From the Friday Harbor Food Bank

Islanders can purchase groceries from the Friday Harbor Food Bank online at fridayharborfoodbank.weebly.com.

Purchasers can pick up items bought online from noon-6 p.m., Thursdays.

Volunteers also extended their hours for in-store shopping to 4-6 p.m., Thursdays, so customers can shop after work.

You can still shop in the store, as always, from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Wednesdays and 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Saturdays.

The food bank is located at 500 Market St. Call 360-378-4640 for more information.

From San Juan County

As San Juan County Health & Community Services continues to provide vaccines to the islands (many other local providers are also now delivering vaccines!) the registration process has been frustrating for many.

While those who can secure an appointment have had a smooth experience, those who have not are left wishing there was a better way.

The good news is that the county is switching to a new system. That said, some existing challenges will remain. Overall, it is an improvement. 

The new registration tool is called PrepMod and is managed by Washington Department of Health.

The tool is being used by jurisdictions across the country including Los Angeles County, the states of Massachusetts, Alaska, and many more. DOH has recently given approval for it to be used by San Juan County.

As before, reservations will be released at a set time. The next release time will be at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5.

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Frank James MD, health officer for San Juan County, sent this open letter to county schools on Jan. 30.

I am recommending that schools consider opening grades K to 6 for in-person education.

The Washington state metric for opening in-person education has not been met due to high rates of infection in our four-county region, however, it is appropriate to start the opening process.

As you are aware, an incremental approach starting with the lower grades is prudent. This allows for steadily increasing experience with having children and staff in the buildings and time to perfect safety and health protocols that will allow schools to move forward in a thoughtful and careful manner.

All schools may not be ready to move forward. Policies and procedures may not yet be in place, adequate staffing may not be available, or it may be impossible to adequately distance students into smaller groups. It is certainly possible there may be other factors limiting a school’s ability to open safely as well.

Please note that this is NOT a mandate to open schools, especially if these essential precautions are not yet in place.
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From Friends of the San Juan Island Library

The Friends of the San Juan Island Library are hosting a Valentine’s Day online auction.

The Treasure Cove online sale includes books by the bag and specialty books.

We are open through Feb. 15.

You are cordially invited to shop for your valentine and support our library.

Log in at charityauction.bid/folbooks.

By William F. House, MD, Eventide Health

We have received our shipment of the Moderna vaccine and will begin vaccinating established patients of Eventide Health.

The vaccinations will be done at the county fairgrounds on Wednesdays as we join with the health department with their vaccination efforts.

If you begin vaccinations with our clinic you will need to also complete the series with us.

Additionally, if you received your first vaccination from another source/provider you will need to receive your second dose there as well.

The vaccine is available in limited amounts and we want to get all of our established patients scheduled who wish to do so, but please understand that this will take time and cooperation.

If you are under 65 you must go to FindYourPhaseWA.org and print out the certificate of eligibility under Phase 1A (tiers 1 and 2) or Phase 1B (tier 1 only) in order to be scheduled with us.

You will also need to fill out our pre-vaccination form available here: https://eventidehealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/COVID-vaccine-form.pdf

Contributed Photo/San Juan Historical Society and Museum Seated: Elijah and Deborah Nash. Standing: Florence Labar and Bert Coffin

From the San Juan Historical Society and Museum

In the month she turned 19, Deborah Julia Kelly and her sweetheart Elijah Hamlin Nash traveled by steamship from San Juan Island to Seattle and took out a marriage license on Valentine’s Day 1896.

They were married the following Sunday on Feb. 16 at Plymouth Church in downtown Seattle.

A week later, they returned home to Friday Harbor on the steamer Lydia Thompson, known for its “elegant passenger accommodations.” The newlyweds settled in at their first home on Spring Street and E.H. went back to work as the 26-year-old San Juan County Clerk.

Their wedding portrait above, as also seen in the “Images of America: San Juan Island” book by Mike and Julia Vouri and the San Juan Historical Society, invites many stories. This month’s history column will touch upon a few of them.

As described in the book, E.H. “Ham” Nash and Bert Coffin, friends from Maine, arrived on San Juan Island in 1893 and found their place in the business community by operating the Nash & Coffin store at Argyle. Just a few years later, one would be a groom and the other his best man.

The ladies came from established island families. The bride, Deborah Kelly, was born on the island in 1877 to Mary Ellen Hankinson and John Kelly, a former American Camp soldier. Deborah’s maternal grandfather, John Hankinson, had also been stationed at American Camp.

The matron of honor, pictured standing next to Bert Coffin, was Florence Hankinson Labar, Deborah’s aunt. Florence was married to Nelson Labar (often recorded as LaBar) at the time. In this photograph, Florence is expecting twins, to be born in July. In the time-proven island tradition of “Never burn a bridge,” after Florence and Nelson Labar’s marriage ended 15 or so years later, she married Bert Coffin.

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From PeaceHealth

Although the state of Washington recently expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility, the demand for vaccines continues to exceed the number of doses the state has made available for eligible groups.

As we receive the vaccine, PeaceHealth is reaching out to patients whose health record indicates they are eligible to schedule vaccine appointments, including those who are most medically vulnerable. 

Please do not call to schedule vaccine appointments or visit our clinics without a scheduled appointment.

PeaceHealth has about 1,800 established patients in San Juan County who are 65 or older or who receive care from a PeaceHealth Medical Group specialist and are considered high risk; we just received the first shipment of vaccine and have enough supply for 100 people in these categories, with no more vaccine available beyond the first shipment. 

These individuals have already been scheduled to receive the vaccine. We will not schedule vaccine appointments for patients unless we have vaccine available, and we are committed to securing required second doses for patients who receive a first dose from PeaceHealth.

At this time, PeaceHealth is contacting patients whose medical record indicates they are eligible by phone, or by email through our My PeaceHealth patient portal. This includes those who are established with PeaceHealth for primary care and those who have been seen by a PeaceHealth specialist and identified by their provider to be at higher risk.

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From Cynthia’s Bistro

Grab a free dinner from 4:30-6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 4, at Cynthia’s Bistro, 65 Nichols Street in Friday Harbor. 

The bistro is offering free takeout meals on the restaurant’s front porch to anyone who needs a meal or wishes to have a home-cooked meal; no questions asked, just free food.

The meals are basic home cooking made with everything but the kitchen sink.

When volunteers run of out food, they will close the doors until next time. 

If you care to join or donate time or money, email [email protected] or call 360-298-8130.

Screen Shot of Eligibility Confirmation – Peggy Sue McRae

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

By now you probably know a few islanders who have gotten their first COVID-19 vaccine.

Once Tier 1b opened up to those over 65, there was a rush to get the shot.

Because 5,000 or so county residents now qualify, the approximate 300 doses that became available recently were snapped up like free cookies at a garage sale.

Basic access to the internet is the best way to find out about getting a coronavirus vaccine. Filling out a simple online questionnaire is how you know and confirm that you are eligible. That online tool can be found on the state’s “Find Your Phase” site.

If you are 65 or older, over 50 and living in an intergenerational household, over 50 and caring for a grandchild, you are in tier 1b.

Once you confirm what tier you are in, you then need to print out or take a screenshot of the approval verification documenting your eligibility.

At this time the demand for the vaccine is far greater than the supply. Here is the link for San Juan islanders to get an appointment. Here is where being patient comes in. 

Chances are when you click on “Book This Service” you will get the message: “No available times.” We are going to have to be patient. As more vaccines become available this situation should improve.

We are requested not to call the county health department for information or appointments at this time due to limited staff resources being entirely devoted to the operation of the vaccine clinics.

Here are reliable sources offering updated information:

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Contributed Image/Element5 Digital

From San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau

This Valentine’s Day, give some love to our island communities and support your favorite shops, restaurants and lodgings. This last year has been tough on business owners keeping up with changing restrictions.

A candlelit dinner is a Valentine’s must, and there are so many takeout options to choose from you can’t go wrong.

Like the five-course pre-fixed menu with wine pairings, a long-stemmed rose and chocolate teddy bear truffles from Coho Restaurant (www.cohorestaurant.com/all-posts/valentines-weekend-rapture-2021) in Friday Harbor.

Rosario Resort’s “Amore di San Valentino” menu guarantees romance with wild mushroom gnocchi, baked crab cakes, and chocolate torte with Chantilly cream. Ursa Minor on Lopez has already sold out of their curated take-home meal kits full of tasty delights like Sweet Grass Farm’s New York strip steak with marrow butter and roasted cabbage with Pea-So (www.ursaminorlopez.com), but there’s room on the waiting list.  

Find other take-out options here: www.visitsanjuans.com/dining

Trying to come up with a gift outside the box?

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A Tale of Two Research Vessels

By Megan Dethier

Visitors to UW Friday Harbor Labs in the last nine months – or those perusing our website, which is easier these days – have seen a sweet new research vessel at our dock.

The story of this boat acquisition includes tragedy, drama, history, philanthropy, a lot of luck, and a happy ending!

For almost 20 years, FHL’s research vessel was the R/V Centennial, bought and modified with funding from the Murdock Foundation and given its name because we took possession of it close to FHL’s 100th year.

It had been an Alaskan seiner commissioned and operated by Captain Mark Anderson, and we were able to hire him to remodel it with research in mind. He operated it at FHL for many years and in the process, trained FHL staff to take over this work when he eventually returned to fishing.

The boat served us beautifully, both for collecting trips for classes and local researchers and for research trips into Hood Canal and the outer coast of Washington. But as all boat owners know, they are simply a “hole in the water you pour money into” and for a large 58-footer like Centennial, charging a high enough rate to actually cover all its expenses would have made it too expensive for many users to actually charter. As the boat aged, her maintenance needs amplified.

R/V Centennial

The “tragedy” part of this story occurred on July 9, 2019, when R/V Centennial’s engine room filled with water at its mooring at the FHL dock.

We still don’t know what happened and this is now water under the bridge (or into the engine…) but the result was that the mechanical and electrical components below deck were totaled.

Then began the drama!

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From San Juan County

With the governor’s recent authorization to deliver vaccines to those in the Phase 1b Tier 1 eligibility group, the level of questions and concerns from the community has understandably increased. 

This situation is inherently unsatisfying and challenging. There is no perfect approach to many of the decisions being made, and the whole effort is constrained by a limited supply of the vaccine.

Lots of people in lots of places are doing the best they can to make this work, some more successfully than others. We think our approach here in the islands will work, but that doesn’t mean it is flawless.

For some time to come, demand will exceed supply.

Local medical providers and pharmacies will play a critical role in vaccinating our community. This Q&A will focus on the San Juan County response but know that there are a number of local healthcare providers working hard to begin administering doses.

Q:  Where do I learn about whether I am eligible for vaccine and if I am, how do I sign up?

The best source for information is the county’s COVID-19 vaccine webpage.

Q: What local healthcare providers or pharmacies are giving vaccines now, and how do we schedule with them?

At this moment, other than San Juan County Health and Community Services, Lopez Island Pharmacy is the only other provider of vaccine to Phase 1b Tier 1 individuals in the county. Continue Reading

Contributed Image/CDC

From San Juan County

Since the last update on Friday, Jan. 22, total cases in San Juan County have increased from 97 to 102. Three new cases are on San Juan Island, and two on Orcas.

Approximately 53 individuals who are close contacts of positive cases are currently in quarantine.

Orcas Island

There are two new cases on Orcas Island. Both of these cases are tied to hosting out of state visitors, the cases are not related, nor are they related to previous cases.

There is one positive case being actively monitored on Orcas Island at this time.

Lopez Island

There are no new cases and no positive cases being actively monitored on Lopez Island at this time.

San Juan Island

There are three new cases on San Juan Island. Continue Reading

Contributed Photo/San Juan Island Library.

From San Juan Island Library

At 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 17, meet a conservation canine during the San Juan Island Library’s virtual Know Your Islanders event. Originally, the event was scheduled for January.

Eba, the whale dog, is a poop-sniffing rescue dog in the University of Washington’s Center for Conservation Biology Whale Scat program.

Eba is helping Dr. Sam Wasser and Dr. Deborah Giles better understand how to save the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Giles will talk about how Eba finds whale poop, what analyzing the fecal matter tells us about the whales and the steps we can all take to help recover this beloved population of whales.

To register, email [email protected].

From the Town of Friday Harbor

Friday Harbor has installed five new electronic speed measuring signs at main entrances to town.

Based on the success of the solar-powered speed reminders on Grover Street installed near Friday Harbor Elementary School, the new signs are to help remind drivers to slow down as they transition from county speed zones.

The signs measure the speed of approaching vehicles using an installed radar device and project the speed on an LED message plate. If driving too fast the signs will flash an amber “Slow Down.” Those traveling at or under the speed limit will receive a green “Thank You.”

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From San Juan Island EMS

If you called 911, could San Juan Island EMS find you quickly?

San Juan Island EMS needs your help. When responders must search for missing address labels on houses it can make a difference, and a single minute can mean the difference between life and death.

We want to get to your home as soon as possible in an emergency and ask that you help ensure we have the tools we need to do so.

Every home should be identified with numbers large enough to see. Reflective numbers shine at night by reflecting off the headlights of oncoming vehicles. They are visible, even on a dark rainy night.

Contributed Photo/SJI EMS

The San Juan Island EMT Association has a program to help get you more reflective addressing up on our island. The association will make you a quality reflective post that you can order by calling San Juan Island EMS. A minimum donation of $30 is suggested.

The “guidepost” is an attractive marker that shows up well at night. It is placed at the driveway entrance, a few yards away from the road. To order your “guidepost,” please call San Juan Island EMS at 360-378-5152 Ext. 103.