Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo

Merri Ann Simonson checks in with another Real Estate tips column…

Do you realize that you may use all or a portion of your retirement funds to invest in real estate?   Retirement accounts are basically Trust accounts for your benefit when you retire.  In the 1970s, the IRS approved real estate as an investment option you can purchase with your IRA or a 401 (K).

You may also obtain a non-recourse real estate loan that is granted to your self-directed IRA which will increase your purchasing power.  Typically, the lender will loan up to 50% loan to value on a 3, 5 or 7 year adjustable rate mortgage. Today’s rates are around 4.5%-5.5%. There are several lenders that offer this very unique product. See link below.

To finish reading this article, please visit  http://sanjuanislandslifestyle.com/blog/

June 15, 2020: San Juan County Health and Community Services staff have been notified of a new positive COVID-19 test result in San Juan County, on San Juan Island. This brings the total number of cases in San Juan County to 16.

This is the first positive case of COVID-19 in nearly six weeks and involves an employee of Roche Harbor Resort on San Juan Island. The employee is newly arrived to the island, and was tested via Roche Harbor’s testing program that tests all of their new employees prior to working.

The County Health & Community Service Department’s surveillance team is actively contact tracing this case. The close household contacts of the individual who tested positive are quarantining until they can be tested or otherwise found to be free of risk.

The patient’s employer, Roche Harbor, has been actively supporting the effort to identify all potential exposures, and to minimize any chance of further transmission. Continue Reading

Fireworks over Friday Harbor – Tim Dustrude photo

The San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce is partnering again with the Town of Friday Harbor, Kings Market and the Port of Friday Harbor to sponsor the fireworks display for the 4^th of July. We have made the determination that the 2020 Fourth of July fireworks display over the harbor adjacent to the Town of Friday Harbor can be produced and attended by the public in a safe fashion.

San Juan County is now in Phase 2 of the “Washington Phased Approach to Reopen”; relaxing some of the restrictions and orders of the state’s Governor and the San Juan County Health Officer, Dr. Frank James. However, to maintain the safest of conditions, certain rules should be adopted and followed to ensure the utmost in safety. Dr. James is aware of the plan to have a fireworks display and thinks it is an excellent idea, so long as everyone follows the simple, courteous rules to protect themselves and others.

It is important to note that the Governor’s restrictions on non-essential travel are still in place and the Chamber, Town and County are discouraging any travel to the island to observe the fireworks that are not consistent with the Phase 2 limited non-essential travel that is authorized. Continue Reading

Due to the Covid 19 pandemic we have made some changes to the annual Shaw Island Classic sailboat race. Please post this event update on your website and/or printed calendar. Thanks!

Contact:  Jim Corenman, SJIYC Race Committee.  (360) 317-6442 or [email protected]

Although the San Juan Island Yacht Club has postponed the 50^th Shaw Island Classic Sailboat Race until 2021 (let future club historians figure out why it took us 51 years to celebrate the 50^th), we invite sailors and racers to participate in the special and unique 49 ½ Un-Shaw Island Sailboat Race to be held Saturday, August 8, 2020. Continue Reading

Chef Bill, Sherri and Richard of San Juan Bistro – Contributed photo

This week begins our 8^th year and our next iteration!

We appreciate your kindness and support since opening our doors in June 2013. And we are especially grateful for your support of our “Take Out” only Lunches and Dinners this Spring.

We are excited to announce our new Take Out Dinner menu! Our Takeout Dinners include both hot (ready to eat) and cold (ready to reheat) choices.

We are not offering Lunch service at this time.

Since we are continuing Take Out only, our new online system makes ordering quick and easy for you!

Please see our website for updates, menus and ordering:
https://sanjuanbistro.com/

As always, please feel free to call us at 360-370-5115
or email us at [email protected]

“Love Your Food!”  from San Juan Bistro!

Stay well!

Richard, Sherri, and Chef Bill

We are excited to bring a virtual scavenger hunt experience for the whole family to the community this summer. Each week 5 “hunts” will be delivered to your inbox, varying in difficulty and activity type. The objective of these experiences will be to learn more about your island and to experiment with new projects and ideas.

You can participate in as many or as few of the hunts as you’d like. We will award points and kudos each week to the completed projects based on design and utilization of resources. Participation for a whole family is only $10 if you register before June 19^th, we hope you’ll join us!       

For more information or registration call 360-378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org

The courts of San Juan County are updating and improving their community service program.

In many cases, criminal defendants have the opportunity to volunteer at non-profit organizations to work off court fees or in lieu of imposed jail time. To allow this, the courts must be able to confirm an organization’s non-profit status and verify the organization’s willingness to supervise court participants’ community service hours.

Now is the perfect time to update the courts’ directory of San Juan County (all islands!) non-profit organizations that want or need court volunteers to support their programs.

With the recent pandemic crisis and potential economic fallout, having multiple opportunities to volunteer will mutually benefit local organizations and court participants. Continue Reading

On May 21, 2020 Marshall Phillip Sanborn, age 91, died peacefully at his home on San Juan Island, WA with his wife, Beth Helstien, at his side. Despite declining health due to COPD, heart disease, and cancer Marshall was active and vibrant until shortly before he died.

Born in 1928 in Longmont CO to Kent and Edna Sanborn, Marshall grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. In 1945 after graduating from Longmont High School, Marshall enlisted in the US Army and served as a medic in Germany during 1945-47. He returned home to attend Colorado State College of Education in Greely from which he graduated in 1950 with a degree in English Education. In 1951 he married Helen Houg of St Ansgar IA and moved to Gering NE where he taught high school English. The following year he worked on a turkey farm.

Marshall and Helen moved to Steamboat Springs CO in 1953 where he taught high school English, was the guidance counselor, drove a school bus, directed the school plays, and worked summers guiding horseback camping trips into the high country around Steamboat. He designed and help build the Lutheran Church there. During this time, Marshall also earned a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Northern Iowa State Teacher’s College in 1960. In 1960 Marshall, Helen, and sons Steve, Mark, and Stu moved to Iowa City IA where he studied for PhD at the University of Iowa. While a full-time graduate student, Marshall worked as a gas station mechanic and at a picture frame plant to support his family. Continue Reading

Collage isn’t just a fun activity or a way of cleverly recycling old magazines and greeting cards. Collage can be one form of art therapy that heals!

That research-based assertion inspired me to create Inner Journey Collage© (IJC) for women in 2012. Since then, IJC workshops have been held at island venues like XYZ Movement Arts, Bonnie’s Creative Passions and Into the Woods Bed and Breakfast. Some “IJCollagers” have also participated in “IJC Private Parties©” (where a hostess invites a handful of girlfriends to explore a topic of choice together in the privacy of her home.) Over the years, themes have included “Maternal Spirit,” ”Taming Your Inner Critic,” “Turning Over New Leaves,” “Igniting Your Inner Light,” “I am Enough”…

Whatever the theme and wherever the location, island women participate in the 4-part process that sets IJC apart from recreational collage or other collage methods. Its Explore, Create, Listen and Share process encourages deep diving into topics that explore participants’ inner and outer worlds in the safe, supportive company of other women on the self-discovery journey. Continue Reading

Troop Meetings are open for all young Men & Women ages 10.5 – 17
Thursdays 6:30-8 at Camp Bogardus

Cub Pack Meetings are open for all young Boys & Girls ages 6 – 10.5
Wednesdays 5:30-6:30 at Camp Bogardus

Sea Scout Meetings, will restart soon for all Men & Women ages 14-20

Please contact Scoutmaster / Unit Commissioner at: [email protected] for more information.

Our virtual Wiggle, Wiggle, and Stretch class was designed in collaboration with Katerina Wen, M.Ed to bring a smart, fun and somatic experience for young children over Zoom on a weekly basis.

Parents are encouraged to join us for this class that will guide children through songs, verses, and movements that will stimulate them physically and cognitively. The class will have a season and nature theme and will be a great way for your 4-7 year old to get their wiggles out and burn some of that energy they’ve been building up.

Sign up before June 17^th for $22, with the fee increasing to $27 thereafter.

For more information or registration call 360-378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org.

Dear Friends,

As you may know, the Library is beginning the reopening process by accepting returns of library materials starting on Tuesday, June 16th. With nearly 10,000 items checked out, the first step in this plan is to maintain a safe returns environment by limiting the volume of returns. We simply cannot process all the books and movies at once, and as they aren’t due back until August 1st, there is no rush.

We are asking your help in making this initial return period safer by returning your items according to the following schedule.

Your Last Name Begins With the Letters: Return Date

• A – D: Tuesday, June 16th 11 am – 2 pm
• E – J: Thursday , June 18th 11 am – 2 pm
• K – R: Friday, June 19th 11 am – 2 pm
• S – Z: Saturday, June 20th 11 am – 2 pm

On your designated day, please bring your books, Interlibrary Loans, DVDs and other items into the Meeting Room using the outside ramp on the east side of the Library. You will be directed where in the room to place your materials, and then you will exit through the Meeting Room’s other exterior door. This method creates a single flow through the room and will allow for socially distanced and contactless returns.

Face masks are required! Continue Reading

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash., June 11, 2020– PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center has adjusted its visitor policy to allow for limited visitor access until COVID-19 is no longer a public health threat.

Patients who are not COVID-19 suspect or positive are allowed one designated visitor during their stay. Two visitors are allowed on a case-by-case basis for:

• Minor patients (parents or legal guardians only)
• Patients at the end-of-life

Other exceptions may be made at the discretion of the PeaceHealth Peace Island clinical care team. Continue Reading

Join former college coach and CEO & Founder of Triple Impact Coaching Arvin Mosley Jr. for a 5-week program to keep basketball on the mind! Run virtually, this program is designed to introduce basketball skills to children in Kindergarten-4th grade with a weekly emphasis on basketball skills and social emotional development.

This program is ideal for beginners or recreational players that are looking to learn the game better. Training take place in a weekly 30-minute Zoom call. Sign up before June 15^th for $52, with the price increasing to $57 after that.

For more information or registration call 360-378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org

Your Conservation Land Bank turns 30 this year and is celebrating with a multi-island exploration. Every preserve has a story – gather your family and get outside this summer to discover what your public lands have to say!

The San Juan County Land Bank teamed up with the Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Island libraries to create fun and engaging activities for island families to enjoy this summer. Learn the stories of your public lands while imagining some of your own!

This adventure is free and anyone can participate. Contact your island’s library for more information regarding their summer reading program and registration dates.

• Lopez Island: lopezlibrary.org, 360-468-2265
• Orcas Island: orcaslibrary.org, 360-376-4985
• San Juan Island: sjlib.org 360-378-2798

Please remember to follow the county’s guidelines for safe outdoor recreation, including social distancing (minimum 6 feet distance from others), wearing face coverings when 6 feet cannot be maintained, and staying home if you feel sick. For up to date information, visit the county’s COVID-19 resources webpage: sjccovid.com.

All packets will be available to download at sjclandbank.org on National Get Outdoors Day, June 13. If you have questions, contact Tanja Williamson at the Land Bank: 360-378-4402 or email [email protected].

FREEZER BURNED: Tales of Interior Alaska is a new regular column on the San Juan Update written by Steve Ulvi…

Nearly every molecule of water that now covers 70% of our planet was spewed in awesome volcanic eruptions or carried frozen in asteroids or comets that pummeled a lifeless earth for eons.  

Any given water molecule has surely been recycled through untold evaporation/precipitation cycles since an early atmosphere formed around 4,200,000,000 years ago. Suffice it to say; our water is very old.

Being a vital substance for life, any part of any drop of water you drink today could have coursed through the steamy bio-digester gut of a Woolly Mammoth or maybe been pumped to the top of a 300-foot redwood tree or perhaps sipped by a Neanderthal child in Spain. Use your imagination. So, there is more than a hint of truth in the old saying that cheap beer tastes like it “has been through a horse”.

Water in northern climes is a relentless shape-shifter; ice, vapor and liquid. A continental subarctic climatic zone is a swath of forest geography utterly dominated by winter. A dry, persistent winter that arrives with an attitude after just a few weeks of autumnal glory. Winter has been a predictable and stern master of all that lives in the geography of the enormous Yukon River drainage. If the climatic story of a year were in 12 chapters, like our calendar time, then below freezing temperatures occur in over 8 months with the other three seasons cram into 4 months. At higher elevations we can say that summer is just a sweet lie. Continue Reading