Photo credit: Global Diving & Salvage

Brendan Cowan from the San Juan County Department of Emergency Management shares his appreciation for all of the people involved in the Aleutian Isle recovery efforts.

After 40 days of challenging and complex work, the Aleutian Isle has been lifted fully out of the water and onto a barge for transport to mainland.

The islands are so appreciative of the large team of people that made this happen and are grateful the operation happened without serious injury to any responder.

Despite this effort perhaps appearing simple at first glance, it is difficult to convey the scale and complexity of what occurred and the challenges faced along the way.

First, thanks to Global Diving & Salvage, Inc. The ingenuity, courage, and perseverance of their team, along with the Manson Marine Construction crew, was remarkable to witness. US Ecology capably handled much of the on-water pollution control, with the help of Marty Chevalier and his crew, the Islands’ Oil Spill Association, Deb Fritz and TowBoatUS out of Friday Harbor, and Pintail Marine.

Focus Wildlife’s team spent days and days on the water helping to minimize wildlife impacts, and a whole team of local marine mammal experts from the Whale Museum, SeaDoc, and others were on the water or on call throughout to help with orca monitoring and deterrence.

The local community really stepped up, housing and feeding responders and showing island hospitality to responders who spent more than a month away from their homes and families to support the response. In particular, Candace Ragsdale and the rest of the team at Roche Harbor were remarkable with their support amidst their busiest time of year. San Juan Island Fire & Rescue shared bunk space with responders and Friday Harbor Labs went above and beyond with finding sleeping space. Many other local hotels and rental operators worked extra hard to accommodate the team.

Last but not least, a huge thank you to our agency partners who literally embedded themselves in our community over this response. The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Northwest has had staff on-island from day one, and they’ve truly been a pleasure to work with. Washington State Department of Ecology’s team has been a calm and steady presence and their field staff have dropped everything in their lives to mobilize to the island. The Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife team were committed and highly competent. Swinomish Tribe has strongly supported this effort from the beginning and their patrol boats have been a steady presence on the water. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists have supported with weather and tidal modeling, and Canadian responders from the Coast Guard and Fisheries and Oceans have provided expert support as well.

And finally, I want to mention that the owners of the vessel have been vested and committed to supporting this response from the very beginning. A common and understandable reaction following a crisis of any kind is to find someone to blame or vilify, and while an investigation is ongoing, rest assured that the local Washington family that owns this boat has been devastated by the repercussions but 100 percent devoted to the response.

There is always a danger when compiling lists of leaving someone vital off — and to those I have, just know that the work that went into this was a true testament to the amazing things that happen when good people put their minds and hearts to something and work smoothly together to achieve it. Thank you one and all!

San Juan Island School District sends along news about awards granted to three local high schoolers.

Three Friday Harbor High School students have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program: junior Ava Martin, junior Siena Traynor, and senior Islay Ross. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that help them meaningfully connect to nationwide colleges and stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs identify students awarded national African American, Hispanic, Indigenous or rural/small town recognition through College Board’s Student Search Service.

“I am extremely grateful to attend Friday Harbor High School and my experiences in [Advanced Placement] have been overwhelmingly positive,” Ava says. “All of the teachers have done a fantastic job helping me learn and they have provided a tremendous amount of support. My AP U.S. History teacher, Ms. Caldwell, went above and beyond when helping me prepare for the exam. I am very grateful that Friday Harbor High is able to provide me with so many AP course options.”

“Even though the size of Friday Harbor High School can make it difficult for classes to be the most competitive, I appreciated the support from my teachers last year,” Siena explains. “Perhaps most importantly, I love the way it feels when you open a textbook and the rest of the world disappears even though it also connects to everything you’re reading. While you’re sitting there, only the text, then the little highlighted portions remain. That is the kind of opportunity and experience that an AP class allows you to have.”

“It’s easy to feel limited when you come from such a tiny island, but the arts community is so special here,” Islay says. “I’m lucky to have grown up surrounded by unique and supportive people:

the sculptor who showed me how to see shapes in wood;
the painter who taught me the planes of the face;
the artist who walked me through my first life-size sculpture;
the locals who come together for drawing group on Tuesday nights;
the restaurant owners who offered to hang my art on their walls;
my art teacher who would talk through a piece with me for hours;
my mom who lets me use her art studio;
my dad who carries my six-foot canvases around;
and anyone who’s ever told me to keep making art.” Continue Reading

Friends of the San Juans share news about their latest legal victory in support of Southern Resident killer whales.

Fossil-fuel giant Phillips 66 submitted a request to rescind their permit application to construct two new storage tanks in Ferndale, WA, following a multi-year litigation process initiated by Friends of the San Juans. If the storage tanks had been built, they would have increased the Phillips 66 Ferndale Refinery’s operational storage capacity by almost ten percent.

In 2019, Phillips 66 applied for a permit to expand its fossil-fuel storage facilities in Ferndale. But in its permit application, Phillips 66 neglected to include predictions of how many additional vessels would visit the refinery. Since scientific data clearly shows that increases in vessel traffic result in greater impacts and risks to the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales, such predictions are required in facility expansion permits. On that basis, Friends, along with multiple community members, objected to the permit. Subsequently, Friends of the San Juans pursued legal actions to ensure that protections for the Southern Residents were upheld by Whatcom County.

In an email rescinding the permit application, Phillips 66 stated, “the company has decided to cancel the IMO Tank Project. This decision was largely based on the protracted permitting process and resulting restrictions imposed on the project.”

Phillips 66’s decision is the direct result of its unsuccessful appeal of the Hearing Examiner’s decision in Superior Court and to the Court of Appeals. The restrictions imposed on the project included an ongoing vessel traffic monitoring condition that would ensure that the new storage tanks would not increase vessel traffic, as Phillips 66 stated in its permit application. This contested permit condition was included to ensure that the project would not increase adverse vessel traffic impacts on the Southern Resident killer whales and the Salish Sea ecosystem. Phillips 66’s withdrawal of the permit raises the question of whether Phillips 66 was being completely honest in stating — in the permit application and throughout the litigation process — that the two new storage tanks would not increase vessel traffic.

“The ongoing monitoring of vessel traffic should be a permit condition for all projects that could increase vessel traffic,” said Lovel Pratt, Friends of the San Juans Marine Protection and Policy Director. “This will ensure that the impacts related to increased vessel traffic are addressed.”

Friends of the San Juans continues to monitor applications for projects that could increase vessel traffic in the Salish Sea, and engages in permit review processes to ensure that increased vessel traffic and associated impacts and risks are addressed.

I recently read in the news of a proposed zoning change for the current commercial lots on the corner of Malcom and Argyle in Friday Harbor. As an adjoining property owner, I strongly oppose this zoning change for multiple reasons.

The current commercial zoning allows far more flexibility; a mixed-use development of both residential and commercial would be a better use of this development near town. Plus, mixed use allows for much needed workforce housing to be built, which is not allowed for multi-family zones but is allowed in commercial use.

Commercial zoning should be maintained on the Argyle and Malcom lot, or at the very least give the developer the option based on sound economic principles. It should also be maintained because commercial zoning allows for 51% improvements in the form of ground floor commercial suites and 49% second floor or off-street live work/space, even with a 50% reduction in allowable lot coverage to maintain the historical integrity that includes a 30-foot greenbelt setback from Argyle.

Reducing the project from 60% lot coverage allowed to 30%, there is still more than 21,000 square feet of lot coverage allowed for mixed use development.

Any plan should hold a portion in reserve for open space, parking or future development; all paving surfaces should be permeable; and all plants should be either food producing or endemic.

Lynn Danaher
Argyle Suites
Friday Harbor

The Library shares their appreciation for community members who supported the organization’s inclusivity initiative during last month’s County Fair Giving Campaign.

The San Juan Island Library is bursting with gratitude for the donors who gave to our Inclusivity Initiative grant featured at this year’s San Juan Island Community Foundation County Fair Giving Campaign.

More than 50 people contributed during the four days of the Fair and helped the Library earn a $1,000 match from SJICF. The $6,200 raised will be put to use immediately by purchasing a service to translate the online library catalog for Spanish-speaking patrons. Over the next year, remaining funds will help host a variety of speakers to celebrate the voices of BIPOC and LGBTQNIA2S+ writers, historians, and artists as part of the adult programs offered at the Library.

Special thanks to SJICF for continuing to provide this wonderful opportunity for local nonprofits at the Fair.

• Both of Friday Harbor High School’s soccer teams won yesterday. The boys beat Orcas Island 1-0 on the road, while the girls knocked off Granite Falls 3-2 at home.
• A fundraiser was held at the tennis courts at the high school on Saturday to raise money for a bench in memory of Ellyn Goodrich, a beloved local player who passed away Aug. 31. The event raised $650.
• The espresso machine is back in service at Bakery San Juan. The espresso bar is open from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Prior-year free and reduced lunch applications with the San Juan Island School District expire in three weeks. Applications for the 2022-23 school year are due on Wednesday, Oct. 12.
• The Library’s free Messy Me event, which provides sensory bins filled with interesting materials and textures for kids ages 2-5 to play with, takes place in the Friday Harbor Elementary School gym from 2:30-4 p.m. today.
• Here are the week’s specials at Market Place and Kings.
• Thanks to our advertisers for their continued support of the San Juan Update — including Vote Yes For Our SJ Library.

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

SJCT sends along news about the first performance of its 2022-23 season.

San Juan Community Theatre begins its 2022-23 Season with Mauritius, written by Theresa Rebeck. The play centers around two estranged sisters who inherit a valuable stamp collection, and their conflicting ideas of what to do with it.

Director Nathan Kessler-Jeffrey was inspired to take on the play because the story is “…intense, scary, and dramatic. The pacing is phenomenal; the conflict between the characters is present in every single moment of the play. This is one of [Theresa Rebeck’s] best shows.”

Opening night is Thursday, Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and the shows run through Sunday, Oct. 16.

Tickets are $24 for adults, $13 for students, and $5 for student rush tickets. Thursdays are pay what you can admission at the door —  including opening night. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 360-378-3210 or visit the SJCT website.

Coldwell Banker San Juan Islands is looking for a year-round full-time Receptionist/Front Desk Manager. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.

• The saga of the sunken Aleutian Isle fishing vessel continues. After being raised to the surface over the weekend and having nearly 800 gallons of contaminated water removed, recovery crews determined that inaccessible pockets of water still on board the vessel made it too heavy to lift onto a recovery barge. Crews additionally discovered that the current placement of the rigging places excess stress on the vessel’s structure, which could cause it to break apart when raised. Yesterday the vessel and recovery crane were moved to shallower water in Mitchell Bay, where it will be possible for crews to de-fuel, de-water, and re-rig the vessel, and surround the entire operation with booms to prevent contaminants from escaping the area.
• The National Transportation Safety Board has released a preliminary report about the Labor Day weekend crash of a floatplane that had departed from Friday Harbor. Recovery efforts for the plane are expected to begin next week.
• The third annual scarecrow contest takes place this October. The Chamber of Commerce will be accepting registrations from Oct. 8-15, and then the scarecrows will be on display around town for community judging from Oct. 20-28. Email [email protected] to learn more about registration. The contest is also sponsored by the Friends of the San Juan Island Library.
• Saltaire Vineyard is hosting an open house this weekend — Friday through Sunday — from noon to 6 p.m. each day. There will be vineyard tours, wine tasting, and bottle sales. You can bring a picnic with you if you’d like. Saltaire is located at 3166 Pear Point Rd.
• The Land Bank’s San Juan Island stewardship staff invite the public to a tour of the upcoming eco-restoration of Garry oak habitat on the west side of Mount Grant Preserve. The event takes place on Friday, Sept. 30 from 2-4:30 p.m. and advance registration is required.
• Thanks to our advertisers for their continued support of the San Juan Update — including Simonson & Zambrovitz.

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

We moved to Friday Harbor in 2017 and met Ron over coffee and street chats shortly thereafter. Through our conversations we have gotten to know Ron and have come to appreciate his professional competence and as importantly his love of community and his genuine concern for people. Additionally, we sense a fairness in listening and embracing “the rest of the story” mindset as law enforcement requires discerning judgement. We have personally seen him on his days off reach out to others in need and lend a helping hand. We can’t imagine a more suitable Sheriff for our islands than Ron Krebs.

Jerry and Debbie Mercer
San Juan Island

Local volunteers for the Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors program share news about their upcoming informational session.

If you turn 65 this year, you need to get ready to enroll in Medicare. Depending on your circumstances Social Security may enroll you automatically. Otherwise you will have to submit an application to get Medicare coverage. Our presentation will help you understand whether you need to submit an application.

People enrolled in Medicare have decisions to make about how they will be covered. To make an informed decision you will need to understand a lot of new information. Medicare has its own vocabulary and rules. There are deadlines you need to meet and penalties — some lasting a lifetime — for not doing things at the right time. SHIBA’s online presentation will explain all of these terms and rules.

You will have to choose among several ways to receive your coverage. Medicare covers most health issues, but not everything. There are also federal and state programs available to help people with very low incomes and limited assets pay their Medicare premium and reduce their drug costs, and in some cases their Medicare copays and deductibles. Our presentation will give you the tools you need to make your decisions.

Join SHIBA volunteers tomorrow, Sept. 20, at 1 p.m. To register, email [email protected] or call 360-376-5892. You’ll need to provide your first name, last name, and email address.

SHIBA is overseen by the state’s Office of the Insurance Commissioner to provide free, unbiased, confidential counseling in San Juan County. The organization is sponsored locally by the Inter Island Healthcare Foundation.

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor shares a look at the adoptable animals of the week — two younger chihuahuas who came to San Juan Island by way of Bakersfield, California.

We’re Moxie and Tilly and we’ve been besties ever since meeting a few years ago in a coffee shop we both frequented. We formed a fast friendship and bonded over our shared appreciation for a good cuddle — us chihuahuas are known for it after all! Soon we were spending all our coffee shop hours together as we teamed up to create and launch our YouTube series and blog, Cuddle Culture, the success of which has led us to be the wellness influencers that we are today. We aim to educate all to the therapeutic and health benefits to cuddling. We also discuss the culture, recent science, current trends, and how-to’s of a good cuddle.

Although we don’t plan on slowing down on social media, we are at a point in our lives where we’re ready to find our forever family. As besties and business partners, we are determined to find a family that will take us both. Although we love cuddling we require gentleness and for this reason are hoping for a kid-free home.

Learn more about Moxie and Tilly here.

The Town of Friday Harbor is looking for two full-time Utility Workers for its Water and Wastewater departments. Learn more in the Island Jobs section of the San Juan Update.