League of Women Voters Lead the March – Bill Waxman photo

The League of Women Voters of the San Juans and Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor joined together for a short Covid-compliant march to mark 100 years since the certification of the 19th amendment to the Constitution of the United States giving women the right to vote.

Cathy Touchluck, Barbara Sharp and Necia Quast – Bill Waxman photo

Meeting at Linde Park, also known as the ball fields at 1:00 pm today, August 26, they marched down the drive toward Carter.

Lining up 6 feet apart, in rows of 3 across, the LWV and Soroptimist banners lead the march. Dressed in suffragette white and wearing masks marchers honored the day with messages and signs about voting rights, women’s rights, free and fair elections, and participation in democracy.

Friday Harbor Film Festival’s Summer 2020 Virtual Cinema will provide access to the Sundance Film Festival’s Short Film Tour throughout September. This 80-minute theatrical program of 6 short films selected from this year’s Sundance Film Festival is available for $10 at www.fhff.org. 

Once you order your ticket, you will receive an email from Vimeo with a link to stream the films on a computer, TV, or mobile device for a one-week period beginning when you first start watching the films.

Widely considered the premier American showcase for short films and the launchpad for many now-prominent independent filmmakers for more than 30 years, the Short Film Tour includes fiction, documentary, and animation from around the world, giving new audiences a taste of what the Festival offers. Continue Reading

From The Whale Museum…

After over 5 months of being closed, we got word that the Governor is allowing museums to open in Phase 2 (8-2020)! The Exhibit Hall and Gift Shop are open daily 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. 

We are diligently following every rule put in place by the Health Department and Washington State in order to keep our staff, our customers, and this community healthy and safe. 

Please be self-aware of any COVID-19 symptoms and delay your visit until you are healthy.

Some things that will be different:
• Our Exhibit Hall & Gallery are no-touch with some areas closed. All interactive exhibits are temporarily closed.
• A cloth face covering must be worn at all times during your visit, includes everyone over the age of 2.
• Social Distancing, must keep 6 feet of distance from all staff and other visitors.
• Limited Exhibit Hall Gift Shop capacity – Limited to 40 customers only.
• Restrooms will be unavailable to guests.
• Hand sanitizer will be available and we ask that you use it or provide your own.
• Additional Updated Protocols, staff will gladly explain during your visit.
Please check back with us for updates.

Our online site (www.whalemuseum.org) for orca adoptions & shopping are also open. We appreciate your patience and understanding and look forward to seeing you at The Whale Museum soon.

San Juan Island Fire & Rescue (SJIF&R) announced receiving notification by the Washington State Rating Bureau (WSRB) of a significant change to their evaluation of San Juan Island’s property underwriting and rating information for the insurance industry following its re-rating review that occurs approximately every 5 years.

WSRB issued the updated rating: The WSRB rating for San Juan Island (outside of the Town of Friday Harbor) has been reduced from a Fire Protection Classification 7 to a Fire Protection Classification 6. The WSRB rating for the Town of Friday Harbor remains at a Fire Protection Classification of 6.

As a private, for profit company, WSRB does not directly set insurance rates but provides this data to Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) and private insurance companies. Theoretically, the lower the score, the more insurance providers would be willing to provide you coverage and at a lower premium than a higher score. WSRB recommend residents of San Juan Island contact their insurance agents to determine the relative effect this new community protection classification will have on their insurance premiums. Continue Reading

There is still time to see these three featured shows at Waterworks Gallery before they close at the end of August. Waterworks Gallery is open now Tuesday thru Saturday from 11 to 4. Appointments are available to view the shows in person with social distancing and masks. 

The Nature of Dreams: Michael Dickter and Robin & John Gumaelius – closes August 29

Reluctant Rider, Ceramic & metal – Robin and John Gumaelius

Jewelry Show: – closes August 29

Earrings, Sterling, 22k gold, found rubber – Micki Lippe

Art Aisle: Kalindi Kunis – closes August 29

Sanctuary for the Purple Giants, Acrylic on panel – Kalindi Kunis

Curbside pick-up and home delivery are available. Take something home on approval! Most days, Jennifer is working on projects in the gallery. 

Waterworks Gallery – 315 Argyle Ave. 360.378.3060

County Auditor F. Milene Henley on the County’s economic condition through the 2^nd quarter of 2020…

I like horror films. I enjoy them, knowing that they’re not real.  Monsters can’t really hurt you, and zombies don’t really exist.

Right now, I feel like I’m living in a real-life horror film, one about a global pandemic with no end in sight.  But I’m not enjoying this one, because it’s all too real.

Part of the thrill of horror films is the suspense – not knowing what is going to happen, or when. That is certainly true of the story we’re living now.  For example, the County projected a rapid fall into a recession, as businesses were forced to shut down and employees were unable to work.  With recession would come a fall in government revenues, as the economic activities that produce government revenue fell. 

Yet to date, the fall has not been so deep or so broad as we expected.  Sales tax revenue dropped, as expected, driven largely by the prohibition on nonessential travel into the county.  Projections of year-end sales tax revenue have been dropping monthly, the current projection being that the County will achieve 87% of budgeted overall sales tax revenue and only 50% of budgeted lodging tax revenue.  Will that turn around in the third quarter, since accommodations began to be permitted, at 50% of occupancy, in mid-June?  Or will the cumulative effects of ongoing business closures and unemployment offset the gains in tourism and continue the downward trend?  Ah, the suspense. Continue Reading

From Evan Perrollaz for SJC Long-Term Care Coordination Network…

The San Juan County LTC Care Coordination Network (Network) is pleased to announce a $750,000 three-year grant from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for the purpose of implementing a suite of solutions for long-term care in San Juan County. 

This grant is intended to put in place a care coordination model for seniors that will meet the immediate and future needs of the high-risk elderly in our rural island communities. 

When the only nursing home in San Juan County closed in 2017, a task force met over eight months in 2018 to discuss and develop next steps. The Inter Island Healthcare Foundation (IIHF), then raised $50,000 for a feasibility study as the first step to apply for federal grant monies and fund a survey of resident long-term care needs.  Continue Reading

Tired of virtually living? After-school sailing club gets students out in the sun and wind…

BYC Youth Regatta 2018 – Contributed photo

Most after-school athletic programs and clubs have been cancelled, due to the challenges of social distancing. But distancing happens naturally when sailing, and just-for-fun sailing is a great lifetime endeavor that can open all sorts of doors — careers, friendships, travel opportunities.

The Sailing Club at Jackson Beach is open for student athletes whose sports have been cancelled due to COVID-19; kids who love wind, water, and sun, or have a need for speed; students who want to launch a boat and head off towards Dinner Island.

Fall Sailing Club kicks off with a free open house on Saturday, August 29th, from 1 to 4 pm, at the far end of Jackson Beach. Students and parents are invited to come sail the Sailing Foundation’s Lasers (single-handed) and FJs (double-handed, for family pairings). Bring your PFD if you have one, and dress to get wet! Masks and social distancing will be required on land. No masks are to be worn when sailing.

Sailing Club will meet twice a week, after school, on days to be determined. Local middle- and high-school students are invited to join the club, hosted by the SJI Sailing Foundation. Some dinghy sailing experience is necessary, such as having taken the intermediate or advanced sailing classes through Island Rec. Continue Reading

Many thanks to Liz Smith for this magical photo of Friday Harbor…

Rainbow Reflection Friday Harbor – Liz Smith photo

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow has been selected as a finalist for the Washington State Book Awards in the Fiction category. Blackbird was written by San Juan Island author Libbie Grant, who writes under the pen name Olivia Hawker. The Washington State Book Awards, now in their 54^th year, honor works of outstanding literary merit by Washington authors.

“The Washington State Book Award is among the most highly regarded of the various state and regional awards,” Grant said, “and they receive hundreds of entrants every year, so to have my novel chosen as a finalist is very exciting.”

One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow is historical fiction, set on the Wyoming frontier during the late 19^th century, and is based on true accounts of the author’s ancestors. Islanders can order the book through their local bookstore in hardback or paperback. It is also available as an audiobook or ebook.

The winners of the Washington State Book Awards will be chosen and announced on September 25

Once per month, join Executive Artistic Director Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey via Zoom for a FREE curated tour of selected play and cocktail pairings.

Dramatic Mythology with Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey – Contributed photo

Local election information can be found on the San Juan County Elections webpage…

First-time voter – Louise Dustrude photo

Washington State votes by mail. Your ballot is mailed to you at least 18 days before each election. For the November 3, 2020 General Election, military and overseas ballots will be mailed on September 18. Domestic ballots will be mailed October 13.  

San Juan County Elections Office
55 Second Street., Suite A
Friday Harbor, WA
360-378-8856

Drop Box Location
350 Court Street
Friday Harbor

San Juan Islands – Contributed photo

The Joint Transportation Committee of the Washington State Legislature is conducting a study exploring privatization of the Sidney ferry run. The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) and their partners would like to hear opinions from regional users of the Sidney ferry and stakeholders. Please take a few minutes to answer our survey: Link to: Survey on Sidney Ferry Privatization

The Washington State Legislature has directed the Joint Transportation Committee to analyze the feasibility of privatizing ferry service to Canada, which currently connects Sidney, BC and Anacortes, WA, with a stop in Friday Harbor, WA.

Currently nearly 20% of the run includes freight and passenger vehicle transportation to San Juan Island; however, the Federal Jones Act and international SOLAS requirements make it very difficult, if not impossible, for any current private operators to include a stop in Friday Harbor. Continue Reading