Jenny Harris – Tim Dustrude photo

Meet Jenny Harris of Catkin Design. Jenny has recently started a new garden design and consulting business here in Friday Harbor. “Catkin is a new iteration of my horticultural life” she says.

Originally called appropriate horticulture, what Jenny does is now called Ecological Design – a self sustaining kind of garden design that is supportive of all the natural processes and biological organisms involved, such as insects, birds, mammals and pollinators as well as the plants themselves. Jenny studied and worked in horticulture in California before moving to Lopez Island in 1993 and now has made Friday Harbor her home as of 2014.

She recently traveled to Europe, and attended an Ecological Design horticultural symposium in Essex, UK that stressed the New Perennial Movement. She wants to bring those ideas back here to San Juan Island. 

So how is Catkin different? Continue Reading

“The fate of poetry is to fall in love with the world”
~Poet and playwright, Derek Walcott

Some call poetry the caviar of literature. Others call it nitroglycerin: intense, powerful, explosive.

This spring, join poet Jill McCabe Johnson and fall in love with the world of poetry. Jill will guide the class in an exploration of traditions and innovations in poetic form, content, and technique. Participants will read and write across a wide range of poetry, with the option of sharing drafts in a supportive setting. All levels of experience, from beginner to advanced, are welcome.

Cost of class: $90.00.

Mondays and Wednesdays, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm, April 10th through June 19th, 2019.

Please call the San Juan Center of Skagit Valley College at (360) 378-3220 for more information or to register.

The San Juan County Land Bank and San Juan Preservation Trust invite you to welcome spring with a 5 mile “Up and Over” hike of Turtleback Mountain Preserve!
 
We will depart promptly at 1pm from the South Trailhead parking area (Deer Harbor Road/Wild Rose Lane) on board a Camp Orkila bus to the North Trailhead. From there it’s “up and over” the mountain on an amazingly beautiful 5 mile hike back to your car. 
 
Be sure to dress for the weather, bring water/snacks and, most importantly, friends!
 
Pre-registration is required; please contact Tanja Williamson at 378-4402 or[email protected].

EDC to Offer Free Low Voltage/Fiber Optic Training at Friday Harbor High School

The San Juan County Economic Development Council (EDC) is partnering with Rock Island to offer free training in low voltage wiring and fiber optic installation at Friday Harbor High School this April.  This latest class in the EDC’s Trades Education Initiative is sponsored by the Washington State Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund, the Washington State Department of Commerce, Rock Island, and the San Juan Island School District.

The course will be taught by Rock Island Staff and will cover essential concepts in fiber optic design and installation, modern home networks, practical wiring, and what to expect from a career path in this trade. 

The curriculum includes lectures, safety/tool usage demonstrations, field trips, and hands-on projects.  All materials and tools will be provided.  This program is intended for young people and career-changers considering a career in the trades.  The course will benefit participating students as well as local employers.  This class is free to residents of San Juan County, but space is limited and requires pre-registration as well as a filing fee of $10. Continue Reading

Local Student Named National Geographic GeoBee Washington State Competition Semifinalist by National Geographic Society

• Student’s Name: Henry Jensen
• School Name and Address: Friday Harbor Elementary School
• Grade Level: 5th

The above-named student has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2019 National Geographic GeoBee Washington State Competition. The contest will be held at Highline College in Des Moines, Washington on Friday, March 29, 2019.

This is the second level of the National Geographic GeoBee competition, which is now in its 31st year. School GeoBees were held in schools with fourth- through eighth-grade students throughout the state to determine each school champion. School champions then took an online qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. The National Geographic Society has invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete in the State GeoBees. Continue Reading

L to R: Firefighter Brien Sesby and Fire Chief Norvin Collins – Contributed photo

The San Juan Island Fire and Rescue Department is proud to announce the March 2019 Firefighter of the Month.

Firefighter Brien Sesby was selected Firefighter of the Month due to his commitment to clear access at the Mullis Street fire station during the big February snow storm. Having clear and safe routes for emergency equipment as well as clear parking areas for responding firefighters helped keep San Juan Island Fire and Rescue ready for immediate response in challenging conditions.

Brien is always coming through to support wildland fire fighting by bringing his heavy equipment magic to support and expedite the tough work wildland firefighters must accomplish. Brien has been a long-time firefighter involved with various aspects of the Department over time, including transporting the Children’s Safety House used for public education events several times over the years.

The Fire Commissioners and Chief are grateful for all Brien does for both the department and our community. We congratulate Brien for his dedication and his service.

# # #

The San Juan Island Fire & Rescue was established on October 6, 1958. The fire department covers about 55 square miles, includes all of San Juan Island, as well as Brown and Pearl Islands. For more information, please visit http://www.sjifire.org/

Study ballet and contemporary dance with Jeanne Peihl at Salish Sea Ballet during Spring Break! Dancers will work on learning and improving dance technique, creating choreography, and producing a short performance for end of camp. Please bring socks or ballet slippers, a snack, and water bottle. This camp, for ages 8-12, runs from 1:30-4pm, April 9-12th

A minimum of 9 participants is needed by the early fee ($82 before/$87 after) deadline of 3/26.

Join Salish Sea Ballet as we bring storybook ballet to life! We will explore the story of Sleeping Beauty through dance, art, and creative movement games. There will be a short performance for family at the end of camp. Please bring socks or ballet slippers, a snack, and water bottle. This camp, for ages 3-5, runs from 9-12pm, April 8-10^th.

A minimum of 8 participants is needed by the early fee ($68 before/$73 after) deadline of 3/25.

For more information or to register call 360-378-4953, visit www.islandrec.org, or stop by our office at 580 Guard Street, 11am-5pm, Monday through Friday.

The San Juan County Department of Emergency Management and Economic Development Council are teaming up to present a training on Disaster Preparedness for Small Businesses. This concise class will provide basic information about the risks to the islands, and will offer some simple tools and approaches to help businesses prepare.

Tuesday, March 26th:

8:30am – 10:30am at Heritage Bank, 535 Market Street in Friday Harbor

and

1:30pm – 3:30pm at Orcas Island Library, 500 Rose Street in Eastsound

In order to participate, please register online at: http://www.sanjuandem.net/2019BusinessPrep 

In the SJ Update mailbag today we find this letter from Kyle Wall, a Senior Account Executive with the Seattle based public relations firm The Fearey Group, sharing this statement from the Pacific Whale Watch Association on the passing of HB 1580 in the Washington State House and SB 5577 in the Senate…

“We have appreciated working with leaders in the House and Senate to bring forward science-based proposals that acknowledge that our waterways are shared, and recognize the PWWA as the sentinels of the Salish Sea for the Southern Residents as well as the region’s biggest vessel-based conservationists.  

The PWWA has been leading efforts based on the science and understanding of underwater sound for decades with input from some of the world’s top scientists, and we look forward to working with Governor Inslee’s Task Force moving forward on finding the best science-based solutions for the future of all whales in the Salish Sea – including the mammal-eating Bigg’s whales that are currently thriving in the same acoustic environment as the Southern Residents.

We all have more work to do to enhance our salmon runs and address the key issue facing the Southern Residents – the lack of Chinook salmon.

As we always have, we will continue to educate our guests and the general public about responsible ecotourism, and ways to assist in volunteering and conservation efforts.”

There will be a Port Commission Meeting at 271 Front Street ( that’s the Port meeting room, under San Juan Yacht Club) today – Wednesday, March 13th, at 4:00 pm.

Click here to see the Meeting Agenda

Local health coach and Qigong instructor Stephanie Prima is featured in the current top-selling health book in the country, ‘31-Day Food Revolution,’ written by Ocean Robbins, founder of the Food Revolution Network (FRN).

The book is an impeccably researched yet charmingly accessible guide to using nutrient-dense foods to leverage greater health for you while also healing the planet. Stephanie’s work teaching a whole plant-based foods diet is highlighted in two chapters in the book.

Stephanie says, “I met Ocean several years ago on the last river rafting retreat that FRN sponsored. He is authentic, and a passionate leader for a dietary lifestyle that promotes the health of humans while protecting the health of the planet and respecting the well-being of all creatures. His work and examples have been my inspiration for years and are what I teach my clients.”  

Stephanie Prima – Contributed photo

The book became a national best seller right after it was released on February 5^th. You can order your copy through Griffin Bay Bookstore or your favorite on-line retailer.

Stephanie Prima, owner of Move Into Mindfulness LLC, is a Holistic Health Coach, certified Qigong instructor, and authorized instructor of Tai Ji Quan: Moving For Better Balanceâ (TJQMBB). She teaches classes and works with private clients to help people age with less pain and the energy of a much younger person.

After many months of planning and testing, the SJI Community Foundation is excited to unveil its brand-new website. The completely redesigned site is thoughtfully presented to help donors, nonprofits and students easily access the many services provided by the Foundation, including grants, fund management and scholarships. The site features fillable forms, links to vital resources and is much more organized for easier navigation.

You can explore the new site at SJICF.org.

In January, following the passing of Eric Parsons, beloved Board Chair of the Foundation for the past 2 years, the SJICF Board of Directors unanimously elected Scott Boden as the new Chair. Scott joined the SJICF board in 2005. He has served as the Grants Committee Chair and Co-Chair of the Youth in Philanthropy program.

“It’s an honor to be elected to lead the board of such a valuable community asset. I’m eager to continue to help SJICF build on previous successes as we enter our 25^th year serving San Juan Islanders,” said Scott.

Carrie Unpingco, Executive Director of SJICF, added, “We’re taking a fresh look at the services we offer the community and how we can best deliver them. From increased nonprofit support to improved donor and community engagement, dynamic tools will help us better meet community needs. There’s more to come this summer! We hope everyone will visit our website or visit our office to learn more about what we do. There are opportunities for anyone wanting to help build a healthy community.” Continue Reading

Are you looking for a way to serve your community? San Juan County Elections is looking for persons with disabilities, and providers of services to persons with disabilities, to serve on the Disability Advisory Committee. 

Washington State Law requires every county to have a Disability Advisory Committee. The committee must include persons with disabilities, and may include any interested person. One purpose of the Disability Advisory Committee is to provide input to the county elections department regarding accommodations to ensure equal access to voters with disabilities. The objective is to ensure that all voters are able to vote independently and privately.

San Juan County’s Disability Advisory Committee has assisted in the past by testing access for wheelchairs and making recommendations for improvement. It has also tested the County’s Accessible Voting Unit (AVU) and reviewed the County’s accessibility plan.

If you are interested, please contact the San Juan County Elections office at (360) 378-3357 or [email protected].

Skagit Valley College Marine Maintenance Technology program receives Evinrude outboard engine

 Evinrude’s donation of $2 million in engines to the American Boat and Yacht Council Foundation will help train the next generation of Marine Technicians

The Skagit Valley College Marine Maintenance Technology program is pleased to announce that it has received a new outboard engine — donated by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Foundation and Evinrude and valued at $20k — that will enhance student training opportunities at SVC’s Marine Technology Center in Anacortes, Washington. SVC’s new engine is part of a significant $2 million donation of Evinrude ETEC G2 3.4L V6 outboard engines to the ABYC Foundation, supporting next generation marine technician training.

Evinrude, the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) and the National Marine Distributors Association (NMDA) made the initial donation announcement on February 14^th at the Miami Boat Show. The donation, which is the largest of its kind in history, will support students in high school and college training programs across the United States and Canada. Continue Reading

In the mailbag this morning here’s a letter from Sally Spicer of OrcaSong Farm on Orcas Island…

I am writing this letter to beg the San Juan County Land Bank to invest the funds necessary to save the San Juan County agricultural institution that is Coffelt Farm. Only with the Land Bank’s help can we rebuild Coffelt Farm and help it be what it so desperately wants to be: a self sustaining, non profit farm that is dedicated to passing on the traditions and practices of the farmers who came before. This country, this county and this island cannot afford to lose another small farm due to a lack of proper infrastructure and funding. Continue Reading

Mrs. Hallock, Haley Rennick and Eve Hulse – Ted Strutz photo

Ted Strutz shares this photo of the winners of last week’s Rotary Spelling Bee…

I thought you might like to have a photo from the spelling bee that the Rotary Club conducted.

Here is winner Eve Hulse and runner-up Haley Rennick (in the middle) and their teacher Mrs Hallock of the Paideia Classical School. They are both in the 8th grade. So this class scored big time as there were cash awards to the kid’s class for first and second place.  

And Carla Wright, Public Relations with Rotary adds more to the story… Continue Reading