September 1, 2020 — San Juan County has created a Small Business Relief Grant program that will launch on September 1, 2020, to assist for-profit businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.  Funding for this program comes from CARES Act money received by the County.  Awards will range up to $5,000 for eligible San Juan County businesses to help them to remain open, retain jobs, and comply with COVID-19 prevention public health and safety measures.  The application process will be administered by the San Juan County EDC and an independent panel will make final award determinations.

According to Rick Hughes, Chair, San Juan County Council District #2, “San Juan County feels fortunate that funding from the CARES Act is available to help support island small businesses that have been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. While this will not solve every problem, we welcome and support every opportunity to help island businesses, their owners, and their staff during this difficult time.” Continue Reading

From Orcas Fire and Rescue…

Aerial view of Point Lawrence fire – Contributed photo

Orcas Island Fire and Rescue personnel responded to multiple reports of smoke in the 4000-block of Point Lawrence Road on the afternoon of August 24. Crews quickly triangulated a slow-moving wildland fire with aerial support provided by local pilot Pat Muffett.

San Juan and Lopez Fire arriving – Contributed photo

After completing a size-up the fire was determined to be approximately one acre in size and was consuming ground cover, brush, root beds, and trees with no structural exposure. It was a slow-moving fire and crews quickly got to work to isolate flames from surrounding brush and prevent the fire from spreading further to neighboring properties and homes.

Due to varied terrain and limited resources, Incident Commander Chief Scott Williams requested mutual aid from San Juan Island Fire, Lopez Island Fire, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Within the hour DNR Helicopter 343 was in the air transporting water from local sources to the scene. San Juan Island Fire quickly mobilized San Juan Fireboat One with a crew of firefighters and made a stop at Lopez Island for additional firefighters before arriving at Lieber Haven Marina to offload for the assist. A DNR Engine and crew also arrived by ferry for second-day operations.

Wildfire – Contributed photo

Between arriving engines, a shuttling water tender, and the helicopter, over 13,000 gallons of water was used in extinguishing the fire over a two-day period. Fire personnel continued to patrol the fire grounds throughout the week to check for hot spots and extinguish any flare ups. There were no reported injuries.  

A special thank you to all mutual aid resources, including Doe Bay Café who provided nourishment to firefighting crews over the two-day period.

OLYMPIA–On Sept.1, eligible organizations may begin applying for grants to conserve community forests, the Recreation and Conservation Office announced today.

The new state Community Forests Program will offer grants of up to $3 million. But organizations need to hurry. Applications are due Oct. 1.

The grants must be used to buy at least 5 acres of forestland and the land must be maintained as forestland forever. The land also must be actively managed to include timber harvest and other income-generating activities. Grants, when combined with land purchases, also may be used to restore the land or provide recreation opportunities, such as trails.

“Washington is fortunate to have so many productive forests,” said Kaleen Cottingham, director of the Recreation and Conservation Office, which is administering the grant program. “They provide us with a variety of benefits, such as lumber for our homes and businesses, habitat for our wildlife and cleaner air and water. Unfortunately, we are losing many forests as our urban areas expand. Since the late 1970s, more than 700,000 acres of forestland in Washington were converted to suburban development, rights-of-ways and agriculture. This grant program aims to conserve these forestlands for future generations.”

The grants are open to local and state government agencies, Native American tribes and nonprofit organizations. More information about the Community Forests Program is available online.

A view toward Friday Harbor from Mount Grant – Tim Dustrude photo

We hear from Tanja at the Land Bank…

Make some room in your freezer – deer hunting is open for early and general seasons only at Lopez Hill and Mount Grant Preserves. Specific dates are as follows:

Archery: September 1 -25
Muzzle loader: September 26 – October 4
Modern Firearm: October 17 – November 1

Be sure to review and follow all Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife hunting regulations and note that San Juan County is a Firearm Restriction Area. Written permission is required to hunt at both locations, and will be provided by Land Bank staff. For Lopez Hill Preserve, please contact Amanda Wedow, Lopez Island Preserve Steward at [email protected]. For Mount Grant Preserve, please contact Doug McCutchen, SJI Preserve Steward at [email protected] or Tanja Williamson, Outreach/Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected].

Zoom Yoga with Katerina Wen – Peggy Sue McRae photo

One of the first things on anybody’s list of how to live a good life pandemic or not is to get some physical exercise. For me this can be a challenge in the best of times. Being quarantined by myself has made finding the motivation to get moving nearly impossible, nearly, but not entirely. I knew something had to be done and I knew I would have more success if I joined a class, even a zoom class, where I would meet with other people at a set time. I’ve always loved yoga as a way tune in to my body, mind, and spirit. These days, I could use a tune up in all three facets of my life.

The Mullis Center has partnered with Katerina Wen to offer a Chair Yoga class. This class is offered via zoom on Tuesdays from 1:00 – 1:45pm. I took my first complimentary class on Tuesday. Described by Katerina this, “is a special class designed to enhance the overall quality of your life. It is deeply gratifying to be able to move and breathe better again.” The movements are adaptable to individual needs, simple, and, “combined with breathing techniques which support the health of our heart and respiratory system”.  I enjoyed the class and signed up for more. Available by computer on zoom the class can also be joined by cell phone or landline. For more information, contact Anna Coffelt at the Mullis Center. 

I initially learned yoga from my long time friend Jeannie Turner. I spoke to her about re-establishing my long neglected yoga practice. She spoke about yoga in terms of relationship, the relationship between teacher and student as well as enriching our relationship with ourselves and how important this is especially during these Covid times when so many of us are experiencing isolation. Jeannie teaches a therapeutic class now via zoom offering adaptations specific to individual student needs. She also teaches yoga for all levels. Yoga, she says, “brings stability and ease into your life”. Stability and ease? I’ll sign up for that!

Contact Anna at the Mullis Center: [email protected] / 360.370.7520
Link to: Friday Harbor Holistic Health
Link to: The Yoga Path

Deon Venter – David Barrowman photo

Missing / Highway of Tears – The highway refers to a short stretch of Highway 16 between Prince Rupert and Prince George, where 18 girls, almost all Aboriginal, were murdered. On the piece of highway from Vancouver to Edmonton RCMP records show that over 200 people have disappeared on this route.

The Highway of Tears is an installation of individual portraits alternating with flower paintings, and was inspired by two poems of the Pulitzer Prize winning American poet Mary Oliver, entitled “Goldenrod” and “Peonies”. These nature poems form a potent metaphor for the young lives lost.

As tragic as the deaths of these women are, united in their circumstances, their legacy is a powerful and collective voice and this is the intended empowerment Venter brings to the paintings in the Missing Series. Venter states, “I hope my paintings achieve some type of memorial, awareness and resolution in converting the subject into life affirming art.” (September 3 – December 7)

Samuel Stubblefield – Contributed photo

Space, Muses, Etc. – Curious pieces from Stubblefield’s workshop, Space, Muses, Etc. is a focus on methods, materials, and processes within the studio. The intention is to broaden the viewer’s definition of art and encourage self-provocation and active pursuit of the personal curiosity inside us all.

The exhibition pulls from recent work on display at the European Cultural Centre in Venice, Italy, during the 2019 Biennale, The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Art Basel Miami, and in-progress work from the artists Seattle and Hong Kong studios. Continue Reading

Do you find Medicare a mystery? Are you unsure which Medicare plan is best for you? Join SHIBA online for a virtual Medicare 101 class where we will cover the “A, B, C, Ds” of Medicare. Our certified SHIBA volunteers will be available to answer all of your questions!

Wednesday, September 16, 2020 @ 1PM PST

To register, please provide your name, email and phone number to [email protected] or leave this information with SHIBA at 360-299-4212.

You may also register directly at: Register for zoom webinar.

SHIBA (Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors) is a program of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner and is sponsored locally by Island Hospital. SHIBA provides free, unbiased information on Medicare and related options to all people.

You can read more about SHIBA here: About SHIBA services.

Islands as Sanctuary, a collection of contemporary oil paintings by Teresa Smith will be featured at Waterworks Gallery from September 1 – September 15 2020 with a socially distant opening on Friday, September 4th from 4 – 7 pm. The works may also be seen by appointment by calling 303.246.3208.

“Island as Sanctuary” represents solitary time in the woods, on the beaches and in the studio. All the while, expressing an admiration & love of this island. Teresa paints cathedral trees and wild places. A woodland temple and shelter from the storm. Each piece is a mosaic of light, weaving and interlacing patterns and color. Lyrical, expressive brushstrokes and bold luminous color.

Continue Reading

A Letter from the SJIMA Board President…

We miss you – but get to welcome you very soon!

Since closing our doors in March, we have been preparing for this moment.  SJIMA has collaborated with our County health authorities, the Washington State Arts Commission and governor’s office on a proposal that has allowed museums to reopen in a Phase Two scenario. We are ready! (See our COVID plan at www.sjima.org)

While closed, SJIMA volunteers have been busy planning new exhibitions for 2021 and discovering innovative ways to deliver them. Recently, the live online gallery tour with June Sekiguchi and Holly Ballard Martz brought the artists into about 80 homes.  New on September 3 is an installation by Samuel Stubblefield that will challenge us to look at art in completely new ways and have us asking, “How did he do that?” Continue Reading

August 26, 2020 – The Washington State Department of Commerce is offering a second Working Washington Small Business Emergency Grant (WWSBEG) program to assist small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Businesses which qualify for the grant program and are located within San Juan County can go to the San Juan County Economic Development Council webpage  for program details and application portal. 

The San Juan County EDC will prioritize applications based on the severity of the impact the business is facing due to COVID-19, including being forced to close by the government-mandated closures, social distancing measures, or illness.  Awards will be approved on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on the availability of funds, which are extremely limited. The objective for the grant is to support businesses through the crisis.  The deadline for applications is September 10, 2020, at 5pm. As the funds are from a federal source, application requirements are stringent; please see San Juan County Economic Development Council webpage for details. Continue Reading

Brent Lyles – Contributed photo

Friends of the San Juans (Friends) is pleased to welcome R. Brent Lyles as incoming Executive Director. He will begin his tenure on September 16 and will lead the 40-year-old organization in its longstanding mission — to protect and restore the San Juan Islands and the Salish Sea for people and nature.

Brent comes to Friends with over 20 years of experience leading environmental protection and education efforts, most recently consulting with nonprofit organizations in Austin, Texas. Prior to consulting, he successfully led two Texas river conservation organizations, the Colorado River Alliance and Austin Youth River Watch. Both were instrumental in improving water quality, riverbank restoration, and land use practices to benefit the watersheds. He has also served on the boards of Leadership Austin, EarthShare of Texas, and the American Genre Film Archive.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Brent grew up in the Midwest and attended the University of Michigan. He earned graduate degrees from Yale University and the University of Pittsburgh in physical anthropology and nonprofit management, respectively, and has trained extensively in inclusive and ethical leadership. When not at work, Brent can be found hiking with his family, playing nerdy board games, or strumming a guitar. Continue Reading

Family Art Days at SJIMA celebrate community and creativity…

Family Art Days – Contributed photo

With the San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) scheduled to reopen, Family Art Days (FAD) will again offer onsite Saturday sessions in the orchard adjacent to the museum at 540 Spring Street.

Starting on September 5th, families will have the opportunity to join in the fun of the open air “studio.”  In–person instruction will be provided by Lana Hickman and Alice Hibberd. All necessary safety precautions will be in place (See FAD COVID under “Learn” at www.sjima.org)

During August, families pre-registered to pick up packets for each week’s at-home FAD. For those who prefer to work on art projects at home, the offerings will continue on Saturdays through September.

On Saturday, August 29th, art packs for “Faces of my Family” will be available for pick-up at the museum from 1:00-3:00pm for those who have registered. During September supplies will be available each Saturday at these time for the projects listed below.

Supplies are limited, so register prior to Wednesday evening at Family Art Days

Families may register for one of two outdoor sessions on each September Saturday at the following times:

DATES                         1:00-2:45pm                  3:15 – 5:00pm
September 5      –         Masks for FUN!
September 12    –         Fairs & Farmers’ Markets
September 19    –         Let’s Make Music
September 26    –         The Land We Live On

COVID-19 updates from San Juan County around subjects on the minds of islanders…

In many cultures, including our own, there is a common superstition that says “if you acknowledge good luck, your good luck will end”. We’ll call this the knock-on-wood principle.

Well, please knock on wood, because in this long and detailed article we’ll be sharing some positive news, but also highlighting the way things could turn negative in a hurry- not because we jinxed ourselves, but because we became complacent.

For those who don’t want to read to the end, here are the takeaways:

-Both San Juan County and WA are coming down from an increase in cases.
-After our April spike, cases declined. Cases increased in July, this was a second spike.
-By remaining vigilant and committed, we can avoid a third surge.

As you might have noticed, the case count in San Juan County has been relatively quiet of late. As shown in the chart below (courtesy of WA Dept. of Health and available online here), the islands saw an increase in cases in April, a decline in May and into June and then another round of cases in late June and into July. August has been quiet so far (remember, knock on wood).

CONFIRMED CASES SAN JUAN COUNTY (Data as of Aug 23rd)

Despite the surge in summer traffic to and from the islands by visitors and locals alike, we’re in a relatively good place heading into the fall. Let’s explore a bit more about why this might be, and how we keep this trend going. Continue Reading

It’s time to register for fall dance classes! Salish Sea Ballet is offering small group in-person classes as well as virtual classes on Zoom. Our studio is spacious, well-ventilated, and follows COVID-19 protocols for safety and sanitization. We are excited to offer classes for dancers ages 3 and up. Check out our class schedule online, Link to: Salish Sea Ballet Class Schedule.

If you don’t see the class that fits your schedule, let us know. We also offer custom private classes. If you have a pod of 5 or fewer, we can create a class just for you. We offer different styles of dance as well as supervised homework or creative time for children. Our studio is equipped with Wifi!

The registration deadline for fall classes is September 7. Classes are filling quickly, so don’t delay! Register today on our website or call/text (360) 298-1720. Continue Reading