Fish for Teeth sponsors a mobile dental van for dental clinics on San Juan Island, three times a year – Contributed photo

Fish for Teeth brings free mobile dental clinic to Friday Harbor

Islanders unable to afford dental care can receive it for free thanks to the local nonprofit Fish for Teeth on Thursday, Jan. 10; Friday, Jan.11; and Saturday, Jan. 12. A mobile dental van will be parked in the Mullis Street parking lot shared by the Orca Inn and Heritage Bank.

“Many volunteers and local businesses work as a team to bring this service to those who cannot otherwise afford dental care,” said Fish for Teeth Founder Matt Marinkovich, a San Juan Island commercial fisherman.

Fish for Teeth sponsors a mobile dental van for dental clinics on San Juan Island, three times a year. The Medical Teams International‘s van can handle dental hygiene appointments to root canals. Continue Reading

San Juan County Parks & Fair is offering advance camping reservations for people who reside in our county year-round! Choose from San Juan County Park, San Juan County Fairgrounds (RVs only), Odlin County Park, and Shaw County Park for any dates in 2019. 

Resident reservations must be made directly through our admin office and are not available to book online.  Please email [email protected] for a 2019 Resident Reservation Request form. 

San Juan County Resident Reservation forms will be accepted on a first come, first served basis from January 14th until February 21st (starting at 6:00am on January 14th via email, or in person at the Parks and Fair Office in Friday Harbor at NOON). 

The final deadline for receiving all Resident Reservation Request forms is 4:00pm on February 21, 2019.  Due to the popularity of this program, duplicate date requests may be randomly selected. Proof of residency in San Juan County is required.  You may reserve up to two sites per camping date per household. 

Happy camping in 2019!

Photo courtesy of Dan Gold

Got a favorite restaurant where you like to eat? Here’s the scoop on who’s open and who’s closing this winter. After being open most of the year for (in many cases) 7 days a week, some restaurant owners choose to take a much needed break during the slow season.

Here’s an updated list of chamber member restaurants, compiled by Becki Day, of who’s open, and who’s not, and when. Updated January Restaurant Hours (PDF)

Bon Appétit!

Look at me. I’m a flower child! I reject conventional society and choose peace, love, beauty and lots of belly rubs. Do you dig, man?

My name is Storm and I’m a lover not a fighter. If you love flowers in your hair, the music of Joni Mitchell, love beads, beat poetry and have a loving heart and a kind soul, we should meet. I’ll be here at the animal shelter. Meditating. Peace, man.

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

Island Senior is a regular column on the San Juan Update written by Peggy Sue McRae…

The McRae Clan Motto

The New Year begins and after the indulgences of the holidays many of us enjoy the opportunity to take the old calendar down and give ourselves a fresh start.

Instead of resolutions, I know some people who prefer to start the New Year with slogans, or a motto, to set a tone for the coming year.

Here are just a few examples: “Say yes” or another who more specifically chose “Say yes to extreme self care”. One woman newly retired and starting a new career chose the word “Begin” while another who has a hard time finishing projects chose, “Finish”.

“My attitude is gratitude”, “Life is short, take chances”, “Eat more veggies”, all are simple reminders to live more consciously. I have some ambitious fitness goals this year so have chosen “Fortitude!” the time honored motto of the McRae clan.

If you are looking for ways to improve your life, the Mullis Center can help. Whether you vow to have more fun this year, get some support, get off the rock more often, or take gentle action toward better health, there may be a program just right for you. Continue Reading

Join Island Rec for the New Year countdown with family, neighbors, and friends, at Brickworks. The Whale Museum has joined us to double our fun!

Participate in the Salish Sea themed CLUE game, get your picture taken in the San Juan Party Pics photo booth, decorate hats, play Bingo and more! Bring a sweet or savory snack to share for this community event, or bring a set of decorated cupcakes to enter in the cupcake beauty pageant!

We will have a Live stream of the NYC ball drop. This event has become a fun San Juan Island family tradition. As always, this is an alcohol-free event.

FREE! All Ages
Monday, December 31, 7-9pm
Brickworks

Are you heading up I-5 to Bellingham or Canada (or coming back) this weekend? Be aware there will be a temporary closure in both directions. Here’s more from WSDOT…

Emergency crews have been working long hours to restore power and fix windstorm damage around our area and they aren’t done yet. On Sunday, December 30th from 1:00 to 4:00 AM crews will close I-5 in north Skagit County in both directions, to replace a power pole.

If you need to use this stretch of highway during this time, allocate a little extra time to use the detour, which is via Cook and Bow Hill roads. Our maintenance crews will replace some damaged guardrail during this closure too.

Only two Sundays left of this awesome program!

On January 6th, expectant mothers are invited to move, swim and enjoy the bliss of buoyancy at SJI Fitness Club. Meet and greet other pregnant women, connect with swimming mentors and enjoy a fun time of fitness and friendship.

Think of this as an afterhours pool party for pregnant women. As an added benefit we will help teach moms-to-be how they can be their child’s first swim instructor.

Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor, this event is a drop-in program, no registration required.

January 6th and February 3rd from 4:00 to 5:30 pm. For more information call (360) 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org.

Brendan Cowan, Director of SJI Emergency Management, shares this notice…

With ongoing national issues around the 911 system, remember that if 911 doesn’t work for you in an emergency, (360) 378-4141 is the alternate number to San Juan County Dispatch.

The Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor will extend its hours effective Wednesday, January 2.

The new visiting hours will be 11:00 to 4:00 Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. Pet surrenders are by appointment only.

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

Daniel Mayes and family at Christmas – Contributed photo

Here’s a happy note from Helen Machin-Smith of Island Stage Left with an update on Daniel Mayes…

Dan came home on Christmas Eve after a hellish week but finally after a correct diagnosis and two successful surgeries the decision was made to release him in time for Xmas. He is weak, tired and ten pounds lighter (no food for 5 days, for one thing!) but after scaring us all, including himself, he is on the road to recovery and is very happy to be home.

We had a low key but wonderful Xmas with our son and daughter-in-law (the best we could possibly have asked for), [and we are] reminded once again how fragile life is and how glorious. The three of us shared a very scary vigil for four days when it looked as if Dan might shuffle off the mortal coil.

So many thanks for all the kind messages and offers of help, from our wonderfully supportive island community, for Penelope Haskew, who helped us in a  myriad of ways and whose lovely voice was to have accompanied Dan in our aborted Christmas Memories performance, for the nurses at St Joe’s (unsung heroes!), for the skill of the surgeons, for the gentle and caring Island Air folk, for Jason, the Nurse Practitioner at St Joe’s who finally figured out what was wrong, to our families in England and Portland, supporting us from afar, to Paul and Janie Hart and Birgit Kriete-Bain for giving us rides home, to Wayne Eshelman for looking after our kitties and to all the folk who offered to help.

Dan insists that his biggest thanks must include our son Alex and his wife Emily, and Dan’s dogged, irascible and annoying wife!

In great gratitude,
Helen

Just a little cinematic fun and creativity. This started as a simple photo. But the photo didn’t do it justice. So when I walked by it again the following day it became a video clip.

And then for more fun and ambience, a cinematic score was added, but then titles were required because the score lasted twice as long as the clip. See what you think… Turn your sound on and go full screen if you like.

Town to offer Christmas tree recycling on January 10, 2019

The Town will collect Christmas trees for residents inside Town limits on January 10, 2019. Trees should be placed at the curb no later than 9:00 a.m. and should be separate from other unbundled trash and woody waste.

To ensure the success of the tree recycling program, please remove the tree stand and all tinsel, lights, and ornaments as these items will contaminate mulch and compost. Trees more than eight feet in height must be cut in half. Trees should not be in plastic tree bags. Artificial or flocked (painted) trees will not be accepted.

If you have any questions, please contact the Town of Friday Harbor at (360) 378-2810.

Teach your body to keep that stumble from becoming a fall. Mullis Senior Center is working with Instructor Stephanie Prima to offer the beginning level of Tai Ji Quan: Moving For Better Balance™ this January. Through clinical trials and studies, this program has proven to reduce risk of falls in older adults by 58% and 67% in people with Parkinson’s.

Stephanie Prima – Contributed photo

Learn to improve reflexes, balance, strength, flexibility, and self-confidence in performing daily activities in this evidence-based fall prevention program using the principles and movements of Tai Chi.

Weight-bearing and non-weight bearing stances, postural alignment, coordinated movements, synchronized breathing and initial assessment testing is included. It also helps cognition, mindfulness, and body awareness.

Julie O., a student in the previous beginning session, has already experienced results, “It works! I was able to get my hands out and stop myself from falling flat on my face!”

Join the FREE Introductory Class, January 11, 1:00pm at Mullis Senior Center to experience for yourself why this program is so effective. Continue Reading

Here’s an invitation to you from San Juan County District Court…

Please join us in celebrating Judge Andrew’s retirement on Friday, January 4, 2019 from 2:30 to 5:00 in the District Courtroom located at 350 Court Street, Friday Harbor.

Photo by Ian Keefe on Unsplash

Here’s wishing you Peace, Love and Warmth on this special day.