On May 31st we received our first Harbor Seal pup of the season. This is 3-4 weeks earlier than we usually start caring for seals, but this pup came from Ocean Shores on the outer coast of the Olympic Peninsula, where pupping season is earlier than it is around the San Juans.

She was seen alone on the shore and in the water nearby for several days, and over the busy holiday weekend, was being constantly harassed by people trying to take photos or get her back into the water. A Washington Department of Wildlife biologist rescued the pup and took her to a vet clinic for initial care.

When she arrived at Wolf Hollow, we discovered that she was emaciated (only weighed 14 pounds), dehydrated, had wounds on her flippers and had an umbilical infection, but she was active and had a very loud voice. Continue Reading

Scott Sluis, Vice President and Senior Loan Officer at Islanders Bank and Board President of the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce brings you this latest edition of Chamber Chat:

“It’s Time to be Friendly and Nice”

Hello Chamber Members and fellow islanders, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to connect in person and I thought as we move in to phase 2 of the pandemic plan I would like to take a minute to write a few words and thoughts during these unprecedented times.

What I know to be true is that as an island we are very reliant on tourism, whether you like that or not, and it has created a very large hole in our economy and in our small businesses revenues.  I also know that islanders are full of emotions and feelings; they are mad, scared, fed up, I get it, me too but I ask you to put those in check please.  

I also know that as humans in a free country (I’m hearing that line a lot lately) we have a choice to go out with a mask on or stay home – so choose what is best for YOU not for others.  Masks help us as a county get approval to move forward to normalcy and it is a very simple rule to follow – heck I don’t want to wear them either but guess what? I do, why? Because it really isn’t that hard of a thing to do and if you think you are being stripped of your ”rights”, remember we had this fight around seat belts, and what about the person who doesn’t want to wear clothes?  Well it’s his or her “right” not to, but come on now.  Okay enough of that topic. Continue Reading

Merri Ann Simonson is back with another San Juan Island information source video. This one provides you with a quick real estate market update.

Shop Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Ordering & Curbside Pickup Still Available 

Laura Norris and Griffin Bay Bookstore staff are excited to welcome the community back to the bookstore. Thanks to an outpouring of support, continual messages of encouragement, and steady customer orders, thanks to our community’s spirit of goodwill and recognition of the importance of supporting local businesses, Griffin Bay Bookstore is open again. We thank all of you for your loyalty. We couldn’t have weathered the last few months without you.

The bookstore will now be open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. However, customers may also continue to place orders, may arrange for curbside pick-up and/or deliveries.

When you return to shop in the bookstore, you’ll find it fully-stocked, but different. We’ve made a number of changes in the store’s layout and have closed the café. Continue Reading

The County Council is searching for San Juan County citizens to fill current and upcoming vacancies on various boards and commissions.

Additional information about each committee is available on the County’s website at: http://sanjuanco.com/641/Board-Committee-Vacancies.

Persons interested in serving on a board or advisory committee should fill out an Advisory Committee Application or Contact the Council Office at: (360) 378-2898 [email protected]

SJI Historical Museum is back with their History Column for June…

Typical circa 1918 disease prevention poster

Although it’s now been a little over 100 years since the outbreak of the Spanish Flu, many of us grew up hearing a grandparent’s stories of family experiences with the double punch of world war and an influenza pandemic known as the Spanish Flu. San Juan Island was no exception. 

First, there are some things to know about the Influenza of 1918. 

It did not originate in Spain. It’s just that Spain, as a neutral country in World War I, had no reason to suppress news of its spread while other countries did, so as to avoid showing any weakness to their war opponents. This created an impression that the flu had originated there. 

It lasted longer than 1918. Its run was almost two years, ending in 1920. The pandemic caused by this particular influenza hit Washington state hard in the fall of 1918. With so many servicemen from around the country housed in military camps, or returning from the war, this deadly strain of influenza spread quickly and could develop into bacterial pneumonia, the more serious threat to life. This global pandemic would kill an estimated 50 million people around the world, and about 675,000 in the U.S., including about 6,500 residents of Washington state. This was no garden variety flu bug.

It didn’t entirely go away. Since 1918, nearly all cases of Type A influenza have had roots in the more deadly Spanish Flu. 

Friday Harbor’s first pandemic picture: Continue Reading

Response to the discussion about the Land Bank and Affordable Housing REETs.

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Editor,

I am writing as Board President of the San Juan Community Home Trust, a non-profit organization on San Juan Island. Our mission is to build and sell permanently affordable housing for ownership, to low and moderate income-qualified islanders. We are a Community Land Trust and join with OPAL on Orcas Island, and the Lopez Community Land Trust in developing housing that makes it possible for our island workforce and retired people to remain in the islands they call “home”.

By legislation, the 0.5% REET for Affordable Housing is tied to the existence of the 1% REET for the Land Bank. If that REET goes away, then the County monies for affordable housing approved by islanders in 2018 may also go away. Though efforts will be made in Olympia to separate the two concepts, as of now, the two REETs are linked.

To Mr Whalen’s point that both the Land Bank and developers of affordable housing have multiple sources of funding, I want to make my own point. We are entirely dependent on government funding, funding from private foundations, and from donors. When we apply for either government money or money from foundations, we are uniformly asked about the extent of community support for the work that we do. The REET is the first concrete evidence that we enjoy widespread community support. This helps us raise money from these other sources. Continue Reading

3 hikers enjoy the Fraser Homestead Preserve portion of the American Camp Trail

The following is shared from the Old Military Road Trail Committee…

Hello Fellow Islanders and Hikers,

It seems that for many of us, ‘hunkering down’ on San Juan Island has involved enjoying our multitude of trails and even choosing some new trails to explore. If you’ve not yet experienced the American Camp Trail, springtime is a wonderful time to see it.

We ventured onto and were awed by the first mile of The American Camp Trail, beginning at the southern end, off Cattle Point Road near the school bus crossing sign. (Note that when the new American Camp Interpretative Center is complete there will be formal parking in their new lots and another historic ¼ mile of the trail to enjoy.)

If you haven’t been on this first mile of trail, or even are a constant traveler, you’re in for a spring treat. As you step down the daisy covered stairs you will be walking into history and onto the southern part of the Old Military Road. Continue Reading

We’re Online with You!

Just in time for Summer Quarter registration, Skagit Valley College is pleased to announce UChat, a new instant chat feature designed to easily connect students and prospective students with our teams in Enrollment Services, Admissions, TRIO Student Services, Athletics, Counseling and Advising, and Student Equity and Inclusion.

Accessing UChat is simple: to begin a session during chat hours, visit www.skagit.edu and hover over “Chat With SVC Student Services” on the left. Submit a general question to Student Services or reach a specific office by clicking “Chat With Me!”

Summer Quarter classes start Monday, July 6 and will be offered online and/or in a controlled lab environment. Trending programs include High School completion, Spanish GED and computer classes, and university transfer courses. If you need help paying for college, financial aid, scholarships, and emergency funds are available. For those who may be new to online learning, SVC is offering a FREE College Success Skills for Online Learning class.

For more information, resources, and to get started, visit www.skagit.edu/summer-2020/

Response by Ron Whalen/Sponsor of San Juan County Initiative 2020-10

I request the following be posted to San Juan Update as a response to the letter posted by Alice Hurd on June 1st.

Not true…..Neither the initiative or the petition says anything about ending or eliminating the Land Bank (LB) and affordable housing. THE PROPOSED INITIATIVE WOULD NOT ENDTHE LAND BANK. That’s altogether connected to the fact the LB and Affordable Housing have multiple sources of funding. The proposed initiative speaks only to the Real Estate Excise Tax portion of funding. The initiative states Reduce Duration of Conservation Area Real Estate Excise Tax (REET). The LB receives millions of dollars in grants and donations aside from REET. As recently as 10 days ago the LB director announced a 5 million gift for property acquisition. That gift is separate from the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) and represents a fraction of millions the LB has available. The affordable housing program also has other sources of funding aside from the Real Estate Excise Tax (REET). The following is taken from correspondence with the San Juan County Coordinator for Affordable Housing (Ryan Page);

5/26/2020 9:29 AM, Ryan Page wrote:

Continue Reading

In the SJ Update Mailbag today we have this letter from Alice Hurd, Former Trustee of the San Juan Preservation Trust…

I am writing to share my concern about an initiative petition being circulated in San Juan County for the purpose of putting a measure on the November ballot to close down the San Juan County Land Bank at the end of 2020.

This is 6 years before it is due to expire if not renewed for another 12 years by the voters. I hope that people receiving a request to sign this petition will think hard about it and consider these three things:

1. The wording on the petition is deceptive! It looks at first to be a chance for you to vote against the petition (a “yes” and a “no” box to check) but it is not. In fact every signature submitted, whether you check the “yes” or “no” box or neither, will be counted among the 1600 + signatures required to bring the initiative to a countywide vote in November.
2. Passage of this measure will eliminate both the Land Bank and the Affordable Housing REET! The Land Bank is funded by a 1% real estate excise tax (REET) that is paid by a buyer of real estate at the time of the purchase. The same legislation that allows this program also allows additional REETs to be levied for the benefit of affordable housing programs. Both need to be approved by the voters to begin with, then renewed by the voters every 12 years. By “retiring the REET” voters would be closing both the Land Bank and the recently approved REET to benefit affordable housing.
3. Consider what we have from the Land Bank! The work of the Land Bank is guided by seven volunteer citizen commissioners from various islands (meetings are monthly and open to the public). The staff maintains the properties owned, manages the conservation easements, directs volunteer “work parties” and provides events and outings on these special properties. The properties under the protection of the Land Bank add up to 7100 acres, including 10 miles of shoreline and more than 40 miles of trails. 70% of the acres within the preserves are open to the public for our enjoyment (exercise, rest, relaxation, plein aire painting, education, meditation, bird watching, cycling, whale watching, beach walking, horseback riding — for a start!)

Please inform local friends and family about this measure. There is already a mechanism in place to end the Land Bank in that it needs voter approval every 12 years. Do not sign this petition! Do not let it go to a countywide vote in the fall!

I believe the Land Bank is an innovative, unique and successful program, and is one of the best benefits of living in the San Juan Islands! Please…

Let’s keep our Land Bank!

Thank you –

Alice Hurd
Friday Harbor resident since 2003
Former Trustee of the San Juan Preservation Trust

Click to enlarge

The Friday Harbor High School Class of 2020 invites the community to their 2020 Graduation Car Parade and Celebration.  On Saturday, June 6th, after Virtual Commencement, graduates will celebrate with a car parade through downtown Friday Harbor. 

The entire community is invited to line the sidewalks and show their support for this year’s graduates.  The parade will leave the SJ County Fairgrounds at 7:00 pm and proceed down Argyle Avenue, turning right on Spring Street and turning around at Memorial Park.  The parade will then travel all the way up Spring Street to the water tower, turning right on Marguerite and right on Guard to end at the High School. 

Please come celebrate the Class of 2020!  There is plenty of room on the parade route to stay safe and follow all Phase 2 protocols.

This event is organized by the FHHS Class of 2020 Grad Night Committee.  We want to thank all the individuals and businesses who gave us their support and helped to make this strange year a little more normal for our kids.

June 1 marks a milestone for Eventide Health. It’s the beginning of our 6 month mark, but it’s also the actual start of our organization. It’s taken us far longer than anticipated to get all of the extensive governmental and insurance processes done to be a fully separate entity from San Juan Healthcare (which now finally no longer exists).

Now that this hurdle is behind us you can expect to see changes over the next few months; some big, some small. We’ve learned a lot about what we’re capable of through this trial by fire of reinventing a medical practice during a global pandemic. No easy task, but we feel confident that the successes we’ve worked so hard to achieve will help us in our next phases.

We mark the start of this week with our new sign that went up Friday afternoon after the clinic closed. It’s unclear if we’ll stay at this current location longterm, but it sure felt great to get our name up properly. Lots of smiling faces and cheers as the sign went up (and yes, Heather and Gina didn’t have their mask because they were on the way out of the office and jumped in for the photo). 

Lots of thanks are in order to our staff of 15 amazing individuals: Continue Reading

Howie Rosenfeld and Carrie Lacher – Contributed photo

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

It is summer in the San Juans and San Juan County has moved into Phase 2 of our state’s four-phased Safe Start Washington plan. What does this mean for island seniors as local businesses slowly begin to open up, the weather improves, and in spite of various bans still in place visitors inevitably arrive?

For us seniors, not much has changed. Seniors are still “strongly encouraged to stay home to the full extent possible”. The Mullis Center will continue to focus on facilitating the Meals on Wheels program and seniors are still advised to grocery shop early in the day, during senior hours, or arrange to pick-up supplies without going into stores.

With summer weather though, and more people out and about, I asked Brendan Cowan, Director of San Juan County Emergency Management and Dr. House of Eventide Health what advise they had for seniors. They both advised proceeding very cautiously and taking it slow. 

If you’ve been hankering to get some professional grooming for yourself or your dog it is advised you give it a few weeks to give your professional groomers, or other professionals, a chance to adapt to their new requirements. Be patient, they are operating under new and strict limitations. While it is not recommended, if you must, be careful, wear a mask, and wash your hands.

One thing is clear, besides staying home; wearing masks, social distancing and washing our hands remain our greatest tools for protecting our community and ourselves from the COVID-19 virus. Masks are required to enter any business in the county. It is how we keep our community safe.

Mask with “eyeglass holder” String – Contributed photo

Islanders typically meet challenges with creativity and resourcefulness. I asked Carrie Lacher if I could share with you a handy mask innovation for hiking around the island. Howie Rosenfeld tied “eyeglass holder” strings to each ear loop of their masks so that they can let the masks hang around their necks when not in use while keeping them handy should they encounter a fellow hiker. As for resourceful, Carrie made their masks with fabric Howie brought back from Thailand where he did malaria eradication with the Peace Corp in the 60s. That is some legacy fabric!

So while not much has changed for some of us as we enter phase 2 the good news is we have been successful so far in keeping our community safe. I leave you then with the words of Dr. House, “Stay positive. Be kind and enjoy some sun and fresh air.” 

Link to: San Juan County Phase 2
Link to: Safe Start Washington plan

The San Juan County Health & Community Services surveillance and contact tracing team is actively investigating a positive COVID-19 case with ties to San Juan Island.

The case technically belongs to another county due to both the patient’s residence and the testing location being on the mainland, however the patient had recently worked in San Juan County. The initial cause of transmission to the patient was due to an off-island exposure.

The County contact tracing team has been aggressively reaching out to anyone who may have had close contact with the patient. At this time, the risk to the broader community appears to be low. The patient was tested at a mainland clinic as soon as symptoms appeared, and the results were received within 12 hours. Continue Reading

Sheriff Ron Krebs – Contributed photo

Over the last few days we have all witnessed the unfolding events in Minnesota, and around the country, spurred by a tragic death that occurred in Minneapolis involving the police and a black male who was in custody. The actions that resulted in the death of George Floyd are disturbing and saddening. When these events happen, it affects all of us in some way, shape or form. San Juan County may be an isolated set of islands, but we are not immune to the effects of what goes on in the rest of the country.

Last night as I watched the news footage of the riots in Minneapolis and in other parts of the country, it broke my heart. The relationship between law enforcement and the communities we serve are once again strained to the breaking point of riots in the streets. A relationship which law enforcement nationwide has been working diligently to repair.

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is entrusted with keeping the peace and protecting the rights and safety of all citizens. The Sheriff’s Office has a culture of accountability. We will continue to hold ourselves, as well as the public, accountable in doing the right thing with dignity, compassion and respect. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service with commitment to our communities and the people who live and visit here. Continue Reading