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

Neighbors caring for neighbors is a fundamental part of life in the islands. This has become even more true during the COVID-19 pandemic where community support, especially of our most vulnerable residents, is a core part of the local response.

It has been encouraging to see so many people that are working hard, volunteering, contributing money or resources and generally stepping up their commitment to serve their community. The health and economic impacts of COVID-19 have touched all of us, but some islanders and families have had bigger challenges and needs than others.

One priority has been helping vulnerable individuals and families needing help with home delivery of food, medicine and needed household goods. San Juan County, nonprofit agencies and volunteers throughout our islands are successfully delivering needed items to those needing support. If you, or someone you know, needs help with home deliveries please be aware of this service.

Detailed contact information about how to access help from the local resource centers or county senior services is below. San Juan County and vital nonprofit partners are working hard to ensure that no one is left behind in the midst of this health emergency. Continue Reading

Serendipity Bookstore, at 223 “A” Street in Friday Harbor

Here’s a note to you from Carol at Serendipity Bookstore…

Serendipity Books is now encouraging phone or email orders, and will attempt to fill them by mail or with pickup at the store.

We are also ready to accept trade-in book donations, by appointment.   

Please leave a message at (360) 378-2665,  or email us at : [email protected]

If you call the store between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, there is a good chance I will be in the store to answer any questions or check the database.

The M/V Samish enters Friday Harbor – SJ Update file photo by Aaron Shepard

The Anacortes/San Juan Islands route is scheduled to be restored to its regular winter season sailing schedule starting Sunday, April 26. The route has been on a reduced sailing schedule since April 10 due to the Samish being out of service for needed rudder repairs.

Vehicle reservations for April 26 through June 20 are now available. The route will remain on the reduced service schedule through Saturday April 25, and all vehicles will be loaded first-come, first serve through that date.  Reservations will again be honored beginning April 26th, though most customers needing to travel at this time should be able to without a reservation because of the decline in ridership due to COVID-19.

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we work to maintain our fleet.

You can view all travel alerts at the WSF Travel Bulletins page. This alert was sent on 04/20/2020 at 6:03PM to subscribers of the following routes:

• Anacortes / San Juan Islands

Visit the WSF Website or Contact Us page for more information about Washington State Ferries. You may also change your Account Preferences anytime. Please visit the COVID-19 Travel Updates page for all up-to-date travel information regarding COVID-19.

WSF is postponing its 2-month advance release of vehicle reservations on the Anacortes/San Juan Islands and Port Townsend/Coupeville routes, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, April 21. While WSF’s winter sailing season has been extended through June 20, sailing schedules beyond this date have not been finalized and will be dependent on ridership and traffic impacts related to COVID-19.

WSF will send additional information as soon as future reservations become available. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this fluid and challenging time.

You can view all travel alerts at the WSF Travel Bulletins page. This alert was sent on 04/20/2020 at 12:31PM. Please do not reply to this message. Replies are sent to an email inbox that is unmonitored.

Visit the WSF Website or Contact Us page for more information about Washington State Ferries. You may also change your Account Preferences anytime. Please visit the COVID-19 Travel Updates page for all up-to-date travel information regarding COVID-19.

Opalco Board Election Results: Dauciunas And Madsen

20 Voters Get $50 Bill Credits!

OPALCO’S uncontested election drew 1,373 voters, a good 12% of the membership—and a quorum. Members elected Vince Dauciunas to a three-year term with 1,270 votes; and Mark Madsen to a two-year term with 1,186 votes. The staggered terms were created so that, starting in 2022, there will be candidates from multiple districts on each year’s ballot.

Howard Barbour of the OPALCO Election & Governance Committee (EGC), opened the official results that were sealed and sent by overnight post from our election vendor, Survey and Ballot Systems. “We’ve re-elected two incumbent directors this year – and they have both proven themselves as excellent stewards of the Co-op,” said Barbour. “However, the EGC is looking for new people interested in serving on the board and it’s not too soon to let us know if you’re interested in running in 2021 for the Orcas District.”

The EGC is a voluntary member committee that is charged with cultivating and selecting qualified candidates for OPALCO’s Board of Directors—and, on occasion, reviewing co-op governance issues. The EGC works throughout the year to identify potential board candidates, and is most active from November through January when nominations are open. The EGC needs a few good new members! If you are interested, please contact Kelly Koral at [email protected]. Continue Reading

Lady Madonna by Holly Ballard Martz

You can visit the current San Juan Islands Museum of Art (SJIMA) even though we are closed. SJIMA set up this link so you could see a tour of the art of Deon Venter, Holly Ballard Martz and June Sekiguchi. SJIMA participated in last week’s Virtual Art Walk on Thursday, April 16.

Enjoy the link to our online exhibitions:  https://www.sjima-online.org

Coming soon is an even more extensive and fascinating tour featuring the artists personally talking about their art in detail:

In MISSING / HIGHWAY OF TEARS Deon Venter paints a life affirming memorial to the young lives lost, mostly Aboriginal, on highways in British Columbia, Canada.

June Sekiguchi’s site-responsive art installation, THE PULSE OF WATER, conveys messages of cultural identity and personal narratives of her travels and meditations.

DOMESTIC BLISS renders Holly Ballard Martz’s messages about the obstacles that impede the quest for gender equity in the US. She transforms objects associated with domestic labor, traditionally the purview of women, and supplants their original purpose to beautiful art which reminds the viewer that with every prick of the pin and curve of the wire, women’s work is truly never done.

Go to #VirtualArtWalkSJIS to see all of last week’s participants. SJIMA looks forward to welcoming you when we reopen. Stay well.

The exhibitions are sponsored by The Honeywell Charitable Fund, Kim Miller, Town of Friday Harbor, San Juan County, San Juan Island Community Foundation, Printonyx, Harbor Rentals & Browne’s Home Center.

Some of the news about COVID-19 is improving, but the latest update from the San Juan County Department of Health is still very cautious:

Please understand that one small gathering around a campfire or one low key potluck with just a few friends can cause a major ripple of impacts through our communities. There’s no group of people that should think of themselves as “safe”, no matter how well they’re feeling. The disease is here, it is infecting our residents, and it is on all of us to keep it from spreading.

The current encouraging trends could reverse quickly if our attention wavers. A sudden spike of cases on the mainland could take away our advanced healthcare options. A surge of cases here in the islands would quickly overwhelm our healthcare and EMS systems.

So, take comfort in knowing that social distancing is working, but don’t relax. Not yet. Please.

In light of the unsettled and still deeply-troubling situation, the Board of Directors of the Roche Harbor Neighborhood Association, a voluntary community charity serving the northern portions of San Juan Island, has voted unanimously to POSTPONE the scheduled May 16 Firewise wildfire prevention debris collection Chipping Day event and CANCEL the scheduled May 30 Family Spring Picnic at the Roche Harbor Sculpture Garden.

Firewise Chipping Party Postponed From May 16: Continue Reading

By Louise Dustrude –

These are challenging times for everyone, and for some individuals and families the challenges are made worse by alcohol or other drugs.

Alcoholics Anonymous has long been a resource for those who acknowledge that they are “powerless over alcohol”; Al-Anon is a well-established resource for those impacted by another person’s drinking; and Alateen is available to young people affected by someone else’s drinking. Narcotics Anonymous is a group that helps those impacted by their own or another’s drug use.

All four organizations rely on the support of others in the same boat, and all four are now figuring out how to “meet” in these days of social distancing. Meetings have traditionally been held in local churches, which are currently closed. So arrangements have been made and are still being coordinated to meet “virtually.”

Members of all four groups guard the anonymity of everyone else in their fellowship.

If you need or want some support from one of these groups, here’s information: Continue Reading

The pig at Brickworks says “Thank You” to San Juan Island for all of your exemplary self-distancing and your selfless response to this Covid-19 crisis.

And please remember to wear your mask when out and about where you’re likely to be near others (but not nearer than 6 feet!)

Photo by Kathleen Nelson.

Land Bank Preserves continue to remain open despite other federal and state public land closures because we believe people need access to nature close to home, especially when nothing else in life seems normal.

We islanders are fortunate enough to live in a place where we can get outside and take in fresh air while keeping our distance from others. And luckily your Conservation Land Bank is not alone in providing access locally – all our county organizations have been able to maintain their public access to open space, even though it looks a little different with social distancing guidelines in place.

In addition to Land Bank Preserves, other public properties open include:

• Lopez Island – Odlin Park (closed to camping) and the County Day Parks are open as are the SJI National Monument properties.
• Orcas Island – Orcas Island Parks and Rec’s Buck Park, as well as, the Village Green and Eastsound Waterfront Park, co-managed by County Parks.
• San Juan Island – Island Rec’s Lafarge Open Space, Eddie & Friends Dog Park, the Skate Park, and John O. Linde Community Park (restrooms and playground closed), the Port of Friday Harbor’s Jacksons Beach (restrooms and boat launch closed) and SJI Island County Park (restrooms and camping closed) as well as the County Day Parks.

Thank you to our county and public health officials for their support in keeping public trails and parks open in order to help cope with the stress and anxiety during these strange times.

Thank you to our island neighbors who have been adhering to the social distancing guidelines – if you’re sick, stay home; keep a minimum distance of six feet on from others (pets too!) while on trails or in parking lots; sanitize frequently used surfaces – while enjoying the outdoors. Let’s keep “island time” intact; we are all in this together.

Farmers markets in San Juan County are essential providers of locally grown, healthy foods.

Our farmers markets have an important role in sustaining the local food chain, and have been working with San Juan County Health & Community Services to ensure safety precautions are in place to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Decisions around timing of potential openings will be made by market management and communicated to the public directly by the farmers markets.

While the safety protections will change how the markets typically operate when they open, those protections are in place to ensure public safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

What to expect if you go: Continue Reading

By Louise Dustrude

Testing for COVID-19 in the county is stepping up a bit, as tests slowly become available and as testing labs begin to have more capacity.

As of yesterday the county had reported 14 positive cases and reported that 459 people had been tested. PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center reported on April 14 that 92 caregivers had been tested and all were negative for the virus.

Dr. William House and Eventide Health staff are offering increased testing capacity at their location on Airport Center Drive with priority to those with COVID-19 symptoms, but have also been testing asymptomatic essential workers in an effort to evaluate for unknown positive cases.

They have coordinated with almost all local businesses with essential workers including healthcare and will continue those efforts. They have been in close, constant contact with Dr. Frank James, our health officer for the county, who fully supports the effort. They are continuing to evaluate options for antibody testing as these become available.

The test takes just a few minutes, and results are expected to be available two days later.

Call your health care provider if you think you qualify for a test.

The public seems to be following “social distancing” suggestions, with a few glaring exceptions. Grocery store employees are all wearing masks, and customers are now also required to wear masks.

This week “COVID-19 Community Conversations” continues with three short videos that highlight efforts from organizations and people peoviding key services and crucial leadership in our community.

You can find these videos on our YouTube channel at  San Juan County COVID-19 Response. Or click on the videos below:

Norvin Collins, Chief of San Juan Island Fire and Rescue: COVID-19 has led the Fire District to examine different staffing models: “we need to not only protect our community, but volunteers and emergency responders as well… we have now rolled out 24-7 staffing.”

He then added, “We have tightened up our coordinated response with San Juan Island EMS… and spooled up a Fire Operations center with agencies around the county.” He closed by saying “I want to thank all of our citizens and residents — we could not have flattened the curve without you!” Check out their Facebook page as Firefighters read children’s stories during the pandemic. Link to video: https://youtu.be/xMNmKtDrdmE
 
Continue Reading

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash., April 16, 2020 – With shared purpose, PeaceHealth Peace Island Medical Center and San Juan County Health and Community Services continue to work together to control the spread of novel coronavirus and ensure the health of island communities.

On Tuesday, April 14, both organizations were informed of COVID-19 test results performed for PeaceHealth employees at the medical center. Of the 92 caregivers working at this location, all were asymptomatic and all tested negative for the virus.

“These results are reassuring for both our caregivers working in the medical center and for our community,” remarked Merry-Ann Keane, chief administrative officer, at PeaceHealth Peace Island. “It reinforces our belief that PeaceHealth and CDC practices, along with recommendations by County Health Officer, Frank James, MD, are working to prevent community spread of the virus.”

Following recommendations by James, PeaceHealth Peace Island implemented universal masking and testing for its caregiver employees beginning April 4. Continue Reading

In the last three weeks, SJICF has raised $145k for the newly established SJICF Community Emergency Response Fund. The fund was created to meet the increasing community needs as a result of COVID-19 response.

In March, a goal was set to raise $100k in the first few weeks and an additional $150k to continue to provide emergency funding to nonprofits offering financial assistance and other services to residents in need. The SJICF board voted to transfer $45k from the foundation’s General Endowment and an additional $100k has been donated by generous SJICF fundholders and community members.

To date, nearly $46k has been granted out of the Emergency Fund to help nonprofits meeting the soaring demand for services. This includes $42k to the SJI Family Resource Center and $3.8k to the SJI Agricultural Guild to help get the locally grown food hub up and running.

Nonprofits can request funds on the SJICF website via a shortened emergency funding request application. Priority is given to nonprofits in the health and human services sectors. Continue Reading

Skagit Valley College’s Continuing and Community Education department (CCE) is pleased to announce new online workshop programming that is starting at the end of April.

The new format is called eCCE and is designed for people who would like to enjoy online non-credit workshops outside of the traditional classroom setting while they build career skills, explore a new passion, stay current with technology, and have some fun! Programming includes Computer Training, Professional Development, Creativity and much more!

It’s easy to enroll in eCCE! Visit https://www.skagit.edu/cce. See our workshop catalog for more information.