Contributed Photo/San Juan County. The first vaccine shots were administered on Dec. 30, 2020.

From San Juan County

San Juan County Health and Community Services staff provided the first COVID-19 vaccine to islanders on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

As per state and federal guidelines, initial distribution is limited to health care professionals, emergency responders, and long-term care facility staff and residents. This group is known as “Phase 1A.”

Contributed Photo/San Juan County.

This first clinic was held on San Juan Island, and more than 50 individuals received the vaccine.

The Health and Community Services team will move to Orcas for a clinic on the Dec. 31, and plans are underway for a Lopez clinic soon. Some Shaw Island first responders participated in the San Juan Island clinic.

Going forward, clinics will be held regularly on a rotating schedule until all “Phase 1A” individuals are vaccinated.

As guidelines for future phases are released by the Washington State Department of Health, and as vaccine supplies allow, additional groups of islanders will be eligible for the vaccine. The primary means of vaccine distribution in future phases will be via participating island medical providers and pharmacies.

For more details on specifics of the COVID-19 vaccine and San Juan County’s current plans for distribution, please review this recent FAQ, or this media release announcing the first arrival of the vaccine in the islands.

San Juan County has a web page devoted to COVID vaccine efforts, with links to other useful resources.

From San Juan County Economic Development Council

The San Juan County Economic Development Council is continuing to analyze the details of the just-passed stimulus package.

Our comprehensive summary with links can be found here.

We are still days away from the Paycheck Protection Program applications reopening. However, businesses that qualify and are interested in doing either an initial application or a second draw should start gathering their materials in anticipation of the application period.

As in the previous round, businesses will submit 2.5x months of payroll costs. Restaurants and bars (NAICS code starts with 72) are an exception and can submit 3.5 months.

The second draw applicants need to demonstrate a reduction of at least 25% in gross receipts during a quarter of 2020 as compared with the same quarter in 2019.

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By Barbara Jensen, President, San Juan Islands Audubon

Last Saturday, Dec. 26, we did our annual Christmas bird count circle.

First, I want to thank the 93 people who participated in the count. This is the highest number of people we have had on a count.

So many of you stepped forward to count at your feeders and yards and it really made up for us not covering our circle in groups. There were a handful of groups, but they were distanced and masked and rode in separate vehicles.

The effort involved 82 miles on foot, 160 miles by vehicle, and 11 by boat. Time-wise this was 106.25 hours on foot, 43.25 hours by vehicle, 3.5 hours by boat, and 22.75 hours at feeders.

This does not include time spent on data entry (at least 40 hours on my part) and the many hours our island coordinators spend emailing, calling, and working on data. A big thanks goes out to our coordinators!

The species count results reflected what is being seen all over the Northwest: a big finch invasion year.

We saw record numbers of Pine Siskins and Red Crossbills. Some species were absent this year like Band-tailed Pigeons. Weather always plays a role in what is seen or comes to feeders. Small bird species were lower but I think that was mostly due to them hunkering down in the wind and rain.

You can find past results on National Audubon’s website at https://netapp.audubon.org/cbcobservation/

Happy New Year everyone!

By San Juan County

The San Juan County Planning Commission will have an online meeting at 8:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 15.

Learn how to join the meeting here. You can join on your computer or mobile app by clicking here. Use the phone number 360-726-3293 and conference ID 613 618 865#.

The meeting will also be streamed here.

At the meeting, the commission will confirm the meeting’s agenda; review the Dec. 18 minutes (which can be viewed here); discuss the election of officers; listen to a report by San Juan County Community Development Director Erika Shook; and allow for public access time.    

There will also be briefings about the San Juan County Comprehensive Plan 2036 update by planner Adam Zack. Zack will discuss a report on “Land Use and Rural, Urban Growth Area Goals and Policies,” and a report on “Land Use and Rural, Natural Resource Land Goals and Policies.“

Contributed Photo. Elena Tapia took home first place in the adult category.

By Katie Schmidt, San Juan Builders Association

Congratulations to the winners of the San Juan Builders Association’s Gingerbread Contest!

It was so hard picking winners as each entry was absolutely wonderful.

Thank you to all who participated. You can pick up your entries between 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 260 Spring St. I will also be contacting the winners personally.

Adult Division

First place: Elena Tapia #23 with Ava’s Sweet Chateau
Second Place: Piper Taylor’s Cabin #12 and Will and Emily Shields Sweet Little Home #22
Third Place: Zoe Lawson’s Lime Kiln #31

Youth Division

First Place: Isla Dallman #26
Second Place: Addison Musburger’s Enchanted Forest #17
Third Place: Lyla Ovenell #20

Overall

Holiday Spirit Award: Chiara Power’s Nutcracker Theater #25 (adult) and Alphabet Soup’s No Naps in this House #15 (youth)
Most Creative: Richard Reeves’s Sea Sleigh #29 (adult) and Alison Power’s Sweet Ferry #24 (youth)
Community Favorite: Halley Byrne

Rep. Rick Larsen. Contributed Photo

By Rick Larsen’s Office

On Dec. 28, Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) voted to override President Trump’s veto of the annual National Defense Authorization Act.

Larsen, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted by proxy after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus last week.

“I voted to override the president’s veto to support the women and men of the military and strengthen national security,” said Larsen. “The NDAA increases pay for service members, establishes changes to rename military bases after American heroes instead of Confederate traitors, and spurs innovative research to prepare for future conflicts.”

The NDAA includes provisions that benefit Northwest Washington’s military families, installations, communities and veterans.

Supporting Servicemembers, Military Families

The NDAA gives servicemembers a 3% raise. The bill includes Larsen’s solution to ensure sailors are paid Family Separation Allowance while under orders to remain on board a ship while at home port. The NDAA also ensures all federal employees benefit from paid parental leave policies. Last year’s NDAA excluded the women and men who work at the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as other civilian employees.

Protecting Communities from PFAS

Larsen is committed to ensuring families living on or around Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and the Outlying Landing Field in Coupeville have access to safe and clean drinking water. The NDAA takes steps to further protect military communities from PFAS, including $1.4 billion for environmental cleanup.

Mitigating Jet Noise

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Two new San Juan County Councilwomen will be sworn in at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29. Christine Minney and Cindy Wolf will both take the oath in person with San Juan County Superior Court Judge Katheryn Loring. However, guests must view the ceremony virtually thanks to COVID-19 restrictions.

Wolf shared instructions to join, below.

Join on your computer or mobile app by clicking here.

Or call 360-726-3293 for audio-only, using the conference ID 76210635#.

Contributed Photo/Fish For Teeth

By Fish For Teeth

We at Fish for Teeth are excited to announce our January dental clinic:  Jan. 13-16, 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 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

Contributed Photo. Governor Jay Inslee.

By Governor Inslee’s Office

On Dec. 27, Gov. Jay Inslee announced the state will provide funding for almost 100,000 Washingtonians who will lose federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits following President Trump’s refusal to act on the federal coronavirus relief package.

The president had until midnight on Dec. 26 to sign the sweeping relief bill to avert a lapse in PUA benefits. However, hours after Inslee’s announcement, Trump signed the relief package.

PUA is a federal program that was included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act. The program provides support for Americans who are unable to work due to the Coronavirus pandemic but do not qualify for traditional Unemployment Insurance.

“We are providing a bridge for some Washingtonians until the federal government finally acts. It is extremely unfortunate that the president has missed the deadline and allowed much-needed unemployment benefits to lapse for struggling workers and families. The relief bill was negotiated by his own administration, supported by both Republicans and Democrats, and passed with overwhelming majorities in the House and Senate. His last-minute demands can and should be dealt with separately, but instead, the president has chosen to hold the entire relief package hostage. Continue Reading

Contributed Photo. Walter MacGinitie.

Walter Harold MacGinitie | Aug. 14, 1928 – Dec. 17, 2020

Walter MacGinitie, age 92, was born in Carmel, California, the only child of marine biologists George and Nettie MacGinitie. In 1950 Walter married Ruth Kilpatrick and they raised two daughters, Mary and Laura.

Walter spent the last 40 years of his life living on San Juan Island with his wife and died peacefully at home from a brain tumor.

Walter received degrees from the University of California, Stanford University, and Teachers College at Columbia University. After completing his first two degrees, he was a public school teacher in Long Beach, California, before and after serving four years in the United States Air Force.

He became an Instructor in Psychology at Teachers College while completing his PhD and went on to become a Professor of Psychology and Education at Teachers College for twenty years. He then served as the Lansdowne Scholar and Professor of Education at the University of Victoria, BC, Canada. Continue Reading

Contributed Image/CDC

By San Juan County

Since the last update on Friday, Dec. 18, the total cases in San Juan County have increased from 75 to 78. All of the three new cases are on San Juan Island.

Current positive case numbers are available online at the county case count page. As indicated on that page, these numbers are only updated after case confirmation is complete, usually daily. It is possible that other information sources in the community may be quicker to report on new cases, but ensuring privacy and accuracy is critical for this official information source.

Orcas Island

There are no positive cases being actively monitored on Orcas Island at this time.

Lopez Island

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

San Juan Island

There are two positive cases being actively monitored on San Juan Island at this time.

All three of the new cases on San Juan Island are close household contacts of each other. Initial transmission into the household appears to be via an indoor social gathering with a previously identified positive case.

By Town of Friday Harbor

The Town of Friday Harbor will collect Christmas trees for residents inside town limits on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. 

Trees must be placed at the curb no later than 9 a.m. and must be separate from other unbundled trash and woody waste. 

To ensure the success of the tree recycling program, please remove the tree stand and all tinsel, lights, and ornaments as these items will contaminate mulch and compost. 

Trees more than 8 feet tall must be cut in half. Trees should not be in plastic tree bags. Artificial or flocked (painted) trees will not be accepted.

If you have any questions, contact the Town of Friday Harbor at 360-378-2810.

By San Juan County

Recent San Juan County COVID-19 case investigations have revealed a trend of lax COVID safety protocols on various construction and building sites across the islands.

As in any workplace, consistent masking is a critical tool for preventing disease transmission. Work done alone or outside with greater than six feet of separation does not require masking, but given the nature of the trade, all indoor work or outdoor work done in close proximity to others needs to be done while masked to protect against COVID transmission.

Clearly, a work setting with multiple sub-contractors, a mix of indoor and outdoor work, rigid timelines, and the need for close cooperation on many tasks makes for a challenging safety environment. That said, construction continuing to operate normally depends on keeping job sites from becoming sources of COVID spread.

As recent business-linked cases have shown, the impacts of having all or many employees quarantined for 14 days are significant.

Some key reminders highlighted by recent cases: Continue Reading

By Helen Machin-Smith and Daniel Mayes, Island Stage Left Founders

With the season of goodwill and hope upon us, we at Island Stage Left are ready to do our bit to brighten your spirits and celebrate hope.

With that in mind, our gift to you is this professionally recorded audio version of “Christmas Memories” (the Dylan Thomas compilation) with Dan Mayes (narrator) and Penelope Haskew (singer). 

It is entirely thanks to Rikki Swin that we were able to produce such a high-quality audio version and, for that, we are enormously grateful.

Now that theater all over the world are turning to video to keep the art of theater alive during this time, we are needing to learn new skills and acquire or borrow new equipment. Our aim at Island Stage Left, as always, is to produce the most professional product possible, so we are enlisting the help of a professional cameraman to film a spring poetry and music performance; one to lighten hearts, nurture optimism and engender laughter, we hope. 

Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, it was impossible to film the much-loved “Omnium Gatherum” winter season program in time, but we are delighted to include the audio of “Christmas Memories” so that you can still celebrate with us this year.

We hope you are surviving these times with a view down the COVID tunnel to the bright light of spring and the warmth of summer, with Island Stage Left’s promise of a sunny Shakespeare comedy in 2021. 

Our most fervent wish is that you are blessed with good health and with enough friends and family to connect you to what is best and most important in life.

With our very best wishes to you and all those you love.

Even during a pandemic, San Juan Island School District students still put on a holiday concert. Listen to Friday Harbor Middle and High School students play holiday songs in their virtual concert below.

 

Wolf Hollow staff (and critters) wish everyone a happy holiday. They also thank the community for its continued support.

Wolf Hollow’s mission is “to promote the well-being of wildlife and their habitats through rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife, public education and non-invasive research.” For more information, visit wolfhollowwildlife.org.