San Juan Islands National Monument Map. Contributed Image

By the Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management announced that it is seeking public nominations to the San Juan Islands National Monument Advisory Committee.

This citizen-based committee assists in the development of recommendations that address public land management issues.

The MAC, which is formally chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act and the Federal Policy and Land Management Act, provides advice and recommendations to the BLM on the development of the monument’s management plan in accordance with the statutes under which it was established.

“The MAC is an important forum for the community conversation that is a key component of public land management,” said Spokane Associate District Manager Michelle Brown. “By ensuring that representation reflects a variety of perspectives, MAC members provide a valuable service to the Bureau by helping to shape the Monument’s resource management plan.” Continue Reading

3D Mammography Equipment. Contributed Photo

By Peace Island Medical Center

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and women at PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center can utilize the benefits of three-dimensional technology as part of their mammography screening and breast health practices.

Digital screening mammography complements the growing portfolio of diagnostic imaging services, which include state-of-the-art CT scanning, X-ray, echocardiography and MRI available at PeaceHealth Peace Island. Continue Reading

By Mary Stone, San Juan Island

After 40 years practicing law, 30 of them in Friday Harbor, I am retiring, but I am leaving the law practice in the very capable hands of my partner, Bob Bulloch.

My husband and I will continue to spend winters in Puerto Rico, but instead of returning to Friday Harbor in the spring, we will be building a home on a lake in western Wisconsin. This departure is bittersweet. My friends, clients, colleagues, and this community have been very good to me and I will miss you.

Thank you to my clients who put their trust in me, and thank you to the community for your kindness and warmth. We hope to return as tourists someday. 

Poster for Scarecrow Contest. Contributed Image

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce and the Friends of the Library are hosting a San Juan Island Scarecrow Contest.

Below are the locations of the entered scarecrows and their creators. 

Enter your top three favorites on a ballot at the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce, 165 1st St. South, or email [email protected].

Good luck to all the entries! Continue Reading

By SAFE San Juans

For the month of October, SAFE San Juans hopes to make the islands glow purple in honor of the victims of domestic violence.

The tradition of using Purple Night Lights to honor those who have (or are) suffering from domestic violence began in Covington, Washington in 2006.

Since purple is the cause color for domestic violence, the Covington Domestic Violence Task Force devised this subtle yet colorful way to bring recognition of the problem to its community.

SAFE San Juans heard of the initiative a few years back, and now the SAFE staff are working to establish Purple Night Lights as an annual event in the San Juans. Trees and buildings around San Juan County will feature purple-hued lights to bring awareness of the issue. Continue Reading

By Susan Kollet, San Juan Island

A vote for Rick Hughes for Council Dist. 2 and Christine Minney for Dist. 1 will provide a wonderful balance to the three-member council.

At such a critical juncture, the continuity and expertise Rick brings to the office will benefit our community and put the county in a better position for economic rebound.

Prior to my recent retirement from county employment, I served in the council office and saw, daily, the care and commitment that guides Rick’s actions.

Continue Reading

By San Juan Island School District

At a special school board meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, the San Juan Island School District Board of Directors approved a hybrid return to in-person learning for kindergarten through 2nd grade.

At the beginning of the school year, the district stated that after the first nine weeks of teleschool the district would reevaluate to make an informed and safe decision concerning the next steps for the school year.

At this time, based on all the information available, the superintendent’s recommendation was to begin in-person learning for the youngest students, grades K-2, starting in November. Continue Reading

By Michael Durland, Orcas Island

A couple of weeks ago I listed a number of actions by this current San Juan County Council that I said were in violation of their oath of office and the San Juan County Charter.

My main concern is why this council instructed or allowed their attorney to argue in court false information.

The head of the department of community development stated the official county position which I relied on and the county attorneys argued the opposite without denying or proving the county position had changed.

We want to be able to trust that our elected officials will follow the county charter and address citizen concerns. We want to be able to rely on our elected officials to do what is right no matter who they are dealing with. Continue Reading

By Island Rec

Island Rec has great new in-person offerings for youth this fall!

Join us, starting Oct. 20 for, afternoon recess, for K-5th grade. Get your wiggles out at Linde Park after a full day of virtual learning. Continue Reading

Sam Stubblefield in his studio. Contributed Photo

By SJIMA

Creative people “look at the world differently; it’s part of the job,” observed artist-architect Sam Stubblefield.

The glowing lights in the glass windows of the San Juan Islands Museum of Art hint at the mystery of his installation “SPACE, MUSES, ETC.” He aims to blur the boundaries between art, engineering and design.

SJIMA presents a curiosity cabinet of works selected from previous shows.

Sam merges unexpected materials and situations such as plants, boats, computer vision, earthquakes, the internet, jellyfish, real-time data from nature, miles of bungee cord, mixed-reality technology, urban conditions, projected video, oceans, robotics, natural landscapes, and software algorithms.

Stubblefield wants his arresting images to provoke thought about new options for seeing art. And they certainly do that. Continue Reading

“Love Is the Way” poster. Contributed Image

By Friday Harbor Film Festival

“Love is the Way” brings together voices speaking in defense of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, highlighting the generations of stewardship by Gwich’in and Iñupiaq people.

Inspired in part by footage of the late photographer Michio Hoshino, this film explores the friendships, values, and stories shaped by the place and the strong commitments to its protection.

From award-winning filmmakers Jeremy La Zelle and Kirstin Gates, this film reminds us of the sacred connections between us and the ways that a place can teach us how to live with respect and compassion. Continue Reading

By Skagit Valley College

Skagit Valley College will be open for the winter quarter.

SVC is a leader in providing great online courses, and we are also offering limited hybrid and face-to-face options.

Classes start Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. Registration for continuing students begins Wednesday, Oct. 21. Registration for new students begins Wednesday, Nov. 4 Continue Reading

Contributed Photo

By Vote Forward

On Friday, Oct. 16, a group of San Juan Island volunteers mailed approximately 12,000 letters to intermittent voters in key battleground states, asking them to please vote in this election.

The effort was made in collaboration with the nonprofit organization Vote Forward, and spear-headed by San Juan Island resident Beth Larson.

Beth distributed letters from Vote Forward to approximately 31 people, who wrote the 12,000 letters. The letters include space to write a personal note on why the writer votes in every election. Continue Reading

Mud Bay Tree Farm. Contributed Photo/San Juan Preservation Trust

Conservation Organizations, Private Landowners Help Salmon and Orcas

By Friends of the San Juans and San Juan Preservation Trust

An innovative partnership between Friends of the San Juans and the San Juan Preservation Trust has been quietly gaining momentum over the past few years.

Working with interested private waterfront landowners, the collaborative project brings much-needed attention and resources to the permanent protection of shoreline habitat to support salmon recovery.

“While land conservation in the San Juans has typically focused on upland values such as farmlands, forests, or scenic views, it is equally important to focus on shorelines,” says Tina Whitman, Science Director at Friends. “That’s because the health of our nearshore habitats are directly connected to the health of marine species such as Chinook salmon and the Southern Resident orcas.”

Development actions such as armoring beaches with bulkheads, vegetation removal, and docks can degrade healthy shorelines and cause permanent loss of resources critical to forage fish, salmon, and Southern Resident orcas.

Conservation easements can protect coastal habitats from these harmful actions. Continue Reading

Dr. Mandy Gulla / Contributed Photo

Living Medical Arts PLLC in Friday Harbor is growing. We are expanding our staff and currently looking for an office assistant.

The position is year-round, approximately 30 day-time hours per week, with some benefits and in-house training.

The right “can-do” person who thrives in a fast-paced office environment will have ample opportunity for growth. Those who appreciate Natural Medicine will enjoy being part of our team.

For a detailed job description, please email your request to [email protected], ATTN: Stephanie. No phone calls, please.

Living Medical Arts is a multi-disciplinary clinic delivering naturopathic medicine, physical medicine and integrative care, serving the San Juan Islands and other communities for over 10 years.

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

Ingredients for a plant based diet – photo Peggy Sue McRae

The concept of “blue zones” grew out of a demographic study identifying Sardina, Italy as a region with a high concentration of centenarians. Researchers who drew concentric blue circles on maps highlighting villages of extreme longevity began to refer to the regions within the blue circles as “blue zones”.

Dan Buettner, author of, The Blue Zones, built on that study identifying five longevity hotspots around the world; Okinawa, Japan; Sardina, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece, and Loma Linda, California.

Buettner and his team studied these communities and identified qualities they have in common. They are not especially wealthy communities; in fact most live modestly perhaps with several generations under one roof.  They are all physically active and incorporate rest, social time, and spiritual uplift into their lives. They eat plant-based diets, lots of beans, and most of them drink wine. Continue Reading