passions for the whales?

Then share the love with us!

Write a short paragraph or two about your whale love story and send it to [email protected]. Write “Whale Love Story” in the subject line. The week of Valentine’s Day, we will share some of these special stories via the CWR website and social media.

Patos Lighthouse – Contributed Photo

From Arcadia Publishing

Since 1893, a light has been shining from Patos Island, the northernmost island in Puget Sound.

Built to guide ships through treacherous waters, the lighthouse was also a happy home for many, including Edward Durgan and his family in the early 1900s.

Boundary waters smugglers and rumrunners once visited the island to stash their contraband, and it was a front-line guard for the nation during World War II. Manned for 81 years by the U.S. government, the light was automated in 1974 and is now maintained by the Coast Guard.

Join authors Edrie Vinson and Terri Vinson, members of the Keepers of the Patos Light, as they explore the history of this unique Washington landmark in their new book, “Patos Island Lighthouse,” available on March 29. Continue Reading

From the Friday Harbor Film Festival

Join the Friday Harbor Film Festival’s free livestream Q&A event about the films from the series “In Search of the Great Song,”at 10 a.m., Friday, Feb. 12. A recording of the livestream will be available free at www.fhff.org for those unable to watch at the scheduled time.

The Friday Harbor Film Festival is delighted to present “In Search of the Great Song,” an extraordinary musical documentary series directed by Michael Stillwater and co-produced by Michael and Doris Laesser Stillwater who were inspired by their “dedication to the underlying source of music and song.” Watch on-demand through Feb. 17. Screen Individual movies for $3.95 or purchase a trilogy pass for $8.95.

The special Q&A will feature San Juan Islanders Morten Lauridsen and Alex Shapiro, who appeared in all three films, together with series creators Michael and Doris Laesser Stillwater who will be joining us from Finland. Audience interaction will be available during the event or by submitting a question for consideration in advance online by clicking here.

Continue Reading

Store To Close Feb. 14-March 2 For Vacation

By Nancy Larsen, Griffin Bay Bookstore

We at Griffin Bay Bookstore have you in our hearts as we turn our uplifted spirits to thoughts of deep appreciation for our customers, to the gratitude we hold for your encouragement and support, and to the joy we feel knowing that our shared love of books and reading has not just sustained us through a difficult and heartbreaking year, but offered moments of illumination, transformation, solace.

Our love letter to you, dear customers, this Valentine message of appreciation, is to let you know how the bookstore is faring, how we’ve done over the last few months, and to fill you in on our immediate plans.

First and foremost, Griffin Bay Bookstore would not have survived over the last year without your on-going encouragement and concrete support, without our island community’s dedication to shopping locally. We can say unequivocally that without your participation, help, contributions, we would not be here. Continue Reading

From Friday Harbor Labs

The University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Laboratories has an opening as a visitor coordinator.

This is a fulltime, salaried position, that earns $4,116 per month plus benefits.

Staff is seeking an energetic multitasker, detail-oriented and good with numbers, to coordinate the use of facilities at Friday Harbor Labs.

The employee will process applications from visiting researchers, conferences, retreats, and field trips; prioritize, coordinate and schedule use of housing, meeting spaces, and other facilities; make reservations and generate estimates and final charges; monitor budgets and provide administrative support and coordination to central office operations.

For more information and to apply, visit www.washington.edu/jobs before Feb. 21. Click on the find jobs button and enter “Req #186290.”

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

In the good news department, a joint effort between San Juan County, the Washington National Guard, and the Washington Department of Health is planning to deliver 1,900 first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from Feb. 15–19. The team will return 28 days later to deliver the second dose.

Registration for these vaccine events will open at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10. For the latest vaccine registration information, and the updated link to the registration form, please visit www.sanjuanco.com/1737/COVID-Vaccine-Info

Approximately 380 first doses will be delivered each day, with one day on Lopez and two days each on San Juan and Orcas. Continue Reading

From San Juan Island Library

The San Juan Island Library will bring Magician Jeff Evans to host “The Amazing Magic Show” by Zoom at 2 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18. The show is a just-for-fun virtual magic show with family-friendly comedy and audience participation.  

Jeff Evans is one of the Pacific Northwest’s most talented and celebrated magicians.

Jeff’s one-of-a-kind routines have won him accolades throughout the region and the United States. He performs regularly for libraries, fairs, and school assemblies.

For more information about Jeff, visit www.jeffevansmagic.com.

To attend the show, email [email protected] to receive the required Zoom invitation at least 30 minutes before the show begins. All San Juan Island Library Zoom programs are free to attend.

Information about upcoming library programs for all ages can be found at www.sjlib.org and on the San Juan Island Library’s Facebook page.