Learn about pollination science, pollinator diversity, native pollinators, and how to support pollinators year round at a free workshop taking place Wednesday, Nov. 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Brickworks. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Presenters include Washington State University small fruit horticulture specialist Lisa DeVetter, entomologist Bob Gillespie, WSU graduate students Emma Rogers and Kayla Brouwer, and WSU intern Adriana Barsan. The event is organized by San Juan Island Grange, the San Juan Islands Agricultural Guild, and WSU Extension San Juan County.

You can also view the presentation over Zoom. Details are available on the Grange website.

I don’t have a lot in common with Andrew Carnegie except for our common desire to support education and reading. Andrew Carnegie was the richest person in the world in 1901 and wanted to support good causes. One of his causes was to establish free public libraries in over 1,600 cities in our country. I can’t do anything as ambitious as Andrew Carnegie but I can do my part in supporting education, reading and other needs in our island community which is why I’m voting to support our Library.

I owe much to libraries. They were my refuge and window to a larger world. Our library provides that same opportunity to young and old and is a place everyone can touch into for information, inspiration and communication. I hope you join me in supporting our new library.

Steve Simpson
San Juan Island

Photo credit: Sam Paul-Barrette

With a 5-4 penalty shootout victory over Orcas Island, the Friday Harbor High School boys soccer team won their bi-district championship on Saturday and will advance to play for the 1B/2B state title. The Wolverines tied Orcas Island 1-1 in a neutral site game held at Sammamish High School and clinched the win in an eight-round shootout.

The date, time, and location of Friday Harbor’s next game has yet to be announced. The Wolverines enter the state tournament as the number one seed. Orcas Island will play in the tournament as the number three seed.

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor shares a look at the adoptable animals of the week — two three-month-old mixed-breed puppies.

Hi there, we’re the newest puppies to stir things up at APS-FH. We came to Friday Harbor from Eastern Washington last month, and since then the whole lot of us have been calling a local foster and the shelter our temporary homes. Basically, it’s been the very best and really fun and we’ve had a lot of new experiences. Being a puppy is kind of the best, if you ask us!

You know what else is the best? How everyone we meet is so nice to us and so excited to meet us — like, everyone. Which is really awesome because when they get excited like that, they do that thing we reeeaaally like — the one where they run their hands all through our black, white, and merle coats and scratch and tickle us all over. Us puppies love that and oh boy do these people deliver. Whether they’re the people who take us for walks, the ones who hang out with us in the yard, the ones who make our rooms all clean each day — plus add new toys — or the local people who come to meet us, they all can’t help but get excited and scratch us all over our puppy bodies. They even let us cover them with kisses.

Like we said, the life of a puppy is good with friends like these! We’re super thankful to the shelter and our foster family, and we’re having a lot of fun, but we’re also really excited and eager to find our forever families. The shelter is working hard to find them for us. Could it be you?

To learn more about these pups, contact the Animal Protection Society.

The Theatre shares news about the return of its popular family performances.

BOTS! A New Children’s Musical, presented by San Juan Community Family Theatre, opens Thursday, Nov. 17 with a cast of over 50 island children and adults.

Family Theatre shows are performed by local children in kindergarten through sixth grade and their parents, with the backstage crew made up of kids from grades seven through 12. After a long break from in-person performances, this year’s show focuses on the importance of working together and helping each other out, spotlighting that cooperation and empathy are more important than an easy win.

Evening performances begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $18 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for student rush. Thursdays are pay-what-you-can admission at the door. Visit the SJCT website to purchase tickets.

After operating on weekends through the summer at Vic’s Drive In, Friday Harbor’s pop-up taco shop has moved down the street to its new location at Rocky Bay Cafe. They’ll be serving their popular tacos, street corn, and churros each week Tuesday through Saturday, starting at 5 p.m. and going until they run out of food — usually around 9 p.m., according to owner Mike Smith.

The Town of Friday Harbor is looking a full-time Utility Worker for its Streets department. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.

But aren’t we all?

Meat Machine Cycles will end its regular hours for the year next Saturday, Nov. 12. They’ll re-open at the start of April next year.

“This is the first year that we are closing for the off-season,” the shop said on their blog. “We recognize that this will cause hardship for many of our local patrons. To alleviate that to the best of our ability we will be offering clinic days sporadically throughout the winter. Reach out to us using our contact form for more info on the next clinic day. Do not hesitate to reach out for emergency service and we will try to accommodate.”

Jan Murphy shares news about her upcoming one-day painting course.

If you’ve always wanted to try painting, but have been afraid trust your creative muse, the Friday Harbor Atelier has the class for you. Join instructor Jan Murphy for a four-hour workshop called Painting from the Heart on Thursday, Nov. 17 from 5-9 p.m.

In this fast-paced class you’ll experiment with different acrylic paints and mediums to create a mature canvas as your base. After your base is dry, it’s up to you and your muse to create a representational or abstract masterpiece. Everyone leaves class with at least two beautiful works of art.

Visit Jan’s website for more information and to register for the workshop. Space is limited. The Friday Harbor Atelier is located at 313 Spring St.

Alchemy Art Center is celebrating their fifth year as a registered nonprofit with a Fall Fundraiser Gala, which takes place tonight at 5 p.m. at Brickworks. There are two tickets left for the in-person event. If you can’t make it, or if the event sells out, you can make an online donation to support community arts on San Juan Island.