Monday February 11: San Juan Island School District is on a two hour delayed start schedule and buses will be on snow routes.

Thanks to John Miller for this drone shot at 300 ft elevation, of Roy Island and Dream Lake at Lakedale Sunday morning… click on photo to enlarge image.

Roy Island and Dream Lake at Lakedale – John Miller photo

Jordy is this week’s Pet of the Week – Contributed photo

Hello.  I’m Jordan and I’m currently residing at the animal shelter while taking applications for my prospective Valentine.  If you’re interested in being my Valentine you must:

• Like to cuddle on the sofa
• Keep a regular and abundant inventory of tasty snacks
• Have lots of dog toys that squeak
• Enjoy going for walks
• Be patient with small dogs who have not had an easy life
• Promise to love me forever

If you have the above qualifications, I’d be very interested in being your Valentine!  I’ll be conducting interviews all week! 

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
994 Cattle Point Road
(360) 378-2158

More snow and wind is said to be on the way this afternoon/evening. Meanwhile, much of the snow we had has cleared but use caution, it is still very icy out there. From the National Weather Service…

We hear from Maria Michaelson at Alchemy Art Center…

Alchemy Art Center’s New Print Studio – Liza Michaelson photo

Thank you such very much to everyone who made it out to our 2-D Grand Opening, what a wonderful success!  We inaugurated our new studios with about 150 friends and supporters who got to see Mary Anne Rock’s prints and Virginia Van Camp’s paintings, and experience Malcolm Suttles’s stunning darkroom photo demonstration! 

Printmaking at Alchemy Art Studio – Glenn Hendrick photo

Now that the spaces are finished, we are accepting applications for 2-D Studio Membership.  Print Members can enjoy a facilitated open studio on Wednesday evenings from 6pm-9pm with our resident print expert, Annika Sanders.  Members wishing to work in the Photo Studio have multiple opportunities to bone up on their skills in darkroom classes with Danielle Dean this spring.  To learn more about becoming a Studio Member, and to check out our complete class listings, please visit our brand new, easy to use website.

Alchemy Art Center is also excited and grateful to announce that the San Juan Island Community Foundation is partnering with us to create a Tuition Assistance Program for our kids and youth classes! Thanks to their fundraising support, Alchemy will soon be able to offer arts programming to island kids regardless of their financial situation. Thank you Community Foundation for making this dream possible! If you would like to learn more about our kids classes, or to donate to our Tuition Assistance Fund, please visit our website.

Link to: Alchemy Art Center
Link to: kids classes
Link to: donate

Island Rec is excited to offer another installment of Swim Lessons at SJI Fitness! The fun starts with a Mid-Winter Break Swimming Beginner Skills Class (Ages 5+) 3:30-4 pm February 18 through the 22nd.

We also have classes for varying skills and ages that start February 25 such as Swimming Pre-K Water Play (Ages 4-5), Swimming Intermediate (Ages 7+), Swimming Parent and Child (Ages 6mo-3yrs), and Swimming Float School (Ages 7-12).

For more information on class dates, times, or registration visit www.islandrec.org; call 360-378-4953 or drop by the office at 580 Guard St.  Monday – Friday 11am-5pm.

Link to: Island Rec

Thanks to Nancy DeVaux for this photo of snow yesterday at third lagoon… click on photo for larger image…

Snow Covered Logs on Third Lagoon – Nancy DeVaux photo

Carnevale, a Venetian-themed masquerade ball will be held at the San Juan County Fairgrounds on Saturday, March 2 at 8pm.  Join us for a night of “dance, decadence, and debauchery.”  This event is sponsored by On Sacred Ground Land Trust, 501c3, and Bastion Brewing of Anacortes.  Dance the night away, enjoy scrumptious appetizers & revel in your Venetian themed disguise.  Early bird pricing is available until February 15th. 

On Sacred Ground Land Trust is a land trust that promotes a permaculture approach to interacting with our cherished planet, and is the fiscal sponsor for Ihiya Biological Reserve.  Ihiya was formed for the purpose of protecting an essential wetland so that it can exist unimpaired for wildlife and human appreciation, connection to nature, environmental education, and wild herbal medicine.  

For event details: https://www.facebook.com/howtocarnevalefridayharbor/

For tickets: https://bit.ly/2SBYBD1  (early bird pricing $25/person; $40/couple – after 2/15/19 $30/person or $50/couple)

Thanks to Colleen Bennett for this photo of yesterday’s snow… 

Snow in San Juan Valley – Colleen Bennett photo

Thanks to Cari Matthews for this great photo…

Hunter Matthews with Snowball – Cari Matthews photo

Thanks to Lorie and Todd Narum for this great photo…

Lorie Narum – Todd Narum photo

Rep Debra Lekanoff – Contributed photo

Rep. Debra Lekanoff earns first Fuse “Legislator of the Week” Award of 2019. The freshman representative is already leading on voting access and protecting Puget Sound.

Fuse Washington named Rep. Debra Lekanoff (D-Bow) as the “Legislator of the Week” for her work to expand voting access, protect Puget Sound, and help keep seniors and people with disabilities in their homes.

“Rep. Debra Lekanoff has hit the ground running in Olympia putting people first, both in her district and across the state,” said Fuse Campaign Director Jamielyn Wheeler. “She’s already making an impact in just her first few weeks on the job.”

Lekanoff is the prime sponsor of legislation to protect orcas by improving the safety of oil transportation in Puget Sound. In addition, Lekanoff is sponsoring a bill to reduce some property taxes for seniors, people with disabilities, and disabled veterans as well as the Working Families Tax Credit.  As if that weren’t enough for a freshman representative, Lekanoff is the prime sponsor of the Native American Voting Rights Act of Washington in the House, HB 1339. This would protect tribal members in Washington and prevent the type of discrimination Native Americans faced in North Dakota this last year.

“Lekanoff is using her office to advocate for those who are often left out of the political process,” Wheeler said. “We can’t wait to see what she accomplishes for the people of Northwest Washington in the months and years to come.”

Previous winners of the Legislator of the Week award include Rep. Christine Kilduff (D-University Place) for her work supporting veterans and Rep. Tana Senn (D-Mercer Island) for her work to ensure equal pay for women. 

Fuse Washington is the state’s largest progressive advocacy organization – people creating change online, on the ground, and on issues that matter most. Learn more at www.FuseWashington.org 

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer the Washington Basic Boater Education Course.  Everyone wishing to learn or share their safe boating skills as well as review our local boating regulations is invited to attend.  Upon successful completion of the course, attendees may submit a copy of their individual “Certificate of Accomplishment” with $10 to receive a Boater Education Card by the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission. 

All Washington residents must carry a Boater Education Card while on the water operating a power-boat greater than 15 horsepower.  This includes people over 12 years of age and born after January 1, 1955.  If you plan on boating in areas outside of the State of Washington, you should find out what their requirements are for boater education certifications. By getting your card, you help to ensure that you and our waterways remain safe.  You may also be able to reduce your boating insurance costs.

Date: March 7 and March 14 (two evenings)
Time: 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Skagit Valley College, 221 Weber Way, Friday Harbor
Cost: FREE: Bring snacks. Hot water provided.
Call to Register: John Ssalinas,541-660-5783 – [email protected]
                              Susan Eberhard, 360-378-3608
Link to Information: Mandatory Boater Education

Thanks to Katie Fleming at the Friends of the San Juans for sending us this report… 

Puget Sound Armoring* – Contributed photo

On February 6, a federal judge rejected an effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) to dismiss a lawsuit challenging its refusal to adequately protect shoreline areas in Puget Sound. The Court’s decision means the lawsuit, which charges that the agency has refused to assert its Clean Water Act jurisdiction over most shoreline armoring in Puget Sound, will go forward.

Sound Action, Washington Environmental Council, and Friends of the San Juans filed the suit in May of 2018. The groups contend a strong federal policy to protect shorelines is critical to Puget Sound recovery and the survival of endangered orcas.

The coalition, represented by the nonprofit environmental law firm Earthjustice, is calling for federal oversight of shoreline armoring by raising what the Corps’ Seattle District considers the “high tide line” to better protect at-risk species and shorelines. The lawsuit also calls for a response to the groups’ 2015 petition asking for jurisdictional decisions on four shoreline armoring projects.

“The Army Corps has been unlawfully limiting its jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act, allowing harmful shoreline armoring projects to move forward without proper oversight here in the Salish Sea. We’re glad to see that the case is moving forward,” said Jennifer Barcelos, attorney at Friends of the San Juans.

“The Army Corps should spend less time filing pointless motions in Court and more time getting on board with the rest of the region in protecting critical shoreline habitat,” said Anna Sewell of Earthjustice, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. “The Corps should stop fighting this lawsuit and start implementing the law so that Puget Sound’s salmon and Southern Resident orcas have a shot at survival.”

* Photo caption: Shoreline armoring, the placement of hard structures along shorelines to prevent erosion, poses a significant risk to the coastal habitats of Puget Sound. Photos courtesy of Ingrid Taylar, Flickr, Kyle Loring/Friends of the San Juans, Hugh Shipman/WA Department of Ecology