The babies are back! Bigg’s killer whales abound in the Salish Sea this spring. Ocean EcoVentures, member of Pacific Whale Watch Association (PWWA) recently captured video footage (video credit Ocean EcoVentures and videographer – Tasli Shaw) of one of the newest members of the population, T065A6, a young calf probably less than one month old. Watch closely and you will spot the calf popping up next to mom. (Click image below to view video)

With boating season opening day just around the corner (May 5, 2018), it is increasingly important for boaters to familiarize themselves with PWWA guidelines for operating a vessel around whales. These guidelines work for both commercial and private vessel operators. Those that are taking the boat out for a fun trip on the Salish Sea should familiarize themselves with these recommendations to protect our resident and visiting whale populations.

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Glenn Hendrick – Contributed photo

Island Rec is excited to introduce Glenn Hendrick as the newest addition to the team. Glenn will be responsible for coordinating the popular summer program, Camp Eagle Rock. She comes with a diverse background in camp programs, art, farming and community organizing.

Camp Eagle Rock offers a safe, affordable and enriching recreation experience for school age children for seven weeks each summer. Each week, 80 campers participate in a variety of unique and engaging activities based on a theme. Camp Eagle Rock fills a critical need for many working families and is appreciated by others as a desired recreational activity. “Glenn brings leadership and wonderful creative ideas to our program and we are looking forward to working with her this summer” stated Island Rec Director, Maddie Ovenell. Continue Reading

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Island Rec is pleased to present the winners of the 2018 Children’s Festival Poster Contest, Starry Starry Night.

• 1st Place: Tasha Calverley
• 2nd Place: Sidney Herda
• 3rd Place: Jackson Widing
• 4th Place: Lyla Ovenell

Many thanks to all the young artists who submitted entries! We had some wonderful artworks to choose from this year. Keep an eye out for the posters around town. Island Rec would like to thank Vic’s Drive In, San Juan Florist & Yo Friday Harbor and The Toy Box for sponsoring prizes for the Poster Contest.

And don’t forget – The Children’s Festival is happening Saturday, May 5th from 10am to 2pm at the Fair Building. We hope to see you there! For more information, call 378-4953 or visit www.islandrec.org

Friday Harbor Grange #225 and Community Treasures have sponsored a 6-week Love and Logic program at Friday Harbor Elementary School.

In addition, the Grange has provided weekly dinners and babysitting for up to 41 parents and 15 children. A big thank you goes to Friday Harbor Elementary School Counselor, Terra Holmgren, for volunteering to facilitate the class, to the Friday Harbor Parent Teacher Organization for purchasing the Love and Logic workbooks, and the Friday Harbor Elementary School for providing their facility for the use of the Love and Logic class.

About the Friday Harbor Grange
Friday Harbor Grange #225 supports family values, leadership opportunities, and educational programs. They also model the Grange Motto:

In Essentials, Unity.
In Non-Essentials, Liberty.
In All Things, Charity.

Grangers are to find a need in their community, and to fill it. 

If you would like to become involved in our community volunteer work and educational programs, or if you have an idea for an important and meaningful program that you think would be helpful to our community, please contact us at 360-317-5130.

Erin Corra in the Lighthouse – Contributed photo

Lime Kiln Light – Contributed photo

Meet Erin Corra, Friends of Lime Kiln Society (FOLKS) Founder & Executive Director, to explore the past, present and future of beautiful Lime Kiln Point State Park.

Stroll along the trails, take a tour of the lighthouse, learn about current events and what Friends of Lime Kiln Society has in store for 2018 and beyond. Come join the fun with FOLKS!

• Saturday, April 28, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm
• Max 2 miles
• Moderate terrain with some uneven trails along shoreline
• Dogs allowed on Leash
• Meet at Lime Kiln Point State Park (Discover Pass required)

Get Inspired, Entertained and Empowered at an Upcoming Luke Wallace Concert

Canadian Folk Musician and coastal water protector Luke Wallace is partnering with Friends of the San Juans for benefit concerts to celebrate and protect the Salish Sea. The concerts will raise funds for Friends’ Marine Protection Program, which safeguards our region from the risk of oil transport and works to stop new oil infrastructure. 

The concerts will take place on April 30 at Westsound Community Hall on Orcas Island and May 1 at Brickworks in Friday Harbor. Both shows start at 7 pm. Admission is by donation. The events are open to people of all ages.

“I am super excited to collaborate with and support Friends of the San Juans. The work that they do to protect the Salish Sea and bring science to the forefront of conversations is critical as our society shifts and more people raise their voices to support the protection of ecosystems and bioregions like the Salish Sea,” says Wallace.

Luke is on a 3 month tour of the west coast of North America where he is teaming up with dozens of grassroots organizations, community initiatives and frontline groups for benefit concerts and action days. He is using his new album, “Us,” as a fundraising tool to drive money and energy toward projects that empower people and communities in the protection of the systems that sustain them.

Learn more about Luke: http://www.lukewallacemusic.com/ 

Chris Reed, Fleet Captain of the San Juan Island Yacht Club has this to share…

All are invited to the Friday Harbor waterfront at 2:15 pm on Sunday, May 6th, for the island’s annual Opening Day Boat Parade – visualize a 4th of July parade on the water. The parade can best be viewed from Spring Street Landing and adjoining waterfront locations.

The parade’s theme is “A Community Afloat” – inviting all community members and organizations to participate. This year we are highlighting our “Our Island Stewards”, the organizations that contribute to the health, beauty and resilience of our island home. In keeping with this theme, Chris Guidotti, San Juan Area Manager of Washington State Parks will be our Grand Marshall.

The parade will mark the first public showing of the 2 Lummi traveling canoes built by Spring Street students under the supervision of a Lummi elder.

Boats will parade before local dignitaries and judges with prizes awarded in five categories: Continue Reading

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

My favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut, once said, “I tell you, we are here on Earth to fart around, and don’t let anybody tell you different.”

I couldn’t agree more. I’m Tucker, and I wouldn’t mind finding a companion to fart around with.

Check your schedule – if you’re free, I’m waiting here at the animal shelter for you.

Animal Protection Society of Friday Harbor
111 Shelter Road
(360) 378-2158

An Earth Day gift for you – Liza Michaelson shares this video from Saturday’s 9th annual Lopez Island Procession of the Species. This year the focus was on native species.

The organizers borrowed dorsal fins representing every JK and L pod member from San Juan Islanders for Safe Shipping, and Lopez islanders turned out in droves to carry the 78 orca fins in the parade.

Hummingbirds, sea slugs, deer, owls, ravens, foxes, ducks, and even pileated woodpeckers walked in the procession led by 8 costumed drummers.

Thank you Liza for sharing!

Earth Day is this Sunday and it is also the day for the 2018 Great Islands Clean-up. People are encouraged to clean-up around their own homes and neighborhoods to help our islands be “Litter Free by the Sea”. Visitors and locals alike are asked to watch out for cleaners along the roads this day to keep everyone safe while helping clean our beautiful island.

Drop in beach clean-up site is South Beach, San Juan Island from 10:00 to 2:00. Volunteers for this should come to the main parking lot down Pickett’s Lane to sign in and get litter bags. Bring your friends and family, bring picnics, dress for the weather and have a fun day at the beach.

The Stewardship Network of the San Juans and San Juan Island Brewing Company are co-sponsoring a Great Islands Clean-up After Party for participants at the brewery (410 A St.) in Friday Harbor on April 22nd from 3-5 p.m. Join in to celebrate an awesome day of community service.

Bring a picture of you participating in the clean-up and, as a thank you, you will get one pint of beer for a buck ($1) between 3 and 5 p.m. There will also be a raffle for people of all ages including prizes from the Stewardship Network members.

Town to re-stripe all roads this Monday and Tuesday

Road crews will be repainting center stripes and curbs throughout the town on Monday and Tuesday, April 23 and 24.

Drivers are advised to use extreme caution to avoid driving over any newly painted areas.

Questions regarding this road improvement may be directed to Public Works Director Wayne Haefele at (360) 378-2154 or [email protected].

Aida will perform on the Ukelele for FH Grange – Contributed photo

Frank Penwell shares this announcement from the FH Grange…

Aida Must is going to represent our community through Friday Harbor Grange #225 at the Washington State Grange’s Northwest Regional Talent Contest being held at McMillan Grange in Puyallup, WA. Aida will sing and play the ukulele.  Aida is a Junior at Friday Harbor High School.

Here’s a heads up from the SJI Garden Club…

Plant Now for Summer Glory!

Hanging basket class – Contributed photo

Participants in this class will assemble a 12” hanging container with growing medium, choice starter plants for sun or shade exposure and plenty of free advice.

Bring your own gloves, tools, beverage and snack. Though a container and plants are provided you may choose to bring a favorite hanging container. Together we will plant a beautiful basket perhaps for Mother’s Day, to display at the fair and defiantly enjoy all summer long. Families with aspiring gardeners are encouraged to participate. The first basket prepared by a youth (under age 16) is free of charge.

• Date: May 5, 2018
• Location: Mullis Community Center
• Time: 10:00 AM
• Cost: $35
• Instructors: Marguerite Bennett and Fiona Norris

RSVP is appreciated. To register contact:

Kathie Forsyth at (360) 378-5071 [email protected]
or Vonnie Harold at (360) 298-0859 [email protected]

Garden Club News: www.sjigardenclub.weebly.com

The Joy of Gardening is Sharing

Lopez Island, Wash. — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) today announced it is seeking public nominations for eight open positions on the San Juan Islands National Monument Advisory Committee (MAC). The nomination period is open until June 4, 2018.

Resource Advisory Councils (RACs) provide advice and recommendations for the BLM to consider on a range of resource and land management issues. The BLM maintains 37 such chartered advisory committees located in the West. The MAC was created through Presidential Proclamation and is critical in assisting the BLM in developing a Resource Management Plan for the San Juan Islands National Monument.

“The BLM Advisory Councils are an important forum for the community conversation that is a key component of public land management,” said Linda Clark, BLM Spokane District Manager. “By ensuring that MAC representation reflects a variety of perspectives, MAC members provide a valuable service to the Bureau by delving into issues and proposing solutions on a wide variety of land and resource uses issues.”
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It’s now official. Mayor Farhad Ghatan has proclaimed Sunday to be Great Islands Clean Up Day. Click the image above to see the official proclamation.

Pilot Vicky Thalacker – Contributed photo

On Sunday, the San Juan Aviation Museum will recognize and pay tribute to Vicki Thalacker and a group of San Juan Eagles volunteer pilots for their service of flying cancer patients to the mainland for treatment. Islanders are invited to celebrate this occasion at a reception held at Brickworks, 150 Nichols Street, on Sunday, April 22nd at 2:00 p.m.

The San Juan Eagles provide personalized air transportation to cancer patients in gaining access to mainland medical facilities. Round trip flights are made year round, subject to weather restrictions, between San Juan Island and the mainland. All of this is done on a voluntary basis without charge. The goal is to help patients with cancer deal with the burdens of treatment and improve their quality of life over the course of treatment.

Vicki started the group in 2003 and flew the first patient. She continued to fly actively until 2008, and has since coordinated the continuation of flights, pilots and patients. To date the group has completed over 1,500 flights primarily for cancer treatment in Mt. Vernon or Bellingham.

What would otherwise be all day travel by car and ferry, (usually 5 days a week for up to six weeks) is often converted to just three hours by flying.

As the founder of the San Juan Eagles and by virtue of her being a leader and a positive force in the community over a 15-year period, Vicky, and all of the participating pilots of the San Juan Eagles, are well deserving of being honored on the Honor Wall selection in 2018 at the San Juan Aviation Museum.

About the San Juan Aviation Museum: Continue Reading