The Cattle Point Estates Owners Association opposes BLM’s proposed changes to the San Juan Islands Monument. See their letter to the BLM below…

To: Bureau of Land Management Director

Re: San Juan Island National Monument RMP for Cattle Point , San Juan Island, WA

From: Cattle Point Estates Owners Association
PO Box 644
San Juan Island, WA 98250

Standing: Grace Lembo, president, attended the RMP/EIS for the San Juan Islands National Monument public meeting at Friday Harbor (Grange), on November 6, 2018. The area of Cattle Point in the SJI National Monument is approximately 27 acres in the middle of a busy residential and visitor area. Put into perspective, this is roughly ¼ the size of the Washington Monument area in Washington DC (106 acres). We trust that camping and/or hunting is not allowed in the Washington Monument Park. Why allow camping and hunting in the much smaller Cattle Point National Monument situated within residential properties? Continue Reading

The grants committee of the SJI Lions Club met and made the following recommendations which were then approved by the board of directors:

$1,500 to PADS for Parkinson’s
to suppor their program to trains dogs to be able to detect. Parkinson’s Disease with the mission of early detection and research support through canine discovery

$2,100 to Friday Harbor Labs Science Outreach Program (FHLSOP)
This will enable 3rd graders in the Friday Harob Elementary school to participate. in the “Diver for a Day”activity where they will learn about what it takes to be a scuba diver, and to follow scuba divers via audio and video feeds into the freezing water to explore the subtidal zone under the docks. The will learn about marine organisms as they view them and will be able to ask questions of th4 submerged scientists.

$1,500 to Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
This grant ill be used to help support the building of a new roof in the main building at Wolf Hollow which will enable the stafff and volunteers to be safe and dry while saving animals and other wildlife

$2,500 to SAFE San Juans
This money will lbe used to support SAFE San Juan’s Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Prevention Education Program for the coming school year

$795 to Leadership San Juan Islands
This grant will be used to provide scholarship assistance. Leadership SJI tries to motivate interest in people developing their leadership skills and facilitate their interest in learning about issues accross San Juan County and opportunities where they cab ake a difference throuygh their involvement in seeking solutions to problems.

In all, the grants committee is making $8,395 available to support community groups. The Grants Committee of the San Juan Island Lions club will meet to approve proposals twice yearly: on June 1 and December 1 of each year.

To get more information and to obtain a grant application contact Lion Bob at [email protected].

OPALCO Board Listens to Member Concerns, Reconsiders Resolution on Snake River Dams

At the December board meeting in Friday Harbor, 18 co-op members participated in an emotionally charged discussion about Resolution 2-2019 regarding the lower Snake River dams and ocean health.

The Board listened as members shared their opinions and concerns about ocean health, species survival and the role of the Co-op in representing their positions. The Board agreed to put the brakes on Resolution 2-2019 until they can revisit the issues with greater collaboration from the membership. The issue will be on the agenda for the February 20^th board meeting in Friday Harbor.

Members of the Orcas Womens’ Coalition (OWC) have been especially engaged in this issue. After participating in the November 20^th co-op open house on Orcas, a committee of the OWC met with OPALCO General Manager Foster Hildreth and staff to discuss their concerns and share sources of information. Members also wrote letters to the Board asking them to reconsider the resolution. Continue Reading

In the SJ Update mailbag this morning we find this letter from Sheila Martin…

Dear Ashley and Market Place,

I would like to say thank for all that you have done for my cause in feeding families in need. I put the advent calendar out on FH Rants and Raves and it garnered little interest. Once you offered to sell them at Market Place so people didn’t have to shop off Island, it took off and made such a large impact in assisting the Food Bank and Family Resource Center

Your thoughtfulness and generosity are certainly heartwarming not only to me but to the numerous families that will have a very Merry Christmas this year. May you all have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Thank you from the bottom of my Heart,
Sheila Martin

Join Island Rec for its annual Community New Year’s Eve Celebration!

All ages are welcome at this free event as we count down to the New Year with family, neighbors, and friends. There will be a crazy hat making competition and parade, bingo, photo booth, Wii dance off, board games, Minute to Win It competitions, and more. 

Please bring a savory or sweet snack to share.

Tuesday, Dec. 31, 7-9pm at Brickworks.

Well hello, and Happy Holidays! My names Marilyn, though my friends call me The Golden Pearl, and I kinda like that. 

By friends I mean the posse of K9’s that traveled way across country with me all the way from Texas on the Project Freedom Ride, we had a blast! 

I love singing, heck I belong on a stage, I tell ya nothing ruffles this ladies feathers ‘cept maybe other cats…y’see I prefer the company of humans as a general rule… Oh and I do have a sensitive side, with a bit of a sensitive stomach to match. 

If you would like to meet me, come on down to the Friday Harbor Animal Shelter, I might even sing a song for y’all!

In the SJ Update mailbag this morning we have this letter from Transition San Juan Island…

You may have heard by way of friends and neighbors that Transition San Juan Island is launching at the Mullis Center, January 12, 2020 from 3 to 6 pm.

Everyone of any age or political persuasion is invited to join in the informal gathering.  The rapidly unfolding climate emergency necessitates greater local action by our community and the county.   We know that our electrical power, food and material deliveries and summer tourism dominated economy is fragile with regard to serious disruptions that lie ahead of us.

These islands are blessed by natural beauty and a strong sense of community invigorated by an incredible pool of citizen talent and abilities ready to rise to the challenges ahead.  Our cherished island lifeways can only be furthered by diversifying our local economy, choosing more sustainable practices and working hard to create a culture of resilience.  As Dr. David Suzuki said “Our future will not be determined by chance but by choice”.

Please join us and tell your friends and neighbors.  The global movement called Transition gives us both a large network of other communities around the world who seek greater self-determination and a grass-roots, participatory, informal way to take purposeful action locally on the issues of greatest importance today and in the uncertain future.

Vote counting equipment testing January 7 at 11:00 am

A “Logic and Accuracy” test of ballot tabulating equipment used in San Juan County for the February 11, 2020 Special Election is scheduled for January 7 at 11:00 am.

The test works by tallying the results of a prepared set of ballots to see if the results match the votes cast. The test will take place in the Elections Office located at 55 Second Street, Suite A, in Friday Harbor.

All interested members of the public are invited to observe.

By Louise Dustrude –

For those with substance abuse problems, and for the people who love them, worry about them, or are exasperated by them, there is help available at Peace Island Medical Center.

Lauren Olsen, MD, is a family practice doctor at Peace Island with training and experience in buprenorphine therapy for addiction. No one was sure what the need here was for her training in medical assisted therapy (MAT) for opioid addiction.

Then a person came into the clinic actively suffering from opioid withdrawal, which indicated the need for a MAT drug treatment program, so one was set up, and to date there have been 43 patients helped by that program.

Clearly, the program fills a need here. Continue Reading

Skagit Valley College Marketing and Communications earns seven marketing and public relations awards

The Skagit Valley College Marketing and Communications team is proud to announce they won seven marketing and public relations awards — including one Gold — at the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations (NCMPR) District 7 fall conference, that was held in Friday Harbor, Washington.

The SVC team was honored in the following categories: Continue Reading

Get the Grange Hall Cookin’

San Juan Island Grange #966 is raising funds for the construction of a new county- and state-approved commercially-certified kitchen.

During their October monthly meeting, Grange members voted unanimously to dedicate $40,000 from the organization’s capital improvement savings account to a Community Kitchen Upgrade, provided our extended community could raise an additional $40,000.

Two Grange members have already contributed $10,000 each (in addition to the Grange’s $40,000 pledge) as a challenge due to the efforts of Larry Soll, Grange member and fundraising chair.

A licensed commercial kitchen benefits our Grange and the general community by: Continue Reading

The following press release was submitted by SJI EMS…

As we close out 2019, we thought we would spend some time discussing some of the highlights of the year for San Juan Island Emergency Medical Services (SJI EMS).

Expansion of Paramedicine Program
One of the important programs that SJI EMS has expanded is our pioneering community paramedicine program. It’s a new program nationally, and still a pilot program in Washington. The program uses staff EMTs to provide non-emergency care for at-risk patients and helps them access social and partner services as needed. Continue Reading

Ornaments now available by donation at the Home Trust Office

Being able to participate at the Farmers’ Markets throughout the year and at the Holiday Market in December has been a wonderful means of outreach to our entire community for the San Juan Community Home Trust.  Not only have these Market interactions led to new homeowners, but the Home Trust has also found hardworking community minded volunteers, generous supporters and donors, and even new board members!

Participating at the Holiday market required the Home Trust to have something to offer the public that was locally produced and would likely appeal to everyone.  Home Trust Fundraisers decided upon having hand made wooden houses shaped like real Home Trust homes.  

Partnering with the Friday Harbor High School Community Service Program under the direction of Jenny Wilson, two students, Justin Ha and Matthew Vogel (encouraged by STEM Director, Derek Smith), chose to produce the shapes of 6 Home Trust homes as their community service project last spring.

This fall, Brianna Hess chose the Home Trust as her community service project and agreed to spearhead the decoration of the little houses within FH High School.  She singlehandedly painted 60 ornaments while learning about the Home Trust and its functions and encouraged eight other student artists to decorate even more.  

At the same time that Brianna and a number of her classmates were busy painting, nine Spring Street art students, encouraged by Tyler Bruce, joined in, along with 29 other artistic, paint-loving community members.  

Their results?  Realistic, whimsical, imaginative – definitely creative and fun!  

The Home Trust’s booth at the Holiday Market December 14th was a wonderful success despite the rain and cold.  There are many, many ornaments and magnets remaining from our prolific artist volunteers which are available by donation, at the Home Trust office, 435 C Argyle Ave.

Be sure to pop in on weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm to see for yourself the imaginative, colorful and creative interpretations for each house by 47 talented Island artists – ages 11 – 93!

You will not be disappointed! 

One of Friday Harbor’s most memorable characters, Rodney Mulvaney, passed away unexpectedly on November 28. If you didn’t know him personally, you most likely would recognize him for his love of elegant, old-time Western-style attire – from his ever-present top hats and his vests, down to his high boots.

He first came to San Juan Island as a young man, on a boat trip with his brother. He was so taken by the beauty and peace of the island that he decided to make it his home.

He had studied history as a graduate student, and had always dreamed of teaching. But he became a gardener instead, and over the years spent many happy hours digging in the dirt, trimming bushes and trees, and mowing lawns…always wearing one of his signature hats!

Rod was an avid reader and loved going to our community theatre productions and watching movies. The walls, table tops, and window sills of his home were filled to the brim with his vast collection of artifacts from the old West and elsewhere. He was a talented artist. He loved animals, and was prone to adopting cats who just showed up at his front door asking to become part of his life.

But most of all, Rod was simply a good, kind, sensitive soul who always had time for a smile and a warm greeting to those passing by as he worked or walked around town. His presence will be missed by those who were his friends as well as by those who just knew him as the guy who looked as if he had time-traveled to us from the days of the Civil War.

Rod is survived by his partner Zee Hogan, as well as his sister Marlys True of Ellensburg

At the December 18, 2019 regular School Board Meeting, The San Juan Island School District Board of Directors named Fred Woods as the final candidate for the position of Superintendent of San Juan Island School District, pending contract negotiations.

Through a focused mentoring plan, Mr. Woods has been conferring regularly with current Superintendent, Kari McVeigh. Mr. Woods’ success as a Superintendent Intern has been evident through his work on several district-wide projects including the upcoming Capital and Technology Levy preparations (election to be held on February 11^th), and facilitation of the District strategic planning process for the next five years.

Mr. Woods reports monthly on his progress to the Board of Directors. After a thorough interview process to inform the board of Mr. Woods’ viability as a candidate, Mr. Woods has been offered the position of Superintendent to begin July 1, 2020.

According to SJISD Board Chair Barbara Bevens, “The San Juan Island School District Board of Directors is extremely pleased with the opportunity to continue working with Fred Woods in this new capacity. We have observed his growth throughout his internship with Kari McVeigh and look forward to many years of a great partnership.”

Photo via Pixabay

Guest author Neil Stawski checks in again with another article on working toward a greener lifestyle…

Going green is a lifestyle choice that many people are making these days, but it can be a major change that comes with a lot of effort.

It’s not always easy to make big changes and stick with them, but if you’re committed to living in a more eco-friendly way, there are some simple things you can do that utilize technology. You may be wondering where tech fits into a green lifestyle, but there have been a few advances in the tech world in recent years that make it easier for us to help the environment and to create a sustainable way of life in it.

From water filters to solar panels, there are many forms of tech that can be incorporated into your world. Continue Reading