Be a Superhero for Planet Earth! 2020 Fall Great Islands Clean-up September 28 – October 4

We’re asking Superheroes of all ages to unite and help us clean-up our islands during this year’s Fall Great Islands Clean-up! The event will be a week-long household/individual effort beginning September 28 and running through October 4, 2020. This is an opportunity for our community to get outside, get some exercise, and help make our islands plastic and litter-free by the sea. 

In keeping with San Juan County’s Phase 2 guidelines, masks will be required, participants should practice social distancing, and there will be no congregating. 

If you would like to be assigned a pick-up location ahead of time on San Juan Island, contact Katie Fleming at [email protected] to sign-up for beaches and Aaron Rock at [email protected] to sign-up for roads.

Bags, grabbers, safety vests, and gloves will be available at the San Juan County Public Works office at 915 Spring Street during the week before the event. Litter picked-up on San Juan Island can be dropped off free of charge during regular office hours at the Lautenbach Transfer Station (212 Sutton Rd.), Friday – Sunday 9 am – 4 pm, and Monday from 9 am – 12 pm.

There will be litter clean-up events happening on Orcas, San Juan, Lopez and Shaw Islands. Visit plasticfreesalishsea.org/events to register and for more information about the events on all these islands.

Pacific herring off San Juan Island – Photo by Jess Newley

Pacific herring – also known as forage fish – play a key role in marine food webs as food for out-migrating juvenile salmon, seabirds, and even marine mammals. Herring rely on sensitive eelgrass meadows found along our tidelands to spawn and incubate their eggs.

Herring spawning populations in the San Juans are classified by the WA Department of Fish and Wildlife as critically depressed. In San Juan County, herring only spawn at a handful of locations: West Sound and East Sound on Orcas Island; Blind Bay on Shaw Island; Wescott and Garrison Bays on San Juan Island; and Mud, Hunter, and Shoal Bays on Lopez Island.

“This is where an opportunity for some of you comes along. Do you live near one of these areas and own shoreline property or tidelands? Do you have a mooring buoy that could use an upgrade? If so, Friends of the San Juans would like to hear from you,” said Jess Newley, Friends’ Marine Science Coordinator. Continue Reading

Stella’s Kitchen is a small, one-cook venue serving delicious, nutritious meals for lunch and dinner.

From spicy Korean noodles and Bulgogi to Curry and Dumplings, meals are varied each day and made from scratch, each with an emphasis on using fresh, organic ingredients.

Currently located at Friday Harbor’s Brickworks (service via the back door toward the ferry landing), Stella cooks from noon until seven pm on Wednesday – Friday.

Meals are all served to-go in paper boxes, and orders can be placed over the phone (360-378-3225), or in person at the door.

Come by soon for a tasty, wholesome meal!

The San Juan Island School District’s Food for Thought Program is back at it!

Though most of the staff was furloughed, Chef Andy, Ashley Spendiff and Kerri Starr are working hard to provide healthful FROM SCRATCH meals to all children in San Juan County ages 1-18 FOR FREE.

Check out the school website for current menu options and the link to the weekly pre-order form!

*The meals are free to children, and the cost is reimbursed to the district by state and federal nutrition programs. We cannot claim meals that are not picked up! PLEASE remember to pick up the meals you have ordered or we lose the labor and food cost associated with making these delicious meals. Waste not, want not!*

P.S. Donations to the program can be sent to The District Office PO Box 458, Friday Harbor, WA 98250. Please put “Food for Thought” on the check! Thank You!

Here is a peek at the ‘Chef’s Menu’ offerings from earlier this week:

[Show slideshow]

A mass of smoke is currently sitting over Southwestern Washington.  This smoke, from wildfires in Washington, Oregon and California is expected to move north starting tomorrow and likely impact much of Western Washington through the weekend as it is pushed by southerly winds.  

The Department of Ecology smoke forecast for tomorrow predicts that air quality will be ’unhealthy for sensitive groups’ in some areas and ’unhealthy for everyone’ in other areas. Conditions on Saturday are expected to be worse.

Be prepared to protect you and your family’s health from outdoor smoke by:

• Stay inside with doors and windows closed when it’s smoky. Use towels to block air flow if smoke is coming in through gaps in window or door frames. But don’t overheat! Open doors and windows if you must to cool down. Watch for times when smoke may clear and open windows and doors to clear out smoke that has gotten inside.
• Reduce indoor pollution you can control. Reduce or eliminate any type of smoking, no vacuuming, no candles, no incense, no aerosol sprays.
• Take it easy. Smoky air is not good for vigorous activities. Put off chopping wood, mowing the lawn, or going for a run.
• Set air to recirculate on your HVAC or window air conditioner if you have one.
• Reduce smoke in your vehicle if you’re out in your car by closing the windows and vents and running the air conditioner on recirculate.

For more information about health impacts from wildfire smoke see the Department of Health COVID-19 and Wildfire Smoke page.

Additional information is also available on the Washington Smoke Blog.

Effective September 10, San Juan County Health Officer Dr. Frank James has signed Order No. 2020-9, lifting the 50% capacity restrictions on transient lodging. Operating at 100% capacity is allowed immediately.

This order also immediately lifts the closure of all public playgrounds and playground equipment.

Dr. James explains, “Island residents and visitors have done an outstanding job this summer of limiting COVID transmission in our community. I know that the limits on lodging and other restrictions placed on our local businesses have had enormous economic impacts for many islanders, but I firmly believe that our collective actions have helped to keep the islands safe and healthy.”

In addition to lifting limits on lodging capacity, the new order also lowers the turn around time between bookings from 24 hours to 6 hours, with a requirement that no cleaning happen less than 2 hours after guest departure, and that room windows are open for ventilation for a minimum of 6 hours between guest stays. Continue Reading

Due to fire danger and stretched resources, the San Juan County is extending the current burn ban to prohibit all outdoor fires, effective immediately and until further notice.

This change is prompted by several factors. Hot and dry weather has made conditions ripe for ignition and fast fire spread, and forecasts predict more of the same. Multiple local brush fires broke out over the weekend, underscoring the danger. Large fires in progress across the state have depleted all but local firefighting resources. “Escaped outdoor fires are a leading cause of wildland fires, prevention of these situations is of paramount importance and eliminating burning achieves this goal.” Stated Fire Marshal R.J. Myers

While outdoor fires are to blame for many dangerous brush fires, there are other causes as well the situation is serious, and we really need everyone’s help limiting all ignition sources. Dispose of smoking materials properly. Secure trailer chains to prevent sparks. Practice fire-safe target shooting (where target shooting is allowed). Defer mowing until conditions improve. And be cautions with tall grass and hot exhaust.

Alchemy’s Kid Pods are perfect for children and young people who want to learn, explore, and be creative- outdoors and in person!  

Alchemy is signing up groups of 4-5 kids on a rolling basis for personalized outdoor creative programming that includes ceramics, printmaking, drawing, t-shirt decoration, games, nature exploration, and more.  

Classes take place once per week for 4 weeks, and are three hours each.  Class dates and times are coordinated with each group’s schedule, and start dates are rolling as pods form.  Pods will be hosted outdoors through November, under the canopy tent by the garden.  This program can accommodate kids ages 3-18, but please gather kids within 3 years of the same age so that projects will be stimulating for everyone.

The cost of one 4-week session is $200 per child.  Thanks to support from the San Juan Island Community Foundation and ArtsWa, Alchemy has scholarships available!  Learn more at www.alchemyartcenter.com, or email [email protected] for more information and to apply for funding.

Alchemy Art Center, founded by Maria Michaelson and Eben Shay in 2017, is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to creating a thriving arts community on San Juan Island.

For more information about Alchemy, visit our website at www.alchemyartcenter.com.

Photo by Nastyatkachenko19

I saw this article online and thought it was worthy of sharing, so the author, Jen, wrote this short introduction for the San Juan Update. We humans really need to wake up and make some changes…

The world’s oceans are being polluted by trash every minute of every day. At least 8 million metric tons of plastic alone end up in the oceans each year. That’s not to mention all the other kinds of garbage that winds up in the planet’s largest bodies of water. Dirty oceans pose a serious threat to the long-term health and survival to humanity.

Time is running out. If nothing is done, we will soon reach a point-of-no-return, but the good news is that individuals and large organizations are taking steps to resolve this pernicious problem. It’s important for people to educate themselves about the extent of the trash problem and learn direct, effective ways to work toward a solution. It will take time, money, knowledge, patience, and dedication to make the world’s vast bodies of water clean again.

Nearly 80 percent of all ocean trash comes from litter, construction projects, and inefficient waste management. What can individuals do? Don’t litter. Recycle as much of your household waste as possible. Don’t buy any product that uses single-use plastics. Donate time and funds to charitable organizations that work to reduce ocean pollution. Use water wisely and never waste it. Give your time and skills to clubs and groups that help hold politicians accountable and builds public awareness about the ocean trash problem. Together, individuals and communities can create a solution.

Read more https://cluttertrucker.com/ocean-of-trash/

San Juan Island writer, artist and translator, Ian Boyden, releases his new book, A Forest of Names, today (September, 8). Published by the prestigious Wesleyan University Press, the book is available through local bookstores and online.

The genesis of the book began in 2016, when Boyden curated the exhibition Ai Weiwei: Fault Line at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art in Friday Harbor. Those fortunate enough to see the exhibit remember a simple, emotionally charged presentation. On the walls were listed the names of the 5,196 schoolchildren killed in China’s 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.

Ian Boyden – Contributed photo

Due to faulty construction and government corruption, the names and number of the children who perished had been hidden by the Chinese government. At great personal cost, artist Ai Weiwei collected and publicized the names of the children as part of the exhibit. And from the collapsed buildings, Ai Weiwei collected twisted iron rebar. Carving replicas of the twisted metal rebar out of marble—what was hard and industrial, transformed into something fragile and luminescent. He placed these in simple wooden casket-like boxes. Many who visited the exhibition were moved to tears by the poetic portrayal of the unnecessary loss of life. Continue Reading

Skagit Valley College’s Worker Retraining program covers tuition, books, and school-related fees to help those who are Unemployed.

Skagit Valley College is pleased to announce that we are offering you new options for Fall Quarter taught by our trained, experienced online instructors. Classes start Tuesday, September 22 and registration is going on now.

Are you unemployed from Aerospace, Construction, Logging, Retail, or Hospitality, or from another industry? Did you know you can continue receiving unemployment benefits while attending SVC and sometimes receive a benefits extension because you’re attending?

Skagit Valley College’s Worker Retraining program can help you! We cover tuition, books, and school-related fees, with the support you need to prepare for new employment.

Email Lisa Barnett at [email protected] by September 21 for Fall enrollment.

Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo

San Juan County Waterfront Parcels

 If you own a waterfront parcel in the County, or hope to purchase one, I have detailed below some items to take into consideration.  Historically, waterfront parcels were the most coveted investment in the islands but due to ever changing regulations, they are now the most confusing parcels to develop.  For REALTORs they can be a challenge to sell due to our inability to give buyers concrete answers to their questions while on site.

Important Considerations:

Timing  (Continue reading…)

Small businesses are relying more than ever on your support as they creatively cope with COVID.  Here’s the first of a series of stories about their survival:

San Juan County businesses are being creative and adapting during these very tough times. Right now, our three Chambers of Commerce, the San Juan County Economic Development Council, and the San Juan Islands Visitors Bureau ask islanders to continue eating, shopping, staying and playing locally.

Why not enjoy a staycation by visiting a neighboring island within the county, or your own island, this fall? Grab a picnic or take-out meal at a restaurant and hike at a park. Try out a glamping tent, a B&B or a restaurant that has always been on your list. Shop at a different farmers’ market or farm stand, or visit another island village to shop early for Christmas. Since September is many locals’ favorite month, it’s perfect timing for island-based adventures. Please remember to wear your masks.

The Visitors Bureau, Chambers and EDC have crafted a series of stories to highlight how businesses on Lopez, Orcas and San Juan Island have coped, giving you a chance to further support our businesses to help them stay “San Juan Islands Strong.” This week’s article highlights one business that replied to a request for “COVID coping” stories, but islanders know there are many more businesses that have created magic in their own ways.

Story #1:  Fermented Love & Community Care, the Story of Ursa Minor Continue Reading

From San Juan Island Fire and Rescue…

Waterworks Gallery invites you to a socially distanced Prosecco Night Opening featuring the work of David Ridgway on Thursday, September 10, 4 – 7 pm.

Cake II, oil on canvas – Artwork by David Ridgway

Since its inception in 1985 WaterWorks Gallery has a tradition of reinvention. The 2020 show schedule broadens the concept of the ART AiSLE. Monthly, the gallery hosts a recent body of work highlighting artists from the Pacific Northwest.

This month WaterWorks Gallery is proud to present David Ridgway’s landscape and abstract oil paintings. The gallery has been representing David for over 20 years. Time really flies!

Big Yellow Barn, oil on canvas – Artwork by David Ridgway

David pares the landscape down to interlocking colored shapes and paints these shapes in bold colors. He expresses his love of form, in particular of the gable as seen in the barns, farmhouses and summer cottages of the Skagit Flats or the San Juan Islands.

And this year, for the first the gallery presents a few of his abstract paintings portraying the intersections of small spaces using color to push and pull the shapes into forward or receding motions.

More good news from the Center for Whale Research…

This video was taken during our encounter with the endangered Southern Resident killer whales on September 5, 2020. All three pods (J, K, and L) came together in the same area. This gathering is known as a Superpod. Ken Balcomb, Center for Whale Research, Founder/Senior Scientist, said it looked like a party, with lots of breaching and communication among the whales. “It was like a big picnic,” Balcomb said.