Posted May 15, 2019 at 5:41 am by Tim Dustrude
The Lion’s big inflatable bike made a great backdrop for this group photo of bicycling participants – Contributed photo
About 45 participants showed up for the 3rd annual Tour de Family – Friday Harbor last Friday. The weather couldn’t have been better and good times were had by all.
Posted May 14, 2019 at 5:51 am by Tim Dustrude
Nautical Symmetry – Steven K. Roberts photo
Steven K. Roberts captured this image down at the marina last week and had this to say about it:
An engaging bit of nautical symmetry stopped me in my tracks yesterday evening, with two sloops on the breakwater mirrored on both axes.
It’s a gorgeous photo Steve – Thanks for sharing!
And by the way – if you have some old home movies lying around, Steve can digitize them for you. He runs the new Harbor Digitizing Business in town.
Posted May 14, 2019 at 5:50 am by Tim Dustrude
L-R: Derek Smith, FHHS STEM Director; David Gow, Home Trust Executive Director; Justin Ha and Matthew Vogel, FHHS Students; and Charlene Caren, Home Trust – SJ Update photo
San Juan Community Home Trust member Charlene (Chary) Caren was brainstorming what to do for this year’s home trust outreach when she hit upon the idea of little wooden ornaments in the shapes of their houses – 12 different ones based on real homes in their 3 neighborhoods: Sun Rise I, Sun Rise II and Salal.
One of the wooden cutout ornaments and a photo of the home it represents
She thought perhaps she would be able to find someone on the island with a laser cutter who would be willing to cut out the images – and then someone suggested that high school students might be willing to do so and at the same time earn community services hours, a requisite for graduation and university scholarships.
After contacting the high school she was referred to Jenny Wilson who is the coordinator for the Grade 11 Community Service Program.
Chary made her pitch to about 30 students and 2 in particular seemed interested. Justin Ha and Matthew Vogel needed a project and this was a good fit. With STEM Director Derek Smith’s direction, the 2 decided that the CNC Machine at the STEM center seemed to be the answer – for inexpensive, plentiful wood cut outs of the houses.
Chary says: “I have an Austrian friend in Victoria who makes abstract ornamental cut outs (birds, angels, etc.) and then paints them in a folk art style. I have bought a lot from him to give as gifts for Christmas ornaments, decorative curtain pulls, to hang in windows, etc. I love them because they are hand made and no two are exactly alike. I thought that if we could get the house ornaments made, then perhaps island artists would be willing to take a dozen or so and decorate them.” Continue Reading
Posted May 14, 2019 at 5:47 am by Tim Dustrude
Cheesecake Cafe & Bakery on the Friday Harbor waterfront – SJ Update photo
San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce Featured Member of the Month
Emily and Margie Aipopo – Contributed photo
The Cheesecake Cafe and Bakery, located in the heart of the waterfront in Friday Harbor, is the Chamber’s Featured Member of the Month.
Opening at 6:30 every day, they serve full breakfast and don’t forget about the cheesecake! It is a very casual environment, where one can sit down next to a stranger and make a friend while enjoying a cup of their custom Salish Sunrise coffee blend.
Also featured is the hand battered fish and chips at the Fish+Brew location. It is located directly between the Cheesecake Cafe and the ferry landing. According to Margie and Emily “it is such a joy to share this beautiful space with visitors and our locals”.
Margie has been in business for herself for 20 years, with her main location being in the Anacortes Ferry Landing. When she lost her contract 3 years ago Emily moved home from Hawaii to join forces to expand the cafe into a full running kitchen and bakery.
Moving just to the other side of the Ferry Landing they worked for three months at the beginning of 2017 to make this space homey to share with everyone. With local wood from here on the island to Margie’s personal cookie jar collection displayed here at the Cafe, they sure do feel right at home on the waterfront.
Posted May 14, 2019 at 5:46 am by Tim Dustrude
Let’s all go to the movies this Friday, May 17th at the Fairgrounds! Join us at dusk for the animated Disney Pixar film Brave.
Admission is first come, first served. Parking begins at 8:30PM, and tickets are $5/person or $20 for family of 5. The Drive-In Movie will start just after dark. Audio is tuned in through the FM dial of your car radio, larger vehicles (or vehicles with storage containers on top) will be parked in the second row or further back.
Drive-In concessions will be available for purchase, and proceeds will benefit San Juan County Fairgrounds.
Questions? Please call 360-378-4310, email [email protected] or visit our website www.sjcfair.org.
Posted May 14, 2019 at 5:45 am by Tim Dustrude
Superintendent Kari McVeigh – Contributed photo
Dear Fabulous Community Members,
It is so nice to see that spring has finally arrived with warmer weather and flowers blooming. In the schools, lots of blooming has been happening, too. To start, our arts programs both Band and Fine Arts have had stellar accomplishments. Our Art students placed four of the eight winning entrants in the Northwest ESD regional competition and two of eight at the State level competition.
Band programs earned Superior ratings in their concert competitions. Although the students created these wins, special kudos must go out to their teachers, Andy Anderson and Cart Nelsen for the inspiring instruction and mentorship that led both groups to such high honors. Truly amazing work from our small high school!
Our student athletes have continued to rock their respective sports. Our girls soccer team and boys basketball both took league championships and our football team was one of the two co-league champions. Both fast pitch and baseball won league titles as did our golf team, and wrestling sent two athletes to the state tournament. Great coaching and strong athletic talent made all of these teams winners! Continue Reading
Posted May 14, 2019 at 5:43 am by Tim Dustrude
Stay Active and move your body through the summer! Moving Parts and Healthy Hearts is a fitness class aimed at meeting the needs of people with limited mobility due to age, illness or lifestyle.
The class will be a full body workout that can be carried out standing or seated in a chair. Participation in this class will help individuals maintain or improve their balance, strength, endurance and range of motion.
Katerina Wen leads the class. Class meets on Tuesdays at the Village at the Harbour, 10:45-11:30am & Thursdays at the Dance Workshop II, 10:45-11:30am. Register by Thursday May 23rd for the June/July Session, that is fast approaching.
For more information, visit our website, www.islandrec.org, drop by our office; 580 Guard St, Mon-Fri 11am-5pm, or call us at (360) 378-4953.
Posted May 14, 2019 at 5:41 am by Tim Dustrude
The San Juan County Canvassing Board will hold a special meeting to review and adopt the Canvassing Board manual for San Juan County on Tuesday, June 4.
The County Canvassing Board provides oversight of elections in the county. Its duties include canvassing ballots, ruling on the validity of questioned or challenged ballots, verifying all unofficial returns, and producing the official county canvass report. The Canvassing Board is comprised of the County Auditor, Prosecuting Attorney, and Chair of the County Council.
The Canvassing Board manual is the administrative rules for guiding and governing the county’s election process. The manual is adopted and updated as needed in open public meetings. As with meetings of the County Council, all Canvassing Board meetings are advertised and open to the public.
The meeting to review the Canvassing Board manual will convene on June 4, 2019, at 8:15 am in the San Juan County Elections office at 55 2nd St., Suite A, in Friday Harbor, WA. If necessary, the board may reconvene at 3:00 pm on June 4, 2019, in the same location.
All interested members of the public are invited to observe. For further information, contact the San Juan County Elections Office at (360) 378-3357.
Posted May 13, 2019 at 5:51 am by Tim Dustrude
Jennifer Armstrong, Director, SJI Family Resource Center; Samantha Bryner, FH Kiwanis; and Doug Popham, President, FH Kiwanis – Contributed photo
The FH Kiwanis Club presented a check for $1,000 to the San Juan Island Family Resource Center at their May 2 meeting.
In accepting the donation, Family Resource Center Director Jennifer Armstrong said “The Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center is so grateful for the ongoing support of the Kiwanis Club of Friday Harbor. Our shared focus on helping to enriching the lives of children and youth in our community make this an especially meaningful collaboration. Our many Family Resource Center programs, such as Youth Mentoring and Early Childhood Supports, will definitely benefit from the generosity of Friday Harbor Kiwanis members!”
The Kiwanis Club meets the 1st and 3rd Thursday’s at noon at Friday Harbor House.
Posted May 13, 2019 at 5:46 am by Tim Dustrude
Come check out the stars and constellations with the SkyDome Planetarium, at the Friday Harbor Elementary School gym on Friday, May 17 at 6:30 pm.
Inside an inflatable planetarium, a SkyDome educator will lead you on a journey through space.
All ages welcome- children must be accompanied by an adult.
Please register at the Library as space is limited.
Posted May 13, 2019 at 5:45 am by Tim Dustrude
Mitchell Point Community members with Island Grind’s equipment and the banner from NFPA – Contributed photo
Nancy Miller, Mitchell Point Firewise Representative shares this Firewise update with you…
Debris waiting to be chipped – Contributed photo
May 4, 2019 was Wildfire Community Preparedness Day and the Mitchell Point Firewise Community on San Juan Island received a $500.00 grant from the National Fire Protection Association and State Farm Insurance to help fund their “Chipper Day.”
With the funding award and additional money contributed by community members, the neighborhood hired Ben Bailey of Island Grind to assist in the clean up and removal of large quantities of dead branches and ladder fuels.
Residents collected the debris during the month prior to the actual removal date and the volume after chipping was over 15 yards.
Posted May 13, 2019 at 5:43 am by Tim Dustrude
The positive aspects of change
Coming soon to Mullis Center: A program to educate people about the importance and positive aspects of aging and dying. We believe in honoring an individual’s right to a peaceful passing.
This workshop will provide the knowledge and tools for you to make sound choices in life. It will refresh your preconceived conceptions about the final process. You will go away feeling empowered and inspired, both for yourself and for those people that you deeply care for.
Space is limited, contact us to register by June 8th: [email protected] or (360) 472-0322
Highlights: Continue Reading
Posted May 13, 2019 at 5:41 am by Tim Dustrude
Lopez Island, Wash. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced it is seeking public nominations for four open positions on the San Juan Islands National Monument Advisory Committee (MAC). The nomination period is open until June 13, 2019.
The BLM’s Resource Advisory Councils (RACs), of which the MAC is one, help the Bureau carry out its multiple-use mission and stewardship of 245 million acres of public lands.
The Bureau, which manages more land than any other Federal agency, has 36 RACs across the West, where most BLM-managed land is located. Each RAC consists of 10 to 15 members with an interest or expertise in energy and mineral development, ranching, outdoor recreation, conservation, state and local government, tribal and cultural resources, and academia.
The diverse membership of each RAC helps ensure BLM land managers receive the varying perspectives they need to achieve their mission of managing the public lands for multiple uses.
“Resource Advisory Councils provide the BLM with vital feedback on current issues, concerns and proposals, and enable us to engage local communities and stakeholders to improve our management of public lands,” said Acting BLM State Director Theresa Hanley. “Our goal is to ensure that the membership of every RAC encompasses a wide variety of perspectives and backgrounds to guide our work as effectively as possible.”
Continue Reading
Posted May 13, 2019 at 5:41 am by Tim Dustrude
SJI Grange invites you a presentation on May 16 – Hemp: History, Legislation, Cultivation, & the Farm Bill.
Bonny Jo Peterson, Executive Director of the Industrial Hemp Association of Washington will cover the history of hemp and its uses, the difference between hemp and marijuana, changes to the Farm Bill, and growing hemp on a small/homestead scale tailored to the Islands.
Check out this article on Spokane’s Spokesman-Review website speculating on whether hemp could be Washington’s next cash crop.
This event is Co-sponsored by the Lopez and San Juan Island #966 Granges and is FREE, but donations are appreciated.
The San Juan Island Grange #966 is nonpartisan, and so is this event. All are welcome, including kids!
The Grange strives to support a resilient community of growers, makers and keepers, to foster social and political engagement, and to maintain our Hall as a home for celebrations and programs.
Posted May 12, 2019 at 9:11 am by Tim Dustrude
Eagle on the Bank – Kevin Holmes photo
Kevin Holmes spotted this eagle earlier this week eating lunch on the bank at Roche Harbor and caught this image as it was flying away. Thanks for sharing Kevin!
Posted May 10, 2019 at 5:47 am by Tim Dustrude
Meet Guss, the SJC K-9 – Contributed photo
San Juan County Sheriff Ron Krebs recently swore in the newest member of his team. Guss, an 18-month-old sable German shepherd, was welcomed to the Sheriff’s staff this week.
Guss’s handler, Jay Holt, has been a Deputy in the islands for the past year. Holt worked previously with the Burlington Police Department.
Sheriff Krebs indicated the main role for his new K-9 team will be drug detection. “We’re working hard to fight all illegal drug use and trafficking in the islands, and we think the addition of a K-9 unit will help us out significantly in that effort.”
Holt and Guss will be training closely together over the next couple of months. Their education will consist of searches of vehicles, open areas, and buildings among other skills. As Holt highlights, “The training is as much for me as it is for Guss, just learning how he works, and making sure we both understand the right way to operate safely and respectfully in the community.”
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