Our Library is the hub of our community – more than just loaning books.

Did you know that the Library also provides things like:

An afterschool bus stop for students K-12.

Reliable wi-fi during power outages, for doing homework assignments, for filing job applications, for filing taxes.

Use of in-house laptop computers.

A free meeting room for local organizations to meet.

English classes for residents of all ages.

Tech classes in using personal devices.

Right now our library is bursting at the seams with programs, classes, audio books, magazines, newspapers, DVDs, CDs, computer areas, reading areas, a meeting room, offices for staff and, yes, books to loan.

Vote yes for our Library on Nov. 8.

Liz and Brad Pillow
San Juan Island

I fully support and encourage the re-election of Ron Krebs for San Juan County Sheriff. As a business owner and 15-year county resident, I have learned that we are very lucky to have him. While I do not know the Sheriff personally, I have found him to be a strong leader who recognizes the true nature of his job of protecting our community rather than as a political figure pushing an agenda. He has not allowed the virus of violence and lack of consequences, common elsewhere, to infect our community.

I was most impressed with Sheriff Krebs during the depths of the pandemic when he was tasked with administering the historically abhorrent “snitch line”. I observed that he and the undersheriff handled both the victimized businesses and the kind of people that would call such an entity with professionalism, kindness and decency. This appears to be his approach to law enforcement which we all should appreciate.

I do not know his opponent, but some “woke” language used in campaign propaganda is of concern as it has no place in law enforcement. That said, I have no doubt he is a dedicated Sheriff’s deputy honorably serving our citizenry and deserving of respect for the brave nature of the job. He seems well liked.

Ron Krebs has faithfully served both country and community distinguishing himself as the kind of individual we need leading this department. His steady governance has been good for this unique community. I sincerely hope he is re-elected and can continue demonstrating the excellence we have come to expect.

Lauren Cohen
San Juan Island

When my wife and I moved to Friday Harbor eight years ago, one of the first stops we made – even before the moving van arrived – was at the San Juan Island Library to get our library cards. During the introductory tour, the staff made it a point to describe the library’s many features – the different sections of books for children and young adults, computers available for public use, the meeting room, the area used for community lectures – as well as its hands-on programs such as computer assistance and children’s activities. And whatever we couldn’t find on the shelves or in the digital catalogue, they said, we should ask them to search for it through inter-library loans.

From the start, though, we recognized how small the space was for the amount of materials and resources the library had to offer. There was no room for growth back then. Eight years later, the situation is even more pronounced.

The voters of San Juan County have an opportunity to approve a bond proposal that would allow for the construction of a bigger facility in a more central location in Friday Harbor. A new library would provide the entire community with more space for its various collections, larger meeting rooms for community groups and public lectures, and a better chance to offer the technological assistance that libraries will increasingly be called upon to provide in the future.

I urge you to join us in supporting San Juan Island Library District Prop 1.

Fielding M. McGehee III
Friday Harbor

PeaceHealth shares news about their upcoming flu shot clinics.

Peace Island Family Practice clinic is holding flu shot clinics in the month of October for all community members aged six or older, regardless of whether they are an established PeaceHealth patient.

The clinics are by appointment only, and run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Family Medicine clinic lobby/conference room on:

• Thursday, Oct. 13
• Friday, Oct. 14
• Thursday, Oct. 20
• Friday, Oct. 21
• Thursday, Oct. 27

Call the clinic at 360-378-1756 to schedule an appointment.

PeaceHealth patients also have the option of getting the vaccine at their next primary care provider visit. The CDC warns it could be a rough flu season this year, based on trends being seen elsewhere in the world.

• Friday Harbor High School boys soccer improved to 3-0 in conference play and 6-1 overall with a 4-1 road win over La Conner High School yesterday afternoon. They play again on Tuesday against rival Orcas Island at Linde Community Fields at 3 p.m.
• San Juan Island Fire & Rescue is hosting a coloring contest in honor of Fire Prevention Week. Young artists can pick up a blank firefighter coloring page at the Library or Kings Market, then return their finished work to the fire station at 1011 Mullis St by Friday, Oct. 14. All entries are eligible to win a gift card to the Toy Box or Griffin Bay Bookstore. The winner will be selected at the Fire & Rescue open house next Sunday.
• The Library is hosting a free costume exchange. Clean costumes of all sizes in good condition can be dropped off Monday through Friday during the Library’s regular hours until Oct. 21. Costumes will be available for the community to pick up starting this coming Monday, Oct. 10 — also Monday through Friday during regular hours.
• Applications are now open for Spring Street International’s 2023-24 school year. Spring Street is hosting an admissions open house on Wednesday, Oct. 26 from 5-6:30 p.m.
• The registration deadline for Hospice of San Juan’s volunteer training is Monday.
• The online gardening workshop provided by the Master Gardeners of San Juan County has a registration deadline of this Wednesday.
• Thanks to our advertisers for their continued support of the San Juan Update — including Island Petroleum Services.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!

We are writing in support of re-electing Ron Krebs as our Sheriff.

I am a retired deputy and have known and worked directly with Ron for years. My wife, also retired, worked for District Court and she too worked with Ron over the years.

Ron is dedicated to San Juan County and its citizens. He has the skills needed to work effectively within his office, with other departments, as well as with the County Council. He displays the highest level of integrity, honesty and commitment. He works tirelessly on behalf of the residents of our County.

The Sheriff’s office must follow the law in everything they do. At times changes to the laws can constrain the Sheriff department’s ability to act decisively. Recent law changes have hampered law enforcement’s ability to make arrests.

In any election the candidates make promises, but the fact is that promises can only be fulfilled within the bounds of the law, the budget and County Council endorsements. We ask you to vote for the candidate who has a proven track record, who can negotiate and works well with others and who is dedicated to protecting our unique community and providing quality service to our County.

Vote for experience.

Vote to re-elect Sheriff Ron Krebs.

Scott & Marie Johansen
Friday Harbor

The Simonson and Zambrovitz Team at Coldwell Banker San Juan Island send along their real estate market snapshot for the island. For the first time in years, the supply of for-sale single-family homes is expanding quickly. Compare the snapshot above to similar data from seven months ago, when there were zero for-sale homes under $600,000 and just four under $1 million.

“Further, as the market is trending slower, sellers are now allowing more offer contingencies as compared to last year,” Merri Ann Simonson says.

The average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is an ominous 6.66 percent this week, up from 2.99 percent a year ago today.

An outbreak of avian flu in upper Eastsound this summer raised an important public policy issue that should not be left by the wayside: to protect people from emerging pathogens, we need to monitor wildlife disease — and intervene, swiftly and appropriately, to wildlife epidemics.

People and non-human animals share many families of bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Mutations in these microbes can make them more infectious and deadlier to their usual hosts; and sometimes enable them to “jump” to other host species — and back again. Coronaviruses, for example, are widespread and genetically diverse in the world’s bats. Bats appear to be immune to most of them most of the time. But some strains of these viruses may not only sicken bats but could also infect people, as shown by a recent study published in the journal Nature. The origins of COVID-19 remain uncertain, but similar viruses have been found in some species of Asian bats.

The H1N1 swine flu pandemic in 2009 apparently originated in a mutation in infected pigs, and there is concern that the current spread of H5N1 avian flu across North America, although chiefly among wild and domestic waterfowl, may be capable of jumping to humans directly or through an intermediate mammalian host such as foxes. Some of the tick-borne pathogens that our laboratory recently detected in the San Juan Islands, such as Anaplasma, can infect humans, dogs, and other mammals, making it very difficult to locate and control.

Climate change may exacerbate the danger to humans. Hungry animals with weakened immune systems are perfect incubators for pathogens. When more animals sicken more often, the probability of pathogens thriving, diversifying, and then jumping to new hosts increases.

Islanders interact frequently with wildlife. We have deer and rabbits browsing in our backyards, raccoons — or foxes, on San Juan Island — in our compost piles and gardens, bats in eaves and attics, and geese in our ponds. Many of us have domestic flocks, cattle or sheep, and dogs or cats that interact with visiting wildlife. Wildlife are an important distinction of island life, whether they are aesthetic, a nuisance, or food. Because of this, our microbes and our health are deeply interconnected, and it is essential that we treat wildlife epidemics as seriously as human epidemics.

We note that three state departments — Fish and Wildlife, Agriculture, Health — and the County’s Department Health & Community Services have overlapping authority over wildlife diseases, but it is unclear whether they have the resources or road map for a coordinated response to disease outbreaks.

One step that state and local authorities should take is adopting a protocol for responding to an outbreak of wildlife disease, such as the deer adenovirus, rabbit hemorrhagic disease, and avian flu that we have seen in the past few years. There needs to be a clear allocation of responsibilities and adequate funding for sampling and testing, detention and disposal of dying and dead animals, and issuing informed public guidance. A collaborative team of first responders at the county level should be designated and include nonprofits that study and monitor wildlife, as well as human and wildlife health professionals.

Our laboratory volunteers to be a part of that team. But we urge the state and county to embrace a more active approach to wildlife health. It is insufficient simply to compile opportunistic data, typically from reports made by concerned citizens.

Russel Barsh
Director, Kwiáht
Lopez Island

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor shares a look at the adoptable animals of the week — two four-month-old black kittens named Spock and Kirk.

Hi, we’re Spock and Kirk! You may already know who we are, but also, given our occupation, you may have yet to see us well enough to recognize us. This is because we are professional hide-and-seek athletes.

Whether it’s squeezing behind furniture or slinking into narrow spaces, we can do it all. Our versatile skills of contortion are some of the best in the game, and allow us to twist and tuck away just so. Another hiding tool of ours is our silky, black fur which allows us to achieve an extra level of stealth by disappearing into the darkness.

Although most people assume that professional hiders such as ourselves will take to hiding in all areas of their lives, we are not like that. Although we’ll be the first to say we love a good hiding spot, we also love receiving pets and individual attention from humans like yourself. Although we can’t wait to explore the nooks and crannies in our next home, we assure you we also can’t wait to cuddle up with our new loved ones.

We’re looking for a home with people who appreciate our skillset, but will also help to ensure our safety and comfort when we decide to hide. It’s important to us that our profession remains fun, and that we aren’t stuck hiding due to fear, but instead just for the love of the game. Are you someone who self-identifies as a seeker and a lover? Then you’re the perfect person for us. Come find us at APS soon!

To learn more about Spock and Kirk, contact the Animal Protection Society.

Learn more about Brad’s perspective on the foxes of San Juan Island.

Join me in voting yes for our San Juan Library bond levy. Our community has grown by 50 percent since 1995. Our library has not grown at all during that same time period. The mission of the library is to provide community access to collections, information and services to promote connection and learning. We must invest in our library to keep up with community growth and evolving needs to ensure that everyone has access and opportunity.

As a library volunteer, I see firsthand the diversity of library users and uses — children and their families laughing, learning and connecting at story times; young people coming in after school to do their homework and socialize a bit in a safe place; people gathering and reading around the fireplace, secure and warm; community meetings and forums; avid viewers of the extensive DVD library; job applicants and other people working at the computers who are without in-home access to technology and information delivery advances; home bound whose families and neighbors pick up materials put on hold for them — the list goes on.

The role played by the library in the vitality and sustenance of our community cannot be overstated. Please join me in voting yes for our Library.

Dana Anderson
Friday Harbor

I wholeheartedly endorse the re-election of Ron Krebs for Sheriff of San Juan County and urge everyone to vote for him in the upcoming election.

I have known Ron since 2007. At that time, I was the security manager for Roche Harbor. I was in that position for 18 years until March of this year when I retired. I met Ron when he was first hired as a deputy and made the resort a regular stop on his patrol routine. Within those times I got to know Ron very well, as he assisted me as a deputy with many different law enforcement needs that arose at the resort. This included the successful stakeout and apprehension of the Sculpture Park thief in 2014.

Ron is very approachable and very easy to talk to. I can call or text him anytime if I have any questions or concerns about issues happening in the community and he has made himself available 24/7. He has responded to many late-night marine rescue missions in every season and weather. This is very important to me and I feel safer knowing he is always capable and clear headed, and able to make decisions and respond at a moment’s’ notice. To me, this is dedication and love of the job.

I have been on a few ride-alongs with Ron when he was a deputy. Whenever he pulled anyone over, he was never rude and always treated people with the utmost respect and gave mostly warnings instead of tickets. He still has this respectful interaction even after he became Sheriff, always treating others with dignity and respect. He never shows anger or uses inappropriate language and is always, always, willing to listen.

My wife, who recently became an American citizen, is from the Philippines. Ron, along with many other people, helped me with letters to immigration on my behalf, to get her accepted to enter the USA. This was only possible with the support of so many people, including Ron.

He is, in my opinion, very community oriented and very caring about the people who live here in this awesome place called home. It is my opinion that he is and will be for many years to come the best person for the job of Sheriff of San Juan County.

Dan Aman
San Juan Island

Five low-cost evening recreation programs offered by Island Rec — some for youth, some for age 16 and over — return to action this week. The programs will run through the end of December, taking place either at the San Juan County Fairgrounds or Turnbull Gym at Friday Harbor High School.

Program offerings for the fall include:

Pickleball
Tuesdays at San Juan County Fairgrounds
Ages 16+
6:30-7:45 p.m. beginner/intermediate, $7 per person
7:45-9 p.m. intermediate/advanced, $7 per person

Basketball
Tuesdays at Turnbull Gym
Ages 16+
7-8:30 p.m., $5 per person

Roller hockey
Wednesdays at San Juan County Fairgrounds
6-7 p.m. ages 5-15, $7 per person
7-8:30 p.m. ages 16+, $8 per person

Ping pong and badminton
Wednesdays at Turnbull Gym
Ages 16+
7-8:30 p.m., $5 per person

Skate night
Saturdays at San Juan County Fairgrounds
5:30-6:30 p.m. scooters and trikes, $2 per rider or $5 per family
7-8:30 p.m. family open skate, $3 per skater or $8 per family

Additional information is available on the Island Rec website.

• League of Women Voters of the San Juans are hosting a voter forum about the San Juan County Sheriff election tonight at 6 p.m. at the Grange. The event is both in-person and virtual. Registration is required for virtual attendees.
• Friday Harbor High School volleyball sails to Orcas Island this afternoon for a road match that starts at 4 p.m.
• The high school boys soccer team is running a fundraiser during October for breast cancer awareness month. They’re taking pledges for every goal the team scores this month.
• Trivia Night returns to San Juan Island Brewing Co. for its sixth straight year starting Thursday, Oct. 27.
• San Juan Transfer Station is no longer accepting tires with the rims attached, nor tires larger than 36 inches in diameter. Disposal prices have gone up to $15 per tire as well.
• Here are the week’s specials at Market Place and Kings.
• Island Rec, Friday Harbor Labs, the Town of Friday Harbor, and Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands are hiring. Check out their openings on Island Jobs.
• Thanks to our advertisers for their continued support of the San Juan Update — including Animal Inn.

Have something to share with the Island? Whether the news is big or small, let us know!