“Yes for Homes” Coalition Hails Passage of Affordable Housing Ordinance, Announces Campaign

Local housing activists are hailing the passage of a San Juan County ordinance meant to tackle the County’s growing affordable housing crisis.

On Tuesday, the San Juan County Council unanimously approved Ordinance 11-2018. The Ordinance authorizes the County to collect a one-half of one percent (0.5%) real estate excise tax (REET) on the sale of real property. The initiative was crafted after years of work by elected officials, community leaders, and small businesses across the County. The measure is not a property tax, reflecting the Coalition’s goal to avoid financial burden on homeowners with fixed incomes.

“This is an incredibly exciting moment,” said Mallory Hagel, a spokesperson for the Yes for Homes San Juan County coalition. “We’re proud that our County Council recognizes the need to keep vulnerable families in safe, affordable housing.”

The move comes after years of booming property values in the County. The median home value in San Juan County is now approaching $600,000, a figure that has increased 8.2% over the past year, according to real estate analysts at Zillow. With a tight rental market, local affordable housing experts are concerned about insufficient workforce housing. Populations especially at-risk for displacement include service industry workers, healthcare providers, educators, and those on fixed incomes. Continue Reading

Becky Greenway in the nursery office – SJ Update photo

Long time islander Becky Greenway has just recently opened a new nursery business, “Greenway Gardens” on San Juan Valley Road.  She offers assorted flowers, veggies, herbs and also yard art with more things coming along soon.

This has long been a dream of hers and for the last 5 years she’s been putting a lot of effort into making it a reality. June 5th will mark one month since she was finally able to open up for customers.

The nursery is located at 1782 San Juan Valley Road. (It’s directly across from Douglas Road). Hours are Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays, 10-2, and Saturdays and Sundays 10-3ish (she says if you show up at 2:59 she’ll keep the gates open for you).

This weekend she is having a Memorial Day Weekend sale – 20% off veggies & herbs through Sunday.

Groups Challenge Army Corps of Engineers’ Refusal to Protect Puget Sound Shorelines

Corps’ Seattle District violates Clean Water Act, endangers Sound recovery

SEATTLE – A lawsuit filed today against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“Corps”) charges that the agency has refused to assert its Clean Water Act jurisdiction over most shoreline armoring in Puget Sound, and that endangered species and Sound shorelines are suffering the negative impacts of the Corps’ continued inaction.

Washington Environmental Council, Sound Action and Friends of the San Juans filed the suit after the Corps rejected a science-based government recommendation to correct its unlawful definition of the Seattle District Corps’ jurisdiction over shoreline armoring projects.

The coalition, represented by Earthjustice, is calling for federal oversight of shoreline armoring by raising what the Corps’ Seattle District considers the “high tide line” in order to better protect at-risk species and the shorelines themselves. The lawsuit also calls for a response to the groups’ 2015 petition asking for jurisdictional decisions on four shoreline armoring projects. The groups contend a strong federal policy to protect shorelines is critical to Puget Sound recovery.

“Shoreline armoring impairs the health of Puget Sound by damaging nearshore habitat important for forage fish that feed salmon,” said Mindy Roberts, Puget Sound director for Washington Environmental Council. “Currently, federal agencies don’t consider impacts from these structures, because their definition of what constitutes ‘the shoreline’ is too lax.” Continue Reading

Summer Family Arts Days At The San Juan Islands Museum Of Art

Plan your summer with the family and mark your calendars now.

Children and families create fun-tastic works with local artists at the San Juan Islands Museum of Art. Family Arts Days are a summertime island tradition, where local artists teach island crafts in a fresh outdoor setting.

Materials will be provided for captivating, hands-on projects, resulting in colorful creations to take home. Many of the projects relate to the summer exhibition, Conversations With Gee’s Bend at SJIMA.

All ages and families are invited to the orchard next to SJIMA at 540 Spring Street. Enter through the parking lot next to the museum. Hours are 12-4 and no reservations are required-dropping in is just fine.

The program is free, but donations to pay for materials are appreciated.

The program is taught by Lana Hickman and Alice Hibbert, trained instructors.

Art & Dates: Continue Reading

Superintendent/School Board Communique from the May 16^th Special Board Meeting

The San Juan Island School District School Board meeting on May 16^th may have been the shortest one this year! Special Education Director Theresa Jimenez provided an updated on this year’s Special Ed programming, successes and challenges. In addition, she presented examples of art and poetry crafted by the students. The presentation may be found on Board Docs under meetings.

To access: Go to the School District Home Page, click the About tab, next to Home. Scroll down to Our School Board, click. Again, scroll down to School Board Agendas and click. Then click on the highlighted Board Docs link, center screen. Once you are there, click on enter public site. Move over to the meetings tab on the top right. Click on the meeting you want to see – in this case May 16. Go down to Special Topics and click on the page icon next to Special Ed update and there are your presentation pieces to view!

It’s not nearly as complicated as this sounds!

The other two topics under discussion for the evening were the hiring freeze and the resignation of Ralph Hahn, former Board Chair.

The hiring freeze was always only temporary due to uncertainty about final funding numbers from the state. The freeze was rescinded.

Director Hahn’s resignation was accepted by the Board.

In other news, SJISD is now accepting applications to fill our vacant director spot. Applications are due by noon on June 6^th. Applications will be reviewed on June 7^th, and finalists will be interviewed Friday June 8^th beginning at 5:00 pm.

Thanks for reading!

It’s prime viewing time this week to see the International Space Station from your backyard. Check out this article on the Seattle Times website.

By Louise Dustrude

Decision time is approaching for the San Juan Island Library: whether to try to upgrade in place or move to a new location. Just one site is currently under consideration for the “new location” — the Public Works property next door to the current library.

Some 85 residents attended one of three open houses to learn of the possibilities and voted (with little round blue, yellow, and red stickers) quite overwhelmingly for the new location. No one at all voted for the third alternative of “do nothing.”

Factors which have obviously influenced both the board and the public include the need for more space and the difficulty or impossibility of expanding the current building; the current and potential problems with the foundation, the walls and insulation, and drainage issues in the basement; and the tight parking.

Mark Madsen talks to the public – Carrie Lacher photo

Mark Madsen, a member of the library’s board of trustees, explained their reasoning, and answered a dozen or so questions from the public on Monday afternoon. He said the library has no debt, and that the building would be financed by (1) some public grant funding, (2) a private fund-raising campaign, which has already raised over $100,000, and (3) “probably a bond issue.” Continue Reading

Wolverine Right Fielder Bristol Halvorson is interviewed on the tiny Radio 1650 am post game show – Contributed photo

Oly Archibald shares another teaser about this weekend’s Lady Wolverines fast pitch game coming up in Yakima…

No Debate Its State In Yakima For The Young Wolverines Fast Pitch team

You know you have a good thing going when you have just cashed your ticket to the WIAA State Fast Pitch tournament in Yakima for the 4th time in 4 years – yet there is no outlandish celebration with shooting Sparkling Apple Cider all over each other. Not that the Young Friday Harbor Wolverine Fast pitch team was not happy and proud of their accomplishment. Its now the expectation of the program.

The Wolverines beat Orcas Island 15-5 to win their 4th straight NW 2-B District Tournament. It was the 4th time this year the Wolverines had beat the Vikings and now have won 14 straight games in the rivalry since Brian Lambright took over the program 5 years ago. Lambright now has a 76-42 career record at Friday harbor a record that would make Heather Tarr proud. Continue Reading

In order to ensure an informed electorate, and in accordance with state law, every district that places a measure on a ballot is responsible for appointing committees to write voters’ guide arguments both for and against the proposition. If a district is unable to appoint committees, that responsibility falls to the County Auditor.

The Lopez Island School District has placed on the August primary ballot a levy to support educational expenses and operations support of the District. The District has appointed a committee to write an argument supporting the proposal. It was unable to find opponents willing to write an argument opposing the measure.

For that reason, County Auditor Milene Henley is seeking people interested in writing arguments against the measure.

If you are interested in writing an opposing argument, please contact the Auditor at [email protected], or (360) 370-7558. Up to three people may be named as argument writers, though they may seek the assistance of as many people as needed. Statements are limited to 250 words.

Top – Sander Van Hamersfeld, Emmett Carrier, Charlie Zehner; Bottom – Ayla Ridwan, Kai Di Bona (Raylee Miniken was on the team but at softball district playoffs) – Contributed photos

FHHS Team wins ‘Best Project from a Newly Competing Team’ at WSU’s Alaska Airlines Imagine Tomorrow science fair competition

Over the weekend of May 18^th – 20^th, two teams from Friday Harbor High School (FHHS) competed in the Alaska Airlines Imagine Tomorrow Science Fair at Washington State University. The competition challenges 9th – 12th graders to seek new ways to support a transition to future sustainability.

Students researched complex topics and then created technologies, designs, or plans to mobilize behavior. Teams also forged connections in their communities to create positive change. In this competition, as in life, solutions are limited only by imagination. Continue Reading

Hannah Hopkins and Oly Archibald will have the live play by play from the State Tournament in Yakima – Contributed photo

Listen to all of the live action of this Friday’s B-2 State Tournament 1st round match up from Yakima between the Friday Harbor Wolverines (15-7) and the Ocosta Wildcats (19-6) live on Friday Harbor Tiny Radio 1650 am and on the world wide web at fhtinyradio.com. The pre-game show starts at 10:45 am.

Oly Archibald in his 40th year will have the live play by play and former All League Wolverine 1st baseman Hannah Hopkins will have the color commentary and game analysis.

Stay Active 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. The 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 24 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.

Merri Ann Simonson checks in to share more Real Estate information with you…

Home Inspections and Their Role in the Real Estate Transaction

Merri Ann Simonson – Contributed photo

If you are a buyer or seller, I bet you thought just getting under contract was stressful for all parties but in reality, the home inspection and/or feasibility response and associated negotiations are often the more stressful event. Allowing a buyer to have a home inspection and hopefully a concurrent feasibility study is a very necessary part of the transaction.

Seller’s Disclosure form 17
As required by statue, the seller must provide a disclosure about the property. This is merely a disclosure, not a representation, guarantee or warranty. This disclosure should be given to your home inspector prior to their visit so they can focus on the seller’s comments about defects and repairs made. Your agent should automatically do this but as a buyer you should insure it happens.

Buyer’s Due Diligence
Continue reading (PDF)

Boom and rope mop skimmer in place, with crew making shore attachment – Contributed photo

As part of ongoing efforts to enhance local capacity to respond to oil and hazardous materials spills, three San Juan County organizations participated in the 2018 Washington State Department of Ecology Spill Response Grant Program. This program helps local communities that are at risk for oil and hazardous materials spills secure equipment and training to effectively respond to incidents.

Lopez Island Fire and EMS received funding to provide training on hazardous materials response and safe boat operations as well as funds to purchase specialized firefighting nozzles, firefighting foam and personal flotation devices to safely respond to incidents on or near bodies of water.

The Islands Oil Spill Association (IOSA) and the San Juan County Department of Emergency Management teamed up to receive funding for the purchase of two new oil spill response trailers that will be used to store and transport critical spill response equipment. IOSA’s Julie Knight highlighted the importance of these new trailers, “We’re a lean organization, and this sort of support will greatly improve our capacity to respond to a range of incidents.” Continue Reading

Inauguaral Kids Triathlon Announced

Island Athletic Events, LLC, producer of the 17^th annual Kings San Juan Island Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K and the sixth annual Three Lakes Triathlon announced the first annual Kids Triathlon at Lakedale Resort.

“It’s something we’ve talked about over the winter. Lakedale’s General Manager, Karl Bruno, has been very supportive of adding this family oriented event and we have the infrastructure so why not?” said Paul Hopkins, Race Director.

The kids triathlon happens on Saturday, June 16 in conjunction with the adults race and is open to kids aged 7-15. Kids must be comfortable in the water. Participants will report to Lakedale at 8:30 a.m. and Kids Triathlon Race Director Missy Arata will give a thorough pre-race meeting. The race will begin after the last adult participant is out of the water.

The entire course is on Lakedale property and features a 50 yard swim, 1 mile ride (dirt road) and half-mile run.

To register, visit Active.com (search Three Lakes Triathlon) or come by San Juan Island Fitness. Cost is $40 per person.

Griffin Bay Bookstore is excited to again host Lopez Islander Gretchen K.Wing. She’s returning to the bookstore on Saturday, June 2, 2:00—4:00 pm to present Altitude, Book Three of the Flying Burgowski Trilogy. This series is delightful for both young adults and adults. Don’t miss the chance to chat with such an enthusiastic writer.

After a summer of betrayal and heartbreak and an epically rotten year, 16 year-old Jocelyn (The Flying) Burgowski is fleeing family and friends on Washington State’s Dalby Island for school on the mainland. What good is flying if it wrecks relationships? The guy she fell for (in Book Two, Headwinds), almost destroyed her power. Now, discovering the ugly underbelly of mainland life, has Joss stumbled upon a fellow Flyer—only to bring her down? Confronting the dual forces of magic and maturity, Joss must face the question: what does “to thine own self be true” really mean?

About the Author
Continue Reading